One Word, Two Meanings

Every day, I come across many words with different meanings in the UK and the US.  Here is this week's short list for you :)

CONCESSION.  In the UK, if you get a concession, it means you get a discount.  But here in the States, you visit the concession stand at a game, concert, the movies or a public event to get your hot dog and coke.  Two vastly different meanings for one word! 

TRAINERS.  This is what we call running shoes.  The American term is sneakers.  When I hear the word sneakers, I automatically think of some creepy guy sneaking around in the bushes.  The only trainers in America are personal trainers or big kid diapers (trainer pants).  We actually call diapers 'nappies' in the UK.   

TROLLEY.  I still use this word in the British way which can cause confusion.  To me, a trolley is what you use at the grocery store to put your groceries in.  In the States, that's called a cart.  To me, a cart is a big contraption pulled along by a horse or a tractor!  Anyway, a trolley over here is a tram, hence the confusion at the supermarket when I ask for a trolley.

1ST FLOOR.  Not exactly one word, but the use of this confuses me to no end.  There is no such thing as Ground Floor over here, the floors of any building begin at 1st Floor.  1st Floor in the UK is the floor above the floor at Ground Level.  I get horribly confused in elevators in America!      

POST.  When I talk about going to check the post, or going to post something, I sometimes get blank stares.  Post is mail in the UK.  Over here however, post is only called mail, so I get why people might thinking I'm talking gibberish.

BOG.  "Help, I've fallen into the bog"!  If you heard this at home, you'd more than likely be laughing hysterically that somebody had actually fallen into the toilet.  In the States however, you'd be lending a helping hand to some poor soul who had fallen into a marsh or a swamp. 

So that's it for this week folks, what words with double meanings can you think of? 

Say what?

Following on from my recent blog post on word differences between the UK/US, I'd like to talk about some phrases and words that have gotten me into trouble in the past and most likely will again in the future.  Considering both countries speak the same language, there are still a LOT of differences in our use of words.  Here are a few examples for you. 

"Are you having a fag?" or "Don't step on the fag!"  I say the latter to my kids when we're out and about in town.  I probably shouldn't, because fag over here is a not so complimentary term for a gay man and should my kids use this word at school, they'd be in for a whole world of trouble thanks to their Mummy.  I do try not to say it, but I've been saying it for years and it takes a while for new habits to sink in! 

"Got a strop on"  At home, we routinely use this phrase when somebody is getting a wee bit mad or having a tantrum at something or other.  Again, I say this to the kids regularly because kids being kids, they do have rather a lot of strop ons!  Over here however, people look at me in horror thinking I'm talking about a sex toy instead of a tantrum.  I'm not!  Honest!!   

"Pissed"  Now this word occurred a lot when I was younger, mostly during my RAF days.  But when you say it over here, it means you're mad or angry at something or someone.  I often wonder if I've scared people away by telling them I'm pissed, when in fact, I just mean I'm a little bit tipsy. 

"I'm going to sit on my bum"  One of my favorites and I do say this just for fun sometimes.  I love seeing people's faces when they think I just told them I'm going to go and sit on top of a down and out.

"Dustbin Men"  You know, I don't even know what they call dustbin men over here.  Trash guys?  Dustbin men sounds way nicer!  When I say this phrase, people look at me like I just told them I'd been abducted by aliens.

So, although I do have to explain myself quite a lot, it can also be fun using some of these phrases on purpose.  American people can be very politically correct sometimes, so I'll end this by saying I'd better get back in the kitchen where I belong.  Just kidding people, just kidding!