Word with different meaning in different languages

Globally, English is one of the most spoken and popular languages. Many English speakers believe that other cultures will understand the English words they use, without realizing that some of the words in English have different connotations or meanings in different languages. Many of these English words are the same in spelling, for example in German, Dutch, Polish, Spanish, Sweden and many other languages, but they have different meanings.

Other words sound like English words with a slight difference in pronunciation, such as taxi, which in Korean is taek-si (pronounced taek-shi).

False friends

The words may be similar due to them coming from the same language family or due to loan words. In some cases they are ”false friends” meaning the words stand for something else from what you know.

In English “to use the voice,” means to say something “aloud.” In Dutch, aloud means “ancient”
The English word “angel” means a supernatural being often represented with wings. Angel in German translates to ”fishing rod” and ”sting” in Dutch.
You mean something not specific or whatever when you say “any.” But in Catalan, it is equivalent to “year” although others use the word “curs.”
The arm is an upper body extremity but for the Dutch it is the term used when they mean “bad.” But the English term ”bad” is equivalent to ”bath” in Dutch.
Bank could be an institution where people deposit their money, something or someone you trust or the sloping land close to a body of water. For the Dutch, ”bank” means cough.
An outlying building in a farm is called ”barn,” which is the term for ”children” in Dutch. On the other hand the English word ”bat” refers to a flying mammal or a club used to hit a ball. In Polish, the word means, ”whip.”
Beer in English means a ”bear” in Dutch, while they use the term ”big” to refer to a ”baby pig.”
“Car in a motorized vehicle, but for the French, it means ”because.” A chariot for the English speakers is a horse-drawn vehicle or a carriage, but the French use this term to mean something smaller, like a ”trolley.”
You use the term ”chips” when you mean ”French fries” while the French use ”Crisps” when they say chips.
Donkey in Spanish is ”burro” whereas for the Italian, it means ”butter.”
The English word ”gift” means ”poison” in German and Norwegian and ”married” in Swedish.
“Home” is where you live, but it means ”mold” in Finnish and ”man” in Catalan.
“Panna” is cream in English and in Italian, but means ”put” in Finnish. In Polish, they use the term it indicate “a single woman.”
The Spanish term for frog is “rana,” but rana means, ”wound” in Romanian and Bulgarian.
“Sugar” is something sweet and it’s a sweet term used by Romanians for a baby aged 0-12 months. But the speakers of Basque use the term to mean ”flame.”
Tuna is a large fish that is a Japanese favorite when making sashimi. The term means ”cactus” in Spanish or a ”ton” in Czech.
“Fart” is a vulgar English word that means expelling intestinal gas. But it means ”good luck” in Polish and ”speed” in Swedish. In French, though, ”pet” is the translation of ”fart” (yes, the foul-smelling variety).
Cake in Icelandic is ”kaka” but it is an ”older sister” in Bulgarian. “Kind” means ”child” in German but ”sheep” in Icelandic.
You’re likely to say ”prego” when you’re in Italy instead of the usual ”thank you” but it means something very mundane in Portuguese. In Portugal, it is the term they use for ”nail.”
”Privet” is a type of evergreen shrub or small tree that you can use as a border wall. But in Russian, privet, which means ”greetings,” is informally used to say ”hello.”
Watercress is a salad green that is called ”berros” in Spanish. The Portuguese however has a very different meaning to berros. To them, it means scream.
When you hear the Swedes say ”bra,” they mean ”good,” instead of a type of women’s underwear.
“But” is a conjunction in English, whereas the Polish use the term to indicate ”shoe.”
This one is a bit similar. The term ”cap” is the Romanian word for ”head.” We say ”door” when we mean the opening to gain access into a room or the panel that opens and closes an entrance. Door in Dutch is almost similar, as it means ”through.”
”Fast” in German means almost, while ”elf” means the number eleven. ”Grad” is the German term for ”degree” but means a ”city” in Bosnian.
Make sure you remember this. When is Spain, “largo” means ”long” but it means ”wide” in Portuguese.
The meaning of ”pasta” is very different in Polish and Italian. In Italian it is the term for ”noodles,” while in Polish, it means ”toothpaste.” When you’re in Norway, “sau” means sheep while in Germany, it means sow (female pig). “Pig” is ”gris” in Swedish while in Spanish, gris means ”gray.”
“Glass” is something shiny, hard and brittle in English, but it turns to soft, cold, sweet and gooey ”ice cream” when you’re in Sweden.
The Italians use the word ”vela” when they mean, ”sail.” In Spain though it means ”candle.”
The number six in Spanish is ”seis” and for the Finnish, they say this when they mean, ”stop!”
The big, blue ”sky” means ”gravy” in Swedish, while ”roof” means ”robbery” in Dutch.
When a Swedish says, ”kiss,” it means ”pee” instead of caressing with the lips.
“Carp” is a fish beloved in Japan and it is a type of freshwater fish found in Asia and Europe. But in Romanian, the carp is called ”crap.” Hmm…
Trombone is a musical instrument. It is the instrument of choice for some of the famous artists such as Joseph Alessi, J.J. Johnson, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Frank Rosolino. But in French, it is something very ordinary – a paper clip.
“Awesome” in German is “hammer.”
“Barf” means ”snow” in Urdu, Hindi and Farsi.

Be careful with your words

Words can hurt other people if you are not careful. English speakers who love to travel should take time to learn the culture and read about the quirks and characteristics of the main language spoken in their destination. They should know that some words in a foreign language might sound like English but stand for something different in another language.

If you are in Wales, do not feel slighted when you hear a Welsh-speaking native say ”moron” while you’re in the market. The person might be trying to sell you some ”carrots.”

In English, you can say you ”won” something and feel proud or happy. In South Korea, it is their national currency. When a house is said to be ”won” in Polish, it means that it is ”nice smelling.” Russia has a different interpretation, however. In Russian, using the word ”won” means describing something that ”stinks.”

The Spanish term ”oficina” translates into ”office” in English. But for the Portuguese, an ”oficina” is only a ”workshop,” such as a mechanic’s shop.

The term ”schlimm” sounds like ”slim” in English. In the Netherlands, this stands for being smart or successful. But in Germany, which is 467.3 kilometers away from the Netherlands by car via A44, (roughly a five-hour drive), schlimm means ”unsuccessful and dim-witted!

English speakers understand that ”slut” is a derogatory word. But for the Swedish, this means ”finished” or the ”end,” something that you’d say when you want your relationship with your Swedish boyfriend or girlfriend is over. So when you’re in Sweden, you’ll see signs such as ”slutspurt” that means a final sale or ”slutstation” when you’ve reached a train line’s end.

If you’re an urbanite, it is difficult to enjoy fresh air unless you go to the countryside. “Air” in Malay (sounds like a-yah), which is an official language in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei, it means ”water.” When you mean the ”air” you breathe, you use the word ”udara.”

In English and in German, the word ”dick” is derogatory. It means ”fat” or ”thick” in German.

You might think that the Spanish appetizer ”tapas” is universally understood when you’re in South America because you are so used to seeing tapas bars in the U.S., UK, Canada, Mexico and Ireland (or their own version of it). However, in Brazil, where Portuguese is an official language, ”tapas” means ”slap” rather than a delicious snack. If you want to have tapas-like snacks to go with your beer, the right term to use is ”petiscos” or ”tira-gostos.” Now you know the right term to use when you’re in Brazil. If you go to Mexico, you can order ”botanas” and ask for some ”picada” in Argentina or ”cicchetti” if you happen to be in Venice. In South Korea, tapas-like appetizers are called ”anju.”

Sounds like…

In Portuguese, the word ”peidei” that sounds like ”payday” means, ”I farted.”

Salsa is a wonderful, graceful and thrilling dance style, but in South Korea, when you hear the word ”seolsa,” which sounds like ”salsa” it refers to ”diarrhea.”

Speaking of diarrhea, in Japanese, the term they use is ”geri,” which sounds like the name ”Gary.”

”Dai,” an Italian word, is pronounced like the English word ”die.” The literal translation of this is ”from” but it is colloquially used by the Italians to mean, ”Come on!”

The English term ”retard” could either mean delay or move slowly. It could also mean moron or imbecile. In French, ”retardé” translates to delay as well.

There is an English term called a ”smoking jacket” which is a mid-length jacket for men that is often made of quilted satin or velvet. The French however call a ”tuxedo,” which is a semi-formal evening suit, ”smoking.”

“Horny” is an English term that is mostly associated to feelings of being aroused or turned on. Literally, it means something with horn-like projections, many horns or made of horns, such as ”horny coral” or ”horny toad.” But ”horní” in Czech simply means ”upper.”

In Spanish, ”gato” means ”cat” but ”gateux” is ”cake” in French.

Eagle is a soaring bird. In Germany, the word ”igel” that has a similar pronunciation to ”eagle” actually means ”hedgehog.”

Something else

The term ”thongs” is usually associated with sexy swimwear or underwear. When you’re in Australia though, thongs refer to rubber flip-flops.

In Polish, the month of April is ”Kwiecień” while in Czech, the similarly sounding term, ”Květen” is for the month of May.

For English speakers a ”preservative” is a chemical compound that prevents decomposition of something. But be careful when you say the word while in France, as this means ”condom” for the French. It means the same thing in many different languages in Europe as well, such as:

Prezervativ (Albanian)
Preservative (Italian)
Prezervatīvs (Latvian)
Prezervatyvas (Lithuanian)
Prezerwatywa (Polish)
Preservative (Portuguese)
Prezervativ (Romanian)
Prezervativ (Russian)
Prezervatyv (Ukranian)

‘In Spanish, ”si” means yes, but ”no” in Swahili. “No” is ”yes” in Czech (a shortened version of “ano.” “La” is ”no” in Arabic.

”Entrée” is a French term that translates to ”appetizer.” In American English though, term is used to indicate the ”main course.”

“Mama” in Russian and in several other different languages means ”mother.” However, in Georgian, ”mama” is the term for ”father.”

Languages are definitely fascinating and interesting, but there is enough reason to learn a few things about it to avoid a faux pas when you are in another country, because English words could mean differently. Ensure that your English documents are translated accurately in different languages by getting in touch with a translator from Day Translations, Inc. Our translators are not only native speakers; they are also subject matter experts. Give us a call at 1-800-969-6853 or send us an email at contact@daytranslations.com for a quick quote. Our translators are located world-wide and we are open every single day of the year. We can serve you any time, wherever you are located.

Image Copyright: almoond / 123RF Stock Photo

Источник

Here is a list of 30 English words that have a different meaning in a foreign language.

1-5

1. The English word ‘fart’ means speed in Norwegian. Also ‘smell’ means impact. Example

2. The term for clarified butter is ‘ghee’ in English (which is derived from Hindi), which means sh*t in Kurdish.

3. The word ‘kiss’ means pee in Swedish.

4. The English word ‘preservative’ means condom in French (pronounced preservatif).

5. ‘Lol’ actually means ‘fun’ in Dutch. “We hebben lol” translates to “we are having fun.”

6-10

Crap

6. The English word ‘Crap’ means Carp (type of a fish) in Romanian. They sell fish-egg salad there and it looks like this.

7. ‘Lul’ as in ‘lulz’ means penis in Dutch.

8. ‘Sean Bean’ (the actor) means old woman in Irish although in fairness the pronunciation is different.

9. The English derogatory word ‘Slut’ means finish/close/end in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish. Example

10. ‘Brat’ means ‘brother’ in Russian (брат).

11-15

11. The English word ‘gift’ means poison in in German.

12. In Italian ‘dai’ sounds exactly like ‘die’ to English speakers and it means something like “come on!”

13. ‘Trombone’ means paperclip in French.

14. ‘Cut’ sounds like ‘kut’ in Dutch, which means c**t.

15. The word ‘retard’ means late In French. One might say “Désolé, je suis en retard!” when you’re running late for something.

16-20

16. ‘Puxe’ read as push in Portuguese means pull.

17. The word ‘smoking’ in French means tuxedo.

18. ‘Vader’ means father in Dutch.

19. The English word ‘f**k’ sounds like ‘phoque’ in French, which means a seal.

20. ‘Bra’ is Swedish means good.

21-25

Das Ass

21. English word ‘The Ace’ as in deck of cards or someone who is really good at something translates to ‘Das Ass’ in German.

22. The English word ‘fart’ means ‘pet’ in French.

23. Nah (as in no) sounds like “Nai” (Ναι) which means ‘yes’ in Greek.

24. English word ‘pig’ sounds like the Danish (also Dutch) word ‘pik’, which means d*ck.

25. The English word “Bite” means d*ck in French. Fortunately, it really sounds different (“bee-teuh”), so you don’t need to care that much.

