American slang is different from British slang because of the evolution of American English.

When the pioneers living in the new world had children, they taught their children to pronounce words the way they were written, in order to keep things simple. This was the first break from British English.

As the nation grew, so did its own casual variety of the English language, which was influenced by cowboys, sports, the building of the railroad, the card game of poker, African-American culture, immigrants, natives, etc.

Modern American Slang is a rather special form of language, the language has a unique expression and a long history. 19th-century American continent's 'Westward Movement' prompted the formation of the American slang, the 20th century was a period of rapid development of American Slang. From the source point of view, sub-culture to the mainstream culture in promoting the penetration into the celebrities and then to a large number of new things and new concepts have emerged, resulting in a lot of slang. In the course of development in American slang gradually formed its own style features: humor, funny, vivid and easy to express feelings, updated quickly so. At the same time, it's role in society is reflected in: reflects the identity of the speaker; strengthen community relations between all members; embodies the speaker level of education and cultural qualities, as well as reflecting the social reality of the American attitude. For the modern American slang, scholars, mixed views, but denied that the emergence of modern American slang and development of society and the times demand. Now, get clear, concise and with the standard language of mutual penetration of modern American slang has become a major trend.

These are some common slang words.

kook-a crazy person

busted-arrested

gonna-going to

faggot-gay guy

butt-buttocks

bust-burst

weed-marijuana

coke-cocaine

bust-break

cop-policeman

big bucks-alot of money

wanna-want to

outta-out of

pee-urinate, urine

pot-marijuana

buck-dollar

booboo-mistake

poop-defecate, feces

dope-marijuana

booger-dried nasal mucus

dog-black slang for a person.

snot-nasal mucus

turd-piece of feces

gotta-got to

fart-pass gas

bastard-a mean person

pot-toilet

cuss-curse

cootie-louse

Brit-Briton

Butty - Sandwich (in Northern England)

Piece - Sandwich (in Scotland)

A quid - £1

Footy - Football

Rugger - Rugby

Bird - Woman

Pit - Bed

Chick - beautiful girl

Boom box - stereo

flick - movie

Jerk - stupid person

asshole - stupid person

loser - stupid person

dead presidents - dollars

Bullshit - nonsense

Kiss someone's ass - to hit them hard

save someone's ass - to save them from being in risks.

pinhead - stupid person

dick - stupid and dirty person.

Gimme your skin - shake your hands.

goofy - stupid and silly person.

That's sweet! - That's great!

Hot - sexy

prick - stupid person

Yo - you!

Homey - close friend

Dude - friend

hubby - husband

misus - wife

Uncle sam- America

sis - sister

snotty - proud

chatterbox- a person who talks too much William Croft. Explaining Language Change: An Evolutionary Approach. Pearson ESL, 2001, p. 220-224

(To) ace (v). (a test, exam, etc).: To pass a test, exam, etc. really easily. ex: «Robert aced his physics exam».

A dime a dozen (*to be a dime a dozen*): Very common; Said of something that is so easy to find that it don't have much value. ex: «Girls like her are a dime a dozen» (There are lots of girls like her)

All: Used to mean «very» in phrases such as «He was all nervous» (He was very nervous), «He was all happy» (He was very happy), or «so» in phrases such as «Don't get all emotional».

All-ears: When someone says «I'm all ears», they are telling you that they are listening to you, that they are giving you their undivided attention.

All-nighter (n).: A period of work or study that lasts all night. Most often used with the verb «pull» (To pull an all-nighter) - ex: «We pulled an all-nighter in order to finish the project».

Ammo (n).: Short form for «ammunition». ex: «I ran out of ammo».

Angle (n).: A devious plan; a scheme. Often used with the verb «to work». ex: «He claims to be on the level, but I'm sure he's working some angle».

Around-the-clock: 24/7, all day and night, non-stop; ex: «The house was being watched around the clock».

As if!: On its own, this phrase is used to suggest/emphasize that something is not likely/ not going happen. ex: «He thinks I'll go out with him. As if!»

Awesome (adj).: Great; Fantastic; Super: ex: «That was an awesome movie».

View'd freely, the English language is the accretion and growth of every dialect, race, and range of time, and is both the free and compacted composition of all. From this point of view, it stands for Language in the largest sense, and is really the greatest of studies. It involves so much; is indeed a sort of universal absorber, combiner, and conqueror. The scope of its etymologies is the scope not only of man and civilization, but the history of Nature in all departments, and of the organic Universe, brought up to date; for all are comprehended in words, and their backgrounds. This is when words become vitaliz'd, and stand for things, as they unerringly and soon come to do, in the mind that enters on their study with fitting spirit, grasp, and appreciation.

