AMERICAN vs. BRITISH expressions & phrases - we won't understand!

(upbeat music)

- Hello everyone and welcome back to English With Lucy.

Today I'm going to talk to you about 20 idioms,

which have different versions

in American English and in British English.

You need to be really careful with these

because you risk being misunderstood

if you use the wrong version in the wrong country.

Or actually that would mean you would be understood,

'cause that's a double negative.

Anyway, I'm going to tell you

the British version of the idiom,

and then I'm going to tell you

the American version of the idiom.

I'm going to give you the definition,

and I'm going to give you an example.

So get you notebooks out,

and write these down.

Before we get started,

I'd like to thank the sponsor of today's video.

It is Skillshare.

They are an online learning community

with thousands of classes of all different topics.

You can learn about marketing,

languages, cooking, craft skills,

honestly, the world is your oyster.

There are loads of free classes,

and you can also sign up for premium membership,

and that gives you unlimited access

to high quality classes from experts working in their field.

If you follow me on Instagram,

you know I love cooking.

I'm always posting about what I cook on my stories,

and there are some amazing cooking classes on there.

I think I'm actually addicted

to both watching cooking classes and cooking.

It might actually be a problem.

But it's not a problem for my fiance.

But to find out more you'll have to sign up to Skillshare,

and it's actually really affordable.

Way more affordable than most other learning platforms.

An annual subscription is under $10 per month.

And since Skillshare are sponsoring this video,

they have given the first 500 people

who click the link in the description box

their first two months for free.

So click on the link, sign up,

and claim our free two month membership.

And really there are so many

English courses and language courses,

and things that you will genuinely be interested in.

And most importantly, let me know how it goes.

Right, let's get on with the lesson.

Now I have curated a list of 20 idioms

which mean the same things,

but have different versions

in British English and American English.

They're all fairly common,

and you can use most of them in everyday conversation,

and you homework for today

is to write in the comments

any other idioms that you know

that might be different in different countries

and different parts of the world.

Right, number one.

In Britain, we say, to throw a spanner in the works.

To throw a spanner in the works.

But in American English,

they say, to throw a monkey wrench in the works,

or sometimes, just to throw a wrench in the works.

It's basically different

because what Americans call a monkey wrench,

we call a spanner.

And this idiom basically mean to do something

that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding.

For example, the intern threw a spanner in the works,

by ghosting the client on Tinder.

This actually happened to someone I know.

They met someone on Tinder,

never replied to their messages,

and turns out they're a big client for their company.

It didn't go well.

They threw a spanner in the works.

Number two.

As we say in British English,

to blow you own trumpet.

To blow your own trumpet.

But in American English,

they say to toot your own horn.

To toot your own horn.

This means to boast,

or to praise your own abilities and achievements.

For example, I don't mean to blow my own trumpet,

but I read the oxford dictionary three times

before the age of five.

That is a lie, I did not.

Number three.

In Britain we say,

to sweep something under the carpet.

To sweep something under the carpet.

But in America they say,

to sweep something under the rug.

To sweep something under the rug.

This means to deny or ignore something

that is embarrassing or might damage your reputation.

A lot of politicians like to sweep things under the carpet.

For example, as one of the most

controversial YouTube on the platform,

I have swept many scandals under the carpet.

Number four.

In British English we say, peaks and troughs.

Peaks and troughs.

But in American English they say, peaks and valleys.

Peaks and valleys.

This means to avoid something at all costs,

or to refuse to associate with something.

Woops, I said the wrong one.

This is the mixture of good and bad things in life.

For example having lovely sponsors like Skillshare

helps my business through the peaks and troughs of the year.

Number five.

In Britain we would say, to not touch something

with a bargepole.

To not touch something with a bargepole.

In American English they would simply say,

to not touch something with a ten-foot pole.

To not touch something with a ten-foot pole.

This simply means to avoid something at all costs,

or to refuse to associate with something.

For example, my father would not

touch trifle with a bargepole.

He absolutely hates trifle.

He's very good at pretending to like things,

but I've never seen him pretend to like a trifle.

It's that dessert which is like,

cake, jam, jelly, custard, cream, ugh.

I would eat it but,

I wouldn't choose it.

Right, number six.

This is a sort of superstitious one.

In British English it's touch wood.

Touch wood.

In American English, it's knock on wood.

Knock on wood.

And it's a phrase that's used

just after mentioning a way in which

you've been lucky in the past.

And it's said to prevent bad luck.

So an example would be,

I am not a great driver,

but I've never been in a serious car crash.

Touch wood.

I'm saying touch wood to prevent myself

from being in a serious car crash.

I actually need to touch wood now.

(knocking)

Okay.

I'm not superstitious I'm just...

I'm just British.

Number seven.

British English we would say, to flog a dead horse.

To flog a dead horse.

In American English they would say,

to beat a dead horse.

To beat a dead horse.

This simply means to waste energy

on something that has no chance of succeeding.

For example, you're flogging a dead horse

by trying to make my dad eat trifle.

He's not gonna do it.

You're not going to succeed.

Number eight.

Now I will admit that sometimes I use the American version.

And you do have to bear that in mind with these idioms,

because in Britain we consume so many American sitcoms,

tv programmes and movies,

that their vocabulary does bleed into our vocabulary.

But in Britain traditionally,

we would say to take something with a grain of salt.

To take something with a grain of salt.

When in America, they would say,

to take something with a pinch of salt.

To take something with a pinch of salt.

And this means to view something with scepticism

or to not take something literally.

For example, if I offer you a tequila,

you should take it with a pinch of salt

and a slice of lemon.