26-30

Pussi

26. The Finnish word for ‘bag’ is ‘pussi.’ If you want to buy a paper bag for your groceries, you politely ask for a paperipussi. Sometimes the stores advertise their new, larger bag types. That’s when you buy a megapussi.

27. The English word ‘manure’ is called ‘mist’ in German.

28. Common English named ‘Gary’ means ‘diarrhea’ in Japanese. If you said “I’m Gary” (ゲリです。), it would sound like “I have diarrhea.”

29. English word ‘louder’ in Hindi roughly means penis (Lau-da, to be precise).

30. In Hebrew ‘me’ means who, ‘who’ means he, ‘he’ means she and ‘dog’ means fish.

Источник

Generally (independently of different languages) you could use those terms:

A word with the same phonetic form (i.e. with the same pronounciation) and a different, completely unrelated meaning is called a homophone — such as bank (financial isntitute) and bank (river bank).
If they are spelled the same, they are called homographs — for example bow (weapon) and bow (to bend), which are spelled the same, but are different in meaning and in this example also in pronounciation.
Most of such pairs are both homphones and homographs, i.e. both pronounced and spelled the same — the degree of overlap depends on the writhing system and orthography.
Sometimes, such pairs which have both the same phonetic and the same graphemic form are called homonyms, but often this term used synonymously to «homophones».
Linguists usually prefer to speak of homonyms or homophones, as orthography is not really investing to linguistics in the more narrow sense.

I personally don’t know about a special term for homophones or homographs across different languages as opposed to homonyms within one language, possibly there just is no offical terminological distinction for that.

Colloquially, a word that looks or sounds the same in a different language but has a completely different meaning is called a false friend (this was decided to be the most suitable answer in this related question), but this is not really a scientific term.

Additional information you may find helpful within this field of terminology:

If two words are etymologically unrelated, but have a similar form and meaning, they are called false cognates, but this is only for related meanings.
If two words have the same form and different, but clearly related meanings, they are called polysemes, e.g. parliament (institution) and parliament (building).

Источник

Probably you know that we cannot translate everything to other languages. There are many untranslatable words in each languages. However, do you know that even translatable words may not have exactly the same meaning in other languages?

For example, “water” in English is generally translated as “水(mizu)” in Japanese, but “water” and “mizu” don’t have exactly the same meaning.

Depends on the language, range of the word meaning or classification of the word are different.

Let’s see 4 examples!

1. Water

“water” in English and in French is defined as a liquid without color, smell or taste. There is no definition by the temperature.

There are cold water, warm water, hot water, and boiled water, but as long as they are liquid, all of them are regarded as water in different temperatures.

However, Japanese word, 水(mizu) which is generally translated as water, always need to be cold or room temperature. When water is hot, they use totally different word, お湯(oyu) which means hot water. 熱い(atsui) means hot in Japanese, but they never say 熱い水(atsui mizu).

If you don’t know the temperature of the water, you cannot translated it to Japanese correctly.

2. Butterfly and Moth

Butterfly and moth are regarded as two different type of insects in English and Japanese. However, they are not distinguished in French.

There is a word, papillon de nuit, means night butterfly in French, but this word is used only when they emphasise it.

Normally French people think that the moth is one type of butterfly.

3. Chair and Armchair

There are words both chair and armchair in English. But armchair is regarded as one type of chair which has arms.

Similarly, Japanese word, ひじかけいす/肘掛け椅子(hijikake isu), is made by two elements, “put the elbow + chair”.

Meanwhile, armchair in French is “fauteuil” which is totally different word from chair, “chaise”. it happens not only in French, but also in many languages.

4. Shoes and Boots

Boot in English is a type of covering for the foot which also covers the ankle and sometimes also part of legs. It’s distinguished from shoe.

However, boot in Japanese is translated as 長靴(nagagutsu), which means “long shoe” and boot is regarded as one type of shoe in Japanese.

Moreover, footwear in English includes socks but, はきもの/履物(hakimono) , means footwear in general, doesn’t include socks.

Normally, we don’t notice this fact even if you speak foreign language fluently. Native speaker also don’t care how they classify the words.

We tend to think that we understand meaning of foreign language in the context, but keep in mind that sometimes difference of the word perception can cause misunderstanding!

Read: The Sun is Drawn in Red in Japan – Apples are Drawn in Green in France

Let’s learn a new language today! Join us at LingoCards!

reference: 鈴木孝夫「日本語と外国語」

Источник

In many Latin languages, one can find a great number of false cognates. They are basically words that look similar but have a different meaning in the two given languages, although they might have a common historical linguistic origin. This could give the language student a hard time, but with practice and experience, they become quite familiar with such words and learn their different meanings.

There are also words that are called semi-false cognates. These words look similar and but have the same meaning sometimes only. In such cases, they have the same meaning plus other meanings in the second given language, depending on the context and connotation.

It is noteworthy that false cognates are not the same as false friends (or what we call in French “faux amis”). The latter are words or phrases in two languages (or letters in two alphabets) that look similar but have different meanings.

The list below is for a few English/French false cognates.

Actuel (F) Vs. Actual (E):

In French, the word “actuel” refers to something “at present” or “in the present time”. The English word “actual” means “real”.

Addition (F) Vs. Addition (E):

“L’addition” in French means the sum or the bill at a restaurant, while its English false cognate “addition” means just that: addition (in math for example).

Office (F) Vs. Office (E):

“Office” in French does not mean office. It actually means a task, a duty or a charge. The equivalent of office in French is bureau. In the US, the word “bureau” refers to a government department, which is completely different from the French meaning of the word!

Répliquer (F) Vs. (Replicate)

The French word “répliquer” means to reply, to answer. It is completely different from the English word “replicate”, which in French means reproduire (to reproduce) or replier (to fold back).

Report (F) Vs. Report (E):

Report in French means the postponement. The French equivalent of the English word “report” is rapport.

Assister (F) Vs. Assist (E):

“Assister à” means to attend (i.e. a meeting, a conference, etc.), while “to assist” means to help.

Attendre (F) Vs. Attend (E):

The English meaning of “attendre” is not to attend. In fact, “attendre” means to wait.

Avertissement (F) Vs. Advertisement (E):

The French word “avertissement” means a warning. The equivalent of “advertisement” in French is actually publicité. Therefore, “avertir” is not to advertise; it is to warn.

Blesser (F) Vs. Bless (E):

To bless is “bénir” in French. As for “blesser”, it means to wound.

Chair (F) Vs. Chair (E):

The French “chair” means flesh in English. The English “chair” means chaise in French.

Coin (F) Vs. Coin (E):

“Un coin” is a corner. “A coin” is “une pièce de monnaie”.

Agenda (F) Vs. Agenda (E):

The French word “agenda” means a diary. Its English false cognate translates into ordre du jour.

Rester (F) Vs. Rest (E):

Rester in French is to stay in English. To rest means se reposer in French.

The list goes on and on and I’ll probably write a second part about this subject. Please feel free to send your contributions in this regard on info@transpremium.com and I’ll be glad to publish them as a guest post!

Источник

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is the List of words having different meanings in British and American English: A–L. For the second portion of the list, see List of words having different meanings in British and American English: M–Z.

Asterisked (*) meanings, though found chiefly in the specified region, also have some currency in the other region; other definitions may be recognised by the other as Briticisms or Americanisms respectively. Additional usage notes are provided where useful.

A[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
AA	The Automobile Association (US: AAA)	Alcoholics Anonymous	American Airlines
A&E	the accident and emergency (casualty) department of a hospital (US: emergency room, ER)^[1]		Arts & Entertainment (name of a television network)^[1]
accumulator	rechargeable battery^[2] (technical) a type of bet^[3] (US: parlay)	one that accumulates, as a type of computer processor register or a hydraulic accumulator^[2]
ace	good, excellent (informal)	a one in a suit of playing cards someone who is very good at something (tennis) a winning serve in which the receiver does not touch the ball fighter pilot who has shot down at least 5 enemy aircraft an asexual person (slang)	(v.) to perform outstandingly *; esp., to achieve an A (on a school exam) (n.) the best starting pitcher in a rotation on a baseball team
advert	(n.) a contraction of advertisement^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] (US: ad)	(v.) to turn the attention to or refer to something^[9]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[8]
advocate (n.)	Scottish, also Isle of Man, Channel Islands or South African, lawyer who appears in higher courts (rest of UK: barrister)	someone who supports or speaks for a particular position generic term for a lawyer (v.) to recommend or support
air marshal	a senior air force officer (equivalent to a USAF Lt. General)*	an undercover law enforcement officer on board a commercial aircraft, also known as a sky marshal
à la mode		fashionable	with ice cream (ex. Apple pie à la mode)
allotment	a parcel of land in a community garden	the amount of something allocated to a particular person
alternate		(adj.) done or occurring by turns; every second, every other («on alternate weeks») (n.) one that alternates with another	(adj.) constituting an alternative, offering a choice (UK usu. & US also alternative) («use alternate routes») «alternative», unconventional («alternate lifestyles») (n.) an alternative *; a substitute
amber	orange-yellow traffic light (US: yellow light)	orange-yellow colour fossilised resin a material used in the construction of some tobacco pipes’ stems (Amber) female given name (sealed in amber) state of being oblivious to changing circumstances
anaesthetist (UK), anesthetist (US)	physician trained to induce anaesthesia (US: anesthesiologist)	someone who induces anesthesia.	a critical care experienced graduate level educated Registered Nurse who is nationally certified to induce anesthesia
anchor		a position in a tug of war team device for mooring ships by providing a firm fix to the seabed (anchorman/anchorwoman) the last member of a relay team to compete	a type of radio or TV presenter («a news anchor»). See news presenter for a description of the different roles of a newscaster, an American news anchor, and a British newsreader. A dowel or fastener, usually made of plastic, that enables a weight-bearing screw to be attached to a wall (UK: wall plug); Rawlplug (trademark)
anorak	a parka (slang) a socially awkward person obsessively interested in something (syn. US: geek, nerd; dweeb; etc.)	hooded, rainproof outerwear that lacks a full-length zipper in the front (UK: cagoule)
apartment	suite of rooms set aside for a particular person (rare), usu. rented housing unit in a larger building implying luxury (In other words, a narrower definition than the US.) (Overlapping with the rare usage in reference to stately homes or historic properties which have been converted into residential units.)		usu. rented housing unit in a larger building, regardless of luxury level (usu. flat in UK)– cf. s.v. condominium
appropriate (v.), appropriation (n.)	to take (money) to oneself, to filch or misappropriate	to take (money) (there is considerable overlap but difference of emphasis)	to dispense (money), to budget
Asian	originating from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka (South Asian)	originating from the continent of Asia	originating from East Asia or continental Southeast Asia
ass		donkey slow-witted or stupid person, often in combination (dumb-ass) unpleasant or unthinking person (less common colloquially) («you ass»)	(often vulgar) buttocks (UK: arse); also, by synecdoche, the person («your ass is dead»); also (vulgar) anus (short for asshole) (vulgar) sex («get some ass») (adv.) a postpositive intensive (i.e., to add emphasis to an adjective) («He drove a big-ass truck») badass: someone of formidable strength or skill, e.g. «such a badass guitar player»^[10] kick-ass: to beat up or beat, e.g. «I am going to kick his ass» or, more positively, something that beat (did better than) everything else, e.g. «The opening band was kick-ass.» (vulgar) someone acting inappropriately or offensively («That guy was an ass!»)
athletics	Sport comprising the events in track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking		Athletic sports in general, (e.g. College athletics)
attorney		an agent or representative authorised to act on someone else’s behalf («attorney-in-fact», «power of attorney») (Attorney General) main legal advisor to the government	(or attorney-at-law) a lawyer (UK: barrister (England, Northern Ireland, Wales)/advocate (Scotland) or solicitor, depending on the actual profession) (District attorney, prosecuting attorney) local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminals (archaic in Br. Eng. for lawyer)
aubergine	the plant Solanum melongena, or its fruit (US: eggplant)	an aubergine-like colour (US also: eggplant)

