Professional Documents
Culture Documents
This is a list of words and phrases having differing meanings in British and American and British English
differences
American English.
Asterisked (*) meanings, though found chiefly in the specified region, have
also some currency in the other dialect; other definitions may be recognised
British English (BrE)
by the other as Briticisms or Americanisms respectively. Additional usage
notes are provided when useful.
Certain words are limited to regional or specific dialect use in either usage.
They will, however, be recognised and understood by most native English American English (AmE)
speakers in the country concerned. These are marked with their usual area Vocabulary
of use. List of American words not
widely used in the United
Kingdom
List of British words not
Contents
widely used in the United
States
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ List of words having
different meanings in British
and American English
Pronunciation
American and British English
A pronunciation differences
Orthography
Meanings common to American American and British English
British English
Word British and American English spelling differences
meanings
English meanings Computing
accommodation housing something supplied; a (esp. in the past) British and American
keyboards
("residential compromise; a loan a local public
accommodation") see also accommodation conveyance, esp. Fiction
(eye); lodging (as for a train List of works with different
travellers) but often used see also titles in the UK and US
in the plural in US for this accommodation
meaning (law)
accumulator rechargeable one that accumulates, as a
battery (archaic) type of computer
processor register or a
a type of bet (US: hydraulic accumulator
parlay)
ace good, excellent a one in a suit of playing (v.) to perform
(1980s slang) cards outstandingly *;
someone who is very esp., to achieve
good at something an "A" (on a
fighter pilot who has shot school exam)
down a certain number of the best starting
enemy aircraft pitcher in a
rotation on a
baseball team
advocate (n.) Scottish also someone who supports
Jersey, Channel and/or speaks for a
Islands lawyer particular position
who appears in generic term for a lawyer
higher courts (v.) to recommend or
(rest of UK: support
barrister)
Page 2
(n.) an alternative
*; a substitute
amber traffic light of orange-yellow colour
this colour (US: fossilised resin; a material
yellow light) used in the construction of
some tobacco pipes,
female given name
anaesthetist physician trained nurse or
(UK), to administer technician trained
anesthetist anaesthesia (US: to administer
(US) anesthesiologist) anaesthesia
anchor (1) a position in a tug-of- a type of radio or
war team (2) device for TV presenter ("a
mooring ships by news anchor").
providing a firm fix to the See news
seabed presenter for a
anchorman/anchorwoman, description of the
the last member of a relay different roles of
team to compete a newscaster, an
American news
anchor, and a
British
newsreader.
anorak a parka hooded, rainproof
(slang) a socially outerwear that lacks a
awkward person full-length zipper in the
obsessively front (UK: cagoule)
interested in
something (syn.
US: geek, nerd;
dweeb; etc.)
apartment suite of rooms set a set of rooms in
aside for a a building
particular person constituting a
(rare) usu. rented
housing unit *
(implies luxury in
UK; UK usu.
flat) – cf. s.v.
condominium
Page 3
kick-ass: to beat
up or beat, e.g. "I
am going to kick
his ass" or, more
positively,
something that
beat (did better
than) everything
else, e.g. "The
opening band
was kick-ass".
athlete one who one who
participates in participates in
running, sports in general
throwing, and
jumping
competitions
athletics running, sport in general
throwing, and
jumping
competitions
(US: track and
field)
attorney an agent or representative (or attorney-at-
authorised to act on law) a lawyer
someone else's behalf (UK: barrister
("attorney-in-fact", (England,
"power of attorney") Northern Ireland,
Page 4
B
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
banger (n.) a sausage, as in "bangers and a type of firework a particularly club-friendly beat or
mash" song
an old motorcar in a state of
disrepair (US: beater)
bang(s) small explosions or reports; locks of hair on forehead (UK:
(v.) have sexual intercourse with fringe)
(vulgar slang) ( eg. "bang some
chick" or "he's banging her")
base foundation, starting point; many in baseball, one of the three places
meanings in sciences, architecture, a runner can stand in safety; hence
politics, military instilation, etc.; in many fig. senses, off one's base
see base (crazy), to get to first base (esp. in
neg. constr., to get a first
important result); more recently
(slang), a metaphor for one of
three different stages in making
out (q.v.) – see baseball metaphors
for sex; more s.v. home run
bash masturbate (vulgar slang) to strike physically
(usu.Bash one out or Have a bash) to attack verbally
(but Have a bash more often a party or celebration "they're
means the same as Have a go - to having a little bash this
try to achieve something, as in weekend" (orig. US, but now
"have a bash at this crossword") probably more common in UK
than US)
bath (n.) plumbing fixture for bathing * (n.) the act of bathing (n.) a bathroom (esp. a half bath
Page 5
(US: bathtub) a (financial) loss which has a sink and toilet but no
(usu. pl.) swimming pool shower stall or bathtub, or a 3/4
(v.) to bathe, or give a bath to bath which has a sink, toilet, and
shower stall, but no bathtub)
bathroom room containing a bath (US: room, in a home or hotel room,
bathtub) or shower, other washing containing a toilet, related washing
facilities, and usu. (but not facilities, and often, but not
necessarily) a toilet necessarily, a shower and/or
bathtub (Hence "Going to the
bathroom" is a euphemism for
going to the toilet even in a setting
where one would not expect to
find a bath, e.g. a restaurant or
shop *) (a room without shower or
bathtub may also be known as a
powder room, but this usage may
be considered dated)
beaker drinking vessel without a handle, flat-bottomed vessel, with a lip,
or one (with or without handles) used as a laboratory container.
made of unbreakable plastic for
the use of children (US: sippy cup)
beater person who flushes game from used car in very poor condition
concealment so it can be shot at by (UK: banger)
'the guns' (slang) wifebeater (q.v.)
something or someone that beats a sleeveless undershirt (from the
stereotype that poor men who
wear them beat their wives,
perhaps from Jackie Gleason in
"The Honeymooners" TV series
(50s/60s U.S.) or more likely from
the costume of the character
Stanley in the play "A Streetcar
Named Desire (play)")
beaver beard; a bearded man (archaic aquatic rodent known for building female pubic hair (slang)
slang) dams
woman's undepilated external
genitalia (obscene slang)
bespoke (esp. of apparel) made to the pret. of bespeak
customer's specification (US:
custom-made, tailor-made)
bill The bill = the police (slang, poss. invoice; request for payment (also a piece of paper money (UK:
from Old Bill) US: check, tab) note/banknote)
a proposed law before it is voted
on by a legislature
billion (traditionally) a million millions thousand million (109) (now most 109
(1012) (US: trillion) common in both UK and US)
(traditional UK: milliard) (see also
Long and short scales)
bin (v.) to throw away. (1) a waste container (2) a usu.
