American English to British English Dictionary

U - Z

Underground Railway

In the USA and Canada the term "Underground Railway" refers to the chain of safe houses used by slaves escaping north from the South prior to the abolition of slavery. What we in Britain call an underground railway Americans and Canadians call a subway or a mass transit or rapid transit system. An additional complication is existence of the Subway submarine sandwich fast food chain.

UP

UPS

United Parcel Service. A private parcel delivery service, although the design of their logo and their vans might lead you to wonder if they were a government organisation.

USDA

United States Department of Agriculture. Includes the Forest Service.

USFS

United States Forest Service, responsible for the National Forests.

USGS

United States Geological Survey, a bureau of the United States Department of the Interior.

It would appear that the USGS is responsible for the administration of Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington State.

USPS

United States Postal Service.

Vacuum Tube

Electronic valve. Now an almost completely historical term, of course.

Vest

As well as its normal meaning, I think a vest can also mean a waistcoat.

Vet

War veteran.

VFD

Volunteer Fire Department.

VFW

Veterans of Foreign Wars, an organisation similar to the British Legion.

Wilderness

Wilderness areas are specially reserved tracts of land where man is a visitor. No roads, buildings or other man-made structures of any kind, permanent or temporary, are permitted in wilderness areas. Backpackers - hikers carrying their own camping equipment - are permitted, but they must carry in and carry out everything they need.

Windshield

Windscreen (of a car).

Winningest

Most successful. Often used to describe the coaches (team managers) of the most successful sports teams. Please don't blame me for this revolting word, I didn't invent it, I'm only reporting it.

Yard

The garden of a house.

Yard Sale

A sale of unwanted items by a household, perhaps because they will shortly be moving.

Zee

Zed (how the name of the last letter of the alphabet is pronounced). Hence constructions such as EZ or E-Z (easy) and Lay-Z (lazy).

ZIP Code

Postcode. ZIP stands for "Zone Improvement Program", I think. An all-digit code is used, with low numbers in the east and high numbers in the west.

Zydeco

A blend of African and Cajun music. 
Language Differences

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