# American vs. British English: brainstorm **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 24, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985 "2003-06-24T09:55:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/121 "2003-06-27T20:24:41Z")
Nobody’s mentioned the “American subjunctive” yet. In subordinate clauses of desire or command, an American is more likely to use a subjunctive verb form. This can cause confusion when attempting to understand British English, especially where the past tense is involved. American: They insisted that he **go** fishing with them (meaning, they wanted him to accompany them fishing). “Go” is a third-person subjunctive congugation. American: They insisted that he **went** fishing with them (meaning, that they have been asked, repeatedly, about his whereabouts at some time in the past, and have said “He went fishing with us”). I’ve seen British English use the second statement to mean the same thing as the first one, though I’m not sure if this distinction still exists to the extent that it once did. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/122 "2003-06-27T23:40:06Z")
How about these expressions, said of musicians and similar performers : American: to bomb, meaning the audience hated it. I think that can either be because the audience just doesn’t appreciate what’s being performed, OR because it’s being performed badly. British: to go down a bomb…meaning the performance was a huge success. And if any of you British dopers could tell me what it means to be “chuffed”, or “dead chuffed” about something, I’d appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/123 "2003-06-27T23:46:05Z")
‘chuffed’ means deeply pleased. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/124 "2003-06-27T23:47:10Z")
Although I have also (very rarely) seen it used to mean ‘very tired’. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/125 "2003-06-28T00:27:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by StGermain \* > **hoover = vacuum both as a noun and a verb.** That reminds me of when Nigel Mansell was doing his Indycar stint. His sponsor was Dirt Devil; so, in an interview, trying to plug his sponsor, he said: “Remember, when you hoover your living room, use a Dirt Devil!”. I don’t know if he was aware that Hoover is strictly a brand name (and his sponsor’s competitor) in the State, or if he was just being cheeky. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/126 "2003-06-28T01:06:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spectre of Pithecanthropus \* > \*\*I’ve known a couple of male Robins, not counting celebrities and comic book figures, but it is more common as a female name. > \*\* I know exactly one, and he’s an English immigrant who has to constantly attend hearings to keep his green card. He doesn’t intend to ever return to England, but he refuses to apply for US citizenship. If he got it, he’d have to pay income tax. I didn’t mean to blow off **Davebear** on the whole “Robin Hood” thing, but I just couldn’t get a handle on it. I assumed that it was a name when I was a kid, and I really expect that any other american child would. We just don’t understand the “title” thing until we get older and go to school. That’s just my experience, and it’s worth what it’s worth. Sorry for the hijack. To maintain the cheerful tone of this thread, I offer the following: My fellow-feeling with the English (not necessarily the Scotts, Welsh, or Irish) ends when I am expected to eat jellied eels. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/127 "2003-06-28T01:19:46Z")
And what excatly is wrong with jellied eels then? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/128 "2003-06-28T01:43:00Z")
British “Happy Christmas” versus American “Merry Christmas,” though I don’t know how often that phrase is called upon by residents of Hong Kong. (When I was there it was during the summer.) Oh, and British “glove puppet” and American “puppet” or “hand puppet.” I can’t think of American versions of British slang “dodgy” or “bodge,” though. Still working on words that have the same approximate flavor. Er, flavour. Also, would anybody like to tackle the word _quite_? As I understand a Londoner friend of mine, it is used east of the Atlantic as a synonym for “almost,” where Americans use it as a synonym for “very.” For instance, I remember a Python sketch where Eric Idle is trying out fishy colognes. He makes a face, waggles his hand in a _comme-ci-comme-ca_ way and says, “I quite like it.” Can someone confirm this usage? Also, British “mates” with American “friends.” British “I’ll catch you up” with American “I’ll catch up with you.” The American tendency to explicitly mention the direct object: “a hat with bells on it” versus the British “a hat with bells on.” (Sorry that I can’t think of a better example than this. Again, can someone confirm?) FISH ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/129 "2003-06-28T07:38:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*‘Pickle’ in the UK though, generally refers to some kind of chutney, most often _Branston_ or similar. > \*\* I should have remembered that and specified that I meant a type of pickled cucumber, which is what we in the US call a “pickle”. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Cucumbers, melons, pumkins, squashes and marrows are all in the Cucurbitaceae. > \*\* As are gourds (inedible squash grown for decoration or as containers), which is why you must avoid planting them too near cucumbers or squash if you wish to avoid inedible squash due to cross-pollination. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Summer squashes are (as far as I remember) a relatively new introduction to the UK - I’ll check my reference books tonight. > \*\* Actually, the zucchini (courgette) is a type of summer squash, along with the yellow squash, which is very similar in texture to the zucchini. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/130 "2003-06-28T09:40:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manduck \* > \*\*That reminds me of when Nigel Mansell was doing his Indycar stint. His sponsor was Dirt Devil; so, in an interview, trying to plug his sponsor, he said: “Remember, when you hoover your living room, use a Dirt Devil!”. I don’t know if he was aware that Hoover is strictly a brand name (and his sponsor’s competitor) in the State, or if he was just being cheeky. \*\* That reminds me: American “band-aid” = British “plaster”. I realize that “band-aid” is actually a brand name, but I can’t think of what the generic term would be apart from “bandage” which covers a much broader range of medical supplies. Oh, and “cough drop” = “throat lozenge” or “lozenge”. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/131 "2003-06-28T10:28:34Z")
