10 Words That Mean Very Different Things in England and America (Part 2)

10個英美兩國意思不同的詞（下）

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。

Casket

In America, a casket, also called a coffin, obviously has a sad and sullen connotation. In Great Britain, on the other hand, a casket has a completely different meaning with a pleasant connotation: It refers to a small, often antique, box used to store jewelry or trinkets.

在美國，“casket”，也被稱為“coffin”（棺材），顯然有一種悲傷難過的感覺。但在英國，“casket”有完全不同的可愛的含義，它指的是用于存放珠寶或小飾品的小型且古老的盒子。

Comforter

Informing a Londoner that you like to snuggle with your comforter every night may result in some strange looks, unless you’re a baby. In the U.S., a comforter is a quilted bedspread, but in England, a comforter is a term used to describe a baby’s pacifier.

如果你告訴倫敦人每晚你喜歡蜷在“comforter”里，可能會讓別人感到奇怪，除非你是個小寶寶。在美國， “comforter ”是一種絎縫床罩，但在英國， “comforter ”指嬰兒奶嘴。

Pants

Telling a British person you got your pants dirty could elicit some raised eyebrows. In America, of course, pants are clothing that covers you from your waist to your ankles. However, in England, the term “pants” is another word for “underwear.”

如果你告訴英國人你的“pants”很臟，可能會招來奇怪的眼神。這是因為，在美國，“pants”是從腰部覆蓋到腳踝的褲子。然而，在英國，“pants”一詞是“underwear”（內褲）的同義詞。

Boot

If a Londoner tells you he locked something in his boot, you may look at him quizzically. Yet, don’t be alarmed: While in America a boot is a type of footwear, in England, the term is used to refer to a trunk of a car.

如果倫敦人告訴你他把東西鎖在“boot”里，你可能會疑惑地看著他。但是不要驚訝，因為在美國， “boot ”是一種鞋類，而在英國，這個詞是指汽車的后備箱。

Braces

In one country, they’re used to straighten your teeth, but in the other, they’re used to hold up your pants. In America, the word “braces” refer to orthodontia, but in Great Britain, it refers to suspenders.

在一個國家，它用來矯正你的牙齒，但在另一個國家，它用來拉住你的褲子。在美國，“braces”一詞指畸齒矯正，但在英國，它指的是背帶。

（來源：滬江英語）