London Local Custom Tips by Elena_007

American English PART 1

Theses are a few English to American translations.

Yes, there IS a difference. I was amazed at our differences in general conversations, and often had to admit that I was an American, and didn't understand. (much to their amusement). Although the opposite was true as well, because after I would explain the American equivalent, my friends in the UK had never heard of such, either.

Anyroad, (American meaning, Anyway) I have a funny little story to tell ...

I was speaking with someone from England on the telephone, and he really needed to go to the restroom. AKA: "loo." I said to him, "We can speak later, go, to the loo." Then I burst into laughter because I thought of the American saying, "Toodle loo!", meaning, "Goodbye." He couldn't understand WHY I was laughing at him for needing to go to the loo, and thought I must be daft. Then, I told my son the tale, and he didn't understand what was so funny, because he had no clue of what was a "loo." After I explained the differences in our dialect, he also found it to be quite amusing, and now tells the story to his friends.

I have put together a little "Dictionary" for your entertainment, of words that I actually heard whilst in England, some of which I wondered, "What?!?"

afters (sometimes called pudding): dessert eaten after a meal, hence the name.

bin (actually dustbin shortened): trash can, a container in which to properly dispose of litter or rubbish.

car park: a parking lot, an area designed as a place to park your vehicle.

dressing gown: equivelant to an American robe worn around the house before getting properly dressed.

elastoplast (or sometimes referred to as plaster): American band-aid for covering minor cuts (wounds) to stop the bleeding, and keep out germs.

fag: cigarette (See the following web-site for a hilarious explanation)

Want a fag?

Website: http://www.english2american.com

More American Observations in England

When someone says they are on the blower, it means they are on the telephone.

A teller is the cashier at any shop, not just a bank teller, as in America.

A game of Bat is known as Table Tennis or Ping Pong in the US.

A game of Rounders is a baseball game.

A public school in England is known as a County Counsel school.

If a student offers you glue, he or she is referring to chewing gum.

English are taught maths, as Americans learn math.

A tap is the faucet, (hot and cold) and also, a tap is used for dispensing fine ales and such, like Guinness, served in pubs everywhere in England. In America, there is usually only one tap with hot, cold or warm running water. In England, I noticed there are mostly two. There is no warm water, because there are mostly either hot or cold taps.

Taking the Mickey? Who / What? Mickey Mouse?

You really are taking the mickey, aren't you?

A way of making lighthearted fun of someone in a particular situation, similar to, "You must be joking!"

As an example, I used to not answer the phone, (on purpose) when a certain English gentleman rang, only because I knew he would leave a message, and I could hear his dashing voice again later.

Only he knew at the time, I was expecting his call, so his message would be... "You really are taking the mickey, now aren't you, sitting there with the phone in your hand, thinking I will leave a message!"

There is a slightly different phrase meaning the same thing, a bit more rude, but meant in a joking sort of way. Beyond taking the mickey, there is taking the p*ss, and is often used in general conversations in England.

See Definition

http://www.english2american.com/dictionary/t.html#taking

Being pissed in England means being drunk, not mad or angry, and p*ss artists are known to have aquired the art of being nearly constantly pissed. (drunk)

Of course we both share the other meaning, to urinate, but if you were to say to an America, "I'm pissed!" it would seem almost like fighting words, and you may be told to calm down, don't let it upset you, etc.

Being mad in England isn't angry at all. It is meant as silly, crazy, daft, over the top, insane, etc.

It could be said in a friendly tone, such as, "Are you mad, woman?" to someone wanting to set the alarm, just to see if the sun will rise, instead of rain clouds, whilst on holiday (vacation).

Or, it could be taken to the other extreme by saying something like, "That dreadful bloke just killed his own Mum, He's mad, I tell you, absolutely mad!"

It is said, that if you hear a word you have no clue of it's meaning, more than likely it means "idiot" in a friendly sort of way. Insults are hilarious, it might seem in England. Mostly all in fun if amongst friends, though.

See the website below for the most commonly used insults circulating in the UK.

Website: http://www.english2american.com/dictionary/cat_insults.html

Pubs! Pubs, and More Pubs!

