Mary Ellen's Guide to British English

Version 5 -- updated on 7 July, 2000

British American

A

Ale Beer brewed with top-fermenting yeast. In its fresh and genuine state (real ale), it might ruin you for all other beer. Comp. Lager

Aubergine Eggplant

B

Backwards "j" with a line across it Big Sister's description of how they write a "t" in school.

Bank Holiday Holiday (comp. holiday)

Bap Bun or roll. A hamburger would be comfortable in a bap.

Bell (e.g., "Bell him on his mobile." Ring

Berk Idiot

Bike helmet Brain insurance. More expensive than health care, and rarely seen around York

Biking Why didn't I do this at home? (see SNDB)

Biscuit Cookie

Bitter A really tasty beer (see Ale)

Boiler Water heater

Bonnet Hood (of a car)

Brilliant (e.g., We had a brilliant time) Wonderful

Busking Playing music or singing in the street, hoping for donations

C

Call Visit (comp. ring)

Chap Gentleman

Cheers Hello, Goodbye, Thank you, Drink up - we're ready to close

Chicken in the jungle Unidentified cooked dinner item

Chips French Fries

Chuckled to bits Thrilled

Chuffed Proud

Coach Large tour bus

Cooked dinner (i.e., at school) Hot lunch

Cot Crib

Courgette Zucchini

Crisps Potato chips (flavors include broiled steak, cheese and onion, spicy chicken, mustard and brake fluid)

Cross Angry

D

Direct access housing Emergency overnight shelter

Dodgy Seedy, suspect

Dosh Money

Drawing pins Thumb tacks

Driving The unfortunate alternative when you can't walk, bike or take the train (see SNDB)

E

Egg mayonnaise Where I grew up, we called this egg salad.

Excess charge A fine for breaking the rules.

Excess charge appeal Strategy: profess cluelessness, promise to never do it again. Apply in writing, wait a month. (see Parking Authorisation, et. al.)

F

Fall over (as when skipping rope) Fall down

Fanny pack An unmentionable part of a woman's anatomy

Farm assured, outdoor reared ham The pig's name and address are known

Fish & Chips Grease

Flannel Washcloth

Flapjack A wonderful square-shaped snack made from oats, sometimes with dried fruit.

Floppy (Kipper's dog) "Isn't that a bunny rabbit?"

Fragrant Beautiful, attractive

G

Get on with it Just do it

Git (e.g., He's a bit if a git) Jerk

a Go (e.g. Have a go.) a try

Gobsmacked Mighty surprised. Dumbstruck

God's Own Country (GOC) Yorkshire

Gritter Truck that spreads sand and salt on icy roads

Grotty Not very nice

H

Hire Rent or lease

Hob Cooktop

Hole in the Wall A favourite neighbourhood pub in York, also, a cash machine (ATM)

Holiday Vacation

Horses for courses Different strokes for different folks

Hostel A type of transitional housing

I

In Donkey's Years In a very long time

Infants Children 5-7 years

J

Joined up government Interagency collaboration

Joiner Carpenter (Note that when such a person says "I will certainly be there next week" he means "...in donkey's years")

Jumper Sweatshirt/sweater

K

Keep your pecker up Keep your chin up

Kipper, Chip, Biff Jane, Jack (as in characters in childrens books)

Knackered Really tired

Knickers Underpants

L

Lad, Lad-ish Sophomoric young man, behaviour

Lager Beer brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast and stored at a cool temperature to mature. In use, refers to bottled or keg beer drunk in great quantities by those who have little self control or appreciation of real ale.

Lasagne Layers of noodles and ground beef

Legoland, Windsor Castle, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace Places Kelly and kids saw while I attended seminars on modernising govt, joined up govt, the EU, joined up govt, diversity, joined up govt, ...

Let Lease or rent (the inevitable mental insertion of the letter "i" in signs that read "To let" is a guilty thrill)

M

Make Tea Steep certain leaves in hot water. Or make dinner.

Marmite Something to be avoided at all costs.

Mates Friends

Mine's a... (size/brand of beer) If you're buying, get me a... (size/brand)

Modernising government Reinventing government (comp. Silted up)

N

Nappies Diapers

Nowt Nothing (in Yorkshire)

Nursery Preschool

Nursery nurse Preschool teacher

O

Oi (e.g., "Oi! You're on my foot!") Hey

Organigram An organizational diagram or chart

OTT Over The Top

P

Pants Underwear

Paracetamol acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Parking authorisation A card that allows you to buy a parking pass. Not to be confused with a parking pass. (see Parking Excess Charge)

Parking Excess Charge Fine for parking without a Parking Pass (see Excess charge appeal)

Parking pass A permit, granted when you have a Parking Authorisation, which allows you to avoid a Parking Excess Charge.

Pavement Sidewalk

Pedal Cycle Bicycle

Pikelet Like a crumpet. A Yorkshire speciality.

