THE DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN ENGLISH
by Brian C.
A Lexicon of "American English" and "British English"
Now you too can speak like a Yank or a Limey!
Yeah: Rule Britannia and all that! Now, if SOME of you take this all too seriously you will be disappointed! No apologies for the funny regionalisms etc. OK? Don't get upset if this isn't PRO quality. I just did it for fun mostly! Life is too short to worry!
SEARCH THIS SITE
E-mail me if you insist!
Visit my MAIN WEB-SITE
I did this for FUN!!!
Critics need not apply!
Besides, I am typing and YOU are reading,
so if you don't like it, too bad!
Note - words that need defining in the other dialect are sometimes indicated by an asterisk or quotation marks!
CATEGORIES:
Back to the top
| Bug | Insect |
| Fishes | Fish (pl.) |
| Hog | Pig |
| House Fly (Large) | Blow Fly |
| Rooster | Cockerel |
| Shedding (fur) | Moulting |
| Small crow | Jack-daw |
| Spiney fish | Stickleback |
| Water surface insect | Waterboatman |
| vacuum cleaner | Hoover
|
| TV | Telly or TV |
| Frigidaire, ice box, fridge | Refrigerator, fridge |
| Baby, infant | Nipper, Little 'un (slangs) |
| Baby carriage or Baby buggy | Perambulator or "Pram" |
| Diaper | Nappy |
| Formula | Bottle of baby milk |
| Pacifier, fooler | Dummy |
| Stroller | Push chair |
| Ass | Arse |
| Bald-headed | Bald |
| Belly, stomach | Tummy (occasionally belly/stomach) |
| Bod * | Body, as in gorgeous |
| Booty * | Bottom, buttocks |
| Butt, tush, fanny | Bum |
| Ear | Ear, lug-hole, Lug (slangs) |
| Fanny * | Bottom, buttocks |
| Fist | 'Bunch of Fives' |
| Gams | Legs, usu. a woman's |
| Hand | Mitt (slang) |
| Head | Bonce (slang), Nut. |
| Hooters * | Breasts |
| Jaw or chin | Bracket (slang) |
| Kisser | mouth |
| Lap | knee or lap |
| Mouth | mouth, "gob, trap, cake-hole" (slangs) |
| Nose | "hooter" |
| Penis | "knob" |
| Pinky | little finger |
| Testicles, nuts, rocks | Goolies, knackers, pillochs, bollocks |
| Vagina | Fanny * |
| Zit | Spot |
(Okay, enough of that! I could go on, but...)
| Backyard, Yard | Garden (small) |
| Building site | Building plot |
| Platte | Map (of land) |
| Precinct station | Constabulary |
| Realty, property | Property |
| Realtor, real estate agent | Estate agent |
| Shack | Shed |
| Snack shop | Tuck shop |
| Stoop | A small porch |
| Swath (of land) | Swathe |
| Platte, Undeveloped piece of land | Plot |
| Yard | Garden
|
| A type of material | Fairisle |
| Apron | Pinny or Pinnafore * |
| Boxer Shorts | Shorts worn under trousers |
| Jackboots | Bovver boots, hobnail boots |
| Clothes hanger | Coat hanger |
| Clothes pin | Peg |
| Cuffs (pants) | Turn-ups |
| Diaper | Nappy |
| Garter belt | Suspender belt |
| Hose | Stockings |
| Knickerbockers | Shorts |
| Lacy | Frilly |
| Long Johns, Long-handles | Combinations |
| Pants | Trousers |
| Panties | knickers |
| Pantyhose | Tights |
| Pinnafore * | A style of woman's dress |
| Robe | Dressing gown |
| Run | Ladder |
| Pumps | Shoes |
| Rain hat | Sou'wester |
| Slacks, casual pants | Trews |
| Sneakers | Trainers |
| Sox | Socks |
| Stockings, Hose | Nylons, stockings |
| Suspenders | Braces |
| Straight pin | Pin |
| Suit | Suite (furniture) |
| No equivalent | Donkey jacket |
| Sou'wester | Bad storm from the southwest |
| Sweater | Jumper,jersey, sweater, woolly |
| Sweats | Tracksuit |
| Tee shirt | Vest |
| Tennis shoes | Plimsolls |
| Underpants or panties | Knickers, Pants, drawers, skivvies |
| Vest | Waistcoat |
| Walk shorts | Shorts |
| Well-dressed | Smart (or dressed-up) |
| Yarn | Wool (or yarn) |
| Zipper | Zip |
| Assignment | Homework |
| Assignment | Lesson |
| Chalkboard | Blackboard |
| Check mark | Tick |
| College Student | Student |
| Elementary School/Grade School | Junior School |
| Eraser | Rubber |
| Freshman | 1st year undergraduate |
| Grade (as in 1st) | Class (e.g. Class 10) (used to be
"form") |
| Grade (points) | Score |
| High School | Senior School |
| Jock |
| Junior | 3rd year undergraduate |
| Junior High School | Middle School |
| Math | Maths |
| Majoring in | Reading (at Univ.) |
| Public school | State school |
| Preschool | Private nursery school |
| Primmer | Primer |
| Principal | Headmaster/mistress |
| Private school gofer | Fag |
| Pythagorean Theorem | Pythagoras's Theorem |
| Right Triangle | Right Angle Triangle |
| Senior | 4th year undergraduate |
| Sophomore | 2nd year undergraduate |
| Student | Pupil |
| Undergraduate school | College/University |
| Write offs | Lines |
| Zero | Nought |
Back to the top
| Check | Bill |
| Ice cream cone | Ice cream cornet |
| Popsicle | Lolly |
| Napkin | Serviette |
| To go | Take out, take away |
| Affirmative | Yes |
| Add up, total | Total up, tott up |
| Afterward | Afterwards |
| Agin | Against |
| Aks (ethnic Afro-american) | Ask |
| Everthang, The whole ball of wax, whole nine
yards, whole megillah. | All of it, everything |
| Alls (not universally used) | All |
| Angry or a little irritated | Cross |
| Annoying fellow, bad character | Sod (as in sodomy, expletive) |
| Backward | Backwards |
| Bad, problematic | Dodgey |
| Bad ass (verb OR adj.) | A threatening, violent man |
| Be encouraged! | Buck up * |
| Beaten (in a race) | Pipped at the post |
| Beep | Pip or stroke |
| Belly up | Failure, shut down (a business etc.) |
| "Best/Bests" (verb) | Beats the others |
| Bitchin | Great |
| Blob, n. | Wodge, n. |
| Blows (It blows) | It's no good |
