h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My goodness, several traces of irony, satire, social comment, and downright bitchiness are making their way into this conversation

Who'd have expected that when Britons are called to talk about the US?

UK Well strap me to tree and call me Brenda = US Dang

I don't think we're asking for references on how many times the US has saved the butt of the UK, I think we're asking for terminology ...

Okay, sorry. Have we done clothing yet? I forget. I know we did underwear.
UK waistcoat = US vest
UK vest = US undershirt (is that right?)

Okay ... here's what we have so far (barring the confusing truck/lorry and road threads):

Activities

UK nap = US nap/nappie
UK w*nk = US jerk off

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Body Parts

UK bum = US butt/buns/hiney/fanny

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Buildings/Places of Business

UK chemist/pharmacy = US drugstore
US first floor = US ground floor
UK flat = US apartment
UK off-licence = US liquor store
UK shop = US store
UK toilet = US restroom/bathroom

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Clothing

UK braces = US suspenders
UK handbag = US purse
UK jumper = US sweater
UK knickers = US panties
UK leggings = US tights
UK nappies = US diapers
UK pants/underpants = US underwear/briefs/tighty whiteys
UK plimsoll = US gymshoe
UK purse = US coin purse/wallet/change purse
UK suspenders = US garter
UK tights = US pantyhose
UK trainer = US sneaker
UK trilby = US fedora
UK trousers = US pants/slacks
UK vest = US undershirt
UK waistcoat = US vest

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Emotions

UK randy = US horny

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Food

UK biscuit = US cookie
UK bitter (a type of beer) = US I don't think you have it there
UK bun = US tart
UK chips = US french fries/steak fries
UK coriander = US cilantro
UK courgette = US zucchini
UK crisps = US chips
UK jam = US jelly
UK jelly = US Jello
UK lager = US beer
UK rapeseed oil = US canola oil
UK soft drink = US soda/pop/tonic/soft drink

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Miscellaneous

UK alternative = US alternate
UK aluminium = US aluminum
UK Autumn = US Fall
UK bin liners = US trashbags
UK conscription = US draft
UK cupboard/wardrobe = US closet
UK durex = US rubber
UK dustbin = US garbage can/trash can
UK fag = US cigarette or smokes
UK national service = US draft
UK phone box = US phone booth
UK plaster = US bandaid
UK pram (perambulator)/pushchair = US baby buggy/stroller
UK rubber = US eraser
UK rubbish/litter = US trash/garbage
UK shopping trollies = US shopping carts
UK speciality = US specialty
UK tap = US faucet

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Occupations

UK binmen = US sanitation engineers/garbagemen
UK Postman = US Postal Carrier
UK tart = US tramp
UK tramp = US bum

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Sports

UK football = US soccer
UK American football = US football

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Television Programmes

UK 2.4 Children = US Grounded For Life
Uk Double Your Money = US $64,000 Dollar Question
UK Man About the House = US Three's Company
UK Ready Steady Cook = US Ready Set Cook
UK Steptoe and Son = US Sanford and Son
UK Till Death Us Do Part = US All In The Family

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Transportation

UK accelerator = US gas pedal
UK aeroplane = US airplane
UK bonnet = US hood
UK boot = US trunk
UK brake van = US caboose
UK broken down = US stalled
UK cable car = US tram
UK carpark = US parking lot
UK lift = US elevator
UK lorry = US truck
UK motorway = US freeway/Interstate
UK panda car = US patrol car/police car
US pavement = UK road surface
UK pavement = US sidewalk
UK promenade = US boardwalk
UK petrol(eum) = US gas(oline)
UK roundabout = US traffic circle
UK speed hump/sleeping policeman = US speed bump
UK subway = US (a pedestrian tunnel or underpass)
UK tarmac = US asphalt
UK tram = US streetcar/cable car
UK underground = US subway/el
UK windscreen = US windshield
UK zebra crossing = US crosswalk

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Units of Measurement

UK pint (20 fluid ounces) = US pint (16 fluid ounces)
UK ton (2400 lbs) = US ton (2000 lbs)

Blimey, that's a lot. I'm not sure about the bun/tart thing. What would Americans call what we call a tart, that is an open (sweet) pie?

As for emotions, we seem to have forgotten the whole "p****d" thing.

UK p****d = drunk
US pissed = angry (= UK p****d off)

And what is a brake van / caboose?

The whole train thing got very muddled. I'll try compiling it all when I get a few extra minutes this weekend, and maybe you lot can help sort it out.

A tart is an open (sweet) pie? Define pie ... because it sounds like a tart to me ...

A pie is basically a circular "tray" of shortcrust pastry, with a filling in and then a "lid" of pastry on top. A tart lacks the lid. I said a tart was "(sweet)" because I can't think of any savoury examples offhand, but there may be some.

Oh and a bun is a small round bready thing.

As for trains, here's what I gathered (UK on left, US on right)

railway = railroad
carriage = passenger car
truck = freight car
engine = engine

I don't think we got into things like conductors and guard's vans.

I've got two recipes for tarts (ie lid less pies) which are savoury. Sorry to confuse the issue

Well, tart = tart ... I'll change it when I get home!

So does pie = pie? I'm sure Garfield loves his cherry pies.

I think pie = pie ... but then again, I'm not very good at math ...

Speaking of which,
US math = UK maths
but I think we all knew that anyway.

Is it really? Why is there more than one?

because of the differant types.
stupid isnt it
and in Irland more often than not it is called numbers, wich is even worse
MY god hang out a flag, I have just said somthin bad about home

Both are short for "mathematics", which is clearly important enough to be plural.