# Britishisms **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 24, 2004, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462 "2004-12-24T09:51:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/41 "2004-12-26T00:51:12Z")
UK: Britney US: Beer UK: Ruby US: Curry (Yay that curry thread. :p) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/42 "2004-12-26T01:08:04Z")
> [@chaoticdonkey](#): > > UK: Britney > US: Beer :dubious: 'splain SVP. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/43 "2004-12-26T01:19:42Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > :dubious: 'splain SVP. Britney Spears = Beer? Rhyming slang? WAG. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/44 "2004-12-26T01:23:26Z")
> [@Tuco](#): > > Are those really words? [Sure they are.](http://www.recipesource.com/fgv/vegetables/zucchini/) You’ll find that many fast food places sell fried zucchini—it’s common in many restaurants. Rutabaga and arugula are not mentioned quite so much. Enjoy your visit to SF! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/45 "2004-12-26T01:24:08Z")
> [@Caught@Work](#): > > Britney Spears = Beer? Rhyming slang? WAG. ‘Beers’ yes, but ‘beer’? :dubious: And I thought the RS use of ‘Britney’ was for ‘ears’ not ‘beers’. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/46 "2004-12-26T01:26:20Z")
> [@primer\_dimer](#): > > Regarding \*\* Rayne Man’s\*\* post, I’ve inferred from watching “World’s Wildest Police Videos” that in the US, ‘pavement’ refers to any surfaced road (as opposed to eg. a dirt track). Is that the case? Do Americans ever use ‘Tarmac’ to refer to the road surface itself? > > pd Only in reference to the pavement of an airport runway. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/47 "2004-12-26T01:31:29Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > Only in reference to the pavement of an airport runway. I think this might be regional; I’ve definitely heard the use of “tarmac” for a paved road surface (although I never use it myself). ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/48 "2004-12-26T01:32:52Z")
One I’ve noticed taking orders for delivery pizza: portion (UK) -\> order (n, US). “Portion” in the US usually means just a part or serving of. E.g., Taking an order from a British customer, he asked for a portion of Cinnastix. (I decided to send him a whole order of them instead. 🙂 ) Also, after delivering to Brits, they often say goodbye by saying, “Cheers!” That’s usually only used during drink toasts in the US. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/49 "2004-12-26T02:11:00Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > Also, after delivering to Brits, they often say goodbye by saying, “Cheers!” That’s usually only used during drink toasts in the US. I usually take “cheers” as “thank you”… ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/50 "2004-12-26T03:18:02Z")
Yeah, that whole rhyming slang thing. I’d probably starve to death in London if I had to deal with that. “lets go for some Britney” “What’s ‘Britney?’” “Y’know - Britney Spears = Beers” “Well why the fuck didn’t you just say ‘beer?’” “Nevermind” (you obtuse American) Versus a similar conversation in the US, between a black and white guy: “let’s score some OE40” “What’s ‘OE40?’” “Uh - an amber beverage enjoyed responsibly by persons over the age of 21…?” “Well why the fuck didn’t you just say ‘beer?’” “Nevermind” (because you’re a dumb cracker and I enjoy confusing you) See, if I’m going to look like a dumbshit, I at least want there to be deep socio-historical grievances involved ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/51 "2004-12-26T03:25:23Z")
What time is it when a bird shits on your car? Time to find a new girlfriend. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/52 "2004-12-26T03:38:35Z")
US - lieutenant UK - spelling same pronounced “lef-tenant” US - counter-clockwise UK - anti-clockwise US- Custom job UK- Bespoke US - quick & dirty job UK - bodge job US- keep your chin up UK- keep your pecker up US- fuck off UK - on your bike US - yummy UK - scrummy US- Murphy’s Law UK- Sod’s law ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/53 "2004-12-26T03:42:14Z")
> [@LifeOnWry](#): > > You’re right. Sorta 🙂 It’s George Bernard Shaw. It’s been erroneously attributed to Oscar Wilde, and I KNEW it wasn’t Wilde, but I blanked on who it actually was and came up with Benchley. Actually, Wilde did say something similar. In the short story [“The Canterville Ghost”](http://www.bibliomania.com/0/5/57/313/16466/1/frameset.html), he describes an American character as “in many respects, she was quite English, and was an excellent example of the fact that we have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language.” I suspect Shaw modelled his own phrasing after Wilde’s. To add to the list of Britishisms, let me nominate: “dummy” = American “pacifier.” ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/54 "2004-12-26T04:09:12Z")
