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Teacher Exchange Series
A Handbook of British-English Words and Phrases
Irish playwright and wit George Bernard Shaw once remarked that "England
and America are two countries separated by the same language." If you
wonder what Shaw was talking about, just peruse this handy "translating
tool" of words, phrases, and expressions in British and American English.
Then when a British citizen points out a "sleeping policeman" in the street,
you'll stay calm, knowing it's just a speed bump (not a body).
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BRITISH ENGLISH
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AMERICAN ENGLISH
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At School
|
At School
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| A3 |
large paper |
| A4 |
notebook paper |
| biro pens |
ballpoint pens |
| brackets ( ) |
parentheses |
| call the register |
call the roll, take attendance |
| contract bus |
school bus |
| creche (day nursery) |
day care |
| deputy head |
vice principal |
| diary |
calendar |
| dining hall, cafeteria |
cafeteria |
| drawing pins |
pushpins or thumbtacks |
| full stop (.) |
period (.) |
| headmaster, headmistress, head teacher |
principal |
| home education |
homeschooling |
| induction day |
orientation day |
| ink printer |
rubber stamp |
| journal |
diary |
| marks |
grades |
| mark books |
grade papers |
| mark scheme |
grading key |
| maths |
math |
| "mucking around" |
off task |
| one-to-one teaching |
one-on-one teaching |
| open evening |
open house |
| pin board |
bulletin board |
| plasticene |
modeling clay |
| play time (younger students) |
recess |
| plimsolls |
gym shoes |
| practicals |
labs |
| Pritt Stix |
glue sticks |
| rubbers |
erasers |
| schedule |
timetable |
| school's finished (expression) |
school's out |
| spellings |
spelling |
| staff room |
teacher's lounge |
| term |
semester |
| ticks, tick marks |
check marks |
| trialling (verb) |
field-testing |
| to truant (verb) |
to skip school, to cut classes |
| zed (pronunciation of the letter "z") |
zee (pronunciation of the letter "z") |
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Food, Cooking, and Cleaning
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Food, Cooking, and Cleaning
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| aubergine |
eggplant |
| banger |
sausage |
| biscuit |
cookie |
| biscuit mixture |
cookie dough |
| caster sugar |
sugar |
| cooker |
stove |
| cookery book |
cookbook |
| cornflour |
cornstarch |
| courgettes |
zucchini |
| chips |
french fries |
| crisps |
potato chips |
| egg box |
egg carton |
| fairy cakes |
cup cakes |
| hoover, hoovering |
vacuum, vacuuming |
| hundreds and thousands |
sprinkles (on cakes) |
| ice lolly |
Popsicle |
| icing |
frosting |
| jam (a spread for bread) |
jelly or jam |
| jelly |
Jell-O, gelatin |
| jug |
pitcher |
| kitchen foil |
aluminum foil |
| pastry bowl |
mixing bowl |
| plastic film |
plastic wrap |
| polka dots |
chocolate chips |
| spring onions |
scallions |
| squash |
concentrate (as in Kool-aid) |
| sweets |
candy |
| tap |
faucet, tap |
| washing powder |
laundry detergent (powder) |
| washing-up liquid |
dishwashing detergent |
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Clothing and Appearance
|
Clothing and Appearance
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| bunches |
pigtails |
| fringe |
bangs |
| homely (pleasant) |
homely (unattractive) |
| jumper |
sweater or turtleneck |
| knickers (women and children) |
lingerie |
| nappy |
diaper |
| pinafore dress |
jumper |
| plait |
braid |
| swimming costume |
bathing suit |
| trainers |
sneakers, running shoes |
| trousers |
pants |
| vest |
undershirt |
| waistcoat |
vest |
| Wellingtons, Wellies |
rain boots |
| zip |
zipper |
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Transportation
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Transportation
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| articulated lorries |
big rigs, semis |
| arctics (articulated lorries for refrigerated goods)
|
refrigerated trucks |
| bonnet (of a car) |
hood (of a car) |
| boot (of a car) |
