Lost in Translation--US vs UK English words

[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)

[dfmacliam]

LOL.. I was reminded by the stories... when a friend told me about when he first went to England, and was chatting up a guy.. and the other guy asked him to step outside and blow a fag...LOL.. my buddy said he dang near decked him....LOL

[MacLowlife]

Ectually, in South Carolina, the Solicitor is the prosecutor. One small town lady, though, was describing a new couple who had moved there, perhaps retaining more of their "big city " flash than people were ready for. Both spouses were lawyers, she explained, "He is a judge and she is a prostitute."

I find it amusing that both sides of the pond affect each other's slang as a form of supposed sophistication.

[Ruanaidh]

Then there's the quite innocent American "fanny" for the UK uh..uh.. somebody HELP!

[long_hand]

Things like this make me long for a cottage in the English country side...why oh why was I born an American? I so don't belong here.

[Bigkahuna]

The big thing for me whilst shopping in Orlando was when I asked for a medium. I pronounce it "mee-jum" in a broad Glaswegian accent. You guys say "mee-dee-um" - probably as it is supposed to be pronounced and it became my "new word" for the whole 2 weeks!

One addition to Alex's:
city centre = downtown
Most people on the East of Scotland call the city centre "uptown". Imagine a conversation between an Edinburger and a New Yorker about city planning!

Isn't a medium one of those gals who puts you in touch with your dead relatives?

[Bigkahuna]

Then there's the quite innocent American "fanny" for the UK uh..uh.. somebody HELP!

BUM:butt:

[sydnie7]

BUM

Close, but no cigar (did I say that?)

Ah, but it brings up another one. . .

Bum..... rumpus (to quote Alan H)
???..... bum, aka hobo, panhandler

[SteveB]

U.S. Passing lane = U.K. overtake
U.S. Rotary = U.K. Roundabout Here in Massachusetts we have a lot of these intersections.

U.S. Mechanic = U.K. Engineer
U.S. Eleven-thirty = U.K. half eleven.
U.S. Gearshift = U.K. Shifter

To add even more flavour, Americans can't spell.

[Phil]

This thread sounds familiar. here we go anyway -

UK --- US

toilet --- restroom
rubber --- eraser
underwear ---- intimate apparel
knickers ---- panties
immediately ---- momentarily
fortnight --- two weeks
jumper --- sweater
wellington boots --- galoshes
nappy --- diaper
tap --- faucet
.... and I could go on