# 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:** 44
**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:** [November 11, 2024, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/861 "2024-11-11T11:59:46Z")
Great one! Bravo! That damned Wiki-Discourse preview incompatibility is annoying as heck and rears its head at the oddest times. Shame that so many of us cite wiki so often. Reminds me of a certain Monty Python skit I only vaguely remember where some posh Brit has one of those 12-word names, each of which is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/862 "2024-11-11T13:54:58Z")
I haven’t been to England in ages. Tell me, does the average Brit still pop out of a red phone booth clutching a cup of tea, tossing around phrases like, “cheerio, pip pip,” or _“I say, my good fellow”_? Do they still ask things like, _“fancy a spot of tea, old sport?”_ or _“terribly sorry, but could I pinch a biscuit or two for the road, old bean?”_ And, of course, _“good heavens, would you mind awfully if I polished off the last crumpet?”_ Or maybe, _“I say, did someone leave their monocle in the loo?”_ Or am I just a smidge behind the times? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/863 "2024-11-11T15:28:59Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > Or am I just a smidge behind the times? No, they are all still in popular usage. Another potentially confusing term : Cloakroom. In the UK a cloakroom is usually a room where you’d find a toilet, not unlike “bathroom”. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2024, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/864 "2024-11-11T15:30:58Z")
Then where do you put your cloaks? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/865 "2024-11-11T15:33:21Z")
I hang mine on a hook on the back door ! ---
**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:** [November 11, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/866 "2024-11-11T17:21:46Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > No, they are all still in popular usage As is the convention of shaking hands with all your fellow passengers when you board a train, and helping a stranger with the crossword. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/867 "2024-11-11T17:22:47Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > I haven’t been to England in ages. Tell me, does the average Brit still pop out of a red phone booth clutching a cup of tea, tossing around phrases like, “cheerio, pip pip,” or _“I say, my good fellow”_? Do they still ask things like, _“fancy a spot of tea, old sport?”_ or _“terribly sorry, but could I pinch a biscuit or two for the road, old bean?”_ > And, of course _“good heavens, would you mind awfully if I polished off the last crumpet?”_ Or maybe, _“I say, did someone leave their monocle in the loo?”_ Or am I just a smidge behind the times? Just came back form the UK/Ireland. Some of the telephone booths have been converted into defibrillator stations. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/868 "2024-11-11T17:46:31Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > > [@Tibby](#): > > > > I haven’t been to England in ages. Tell me, does the average Brit still pop out of a red phone booth clutching a cup of tea, tossing around phrases like, “cheerio, pip pip,” or _“I say, my good fellow”_? Do they still ask things like, _“fancy a spot of tea, old sport?”_ or _“terribly sorry, but could I pinch a biscuit or two for the road, old bean?”_ > > And, of course _“good heavens, would you mind awfully if I polished off the last crumpet?”_ Or maybe, _“I say, did someone leave their monocle in the loo?”_ Or am I just a smidge behind the times? > > Just came back form the UK/Ireland. Some of the telephone booths have been converted into defibrillator stations. In Belfast I had a random stranger ask me if she could bum a _“wee light”_ for her cigarette lol. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2024, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/869 "2024-11-11T20:36:04Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > I haven’t been to England in ages. Tell me, does the average Brit still pop out of a red phone booth clutching a cup of tea, tossing around phrases like, “cheerio, pip pip,” or _“I say, my good fellow”_? Do they still ask things like, _“ **fancy a spot of tea, old sport?** ”_ [snip] [My bold] Just as an aside, whenever I see “Old sport”, it makes me think of The Great Gatsby - y’know, The Great **American** Novel… 😉 j ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/870 "2024-11-11T20:49:10Z")
Switch to _“old bean.”_ The Brits can’t get enough beans—they love beans so much they put them on toast. Have you met Mr. Bean? They’re practically on a first-name basis. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/871 "2024-11-11T20:51:41Z")
Better - we definitely say _old bean_. j ETA - Another aside. The last time I saw _Beans On Toast_ on a menu, it was in a (British) tourist cafe on the Island of Rhodes. We have a lot to answer for. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/872 "2024-11-11T20:57:23Z")
Yes, beans were a big part of British diets during the Blitz and throughout WWII! With strict rationing in place, the government encouraged foods that were cheap, filling, and easy to store. My mom lived through the Blitz (barely), and her love of beans extended through raising her kids. I love beans too. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/873 "2024-11-11T21:01:10Z")
And they read [The Beano](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beano). ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/874 "2024-11-11T21:07:32Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Just came back form the UK/Ireland. Some of the telephone booths have been converted into defibrillator stations. About 3/4 are defibrillator stations, and maybe 90% of the rest are unofficial lending libraries where villagers exchange books. Only a tiny percentage are working phoneboxes nowadays. No-one carries cash, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/875 "2024-11-11T21:10:42Z")
That takes me back to when I was seven and spent three months in England. I picked up a comic featuring Dennis the Menace (probably _Beano_)—thought I’d scored, but it turned out to be the British version. Total letdown for a kid ready for some American-style mischief! ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/876 "2024-11-11T21:32:05Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > I picked up a comic featuring Dennis the Menace (probably _Beano_)—thought I’d scored, but it turned out to be the British version. Curiously, both were first published in March 1951, independently of each other. The Scots Dennis is superior, of course. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/877 "2024-11-11T21:45:07Z")
Oh, that made me remember another thing… In the USA, you have Rube Goldberg: [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Rube_Goldberg%27s_%22Self-Operating_Napkin%22_%28cropped%29.gif) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Rube_Goldberg%27s_%22Self-Operating_Napkin%22_%28cropped%29.gif) In the UK, we have (William) Heath Robinson: [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/William_Heath_Robinson_Inventions_-_Page_140.png) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/William_Heath_Robinson_Inventions_-_Page_140.png) ---
**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:** [November 11, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/878 "2024-11-11T21:49:13Z")
OK what’s supposed to be going on in the Robinson cartoon? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/879 "2024-11-11T22:15:18Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > what’s supposed to be going on in the Robinson cartoon I think they’re drilling holes in wheels of cheese and using the cheese shavings for more wheels of cheese. Double gloucester. > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > In a few episodes of _Leave It to Beaver_, they mention the “boy SCOUTS.” I know exactly what you mean. I had a Boy Scout leader who said ‘summer camp’ with accent on CAMP. And I knew a farmer who grew green BEANs. You also hear older folks refer to pro-Grims instead of programs. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/880 "2024-11-11T22:19:36Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I had a Boy Scout leader who said ‘summer camp’ with accent on CAMP. I think I used to as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=43) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=45)