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Celtic Radio Community > Ye Ole Celtic Pub - Open all day, all night! > Usa To Uk English |
Posted by: zeryx 19-Aug-2006, 11:28 AM |
I was just chuckling at my friend telling me about her 8 year old son shocking a shop assistant in USA by going in to buy a rubber - he meant an eraser and didn't realise over there you generally refer to it as an eraser and a rubber means something else to most people!! So it made me think - what other things can you think that we use different words for? Quickly I can think of some of the ones I've discussed with my American friend: USA - UK sidewalk - pavement car trunk - car boot eraser - rubber |
Posted by: Dogshirt 19-Aug-2006, 01:49 PM |
Generator-Dynamo Driveline- propelor shaft tires - tyres I used to own an MG and the book I bought for maintainance was British. It was harder than hell to figure out ANYTHING! |
Posted by: TheCarolinaScotsman 19-Aug-2006, 03:37 PM |
I remember seeing a copy of a UK ad for "Fags, great balls of goodness". Evidently, in UK, fags are meatballs; in USA, it is a slang term for someone with a different gender preference. |
Posted by: gaberlunzie 19-Aug-2006, 03:45 PM |
railroad - railway gas - petrol trash - rubbish suspenders - braces subway - underground, tube elevator - lift appartment - flat french fries - chips ..... |
Posted by: zeryx 19-Aug-2006, 04:00 PM | ||
not quite ... fags are either cigarettes or someone with a different gender preference - you are speaking of faggots - they are very yummy meatballs |
Posted by: TheCarolinaScotsman 19-Aug-2006, 04:27 PM | ||
Faggots... still a "different" gender in USA. Here, "faggots" would enjoy "yummy meat balls". |
Posted by: marti64 19-Aug-2006, 04:31 PM |
UNITED STATES ................................. UK zee(last letter in alphabet) .............. zed sneakers ..................................... trainers pacifier.......................................... dummy wrench..............................................spanner flashlight ...................................... torch draughts ..................................... checkers |
Posted by: zeryx 19-Aug-2006, 04:34 PM | ||
ROFLMAO |
Posted by: Aaediwen 19-Aug-2006, 04:51 PM |
I assume the reversed meanings of 'Driveway' and 'Parkway' are accurate Isn't there a host of different terms used to refer to the police? I can think of a few I've heard, but I don't pretend to say they aren't just either stereotypes or me getting lines crossed. And not to sound racist (Especially against a people I so admire), but is anyone an an area where a police squad car is referred to as a paddywagon? I've heard of the term, and heard it in stories or songs. But never heard anyone actually use it. Also, what we refer to as chips here in the States, are crisps across the pond then there's tap vs faucet or spigot. |
Posted by: birddog20002001 19-Aug-2006, 04:56 PM |
usa - uk hood- bonnet |
Posted by: zeryx 19-Aug-2006, 05:07 PM | ||||||
To me a driveway is where you park your car off the road, in a part of your garden (which you apparently call your yard). A parkway would be something I'd refer to as a road name, not a term I'm particularly familiar with.
Not something I use either ... but there's a bit about the term here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddywagon |
Posted by: Aaediwen 19-Aug-2006, 05:39 PM | ||||
Yup, apparently our definitions of driveway are the same then. And yes, it's generally a paved, concrete, or gravel area in the yard ('lawn' is a term also used). A parkway is a limited access highway, often at least initially a toll road (Although several of the ones in Kentucky have had the toll removed once they are paid for). Also, the parkways I'm aware of (Bluegrass Parkway from Winchester West, and William B. Nunn Parkway paralleling 80 out of Somerset to Bowling Green, soon to become part of Interstate 66), are completely within one state. |
Posted by: zeryx 19-Aug-2006, 05:44 PM |
A lawn to me is the grass in your garden I'm not aware of any roads in the UK that would match your 'parkway' description ... we have toll roads such as bridges and parts of busier motorways |
Posted by: Aaediwen 20-Aug-2006, 01:08 AM |
Trunk instead of boot Also, I just thought of an error in my earlier post. BG Parkway goes East out of Winchester.... Dunno what I was smoking earlier. And considering I'll be on that road here in a few hours, I'd better know where it goes |
Posted by: gaberlunzie 20-Aug-2006, 06:14 AM |
