· ACCOMMODATION in the sense of lodging is singular in English and plural in American English
· ADMIRALTY in Britain is the Navy Department in the U.S.
· AGRICULTURAL SHOW is a State or County Fair.
· AIRY-FAIRY means superficial in a disparaging sense and is roughly "fanciful"
· ALLOTMENT is a small rented area for growing vegetables or flowers away from you home.
· ANORAK is an Eskimo word for a windbreaker or parka.
· ANTI-CLOCKWISE is counter clockwise.
· ARTICULATED LORRY is a trailer truck.
· ASSISTANT - short for shop assistant - would be a salesclerk.
· AU PAIR is a foreign girl who lives as one of the family in return for helping with the children. Enables "foreign" girls to learn English in a family environment.
· AUBERGINE is an EGGPLANT
· BACKBENCHERS is a Member of the House of Commons who is not the Minister.
· BAD PATCH means a rough time
· BAGS OF is slang and means piles of - usually referring to money.
· BALACLAVA is a woolen helmet named after the site of a battle in the Crimean War
· BANGER is slang for a sausage
· BANK HOLIDAY is a LEGAL HOLIDAY in the U.S. Apart from Xmas they are all different in Britain
· BARGE POLE is a colloquialism for a ten-foot-pole
· BARRACK is to demonstrate noisily in public e.g. as in 'boo'
· BARRISTER is a TRIAL LAWYER
· BASH is to hit as in 'bang'
· BATH in Britain becomes BATHTUB in the US
· BATH OLIVER is a dry biscuit eaten with cheese
· BBC the British Broadcasting Corporation
· BEARSKIN is a high, black fur hat worn by Guardsmen
· BELT UP is slang for shut up
· BILL is what one asks the waiter for and in the US becomes CHECK
· BIRD is slang for 'girl' although in the US DAME would be closer
· BIRO is a ball-point pen
· BISCUIT is a CRACKER or a COOKIE
· BIT used where Americans would say "part"
· BITTER is a type of beer
· BLACK TIE is Mess dress or tuxedo
· BLOCK OF FLATS is an apartment building or high-rise tower block, or a large house converted to flats
· BLOKE slang for man
· BOBBY is a police officer
· BOG toilet
· BOG-ROLL toilet roll
· BOILER is the furnace
· BOLLARDS are barrels
· BONNET is HOOD when referring to your car
· BOOK as a verb to reserve rooms or theater seats
· BOOT is the TRUNK of your car
· BOOT SALE is a flea market or yard sale
· BOX television
· BOXING DAY is the first week-day after Christmas
· BRACES are SUSPENDERS which as an English word means GARTERS
· BRASS PLATE is the equivalent of a SHINGLE
· BUBBLES & SQUEAK is cooked cabbage and potatoes combined and fried
· BUILDING SOCIETY is a savings and loan
· BUMBAG is the same as our fanny pack
· BUNGALOW is a single story house detached house
· BUREAU is a writing desk with drawers and a lift-down flap
· CAB-RANK is a taxi-stand
· CALL-BOX is a telephone booth
· CAMIKNICKERS are teddies
· CAMP BED is a COT which in Britain is used for a baby's CRIB
· CANDYFLOSS is cotton candy
· CARAVAN is a trailer
· CAR PARK is a parking lot
· CASHIER is a TELLER
· CALICO is muslin
· CALOR GAS is bottled gas
· CASTOR SUGAR is finer than granulated sugar but not as fine as icing-sugar
· CATS EYES are surface road reflectors
· CHAR is slang for tea - the drink
· CHAT UP is slang for handling someone a line especially to get to know a girl
· CHEERS thanks; also used as a toast before drinking; also, "see you later"
· CHEMIST is a DRUG-STORE
· CHESTERFIELD is a sofa
· CHIPS are FRENCH FRIES
· CLINGFILM is Saran wrap
· CLOAKROOM is a half bath
· COACHES are buses
· COFFEE, WHITE, WITHOUT is coffee, cream, no sugar
· COLLEAGUE is a co-worker
· CONVENIENCE is a REST ROOM
· CONVEYANCING is buying or selling properties
· COOKER is a stove
· CORNFLOUR is cornstarch
· COSTUME is a swimsuit
· COURGETTE is a ZUCCHINI
· COT is a small child's bed or crib
· COTTAGE traditionally a pretty, quaint house in the country, perhaps with a thatched roof (although the name is stretched nowadays to encompass almost anything except a flat), may be detached or terraced
· COVER NOTE is an Insurance binder
· CRACKING great ("What a cracking bird!")