| Bone up * | Study |
| Boner | Silly idea, blunder, error |
| Boner | Erection |
| Brickbat * | A complaint |
| Brook (verb) | Tolerate |
| Built-in | Fitted |
| Bump | Remove someone's plane reservation |
| Bumper music | Introductory music on a radio talk show |
| Bunch | Large quantity |
| Bunk | Nonsense |
| Butt of The Joke * | Brunt of the Joke |
| Came to visit, Stopped By | Popped round, popped over, in |
| Carry to the store | Take to the shops |
| Catty-corner * | Diagonally across |
| Chase off or deflect | See off (e.g. dog) |
| Chatting, talking | Nattering, gassing |
| Cheat in business, swindle | Diddle |
| Check (mark) | Tick |
| Compulsive house cleaning | Houseproud (adj) |
| Chr-st! (Euphemism) Wow! | Crikey! * |
| Clumsy | Cack-handed |
| Coat check | Cloakroom |
| Cold cock | Hit someone hard |
| Conk out | Cronk out |
| Cool your jets! | Calm down! |
| Copasthetic * | All OK |
| Counter-clockwise | Anti-clockwise |
| Coverage (insurance) | Cover |
| Cranky | In a bad mood |
| Crashed & died | Bought it * |
| Crazy, bananas | Round the loop, loopy |
| Cut to the chase | Get to the point |
| Dandy (adj.) | Clever, good |
| Dandy (n. Fancy dresser, show-off) | Spiv * |
| Dang! | Blimey! Bollocks! |
| Dang (Adj.) | Very, or very bad |
| Dang near | Almost |
| Darn well | Bloomin' well, bleedin' well (coarse) |
| Durn | Very, or very bad |
| Defective | Duff |
| Dispatch | Despatch |
| Do me a favor! | Do us a favour! (more cockney) |
| Doggone! | Blow! |
| Doggone (adj.) | Darned, Bloomin' |
| Duff (sl.) | Buttocks |
| Done * | Finished |
| Drunk | Pissed |
| Each | a throw (example, "They only cost 5 pounds a throw!") |
| Easy, something easy | A doddle * |
| Eat | Tuck in * |
| Elevator | Lift |
| End of your rope | End of your tether |
| Enjoy the heck out of | Enjoy greatly |
| Exactly! | Quite! |
| Excerpt | Extract |
| Exclamation or surprise | Blimey! (From "Blind me!") |
| Exclamation or surprise, Dang! | Stone the crows! |
| Excuse me | Sorry |
| Fast (going very fast) | Like the clappers * |
| Favors (verb) | Looks like (people) |
| Fed Up With ___ | Fed Up Of ___ |
| Feeling your oats | gloating in success (see sowing wild oats) |
| Fight | 'Punch-up' |
| Figure out | 'Suss' (figure out) |
| Fish or cut bait | Get on with it |
| Fix * | Prepare |
| Fixing to * | Preparing to, about to |
| Flattering (phoney) | Smarmy |
| Forward | Forwards |
| Fraidy Cat | Scaredy Cat |
| Freight elevator | Goods lift |
| From the get go * | From the beginning/start |
| Fubar ("foobar") * | F*cked Up Beyond All Recognition |
| Funnest * | The most fun, most enjoyable |
| Furnish | Supply, provide, fit |
| Gawk | To stare stupidly |
| Get a holt of | Cop hold of |
| Get going! | On your bicycle! * |
| Get lost! | Get knotted! Get stuffed! |
| Get more exercise | Take more exercise |
| G.I.G.O. * | Garbage in, Garbage out (computers) |
| Give it a try | Have a go, Give it a go |
| Go away! | Bugger off! * |
| Go away! | Piss off! * |
| Go away! | Push off * |
| Go crazy | go potty (or crazy) |
| Go potty | go to the loo |
| Go to bat for | Stick up for |
| Go very fast! | 'Go like the clappers!' or like Billy-o |
| Going very fast! | 'HARING' - He went haring off down the road. |
| Good for you! | Bully for you! |
| Goodbye, bye | Cheerio, tata |
| Goof, goof up | 'Drop a clanger' |
| Gorgeous, beautiful, cute | Dishy, dolly (adj.) |
| Gotten | Got, obtained, become or acquired |
| Goes a ways | Goes a fair amount |
| Good | Not half bad * |
| Great! Neat, Neato! | Super! (Some say "SYOO-PER" in snob english) |
| Gross * | Disgusting |
| Grumble, complain, whine | Grizzle * |
| Guess | Suppose, think |
| Half staff (flag) | Half mast |
| Hanging out, Lolly Gagging | Lolling around, hanging around |
| Harm (bodily) | Mischief |
| Harm yourself | Do yourself a mischief or a damage |
| Have a gander at it! | Take a look at it! |
| Heck with you, I'm OK! | I'm alright, JACK! * |
| Heck with you! | I'm alright, Jack, Blow you! |
| He'p, hope (both South) | Help |
| Here you go | Here you are |
| Hey! (salutation) | What ho! Watch yer! |
| Hey! (getting attention) | Oy! Hoy! |
| Hey! or Hi! | Hello! |
| Hicky * | Mark on skin from excessive kiss |
| Hit(verb) | Dotted * |
| Hit him | Dotted 'im one * |
| Hold, grab | Cop hold of |
| Hooey (slang) | Nonsense |
| Horse!(slang) | A man (joking or friendly term) |
| Horsing around | Mucking about |
| Horseplay, horsing around | Rough, boisterous fun |
| Hush! | Shush! (Pronounced like "Bush") |
| I agree! | "here here!" |
| I don't have | I haven't got |
| I gotta tell ya! | I say, I say, I say! (or just 'I say!') |
| I have | I've got or I've |
| Idiot | Clot, Clod, loony, bint |
| Illicit sex | Sowing wild oats |
| I'm telling you! | Believe you me! |
| In point of fact | In fact |
| Insane | Bonkers, Mad |
| Installed | fitted |
| Intimidate and threaten | Bother, "A bit of bovver" |
| Irregardless (error) | Regardless |
| Jury rig or kluge | Jerry rig |
| Keep your chin up! | Keep your pecker up! |
| Kudos | Good show, well done! |
| Let us know, speak up | Sing out |
| Liar! | Lying Hound! Lying Toad! |
| Listen up! | Listen here! |
| Loading dock | Goods entrance |
| Look out for something | Keep your eyes skinned, peeled |
| "Low-life" (person) | "Scruff" or "Urchin" |
| Might could (South) | Could possibly be able to |
| Most any | Almost any |
| Most every | Almost every |