Slang, profoundly consider'd, is the lawless germinal element, below all words and sentences, and behind all poetry, and proves a certain perennial rankness and protestantism in speech. As the United States inherit by far their most precious possession--the language they talk and write--from the Old World, under and out of its feudal institutes, I will allow myself to borrow a simile even of those forms farthest removed from American Democracy. Considering Language then as some mighty potentate, into the majestic audience-hall of the monarch ever enters a personage like one of Shakspere's clowns, and takes position there, and plays a part even in the stateliest ceremonies. Such is Slang, or indirection, an attempt of common humanity to escape from bald literalism, and express itself illimitably, which in highest walks produces poets and poems, and doubtless in pre-historic times gave the start to, and perfected, the whole immense tangle of the old mythologies. For, curious as it may appear, it is strictly the same impulse-source, the same thing. Slang, too, is the wholesome fermentation or eructation of those processes eternally active in language, by which froth and specks are thrown up, mostly to pass away; though occasionally to settle and permanently chrystallize.

To make it plainer, it is certain that many of the oldest and solidest words we use, were originally generated from the daring and license of slang. In the processes of word-formation, myriads die, but here and there the attempt attracts superior meanings, becomes valuable and indispensable, and lives forever. Thus the term right means literally only straight. Wrong primarily meant twisted, distorted. Integrity meant oneness. Spirit meant breath, or flame. A supercilious person was one who rais'd his eyebrows. To insult was to leap against. If you influenc'd a man, you but flow'd into him. The Hebrew word which is translated prophesy meant to bubble up and pour forth as a fountain. The enthusiast bubbles up with the Spirit of God within him, and it pours forth from him like a fountain. The word prophecy is misunderstood. Many suppose that it is limited to mere prediction; that is but the lesser portion of prophecy. The greater work is to reveal God. Every true religious enthusiast is a prophet.

Language, be it remember'd, is not an abstract construction of the learn'd, or of dictionary-makers, but is something arising out of the work, needs, ties, joys, affections, tastes, of long generations of humanity, and has its bases broad and low, close to the ground. Its final decisions are made by the masses, people nearest the concrete, having most to do with actual land and sea. It impermeates all, the Past as well as the Present, and is the grandest triumph of the human intellect. «Those mighty works of art», says Addington Symonds, «which we call languages, in the construction of which whole peoples unconsciously co-operated, the forms of which were determin'd not by individual genius, but by the instincts of successive generations, acting to one end, inherent in the nature of the race--Those poems of pure thought and fancy, cadenced not in words, but in living imagery, fountainheads of inspiration, mirrors of the mind of nascent nations, which we call Mythologies-these surely are more marvellous in their infantine spontaneity than any more mature production of the races which evolv'd them. Yet we are utterly ignorant of their embryology; the true science of Origins is yet in its cradle»/

Daring as it is to say so, in the growth of Language it is certain that the retrospect of slang from the start would be the recalling from their nebulous conditions of all that is poetical in the stores of human utterance. Moreover, the honest delving, as of late years, by the German and British workers in comparative philology, has pierc'd and dispers'd many of the falsest bubbles of centuries; and will disperse many more. It was long recorded that in Scandinavian mythology the heroes in the Norse Paradise drank out of the skulls of their slain enemies. Later investigation proves the word taken for skulls to mean horns of beasts slain in the hunt. And what reader had not been exercis'd over the traces of that feudal custom, by which seigneurs warm'd their feet in the bowels of serfs, the abdomen being open'd for the purpose? It now is made to appear that the serf was only required to submit his unharm'd abdomen as a foot cushion while his lord supp'd, and was required to chafe the legs of the seigneur with his hands.

It is curiously in embryons and childhood, and among the illiterate, we always find the groundwork and start, of this great science, and its noblest products. What a relief most people have in speaking of a man not by his true and formal name, with a «Mister» to it, but by some odd or homely appellative. The propensity to approach a meaning not directly and squarely, but by circuitous styles of expression, seems indeed a born quality of the common people every where, evidenced by nick-names, and the inveterate determination of the masses to bestow sub-titles, sometimes ridiculous, sometimes very apt. Always among the soldiers during the Secession War, one heard of «Little Mac» (Gen. McClellan), or of «Uncle Billy» (Gen. Sherman) «The old man» was, of course, very common. Among the rank and file, both armies, it was very general to speak of the different States they came from by their slang names. Those from Maine were call'd Foxes; New Hampshire, Granite Boys; Massachusetts, Bay Staters; Vermont, Green Mountain Boys; Rhode Island, Gun Flints; Connecticut, Wooden Nutmegs; New York, Knickerbockers; New Jersey, Clam Catchers; Pennsylvania, Logher Heads; Delaware, Muskrats; Maryland, Claw Thumpers; Virginia, Beagles; North Carolina, Tar Boilers; South Carolina, Weasels; Georgia, Buzzards; Louisiana, Creoles; Alabama, Lizards; Kentucky, Corn Crackers; Ohio, Buckeyes; Michigan, Wolverines; Indiana, Hoosiers; Illinois, Suckers; Missouri, Pukes; Mississippi, Tad Poles; Florida, Fly up the Creeks; Wisconsin, Badgers; Iowa, Hawkeyes; Oregon, Hard Cases. Indeed I am not sure but slang names have more than once made Presidents. «Old Hickory», (Gen. Jackson) is one case in point. «Tippecanoe, and Tyler too», another.

