British > American Glossary | N
Smoothing and improving 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 | Americanisms |
 British
term or expression |
 American
equivalent, or explanation |
|---|---|
| NAAFI, the Naffy [slang] | servicemen's canteen run by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) |
| naff [colloq.] | tacky [colloq.], lacking in style, unfashionable |
| Naff off! [slang] ('Go away...you're annoying me!') | Beat it! Get lost! [both colloq.] |
| nancy, nancy boy [slang] | swishy [slang] or effeminate male |
| nanny state | overprotective government |
| nappy | diaper |
| narked [slang] | annoyed, infuriated |
| national service | peacetime conscription in U.K. (1949–1960) |
| natter (v.) | babble, chatter idly |
| navvy | laborer |
| needlecord (fine-ribbed corduroy fabric) | pinwale |
| net curtains | sheer curtains, sheers, underdrapes |
| new moon | crescent moon |
| newsagent | newsdealer, newsstand |
| newspaper round | newspaper route, paper route |
| newsreader | newscaster |
| newsvendor | In U.K. mainly a street vendor of evening papers |
| nibbles [colloq.] (small, light snack items) | munchies [colloq.] |
| nick (n.)
[slang] (as in 'Nick got out of the nick in pretty good nick') |
slammer
[slang], prison; physical condition |
| nick (v.)
[slang] (as in 'Nick was nicked for nicking Nicky's knickers and fined 50 nicker.') |
arrest; steal, glom [slang] |
| nicker [n.](U) [slang] (as in 'I won 500 nicker!') | pounds (£) |
| nightdress, nightie [colloq.] | nightgown |
| nil | naught, zero (in soccer scores) |
| nipper [colloq.] | young child (esp. a boy) |
| no entry (traffic sign) | do not enter, wrong way |
| no overtaking (traffic sign) | no passing |
| nob {colloq.] | rich
person from an important family; member of the landed gentry |
| nominate (propose someone for office) | slate |
| non-profit, non-profit organization, NPO | not-for-profit organization |
| non-U | speech or behavior that would be considered unacceptable in upper-class society |
| normality | normalcy |
| nosh [colloq.] | food and drink generally |
| noshery [colloq.] | restaurant, diner |
| nosh-up [colloq.] | large meal |
| nosy parker | busybody |
| not cricket [colloq.] | not fair; dishonorable, unsportsmanlike behavior |
| not give a monkey's [colloq.] | not give a damn, not care the least |
| not in the same street (as something else)[colloq.] | utterly inferior (to) |
| note (paper money) | bill |
| notecase (men's wallet) | billfold |
| notelet | quarter-folded sheet of letter-writing paper with a picture on front, so that it resembles a small card |
| notice (with short information or instructions) | sign |
| noticeboard | bulletin board |
| nought | zero, naught |
| noughts and crosses (game) | tic-tac-toe, tick-tack-toe |
| nous | common sense |
| number plate, registration number (on vehicle) | license plate |
| nursery nurse | person trained to look after very young children |
| nursery school (for children aged 2–5) | preschool |
| nursery stakes | race for two-year-old horses |
| nursing officer | senior British nurse below a senior nursing officer |
| nutter [colloq.] (eccentric or crazy person) | oddball, weirdo |
