American > British Glossary | D
Smoothing and improving transatlantic communication
| Index of Americanisms |
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O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | Briticisms |
 American
term or expression |
 British
equivalent, or explanation |
|---|---|
| daddy longlegs [colloq.] | harvestman (arachnid a.k.a. 'harvest spider') |
| dame [slang] (female) | bird [slang] |
| datebook | diary, appointment book |
| davenport | large upholstered sofa that can often serve as bed |
| daylight saving time | summer time, BST (British summer time) |
| deck of cards | pack of cards |
| deductible (insurance term) | excess |
| deductions (from paycheck) | stoppages |
| defogger, defroster (on car windshield/rear window) | demister |
| depot | railway station |
| demon alcohol, the [humorous] | demon drink, the |
| dental assistant | dental nurse |
| dentist's office | dental surgery |
| Department of the Navy, the (U.S. Navy) | Admiralty, the (Royal Navy) |
| dependency (annex) | annexe |
| dependent clause [grammar] | subordinate clause |
| derby | bowler, bowler hat |
| dessert | pudding, sweet, afters [colloq.], dessert |
| dessert cart | dessert trolley |
| detour (rerouting of traffic to avoid some obstacle) | diversion |
| dial tone (telephone) | dialling tone |
| diaper | nappy |
| dick [colloq.] | detective |
| die (n.) (plural 'dice' or 'dies') | dice (singular and plural) |
| different than (informal variant of 'different from') | different to, different from |
| diner | roadside eatery with layout similar to a dining car |
| ding (v.) [colloq.] | rebuke or
criticize someone; scratch or dent a surface |
| dingbat [colloq.] | nutter [colloq.] (crazy or eccentric person) |
| dining car (on train) | restaurant car |
| dinky [colloq.] | small and without charm |
| directory assistance (telephone) | directory enquiries |
| dirt (on the ground) | loose soil; solid waste such as dog's droppings |
| dish (n.) [colloq.] | gossip |
| dish {v.) [colloq.] | disclose private information about someone else |
| dish, dish off (v.) | pass basketball or ice-hockey puck to teammate |
| dish detergent, dish soap | washing-up liquid |
| dish towel | tea towel |
| dishwasher (human) | washer-up |
| divided highway | dual carriageway |
| do a number on someone [colloq.] | harm, hurt or embarrass someone |
| do not enter (traffic sign) | no entry |
| do the dishes | wash up, do the washing up |
| doctor's office | surgery, doctor's surgery |
| dog's doo-doo [colloq.] | dog's shit [slang], dog poo, a dog turd |
| doghouse | kennel |
| dogie | motherless calf |
| donut | doughnut |
| doo-doo [colloq.] (excrement) | poo [colloq.], shit [slang], faeces, a turd |
| doofus [colloq.] | twit [collq.], fool |
| dorm [colloq.], dormitory (on college campus) | hall of residence |
| double or nothing | quits |
| double-pane windows | double-glazed windows, double glazing |
| downscale | downmarket |
| downspout | drainpipe |
| downtown (see also uptown) | city centre |
| draft, the (compulsory military service) | conscription |
| draftee (person legally obliged to do military service) | conscript |
| drainboard (dish-drying surface by kitchen sink) | draining board |
| drape, drapery | curtain |
| dress shoes | smart casual or formal style shoes |
| dresser (chest of drawers with mirror on top) | dressing table |
| drip feed [med.] | drip (as in 'he was put on a drip') |
| driver's license | driving licence |
| driver's test | driving test |
| driveway (private road leading to a private property) | drive,
driveway; garage drive |
| drop cloth | dust sheet |
| druggist (licensed to sell and prepare medicines) | chemist |
| drunk(en) driver | drink-driver, drunk(en) driver |
| drunk(en) driving | drink-driving, drunk(en) driving |
| drunk tank | detention cell at police station for arrested drunks |
| dry goods store | drapery, draper's (shop) |
| dry the dishes | dry up |
| dude [colloq.] | bloke, geezer [both colloq.]; chap, fellow |
| duff [slang] (as in: 'Get off your duff!') | backside, rear end [colloq.] |
| dumb | stupid |
| dummy [slang] (stupid person) | wally [slang] |
| dump (n. & v.) (garbage or trash) | tip (n. & v.) (rubbish) |
| dump on someone | criticize someone severely |
| dump truck | dumper, tipper lorry, tipper truck |
| Dumpster™ (big metal container for waste disposal) | container, skip |
| dupe (gullible, easily deceived person) | mug [slang] |
| duplex
apartment (apartment on two stories with its own entrance) |
maisonette |
| duplex house, two-family house | semi-detached house |
| dust cloth | duster |
| duty roster (work-sharing schedule) | rota |
| dweeb [slang] (socially awkward person) | nerd |