Just joking.

That's proof, that you should take everything I say

with a grain of salt.

Number nine.

In British English, we would say swings and roundabouts.

Swings and roundabouts.

In American English they would simply say, ups and downs.

Ups and downs.

These idioms are used to describe situations

where there are as many gains as there are losses.

For example, in the UK,

we pay high taxes, but it's all swings and roundabouts,

because we have a great National Health Service.

Number 10.

Another one where I might actually say the American one,

because the Americanisms have bled into Britain.

But the British idiom is skeletons in the cupboard.

Skeletons in the cupboard.

Whilst in American English,

they say skeletons in the closet.

Skeletons in the closet.

And we don't actually use the word closet,

which means wardrobe in British English,

but I would use the word closet for this specific idiom.

And a skeleton in the closet is a secret

that would cause embarrassment if known.

For example, I could never run for prime minister,

because I have ar too many skeletons in my closet.

Number 11.

Oo this one is so British.

The British version is so British.

To have a go at someone.

To have a go at someone.

We use this all the time.

If there's one that you remember,

remember this one.

The American version is to tear into someone.

To tear into someone.

It means to attack someone with either force or language.

For example, true story.

A teacher once had a go at me for faking an illness

when I was genuinely very unwell.

Number 12.

In British English we say a storm in a teacup.

A storm in a teacup.

In American English, they say a tempest in a teapot.

A tempest in a teapot.

That sound much more posh.

Teacup, teapot, much more tea.

This means great outrage or excitement

over a trivial matter.

For example, I don't think the apocalypse is coming.

I think it's big old storm in a teacup.

Number 13.

In British English we say a drop in the ocean.

A drop in the ocean.

And in American English they say, a drop in the bucket.

A drop in the bucket.

It means a very small or insignificant amount

compared to the amount needed.

For example, I saved 33 pence by doing my shopping online,

which is a drop in the ocean

compare to what I need to save for a house deposit.

That's what I trying to save for at the moment,

and it's not easy.

Number 14.

This is a personal favourite.

I just really like it.

And I actually love the American version.

But saying makes me cringe.

The British version is hard cheese.

Hard cheese.

The American version, and I find it

very very hard to say this

without sounding so ridiculous,

so bear with me.

The American version is tough titty.

(laughs)

Tough titty.

(laughs)

I wonder if I could say it without smiling.

Tough titty.

(laughs)

No, I can't.

This is used to express somewhat sarcastic sympathy

over a petty or trivial matter.

For example, you missed your exam

because you stayed up watching Bird Box,

hard cheese mate.

Number 15.

Oo, another super British one

that we use so frequently.

To bang on about something.

To bang on about something.

In American English they would say

to rant and rave about something.

To rant and rave about something.

This meas to talk about something for a long time,

especially in a way that is boring to others.

For example, I know I bang on about Skillshare,

but it really is a fantastic service.

Number 16, in British English it's to call a spade a spade.

To call a spade a spade.

In American English, to call it as one sees it.

To call it as one sees it.

This simply means to speak honestly

and describe something as it really is.

For example, my mother calls a spade a spade,

if I'm being out of order,

which I sometimes am.

She will put me right.

She always does.

Number 17.

In British English we say, to cram.

To cram.

Which isn't strictly an idiom,

but the American version is,

in American English they say to hit the books.

To hit the books.

And this means to study intensively

over a short period of time,

usually right before an exam.

For example, I relied heavily on cramming

throughout my university degree.

I wouldn't recommend it,

but I did get a first class degree.

So make of that what you will.

Number 18.

In British English, to get itchy feet.

To get itchy feet.

In American English they say

to seek new pastures.

To seek new pastures.

This means to start to want to travel

or to want to do something different with your life.

For example, after 14 years of schooling,

I got itchy feet and started to plan my move to Spain.

Number 19.

In British English we say, to go pear shaped.

To go pear shaped.

In American English they say, to go south.

To go south.

This means to go wrong or to go badly.

For example, the party was great,

but after they handed out tequila shots,

it started to go a bit pear shaped.

Our final idiom of the lesson,

and I've saved the best 'til last,

'cause this is what I love to do.

In British English we say, to queue up.

To queue up.

But in American English they say, to wait in line.

To wait in line.

Simply means to take one's place in a queue.

For example, as a Brit,

I can honestly say there is nothing I enjoy more

than queuing up and silently judging those

to who try to break the queue rules.

Ah, I love it and hate it at the same time.

Anyway, moving on.

That's it for today's lesson.

Don't forget to check out Skillshare.

Remember the first 500 people

get their first two months free.

Just click on the link in the description,

and don't forget to check out all of my social media.

I've got my Facebook, I've got Instagram,

and I've got my twitter.

And I shall see you soon for another lesson.

And since Skillshare are sponsoring this video,

they have given the first 500 people

to link the click.

Things you will genuinely be interested in.

(beep)

Oo I'm gonna use the word curated.

Now I have curated a list of,

oh god that was so good, curated.

(laughs)

I love that word, curated.

Now I have curated.

I love it, I just love the word.

(beep)

Now I have created.

No I haven't created it,

I've curated it!

Damn it, I really wanna use this word.

No, that's wrong!

That is wrong!

This simply means to refuse to associate.

And it's a phrase that's used, ah, my god.

My neck is so itchy, ah.

These phrases are used to describe

a situation where there are, bla.

It's all swings and roundabouts,

because we have a great NHS.

A-bla.

To get itchy feet.

And don't forget to check me out on,

check me out, check me out.

(upbeat music)