10 Words That Mean Very Different Things in England and America (Part 1)

10個英美兩國意思不同的詞（上）

English is English, right? Not exactly. Even though Americans share the same language as those in Great Britain, words that commonly mean one thing here can mean something completely different across the pond—and vice-versa. Avoid potential embarrassment by getting a handle on these tricky linguistic twists.

英語就是一成不變的嗎？當然不是。即使美國人與英國人同用英語，但有些詞在美國表達的意思和在英國完全不同，反之亦然。掌握了這些惱人的釋義變化，我們才能避免可能出現的尷尬。

Bird

In the United States a bird is, well, an animal with feathers that tweets. In England, however, a bird is often used to describe a young female, similar to the way young women are referred to as “chicks” in the America . Be wary of calling your boss’s daughter a bird, however; some Britons consider the term to be derogatory.

在美國，bird是一種帶有羽毛、會鳴叫的動物。然而在英國，bird通常被用來形容年輕的女性，類似于美國稱年輕女性為“chicks”。不過，要警惕將老板的女兒稱呼為“bird”，因為一些英國人認為這個詞是貶義的。

Geezer

Here in America the word “geezer” is a derogatory term often paired with “old” to describe an elderly (and often eccentric) old man. In Great Britain, the word “geezer” is a slang term given to a regular man, and is often used the same way Americans refer to young guys as “dudes.”

在美國，“geezer”是一個貶義詞，經常與“old”配在一起，用來形容一位年邁的（通常是古怪的）老人。而在英國，“geezer”這個詞是描述普通人的俚語，類似于美國人稱年輕人為“dudes”。

Trainer

Saying you need a new trainer in America means something quite different than it does in England. Here, trainers are fitness experts who can help you work out. Abroad, trainers are just another name for sneakers, or tennis shoes.

你在美國和英國說你需要一個新的“trainer”，意思完全不同。在美國，“trainers”是能幫助你鍛煉的健身專家。而在英國， “trainers ”只是運動鞋或網球鞋的另一種說法。

Jumper

In the America , the term “jumper” typically involves a call to 911, as it can refer to a person who’s attempting to jump from a bridge or building. The meaning could not be more different in Great Britain, where “jumper” is the name given to a knitted top, or, as it’s called in America: a sweater.

在美國，“jumper”通常會出現在和911的對話中，一般指試圖從橋上或樓房上跳樓的人。而在英國，這個詞的意思完全不同，“jumper”是指針織毛衫，即美式英語里的 “sweater ”。

Rubber

While the word “rubber” in America is a slang term for a condom, in England, it has a much more innocent connotation: It’s simply the name given to a pencil eraser.

美國“rubber”這個詞是安全套的俚語。但在英格蘭，它有一個更純潔的含義：它僅僅只是鉛筆橡皮擦的名字。

（來源：滬江英語）