In a message dated 4/19/07 8:14:09 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Don't make the mistake that a friend of mine made in London, asking where she could buy a fanny pack. British-Yankee Vocabulary * advert = advertisement * afters = dessert * anticlockwise = counterclockwise * aubergine = eggplant * banger = sausage * bangers and mash = sausage and mashed potatoes * bank holiday = legal holiday * bap = hamburger-type bun * bed-sit = studio apartment * bespoke = custom-made * billion = a thousand of our billions (a million million) * biro = ballpoint pen * biscuit = cookie * black pudding = sausage made from dried blood * bloody = damn * blow off = fart * bobby = policeman (also called "copper" or "the bill") * Bob's your uncle = there you go (with a shrug), naturally * boffin = nerd * bolshy = argumentative * bomb = success * bonnet = car hood * boot = car trunk * braces = suspenders * bridge roll = hot dog bun * bridleway = path for walkers, bikers, and horse riders * brilliant = cool * brolly = umbrella * bubble and squeak = cold meat fried with cabbage and potatoes * bum = bottom or "backside" * candy floss = cotton candy * caravan = trailer * car boot sale = temporary flea market (a good place to buy back your stolen goods) * car park = parking lot * casualty = emergency room (can also be called "A&E") * cat's eyes = road reflectors * ceilidh (KAY-lee) = informal evening of song and folk fun (Scottish and Irish) * chav = common, lower-class person * cheap and cheerful = budget but adequate * cheap and nasty = cheap and bad quality * cheers = good-bye or thanks * chemist = pharmacist * chicory = endive * chips = French fries * chock-a-block = jam-packed * chuffed = pleased * cider = alcoholic apple cider * clearway = road where you can't stop * coach = long-distance bus * concession = discounted admission * cos = romaine lettuce * cotton buds = Q-tips * courgette = zucchini * craic (pronounced "crack") = fun, good conversation (Irish and spreading to England) * crisps = potato chips * cuppa = cup of tea * dear = expensive * dicey = iffy, risky * digestives = round graham cookies, sometimes chocolate-covered * dinner = lunch or dinner * diversion = detour * donkey's years = ages, long time * draughts = checkers * draw, cannabis = marijuana * dual carriageway = divided highway (four lanes) * dummy = baby pacifier * elvers = baby eels * elevenses = mid-morning snack (old-fashioned) * face flannel = washcloth * fag = cigarette * fagged = exhausted * faggot = meatball * fanny = vagina * fell = hill or high plain * first floor = second floor * flutter = a bet * football = soccer * force = waterfall (Lake District) * fortnight = two weeks * fringe = hair bangs * Frogs = French people (not very polite!) * fruit machine = slot machine, often found in pubs * full Monty = whole shebang; everything * gallery = balcony * gammon = ham * gangway = aisle * gaol = jail (same pronunciation) * gateau (or gateaux) = cake * give way = yield * glen = narrow valley (Scotland) * goods wagon = freight truck * grammar school = high school * half eight = 8:30 (not 7:30) * heath = open treeless land * holiday = vacation * homely = likable or cozy * hoover = vacuum * ice lolly = Popsicle * interval = intermission * ironmonger = hardware store * jacket potato = baked potato * jelly = Jell-O * Joe Bloggs = John Doe * jumble sale = rummage sale * jumper = sweater * just a tick = just a second * keep your pecker up = be brave * kipper = smoked herring * knackered = exhausted (Cockney: cream crackered) * knickers = ladies' panties * knocking shop = brothel * knock up = wake up or visit * ladybird = ladybug * lady fingers = flat, spongy cookie; also okra * lay by = rest area off highway * left luggage = baggage check * lemon squash = lemonade * lemonade = lemon-lime soda * let = rent * listed = protected historic building * loo = toilet or bathroom * lorry = truck * mac = mackintosh raincoat * main = entree (on a menu) * mangetout = snow peas * mate = buddy (boy or girl) * mean = stingy * mews = courtyard stables, often used as cottages * mobile (MOH-bile) = cell phone * moggie = cat * naff = dorky * napkin = sanitary pad * nappy = diaper * natter = talk and talk * neep = Scottish for turnip * nought = zero * noughts & crosses = tic-tac-toe * off license = store selling take-away liquor * on offer = on sale * pants = underwear, briefs * pasty (PASS-tee) = savory (usually meat) pie, with a curved crust * pavement = sidewalk * pear-shaped = messed up, gone wrong * petrol = gas * pillar box = mailbox * pissed (rude), paralytic, bevvied, wellied, popped up, trollied, ratted, rat-arsed, pissed as a newt = drunk * pitch = playing field * plaster, Elastoplast = Band-Aid * publican = pub manager * public convenience = toilets * public school = private "prep" school (Eton) * pudding = dessert in general * pull, to = to attract romantic attention * punter = customer * put a sock in it = shut up * queue = line * queue up = line up * quid = pound (money, worth about $1.80) * randy = horny * rasher = slice of bacon * redundant, made = fired * Remembrance Day = Veterans' Day * return ticket = round trip * ring up = call (telephone) * roundabout = traffic circle * rubber = eraser * sausage roll = sausage wrapped in a flaky pastry * Scotch egg = hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat * self-catering = apartment with kitchen * sellotape = Scotch tape * serviette = napkin * shag = intercourse * silencer = car muffler * single ticket = one-way ticket * skip = Dumpster * sleeping policeman = speed bumps * smalls = underwear * snogging = kissing, cuddling * solicitor = lawyer * spanner = wrench * spend a penny = urinate * starkers = buck naked * starters = appetizers * state school = public school * sticking plaster = Band-Aid * sticky tape = Scotch tape * stone = 14 pounds (weight) * stroppy = bad-tempered * subway = underground walkway * sultanas = golden raisins * surgical spirit = rubbing alcohol * suspenders = garters * suss out = figure out * swede = rutabaga * ta = thank you * take the mickey = tease * tatty = worn out or tacky * taxi rank = taxi stand * telly = TV * theatre = live stage, not movies * tick = a check mark * tight as a fish's bum = cheapskate (water-tight) * tights = panty hose * tin = can * tip = public dump * tipper lorry = dump truck * toffee-nosed = stuck up, snobby * top hole = first rate * top up = refill a drink * torch = flashlight * towel, press-on = panty liner * towpath = path along a river * trousers = pants * Tube = London subway * twee = quaint, cute * twitcher = bird watcher * underground, the = subway * vegetable marrow = summer squash * verge = grassy edge of road * verger = church official * way out = exit * wee = urinate * Wellingtons, wellies = rubber boots * whacked = exhausted * whinge (rhymes with hinge) = whine * witter on = gab and gab * yob = hooligan * zebra crossing = crosswalk * Anal wipe= toilet paper ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