| Mostly | In the main |
| Mad | Angry |
| Made a Big Mistake | * Dropped a Clanger * |
| Make a face | Pull a face |
| Make like | Act like, pretend to be |
| Making fun | Taking the Mick(ey) (slang) |
| Make it | Succeed, arrive, have sex |
| Make the grade | Succeed |
| Make out | Succeed |
| Making out, affection | Snogging |
| Mash (South) | Press (as in button) |
| Me Either / Neither | I didn't either |
| Mean or contemptible fellow | Blighter * |
| Joining in, and helping out | Mucking in |
| Messing around | Mucking about |
| A Messy person | Mucking pup |
| Mums (slang / flowers) | Chrysants (abbr.) |
| Mum's the word | Keep this quiet |
| Muss | Mess |
| "Nanny nanny boo boo!" | Nah nah nah-nah nah -OR-
"Cry baby bunting!" * |
| Nearly | Nigh-on (e.g. "Nigh-on impossible") |
| Neat, Neat-o! | Fabulous |
| Negative, negatory * | No |
| No good | A fat lot of good * |
| "No way!" | "I should Coco!" *, "Not on your nelly!" * |
| No problem | Right oh, then! |
| Nub * (noun) | Protuberance, lump, stub |
| Nuh-uh! | No |
| Odor | Pong (slang) * |
| Odor | Odour |
| Oh my God! | Oh my Godfather's! * |
| OK | Right then * |
| On accident | By accident |
| On purpose | On purpose |
| On time | Bang on schedule * |
| Organize | Organise |
| Out front | Out in the front |
| Panties in a wad | Knickers in a twist |
| Parentheses | Brackets |
| Partial trade | Part exchange |
| Pass up | Go past |
| Paydirt | A profitable discovery or event |
| Penny | A Cent |
| Penny-anny or penny ante | Petty, insignificant |
| Perceive | Make out |
| Period | Full stop |
| Pick up (the house) | Tidy up |
| Piss off | Annoy |
| Point up | Point out |
| Pollyanna | Optimistic (person) |
| Problematic, bad | Dodgy * |
| Prosecuted | Summonsed, had up |
| Questionable or illicit activity | "Shilly-shally" |
| Rain check * | When shopping - a chit for discount later if they run out of it. |
| Real ("A real ___") | Right ("A right ___") * |
| Recognize | Recognise |
| Rent | Hire |
| Resolute, Spirited | Plucky |
| Right good (South) | Excellent (adj.) or Well (Adv.) |
| Rock | Stone |
| Rub | Crux |
| Run for it | Bunk, Scarper (slang) or scarper off |
| Sack, tote sack, tote | Bag |
| Smarts (verb) | Hurts |
| Smarts (slang noun) | Intelligence |
| Snafu *(A crude acronym) | Error |
| Snowed under | Extremely busy, overwhelmed |
| Sod | Turf |
| Sorry | Inadequate, pathetic, inferior |
| Spiffy | POSH (fr. Port out Starboard Home) |
| Stay at home | Stop at home (e.g. from work) |
| Stole my thuunder | Said what I was going to before I could |
| Stop Smoking | Pack it up * |
| Stopped up | Bunged up |
| Stories or "white lies" | Fibs |
| Stuck with an uncomfortable situation | Lumbered |
| Sarcastic | Sarkey * |
| Sassy | Cheeky or saucy |
| Scody, Scuzzy | Scruffy, untidy |
| Segue' ("Seg-way") * | Shift, change, maneuver, transition |
| Shut your pie hole!* | Shut your trap/gob/cake hole! |
| Slash or slant | Stroke (i.e. /) |
| Sleep in (late) | Lie in |
| Snicker | Snigger |
| Snob, or rich guy | Toff (Old London expression) |
| Specter | Spectre |
| Stand in line | Queue or "queue up" |
| Steal | Nick, knock off |
| Step up | Belly up (e.g. - to the bar) |
| Stomp | Stamp (foot) |
| Suspicious | Dodgey |
| Tacky | Tatty, scruffy, cheap, low class |
| Take a look | Take a decko |
| Take a turn | Have a go (as in a game) |
| Talk with, flirt with, persuasively | Chat up |
| Talkative fellow | Gas bag |
| A Tattle-tale, n. | Grass , n. |
| To Tattle, v. | To grass on, v. |
| The skinny | The inside story, scoop |
| Through | Up to and including |
| Tell me about it! | I know all about it! |
| Ten cents a piece | Ten pence a throw |
| Thanks, thank you | Ta! (slang), much-obliged! |
| Thank you | Thanking you * |
| That's his loss | That's his funeral |
| That's strange! | Oooow er! |
| The hospital | Hospital |
| There you go | There you are |
| Throw out or Derail | * Scuttle |
| Tote | Carry |
| Toward | Towards |
| Trade | Exchange or "Part Exchange" |
| Trickery, deception | Jiggery-pokery |
| Two Bit, El Cheapo | Of poor quality |
| Two weeks | fortnight |
| Uh-huh | yes |
| Uh-oh | oh dear |
| Uh-uh | no |
| Untidy | Scruff (adj.) |
| Untidy person | Scruff (n.) |
| "Up the Ante" | Increase your bet or risk |
| Urinate | Spend a penny, take a slash, take a wazz |
| Very | Ever so, bloomin' |
| Very | Not half * |
| Very pleased | Chuffed * |
| Very weak | Weak as water |
| Visit with | Talk to, chat |
| Wait on line | Queue, or Queue Up |
| Wait up | Wait |
| Wake UP! | Wakey wakey! |
| Wanted | Fancied |
| Wasted | Frittered away |
| Way to go! | Well done! Keep it up! |
| Well done, nice job, congratulations | "Bully for you!" (sometimes sarcastic) |
| What a bod, she's stacked | She's gorgeous! |
| What time to you have? | What time do you make it? |
| While | Whilst |
| Winningest (player, coach) | Most successful |
| Wonderful, lovely | Glorious |
| Worked out | 'SORTED!' |
| WOW! | Blimey, or 'Oh My Giddy Aunt!' |
| Wow! | Cor! |
| Wow! | Cor, Blimey! |
| Wow! | Gor, Blimey! |
| Wriggle | Fidget |
| Yo! | Hey! |
| You got suckered! | More fool you! |
| Your slip is showing! | "Charlie's dead!" |
| You're finished! (as in a card game) | On your bicycle!, bicycles! * |
| You've got it made | Bob's your uncle * |
| Zee | Zed |
| Zip | Zero, nothing |
| Wake me up | Knock me up |
Back to the top
Auminum Aluminium
Aluminum foil, tin foil Silver paper, tinfoil.