(bread bin) container for storing large receptacle or container for
bread (US: breadbox) storage ("a grain bin"; "Scrooge
McDuck's money bin")
bird (n.) one's girlfriend or any young avian creature insulting hand gesture involving
female (slang; getting rarer[1] and an aircraft shaking one's fist towards
considered derogatory by some) someone with knuckles pointing
prison sentence (slang) towards the person being insulted
and the middle finger extended
(used chiefly in “flipping someone
the bird”) (slang)
biscuit (n.) baked sweet or savoury cake-like type of quick bread served with
item, usu. flat, which is hard when savory foods (UK: similar to a
Page 6
bonnet hinged cover over the engine in a hat tied under chin worn by a baby
car (US: hood) or (archaically) a woman
various types of Scottish or Irish
soft hat
boob (n.) a mistake (slang); (v.) to make a woman's breast (slightly vulgar stupid person
mistake slang)
boob tube woman's shoulderless, strapless (the boob tube) television (slang)
top (US: tube top)
boost to (figuratively) lift up; to to (literally) lift up, especially a
improve, increase, revitalize. person: booster cushion*, a
cushion used to increase the height
of a seat (esp. in a car)
to steal, especially from a retail
establishment (i.e., shoplift)
boot storage compartment of a car (US: footwear covering lower leg (Denver boot, car boot) device
trunk) to kick something hard used to render cars immobile (UK:
to start up a computer wheel clamp)
to expel (UK: give someone the
boot)
to vomit (slang)
bottle courage ("he's got some bottle") container for liquids
(slang) (US: moxie) (the bottle) alcohol, heavy
to fail to do something through drinking (synechdocal slang)
fear ("he's bottled out", "he bottled
it") (slang)
to attack somebody with a broken
bottle (slang)
C
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
call box (n.) telephone booth (UK also roadside emergency telephone
telephone box)
call for (v.) to require to predict or anticipate ("The forecast
calls for rain")
campsite (n.) area or park for people to spot for a particular person or group to
camp in (US: campground) camp, often within a campground (UK:
pitch)
candy (n.) (candy floss) heated sugar (v.) to sugarcoat, or boil with edible, sweet-tasting confection
spun into thin threads and sugar (as fruit) containing sugar, or sometimes
collected into a mass, usually to sweeten artificial sweeteners, and often flavored
on a stick; something pleasing with fruit, chocolate, nuts or artificial
but having little worth (US: flavours; a piece of candy * (UK:
cotton candy for both senses) sweets, confectionery)
(eye candy) someone particular
attractive in a sexy way.
canfield (n.) a patience (solitaire) card a patience (solitaire) card game (UK:
game (US: Klondike) Demon)
canoe (n.) A (traditionally) skin-covered A similar boat propelled using a
boat propelled using one or double-bladed paddle (UK: kayak, also
two single-blade paddles (UK used in US)
also: Canadian canoe)
car (n.) railway vehicle, only in motorcar (n.) (UK, nonpowered unit in a railroad or
combination (e.g. "restaurant q.v.)/automobile railway train ("railroad car"; "a
car") passenger/freight/parlor/dining/baggage
(archaic) street tramway etc. car") (see s.v. motor car, trolley;
vehicle UK: cf. s.v. carriage, coach, wagon)
elevator (q.v.) cage
caravan towed recreational vehicle overland trading convoy
containing accommodation
(US: travel trailer)
to take such a vehicle on
holiday
Page 10
caretaker (n.) one who takes care of a one who takes care of someone one who takes care of real estate in
building, usu. a state-owned or something exchange for rent-free living
building, i.e. school (US: stopgap government or accommodations *
janitor; cf. s.v. custodian) provisional government
one put in charge of a farm
after eviction of tenant
carnival (v.) the days just preceding Lent a travelling circus or fair (UK: funfair)
comic good times marked by comprising amusement rides
special events
carousel (n.) a moving luggage/baggage a rotating fairground ride (UK: merry-
display unit, most often at go-round, roundabout)
airports
carriage (n.) railway coach (q.v.) designed 4-wheeled horse-drawn private (baby carriage) baby transport vehicle
for the conveyance of passenger vehicle featuring the infant laying down facing
passengers the pusher (UK: perambulator, pram) –
the conveying of goods or the more s.v. buggy
price paid for it ("carriage- a shopping cart (primarily in North
paid"); "handling" Atlantic states)
carry-on, (colloquial) carrying-on, luggage that can be carried aboard an
carryon unruly behaviour aircraft, bus, or train (UK: hand
luggage)
cart a difficult or embarrassing usu. 2-wheeled one-horse a lightweight wheeled vehicle, as for
state ("he was put in the cart") vehicle (as that used in shopping, serving, carrying baggage,
farming) etc. (UK: trolley)
cartridge (primarily related to video
games)
casket (n.) a small box, as for jewels, The type of coffin with upholstery and
particularly an antique a half-open lid, any coffin
casualty often, someone who has been generally, someone who has often, someone who has been killed;
(person) wounded; hence casualty been injured or killed see also casualty insurance
department (US: emergency
room)
catapult small Y-shaped handheld a type of medieval siege (v.) rise quickly
projectile weapon often used engine
by children (US: slingshot) an aircraft catapult
chaps [?] men and/or boys (but leather leggings worn by cowboys and
increasingly used for people of designed to protect the legs against
either sex; in the singular it thorns (sometimes pronounced shaps),
still almost exclusively refers short for "chaparajos"
to a male, "Guys" has now
become a more popular phrase
in the UK) (US & UK: guys)
one's friends ("the chaps") (US
& UK: the guys)
cheeks - as in Bath Chaps -
stewed pigs' cheeks, a delicacy
check examine for a particular leave items in the care of someone else
purpose (e.g. at a cloakroom; hence checkroom)
a pattern of coloured squares (also check mark) mark used to denote
a warning given in chess 'correct' or indicate one's choice (UK:
tick, q.v.)
request for payment, especially at a
restaurant; bill
check is also the US spelling of UK
cheque
checker one that checks (e.g. an a store or shop cashier (almost always a
inspector) grocery store)
(checkers) a popular board game (UK:
draughts)
Page 11
cock (n.) form of address to a man (n.) a male bird; esp., an adult
to gain attention or greet e.g. male chicken (US oftenest
"Wotcha cock!" rooster)
(n.) a popular personage e.g. (n.) penis (vulgar slang)
Cock o' the North (v.) to set the hammer or firing
in cock up, to make a mess of pin of a loaded firearm ready
things; cock-up is the act or the
for firing; likewise, to "cock
resulting state of affairs the shutter" of an old, spring-
activated camera
(n.) A type of tap, faucet, or
valve (e.g., a stopcock).
