Canada: Hydro
USA: Electricity

I liked the British tv show "Wheeler Dealers". It was easy to understand that "wings" were "fenders" and similar just from context.

A couple that took me a little time:

"Hood" - no not the US meaning (to them that's the "bonnet") - the Brits call the soft top on a convertible "the hood".

"Sorted" - we say "fixed" or "repaired".

"Tickety-Boo", as in "Now it's all tickety-boo". - That I had to look up. Basically it means "Everything is fine".

One other one I picked up elsewhere
"A full stop" to us, "period".

quote:

Originally posted by John Steed:
"Sorted" - we say "fixed" or "repaired".

"Sorted" is used to designate any task being completed, not just repairs.

Rubber - in the UK an eraser, in the US a condom.
“I’ll knock you up in the morning.” - in the UK “I’ll swing by and knock on your door in the morning.” In the US I’ll impregnate you in the morning.

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:
Add to the UK

Scrubber- prostitute

Strictly speaking a 'scrubber' in the UK is a 'skank' in the US. Not necessarily a prostitute, but just a lady of loose morals. See also 'A bike', sometimes prefaced by 'The Town/Village/Company'. A female that 'everyone has ridden'

I've always wondered how the term "Gobsmacked" came about.

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
I've always wondered how the term "Gobsmacked" came about.

Gobsmacked means shocked/stunned/surprised.

Gob is a northern English and Scottish term for mouth, originally from Gaelic. (Also commonly seen with the phrase "Shut your gob!")

So basically, being gobsmacked is acting surprised and stunned like you've just been unexpectedly smacked in the mouth.

Like Steve Martin observed; "It's like those French have a different word for everything."

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
I've always wondered how the term "Gobsmacked" came about.

See also "gobstopper." A candy that stops you from talking.

quote:

See also "gobstopper." A candy that stops you from talking.

They can be everlasting....

When I was young I lived for a year in Hollywood Fla. I worked nights painting department stores. One of the guys I worked with from Indiana said we should go out that night and get some cock. I was dumbfounded until he told me it meant women.

OK, let’s try “gift”

US - a present for someone.
German - poison.

Not something to get confused when visiting overseas and you wish to leave something for the Fraulein.

Just be careful when asking a waitress for a napkin down under

Was watching Bluey with my children yesterday and the dad is cooking up Pikelets, I'm like "WTH is a Pikelet?"

Turns out that's what the Aussies call pancakes.

Who knew?

Of course, what you and I know as a cake, is called a "pudding" in the UK. Stick that in your gob!

My sister taught alternative high school. One day her Mexican kids were eating leche quemada candy, which is kind of like caramel milk candy. She, being a good Southern girl, was telling them about her mom’s penuche fudge. Their eyes all got huge and they gasped. She asked them “what did I say”? Apparently they thought she said “panoche.” In Spanish properly it means “vulva” but in the vernacular means something more like “nasty filthy c***.”

Parking lot here is a car park in the UK.

UK "biscuit", US "cookie"
US "biscuit", UK "scone" (sort of)

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
Of course, what you and I know as a cake, is called a "pudding" in the UK. Stick that in your gob!

I think "pudding" is dessert generally, and not cake, per se. Although they use the word dessert, too and I don't think I understand the distinction, if there is one.

quote:

Originally posted by Pyker:

quote:

Originally posted by snwghst:
Add to the UK

Scrubber- prostitute

Strictly speaking a 'scrubber' in the UK is a 'skank' in the US. Not necessarily a prostitute, but just a lady of loose morals. See also 'A bike', sometimes prefaced by 'The Town/Village/Company'. A female that 'everyone has ridden'

Also known as a slapper.