Lost in Translation--US vs UK English words

[Tony]

As French fries are to chips,
so chips are to crisps.
so sidewalk is to pavement.
so bacon is to (cheapest in the shop) streaky bacon
so Irish bacon is to bacon.


I'd dispute UK pants being US shorts.
UK pants are usually underpants.
(unless usage has changed in last 15 years )

[Joseph McLaren]

I'd dispute UK pants being US shorts.
UK pants are usually underpants.
(unless usage has changed in last 15 years )

You're quite right, I've oversimplified. I've often seen underpants referred to in American shops as 'shorts', but the term is not exclusive.

[sathor]

You're quite right, I've oversimplified. I've often seen underpants referred to in American shops as 'shorts', but the term is not exclusive.

Were you confusing what we would call Boxer Shorts with Board Shorts and Swim Shorts? (That would make sense, its hard sometimes even for us to tell them apart.)

[KiltedKnome]

I moved from the United States (Texas) to a small coastal community in British Columbia in 1989. The 60-year-old receptionist at the hearing clinic was from England. One Wednesday, after a particularly chaotic morning, I remarked how glad I was that it was Hump Day. Elaine's face froze, and in a very icy voice, she remarked "Pardon". My response was "Don't you have Hump Days in Canada." Her retort, still icy and obviously disapproving, was "not officially." Others in the room, who understood the expression Hump Day to refer to Wednesday, the middle of the week, simply roared. She had taken the expression to mean something entirely different......which I leave to your imagination. It was the start of a good friendship, with a lot of chuckling over differences within the same language.

[Coinneach]

US: Rest area
UK: Lay-by

I've always remembered this one because my mother enjoyed telling the story of driving with a friend of hers when we lived in England. After some time, her friend, a little exasperated at having seen a number of the signs indicating the British rest area, wondered aloud, "when are we ever going to get to Layby" (which she pronounced Lay-bee).

[Tony]

UK Fortnight = US 2 weeks (and a "What da heck are you talking about?" look)

[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!!"

[cessna152towser]

UK = US
Car Park = Parking lot
Standing in a queue = Waiting in a line
cinema = movie theater
terrier = mutt
railway = railroad
guard's van = caboose
points or junction (railway) = switch
shunting engine = switcher
guide (museum) = docent
estate agent = realtor
tram = street car
trolley bus = trolley
pavement = sidewalk
promenade (seaside) = boardwalk
to walk = to promenade
aeroplane = airplane
seaplane = floatplane
holiday = vacation
timeshare = condominium
flat = apartment
cafe or restaurant = diner
befriended = frended
city centre = downtown
offence = misdemeanour
crime = felony
Procurator Fiscal = District Attorney
solicitor = attorney
prostitute = solicitor
(This is one I need to be particularly careful with - in Scotland I am designated as a retired solicitor, when visiting Canada or USA I need to remember to describe myself as a retired attorney!!!)

[Lachlan09]

UK = biscuit, US = cookie
UK = scone, US = biscuit
UK = tap, US = fawcet
UK = drawings, US = blueprints
UK = flat, US = apartment
UK = pavement, US = sidewalk
UK = boot, US = trunk
UK = bonnet, US = hood
UK = windscreen, US = windshield
UK = tyres, US = tires
UK = pack of butter, US = stick of butter
UK = frying pan, US = skillet
UK = plain flour, US = all-purpose flour
UK = lard, US = shortening
UK = turnip, US = rutabaga
UK = spring onion, US = green onion
UK = courgette, US = zucchini
UK = aubergine, US = eggplant

[Jordan]

Jocks was deffinatly the best laugh ive had all day.

Cessna i would love to see the looks on peoples faces if you forgot whilst meeting our american neighbours, im sure it would be quite something

Jordan