Its not until a Britt girl like me lives in America, she realises the so many differences in our two languages, and you wouldn’t think that the odd word or two would make a difference, but when it comes to shopping, theres so many new words I’ve had to learn.
When shopping for icing sugar, I asked the lady in HEB where it was.. she looked at me with a very puzzled expression for a moment, then asked me what you do with icing sugar. I said you make icing with it and put it on cakes.
“OOoohhh confectioners sugar!” She said with a realising tone.
Another day, Gregg and I were in home depot, we were looking for a new strimmer.
Gregg got looking at some plumbing so I wandered off to find them. I asked the guy where they were. “A strimmer ma’am?” he asked very bemused.
“Yes, a strimmer, you cut back weeds and long grass with it,”
“OOHH a weed whacker!” he said at last with an amused smile.
Heres some other words.. American words first.
Trash bags = Rubbish bags … Trash can=Dustbin ….Kettle(American)=Saucepan…. Kettle (UK)=tea kettle
Table spoon (American)=Dessert spoon
Fanny bag=Bum bag
(using the term fanny bag in England is not advisable) 
Sneakers=trainers… Pants (American)=Trousers. Panties=knickers … Truck=lorry… Commercial vehicle=Transit.
Theres American slang words where we have our slang too like Smokes=fags.
And of course I have found out what a fag is here so Im never going to ask anyone where they sell fags!!!!
 
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read more blogs!
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1frantastic
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Jun 19 @ 1:51PM
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yep language idiosynchronicies can get ya in trouble....even from yankee to southern states here in the US.....lol   
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imlost2
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Jun 19 @ 2:09PM
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haha, I learned while in England, never ask for a ride anywhere, it's called a lift. can Also if you want someone to call you, it's can you ring me. I had a good time when I was over there trying to figure out what everyone was saying, but I finally caught on. Take care Lost
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eastham
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Jun 19 @ 3:22PM
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Kettle(American)=Saucepan…. Kettle (UK)=tea kettle
Okay, this one has me confused. A tea kettle is not a saucepan over there or over here. While I'm sure there are lots of people who boil water for tea in a saucepan, the vast majority use a tea kettle (albeit not an electric one).
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CHARLIgurl1
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Jun 19 @ 3:48PM
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Okay, this one has me confused. A tea kettle is not a saucepan over there or over here. While I'm sure there are lots of people who boil water for tea in a saucepan, the vast majority use a tea kettle (albeit not an electric one
When I went to buy a new saucepan, (thats what we call them in the UK), the ones I found here were called kettles.
A tea kettle here, is just a kettle in the UK and not a tea kettle or pan.
Ive never been good at explaining stuff lol
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whatagal
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Jun 19 @ 7:03PM
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Kettle does NOT equal saucepan. It equals teakettle here too! BTW teakettle is one word. 
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CHARLIgurl1
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Jun 19 @ 7:56PM
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Thanks Whatagal.! 
I couldnt understand why when I looked for saucepans I just found saucepans labled with 'Kettles'
So I found this..
Elsewhere in the world (and sometimes in the United States) the word kettle can also refer to a soup kettle, a metal pot for boiling or stewing,
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summerbreeze916
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Jun 19 @ 9:25PM
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We do even speak differently from one another in the States. We here just call them pots and pans. I make my soups in a stock pot. 
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Herodotus
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Jun 19 @ 10:04PM
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Talk about differences between the States and here what about here and here?
In Liverpool
keks are trousers, robot a traffic light, scally a young street wise kid, tracky bottoms, tracksuit bottoms, bizzie a policeman
Then of course there's the West Country
Daps are plimsolls or trainers, emmet or grockle is a tourist or visitor, oggie a cornish pasty, jasper a wasp
Its one of the beauties of language in how it grows and accommodates new experiences, cultures and ideas. Words like verandah, bungalow and juggernaut come from the Indian lanuage yet are staples of English.
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oct_cat
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Jun 19 @ 10:57PM
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We do even speak differently from one another in the States Yep!! Wisconsinites are known as "cheeseheads" but it has nothing to do with head cheese!!
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butterfly943
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Jun 20 @ 12:37AM
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I love learning new things....you need to post some more 
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mystery2u888
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Jun 20 @ 3:16AM
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