collect To win a bet (from the idea of (v.) to gather together, to pick (adj., adv.) charged to the receiver ("to
picking up the winnings) up; (orig. US) to pick up a call collect", to reverse the charges) ("a
person or thing collect call") [from collect on delivery]
(n.) short prayer read during
the first part of a church
service as practised by certain
parts of the Christian faith;
mainly Anglican and Roman
Catholic.
college part of the name of some state constituent part of some larger an independent institution of higher
secondary schools (US universities, especially ancient education (as a small university or a
approx.: high school) and universities division of a university) granting
many independent schools (US bachelor's degrees
approx.: prep school) generic term for higher education, but
educational institution between only at the undergraduate level
school and university (e.g.
sixth form college, technical
college, college of further
education)
vocational training institution
professional association which
usu. grants some form of
professional qualifications,
mostly in the medical field
(e.g. Royal College of
Surgeons)
comforter a baby's dummy (q.v.) one who comforts quilted bedspread
commissioner professional head of the political head of a police department
Metropolitan Police and City member of any commission
of London Police (US: chief of
police)
commode portable toilet for use in a normal toilet, in a bathroom (q.v.)
room without plumbing
compensation the act of compensating remuneration received by employees
damages awarded for a legal (unemployment compensation)
wrong compensation paid to an unemployed
(workers' compensation) person (as a laid-off worker), arising
payment to injured workers from government resources
concession reduction in price (discount) the action of conceding a lease or grant of premises or land for
for a certain category of person in politics, the action of a a particular use, or the so contracted-
candidate yielding to another out service, as in concession stand, i.e.
an area within one country that a counter, stand or area at public
is administered by another entertainment venues where snacks
and/or drinks are sold, often at inflated
prices
a concession stand
condominium a political territory (state or (also condo) a type of joint ownership
border area) in or over which of real property (as an apartment
two sovereign powers formally building)
Page 13
D
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
daddy crane fly daddy long-legs spider harvestman
longlegs,
daddy-
long-legs
davenport a type of writing table * [both prob. from the names of their a type of couch, often convertible
resp. manufacturers; both old- into a bed
fashioned]
Page 15
E
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
earth safety connection of an electrical the planet Earth
circuit, or to connect (an electrical soil
device) to this (US: ground) the burrow of some animals
efficiency the quality of being efficient (or efficiency apartment) a
minimal often furnished
apartment, similar to a studio
apartment (UK: compare bedsit)
el (L) letter identifying a learner the letter L an elevated railway (as that of
driver; see L-plate Chicago or the now-defunct Third
Avenue El in New York City)
elevator flap on the back of an aeroplane platform or cage moved vertically
used to control pitch in a shaft to transport people and
moving belt to transport grain, hay goods to various floors in a
bales, etc. building (UK: lift)
building for grain storage (in full
grain elevator)
engaged in use – of a toilet/bathroom stall committed; involved in something
(adj.) (US: occupied; but the opposite is betrothed
vacant in both); of a telephone line
(US & UK also: busy), hence
engaged tone (US: busy signal)
engineer a technician or a person that one employed to design, build or one who operates an engine, esp. a
mends and operates machinery repair equipment locomotive (UK: engine driver)
practitioner of engineering
entrée starter (q.v.) of a meal (usu. "the entrée") right of entry, main course of a meal
(traditionally, the course served insider-type access
between the fish and the joint, but
now used for any starter)
estate any defined area of real property, grounds of a large piece of real
as in housing estate (US: property which features a mansion
subdivision), council estate (US: and beautiful landscaping
housing project) or trading estate property left by a deceased person
(US: industrial park)
car with van-shaped body (US:
station wagon)
evergreen non-deciduous, a non-deciduous (n.) branchlets or sprigs of an
plant evergreen tree, usually a conifer
eternally youthful, new etc. such as pine, spruce or fir, often
used as a Christmas decoration
wrapped around human-made
structures
Page 18
F
Word British English meanings Meanings common to British American English meanings
and American English
faculty division of a university, dealing academic staff of a school, college
with a specific group of disciplines or university
(e.g. faculty of arts)
fag cigarette (slang) * (v.) to tire, exhaust ("the fagged male homosexual (short for
(in England; obs.) young public whale abated his speed" – H. faggot) (insulting slang) *
schoolboy who acted as a servant Melville) (obs. usage in US)
for older pupils
drudgery, chore ("it is such a fag –
I come back tired to death" – J.
Austen)
faggot kind of meatball (see faggot Male homosexual (insulting slang)
(food)), bundle of sticks, usu. for (see faggot (slang)).
use as firewood (old-fashioned;
often spelled fagot).
fall to become pregnant. (Either as in 'I descend or tumble autumn
fell pregnant' or as in 'She fell for a become sick, come down with an
baby.'); illness ("he fell ill") (uncommon in
US)
fancy (v.) (v.) exhibit a fondness or US colloq. equiv. of "to fancy" is
preference for something; exhibit "to like" something or someone (or
an interest in or willingness to: regarding tastes and preferences,
date/court someone, commit some "to love"); "fancy" as a verb is
act, or accept some item of trade now used in the US almost solely
by UK ex-pats, but was once oft-
used by Southern gentility (landed
gentry)
fanny vagina (slang), vulva (vulgar buttocks (colloquial); hence fanny
slang) pack (UK: bum bag)
(fanny about or fanny around, very
mildly vulgar slang) to mess about
or prevaricate ("Stop fannying
about and hit it with the hammer")
featherbed bed or mattress stuffed with to require that more workers are quilt, or comforter, stuffed with
feathers (usually 2 words) hired than are needed, often by feathers for use on top of the
(v.) to pamper, to spoil agreement with trade unions mattress (but underneath a sheet
and the sleeping person) (UK:
mattress topper)
fender a fire screen fender (vehicle): the part of an
a cushioning device to protect the automobile, motorcycle or other
side of a boat, ship, or dock vehicle body that frames a wheel
well (UK: mudguard or wing)
a frame fitted in front of a vehicle
(locomotive or automobile) to
absorb shock (UK: bumper - see
Bumper (automobile))
fifth ordinal number 5: 20% (one-fifth) bottle of spirits ("A fifth of
bourbon"); such bottles
traditionally contain 1/5 of a US
gallon; to "plead the Fifth
(Amendment)"(esp. testifying
against oneself in an incriminating
manner)
filth (the filth) the police (derogatory dirt, disgusting substance
slang) obscene material
first the least serious category of burn the most serious category of a
degree (see article) crime; of murder, carries a lifetime
prison- or death-sentence (also
informal murder one; see article)
first floor the floor above ground level (US: the floor at ground level (often,
(of a second floor) but not always, the same floor as a
building) building's lobby) (UK: ground
floor)
Page 19
fit (adj.) (of a person) attractive, sexy (of a person) in good physical
(slang) condition
suitable for some purpose (usu.
