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158 High Street High Street Main Street The British commonly name the principal thoroughfare of their villages and towns The High Street, and in referring to it, they still retain the definite article (see Appen- dix I.A.2). British High Streets are about as common as American Main Streets. high tea light supper High tea includes something cooked: eggs or sausages or Welsh rarebit or any combination of these. It is the equivalent of a light supper. Hilary. See under term. hip, n. Inf. the blues Inf. Also used as a transitive verb meaning to 'give the blues' to someone, i.e., to 'depress' him. As a noun, it is sometimes spelled hyp, revealing its derivation (hypochondria). Now often called the pip. See also (the) hump. hire. See under engage. hire-and-drive, n. rent-a-car hire-purchase, n. installment plan Also known colloquially as the never-never, suggesting that the final payments are never made. Also, that which is repossessed is known as hire-purchase snatch- back. hit (someone) all over the shop, Inf. Inf. run rings around (someone) hit for six. See under six. Hitler's War World War II Inf. See also Great War. hit off, Inf. mimic accurately hive off split off Inf. Used of a group that splits off from the main organization, like a swarm of bees deserting the hive or a group of employees leaving their jobs in a company to start their own company. HMSO. See Her Majesty's Stationery Office. hoarding, n. billboard The primary meaning of this word (apart from its use as present participle of hoard) is 'construction site fence/ the roughly built temporary type, on which people are fond of posting notices despite the customary advice to the contrary, and through the holes or chinks of which people are fond of peering. No Hoarding is not an injunction in times of shortages of commodities; it means Post No Bills, which sometimes appears as Stick No Bills. hockey, n. field hockey To a Briton hockey means 'field hockey'; to an American, 'ice hockey.' If a Briton wants to talk about the type played on ice, he calls it ice hockey. If the American means the game played on the ground, he says field hockey. home and dry 159 hogget, n. yearling sheep In certain British country dialects the name hogget is applied to a young sheep before the first shearing of its coat. hoick, v.t. jerk Slang. Particularly, to raise or hoist with a jerk. The noun hoick comes from rowing slang: a jerk at the end of a poorly executed stroke. hoist, n. freight elevator See also lift; elevator. holdall, n. carryall hold a watching brief. See under watching brief. hold on! just a minute! In Britain, an interjection, without the sense of 'wait!' or 'be patient!' or 'hold your horses!', though it has these meanings as well. hold the baby Slang, hold the bag Slang. Usually in the phrase be left holding the baby. hold the ring stay out of it Inf. To hold the ring, or keep the ring, is to stay out of a situation or to remain on the sideline. The expression is also used in the context of keeping third parties from interfering in a fight. The ropes forming the prize ring in the old days were not attached to posts but were held by the spectators, thus forming the ring. hold-up, n. traffic jam; delay Inf. Any delay, whether as a result of heavy traffic, fog, road construction, etc. hole-and-corner, adj. underhand Inf. A hole-and-corner man is a shady character or operator, and hole-and-corner work is shadiness generally. hole-in-the-corner, adj., Inf. played down Imparting a slight connotation of shabbiness. The wedding had a hole-in-the-corner holiday, n. vacation An employee in Britain looks forward to his or her holiday, and while on vacation is a holidaymaker. But the university student in Britain speaks of vacations, and the summer recess is the long vacation, often shortened to long vac or simply long. See also come down. hols, n.pl. vacation time Inf. Short for holidays; mainly public school jargon. home and dry Inf. having achieved one's goal Inf. Or over the hump, or home free, i.e., doing all right. Sometimes home and dried, and even extended occasionally to home and dried on the pig's back. 160 Home Counties Home Counties SEE COMMENT Counties nearest London, especially Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, and Sussex. home-farm, n. residence farm The farm lived on by a farmer who works several farms that he rents. home from home home away from home homely, adj. Inf. homey Homely is used in Britain to mean 'simple/ 'unpretentious/ 'nothing fancy/ A homely woman in Britain is a friendly, unassuming, domestic type. It is quite pos- sible to be attractive and homely in Britain. Homely, in America, is uncomplimen- tary and means not good looking or even ugly. homeminder, n. house-sitter Cf. child-minder. Home Office SEE COMMENT Performs some of the functions of both the U.S. Department of the Interior and the State Department. Honourable, adj. SEE