I was inspired by Child of the Sixties post about 60s slang, so I thought I would do one on Brit slang, because in 1997, the movie The Full Monty came to American theatres and most of them were issuing brochures to translate the British slang used in the movie. Also included will be words used in both England and the US that have different meanings in both England and the US. Sorry, but some of these words are kinda funny, especially if someone is saying one in surprise with an accent to go with it.
So that people don't think I'm stealing!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_words_not_widely_used_in_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_words_having_different_meanings_in_British_and_American_English:_A–L
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_words_having_different_meanings_in_British_and_American_English:_M-Z
A&E
US: US TV channel
England: accident and emergency department of a hospital
Ace
US: to perform outstandingly, best starting pitcher on baseball
England: good, excellent(1980s slang)
Amber
US. English: orange-yellow color
England: traffic light color
Anorak
US: Hooded, rainproof jacket with out zipper
England: parka; a socially awkward person interested in something to the level of obsession(i.e. geek, nerd, dweeb, etc)
Arse
US: behind
England: your behind
Asian
US: East Asia, southeast Asia
England: originating from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka
Athletics
US: sports
England: sports comprising of track and field, cross country and walking
Balmy
US: hot and humid
England: insane, aka barmy
Banger
US: particularly club friendly beat or song, a gang member
England: type of sausage, i.e. bangers and mash, an old car in disrepair (in US aka a beater)
Batty
US: crazy, nuts
England: homosexual
Bender
US: binge drinking, bending over to puke
England: derogatory term for gay man, for the act of bending over to have anal sex.
Bill
US: paper money
England: the police, aka banknote
Bird
US: avian creature, derogatory gesture of flipping the middle finger up, i.e. flipping someone the bird
England: one's girlfriend, female slang
Biscuit
US: type of quick bread served with savory foods. In the UK, it is similar to a scone
England: baked sweet or cake like item which is hard when baked and softened over time
Blinkers
US: lights on a car to indicate direction
England: leather flaps on a bridle to restrict a horse's lateral vision
Bloody(this one for some reason cracks me up if I hear someone say it, I die laughing!)
US: covered in blood
England: used in place of the f word i.e Bloody hell, bloody nightmare. People say this in place of saying f---. A bad word used to express anger.
Blow Off
US: not to show up and meet someone
England: break wind
Bog
US: partially flooded farmland used to grow cranberries
England: toilet
Bogey
US: unidentified aircraft
England: dried nasal mucus- yuck!!
Bonnet
US: hat worn over the head
England: hood of the car
Boot
US: type of shoe
England: trunk of car
Bent
US: not straight
England: gay
Callbox
US: emergency phone
England: telephone booth
Canteen
US: cafeteria
England: where you get food
Chaps
US: leather leggings worn by cowboys and designed to protect against thorns.
England: men or boys
Chips
US: long cuts of deep fried potato
England: Crisps
Commissioner
US: political head of police department
England: head of Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police
Constable
US: peace officer in a township without organized police department
England: police officer of any rank
Faggot
US: derogatory term for gay man
England: type of meatball
Flapjack
US: pancake
England: flat oak cake
Flat
US: flat tire, level and smooth
England: apartment
Frock
US: type of jacket worn as outer garment that goes to the knee
England: shirt
Geezer
US: old person(derogatory)
England: gangster, man(in Cockney accent)
Gob
US: large amounts of
England: mouth, spit
Hole in the Wall
US: out of the way place, i.e. restaurant, can be used as a compliment
England: automatic teller machine
Homely
US: plain, ugly
England: cozy, comfortable
Hooker
US: prostitute
England: rugby position
IRA
US: Individual Retirement Account
England: Irish Repbulican Army
Knickers
US: pants
England: pants, ladies underwear
Knock Up
US: impregnate
England: practice tennis
Mad
US: enraged
England: crazy
Make Out
US: kissing
England: snog, to kiss
Nick
US: small cut, sometimes someone's name
England: to steal, police station
Panda
US: cute little black and white bear
England: police car
Shag
US: type of furry looking carpet
England: to have sex
Smashed
US: extremely drunk
England: destroyed beyond reasoning
Tart
US: sour flavored
England: female prostitute
Tea
US:
England: afternoon snack, sometimes called high tea.
Underground
US: subterranean
England: train system, like in London
Yankee
US: player for the New York Yankees baseball team
England: name for someone from the US
British slang
Baby Minder
England: baby sitter
Barrister
England: judge
Blimey
England: expression of suprise
Bobby
England: police officer
Boffin
England: scientist/engineer
Bollocks
England: talking weird, lies, crazy talk
Brekkie
England: synonym for breakfast
Bristols
England: breasts on a woman
Fortnight
England: period of 14 days and nights or 2 weeks
Git
England: idiot, annoying person
High Street
England: primary business and shopping street
Lollipop Woman/Man
England: school crossing guard
Loo
England: toilet
Lorry
England: in US truck, but in England, a large moving van
Nobble
England: sabotage
Petrol
England: gasoline
Pillar Box
England: for getting outgoing mail, in England these are the tall red mailboxes with black tops on them.
Pillock
England: foolish person, used in northern England
Postie
England: nickname for a postman/woman
Pub
England: bar
Prat
England: incompetent, fool, idiot
Quid
England: money, monetary unit, probably coins
Randy
England: Horny; used in the Austin Powers movies, along with shag
Rozzers
England: police, male genitals
Rubbish
England: worthless unwanted material
Rucksack
England: backpack
Rug Muncher
England: lesbian
Sod Off
England: go away, get lost, buzz off, or another one, piss off
Spiv
England: unemployed person who lives by their wits
Telly
England: Television
Totty
England: sexually alluring ladies, in 19th century a term for prostitutes
British Slang
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