On 23 Jan 2011, at 20:07, Brian Ferguson wrote:

> Russell Crowe is a New Zealander, but being a rugby league person calls everyone 'mate'. 
> To me, a 'mate' is a person, male, with whom you are great friends and who would support you forever, but others treat the word as being just a general form of address, certainly not his victim. Very Sydney.

Both meanings are in your OAD on the Mac.
> 
> On the other hand, I doubt if Mr. Crowe, being a New Zealander, would appreciate being said to 'duff up' anyone.

This usage is in the OAD, too.

But of course, as all computer users know, we English don't speak English. We speak British English.

T



THDW
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