COMMENT Usually abbreviated to Hon. For the use of this term in the system of British titles, see Lord. Honours. See Birthday Honours. honours even Slang, even Stephen Inf. Synonymous with level pegging. honours, four. See four honours. hon. sec. SEE COMMENT Abbreviation for honorary secretary, a noble term bestowed upon long-suffering, unpaid, general factotums of nonprofit organizations. There are hon. treas. as well, who handle the money. hood, n. convertible top Automobile term. See also Appendix ILE. hoo-ha, n. uproar; row Inf. Trouble, a to-do. See also: shemozzle; scrum; dust-up; slang; Kilkenny cats; barney. hook it Slang, beat it Slang. The Americans make off, take a powder, get out of town, take it on the lam, and do lots of other picturesque things to get away from the police, their wives, and other troublesome people. Synonymous with leg it. hook off uncouple Railroad term. house 161 hooligan, n. hoodlum hoop, n. wicket In croquet. See wicket for British uses of that term, both literal and figurative. hooter, n. 1. Slang, schnozzle 2. automobile horn 3. factory whistle hoover, n., v.t., v.i. 1. n., vacuum cleaner 2. v.t., v.i., vacuum (clean) Originally Hoover was a trademark, but the word has now become generic, like aspirin, thermos, etc. It is also used as a verb: one hurries home to hoover the car- pet because guests are coming. The trademark was derived from the name of the pioneer in the field, William Henry Hoover (1849-1932). Mr. Hoover was an American—the first mayor of North Canton, Ohio. hop; hopper. See under oast, horses. See come to the horses. hospital job made work Inf. The term hospital job has acquired a dishonorable connotation and now com- monly signifies an unscrupulous worker's conversion of a straightforward assignment into a "career." He came to fix a shutter in May and is somehow still around in August. hospital nurse registered nurse Still addressed and referred to in Britain as sister, whether or not the hospital or the nurse in question is connected with a religious order. The order of rank in Britain is nurse, sister, matron; and sister is applied properly only to a nurse of sis- ter rank, but it is often loosely used to describe or address any nurse. hostelry, n. inn The shorter form hostel in both countries indicates a specialized type of inn for young people or for others with special requirements. hotel page bellhop Often shortened to page. An informal term is buttons. hot ice dry ice Dry ice is the more usual term in Britain. hot on 1. Inf. tough on 2. good at 1. Inf. Thus: The boss was hot on latecomers. 2. Inf. He's hot on gardening, i.e., expert at it. Synonymous with dab. house, n. 1. building 2. show 1. As part of the title of an office building, with a capital H. For instance, the British speak of Esso House, the Americans of the Empire State Building. 162 House Full 2. If there are two shows a night, the British talk of going to the first house or the second house, whereas Americans go to see the first show or the last show. See also House Full. House Full approx. Sold Out Sign seen outside Covent Garden and certain theaters, imparting the intelligence that there isn't even any standing-room. The Standing Room Only sign goes up first, succeeded, when appropriate, by House Full. See house, 2. household troops. See Guards. housemaid, n. chambermaid A chambermaid in Britain is a hotel maid. houseman, n. intern A hospital term. housewife, n. sewing gear kit Pronounced HUZZIF in this meaning. housing estate residential development howler, n., Inf. Inf. boner How's that? interj. SEE COMMENT The cry, called an appeal, to the umpire in a cricket game by one or more of the team (side) in the field demanding a ruling that the batter (batsman) is out on one technicality or another. hoy, Inter]'. drive Hoy! is used in herding or driving cattle. To hoy a herd is to drive it by gestures and shouts of hoy! or whatever else comes to mind. huggery, n. drumming up trade Inf. Activities of barristers wooing solicitors. Rhymes with SKULDUGGERY. hullo! Interj. hey! (what's going on?) (Accent on the first syllable.) It is not only a simple greeting; it can also be an expression of surprise—what's happening here? hum and ha, Inf. Inf. hem and haw Sound of hesitation. humane society lifesaving service A humane society man would be called a lifeguard in America. A humane society in America is a benevolent organization for the care and shelter of pet animals. humble pie crow People eat crow in America, and, rarely, humble pie; in Britain it is never crow, always humble pie. Both terms signify humiliation, especially that of eating one's words, i.e., having to retract a previous categorical assertion. The humble in humble pie is corruption of umbles, a word now obsolete in both countries, and a variant of numbles, an archaic English word for the entrails of a deer. Umble pie, long ago, hyper-market 163 was a pie of the