English variants that cause confusion
POSTED BY: Eloisa
UPDATED: Monday, October 9, 2006 11:31
VIEWED: 8402
PAGE 1 of 3
Following an exchange on Phoenixrose's lovely grammar thread, it seems that a note of odd differences between UK, US and potentially other (Australian?) varieties of English could be very useful round here, simply in terms of making some of what we read in people's fan fiction more comprehensible. Most people are familiar with various words being spelt differently in different areas - one possible exception being spelt, burnt etc, which are past continuous variants in British English that I've known to confuse Americans - but what is less clear in many cases is when words or phrases mean different things in different areas or are completely country-dependent. As a result I'm starting this thread.
I invite all of you to participate as much as you would like. I'm going to start the ball rolling with a few examples, some of which you will know and others you (hopefully) may not.
***
The one that caused so much confusion on the other thread was quite, which is used in the UK in, as I understand, the same way that "rather" is used in US (and UK) English - its standard definition is slightly but in an ironic sense it can also mean surprisingly greatly and extremely, the latter being closer to the US usage. As this is dependent upon tone of voice, it is something that will come across very badly in internet fiction, but also fails to work in other contexts. I was slightly aggrieved when my sister's American boyfriend first told me my cooking is "quite good", for instance, as his tone of voice had indicated "so-so" instead of "very good", which is what he'd meant.
In the UK, to knock someone up means to wake them up, whereas in the US it means to make them pregnant.
In the UK, a pound sign is £, our currency symbol. I understand that in the US it can mean #.
To be pissed in the UK is to be drunk, although it can be used in the US sense of being angry.
UK braces, as well as things that children wear on their teeth to straighten them, are US suspenders.
UK suspenders are US garter belts.
UK breeches are US knickers.
UK knickers are US panties.
This combination causes hilarity at fencing sessions when US gentlemen are heard to refer to the state of the suspenders on their knickers.
On the radio earlier, I heard a south-eastern Briton use shocking to mean good. This is not a common usage at present; shocking normally means bad.
The wonderful old chestnut, familiar to all readesr of Bill Bryson:
A flan in the UK is a tart in the US (though tart is used in the same way in the UK too).
A tart in the UK is a tramp in the US.
A tramp in the UK is a bum in the US.
A bum in the UK is a fanny in the US.
A fanny in the UK is "the place where God split her" in H. Washburne-speak.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
All good (and funny!) points to consider. I'm fairly good at converting to Britspeak in my head but I always get thrown by a reference to pants.
Yes, I know that in the US pants are trousers. Unfortunately my subconcious doesn't. I therefore recently read a story where Simon was leaning against a bulkhead in slightly rumpled pants and WHam! There was that image of him in Y fronts that just wouldn't be dislodged. I had to go and have a lie down!
I know it's silly (especieally since Sean has recently confessed to being a boxers or nothing kind of guy!) but it's one language difference I just can't get over!
___________________
Hissssssssss!
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Well
Try explaining to the newly arrived in the UK American parish Priest why your 4 year old needs a flask (US thermos) and a rubber(US eraser) for school.
edited to add
UK US
footpath sidewalk
motorway highway or interstate
junction highway exit
crisp chip
bisquit cookie
scone bisquit
crumpet english muffin
lift elavator
push chair stroller
child minder babysitter (my UK friend
said "we don't sit on babies
here")
dole (spelling?) welfare
lorry truck
jacket potato baked potato
----
Bestower of Titles, Designer of Tshirts, Maker of Mottos, Keeper of the Pyre
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I'm English and I think I speak far too much American now... 
Quote:
Originally posted by Eloisa:
A bum in the UK is a fanny in the US.
A fanny in the UK is "the place where God split her" in H. Washburne-speak.
