N
Nappy: Diaper National: Federal National Insurance number: Social Security number Newsagent: Newsstand Newsreader: Anchorman, anchorwoman Nick (verb): Steal, rob Nick (noun): Prison, state pen, slammer, big house
O
OAP: Senior citizen Off-licence: Liquor store (also available as a drive-thru) Off-roader: SUV (sport utility vehicle) Off-the-peg: Off-the-rack
P
Pants (y fronts): Underwear, briefs, shorts Paraffin: Kerosene Parking brake: Emergency brake Patience (card game): Solitaire Pavement: Sidewalk Pay in: Deposit Pay packet: Pay check Pay rise: Pay raise P.C. (Police Constable): Police Officer P.E. class: Gym class Pelican, zebra crossings: Pedestrian crossing Petrol: Gas Piles: Hemorrhoids Pitch (sports): Field Plait (hair): Braid Plaster (bandage): Band-Aid™ Plaster (walls): Drywall P.M.T.: P.M.S. (it’s a proper syndrome in America, not just a bit of tension) Pocket money (child’s): Allowance Poorly: Sick Pop socks: Knee-high’s Post: Mail Post box: Mailbox (flag up to indicate you have something to be picked up) Post code: Zip code
Q
Queue: Line Quid: Buck (slang for a dollar)R
Randy: Horny Rasher (bacon): Slice Redundant: Laid-off Register: Roster Return (journey): Round-trip Reverse (a car, etc.): Back up Reverse charges: Collect call Revision: Study, cram Ring (on phone): Call Roadworks: Construction
S
Sack (get the sack): Fired S.A.E: S.A.S.E (self addressed stamped envelope) Saloon (car): Sedan Sand pit (children’s): Sand box Sello™ tape: Scotch™ tape Semi-detached: Duplex Semi-skimmed milk: Lowfat, 2% milk Serviette: Napkin Settee: Sofa, couch Shaving foam: Shaving cream Shop: Store

T
Takeaway: Takeout Tannoy: Loudspeaker Tap: Faucet, spigot Tarmac: Pavement, asphalt, blacktop Teat (baby bottle): Nipple Tea towel: Dish towel Telly: TV Tetchy: Touchy Thousand million: Billion Tick: Check, checkmark Ten-pin bowling: Bowling Till: Cash register Tin (of food): Can Tip: Dump
V
VAT: Sales tax Verucca: Plantar wart Vest: Tank top Video: VCRW
Waistcoat: Vest Walking (country): Hiking Wardrobe: Closet Washing up: Dishwashing Wellies: Rubber boots, galoshes
Z
Zebra crossing, pelican crossing: Crosswalk Zimmerframe: Walker Zip: ZipperSome of these words are familiar to my readers, whether they are British or American or Other. I don’t doubt you’ve heard many of them on television or in films. So why, may I ask, is it so difficult for you to understand them when they come out of my mouth? Well, you can plead ignorance no more. Thanks to the time and effort I’ve taken to enlighten both my countries’ citizens, I’m certain that US/UK relations will improve.
And as we say in all types of English, you’re welcome.
Thank you so much for this wonderfully educational addition to your tome of enlightened epistles that grow ever more splendid from day to day….and at last I have a new word for my verucca: Plantar wart. How deliciously fungal!
MW