inferior parts of a deer served to huntsmen and other servants. The inferior parts included the heart, the liver, and the lights. Lights is a plural noun meaning the lungs of animals, now usually used as food for domestic pets. humbug, n. mint candy Hard, with white and brown stripes, and very tasty. (the) hump, n. Slang, (the) dumps Slang. You can wake up with the hump, or get it or have it. People and things that give you the hump would be said to get you down. The hump would seem to imply a certain amount of irritation combined with depression, like the sulks. I've got the hump means 'I'm fed up.' If you're humpy, you're down in the mouth, in the dumps. See also hip. hump, v.t Inf. lug; schlepp Inf. The image is that of one wearily carrying a heavy burden. Schlepp is heard increasingly in Britain. hundred, n. SEE COMMENT Subdivision of a county in the old days. See Chiltern Hundreds. hundreds and thousands approx. multicolored sprinkles Tiny candies spread on top of cookies, cakes, or ice cream. See also chocolate ver- micelli. hundredweight, n. SEE COMMENT 112 pounds in Britain; 100 pounds in America. hunt, v.i. skip; miss Inf. If your motor is hunting in Britain, it is alternately racing and stalling. hunt, in the. See in the hunt, hunt, out of the. See in the hunt. hunter, n. watch with hinged covers If it has hinged covers front and back, it is a hunter; if only a front cover, a half hunter. These names derive from the function of the cover(s): to protect the watch on the hunting field. huSS. SEE COMMENT A kind of fish. See also Appendix II.H. hyp. See hip. hyper-market, n. giant supermarket I ice, n. ice cream In most British restaurants, ices means ice cream, and ices, various is the name for assorted flavors thereof. The British use sorbet for sherbet, but sherbet in Britain means 'powdered candy/ a sweet sugar-like substance that children suck up through licorice sticks. Water ice, meaning 'sherbet' in the American sense, is sometimes seen on British menus instead of sorbet. icing sugar powdered sugar See also castor sugar. identification parade police lineup identity disc Slang, dog tag The Americans prefer the slang expression, for which there is no British slang equivalent. I have to say that I beg to say that Have here does not express necessity, any more than the am ml am to say, in offi- cialese, expresses futurity, or the beg in the corresponding American phrase implies a request for permission. The entire phrase, in each country, should be omitted. ilk. See of that ilk. ill, adj. SEE COMMENT The British use ill in the usual American senses, but also in ways in which it would not appear in America. Thus, one often hears a television announcer describe the victim of an accident or a shooting as 'seriously ill/ where an Amer- ican would have been likely to use a phrase like 'in critical condition.' Note that sick is generally not used as a synonym for ill, but much more narrowly, to mean nauseous, and to be sick is to throw up. I'll be bound Inf. I bet Inf. This expression comes only at the end of a sentence so that it never takes a dependent clause. I'm easy (about it) It's all the same to me Inf. I'm easy (about it), in answer to a question posing a dilemma or an alternative, e.g., Would you rather I came at 10:00 or 11:00? means 1 don't care, or It's all the same to me. I'm easy about it has a British equivalent in I don't mind. Usually shortened to I'm easy. See also mind, 2. immersion heater hot water heater An immersion heater heater heats water for the whole house, as opposed to a geyser, which provides a supply of hot water in a particular room, usually the kitchen. Often referred to as the immersion. 164 in baulk, balk 165 immigrant, n. non-white Inf. Used by some as a pejorative synonym for coloured, which in Britain includes Asians and persons of mixed ancestry as well as of African descent. Properly speaking, in either country, any person entering another country to set- tle there permanently is an immigrant. imperial, adj. Inf. unsurpassable Inf. As in, an imperial balls-up (see balls) which is one lousy mess. importune, v.t. solicit In America, importune, in addition to its primary meaning of 'beset, ply, dun/ can mean 'to make improper advances toward' someone. In England, importune is used in the special sense of 'solicit for immoral purposes/ and is commonly used to describe the activities of active prostitutes. impost, n. punishment task Schoolboy slang. An informal shortening of imposition, sometimes written impo, referring to an unpleasant task assigned as a punishment at school, like having to write, I shall not pass notes during Scripture 500 times. impression, n. printing Thus: First published January 1968 Second impression February 1968 In a book printed in America the second impression would be called the second printing. imprest, n. SEE COMMENT Funds advanced to a government employee for use in official business. Formerly, it meant an advance payment to a soldier or sailor on enlistment. in a cleft stick Slang, in a pickle Inf. The two branches of a cleft stick are like the horns of a dilemma. in a flap, Inf. Inf. het up in a flat spin Slang, rattled Slang. Usually in the expression going into aflat spin, meaning agitated or panic- stricken. in a fuzz, Slang. Slang, in a tizzy in aid of for (used for) What's that in aid of? 