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!!!!
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
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)
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?
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"Now here's my secret", said the fox, "it is very simple. It is only with ones heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."
("The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
"The soul would have no rainbow, if the eye had no tears." (Native American Proverb)
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.
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.
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!
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Unavoidably Detained by the World
"Irishness is not primary a question of birth or blood or language; it is the condition on being involved in the Irish situation, and usually of being mauled by it."-Conor Cruise O'Brien
Just about spot on Ed it's not general language over here but Cockney rhyming slang.
Treacle is the dark black stuff that we buy here - there is also a lighter one called Golden Syrup (yummy with your oats!) I've got both in my cupboard
Raven - yes baffies are slippers and it is a Scottish word.