BritSpeak


 
BritSpeak


 Problem Words 

Some words have very different meanings on opposite sides of the Atlantic.  Misusing these words can lead to embarrassment in social or business situations.

Take, for example, the word  pants .  In the US, pants mean trousers, an outer garment.  But in the UK, pants are commonly used to refer to a woman's (or a man's) undergarment .  Thus, complementing your hostess on her pants at a London dinner party may raise some eyebrows.

 To protect you from such linguistic faux pas, the folks at BritSpeak have compiled the following list of "Problem Words": 


Problem Word     In UK this is       In US this is

Billion           A million million    A thousand million

Bomb              Great success        Big failure

Enjoin            To require           To prohibit

Fag               Cigarette            Rude word 

Fanny             Rude word            Buttocks

First Floor       One floor up from    Street level 
                  street level

Homely            Pleasant             Ugly

Jelly             Gelatin              Preserve made from
                                       fruit and sugar

Knock Up          Awaken by knocking   Impregnate

Lemonade          Carbonated beverage  Non-carbonated beverage

Momentarily       Instantly            Soon

Paraffin          Kerosene             Candle wax

Public School     Private school       State school

Rubber            Eraser               Condom

Subway            Underground walkway  Underground railway

Suspenders        Straps worn to hold  Straps worn to hold 
                  up stockings         up trousers

Table             Bring to a vote      Set aside

Vest              Garment worn under   Garment worn over
                  a shirt              a shirt


 URL: http://pages.prodigy.com/NY/NYC/britspk/probword.html

 Comments to  ukmark@aol.com 

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