1. Proverbs and Sayings

2. Cockney Rhyming Slang

3. What are the differences between British and American English?

 

 

 

Proverbs and Sayings

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Every cloud has a silver lining.
There's always something good in bad times.

A stitch in time saves nine.
Act early and you can save a lot of time.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.
You have to try or you won't get anything.

Out of the frying pan into the fire.
From one problem to another.

One man's meat is another man's poison.
People often don't like the same things.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Don't question good luck.

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.
You can give a person a chance, but you can't make him or her take it.

The grass is always greener on the other side.
You always think that other people's lives are better than yours.

The best things in life are free.
We don't have to pay for the things that are really valuable, like love, friendship, good health etc.

Don't cross your bridges before you come to them.
Don't worry about problems before they arrive.

It was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
There is a limit to everything. We can load the camel with lots of straw, but finally it will be too much and the camel's back will break. And it is only a single straw that breaks its back - the last straw.

This can be applied to many things in life. People often say "That's the last straw!" when they will not accept any more of something.

Where there's a will there's a way.
If we have the determination to do something, we can always find the path or method to do it.

Marry in haste, and repent at leisure.
If we get married quickly, without thinking carefully, we may be sorry later. And we will have plenty of time to be sorry.

The best advice is found on the pillow.
If we have a problem, we may find the answer after a good night's sleep.

People also often say: "I'll sleep on it."

You can't tell a book by its cover.
We need to read a book to know if it's good or bad. We cannot know what it's like just by looking at the front or back cover. This proverb is applied to everything, not only books.

Bad news travels fast.
" Bad news" means news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly.

Birds of a feather flock together.
" Birds of a feather" means "birds of the same type". The whole proverb means that people of the same type or sort stay together. They don't mix with people of another type

Live and let live.
This proverb suggest that we should not interfere in other people's business. We should live our own lives and let others live their lives.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
Many women have won a man's love by cooking delicious meals for him. They fed his stomach and found love in his heart.

Better untaught than ill taught.
This proverb drops the verb "to be". But we understand: "It is better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly." It's better not to learn something than to learn it badly.

Soon learnt, soon forgotten.
Something that is easy to learn is easy to forget.

 

British Sayings

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Bob's your uncle.
It is added to the end of sentences a bit like and that's it!

Burning the Candle at Both Ends - working for many hours without getting enough rest

Eyes are bigger than your belly - think you can eat more than you can 'My eyes were bigger than my belly, I couldn't eat every thing I had put on my plate'

Sleep Tight - Have a good nights sleep

Tie the Knot - Get Married

 

 

 

Cockney Rhyming slang

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Cockney Rhyming slang is a coded language invented in the nineteenth century by Cockneys so they could speak in front of the police without being understood. It uses a phrase that rhymes with a word, instead of the word itself – thus ‘stairs’ becomes ‘apples and pears’, ‘phone’ becomes ‘dog and bone' and ‘word’ becomes ‘dicky bird’. It can become confusing when sometimes the rhyming part of the word is dropped. See the examples...

 

What or who is a Cockney?
A Cockney traditionally is a person born within hearing distance of the sound of Bow bells, meaning within the sound of the bells of the Church of St Mary Le Bow in Cheapside, London and refers to an East London accent, however to most people living outside London the term Cockney means a Londoner.

The cockney language can be traced back to the early part of the 19th Century, when Sir Robert Peel formed the first Police force stationed at Bow Street, London. They were known as the Bow Street Runners, Peelers and even Bobbies (Robert - Bob). This was in 1824, and the slang, as mentioned above, was to hide the true meaning of discussions from both the Police and the nonces (informers for the Police).

 

Cockney	Meaning	Example
Adam and Eve	Believe	I don't Adam and Eve it!
Bacon and Eggs	Legs	You have got a lovely set of Bacons.
Apples and Pears	Stairs	Get yer Bacons up the Apples and Pears.
Army and Navy	Gravy	Pass the Army and Navy.
Barnet Fair	Hair	I have just got my Barnet chopped.
Brass bands	Hands	I shook him by the Brass.
Bread and Honey	Money	I wish I had loads of Bread.
Butcher's Hook	Look	Take a Butcher's at that!
Christian Slater	Later	See ya Slater.
Cream Crackered	Knackered (tired/broken)	I'm Cream Crackered!
Currant Bun	Sun	The Currant Bun's hot today.
Danny Marr	Car	I'll give you a lift in the Danny.
Dicky Bird	Word	He hasn't said a Dicky bird in hours.
Dog and Bone	Phone	She's always on the Dog.
Donkey's Ears	Years	Ain't seen you in Donkeys.
Ham'n'cheesy	Easy	Ham'n'cheesy does it.
Jam Jar	Car	Me Jam Jar's Cream Crackered.
Jimmy Riddle	Piddle (urinate)	I really need to go for a Jimmy.
Lemon Squeezy	Easy	It was Lemon, mate.
Loaf of Bread	Head	He rarely using his loaf of bread.
Pete Tong	Wrong	Everything?s gone Pete Tong.
Plate of Meat	Street	I was walking down the Plate...
Plates of Meat	Feet	I've been on me Plates all day.
Pork Pies (Porkie Pies)	Lies	He's always telling Porkies.
Rabbit & Pork	Talk	She Rabbits on a bit. Let's Rabbit and Pork.
Richard the Third	Turd	That bloke's a complete Richard.
Sweeney Todd	Flying Squad (Police)	Here come the Sweeney.
Syrup of Figs	Wig	Check out the Syrup on 'is head.
Tea Leaf	Thief	Watch it, he's a bloody Tea Leaf.
Weasel & Stoat	Coat	Pull on yer Weasel.
Whistle and Flute	Suit	I just got a new Whistle.

