# The Great British English vs US English Playoff

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 10, 2018, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123 "2018-09-10T20:45:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 15

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**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/281 "2018-09-26T07:55:11Z")

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> [@Ludovic](#):
>
> UK (or at least England): “That’s the thing, innit?”  
> US: “Exactly”.
> 
> I give a slight edge to the US because it’s shorter and clearer. The few times I’ve heard someone in England say “That’s the thing, innit?” to express an agreement so strong with what I just said that nothing further needs to be added, I instinctively wait for them to keep talking because in America when we say “that’s the thing, isn’t it?” we are also expressing agreement but then usually continue to explain _why_ we agree.
> 
> On the other hand the UK expression is more euphonious.

Ok, this is getting out of hand. We have numerous ways of saying ‘exactly’, including ‘exactly’. We also use ‘that’s the thing, isn’t it’ in the way you describe for the US. I think this whole premise if false.

And ‘Innit’ is highly region and class specific. If someone says ‘innit’ and they aren’t from Essex or a working class neighbourhood of London, they are taking the piss.

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**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/282 "2018-09-26T08:03:40Z")

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> [@Celyn](#):
>
> Well, flats _are_ usually all on one level with no internal stairs.

Quite right. A two storey flat is called a maisonette (like ‘little house’ which has got to win points for something).

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/283 "2018-09-26T13:11:26Z")

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UK: Kip.  
US: Crash (nap).

While to the American ear “kip” seems so odd, but it’s just a word to Brits. Not really slangy, just less familiar to us. But “crash” has it’s problems. A wash?

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