Baking pan Baking tin
Baking soda Bicarbonate of soda, "Bicarb"
Beets or red beets Beetroot
Bell Pepper Green pepper
Black-currant cordial Ribena
Broil Grill or roast (e.g. chicken)
Cabbage & potatoes fried Bubble & Squeak
Can Tin, Tin can
Candy apple Toffee apple
Catsup Ketchup or tomato sauce
Cheerios Circular cereal (no equivalent!)
Cigarettes Fags
Candy Sweets
Coaster Beer mat
Cobbler Crumble
Cookies Biscuits
Cornstarch Cornflour
Dessert Sweet, pudding or afters
Eat (v.) "Tuck into"
Eat (v.) "Get Stuck into"
Eggplant Aubergine
Food "Tuck"
Fruit juice (diluted) Squash
Golden Raisins Sultanas
Goobers Peanuts
Ground meat Minced meat
Heaping (spoon) Heaped
Hot tea Char, tea
Ice Cream CONE Ice cream CORNET
Iced tea Cold tea with no milk.
Jawbreaker Gobstopper
Jello Jelly
Jello pudding (similar) Blanc-mange ("Bl'monj")
Jelly Jam
Lite beer Diluted beer
Lunch Dinner or lunch
Maraschino Cherries Glace' cherries
Marmite A savory spread (no equivalent)
Mashed Potatoes Mash
No equivalent Sherbet (powder sweets)
No equivalent (sparkling drink) Tizer
No equivalent (blackcurrant drink) Ribena
Orange Drink Orange Squash
Pancake syrup Golden syrup
Pie crust, pie shell Pastry
Plastic wrap Cling film
Popsicles Ice lollies
Powdered sugar Icing sugar
Pudding Instant Whip
Raisin Sultana
Roast (n) Joint (or roast)
Root beer Germoline flavoured drink
Rhutabaga Swede
Salad dressing Salad cream
Sausage Banger
Scallion Spring onion
Seeds (in fruit) Pips
Semi-sweet chocolate Plain chocolate
Sherbet Sorbet
Shrimp Prawns
Silverware/flatware Cutlery
Soda or sodapop Fizzy or pop
Soda Fizzy drinks
soft candy Wine gums
Spaghetti sauce Bolognese sauce
Spaghetti with meat sauce Spaghetti bolognese
Spatula Fish slice
Stealing apples Scrumping
String beans Runner beans
Suckers Lollipops
Supper, dinner Tea
Teakettle Kettle
Three Musketeers (candy) Milky Way
Tomato Sauce Bolognese sauce
Tuna fish Tuna
Waxed paper Greaseproof paper
Whole wheat bread Wholemeal bread
Worchestershire sauce Worchester sauce ("Wooster")
Yorkshire pudding with sausages in. "Toad in the Hole"
No equivalent Treacle
No equivalent "Shandy" = Brown ale & 7-UP
Fire truck Fire engine
Fire Department Fire Brigade
Rescue squad St. Johns Ambulance Brigade
Firecracker Banger
Fuse (on firecracker) Blue touch paper
Blackjack Pontoon
Bumper cars Dodgems
Checkers Draughts
Clue (game) Cluedo
Curve ball A googly
Firecracker Banger
"Hit me!" (in Blackjack) "Twist!" (in Pontoon)
Hold (hand of cards) Stick (playing cards)
Parcheesi Ludo
Pickup-sticks Pick-a-stix
Pitch Throw
Solitaire Patience (card game)
Stay (in cards) Stick
Teeter-totter See-saw
Tic-tac-toe Noughts and crosses
Trouble (game) Frustration (game)
Wading (pool) Paddling (pool)
Your turn Your go
Bug Insect
Cat Tail Bullrush
Horse Chestnut Conker (sl.)