B[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
backside (n.)		posterior, buttocks	(as two words, back side) rear of anything^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]
banger (n.)	a sausage, as in «bangers and mash» an old motor car in a state of disrepair (US: beater or jalopy)	a type of firework	a particularly club-friendly beat or song a gang member (gang-banger) a party- usually a youth party
bang(s)		small explosions or reports; (v.) have sexual intercourse with (vulgar slang)	locks of hair on forehead (UK: fringe)
banker	a railway locomotive that temporarily assists the train hauled by another up a gradient (US: helper)	one who works in a bank
base		foundation, starting point; many meanings in sciences, architecture, politics, military installation, etc.; see base	in baseball, one of the three places a runner can stand in safety; hence in many fig. senses, off one’s base (crazy), to get to first base (esp. in neg. constr., to get a first important result); more recently (slang), a metaphor for one of three different stages in making out (q.v.) – see baseball metaphors for sex; more s.v. home run
bash	Have a go – to try to achieve something, as in «have a bash at this crossword»	to strike physically to attack verbally a party or celebration «they’re having a little bash this weekend» (orig. US, but now probably more common in UK than US)
bath	(pl.) swimming pool (v.) to bathe, or give a bath to, example have a bath (US: take a bath meaning bathe)	(n.) plumbing fixture for bathing (US: bathtub*) (n.) the act of bathing	(n.) a bathroom (esp. a half bath which has a sink and toilet but no shower stall or bathtub, or a 3/4 bath which has a sink, toilet, and shower stall, but no bathtub)
bathroom	room containing a bath (US: bathtub) or shower, other washing facilities, and usu. (but not necessarily) a toilet		room, in a home or hotel room, containing a toilet, related washing facilities, and often, but not necessarily, a shower or bathtub (Hence «Going to the bathroom» is a euphemism for relieving oneself, regardless of place, such as «I went to the bathroom in my pants»*)
beaker	drinking vessel without a handle, or one (with or without handles) made of unbreakable plastic for the use of children (US: sippy cup)	flat-bottomed vessel, with a lip, used as a laboratory container.
beater		person who flushes game from concealment so it can be shot at by ‘the guns’ something or someone that beats	used car or bicycle in very poor condition (UK: banger) (slang) wifebeater (q.v.) a sleeveless undershirt (from the stereotype that poor men who wear them beat their wives, perhaps from Jackie Gleason in «The Honeymooners» TV series (50s/60s US) or more likely from the costume of the character Stanley Kowalski in the play «A Streetcar Named Desire») (UK: vest)
beaver	beard; a bearded man (archaic slang)	aquatic rodent known for building dams woman’s undepilated external genitalia (obscene slang)	vagina (slang)
bender	derogatory expression for a gay man, referring to the act of bending over to permit buggery.	an expression for a binge drinking spree.
bespoke	(esp. of apparel) made to the customer’s specification (US: custom-made, tailor-made)	pret. of bespeak
bill	The Bill=the police (slang, poss. from Old Bill)	invoice; request for payment (also US: check, tab) a proposed law before it is voted on by a legislature	a piece of paper money (UK: note/banknote)
billion	(very obsolete) a million millions (10¹²) (UK and US: trillion)	thousand million (10⁹) (now standard in both UK and US) (traditional UK^{[citation needed]}: milliard) (see also Long and short scales)	10⁹
bin	(v.) to throw away. (bread bin) container for storing bread (US: breadbox)	(1) a waste container (2) a usu. large receptacle or container for storage («a grain bin»; «Scrooge McDuck’s money bin»)
bird (np.)	one’s girlfriend or any young female (slang; getting rarer^[15] and considered derogatory by some) prison sentence (slang)	a feathered animal of the class Aves an aircraft (aviation slang)	insulting hand gesture involving shaking one’s fist towards someone with knuckles pointing towards the person being insulted and the middle finger extended (used chiefly in «flipping someone the bird») (slang)
biscuit (n.)	baked sweet or savoury cake-like item, usu. flat, which is hard when baked and softens over time (colloquially bikkies for sweet biscuits) (US: cookie (sweet biscuit), cracker savoury biscuit) (to take the biscuit) to be very surprising (US: take the cake)	a piece of wood used in joinery to join two larger pieces together	type of quick bread served with savory foods (UK: similar to a savoury scone, or similar in consistency to a croissant)
blinder (n.)	excellent performance in a game or race (slang) «e.g. he played a blinder»		either of two flaps on a horse’s bridle to keep it from seeing objects at its sides (UK: blinker, also used in US) (wear blinders) (colloq.) state of being oblivious, unresponsive to changing circumstances. Myopic, tunnel vision.
blinkers	leather flaps on a bridle used to restrict a horse’s lateral vision(US usu.: blinders*)		lights on a car that indicate the direction about to be taken (UK: indicators*)
block (n.)	a building (block of flats, office block)	a solid piece of something to obstruct (basketball) a blocked shot, or (plural) in the low post position near the basket, as in «on the blocks»	in a city, the portion of a street between adjacent intersections or an informal rough unit of distance derived from the length of the same. The usage to mean a single large building was common in the Western US until the early 20th century.
bloody	expletive attributive used to express anger («bloody car») or shock («bloody hell»), or for emphasis («not bloody likely») (slang, today only mildly vulgar) (similar US: damn* («damn car»))	having, covered with or accompanied by blood	considered a euphemism for more emphatic swear words
blow off	to break wind	to perform oral sex upon	to fail to turn up to meet somebody, to disavow or fail to meet an obligation (UK: blow out) («I’m just too busy, I’ll have to blow you off for this evening.»)
bog (n.)	toilet (slightly vulgar slang) (bog off) go away (slightly vulgar slang, often jocular)	wetland that accumulates appreciable peat deposits	A plot of artificially floodable farmland used to grow cranberries (a cranberry bog)
bogey	dried nasal mucus usu. after extraction from the nose (US: booger) (informal)	the score of one over par in golf	an unidentified aircraft, often assumed to be that of an enemy alternate spelling of «Bogie» (nickname of Humphrey Bogart)
boiler (n.)	an old fowl best cooked by boiling; (derogatory) an ugly woman (usually in the phrase «old boiler»)	device (usu. oil or gas-fired) for heating water for central heating or hot water , «central heating boiler» (US furnace*); vessel in which steam is generated	A car (1930s slang)
bomb	a striking success; used in the phrases «go (like) a bomb» and «go down a bomb»; Go like a bomb also means, when used of a vehicle, to go very fast	an explosive weapon	(v.) to be a failure («the show bombed»); also as n. (n., used with the) something outstanding («that show was the bomb»); sometimes spelled da bomb
bombardier	corporal in the Royal Artillery – see Bombardier (rank)		crew member of a bomber responsible for assisting the navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and releasing the aircraft’s bomb load – see Bombardier (air force) (UK: bomb aimer)
bonk	act of sexual intercourse, or to have sexual intercourse (slightly vulgar slang) (US: boink)	blow to the head (n. and v.) to suffer glycogen depletion in an endurance sporting event; see hitting the wall
bonnet	hinged cover over the engine in a car (US: hood)	hat tied under chin worn by a baby or (archaically) a woman
boob (n.)	a mistake (slang); (v.) to make a mistake (US: blooper)	woman’s breast (slightly vulgar slang)	stupid person
boob tube	woman’s shoulderless, strapless top (US: tube top)		(the boob tube) television (slang)
boost		to (figuratively) lift up; to improve, increase, revitalize.	to (literally) lift up, especially a person: booster cushion, a cushion used to increase the height of a seat (esp. in a car) to steal, especially from a retail establishment (i.e., shoplift*)
boot	storage compartment of a car (US: trunk)	footwear covering lower leg to kick something hard to start up a computer	(Denver boot, car boot) device used to render cars immobile (UK: wheel clamp) to expel (UK: give someone the boot *)(«I have been given the Order of the Boot», Winston Churchill) to vomit (slang) to shoot up (with intravenous drugs) (ex: to boot cocaine or heroin; slang)
booty		treasure or the proceeds of looting	(African American Vernacular English, but widely appropriated elsewhere), esp. female buttocks as in «Shake that booty» (booty call) invitation to a sexual encounter (slang)^[16]^[17]
boss		the person you report to at work	cool, totally awesome (slang) e.g. «That is a boss Zefron poster»
bottle	courage («he’s got some bottle») (slang) (US: moxie) to fail to do something through fear («he’s bottled out», «he bottled it») (slang) to attack somebody with a broken bottle (slang)	container for liquids (the bottle) alcohol, heavy drinking (synecdochical slang)
box	a gift in a box, hence Boxing Day genital protector used in cricket (US similar: protective cup) (the box) television set (slang) (US: idiot box, boob tube) a box stall in a barn any of various box-like structures, such as: signal box (US: switch/signal/interlocking tower) telephone box (US & UK also: telephone booth), more at call box witness box (US: witness stand) either one of the two marked areas adjacent to the goalmouth on an association football pitch (see here) see also box junction	(n.) rigid container (v.) to attack using one’s fists (n.) general-purpose computer (e. g. «this box needs its hard disk re-formatted»)	any of various areas on a baseball diamond (as for the batter, or the pitcher, the catcher, etc.) female genitalia (obscene slang) * (box canyon) a canyon with vertical walls (boxcar) a type of enclosed railroad freight car (UK: goods van) a three-ball «frame» for one player in candlepin bowling (New England) the genital area (ex: kicked in the box; vulgar slang)
brace bracers braces	over-the-shoulder straps to support trousers (US usu. suspenders*, q.v.)	support that steadies or strengthens something else devices for straightening teeth a pair or couple of something, typically game birds or animals^[18]^[19]	leg supports (UK: callipers) tertiary enclosing punctuation: { } (UK: curly brackets)
brackets	enclosing punctuation: ( ) (US & UK also: parentheses); more at braces	supports for shelves, etc. attached to a wall enclosing punctuation: square brackets [] (US: brackets/crochets), curly brackets {} (US: braces)	secondary enclosing punctuation: [] (UK: square brackets)
brew (n.)		tea	beer coffee
brilliant	excellent, of the highest quality (rarely sarcastic)	very bright (of a light or a brain) very intelligent
bud		undeveloped shoot which normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of a plant stem	marijuana (slang) hand-rolled marijuana cigarette (slang), compare joint shortening of ‘buddy’, used to address strangers assuming a non-existent familiarity (UK: similar: mate)
buffet	railway carriage containing a refreshment counter selling snacks and drinks, esp. on a train on which a full restaurant car (US: dining car) service is not provided	refreshment counter or bar; a meal set out on a table, etc. for diners to serve themselves	a type of sideboard
bug		insect of the order Hemiptera pathogen, bacteria, germ covert listening device (orig. US) defect in software (orig. in a machine) (orig. US) an enthusiast of something (orig. US) Volkswagen Beetle (v.) to apply a covert listening device (orig. US) (v.) to annoy (colloquial)	any of various insects (nontechnical usage) an important person («a big bug»); also, someone crazy (as in «firebug», a pyromaniac) to go away, depart, also from a responsibility (used with out) (bug off) to go away (often as a command) (from UK bugger, q.v.)
bugger	(buggered) 1. broken, not working (typically of mechanical devices, e.g. «the engine’s buggered») (slang); 2. syn. for bothered (e.g. «I didn’t do it. I couldn’t be buggered.») (slang) (bugger up) to make a mess of something (slang) (bugger off) (imperative) go away, leave me alone (slang)	(usually vulgar) to engage in, or someone who engages in, anal sex^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23] a form of address for either a person or item, either jocular («he’s a generous bugger», «I finally found the little bugger!») or less so («he’s a mean bugger») (slang)	term of endearment, often used for children (slang) a bug (insect)
buggy	2-wheeled horse-drawn lightweight carriage baby transport vehicle also called (UK) pushchair (US: stroller) any of various light cart or cars («a golf buggy»)	(slang) an automobile (orig. US) see baby transport for details see also dune buggy	4-wheeled horse-drawn lightweight carriage baby transport vehicle also called (US) baby carriage (UK: pram) regional (esp. South) for shopping cart (UK: trolley) (marsh/swamp buggy) a type of motor vehicle for marshland (slang) caboose (horse and buggy) something obsolete (as from before the invention of the automobile)
bum	to engage in anal sex (vulgar slang)	to cadge («can I bum a cigarette off you?») (slang) buttocks^[24]^[25] (colloquial) (US: butt)	hobo, homeless person poor quality (slang) to sadden (often used with «out») injured or lame («a bum knee»)^[26]
bumps	a type of rowing race a method of marking someone’s birthday (see Birthday customs and celebrations)	a set of small protuberances
bunk	to be absent without authorization: bunk off, to play truant from school (US: play hooky) do a bunk, to abscond (US: go on the lam)	type of bed, where two small beds are stacked on top of each other (UK bunk (up) with implies sharing a bed, rather than merely a room) nonsense as in «History is bunk» (from bunkum)	group of plain beds used as no-frills lodging (UK: dormitory, q.v.); also used as a verb («I bunked with them in their room»; «The cabin could bunk about 18»)
bureau	a type of writing table	a public office or government agency	a type of chest of drawers
burn (n.)	(Scotland and Northern England) narrow river, stream – more s.v. creek	wound caused by heat, or chemical agents, etc.	(n.) clearing (as in a forest) made by burning vegetation
bus (v.)		to travel by bus	to clear (as tables) in a restaurant; to work as a busboy
butcher	(have a butcher’s) to have a look (rhyming slang: butcher’s hook=look)	to kill and cut up an animal for meat to kill messily, or someone who does so one who cuts and sells meat	to make a big mess of things; botch («butcher it up»; «I butchered the spelling»)
butchery (n.)	slaughterhouse, abattoir	a cruel massacre a butcher’s trade	a botch
butt (n.)		(n.) the (larger) end of anything, a stub; also, a cigarette a sudden blow given by the head of an animal a large wooden cask a person mocked by a joke (v.) to strike bluntly (as with the head) (butt in) to interfere when uncalled for (orig. US)	(colloquial) buttocks (UK usu. bum); hence butthead * (n.) (butt-in) one who butts in (v.) to cut off the end (of a log) (butt out) to stop interfering
buzzard	a bird of prey of the genus Buteo		vulture (slang)

