Comprehensive list of Americanisms

[12fromcold]

Some I love, some I hate. Let's try and get them all here! Especially interested in the ones that are only a slight variation from the British counterpart.

Macaroni AND cheese
Hide and GO seek
GotTEN

I'll remember more and come back.

American jelly isn't jam. Jam is cloudy, jelly is clear. There's bramble jelly in Scotland that is clear.

My absolute favourite is burglarized. I find language differences fascinating.

I’ve never heard “on accident” in the USA, or maybe I haven’t noticed. Elevator/lift catches me out all the time, especially since Lyft is an Uber type thing we use all the time and we live in a high rise. I’m not reliable on bathroom/restroom vs toilet (which is offensives here). I’m getting used to the Boston “all set” which is a useful phrase meaning a transaction is complete, I can’t think of an English equivalent. Maybe “good to go” is the nearest.

Well, I’m not American bashing in the slightest. I lived there for 8 years, I have met some absolutely amazing, intelligent and lovely people and also some complete and utter twats both here and in the US. There is a lot they are hugely better on than us(disabled access to public amenities and their high school facilities are two which spring to mind). And some things we lead the way on, treasure and appreciate your NHS, and strict control of firearms.

I like the different meanings of names for items of clothing, eg

Vest v waistcoat
Tank top v vest
Purse v handbag
Apparently in the US a jumper is what we would call a pinafore dress!

Differences in language are so interesting. I always thought ‘can I get’ was common in Scotland actually, and not really an Americanism.

It's funny how things have reversed. Now Americans don't really give much of a shit about British people or what they say/do

I think that’s increasingly true Stupomax. Before Prince Harry’s wedding British friends were asking if “the Americans were going wild about the wedding”

No.

There was obviously stuff in the media about it but in real life I don’t know anyone who was in the least interested.

Even among the local British expats the one lady who tried to organise a flag waving wedding watching breakfast party was met with blank stares.

I say meet with. I thought it correct English English

many of the things that end up on threads like these are not Americanisms at all and are in daily use in Scotland and Ireland.

The exact same instead of exactly the same.

Yup. I grew up saying that, and I'm Irish.

Some UK vs US preposition usages are quite different --
'I visited with Jane' instead of 'I visited Jane'
'I talked to her' vs 'I talked with her'
'He crushed on his teacher' vs 'He had a crush on his teacher'
'Write me' vs 'Write to me', as already said.
'On the weekend' vs 'at the weekend'
'They were hating on the new girl' vs 'They hated the new girl'

Though some of these are blurring into a sort of transatlantic internet English.

Deplane instead of disembark
Beverize
Momentarily which in the uk means for a short time but In the US means soon

Yes, yes on pants and the US pronunciation of khaki (cacky) which has my then 6 and 8 year olds rolling with laughter and horror at an Old Navy advert for khaki trousers (referred to as cacky pants!)

Cremains instead of ashes

@pixilatedpenguin

I have NEVER heard that!

That's awful it doesn't even sound real!

myimaginary “jelly” as “justgetting” says is old Scottish usage. Have you never heard of a “jeelie piece” (jam sandwich)?

They do have jam in the US also.

I also think that people forget how quickly we assimilate Americanisms. No-one turns a hair now at “cheated on”. It is very much part of the British lexicon.

I love "Americanisms". I think American English is an amazingly rich and creative language.

I say meet with for a meeting, when we all go somewhere to sit down and discuss but meet for joining up to go out or do something. So “I’m meeting with the HR team to discuss bonuses” but “I’m meeting Jane to go shopping”.

jelly” as “justgetting” says is old Scottish usage. Have you never heard of a “jeelie piece” (jam sandwich)?

I haven’t, but it sounds lovely! See what I mean, still baffled!

and the US pronunciation of khaki (cocky)

. how would you say khaki FV? Kaah-key?

It’s cacky in my accent.

It's funny this thread

I have thought that if I was ever on a US Talk Show and I was asked

"What's the number one thing that the British criticise America for?"

My answer would be

"Spelling And Grammar"

It winds British people up way more than the big and obvious differences

Whenever instead of when, as in 'Whenever we went to Disneyland we had a great time' whilst talking about a single visit to Disneyland.

is it cattercorner?

I thought it was kittycorner?

It's both. Depends on the region of the U.S.

@WaxMyrtle. In my accent (non rhotic) it would sound like car key.

@bartonhollow I learnt it from CSI 😂

You might enjoy this song myimaginary

Ahem. Fanny instead of bum.

Also when we say trump we mean a gaseous emission from the derrière. They mean their president, although perhaps the words are starting to blur together for them.