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  1. #1
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    Lost in Translation--US vs UK English words

    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

  2. #2
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    UK.......................................US

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

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joseph McLaren View Post
    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..."

  4. #4
    MacBean is offline Oops, it seems this member needs to update their email address
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    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.

  5. #5
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    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.
    Last edited by Jock Scot; 25th November 09 at 09:17 AM.

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    [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!!"
    waulk softly and carry a big schtick

  7. #7
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    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
    Proudly Duncan [maternal], MacDonald and MacDaniel [paternal].

  8. #8
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    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".
    "O, why the deuce should I repine, and be an ill foreboder?
    I'm twenty-three, and five feet nine, I'll go and be a sodger!

  9. #9
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    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.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joseph McLaren View Post
    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.
    Last edited by Jock Scot; 25th November 09 at 09:48 AM.

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