> [@Slithy Tove](#): > > Yeah, that whole rhyming slang thing. I’d probably starve to death in London if I had to deal with that. > [snip] > “Nevermind” (you obtuse American) > > Versus a similar conversation in the US, between a black and white guy: > [snip] > “Nevermind” (because you’re a dumb cracker and I enjoy confusing you) > > See, if I’m going to look like a dumbshit, I at least want there to be deep socio-historical grievances involved What, that minor civil rebellion 228 years ago doesn’t count? To add to the glossary, I’m under the impression that the UK ‘sucker’ is a US ‘lollipop’. I’m not sure what a US ‘sucker’ would be… ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/55 "2004-12-26T04:12:08Z")
> [@StephenG](#): > > What, that minor civil rebellion 228 years ago doesn’t count? > To add to the glossary, I’m under the impression that the UK ‘sucker’ is a US ‘lollipop’. I’m not sure what a US ‘sucker’ would be… And a US “popsicle” is apparently a UK “Ice Lolly” which, for some reason, I have a hard time bringing myself to say. It just sounds so… kiddie to me. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/56 "2004-12-26T10:54:10Z")
> [@StephenG](#): > > To add to the glossary, I’m under the impression that the UK ‘sucker’ is a US ‘lollipop’. I’m not sure what a US ‘sucker’ would be… “Lollipop” is standard UK English. “Sucker” may be (or may have been) Scottish usage – I seem to remember seeing it in an Oor Wullie comic in my youth – but I think if you asked for a sucker in most sweet shops in England you’d get nothing more than a blank look. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/57 "2004-12-26T13:05:10Z")
Where I’m from, a sucker is an ice lolly. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/58 "2004-12-26T13:24:00Z")
What the yanks call a sucker is, I think, what we would call a gob-stopper. ---
**Author:** ![Kiminy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Kiminy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiminy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/59 "2004-12-26T13:34:31Z")
> [@StephenG](#): > > To add to the glossary, I’m under the impression that the UK ‘sucker’ is a US ‘lollipop’. I’m not sure what a US ‘sucker’ would be… I think there’s some regional stuff here, but in the southeast US, a sucker can be a lollipop or a very gullible person. Another one that hasn’t been brought up yet is rubbish (UK) vs trash (US). As well as rubbish bin vs trash can. When I was a freshman in college, I took a lexicology class and the prof asked for examples of words that refer to what the object is made of. The first one that came to my mind (as a completely innocent virgin girl, who had never been exposed to any word other than condom for a prophylactic) was “rubber”. To me it was a perfectly acceptable word that referred to an object made of rubber (or something like it). The prof went completely silent as he looked at me, and then pointed out that that wasn’t exactly the kind of example he was looking for. It wasn’t until after class that someone pointed out what he obviously thought I was referring to. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462/60 "2004-12-26T16:29:06Z")
😛 I thought fanny=vagina etc was an Aussie thing. Anorak=casual coat Windcheater=windbreaker Burberry=trench coat (?) Electric fire=baseboard heater or radiator (?). Pram=large, awkward expensive baby carriage ? (I have forgotten the name for this!)=umbrella stroller Nappies=diapers Mates=friends/quasi-friends. Note to previous poster: "take away"means just that–to take it (and not pay). Take out or carry out=take it home to eat or whatever. fortnight=2 weeks schedule pronounced "sh"edule. We make it “sk”. Tuesday week, Monday next=next week, on Tuesday, next Monday (if I understand it correctly). Nw Year(drunken debauchery on both sides of Pond)=New Year’s here. I might go to your house for New Year’s(celebration) but not for New Year…(implies the whole year to USA). Plus, we would put “the” in front of it–the New Year. Haemotology–and all the rest of Latin medical terms. ae/oe/eo/…We don’t do that. It’s an esophagus here, not an oesaphagus. Child minder=baby sitter. Carer=nurse’s aide or similiar here. Your chocolate bars are all messed up. A Milky Way here is not the same as one there (or am I thinking of Mars bars?). Who marketed the name Milk Tray for candy? Ugh. (bet it’s delicious, but the name!). I have 2 questions: what in hell is a kirby grip (is it a ponytail holder or a barrette?) and what is an Alice band (is it a headband like Alice in Wonderland wore?). I always thought that “keep your pecker up” was vulgar slang (pecker here means penis). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britishisms/281462.md?page=4)