Different words for the same things depending on which country you're in.
Replies
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cerise_noir wrote: »Australia: Corn flour
Us/Canada: Corn starch.cerise_noir wrote: »
Or Tasmania not being a part of AustraliaChristine_72 wrote: »I used to think America and Canada were the same country (Canada was in the US), Blasphemous I know
It's the same as people assuming New Zealand is part of Australia
Yes ...
And I also have people assuming I live on the continent of Africa.
Amazing. Has anyone asked you to speak Tasmanian?
No ... but I was told by a Canadian friend that I needed a local guide if I were going to go out into the country so that I wouldn't be eaten by cannibals or taken prisoner by rebels.
And when I told her that I've cycled all over Tasmania, she told me that wasn't possible ... too dangerous (see above) plus the roads aren't much more than tracks.
If you haven't guessed ... she was thinking of a country with a sort of similar name, located in Africa.
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singingflutelady wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Why do Americans say "Tuna fish", why not just Tuna?
Canadians just say tuna
But we Canadians say it differently than Australians do. I still get funny looks when I ask for a tuna sub at Subway, here in Australia, and especially when I ask for tomatoes on the sub.1 -
Not exactly a word difference - but you should of seen look on servers face in New Zealand when I asked (just out of habit and without even thinking about it) for beetroot on my subway.
Common subway item here in Australia, I have it all the time - but beetroot on subways (and presumably burgers, sandwiches etc) is definitely not the done thing in NZ. 0 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »Not even 5pm here. So for those of you who have reached it, how is 2017? Have you been overtaken by the robots, yet? Has Skynet risen?
It's wet. Very, very wet. So much rain.
I don't think that will be the problem here. I guess it's a frozen type of wet.
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cerise_noir wrote: »Australia: Corn flour
Us/Canada: Corn starch.cerise_noir wrote: »
Or Tasmania not being a part of AustraliaChristine_72 wrote: »I used to think America and Canada were the same country (Canada was in the US), Blasphemous I know
It's the same as people assuming New Zealand is part of Australia
Yes ...
And I also have people assuming I live on the continent of Africa.
Amazing. Has anyone asked you to speak Tasmanian?
No ... but I was told by a Canadian friend that I needed a local guide if I were going to go out into the country so that I wouldn't be eaten by cannibals or taken prisoner by rebels.
And when I told her that I've cycled all over Tasmania, she told me that wasn't possible ... too dangerous (see above) plus the roads aren't much more than tracks.
If you haven't guessed ... she was thinking of a country with a sort of similar name, located in Africa.
:laugh: That is gold.
Oh Tasmania, why are you so dangerous?
I'd love to go to Tassie one day.1 -
I recall sitting there utterly bemused and slightly horrified as an American exchange student told us how embarrased she was when her dad "growled her out" in public. Apparently that means telling her off. That's NOT what it means here...
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Alatariel75 wrote: »I recall sitting there utterly bemused and slightly horrified as an American exchange student told us how embarrased she was when her dad "growled her out" in public. Apparently that means telling her off. That's NOT what it means here...
Omg, oh no
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markrgeary1 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Why do Americans say "Tuna fish", why not just Tuna?
Why do the British hate the "z" (zed)? It's a good letter but proper British spelling is unfair. Initialize called and it feels underutilized! So please let's socialize the message about restoring the zed to it's proper place in our mostly common language.
Have a great holiday!
It's archaic and old fashioned.
fwiw in the OED the z spelling is first, so military convention is that the z is the correct speeling0 -
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MeanderingMammal wrote: »
That's the one she was thinking of ... based on bits and pieces she had heard or something. I'm not sure. Given that she didn't recognise that Tasmania and Tanzania were two completely different places, who knows what she was thinking.
And this was over a decade ago. 2 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »I recall sitting there utterly bemused and slightly horrified as an American exchange student told us how embarrased she was when her dad "growled her out" in public. Apparently that means telling her off. That's NOT what it means here...
I have to suppress my inner 13 year old whenever I read "I eat out once a week" for the same reason.4 -
Australian:
Chips = us fries
Chips = uk crisps
There's rarely any confusion over them - it's usually context that will give it away, though we also do sometimes distinguish hot chips vs potato chips.
However just about every aussie who visits the US has at least one instance of being disappointed when offered chips with something and getting potato chips. You guys do eat potato chips with weird things (hotdogs, subs, burgers, etc.)
For that matter, all of the classic bun + meat items that are sold in mcdonalds in australia are "burgers" even the chicken offerings . A "sandwich" is generally a much healthier item, cheese/cold meat such as ham etc/egg with salad in two pieces of bread, such as what's taken to school.
