# 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:** 50
**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:** [January 23, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/981 "2025-01-23T19:30:49Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Chip butties are also definitely a thing (cut up a bap, fill with chips, eat). What is a “bap”? Edit: I see it’s been answered. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/982 "2025-01-23T19:33:25Z")
A soft bread roll, usually large and flattish in shape. In the plural (baps) it’s also a slang term for women’s breasts. ---
**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:** [January 23, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/983 "2025-01-23T19:38:20Z")
“…usually large and flattish in shape.” What that says about the pulchritude of British women… ---
**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:** [January 23, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/984 "2025-01-23T20:02:24Z")
Not to be confused with buns. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/985 "2025-01-23T20:14:56Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > In the plural (baps) it’s also a slang term for women’s breasts. I wonder if the film below was released in the UK? If so, the title must’ve been chuckle-worthy. [B.A.P.S. - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.A.P.S). ---
**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:** [January 23, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/986 "2025-01-23T20:32:34Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > In the plural (baps) it’s also a slang term for women’s breasts. In America this is a BAPS: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tSJmJ4r4bxs/maxresdefault.jpg "B\*A\*P\*S (1997) Official Trailer - Halle Berry, Martin Landau Movie HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSJmJ4r4bxs) ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/987 "2025-01-23T21:13:17Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > what do British use for id with picture? A wide variety of things, but no single document. The current iteration of the drivers licence does have a picture. For voting, you can get a Voter Authority Certificate if you dont have any acceptable photo ID. ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/988 "2025-01-23T21:27:43Z")
thanks ---
**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:** [January 23, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/989 "2025-01-23T21:42:05Z")
No idea where “nonce” for pedophile originates. Since it’s also used for a number used just the once in cryptography, it may have that connection to the excuse “it was only just this one time.” But that’s dubious at best. Wiktionary is no help: “ 1975. Unknown, derived from British criminal slang. Several origins have been proposed; possibly derived from dialectal _ **nonce** _ , _[nonse](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=nonse&action=edit&redlink=1)_ (“stupid, worthless individual”) (but this cannot be shown to predate _nonce_ “child-molester” and is likely a toned-down usage of the same insult), or _[Nance](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Nance#English)_ , _[nance](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/nance#English)_ (“effeminate man, homosexual”), from _[nancy](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/nancy#English)_ or _[nancyboy](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/nancyboy#English)_ . The rhyme with _[ponce](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/ponce#English)_ has also been noted.” Maybe Papal _nuncio_? 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/990 "2025-01-24T13:05:36Z")
The British sitcom _Early Doors_ is set in a pub in Greater Manchester. The landlord will greet regulars with “hello cock”. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/991 "2025-01-24T16:12:47Z")
It’s definitely not a common expression. I’m not even sure I’ve ever heard it in real life. A handful of times on TV maybe. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/992 "2025-01-24T16:28:07Z")
Oh, I dunno. I’m sure I must have been greeted with a cheery “Wotcher, cock!” more than once or twice. [Dictionary corner](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/wotcher) j. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/993 "2025-01-24T16:33:39Z")
My parents used it jocularly from time to time. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/994 "2025-01-24T17:26:12Z")
I’ll go out on a limb and say ‘it’s a northern thing’. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/995 "2025-01-24T18:38:08Z")
I recall Marmalade using it on “Educating Marmalade.” ---
**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:** [January 24, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/996 "2025-01-24T19:15:44Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I’ll go out on a limb and say ‘it’s a northern thing’. If we’re still talking "cock’ and especially “wotcher cock”, then it has/had a good run in London. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/997 "2025-01-24T21:33:39Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > I recall Marmalade using it on “Educating Marmalade.” Same. It shocked me that it was allowed on kid’s TV until I figured out it didn’t mean what I thought it meant. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/998 "2025-01-29T07:36:55Z")
Oh, here’s a good one. To set it up, though, I need to explain that I’ve read a lot of Beatles bios along the way, starting when I was quite young. Even though I was only six when they first appeared on American TV, I already liked their music and knew who they were. Not many years later I started reading the bios, and it seemed there was once actually a time when it was possible to have read all of them. I wasn’t too aware of the differences between UK and American English, other than that the latter sounded different. This was around 1968, when I was reading the Hunter Davies bio. When the band moved down to London, so Davies wrote, John Lennon and his family took a flat “in Emperor’s Gate”. I didn’t know that when people in the UK say they live “in” a street it’s the same as Americans saying they live “on” a street, i.e. it’s the same as “that’s where my house is”. I also didn’t know that “-gate” or “Gate” and is sometimes used in British street names and in this context means “opening”, “passage”, or “way”. Apparently this usage comes from Old Norse and is etymologically related to Scandinavian toponyms like Katte **gat**. So there I was, imagining that the Lennons lived in an actual stone gate, like something that was originally built as part of a castle, and that their flat consisted of a few rooms in the upper area of an enormous gate, perhaps over the arch. I mean, it was an **emperor’s** gate, right? So it must have been very impressive. Apologies for the long build-up, but the bizarreness of my original concept still gives me a chuckle when I think about it. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/999 "2025-01-29T10:27:48Z")
Not really related to the above, but the ‘in’ reminded me of an Americanism I find odd… You’re in prison/jail. You’re in school/college. But you’re in THE hospital. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2025, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1000 "2025-01-29T11:48:51Z")
There is of course an origin story that it is prison slang for Not On Normal Courtyard/Communal Exercise. Like all other acronym etymologies, it’s going to be false. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=51)