 

 

 

What are the differences between British English and American English?

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At School
British English	American English
Friend / Mate	Friend
Glue	Gum
Rubber	Eraser
Maths	Math
Public School	Private School
State School	Public School
Holiday	Vacation
School dinner	Hot Lunch
Staff Room	Teachers Lounge
Plimsolls	Gym Shoes
"Mucking Around" / Off Task	Off Task / Fooling Around / "Goofing Off"
Play Time / Break Time	Recess
Open Day / Open Evening	Open House
Marking Scheme	Grading Scheme
Drawing pins	pushpins or thumbtacks

 

 

On the Road
British English	American English
Sleeping Policeman	Speed bump
Car park	Parking Lot
Car Journey	Road Trip
Zebra Crossing / Pedestrian Crossing	Cross Walk
Lollipop Man or Lady	Crossing Guard
Motorway	Freeway
Traffic Jam / Tailback	Traffic Jam
Lorry	Truck
Articulated Lorry	Tractor Trailer /  Trailer Truck
Petrol	Gas / Gasoline
Pavement	Sidewalk
Petrol Station	Gas Station
Skip	Dumpster
Diversion	Detour
Fire Engine	Fire Truck
Phone Box	Telephone Booth

 

 

Buildings / Shops
British English	American English
Semi-Detached House	Duplex
Flat	Apartment
Terrace	Town House
Chemist	Drug Store / Druggist
Cafe / Caffs (not 24 hrs)	Diner
Bungalow	House (one story)  Ranch House

 

 

Let's Eat! Are you Peckish? (Are you Hungry?)
British English	American English
Biscuit / Bickie (A cookie is a large biscuit)	Cookie
Scone	Biscuit
Fairy Cake	Cup Cake
Courgette	Zucchini
Sweets	Candy
Sausage / Banger	Sausage
Crisps	Potato Chips
Chips (French Fries in McDonald's)	French Fries
Starter	Appetizer
Puddings / Afters / Dessert / Sweets	Dessert
Jacket Potato / Baked Potato	Baked Potato
Jam	Jelly
Jelly	Jello
Aubergine	Eggplant
Sandwich / Butty / Sarny	Sandwich
Ice lolly	Popsicle
Bill (at restaurant)	check
Grill	Broil
Food / Grub / Nosh	Food
Rasher	A slice of bacon
Eggy bread (fried)	French Toast
Runner beans	Green beans
Soldiers (We dip soldiers in our soft boiled eggs)	Finger sized slices of toast.
Take-away	Take out
Scotch Pancakes	Flapjacks
Flapjacks in England are oats mixed with honey and/or golden syrup and baked then cut into slices. sometimes raisins are added to the mixture.

 

 

In and around the House
British English	American English
The Toilet / Loo / The John / Bog / WC / Visiting the little boys (little girl's room).	Bathroom / Restroom
Bathroom - the room where the bath is. If you asked us for the bathroom we will think you want to have a bath!
Tap	Faucet
Garden	Backyard / Yard
Wardrobe	Closet
Bin / Dust Bin	Trash Can
Telephone / Blower / Phone	Telephone
Television / Box / Telly/ TV	TV / Television
Cooker	Range or Stove
Couch / Sofa / Settee	Sofa
Hand Basin / Sink	Sink
Run the bath	Fill the tub

 

 

People
British English	American English
Girl / Lass	Girl
Boy / Lad	Boy
Man / Bloke / Gentleman / Guy / Chap	Man / Guy
Lady / Woman	Lady
Policeman / Bobby / Copper	Policeman / Cop
Postman	Mailman
Dustman	Garbage Man
Friend / Pal / Chum / Mate / Buddy	Friend / Buddy
Cashier	Teller
Lollypop Man	Crossing Guard
Nutter	Crazy Person
Mum	Mom

 

 

Other Words
British English	American English
Plaster	Band-Aid
Autumn	Fall
Bank Holiday	National Holiday
Lift	Elevator
Queue There's a queue.	Stand in a Line There's a line.
Quid (slang for pound)	Bucks
Surgery	Doctor's office
Trodden on	Stepped on
I'm knackered	I'm Beat
Kip	sleep
Nick	steal
Wireless / Radio	Radio
Starkers	Naked
Come round	Come over
Off you go	Go ahead
It's gone off	It's spoiled
Lady bird	Lady bug

 

 

Spellings
British English	American English
colour	color
humour	humor
favourite	favorite
theatre	theater
kilometre	kilometer
mum	mom
cosy	cozy
realise	realize
dialogue	dialog
traveller	traveler
cheque	check
jewellery	jewelry
tyre	tire

 

 

 

 

credits:

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The text was composed using the materials of...

1. Proverbs and Sayings © Mandy Barrow, Woodlands Junior School 2006

2. Cockney Rhyming Slang © Mandy Barrow, Woodlands Junior School 2006

3. Differences between British English and American English © Mandy Barrow, Woodlands Junior School 2006