# What Britishisms most baffle Americans? What Americanisms most baffle Brits? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 18, 2024, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941 "2024-10-18T08:53:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/301 "2024-10-20T14:15:51Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > One other member of our team is originally from South Africa and also lives in London. He said South Africans would call European tourists rednecks because they had pale skin that burned easily while at the beach. “Rooinek” - Afrikaans for “redneck” - is a colloquial term used (sometimes in a derogatory manner) for South Africans of British descent (or for British people generally). It is indeed based on the idea that British people who came out to South Africa would get sunburned necks because they were pale and didn’t wear appropriate headgear. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/302 "2024-10-20T14:16:57Z")
See also the Aussie term “pommie”. I think. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/303 "2024-10-20T19:12:32Z")
True story: a guy I used to work with had spent a year seconded to the US office (East coast, as I recall). To make the most of his stay he, wife and the young family were in the habit of taking weekend breaks to local attractions, nearby cities and so forth. Summer came around, and he tried to book a trip for early July - but when he rang up there were no rooms available at his preferred hotel. Surprised, he asked why that was. Hotel reception: That is Independence Day, sir. He said: I didn’t appreciate that (meaning: _I hadn’t realized that was the case._) Hotel reception heard: I didn’t appreciate that (meaning: _How dare you, I didn’t like that at all_.) I don’t know if it still the case, but at the time there was a fairly widespread belief that the British were still ticked off about the whole independence thing, and liable to get upset if it was mentioned - whereas in fact British people are so little interested that, absent of context, July the 4th just doesn’t ring any bells - hence the confusion. All settled amicably, you’ll be glad to hear. Not wishing to re-hijack, but small point of interest: there are now more than a thousand vineyards in Britain. > **[The UK now boasts more than 1,000 vineyards - Decanter](https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews-tastings/the-uk-now-boasts-more-than-1000-vineyards-533772/)** > > UK vineyards: The number of UK vineyards has exceeded 1,000 for the first time following a 9.2% increase over the past year. j ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/304 "2024-10-20T19:33:14Z")
I remember when in a comments section, someone mentioned a “bog roll,” saying that at a work activity, the organizer had them toss a bog roll to each other. Other commenters were puzzled as to what that was. Someone guessed it was a beanbag (something you might toss around.) Someone else thought maybe it was an inferior sandwich on a bread roll. In British English, “bog” is a word for toilet or bathroom, so a bog roll is a toilet paper roll. I have British friends and I learn new terms from them. (I’m in Canada.) One such term is “cozzie”, meaning a bathing suit. It’s short for “swimming costume.” ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/305 "2024-10-20T19:49:52Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > One such term is “cozzie”, meaning a bathing suit. It’s short for “swimming costume.” Of course English has a long history of adding the ‘ie’ or ‘y’ suffix to short forms of words to make them more familiar/affectionate. Older forms are used in the US as well - puppy, kitty, mommy/mummy etc. Some of the more modern British examples could, I guess, lead to some bemusement: ciggie: cigarette biccie: biscuit pressie (pronounced prezzie with a soft z sound): present (as in gift) sarnie: sandwich Corrie: Coronation Street I’m sure there are modern North American examples that might befuddle a Brit too. I can only think of Caddie for Cadillac, but we’d probably get that from context. Any other examples? Strangely, Australians tend to add an ‘o’ prefix for their modern diminutives. OB ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/306 "2024-10-20T20:07:20Z")
I can dig most Australian diminutives. The one that _baffles_ me is “bikie” for “biker”. It sounds too cute of a word to hold almost the exact connotations that “biker” does in America. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2024, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/307 "2024-10-20T20:17:23Z")
Viniculture in Great Britain was reduced by the Little Ice Age, although not completely wiped out. But the remaining supply couldn’t compete with imports from the warmer parts of France. So the British imposed higher tariffs, while compensating with beer and whisky production. When the Industrial Revolution came, the British had a leg up with all their craftsmen who could make copper vats. For those copper boilers as well as the worm-proof hulls of their East Indiamen, Britain’s copper was as vital to their empire as the silver under Athens had been to theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/308 "2024-10-20T20:19:03Z")
