English to USA Translations

treetop57

I leaned over and explained before she gave up on the idea of trying a roast, but I realised how hard it is to describe a Yorkshire Pudding to someone who's never had one. I think the description was something along the lines of:

"It's a soft savoury batter, baked in the oven. It rises up as it's cooked."

We have something called a popover, which is like a muffin-sized Yorkshire pudding. Not to be confused with a turnover, which is a little deep-fried fruit pie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popover

jennifer52484

bump -- read some and these should amuse me later!!.

TeachTheGirl

LOVE Yorkshire puddings and Toad in the Hole. I'm going to have to make some this week now.

My husband picked up 'bovered' from my UK friends. Shortened it to 'Bov'd'. So whenever he 'cannot be bothered' to do something, he'll simply say 'Bov'd'. XD So frustrating.

My brother made me laugh in a Facebook chat the other day. I haven't heard 'Fair do' for years!

AlayshaJ

i hate the word crisps! i do, i do, i do!

treetop57

"Rooty-tooty point and shooty" is a joke that only Americans could understand. The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is forever advertising some sort of deathly sweet breakfast combination that's called "Rooty-Tooty Fresh and Fruity."

juicemoogan

My ex (from England) used to always say

"taking the piss out of you" eg.. making fun of you..

so weird.

We could also talk about Canadianisms vs. Americanisms..

my most hated.. Soda(US) vs. Pop (canada)

wisebadger53

UK Roundabout = US Rotary

I've only heard them called roundabouts in the US. Rotary is a club (Rotary International).

They are called rotaries in some places. This is the problem with "US" meanings since we are a rather large country and the regional differences can be very marked.

They are also called "Circles" in some parts of the US - in New Jersey there are the Cherry Hill Circle, the Marlton Circle, etc.

stormieweather

I didn't see it mentioned here anywhere, but my experience overseas was that the 1st Floor was NOT the floor with the exit from the building. That was the Ground Floor or the Lobby. The 1st floor over there was what our elevators show as the 2nd FLoor in the US. So the elevator panel went G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.

runnercheryl

I leaned over and explained before she gave up on the idea of trying a roast, but I realised how hard it is to describe a Yorkshire Pudding to someone who's never had one. I think the description was something along the lines of:

"It's a soft savoury batter, baked in the oven. It rises up as it's cooked."

We have something called a popover, which is like a muffin-sized Yorkshire pudding. Not to be confused with a turnover, which is a little deep-fried fruit pie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popover

Ugh, fruit on a Yorkshire Pudding?

Sounds like you get a little more creative with yours! Although if 'What's a Yorkshire pudding?' ever comes up in a conversation with an American again, I have a better description - thanks!

cathyc71

Visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Australia, my sister-in-law asks my b/f if he could finish off her "mother" for her......we were all hysterical over this..... turns out "mother" is an energy drink! LOL

stephc0711

I apologise for generalising on the UK to USA translations... all translations are fun!

I didn't want to have Eggplant in the USA because I literally thought it would taste of egg! Didn't realise I was missing out on Aubergine at the time!

Oh, and I'm Southern UK but I still think "*kitten*" sounds better the way it's pronounced oop north, which is how I always say it!

I am so glad to learn that aubergine is eggplant. I've seen a few recipes I wanted to try that called for aubergine. I'd heard the word before but had no idea where to find it! lol

I spent a lot of time googling when I came here. My husband kept mentioning vegetables I'd never heard of. Also, rutabaga = swede. Doesn't swede sound much nicer?

I feel as though my husband would be offended if I told him I wanted to eat a swede... ( he's Danish, and a perv.)

treetop57

They are also called "Circles" in some parts of the US - in New Jersey there are the Cherry Hill Circle, the Marlton Circle, etc.

In my former hometown, there is a grand total of one roundabout, rotary, or what-have-you. Everyone calls it "The Traffic Circle." Apparently, the official name is "The Los Alamitos Circle." "The Los" isn't quite as bad as "The La Brea Tar Pits," which literally means "The The Tar Tar Pits."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Alamitos_Circle

stephc0711

My ex (from England) used to always say

"taking the piss out of you" eg.. making fun of you..

so weird.

