# 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:** 6
**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 18, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/101 "2024-10-18T15:45:13Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Don’t ask Brits where the bathroom is unless you actually intend to take a bath. They’re all euphemisms. A particularly arch hostess might pre-empt the issue by saying “Let me show you the geography of the house” ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/102 "2024-10-18T15:46:16Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > IME (lived in London for about six years) they have no trouble understanding “bathroom”, and many even use this term themselves. “Washroom”, on the other hand, sometimes elicits confusion. Yes, I think it’s overplayed that use of the term bathroom is overly baffling for the majority of us Ukers. We’ve been indoctrinated enough with US media that if you have an American accent and ask for the bathroom, we know you mean the room with the toilet in it - which is also quite possibly the bathroom in many of our smaller UK houses. OB ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/103 "2024-10-18T15:46:36Z")
> [@Chad\_Sudan](#): > > We are truly separated by a common language. A linguist colleague of mine, Lynne Murphy, has a blog with this title. It’s is devoted entirely to highlighting the fascinating and often confusing differences between American and British English: [https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/](https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/) ---
**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 18, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/104 "2024-10-18T15:46:52Z")
No comment on the strength of “cunt,” but only from British people have I heard “cunting” (as in “…then I fell off the cunting bike,”) more or less a stronger “sodding.” ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/105 "2024-10-18T15:48:46Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The whole area outside your house in the UK is a garden. Grass or flower beds, garden. Does that include hard surfaces? - in the US , the property around my house is a front or back or side yard even if it is covered in pavers or gravel or cement without any plants or soil. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/106 "2024-10-18T15:48:52Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > _Hood_ noun > > 1. a soft or flexible covering for the head and neck, either separate or attached to a cloak, coat, or the like. When I grew up back in ancient times, a hood was a young man, usually a teen tough guy, who had greased hair, smoked cigarettes, acted disinterested in everything, and wore a leather jacket. Think James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause” or The Fonz in “Happy Days”. Oh, and ‘cunt’ is Ricky Gervais’s favorite word. It always jars me when he uses it. “Curb (kerb in old blighty) crawling” puzzled me for awhile. It basically means to solicit prostitutes. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/107 "2024-10-18T15:50:28Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Does that include hard surfaces? Yes, absolutely. Most of my friends’ houses in London have entirely paved backyards, and the inhabitants invariably refer to them as gardens. ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/108 "2024-10-18T15:50:33Z")
Cunt is one of those swear words that’s very much informed by context in the UK. With your mates (or even just mild acquaintances) down the pub it can be used almost affectionately. To a stranger in the street, or at dinner with your mother-in-law, it would be on the higher end of offensive. OB ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/109 "2024-10-18T15:51:20Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > How have you heard it ? I’m in the US and have never heard it used to mean anything other than a main course. The original post was > [@](#): > > Calling the main meal an entree is the one I find most bizarre. The entree isn’t the main meal, it’s the main course within a meal, as opposed to a side dish. So I thought that may have made it a Britishism; an equivalent to the American “dinner” or “supper” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/110 "2024-10-18T15:51:21Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Similarly is Cow as an insult which is a pretty mild insult equivalent to silly or slow on the uptake in the UK, and has no physical connotations. C\*\*\* and cow are not at all analogous as insults. C\*\*\* is more acceptable in Britain as a general swearword than it is in the USA, but still nothing like as much as it is in Ireland or Australia. For example in my workplace people might say “fuck” but they wouldn’t say “c\*\*\*”. However, my point is that if used as an insult, “c\*\*\*” is not gender specific. A man is at least as likely to be called a “c\*\*\*” as a woman is, it’s just a more robust equivalent of “prick” or “dick”. Whereas “cow” is only ever used to insult women - it’s conceivable that someone could get in more trouble for calling someone a cow in the workplace than for referring to an acquaintance as a c\*\*\*. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/111 "2024-10-18T15:55:33Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > sometimes the score would change after seemingly nothing happened. I still don’t get it. If the ball goes over the perimeter rope the batting team get 4 runs without the batters having to move. 6 runs if the ball doesn’t bounce first. Also, if there’s anything wrong with the way the bowler delivers the ball, the batting team get at least one run added to their score. ---
**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 18, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/112 "2024-10-18T15:56:54Z")
“Cow” can be used pretty aggressively of a woman - it can mean a particularly bossy or unpleasant woman. To mix up the references a (US)“Karen” would very likely be called a cow. ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/113 "2024-10-18T15:57:15Z")
> [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](#): > > Whereas “cow” is only ever used to insult women - it’s conceivable that someone could get in more trouble for calling someone a cow in the workplace than for referring to an acquaintance as a c\*\*\*. I agree. Just to further define what ‘cow’ means in the UK as a pejorative directed at a woman. It doesn’t just mean stupid (although that’s a common prefix) it means willfully obstructive and mean - basically a female cunt 🫤. It can be used affectionately in context, and particularly when talking about oneself, but is more likely to be used in spite. OB ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/114 "2024-10-18T15:57:58Z")
Do you guys have decks or patios? Those are often found in yards here. I have a wooden deck and a paved patio next to it. You definitely HAVE patios, I’ve seen them, but do you call them that? Not sure if I’ve ever seen a British deck. ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/115 "2024-10-18T15:59:18Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Do you guys have decks or patios? Those are often found in yards here. I have a wooden deck and a paved patio next to it. > > You definitely HAVE patios, I’ve seen them, but do you call them that? Not sure if I’ve ever seen a British deck. Yes we have both. Patios, as otherwise we’d have no where to bury the bodies. And decks (though more commonly called decking over here) because we love our maritime heritage! OB ---
**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 18, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/116 "2024-10-18T16:00:58Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The entree isn’t the main meal, it’s the main course within a meal, as opposed to a side dish. I think the weirdness is that brits, unfamiliar with the usage, are just trying to understand it as a French word, where it means ‘entrance’, and that sounds like it might mean the first, starter course. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/117 "2024-10-18T16:01:26Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > You definitely HAVE patios, I’ve seen them, but do you call them that? Not sure if I’ve ever seen a British deck. Patios and decking are very common in British gardens. Which leads to a joke when someone says something like “he wants decking”, “decking” also being a slang word in places for punching someone (so that they hit the deck/floor/ground), and “wants” being synonymous in places for “needs”. ---
**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 18, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/118 "2024-10-18T16:03:05Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > There’s also waffle: > > Brit: drone on about something interminable > American: Fail to make a decision and stick to it. American: a relative of the pancake cooked to delightfully crispness in a waffle iron. The distinctive pattern then carried over to such things as boots with soles in a similar configuration we called “waffle-stompers.” ---
**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 18, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/119 "2024-10-18T16:08:31Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > French word, where it means ‘entrance’, and that sounds like it might mean the first, starter course. As it does in France, so therefore also in the UK. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > You definitely HAVE patios, I’ve seen them, but do you call them that? Not sure if I’ve ever seen a British deck. Patio = stone or brick Decking = timber (as on the deck of a n old-school sailing ship ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941/120 "2024-10-18T16:13:09Z")
> [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](#): > > …people might say “fuck” but they wouldn’t say “c\*\*\*”. Not even if they verbalize the asterisks? mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-britishisms-most-baffle-americans-what-americanisms-most-baffle-brits/1008941.md?page=7)