At home I take my tea white. It took a number of confused looks and wrong orders in the states to eventually come up with "hot black tea with milk." (or space for milk.)
I still don't understand what the deal is with "cream" in america. Cream to me is thick and what I put on desserts, I put milk in my tea and coffee. Nor do I understand what half n half is.1 -
Talking about mistaken countries I went to Austria (which is an awesome country btw) and when I got home people were asking me if I saw kangaroos and koalas lol. It must be very common as I saw the shirts in tourist shops in Vienna that made the austria-australia joke.0
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Australian:
Chips = us fries
Chips = uk crisps
There's rarely any confusion over them - it's usually context that will give it away, though we also do sometimes distinguish hot chips vs potato chips.
However just about every aussie who visits the US has at least one instance of being disappointed when offered chips with something and getting potato chips. You guys do eat potato chips with weird things (hotdogs, subs, burgers, etc.)
For that matter, all of the classic bun + meat items that are sold in mcdonalds in australia are "burgers" even the chicken offerings . A "sandwich" is generally a much healthier item, cheese/cold meat such as ham etc/egg with salad in two pieces of bread, such as what's taken to school.
At home I take my tea white. It took a number of confused looks and wrong orders in the states to eventually come up with "hot black tea with milk." (or space for milk.)
I still don't understand what the deal is with "cream" in america. Cream to me is thick and what I put on desserts, I put milk in my tea and coffee. Nor do I understand what half n half is.
We use both fries and chips for French fries. In stores, restaurants they are fries but we go to chip wagons to buy them in the summer.0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »CurlyCockney wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »CurlyCockney wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »I cant use the word route in a sentence without my juvenile husband turning it into something sexual :huh:
Hehe I get corrected by my friend for pronouncing it the English way (he's American). I asked him what where does he get his kicks and he said "Route 66"...and pronounced it the English way :-D
oh dear, I can just imagine my silly husband if we ever went somewhere on Route 69
Well he'll get his kicks!
It's going to take me 5 mins to get to the River Thames to watch the fireworks, so I'm off until next year!
I'm such a party animal. I fell asleep on the couch at 8:30, bloody hopeless, i is
Have fun, I'm sure the firworks will be spectacular. They'll show all the major cities fireworks on the news here tonight, I'll look for you in the crowd 
Heh, I'm going to a party (in 30 minutes!), but already trying to figure out how awful it would be to leave before midnight if it's primarily a dinner party and I talk to everyone earlier. I don't want to stay up that late, at least not if I am not already home.
ooh a dinner party, how fru fru
I need loud music and a party atmosphere to stay up late!
It ended up being fun and I stayed 'til 1. They were going to play board games after that (yeah, not a wild party), but not sure if they did.2 -
Christine_72 wrote: »Why do Americans say "Tuna fish", why not just Tuna?
Tuna steak = the way one can normally buy tuna here, not in a can (also IMO delicious).
Tuna fish = the stuff in the can or a sandwich made from it (I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I can't stand it).
Tuna = more generic, encompassing all of the above, sashimi with tuna (also good), whatever else.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Why do Americans say "Tuna fish", why not just Tuna?
Tuna steak = the way one can normally buy tuna here, not in a can (also IMO delicious).
Tuna fish = the stuff in the can or a sandwich made from it (I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I can't stand it).
Tuna = more generic, encompassing all of the above, sashimi with tuna (also good), whatever else.
Was it because when Chicken of the Sea started canning tuna, we had to make sure some people were aware that there was actually fish in the can, and not chicken?2 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »I recall sitting there utterly bemused and slightly horrified as an American exchange student told us how embarrased she was when her dad "growled her out" in public. Apparently that means telling her off. That's NOT what it means here...
That must be regional. I've never heard that expression. We do say someone got 'chewed out" which I guess could be just as bad.1 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »I recall sitting there utterly bemused and slightly horrified as an American exchange student told us how embarrased she was when her dad "growled her out" in public. Apparently that means telling her off. That's NOT what it means here...
That must be regional. I've never heard that expression. We do say someone got 'chewed out" which I guess could be just as bad.
Yeah, I've never heard "growled her out." I have heard "chewed her out" and would recognize it as American, but it's not that common IME and feels more southern, maybe.lemurcat12 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Why do Americans say "Tuna fish", why not just Tuna?
Tuna steak = the way one can normally buy tuna here, not in a can (also IMO delicious).
Tuna fish = the stuff in the can or a sandwich made from it (I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I can't stand it).
Tuna = more generic, encompassing all of the above, sashimi with tuna (also good), whatever else.
