# Across The Pond

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/across-the-pond/291717>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 24, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/across-the-pond/291717 "2005-02-24T16:17:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/across-the-pond/291717/1 "2005-02-24T16:17:56Z")

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I did a search for the phrase “Across the Pond” on SDMB, and came up with 750 results. This seems to be a popular phrase used in the UK for describing the United States, but how did it come to be, and why does everyone use it? I assume it’s supposed to be sarcasm for the Atlantic Ocean…

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/across-the-pond/291717/2 "2005-02-24T16:24:51Z")

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I’m not sure it is truly sarcasm, but indeed “pond” refers to the Atlantic. I can recall hearing this at least 30 years ago and would assume it goes back much further. It seems to fall in with the tradition of British understatement, and so it’s not surprising to find it in wide use.

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**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/across-the-pond/291717/3 "2005-02-24T18:07:11Z")

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The [Online Etymology Dictionary](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=POND&searchmode=none) says this about the word “pond”:

Jocular reference to “the Atlantic Ocean” dates from 1641.