· CRICKET is a ball game to which Americans have no equal
· CRISPS are potato chips
· CUPBOARD in Britain is CLOSET in the US
· CURRENT ACCOUNT at a bank is a CHECKING ACCOUNT
· C.V. (CURRICULUM VITAE) is a resume
· DAME in Britain refers to a lady who has been knighted
· DAY-RETURN means a ROUND-TRIP ticket usually on the railway
· DEMERAEA sugar is the brown sugar usually on the tables in pubs, not at all like our baking brown sugar
· DETACHED is a house that stands alone, usually with its own garden
· DEVIATION is a detour
· DIARY is our calendar/date or appointment book
· DINNER JACKET is a TUXEDO
· DORMITORY is a multiple bedroom usually found in boarding schools and is NOT a barracks
· DRAUGHTS is the game of CHECKERS
· DRESS CIRCLE in the theater is the FIRST BALCONY
· DRESSING TABLE is the equivalent of the American DRESSER
· DRESSING GOWN is a ROBE or bathrobe
· DUAL CARRIAGEWAY is a DIVIDED HIGHWAY
· DUMMY is a pacifier
· DUSTBIN is a GARBAGE CAN
· DUSTMAN is a garbage collector
· DUVET is a eiderdown quilt
· EARLY-CLOSING is an infuriating custom of shops closing one afternoon a week
· EARTH as a verb and as an electrical term equals to GROUND a wire
· ELASTOPLAST is BAND-AID
· ELEVEN is a FOOTBALL or CRICKET TEAM (from the number of players)
· ENGAGED is what the operator says when the telephone line is BUSY
· ERNIE is 'electronic random number indicator equipment' and selects Premium Bond winners
· ESTATE AGENT is a REAL-ESTATE BROKER
· ESTATE CAR is a STATION WAGON
· EX-DIRECTORY is a UNLISTED TELEPHONE NUMBER
· EX-SERVICE MAN is a VETERAN
· FAG is a cigarette
· FANCY DRESS is costumes
· FANCY DRESS PARTY is a costumes party
· FEN is swampland or marsh
· FIRST FLOOR in a building is SECOND-FLOOR in the US
· FISH-FINGERS are FISH-STICKS
· FITTED applied to carpets means WALL-TO-WALL
· FIZZY DRINK is pop/soda
· FLAN is an open sponge or pastry case with a fruit or sweet filling
· FLANNEL is a face-cloth
· FLAT is an APARTMENT usually one floor
· FLEET STREET is a colloquialism for the PRESS
· FLEX is an electric cord
· FLY-OVER is an over-pass
· FOOTBALL is rugby, not American football
· FORTNIGHT means two weeks or fourteen nights
· FREE HOUSE associated with a Pub means it can sell any brand of beer it wishes, it is not linked to any specific brewery
· FRINGE (HAIR) is BANGS
· FULL STOP is the black dot at the end of a sentence called in the US a period
· GAMMON is ham
· GARDEN is the property outside a house which in the US is a YARD
· GATEAU is a type of layer cake
· GEARBOX is TRANSMISSION
· GEAR-LEVER is GEARSHIFT
· GEORDIE (pronounced JORDY) is a native of Tyneside and also the dialect he speaks
· GEYSER (GEEZER) is a water heater
· GIVE-WAY as a road sign means YIELD
· GLASS is CRYSTAL
· GONGS are slang for military medals
· GOVERNMENT means administration and refers to the people currently running the country
· GENERAL PRACTITIONER (GP) is a internist or doctor
· GREASPROOF PAPER is wax paper
· GREEN BELT is a no-building zone around a town or city
· GREENGROCER is a fruit/vegetable store
· GRILL as a verb is to BROIL
· GUILLOTINE is a paper-cutter
· GUMBOOTS are rubber boots
· GUMSHIELD is the same as a mouthgaurd
· GYMKHANA is a local Horse Show
· GYM SHOES are SNEAKERS
· HABERDASHERY is pins, needles, ribbons, thread etc.: and is what you ask for in a shop
· HAGGIS a traditional Scottish dish made from a sheep's inside
· HAIRDRESSER is a man or women's 'barber shop' or 'beauty shop'
· HAIRSLIDE is a barrette
· "HALF" when addressed to a bar-tender means a half-pint of beer
· HALF-TERM is a mid-term vacation of short duration
· HARD CHEESE is tough luck
· HAT TRICK is a cricket term for taking three wickets by three successive balls but it is often to any triple triumph
· HAVE-A-BASH means give it a try
· HAVE NO TIME FOR means to have a low opinion
· HESSIAN is burlap
· HIGH STREET preceded by 'the', is the American Main Street
· HIGH TEA served late in the afternoon usually contains a cooked item such as eggs or sausages - this is not to be confused with 'tea' or 'afternoon tea' which is merely a cup of tea with a cake or very small sandwich
