Lost in Translation--US vs UK English words

[ForresterModern]

This started in another thread elsewhere but I thought it would be fun to make its own thread and see how far we can go with it, and just what interesting things come up. The idea is to list a word in the English language used either in the UK or US that has an entirely different word meaning approximately the same thing in the other place. Got it? here are the first ones from the other thread to get us started:

American English =England English (from me)
Vest = waistcoat
truck = lorrie
elevator = lift
french fries = chips


From Joseph MacLaren

UK..........................US
scones..............biscuits
biscuits.............cookies
pants.................shorts
shorts..........short pants
trousers...............pants
braces.........suspenders
suspenders........garters


From Zardoz

US=UK
antenna = aerial
drive shaft = propeller shaft
fender = wing
hood = bonnet
trunk = boot
odometer = clock


What interesting ones can you contribute?

jeff

[Joseph McLaren]

UK.......................................US

state school.............public school
public school..........private school
private school........also a private school!

[KFCarter]

UK.......................................US

state school.............public school
public school..........private school
private school........also a private school!

yikes, now I better understand Shaw's, "two countries separated by a common language..."

[MacBean]

Many spelling differences (z vs s, re vs er) as in theorise or theorize and theater or theatre, tire vs tyre. Lots of pronounciation differences (strawberry vs strawbry, lieutenant vs leftenant, aluminum vs aluminium). Many words in common usage in one but rare or absent in the other (custom made vs bespoke, ---- vs elevenses, homerun vs hit for six, etc.) fruit salad vs. fruit cocktail. There are really quite a lot of differences, and that's just the start. The differences in social attitudes, conformance, courtesy are great. I think the US is closer to their central and south american neighbors in that regard than they are to the UK.

[Jock Scot]

UK. Hunting=with pack of hounds,the followers usually mounted(not always)on a horse.
US. Hunting= with a firearm ,or bow, in pursuit of game ,or wildfowl.


UK. Dress shirt= Worn with formal evening attire.
US. Dress shirt= Worn with business type attire.

[jhockin]

[QUOTE=Jock Scot;825054]UK. Hunting=with pack of hounds,the followers usually mounted(not always)on a horse.
US. Hunting= with a firearm ,or bow, in pursuit of game ,or wildfowl.

brings to mind what Oscar Wilde said: ""The English country gentleman galloping after a fox: the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable."

UK - USA (and Canada)

cross - angry

which brings to mind the old joke (suitably edited for a family forum):

Two nuns, Sister Mary & Sister Jane, were driving through the forested mountains of Translyvannia, one dark and stormy night, when a vampire suddenly appeared against the windshield/windscreen, trying to get into the car, at them.
The two sisiter were terrified, but especially Sister Jane, the passenger, and she started screaming: "what'll we do? what'll we do?"
Sister Mary, the driver, thought desperately, for a second, and turned to Sister Jane, and said: "Quick! Show him your cross!!"
Sister Jane froze for a second, and then, quickly rolling down her window, she stuck her head out the door, and screamed at the vampire: "GET THE F**K OFF THE CAR!!"

[sydnie7]

Zardoz just scratched the surface of automotive terms. . . here are two more that spring to mind.

UK...........................US
Spanner.................wrench
Earth......................ground

Then there's one that always gets US in trouble

Napkin..................diaper, also feminine protection product
Serviette..............table napkin

[Fougasse]

Then there's one that always gets US in trouble

Napkin..................diaper, also feminine protection product
Serviette..............table napkin[/QUOTE]

Not quite:

Nappy (UK) = Diaper (US). In UK, both napkin and serviette are used for table napkin; which you use tends to (or used to) mark what class you belong to. It's not as obvious as you might think.

Having only lived in the States for just over a year I am still regularly getting caught out. I have only just managed to stop giving the time as "half past six" rather than "six thirty".

[Joseph McLaren]

One of the oddities of English speech which I don't think is as common in America is the capacity for emphasis through understatement. For instance, the word 'quite' can mean both 'a little bit' as well 'totally'. 'He was quite drunk' can mean two different things depending on tone.

[Jock Scot]

One of the oddities of English speech which I don't think is as common in America is the capacity for emphasis through understatement. For instance, the word 'quite' can mean both 'a little bit' as well 'totally'. 'He was quite drunk' can mean two different things depending on tone.

On the understatement theme.

UK. A bit of on accident.
The rest of the world. The Titanic hit an iceberg.

UK.A spot of bother.
The rest of the world. The whole Zulu nation has taken up arms.

UK.I am not feeling too well.
The rest of the world. I am dying and in a lot of pain.

UK. Things are a bit tricky.
The rest of the world. My parachute has failed to open and I have 500ft to go.

UK. I am not too good at this.
The rest of the world. I am the world champion.

UK.I should'nt worry old chap.
The rest of the world. The world is about to end.

UK. It hurts a bit.
The rest of the world.I have just lost my leg in a shark attack.