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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

L

British

American

lacquer kind of hair spray
ladder (in hosiery) run
ladybird ladybug
lager a light-colored effervescent beer
Lance Corporal (British Army) Private 1st Class (U.S. Army)
landlady, landlord owner of pub, boarding house or lodgings
larder pantry
lark (negative sense: 'I'm sick of this exam lark!' 
       positive sense: 'I don't take exams for a lark.')
rigmarole, an unenjoyable or pointless activity;
something done for fun (same in American English) 
launderette laundromat, coin laundry
laundry basket (dirty clothes) hamper
lavatorial humour  scatological humor
lavatory (the receptacle itself) commode [euph.]
lavatory (the room or compartment housing a WC)  john [colloq.], restroom, bathroom, toilet
layabout (habitual loafer or idler) bum, bummer [both slang]
lay-by (roadside resting place/vehicle stopping area) pull-off
lay something on plan or arrange something
lay the table set the table
leader editorial; concertmaster, leading violinist
Leading Aircraftman (Royal Air Force) Airman 3rd Class (U.S. Air Force)
Leading Seaman (Royal Navy) Petty Officer 3rd Class (U.S. Navy)
leave school or institution of learning after successful completion of course at any level or age  graduate
lecturer (at college or university) professor
left luggage locker coin locker
left luggage office baggage room
lemon cheese lemon curd
let lease or rent out property or land
letterbox mailbox (receptacle); 
mail slot (rectangular hole in door or wall of building)
level crossing (railway) grade crossing (railroad)
lift (n.) elevator; a ride in someone's car
like the clappers [colloq.] like crazy [colloq.], very fast or hard
linctus syrupy cough medicine
line (railway) track
liner (ship) ocean liner
liver sausage liverwurst
Liverpudlian  relating to (or resident of) Liverpool
lodger (pays for a room and meals in another's house) roomer
loft roomless attic
lolly [slang] money
long-sighted far-sighted
loo [colloq.] john [colloq.]; bathroom, restroom
loony-bin [slang] booby-hatch [slang], psychiatric hospital
lorry truck
lost property (office) lost and found
loudhailer bullhorn, megaphone
lounge suit men's formal suit for day wear; business suit 
love (form of address used by older shop clerks) honey, hon'
L-plate compulsory large red 'L' on rear of learner-driver's car
Ltd. (Limited) Inc. (Incorporated)
lucky dip grab bag
luggage baggage
luggage van (on a train) baggage car
lughole [slang] earhole
lumber room a room where bulky or disused items are stored

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


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