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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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)
