EFL teacher David Appleyard
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Smoothing transatlantic communication
Index of Briticisms
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Americanisms

 

AmericanBritish term or expression BritishAmerican equivalent, or explanation
A & E (Accident and Emergency) emergency room
able seaman (Royal Navy) seaman (U.S. Navy)
ablutions, the [army slang] building housing toilets and washing facilities
abseil (cling on to and slide down a rope
            to rapidly descend a steep slope or cliff)
rappel
accountancy (the profession);
accounting (the activity)  
accounting (both the profession and activity)
acting sub-lieutenant (Royal Navy) ensign > chief warrant officer (U.S. Navy)
Action Man (military-themed doll) G.I. Joe  (U.S. equivalent)
action replay instant replay
adjustable spanner monkey wrench
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy) Fleet Admiral (U.S. Navy)
Admiralty Department of the Navy
adopt (nominate/select someone for political office) slate
aerial antenna
aerofoil airfoil
aeroplane airplane
afters [colloq.] (final course of a meal) dessert
aggro [colloq.] threatening behavior; trouble, difficulty
agricultural show the equivalent of a U.S. state or county fair
air chief marshal (Royal Air Force) general (U.S. Air Force)
air commodore (Royal Air Force) brigadier general (U.S. Air Force)
air-conditioning (especially in a car) climate control system
air marshal (Royal Air Force) lieutenant general (U.S. Air Force)
air vice marshal (Royal Air Force) major general (U.S. Air Force)
aircraftman (Royal Air Force) airman basic (U.S. Air Force)
airscrew (aircraft) propeller
airy-fairy [colloq.] impractical, not based on reality
alcohol (distilled type, spirits) liquor 
all-in all-inclusive
all the go [colloq.] (the hottest fashion) all the rage  
Allen™ key Allen™ wrench
allotment a lot or small piece of land rented to grow vegetables on for those with no garden
Alsatian (dog) German shepherd (dog)
aluminium aluminum
American football football (a game played mostly with the hands!)
American War of Independence (1775-1783) American Revolutionary War
anaesthetist anesthesiologist, anesthetist
ancillary subsidiary, subordinate, in a supporting role
Anglepoise™ lamp   swing-arm lamp, architect's lamp
annexe   dependency, annex
annual general meeting (or AGM) annual meeting (at which shareholders discuss
                           a company's annual report)
anorak windbreaker, parka
another string to one's bow another skill to fall back on
answerphone answering machine
antenatal   prenatal
anti-clockwise counter-clockwise
argie-bargie, argy-bargy [colloq.] loud but not usually serious argument or dispute
arse [slang] (buttocks, posterior, derrière) ass [slang], butt [colloq.]
articulated lorry (juggernaut) semi [colloq.], semi-trailer, tractor-trailer
arty (pretentiously artistic or worshipping of the arts) artsy
ASBO [acronym] (anti-social behavior order) Court order prohibiting someone from going somewhere or visiting someone. Violators could face a fine or even imprisonment.
assistant (in office or store) clerk
asymmetric bars (in women's gymnastics) uneven bars
at a loose end having nothing to do, bored
at Her/His Majesty's pleasure describes a prison sentence of undetermined length
at sixes and sevens [colloq.] in a state of total confusion or disarray
at the back (of) in back (of), behind
at the weekend, at New Year on the weekend, on New Year's
athletics track and field
aubergine eggplant
au pair, au pair girl foreign female, usually in late teens, who lives in with and assists a family with domestic chores or child care in order to learn the local language
autumn fall
away fixture a sports event not to be held on one's home ground;
also Brit slang for infidelity 
away with the fairies [colloq.] in a daydream; out of touch with reality