· HIRE PURCHASE is to buy on an installment plan
· HOB is an installed gas, electric range top
· HOLIDAY is a vacation although the university still uses vacation for the time after term finishes
· HOMELY is simple or unpretentious and not the 'ugly' meant in America
· HOOD of a car is known as 'BONNET' in England but of a cloak or coat is still the same
· HOUSEMAN in a hospital is a doctor or 'intern' in America
· HOOVER is to vacuum
· HUNDREDWEIGHT is 112 pounds and 20 Hundredweight are in 1 ton
· HUNT an Englishman hunts fox or deer but shoots game birds or rabbits
· ICE on menus means ice-cream
· ICING SUGAR is similar to our powdered sugar
· IMMERSION TANK is a hot water heater in a house
· INTERVAL is an intermission
· IN TRAIN means coming along as in 'the work is progressing'
· IRONMONGER is a hardware shop
· JAB is a shot or immunization
· JAM is what Americans would call jelly
· JELLY is what they call Jell-O
· JERSEY is a sweater
· JOINT (of meat) as in Sunday Joint is a piece of roast meat
· JUMBLE SALE is a rummage sale
· JUMPER is a sweater (or woolly, or jersey), the American 'jumper' is a pinafore dress
· JUNCTION is an interchange on motorway
· KEDGEREE is a dish of fish, rice and eggs and often served at breakfast
· KETTLE (FOR HOB) is a tea kettle
· KIOSK can be a news-stand or a telephone box
· KIP sleep ("I could do with a kip" or "He's kipping on the sofa.")
· KITCHEN PAPER is paper towels
· KNAVE is a jack in playing cards
· KNICKERS underwear for women
· KNOCK BACK DOUGH is to punch down dough
· KNICKERS are ladies' underpants
· 'L' plates are large red 'L's which a person learning to drive must put on his car
· LACQUER is hair-spray
· LADDER in a stocking is a 'run' in America
· LADYBIRD is a lady bug
· LAGER is beer
· LANDLORD in a pub is the inn-keeper
· LARDER is a pantry
· LAY A TABLE is to set the table
· LAY-BY is a roadside parking area at the side of the road
· LEADER can be a newspaper editorial, the leading counsel of a team of lawyers or the first violinist in an orchestra but NOT the conductor as is popular in America
· LEMONADE is Sprite, 7UP
· LETTER-BOX is a mail-box
· LEVEL-CROSSING is a grade crossing
· LIFE GUARD is a member of a regiment of the Royal Household Cavalry
· LIFT is an elevator
· LINE on a railway means track
· LOO can be an 18th century card game or a lavatory or bathroom or whatever you wish to say
· LORRY is a truck
· LOUNGE SUIT is a business and NOT clothes for lounging in
· MAC is an abbreviation for macintosh or raincoat
· MAKING CONTACTS is networking
· MAGISTRATE is very close to a justice of the peace
· MAINS is an electric circuit box
· MAISONETTE is an apartment on 2 or more floors
· MAJORITY as a voting term this equals a 'plurality' in American terms
· MANCUNIAN is someone from Manchester
· MANGETOUT are snow peas
· MARKET many towns have a weekly market day with wares on stalls (booths) in the open air - the right to do so goes back hundreds of years & the AA book lists them all - so does a list available from my office
· MARROW is a very large zucchini
· MARTINI is vermouth - if you want a Dry Martini ash for a Gin & French
· MASH is mashed potatoes
· MATCH is what two sides play on a sports field and is equal to an American game
· MEAN is tight-fisted or stingy as opposed to the American 'cruel' or ill-tempered
· MEWS HOUSE is a hose that's converted from old stables or servants' lodging (usually 17th or 19th century) and is the town equivalent of a genuine cottage
· MINCE or MINCED MEAT from the butcher is chopped meat of hamburger however MINCEMEAT is chopped apples, raisins etc. Which goes into a mince pie
· MOOR is open land often with heather
· MOTORWAY is a Freeway
· MORNING TEA is often served in your hotel room before you go down to breakfast
· MUFFIN is a small, spongy cake served toasted and buttered - do NOT confuse with the American 'English Muffin' which does not exist in England.