C[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
calipers (n.)	(n.) A metal support for a person’s leg and/or ankle. (US: ankle braces, leg braces)^[27]^[28]	(n.) An instrument for measuring external or internal dimensions, having two hinged legs resembling a pair of compasses and in-turned or out-turned points.^[27]
callbox (n.)	telephone booth (UK also telephone box)		roadside emergency telephone
call for (v.)		to require or advocate	to predict or anticipate («The forecast calls for rain»)
campsite (n.)	area or park for people to camp in (US: campground)		spot for a particular person or group to camp, often within a campground (UK: pitch)
can		(n.) small metal container (v.) to place in such a container (modal v.) to be able to	(v.) to fire someone from a job (UK: sack) (n.) toilet (slang), jail (n.) buttocks^[29]
canteen (n.)	food service location usually at a work place or institution (US: cafeteria)	a box with compartments for storing eating utensils, silverware etc. a military mess kit water bottle, typically used for military or camping purposes.
candy (n.)	(candy floss) heated sugar spun into thin threads and collected into a mass, usually on a stick; something pleasing but having little worth (US: cotton candy for both senses)	(v.) to sugarcoat, or boil with sugar (as fruit) to sweeten edible, sweet-tasting confection containing sugar, or sometimes artificial sweeteners, and often flavored with fruit, chocolate, nuts or artificial flavours; a piece of candy (UK: sweets, confectionery)	(eye candy) (derog.) someone who is physically attractive (See also arm candy.)
canfield (n.)	a patience (solitaire) card game (US: Klondike)		a patience (solitaire) card game (UK: Demon)
car (n.)	railway vehicle, only in combination (e.g. «restaurant car», except London Underground «carriage») (archaic) street tramway vehicle	motorcar (n.) (UK, q.v.)/automobile	nonpowered unit in a railroad or railway train («railroad car»; «a passenger/freight/parlor/dining/baggage etc. car») (see s.v. motor car, trolley; UK: cf. s.v. carriage, coach, wagon) elevator (q.v.) cage
caravan	towed recreational vehicle containing accommodation (US: travel trailer) to take such a vehicle on holiday	overland trading convoy	a type of minivan sold in the United States (see Dodge Caravan)
caretaker (n.)	one who takes care of a building, e.g. a school (US: janitor; cf. s.v. custodian) one put in charge of a farm after eviction of tenant	one who takes care of someone or something stopgap government or provisional government	one who takes care of real estate in exchange for rent-free living accommodations *
carnival	(n.) a street festival typically involving music, dancing and processions	(adj.) suggesting a festive atmosphere	(n.) a travelling circus or fair (UK: funfair) comprising amusement rides
carousel (n.)		a moving luggage/baggage display unit, most often at airports	a rotating fairground ride (UK: merry-go-round, roundabout)
carriage (n.)	railway coach (q.v.) designed for the conveyance of passengers the conveying of goods or the price paid for it («carriage-paid»); «handling»	4-wheeled horse-drawn private passenger vehicle	(baby carriage) baby transport vehicle featuring the infant lying down facing the pusher (UK: perambulator, pram) – more s.v. buggy a shopping cart (primarily in North Atlantic states)
carry on, carryon	(informal) have a love affair^[30]	(colloquial) carrying-on, unruly behaviour (v.) continue (Keep Calm and Carry On)	luggage that can be carried aboard an aircraft, bus, or train (UK: hand luggage or baggage)
cart		usu. 2-wheeled one-horse vehicle (as that used in farming)	a lightweight wheeled vehicle, as for shopping, serving, carrying baggage, etc. (UK: trolley) cartridge (primarily related to video games)
casket (n.)	a small box, as for jewels, particularly an antique		The type of coffin with upholstery and a half-open lid, any coffin
casualty (person)	often, someone who has been wounded; hence casualty department (US: emergency room)	generally, someone who has been injured or killed	often, someone who has been killed; see also casualty insurance
catapult	small Y-shaped handheld projectile weapon often used by children (US: slingshot)	a type of medieval siege engine an aircraft catapult	(v.) rise quickly
chaps [?]	men or boys (but increasingly used for people of either sex; in the singular it still almost exclusively refers to a male, «Guys» has become a more popular phrase in the UK) (US & UK: guys) one’s friends («the chaps») (US & UK: the guys) cheeks – as in Bath Chaps – stewed pigs’ cheeks, a delicacy		leather leggings originally worn by cowboys and designed to protect the legs against thorns (sometimes pronounced shaps), short for «chaparajos», or the similar items worn by motorcyclists as a form of leg protection
check		examine for a particular purpose a pattern of coloured squares a warning given in chess	leave items in the care of someone else (e.g. at a cloakroom; hence checkroom) (also check mark) mark used to denote ‘correct’ or indicate one’s choice (UK: tick, q.v.) request for payment, especially at a restaurant; bill written order for a bank to pay money (UK: cheque)
checker		one who checks (e.g. an inspector)	a store or shop cashier (almost always a grocery store) (checkers) a popular board game (UK: draughts) to mark with alternating colored squares (UK: chequer)
cheers (interjection)	said to express gratitude, or on parting (slang). Also cheerio.	used as a toast or valediction
chemist	pharmacist, pharmacy (US similar: druggist, drugstore)	student or researcher of chemistry
chew	a chewy sweet^[31] (US: taffy)	to break down food with the teeth, masticate (chew on something, chew something over) (colloquial) to consider or discuss ^[31]^[32]	referring to or using chewing tobacco
chip in	to express one’s opinion (as in a conversation); to «chime in»	to contribute (as money) (orig. US)
chips (food)	Long cuts of deep fried potato, usu. thick cut resembling American steak fries	French fries, in (orig. UK) phrase fish and chips	thin slices of fried potato(UK: crisps*)
chippie, chippy	carpenter (slang); fish-and-chip shop (slang) (Ire: chipper)	(adj.; chippy only) aggressively belligerent, especially in sport	loose woman (dated slang); the N. American bird Chipping sparrow
chum		friend (sometimes sarcastic)	(n.) waste products from fish processing (heads, tails, blood etc.) often used for shark fishing (v.) to spread fish entrails etc. in the hope of luring sharks. «We chummed the water all morning, but never spotted any dorsal fins.» Has some cross-over usage metaphorically in non-fishing situations.
cider	an alcoholic drink derived from apples (US: hard cider)		unfiltered, unpasteurized, unfermented apple juice^[33]
Cinderella	a team which underachieves, or is overshadowed by successful neighbouring rivals*	fairy tale character	a lowly sports team or individual which enjoys an unexpectedly good run in a tournament
city	a large town, in particular a town created a city by charter and/or containing a cathedral. (Some cathedral cities, such as St Asaph, St David’s and Wells, are mere villages.) «The City»: the City of London, London’s financial centre, hence financial markets and investment banking more generally (c.f. US Wall Street)	A human settlement with a large population	a usually large or important municipality governed under a charter granted by the state (however some smaller towns in the US are cities); an element of a standard mailing address (UK «postal town»)
clerk		administrative worker	(or salesclerk) store or shop worker (UK: shop assistant) hotel employee at the reservation desk (US & UK: receptionist)
closet	any small room (esp. Northern England, Scotland, & Ireland); hence water closet, a room containing a flush toilet, later the toilet itself	a private chamber for retirement in secret; (come out of the closet) to reveal what was secret (especially in relation to homosexuality) (closet queen) (colloq., disparaging) someone who keeps their homosexuality secret^[34]^[35]^[36]	a cabinet or wardrobe, as for utensils or apparel; in the latter case oftenest built-in; hence e.g. walk-in closet, linen closet, and skeleton in the closet (UK also: in the cupboard)
coach	bus with a higher standard of comfort, usually chartered or used for longer journeys* tutor, usu. private, who prepares pupils for examinations* railway carriage*	enclosed horse-drawn passenger carriage sports trainer	extracurricular sports teacher at a school (UK: PE teacher) lowest class on a passenger aircraft (UK: economy)
cob	(mainly Northern & Central Eng.) a type of bread roll («Chip cob», «ham cob», «pack of six cobs please») (pl.) large globules of sweat («I’m sweating cobs»)	The portion of a corn plant around which the kernels grow. a building material a type of horse a male swan
cock	(n.) form of address to a man to gain attention or greet e.g. «Wotcha cock!»^[37]^[38]^[39]^[40] a popular personage e.g. Cock o’ the North (v.) (cock up) * to make a mess of things; cock-up^[38] (n.) is the act or the resulting state of affairs (n.) a male bird; esp., an adult male chicken (US oftenest rooster)^[41]^[37]^[38]^[39]^[40] (n.) nonsense^[38]^[41]	(n.) penis (vulgar slang) (v.) to set the hammer or firing pin of a loaded firearm ready for firing; likewise, to «cock the shutter» of an old, spring-activated camera (n.) A type of tap, faucet, or valve (e.g., a stopcock).
collect	To win a bet (from the idea of picking up the winnings)	(v.) to gather together, to pick up; (orig. US) to pick up a person or thing (n.) short prayer read during the first part of a church service as practised by certain parts of the Christian faith; mainly Anglican and Roman Catholic.	(adj., adv.) charged to the receiver («to call collect», to reverse the charges) («a collect call») [from collect on delivery]
college	part of the name of some state secondary schools (US approx.: high school) and many independent schools (US approx.: prep school)	constituent part of some larger universities, especially ancient universities educational institution between school and university (e.g. sixth form college (UK), technical college, college of further education (UK), community college (US)) vocational training institution (technical college in the US) professional association which usu. grants some form of professional qualifications, mostly in the medical field (e.g. Royal College of Surgeons, American College of Surgeons)	an independent institution of higher education (as a small university or a division of a university) granting bachelor’s degrees generic term for higher education, but only at the undergraduate level
comforter	a baby’s dummy (q.v.)	one who comforts	quilted bedspread (UK: duvet)
commissioner	professional head of the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police (US: chief of police)		A civilian public official in charge of a municipal governmental department, and particularly of a police department member of any commission
commode		small cabinet portable toilet for use in a room without plumbing	normal toilet, in a bathroom (q.v.)
compensation		the act of compensating damages awarded for a legal wrong (workers’ compensation) payment to injured workers	remuneration received by employees (unemployment compensation) compensation paid to an unemployed person (as a laid-off worker), arising from government resources
concession	reduction in price (discount) for a certain category of person	the action of conceding in politics, the action of a candidate yielding to another an area within one country that is administered by another	a lease or grant of premises or land for a particular use, or the so contracted-out service, as in concession stand, i.e. a counter, stand or area at public entertainment venues where snacks or drinks are sold, often at inflated prices a concession stand
condominium		a political territory (state or border area) in or over which two sovereign powers formally agree to share equally dominium (in the sense of sovereignty) and exercise their rights jointly	(also condo) a type of joint ownership of real property (as an apartment building) in which portions of the property are commonly owned and other portions are individually owned; an apartment in a condominium
constable	technically, a police officer of any rank, but usu. understood to mean a police officer of the lowest rank (one who holds no other more specific rank) (US: officer or patrolman)		peace officer in a township without an organised police department official who serves summonses (UK: bailiff or sheriff’s officer)
construction		the act or process of building or constructing; a structure; the construction industry from construe: the assigning of meaning to ambiguous terms	road construction and maintenance work; roadwork («a construction area/zone») (UK: roadworks)
cooker	an appliance for cooking food (US: cookstove, stove, range) a cooking apple, a large sour apple used in cooking	a pot or utensil for cooking in («pressure cooker», «rice cooker», «slow cooker»)	a person who cooks (UK: cook)
cookie	a bun (Scotland) a biscuit of a particular variety, usually containing chocolate chips (often referred to as a «chocolate chip cookie»)	a small packet of information stored on users’ computers by websites	a small, flat baked cake (UK usu. biscuit, q.v.) fellow, guy («a tough cookie»); also, an attractive girl * (that’s the way the cookie crumbles) that’s how things go (to toss one’s cookies) to vomit (cookie-cutter) trite, banal a cook or Culinary Specialist (Army and Navy slang)
cop	to take («cop a look at this», «cop one of these») (slang) to be blamed for, be caught («he’ll cop it!») (slang)	police officer (short for «copper») (slang) (cop a feel) to grope (slang)	(cop a plea) (law, orig. slang) to plead guilty to a lesser offence to not be tried for a graver charge; compare plea bargain (cop a squat) to take a seat (slang)
copper	low value coin, brown or ‘copper’ coloured (currently 1p and 2p coins) large copper vessel used for heating water and washing clothes (archaic)	the metallic element copper police officer (slang, orig. UK)
coriander	the leaves of the coriander plant, used as a herb (US: cilantro or Chinese parsley)	the plant Coriandrum sativum dried seeds of this plant
corn	wheat in England, oats in Scotland and Ireland any of various cereal plants or grains (US usu.: grain), also in combination (e.g. cornfield, a field of any cereal) (see also US)	in both dialects, the principal crop cultivated in a particular region Indian corn, in corn on the cob, corn flakes, popcorn horny swelling on the foot	Zea mays; originally known as Indian corn (q.v.; UK usu.: maize or sweetcorn); hence cornfield, cornstarch (UK: corn flour), cornbread, cornball, cornblade, etc. something corny , hence cornball*
cot	infant bed; hence cot death (US: crib)	camp bed
cotton wool	soft cotton wadding, used for cleaning wounds or make-up (US: Absorbent cotton, cotton ball)^[42]^[43]^[44]^[45]^[46]		raw cotton^[42]^[43]^[44]
coulee		a (solidified) stream of lava	(chiefly Western, orig. Canadian) a deep steep-sided ravine formed by erosion, or a small valley or stream
course	the entire degree programme a student takes at university		an individual subject a student takes at university
court shoe	a women’s dress shoe with a heel (US: pump, q.v.)		a type of athletic shoe used for sports played on an indoor court, such as volleyball or squash (UK similar: plimsoll or regionally pump)
cowboy	an unscrupulous or unqualified tradesman	a legendary archetype found in Wild West genre works (derog.) one who is reckless, uncontrollable.	a cowhand working with livestock (UK: drover)
cracker	small parcel that makes an explosive report when pulled from both ends, traditionally pulled at Christmas attractive woman (slang) anything good («the new product is a cracker») (slang)	thin, hard, unsweetened biscuit (formerly chiefly US, now common everywhere) a person who commits illegal acts by exploiting security flaws in a computer system	an unsophisticated, typically rural white person (also white cracker; derogatory slang, southeastern US)
crèche	day care, day nursery		nativity scene, manger scene, crib (q.v.) *
creek	tidal channel through a coastal marsh (orig. sense)		any inland stream of water smaller than a river (other terms: UK: rill, gill; N. Eng. & Scot.: burn; Eng. & New Eng.: brook; Midland US: run)
crew		body of people manning a vehicle of any kind gang of manual workers (e.g. road crew) group of friends or colleagues («I saw him and his crew at the bar»)	rowing as a sport
crib (n.)	nativity scene, crèche (q.v.) *	a manger or rack, or stall for cattle a plagiarism, as of a student («crib sheet») cribbage	small enclosed bedstead for a child; hence crib death (UK: cot) (informal) one’s house or apartment a bin for storing maize a structure of logs to be anchored with stones; used for docks, dams, etc. (orig. Canada) a small raft of timber
crisp	fried potato slices with salt, sometimes with flavour (US: potato chips)	brittle, crunchy, dry, firm^[47]^[48]
crumpet	an attractive female (slang)	A savoury waffle-like cake made from flour or potato and yeast^{[citation needed]}
cubicle	A compartment in a bathroom with low walls that contains a toilet. (US: stall)	A compartment in a larger area separated from similar adjoining compartments by low walls, such as in an office area.
cuffs		The ends of a garment’s sleeves, furthest from the wearer short for handcuffs	An arrangement at the bottom of trouser-legs, in which the material is folded back upon itself to form a trough externally around the bottom of the leg. (UK: turn-ups)
cunt	offensive (or sometimes indulgent) term often applied to men	vagina (usu. obscene)	offensive, obscene term usu. applied to women
cupboard	a place to store things (US: closet)^[49]	a cabinet or small recess with a door and typically shelves, used for storage^[49]
custodian	an association football goalkeeper	a keeper or guardian of a person or thing	one who cleans and maintains a building; a building superintendent, a janitor

