British > American Glossary | N
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 |
|---|---|
| naff [colloq.] | tacky [colloq.], lacking in style, unfashionable |
| Naff off! [slang] (Go away!) | Beat it! [slang] Get lost! |
| the Naffy [slang] |
servicemen's canteen run by the NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) |
| nancy, nancy boy [slang] | effeminate or homosexual man |
| nanny (as in 'a nanny state') | overprotective |
| nappy | diaper |
| narked [slang] | annoyed, infuriated |
| national service | peacetime conscription in U.K. (1949–1960) |
| natter (v.) | babble, chatter idly |
| navvy | laborer |
| needlecord (fine-ribbed corduroy fabric) | pinwale |
| net curtains | sheer curtains, sheers, underdrapes |
| new moon | crescent moon |
| newsagent
(shop selling newspapers and magazines; provides early-morning delivery for a surcharge) |
newsdealer |
| newspaper round | newspaper route, paper route |
| newsreader | newscaster |
| nibbles [colloq.] (small, light snack items) | munchies [colloq.] |
| nick (n.)
[slang] (as in 'Nick got out of the nick in pretty good nick') |
slammer
[slang], prison; person's physical shape, condition |
| nick (v.)
[slang] (as in 'Nick was nicked for nicking Nicky's knickers and fined 50 nicker.') |
arrest; steal, glom [slang] |
| nicker [n.](U) [slang] (as in 'I won 500 nicker!') | pound (£1) |
| night-dress | nightgown |
| nil | naught, zero (in soccer scores) |
| nipper [colloq.] | young child (esp. a boy) |
| no entry (traffic sign) | do not enter, wrong way |
| nob {colloq.] | rich
person from an important family; member of the landed gentry |
| nominate (propose someone for office) | slate |
| no overtaking (traffic sign) | no passing |
| non-profit organization (or NPO) | not-for-profit organization |
| non-U | speech/behavior unacceptable to upper classes |
| normality | normalcy |
| nosh [slang] | food and drink generally |
| noshery [slang] | restaurant, diner |
| nosh-up [slang] | large meal |
| nosy parker | busybody; someone too inquisitive about others |
| not cricket [colloq.] | not fair; dishonorable, unsportsmanlike behavior |
| not give a monkey's [colloq.] | not give a damn, not care the least |
| not in the same street (as something else)[colloq.] | utterly inferior (to) |
| note (paper money) | bill |
| notecase | billfold |
| notelet | quarter-folded sheet of letter-writing paper with a picture on the front so it resembles a small card |
| noticeboard | bulletin board |
| nought | zero, naught |
| noughts and crosses (game) | tic-tac-toe, tick-tack-toe |
| nous | common sense |
| number plate (on vehicle) | license plate |
| nursery nurse | person properly trained to look after very young children |
| nursery school (school for children aged 2-5) | preschool |
| nursery stakes | race for 2-year-old horses |
| nursing officer | senior British nurse below a senior nursing officer |
| nutter | weirdo, someone considered eccentric or crazy |