Was it because when Chicken of the Sea started canning tuna, we had to make sure some people were aware that there was actually fish in the can, and not chicken?
Heh.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »I recall sitting there utterly bemused and slightly horrified as an American exchange student told us how embarrased she was when her dad "growled her out" in public. Apparently that means telling her off. That's NOT what it means here...
That must be regional. I've never heard that expression. We do say someone got 'chewed out" which I guess could be just as bad.
Yeah, I've never heard "growled her out." I have heard "chewed her out" and would recognize it as American, but it's not that common IME and feels more southern, maybe.lemurcat12 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Why do Americans say "Tuna fish", why not just Tuna?
Tuna steak = the way one can normally buy tuna here, not in a can (also IMO delicious).
Tuna fish = the stuff in the can or a sandwich made from it (I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I can't stand it).
Tuna = more generic, encompassing all of the above, sashimi with tuna (also good), whatever else.
Was it because when Chicken of the Sea started canning tuna, we had to make sure some people were aware that there was actually fish in the can, and not chicken?
Heh.
I'm southern, never heard that phrase. chewed out i've heard and used though.0 -
rainbowbow wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »I recall sitting there utterly bemused and slightly horrified as an American exchange student told us how embarrased she was when her dad "growled her out" in public. Apparently that means telling her off. That's NOT what it means here...
That must be regional. I've never heard that expression. We do say someone got 'chewed out" which I guess could be just as bad.
Yeah, I've never heard "growled her out." I have heard "chewed her out" and would recognize it as American, but it's not that common IME and feels more southern, maybe.lemurcat12 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Why do Americans say "Tuna fish", why not just Tuna?
Tuna steak = the way one can normally buy tuna here, not in a can (also IMO delicious).
Tuna fish = the stuff in the can or a sandwich made from it (I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I can't stand it).
Tuna = more generic, encompassing all of the above, sashimi with tuna (also good), whatever else.
Was it because when Chicken of the Sea started canning tuna, we had to make sure some people were aware that there was actually fish in the can, and not chicken?
Heh.
I'm southern, never heard that phrase. chewed out i've heard and used though.
Yeah, I meant "chewed her out" sounds southern to me.
Never ever heard growled her out.0 -
singingflutelady wrote: »Talking about mistaken countries I went to Austria (which is an awesome country btw) and when I got home people were asking me if I saw kangaroos and koalas lol. It must be very common as I saw the shirts in tourist shops in Vienna that made the austria-australia joke.
Did it go something like this :laugh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hOLm_k6eCs 1 -
NeuronsNeuronsNeurons wrote: »I've heard of all of these except:
Cordial - Koolaid
Sprite - lemonade
Fizzy lemon squash - Lemonade. This is a tricky one
That's just crazy talk.
Baking Soda - Bicarbonate of Soda
All Purpose Flour - Flour
Self-Rising Flour - Raising Flour, or sometimes Self-Raising Flour
Kosher Salt - Salt Flakes
"Sprite - lemonade" was a big one for me when I visited England. They offered me lemonade with my alcoholic drinks and I was somewhat stumped until I saw the bottle. It was what I usually have under names like 7-Up or Sprite!!
The other drink mixed by squeezing juice from lemons and adding sugar and water was very specifically called homemade lemonade0 -
We have Sprite and 7 Up too, but lemonade doesn't have lime in it. There's also pink lemonade, but I've never had that.0
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Australian:
At home I take my tea white. It took a number of confused looks and wrong orders in the states to eventually come up with "hot black tea with milk." (or space for milk.)
I still don't understand what the deal is with "cream" in america. Cream to me is thick and what I put on desserts, I put milk in my tea and coffee. Nor do I understand what half n half is.
I'm glad someone else doesnt get half and half.
I have not been to main land America but I have been to Hawaii - nobody (except us Australian tourists) had plain milk in tea/coffee.
The hotel's breakfast buffet had milk in a jug to go on cereal which we used to put in our tea/coffee.
The actual tea/coffee section did not have milk on offer.
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paperpudding wrote: »Australian:
At home I take my tea white. It took a number of confused looks and wrong orders in the states to eventually come up with "hot black tea with milk." (or space for milk.)
I still don't understand what the deal is with "cream" in america. Cream to me is thick and what I put on desserts, I put milk in my tea and coffee. Nor do I understand what half n half is.
I'm glad someone else doesnt get half and half.
I have not been to main land America but I have been to Hawaii - nobody (except us Australian tourists) had plain milk in tea/coffee.
The hotel's breakfast buffet had milk in a jug to go on cereal which we used to put in our tea/coffee.
The actual tea/coffee section did not have milk on offer.
