# 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:** 32
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/621 "2024-10-29T17:18:24Z")
I’ve just watched a TV programme (_Gotham_) where they referred to Robin Hood. It reminded me of an odd Americanism… why when that particular name is spoken, _Robin_ Hood, is the emphasis always on the first name? I know Americans sometimes do that with some adjectives preceding names, things like ‘red paint’ or ‘white house’ (which we Brits have also adopted, for the home of the Pres), but why with that name? It’s not done for other people’s two names, as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/622 "2024-10-29T18:15:11Z")
One that confused me when I first encountered it was “done and dusted” (completed). My first thought was that it stemmed from the practice of “dusting” a freshly-written document with sand to prevent the ink from smearing, but apparently it has to do with dusting a piece of furniture to give it a final polish. ---
**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 29, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/623 "2024-10-29T22:18:22Z")
‘Paved’, to my English ears, has a tendency to connote a pedestrian surface such as a patio or ‘pavement’ (in the sense of what would be called a sidewalk in the USA). ‘Paved’ suggests (on this side of the pond), surfaced with flat stones such as flagstones or similar. That’s not to say the US connotation of the word is incomprehensible here, just that if I hear about a thing being paved, my default assumption is that it’s being covered with flat stones for people to walk on. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2024, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/624 "2024-10-29T22:52:01Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > ‘Paved’ suggests (on this side of the pond), surfaced with flat stones such as flagstones or similar. But in America, the streets are paved with gold… ---
**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 30, 2024, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/625 "2024-10-30T00:31:28Z")
Before I came to America, I thought the streets were paved with gold. Since arriving in New York I’ve learned three things: 1/ the streets are not paved with gold 2/ the streets are not paved at all 3/ it was me who was to pave them Classic piece on [British vs American language](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCo0hSFAWOc)! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/626 "2024-10-30T04:19:06Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Shufti” I presume is from Hindi or Urdu Arabic. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/627 "2024-10-30T07:02:46Z")
Just checked on the Web and Canyonlands, a national park in Utah refers to both unpaved roads and dirt roads. Growing up in Utah, we were more likely to use dirt road or gravel road and not unpaved road. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/628 "2024-10-30T07:58:14Z")
Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/629 "2024-10-30T11:45:47Z")
In the UK we also have “unadopted” roads. If a developer builds houses and roads to access them, the local council normally would " adopt " the streets and pavements and would have to be constructed to the required standard. This transfers the responsibility for maintenance and repair to the Council. In some cases, the roads may not be adopted and this means that the house owners are responsible for the upkeep. In many cases, these roads are in poor condition, because some of the residents are unable or refuse to pay their share. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/630 "2024-10-30T11:53:04Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > the local council This needs some explanation for Americans. Our local government is typically a “city” or a “township” or a “county”. (Various states have their own categories, like “village” in Ohio or “parish” in Louisiana.) What then is a “council”? ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/631 "2024-10-30T11:59:31Z")
It varies across the country, but there’s nominally 3 levels to it. Roads are usually maintained at County level, but some pavements (sidewalks) can be the responsibility of District councils or even be unadopted. > **[Local government in England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_government_in_England)** > > Local government in England broadly consists of three layers: civil parishes, local authorities, and regional authorities. Every part of England is governed by at least one local authority, but parish councils and regional authorities do not exist everywhere. In addition, there are 31 police and crime commissioners, four police, fire and crime commissioners, and ten national park authorities with local government responsibilities. Local government is not standardised across the country, wit Civil... ---
**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 30, 2024, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/632 "2024-10-30T12:10:32Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > What then is a “council”? Local government, as distinct from national/central government and specialist agencies. Occasionally the term is used metaphorically for unimaginative bureaucracy, as in “Who did your hair - the council?” ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/633 "2024-10-30T12:28:18Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > > [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > > > Shufti” I presume is from Hindi or Urdu > > Arabic. Huh. Thanks. I thought it was a linguistic remnant of the Raj. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/634 "2024-10-30T13:57:23Z")
Council tax is also a thing. ---
**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 30, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/635 "2024-10-30T15:09:55Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I thought it was a linguistic remnant of the Raj. Well, in the sense that British soldiers were in Arabic -speaking countries in part to protect sea links with India -it was. Another one you don’t hear so much nowadays is “doolally” meaning “confused” or “deranged”, from the British military hospital at Deolali in India, where “heatstruck” soldiers might end up. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/636 "2024-10-30T15:10:29Z")
As aspect of UK’s council system that we don’t have much here is housing. As I understand it, quite a lot of housing (checks: 17%) is council owned and managed so it performs landlord duties. > [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Occasionally the term is used metaphorically for unimaginative bureaucracy, as in “Who did your hair - the council?” Snicker, that’s very mean and funny. I recently saw the quote, “If you see someone crying, ask them if it’s because of their haircut.” Edit: missspelled council twice! ---
**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 30, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/637 "2024-10-30T15:34:56Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > system that we don’t have much here is housing. As I understand it, quite a lot of housing (checks: 17%) is council owned and managed so it performs landlord duties. Much less than used to be the case. Ever since the Th\*tcher years, much social (formerly council) housing has either been transferred to “housing associations” or sold off under the “right to buy” (sitting tenants could force a sale with a discount, and so their newly-acquired property went into the private market). These days, the lion’s share of council expenditure and services is taken up by social care. But don’t get me started on all of that… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/638 "2024-10-30T15:52:30Z")
Same idea in the States, but named in reverse: generally, for a subdivision plat to be approved, the developer is expected or required to **dedicate** streets, sidewalks, parks or open space, and land for schools, fire stations, etc., to the municipality, or the county for a subdivision outside any municipality. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/639 "2024-10-30T16:08:30Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > don’t get me started Didn’t intend it! I’d come across mentions of The Council time and again in clips and stories and I understood it to be local government with minor tax authority like we have here for sewer pipes and pavement (!) patching. What didn’t click until I learned of Council Housing is why people had so much day to day interaction/transactions and debt with what we’d call the City. ‘The Council is sometimes the landlord’ clears it up. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/640 "2024-10-30T16:59:38Z")
> [@John\_Bredin](#): > > Same idea in the States, but named in reverse: generally, for a subdivision plat to be approved, the developer is expected or required to **dedicate** streets, sidewalks, parks or open space, and land for schools, fire stations, etc., to the municipality, or the county for a subdivision outside any municipality. And if, say, a school district builds a new school and neglects to dedicate the 840 foot approach road. Then the city can’t even put up no parking signs on the road, no matter how much the school wants them. The school opened in 2008. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=33)