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Smoothing transatlantic communication

Index of Briticisms

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Q R S T U V W X Y Z | Americanisms

British term or expression	American equivalent, or explanation
OAP (old-age pensioner)	retiree, senior
oblique stroke /	forward slash /
off [colloq.] (as in: 'Sorry dear, it's off!')	any unavailable U.K. restaurant menu item is 'off'
off-licence	liquor store, package store
off one's rocker [slang] (bonkers, crazy)	out to lunch [colloq.]
off-the-peg (ready-to-wear items in clothes shop)	off-the-rack
on holiday	on vacation
on sale	for sale, available for purchase
on the cards [colloq.] (likely or probable)	in the cards [colloq.]
on the dole [colloq.]	living on welfare for the unemployed
on the game [slang]	involved in prostitution or thieving
on the wagon, on the water wagon	teetotal, abstaining from alcohol
on tick [colloq.]	on credit
opencast mining	open-pit mining, open-cut mining
operating theatre	operating room
opposite	across from
optician	optometrist
orbital bypass or motorway	road encircling city or town
Ordinance Survey, the	UK government mapping agency
ordinary seaman (Royal Navy)	seaman apprentice (U.S. Navy)
ordinary share (investment)	common stock
orientate [v.]	orient [v.]
outdoor lavatory	outhouse
outhouse	shed or smaller building in house grounds
outside lane (of motorway)	passing lane (of freeway)
out-tray	outbox
oven glove	oven mitt
overall	light, loose-fitting, coat-like garment worn over one's regular clothes to protect them
overleaf (referring to something on the next page)	P.T.O. (please turn over)
overtake	catch up with and pass someone (esp. on a road)
own-brand product, own-label product	private brand, store brand
Oxbridge [portmanteau word]	Oxford and Cambridge universities, England's oldest and most prestigious (compare Ivy League)
Oxo™	a make of bouillon cubes
Oxonian	relating either to Oxford or its university
Oi!	Hey!