Wordwizard

You both knew where she had been, so "Did they tell you whether it is a boy or a girl?" would be enough.

To me they say the same things. Although I have to say that your second options don't feel right.

They can indeed. That is why a native speaker would never use them.

I met a man who told me a very sad story. Apparently he had a paper shop that was quite successful but one day it blew away. Then his wife who had a shop selling brassieres went bust.

I have got much worse than that, Phil.

"But" is a good word.

I met a bloke in the pub who told me that he is a Beatles fan. He eats, drinks and breathes the Beatles, he plays their music constantly, the walls of all the rooms in his house are covered with posters and he has a copy of every record they ever made except one. I think he needs Help.

Verbing isn't always bad. It is usually painful. This one is abdominal.

Welcome Rey. The word "fag" in the UK refers to a cigarette not a gay man, so I have to say that your assumption is unlikely.

It is not an expression that I have ever heard.

Not here Steven.

Glorious story Tony.

When I was a kid, "coloured" covered a multitude, and did it effectively,
In the same way that "blonde" or"bald did.

They look like pizzas to me not pies but I could be wrong.

For what it is worth, I agree with you Tony.
I wouldn't allow "monkey" and "monkeys" either.