Hey, can someone please tell me if to “shout” someone a meal actually means to treat in British English? I’ve seen this phrase more than once, so it’s either valid, or there’s some godawful book or teacher that is propagating this puzzling phrase. ---
**Author:** ![TPWombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbce88/32.png) [@TPWombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TPWombat)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/132 "2003-06-28T10:44:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Vampire \* > \*\*Hey, can someone please tell me if to “shout” someone a meal actually means to treat in British English? \*\* “My shout” means “my turn to pay”, typically when buying a round of drinks. I’ve not heard “shout” used as a verb, tho’ ---
**Author:** ![BornOfStardust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@BornOfStardust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BornOfStardust)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/133 "2003-06-28T10:53:55Z")
Just looking at **Angua’s** posts on the first page of this thread reminded me of a few more ;)… “y’all” or “you guys” or “you all” (there is, of course, a whole other thread on this in this forum…) vs. “you lot” and “spelled” vs. “spelt” ---
**Author:** ![BornOfStardust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@BornOfStardust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BornOfStardust)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/134 "2003-06-28T10:59:03Z")
> [@](#): > > I can’t think of American versions of British slang “dodgy” or “bodge,” though. Still working on words that have the same approximate flavor. Er, flavour. I used “dodgy” sometimes after visiting England just because I thought it was a great word 😉 but where I go to school, people use the word “sketchy” a lot. e.g. “That old guy who was hitting on you on the El was really sketchy.” (El = Chicago-area Elevated Train, for those of you who don’t know.) ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/135 "2003-06-28T11:42:30Z")
I’ve actually used “dodgy” on a handful of occasions, it’s one of the few Brit-invented words I really like. “Sketchy” is a good equivalent, but the majority of my contact with it was from obnoxious hippie girl who said it about everything and everyone so the word is kind of tainted for me. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/136 "2003-06-28T12:24:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MC Master of Ceremonies \* > \*\*And what excatly is wrong with jellied eels then? \*\* Good God, man, they’re, like, EELS! Here I think we call them “jammed eels” anyway. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/137 "2003-06-28T13:10:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fish \* > \*\*British “Happy Christmas” versus American “Merry Christmas,” though I don’t know how often that phrase is called upon by residents of Hong Kong. (When I was there it was during the summer.) \*\* We use both. I hear and use the latter more often. \*\* > [@](#): > > Also, would anybody like to tackle the word _quite_? As I understand a Londoner friend of mine, it is used east of the Atlantic as a synonym for “almost,” where Americans use it as a synonym for “very.” \*\* Yeah - like getting a B-minus rather than a B. I think the American equivalent might be “pretty”. I use them interchangeably. A more formal subsitute could be “somewhat”. \*\* > [@](#): > > Also, British “mates” with American “friends.” \*\* Ususally but not always synonymous - I doubt the Queen has “mates”, though she might possibly have “chums”. \*\* > [@](#): > > British “I’ll catch you up” with American “I’ll catch up with you.” \*\* The first means that someone will actually follow you e.g. “we’re off to the pub for a pint” “Ok - I’ve got a couple of emails to send, so I’ll catch you up” The latter is used more in the sense of updating someone e.g. " I’m too busy to talk now, but I’ll catch up with you later" ---
**Author:** ![skeptic\_ev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@skeptic\_ev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skeptic_ev)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/138 "2003-06-28T13:50:56Z")
What a fun and informative thread! I’ve just joined and must reply to some comments that were left some time ago. Regarding Robin Hood: Really, we Americans don’t emphasize “Robin”–at least, not that I’ve heard. If you listen closely, you’ll hear that only the first syllable of Robin is emphasized, as well as “Hood.” I imagine that’s because spoken language has a meter, a kind of sing-song pattern, into which ROBin HOOD fits quite well. It’s why some first names just don’t go with some middle names; the meter’s often all wrong. Regarding vegetable marrows: Thanks to \MisterThyristor\ for clearing that up for me. In \The Murder of Roger Ackroyd\, by Dame Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot retires to the country to grow vegetable marrows. I never really knew what those were; I believe I thought they were some kind of gourd. I do have a question, though. Two questions, actually. Does the term vegetable marrows refer to both summer squash (zucchini, etc.) and winter squash (acorn squash, etc.)? Also, how is “marrows” pronounced? ---
**Author:** ![skeptic\_ev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@skeptic\_ev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skeptic_ev)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/139 "2003-06-28T13:57:54Z")
So sorry, I’m a newbie and used html instead of vb tags. It should have been **MisterThyristor** and _The Murder of Roger Ackroyd_. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985/140 "2003-06-28T14:12:29Z")
I believe marrow growing is a summer activity. I’m not sure many are grown to be eaten - it’s more competitive gardening. They’re grown for size and entered into flower and produce shows by allotment owning men up and down the country. Then again it might just be an English thing. 🙂 And the “row” rhymes with “low” rather than “cow”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-vs-british-english-brainstorm/183985.md?page=8)