D[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
daddy longlegs, daddy-long-legs	crane fly	daddy long-legs spider	Opiliones
dead	(of a cup, glass, bottle or cigarette) empty, finished with very, extremely («dead good», «dead heavy», «dead rich»)	deceased completely, perfectly («dead straight», «dead on», «dead right») extremely quiet (e.g. business or nightlife) (dismissive usage) boring
dead beat, deadbeat	exhausted (slang) (US: dead tired)		an idler; someone who does not pay their debts, often in construction («deadbeat dad») (slang)
DC	Detective Constable, a police officer who works in or with a branch of CID.	direct current (see also other expansions)	District of Columbia
deck		(n.) the floor or level of a ship or other types of vehicles the roadway of a bridge a recording device (v.) to decorate for a festivity («deck the halls with boughs of holly», «decked out with flags») to hit a person hard enough such that they fall to the floor (orig. US) a pack of cards	a wooden, raised platform adjoining a house, usu. enclosed by a railing a packet of narcotics (slang) (v.) to pile up (logs) on a deck of logs or a skidway (on deck) in baseball, the hitter due up next («Albert is on deck, so they must be careful to not walk this batter.»). A general usage connotes availability, e.g. «Who’s on deck?» (Who is available to do this?). Occasionally used to indicate who is next in line.
deductible		(adj.) able to be deducted or allowable as a deduction, particularly of tax^[50]^[51]	(n.) an insurance excess^[50]^[51]
Dennis the Menace	a character and comic strip developed by Ian Chisholm and Davey Law, debuted in March 1951 (US: Dennis)		a character and comic strip developed by Hank Ketcham, debuted in March 1951
depot	a location (large building or piece of land) where buses, trams or trains are stored when not in use and maintained (pronounced /ˈdɛpoʊ/)	a storehouse or depository; a location for the storage of military or naval supplies (pronounced /ˈdɛpoʊ/ in BrE, /ˈdiːpoʊ/ in AmE) A slow-release drug injection (usu. psychiatric) (pronounced /ˈdɛpoʊ/ in both dialects)	a railroad station or bus terminal or station; also, an air terminal (pronounced /ˈdiːpoʊ/)
derby	rivalry between two sports teams of close proximity or that frequently meet, especially in football	a type of horse race; by extension, any organised race	a bowler hat
DI	Detective inspector (police)		Drill instructor (military)
diary	personal calendar (US: appointment book, appointment calendar, datebook*)	personal journal
digital radio		any radio that receives a digital signal	a radio with a digital display
dim (trans. v.), dimmer (switch)		to reduce the intensity of a domestic, industrial or other light; hence dimmer (switch)	to lower a vehicle headlight’s beam, typically when approaching vehicles travelling in the opposite direction at night (UK: dip); hence dimmer switch (UK: dip switch)
diner		one who dines	railroad dining car (UK: restaurant car) a type of restaurant, traditionally but not necessarily often resembling a dining car
dinky	small and cute^[52]		disappointingly small and worthless^[52]
dip (trans. v.), dip switch	to lower a vehicle headlight’s beam, typically when approaching vehicles travelling in the opposite direction at night (US: dim); hence dip switch (distinguished from DIP switch) (US: dimmer switch) (n.) a pickpocket (slang)	to lower into a liquid; esp., a sheep or dog in chemical solution; to lower and then raise	to use smokeless tobacco
dirt		substance(s) rendering something unclean incriminating evidence («we’ve got the dirt on him now»)	earth, soil ^[53] ^[54] Used in special senses in American English, in combinations such as dirt farmer, dirt floor, dirt roof, dirt road*^[55]
diversion	circuitous route to avoid roadworks (US: detour)	deviation; recreation; tactic used to draw attention away from the action
dock	water between or next to a pier or wharf (US: berth, also used in UK, or slip) section of a courtroom where the accused sits during a trial *	(v.) to reduce an employee’s wages, usu. as discipline	constructed place to moor a boat or engage in water sports (largely interchangeable with pier or wharf, although often with a modifier, such as «ferry dock», «swimming dock», etc.)
docker	dockworker, stevedore (US: longshoreman*)	one who docks (as tails of animals)
dogging	various kinds of public sexual activity	pursuing diligently or persistently, as a dog would	insulting in a persistent fashion, often referring to the dozens
dollar	5 shilling coin or equivalent amount (obsolete; used in slang until the early 1970s, especially in «half-dollar»=half-crown, but some re-stamped Spanish dollar coins were used in the UK in the late 18th/early 19th century)	major unit of currency of the US
dormitory, dorm	(n. or usu. adj.) (part of) a town where commuters live, usually dormitory town (US: bedroom or bedroom community)	(n.) large sleeping-room with many beds,typically in a boarding school («a sleeping dormitory»; usu. abbreviated to dorm*)	building with many small private rooms, as for housing the students of a college (UK: hall(s) of residence, hostel) dormitory car — railway sleeping car
drape		(v.) to hang limply	(n., usu. pl.) curtain
draw (n.)		an act of drawing, or something drawn a game result in which no player/team wins (also tie) to suck smoke from a cigarette etc.	a ditch that draws water off an area of land a shallow valley or gully. (n.)
dresser (furniture)	a type of cupboard or sideboard esp. for kitchen utensils *		a chest of drawers, usu. with a looking glass (mirror) (UK: dressing-table)
drop (of liquid)	several (fluid) ounces («just a drop of tea, please») (meiotic usage)	droplet (less than a milliliter)
duck	a score of zero by a batsman in cricket, supposedly derived from the zero-like shape of a duck’s egg. Hence to «break one’s duck»: to score one’s first run. c.f. US: «get the monkey off one’s back» a term of endearment	(n.) a bird of the family Anatidae (v.) to lower the head or body suddenly, to dodge (v.) to plunge under the surface of water (n.) a heavy cotton fabric	(v.) Leaving very quickly. «He ducked out like five minutes ago»
duff	of poor quality non-functional (up the duff) pregnant (slang, originally Australian)	a type of pudding coal dust	vegetable matter on the forest floor buttocks^[56]^[57]
dummy	rubber teat for babies (US: pacifier), a feint (esp. in association football)	mannequin, especially for automobile crash tests fake, usu. legal idiot (slang) the contract bridge player who faces his hand after the bidding/auction
dungarees		sturdy protective bib trousers (cf. s.v. bib overall)	(slightly dated) jeans (blue denim jeans)
duplex		composed of two parts two direction (electronical signalling)	(or duplex house) an often vertically divided two-family dwelling * (or duplex apartment) an apartment on two levels * (duplex locomotive) a large steam locomotive with two sets of driving wheels