· MUSLIN is cheesecloth in America but American 'muslin' is calico in England
· NAFF tacky
· NANNY is a child's nurse
· NAPPY, a corruption of napkin, is a diaper
· NETS are sheer curtains
· NEWSAGENT shop selling newspapers
· NOTECASE is a billfold
· NO ENTRY is wrong way (traffic sign)
· NO OVERTAKING is no passing
· NOTICEBOARD is a bulletin board
· NUMBER PLATE is a license plate
· OFF HIS ROCKER is out to lunch
· OFF LICENSE is a shop which can sell alcohol all day but it must be taken away or consumed 'off' the premises
· OFF-THE-PEG refers to 'ready-to-wear' clothes
· OPHTHALMIC OPTICIAN test eyesight, prescribe glasses, and diagnose eye diseases
· OPHTHALMIC MEDICAL PRACTITIONER treats eye diseases, test eyesight, prescribes lenses
· OUT OF BOUNDS is equivalent to the American term 'off-limits'
· OVERLEAF is the reverse side of a page as is P.T.O. (please turn over)
· OVERTAKE is a driving term meaning to pass another car
· OXBRIDGE is a portmanteau word for the ancient universities of Oxford and Cambridge
· P45 is a pink slip
· PANDA CAR is a small police car
· PANTOMINE has no American equivalent and is an English Christmas entertainment based on a fairy-tale with a lot of modern singing, dancing and humor - it is not mime
· PANTS are underpants in American - the English equivalent of American pants is trousers
· PARAFFIN is kerosene - American 'paraffin' is paraffin wax or white wax
· PASTRY CASE is a pie crust
· PASTY is an individual pie as in Cornish Pasty
· PAVEMENT is sidewalk
· PERAMBULATOR shortened usually to 'pram' is a baby-carriage
· PETROL is gasoline
· PILLAR BOX or POST BOX is a mail-box and its painted red not blue
· PLAIT is a braid when applied to girls' hair
· PLASTER is a band-aid
· PLIMSOLLS are shoes such as American deckshoes
· PLONK (SLANG) is wine
· PORRIDGE is oatmeal
· POLYFILLA is spackle compound
· POPPERS are snaps
· PUDDINGS (the term) can be used to group all desserts whether it is cake, pie, ice-cream, custards. British puddings are not like our custard type "Jell-O" pudding
· PRANG (in a car) is a fender bender
· PREMIUM BOND is a Government Lottery Bond which has no interest
· PROVISION is accrual
· PUB is a public house which is a bar with an English atmosphere which cannot be defined in this small space - go an see one
· PUB WITH ROOMS - is similar to an inn
· PUSH-CHAIR is a child's stroller
· PYLON is a high tension tower
· QUEUE as a verb it means to stand in line - and woe betide you if you cut in
· QUID (slang) is a one pound note
· RED INDIAN means an American Indian - 'Indian' alone means a native of India
· REDUNDANT is to be released from a job
· REEL is a spool
· REFUSE COLLECTOR is a garbage man
· REGISTER OFFICE is a marriage clerk's office
· REMEMBRANCE DAY is November 11 or the nearest Sunday and is Veteran Day in America
· RESIDENT is the name for a person registered at a hotel
· RETURN TICKET is a round-trip ticket on a train or bus
· RING ROAD is a circular route around a town
· RING UP is to telephone
· ROAD WORKERS is road construction or road repair
· ROUNDABOUT is a traffic control or a merry-go-round
· RUBBISH is garbage
· RUCKSACK is a backpack
· RUNNER BEANS are string beans
