
British-American Glossary | E
Smoothing transatlantic communication
Index of Briticisms |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | American-British |
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early closing | shop staying closed one afternoon a week |
earth (n.) (v.) (electrical) | ground |
earth wire | ground wire |
economy class (esp. on airliner) | coach class |
eff (v.) [colloq.] | swear using the F-word |
elastic band | rubber band |
electric fire | space heater (mainly type with glowing bars or elements) |
electricity pylon | transmission tower, high tension tower |
an eleven | soccer or cricket team |
the eleven-plus | exam taken by 11-year-olds in some areas of England to determine which type of school they'll go to next |
elevenses | mid-morning coffee
or tea taken around 11 o'clock (Brits often leave lunch until 1:00 PM) |
elk | moose |
embankment (of a river) | bank |
en suite facilities | private bathroom in a UK hotel room viewed as a novelty |
endive, curly endive | chicory, chicory crown |
engaged (of a telephone line or a toilet) | busy or occupied |
engine driver (on a train) | engineer |
envisage | envision |
entrée | appetizer;
if the meal is a very formal one, an entrée is a dish served between the fish and meat courses |
equal opportunities | affirmative action (program of positive discrimination) |
estate (housing estate) | housing development, subdivision |
estate (type of car) | station wagon |
estate agent | real estate agent, real estate broker, Realtor™ |
evening classes (after-work adult education) | night school (even if it's still broad daylight!) |
evens (equally likely to happen as not) | fifty-fifty |
excavator (mechanical digger) | backhoe |
excess (amount specified in an insurance policy that the insured party will have to cover in the event of a claim) | deductible |
exclamation mark | exclamation point |
ex-directory | when your phone number is unlisted |
exercise book | notebook |
exhaust pipe | tailpipe |
exhibit | exhibited item |
exhibition (collection of exhibits) | exhibit |
expiry date | expiration date |
ex-serviceman, ex-servicewoman | veteran, war veteran |
Index of Briticisms |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | American-British |