E[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
earth	safety connection of an electrical circuit, or to connect (an electrical device) to this (US: ground)	the planet Earth soil the burrow of some animals
efficiency		the quality of being efficient	(or efficiency apartment) a minimal often furnished apartment, similar to a studio apartment (UK: compare bedsit)
el	(L) letter identifying a learner driver; see L-plate	the letter L	an elevated railway (as that of Chicago or the now-defunct Third Avenue El in New York City)
elevator		flap on the back of an aeroplane used to control pitch moving belt to transport grain, hay bales, etc.	platform or cage moved vertically in a shaft to transport people and goods to various floors in a building (UK: lift) building for grain storage (in full grain elevator) (UK: silo)
elk	moose (Alces alces), the largest species of deer		wapiti (Cervus canadensis), the second largest species of deer
engaged (adj.)	in use – of a toilet/bathroom stall (US: occupied; but the opposite is vacant in both); of a telephone line (US & UK also: busy), hence engaged tone (US: busy signal)	committed; involved in something betrothed
English		of or pertaining to England the English language	(adj.) the foot-pound-second system of units^{[citation needed]} (UK: Imperial) English (n.) spin placed on a ball in cue sports (UK: side)
engineer	a technician or a person who mends and operates machinery	one employed to design, build or repair equipment practitioner of engineering	one who operates an engine, esp. a locomotive (UK: engine driver)
entrée	starter (q.v.) of a meal (traditionally, the course served between the fish and the joint, but now used for any starter)	(usu. «the entrée») right of entry, insider-type access	main course of a meal
estate	any defined area of real property, as in housing estate (US: subdivision), council estate (US: housing project) or trading estate (US: industrial park) car with van-shaped body (US: station wagon)	grounds of a large piece of real property which features a mansion and beautiful landscaping; property left by a deceased person
evergreen		non-deciduous, a non-deciduous plant eternally youthful, new etc.	(n.) branchlets or sprigs of an evergreen tree, usually a conifer such as pine, spruce or fir, often used as a Christmas decoration wrapped around human-made structures
expiration		the exhalation of breath ^[58]^[59]^[60]^[61]	(UK: expiry)^[60]^[62]^[63]^[64]

F[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
faculty		division of a university, dealing with a specific group of disciplines (e.g. faculty of arts)	academic staff of a school, college or university
fag	cigarette (slang) * (in England; obs.) young public schoolboy who acted as a servant for older pupils drudgery, chore («it is such a fag – I come back tired to death» – J. Austen)	male homosexual; vulgar slur (short for faggot)	In American English «fag» always has the pejorative meaning of male homosexual. Use of the Americanism in the media has rendered it contextually understood by Britons.
faggot	kind of meatball (see faggot (food)), old musical instrument similar to the bassoon (often spelled faggott)	male homosexual; vulgar slur (see faggot (slang)), bundle of sticks, usu. for use as firewood (old-fashioned; often spelled fagot)
fall	to become pregnant. (as in ‘I fell pregnant’);	descend or tumble become sick, come down with an illness («he fell ill») (uncommon in US) prove attractive («fall for someone», «fall in love»)	autumn
fancy (v.)	(v.) exhibit a fondness or preference for something; exhibit an interest in or willingness to: date/court someone, commit some act, or accept some item of trade		US colloq. equiv. of «to fancy» is «to like» something or someone (or regarding tastes and preferences, «to love»); «fancy» as a verb is now used in the US almost solely by UK ex-pats, but was once oft-used by Southern gentility (landed gentry)
fancy dress	a costume worn to impersonate a well-known character, animal etc., typically at a fancy dress party (US: costume party)		(colloq.) «formal» wear (usu. tuxedos for men and ball gowns for women.)
fanny	vagina (slang), vulva (vulgar slang) (fanny about or fanny around, vulgar slang) to mess about or procrastinate («Stop fannying about and hit it with the hammer»)		buttocks (colloquial); hence fanny pack (UK: bum bag)
featherbed	bed or mattress stuffed with feathers (usually 2 words)^[65] (v.) to pamper, to spoil	(v.) to require that more workers are hired than are needed, often by agreement with trade unions	quilt, or comforter, stuffed with feathers for use on top of the mattress (but underneath a sheet and the sleeping person) (UK: mattress topper)
fender		a fire screen a cushioning device to protect the side of a boat, ship, or dock a brand of electric guitar, from its manufacturer, the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation^[66]	fender (vehicle): the part of an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle body that frames a wheel well (UK: mudguard or wing) a frame fitted in front of a vehicle (locomotive or automobile) to absorb shock (UK: bumper – see Bumper (automobile))
fifth		ordinal number 5 one of five equal parts into which something is divided	bottle of spirits («a fifth of bourbon»), traditionally 1/5 of a US gallon, now the metric near-equivalent of 750 mL to «plead the Fifth (Amendment)», i.e. refuse to testify against oneself in an incriminating manner
filth	(the filth) the police (derogatory slang)	dirt, disgusting substance obscene material
first degree		the least serious category of burn (see article)	the most serious category of a crime; of murder, carries a lifetime prison- or death-sentence (also informal murder one; see article)
first floor (of a building)	the floor above ground level (US: second floor)		the floor at ground level (often, but not always, the same floor as a building’s lobby) (UK: ground floor)
fit (adj.)	(of a person) attractive, sexy (slang)	(of a person) in good physical condition suitable for some purpose (usu. followed by for or to)
fix (v.)	to make firm, fasten, or attach (the original sense, no longer very common in US) to set or arrange (as a date) («A time has been fixed»)	to repair (orig. US) to sterilise (an animal) to manipulate usually underhandedly («To fix a fight by paying a boxer to take a dive.»)	to adjust or prepare, esp. food or beverage («I’ll fix you a sandwich») (esp. South) to get ready («I’m fixing to retire») to get even with (someone) ^[67] (fix up*) to provide
flapjack	flat oat cake (US: granola bar)		pancake
flannel	a cloth for washing the face or body (US: washcloth)	particular type of fabric/material used for the manufacture of trousers or suits, but more commonly recognised in America as a fabric used in warm winter night clothes and sheets
flat	(n.) self-contained housing unit (US: apartment) (adj., of a battery) discharged, exhausted, dead	(adj.) level and smooth structured at a single level, not hierarchical	(n.) a flat tyre/tire * an apartment that occupies the entire floor of a small building (San Francisco and upstate New York); used also in phrases such as railroad flat
flip-flop		a type of footwear a type of electronic circuit	an about-face or U-turn (UK also: about-turn), as in politics
fluid ounce (fl. oz.)	liquid measure equal to 28.41 millilitres		liquid measure equal to 29.57 milliliters
flyover	elevated road section (i.e. long road bridge, US: overpass)		ceremonial aircraft flight (UK: flypast) an elongated left-turn ramp passing over or under the whole highway interchange Flyover country is a term for (unsophisticated, poor, rural) middle America, as distinct from the ‘coasts’.
football	(usually) association football (US: soccer). Less frequently applies to Rugby football (espec. Rugby union in English private schools).		American football
footpath	a paved strip for pedestrian use, especially along the side of a road (US: sidewalk)	a narrow trail suitable only for foot traffic
forty (40)		the number 40	a 40-acre (160,000 m²) parcel of land, specifically one sixteenth of a section, constituting the smallest unit of agricultural land commonly surveyed («back 40», «front 40»). an undeveloped plot of land (as on a farm, ranch, etc.) of unspecified size. in an urban or youth setting, «a 40-ounce beer».
fourth		next after third (e.g. the fourth person, fourth floor) A musical interval	one of four equal parts into which something is divided (UK & US sometimes also quarter, q.v.). (proper noun, used with the) short for The Fourth of July (America’s Independence Day)
fringe	arrangement of locks of hair on the forehead (US: bangs)	the outer area of something a decorative border e.g. on clothing holding an extreme political position («lunatic fringe»)	(rare vulgar; chiefly 1980s) vulva («He’s gonna get some fringe.») q.v., US: trim
frock	(or smock-frock) outer garment formerly common in rural Europe, see also overall (also short frock) indoor garment for children and young girls * a woman’s dress or gown (dated) *	habit of monks and friars (also frock coat) a style of gentleman’s jacket or coat, cut at knee length, usually worn as an outer garment.
frog	French person (insulting slang)*	an amphibian part of the mechanism of railway points/a railroad switch	(Slang) A US Navy SEAL^{[citation needed]}. Shortened from «Frogman»
full stop	punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence, sometimes used in speech for emphasis («Whom does he support? Arsenal, full stop!») (US: period, q.v.)		the state of automobiles barely moving in heavy traffic (also, a «dead stop») ^[68]
furnace		large hearth or container for heating or melting metal, usually for an industrial process	principal domestic heat source in central heating. (UK: boiler)

G[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
gagging	(especially as in gagging for it) desperate, especially for sex (colloquial)	choking; fighting the urge to vomit («that was so disgusting, I was gagging»)
gallon	4.54609 litres (about 6/5 of US gallon)		3.78541 liters (about 5/6 of UK gallon)
gangbanger	a participant in a «gang bang», a group sex activity		gang member; group rapist
garage (see also pronunciation differences)	fuel filling station, e.g. «a Texaco garage» (also petrol station, US: gas station) a genre of music	place where vehicles are repaired; building attached to or in the grounds of a residence for storing a car	(parking garage) building serving as a public parking facility (UK: multistorey car park or just multistorey)
garbage (n.)		piece of nonsensical prose, sequence of meaningless words	household waste (UK «rubbish»)
garden (n.)	area around a residential structure (US: yard)		area within a yard (land) for growing plants or vegetables (UK: vegetable garden, vegetable patch)
garnish		(n. (v.)) (to add) decorative or savory touches to (food or drink) (v.)to furnish	(v.) to take (as a debtor’s wages) by legal authority
gas		(n.) state of matter (see gas) (n.) natural gas (v.) to attack or kill with poisonous gas (state of matter) (v.) to emit gas (state of matter)	(n.) gasoline, hence gas station (UK: petrol) (n.) gas pedal* (may be applied in the UK in the context of a driving lesson, for brevity; UK: accelerator) (n.) flatulence (n.) air trapped in the stomach or intestines (UK: wind)
geezer	gangster, man (esp. Cockney)		old person (derogatory; UK: old geezer [not derog.])
give way	to give the right of way (to vehicles, pedestrians, etc.);^[69] hence give way sign (US: yield [the right of way] sign)	to retreat; to break down
glass	(v.) to hit someone with a broken bottle or drinking glass ^[70]	(n.) a brittle, hard, transparent substance usually made from sand heated with soda or potash; (n.) drinking vessel made of glass
glaze		general term for thin shiny coatings applied to food, painted surfaces, clayware, etc.; a glossy surface	a slippery coating of ice (also known as sleet, q.v.); a stretch of ice
gob	(n.) mouth; (v., slang) to spit	lump	a large amount («gobs of») (slang—little used since the 1940s) a sailor
go down (fig.)	to leave a university (as Oxford) to come down (with an illness)	to be accepted or remembered (e.g. go down in history) to fail, esp. of a computer go down on, to engage in oral sex	to go on, happen (often a major event, e.g. a drug bust «it’s going down right now!» or «it went down last week». But also used as a greeting, «What’s going down?»)
goods	items to be transported (as by railway) («a goods train») (US & UK also: freight)	useful objects or services; products; merchandising; personal property incriminating evidence («we have the goods on him»)
gooseberry	supernumerary third person preventing a couple from courting (US: third wheel)	a green hairy summer fruit (Ribes hirtellum in the USA), (Ribes grossularia in Europe)
governor	boss (sometimes shortened to guv’nor), colloquial	a local official	the top official in a US state
government	the cabinet or executive branch (US: the administration) the political party supporting the cabinet in parliament	the act or office of governing	the collective agency through which government is exercised (UK: the state) all such individual agencies (UK: the public sector)
Grading in education	a level of music examination («Guitar grade 4»). Usually refers to ABRSM or Trinity College London examinations.	(n. & v.) teacher’s assessment of a student’s work (UK also mark)	level or year of a student in elementary, middle, or high school («in 10th grade») (UK equiv.: year); hence grader, a student in a specified grade («a 10th grader») (grade school, the grades) elementary school see also Grade Point Average
grade (other)		(n.) a rating, degree, or level; (v.) to lay out in grades [US meaning generated grade separation and the idiom make the grade]	(n.) slope, gradient, or elevation; also ground level («at grade», «over grade»); hence grade crossing (UK: level crossing) (v.) to level (as a roadbed), hence grader, construction machine for doing this *
graduate (v.) (education) graduate (adj.) (education)	to finish university with a degree relating to a student at the point of gaining, or who has recently completed, a degree	to move from a lower to higher stage; to effect change in steps; to mark with units of measurement or other divisions.	to finish studying at any educational institution by passing relevant examinations relating to a student taking a higher degree (UK equiv.: «postgraduate»), e.g. graduate school
graft	hard work	to join or connect two separate but similar items (typically in biology, especially medicine and horticulture)	a form of political-economic corruption
grass	an informant (often to the police) (to grass on) to tell on somebody (US: to squeal, narc)	green ground cover marijuana	grazing; to feed (livestock) with grass (UK: at grass, to put out to grass)
grammar school	a type of secondary school, normally a selective state funded school		elementary school (less common today)
grill	to cook directly under a dry heat source (US: broil)	to question intensely (informal). to interrogate.	to cook over a gas or coal fire (UK and US: barbecue) a flat cooking surface a restaurant (freq. as «bar and grill»)
ground floor (of a building)		the floor at ground level (US usu.: first floor)	lower of two floors that are each at a different ground level due to sloping terrain (UK: lower ground floor)
guard	the official in charge of a railway train (US & now UK also: conductor)	to watch over for security one who guards a protective device one of two positions in basketball, usually players who are the best ball-handlers and shooters. Usually smaller than the forwards or center. Most common division is between point guards (playmakers) and shooting guards (more often score-first).	military division used to help the country after a disaster in (American) football, one of two offensive positions on either side of the center or a defensive position across from the center (nose-guard)
guff	extraneous or useless things, ideas, or paperwork/documentation; also to break wind («Have you guffed, Dr Watson?»)		nonsense, insolent talk, back talk
gum	cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive (US usually: glue)	a type of confectionery composed of chicle used for chewing the soft tissue around the teeth, or to chew something with no teeth (also, gum at)
gutted	disappointed and upset (informal)	past tense of gut: eviscerated; plundered; despoiled; made powerless or ineffectual (of a building) stripped of interior structure, leaving only frame and exterior walls (e.g.by fire)
gyro	(see also giro)	gyroscope	a sandwich, the Greek gyro, more familiar to Americans than the similar Turkish döner kebab, which is more common in Britain

