American > British Glossary | T
Smoothing transatlantic communication
| Index of Americanisms |
|
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 | Briticisms |
 American
term or expression |
 British
equivalent, or explanation |
|---|---|
|
tab
[colloq.] (as in 'pick up the tab' or pay for all; can also mean the 'pull-tab' on a drink can) |
bill
(e.g. in a restaurant); ring-pull (on a drink can) |
| table (v.) (put on a back burner) | shelve |
| table napkin | serviette |
| tacky [slang] (shabby, tasteless, lacking in style) | naff [slang] |
| tailgate (n.) (on truck) | tailboard (on lorry) |
| tailgate (v.), tailgating (n.) | drive too close to the vehicle in front |
| taillight (on vehicle) | rear light |
| tailpipe (on vehicle) | exhaust pipe |
| take a bath | have a bath ('take' also common) |
| Take a hike! | Get lost! Go away! |
| take a pee [colloq.] (urinate) | have a pee, have a slash [slang] |
| take a rain check on something | postpone accepting a kindness or invitation |
| take a shower | have a shower ('take' also common) |
| take something with a grain of salt | take something with a pinch of salt |
| takeout (fast food) | takeaway |
| talk show (TV) | chat show |
| tank top | vest |
| tarp (heavy waterproof sheet used as covering) | tarpaulin |
| tavern | pub, public house; tavern [old fashioned] |
| taxi stand | taxi rank |
| tea cart, tea wagon | tea trolley |
| teakettle | kettle |
| technical sergeant (U.S. Air Force) | chief technician (Royal Air Force) |
| teddy (one-piece undergarment for a woman) | camiknickers (i.e. camisole + knickers) |
| telephone booth | telephone box, telephone kiosk |
| telephone operator (at telephone exchange only) | telephonist (at switchboard or telephone exchange) |
| telephone pole | telegraph pole |
| teller (bank) | cashier, bank cashier |
| tempest in a teapot (a lot of fuss about nothing) | storm in a teacup |
| Texas gate (vehicle pass) | cattle
grid (grid over a ditch to allow vehicles but not sheep or cattle to pass) |
| that figures | that's likely (or reasonable) |
| There you go! (said when handing over something) | Here you are! |
| Thermos™ bottle | Thermos™ flask, vacuum flask |
| third floor, third story | second floor, second storey |
| thread | cotton (on a reel) |
| through, thru (as in 'Monday thru Friday') | up to and including |
| thumbtack | drawing pin |
| ticker | tape machine (for receiving telegraphic messages) |
| ticket counter | ticket office |
| ticket sales clerk | booking clerk |
| ticket scalper | ticket tout |
| ticket taker | ticket collector |
| tic-tac-toe, tick-tack-toe (game) | noughts and crosses |
| tidbit | titbit |
| time out | time off, time to spare |
| toggle bolt | Rawplug™
(plastic anchor that gives screws a proper grip on walls) |
| toilet kit | sponge bag, toilet bag |
| toll free (or 800) number in the U.S. | freephone (or 0800) number in the UK |
| tow truck | breakdown truck, breakdown van |
| towel rack | towel rail |
| town house | terraced house |
| traffic circle (type of road junction) | roundabout |
| traffic light, traffic signal | traffic lights |
| track (railroad track) | line (railway line) |
| track 1 (of a train or railroad station) | platform 1 (of a railway station) |
| track and field | athletics |
| tractor-trailer | articulated lorry, juggernaut |
| trailer (mobile home) | caravan |
| trailer camping | caravanning |
| trailer park | caravan site |
| train station | railway station |
| tramp [slang] (loose woman or prostitute) | scrubber, tart [both slang] |
| transmission tower (supporting high-voltage cables) | pylon, electricity pylon |
| trash | rubbish, refuse [formal] |
| trash can, trash barrel | dustbin |
| trash man | dustman, rubbish collector, refuse collector [formal] |
| traveling salesman | commercial traveller |
| triangle (drawing instrument) | set square |
| trolley (means of transportation) | tram; cable car |
| truck | lorry, truck |
| truck
farm (small farm growing fruit and vegetables for direct sale to the public) |
market garden |
| truck stop | transport café |
| trunk (of a car) | boot |
| tube (electronic component) | valve, radio valve |
| tube, the [colloq.] (television, TV) | the telly, the box [both colloq.] |
| tube top (woman's tight, low-cut, strapless top) | boob tube |
| turfman | horse racing devotee or punter |
| turn signal (on a vehicle) | indicator, blinker |
| turnpike | tollroad |
| turtleneck (sweater) | polo neck, roll neck (jumper) |
| tuxedo | dinner jacket |
| twelve-gauge shotgun | twelve-bore shotgun |
| two weeks | a fortnight (from Old English for fourteen nights) |
| two-family house | semi-detached house |