Horticulture Gardening
Queen Anne's Lace Cow Parsley
Antiseptic cream Germoline
Back ache Lumbago
Band Aid Plaster / Sticking Plaster
Brush your teeth Clean your teeth
Cavity Tooth decay
Cotton Cotton wool
Disease Mainge * (SL)
Emergency Room Casualty, or Casualty Ward
Gauze Lint
Lint Cotton or thread
Listerine Dettol
PMS PMT
Rubber Condom, sheath, French letter
Shot (injection) Jab / Injection
Sick Ill
Sick at your stomach Tummy ache
Throw up / Upchuck / vomit Be Sick
Tylenol Paracetamol
Wash up Wash hands
Fire Crackers Bangers
Fourth of July Guy Fawkes Day / Firework Night
Public holiday Bank holiday
Santa Claus Father Christmas
Thanksgiving No equivalent
Labor Day
No equivalent Whitsun
Fuse (Fireworks) Touch Paper
Check-in Book-in
Back to the top
Burner Hob
Chifferobe Wardrobe
Coal scoop Hod *
Coal bin Coal bunker
Garbage or trash Rubbish
Garbage can Dustbin
Ink pen Pen
Living room Sitting room
Linoleum Lino
Plastic mug Beaker
Polyethylene Polythene (plastic)
Radio Wireless or radio
Record player or phonograph (old) Recordplayer, Gramophone (old)
Shifferobe Wardrobe
Skillet Frying pan
Stove Cooker
Styrofoam Polystyrene
Straight pin Pin
Suit Suite (furniture)
Thread Cotton (or thread)
Thumb tacks Drawing pins
Trash can Waste paper basket
Apartment Flat
Government housing Council house or Council
flat
Duplex Semi-detached house
Manufactured housing Prefabs
Nuthouse (mental institution) Loony bin
Ranch house Bungalow
Trailer, House trailer Caravan
Development or Subdivision Estate, Housing estate
(or projects)
Dumpster Skip
Redneck, hick Country boy, rural male
Jerk, Dummy, dum-dum, dolt Twit, twerp or loony
Slang for 'Bastard' Basket
Bum Tramp
Nitwit Nit
Idiot Oaf
Dumb Dozy, thick, gormless *
Crazy Daft or barmy
Nerd Square person with thick glasses
Sodomizer Sod
Shipping Carriage
Mailman Postman
Mail box Letter box
U.S. Postal Service Royal Mail
Lieutenant Lieutenant, pronounced "Leftenant"
Cannon (pl) Cannons
Mil-uh-terry MIL-itry
The speakers of American English and the other speakers of Standard English certainly share some malapropisms in common.
Yet each has some unique malapropisms that may be interesting or informative!
"Who's ever" Whoever is.
Sporting team as "it." They
More to be added soon. There are plenty of Major American misnomers, malapropisms and mistakes.
Device for crossing a farm fence Stile
Journal Diary
Liter Litre
Center Centre
Billfold Wallet
Check Cheque
Credit The Never-Never
Bill (dollar) Note (pound)
Check Bill (of sale)
Money Lolly, Dosh, Knicker
Mutual fund Unit trust
Penny American slang for 'one cent'
Pound Knicker, Quid
Pocketbook Wallet
Bottom dollar Your last dollar
Not even a red cent Not even one cent
Threepenny piece Thru'pence, Nickel (archaic)
Sixpence Tanner (archaic)
A shilling A bob
A florin A two bob bit
A pound Knicker (also plural = "knicker")
A pound Quid (also plural = "quid")
Alto Contralto
Band, combo Group
Bumper music Introductory music on a radio talk show
Diatonic accordion Concertina, squeeze box
Flutist or flute player Flautist
"G Rated" "Certificate G"
Guitar Box (slang)
Harmonica Mouth organ (or harmonica)
Magician Conjurer
Movies Pictures or flicks
Pantomimed Mimed (pretended to sing, i.e. mouthed the words for TV)
Phonograph Gramophone, record player
"R Rated" "Certificate A"
Sax player Saxophonist
Shag (dancing) * Sexual Intercourse
Song that is becoming more popular "Climber"
Subway musician (begging) Busker, busking
The Show or Picture show Cinema
Theatre Cinema
Timpani Kettle drums
Traditional Jazz Trad or Trad Jazz
Trailer Ad for a film
Tuning peg Machine head (guitar)
Whammy bar Tremolo arm (guitar)
Billboard Hoarding
Cash Register Till
Freight Carriage, Courier
Ink Pen Pen
Materials, needles, threads etc. Haberdashery (Dept. in stores)
Paper cutter Guillotine
Receipt or voucher, or any Chit *
small piece of paper, such as a requisition.
Shipping Carriage
Single item or product "One off"
Small retail shop or booth Kiosk (often at a station)
Stand, booth Stall (at an exhibition)
Wholesale Trade or Wholesale
Yours Truly Yours sincerely
Trade (verb) To buy or sell
Back to the top
A humorous taunting baby name: "Diddums"
Americans Yanks, Yankies
Anthony ("th") Anthony ("T")
Bad guy "Swine"
Boss Governor (guvner" or "guv")
Bum Tramp
Dim-witted Gormless, thick, thick-headed
Guys, dudes Blokes, chaps, chappies
Buddy, friend Mate, friend
Cop, Police officer, Pig, Policeman, Copper, Bobby, Rozzer
(Fuzz, The Man etc.)
Dandy Spiv
Effeminate man, homosexual Poof
Garbage man or "Sanitary Engineer" Dustman
Girl, chick Bird
Dude Person, city slicker
City Slicker Sophisticated person
Handicapped person Invalid, spastic
kook, nut Loony, nutcase, 'nana (short for banana!)
Loose woman, tramp, slut Tart, slut
Old man Geezer
Person "Bod"
Person who stays out late "Dirty old stop out" (slang)
Person Born Within the Sound "Cockney" (stricter meaning)
of Bow Bells
Person (derogatory) So-and-so *
Person (derogatory) Blighter *
Person with Cockney accent "Cockney" (looser meaning)
(from London)
Shady Dealer Wide Boy OR Spiv
Shady dealer or show-off Spiv
Teens Teenagers
Thief Twocker *
Person who thinks very highly A big-head *
of himself
Aunt ("ANT") Auntie
Black person or oriental "Wog" (impolite)
Mom Mum
Person, old man Geyser
Yankee American from the North, Yank
Yokel Local Yokel (Regional personage)
Billfold Wallet
Clothes Togs
pocket book purse
Purse Handbag
Shades *, sunglasses Sunglasses
Shoe strings Shoe laces
Check cheque
Bill (dollar) Note (pound)
Coin purse Purse
Canvas bag Duffle bag
Wallet (for ladies) purse
Watch band Watch strap
Bangs * Fringe
Barrette Hair clip
Bobby pin Hair grip
Grow your hair out Let it grow longer
Rollers Curlers
Spritz * Spray
Tease your hair Back-comb your hair
Tote sack Duffle bag
Wash cloth Face flannel or Flannel
Bathtub Bath
Commode Toilet, khazi
Faucet Tap
Restroom, bathroom Lavatory, loo, bog, W.C.
