English to English translations

[zissou'smom]

I remember someone posting about road rage and the driver yelling "Nice Indicator!" or something like that. I call it a 'turn signal', and if you yelled that at me I'd have no idea what I hadn't done (though I always use my turn signal).

 

[katachtig]

Originally Posted by AlleyGirl

Uni = College

That brings to mind another difference. That the British drop the article "the" for certain institutions.

"in Hospital"
"at University"

 

[pushylady]

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

There was one by my uni that was a big one with 5-6 smaller ones around it and to go the right way around the small ones, you go the wrong way around the big one, but the big one has two lanes so you don't have to go around every small one, so you do actually go around the big one the wrong way!

Can't get my head around what you're saying, but it sounds about as much fun as the infamous huge roundabout going into Edinburgh.
We have lots of new ones here. I think they're great, but the driver education on how to use them was sorely lacking.

I've been loving this thread!

 

[bonnie1965]

Originally Posted by pushylady

Can't get my head around what you're saying, but it sounds about as much fun as the infamous huge roundabout going into Edinburgh.
We have lots of new ones here. I think they're great, but the driver education on how to use them was sorely lacking.

Here is an example of a traffic circle in my neighborhood - we have lots. The purpose is to slow traffic so the street is safer. This one is at the intersection of SE Taylor St and SE 14th Ave. It is the green, round thing

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...,0.001808&z=19

(hope this map works!)

edit: if you change the option to just "satellite" it is easier to see.

edit again: here is a large one in our Ladd's Addition area. The diamond shaped areas and the circle in the center are gardens. They all serve to make traffic go slower.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...,0.007231&z=17

can ya tell I like maps?

 

[zissou'smom]

There's one in Cleveland that makes you dizzy:
this has five streets come together, all of them busy, in one of the busiest parts of town. There is no easy way around it.

 

[bonnie1965]

Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

There's one in Cleveland that makes you dizzy:
this has five streets come together, all of them busy, in one of the busiest parts of town. There is no easy way around it.

Yikes, getting dizzy just looking at it!

 

[luvmy2cats]

Is bloody the UK word for US f word.?

 

[taurus77]

Y'all are so funny!!

 

[taterbug]

Well...I have a cousin that moved to London a couple of years ago and I've noticed an unusual thing she says now. I have yet to ask her about it...so I don't know if it's a "London" thing or just her rushing her speech!

Instead of saying...you know what I mean?...she says...ya mean?? Is this a British thing?

 

[xman]

Canada seems to occupy a strange land somewhere between American English and International English. Officially most words will be spelled the international way, but many Canadians tend to pick up American turns of phrase. It can be difficult to tell which is which sometimes.

X

 

[anakat]

Originally Posted by luvmycat1

Is bloody the UK word for US f word.?

No, bloody is just used as a minor swear word, ofen combined with hell

eg:bloody hell that was close! if another car nearly hit your's.

 

[siggav]

On roundabouts, here's one of the most famous ones: The magic roundabout in Swindon. It's completely insane, have a look http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...3208&z=18&om=1

I think atleast often with the UK specific slang, people are aware of the american meaning of the word and are able to get from the context the actual meaning. I mean people make stuffing for turkeys and chicken etc. and call it stuffing so a stuffed bird of the cooking variety is easily understood.

Here's a few other words

bam = loony, i.e he's a complete bam magnet if they seem to attract really weird people. I think that might be Scottish though.
knackered = exhausted/tired

 

[icklemiss21]

This is the one in Essex with the two smaller ones off it and then the 5 mini ones around the big one

 

[twstychik]

Some of those round abouts are flat out intimidating! Ours are nothing that complicated.

 

[katiemae1277]

there are 2 traffic circles near me, one in Litchfield and another in Sharon Center

they are both 4 road ones, both are very scary to me! I hate driving on them

 

[gemlady]

What is the US equivalent of a "digestive biscuit"?

 

[alleygirl]

Originally Posted by gemlady

What is the US equivalent of a "digestive biscuit"?

umm not sure what you mean by that?? Can you be more descriptive?

 

[anakat]

Digestive are a very popular British biscuit/cookie

http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.c...us.php3?item=9

 

[katiemae1277]

kinda seems like a graham cracker??

 

[rapunzel47]

Originally Posted by gemlady

What is the US equivalent of a "digestive biscuit"?

A digestive biscuit is a sweet meal biscuit, similar in flavour to a Graham Cracker, but with a softer crumb. We get them in Canada, under a number of different brand names. They're really nice, especially with a chocolate dip.

See wikipedia