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  Guide to
British-American Word Variants
Smoothing transatlantic communication

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

D

British

American

daddy longlegs [colloq.] crane fly
daft foolish, crazy
dame a lady who has been knighted
damn all nothing at all
damp squib, a something unimpressive (underwhelming)
Dash it (all)! Damn it (all)!
Davenport type of ornamental writing-desk
day return discounted round-trip ticket valid one day
dead on (as in 'dead on 6 o'clock') exactly
demerara a kind of light brown cane sugar
demon drink, the (humorous) demon alcohol, the
dental surgery dentist's office
depot bus or truck parking; storehouse for goods
dessert (cold, soft, creamy type only!) pudding
detached house one-family house
dialling code area code
dialling tone dial tone
diary (for planning purposes) appointment book, date book
dibs [slang]  money, dough [slang] 
dick (as in 'a clever dick') used disparagingly for fellow or person
different to (informal variant of 'different from') different than (or 'different from')
digs [colloq.] temporary lodgings other than hotel
dinner jacket tuxedo
dinner service, dinner set complete set of matching plates, dishes, bowls, cups and saucers for serving meals to a number of people
dip (v.) to lower a vehicle's headlight beam
direct debit (banking) automatic draft
directory enquiries (telephone) directory assistance
discount voucher rain check
dishy [colloq.] sexually attractive, sexy looking
dispatch-rider messenger
district (in a town) section
diversion (on road) detour
do a bunk [slang] abscond; slip away in a hurry when one is expected or obliged to stay
do porridge [slang] serve time (prison term)
dodgy [colloq.] (as in 'dodgy practices') artful, cunning
dole, the (as in 'he's on the dole') money paid to jobless person; unemployment benefits
do the washing up do/wash the dishes
doctor qualified but training as specialist resident
doctor's surgery doctor's office
dormitory multiple-bed room at boarding school
dosh [slang] jack [slang], money
doss (v.) [slang] sleep rough or in cheap lodgings
doss-house [slang] cheap lodging house for vagrants
dotty [colloq.] feebleminded, absurd, eccentric
double Dutch incomprehensible talk
double-glazed windows, double glazing double-pane windows
doughnut donut
downmarket common and cheap
drainpipe downspout
drapery, draper's (shop) dry goods store
draught excluder weather-stripping
draughts (board game) checkers
drawing pin thumbtack
drawing room [formal] (originally 'withdrawing room') living room
dress circle (in theatre) first balcony, mezzanine 
dresser tall piece of (usually kitchen) furniture with drawers or closets in bottom half and shelves on top
dressing gown robe
dressing table (chest of drawers with mirror on top) dresser
drink-driver/driving drunken driver/driving
drip [med.] (as in 'he was put on a drip') drip feed
drip-mat (put under a glass) coaster
drive (n.) driveway
driving licence driver's license
driving test driver's test
dry up dry the dishes
drop a clanger [slang] make a mistake or blunder
dual carriageway divided highway
dummy (or comforter) pacifier
dumper (type of lorry) dump truck
dungarees (jeans or tough denim trousers with cloth 
                covering chest and straps over shoulders)
overalls
dustbin trash can/barrel, garbage can/barrel
duster dust cloth
dustman trash collector, garbage collector
duvet thick, soft quilt with detachable cover; comforter
dynamo mechanical generator (e.g. on a bicycle)

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