Pubs are a GIANT part of Londoners daily life. Pubs have a wonderful atmosphere with a much more intriguing aspect about them than any American bar scene. Locals come to relax, unwind with a nice meal, possibly with a good bitter, ale, or lager. Some even drink Jack Daniels (Tennessee Whisky), which REALLY surprised me!

There is definitely an abundance of "Old World charm" in most pubs in England. I am no expert pub crawler, by any means, and actually I am a lightweight when it comes to alcohol, but the attitude just seems to magically transform, almost instantaneously, upon entering a nice, friendly pub.

There is this awesome site I found when searching for the address of Wetherspoons in London. (See Restaurant Tips for info on Wetherspoons). You can search by the pub name, address, postcode, nearest tube station, etc. It is similar to VT as it has ratings and reviews from the patrons who visited the pubs. You may even refine your search to include extras such as Big screen TV's, dartboard, pool table, live music, Sunday roast dinner, car park, etc. The list is extensive, but those are a few basics.

Like VT, it is not neccessary to be a member to view the details. If you are looking for some information about a great pub in London, or anywhere else in the World, this will do all the work for you. All you need do is decide which pub best suits your taste.

Cheers!

P.S. For more details, please see my Nightlife tip.

Website: http://www.beerintheevening.com

American English PART 3 (The End)

queue: an orderly line of people patiently waiting their turn. In America, as well as the UK, it is only polite to respect the order of the queue (line). Please don't be rude!

rubbish: garbage or trash to be thrown away. (preferrably in a bin or trash receptacle)

shattered: either very tired, (similar to knackered) or emotionally drained, in a hopeless or helpless, depressed state of mind.

tea: UK- the evening meal or a cup of hot tea.
tea: USA- a cup of hot tea or a glass of iced tea.

underlay: the carpet padding underneath the carpet.

vest: UK- What Americans call an undershirt, T-shirt.
vest: USA- What Brits call a waistcoat.

wally: A friendly, joking way of calling someone silly, or daft.

yonks: a long time, either minutes, hours, or years, depending on use. (waiting for yonks)

zed: UK- the last letter of the alphabet, pronounced, "zed".
(Z): USA- same as above, only pronounced, "zee".

I once said, "Nice Z car!" but in the UK, it is a "Zed."

A bonus for some, an effort for others:

willie: UK- (Well, if you live in the UK, Surely, you know this one!)
willie: USA- A nickname for William or the dolphin in the film, "Free Willie."

If you are an American, and don't know, you will need to look it up in the dictionary provided below. (A treasury of little known differences in our "English" language(s), and humourous / humorous definitions throughout). I highly recommend this site for American English translations and a good laugh.

Another funny story, Someone from the UK told me once they had to go cook their tea. As an American, I asked,"Don't you just add water?"

In America, it is thought that tea is the kind you drink, not eat. I was then told I needed to learn how to cook properly!

Tea, as you now know is the evening meal,and preferably not instant. (just add water) I hope you have enjoyed this bit of information, Perhaps you've heard or will hear some of these sayings in the future.

More "TransAtlantic translations" listed alphabetically after the American Observations and Pubs tips.

Website: http://www.english2american.com

American English PART2

gutted: seriously disappointed or a feeling of despair.

homely: UK- comfortable and pleasant, such as a home should be.
homely: USA- Not very pretty, unkempt, or downright ugly even.

indicator(s): turn signal(s) or sometimes referred to as "blinkers."

jumper: a sweater (not the outdated over-all skirt thing), hence you will hear men saying they may need a jumper in case it turns cold.

knackered: completely exhausted after a hard day of work, or perhaps fun. (Another copyrighted explanation of it's dual meaning that you may want to check out before actually using it in conversation is below.) I would advise you take a look before you actually embarrass yourself in a foreign country, and not even know it. Click on the link or copy/paste URL into browser:

Curious?

http://www.english2american.com/dictionary/k.html#knackered

loo:the restroom, bathroom, ladie's / men's room, etc. In England, it is also known as the WC (And you will notice motorway signs and wonder possibly... WC?) It is a water closet! (funny to this American! Please see the following for a detailed explanation of the reasons for the name "loo." (And a good laugh!)

