SACK
To GET THE SACK is to get dismissed or fired from a position. (See also CARDS and REDUNDANT)
SAFARI PARK
Wild animal park through which tourists can drive their cars and observe lions, zebras, etc. Many of these are in the grounds of country mansions or castles. (See STATELY HOME)
SALAD CREAM
An inedible substitute for a salad dressing.
SALOON (Car)
SEDAN.
SAND PIT
SAND BOX.
SALOON [CAR]
SEDAN.
SALT SHAKER
Watch out! The salt shaker is the one with only one hole. Pepper -- usually white pepper -- is in the dispenser with the multiple holes.
SAND PIT
SAND BOX.
SANDWICH COURSE
CO-OP COURSE. Wherein a student alternates between a term at school and a term working for the company sponsoring his or her degree. (See TERM)
SARNIE (Slang)
SANDWICH. It’s probably worth noting that British sandwiches are nothing like the deli sandwiches you find in the US. My father-in-law insists that if you were to hold up the meat from a British sandwich you could read a newspaper through it!
Sandwiches are ordered by the ROUND, that is two whole slices of bread with filling. If this is sliced in two, each portion is HALF A ROUND. Hamburgers, etc are not referred to as sandwiches.
SAVING (Noun)
SAVINGS. A Briton might say “I got a discount of £100 on my TV, that represents a SAVING of twenty percent”. (Never “a SAVINGS”)
SAVOURY
Type of dish served early in a meal, and being piquant or salty in flavor, as opposed to sweet.
S-BEND (Plumbing)
P-TRAP.
SCAMPI
See SHRIMP.
SCAPA (Slang)
GO AWAY or LEAVE. The word is pro-nounced “scah’-puh”. This is another example of Cockney rhyming slang finding its way into more general use. SCAPA FLOW = GO. Scapa Flow is an area in the Orkneys where part of the British fleet was based in World War II.
SCENT
PERFUME. Pronounced “per’-fume”.
SCOFF (Eat)
SCARF [DOWN].
SCONE
Similar to a BISCUIT. The word can be pronounced either “scoan” or “scon”.
SCOUSE (Slang)
Of or pertaining to Liverpool.
SCRAPPY
Crudely put together. (See also TACKY)
SCRUBBER (Slang)
Derogatory term for a woman, implying she is of easy virtue.
SCRUMPY
See CIDER.
SEASIDE
In the UK you go to the seaside, not to the OCEAN.
SELLOTAPE
SCOTCH TAPE. Another difference in proprietary brand names.
SEMI-BREVE (Musical Note)
See CROTCHET.
SEMI-DETACHED (House)
DUPLEX. The “typical” Briton probably lives in a semi-detached house, or SEMI, pronounced “sem’-ee”, never “sem’-eye”.
SEMI-QUAVER (Musical Note)
See CROTCHET.
SEMOLINA
CREAM OF WHEAT.
SERVICES, THE
THE MILITARY. Otherwise known as The Armed Services.
SERVIETTE
NAPKIN. Sometimes referred to as a DINNER NAPKIN.
SETTEE
SOFA.
SETTLE (Snow)
STICK.
SHAG (Slang)
Slang term for the sex act. The mention of shag carpet to a Briton will usually raise a titter.
SHAGGED OUT (Slang)
EXHAUSTED.
SHAKE A LEG
GET A MOVE ON.
SHALL I BE MUM? or SHALL I BE MOTHER?
An offer to pour tea for everybody.
SHANDY
A refreshing drink of part beer and part lemonade (See LEMONADE). It can also be a combination of beer and ginger beer.
SHEKELS (Slang)
MONEY.
SHELLSUIT
NYLON SWEATSUIT. This showerproof, lightweight, colorful, two-piece suit is mostly worn by women, and is seen most everywhere.
SHILLING
Pre-decimal coin equal to 12 old pennies. There used to be 20 shillings to the pound, so a shilling would be worth 5p in modern money. (See p or PEE)
SHOP (Noun)
STORE.
SHOOTING BRAKE
STATION WAGON. (See also ESTATE CAR)
SHOP ASSISTANT
SALES CLERK. (See CLERK)
SHORT (Drink)
Alcoholic drink other than beer, cider or wine, ie hard liquor or a mixed drink.
SHORTS
SHORT PANTS. Not underpants. (See PANTS)
SHORTSIGHTED
NEARSIGHTED, or MYOPIC.
SHRIMP
SHRIMP. However, in the UK a shrimp really is a shrimp! It’s typically about an inch long. To get something near the size of an American shrimp, order PRAWNS or SCAMPI.
