More English confusion

[lman]

When I was in California some decades ago I went into a "takeaway" place to get some food. "Takeaway" is another English word that seems to have failed to thrive in the US.
Shop assistant: To go?
Me: sorry?
Shop assistant: To go?
Me: where?
Shop assistant: To Go?
Me: sorry? to go where?
Shop assistant: To Go?

This went on whilst the shop assistant didn't ask me a complete English sentence. I eventually guessed what she was wanting to know.

At least it was not a major problem unlike my colleague. When asked at the border control point at the airport what his occupation was he replied "Solicitor" This caused major problems and he was nearly sent packing home to Australia. The appropriate word to use in the US is "Attorney".

Mike

Here it's takeout.

 

[ponytug]

When I was in California some decades ago I went into a "takeaway" place to get some food. "Takeaway" is another English word that seems to have failed to thrive in the US.
Shop assistant: To go?
Me: sorry?
Shop assistant: To go?
Me: where?
Shop assistant: To Go?
Me: sorry? to go where?
Shop assistant: To Go?

This went on whilst the shop assistant didn't ask me a complete English sentence. I eventually guessed what she was wanting to know.

At least it was not a major problem unlike my colleague. When asked at the border control point at the airport what his occupation was he replied "Solicitor" This caused major problems and he was nearly sent packing home to Australia. The appropriate word to use in the US is "Attorney".

Mike

Ok, having been through border control/immigration/... a few times, that one had me me practically spraying tea/char all over my screen.

Usually, it has been me on the receiving end of the "to go"s, e.g "to go", loo (but not "looky loo"), karzi, "whiz", (but not "whiz kid"), "take a slash", "see a man about a dog"...

Thanks for making my morning.

All the best,

Peter

 

[kenmbz]

And Salad goes on a sandwhich in UK, and in a bowl in the US

 

[fried1765]

Looking at a recipe, biscuits with gravy, I thought it sounded awful then discovered what you call biscuits we call scones, moving on, what we call biscuits you call cookies, your jelly is our jam, tater tots=potato gems, picking up a recipe book becomes quite a challenge.
Of course our own terms/words vary between states, a scallop can be either a shellfish or a slice of battered fried potato, there are others but being beckoned by SWMBO.
Often attributed to that fine barrister Horace Rumpole but actually from Haggers novel She.

We do have both jelly and jam.
Jelly is clear, but jam may include the seeds, skins, or rinds of the fruit.

 

[Jstpssng]

Jelly is made strictly of juice from the fruit.

 

[ranger danger]

Much like calling a telephone help line in (name the foreign country). They MAY speak English but, they don't speak American!
Much like getting a person from Calif. to communicate with a Cajun from Louisiana!

 

[Midniteoyl]

your jelly is our jam

We have both. Jam is less sugary and made from more actual fruit. Jelly is made from mostly juice and/or syrup and sugar.

 

[/pine]

And Salad goes on a sandwhich in UK, and in a bowl in the US

Some BBQ joints in the Carolina's put coleslaw on the sandwich...!

 

[Midniteoyl]

Some BBQ joints in the Carolina's put coleslaw on the sandwich...!

"Some"? You'd damn near be shot if you asked for it on the side.

 

[kenmbz]

Some BBQ places put milk in Coleslaw- so that's a no go for me.
Some give a slice of white bread.