To the loo

http://www.english2american.com/dictionary/l.html#loo

mean: UK- cheap, as in being a miser with money.
mean: USA- a person of contemptuous nature, perhaps jealous, and revengeful.

natter: to have a natter is a chat similar to gossip. Although men tend to think only women natter or gossip, and men engage in conversations, I beg to differ.

off-licence: an American liquor store. (USA spelling off-license) Since you can buy alcohol in most any shop in the UK, I would imagine their business is sparse.

pavement: UK- (What Americans call the sidewalk)
pavement: USA-(What Brits call Tarmac)

(Confusing, because Americans think of Pavement as the Tarmac, NOT the sidewalk!)

.

Website: http://www.english2american.com

More Differences Across The Pond {Chapter 11 END}

treacle: molasses like syrup. A treacle sponge is a popular dessert similar to a sponge cake drizzled with syrup.

trolley: a shopping cart.
It is said that the River Thames is full of different varieties of shopping trolleys, and finding them on a typical walk is becoming a popular sport such as whale spotting in Australia. (OK, my British friend, the stand up comedian said it).

trousers: pants.
Note: in UK, pants are underwear, and nickers are panties.

twig: to figure out or realize something is up. (usually no good) A twig in America is a tiny
branch from a tree, sometimes used in building campfires.

twit: a mild insult similar to twerp.

twonk: another friendly insult meaning dummy.

verge: the shoulder of the road.

video: VCR, the act of,(videoing) AND the video tapes. Don't forget to buy a video to video Eastenders in the video. Confusing, even for Brits.

wellingtons: Wellington boots and often called wellies, known as rubber boots or galoshes in America.

whinge: to whine. A UK whinger is a US whiner, always complaining about something insignificant.

wing: known as the fender of an automobile in the US.

wizard!: an expression similar to, "Awesome!" or "Cool!"

wonky: a lighthearted mishap, something that didn't go exactly as planned, but certainly not disastrous. You would not refer to a near fatal accident as gone a bit wonky.

Zed: the letter Z in America. It makes sense that the word realized would be spelt realised, instead, in the UK.

Can you imagine saying, re-al-li-zed-ed???

This concludes my virtual dictionary of Transatlantic translations. I hope it has been useful to you in a meaningful way.

I would like to thank Chris Rae for sharing his knowledge via the Internet, and although my dictionary is my viewpoint, in my own words, it was his definitions that inspired me, and proved to be a valuable reference tool on numerous ocassions.

I encourage you to view his website below for many more intriguing differences in our English language(s).

Ta: Thank you!

Website: http://www.english2american.com

More Differences Across The Pond {Chapter 9}

snog:a sensual kiss, otherwise known as a French kiss (making out). You certainly wouldn't snog your Grandmother, but many Brits fondly remember their first snog.

solicitor: UK- lawyer or attorney. US- door to door salesperson, or a telephone solicitor, (also known as a telemarketer on both sides of the pond).

Solitaire: a game played on a board with pegs, and the object is to end up with only one solitary peg left. The card game in UK is called Patience.

spanner: an adjustable monkey wrench tool.

spotted dick: a sponge cake like dessert(pudding) with raisins in it.

spud: potato.In England, baked potatoes are called jacket potatoes, and of course, fried potatoes are called chips.(or hash browns in both UK and US)

Everyone knows that Americans refer to their chips as french fries, but I wonder why? What did France have to do with it, if anything?

squash: A diluted fruit drink such as the popular black currant squash, similar to sugary versions like Snapple, which actually have very little fruit juice, maybe 10-20%, and are mostly sugar and water, also available in sugar-free versions as well.

stabilisers: training wheels for a tot's bicycle in the UK. (spelt stabilizer in the US, and could be anything that stabilizes, either substances or objects)

starter: an appetizer eaten at the beginning (start) of a meal, hence the name. Mention starter in America, and someone will think something is wrong with your vehicle's starter and therefore will not start without the services of a auto-mechanic.

steady on: an English expression meaning Whoa! Hold on! (Hold your horses!) etc.

stilettos: pumps/ high heels for women.

stone: (1)a unit measure of weight equal to 13.99 pounds (lbs.) Someone weighing 10 stone in the UK would weigh 140 lbs. in America.

stone: (2) It is also used to describe the pits in fruits such as peaches.

straight away: A very common English expression meaning immediately, right this minute, or now.

sultanas: golden raisins often used in making delicious English puddings and desserts.