Plasters Band-Aids

Plimsolls Sneakers (without laces, comp Trainers)

PMS Personal Medical Services

Pop in Stop by (I suppose "popover" wouldn't be something you eat, either)

Prawn A shrimp by any other name

Provisionally booked Tentatively scheduled

Pudding Dessert

Pull up your socks Put your nose to the grindstone

Pushchair Stroller

Q

Quite (e.g., "The meeting was quite good.") Middling, only OK.

R

Right OK. If you say so. Hmm.

Ring Call on the telephone

Ring road Beltway

Ring-ring The sound the telephone makes

Ringfence Funding Targeted funding

Rock Pit (as in a peach)

Rope between a tree and a pole Clothes dryer

Rough sleepers People who sleep on the streets, AKA a problem the Brits are trying to solve

Roundabout Traffic circle. One of the reasons driving should be avoided

Rubber Pencil eraser

Rucksack Backpack

Rumpy-pumpy According to Dean and Barbara, this is a euphemism for nooky.

S

Salad Lettuce, onions, cucumber, possibly tomato. When described on the menu as accompanying a sandwich, it is served on the top of the sandwich.

Serviettes Napkins

Silted up Bogged down

Skip Dumpster

Skip Rope Jump rope

SNDB Smug Non-Driving Bastard. One who flaunts the inability to own/drive a car as a superior lifestyle choice.

Snickleway Tiny side-street/alley

Solicitor Lawyer (no, we haven't had to get one here)

Square Round (just kidding)

Sultanas Raisins, as far as we can tell

Stabilizers Training wheels

Stone The pit of a fruit. Also a unit of weight equal to 14 lbs.

Summat Something (in Yorkshire.) - comp. Nowt

T

Ta Thanks

Tannoy Public-address system

Tea Beverage made by steeping certain leaves in hot water. Or supper.

Trainers Sneakers (with laces)

Trousers Pants (comp. Pants)

Toad in the hole and gravy We're not really sure, but it's on the school menu next week

Tuna mayonnaise Tuna salad

Twiglets Marmite-covered knobbly snack food.

U

Unheard of!! Tea (the beverage) without milk

V

VAT Value Added Tax: 17.5% added to the cost of nearly everything.

W

Walking Safe and civilised way to get around York (see SNDB, biking.) Also, hiking (as in hillwalking, fellwalking)

