Lost in Translation--US vs UK English words

[English Bloke]

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.

Absolutely the best laugh of the day Jock!!

[james a. husky]

I'm still getting use to the unusual (for the internet anyway) level of civility here, so please forgive me if I transgress...

In high school, a lovely sloe-eyed, long-haired young lady from Bath (Jennie Thornton was her name...(she was attending school here in the states) asked me to "knock her up"... It was a split second before I was able (in my mind) to translate that into: "Drop by the house sometime"!

Later in life, a delightful ex-patriate who had lived in England for 18 years replied (when I asked if she wanted me to "lock the door") "Yes, lock the door"... When she wanted to get back in for her keys, we each realized the difference between "lock the door" in Cambridge and "lock the door in Jupiter, Fl.!!! I redeemed myself by extracting an air conditioner from a garage wall and dropping headfirst into a pile of laundry, whereafter I opened the front door and let her in!!! Diane was graciousness and femininity extrodinaire!

There have been others (I seem to gravitate to "Mad 'Bu'rd' Flu"), but I can't think of them (or they've been confusions of "naughty" terms).

Jim aka kiltiemon (Brits and Americans... Two peoples separated by a common language)

[thescot]

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.

That was really good.

One other little difference:

Marines: trousers
Sailors and women: pants.

[Standard]

My sister and brother-in-law and her family are living in Belgium. Their two small children are attending an English school. She likes to tell the story about the day their son came home from first grade and announced that that you should always have a rubber in case you make a mistake.

[Cavebear58]

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[Cavebear58]

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[pdcorlis]

Here's a few...

UK = US

Aerial = Antenna
Car Park = Parking Lot
Cat Eyes = Reflectors
Flyover = Overpass
Indicators = Turn Signals
Petrol = Gas
Tarmac = Asphalt
Aubergine = Eggplant

Biscuit = Cookie
Jam = Jelly
Jelly = Jello
Rocket = Arugula

Torch = Flashlight
Hoover = Vacuum
Queue = Line
Mobile (phone) = Cell (Phone)
Toilet = Restroom
Trainers = Sneakers
Jumper = Sweater

[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.)