
American > British Glossary | M
Smoothing transatlantic communication
Index of Americanisms |
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P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | Briticisms |
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ma'am | madam |
mail
(referring to letters and packages for delivery, as well as the public service for this purpose) |
post |
mail slot | letterbox |
mailbox (public) | letterbox, postbox |
mailman, mail carrier | postman, postie [colloq.] |
main drag, the [colloq.] | high street, the |
main street (on main street) | high street (in the high street) |
major
[acad.] (as in 'her major was economics', 'she majored in economics', or 'she's an economics major') |
one's subject of specialization at college or university; also used to refer to the student or graduate involved |
major (U.S. Air Force) | squadron leader (Royal Air Force) |
major general (U.S. Air Force) | air vice marshal (Royal Air Force) |
make an inventory | take stock |
mantel | mantelpiece |
marriage certificate | marriage lines |
marriage clerk's office | register office, registry office |
master sergeant (U.S. Air Force) | flight sergeant (Royal Air Force) |
math (mathematics) | maths |
mean (as in 'She has a mighty mean dog!') | aggressive, vicious, violent |
measuring cup | measuring jug |
meat grinder | mincer |
mechanical generator (e.g. on a bicycle) | dynamo |
mechanical pencil | propelling pencil |
median strip (on a freeway or divided highway) | central
reservation (on a motorway or dual carriageway) |
medicine chest, medicine cabinet | bathroom cabinet |
meet one's nut [colloq.] (in business) | break even and cover one's costs |
messy | untidy |
messenger | courier; dispatch-rider (provides fast, motorcycle delivery of important documents/packages) |
mezzanine (first balcony in a theater) | circle, dress circle |
Mideast, the | Middle East, the |
mid-term vacation
(for school kids) |
half-term
holiday |
mineral spirits | white spirit |
mini-mart | convenience store |
mock
turtleneck (of sweater with high round collar that does not fold over on itself) |
turtleneck |
model house | show home, show house |
molly bolt | Rawplug™
(plastic anchor giving screws a grip on walls) |
momentarily | shortly, very soon |
money order | postal order |
monkey wrench | adjustable spanner |
monkeyshines (mischievous or playful behavior) | monkey tricks |
mooch (live off or get things from others without paying) | sponge |
moor (swampland) | fen, marsh |
moose | elk |
mopboard | skirting board |
morgue | mortuary |
mortician | undertaker |
motion picture | cinema film |
motorbike | in the U.S. a moped or small, light motorcycle |
motorhome | camper van, camper |
mountain oysters | testicles of a sheep or bull served up as a delicacy |
movers | (furniture)
remover(s), removal(s) firm [both formal]; movers [informal] |
movie | film; flick [colloq.] |
movie theater | cinema |
movies, the [colloq.] (as in 'I'm going to the movies') | the pictures, the flicks [both colloq.], the cinema |
moving van | removal(s) van or lorry; pantechnicon (large size) |
muffin | cupcake made of eggs and baking powder |
muffler (on motor vehicle) | silencer |
mug (n.) [slang] | thug;
face, mush [slang] |
munchies [colloq.] (small, light snack items) | nibbles [colloq.] |
muslin (in the U.S. a plain white cotton cloth) | calico |
mutt [colloq.] | foolish or incompetent person |
mutual fund | unit trust |