'What's that for?'—asked by someone pointing to an object whose function is unclear. Can also be asked about intangibles like a shout or a trip. in a way; in a great way. See way. in (someone's) bad books Inf. in dutch with (someone) Inf. Variant: in (someone's) black books. Synonymous with in the cart. in baulk, balk Inf. in a spot Inf. Meaning 'in difficulties.' 166 in care in care in a foster home Said of children, and applies equally to an orphanage. incident room (approx.) situation room A term beloved of English detective story writers; temporary headquarters set up during the investigation of the crime; a control room where the hero-detective and staff meet and discuss things. indent, n., v.t. requisition indexed. See index-linked. index-linked, ad). adjusted for inflation Describes savings programs, investments, etc. where the income and /or capital are geared to the British cost-of-living index (the UK General Index of Retail Prices—RPI for short). Index-linked is sometimes shortened to indexed, and the process has been dubbed indexation, which can be applied to wages and salaries as well. Indian. See red Indian. Indian meal corn meal Corn in the American sense is usually called maize in Britain at the agricultural or trade level (see corn), but another British name for it, at the gardener's or house- holder's level, is Indian corn (sometimes corn on the cob). Hence Indian meal for cornmeal. industrial action union protest activity Anything from a slow down to a full-fledged strike. industrial estate. See under estate. ingle-nook, n. chimney corner A word that summons up an irresistibly cozy, even stirring, image of the quintes- sential Briton by his hearth. Rooms in old nouses sometimes have fireplaces as much as eight or ten feet wide, with a grate or stove in the center from which the smoke runs into a narrow flue. Comfortable chairs can be placed on either side, within the fireplace. ingrowing, adj. ingrown Referring to toenails. The Americans seem resigned to a fait accompli. in hand 1. at one's disposal 2. under control 1. As in, Aberdeen still has two games in hand, and though trailing at the moment, might yet win the Scottish first division football (soccer) championship. In this sense, in hand would be to go in America: two games to go. 2. Being attended to: Not to worry; the matter is in hand. inland, adj. domestic; internal The British speak of inland postage rates and inland revenue. The opposite num- ber of an American internal revenue agent is the British inland revenue inspector. But see internal. intake 167 in low water 1. Inf. hard up 2. Slang, in hot water 1. Inf. Financial stress is the usual connotation. 2. Inf. Difficult straits or a depressed state generally (e.g., the weak position of a political party out of favor) is the broader implication, and in this sense its Amer- ican equivalent would be in hot water. Low in the water is a variant, meaning 'up against it.' innings, n. sing. inning Note the -s, which does not make innings plural. An American inning is a British innings. The standard British plural is the same as the singular; informally, it is inningses. Inns of Court SEE COMMENT These are the four legal societies which alone may admit persons to the bar in the sense of allowing them to practice as barristers as distinguished from solicitors. These societies are the Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Gray's Inn. The term Inns of Court denotes not only those societies but also their build- ings in London. in one's gift at one's disposal With particular reference to a living. in pod Slang, knocked up Slang. Both countries use inelegant terms for "pregnant." See also preggers and pudding club. See knock up for its various British meanings. inquiry. See enquiry. insect, n. bug Americans use insect and bug more or less interchangeably. In Britain bug means 'bedbug.' Bug has slang meanings in both countries. In British slang a big bug is what Americans call a big gun, a VIP. inside (of a bus) bottom And the outside of a bus is its top. These terms refer to double-deckers and are remi- niscent of the days when the top was uncovered, and therefore the outside. Nowa- days it's all inside, literally speaking, but outside is still often heard from conductors. inspectorate, n. SEE COMMENT Governmental body for inspection of schools and education generally. Performs some of the functions of a Board of Education. in store. See under store. instruct, v.t retain Term used in the legal profession. In Britain a client instructs a solicitor, that is, engages him. In America a client retains, engages, or hires a lawyer. intake, n. entrants Inf. Those recently taken in. Covers entrants into a university, the ministry, the armed forces, etc. The slang American equivalent in military and sports usage would be rookies. [...]