When I was brought up (in Essex), the expression "Goose pimples" was commonly used in my area to express that strange feeling of emotion when something rather special happens. Then I learned that the Americans said "Goose bumps".

Now all this was a long time ago so I wondered which was the one most common amongst people on this Forum.

Goose bumps

I was brought up with "Goose Pimples" but these days it's more likely to be "Duck Lumps"...

W

I was brought up on "goose pimples" too (Sheffield 1960s, but parents from elsewhere). I think I probably use this and "bumps" too these days.

I call 'em goose pimples (northern/midlands roots) MrB (Hampshire based) uses goose bumps.

Goose bumps. Northern Scotland!

Come on fellow pimples! The bumps are in the lead .

Pimples of course! (Midlands)

Goose pimples (South East London)

Goose pimples of course. Geese don't get bumps!

Bumps. Worcestershire.

I thought goose pimples was an older term for goose bumps.

I'm not honestly sure which I use, I think I use the terms interchangably.

Pimples was my original expression, but I have to admit that I'm probably more likely to say bumps these days...

Goose Bumps for me lol !!

Goose pimples in Kent.

Ditto

I don't know how it varies geographically, but I think younger folk are more likely to use Bumps - a few years ago there was a large series of scarey books for kids called Goose Bumps, which I think were very popular (too scarey for me, though! )

Goose bumps (Liverpool)

Goose bumps!

'Goose bumps' is getting more common round here, I suspect a lot of that's down to the R.L. Stine book series...

Neither... I call them goose gogs!!

No, no, no! Goose gogs are gooseberries!

Me too.

Sarf-East Lundun.

I'm with Gerald on this

Me too!

Yep, gooseberries

It is currently 8.15 pm on the 22nd November 2010 and it is a dead heat between the pimples and the bumps .

Anyone else want to vote?

Or change sides?

There you go.

Pondering this last night it occurred to me that "goose flesh" is another possibility. The OED confims that this term has been used since at least as early as 1810 to denote a "rough pimply condition of the skin resembling that of a plucked goose." Both "goose pimples" and "goose bumps" are also listed but, as I suspected, "bumps" are said to be North American in origin.