Public restroom Public convenience
Sink Basin, sink
Water heater (electric) Immersion heater
Water heater (gas) Geyser
Wash dishes Wash up
Congress Parliament
Fillibuster Lengthy speech to halt progress
Gerrymander Manipulate boundaries to gain advantage
Gubernatorial No equivalent (means having to do)
Mayor's wife Mayoress
Lawyer, Attorney Sollicitor, barrister
House of Commons House of Representatives
House of Lords Senate
Run (for public office) Stand
Secretary Minister
This administration This government
Beach Seaside
City Town
In the hospital In Hospital
Jail, Pokey Gaol or Jail, clink
Landfill, garbage dump Rubbish tip
Someplace * Somewhere
South England The South of England
Small wooded area Copse
Town with a cathedral City
Wharf or pier Quay * or pier
Antenna Aerial
Bad Parts Duff Spares
Filter Capacitor Smoothing Capacitor
Front panel Escutcheon
Ground Earth
Meter (length) Metre
Radio Wireless or radio
Schematic drawing Circuit diagram
Show Program
Telephone The blower
Telephone pole Telegraph pole
Tube Valve
VCR Video machine
Wiring Harness Wiring loom
Zip Cord Lighting Flex, Twin wire
Aay-men Aaah-men
Vespers Evensong
Pastor Vicar
Alley Alleyway
Beautician or cosmetologist Hair dresser
Cafe Caff (regional)
Drug store Chemist's
Flyer (leaflet) Circular
Line Queue
Pharmacist or druggist Chemist
Portable sales cart Barrow
Rain check * When shopping - a chit that let's you get the
discount later if they have run out of an item.
Receipt Bill
Sack Bag
Second floor First floor
Shipping Carriage
Shopping cart Trolley, Shopping trolley
Store Shop
Tote bag, tote Shopping bag
Trade (verb) To buy or sell
Waiting in line Queueing up
Back to the top
A Bet, wager A Flutter
Blinders (horse) Blinkers
Coach Manager
College & High School Wrestling Graeco-Roman wrestling
Commenting Commentating
Commentator / Announcer Commentator
Defense Defence
Derby ("Derby") Derby (pronounced "DAAABY")
Fake Feint
Football American football
Field, course Pitch (Cricket, football)
Field hockey Hockey ("Shinty" in Scotland!)
Football * American football
Gymkhana - gymnastics event Gymkhana - a horse show event!
Handlebar Handlebars (bike)
Motorcross Scrambles (Motorcycle)
Professional Wrestling All-in wrestling
Rugby Rugger or Rugby
Soccer Football or soccer
Sky box High up seating box in a stadium
Sports Sport
Vs (versus) V. (note, the British are very particular
about use of a full stop after an
abbreviation, whereas Americans often
do not bother with one.)
"Winningest coach" Awful Americanism used by
Radio & TV announcers
Wrasslin' (rural sl.) Wrestling
Call Ring up, give you a bell or a tinkle
Collect call Reverse the charges
Hang up Ring off
Long distance Trunk call
Information (411) Directory Inquiries
Fifteen OF/Quarter of/till Quarter to
Five after Five past
Ten OF Ten to
Ten Thirty "Half Ten"
1905 "Nineteen Five" "Nineteen Oh Five"
or "Nineteen Ought Five"
A week from Tuesday A week on Tuesday, Tuesday Week
Two weeks A fortnight
Boxcar Truck
Caboose Guards van
car (on train) carriage, truck
conductor (train) guard
Crossing Level-crossing
Engineer (train) driver
Freight car truck
Freight train Goods train
Passenger car Carriage
Railroad Railway
AAA AA, RAC
Add Fluid Top it up (verb)
Airplane Aeroplane
Aluminum Aluminium
Asphalt Tarmac
Auto Car or motor
Automobile Motor car
Backup, Snarl Tailback, Traffic congestion
Beltway Ring road
Blacktop Tarmac
Blinker Indicator
Blow the horn Beep or hoot
Boxcar Truck
Bus Omnibus, charabang, bus
Bus, private Coach
Candy apple red (paint job) Fire engine red
Car for the handicapped Invalid carriage
Cars (railroad) Railway Carriages
Circle Roundabout
Crosswalk w/black & white stripes Zebra Crossing, crossing
Dead-end Cul-de-sac
Deflate a tire Let down a tyre
Defroster Demister
Detour Diversion
Dim headlights Dip headlights
Divided Highway Dual Carriageway
Driver's License Driving Licence
Driving Motoring
Elevator Lift
Fender Wing
Flat Tire Puncture
Freeway / interstate Motorway
Freight Car Truck
gas pedal Accelerator
gas station Filling station
Gasoline or gas Petrol
Give a ride or Carry (to) Give a lift
Highway Construction Roadworks
Hitch hike, hitch a ride Thumb a lift, hitch hike, thumb it
Hood Bonnet
Horn Hooter (or horn)
Intersection Crossroads, Junction
Jalopy Cronk *
Kerosene Paraffin
Knapsack, backpack Rucksack
Lifters Tappets
Median (in road) Central reservation
Metro or subway Underground or tube
Motorcross Scrambles (Motorcycle)
Muffler (car) Silencer
Motor Engine
monkey wrench Spanner
No equivalent, flashing yellow Belisha Beacon *
lights on poles at Zebra Crossing.
Odometer Mileometer
Overpass Flyover, bridge
Pavement Road surface
Pedestrian crossing Zebra crossing
Race car Racing car
Railroad Railway
Railroad ties Sleepers
Reflectors in the road Cats' Eyes *
Red light, stop light, traffic light Traffic light
rowboat Rowing boat
Sedan Saloon
Semi-truck / Tractor-trailer Articulated Lorry
Sidewalk Pavement or path
Station Wagon Shooting brake or Estate Car
Street car Trolley bus, Tram
Street sign Signpost
Ticket (noun) Summons (noun) (for speeding etc.)
