American > British Glossary | D
Smoothing transatlantic communication
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P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | Briticisms |
 American
term or expression |
 British
equivalent, or explanation |
|---|---|
| daddy longlegs [colloq.] | harvestman (arachnid a.k.a. 'harvest spider') |
| dame [slang] (woman) | bird [slang] |
| davenport | a large well-upholstered sofa, especially one that can also serve as a bed |
| daylight saving time | summer time |
| deck of cards | pack of cards |
| deductible (insurance term) | excess |
| deductions (from paycheck) | stoppages |
| defogger, defroster (on car windshield/rear window) | demister |
| depot | railway station |
| delivery truck | van |
| demon alcohol, the [humorous] | demon drink, the |
| dentist's office | dental surgery |
| Department of the Navy, the (U.S. Navy) | Admiralty, the (Royal Navy) |
| dependency (annex) | annexe |
| dependent clause [grammar] | subordinate clause |
| derby | bowler, bowler hat |
| dessert | pudding, sweet, afters [colloq.], dessert |
| detour (rerouting traffic to avoid some obstacle) | diversion |
| dial tone (telephone) | dialling tone |
| diaper | nappy |
| dick [colloq.] | detective |
| different than (informal variant of 'different from') | different to, different from |
| diner | small roadside eatery, usually with similar layout to a railroad dining car |
| dingbat [colloq.] | nutter [colloq.] (crazy or eccentric person) |
| dinky [colloq.] | small and without charm |
| directory assistance (telephone) | directory enquiries |
| dirt (on the ground) | loose soil; solid waste such as dog's droppings |
| dish liquid, dishwashing liquid | washing-up liquid |
| dish towel, dish cloth, dishrag | tea towel |
| dishwasher (the human variety!) | washer-up |
| divided highway | dual carriageway |
| do not enter (traffic sign) | no entry |
| do the dishes | wash up, do the washing up |
| doctor's office | surgery, doctor's surgery |
| dog's doo-doo [colloq.] | dog's shit [slang], dog poo, a dog turd |
| doghouse | kennel |
| dogie | motherless calf |
| donut | doughnut |
| doo-doo
[colloq.] (e.g. 'I trod in some dog's doo-doo') |
poo [colloq.], shit [slang], faeces, a turd |
| doofus [colloq.] | twit [collq.], fool |
| dorm [colloq.], dormitory (on college campus) | hall of residence |
| double or nothing | quits |
| double-pane windows | double-glazed windows, double glazing |
| downscale | downmarket |
| downspout | drainpipe |
| downtown (see also uptown) | city centre |
| draft, the (compulsory military service) | conscription |
| draftee (someone forced by law to do military service) | conscript |
| drainboard (dish-drying surface by kitchen sink) | draining board |
| drapes, draperies (generally plural only) | thicker curtains |
| dress shoes | smart casual or formal style shoes |
| dresser (chest of drawers with mirror on top) | dressing table |
| drip feed [med.] | drip (as in 'he was put on a drip') |
| driver's license | driving licence |
| driver's test | driving test |
| driveway (private road leading to a private property) | drive,
driveway; garage drive |
| drop cloth | dust sheet |
| druggist (person licensed to sell/prepare medicines) | chemist |
| drunken driver/driving | drink-driver/driving |
| dry goods store | drapery, draper's (shop) |
| dry the dishes | dry up |
| dude [colloq.] | bloke, geezer [both colloq.], chap, fellow |
| duff [slang] (as in: 'Get off your duff!') | backside, rear end [colloq.] |
| dumb | stupid |
| dummy [slang] (stupid person) | wally [slang] |
| dump (n. & v.) (garbage or trash) | tip (n. & v.) (rubbish) |
| dump on someone | criticize someone severely |
| dump truck | dumper, tipper lorry, tipper truck |
| Dumpster™ (large metal container for waste disposal) | container, skip |
| dupe (gullible, easily deceived person) | mug [slang] |
| duplex (house) | maisonette |
| duplex
apartment (apartment on two stories with its own entrance) |
semi-detached house |
| dust cloth | duster |
| duty roster (work-sharing schedule) | rota |
| dweeb [slang] (socially awkward person) | nerd |