SHROVE TUESDAY
The day before Ash Wednesday. It is also known as PANCAKE DAY. (See PANCAKES)
SICK
If a Briton FEELS SICK, he or she FEELS QUEASY. To BE SICK is to THROW UP or VOMIT. When they are unwell, Britons are said to be ILL.
SIDE (Billiards)
ENGLISH. (See also SNOOKER)
SIDEBOARD (Furniture)
BUFFET.
SIDEBOARDS (Face)
SIDEBURNS.
SILENCER (Car)
MUFFLER. (See also MUFFLER)
SILVER PAPER
ALUMINUM FOIL or TIN FOIL.
SINGLE (Ticket)
ONE WAY. (See RETURN)
SINGLE BED
TWIN BED.
SISTER (Hospital)
HEAD NURSE of a ward.
SKINT (Slang)
BROKE or OUT OF MONEY.
SKIPPING ROPE
JUMP ROPE.
SKIRTING BOARD
BASEBOARD.
SKIVE
To avoid work or responsibility.
SKIVVY
Derogatory name for a servant.
SLATED
GIVEN A BAD REVIEW by a critic. It never means SCHEDULE or RE-SCHEDULE as it does in the States.
SLEDGE
SLED. Rarely it can mean a SLEDGEHAMMER.
SLEEPER
SLEEPING-CAR or RAILROAD TIE. Yes, the same word as is used for both, but the context should eliminate confusion.
SLEEPING POLICEMAN
SPEED BUMP.
SLEWED (Slang)
DRUNK. The word rhymes with stewed.
[HAIR] SLIDE
BARRETTE.
SLIMLINE
Adjective analogous to DIET, as in “Slimline Tonic”.
SLIPSTREAMING (Car racing)
DRAFTING.
SLOWCOACH
SLOWPOKE.
SLUMP
THE DEPRESSION.
SMALLHOLDING
An agricultural venture somewhat smaller than a farm.
SMALLS
UNDERWEAR. But usually only used in the context of washing one’s smalls.
[BIG] SMOKE (Slang)
THE SMOKE or THE BIG SMOKE refers to LONDON.
SNAKES AND LADDERS
CHUTES AND LADDERS. The children’s board game.
SNAP
Children’s card game in which the word “SNAP” is called out if cards of the same denomination are turned over by consecutive players. From this, the word has entered the language as an exclamation remarking on the similarity of two objects.
SNOG (Slang)
KISS, but not the sort you would give mother!
SNOOKER
Game related to billiards and pool. It is this game which gave us the expression “to be snookered” which literally means that there is not a clear shot between the cue ball and the target ball, but has figuratively come to mean that you are between a rock and a hard place. At the top professional level it has become a very popular television sport. (See SIDE)
SNOUT (Slang)
CIGARETTE. (See also FAG) The same word can also be used for a POLICE INFORMER. (See GRASS)
SOD (Slang)
Cuss term, derived from sodomy, but bearing no relation to it in modern parlance.
SODA [WATER]
CLUB SODA. As in SCOTCH AND SODA. The generic term SODA is not used in the UK for drinks like Coke or 7Up. These are referred to as SOFT DRINKS.
SOLDER
SOLDER. But the L is pronounced; “sold’-er”.
SOLICITOR
ATTORNEY. (See BARRISTER)
SORBET or WATER-ICE
SHERBET. There is also a lemonade concentrate called SHERBET.
SORRY
EXCUSE ME. If a Briton were to bump into somebody he or she would typically say “Sorry!” rather than “Excuse me!”.
SOZZLED (Slang)
DRUNK.
SPANNER
WRENCH. Britons throw a spanner in the works rather than a monkey wrench.
SPARE (Slang)
NUTS. As in “If I have to do this one more time, I shall go spare”.
SPARKING PLUG
SPARK PLUG.
SPECIALITY
SPECIALTY.
SPIRITS
LIQUOR.
SPUNK (Slang)
Not a word to be used in polite company in the UK. It does not have the same meaning as in the States, ie spirit or courage. It is a crude, slang term for semen.
SQUARE MILE
See CITY.
SQUASH (Drink)
A type of fruit juice concentrate to which you add water and obtain a drink that tastes nothing like the original fruit juice. Definitely not a vegetable. (See MARROW)
SQUASH (Game)
An indoor court game, similar to RACQUETBALL.
STAG (Stock Exchange)
Speculator in new issues.
STAG PARTY
BACHELOR PARTY.
STALLS (Theatre)
ORCHESTRA SEATS. Note the spelling of theater.
STAND (For office)
RUN.
STANDARD LAMP
FLOOR LAMP.
STARTERS
See HORS D’OEUVRES.
