A Glossary of Terms

One of my pet peeves - and it's a minor one - is Americans who throw British and/or Australian slang around, peppering their otherwise normal YankeeSpeak with the odd "git" or "shite" or "cheers." We have perfectly acceptable alternatives such as bastard/bitch, crap and thanks; and quite frankly, using one or two words of BritSpeak does not make you sound British/Aussie. Not if you are going to continue using your YankeeSpeak for 99% of your communication.

So, for those who are unaccountably attached to their shite, I present the first of my admittedly unscientific and incomplete glossary of BritSpeak so you can impress your friends with your multilingual skills:

Brit to US:
Take Away = To Go
When you order your food, you'll be asked if you want "take away." Some London Starbucks baristas will ask if you want your coffee to go, but then the Starbucks chain prides itself on worldwide consistency. Don't even start to confuse your food server by asking for "carry out."

Custom, tailor-made = bespoke
I love the word bespoke - it sounds so terribly uppercrust British - but it took me a few uses of the word in context to get it.

Dessert = pudding
While pudding is also used to describe the traditional British steamed pastry (plum pudding, even Yorkshire pudding), it is also generic for anything sweet served after a meal. But sadly, Bill Cosby would rarely be served his favorite pudding for pudding - there are mousses and custards aplenty, but no chocolate pudding cups in the Tesco aisles.

Fairy lights = Christmas lights
Fairy cakes = cupcakes
The British seem very fond of fairies with gossamer wings and flower wands. Whereas little American girls dress up as princesses (usually of the Disney variety), here fairy costumes seem more prevelant. Unfortunately, I can't see these names ever catching on in the US...

Vest = tank top
Waistcoat = vest
fancy dress = costume
cossie (short for costume) = outfit
bathing costume = bathing suit
jersey = pullover sweater
sweater = cardigan
polo neck = turtleneck
open neck = polo collar
trousers = pants
pants = underwear (pants is also another way to say crappy - "It's pants.")
knickers = panties
big pants = unsexy cotton briefs, usually white or flowered
scary pants = control top briefs
It can get very confusing when shopping for clothes with British friends.

knackered = tired
chuffed = pleased
The first time I was told someone was "chuffed," I looked for someplace to hide - well, it sounds like "in a huff," doesn't it?

wobbly bits = bum, boobs, and thighs (usually used by women when referring to their bodies)
private bits = male or female "private parts"
dangling bits = male private parts
fanny = butt
front fanny = female private parts
My office in London has a hard time keeping a straight face whenever they have to speak to Fanny the receptionist at the home office.

aubergine = eggplant
courgette = zucchini
For a country that spent several centuries fighting France and still likes to sneer at the Frogs, you'd think they'd drop the French words for the alternatives...

rocket = arugula
salad (on a sandwich) = lettuce, tomato and cucumber
tuna mayonnaise = tuna salad (without relish)
ploughman's lunch = bread and cheese
granary loaf = whole wheat bread
sweetcorn = corn (what, there's bitter corn?)
And don't get me started on the British habit of adding corn (excuse me, sweetcorn) to everything!

bank holiday = national holiday
minibreak = weekend holiday or long weekend

Father Christmas = Santa Claus (although Santa is also very prevelant)
baubles = Christmas ornaments

So...the start of what will probably be a long and growing list. Ta!