followed by for or to)
fix (v.) to make firm, fasten, or attach * to repair (orig. US) to adjust or prepare, esp. food or
(the original sense, no longer very to sterilise (an animal) beverage * ("I'll fix you a
common in US) to manipulate usually sandwich")
to set or arrange (as a date) * ("A underhandedly ("To fix a fight by (esp. South) to get ready ("I'm
time has been fixed") paying a boxer to take a dive.") fixing to retire")
to get even with (someone) [1]
(fix up) to provide
flapjack flat oat cake (US: granola bar) pancake
flannel a cloth for washing the face or particular type of fabric/material
body (US: washcloth) used for the manufacture of
trousers or suits, but more
commonly recognised in America
as a fabric used in warm winter
night clothes and sheets
flat (n.) self-contained housing unit (adj.) level and smooth (n.) a flat tyre/tire *
(US: apartment) structured at a single level, not an apartment that occupies the
(adj., of a battery) discharged, hierarchical entire floor of a small building
exhausted, dead (upstate New York); used also in
phrases such as railroad flat
flip-flop a type of footwear (see article for an about-face or U-turn (UK also:
synonyms) about-turn), as in politics
a type of electronic circuit
fluid liquid measure equal to 28.41 liquid measure equal to 29.57
ounce (fl. millilitres milliliters
oz.)
flyover elevated road section (i.e. long ceremonial aircraft flight (UK:
road bridge, US: overpass) flypast)
an elongated left-turn ramp
passing over or under the whole
highway interchange
the flyover is a term for middle
America, as distinct from the
'coasts'.
football (usually) Association football (US: American football
soccer). Less frequently applied to
Rugby football (espec. Rugby
Union in English private schools).
footpath a paved strip for pedestrian use, a narrow trail suitable only for foot
especially along the side of a road traffic
(US: sidewalk)
forty (40) the number 4 × 10 a 40 acre parcel of land,
specifically one sixteenth of a
section, constituting the smallest
unit of agricultural land commonly
surveyed ("back 40", "front 40").
an undeveloped plot of land (as on
a farm, ranch, etc.) of unspecified
size.
in an urban or youth setting, "a 40-
ounce beer".
forward one who plays in a forward an area to the front a position in basketball, nowadays
position in rugby, i.e. one who split into power forwards, who
takes part in scrums. an outgoing disposition tend to play closer to the basket,
a position in football (soccer) in and small forwards, who tend to
front of midfielders either shoot from the perimeter or
drive from the perimeter to the
basket.
Page 20
fourth next after third (e.g. the fourth one of four equal parts into which
person, fourth floor) something is divided (UK & US
sometimes also quarter, q.v.)
A musical interval
fringe arrangement of locks of hair on the the outer area of something
forehead (US: bangs) a decorative border e.g. on
clothing
holding an extreme political
position ("lunatic fringe")
frock (or smock-frock) outer garment habit of monks and friars
formerly common in rural Europe,
see also overall (also frock coat) a style of
gentleman's jacket or coat, cut at
(also short frock) indoor garment knee length, usually worn as an
for children and young girls * outer garment.
a woman's dress or gown (dated) *
frog French person (insulting slang) an amphibian
full stop punctuation mark used at the end complete stop (as of traffic) [2]
of a sentence, sometimes used in
speech for emphasis ("Whom does
he support? Arsenal, full stop!")
(US: period, q.v.)
furnace large hearth or container for principal domestic heat source in
heating or melting metal, usually central heating based on water or
for an industrial process steam (UK: boiler)
G
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
gagging (especially as in gagging for it) choking
desperate, especially for sex fighting the urge to vomit ("that
was so disgusting, I was
gagging")
gallon 4.54609 litres (about 6/5 of US 3.78541 litres (about 5/6 of UK
gallon) gallon)
garage fuel filling station, e.g. "a Texaco place where vehicles are repaired (parking garage) building serving
(see also garage" (also petrol station, US: building attached to or in the as a public parking facility (UK:
pronunciation gas station) grounds of a residence for storing multistorey car park or just
differences) a genre of music a car multistorey)
garnish (n. (v.)) (to add) decorative or (v.) to take (as a debtor's wages)
savory touches to (food or drink) by legal authority
(v.)to furnish
gas state of matter (see gas) gasoline, hence gas station (UK:
natural gas petrol)
gas pedal (UK: accelerator)
flatulence
air trapped in the stomach or
intestines (UK: wind)
geezer gangster, man (esp. Cockney) old person (derogatory; UK: old
geezer [not derog.])
general The second highest rank in the The basics of a subject. The Highest rank in the US army.
British army (second to field
marshal).
give way to give the right of way (to to retreat; to break down
vehicles, pedestrians, etc.); hence
give way sign (US: yield [the
right of way] )
Page 21
glaze general term for thin shiny a slippery coating of ice (also
coatings applied to food, painted known as sleet, q.v.); a stretch of
surfaces, clayware, etc.; a glossy ice
surface
gob (n.) mouth; (v., slang) to spit lump a large amount ("gobs of")
(slang) a sailor
go down to leave a university (as Oxford) to be accepted or remembered to go on, happen (often a major
(fig.) to come down (with an illness) event, e.g. a drug bust "it's going
down right now!" or "it went
down last week". But also used as
a greeting, "What's going
down?"); oral sex
goods items to be transported (as by useful objects or services;
railway) ("a goods train") (US & products; merchandising;
UK also: freight) personal property
incriminating evidence ("we have
the goods on him")
gooseberry supernumerary third person a green hairy summer fruit
preventing a couple from courting (Ribes hirtellum in the USA),
(US: third wheel) (Ribes grossularia in Europe)
government the cabinet or executive branch the act or office of governing the collective agency through
(US: the administration) which government is exercised
the political party supporting the (UK: the state)
cabinet in parliament all such individual agencies (UK:
the public sector)
grade a level of music examination (n. & v.) teacher's assessment of a level or year of a student in
(education) ("Guitar grade 4". Usually refers student's work (UK also mark) elementary, middle, or high
to ABRSM. school ("in 10th grade") (UK
equiv.: year); hence grader, a
student in a specified grade ("a
10th grader")
(grade school, the grades)
elementary school
see also Grade Point Average
grade (other) (n.) a rating, degree, or level; (v.) (n.) slope, gradient, or elevation;
to lay out in grades also ground level ("at grade",
[US meaning generated grade "over grade"); hence grade
separation and the idiom make crossing (UK: level crossing)
the grade] (v.) to level (as a roadbed), hence
grader, construction machine for
doing this *
graduate (v.) to finish university with a degree to move from a lower to higher to finish studying at any
(education) relating to a student at the point stage; to effect change in steps; to educational institution by passing
graduate of gaining, or who has recently mark with units of measurement relevant examinations
(adj.) completed, a degree or other divisions. relating to a student taking a
(education) higher degree (UK equiv.:
"postgraduate"), eg. graduate
school
graft hard work to join or connect two separate
but similar items (typically in
biology, especially medicine and
horticulture)
a form of political-economic
corruption
grass an informant (often to the police) green ground cover grazing; to feed (livestock) with
(to grass on) to tell on somebody marijuana grass (UK: at grass, to put out to
(US: to squeal) grass)
grammar a type of secondary school, elementary school (less common
school normally a selective state funded today)
school
Page 22
grill to cook directly under a dry heat to question intensely (informal) to cook over a gas or coal fire
source (US: broil) (UK: barbecue)
ground floor the floor at ground level (US lower of two floors that are each
(of a usu.: first floor) at a different ground level due to
building) sloping terrain (UK: lower
ground floor)
guard the official in charge of a railway to watch over for security military division used to help the
train (US & now UK also: one who guards country after a disaster
conductor) a protective device
in football, one of two offensive
positions on either side of the
center or a defensive position
across from the center (nose-
guard)
one of two positions in
basketball, usually players who
are the best ball-handlers and
shooters. Usually smaller than the
forwards or center. Most common
division is between point guards
(playmakers) and shooting guards
(more often score-first).