I find the same rule in the people's conversations everywhere. I heard this among the men of the city horse-cars, where the conductor is often call'd a «snatcher» (i.e., because his characteristic duty is to constantly pull or snatch the bell-strap, to stop or go on). Two young fellows are having a friendly talk, amid which, says 1st conductor, «What did you do before you was a snatcher?» Answer of 2d conductor, «Nail'd». (Translation of answer: «I work'd as carpenter»). What is a «boom»? says one editor to another. «Esteem'd contemporary», says the other, «a boom is a bulge». «Barefoot whiskey» is the Tennessee name for the undiluted stimulant. In the slang of the New York common restaurant waiters a plate of ham and beans is known as «stars and stripes», codfish balls as «sleeve-buttons», and hash as «mystery».

The Western States of the Union are, however, as may be supposed, the special areas of slang, not only in conversation, but in names of localities, towns, rivers, etc. A late Oregon traveller says:

On your way to Olympia by rail, you cross a river called the Shookum-Chuck; your train stops at places named Newaukum, Tumwater, and Toutle; and if you seek further you will hear of whole counties labell'd Wahkiakum, or Snohomish, or Kitsar, or Klikatat; and Cowlitz, Hookium, and Nenolelops greet and offend you. They complain in Olympia that Washington Territory gets but little immigration; but what wonder? What man, having the whole American continent to choose from, would willingly date his letters from the county of Snohomish or bring up his children in the city of Nenolelops? The village of Tumwater is, as I am ready to bear witness, very pretty indeed; but surely an emigrant would think twice before he establish'd himself either there or at Toutle. Seattle is sufficiently barbarous; Stelicoom is no better; and I suspect that the Northern Pacific Railroad terminus has been fixed at Tacoma because it is one of the few places on Puget Sound whose name does not inspire horror http://grammar.about.com/od/classicessays/a/whitmanslang.htm.

Then a Nevada paper chronicles the departure of a mining party from Reno: «The toughest set of roosters, that ever shook the dust off any town left Reno yesterday for the new mining district of Cornucopia. They came here from Virginia. Among the crowd were four New York cock-fighters, two Chicago murderers, three Baltimore bruisers, one Philadelphia prize-fighter, four San Francisco hoodlums, three Virginia beats, two Union Pacific roughs, and two check guerrillas». Among the far-west newspapers, have been, or are, The Fairplay (Colorado) Flume, The Solid Muldoon, of Ouray, The Tombstone Epitaph, of Nevada, The Jimplecute, of Texas, and The Bazoo, of Missouri. Shirttail Bend, Whiskey Flat, Puppytown, Wild Yankee Ranch, Squaw Flat, Rawhide Ranch, Loafer's Ravine, Squitch Gulch, Toenail Lake, are a few of the names of places in Butte county, Cal.

Perhaps indeed no place or term gives more luxuriant illustrations of the fermentation processes I have mention'd, and their froth and specks, than those Mississippi and Pacific coast regions, at the present day. Hasty and grotesque as are some of the names, others are of an appropriateness and originality unsurpassable. This applies to the Indian words, which are often perfect. Oklahoma is proposed in Congress for the name of one of our new Territories. Hog-eye, Lick-skillet, Rake-pocket and Steal-easy are the names of some Texan towns. Miss Bremer found among the aborigines the following names: Men's, Hornpoint; Round-Wind; Stand-and-look-out; The-Cloud-that-goes-aside; Iron-toe; Seek-the-sun; Iron-flash; Red-bottle; White-spindle; Black-dog; Two-feathers-of-honor; Gray-grass; Bushy-tail; Thunder-face; Go-on-the-burning-sod; Spirits-of-the-dead. Women's, Keep-the-fire; Spiritual-woman; Second-daughter-of-the-house; Blue-bird.

Certainly philologists have not given enough attention to this element and its results, which, I repeat, can probably be found working every where to-day, amid modern conditions, with as much life and activity as in far-back Greece or India, under prehistoric ones. Then the wit--the rich flashes of humor and genius and poetry--darting out often from a gang of laborers, railroad-men, miners, drivers or boatmen! How often have I hover'd at the edge of a crowd of them, to hear their repartees and impromptus! You get more real fun from half an hour with them than from the books of all «the American humorists».