· SACK is to be fired from a job
· SCONE is an American soda biscuit and its eaten with butter and often jam and cream
· SCOTCH EGG is a hard-boiled egg in sausage meat
· SELLOTAPE is scotchtape
· SEMI-DETACHED is a duplex or two-family house
· SEND DOWN means to expel from University although it may indicate only a temporary absence
· SERVIETTE is a napkin
· SHANDY is a drink made from beer and lemonade
· SHEPHERD'S PIE is a dish made from minced beef and potatoes
· SILENCER of a car is the muffler
· SISTER in a hospital is the head nurse of a ward
· SLAP-UP four-star, excellent-refers to food
· SLATE is to express a harsh criticism
· SLIPROAD onto a motorway is a ramp
· SOLICITOR is an attorney
· SPONGE BAG is a toilet kit
· SPONGE FINGER is a long, soft, sweet cake or 'lady-finger'
· SPROUTS is Brussels sprouts
· SQUASH is a fruit drink
· STALL in a market is a 'booth' but in a theater is an orchestra seat
· STARTER is an appetizer
· STONE referring to weight is 14 pounds
· SUBWAY is a pedestrian underpass
· SUMMERTIME is when daylight saving time is in effect
· SUPER means 'terrific' i.e. splendid
· SURGICAL SPIRIT is rubbing alcohol
· SURGERY is a doctor's office
· SUSPENDERS are garters
· SWEETS are candy
· SWISS ROLL is a jelly roll
· TA informal thank you
· TABLE the verb means to submit for discussion (the reverse of its American meaning)
· TAILBACK is a line of traffic
· TAKEAWAY is carryout
· TALLBOY is a highboy
· TAP is faucet
· TARMAC is pavement
· TATTY is shabby
· TEAT is a nipple for baby's bottle
· TERM is one of the three educational parts of the year - roughly like a semester
· TERRACE HOUSES is a row of 3 or more usually 2 or 3 stories high
· THEATRE in a hospital is the operating room
· THIRD PARTY INSURANCE is liability insurance
· TIGHTS are pantyhose
· TIN as a food container is a can
· TOAD-IN-A-HOLE is a dish of sausage 'bangers' in batter
· TO PINCH is to steal
· TORCH flashlight
· TORY is a member of the Conservative party
· TRAINERS are sneakers
· TROUSERS are slacks
· TUBE in the subway
· TWEE is arty
· UNDERDONE referring to meat is rare
· VACUUM FLASK is a thermos bottle
· VAN is a small truck
· VAT is Value-Added Tax. Similar to sales tax in the states
· VERGE (OF ROAD) is the shoulder
· VEST is an undershirt in Britain not the American meaning of a 'waistcoat'
· VILLAGE is a small town without a mayor and usually with under 3,000 people. In the UK can be a handful of houses with a church and a pub, or a larger settlement with shops and community center
· WASHING UP LIQUID is dishwashing liquid
· WASHING UP POWDER is laundry soap
· WC stands for "water closet", in other words, the toilet
· WELLINGTONS are rubber boots named after the Duke of Wellington
· WHISKY is Scotch
· WHISKEY is Irish
· WHITEHALL is a collective word referring to the government because so many government offices are located around the road
· WHITE SPIRIT is alcohol
· WINDSCREEN is a windshield
· WING of a car is the fender
· WIRELESS is the original term for radio and is often used by older people
· WOOLLY is a sweater
· WRITTEN OFF (CAR) is "totalled"
· ZEBRA CROSSING is a striped pedestrian crossing
· ZED is the letter 'z' (or "zee" as pronounced in American English)
