# 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:** 53
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1041 "2025-01-31T14:21:00Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Is that related to this exchange from _Doctor Who_? Yes, it’s a Cambridge University thing. May Week and the May Ball used to be in May before the end of year exams. But they decided to move it to after the exams as it was too much of a distraction. But tradition is big at Cambridge so they kept the old name. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1042 "2025-01-31T14:28:52Z")
I figured it was. They were punting on the river (is it the Cam?) at Cambridge at the time. That scene was from “Shada,” the story that was never finished because of a strike at the BBC, but it was later repurposed for “The Five Doctors.” ---
**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:** [January 31, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1043 "2025-01-31T15:11:47Z")
Given that “prom” is short for promenade, [_To walk slowly along a path for pleasure or the path itself_] "Going to the prom would only apply to the path, whereas going to prom would apply the the pleasurable walk. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1044 "2025-01-31T15:49:06Z")
Exactly this. The Welsh word for “fortnight,” “pythefnos,” too, is literally “fifteen nights.” ---
**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:** [January 31, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1045 "2025-01-31T16:11:47Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > Which is traditionally held in June, of course. The weather’s too cold in May, duh. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1046 "2025-01-31T16:23:49Z")
And Oktoberfest is in September. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1047 "2025-01-31T16:28:32Z")
nm. Didn’t notice it was such an old thread. ---
**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 31, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1048 "2025-01-31T17:42:25Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Given that “prom” is short for promenade, [_To walk slowly along a path for pleasure or the path itself_] "Going to the prom would only apply to the path, whereas going to prom would apply the the pleasurable walk. Not to be confused with [The Proms](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Proms). > _Prom_ is short for _[promenade concert](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promenade_concert)_ , a term which originally referred to outdoor concerts in London’s [pleasure gardens](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasure_garden), where the audience was free to stroll around while the orchestra was playing. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1049 "2025-01-31T20:11:52Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > And Oktoberfest is in September. And the Great October Socialist Revolution took place in November. (of course - you could be using the “Old Style” calendar). ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1050 "2025-02-01T00:20:58Z")
One that always throws me off is the word “jumper” If it’s a British person saying it, they men what Americans call a sweater. A jumper in american fashion, it’s this [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Not\_your\_typical\_secretary\_10.17.07.jpg#/media/File:Not\_your\_typical\_secretary\_10.17.07.jpg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Not_your_typical_secretary_10.17.07.jpg#/media/File:Not_your_typical_secretary_10.17.07.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1051 "2025-02-01T00:30:22Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > One that always throws me off is the word “jumper” > > If it’s a British person saying it, they men what Americans call a sweater. A jumper in american fashion, it’s this For a German IT guy like me, a jumper is this: [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31ZzREBx9nL.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31ZzREBx9nL.jpg) ---
**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:** [February 1, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1052 "2025-02-01T00:33:41Z")
That’s a pinafore. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1053 "2025-02-01T00:40:50Z")
Maybe I’m just a dude, but I’ve never heard of the term used for a dress in the US. It’s the PC part to short pins. Or I suppose a suicidal person… ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1054 "2025-02-01T00:41:40Z")
What do you call this? [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Jersei-coll-alt.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Jersei-coll-alt.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1055 "2025-02-01T00:53:23Z")
It’s partly because you’re male ( I think that’s what you’re saying, anyway) and partly because the last time they were in style for adult women was in the '80s. You really only see them nowadays for girls under about 10 - and even for them, it’s mostly school uniforms. _Pinafore_ in the US is a type of apron with a front bib but no back. _Pinny_ refers to a type of shirt worn over a gym uniform to distinguish one team from another. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1056 "2025-02-01T01:00:05Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > What do you call this? Well. In the country I grew up in (Aotearoa/New Zealand), I would call that a turtleneck **jersey**. In the country I reside in now (Australia), I would call it a turtleneck **jumper**. So let’s just call it a **turtleneck**. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1057 "2025-02-01T01:41:57Z")
I came to the US in the 1980s from Pakistan and the sweater-jumper thing confused the hell out of me (among many other words and phrases discussed in this thread). [American] Jumpers were quite popular for women of all ages at the time. And yes in Pakistan that was called a pinafore. It was a common part of a school uniform, but also otherwise. Was a favorite of MiniMouse when she was under 10. I’m looking a framed picture of her in one right now. Thanks to the globalization of media English in Pakistan is much more American than British nowadays. At least in accents. But I do know that what were trainers 40 years ago are now called sneakers. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1058 "2025-02-01T02:09:22Z")
If you never bought women’s clothing before say, 1995(in th US), you wouldn’t have even run across the term (as it relates to clothing) Like Doreen said, it hasn’t been fashionable for adults for a long time. Except for the link, all the google results were American Girl dolls. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > In the country I reside in now (Australia), I would call it a turtleneck **jumper**. I might call it a turtleneck, but there are a lot of what y’all call jumpers that aren’t turtleneck. I call it a sweater. But what causes the cognitive dissonance for me isn’t that it’s a different word. That comes from the fact that what I call a jumper is NOT cold weather clothing. It certainly isn’t worn to stay warm on a cold winter day. So when I read about a character putting on a jumper and jeans to go out in the cold, it throws me for a loop. Does anyone even know the origin of the term? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1059 "2025-02-01T02:19:21Z")
I’ve noticed on Heartbeat that Gina uses “ta ra” sometimes as if to say goodbye. Is that common in England or is that a northern thing? Does anyone say “ta ta” as you might (rarely) hear in the US? ---
**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:** [February 1, 2025, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/1060 "2025-02-01T02:28:11Z")
When it was time to name frozen treats on sticks, the word lollipop was split up, with the British talking the front for ice lolly and the Americans the back for popsicle. After weeks of testy negotiations and a few hotly disputed coin tosses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=52) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=54)