EFL teacher David Appleyard
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Smoothing and improving transatlantic communication
Index of Briticisms
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Americanisms

 

AmericanBritish term or expression BritishAmerican 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