British > American Glossary | L
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Index of Briticisms |
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P Q R S T U V W X Y Z | Americanisms |
British term or expression | American equivalent, or explanation |
---|---|
lacquer (hair lacquer) | hair spray |
ladder (long vertical hole in stockings or tights) | run |
ladies' hairdresser's, hairdressing salon | beauty parlor, beauty salon, beauty shop |
ladybird | ladybug |
lager | light-colored effervescent beer |
lance corporal (British Army) | private 1st class (U.S. Army) |
landlady, landlord | owner of pub, boarding house or lodgings |
larder (cupboard or small room for food storage) | pantry |
lark | rigmarole
(unenjoyable, pointless activity); something done for fun (same as American usage) |
latch on to [colloq.] | figure out the meaning of something |
launderette | Laundromat™, coin laundry |
laundry basket, clothes basket | hamper, laundry hamper |
lavatorial humour | scatological humor |
layabout (habitual loafer or idler) | bum, bummer [both slang] |
lay-by (roadside resting place or stopping area) | pull-off |
lay something on | plan or arrange something |
lay the table | set the table |
leader | newspaper
editorial; concertmaster or leading violinist |
leading seaman (Royal Navy) | petty officer 3rd class (U.S. Navy) |
leaflet | flyer |
lecturer (at college or university) | professor |
left-luggage locker | coin locker |
left-luggage office | baggage room |
let, let out | lease or rent out property or land |
letterbox | mailbox
(receptacle); mail slot (rectangular hole in door or wall of building) |
level crossing | grade crossing, railroad crossing |
lifebelt (buoyant belt-shaped life preserver) | life buoy |
lift (n.) | elevator; ride (in someone else's car) |
lightning conductor | lightning rod |
like the clappers [colloq.] | like crazy [colloq.], very fast or hard |
linctus | syrupy cough medicine |
line, railway line | track, railroad track |
line manager | (U.K.) supervisor one rank above those supervised; person in charge of key activity, such as production |
liner, passenger liner | ocean liner |
lino [abbr.] (floor-covering material) | linoleum |
liquid lunch [humorous] | lunch consisting mainly or only of alcoholic drinks |
liquidizer (kitchen gadget) | blender |
litter bin (e.g. in the street, park, etc.) | public trash can |
liver sausage | liverwurst |
Liverpudlian | relating to (or resident of) English city of Liverpool |
loaf [colloq.] (as in idiom 'Use your loaf!') | head, brain, common sense |
locum | doctor who substitutes for another in their absence |
lodger | roomer |
loft | roomless attic |
lollipop
man, lollipop lady [colloq.] (officially a 'school crossing patrol officer') |
crossing guard |
lolly [C], ice lolly | popsicle |
lolly [C], lollipop | hard candy on stick |
lolly [U] [colloq.] (money) | dough [colloq.] |
long-sighted | far-sighted |
loo [colloq.] (lavatory) | john [colloq.]; bathroom, restroom |
loony-bin [slang] (psychiatric hospital) | booby-hatch [slang] |
loose cover (removable cover for chair, sofa, etc.) | slipcover |
lorry | truck |
lorry driver | truck driver |
lose the plot [colloq.] | no longer able to handle a situation or act normally |
loss adjuster (investigates insurance claims) | claims adjuster |
lost property, lost property office | lost and found |
loudhailer | bullhorn, megaphone |
lounge suit | men's formal suit for day wear; business suit |
love (form of address used by older shop clerks) | honey, hon' |
low loader | lowboy trailer |
L-plate | mandatory large red L on rear of learner-driver's car |
Ltd.
(Abbreviation for 'Limited'. Ltd. company owners have limited personal liability in the event of bankruptcy.) |
Inc.
(Incorporated) |
lucky dip | grab bag |
lug [colloq.] | ear |
lug stopper [colloq.] | earplug |
luggage | baggage |
luggage reclaim (at airport) | baggage reclaim |
luggage van (on train) | baggage car |
lughole [colloq.] | earhole |