American businessmen tend to use the term "bird" as an airplane. As in 'I just got off the bird this morning'. In Britain "bird" means a girl - another one to get you into trouble! Another great phrase is "keep your pecker up", very British and more or less means "be positive/keep your head up". In the US it is down right rude as 'pecker' refers to the male anatomy. In the U.S. "flitting" is used when moving house - as in "I'm flitting". I am sure in the South of England this would be confused with the term "moonlight flit" which means leaving without paying your bills.!!! "Durex" in the U.K. is a make of "condom", whereas, I believe in the UK and Australia this is a self adhesive tape - NOW THAT COULD GET YOU INTO TROUBLE!!!! |
Posted by: zeryx 20-Aug-2006, 11:09 AM | ||
yes I'd heard about the Durex name in Australia being for sticky tape too I believe here in the UK the term 'flitting' to mean moving is more common in the Yorkshire/Lancashire areas but it is used I've just been reminded of another one whilst reading a thread on here. Over in the US you call trousers 'pants' ... here 'pants' are your underwear |
Posted by: Madadh 21-Aug-2006, 04:15 AM |
When I was stationed in England, they gave us a list of US to UK phrases to try and help us avoid misunderstandings. I will try and get the list here, but some of my favorites pairs are: US UK 1) Pants Trousers Underwear Pants 2) Suspenders Braces Garters Suspenders (Used for nylons) |
Posted by: dundee 21-Aug-2006, 08:39 AM |
dang the only one i can think of besides shag= ahhhhhhhhh...... ummmmmm (thanks to austin powers) is bum = a..... i mean buttocks do they still use the term pate for head? |
Posted by: gaberlunzie 21-Aug-2006, 01:11 PM | ||
I think so, there is the word "rattle - pate" ... If you are an American guy named Randy and you want to introduce yourself to a British lady, please NEVER start with "I'm Randy" as "randy" means "horny"....could cause some confusion at least, eh? |
Posted by: stoirmeil 21-Aug-2006, 01:35 PM |
Heh heh -- I remember shocking a scottish friend once buy using the word "boner," which here means (or can mean) a really stupid, wrongheaded mistake that should have been prevented. That's not what he thought it meant, though. |
Posted by: sisterknight 21-Aug-2006, 03:33 PM |
I've got one that my grandmother used alot........knock you up......it meant knock on my bedroom door to wake me.... another was her dooryard...it meant her front yard she loved her spotted dick(i'll leave you to figure that one yourselves!!! ), then there was always bangers and mash.....treacle pie was another |
Posted by: Aaediwen 21-Aug-2006, 05:50 PM |
That's another one I've been wondering about since I first heard the Castles of Gold CD. What on God's Green Earth is Treacle??????????????? Best I can figure by context on that CD is some kind of jam or preserves. |
Posted by: Dogshirt 21-Aug-2006, 05:57 PM |
Treacle is molasses.Another difference! |
Posted by: Aaediwen 21-Aug-2006, 06:43 PM |
ohh, ok. thanks. Not something I'll be running out to find, personally. Never been a fan of the stuff. It's neat to watch being made though. |
Posted by: stoirmeil 21-Aug-2006, 06:57 PM |
There's different weights of it. The really heavy dark stuff is bitter and strange. It adds something indefinable bue necessary to the flavor of other things, though. I wouldn't make a bran muffin without it. There's "cookie" and "biscuit" too. To me, a biscuit is a short dough kind of bread, not a sweet. |
Posted by: Dogshirt 21-Aug-2006, 08:31 PM |
And a truck is a lorry. Never figured that one out. |
Posted by: Raven 21-Aug-2006, 08:44 PM |
This may be Scottish specific UK - US Baffies - Slippers |
Posted by: Roberto Phoenix 21-Aug-2006, 09:53 PM |
Friends of mine were discussing language barriers over at another forum. One of our members who is actually from England sent us this. Of course if you want a bit of fun how about this for language.. see if you can translate without looking it up or googling it! The old trouble and strife went down the frog and toad in the jam jar, and upon returning went straight up the apples and pears to sheet street blanket hill..I was relieved I can tell you! |
Posted by: Dogshirt 21-Aug-2006, 11:06 PM |
The wife went down the road in the car. When she got back, went straight up the stairs to bed. How close did I get? |
Posted by: zeryx 22-Aug-2006, 12:06 AM |
Just about spot on Ed it's not general language over here but Cockney rhyming slang. http://www.sugarindia.com/treacle.htm is the dark black stuff that we buy here - there is also a lighter one called http://www.sugarindia.com/golden.htm (yummy with your oats!) I've got both in my cupboard Raven - yes baffies are slippers and it is a Scottish word. The subject of Scottish dialect and words is a totally different topic!! but you may enjoy browsing this site! http://www.firstfoot.com/php/glossary/phpglossar_0.8/index.php?letter=* |
Posted by: Madadh 22-Aug-2006, 04:09 AM |
It has always been said of the US and UK, that we are two peoples separated by a common language. |