Potato, Potahto, Tomato, Tomahto...



“You like potato and I like potahto
You like tomato and I like tomahto
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto.
Let's call the whole thing off”

Remember these fun lyrics written by George Gershwin?  That’s all we could think about when we were with our delightful English Hosts!!  What fun we had with different terminology…

Here’s just a few:

We Say:                                              The English Say:

Interstate                                             Dual Carriage Way

Freeway                                               Motorway

Horse Trailer                                       Horse Box

Blinker                                                Indicator Light

Horse Blinder                                      Horse Blinker

Hood of Car                                        Bonnet

Line (Like Stand in a Line)                Queue

 Mail                                                    Post

Cookie                                                 Biscuit

Great Time                                          Smashing

Cupcake Tin                                        Patty Pan

Subway                                               Tube

Sticky Situation                                  Trickey Wicket

Pastor                                                  Vicar

Thermos                                              Flask

Television                                            Telly

Concert                                                Prom

Baby Carriage                                     Pram

Gasoline                                              Petrol

Car                                                      Automobile

Cell Phone                                           Mobile

Courtyard Stables                                Mews

Horsing Around                                  Mucking About

Restroom                                             Toilet or Loo

Tired, Worn Out                                  Knackered

Pants/trousers                                      Kecks

Small Crow                                         Jack-Daw

Vacation                                              Holiday

Layered Cake                                      Gateau

Hair Bangs                                          Fringe

Sassy                                                   Cheeky

Goodbye                                             Cheerio

Parking Lot                                         Car Park

Fed Up/bored                                     Browned Off


These are just a few…but one thing remains on both sides – FRIEND – A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.  Thank you Ridgways for making our stay in England such a “smashing” time!!


Comments

  1. What a fun post! I enjoyed it and I'm so glad you and your mom got to go on "holiday" to England!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gosh, I thought I knew a lot but you had some I hadn't heard of. I love learning something new especially about wonderful, Merry ole England. We speak the same language, right? :)
    Brilliant! (Bet you heard that word a good deal. That's one of their favs).
    Cheers, Ruthie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love your list. I have a feeling you had fun putting it together. Another is sweater vs. jersey. But then you weren't there when you needed one of those.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So true! We mail a letter with the US Post, and they post a letter with the Royal Mail!

    ReplyDelete

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