WORDS WITH DIFFERENT IMPLICATIONS IN THE UK TO USA

PAVEMENT

In the US this refers to the surface of a road. In the UK this

refers to what Americans would call a “sidewalk”.

RESTROOM

In the US this would be what the British call a toilet. In the UK

this would refer to what the Americans call a breakroom or a

staffroom (in a company).

RING

Apart from the common meaning of to sound a bell, in the US to

“ring something up” means to total somebody’s purchases on

a cash register. In the UK to “ring somebody up” means to call them.

SILVERWARE

In the US this refers to what the British would call cutlery. In the

UK this refers to any bowl, dish, fork, spoon, etc. that is silver.

FLAT

Apart from the common meaning of “level” or “smooth”, in the

US this refers to a tire that has been deflated. In the

UK this refers to what Americans would call an apartment.

QUEUE

In the US this would refer to the common definition, a list of items,

typically data, that are stored with the intent of retrieving them

in the order of insertion. In the UK this refers to what Americans

would call a line (of people).

TORCH

Aside from the common definition of flaming stick, in the UK

this refers to what Americans would call a flashlight.

TROLLEY

Once again there is the common definition of “electric rail transport”

but in the UK it can also refer to what Americans would call a

shopping cart.