# The Great British English vs US English Playoff **URL:** \ **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:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/121 "2018-09-12T19:26:37Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > How do you translate “non-U” to American? > I lived in England as a child,but I’ve never heard that expression. See here: [U and non-U English - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_and_non-U_English) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/122 "2018-09-12T19:39:18Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > How do you translate “non-U” to American? > I lived in England as a child,but I’ve never heard that expression. It’s pretty much obsolete these days - it’s more a 1950s kind of thing - but the U stands for upper class, and non-U implies aspirational middle-class. The wiki page is pretty good [U and non-U English - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_and_non-U_English) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/123 "2018-09-12T21:32:33Z")
UK: duvet US: comforter UK: sachet (of tomato sauce) US: packet (of ketchup) I’m going with US for both, because the UK words are unnecessarily French. And because “comforter” is a wonderful word. And because “duvet” implies that horrible item the duvet cover. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/124 "2018-09-12T21:34:15Z")
UK flat/block of flats US apartment/apartment building A draw. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/125 "2018-09-12T21:38:24Z")
When I was a kid I came across a British-American/American-British dictionary and I noticed that the entries for doughnuts were quite long. I don’t recall quite what they said but apparently there was a big difference between British and American doughnuts at the top me it was written. Any idea what it might have been? ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/126 "2018-09-12T21:42:43Z")
Hmm, I searched and oddly didn’t find “made redundant”, vs US “laid-off” (or more harshly, “fired”) Neither the US nor UK terms are pleasant, so I vote toss-up. Did we do Canteen (UK) v. Cafeteria (US)? I think canteen is falling out of favor (or did years ago). UK - Cotton Bud v. US - Cotton Swab (yeah, often called Q-Tip) I vote cotton swab, as cotton bud sounds more like gardening Since railway vs railroad was mentioned, let me throw out a few more railroading terms: UK - Wagon v. US - Freight Car (or Car - UK seems to use Carriage for Passenger stock); Wagon seems clearer to me, but I normally use car myself. UK - Van v. US - Boxcar; Boxcar is more descriptive to me UK - Bogie v. US - Truck (basically the wheels/axles under the cars\*); Bogie is actually pretty universal outside of North America, so it wins. UK - Shunter v. US - Switcher; Kind of equal here, both mean moving cuts (US) or rakes (UK) of cars. UK - Sleepers v. US - Ties (Crossties); US wins, the crossties ain’t sleeping being inanimate and all. Truck/Lorry: UK - Juggernaut or large articulated lorry v. US - large tractor-trailer (or semi). US is clearer to me, if not one word. - Really a bogie is the entire framework which holds the wheels/axles, bearings, springs and bolster - British rolling stock, and indeed a lot of Western Europe until the 1960s had mostly two-axle wagons which didn’t have need for bogies, but now most of the new stock is 4-axle w/ bogies. ---
**Author:** ![Map\_Ylow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/map_ylow/32/85_2.png) [@Map\_Ylow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Map_Ylow)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/127 "2018-09-12T21:46:47Z")
> [@senoy](#): > > That’s because a budgie is a parakeet, but a parakeet is not necessarily a budgie. There are many species of parakeets. The one most commonly kept as a pet is a budgie (or more accurately budgerigar). The next most common is the monk parakeet which is sometimes called a Quaker Parrot. There are a few others commonly kept as pets, but budgies are by far the most common one. :smack: I knew that. (Dear mum raised birds for the first, oh, twelve or so years of my life. Mostly cockatiels and budgies.) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/128 "2018-09-12T21:47:22Z")
Brit: verge US: shoulder The Brits take this one easily with the more evocative word. Brit: \*verb-\*ise US: \*verb-\*ize I have trouble with this one, but, being American, I will give it to the US spelling because, reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/129 "2018-09-12T21:49:26Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Hmm, I searched and oddly didn’t find “made redundant”, vs US “laid-off” (or more harshly, “fired”) > Neither the US nor UK terms are pleasant, so I vote toss-up. I object to “redundant” in that using it to mean laid off is essentially a lie. UK: sacked US: fired I give it to UK. Being sacked doesn’t sound nearly as unpleasant as being fired. It might actually be fun. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/130 "2018-09-12T22:12:02Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I object to “redundant” in that using it to mean laid off is essentially a lie. I wish to counter-protest your objection. As far as I read from British labour laws sites, “redundant” basically means you’re fired and your position is gone. The UK also uses the term “layoff”, which seems to mean a temporarily interruption in your employment status with the company, but subject to recall. I believe this meaning was how the term was used in the US back in the day (still is in some cases, like when a company lays off workers during downturns and recalls them when business picks up). However, nowadays in the US (well, over the last several decades), with corporate downsizing, offshoring, automation, etc. eliminating jobs permanently, laid-off usually means your position is gone and you’ve been fired. OK, I’m a child of the '70s, so: _Keeping’ your head above water Making a way when you can **Temporary layoffs** Good Times Easy credit rip-offs Good Times Scratchin’ and surviving Good Times Ain’t we lucky we got 'em Good Times_ ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/131 "2018-09-12T22:23:08Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > UK flat/block of flats > US apartment/apartment building > > A draw. Sort of related: the UK probably has an equivalent to condominium, but I’m not sure what it might be. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/132 "2018-09-12T22:46:23Z")
Hmm, what about (UK) Tower Block for high rise buildings? Also don’t forget the uses of ‘Estate’ in the UK (Industrial Estate, Housing Estate) where US would use Park (Industrial Park) or Development/Project (Housing Development, Housing Projects). UK Office Estate as well, although Business park seems pretty common in the UK. Trucks & Lorries: UK - Tipper lorry v. US - Dump truck; Well, both have names which say what they do, so a tie. Looks like condominium maps to Commonhold in the UK, but I can’t say that with certainty. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/133 "2018-09-12T22:49:40Z")
> [@Map\_Ylow](#): > > Wonder where precisely that one [ute] came from. I kind of like it. I always assumed it was just a bastardization of “youth.” ---
**Author:** ![Map\_Ylow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/map_ylow/32/85_2.png) [@Map\_Ylow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Map_Ylow)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/134 "2018-09-12T22:54:44Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I always assumed it was just a bastardization of “youth.” Now see, that would make sense. :smack: I am very much not batting a hundred today. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/135 "2018-09-12T23:02:55Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I object to “redundant” in that using it to mean laid off is essentially a lie. > > UK: sacked > US: fired > > I give it to UK. Being sacked doesn’t sound nearly as unpleasant as being fired. It might actually be fun. Sacked is a much better word. Agreed that “laid off” doesn’t mean what it used to mean. It used to mean that you were out of a job, but you’d be back on the job when business picked up. Now it just means that you’re fired, not because you did something wrong, but because they don’t feel like paying you any more. Also, “Budgie” is taking over in the US. You still hear parakeet but it seems old fashioned. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/136 "2018-09-12T23:08:01Z")
UK: sarnie US: sammy A penalty to both sides. “Sandwich” doesn’t need a cutesy diminutive. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/137 "2018-09-12T23:11:16Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > I wish to counter-protest your objection. As far as I read from British labour laws sites, “redundant” basically means you’re fired and your position is gone. My understanding is that “redundant” originates as a euphemism for dismissal in that it pushes off the responsibility to some vague sense that your job was duplicative of someone else’s job. It’s that euphemism that’s offensive in that it’s blatantly dishonest. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/138 "2018-09-12T23:18:31Z")
UK: Underground US: Subway Result: Point for US. We both have highways, so subways make sense. While the underground also makes sense, it’s by itself with no relation to anything else (the overground?). UK: Holiday US: Vacation Result: Tie - both are descriptive enough. UK they “go on holiday”, while in the US we “take a vacation”. This seems similar to the whole “go to University” thing upthread. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/139 "2018-09-12T23:41:27Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > UK: Underground > US: Subway > > Result: Point for US. We both have highways, so subways make sense. While the underground also makes sense, it’s by itself with no relation to anything else (the overground?). I’m fairly sure all the UK cities with an underground rail system also have an overground one (where everyone can womble free!). ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123/140 "2018-09-12T23:45:01Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > UK: Underground > US: Subway > > Result: Point for US. We both have highways, so subways make sense. While the underground also makes sense, it’s by itself with no relation to anything else (the overground?). > > UK: Holiday > US: Vacation > > Result: Tie - both are descriptive enough. UK they “go on holiday”, while in the US we “take a vacation”. This seems similar to the whole “go to University” thing upthread. Well it is in relation to the overground railway lines. And the wombles were happy with both terms so win for UK. . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-british-english-vs-us-english-playoff/821123.md?page=8)