Doesn’t seem worse than jolly swagmen. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/309 "2024-10-20T20:32:58Z")
“The bikies are making ice.” Aww, they’re building a snowman… ---
**Author:** ![retroying](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@retroying](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/retroying)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/310 "2024-10-20T22:59:25Z")
Here on the edge of the Black Country , the locals use a couple of other words as an alternative to sodding .They are cowing and godding . For example ." I fell off my godding bike " Or " Her said it wor him as ruined the cowing settee."( She said that it was not him that ruined etc) Cheers ---
**Author:** ![retroying](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@retroying](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/retroying)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/311 "2024-10-20T23:00:27Z")
Oops .Think I replied to the wrong person . No offence , mate ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/312 "2024-10-21T00:09:49Z")
> [@Oswald\_Bastable](#): > > Strangely, Australians tend to add an ‘o’ prefix for their modern diminutives. Did you mean suffix? Because David will probably get called Davo, for instance. > [@Oswald\_Bastable](#): > > Of course English has a long history of adding the ‘ie’ or ‘y’ suffix to short forms of words to make them more familiar/affectionate. We Australians are world champions at this (likely inherited from the Brits of course). The latest I’m aware of is “cozzy livvy” which is short for “cost of living”. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/313 "2024-10-21T04:32:45Z")
Fancy dress party - meaning costume party - was a source of confusion that led to me and a bf having a ten minute conversation with me thinking I needed to find a new formal dress. Swotting, meaning “studying” was a new one on me. I figured the speaker was saying “swatting” and I wondered at the statement “I guess you’ll probably be swotting all weekend”. I honestly thought he was referring to the mosquitos in my ~~backyard~~ garden. Neither of us realized at the time that we were talking about two different things. I don’t even want to admit to my misunderstanding of “minge” or how I found out its meaning 🤭 ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/314 "2024-10-21T05:02:18Z")
Maybe ot but, the whole world has decided that Big Ben is the whole clock and tower, not just the bell like they insist. Get over it. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/315 "2024-10-21T05:37:01Z")
Damn skippy. It’s Elizabeth Tower; which I learned at an older age than you’d like. For whatever reason, I don’t recall being taught this. It’s always just been Big Ben. Are there any Brits that misname it / don’t know? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/316 "2024-10-21T05:52:35Z")
> [@Oswald\_Bastable](#): > > Of course English has a long history of adding the ‘ie’ or ‘y’ suffix to short forms of words to make them more familiar/affectionate A habit we share with/inherited from the Dutch, where it’s very usual. Where else might the word 'cookie" come from? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/317 "2024-10-21T05:54:20Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Are there any Brits that misname it / don’t know? Loads. As you might guess, naming the clock tower for Elizabeth is _very_ recent. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/318 "2024-10-21T05:57:36Z")
> [@Oswald\_Bastable](#): > > Strangely, Australians tend to add an ‘o’ prefix for their modern diminutives. I find it quite endearing that the person who collects your domestic waste is a “garbo”. The job and its residue might well make them ‘vant to be alone’. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2024, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/319 "2024-10-21T07:39:06Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever heard anybody in the real world call it St Stephen’s Tower/Eliizabeth Tower ---
**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:** [October 21, 2024, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/320 "2024-10-21T07:55:16Z")
Calling the whole thing - the clock and its bells, and the tower, ‘Big Ben’ just makes more sense than naming all the parts separately - ‘Big Ben’ is an apt and memorable name for a 96 metre tall clock tower that has become an iconic landmark for London. It’s called Big Ben now - the whole thing, because that’s what people call it, and that’s how ‘it’s called [whatever it is called]’ works. It may be _formally named_ Elizabeth Tower, but it’s _called_ Big Ben. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=17)