The science of language has large and close analogies in geological science, with its ceaseless evolution, its fossils, and its numberless submerged layers and hidden strata, the infinite go-before of the present. Or, perhaps Language is more like some vast living body, or perennial body of bodies. And slang not only brings the first feeders of it, but is afterward the start of fancy, imagination and humor, breathing into its nostrils the breath of life.

peculiarities british american slang

4. Comparison of British and American Slang

Many people are confused about just exactly what American slang is, and what the terms mean. I've run across a lot of confusion recently among quite a few British people, even though Britons use American slang terminology far more than they probably realize. It's not this mutual lingo which we share that's the problem. Even though these slang words are originally American in origin, they belong to all of us now. Terms like «crazy» to mean insane, «kid» to mean child, «yeah» to mean yes, «okay» to mean all right, and «TV» to mean television are now used and understood by English-speaking people worldwide.

However, even though we share much of the territory of slang sayings, we nevertheless maintain our national identities. To Britons a «mad» person is insane, whereas when called by the same term in the States, he's merely angry. To the British a bonnet is the hood of a car, but in America, it's an old-fashioned ladies' hat. The British think of gas as a kind of air, but to Americans it's what fuels our cars. We generally don't know the origins of these slang terms, so this causes some confusion. In 1877, Henry Sweet predicted that within a century, Americans, Australians and the British would not be able to understand one another. Of course, this was not the case. Radio, television, film, song, and the availability of air travel has reduced regionalisms and the tendency for our speech patterns to diverge.

The English language could benefit from some homogeneity. Nevertheless, the British seem to feel rather outraged when Americans borrow their slang. This is unfortunate, since British slang terms are a normal part of everyday American life. For example, «to scream bloody murder» is an American saying, whereas «get off my bloody case» isn't.

I can't really speak for other Americans, but I personally feel rather glad and endeared when I hear a British person using terms I'm familiar with. I remember a scene from Monty Python's Flying Circus which showed a man, played by Graham Chapman, trying to «climb» the north face of the Oxbridge Road. John Cleese squatted down beside this «climber» and said, «Uh, Bert, some people say this is crazy». To me, this cross-over into American slang just made British humor more understandable and accessible.

Since American slang terminology plays such an important part in the language of English-speaking peoples around the world, we should all try to be very clear on what the terms are and what they mean. Understanding of American slang is especially important for foreign people living in America and watching American film and television.

Many slang sites are filled with obsolete and archaic slang terms for historical purposes; however, I will deal here only with American slang terms that are commonly used today.

You may find many of these terms are familiar, even if you're not American. However, there are many American slang terms which have not really spread to other countries. The terms are readily found in American slang dictionaries, but these dictionaries often don't provide a complete understanding of the meaning of the slang terms and how they're used in everyday conversation. I will attempt to elaborate on them here.

A Sampling of American Slang Terms and Sayings

The Southern slang term «goomer» is an acronym of the phrase, «Get Out of My Emergency Room». The term came into being because so many people in the South would come into emergency rooms for no good reason.

Another Southern slang term, «goober» means «peanut». The same term refers to an unsophisticated person from the country. We often also refer to these remote rural areas as the «boonies».

If a Southerner refers to somebody as «ornery», they're probably difficult, unpleasant, or stubborn. «Uppity» people are likely to cause a few problems, too.

Also in the South, male relatives are often referred to as «Bubba». This is so common, in fact, that the term often replaces their given name. The term is sometimes used to mean «brother», but also can mean «baby», or «boy». It's often shortened to «Bub». It is believed the term comes from the German word for boy, which is «bub».

«Local yokel» is frequently also used in the South to refer to a country bumpkin. It's also customary to call them a «hick» or «hillbilly». These phrases pale in comparison to the popularity of «redneck», a term which originated in America from fair-skinned farmers whose necks turn red from spending so much time in the sun.

Males throughout America can be referred to as «Clyde», «Joe», «Bro», «Dude», «Man», and «Mack». Unfortunately, some of these terms are also acceptable to use with women (although, to keep you on your toes, I won't tell you which ones).

«Gee whiz» is a euphemism for «Jesus», and can be heard in many television programs from the 1950s. Other euphemisms include «sheesh», and «geez».

We refer to ill-conceived plots and plans as «hare-brained». (It is not hair-brained, contrary to popular conception). The general idea is that the person has the IQ of a rabbit.

You may on occasion hear an American refer to an idiotic or blatantly false statement as «horse-pucky». This is an obvious euphemism for the naughtier version. Furthermore, when an American wants you to wait, he may ask you to, «Hold your horses».

If an American gets nervous, you may hear them say that they've got the «heebie-jeebies» or the «willies».

If somebody talks too much, they're a «windbag». Their speech may be described as «yackity-yack», «blah, blah, blah», or «yadda, yadda».

If we happen across somebody who's a loser or a jerk, we may say that they're a real «heel».