H[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
haberdasher	a dealer in small items and accessories, as for sewing; hence haberdashery (US: notions)		a dealer in men’s apparel and accessories; hence haberdashery
half	half pint of beer, cider or lager a single measure of whisky or other distilled spirit (used mostly in Scotland, derived from the Scots word ‘hauf’)	fifty percent/0.5 times.	large bottle of spirits («a half of bourbon»), traditionally 1/2 of a US gallon, now the metric near-equivalent of 1750 mL; also «handle» as such large bottles often have a handle
halfway house	a place where victims of child abuse, orphans or teenage runaways can stay, a shelter	drug rehabilitation or sex offender centre. (Archaic) An inn halfway between two towns, still seen in many pub names.	a place for ex-convicts to live while readjusting to society.
hamper	large basket for food (especially picnic hamper, Christmas hamper)	to impede or hinder	basket for clothes that need washing (UK: Linen basket or laundry basket)
hash	number sign, octothorpe (#) (US: pound sign). Also ‘to make a hash’ of something is to mess it up.	hashish Hash (food), beef and other ingredients mashed together into a coarse paste
herb		culinary or medicinal herb, leaves of plants used to flavour food or treat ailments	any herbaceous plant
highway	(chiefly in official use) public road; see Highway Code	(highway robbery) something too expensive; see also highwayman	main road (as between cities) (divided or dual highway) a road with two roadways and at least four lanes (UK: dual carriageway, motorway) (highway post office) in the past, a bus transporting mail that was sorted en route
hike		a usu. recreational walk	an increase in amount (as in wages) * (to take a hike) to go away (also used as a command)
hire	to rent moveable property (e.g. a car) ; rental (hire purchase) a purchase carried out over time by making regular payments (US: installment plan*)	to employ, recruit *	a person who is recruited
hob	the flat top surface of a cooking stove (US: cooktop) a part of a fireplace an elf	trouble (as in «raising hob» – chiefly US) (UK has less common «playing hob»)
hock	a German wine («down their four-and-twenty throats went four-and-twenty imperial pints of such rare old hock» – Charles Dickens) (US: Rhine wine) Hocktide, an ancient holiday	hock (zoology)	pawn (n. & v.) («I can borrow a dime from the barber, an’ I got enough junk to hock for a blowout» – Jack London); prison (both from Dutch) * debt the end of a smoked ham * to hock-a-loogie, to spit (esp. mucus as opposed to saliva).
hockey	hockey played with a ball on grass (field hockey) *	hockey played on a hard surface (e.g. concrete) or indoors	hockey played on ice with a puck (ice hockey) *
hog	(dialect, also hogg) a yearling sheep	adult pig, esp. domesticated, castrated male reared for slaughter to take more than one’s fair share of something (road hog) motorist who holds up other traffic by driving slowly or out of lane; any bad driver	motorcycle, especially a large one such as a Harley-Davidson (derived from Harley Owners Group, a club for Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners.)
hole-in-the-wall	automated teller machine, cash machine (informal)		a small, out-of-the-way place, as a restaurant, with a negative connotation. However, often used to preface a compliment, e.g. «just a hole-in-the-wall place you’ve never heard of, but they serve the best steak in the city.»
holiday	see Bank holiday (often pl.) time taken off from work, school, etc., including the period between school terms (US: break, vacation) recreational trip away from home (US: vacation)	day when people are generally exempt from work, school, etc.	see Federal holidays in the United States (the Holidays) the days comprising Christmas and New Year’s Day (and Hanukkah), and often also Thanksgiving (used esp. in the phrase «happy Holidays») festival, whether or not generally entailing a public holiday: «Halloween is my favorite holiday»
home	(noun): condition of domesticity, or one’s permanent and regular shelter, but not the physical structure or property.		In AmE widely used also to mean the physical structure and property, and references to them, e.g., «home loans», «homeowners», and «tract homes». This usage is overwhelmingly predominant in commercial language and public discourse, e.g. «the home mortgage crisis».
home run	final part of a distance, final effort needed to finish (US: homestretch)	a success (from baseball)	(also homer) a four-base hit in baseball (slang) sexual intercourse; more s.v. base
homely	(of a house) comfortable, cozy, rustic (US: homey) (of a person) home-loving, domesticated, house-proud		(only used of a person) plain, ugly
hood	the folding fabric top on a convertible car (US: convertible top)	head covering forming part of a garment component of academic regalia	hinged cover over the engine in a car (UK: bonnet) a contraction of neighborhood, especially regarding a poor neighborhood short for hoodlum, a tough, destructive young man, or generically any criminal
hoo-ha	argument		female genitalia
hooker	in rugby football, the player position in the centre front of the scrum		prostitute (informal) *
hooter	steam whistle or siren in a factory or other large workplace sounded as a signal for beginning or ceasing work car horn nose		(hooters) female breasts (vulgar slang)
hull	(Hull) Kingston-upon-Hull, a large city in the north-east of England*	the outer skin of a ship, tank, aeroplane, etc.	the seed-case of various edible plants (maize, nuts, etc.) (v.t.) to remove the seed-case from (a nut, etc.) hulled (adj.) (of a nut, etc.) having the seed-case removed (UK: shelled)
hump	a state of depression (dated) («to be in a hump») a state of annoyance («to get the hump») a traffic calming tool («a speed hump») (US & UK: speed bump*) to move a heavy load by human effort a short distance	a rounded mass sticking out from its surroundings (v., vulgar slang) engage in sexual intercourse, animals breeding or trying to breed see also Glossary of rail terminology	(n. & v.) (to make) a vigorous effort («hump yourself», «to get a hump on») (regional) (n.) a mountain barrier to be crossed (as by air) (hump day) Wednesday

I[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
icebox		cabinet containing ice for food refrigeration	refrigerator
Indian corn		Zea mays (historical or technical; usually, UK maize or sweetcorn, US corn, q.v.)	A particular variety of maize/corn, with multicolored kernels, used for decorations
indicator	direction-indicator light on a vehicle (US: turn signal)	one that indicates
inspector (police)	lowest supervisory rank above sergeant (rough US equivalent: lieutenant)		senior rank in some police departments (rough UK equivalent: superintendent)
inside lane	the part of the road nearest the edge, used especially by slower-moving vehicles (US: outside lane)	(in both cases the term applies to the lane in the direction concerned)	the part of the road nearest the vehicles going in the opposite direction, used especially by faster vehicles (UK: outside lane)
intern	(n.) (rare or obsolete) a person living in an institution; esp. a pupil who is resident at a school, a boarder.^[71] The American graduate usage is becoming more common in the UK, sometimes replacing the term «work placement».^[72]^[73]	(v.) to confine (as during a war, or to a hospital) (adj., archaic) internal	(n.) one (as a graduate or college student) temporarily employed for practical training, e.g. in the science, engineering, or technology fields; esp., in the medical field, a physician (rough UK equivalent: houseman) in their first year of postgraduate training (v.) to work as an intern
international	a contest between national sports teams or representatives; a member of such a team^[74]^[75]	Pertaining to or common to more than one country.	Foreign, not from the US. («International version of software for country xxx«, in British English this is a contradiction in terms.)
interval	break between two performances or sessions, as in theatre (US: intermission)	a gap in space or time; see interval (music), interval (mathematics), interval (time)	(esp. New England, also spelled intervale) low-lying land, as near a river (US also bottomland)
inventory		itemisation of goods or objects (of an estate, in a building, etc.)	the stock of an item on hand in a store or shop the process of producing an inventory in a store or shop (UK: stocktaking)
IRA	Irish Republican Army [not abbreviated in US without context]		Individual Retirement Account

J[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
jab	an injection with a hypodermic needle, as in the case of an inoculation (US: shot)	(informal) to stab, thrust, or penetrate. biting remark, sarcasm. a straight punch used in various martial arts
janitor	an officer in a Masonic Chapter (specialist language)	a person employed to oversee the cleaning and security of a public building, e.g. a school.	a person employed to oversee the cleaning and security of a building (UK: caretaker, especially for private residences; for schools etc. janitor is also used in the UK)
jelly	a fruit flavoured dessert set with gelatin (US: Jell-O (trademark)) a type of condiment, e.g. mint jelly	a clear or translucent preserve made from the liquid of fruits boiled in sugar and set with pectin, specifically without pieces of fruit (e.g. ‘crab apple jelly’)	(occasionally) fruit preserve with fruit pieces (UK: Jam)
Jersey	A British Crown dependency off the coast of France. Also, a kind of buttonless, pullover shirt.	An athlete’s uniform shirt, also called a kit in British English.	A colloquial term for the state of New Jersey
Jesse	(often as Big Jesse, derogatory insult for a man) Non-macho, effeminate, sometimes gay.	A male name (uncommon in the UK). A shortening of the female name Jessica (usually spelled «Jessie»).
jock	a Scotsman (slang) a Scottish private soldier (slang) (UK: squaddie)		slang term for an athlete slang term for the undergarment called an athletic supporter or jockstrap
joint	piece of meat for carving * (slang) hand-rolled cigarette containing cannabis and tobacco	connection between two objects or bones an establishment, especially a disreputable one («a gin joint»; «let’s case the joint») (slang, orig. US)	(slang) hand-rolled cigarette containing only cannabis (slang) prison («in the joint»)
jolly	very (informal) (as in jolly good) an excursion or trip, usually at another’s expense («off on a jolly»)	happy; jovial
jug	any container with a handle and a mouth or spout for liquid (US: pitcher)	(jugs) breasts (slang)	large container with a narrow mouth and handle for liquids (similar to UK pitcher)
jumper	a knitted upper body garment (US: sweater)	jump shot in basketball Non-permanent electrical connection, especially on a PCB	pinafore dress jump suit jumper cable
jumping jack	a form of jumping firework^[76]	a toy figure whose limbs are moved by string or a stick^[76]	a form of exercise (UK star jump)^[76]
just	(When used at the end of a sentence, as in: «I survived, but only just») barely	fair, equitable merely, simply, exactly, barely (when used before word it modifies)

K[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
kebab	commonly a döner kebab (sometimes doner or donner kebab), strips of meat (usu. lamb or chicken) grilled by being heated on a revolving device and served stuffed in a pita bread (In the US, the Greek varieties souvlaki or gyro are better known than the Turkish döner)	(often spelled «kabob» in the US) meat served on a skewer together with onions, tomatoes, etc. (e.g. shish kebab)
keen	very low or competitive (price)	eager or intent on, example: he is keen to get to work on time.	desirable or just right, example: «peachy keen» – «That’s a pretty keen outfit you’re wearing.» (slang going out of common usage)
keeper	a curator or a goalkeeper	one that keeps (as a gamekeeper or a warden)	a type of play in American football («Quarterback keeper») a person well-suited for a successful, usu. romantic, relationship. (Don’t let him go—he’s a keeper) something of significance («that’s a keeper»). Can be used in many contexts. Often used in sports fishing to refer to a fish not released.
kit	clothing, esp. a sports uniform (e.g. football kit)	any of various sets of equipment or tools a set of parts to be assembled, e.g. into a scale model	a group of person or objects («the whole kit and (ca) boodle/billing»)
kitty		affectionate term for a housecat collective source of funds (esp. for a group of people)	piggy bank vagina (vulgar slang) («Singin’ ‘hey diddle diddle’ with your kitty in the middle» – Aerosmith, Walk this Way)
knickers	women’s underwear (US: panties)		knickerbockers
knob	The penis, or specifically the glans (slang, vulgar) («polishing the knob» * )	a rounded door handle fool, idiot, dim-witted person
knock over		to tip over something to cause an object to fall over.	to rob (esp. a store, slang) («He knocked over a gas station.»)
knock up	to practise before tennis to awaken or summon by knocking	to prepare quickly («Knock us up something to eat» — L.M. Alcott) to impregnate, esp. unintentionally* (slang, sometimes vulgar)

