Have you ever watched a British show or movie and heard words like "jumper" or "gob"? Maybe you have wondered what in the world us Brits mean but you're too afraid to ask due to seeming ignorant or not knowing anyone from England to discuss this with.
Well, I can be that one helpful British girl who will put your troubling minds at rest! I am here to help guide you through words in "Skins," "The Great British Bake Off," or any other program you may be having trouble with.
1. 'Rubber' vs. 'eraser.'
I cannot stress this enough: In the United Kingdom, 'rubber' means 'eraser.' Over here, it means CONDOM. I made this mistake in 8th grade when I asked a teacher for a rubber. You should've seen his face. I am pretty sure he was more embarrassed than I was.
2. 'Jumper' vs. 'sweatshirt.'
This is not a piece of clothing over here. The only place I have ever seen use the word 'jumper' is Hollister. So if you're from England, I suggest you shop there.
3. 'Flannel' vs. 'towel.'
When going into a department store in the United States asking for a flannel, they will point you in the direction of plaid shirts, not soft towels. A flannel is usually a face towel in England and not something that cowboys strut around in.
4. The 'loo' vs. the 'toilet.'
You could say you wanted to use the toilet in England, but I am pretty sure they would be confused about why you didn't say the loo. I remember a lot of my friends teasing me when I asked to use teachers to use the loo.
5. 'Pants' vs. 'underwear.'
I remember when I first moved here and someone asked me, "What pants are you going to wear to the mall?" I thought to myself, "Ummm, isn't that a bit personal?" and proceeded to tell them what underwear I was going to wear (I felt more embarrassed that I told her they were covered in llamas than the fact she meant my trousers).
6. 'Chips' vs. 'French fries.'
Chips are NOT french fries. Chips are crisps in England. I remember ordering chips with a meal at a burger stand. Boy, was it embarrassing receiving a packet of salted lays and not french fries...
7. 'Biscuit' vs. 'cookie.'
A cookie is a biscuit in England. So when if you see "biscuits and gravy" on a breakfast menu in England, it would most likely be a cookie drenched in brown gravy (yuck).
8. 'Cow' vs. 'b*tch.'
Calling someone a cow in America will not get the same reaction as it will in Great Britain. In England, it could almost be the equivalent of calling someone a female dog.
9. 'Gob' vs. 'mouth.'
"Shut your gob" sounds more polite than "shut your mouth." But if you hear someone in a British show saying "shut your gob," they mean business!
10. 'Snogging' vs. 'making out.'
I am pretty sure if you were to explain to your American best friend "yeah, we snogged!" they would look at you blankly. Now if you travel to England, you now know how to politely ask your date to make out!
