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101 different ways to say the same thing.
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:17 pm
by Thomzo
Given the international nature of this forum, confusion can sometimes crop up in the use of English. I thought it might be useful to have simple translations of any words or phrases that might have different meanings in different countries.
I'll start off with one that cropped up on the thread about recycled clothing (translation courtesy of Annpan - thanks Annpan).
Fanny packs (Canadian) = Bum bags (UK)
Others I'm aware of (and correct me if I get these wrong):
Thongs (Aus) = flip flops (UK)
Fawcet (US) = tap (UK)
Diaper (US) = nappy (UK)
Zoe
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:21 pm
by Annpan
oh shucks
heres some more
Wet back (Aus/NZ) - Backboiler (UK)
Sneakers(US) - Trainers (UK)
I'll be back when I think of more
(though I am moving tommorrow so probably should get busy doing something else
)
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:29 pm
by Annpan
Back already
Pantyhoes (US) - Tights (UK)
Pants (US) - Trousers (UK)
Pantys (US) - Pants (UK)
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:31 pm
by Thomzo
Good luck with the move.
I always keep a box specially for essential items, like kettle, tea bags, tea spoons, mugs, milk, loo rolls, spare light bulbs, a pair of scissors and the two most important items... a bottle of wine and a cork screw!
Zoe
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:37 pm
by Annpan
Thank-you
done already, I just have all the junk left to pack... you know the difficult "where does this actually belong" stuff, we are doing the move ourselves over a few days, so fingers crossed it will all run smoothly. I may not be on here for a while and I am missing it already
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:40 pm
by the.fee.fairy
Annpan wrote:Back already
Pantyhoes (US) - Tights (UK)
Pants (US) - Trousers (UK)
Pantys (US) - Pants (UK)
To expand -
Panties (US) - knickers (UK)
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:48 pm
by Millymollymandy
Yard (Aus, NZ, US, prob Canada?) = Garden (UK)
Garden (ditto) = Flower bed (UK)
Good idea of yours Thomzo!
Re: 101 different ways to say the same thing.
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:56 pm
by Muddypause
Thomzo wrote:Thongs (Aus) = flip flops (UK)
I had a most alarming discussion with Boots a while back that involved just this misunderstanding.
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 3:04 pm
by the.fee.fairy
Dirt (US, don't know whether this is AUS and NZ as well?) - soil (UK)
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:34 pm
by Thomzo
Car Boot (UK) - Trunk (US)
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:41 pm
by the.fee.fairy
that one reminds me -
Charity shop (UK) - thrift store (US)
boot sale (UK) - garage/yard sale (US) *i know that technically they're slightly different, in that we will travel with our junk to a boot sale, but in essence, its the same thng - people selling their old rubbish!*
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:34 pm
by Annpan
Turnip (Scotland) - Swede (England, and everywhere else I think) big purple and yellow skinned root with yellow/orange flesh... incase we were still all confused.
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:00 am
by Wombat
the.fee.fairy wrote:Dirt (US, don't know whether this is AUS and NZ as well?) - soil (UK)
Actually both are accepted here.
Probably a symptom of the erosion of what little culture we have by US TV and Corporate giants (you want fries with that? No you moron, we call them CHIPS!)
Nev
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:31 am
by Millymollymandy
That reminds me......
French Fries (US) = Chips (UK) = Hot Chips (NZ) = Pomme Frites (France)
Chips (NZ) = Crisps (UK)
Don't you call them Hot Chips Nev?
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:29 am
by Milims
Thanks for clearing up the turnip thing - its confused me for years - I'd always called it turnip and thought that the purple topped thing that you buy in the supermarket was something entirely different!!!! But then this is me who thought that "vashkiri" was a special french cheese until I discovered that its only laughing cow and my mother was speaking french!!!
From the great Japer Carrott....
Durex (Auz) - Sellotape (UK) - great way to smuggle it into Ireland tho!! lol.