I'm an international terminology alien, are you?

[JoeZhang]

And then there’s that curious British idiom in the Elton John/Bernie Taupin song “Daniel”: They say Spain is pretty, though I’ve never been. Never been what — pretty?

That's fairly common:

Me: Ever been to Rhyl?

Him: Never been.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

or, more recently and colorfully, a “wife-beater.”

To be fair, a wife-beater is, more specifically, a white tanktop. And it is only called a wife-beater if you are not wearing anything over it.

An undershirt can be many other things.

I didn't realize the term was understood only to be a white shirt. I feel a bit better about my summer wardrobe.

 

[RoJoHen]

Yeah, that's just a tanktop.

 

[B.J.]

Talking of Monty Python, I used to be confused about this bit from the Lumberjack Song: I cut down trees, I wear high heels,/Suspenders and a bra . . .

I didn’t realize that British “suspenders” are what we Americans call a garter belt.

*lightbulb comes on*
I never knew that one, or even thought it was wrong, especially since he was wearing suspenders/braces with his lumberjack outfit.

 

[captcalhoun]

suspenders are the things that hold the sexy fishnets up.

 

[backstept]

suspenders are the things that hold the old man's pants, I mean, trousers up.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

And then there’s that curious British idiom in the Elton John/Bernie Taupin song “Daniel”: They say Spain is pretty, though I’ve never been. Never been what — pretty?

Oh, c'mon, it's quite obvious that lyric means he's never been to Spain. "I've never been" after hearing the name of an event or location is used in the US too.

Most of this stuff is easy enough to decipher from context. Sometimes I find myself reflexively tapping my chest to activate the universal translator for certain UK poster's use of colorful lingo in TNZ (*cough* Deckerd *cough* ), but then I'll figure it out from context or by reading the other poster's responses.

 

[Holdfast]

"Lemsip" was a British product that confused me when a relative of mine expressed a need for some. It's marketed under the brand name "Theraflu" here.

Drug names make for brilliant little marketing vignettes, as the name is such a vital component of the overall marketing equation. British names - especially for OTC meds - generally tend to be "softer" or "more twee" than other countries. American names tend to be very "dynamic/forceful" or "sciencey". I wasn't aware of Lemsip/Theraflu dichotomy, but isn't is a wonderful example of that difference?

Pharma-advertising generally is truly top-notch (only cigarette advertising is consistently psychologically shrewder) so their products make for great advertising case studies.

 

[RJDiogenes]

No need to cross the ocean for this kind of confusion. I can easily perplex people just by saying "tonic," "spuckie" or "dungarees."

 

[Capn Flukie]

Digestives sounds like the most unappetizing name for a food product ever.

There is actually something called 'Potted Meat Food Product'.

Made by Hormel, but in my Google search I've seen Armour, Libby's and Goya, as well.

First, somehow it's Potted, whatever that means, then what it 'represents'; meat, then in case you still weren't sold, it's 'Food', thanks for clearing that up, and finally, to appease the lawyers I guess, it's 'Product'.

Google Images

Also; Spam with Bacon? WTF?

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yeah, but that also looks unappetizing and probably tastes it too. Graham Crackers are good (so if the British equivalent are Digestibles, that's unfortunate).

 

[RoJoHen]

Graham Crackers are indeed good. I mean, you can't make s'mores without them!

 

[Alidar Jarok]

And we're back full circle

 

[RoJoHen]

Noticed that, didja?

 

[Mr Silver]

Some American food has really puzzling names (from my POV). Anyone care to fill me in on the etymology behind the following...

S'mores
Twinkie
Taffy
Tootsie Roll

They seem to have really juvenile names, yet in a lot of American movies you see quite intimidating male characters eating "Twinkie's" as if its normal for an adult to consume.

 

[RoJoHen]

Twinkie and Tootsie Roll are brand names. No idea who came up with them.

Do you guys not have taffy in the UK?

 

[Mr Silver]

Yeah but its not known as that here, the closest thing we have is probably Starburst.

 

[RoJoHen]

I could go for some salt water taffy.

Honestly, I never knew these were American names for things. I just thought that's what they were called everywhere.

 

[RoJoHen]

double post

 

[iguana_tonante]

Just to point out the obvious, I have absolutely no idea what you guys are talking about.