Can you translate this British English to American English please?

[Honan]

Hi
One of the biggest challenges for me in the domain trade is identifying the differences between the English language that I know, as an Australian, and the English language commonly used in North America
My first question on this theme is how would you say in North America this very popular British phrase:
"Are you taking the piss?"

 

[unclewilco]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=taking+the+piss

watch out some strong language

 

[Dale Hubbard]

I guess: "Are you shi**ing me?" might do it. Not *quite* the same context, but I'm a native Brit English speaker ...

 

[Honan]

Yeah I know what it means
What I don't know is what phase is commonly used in North America to mean
"Are you taking the piss?"

Would it be " Are you pulling my leg?" or is that a bit old fashioned?

 

[unclewilco]

Yeah I know what it means
What I don't know is what phase is commonly used in North America to mean
"Are you taking the piss?"

Would it be " Are you pulling my leg?" or is that a bit old fashioned?

OPPS:::: read your post wrong.... but the link will pass away a few hours :;

 

[Honan]

I guess: "Are you shi**ing me?" might do it. Not *quite* the same context, but I'm a native Brit English speaker ...

Yeah, that might be the one

 

[DNjet]

"are you kidding me" , I think would be the most common.

 

[Honan]

Ok Thanks for the replies unc and z
DNjet seems to have nailed it. Thank you.
My next question on the theme is which English language spelling do people in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands and Denmark use when writing in English?
Would they type color or colour, center or centre?

 

[namestrands]

I believe its International English in Southern Europe and English in Central, North and Eastern Europe.

Middle East and Asia is International English, with some exceptions in the South

Africa, India is British as is Hong Kong.

 

[Honan]

Thanks strands
I read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_English
and it is "doing my head in" trying to work out if it is centre or center in International English

Which makes me wonder:
What is the commonly used phrase in North America for
"This is doing my head in"

 

[Dale Hubbard]

Centre in Int Eng I think.
"doing my head in" = "driving me nuts"
"are you kidding" = not rude enough to match "taking the pi**"

 

[namestrands]

center is International
Centre is UK

Doing My Head In = "Driving me Crazy"

actually written as "Doin ma headin"

 

[Dale Hubbard]

LOL with all the semantics

 

[Chelsea]

Would they type color or colour, center or centre?

colour - centre

 

[Beachie]

Don't come the raw prawn with me, cobber :cheesy:

Joe, whenever I communicate I use international spelling (color instead of colour etc). I don't think it matters too much though. She'll be right, mate..