guff extraneous or useless things, nonsense, insolent talk, back talk
ideas, or
paperwork/documentation; also to
break wind ("Have you guffed,
Dr Watson?")
gum cement consisting of a sticky a type of confectionery composed
substance that is used as an of chicle used for chewing
adhesive (US usually: glue)
gutted disappointed and upset (informal) past tense of gut: eviscerated;
plundered; despoiled; made
powerless and/or ineffectual
(of a building) stripped of interior
structure, leaving only frame and
exterior walls (e.g.by fire)
gyro (see also giro) gyroscope a sandwich, the Greek gyro, more
familiar to Americans than the
similar Turkish döner kebab,
which is more common in Britain
H
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
haberdasher a dealer in small items and a dealer in men's apparel and
accessories, as for sewing; hence accessories; hence haberdashery
haberdashery (US: notions)
half half pint of beer, cider or lager fifty percent/0.5 times.
halfway a place where victims of child drug rehabilitation or sex offender
house abuse, orphans or teenage centre
runaways can stay, a shelter
hamper large basket for food (especially to impede or hinder basket for clothes that need
picnic hamper, Christmas washing (UK: Linen basket or
hamper) laundry basket)
hash number sign, octothorpe (#) (US: hashish
pound sign) Hash (food), beef and other
ingredients mashed together into a
coarse paste
Page 23
highway (chiefly in official use) public (highway robbery) something too main road (as between cities)
road; see Highway Code expensive; see also highwayman (divided or dual highway) a road
with two roadways and at least
four lanes (UK: dual carriageway)
(highway post office) in the past, a
bus transporting mail that was
sorted en route
hike a usu. recreational walk an increase in amount (as in
wages) *
(to take a hike) to go away (also
used as a command)
hire to rent * (as a car); rental to employ, recruit *; a person who
(hire purchase) a purchase carried is recruited
out over time by making regular
payments (US: installment plan)
hob the flat top surface of a cooking trouble (as in "raising hob" -
stove (US: cooktop) chiefly US)
a part of a fireplace (UK has less common "playing
an elf hob")
hock a German wine ("down their four- hock (zoology) pawn (n. & v.) ("I can borrow a
and-twenty throats went four-and- dime from the barber, an' I got
twenty imperial pints of such rare enough junk to hock for a
old hock" – Charles Dickens) (US: blowout" – Jack London); prison
Rhine wine) (both from Dutch) *
Hock tide, an ancient holiday debt
the end of a smoked ham *
to hock-a-loogie, to spit.
hockey hockey played with a ball on grass hockey played on a hard surface hockey played on ice with a puck
(field hockey) * (e.g. concrete) or indoors (ice hockey) *
hog (dialect) a yearling sheep to take more than one's fair share adult pig
of something motorcycle, especially a large one
(road hog) motorist who holds up such as a Harley-Davidson
other traffic by driving slowly or
out of lane; any bad driver
hole-in-the- automatic teller machine, cash a small, out-of-the-way place, as a
wall machine (informal) restaurant, with a negative
connotation. However, often used
to preface a compliment, e.g. "just
a hole-in-the-wall place you've
never heard of, but they serve the
best steak in the city."
holiday see Bank Holiday day when people are generally see Federal holiday
(often pl.) time taken off from exempt from work, school, etc. (the Holidays) the days
work, school, etc., including the comprising Christmas and New
period between school terms (US: Year's Day (and Hanukkah), and
break, vacation) often also Thanksgiving (used esp.
recreational trip away from home in the phrase "happy Holidays")
(US: vacation)
home run final part of a distance, final effort a success (from baseball) (also homer) a four-base hit in
needed to finish (US: baseball
homestretch) (slang) sexual intercourse; more
s.v. base
homely (of a house) comfortable, cozy, (only used of a person) plain, ugly
rustic (US: homey)
(of a person) home-loving,
domesticated, house-proud
hood the folding fabric top on a head covering forming part of a hinged cover over the engine in a
convertible car (US: convertible garment car (UK: bonnet)
top) component of academic regalia a contraction of neighborhood,
especially regarding a poor
neighborhood
short for hoodlum, a tough,
destructive young man, or
generically any criminal
hooker in rugby football, the player prostitute (informal) *
position in the centre front of the
scrum
hooter steam whistle or siren in a factory (hooters) female breasts (vulgar
or other large workplace sounded slang)
as a signal for beginning or
ceasing work
car horn
nose
horny (adj., sexually attractive sexually excited craving sexual satisfaction
slang)
hump a state of depression (dated) ("to a rounded mass sticking out from (n. & v.) (to make) a vigorous
be in a hump") its surroundings effort ("hump yourself", "to get a
a state of annoyance ("to get the (v., vulgar slang) engage in sexual hump on") (regional)
hump") intercourse, animals breeding or (n.) a mountain barrier to be
a traffic calming tool ("a speed trying to breed crossed (as by air)
hump") * (US & UK: speed see also rail terminology (hump day) Wednesday
bump)
to move a heavy load by human
effort a short distance
I
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
icebox cabinet containing ice for food refrigerator
refrigeration
ice pick ice axe, a tool with a pointed end small awl-like tool for breaking
used by rock- and mountain- ice into small pieces for drinks
climbers for splitting ice
immediately (conj., informal) as soon as ("I (adv.) directly; in no time
await your call immediately you
get this message")
Indian corn Zea mays (historical or technical; A particular variety of maize/corn,
usually, UK maize or sweetcorn, with multicolored kernels, used
US corn, q.v.) for decorations
indicator direction-indicator light on a one that indicates
vehicle (US: turn signal)
inspector lowest supervisory rank above senior rank in some police
(police) sergeant (rough US equivalent: departments (rough UK
lieutenant) equivalent: superintendent)
intern replacement (v.) to confine (as during a war, or (n.) one (as a graduate or college
to a hospital)
(adj., archaic) internal
Page 25
J
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
jab an injection with a hypodermic (informal) to stab, thrust, or
needle, as in the case of an penetrate
inoculation (US: shot)
jam a preserve made from fruits boiled traffic hold-up certain kinds of fruit preserve,
in sugar and set with pectin (US: especially the kinds with pieces of
jelly), especially including the fruit left in: strawberry jam
seeds of the fruit
jelly a fruit flavoured dessert set with a preserve made from the liquid of a preserve made from fruits boiled
gelatin (US: Jell-O (trademark), fruits boiled in sugar and set with in sugar and set with pectin (UK:
gelatin dessert (generic)) pectin, without pieces of fruit jam), especially including the
(e.g.'redcurrant jelly') seeds of the fruit
Jesse (often as Big Jesse, derogatory A male name (uncommon in the
insult for a man) Non-macho, UK). A shortening of the female
effeminate, sometimes gay. name Jessica.
