Divided by a common language

[alexpolistigers]

Well, somebody had to start a thread comparing US English and British English!

Here is a rather unfortunate example of a different meaning for an expression!

On another note, I rather like the US use of "y'all", it really fills a gap, and sounds much nicer than "all of you" or some other such phrase.

My favourite example hinges on the reaction from US dwellers if you ask "can I bum a fag off you?"

DS wanted me to Google for "breakable rubbers" today. I thought that this might be unwise.

And then there is the ever popular example of "fanny."

"solicitor" - I think in AmEng that's more likely to mean a prostitute.

This is a somewhat insensitive one:

AmEng: "passed", as in "died". If it's a simple sentence, such as "Great Aunt Maud has passed.", then I look for the object (what? a red light, an exam, a kidney stone?)

"momentarily" is a good one: AmEng, in a moment; BrEng, for a moment. "This aircraft will take off momentarily."

"panhandle" - I'm a bit embarrassed that I've only recently understood what this means in AmEng, e.g. "the Florida panhandle". I thought it was something to do with panning for gold, so I had been wondering which rivers in Florida were the panhandles.

The "momentarily" one is a bit disconcerting when you first hear it. I've got used to it now, but I remember feeling very confused by it!

"I shall deal with the matter momentarily," the Patrician said. It was a good word. It always made people hesitate. They were never quite sure whether he meant he'd deal with it now, or just deal with it briefly. And no-one ever dared ask.

(Terry Pratchett, from Guards! Guards!)

Solicitor for lawyer is not unknown in the US. The lawyer who represents the United States before the Supreme Court is called the Solicitor General. I have never heard the noun used to mean prostitute in the US, although many states have a crime on their books called "soliciting for prostitution."

"Passed" in the context of dying is actually short for "passed on," usually meaning to heaven. It's a more common usage in the South than elsewhere.

I am an American Southerner, OP, and I do agree with you about y'all. So much better than the alternatives. I recently discovered, to my delight, that my phone auto completes to "y'all" when you type y'.

I am British-born, from a British family, but lived in the US for a while as a child. I did have a giggle the first time someone told me to bring a fanny pack on a day trip.