# 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:** 34
**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 31, 2024, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/661 "2024-10-31T07:40:52Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > in the UK (and some other countries), there is a similar sausage called “polony,” Not unknown in the US, though? I seem to remember it’s referred to in Bessie Smith’s _Kitchen Man_ - though perhaps a different sort of sausage 😉 If Bologna points to Italian origins, might Polony be a reference to Polish sausage? ---
**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 31, 2024, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/662 "2024-10-31T07:47:54Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > two British guys trying bologna for the first time, and if they weren’t hamming things up, they had never ever _heard_ of it before Surely they’d heard of “[polony](https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/morrison-polony/106845811)”? ETA - damn, too slow. > [@PatrickLondon](#): > > If Bologna points to Italian origins, might Polony be a reference to Polish sausage? No, it’s just a variant of bologna - same as “baloney” ---
**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 31, 2024, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/663 "2024-10-31T08:29:55Z")
In Australia this is variously known as Devon, Fritz, Belgium, Polony or Luncheon meat in various states. Before WWI it was mostly called German Sausage, so perhaps the multitude of names are just clumsy local attempts to rename it to avoid association with the then enemy, as with the Alsatian dog. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/664 "2024-10-31T08:56:40Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > And, in the U.S., bologna would definitely be one variety of “lunch meat,” along with sliced ham, sliced turkey, sliced salami, etc. > > [Bologna sausage - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna_sausage) Speaking as neither a Yank nor a Brit, I have to say that the term “lunch meat” is deeply, deeply unappetizing. It sounds suspiciously vague and oddly institutional. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/665 "2024-10-31T09:15:46Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Speaking as neither a Yank nor a Brit, I have to say that the term “lunch meat” is deeply, deeply unappetizing. It sounds suspiciously vague and oddly institutional. From the Wikipedia entry: > Lunch meats—also known as cold cuts, luncheon meats, cooked meats, sliced meats, cold meats, sandwich meats, delicatessens, and deli meats—are precooked or cured meats that are sliced and served cold or hot. They are typically served in sandwiches or on a tray. They can be purchased pre-sliced, usually in vacuum packs, or they can be sliced to order, most often in delicatessens. In my area “cold cuts” is probably the most common label for the category. The type of meats you would find in a deli platter, which you might find at pretty much any gathering where light food is being served: > **[Assorted Deli Meat and Cheese Platter : Sol Foods](https://www.solfoods.com/product/assorted-deli-meat-cheese-platter/)** > > An assortment of our delicious hand sliced meats and cheese, including Turkey, Black Forest Ham, Roast Beef, Swiss, Cheddar, and Monterey Jack Cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/666 "2024-10-31T09:35:40Z")
Yeah, back when I was living in New York in 2000-2002, I would have called them “cold cuts” or “deli meat”. ---
**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 31, 2024, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/667 "2024-10-31T09:44:52Z")
If you’re posh, it’s "charcuterie’ ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/668 "2024-10-31T10:00:29Z")
If you’re not posh, it’s Spam. Seriously, Spam is what I think of when I think “luncheon meat,” though “deli cold cuts” would do just as well. Any kind of meat that can be served between two slices of bread qualifies. Ham or salami or roast beef and cheese and tomato on a kaiser roll for me, though a couple of slices of Spam and cheese and tomato on a kaiser roll is just as good. They’re all luncheon meats. ---
**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 31, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/669 "2024-10-31T14:50:47Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > But what’s completely unintuitive is “unmetalled road.” Imagine the puzzled reaction. “You put metal on the roads over there?” It’s a bit like the Astronomy version of ‘metal’ (everything that isn’t Hydrogen). In this case though, it comes from the latin ‘metallum’, meaning crushed rock including, but not limited to, mined metal ores. Roads were one thing the Romans did for us. ---
**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 31, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/670 "2024-10-31T15:21:20Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I’ve heard a few bits of rhyming slabg in broader English, but the only one I can think of now is “porkies” (pork pies = lies). Never heard someone called a “berk”? Comes from “Berkeley Hunt”, and you can probably guess the referent. ---
**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 31, 2024, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/671 "2024-10-31T15:23:16Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > (everything that isn’t Hydrogen) …or Helium (inb4 nitpicks) ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/672 "2024-10-31T15:27:46Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Speaking as neither a Yank nor a Brit, I have to say that the term “lunch meat” is deeply, deeply unappetizing. It sounds suspiciously vague and oddly institutional. You’re actually correct. It sells because it’s cheap, and served in school cafeterias and jails. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/673 "2024-10-31T15:28:22Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Roads were one thing the Romans did for us. Irrigation? ---
**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 31, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/674 "2024-10-31T15:29:14Z")
Yes. I’ve heard loads, but just can’t think of the examples. ---
**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 31, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/675 "2024-10-31T15:48:56Z")
Well yeah, obviously irrigation. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/676 "2024-10-31T16:18:17Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > school and wondering what the hell a “fried-out combi” was Hah! So that’s what that line was? I always heard it as a “fried-out zombie” which really made me wonder. ---
**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 31, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/677 "2024-10-31T18:14:11Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I’ve heard a few bits of rhyming slabg in broader English, but the only one I can think of now is “porkies” (pork pies = lies). Another one I heard again recently: syrup [of fig] = wig And did we have: Rabbit [and pork] = talk [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pTvxqsIl9qE/maxresdefault.jpg "Chas & Dave - Rabbit (Official HD Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTvxqsIl9qE) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/678 "2024-10-31T18:24:23Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > If you’re not posh, it’s Spam. Spam is an elevated meal if you fry it, whereas lunch meat is served as-is. > [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Hah! So that’s what that line was? I always heard it as a “fried-out zombie” which really made me wonder. “Zombie” is in the next line that rhymes with it. It apparently means cannabis. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/679 "2024-10-31T19:15:45Z")
It doesn’t have to be cheap. I consider any kind of deli meat “lunch meat,” and that includes roast beef and pastrami that sells for like $10/lb and more. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2024, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/680 "2024-10-31T19:18:51Z")
In a “class” switch, “lunch meat” can be deli and expensive. “Luncheon meat” is inevitably canned and less than stellar. Although I have a weak spot for fried Spam and eggs as a camping breakfast. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=35)