jock a Scotsman or a Scottish Terrier slang term for an athlete
(Scottie) (slang) slang term for the undergarment
a private soldier (slang) (UK: called an athletic supporter or jock
squaddie) strap
joint piece of meat for carving * connection between two objects or (slang) hand-rolled cigarette
(slang) hand-rolled cigarette bones containing only cannabis
containing cannabis and tobacco an establishment, especially a (slang) prison ("in the joint")
disreputable one ("a gin joint";
"let's case the joint") (slang, orig.
US)
jolly very (informal) (as in jolly good) happy; jovial
jug any container with a handle and a (jugs) breasts (slang) large container with a narrow
mouth or spout for liquid (US: mouth and handle for liquids
pitcher) (similar to UK pitcher)
jumper a knitted upper body garment (US: jump shot in basketball pinafore dress
sweater) Non-permanent electrical jump suit
connection, especially on a PCB
Page 26
K
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
kebab commonly a döner kebab (often spelled "kabob" in the US)
(sometimes doner or donner meat served on a skewer together
kebab), strips of meat (usu. lamb with onions, tomatoes, etc. (e.g.
or chicken) cooked by being shish kebab)
heated on a revolving device and
served stuffed in a pita bread (In
the US, the Greek varieties
souvlaki or gyro are better known
than the Turkish döner)
keen eager or intent on, example: he is desirable or just right, example:
keen to get to work on time. "peachy keen" – "That's a pretty
keen outfit you're wearing." (slang
going out of common usage)
keeper a curator or a goalkeeper one that keeps (as a gamekeeper or a type of play in American football
a warden) ("quarterback keeper")
L
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
ladder a run (vertical split) in the fabric of a vertical or inclined set of rungs
tights or steps.
lavatory toilet closet in passenger vehicles (e.g. washbasin, place for washing
trains) containing a toilet and
washbasin/sink.
lay by (v.), (n.) roadside parking or rest area (v.) to lay aside (n.) a last cultivating in the
lay-by (n.) for drivers to stow growing of a crop
(v.) to cultivate (a crop) for the last
time
Page 27
M
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
mac raincoat; abbreviation of a brand of Apple inc. computers; (Slang; proper n.) A term of
Macintosh abbreviation of Macintosh. informal address used with male
strangers; generally implies more
unfriendliness or disapproval than
the more neutral 'pal' or 'buddy':
"Get your car out of my way,
Mac!" Stereotypically used by
working-class New Yorkers such
as cab drivers. UK generally
'mate'. Cf. 'Jack.'
macintosh raincoat (often shortened to mac) a brand of Apple inc. computers
(often shortened to Mac)
(wrongly) McIntosh Red, a type
of apple
Page 29
meet with to face (as a situation), experience to have a meeting with (as people)
("If you can meet with triumph ("Vice president meets with Iraqi
and disaster, and treat those two officials", CNN) * (UK generally
impostors just the same" - meet (transitive) or meet up with)
Kipling) [3]
meter measuring instrument, including the basic unit of length in the
electric meter, gas meter, etc. metric system * (UK usu.: metre)
mezzanine intermediate floor between main lowest balcony in a theatre, or the
floors of a building first few rows of seats thereof
(UK usu. dress circle)
mid-Atlantic in the middle of the Atlantic middle of the Atlantic coast of the
Ocean, half-way between UK & USA (exact definition of Mid-
US Atlantic States may vary)
military [?] relating specifically to the British relating to armed forces in general (adj.) relating to any of the
Army individual branches of the armed
forces
(n.) armed forces
minor (in the past, in English public not very important (n.) secondary academic subject
schools) used to denote the see minor (law), minor (music) (compare major) ("has a major in
youngest of two or more pupils (n.) a person under the age of 18 biology and a minor in English");
with the same surname ("Bloggs years, generally, and for legal (v.) to study as one's minor ("she
minor") reasons more specifically (as in minored in English")
"the name of the defendant is minor league;
withheld because he is a minor"),
or under an age legally required
for certain behavior (such as
purchasing alcohol), or under the
age of consent.
miss out to omit to lose a chance; usu. used with
on
mobile (n.) mobile phone (US: cell phone) decorative structure suspended so
as to turn freely in the air
mobile a mobile, non-motorised piece of a type of manufactured dwelling
home equipment with living facilities; a transported to the home site using
caravan (q.v.) wheels attached to the structure
momentarily for a moment in a moment; very soon
mono (adj.) monophonic (of reproduced (n.) infectious mononucleosis, a
sound, e.g. radio or CD player disease caused by Epstein-Barr
using a single speaker) virus (UK: glandular fever)
monochrome
moot (adj.) debatable ("a moot point") (adj.) irrelevant ("a moot point")
(v.) to bring up for debate (orig. legal, now in common use)
(these meanings are fading from (v.) to make irrelevant
use in US English) (incorrect/uneducated usage)
N
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
nancy nancy-boy: effeminate or Woman's given name
homosexual male
napkin nappy (q.v.), diaper (dated, not piece of material used to protect (oftenest, sanitary napkin)
well known) garments from spilled food or to absorbent piece of material worn
remove food residues from around by a woman while menstruating *
the mouth [formerly esp. US; (UK usu. sanitary towel)
alternative UK term serviette is
obsolescent]
nappy folded cloth or other absorbent twisted or kinked, considered
material drawn up between the insulting when applied to hair, esp.
legs and fastened around the waist, that of persons of African descent
usu. worn by infants to counter (also called napped)
incontinence (US: diaper)
nervy nervous, fidgety * bold, presumptuous
nick prison or police station (slang) small cut
to steal (slang) (computer jarg.) nickname
to arrest (slang)
nickel the metallic element (Ni) 5 cent coin
nonplussed bewildered, unsure how to respond unfazed (incorrect usage)
nonce a sex offender; in particular, a the present moment
child molestor (slang) a word used only once
a single-use token in a
cryptographic protocol
nor neither ("'She didn't come.' 'Nor and not, or (not) ("neither sad nor
did he.'") happy"; "he never eats, nor does
(Scotland & Ireland) than he ever feel hungry")
("someone better nor me")
notion concept, conception, inclination (pl.) small items and accessories,
esp. for sewing (UK:
haberdashery, q.v.); hence notion
store, notion counter, etc.
