British > American Glossary | E
Smoothing transatlantic communication
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P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | Americanisms |
 British
term or expression |
 American
equivalent, or explanation |
|---|---|
| early closing | shop staying closed one afternoon a week |
| earth (n.) (v.) (electrical) | ground |
| earth wire | ground wire |
| economy class (especially on an airliner) | coach class |
| eff (v.) [colloq.] | swear using the F-word |
| elastic band | rubber band |
| electric fire (type with glowing bars or elements) | space heater |
| electricity pylon | transmission tower, high tension tower |
| an eleven | soccer or cricket team |
| the eleven-plus | exam for 11-year-olds in some parts of England to determine which type of school they'll go to next |
| elevenses | mid-morning coffee
or tea taken around 11 o'clock (Brits often leave lunch until 1:00 PM) |
| elk | moose |
| embankment (of a river) | bank |
| en suite facilities | fancy name for 'private bathroom' in UK hotel room |
| endive, curly endive | chicory, chicory crown |
| engaged (of a telephone line or a toilet) | busy or occupied |
| engine driver (on a train) | engineer |
| envisage | envision |
| entrée | appetizer
or starter;
if the meal is a very formal one, an entrée is a dish served between the fish and meat courses |
| equal opportunities | affirmative action (positive-discrimination program) |
| estate (housing estate) | housing development, subdivision |
| estate (type of car) | station wagon |
| estate agent | real estate agent, real estate broker, Realtor™ |
| evening classes (after-work adult education) | night school (even if it's still broad daylight!) |
| evens (equally likely to happen as not) | fifty-fifty |
| excavator (mechanical digger) | backhoe |
| excess
(amount specified in an insurance policy that the insured party will have to cover in the event of a claim) |
deductible |
| exclamation mark | exclamation point |
| ex-directory | when your phone number is unlisted |
| exercise book | notebook |
| exhaust pipe | tailpipe |
| exhibit | exhibited item |
| exhibition (collection of exhibits) | exhibit |
| expiry date | expiration date |
| ex-serviceman, ex-servicewoman | veteran, war veteran |