trunk (of a car) |
| buggy |
stroller |
| car park |
parking lot |
| contract bus |
school bus |
| hard shoulder |
pavement |
| lift |
elevator |
| lorry, lorry driver |
truck, truck driver |
| motorway |
highway, freeway |
| overtake a car |
pass a car |
| pavement |
sidewalk |
| pedestrian crossing |
crosswalk |
| petrol |
gasoline |
| petrol station |
gas station |
| pram |
baby carriage |
| carriage railroad |
passenger car |
| reverse a car |
back up a car |
| sleeping policemen (named after the appearance of the
former London "bobbies" in their tall, rounded hats) |
speed bumps |
| transport |
transportation |
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Miscellaneous
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Miscellaneous
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| American football |
football |
| back garden |
back yard |
| boot sale (selling goods from the boots, or trunks,
of cars) |
n/a |
| cardboard plate |
paper plate |
| charity shop |
thrift shop, second-hand store |
| cot (child's bed) |
crib, baby bed |
| cotton reel |
spool |
| cotton-wool balls |
cotton balls |
| cutting (noun, news clipping) |
clipping (noun, news clipping) |
| day diary |
appointment book or calendar |
| DIY store |
hardware store, home building center |
| doctor's surgery |
doctor's office |
| dog basket |
dog bed |
| dummy (for a baby) |
pacifier |
| dustbin |
garbage can, trash can |
| elastic band |
rubber band |
| electricity board |
power company, electric company |
| estate agent |
real estate agent |
| first floor |
second floor |
| flat |
apartment |
| flex |
electric cord |
| football |
soccer |
| foyer (of a building) |
lobby |
| ground floor |
first floor |
| jumble sale |
rummage sale, garage sale, flea market |
| hire (v.) |
rent, lease |
| holiday (go on holiday) |
vacation (go on, or take, a vacation) |
| hose pipe |
hose |
| landslip |
landslide |
| lead (for a dog) |
leash |
| letter box |
mailbox, postbox |
| litter bin |
wastebasket, wastepaper basket |
| loo |
restroom |
| ministry (government body, e.g., Ministry of Agriculture)
|
department (e.g., Dept. of Agriculture) |
| mum, mummy (for "mother") |
mom, mommy |
| newsagents |
newsstand |
| ordinary |
regular |
| packaging |
packing suitcases |
| packet |
carton, box |
| picture house |
movie theater |
| pitch |
field |
| post (verb) |
mail (verb) |
| postal code |
zip code |
| to queue |
to line up |
| ring (verb) |
call or phone (verb) |
| roundabout |
merry-go-round, carousel |
| rubbish |
garbage |
| skipping rope |
jump rope |
| skittles |
bowling pins |
| sleep-over |
slumber party |
| stick (verb) |
paste |
| take-away |
take-out |
| torch |
flashlight |
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Expressions
|
Expressions
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| Give it a go. |
Try it. / Give it a try. |
| I'm knackered. |
I'm tired. |
| Spot on! |
You've got it! |
| That's wicked! / That's wicked good! |
That's great! |
| "winding me up" or "taking the mick" |
"pressing my buttons" (teasing) |
| To suss somebody out |
To figure somebody out |
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Abbreviating Dates and Times
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Abbreviating Dates and Times
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| Date: 9/8/00 (day/month/year) means 9 August
2000 |
Date: 9/8/00 (month/day/year) means September
8, 2000 |
| Time: 10.05 (uses a period) |
Time: 10:05 (uses a colon) |
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Spelling
|
Spelling
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| aeroplane |
airplane |
| aluminium |
aluminum |
| analyse |
analyze |
| appertaining |
pertaining |
| artefacts |
artifacts |
| behaviour |
behavior |
| centimetre |
centimeter |
| centre |
center |
| coat-hanger |
coat hanger |
| colour |
color |
| defence |
defense |
| favourite |
favorite |
| forwards |
forward |
| jewellery |
jewelry |
| kilometre |
kilometer |
| metre |
meter |
| mould (as in "fungus") |
mold |
| programme |
program |
| tonnes |
tons |
| travelled |
traveled |
| traveller |
traveler |
| tyres |
tires |
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