We could also talk about Canadianisms vs. Americanisms..

my most hated.. Soda(US) vs. Pop (canada)

I've always called it pop, and I've never even been within 100 miles of Canada. The Kansas City region of the US is one of the onlyplaces in the States that calls it pop. Unless you count the small places south of St (pronounced Sant, in my family) Louis, who call it Sodie Pop.

treetop57

We have something called a popover, which is like a muffin-sized Yorkshire pudding. Not to be confused with a turnover, which is a little deep-fried fruit pie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popover

Ugh, fruit on a Yorkshire Pudding?

No! A popover is like a Yorkshire pudding. A turnover is something completely different. I don't think we ever put toads in our holes!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popover

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnover_(food)

runnercheryl

They are also called "Circles" in some parts of the US - in New Jersey there are the Cherry Hill Circle, the Marlton Circle, etc.

In my former hometown, there is a grand total of one roundabout, rotary, or what-have-you. Everyone calls it "The Traffic Circle." Apparently, the official name is "The Los Alamitos Circle." "The Los" isn't quite as bad as "The La Brea Tar Pits," which literally means "The The Tar Tar Pits."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Alamitos_Circle

Put a SatNav into American English mode in the UK, and all roundabouts become 'traffic circles'.

stephc0711

They are also called "Circles" in some parts of the US - in New Jersey there are the Cherry Hill Circle, the Marlton Circle, etc.

In my former hometown, there is a grand total of one roundabout, rotary, or what-have-you. Everyone calls it "The Traffic Circle." Apparently, the official name is "The Los Alamitos Circle." "The Los" isn't quite as bad as "The La Brea Tar Pits," which literally means "The The Tar Tar Pits."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Alamitos_Circle

Put a SatNav into American English mode in the UK, and all roundabouts become 'traffic circles'.

We have roundabouts here... I'm not sure if they're the same thing... These useless circles in the middle of the road you have to drive around to keep from speeding, all the while praying you don't hit someone you can't see, thanks to the rediciulous plants in your way... That's what we (in Missouri) call roundabouts.

runnercheryl

We have something called a popover, which is like a muffin-sized Yorkshire pudding. Not to be confused with a turnover, which is a little deep-fried fruit pie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popover

Ugh, fruit on a Yorkshire Pudding?

No! A popover is like a Yorkshire pudding. A turnover is something completely different. I don't think we ever put toads in our holes!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popover

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnover_(food)

Yeah, we have turnovers too, but that popover page says "Popovers may be served either as a sweet, topped with fruit and whipped cream for breakfast or with afternoon tea, or with meats at lunch and dinner."

I just can't imagine adding whipped cream and fruit to a Yorkshire Pudding, but I guess if it's also eaten with meats it must be the same thing? Or do people add sugar to a popover to turn it into a breakfast dish? Or, is Wikipedia just wrong?

runnercheryl

We have roundabouts here... I'm not sure if they're the same thing... These useless circles in the middle of the road you have to drive around to keep from speeding, all the while praying you don't hit someone you can't see, thanks to the rediciulous plants in your way... That's what we (in Missouri) call roundabouts.

Hm...maybe. There's a 'right of way' system to ours. Always let the people to your right go past before you go. Our big ones might block your view of the other side, but they're so big you'll have plenty of time to see what's coming anyway. Our small ones are just circles painted on the road.



They're a traffic control measure, rather than a speed control measure. Might be the same thing. The places I've been in the US are all just straight, square roads and big junctions. Have never seen anything vaguely circular.

Most roundabouts in the UK are easy to understand. Double, at most. I think this one would kill me:

nessagrace22

@mremoticon thats gotta be the most incorrect list ive seen lol

Erm... :noway: I have never heard BBC News report on someone being shot with a rooty-tooty point and shooty in the slappy ham :laugh:

I was thinking exactly the same thing but it might make the news a bit more interesting :laugh:

ZombieSlayer

Is that some kind of table top game board for the gods? Eek.