If you don't know what the name of something is, just point at it and call it a «do-dad», a «do-hickey», a «thingamajig», a «thingamabob», or a «whatchamacallit». You will be perfectly understood by the grand majority of Americans (except, of course, for the hair-brained variety).

To call someone stupid in American, you have many choices of slang terms. These include «bonehead», «dufus», «dope», «airhead», «dingbat», «dipwad», «lame-brain» or «jerk».

To call a person insane in American, you have your selection of «crazy», «batty», «dippy», «ditzy», «bananas», «bonkers», «certifiable», «crackers», «goofy», «nuts», «whacked out», «wacko», «out to lunch», «not playing with a full deck», and «off the deep end».

If something's good in America, it's «cool», «neat-o», or «awesome». If it's bad, it «stinks», it «sucks», or it's «rotten».

If the person in question is merely weak and ineffective, then take your pick of «drip», «douche-bag», «lame-o», «pantywaist», «pansy», «wuss», and «wimp».

To get angry in American, just get «mad», «blow your cool», get «steamed», or let it «burn you up». For those more inclined to revenge, you can try «getting even».

If you get upset, you have the option of «getting your panties in a wad», «having a hissy fit», «having a cow», «freaking out», «going ballistic», «coming unglued», «getting bent out of shape», or «getting your nose out of joint», amongst many others. You can also «flip out», although this it not to be confused with «flipping off» another person, which is flashing somebody the middle finger. Most people interpret this as an obscene gesture, although many out-of-touch elderly men think of it as a great way of pointing things out on maps, directories and blackboards.

If an American wants a drink, he may ask you for some «hooch» or «booze».

When someone makes a major mistake or blunder, we may say, «Way to go», or «Smooth move».

If a person steals something from a store, we say that they took a «five finger discount».

When we call something «gas» we're referring to gasoline, but if we say it is «a gas», we're saying it's a lot of fun. If you don't agree, just say, «Whoopty-doo», in a really sarcastic way, and they'll know you think the whole thing's a huge bore.

If an American asks you, «What's all the hoo-hah?» there is probably a major disturbance or upheaval going on nearby.

It's very important never to «jack with» an American, or to «jerk them around». If you do, you may find that they're «messing with» you, as well.

«Jammies» are pajamas, but «jimmies» are undershorts.

If something doesn't agree, we say it doesn't «jibe». However, «jive» is nonsense talk.

If you want to die, just «kick the bucket», «croak», or «buy the farm». However if killing somebody else is more your style, just try «knocking them off», rubbing them out», «bumping them off», «doing them in», or «putting a hit» on them.

If hitting people is your preferred solution, you can «deck» them, «floor» them, «conk» them, «pop them one», «slug» them, «smack» them, or just «let them have it». If you're more likely to solve problems by leaving, you can «beat it», «blow», «clear off», «fly the coop», «take a hike», «make tracks», «scoot», «skiddoo», «scram», «split», or «vamoose».

To cheat someone in American, just «chisel», «bilk», «swindle», «fleece», «gyp», «hustle», «rook», «take», «sucker», or «con» them.

If sleeping is more your game, then all you have to do is «sack out», «crash», «catch some z's», «pass out», or get some «shut-eye».

If a company you do business with is «taking you to the cleaners» with a lot of small charges, then they're «nickling and diming you to death». If they're just giving you their opinion, they'll «give their two cents worth». If they are the ultimate authority, they will say, «The buck stops here». If they're a no account, loser company with unethical business practices, someone will likely tell you that they're a «two-bit, penny-ante operation».

If you're a «party pooper» then you may soon discover that somebody else is «raining on your parade», too.

If an American asks you to adjust the «rabbit ears», move straight for the television antenna and fix the reception.

Below you will find British to American slang comparison.

Alsatian (dog) = German shepherd

Articulated lorry = tractor-trailer (truck), a «semi»

Ass = donkey; U.S. ass = G.B. «arse», i.e. one's backside (in addition to normal «donkey»)

Athletics (an... meet) = track and field

Backlog = log-jam, pile-up (of business orders, for example). U.S. backlog = comfortable reserve of orders -- difference between the two is in opposite interpretation or connotation of same basic situation.

Bap = bun, hamburger bun, hamburger roll

Mrs. Beeton = Fanny Farmer (standard cooking, household reference book)

Bespoke = custom-tailored, tailor-made

Big Dipper = roller coaster (at a «Fun-Fair» = «Amusement Park»

Bilberry = blueberry

«Bird» = «chick»

Biro = Papermate (ball-point pen trade name which equals «generic» name)

Block, block of flats = apartment building (U.S. term «block» [city block] unknown as such in British English, though usually understandable.

«Bomb» (theater terminology) = a «hit», a great success. U.S. «bomb» = G.B. failure, critical disaster, i.e. the two are exact opposites in sentences like «The play was a bomb!»

Boiler suit = overalls

Bonnet (automotive) = hood (of a car..).