... that is jacket potato, Inf baked potato jakes, n Slang, can (privy) Slang Archaic word for outhouse, toilet jam, n treat Slang A real jam is British slang for a real treat A jam sandwich in Britain can mean what it does in America, but it is also a term used to mean the kind of layer cake that has preserves between the layers See also jam sandwich jam, money for See money for jam jam on it See have... Lawks -a- mussy is the fuller expression lead for the Crown 1 85 Law Society approx Bar Association There is a national Law Society and there are also many local ones in Britain just as there are a nationwide Bar Association and many local ones in America In certain matters such as the setting of ethical standards of conduct, the furtherance of legal education, and so on, the functions of the British and American... COMMENT March 25, so called because that is the day of the Feast of the Annunciation See quarter-day 182 landlord ladyfy (ladify), v.t 183 SEE COMMENT To ladyfy or ladify a woman is to make a lady of her, though it can mean merely to lend dignity to a woman by calling her a lady Ladified describes a woman exhibiting the airs of a refined lady Lady of Threadneedle Street See Old Lady of Threadneedle... this British meaning This narrow American usage, however, appears to have been adopted by some British political pundits The term can also be applied to a firm in financial difficulties, or a troubled industry 2 Slang This term also describes a person unable to meet his obligations on the London Stock Exchange Also a lossmaking company land agent Synonymous with estate agent landed, adj real estate... pi Slang, jug Slang In the special sense of military jail Jankers has other meanings in military slang: 'defaulters'; their 'penalty' or 'punishment'; the 'cells' themselves To get ten days' jankers is to be confined to the stockade for that period jaunty, n master-at-arms Naut Slang Head policeman on a naval vessel The official title in both the Royal Navy and the United States Navy is master-at-arms,... wheeled chair inverted commas quotation marks invigilator n proctor at school examinations To invigilate is to keep vigil, i.e., watch over students during examinations ironmonger n hardware dealer -ish, adv somewhat; sort of; rather; about Inf Tacked on to an adjective or adverb, this suffix adds an attenuating nuance, with the same force as placing somewhat, fairly, or sort of before the word, or about... Britain as in America, but in a British restaurant if you wanted JellO or its equivalent for dessert, you would ask for jelly jelly-bag cap stocking cap Inf Jelly-bags are used for straining jelly and are made of the kind of stretchable material associated with what Americans call stocking caps jemmy, n jimmy British burglars use jemmies; their American colleagues use jimmies Jemmy is also used as the... have the inside dope K.O kickoff Inf A British football abbreviation Thus, on a poster advertising a football game, "K.O 3:00 P.M." It also means 'knockout/ a boxing term, as in America L label, n sticker; tag labourer See agricultural labourer; casual labourer labour exchange approx state employment office In this meaning, the words are often capitalized: Labour Exchange In lower case, the term can... a secretary laid on lay on the table See table lay (oneself) out to laystall, n put (oneself) out to rubbish heap lea See ley leader, n 1 newspaper editorial 2 chief counsel 3 concert master This word has three distinct British meanings that are not found in America: 1 It means 'newspaper editorial/ especially the principal one There is a related (and rather unattractive) word leaderette, which has... fertility, as they say, and using that area for a particular crop A ley is a rotating pasture; variant of lea Liberal Jew Reform Jew In America, the three branches of Judaism are Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform; in Britain, Orthodox, Reform and Liberal Lib-Lab, adj SEE COMMENT Inf Anything involving both Liberal and Labour party supporters Originally it applied to members of the Liberal party in the . can (privy) Slang. Archaic word for outhouse, toilet. jam, n. treat Slang. A real jam is British slang for a real treat. A jam sandwich in Britain can mean what it does in America,. the 'cells' themselves. To get ten days' jankers is to be confined to the stockade for that period. jaunty, n. master-at-arms Naut. Slang. Head policeman on a naval vessel ask for jelly. jelly-bag cap stocking cap Inf. Jelly-bags are used for straining jelly and are made of the kind of stretchable material associated with what Americans call stocking caps. jemmy,