Lost in Translation--US vs UK English words

[Coinneach]

US: Rest area
UK: Lay-by

I've always remembered this one because my mother enjoyed telling the story of driving with a friend of hers when we lived in England. After some time, her friend, a little exasperated at having seen a number of the signs indicating the British rest area, wondered aloud, "when are we ever going to get to Layby" (which she pronounced Lay-bee).

[KiltedKnome]

I moved from the United States (Texas) to a small coastal community in British Columbia in 1989. The 60-year-old receptionist at the hearing clinic was from England. One Wednesday, after a particularly chaotic morning, I remarked how glad I was that it was Hump Day. Elaine's face froze, and in a very icy voice, she remarked "Pardon". My response was "Don't you have Hump Days in Canada." Her retort, still icy and obviously disapproving, was "not officially." Others in the room, who understood the expression Hump Day to refer to Wednesday, the middle of the week, simply roared. She had taken the expression to mean something entirely different......which I leave to your imagination. It was the start of a good friendship, with a lot of chuckling over differences within the same language.

[Cavebear58]

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[RB51]

With a nod to the KiltedKnome's post, when I was just out of high school I worked for a large company, one employee of whom was a very proper middle-aged (to my young eyes) English lady. She needed a ride to work one morning, and having determined that she was pretty much on the route I took, asked if I could knock her up in the morning. Being hormonally driven in those days, I recall spewing my mouthfull of coffee, and great hilarity ensuing in the lunch room.

[Tony]

UK Fortnight = US 2 weeks (and a "What da heck are you talking about?" look)

[cessna152towser]

UK = US
Car Park = Parking lot
Standing in a queue = Waiting in a line
cinema = movie theater
terrier = mutt
railway = railroad
guard's van = caboose
points or junction (railway) = switch
shunting engine = switcher
guide (museum) = docent
estate agent = realtor
tram = street car
trolley bus = trolley
pavement = sidewalk
promenade (seaside) = boardwalk
to walk = to promenade
aeroplane = airplane
seaplane = floatplane
holiday = vacation
timeshare = condominium
flat = apartment
cafe or restaurant = diner
befriended = frended
city centre = downtown
offence = misdemeanour
crime = felony
Procurator Fiscal = District Attorney
solicitor = attorney
prostitute = solicitor
(This is one I need to be particularly careful with - in Scotland I am designated as a retired solicitor, when visiting Canada or USA I need to remember to describe myself as a retired attorney!!!)

[Lachlan09]

UK = biscuit, US = cookie
UK = scone, US = biscuit
UK = tap, US = fawcet
UK = drawings, US = blueprints
UK = flat, US = apartment
UK = pavement, US = sidewalk
UK = boot, US = trunk
UK = bonnet, US = hood
UK = windscreen, US = windshield
UK = tyres, US = tires
UK = pack of butter, US = stick of butter
UK = frying pan, US = skillet
UK = plain flour, US = all-purpose flour
UK = lard, US = shortening
UK = turnip, US = rutabaga
UK = spring onion, US = green onion
UK = courgette, US = zucchini
UK = aubergine, US = eggplant

[EagleJCS]

UK = US
prostitute = solicitor
(This is one I need to be particularly careful with - in Scotland I am designated as a retired solicitor, when visiting Canada or USA I need to remember to describe myself as a retired attorney!!!)

Actually, most places 'round here (Midwest US) call a common prostitute a 'hooker' or 'streetwalker'. There are also 'escorts', which is a higher-class - or at least more expensive - type of prostitute. Hookers are arrested/charged with 'solicitation'. (In the UK, a 'hooker' is one of the players in rugby, no?)

'Solicitors' in this area, on the other hand, are door-to-door salespeople offering a variety of goods and/or services. "No soliciting" is a commonly posted sign in areas where these kinds of salespeople are not wanted.


Another one:
(UK) fancy dress = (US) costume - as in Halloween or costume party

[Inchessi]

UK = US


seaplane = floatplane

I and my associates have all ways referred to "Seaplanes" as Ducks.

[O'Callaghan]

UK = US


Procurator Fiscal = District Attorney

However, as I'm sure you know, you only have a Procurator Fiscal in Scotland. I think it's closer to a French Juge d'Instruction than anything in English or American law.

Not a lawyer myself. I'm a US patent agent but a British citizen.