Boot (automotive) = trunk (of a car..).

Bottom drawer = hope chest

Bowler (hat) = derby (special connotations & different pronunc).

Braces = suspenders; U.S. suspenders = G.B. garters, stocking fasteners

Brambleberry = blackberry

Bottom of the street = end of the street

Box (TV) = Tube (both slang, colloquial terms)

Bull = «mickey mouse» (unnecessary military drill); U.S. bull = G.B. cock

Bum = ass, rectum; U.S. bum = G.B. tramp, derelict

Bun in the oven = pregnant, eating for two

Call box = (tele)phone booth

Camp bed = cot; U.S. cot = G.B. baby bed

Car park = parking lot

Caretaker (for a building) = janitor (not same as «vahtimestari»)

Carriage (railway) = railroad car, subway car

Carrier bag = shopping bag

Caucus = permanent group in a political party; U.S. caucus = G.B. ad hoc planning meeting of a group in a political party

Central reservation = median strip (between halves of a divided highway)

Charge sheet = police record

Chemist (drugstore) = druggist

Chips = french fries; U.S. chips often = dried buffalo, cow dung (other cases, i.e. poker chips, wood chips, the same)

Chucker-out = bouncer (doorman or «enforcer» in a bar/restaurant

«In the City» = «on Wall Street» (in main financial district)

City editor = financial editor; U.S. city editor = G.B. «community news editor»

Cloakroom = toilet; U.S. cloakroom = clothes closet, garment storage area

Coach = intercity bus

Combinations = union suit (colloquial for long underwear)

Comforter = scarf; U.S. comforter = heavy quilt, blanket

Compére = Master of ceremonies, M.C. (of TV game show, etc).

Constable = (police) officer

«To cop» = «to get» something unpleasant, i.e. «to cop a 15-pound fine». U.S. «to cop» = to plead guilty to a lesser charge in order to avoid prosecution & probable conviction on a more serious charge («to cop a plea» = «plea-bargaining»)

Corn = all grain crops; U.S. corn = G.B. «maize» only.

Costermonger = pushcart seller

(Sent to) Coventry = ostracized

Crisps = potato chips

Cupboard = closet; U.S. closet = G.B. w.c., or toilet

Davenport = antique folding writing desk; U.S. davenport = large sofa, often which folds out into a bed at night.

Deposit account = savings account

Dinner jacket = tuxedo («black tie» formal dress)

Dormitory = bedroom; U.S. dormitory = G.B. residence hall

Dresser = kitchen sideboard; U.S. dresser = bedroom drawers, vanity

«Duck» = «goose egg» (a zero on the scoreboard of a sports match)

Dumb = mute; U.S. dumb usually means «stupid» rather than «mute», which is a secondary meaning in U.S. usage.

Dustbin = garbage can, ashcan (exterior waste-disposal unit)

Dynamo (automotive) = generator (within automobile engine)

Earth wire = ground wire (in electricity, electronics)

Elastic band = rubber band

To Enjoin = to compel, to legally force; U.S. enjoin = to legally forbid -- i.e. same term in same general contextual usage has precisely the opposite meaning

Ex-serviceman = veteran; U.S. veteran = G.B. old ex-serviceman; (U.S. term has no special age connotation, only that the person have had prior military experience sometime)

Fag = (a) cigarette; (b) public-school underclass «servant»; U.S. fag = low-slang term for male homosexual.

Fanny = vagina (vulgar usage); U.S. fanny = light euphemism for «backside», either male or female.

First floor = second floor, etc. (Britain walks in ground floor, goes up 1 set of stairs to first floor; U.S. ground floor and first floor are the same.

Fish slice = pancake turner, spatula (kitchen tool); U.S. spatula = G.B. tongue depressor (medical instrument)

Fitted carpet = wall-to-wall carpeting

Flan = pie, fruit pie

Flannel = washcloth; U.S. flannel = heavy warm cotton fabric; «flannels» would be long underwear made from such heavy warm fabric.

Flat = apartment; U.S. flat = tenement flat = poor-standard slum apartment.

Flick knife = switch-blade knife, a switchblade

Flyover = overpass (as in a bridge over a road); U.S. flyover = airplane passing over a certain place, as in military parade «flyovers»; verb is «to overfly».

Form (school) = grade [i.e. first form = first grade in school]

Garden = yard; U.S. garden = vegetable garden, fljower garden, i.e. area of special cultivation. U.S. yard = G.B. paved area (lorry yards)

Goods (car, train) = freight; U.S. goods = supplies, commercial stock

Grind = sexual intercourse; U.S. grind = slang for «hard (routine) work».

Haberdasher = notions seller; U.S. haberdasher = men's clothing seller

To Hack = to (deliberately) kick; U.S. to hack = to chop, cut viciously.

High street = Main street

To Hire = to rent (in most cases); U.S. to hire = to employ Hire-purchase = (the «never-never») = installment plan

Hoarding = billboard (large advertising sign alongside road)

Hold up = traffic jam; U.S. holdup = robbery at gunpoint.

Homely = home-loving, domestic, pleasant; U.S. homely = plain- looking (female), therefore often «left» at home.

To Hoover = to vacuum (carpets, etc). «Hoover» in the U.S. is a brand name only, never used as a verb.

Inland = internal, domestic (Inland Revenue = Internal Revenue)

Inverted commas = quotation marks (GB = 'xx'; USA = «xx»)

Inquiry agent = private detective

Jelly = Jello (deriving from brand name Jell-O, gelatin dessert)

«On the job» = having sexual intercourse; U.s. «on the job» = while working, learning, i.e. «on the job training».

Joint = pot roast; U.S. «joint» = marijuana cigarette

Juggernaut lorry = a very large truck, an overlong truck, a «double semi» truck

Jumble sale = rummage sale

Jumper = light pullover (sweater); U.S. jumber = type of knee- length woman's dress worn over blouse or sweater

Kirby grips = bobby pins (to fasten long hair..).

A Knock-up = (tennis) to warm up, to volley a few, to practice-volley

To Knock up = to awaken, call early in the morning; U.S. «to knock up» is colloquial for «to impregnate»

Lacquer = hairspray; U.S. lacquer = wood varnish, shellac (high-gloss), i.e. protective decorative wood coating

Ladder = (in women's stockings» = a runner, a run

Lay-by = (beside a road) = a pull-off, a rest area.

Left-luggage office = check room, baggage check (room)

Level crossing = railroad crossing.

Lip balm = chapstick

Logic-chopping = splitting hairs, hair-splitting

Long jump (in athletics) = broad jump (in track and field)

Loud-hailer = bullhorn, amplified megaphone

Lucky dip = grab bag (children's party game or activity..).

Mains = ordinary built-in home electrical network (no special word as equivalent in U.S).

Market garden = truck farm

Marrow (vegetable) = squash, gourd

Mason = stoneworker; U.S. mason can be stone- or brickworker

Marriage lines = marriage certificate

Mean = stingy, tight with money; U.S. «mean» normally means nasty, spiteful, ill-meaning in action toward another

Mess kit = formal military dress for ceremonial dining; U.S. mess kit = army or boy scout utensils for cooking or eating a meal on the trail.

Minced meat = hamburger meat, ground beef; U.S. mincemeat = sweet, spicy ground meat/fruit/nut combination used for making pies, especially around Thanksgiving/Christmas

Mineral water = any carbonated soft drink; U.S. mineral water = bottled natural water (containing normal minerals) from spring or health spa, Perrier water, etc.

Mistress = teacher in girls' school; U.S. mistress = lover (extramarital)

Mob = gang, group (neutral); U.S. mob = angry crowd; «the mob» = Mafia

Motorist, motoring = driver, driving

Music Hall = vaudeville (generic entertainment type/place name)

Nappy = diaper (for infants not toilet-trained)

A Neat drink = a straight drink, i.e. «give me a straight whiskey» = whiskey without water or other additives

Nervy = nervous, jumpy; U.S. nervy = bold, impertinent, i.e. nearly the opposite of the British usage

Night club = private membership club; U.S. nightclubs are public (commercial) entertainment places

Number plate = license plate (on automobiles)

Off-license = liquor store

Old boy (girl) = alumni, alumnus, alumna [of a school]

Pantechnicon = moving van

Panda car = police patrol car, police cruiser

Patience (card game) = Solitaire

Pecker (keep your pecker up) = keep your chin up; U.S. pecker = penis

Pram (peramulator) = baby carriage, baby buggy, stroller, walker

Pillar-box = mailbox, post office box, letter box, letter drop

Pissed (he was really..). = drunk; U.S. «pissed = angry, upset

Pitch (soccer) = field (football) [GB «football» = US «soccer»]

Plimsolls = sneakers, tennis shoes, gym shoes

Point = electric outlet, railroad switch (depending on context)

Polka dots = chocolate chips (food product for baking)

Prawn = shrimp

Prom, prom concert = music concerts where most of the audience is standing; U.S. prom = dance, semi-formal, especially at end of year in high schools, colleges

Rates = local, municipal property taxes

Redundant = laid off (from a job); U.S. redundant = superfluous (no connotation of connection with jobs at all)

Return ticket = round-trip ticket

Ringway = circular road (around a city), bypass

Rise = raise in salary

To Roger = to «screw», have sex with; to exploit, take advantage of, to use

Roll neck (pullover) = turtleneck (sweater).

