Our Favorite Lexicographer Earline pulled together and organized all the comparisons made in our long running Word Game thread - it started in July 2006! - to update the traveler's dictionary on SlowTrav. Take a look!
Well, Ann. You should know, being a southern belle yourself.
It was a very interesting project. It brought me back to my Australian roots. The English/English thing has always fascinated me from the moment I found out that I no longer had a hood but a bonnet and not a trunk but a boot. Then, of course, there was that learning how to drive on the "wrong" side of the road!
This is a lot of work and there would have been a lot of decisions to make out of the various discussion.
There are a few cases where the UK English is really UK slang. So for a US person it may be useful to understand what UK person may be saying, but they should not substitute the UK word in their sentences in these cases.
E.g. Don't use "pins" instead of "legs". The English would probably think you were Taking the Mickey/ Taking the piss if you did.
Others are get your knickers in a twist chuffed knackered snog shag n the pudding club
PS. Typo - Zero Nought
But it is good lot of work. Thanks for the effort.
John "There are two types of problems: those that solve themselves, and those which you can do nothing about" Isabel Allende's grandmother
Posts: 1582 | Location: Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia | Registered: 26 March 2003
Goodness. That must have taken ages to do. Congratulations!
I agree with John. It might be useful to have an indication next to those UK English words/expressions that are slang to avoid embarrassment (eg. a (s) or an asterisk). Alternatively maybe an introduction to explain that the dictionary will help you understand words that may be said to you, but are not necessarily what you yourself should use. Or am I being over cautious?
Beebee
Posts: 1954 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 09 September 2002
Fantastic Earline - I wanted to finish that list, but ran out of time.
Colleen >> Can you take my name off that article and replace it with Earline's? (Since she did all the work.)
I am making a shorter version of this list for my Cotswolds site (much, much shorter - and I will link to this list) and came up with something that is not a translation, but is interesting about town names:
Why do several town names start with "Chipping"?
In medieval English a long market square was called a "Chepynge" which turned into "Chipping" for market towns such as Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton and Chipping Sodbury. Another old English word, "ceapen", probably derived from "chepynge", means "market".
I would like to re-inforce what has been said earlier, some of the "translations" are really slang, and some are considered very impolite slang at that. Use of such in the wrong circumstances could very well leave you in trouble, potentially with the law. My advice to Americans/Canadians is to stick with what you know until you're happy that trying a bit of slang won't offend.
Posts: 7 | Location: Northumberland, UK | Registered: 02 October 2008
You'll find, incidentally, that many bookshops sell as inexpensive booklets humorously-intended "dictionaries" of the differences between US or Australian and British English, and indeed (outside London) of local dialect usages, which might make handy souvenirs or presents to take home.
I can't imagine the situation arising where you would get in trouble with the law. Even if you introduced yourself to a WPO by saying "I'm Randy."
But the UK column should be on the left as it is often not the common equivalent of the US word or phrase.
When I came to Australia I was given a copy of "How to speak strine". "Strine" is/was a common, but lazy, pronunciation of Australian.
Re: Rent/Hire My UK education taught me that you hired (e.g. a car) from someone who rented them. Of course, many get this confused; rather like the teach/learn confusion.
Re: different from/to "Different from" is the correct usage in both countries, but different to and different than also are commonly said on both sides of the Atlantic.
John "There are two types of problems: those that solve themselves, and those which you can do nothing about" Isabel Allende's grandmother
Posts: 1582 | Location: Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia | Registered: 26 March 2003
I did not want to offend anyone in any way, but it is a fact that there have been prosecutions in the UK for what is deemed obscene language, now personally I think it is as crazy as you will, but it has happened. There was one case last year when a guy was overheard talking to his friends in a public park using the F*** word by a Special Constable and was prosecuted.
To a lesser extent, if you are stopped by a Policeman and you say something like "are you taking the piss", it is very likely you will be cautioned.
Again I mentioned this because in the section on UK/US differences, it implies that phrases like this are used commonly, unless I have totaly missunderstood the reason for the dictionary, I just don't want visitors to the UK making mistakes.
Posts: 7 | Location: Northumberland, UK | Registered: 02 October 2008
There was one case last year when a guy was overheard talking to his friends in a public park using the F*** word by a Special Constable and was prosecuted.
