American > British Glossary | M
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 |
|---|---|
| ma'am | madam |
| Magic City, the [nickname] | Miami, Florida |
| post | |
| mail slot | letterbox |
| mailbox (public) | letterbox, postbox |
| mailman, mail carrier | postman, postie [colloq.] |
| main drag, the [colloq.] | high street, the |
| main street (on main street) | high street (in the high street) |
| major
[acad.] (as in 'her major was economics', 'she majored in economics', or 'she's an economics major') |
subject of specialization at college or university;
student or graduate who studied this subject |
| major (U.S. Air Force) | squadron leader (Royal Air Force) |
| major general (U.S. Air Force) | air vice marshal (Royal Air Force) |
| make an inventory | take stock |
| mantel | mantelpiece |
| marriage certificate | marriage lines |
| marriage clerk's office | registry office, register office |
| master sergeant (U.S. Air Force) | flight sergeant (Royal Air Force) |
| math | maths |
| mean (as in 'She has a mighty mean dog!') | aggressive, vicious, violent |
| measuring cup | measuring jug |
| meat grinder | mincer |
| mechanical generator (e.g. on bicycle) | dynamo |
| mechanical pencil | propelling pencil |
| median strip (on freeway or divided highway) | central reservation (on motorway, dual carriageway) |
| medicine chest, medicine cabinet | bathroom cabinet |
| meet one's nut [colloq.] (in business) | break even and cover one's costs |
| messy | untidy |
| messenger | courier; dispatch-rider (provides fast, motorcycle delivery of important documents or packages) |
| mezzanine (first balcony in theater) | circle, dress circle |
| Mideast, the | Middle East, the |
| mid-term vacation (for school children) | half-term holiday |
| mineral spirits | white spirit |
| mini-mart | convenience store |
| minivan, passenger van | people carrier |
| mock
turtleneck (of sweater with high round collar that does not fold over on itself) |
turtleneck |
| model house | show home, show house |
| molly bolt | Rawplug™ (plastic anchor so screws can grip walls) |
| momentarily | in a moment, in a tick [colloq.], in a trice [colloq.] |
| money order | postal order |
| monkey wrench | adjustable spanner |
| monkeyshines (mischievous or playful behavior) | monkey tricks |
| mooch (live off or get things from others for free) | sponge |
| moor (swampland) | fen, marsh |
| moose | elk |
| mopboard | skirting board |
| morgue | mortuary |
| mortician | undertaker |
| motion picture | cinema film |
| motorbike | in the US a moped or small, light motorcycle |
| motorhome | camper van, camper |
| mountain oyster, Rocky Mountain oyster | testicle of sheep or bull served up as delicacy |
| movers (of furniture and other household goods) | remover(s), removal(s) firm [both formal]; movers [informal] |
| movie | film |
| movie star | film star |
| movie theater | cinema |
| movies, the [colloq.] | the pictures, the flicks [both colloq.], the cinema |
| moving van | removal(s) van or lorry; pantechnicon (large size) |
| moxie [colloq.] | courage
and determination; pep [colloq.], energy |
| muffin | cupcake made from eggs and baking powder |
| muffler (on motor vehicle) | silencer |
| mug (n.) [slang] | thug;
someone's face [disparaging]; mush [slang] |
| munchies [colloq.] (small, light snack items) | nibbles [colloq.] |
| muslin (in the U.S. a plain white cotton cloth) | calico |
| mutt [colloq.] | foolish or incompetent person |
| mutual fund | unit trust |
