|
 | London Local Customs | Tips 41 - 50 of 696 |  |
Popular Local Customs | Miscellaneous Local Customs Tips | All Tips (696)  | |  |  | Cross the road wherever and whenever you like | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
In Britain, the crime of Jaywalking does not exist. Indeed most Brits have no idea what jaywalking even means, which makes it a little difficult the first time we go to somewhere like the U.S.A. or Singapore where you can only cross a road at a designated crossing and at the designated time. You may think that after reading my "have a nice day" custom tip, that I'm having a laugh here. No, this is completely true. The only roads pedestrians aren't allowed to cross are motorways in Britain. Otherwise (provided you take due care and attention - and I won't be held responsible for your lack of it) you can cross any road, anywhere and anytime. Some roads are so busy it is advisable you cross only at designated points or use the underpasses, but even at designated points, if the little man is red (don't pass), it is still OK to cross the road if you so desire (of course it helps if there are no vehicles coming first). If you still don't believe any of this, watch the locals when you get here, and you will see it is true. Of course if you are heading back to the US or Singapore or anywhere else where jaywalking is illegal, don't forget to obey your local laws when you return. You may prefer to follow what you know so you don't get frustrated by the restrictions when you get back home (jaywalking is a serious frustration to me when I'm abroad...). Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
| | | | British Versus American English | Tip Rating: | | | | |
When choosing a travel destination, people often prefer a country where they speak the language. The funny thing is, Americans and Brits only THINK they speak the same language. Consider this: In Britain, "homely" is a compliment. In America it means "ugly." When the British say "upstairs" they mean the first floor. Americans mean the second. Tell a Brit to "wash up" and he'll head for the kitchen to do the dishes. An American will head for the bathroom to wash his hands and face. The British expression "I'll knock you up in the morning" is rather shocking to an American. By the same token, Brits will shift uncomfortably if an American guest at the dinner table says "I can't eat another thing - I'm stuffed." English people don't bathe their babies. They bath them. When Brits bathe, they mean going for a swim in the sea. Wading in shallow water is "having a paddle," even if their hands never touch the water. A bum in Britain is a fanny in America, i.e, the thing we sit on, also known as a behind. A fanny in Britain is what the ladies have. In America, a bum is either a tramp or an obnoxious person. A billion is the same. But a decillion in America is one plus thirty-three zeroes, while in Britain it is one plus sixty zeroes. For me, it wouldn't matter, since I don't have that kind of money, but for bankers I guess it would make a difference... Here's a short list that may help you get your point across: ENGLISH/AMERICAN Lift/elevator dustbin/garbage can or trash can biscuit/cookie courgette/zucchini inverted commas/quotation marks knackered/ worn out subway/pedestrian underpass underground or tube/subway smalls/ladies' underwear cotton (for sewing)/thread trousers/pants vest/undershirt waistcoat/vest hooter/nose flat/apartment holiday/vacation aubergine/eggplant hardware/house wares lorry/truck motorway/freeway off license/liquor store queue/line parcel/package tin/can fringe/ bangs chips/French fries Leave a Comment
|
| | |
| | | | More Differences Across The Pond {Chapter 10} | Tip Rating: | | | | |
suspenders: What Americans refer to as garter belts, that women use to hold up their thigh high stockings. In the UK, the strips of material used to hold up trousers (known in the US as suspenders) are called braces. suss: (1) to figure something or someone out would be known as sussed. One might say, "I almost got away with it, but he / she sussed. suss: (2) Sometimes used in the UK in reference to a dodgy bloke or bird, probably an abbreviation of a suspicious character. sweet: candy or desserts are known as pudding or just sweets in the UK. swot: In the UK, someone who studies hard academically. Swotting up would be the same as cramming for exams in America. tetchy: easily irritated, touchy. telly: television. Brits watch the telly, and American watch T.V. tartan:plaid take-away : food retailers in US are called take-outs, or drive- throughs. tick: a check mark in the US. Often used on the Internet, you would tick or check the appropriate box(es) for instance. tights: UK meaning pantyhose, but in America tights are much denser and different colors (colours), mainly worn in winter months, mostly by little girls. American women do wear pantyhose, we just don't call them tights. till: cash register Tippex: white corrective fliud, known as Liquid paper (both are popular brand names) titchy: tiny. For example, portions at posh restaurants can be absolutely titchy, but still cost a fortune. toilet: the entire room itself, not just the device you flush, as in America, the toilet is in the restroom. toodle-pip: an old fashioned expression meaning "Goodbye", similar to "Toodle loo" in America. torch: flashlight trainers: training shoes, running shoes, tennis shoes or sneakers tram: known a streetcar or trolley in America, similar to a bus that runs on a track with cables, and sometimes referred to as cable cars. Additional Note: In Webster's dictionary, it is called a "chiefly British" streetcar. Leave a Comment Website: http://www.english2american.com
|
| | |
More London Tips Overview
| General Tips
Tips: 2,314 - Photos: 1,897 | Restaurants
Tips: 2,696 - Photos: 1,645 | Hotels and Accommodations
Tips: 1,625 - Photos: 836 | Things To Do
Tips: 9,066 - Photos: 7,995 | Nightlife
Tips: 1,343 - Photos: 836 | Off the Beaten Path
Tips: 1,526 - Photos: 1,288 | Tourist Traps
Tips: 496 - Photos: 274 | Warnings or Dangers
Tips: 685 - Photos: 345 | Transportation
Tips: 1,881 - Photos: 1,212 | Local Customs
Tips: 696 - Photos: 479 | Packing Lists
Tips: 288 - Photos: 116 | Shopping
Tips: 931 - Photos: 684 | Sports Travel
Tips: 209 - Photos: 179 | Flights
Tips: 155 - Photos: 104 |
 |
More Sponsored Links for London |
|
on January 28, 2005
London
on November 12, 2004
on November 18, 2004
on March 10, 2005
on July 2, 2006
on February 22, 2005
on February 28, 2006
on September 24, 2004
on April 9, 2004