O
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
office (cap.) a government department a place of business; a position or the place where a physician or
("Colonial Office", "Foreign and function dentist practises (UK: surgery)
Commonwealth Office") a particular division of an
(pl.) the outbuildings and administrative unit ("Patent
dependencies of a dwelling (as an Office")
estate)
optician (dispensing optician) professional professional who dispenses lenses
who dispenses lenses and and spectacles
spectacles
(ophthalmic optician) professional
who tests eyes and prescribes
lenses (US: optometrist)
optometrist ophthalmic optician in the U.S., optometrist and
ophthalmologist are separate,
opticians are the same as UK
dispensing opticians
Page 32
P
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
pacifier something or somebody that rubber teat for babies (UK:
brings peace dummy)
panda police car (slang) giant panda, red panda
pantomime traditional Christmas time holiday silent acting, usu. without props,
theatre by mime artist (UK: mime)
pants underpants (also briefs or boxers) usually, any trousers, exc. in "to
of poor quality (slang) get into her pants", etc., in which
(of a situation) bad, unfortunate it denotes women's
(slang). underclothing*
paraffin kerosene a waxy fraction of petroleum
commonly used to make candles
(UK: paraffin wax)
paralytic extremely drunk (slang) relating to or affected by paralysis
park a tract of ground kept in its naturaloutdoor area for recreational uses any of various areas designated
state, about or adjacent to a ("Central Park", "Hyde Park") for certain purposes *, such as
residence, as for the preservation national park (orig. US) amusement park, theme park,
of game, for walking, riding, or industrial park, trailer park,
the like memorial park (a cemetery)
(esp. Scotland) a pasture or field (sports) enclosed ground for ball
area for the parking of motor games, oftenest the ballpark
vehicles ("a car park") a level valley among the
(sports) a soccer or rugby field mountains (as the Rocky
see also country park Mountains); also, an area of open
grassland, or one for cultivation,
esp. if among the woods
parking the act of parking (a vehicle) To engage in romantic intimacy in
a parked vehicle. (regional) turf
strip between sidewalk and street
(many regional synonyms exist;
there is no standard name).
parkway a railway station with parking generally, an open landscaped
areas intended for commuters limited-access highway (q.v.) (see
article)
regional term for parking (q.v.)
pass out to graduate from a training centre to become unconscious to die *
of a disciplined service (military, to distribute *
police etc)
patience any of a family of one-player card the quality of being patient
games (US: solitaire, q.v.)
pavement a paved strip at the side of a road, the road surface *
reserved for pedestrians (US:
sidewalk)
Page 33
Q
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
quart 1/4 (UK) gallon or 2 (UK) pints. 1/4 (US) gallon or 2 (US) pints.
Liquid measure approximately Liquid measure equal to 0.946
1.136 litres (6/5 of an American litres (5/6 of a British quart).
quart).
quarter one of four equal parts into which 25 cents (a fourth of a dollar)
something is divided, as a quarter
hour or, especially for financial
purposes, a quarter of a year; in
generic usage (as in fractions), US
usu. fourth
queue a group of persons, usually waiting an ordered sequence of objects,
for something, arranged in order of from which the first one in is also
arrival * (US: line) the first one out (cf. Stack (data
structure))
quid colloquial term for pound sterling a measure (mouthful) of chewing
(plural is quid also; in Ireland it tobacco
can refer to the punt or Euro)
quite to some extent or degree, e.g. in to the fullest extent or degree ("All
the phrase "quite good" meaning art is quite useless" – Oscar Wilde)
"mediocre, acceptable" or "good, to a great extent or degree
well done" (a meiotic usage,
depending on voice intonation)
R
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
rabbit (v.) (slang) to talk at length, (n.) the animal rabbit, a lagomorph
usually about trivial things;
usually to 'rabbit on'
railroad tramway (obsolete) (v.) to coerce the general term for the system of
to convict with undue haste or mass transit using trains running
with insufficient evidence on rails: see usage of the terms
railroad and railway
(v.) to work on the railroad
to transport by railroad
see also at underground
railway the general term for the system of tramway
mass transit using trains running
on rails: see usage of the terms
railroad and railway
Page 37
raisin (UK usage excludes currants and a large dark grape, dried any dried grape
sultanas)
rambler one that rambles (as a hiker), see a type of rose a style of house, usu. a ranch
Ramblers' Association one who talks excessively, often house
without making cohesive points (see also Rambler (automobile),
(to ramble on) Nash Rambler)
randy a slang term meaning sexually a male or female given name or
aroused (American horny) nickname deriving from the names
Randall, Randolph, or Miranda
range a line, collection, etc. of products a series of things in a line (as a cooking stove with an oven and
or merchandise, as in top of the mountains) burners on the top surface
range (US: top of the line) an open area for the grazing of
a type of kitchen stove like that a sequence or scale between limits livestock
featured on the TV programme a place where shooting is practised a series of townships (q.v.), a
The 1900 House an area over which a species of Public Land Survey System unit
animal or plant is found of land east or west from a
Principal Meridian
raunchy Lewd, vulgar, sexually explicit foul-smelling, dirty
run-up the period preceding an event (as the act of running up a sudden increase (as in price)
an election) * (orig. Stock exchange) *
Page 39
S
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
saloon closed car having two or (usu.) officers' dining room on a bar, especially in the Wild West
four doors, a front and rear seat merchant ship
and a separate boot/trunk (US: bar that serves only spirits and no
sedan) food
(saloon bar) posh bar within a a room in a house used for
pub or hotel receiving guests; a salon
passengers' lounge on a liner or
luxury train (US approx.: parlor
car)
scalp (v.) to cut the scalp off; to take to resell (as tickets) at higher
something away prices (UK: tout)
switch (n.) see electric switch, telephone (n.) mechanism that allows a
switch, network switch railway vehicle to change tracks
(v.) to operate a switch (UK: points); hence switch
to exchange, swap, make a shift engine or switcher (UK: shunter),
switchyard (UK: marshalling
yard), switch tower (UK: signal
box)
(v.) to change tracks by means of
a switch
see also bait and switch
switchback a road or railway that alternately a zigzagging road or railway, usu.