L[edit]

Word	British English meanings	Meanings common to British and American English	American English meanings
ladder	a run (vertical split) in the fabric of tights	a vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps.
lavatory	toilet	closet in passenger vehicles (e.g. trains) containing a toilet and washbasin/sink.	washbasin, place for washing
lay by (v.), lay-by (n.)	(n.) roadside parking or rest area for drivers (US: rest stop)	(v.) to lay aside to stow	(n.) a last cultivating in the growing of a crop (v.) to cultivate (a crop) for the last time
lead	(rhyming with «speed») a cable (US: cord), or a dog’s leash	to guide through	(n.) a clue or potential source of information (esp. in context of journalistic investigation) *
leader	newspaper editorial main violin in an orchestra (US: concertmaster) see also Leader of the Opposition	one who leads	a pipe for carrying water («rain water leader»)
lecturer	the entry-level academic rank at a university (below Senior Lecturer, Reader, and Professor)	someone who gives a lecture	the entry-level academic rank at a university (below Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor)
lemonade	clear, carbonated, lemon-flavoured drink similar to Sprite and 7 Up (lemon and lime flavoured)		non-carbonated drink made by mixing lemon juice, sugar, and water (UK: traditional lemonade)
let	to rent out (as real property, and denoting the transaction from the owner’s perspective); Tenants «take» or «rent» the property being let. («rooms to let») (n.) the act of renting; rented premises (let out*) to reveal	allow, give permission. leave (as in let him be or let it be) ease (as in let up on the accelerator) indicate (as in don’t let on) a first bad serve which is allowed to be retaken, as in tennis, table tennis, and volleyball	(let out) to end (of school, meetings, etc.)
levee	an early afternoon assembly held by the King or Queen, to which only men were admitted (Always levée, with accent)	a reception in honour of a particular person	an embankment on a river (as the Mississippi River) the steep bank of a river, or border of an irrigated field (esp. Southern & Western US) a landing place or quay
leverage		mechanical advantage of a lever	take advantage of a capability (business) the use of debt finance (UK: gearing)* knowledge not immediately revealed to be used to one’s advantage *
liberal (politics)	a person who generally supports the ideas of the UK Liberal Democrats, a centre-left party	a person who holds the political ideals of Liberalism.	a person who advocates modern liberalism; see also Liberalism in the United States for historic background
life preserver	a type of weapon for self-defence (US: blackjack)		life vest, personal flotation device (UK: lifebelt or lifejacket)
lift (n.)	platform or cage moved vertically in a shaft to transport people and goods to various floors in a building (US: elevator)	ride as a passenger in a vehicle (as in, to give someone a lift) item placed in shoe to increase the height of the wearer, normally plural (lifts, elevator shoes)	an elevation in mood, «I got a lift just talking with her.»
line	(see also track)	a breadthless length	a group of persons, usually waiting for something, arranged in order of arrival (UK: queue) a lie, short for a line of bull a phrase used for hitting on women, short for pickup line to hit a line drive (a hard straight shot) in baseball
liquor	the broth resulting from the prolonged cooking of meat or vegetables. Green liquor is traditionally served with pie and mash in the East End of London		a distilled beverage * (hard liquor) strongly alcoholic beverage; spirits (liquor store) retail establishment selling liquor (usu. for consumption off the premises) (UK similar: off-licence) («I held up and robbed a hard liquor store» – Paul Simon) (malt liquor) a type of beer with high alcohol content
loaded		the state of a firearm with bullets or shells in its firing chamber. bearing a load. (slang; of a person) rich	drunk or high
lolly	Frozen water-based dessert on a stick (US: popsicle).	(short for lollipop) candy on a stick.
lot		(a lot) a great deal a number of things (or, informal, people) taken collectively fate, fortune a prize in a lottery (the lot) the whole thing	a measured plot of land; a portion of land set for a particular purpose («a building lot»), e.g. for parking («parking lot») or selling («used car lot») automotive vehicles. But also a «vacant lot» a film studio
lounge	a room for relaxation and entertainment in a house (lounge bar) part of a pub	a room for relaxation in a public place	a bar
love (in addressing people)	informal term of address	beloved person, darling (often a term of endearment)
loveseat	a seat which accommodates two people facing in opposite directions. Can be wooden or padded.		a two-seater couch
lox		liquid oxygen (engineering)	thin-sliced smoked salmon, commonly consumed on bagels; Yiddish from German ‘Lachs’, salmon.
lugs (n.)	ears (lugholes)	a small projection (engineering)	a lug nut fastens a wheel to the hub, (UK wheel nut). a «big lug» is usually a term of endearment for a large shy, goofy man.
lumber	(n.) disused items (as furniture); hence lumber room* (v.) to encumber (as with such items) («I was lumbered with work»)	(v.) to move awkwardly or heavily («he lumbered out the door»)	(n.) timber that has been sawed and (partly) prepared for construction or woodworking; hence lumberyard (UK: timberyard), lumber camp, lumberjack, lumberman, lumber wagon, lumber town, etc. (v.) to log and prepare timber to make a rolling sound (dated)
lush (slang; of a person)	attractive (usu. used by women in reference to men – principally West Country)	luxuriant	an alcoholic *especially female

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b «A&E – Definition by AcronymFinder». acronymfinder.com. 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
^ ^a ^b «accumulator – definition of accumulator by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia». thefreedictionary.com. 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
^ Rajeev Shah (2008-07-10). Sports Arbitrage – How to Place Riskless Bets & Create Tax-Free Investments. ISBN 9781409204787. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
^ ^a ^b «Advert definition and meaning — Collins English Dictionary». www.collinsdictionary.com.
^ ^a ^b «advert — Definition of advert in English by Oxford Dictionaries». Oxford Dictionaries — English. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016.
^ ^a ^b «Definition of ADVERT». www.merriam-webster.com.
^ «advert (noun) definition and synonyms — Macmillan Dictionary». www.macmillandictionary.com.
^ ^a ^b «advert — meaning of advert in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English — LDOCE». www.ldoceonline.com.
^ «Chambers – Search Chambers».
^ Merriam-Webster Dictionary
^ Heard, Linda S. «Romney’s no rock star». Al Arabiya News. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
^ Jukes, Peter (2012-07-27). «Mitt Romney’s London Gaffes Unite Divided Britons—Against Him». The Daily Beast. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
^ Piazza, Jo. «The ABCs of Mitt’s terrible, no good, very bad trip abroad». Current. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
^ Gabatt, Adam (2012-07-26). «Oh, Mitt: those Romney gaffes in full». Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
^ George Harrison in «A Hard Day’s Night», 1964: «Oh!You mean that posh bird who gets everything wrong?» http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/A_Hard_Day’s_Night_(film)
^ «booty call: definition of booty call in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)». Oxforddictionaries.com. 2014-06-25. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ «Booty call — Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary». Merriam-webster.com. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ «brace: definition of brace in Oxford dictionary (American English)». Oxforddictionaries.com. 2013-09-26. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ «Brace — Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary». Merriam-webster.com. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ «Search Chambers — Free English Dictionary». Chambers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2014-06-23. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ «Always Free Online». Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ «bugger: definition of bugger in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)». Oxforddictionaries.com. 2014-06-25. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ «Bugger — Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary». Merriam-webster.com. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ «Definition of BUM». www.merriam-webster.com.
^ Ltl.Oxf.Dict.2002 ISBN 0198604521
^ «Bum definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary».
^ ^a ^b «caliper — Definition of caliper in English by Oxford Dictionaries». Oxford Dictionaries — English. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018.
^ Fleming, Amy (12 December 2017). «Samantha Fox on fame at 16, stalkers and David Cassidy: ‘I kneed him and told him where to go’«. The Guardian.
^ «Can | Definition of Can by Merriam-Webster». Merriam-webster.com. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
^ Stevenson, Angus; Elliott, Julia; Jones, Richard (2002). Little Oxford Dictionary. ISBN 978-0198604525.
^ ^a ^b «chew: definition of chew in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)». Oxforddictionaries.com. 2014-06-25. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ «www.chambersharrap.co.uk». www.chambersharrap.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ «Cider Juice Difference». Mass.gov. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ «Closet queen | Define Closet queen at Dictionary.com». Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^ «Closet queen — Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary». Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^ «Search Chambers — Free English Dictionary». Chambers.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^ ^a ^b «cock». Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d «cock». Oxford English Dictionary. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b «cock». Longman Dictionary. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b «cock — definition and synonyms». Macmillan Dictionary. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b «Definition of ‘cock’«. Collins Dictionary. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b «Cotton wool definition and meaning — Collins English Dictionary». www.collinsdictionary.com.
^ ^a ^b «cotton wool — Definition of cotton wool in English by Oxford Dictionaries». Oxford Dictionaries — English. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017.
^ ^a ^b «Definition of COTTON WOOL». www.merriam-webster.com.
^ «cotton wool (noun) definition and synonyms — Macmillan Dictionary». www.macmillandictionary.com.
^ «cotton wool — meaning of cotton wool in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English — LDOCE». www.ldoceonline.com.
^ «crisp: definition of crisp in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)». Oxforddictionaries.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^ «Crisp — Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary». Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
^ ^a ^b «Cupboard definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary».
^ ^a ^b «deductible — Definition of deductible in English by Oxford Dictionaries». Oxford Dictionaries — English. Archived from the original on September 26, 2016.
^ ^a ^b «Definition of DEDUCTIBLE». www.merriam-webster.com.
^ ^a ^b «dinky». dictionary.cambridge.org.
^ «dirt». dictionary.cambridge.org.
^ «dirt | meaning of dirt in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE». www.ldoceonline.com.
^ Horwill, H.W. (1944). A Dictionary of Modern American Usage (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-869109-9.
^ «DUFF | English meaning — Cambridge Dictionary».
^ «duff | meaning of duff in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE».
^ «www.chambersharrap.co.uk». Chambersharrap.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ «Definition of expiration». Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ ^a ^b «expiration: definition of expiration in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)». Oxforddictionaries.com. 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2013-10-01.^{[dead link]}
^ «Expiration — Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary». Merriam-webster.com. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ «expiry noun — definition in the British English Dictionary & Thesaurus — Cambridge Dictionaries Online». Dictionary.cambridge.org. 2013-09-24. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ «expiration — Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online». Ldoceonline.com. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ «expiration — definition of expiration by Macmillan Dictionary». Macmillandictionary.com. 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ «feather bed — Definition of feather bed in English by Oxford Dictionaries». Oxford Dictionaries — English. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018.
^ «Definition of «fender»«. Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
^ «ClichéSite.com — The largest collection of clichés or cliches, phrases and sayings with definitions and explanations». Clichesite.com. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ danryanexpressway.com. «danryanexpressway.com». danryanexpressway.com. Retrieved 2013-10-01.
^ Give way is also used in this sense as a nautical term in the US.
^ «glass, v. : Oxford English Dictionary». Oed.com. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
^ Kirkpatrick, E. M., ed. (1983). Chambers 20th Century Dictionary. Chambers. p. 658. ISBN 978-0550102348.
^ «intern — Definition of intern in English by Oxford Dictionaries». Oxford Dictionaries — English. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017.
^ Dimoldenberg, Amelia (19 July 2017). «Work experience wisdom: five tips from a serial intern». The Guardian.
^ «International definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary». www.collinsdictionary.com.
^ «International | Definition of International by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of International». Lexico Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c «Jumping jack definition and meaning — Collins English Dictionary». www.collinsdictionary.com.

External links[edit]

The Septic’s Companion: A British Slang Dictionary – an online dictionary of British slang, viewable alphabetically or by category

Источник

False friends

Be careful with your words

Sounds like…

Something else

1-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-25

26-30

1. Water

2. Butterfly and Moth

3. Chair and Armchair

4. Shoes and Boots

A[edit]

B[edit]

C[edit]

D[edit]

E[edit]

F[edit]

G[edit]

H[edit]

I[edit]

J[edit]

K[edit]

L[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]