Given a ticket Summonsed, had up
Tee Tee Junction
Ticket (verb) Given a summons
Tire Tyre
Traffic Circle Roundabout
Traffic laws Highway Code
Truck Lorry, pantechnicon
Trailer (home type) Caravan
Trailer (utility) Wagon
transmission Gear box
Transportation Transport
Trunk Boot
Turn-out Lay-by
Turn Indicator Indicator
Underpass (pedestrian tunnel) Subway
VW Bug VW Beetle
Windshield Windscreen
Wreck, fender bender, accident Crash, prang
Wreck, crock, old car Old heap, old cronk, old banger
***** Lay-by
Back to the top
Degrees Fahrenheit Degrees Celsius
Meter (about a Yard) Metre
Pressuring Pressurizing
Awaken someone Knock up
Knock up Copulate, make pregnant
Southerly Wind South Wind
West Wind Westerly Wind
Wind-chill factor Degrees of frost
Cafeteria Canteen
Lunch room or snack shop Canteen
Paper Route Paper Round
Newspaper delivery)
Quitting time Going-home time.
Raise Rise
American English
-------- -------
Accessories "Uh-SESSories" "Ax-SESSories"
Albino "Al-buy-no" "Al-bean-o"
Allies "uh-LIES" (like "decries") like "PAL+flies"
Almond "OL-mnd" "AA-mnd"
Ambulance like "AM-bl-ants" AM-byoo-lns
Anti like "BAN tie" ANT + ee
Arctic "Ardic" Ark + tick
Arthritis "Arth-ur-ITE-us" (So.) "arth-RITE-us"
Athlete "Atha-leet" Ath-leet
Attache' "ADD-a-shay" a-TATCH-ee or a-TASH-ee
Attitude "Adda-tood" ATTit-tyewd
Avenue "AVVa-noo" AVVin-yoo
Banana, "buh-NEH-nuh" "buh-NAA-nuh"
like "bandana" (First "a" always long and nasal)
Beta "Bay-duh" "Bee-tuh"
Buoy like "BOO-EE" BOY
Car "COARR" or "CAWR" "CAAH"
Caramel "CAR-mul" CA-ruh-mel
Cervical "SER-vickle" "suh-VIE-cal"
Charades "Sh'-RAIDS" "Sh'-RAADS"
Chassis "Chass-iss" "Shass-ee"
Clerk ("CLERK") Clerk (pronounced "CLAAAK")
Compost (like "Tom-Toast") Like "Tom-lost"
Concord (like "CONQUERED") "Con-kawd"
Consortium "K'n-sorr-shum" "K'n-saaw-tee-um"
Dance like "ants" Daans like "Aah"
(same for most -ance words)
Daschaund "Docks'nd" "Dash Hound"
Data "Dadd+uh" "Day-tuh"
Debris "D'Bree" "Day-bree" OR "Debbry"
Details "Duh+TAILS" "DEE+tails"
Due and dew ("DOO") "DYEW" or "DJOO"
Ate (Past tense of eat) "ETT"
Elementary "Ella-MEN-ary" "Ellim-EN-tree"
Era "Erra" "Ear-uh"
Error "E'-roar" "Erra"
Ferocity "Fe-ross-uh-tee" "Fe-rocketty"
Feta "Fett-a" Feet-a
Fraykus Frakkus (commotion)
Girl "Grul" "gerl"
God "Gahd" God (shorter 'o')
Harem "Hair-um" "Harr-um"
Herbs ('Rrbs) Herbs (softer "R")
Him ("'m" or "um"(short 'u' reg.) "Him"
Inquiries "IN-kw'rees" "ink-WYE-rees"
Khaki like "KAKKY" KAAH-key
Human "YOO-MAN" (regional N.Y. etc.) HYOO-m'n
Humor ("YOOmur" (regional N.Y.etc.) HYOOmuh (softer "R")
Iodine like "EYE-a-dine" "EYE-a-dean"
Jaguar "JAG+wahr" or "wohr" "JAG+you+wuh"
Laboratory "LAB-ratory La-BO-ruh-tree
Latin "LAT-un" or LA''n LAT-in, or cocknet LA'in
Lavatory "LAV-uh-tory" LAV-uh-tree
Leisure like "LEE+sure" LEZ + yur like "pleasure"
Liason "LAY-a-zon" Lee-AY-zon
Library "Lie+BRARE+ee" "LIE-bree"
Liquer "l'COOR" or "l'KER" "Lik+KYEUR"
Master "MASS-TURR" MAAS-Tuh
Medicine "Medi-s'n" "MED-ssn" *
Medieval "Meed-eevul" or "Med-evul" "Meddy-eevul"
Missile "Mistle" "MISS-aisle"
Mustache "MUST-ash" "m'STOSH"
Newt "Noot" "NYEWT"
Notre Dame "NODER DAIME" "Notra Daahm"
Nougat "Nuggit" "NOO-gah"
Nuclear "NOOWK-YA-LUR" "Nyew-klee-er"
Nucleus "NOWWK-YA-LUSS" "Nyew-Clee-us"
Palm "Pom" "Paam"
Placate "PLAY-KATE" "PLAQUE-ATE"
Poem "pome" or "po'm" "Po-im"
Privacy "Pry-vuh-see" "Priv-uh-see
Program "PRO-grm" "PRO-gram"
Progress "DOG+dress" "DOUGH+dress"
Puberty "POOH-br-tee" "Pyew-br-tee"
Pumice "POOH-mus" "PUMM-iss"
Quasi like "KWAZE+eye" "KWAH+zee"
Quinnine Like "Q-Why-Nine" Like "Quinn-ean"
Recluse like "WRECK+loose" "Ri-KLOOS"
Records(noun) "RECKerds" "RECKawds"
Route "Rowte" "Roote"
Schedule (SKED-yule) SHED-yule
Semi like "SEM + eye" SEMM-ee
{ The (before a word starting with a vowel) }
{ "The" (short "e") "Thee" (medium length "ee") }
Shire (like "HIRE") "SHEER"
Stalagtite "St'LAG-tite" "STA-l'g-tite"
Status "STADD+us" STAY-tus
Strichnine "STRICK+nine" "STRICK-neen"
Tomato "tuh-MAY-toh" "to-MAH-toh"
(U.S. pronunciation for potato is correct, mysteriously!)