ascends and descends in the mountains; also, a hairpin
a roller coaster turn in a road or trail
T
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
tab a cigarette (Geordie) a small projection, flap, etc. a formal account for services at a
to run; often used in the military an informal credit account, usu. at restaurant or bar ("May I have the
to refer to double-time or quick- a bar ("Put it on my tab") tab?", "Pick up the tab") (UK
time marching. From the always bill in this context)
abbreviation Tactical Advance to
Battle.
table (verb) (also lay on the table) to raise for (also lay on the table) to suspend
(as a consideration from consideration, to shelve;
parliamentary (colloquial) to postpone
procedure or
in the context
of a meeting)
tailback queue of vehicles, traffic jam offensive backfield position in
(US: gridlock, backup) American football
tank top jumper (US: sweater) without sleeveless t-shirt (UK: vest, q.v.)
sleeves (also see wifebeater) *
tanner slang for a pre-decimalisation one who tans
sixpence coin or sixpence value
tap valve through which liquid is a spile or spigot in a cask; a to select, designate; esp. to
drawn and dispensed * (US usu.: device for dispensing beer from a publicly select for a special
faucet, spigot) keg honour from one's peers as in the
(phone tap) a device for listening (possibly apocryphal) American
to other people's telephone calls Indian ceremony ("She was
(tap up) to covertly enter tapped for the position of CEO")
negotiations ("The manager and as in being designated a
accused the other team of tapping college fraternity pledge.
up his player") vulgar slang for "have sex with"
(tap dance) A type of dance e.g.
"I go to tap every Saturday"
tart female prostitute (adj) sour-flavoured, sarcastic
(In US, generally understood but (n) any of several forms of sweet
not generally used except in pop dessert or snack consisting of
tart [overly sexualised female filling (usually fruit) in a pastry
singer]) shell
tea afternoon snack (US: late lunch) a hot beverage made by infusing Iced tea sometimes taken with
evening meal (sometimes called Camellia sinensis leaves (hot lemon and/or sugar
high tea) tea);
categorisation of students
according to their needs
Page 48
U
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
underground (often cap.) subterranean railway subterranean (Underground Railroad or
system, esp. the ones in London & illicit Railway) (before 1863) the
Glasgow (US: subway or metro) -- a subterranean space or channel network of clandestine routes by
see also tube grapevine (in the sense of an which slaves were helped to
informal communication network) escape to free states and Canada
Page 50
V
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
vacation (UK also: vac) period between university terms (n.) time off from work or school
recreational trip away from home
(UK: holiday for both senses) (v.)
to take a vacation
valve Vacuum tube, as in pre-1960 a device to control the flow of
electronics liquids or gases
vanity pride in one's appearance a sink-unit in a bathroom
vest garment, usu. sleeveless, worn sleeveless garment worn over a
under a shirt (US: undershirt) shirt (UK: waistcoat) (e.g. Kevlar
sleeveless garment worn as an vest *)
only visible top
vet (n) veterinarian war veteran or a person who has
(v) to appraise or verify for served honorably in the military
accuracy or validity
visit (v.) (trans.) to go and see (a person or (intrans.) to pay a visit, stay as a
place) guest, or be engaged in informal
conversation ("visiting together",
"visit with a friend")
W
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
waffle (v.) to speak to no purpose; ramble A type of pancake with a pattern (v.) to equivocate, waver, speak
of square dents in it, made in a evasively
waffle iron.
wagon railway vehicle for transporting 4-wheeled orig. animal-drawn small wheeled food service table
goods (US: freight car) vehicle (UK also spelled waggon (UK: trolley); see also paddy
esp. in the past); wagon (used in the UK, but non
state of abstaining from alcohol PC), station wagon, chuck wagon,
(orig. US slang) wagon train
a delivery van ("the milk wagon")
walk out, (v.) "walk out with", to be (v.) to leave a meeting in protest (adj.) (of a room in a building)
walkout romantically involved with to strike (orig. US) featuring outdoor access; (n.) such
(archaic) to abandon someone, or to drop an access ("full walkout
out ("she walked out on me") basement", "walkout to the deck")
(orig. US) (n.) one who goes out of a store or
(n.) a kind of strike action (orig. shop without buying anything
US)
the act of leaving a meeting in
protest
warden any of various officials (a "traffic gener., one in charge of something official in charge of a prison *
warden") (UK usu. governor)
an official in certain universities in compounds: fire warden
wash up to wash the dishes; to clean after to wash one's hands and face; to
eating food, hence washing-up clean before eating food
liquid (US dish soap)
watershed (orig. sense, now nontech.) a ridge (fig.) a turning point a drainage basin/water catchment
of hills (which "sheds water") area (shift from orig. sense) *
Page 51
X
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
xerox the Xerox Corporation (n.) A photocopied document *
(v.) To photocopy *
Page 52
Y
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
yankee, (sometimes disparaging, esp. when someone from the U.S. (n.)a New Englander or patriot
yank shortened to yank) from the American Revolution, in
the South, someone from the
Northern US (often disparaging).
A Minnesotan would not consider
himself a Yankee or use the word
regularly, but would consider
someone from Connecticut to be a
yankee, a Texan would consider
both yankees, but not himself, and
would be much more likely to use
the word;
a player for the New York
Yankees baseball team
yard a courtyard enclosed area of land surrounding
an enclosed space used for a a dwelling, usu. comprising lawn
particular activity (as a railway and play area (UK usu.: garden)
service area, a lumberyard or (yard sale) see garage sale
timber yard, a junkyard, etc.) a campus (e.g. Harvard Yard)
a unit of length a place (as in a forest) where deer
gather in winter
100 dollars (slang)
a billion (slang, finance)
go yard, to hit a home run
Z
Meanings common to British
Word British English meanings American English meanings
and American English
z (pronounced /ɑzǫd/) the last letter of the alphabet (pronounced /ɑziə/)
a nap ("to catch some z's")
zero or no ("I have z cash right
now.")
zebra (zebra crossing) a type of an African equine mammal a referee (as in American football)
pedestrian crossing (from their striped uniforms)
(pronounced /ɑzǫbrǩ/) * (pronounced /ɑziəbrǩ/)
zip (short for zip fastener) a fastening a sharp, hissing sound zero (often in scores, similar to the
device (US: zipper) impetus UK's nil)
file format for compressed files (often all cap.) the ZIP Code (from
("archive.zip") Zone Improvement Plan), the
postal code used by the USPS
Copyright © 2009 by Mr. Doody. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be
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