American English
Many of these terms are used in Canada as well as the United States. But then (contrary to what some US citizens seem to
believe), Canada is actually part of America.
You can obviously ask any of these either way round – for example, you can ask what's the British equivalent
of the American term "collect call". The main reason for separating them as I have is because some of them are less obvious, or
(more importantly) less ambiguous, one way.
British usage to American
e.g. "What term is used in America for what we in Britain call (a) ... ?" |
Stag night |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Bachelor party |
Fringe (in hair styling) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Bangs |
Reverse charge (telephone) call |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Collect (call) |
Candy floss |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Cotton candy |
(Baby's) nappy |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Diaper |
Torch |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Flashlight |
Manufactured substitute for breast milk |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
(Infant) formula |
Icing (in cake decoration) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Frosting |
Jam (fruit preserves) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Jelly |
Star jump |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Jumping Jack |
Ladybird |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Ladybug |
Launderette |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Laundromat |
Divers (birds) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Loons |
Silencer (on a car) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Muffler |
Baby's dummy |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Pacifier |
Bunker (golf) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Sand trap |
Pavement |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Sidewalk |
Flick knife |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Switchblade |
Drawing pin |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Thumb tack |
Noughts and Crosses (traditional game) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Tic Tac Toe |
Boot (of a car) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Trunk |
Spanner |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Wrench |
Term used in America for someone who works in a restaurant, clearing and setting tables, washing dishes, and
otherwise assisting the waiting staff |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Busser (busboy, busgirl, etc.) |
American usage to British
e.g. "What term is used in Britain for what is known in America as a(n) ... ?" |
Eggplant |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Aubergine |
Beano, Lucky or Radio |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Bingo |
Derby (hat) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Bowler |
Suspenders |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Braces |
Head cheese |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Brawn |
Fava beans |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Broad beans |
Fanny pack |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Bum bag |
Fender (car part) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Bumper |
Trailer |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Caravan |
Lapstrake |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Clinker built |
Chinese parsley or Mexican parsley – or cilantro, which is its Spanish name |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Coriander |
Zucchini |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Courgette |
Quarter note |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Crotchet |
Tuxedo |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Dinner jacket |
Checkers |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Draughts |
Chicory |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Endive |
Realtor |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Estate agent |
Station wagon |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Estate car |
G–man |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
FBI agent |
Broiled (food) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Grilled |
Caboose (on a train) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Brake van or guard's van |
Purse |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Handbag |
Burlap (coarse fabric) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Hessian |
Popsicle |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Ice lolly |
On the lam |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
In hiding, or making an escape |
Spelunking |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Caving (potholing) |
Teamster |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Lorry (truck) driver, or (esp. historically) carter |
Vaudeville |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Music Hall |
Tic tac toe |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Noughts & crosses |
Variety meats |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Offal |
Kerosene |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Paraffin |
Plexiglass (trade name) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Perspex |
Beltway |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Ring road |
Pavement |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Roadway or carriageway |
Arugula (salad vegetable, scientific name Eruca sativa) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Rocket |
Fireweed |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Rosebay willow herb |
Traffic circle (to road users) |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Roundabout or traffic island |
Dumpster |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Skip |
Bleachers |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Stands (at a sporting venue) |
Burlesque |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Striptease (etc.) |
Rutabaga |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Swede |
Faucet |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Tap |
Dacron |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Terylene |
Nightstick |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
(Policeman's) truncheon |
Vest |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Waistcoat |
Billfold |
![Click to show or hide the answer Click to show or hide the answer](../Query4.jpg) |
Wallet |
© Haydn Thompson 2017–23