Website: http://http:www.english2american.com

More Differences Across The Pond {Chapter 8}

roundabout: a circular road with exits at different sections of the curved road. Unlike American 4 way stops, traffic only flows in one direction. You must drive around the circle until your street veers off to the left, as there is no right turn from a roundabout.

row: (pronounced, as "cow" not "sew") an argument, or verbal disagreement.

rubber: an eraser for erasing pencil markings, but entirely different in the US, as it is commonly referred to as a condom.

rubbish: everyday waste or trash, or sometimes rubbish can be considered nonsense, as in, "There is no truth to it whatsoever, absolute rubbish!"

rucksack: a backpack in America.

sarnie: British slang for sandwich.

school: same as in US, only you do not refer to anyone who is in college as going to school. It is proper to ask what University does one attend, not what school do you go to?

scrap: junk. In the UK, they discard their scrap in scrapyards, where in America, we deposit our junk in junkyards.

scrote: a person equivalent to American scum, or a scumbag.

Sellotape: What Americans call Scotch tape, both being brand names for clear cellophane tape.

settee: equivalent of a couch or a loveseat in the US.

shandy: a mixture of beer or lager mixed with British lemonade (the carbonated Sprite or 7 UP like beverage) It is mostly beer or lager, probaby 80-90%, but it is commonly thought that someone can drink shandy without becoming overly intoxicated, in England.

shop: the equivalent to a store in the US, not a garage to have your vehicle repaired.

skip: A skip is a US dumpster or trash bin.

sleeping policeman: speed bump.Can you imagine the look on an American's face when hearing about someone rolling over a sleeping policeman at such a speed that it nearly damaged his motor (car) ??? I can!

slip road: an on/off ramp entering to or exiting from a motorway, highway, interstate, or freeway, called exits in America. It could be confusing for a Brit to hear, "You get on interstate 'Whatever" at the "Here" exit, and get off on the "Now" exit.

Website: http://http:www.english2american.com

More Differences Across The Pond {Chapter 7}

nosey parker: someone who is always concerned about others business, particularly nosey. Known as a busy body or town gossip in the US.

nought: pronounced, "nawt" The digit (numeral) zero (0), sometimes referred to as aught in the US.

noughts and crosses: The game of tic-tac-toe in America.

nutter: could be either insane or reckless. A person who sees pink elephants that require sacrificing a life, or someone attempting to climb Big Ben, for instance. (Not all there, not playing with a full deck, etc). Big Ben is the BELL, You nutter!

pants: In the UK, pants are known as underpants, or underwear in the US. What Americans call pants, are known as trousers in the UK.

(You can imagine the hilarity when Americans refer to putting their pants on, or worse, yet, the expression of being caught with your pants down!)

Patience: the card game known in America as Solitaire. Solitaire is a different game, entirely in the UK, played on a board, and no cards are involved.

Pelican crossing: A designated area for Pedestrian crossing with alternating signs lit signifying whether or not it is safe to cross the street.

petrol: petroleum. Americans mostly refer to this fuel as gas or gasoline, and in the UK, petrol is priced by the litre, where as in the US, gasoline is priced per gallon. I found that on average, the equivalent litres nearly cost $5 per gallon!

phone box: a telephone booth in the US.

po-faced: long faced, appearing sad, or down and out.

poxy: low-class, 3rd rate, etc, not good quality.

quid: A common slang word for a British pound, similar to a buck meaning a dollar in America.

Randy: A slang word meaning, um, wanting, or having a desire for someone of the opposite sex.

razz: to vomit or throw up, perhaps from drinking too much alcohol.

registration: a (licence) license plate in the US.

return ticket: round-trip ticket

reverse charges: to call collect

ring: to phone or call someone on the telephone would be considered ringing them in the UK.

Website: http://www.english2american.com