Words you never learn at school (4): American English words you should never use in Britain !

Words you never learn at school (4): American English words you should never use in Britain! 

(Level: B2 to C1 / Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / ***) 

Photo credit: lbc.co.uk

Before watching / listening:

You are going to watch a lesson by Leila from "Love English with Leila and Sabrah" focusing on some American English words that you can use as long as you are in the USA but that you must absolutely avoid in the UK because they are utterly rude and offensive. 



While watching / listening:

Now listen to Leila explaining what the American words are and what they really denote when used in Britain, causing people to react like Prince Charles in the picture or even worse! 

You can also watch the video by clicking HERE



After watching / listening:

Have a look at the pictures! 

- What do they show in the USA and in the UK?  
- What are the objects called?  What do they denote in both countries? 
- Why mustn't the American counterparts be used in the UK?
- What does "Trump" really mean?


1.

Picture credit: doodletogs.com

2.

Picture credit: 7esl.com

3.

Picture credit: 123rf.com

4.

Picture credit: moss.co.uk

5.

Picture credit: shutterstock.com

6.

Picture credit: france24.com

When you are finished, you can check your answers!

1.
Aux USA: a fanny pack 
En Grande-Bretagne: a bum bag 
  =  un sac banane
a fanny: à éviter en GB puisque le terme est une variante vulgaire pour se référer au sexe féminin...

2.
Aux USA: a period
En Grande-Bretagne: a full stop. 
    = point  (ponctuation) 

Exemple d'utilisation aux USA: I won't help him. Period.  ( Je ne l'aiderai pas. Point à la ligne!) 

L'équivalent anglais n'existe pas.  Donc, on ne dit pas: I won't help him. Full stop. 

En revanche, le terme "Period" au Royaume-Uni se réfère à la période des règles ou la menstruation; ce qui n'est en effet pas censé être un sujet de conversation!  

3.
L'adjectif "thick" utilisé aux USA pour dénoter la morphologie d'une personne plutôt "forte",  "aux formes généreuses ou voluptueuses"..   Tandis qu'il signifie "stupide" ou "bête" en Grande-Bretagne - Connotation très négative; une véritable insulte! 

4.
Aux USA: "pants" = un pantalon
En Grande-Bretagne: "pants" = caleçon ! 
                                "Trousers" = un pantalon



Autres mots
sous-vêtements en général: 
underwear (US/UK): both for men and women
knickers (UK) / panties (US) / lingerie (US/UK - bottom and top) :  for women only 
underwear (US/UK) / (under)pants (UK): for men 
                           
5.
Aux USA: a bum  = a homeless person   (un SDF)
En Grande-Bretagne: a bum = a butt / a bottom / buttocks  (le derrière / fesses / cul) 

Saying "I saw a nice bum" in London  won't have the same effect as in New York! 

6.
Aux USA: "to trump" = to override : dépasser / surpasser
En Grande-Bretagne: "to trump" = to break wind / to fart : faire un vent /péter/ lâcher une caisse...  

Aussi: trump = trump card  (atout au jeu de cartes / carte maîtresse).
What's trumps? = Quel est l'atout?
Diamonds / Hearts / Spades / Clubs are trumps!  (C'est) atout carreau / coeur / pique / trèfle
No trumps: sans -atout