STATELY HOME
Country mansion or castle owned by a wealthy, or formerly wealthy, family. The imposition of wealth taxes and estate taxes has forced many of these families to open up the house and grounds to visitors to generate revenue. (See also DEATH DUTY and SAFARI PARK)
STATE SCHOOL
A state run school, the same as an American PUBLIC SCHOOL. (See also PUBLIC SCHOOL)
STEAK AND KIDNEY PIE
One of Britain’s most famous dishes. I am sure that many Americans think that this is a piece of steak served with a side order of kidney pie -- whatever that might be! Not so. There is no steak! Steak and kidney pie -- or pudding -- is one in which there is a combination of stewed beef and a small amount of kidney to enhance the flavor. It’s delicious!
[BATTING ON A] STICKY WICKET
This literally means batting, in cricket, when the ground is a little moist, and the ball bounces up at you in a rather unpredictable manner. Figuratively it means finding yourself in a difficult predicament. (See CRICKET)
STILE
Device for crossing a fence or wall without the use of a gate. (See [PUBLIC] FOOTPATH)
STONE (Fruit)
PIT. Saying to a Briton “They say that life’s a bowl of cherries, but all I seem to get is the pits!” would leave him looking at you glassy-eyed. (See PIP)
STONE (Weight)
FOURTEEN POUNDS. Before the metric system was introduced in the UK, everybody weighed himself or herself in stones. If you weigh fifteen stone, that’s 210 pounds. Eight stone is 112 pounds. Since the introduction of the metric system, and kilograms -- little has changed!
STORM IN A TEACUP
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.
STRAIGHT (Racetrack)
STRAIGHT-AWAY. Section of track with no curves.
STRAIGHT or STRAIGHT AWAY (Time)
RIGHT or RIGHT AWAY. A Briton will say “I’ll be straight with you” meaning he’ll be there as soon as he has finished what he is doing. He will also say “I’ll do it straight away”, meaning he’ll do it immediately.
STROPPY
AWKWARD or BAD TEMPERED. Typically heard in an expression such as “Don’t you get stroppy with me!”
STUFFED, GET (Slang)
See GET KNOTTED or GET STUFFED.
SUBALTERN
LIEUTENANT. The two officer ranks below a Captain in the British Army are 1st and 2nd Lieutenant, the same as in the US, although pronounced “leff-ten’-unt” in the UK. Either of these is known as a subaltern.
SUBJECT
The equivalent to an American CITIZEN is a British subject.
SUBWAY
PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS. Unlike an American subway, it is not an underground railroad system (See UNDERGROUND).
SUGAR SOAP
Solution for cleaning paintwork, etc.
SULTANA
GOLDEN RAISIN.
SUMP
OIL PAN.
SUPPER
Strictly speaking, this is a light meal taken late at night, just before bedtime. However, it is sometimes used to refer to the evening meal, or DINNER.
[DOCTOR’S] SURGERY
DOCTOR’S OFFICE.
SURNAME
LAST NAME or FAMILY NAME.
SUS or SUSS (Slang)
To sus something out is to figure, or work it out.
SUSPENDERS
GARTER BELT. This garment is almost as extinct as the other contraptions known as SUSPENDERS in the UK -- the devices for holding up men’s socks. (See also BRACES)
SWAN VESTAS
Brand of matches, of the non-safety variety, which can be ignited by rubbing against any rough surface like the sole of your shoe.
SWEDE
RUTABAGA.
SWEET (Course of Meal)
See AFTERS.
SWEET (Snack)
CANDY. Sweets are sold in a SWEET SHOP, which is sometimes referred to as a CONFECTIONER’S. You will find a number of differences in the names of some of your favorite candy bars. Here are the names of a few British candies and their American equivalents or near equivalents:
MARS = MILKY WAY
BOUNTY = MOUNDS
MILKY WAY = 3 MUSKETEERS
MALTESERS = WHOPPERS
SMARTIES = M&Ms
LIQUORICE COMFITS = GOOD’N’PLENTY
MARATHON = SNICKERS
Be sure to try a CRUNCHIE bar and, best of all, a CADBURY’S FLAKE! What many people in the States refer to as PLAIN CHOCOLATE, that is plain milk chocolate, is always referred to as MILK CHOCOLATE in Britain. But what we call DARK CHOCOLATE, Britons call PLAIN CHOCOLATE.
SWIFT HALF
The reluctant(?) drinker, when asked to join his or her colleagues for an after-work drink, for example, might well say "OK, I'll just have a swift half." (See HALF)
SWIMMING COSTUME
SWIM SUIT. (See TRUNKS)
SWING THE LEAD
MALINGER.
SWISS ROLL
JELLY ROLL.
SWIZZ[LE] (Noun)
SWINDLE.
SWOT
STUDY HARD or REVIEW. (See also REVISE)
[GOLDEN] SYRUP
Partially refined form of MOLASSES. (See [BLACK] TREACLE)
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