• About the Book
• About the Author
• What Not to Say
• Tips for the Tourist
• Some Other Words with Different Meanings
• Download book jacket

Printer-Friendly Version
E-Mail a Friend

Don't drop a clanger — make a big faux pas — when traveling in the U.K.! Some experts estimate that roughly four thousand words have one meaning in Britain and another meaning in the United States. From pubs to politics, television to travel, Divided by a Common Language (Houghton Mifflin, September 7, 2005) explains thousands of different idioms, expressions, word spellings, and definitions.

For instance, one rents a car in the U.S., but hires one in the U.K.; we eat takeout food, but they call it takeaway; I'll buy you a beer in the States, but you'll buy me a pint in Britain; my American grandma will knit you a sweater, but your British gran will make you a woolly.

This informative compendium is an outstanding cultural reference for both Anglophiles and American culture buffs and an ideal companion for international travelers to help them understand and be understood in the U.K. and the U.S. Helpful lists include:

• Strange-sounding foods you may encounter in Britain (pages 29-30)
What will be on your plate if you order bangers and mash or spotted dick?

• Hints to remember before shopping for clothes in the U.K. (pages 38-39)
What should you wear if the invitation says dinner jacket? Why would you take your mac out in the rain?

•British car terminology (pages 60-63)
Make sure you know the bonnet from the boot in advance of your first drive on the left side of the road.

• Words and terms to avoid (pages 101-107)
A Briton who calls your apartment homely means it as a compliment — and the American who announces I'm stuffed after a meal is not trying to be vulgar.

Whether you fancy a quick skim or a careful read, Divided by a Common Language helps suss out the differences between British and American English so you can swot up on customs, manners, and practical details of daily life on both sides of the pond. Cheers!

Christopher Davies was born and raised in England and spent several years living in Australia and New Zealand. In 1980 Davies came to the United States; the unfamiliar expressions and pronunciations he encountered in American English led him to write this book. He lives in Sarasota, Florida.

from Divided by a Common Language

With a little effort, Britons and Americans can usually understand each other very well. However, a few words and expressions have quite different meanings in the U.K. and the U.S.

What Not to Say in the U.S.
Give me a tinkle	Could sound vulgar. Try "Give me a call" instead.
Knock me up	A vulgar expression. Try "Wake me up."
Keep your pecker up	Also vulgar. Try "Keep smiling."
Lay the table	Use instead "Set the table."
Pot plant	Means marijuana in the U.S. Try "house plant."

What Not to Say in the U.K.:

Bummer	Use instead "disappointing."
Get a bang out of	Possibly vulgar. Use "Get a kick out of."
I'm stuffed	Possibly vulgar. Use "I'm full."
Pants	Refers to undergarments. Use "trousers" instead.
Tramp	Use only if you mean a hobo. In the U.K., "tramp" is never used to refer to a woman regarded as promiscuous.

from Divided by a Common Language

A few things to know while on holiday (or vacation) in the U.K. or the U.S.

	In the U.S., say:	In the U.K., say:
At a Hotel	baggage cart crib comforter dresser elevator first floor front desk garbage can toll-free number	trolley cot eiderdown chest of drawers lift ground floor reception dustbin Freefone number
Transportation	gasoline rent a car license plate interstate/freeway pedestrian crosswalk divided highway traffic circle/rotary traffic jam yellow light parking lot fender bender railroad car (on a train) track (at a train station) layover one-way ticket roundtrip ticket coach	petrol hire a car number plate motorway zebra crossing dual carriageway roundabout tailback amber light car park prang railway carriage platform stopover single ticket return ticket second class
Dining Out	appetizer entrée dessert check grilled napkin silverware takeout	starter main course sweet/pudding bill broiled serviette cutlery takeaway
Shopping	register salesperson sales tax shopping cart drugstore/pharmacy acetaminophen/Tylenol bobby pin diaper business suit extra-large clothing off-the-rack pantyhose sneakers turtleneck undershirt	till shop assistant value added tax (VAT) shopping trolley chemist paracetamol flat hairpin nappy lounge suit outsize off-the-peg tights trainers polo-neck vest
Food and Drink	cilantro cookie corned beef eggplant French fries granola half-and-half hot dog pickle potato chips raisins romaine lettuce shrimp zucchini bartender straight up	coriander biscuit salt beef aubergine chips muesli single cream frankfurter pickled gherkin crisps sultanas cos lettuce prawns courgette barman neat

from Divided by a Common Language

Word/Expression	American Meaning	British Meaning
cordial	liqueur	concentrated fruit juice
cranky	irritable	eccentric
dresser	chest of drawers	china cabinet
homely	ugly	cozy/unpretentious
loft	open, elevated space	attic
mean	nasty	stingy
outhouse	outdoor toilet	shed near a house
pumps	ladies' dress shoes	canvas sneakers
ratty	shabby	irritable
rubber	condom (informal)	eraser
skivvies	underwear	a skivvy is a maid
slot machine	gambling machine	vending machine
social security	government retirement pension	welfare
twister	tornado	swindler
wash up	wash oneself	wash the dishes
yard	lawn around a house	paved area