I don't get it either. Someone pages back mentioned we do have creamer type things here, but i checked at the supermarket the other day and I didn't see any.
I've said it before, but the choices here are either black coffee/tea or tea/coffee with milk.0 -
paperpudding wrote: »I'm glad someone else doesnt get half and half.
I have not been to main land America but I have been to Hawaii - nobody (except us Australian tourists) had plain milk in tea/coffee.
The hotel's breakfast buffet had milk in a jug to go on cereal which we used to put in our tea/coffee.
The actual tea/coffee section did not have milk on offer.
I don't think milk is that weird or uncommon. I used to use it in my coffee (that's how I learned to drink coffee) and never had anyone look at me funny (this was in MA, MI, and IL, as well as other states when traveling). I usually see it in coffee places as an option when I happen to notice (I drink it black now, so don't), and I have a friend who asks for it at restaurants, and again it's not treated as strange (this is in Chicago). I wouldn't expect people to know what "white" is for coffee or tea, but milk being added, not weird.
The deal with half and half, I think, is that it's available in little tiny single servings that apparently sit out without being chilled and so if you have coffee at a meeting it's usually available. That's why I used to drink coffee with it, before I converted to black. You'd add less half and half than you did milk, or at least that's what I did.
I don't know where the cream thing came from -- are there cultures that influenced American coffee drinking that use cream? I think there are Cuban coffee drinks with cream and when in Vienna they served coffee with cream (including whipped).
Cream in tea sounds disgusting, so I wonder if the UK/Australian resistance to coffee with cream is a hold-over from tea culture.
I lack a good knowledge of coffee history. ;-)
I find sweetener in coffee (or tea, but more coffee) weird because to me coffee just is not supposed to be a sweet beverage, but don't have a particularly strong feeling about cream vs. milk -- just would depend on how much I added if I was adding some (which I don't any more).0 -
Couple of terms I thought were UK-isms because I'd not heard them before coming to MFP and now wonder if they are US regionalisms:
"shift the weight" for "lose weight"
"fluffy" for "chubby" or "have more fat than I'd like"
Anyone?0 -
I agree Christine - I mean, you get froth in capacinnos and cream/icecream in iced coffee - but plain ordinary hot tea/coffee you either have black or white - white meaning with milk added, black meaning without.1
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lemurcat12 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »I'm glad someone else doesnt get half and half.
I have not been to main land America but I have been to Hawaii - nobody (except us Australian tourists) had plain milk in tea/coffee.
The hotel's breakfast buffet had milk in a jug to go on cereal which we used to put in our tea/coffee.
The actual tea/coffee section did not have milk on offer.
I don't think milk is that weird or uncommon. I used to use it in my coffee (that's how I learned to drink coffee) and never had anyone look at me funny (this was in MA, MI, and IL, as well as other states when traveling). I usually see it in coffee places as an option when I happen to notice (I drink it black now, so don't), and I have a friend who asks for it at restaurants, and again it's not treated as strange (this is in Chicago). I wouldn't expect people to know what "white" is for coffee or tea, but milk being added, not weird.
The deal with half and half, I think, is that it's available in little tiny single servings that apparently sit out without being chilled and so if you have coffee at a meeting it's usually available. That's why I used to drink coffee with it, before I converted to black. You'd add less half and half than you did milk, or at least that's what I did.
I don't know where the cream thing came from -- are there cultures that influenced American coffee drinking that use cream? I think there are Cuban coffee drinks with cream and when in Vienna they served coffee with cream (including whipped).
Cream in tea sounds disgusting, so I wonder if the UK/Australian resistance to coffee with cream is a hold-over from tea culture.
I lack a good knowledge of coffee history. ;-)
I find sweetener in coffee (or tea, but more coffee) weird because to me coffee just is not supposed to be a sweet beverage, but don't have a particularly strong feeling about cream vs. milk -- just would depend on how much I added if I was adding some (which I don't any more).
Milk was available everywhere on our trip to the states for coffee/tea. If you didn't have a drink with milk (cappuccino, latte etc) there was usually a station at the side with multiple types of milk (full fat, 2%,fat free) and cream and half--half. Half-n-half was the best thing ever in my opinion - part cream, part milk, and made the coffee delicious.
(the individual servings would be UHT - you can get those as milk too)
Ordering coffee was a little different -
you can get freshly brewed coffee (cheap, often refillable/bottomless) and add your own milk/cream,
or if you want what we call a "long black" in Australia you order an Americano (different to freshly brewed - Americano is made with espresso). More expensive, and not refillable.
(then there was the huge selection of other options - insane!)
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