
British > American Glossary | O
Smoothing transatlantic communication
Index of Briticisms |
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 | Americanisms |
![]() |
![]() |
---|---|
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! |