British English from A to Zed

A Definitive Guide to the Queen's English

Norman W. Schur

• Publisher: Skyhorse
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781626364677
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Writing & Presentation Skills

Whether you are traveling to Great Britain or just want to understand British popular culture, this unique dictionary will answer your questions. British English from A to Zed contains more than 5, 500 British terms and their American equivalents, each with a short explanation of the term's history and an example of its use. The appendixes provide valuable supplemental material with differences between British and American pronunciation, grammar, and spelling as well as terms grouped in specific areas such as currency, weight, and numbers.This dictionary will help you unravel the meanings of: • Berk (idiot)
• Bevvied up (drunk)
• Crisps (potato chips)
• Erk (rookie)
• To judder (to shake)
• Noughts and crosses (tic-tac-toe)
• And more!George Bernard Shaw famously said that the British and Americans were "two peoples separated by a common language." This book bridges that gap.

Index

Note: This index lists American words, terms, and expressions followed by their British equivalents, which are listed alphabetically in the book; boldface listings indicate sections on specialized terms and discussions of British usage.

Note: This index lists American words, terms, and expressions followed by their British equivalents, which are listed alphabetically in the book; boldface listings indicate sections on specialized terms and discussions of British usage.

A

A (B, C, etc.); alpha (beta, gamma, etc.)

abandon; abandonment

abandon; leave in the lurch

abbreviations 415

able seaman; rating

about; -ish

above market value; over the odds

abrupt change; turn-about

absentee ballot; postal vote

absent-minded; scatty

absolutely; bang

absolutely; quite

absolutely sound; one hundred percent copper-bottomed

absorbent cotton; cotton wool

absorbing; riveting

abuse; slang

accept the charge; pay for the call

access road; slip road

accident spot; black spot

acclimate; acclimatize

accommodations; accommodation

according to best usage; according to Cocker

account book; washing-book

accusation; threap

ace of spades; old mossyface

ack-ack; archies

across the street; over the road

act; come

act as chief prosecuting attorney; lead for the Crown

act disrespectfully toward; take the mickey out of

act in a friendly manner towards (someone); show friendly to (someone)

action for a declaratory judgment; friendly action

act of sexual intercourse; Seeing-to

ad; advert

add on; throw out

adhesive tape; sticky tape

adjourn; rise

adjourn Parliament; count out the house

adjustable reading lamp; angelpoise lamp

adjusted for inflation; index-linked

adjuster; assessor

administration; government

admitted to the bar; called to the bar

adoption of metric system; metrification (metrication)

advance; sub

advantage; pull

adversary; adversarial

affair; palaver

affair; show

affirmative action; positive discrimination

afternoon tea; set tea

agate; bonce

ages; moons

ages; yonks

aggravation; aggro

aggressiveness; aggro

agitate; fuss

agree; accept

agree to; agree

airfield; aerodrome

airfield; tarmac

airs; side

aisle; corridor

aisle; gangway

alcohol, denatured; methylated spirit

alcohol, methyl; white spirit

alcohol, someone who drinks too much; boozer

alcohol, to take in excess; cane it

alcoholic beverage, flavored; Alcopop

alcoholic beverages, license to sell for consumption off the premises; off licence

alcoholic drink; bevvy

alcoholic drink, small; dram

alcoholic drink, to have an; bend the elbow

ale ...