Anyone using the F word in public loud enough to be overheard is stupid enough IMO to deserve prosecuting. I'm sure Slow Travelers are smarter and have more class than that.
Posts: 14283 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Panties - Same as USA Pants - Same as USA in North of England & Scotland RV is not a caravan I think, probably closer to our motorhomes. I believe our caravan is your trailer Subway - also often 'Metro'; a bit European I know Bye! - Same as USA, Cheerio rarely used I'm stuffed - Same as USA Lemonade - Same as USA, bitter lemon is totally different Muffin - Same as USA, fairy cakes are totally different Salad dressing - Same as USA, salad cream is an alternative to mayonnaise Sausage - Same as USA, bangers is slang Restroom - Just ask for the toilets, or ladies/gents as appropriate Toilet paper - Same as USA Auction - Same as USA Bookmaker - Same as USA, often Bookie
Shag = Dancing - Well I did'nt know that one
It's not Cricket - Accurate but often used as self mockery going round the back doubles - I've never heard this expression before, interesting though
Please don't say 'Oh! Bollocks!', 'take the piss', 'Pissed' and don't go near 'Tosser' or 'Wanker'
I'm quite impressed with many of the equivalents, although I personally think too many of the UK'isms are slang, mainly because the US and UK terms are so close no doubt. The problem with slang is that many times it can be misread or misunderstood, and when used by a foreigner can be mistaken as trying to be funny, (in a not very nice way).
I definately think you should expand this dictionary into a US + US slang v's UK + UK slang, but being very careful to identify anything potentially offensive.
Excellent job Earline.
Posts: 7 | Location: Northumberland, UK | Registered: 02 October 2008
John is correct concerning Motorhome and Caravan. The first is a RV or Camping Car and the second is a camping trailer, or as they often slag it...a tugger. Caravan is a pretty universally accepted title for a trailer on the continent as well.
Anything that is towed in US RV circles is named a Toad. ie; "My Toad affects my gas mileage."
Muffin - Same as USA, fairy cakes are totally different
Correct - this is a bit of an odd one, because muffin is now generally taken here to mean the US style oversized single cakes popularised by the coffee chains. They are actually very close to queen cakes, which you will find in cookery books but not named as such in cafes or shops. Some bakers shops will have 'muffins' on sale which are actually queen cakes (the fat proportion is higher, and there is a lower amount of raising agent if we are getting technical!) which may taste odd to an American taste as they are more like naked cupcakes.
Fairy cakes are just little individual sponge cakes in baking cases, usually but not neccessarily ,decorated.
The small confusion is that what the US calls an English muffin - a flatish plain bread roll is the closest I can get to describing it - can be found in packets of about 6 in supermarkets simply called muffins (generally not individual bakeries, as they do not survive well out on display). They can be found in plain, wholemeal or sultana versions. My sense is that they are getting less popular, though they are a good low fat, low sugar filler for the post school snack!
Posts: 927 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 20 September 2006
Yes, muffins might start off as low fat - but the trouble is that they're at their most delicious when toasted, split (with a fork: never cut with a knife!) and generously buttered...
Actually I never knew about the 'proper' way to split muffins until I was staying with a friend earlier this year; we were eating toasted muffins for breakfast, and a very fine antique silver muffin fork was produced. The split surfaces are, of course, much rougher than cut ones would be: all the better for absorbing ever more butter.
Jonathan
Posts: 2945 | Location: Stroud, UK | Registered: 18 November 2001
Crumpets have the same inbuilt downfall - they are always being quoted in weight loss diets as a good base for low cal toppings. It's just cruelty to crumpets - they crave butter flowing through their holes!
In betwixt writing last and this, I've been to Waitrose and noted they have Cheddar cheese muffins (the 'English' type). Not sure what I think about that as a taste prospect......
Posts: 927 | Location: London, UK | Registered: 20 September 2006
I absolutely agree about crumpets! (which were always called pikelets where I grew up, in Birmingham)
The picture below is the closest I could fing in a quick google - though this one seems to be a long-handled toasting fork: my friend's one has an ordinary length handle. But the shape of the tines is similar: I love that elegant curve!
Yes, I think I'd rather have my muffins unflavoured. But cheese scones are nice...
Jonathan
Posts: 2945 | Location: Stroud, UK | Registered: 18 November 2001
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