Well done (as said by teacher) Good job

Whinge Whine

XYZ

Y-fronts Brief-style underwear (aka tight whites) for guys

Yorkshire pudding Sort of like pot pie without a top

British	American
A
Ale	Beer brewed with top-fermenting yeast. In its fresh and genuine state (real ale), it might ruin you for all other beer. Comp. Lager
Aubergine	Eggplant
B
Backwards "j" with a line across it	Big Sister's description of how they write a "t" in school.
Bank Holiday	Holiday (comp. holiday)
Bap	Bun or roll. A hamburger would be comfortable in a bap.
Bell (e.g., "Bell him on his mobile."	Ring
Berk	Idiot
Bike helmet	Brain insurance. More expensive than health care, and rarely seen around York
Biking	Why didn't I do this at home? (see SNDB)
Biscuit	Cookie
Bitter	A really tasty beer (see Ale)
Boiler	Water heater
Bonnet	Hood (of a car)
Brilliant (e.g., We had a brilliant time)	Wonderful
Busking	Playing music or singing in the street, hoping for donations
C
Call	Visit (comp. ring)
Chap	Gentleman
Cheers	Hello, Goodbye, Thank you, Drink up - we're ready to close
Chicken in the jungle	Unidentified cooked dinner item
Chips	French Fries
Chuckled to bits	Thrilled
Chuffed	Proud
Coach	Large tour bus
Cooked dinner (i.e., at school)	Hot lunch
Cot	Crib
Courgette	Zucchini
Crisps	Potato chips (flavors include broiled steak, cheese and onion, spicy chicken, mustard and brake fluid)
Cross	Angry
D
Direct access housing	Emergency overnight shelter
Dodgy	Seedy, suspect
Dosh	Money
Drawing pins	Thumb tacks
Driving	The unfortunate alternative when you can't walk, bike or take the train (see SNDB)
E
Egg mayonnaise	Where I grew up, we called this egg salad.
Excess charge	A fine for breaking the rules.
Excess charge appeal	Strategy: profess cluelessness, promise to never do it again. Apply in writing, wait a month. (see Parking Authorisation, et. al.)
F
Fall over (as when skipping rope)	Fall down
Fanny pack	An unmentionable part of a woman's anatomy
Farm assured, outdoor reared ham	The pig's name and address are known
Fish & Chips	Grease
Flannel	Washcloth
Flapjack	A wonderful square-shaped snack made from oats, sometimes with dried fruit.
Floppy (Kipper's dog)	"Isn't that a bunny rabbit?"
Fragrant	Beautiful, attractive
G
Get on with it	Just do it
Git (e.g., He's a bit if a git)	Jerk
a Go (e.g. Have a go.)	a try
Gobsmacked	Mighty surprised. Dumbstruck
God's Own Country (GOC)	Yorkshire
Gritter	Truck that spreads sand and salt on icy roads
Grotty	Not very nice
H
Hire	Rent or lease
Hob	Cooktop
Hole in the Wall	A favourite neighbourhood pub in York, also, a cash machine (ATM)
Holiday	Vacation
Horses for courses	Different strokes for different folks
Hostel	A type of transitional housing
I
In Donkey's Years	In a very long time
Infants	Children 5-7 years
J
Joined up government	Interagency collaboration
Joiner	Carpenter (Note that when such a person says "I will certainly be there next week" he means "...in donkey's years")
Jumper	Sweatshirt/sweater
K
Keep your pecker up	Keep your chin up
Kipper, Chip, Biff	Jane, Jack (as in characters in childrens books)
Knackered	Really tired
Knickers	Underpants
L
Lad, Lad-ish	Sophomoric young man, behaviour
Lager	Beer brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast and stored at a cool temperature to mature. In use, refers to bottled or keg beer drunk in great quantities by those who have little self control or appreciation of real ale.
Lasagne	Layers of noodles and ground beef
Legoland, Windsor Castle, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace	Places Kelly and kids saw while I attended seminars on modernising govt, joined up govt, the EU, joined up govt, diversity, joined up govt, ...
Let	Lease or rent (the inevitable mental insertion of the letter "i" in signs that read "To let" is a guilty thrill)
M
Make Tea	Steep certain leaves in hot water. Or make dinner.
Marmite	Something to be avoided at all costs.
Mates	Friends
Mine's a... (size/brand of beer)	If you're buying, get me a... (size/brand)
Modernising government	Reinventing government (comp. Silted up)
N
Nappies	Diapers
Nowt	Nothing (in Yorkshire)
Nursery	Preschool
Nursery nurse	Preschool teacher
O
Oi (e.g., "Oi! You're on my foot!")	Hey
Organigram	An organizational diagram or chart
OTT	Over The Top
P
Pants	Underwear
Paracetamol	acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Parking authorisation	A card that allows you to buy a parking pass. Not to be confused with a parking pass. (see Parking Excess Charge)
Parking Excess Charge	Fine for parking without a Parking Pass (see Excess charge appeal)
Parking pass	A permit, granted when you have a Parking Authorisation, which allows you to avoid a Parking Excess Charge.
Pavement	Sidewalk
Pedal Cycle	Bicycle
Pikelet	Like a crumpet. A Yorkshire speciality.
Plasters	Band-Aids
Plimsolls	Sneakers (without laces, comp Trainers)
PMS	Personal Medical Services
Pop in	Stop by (I suppose "popover" wouldn't be something you eat, either)
Prawn	A shrimp by any other name
Provisionally booked	Tentatively scheduled
Pudding	Dessert
Pull up your socks	Put your nose to the grindstone
Pushchair	Stroller
Q
Quite (e.g., "The meeting was quite good.")	Middling, only OK.
R
Right	OK. If you say so. Hmm.
Ring	Call on the telephone
Ring road	Beltway
Ring-ring	The sound the telephone makes
Ringfence Funding	Targeted funding
Rock	Pit (as in a peach)
Rope between a tree and a pole	Clothes dryer
Rough sleepers	People who sleep on the streets, AKA a problem the Brits are trying to solve
Roundabout	Traffic circle. One of the reasons driving should be avoided
Rubber	Pencil eraser
Rucksack	Backpack
Rumpy-pumpy	According to Dean and Barbara, this is a euphemism for nooky.
S
Salad	Lettuce, onions, cucumber, possibly tomato. When described on the menu as accompanying a sandwich, it is served on the top of the sandwich.
Serviettes	Napkins
Silted up	Bogged down
Skip	Dumpster
Skip Rope	Jump rope
SNDB	Smug Non-Driving Bastard. One who flaunts the inability to own/drive a car as a superior lifestyle choice.
Snickleway	Tiny side-street/alley
Solicitor	Lawyer (no, we haven't had to get one here)
Square	Round (just kidding)
Sultanas	Raisins, as far as we can tell
Stabilizers	Training wheels
Stone	The pit of a fruit. Also a unit of weight equal to 14 lbs.
Summat	Something (in Yorkshire.) - comp. Nowt
T
Ta	Thanks
Tannoy	Public-address system
Tea	Beverage made by steeping certain leaves in hot water. Or supper.
Trainers	Sneakers (with laces)
Trousers	Pants (comp. Pants)
Toad in the hole and gravy	We're not really sure, but it's on the school menu next week
Tuna mayonnaise	Tuna salad
Twiglets	Marmite-covered knobbly snack food.
U
Unheard of!!	Tea (the beverage) without milk
V
VAT	Value Added Tax: 17.5% added to the cost of nearly everything.
W
Walking	Safe and civilised way to get around York (see SNDB, biking.) Also, hiking (as in hillwalking, fellwalking)
Well done (as said by teacher)	Good job
Whinge	Whine
XYZ
Y-fronts	Brief-style underwear (aka tight whites) for guys
Yorkshire pudding	Sort of like pot pie without a top

Kavanagh-O'Connell

Mary Ellen's Guide to British English

Version 5 -- updated on 7 July, 2000