If we were to sum up our findings thus far, I think we would find two categories of words. First, there are words the British use which are entirely foreign to Americans. These are mostly the kinds of words and phrases we have been talking about and making jokes about so far. But there is also a second category, which we haven't been talking about much, and that is those words which we both understand and use, but which we use them to mean different things. To make it even more interesting, sometimes the word might mean something bad or vulgar to one party, and rather innocent to the other. I have especially found several words that are commonly used by Americans, which would be quite nasty to the British.
I can't think of a better example of the first type than the word "bloody." Used in the UK as a mild-to-forceful expletive; used a lot, actually. Americans also use that word, of course, but it is almost always to describe how a bad wound might look. An American using the word in the same manner as the British would be perceived as trying to put on false airs, or affecting a non-genuine manner of speaking. Such an American, if he persisted, would very likely soon be beaten bloody. In other words, if you use the word "bloody" in regular conversation in America, you damn well better have a British accent to go with it. Else you will be extremely annoying.
Then there are the "deliciously different" meanings. Unlike "bloody", there are some words that Americans need to be cautioned against using when visiting the UK. An example that comes to mind was given to me by O My Word Blog in an email not long ago. She said she was cautioned by her husband, when they moved to Europe, not to stand up after eating a big meal and say, "I'm stuffed!"
Humorous examples abound in that "American2English" dictionary that Grumpus mentioned in a comment not long ago. One that I found really funny was the story of an American woman who moved to Britain and was interviewing for a job. She was told by the receptionist to have a seat and wait, because "The boss is outside blowing a fag right now." Brits reading this will simply shrug their shoulders; Americans will be rolling on the floor (at least mentally.)
Who can think of some more? (I have purposely left out the word "fanny.")
And--by the way--who else besides myself would like to see another story by Claire? Only this time, let her pick her own words to teach us backward Americans. What do you say? Let's all get together and twist her arm!
