For those not familiar, in the US “public school” means a taxpayer-funded school; parents aren’t on the hook for any fees*. Such a school in the UK would be called a “comprehensive” (I think). A “public school” is a snooty, elite private school such as Eton or Whatever. In the US, a “private school” is a school in which the parents have to pay a fee for the kids to attend. In the UK I think they call such a school a “fee-paying school.”
*I’m aware that some/many/most “public” schools in the US still extract money from the parents in one way or another, such as fees for this or for that.
“Slap-up.” To this American, it sounds like it should mean “hastily assembled,” not “sumptuous.” (Our closest equivalent is “bang-up,” but it’s not used much outside the idiom “doing a bang-up job.”)
I saw a definition that said in the UK the “public” in "
public school" means a school that is open to all pupils regardless of their religion or where they live. Does that mean that “public school” by definition has at least some boarders and “day school” would never be a “public school”?
I don’t think that’s necessarily the claim - the thread is just about things that seem confusing when seen from the other side of the pond - often they will be about words that exist both sides with different usage, but sometimes it’s going to be just weird things those other guys over there say that don’t make sense to us
No, the direct equivalent term is “state school”. State schools might be comprehensive, or they might be selective (ie, you need to pass an exam to get in - long abolished in Scottish state schools, coming back in English ones and I think never gone in Northern Ireland).
“Private school” does actually mean the same in Britain as it does in America - such schools are much more numerous than “public schools”.
No, “jelly” means 2 different things - for probably most British people it means the gelatin containing dessert that PatrickLondon was talking about. It can also however mean the stuff contained in a jar, basically a jam without any solids, that you’re talking about, which is thickened with pectin.
Yes, whilst the term entree is uncommon, it’s not unheard of. But even so everyone would understand it as a synonym for starter. Using it as a synonym for main course is just
I live just down the road from Baltimore and have a hard time imagining that the “Balmar” accent would be unintelligible to any one.
On the other hand, watching Doctor Who. The British accent combined with the tendency for them to mutter combined with the volume problems on my computer make it very hard for me to understand what’s going on.
“Rather” vs. “quite” threw me for a loop during my first trip to England - I was used to the former meaning “somewhat” and the latter meaning “very,” not the other way around.
Pavement referring to sidewalks exclusively and not road surface. I’m not sure what the British term for road/street surface is.
Also “gritting” and “gritters” for winter snow and ice clearing/melting. Don’t think they had any snowplows in Southeast England. Nor did they know what snow tires (sorry tyres) were. This former New Englander was amused.
Though I’m conflict-averse enough to never use it in an argument, I can envision myself calling a man a c-word as an insult, in the British sense. I’d use “twat” for the same intent were I to refer to a woman. That said, I’ve also hear British comedians use “twat” as a verb meaning to hit/strike.
The comedian Rhod Gilbert uses “pissing” as his version of “sodding” and I find it pretty effective. He also introduced me to the expression “on the piss,” meaning “out with the mates for a rowdy drunken evening.” I took to using it myself while traveling (I was staying in Newcastle over the weekend and Saturday night you couldn’t move on the high street for everyone out on the piss for their stag do’s and hen nights). No idea if this is a Welsh, or even strictly a Carmarthen, thing.
The first time I visited London, I stayed with friends in their flat in Streatham, and was baffled by how they had two washrooms/bathrooms. One closet had the actual shower, the other had the toilet and the sink.
Can someone from Over There confirm if this has started to change? I feel like I’ve heard some Brits start to use those terms more sensibly.
Also “pudding”. When my wife and I (both American) visited the UK for the first time, we were confused by the “pudding” section of a restaurant menu. In the US, the word “pudding” specifically means a custard-type dessert, and would never be understood to include baked goods, ice cream, or other sorts of dishes that are dissimilar to custard.
