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

forcet = tap

Looking at the backlog I'd like to make a few corrections/insertions/additions.

Shea, the cable cars in Frisco are not powered by over-head electric cables, they are pulled along by cables under the ground.

Also, where I come from in the US we do call them gym shoes, or tennis shoes (tennys) but that term is used less and less.

A few additions:
UK fag= US cigarette or smokes
UK bobby? = US Police Officer or cop
UK lift? = US elevator

Alas, the term 'bobby' is more or less defunct, except nostalgically when people write to the papers wanting the police to pound the beat again rather than whizz around in panda cars.
I think, on the whole, we should steer clear of slang terms as there is already an entry on British Slang.
For the record though, British names for policemen or the police include:

Fuzz,
Old Bill,
Peeler,
Copper,
Pig,
Plod

more police things,

Bizzy
backen
boys in blue (also goin out)
and a lode of swear words that would only get moderated

Hey wuddo I know from cable caws, huh?

I thought a boardwalk was a pier...

Also, in the US, doesn't "pavement" mean the road surface? Someone I know got marked down in some test for saying pedestrians walk on the pavement.

Whilst the jacuzzi and alcoholic drinks sound tempting, I'll hang around on this thread for a while.

US automobile = UK car
US railroad car = UK railway carriage (I think. Also, does anyone know what Americans call railway trucks?)
US SUV (sports utility vehicle) = UK people carrier / MPV (multi-purpose vehicle, which is a laugh as it has basically one purpose: carrying things)
US "wazzzzzuuuup" = UK "I'm a t**ser" (OK, so I can't last two posts without being abusive)

*in the us we call them cars as well, but we refer to the automotive industry.
*to the best of my knowledge the only differentiation in rail trains in the us is engine, freight car, passenger car. i haven't seen a caboose in years (outside of the museum)
*in some places in the us the subway is also called the el, depending on whether it is subterranian or elevated.
*soda can be called pop, sodey, cola, and coke (yes, some people use coke to refer to any carbonated bevvie)
*are us trashbags still called bin liners in uk?

A boardwalk runs along the edge of the beach, a pier is built out over the water ... but that's really more a dock ... I'm not sure exactly what a pier is. Not like I live on an island or anything ... oh wait, I do, don't I? And in a town right by the water ... hmmm ... wrong side of the tracks, though!

Pavement is the road surface ... "The pavement needs to be repaired" ... Pedestrians walk on the sidewalk ... or out in the road if they're feeling daring.

I don't think you're going to find many people referring to cars as automobiles. We just say car ...

What exactly is a railway truck?

Oh yes Bagpuss ... no abuse around here, please ...

OK, so I was wrong, boardwalk is more of a prom. A pier goes straight out to sea; most originated as a way to get on to boats, but these days they are not used for that.

OK, I stand corrected on cars. Judging by St. Broelan's post, a truck is a freight car.

Don't put on a shamefaced smiley! I messed up on cable cars!

I think it's great! We're all learning a lot, and we haven't even been at this a day yet!

I'm amazed that no one has brought up the fanny issue yet.

there's a fanny issue?

we have piers over here, as well, lots of them in new york, maybe they just call them something else. the closest one to me would be up in chicago, navy pier, one of my favorite places to go (it's a nightspot now). shea, a pier is almost exactly like a dock, only much much much bigger. think ocean liners. i think of a dock being more for like recreational boats and tugs and such.

You're absolutely right, Muppet! I've gotten myself into trouble around here misusing "bum" to the wrong people!

UK bum = US butt
UK tramp = US bum
UK tart = US tramp
UK bun = US tart
UK bum = US bun

I think ...

if you bum a fag there, its well, ahem.
if you bum a fag here, its scabbing a cig

highway - wierd non-here thing
freeway - motorway
cow -hen

spot the false one.

"scabbing a cig" = asking someone (probably a stranger) for a cigarette.

In the UK a pier usually refers to a structure sticking out from the seashore into the sea (up to 2 miles long) and built by the Victorians for tourists to walk along and "take in the air".

A structure that is built specifically for tying up boats can be called a pier but is more usually referred to as a jetty or a dock.

As to the "fanny" issue...
In the UK, fanny is a derogatory term for vagina. Its probably the least worst, but its still rude.

*ahem*
well....

*ahem* is right ...

Well you did ask....

BTW - Shea you are pretty much right with the buns/bums/tramps/tarts entry, apart from a UK "bun" which can cover a multitude of bakery sins.

Talking of buns....
To "have a bun in the oven" in the UK means to be pregnant - quite a sweet euphemism when you think about it

We have the same expression in the US! Or is it a muffin? It's some kind of baked goods anyway ...