Replies: 16 brave souls responded
on Wednesday, June 15th, Emily said
This is an impossibly hard task. Yikes!!
My mother-in-law was in Girl Guides in Australia (I think that's a British thing).
I'll try and send non-American's your way!
on Wednesday, June 15th, Lynn said
Sorry I can't help you out with any of these. I'm decidedly American, yet even I hadn't heard the "cougar" term!
Still sending good jujus for your revision hell.
on Wednesday, June 15th, Shannon said
If the Girl Scout is American, regardless of what country she's in now, I'd "stet" it. Thanks to the proliferation of American military bases, most people have at least a basic idea of what Girl Scouts are. Just MHO, of course. 
I've never heard the term "cougar" either. *ggg*
on Wednesday, June 15th, Larissa said
Thanks, Emily! Yeah, between what you and Shannon said, I'm thinking that Girl Scouts will be obvious in context.
I'm hoping "cougar" will, too. It should, since I basically say "cougars--divorcees who hang out at the lodge to snag men." After the initial "cougar" or two, maybe I can get away with "divorcee," and people won't think I mean just divorcees in general.
Now I'm confusing myself. 
Thanks for the juju, Lynn!
on Wednesday, June 15th, Jill said
I've got the big nothing, but I've read your first three chapters and have complete faith in this story!
on Wednesday, June 15th, Joely said
I can't help much with the Americanisms, so I'll just send more juju your way! Good luck!
on Wednesday, June 15th, Teresa said
What about cookie peddler for Girl Scout?
And I've heard of proms as just 'formals'.
I can't think of anything else right now, but I'll keep trying.
on Wednesday, June 15th, Suzanne said
Have NO answers but GOOD LUCK, Larissa!!!
on Wednesday, June 15th, Larissa said
Jill, Joely, Suzanne...thank you! 
Teresa--LOL! I like cookie peddler! 
on Thursday, June 16th, Maili said
1. Girl Scouts // Girl Guides, but I'd get 'Girl Scouts'.
2. Ski bum // a Ski layabout? Lazy skier?
3. Snow bunny // I think I get it: a perky, chatty rich daddy's girl.
4. Cougar (divorcees who hang out at resorts to snag rich men) // actually I'm reading an ebook that has the hero's name Cougar. It bothered me so much that I looked up on the net to see what a Cougar looks like.
5. Prom (I've used Shannon's suggestion of "formal dance" so far) // oh, thanks to American teen films and books, I know what Prom is.
6. Does "knock boots" translate? // I translate that as an extremely nervous person. A person is so nervous or scared that his boots [or knee] are knocking. "He's a boot/knee knocker", e.g. he's a wimp. Otherwise I don't know what it means.
on Thursday, June 16th, Larissa said
Thanks, Maili! Sounds like I can keep Girl Scouts. Ski bum...basically, a guy who works a job--any job--to support a winter ski habit. I'm thinking it's a good idea to get rid of that one, based on how it translates.
Snow bunny--you got it! Still, I'm changing it to something like "hot women."
Yikes on "knock boots!" It means to have sex. I'll definitely be changing that one! LOL
Thanks, ma'am!
on Thursday, June 16th, Evangeline said
Maili:Knock boots=wimpy person. 
It's funny to see how some words don't translate. Makes me wonder what other Americanisms mean to non-Americans. 
on Thursday, June 16th, Jordan said
Cougar: Gold-digger, social climber.
Knock boots: Shag
Prom: Formal
Ski bum: Ski instructor 
on Thursday, June 16th, Jaq said
I like Jordan's suggestion for *knocking boots* That's a spot on translation. I think Girl Guides/Scouts is universal. I think you're going to have to use some reference to ladies who like boy toys for cougar. Here in Toronto a cougar is any older woman (divorced or not) who's on the *prowl* for younger men. There's also a connotation that she's horny (lol) and looking for a young guy with the energy to satisfy her. Formal dance works for Prom. Can't really think of anything for ski bum except loafer or layabout, but those completely miss the whole 'makes enough money to spend the winter just skiing'. Sorry, all I've done is ramble on. lol
on Thursday, June 16th, Michelle said
Shag would probably work for knock boots. I'd never heard of that one!
This is interesting, hearing the other "translations." I love UK-speak. An Irishwoman was sitting next to me at an event and she was eating a juicy orange. She remarked, "Oh, this orange is just gorgeous." You'd never hear it in that context in the U.S. I love colloquialisms. Fun, fun.
on Friday, June 17th, Larissa said
Evangeline, I wonder about that, too!
Jordan, I like gold-digger! Wish I could use shag--I like it!
Jaq, you didn't ramble. Much. 
Glad you heard of cougar!
I'm with you, Michelle! I love Brit-speak!