That reminds me of The Office (UK)
[On hearing Dawn's going to America and advises she keeps travellers cheque in a bumbag]
Keith: Word of warning...Out there...they call them 'fanny packs'......'Cause a fanny means your arse over there.........not your minge."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Sean.... *melts into a puddle*
FMF, I get the reference to a "rubber" (condom), but what does the word "flask" mean in US English?
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
And speaking of posteriors...
UK= Arse ,, US= Ass
UK= Ass '' US= Donkey
UK= Tube '' US= Subway
UK= Subway ''US= Underground walkway
UK= Carpark '' US= Parking lot
UK= Zebra crossing ,, US= Crosswalk
UK= Bird {slang} ,, US chick {slang} (Sland use in reference to a girl or young woman not the creatures with feathers 
)
UK pronunciation for last letter of alphabet is "Zed."
US Pronunciation for last letter of alphabet is "Zee."
UK spelling is "realise." ,, US spelling is "realize."
UK spelling for : colour ,, US spelling for : color
see also: Favour/favor, flavour/flavor, honour/honor, etc.
UK spelling for aluminium (pronounced al-u-MIN-e-um);; US spelling for aluminum ( pronounced ah-lum-in-um)
This is what I'm remembering right now...except for:
Rude gesture.... UK peace sign turned around (ie: back of hand facing in fist towards recipient, first and middle fingers extended)
Rude gesture (aka: "the bird").... US fist, except for middle digit which is extended up, back of hand facing recipient.
Yep, that's it for now.
*******
RMMC
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
We call it a thermos. A flask to us you put a little brandy or such in and carry in your pocket.
Oh and one time when I first got to the UK, I went into a shop in the high street and asked for a fanny pack.
edit - RMMC you forgot one! Pelican crossing or Pedestiran Lighted Zebra crossing. We don't have those here. Just WALK signs that make an annoying noise :)
Could not understand the look I was getting!
And to all the US peeps, the C word was used a lot by my british friends until I explained it meant fanny to us.
----
Bestower of Titles, Designer of Tshirts, Maker of Mottos, Keeper of the Pyre
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by FutureMrsFIllion:
edit - RMMC you forgot one! Pelican crossing or Pedestiran Lighted Zebra crossing. We don't have those here. Just WALK signs that make an annoying noise :)
I hadn't seen nor heard those when I've been there, but then I was last in England 12 years ago.
I think I'm kinda happy I hadn't heard those things, from the sounds of it. *giggle*
There are more, but they're rather rude language, and I was trying to keep it on the somewhat cleaner side of life. Yeah, it's a first, what can I say?
EDIT I just remembered, thanks to reviewing your post
UK Chemist ;; US Pharmacist/Pharmacy/Drug Store
UK High Street ;; US Main Street
********
RMMC
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Wow, I didn't know a lot of these.
Here's some I do know, though:
A "fringe" in the UK is "bangs" in the US (to us a 'fringe' might be the bits of thread sticking out around a pillow or curtains, or a dress or jacket)
A "bun" in the UK is a "donut" in the US. (At least I'm pretty sure.)
A "queue" in the UK is a "line" in the US.
That's all I can remember.
Hey, here's a nifty site I just found:
http://english2american.com/dictionary/wholelot.html
Might make things easier. Trying to find a similar site for American to English.
Here's a quick one that's not all that in-depth: http://www.relojournal.com/apr96/gloss.htm
http://www.bigdamnthankyou.com - show Universal your gratitude!
The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows. - Gautama Siddharta
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
UK Doughnut for US donut
UK fit for US hot (sexy, but we use both)
If we go on accents next rather than standard English, we get a whole lot more...
My Geordie dialect (which I never use):
netty/bog for toilet
toon for town
lashed/mortalled for drunk
I'm not an expert so that's the most I can think of before my brain starts hurting.
Not a spelling difference but Lieutenant is pronounced Left-tennant in UK.
But I think the English are getting Americanised with TV...no more US shows!... 
Oh wait... No more US shows except for Firefly!... And more Badger!
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME