Is there any United States slang I should avoid in the UK or Ireland?
We'll be spending a couple weeks this summer in the UK (Scotland and London), then a week in Ireland. Is there any slang common in the United States that we be best avoided in either country? For example, 'fag' is commonly used in the UK for cigarettes, but it's considered a slur in the US.
Best Answer
US "pants" = UK "trousers".
UK "pants" = US "underpants" or for some people "shorts".
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Answer 2
I heard an "Irish Car Bomb" and "Black and Tan" are types of cocktails/drinks. These are not terms that would be understood in Ireland, nor terms that are particularly nice.
The Irish Car Bomb one is obvious. "Black and Tans" were a group of British merceneries sent over in the Irish War of Independence in 1920s which were not exactly very honourable military people. They are viewed by Irish people the same way African-Americans might view the Klan. Nike and Ben & Jerry's have made this mistake.
Your example of fag is technically correct, but remember that "fag" would also be understood as an offensive slur in the UK & Ireland aswell, mostly depending on context/tone.
Answer 3
I have often heard Americans use the words "poof" and "poofy" to describe what English people would call "puffy". For example: "That pillow is poofy." It should be understood that "poof" and "poofy" in England are slang for homosexual.
Answer 4
Would probably avoid trying to make jokes about "bad teeth" and horrible food as well. Brits in general don't take to kindly to jokes like that. In fact, I'm currently living in the states and some of the clichés the Americans have about us I can't understand where they even came from.
Also, if someone calls you a "yank" they don't mean to be offensive. It's quite common in the UK to refer to the Americans as yanks.
There's not a lot you guys say that offends us in general. Don't make the mistake of calling an Irish, Welsh or Scotsman English or you'll probably be ruined for ignorance.
Answer 5
if you offer someone 'a ride', as in "I'd love to give you a ride" you will be offering something more intimate than a car journey. Use 'do you want a lift' if offering to drive someone to their destination
Answer 6
It applies to gestures too. If you're holding up two fingers to mean two (two pints, for example), be sure to do so palm out. Holding up two fingers palm in, especially if accompanied by an upward motion, is rather rude. (In the south of Europe it indicates a cuckold; in the UK and Ireland it doesn't have that specific meaning, but it's still rude.)
You may hear fanciful stories about how this gesture originated from the Battle of Agencourt. These stories are not true.
Answer 7
- Elevator = lift
- Garage/ parking lot = car park
- Hot chips/ French fries = chips
- Chips/ potato chips = crisps
- Route is pronounced root.
- Side walk = pavement
- Jelly = jam
- Jello = jelly
Answer 8
For those with more time thean sense :
look at the lists of false friends from wikipedia: a-l m-z Some could be offensive, others not so, but also beware of things like rhyming slang found mostly in east London.
Answer 9
"Restroom" may be understood, but "bathroom" means exactly what it says (you know, shower & bath) and "prop room" is unknown. What you mean is either "public conveniences" if you are extremely polite, but "toilet" and "loo" are the well known terms you search.
Answer 10
This may help you. copied from here: http://funnychutkule.com/3446/british-vs-american-english-words-differences/
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