Meaning of a phrase

[vic_vega66]

I was thinking today that I need to get some thermostatic radiator valves for the radiators, its getting near winter and its cold. I checked online for instructions on how to fit these and my eyes glazed over when it started talking about draining the central heating system and using X widget and Y screwdriver to do Z and W

Comments

[stacyinthecity]

I'm only familiar with the usage of foreigner as a description of someone who is from another country.

[biascut]

I'm from Nottingham and have lived in York and Manchester, and I've never heard it! Where in the north are you from?

[biascut]

Huh! I would have thought that was close enough to have most of the same idioms, but I've not come across it. I might ask around and see whether anyone else has come across it and whether it's just me being oblivious.

[carmy_w]

Does the "as a foreigner" part denote you as a foreigner, or the plumber?

The reason why I'm asking is it sort of sounds like what people in the US would pay an illegal immigrant (such as housekeeping or menial labor services, which was what I was thinking of), or pay a contractor under the table, in order to keep the transaction completely off the books.

Sorry-I know that doesn't really help with your question, but it may give you another way of looking at it.

[stormdog]

I live in the US, and have never heard the phrase "as a foreigner" used in that way (as the original poster does). But I agree that this is what it would suggest is happening to me (that there's some kind of under-the-table payment happening).

[carmy_w]

Sorry-I should have added that I'm a US resident also, hence my statement. ;)

[someoneingrey]

My ex is from Manchester, and the first time he said he'd been 'doing foreigners' I was entirely miffed and as this usage isn't common at all in the States, thought he was telling me he'd been having sex with women of other nationalities.

He meant that he'd been taking side jobs outside of the company he worked for.

Here it's usually 'off the books' or 'under the table.'

[laudre]

As an American, the above context/definition still wasn't quite enough for me to grok the idiom's meaning. (But I haven't had lunch yet.) I probably would've made the same sort of assumption if someone told me they'd been "doing foreigners."

[shizuku_san]

Yeah, I would think the same as you if I heard someone say that! (Seattle, US.)

Edited to add: "under the table" is how I would describe it.

[dorsetgirl]

I'm in the South of England and I've never heard "as a foreigner". I would always use "cash in hand" if being blunt, or the more common phrase for the tradesman to use is "...will you be needing an invoice?"