“Brilliant” is a word I’m hearing a lot, during my trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. People use it somewhat differently than what I’m used to, when I’m home in the United States.
Here are two recent examples:
Me: “I can pay for those tickets with this credit card.”
He: “Brilliant.”
Me: “We’re done eating.”
She: “Brilliant.”
More reasons I should move to Edinburgh! I love
- feeling like I’m brilliant and
- being told I am.
Before I’d make any decision to move here, though, I need to remember this: there’s no way of knowing whether all these people telling me I’m brilliant actually live in Edinburgh. There’s a good chance they do NOT, according to somebody who was talking to me and my son yesterday. This person (who, I seem to remember, also called me “brilliant”) told us that the population of Edinburgh DOUBLES during the Fringe Festival every August, because of all the visitors.
Brilliant.
Now, I believe, is a brilliant time to show you some photos I took yesterday.
There’s a lot of brilliance to be found, here in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Many thanks to brilliant people everywhere, to those who express appreciation of brilliance, and to you — of course! — for brilliantly being here, today.
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally 
When watching the Harry Potter movies I noticed the characters used “brilliant” in much the same way as New Englanders use the word “wicked” and everyone else uses “cool”.
This is true! Thanks, Trent, for this wicked cool and brilliant comment.
Ha! Brilliant!
Indeed- this use of “brilliant” is in use throughout the UK and Ireland. Very positive, innit? 🙂
Sounds like you’re having a great time and that’s wonderful! 🙂
It IS very positive, which is brilliant for me. Thanks for this wonderful comment.
Brilliant indeed!
And it is indeed brilliant to see you here, today!
I have heard them say “brill” too… Great photos!
I shall try to use the word “brill” today and see how that goes. Thanks so much for this helpful and kind comment.
I like that cat – he’s ready for winter with that coat. Bri…
I liked that cat, too, Alastair, very much. Indeed, I took several more brilliant shots of him (but the one I showed here was the most brilliant).
That fish dish and I would get along like dogs and cats, Ann. Wait, I can’t say that, for you have found a cat quite happy with guide dogs. Wait! Are they a real statue, or a statue of real dogs pretending to be a statue? Brilliant my friend!!
Are you saying you don’t like fish, Mark? Everything else you wrote here I understood and enjoyed, brilliantly.
:)))) thanks for the laugh!!!
You are most welcome, Dana. Brilliant to see you here!
It really is brilliant Ann!!
Guess what word is going to go round and round in my head today. I’ll call my brother and get it out of my system 😉
Val x
Sounds like a brilliant use of this post, Val! xx
I much prefer “brilliant” to “awesome! the latter is so overdone but “brilliant” is so much more sparkly. And I think “brilliant” is used a lot in Australia too, I find myself using it a lot although I’m here in North Cyprus. Brilliant post, Ann.
Thank you! To me, your comment is awesome, brilliant, sparkly, and all that.
A brilliant post Ann! Love the photos, I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself there! ❤
Diana xo
Thank you, brilliant Diana!
Love the photos — and that cat! Brilliant!
Love you, Louise!
Now I’m wondering what the US meaning of the word “brilliant” is!
It certainly looks like you’re seeing a lot of Edinburgh. I suppose it would be a shame to go all that way and not.
We get a population increase during the summer months just like Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival – according to the local police website the population of the two counties it covers swells from 1.5m to 8m during the summer!
We use “brilliant” to mean the same things, I think, just not as easily and often. Great to see your brilliant presence here.
Brilliant is a pretty common expression in those parts. I am pretty sure those Edinburgh would use “Brilliant!” fairly often. There was a British Comedy skit show, which in Britain was called The Fast Show, but to market it in the states they decided to call it “Brilliant!” since one of the recurring characters used it all the time. So I think it is not completely uncommon in parts of England. I like the expression too, and am also a fan of the Australian expression “No worries”. As in “I’m still not done eating sorry.” “No worries, take your time”. 🙂
I’ve been using “no worries” a lot lately, Swarn, and I think I’ll start using “brilliant” more, too. I think this blog is making me very cosmopolitan and worldly.
With odds of only 50:50 there’s a reasonable chance the person who called you brilliant is local. That should increase the chances of a move.There are some good authors living there you could meet and you’d have ringside seats for the festival each year. Brilliant innit.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
Brilliant comment, David! xxx huge hugs xxx!!
Love the architecture! I’ve always wanted to visit somewhere where I had a chance to visit a building older than 200!
Brilliant post! 🙂
Thank you, Kate! Love this comment.
Brilliant post! 🙂
Thank you, Carol, for the brilliantly kind comment.
I like the expression very much !
I am so glad!!
Thanks for showing us all the brilliant things you and Aaron are seeing. I didn’t know the Parthenon is in Edinburg?
You are welcome, Mary! I am so glad you’ve been reading. And there are many brilliant and amazing things in Edinburgh, for sure.
Brilliant post! 🙂
This reminds me of the Guinness beer commercials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QYjFzFvJk4
Brilliant, RoSy!
WheredoIendandyoubegin – that’s brilliant!
I thought so too, Hilary.
Brilliant post, and especially lovely pictures of my Salisbury Craigs.
My husband was lucky enough to live in Edinburgh in the 70’s (junior year abroad) and the early 80’s when he studied at the Edinburgh play writers workshop. We have lovely friends there, all of whom, of course, are brilliant!
Thank you for this comment, Elyse, brilliant in many ways.
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