Tournament "TOUR-na-m'nt" "TAAW-na-m'nt"
Transmit like "TANS-it" Traans-MIT
Tuesday "Toows-day" TYEWZ-day, TYEWZ-dee,
CHOOZ-day/dee
Van Gogh "Van Go" "Van Goff"
Zero "ZEE-roh" Z-EAR-oh
Z "Zee" "Zed"
Back to the top
################################################
COCKNEY RHYMING SLANG EXAMPLES:
Phrase Meaning
Apples and Pears Stairs
Bottle of Beer Queer
Dog and bone Phone
Gottle of geer Ventriloquist talk for "Bottle-of-beer"
Read and laugh Bath
Trouble and Strife Wife
For more cool information on this, check out the English/Cockney Rhyming Slang Dictionary!!
Or, IF you are a more experienced Cockney Slang-speaker - try the COCKNEY RHYMING SLANG QUIZ ( tee hee!)
American British
alphabetized in alphabetical order
billfold wallet (for men)
billion (thousand million) billion (million million)
binky or pacifier dummy or comforter
birthed bore/gave birth
biscuits scones
bomb (disaster) bomb (success)
braces brace (on teeth)
call collect reverse charges
call/phone ring up/phone
can (of food) tin
candied cherries glace cherries
cheap second-rate
checkers draughts
chips (potato) crisps
chocolate milk chocolate
chronic fatigue syndrome post viral syndrome
cigarette fag (or cigarette)
closet (hanging clothes) Cupboard, built-in wardrobe
Mononucleosis Glandular fever
club truncheon
collar button collar stud
comforter quilt or duvet
commercials (on TV) adverts
concentrated neat (as in Dettol or other fluids)
concert seating Stand wherever you can find a spot
cookie biscuit (sweet)
cookie tray baking sheet
cornstarch cornflour
cotton cotton wool
cream of wheat semolina
cupcakes iced fairy cakes
dishwashing liquid washing-up li
quid
drapes curtains
editorial leader (or editorial)
eggplant aubergine
eyeball (v.) visually position
Fall (season) Autumn
fanny bum/bottom
fanny pack belt bag/bum bag
faucet tap
Fig Newtons fig rolls
figure out work out
first floor ground floor
flashlight torch
french fries chips
frosting icing
furnace boiler
go figure! work that one out!
granola muesli (approx)
grill barbecue
grocery cart trolley
Soapbox cart trolley
grocery store supermarket
ground beef minced beef
hamburger beefburger
hamburger (meat) mince
hamburger bun bap
hand Mitt (slang)
hardware store ironmonger
hockey ice hockey
homely (ugly) homely (pleasant)
horny randy
hot tub (or jacuzzi) jacuzzi
hutch welsh dresser
I could care less I couldn't care less
ice chest cool box
incorporated limited
inexpensive cheap
irritable ratty
Jell-O jelly
jelly jam without pips
jelly roll Swiss roll
kettle large saucepan
Kleenex tissue
knickers plus-fours
I really like it I don't half like it.
It makes me no never mind I don't care
legal holiday bank holiday
license plate number plate
liquor spirits
long distance trunk call
lousy grotty
loveseat 2-person sofa
mail (n.) post
mail box letter box
mail box/mail drop pillar box
mail slot letter box (in door)
mailman postman
markers felt tip pens
meat market butcher
Milky Way (candy) Mars Bar
mononucleosis glandular fever
mouth Gob (slang)
mute dumb
neat good idea
nightstand bedside table
nightstick truncheon
Nutrasweet aspartame
orchestra seats stalls
pit (fruit) stone
pitcher jug
plastic mug beaker
purse handbag
Quik NesQuik
raincoat mackintosh
rubbers Wellington Boots
scotch tape sellotape
shift stick gear lever
shop vac Aquavac/Vax
sliver/splinter splinter
spear lance (or spear)
stomach flu gastroenteritis
trapper keeper ring binder
Pad or crib Digs
Go over to visit Pop over
Big time -----
Pop tart A flat rectangular pastry made to go
in an electric toaster.
Bell weather Future indicator
Suicide Jockey Petrol Tanker Driver
Teamster Lorry Driver (Union)
Midway or Carnival Fair
Calliope Steam organ
Pass up, go past or pass by Overshoot, go beyond, go past
Riff raff Disreputable persons
Rip rap Wall made of broken stones
Hooch (slang) Alcoholic beverage (as in moonshine)
Hootchie Cootchie Drinking, ribald dancing and/or music
Right triangle Right angle triangle
Every which way Every possible way, in many directions.
with or without? (milk in coffee) black or white? (milk in
coffee)
Back to the top
Notes:
Other particulars:
Periods/fullstops (after initials) This is ALWAYS done in the U.K.
but rarely in the U.S.
* = More unusual term that needs explaining
sl. = Slang
Reg.- Reginal
So. = Southern
I did this for FUN!!!
Critics need not apply!!
Dictionary of British Terms written for Americans visiting the UK (WHY do those Brits talk so funny?)
Notes on American English (WHY do those Yanks talk so funny?)
A Comprehensive English To American Dictionary
U.K. English For the American Novice
London Slang
Another British-American Dictionary
The BBC says it's COOL to speak british!
Cambridge Dictionary of American English (A free online resource) and others - you have to use the SEARCH feature on the right
How To Speak Jamaican English
How to Speak Japanese Engrish (English) - a funny site
And now... more jokes!!
You are visitor number:
since 2 September, 1996
((From our friends at: www.digits.com))
TO THE TOP
CLICK HERE to Brian's Home Page!
You are visiting the website at:
http://www.af4k.com
Come back soon!