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English vs. American terms....

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HAnn521 | 17:00 Thu 30th Jun 2005 | Phrases & Sayings
36 Answers

Since I have joined the crew here at AB, I have noticed some of the funniest differences in wording!...

Examples:

Brit-queue / America- line

Brit- fag / America- cigarette ("fag" in America is a hateful term for a homosexual, or "gay" person)

Brit- pub / America- bar

Brit- chips / America- fries ("chips" here would only be potato chips such as Lays brand or corn chips such as Fritos or Tostitos brand)

I find this amusing, can anyone give me more?!

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How about: Batman, US = Caped Crusader, UK = Manservant. US + UK 2 countries separated by a common language.
Keep up Loosehead, I've already said that

Suspenders

and more mishievously, freedom,

in England -what we have in Northern ireland

and in America, what they have in Iraq

OK too political

or head of state?

In England we have a monkey

and in America, isnt it a pity its not Clinton because then we could say it's an organ grinder.

Ok I admit I think I am on the wrong thread...

we forgot one......  in uk we say dummy (as in for a baby) 

and in usa they say  'pacifier'

In Britain, an ass is a donkey, in the US it's the part of the anatomy used for sitting.

In Britain, a bum is the part of the anatomy used for sitting, in the US it's a vagrant.

In Britain, a tramp is a vagrant, in the US it's a woman of loose morals.

You're right, this IS rather fun.

The Americanisation of Harry Potter is desperate to be more correct, which adheres to American ways of speaking. They can't get away with saying, 'Are you the person I spoke to?' they will have to say, 'Are you the person with whom I conversed?'

The correction of 'large tawny owl' to 'large, tawny owl', following these pernickety self-imposed rules is wrong. The owl is not tawny as well as large. It's a tawny owl. And it's large.

Americans say 'retarded' where we would say 'learning difficulties'. In this case it fits.

American = Purse  British=Handbag
I read a book when I was little and they referred to nappies and napkins and YES before some smart alec asks, it was an american book
UK = trainers, US = sneakers
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OK, I've rated the answers that I thought stayed closest to the subject here and those that quite simply entertained me the most....

Thanks for participating everyone...

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