There are just some phrases that my ear perceives as 'British'. I don't know why that is, and I can't even articulate what the rule is. It's just a gut feeling.

Some are more obvious than others. "Not quite" could easily be American. "Quite nice", hmmm, not so much so. "I had quite forgotten", well now that is definitely NOT. Do not ask me why.

- Vicki

edited to remove references to the word 'quaint'

"Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster and what has happened once in 6,000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution" - Daniel Webster