Roundabout = traffic circle

Rubber = eraser; U.S. rubber = condom, prophylactic device

Saloon = «sedan» car (automobile); US saloon = western-style bar

Saloon bar = one section of an English pub

Sanitary towel = sanitary napkin, feminine hygienic item

A good screw = a good salary; U.S. «good screw» equals good «fuck» or good sexual experience

To Screw = to cajole, persuade, extract money from; U.S. «to screw» = to have sex with, fornicate

Season ticket = commuter (train, bus) ticket; U.S. season ticket is card or ticket of paid admission to all home games in one season of a particular sports team

To Second to = to temporarily loan staff to another job or unit

Sellotape = Scotch tape (both brand names now used as «generics»

«Semi» = duplex, duplex house; U.S. «semi» = tractor-trailer truck rig

Seminary = Roman Catholic seminary only; U.S. Seminary can be ANY religion, i.e. Lutheran, Methodist seminaries

Sherbet = powdered, fruit-flavored candy; U.S. sherbet = G.B. sorbet (pronounced «soorbay»)

Shorthand-typist = stenographer

To shy = to throw something (he shied a rock at the stray dog..).

Sideboards = sideburns (in a hairstyle)

Single = one-way ticket; U.S. «single» in context would mean «only one» as opposed to «several» tickets

To Snog = to neck (i.e. kissing, hugging, etc., esp teenagers)

Spinster = any unmarried woman; U.S. spinster is always OLD unmarried woman

Standard lamp = floor lamp (as opposed to table or wall lamp)

S.T.D. (subscriber trunk dialling) = direct distance dialling [on the telephone, as opposed to dialling through operator]

Steps = ladder; U.S. «steps» always would mean staircase, built- in stairway or staircase

To stream (pupils in a school) = to track (streaming = tracking)

Stroke (punctuation) = diagonal, slash

To Stuff = to fornicate, have sex with; U.S. «I'm stuffed..». = to be comfortably, pleasantly full of food, satiated

Sub-editor = copy reader or rewrite person, in journalism

Subs = dues, as in union dues, etc.

Subway = underground walking passage, underpass, pedestrian tunnel; U.S. subway = G.B. «underground», i.e. underground railway system for public transportation

Superannuation scheme = retirement pension plan

Supply teacher = substitute teacher

Supertax = surtax

Surgery = a doctor's office, office hours, reception time; U.S. «surgery» refers to «surgeon» operating on a patient

Suspenders = garters, for socks or stockings only; U.S. suspenders = G.B. braces, for holding up trousers

Sweet = dessert, or piece of candy

Sweetshop = candy store

To Table (parliamentary procedure, conference terminology) = to put on agenda for immediate handling; U.S. «to table» = to put aside [indefinitely], to delay further handling

Tannoy = public address (p.a). amplification system

Teat = baby bottle nipple; US teat = GB nipple = breast nipple

Terrace house = row house, garden apartment, town house

Are you Through? (telephone) = are you connected; U.S. «are you through»? = are you finished, completed, with your call

To tick = to check, place check mark beside

Tights = hose, panty hoseh, nylons, nylon stockings; U.S. tights = leotards, skin-tight exercise suit, knit stocking pants

Tinkle = telephone call [give me a tinkle sometime]; U.S. «tinkle» = children's talk for «to urinate»

Tip = garbage dump; U.S. tip = hint, advice, clue

Touchline = sideline (in sports, such as on soccer pitch, etc).

Tower block = high-rise apartment building

Trade union = labor union (but usually organized by «trades» in England, by «industry» in the U.S. - US «Auto Workers' Union» would be represented by different «trades» in GB)

Tram = streetcar, trolley car

Transport cafe = truck stop (roadside cafeteria, restaurant, popular with truck [lorry] drivers

Traveller = travelling salesman

Treacle = molasses

Trousers = pants; U.S. pants = G.B. underwear shorts

Trunk call = long-distance call (on a telephone)

Turn it up (colloquial) = stop it, cut it out! U.S. «turn it up» = increase the volume

Undercarrige = landing gear (aircraft)

Underdone = rare (extent to which you wish your meat cooked)

Underground= subway (cf «subway»)

Vest = undershirt; U.S. Vest = G.B. waistcoat

Windscreen (automotive) = windshield

Wing (automotive) = fender, bumper (pre-70s designs).

White spirit = turpentine, paint thinner; U.S. «white lightning» (spirits) = potent home-distilled backwoods alcohol!

Wholemeal = whole-wheat (bread, flour, etc).

Yankee/Yank = any American in general, U.S. Yankee = Northeast erner ONLY, i.e. specific regional, historical definition

Zebra crossing = crosswalk, pedestrian crossing (Ped Xing)

«Zed» = «Zee» (pronunciation of last letter in alphabet)

in British and American vocabulary. That concerns not only lexemes but also the phonetic level of the language.

So, in the process of investigating this category of words one should pay attention to the meaning of words and word-combinations in order to avoid some mistakes which have negative impact on the communication process.

CONCLUSION