British English A to Z - past 3

98 dab, n. Inf. whiz Inf. Used in the expression to be a dab at, sometimes lengthened to be a dab hand at, meaning to ‘be especially adept at.’ dabbly, adj. wet Slang. A dabbly summer is one with frequent rain. Most people think that dabble is used only in the expression to dabble in, i.e., ‘engage in superficially,’ as to dabble in the market or in a hobby. But its primary meaning is to ‘moisten intermit- tently’—hence a dabbly summer. dab in the hand, Slang. bribe dabs, n. pl., Inf. fingerprints And the singular dab means ‘fingerprint.’ daddy-longlegs, n. crane fly In Britain, a daddy-longlegs is a crane fly, an insect of the family Tipulidae of the order Diptera, resembling an enormous mosquito and popularly called the mosquito hawk. In America called also harvestman, but not identical with the British insect. daft as a brush Inf. very silly daggerplate. See sliding keel. daily woman cleaning woman Inf. Often shortened to just daily. Sometimes daily help. See also char, 1. dainty, adj. Inf. picky; finicky Inf. About food; a term applied to young children who are hard to please at meal- time. See also faddy. dambusters Inf. see comment In May 1943, Lancaster bombers from an elite RAF squadron audaciously attacked dams on the Ruhr River of Germany. Using specially designed ‘bounc- ing bombs’ designed to be launched from a low height, they aimed to breach the dams and flood the industrial areas lying below them. The raid had limited suc- cess, but tremendous propaganda value; it went into the language as a synonym for any brave and successful enterprise. The job went like dambusters. Dame, n. see comment A woman who is knighted becomes a Dame. A Dame should not be confused with a Lady. See also Lord for other titles. damn all Slang. nothing at all Slang. This expression is in fairly wide use and would not be considered improper in normal company, even mixed. Americans might hesitate for a moment before d h saying, I can’t find a damned thing. The British would say, “I’ve got damn all,” or more commonly, "bugger all" or "fuck all." damp course insulating layer A damp course or damp-proof course is a layer of tarred felt, slate, etc., placed above the house foundation to prevent deterioration in the walls of a building caused by rising damp, a troublesome phenomenon in Britain. dampers, n. pl. flat cakes Slang. Made of flour and water, usually by Boy Scouts, and not recommended for gourmets. Damper is used as well in the various senses in which it is used in America in connection with fireplaces, pianos, etc., and figuratively in the sense of a ‘wet blanket.’ damp squib Slang. bust; dud; lead balloon Inf. One of those things, like a Church Bazaar or a Charity Ball that was going to be a howling success, but. . . . A squib literally is a firework, giving us all we need to understand ‘damp squib.’ damson, n. a small blue-black plum darbies, n. pl. Slang. bracelets Slang. Handcuffs. The British term is said to be derived from the expression Father Darby’s bands or bonds, a particularly rigid form of debtor’s bond invoked by usu- rers in the good old days. Darby and Joan see comment Inf. This sentimental nickname for any loving couple of advanced years is sup- posed to have originated from an allusion in a ballad that appeared in 1735 in a publication called Gentleman’s Magazine. The poem, entitled “The Joys of Love Never Forgot,” went: Old Darby, with Joan by his side, You’ve often regarded with wonder. He’s dropsical, she’s sore-eyed, Yet they’re never happy asunder. Membership in Darby and Joan Clubs all over Britain is open to those whom Americans so tactfully call Senior Citizens and Golden Agers and the British Old Age Pensioners, usually shortened to O.A.P.s. dashed, adv. Slang. damned Slang. Milder than damned in expressions like dashed good, dashed bad, and the like. Also heard in Well, I’m dashed, where Americans would say, Well, I’ll be damned! Dashed may be on the way out as language becomes freer in a more permissive society. daughter concern subsidiary A company owned by another company. The family relationship of the subsid- iary is recognized in the American expression parent company, but the Americans keep the sex of the subsidiary a secret. davenport, n. writing table; escritoire In America this word means ‘large sofa.’ davenport 99 daylight robbery Inf. highway robbery Inf. Figure of speech, like holdup, meaning ‘unashamed swindling,’ an ‘exorbitant price or fee.’ day return. See return. day sister. See sister. day tripper. See tripper. dead-alive, adj. Inf. dead; more dead than alive Inf. Sometimes dead-and-alive. Of a person, ‘unspirited’; of work or a place, ‘monotonous, boring.’ dead cert Inf. sure thing Slang. Cert is short for certainty. dead keen on. See keen on; mad on. dead man’s shoes see comment This rather grim phrase describes something that somebody is waiting to inherit or succeed to, for example, his boss’s job. dead on Slang. on the nose Inf. Exactly right. See bang on for synonyms. dead set at. See make a dead set at. dead slow extremely slow Often seen on traffic signs meaning as slow as possible. In both countries, ship- board signal from bridge to engine room. dead stock farm machinery The term dead stock is occasionally used to mean ‘unemployed capital’ or ‘unsal- able merchandise.’ However, it has a special use in connection with the sale of country property. One sees signs advertising an auction of such and such a farm property, sometimes with livestock and sometimes including dead stock. Undoubt- edly, an echo of the common term livestock. dead to the wide. See to the wide. deaf-aid hearing aid deals, n. pl. lumber For British meaning of lumber, see lumber, n. dean, n. cathedral head See under head, 1. death duties inheritance tax The estate tax levied on property after the owner’s death. debag, v.t. Inf. cut down to size Slang. Literally, debag means to ‘pull somebody’s pants off,’ bags being slang for ‘pants,’ or as the British say, trousers. Figuratively, it means to ‘deflate’ a person. 100 daylight robbery debus, v.t., v.i. get out of an automobile (Accent on second syllable: dee-bus, em-bus.) Embus is to get in. See detrain and entrain. Military terms. Also applied to unloading ammunition etc. from a vehicle. decasualization see comment Increasing the number of so-called permanent jobs in a nation’s economy, per- haps by abolishing casual labor. See casual labourer. decillion. See Appendix II.D. decoke, v.t. decarbonize To do a ring job on a car. decorate, v.t. paint In context, decorating a room or a house means ‘painting’ it, and house painters are sometimes referred to as decorators. The word has nothing to do with decoration in its general sense, nor with interior decorating. deed-poll, n. unilateral deed A legal term describing a document signed by a single party. Poll is an old verb meaning to ‘cut evenly,’ as for instance, the edge of a sheet. A deed-poll is writ- ten on a polled sheet, one that is cut evenly and not indented. The common use of a deed-poll nowadays is as a document by virtue of which one changes one’s name. degree day commencement This is a university term and has nothing to do with weather measurements, as in America. degree of frost degree below 32°F In America, 20°F is 20° above zero, or simply 20 above, or even more simply, 20. In Britain, 20°F is announced as 12° of frost. Formula: X° of frost in Britain = (32 – X)° above 0 in America. dekko, n., Slang. Slang. gander (glance) A look: She asked to have a quick dekko. demarcation dispute jurisdictional dispute Between unions, or between different departments in a company. At risk is the work available. demerara, n. see comment (Rhymes with sahara.) Raw cane sugar, light brown, frequently served with cof- fee. Imported from Demerara, in Guyana. See also coffee sugar. demisemiquaver, n. thirty-second note Musical term. See Appendix II.F. demister, n. defroster Automotive term. See Appendix II.E. demo, n. demonstration Inf. A street demonstration, or a demonstration of something the demonstrator wants you to buy. In the U.S., a sample recording by a musician. demo 101 demob, v.t. discharge Inf. (Accent on the second syllable.) Short for demobilize and demobilization. A mili- tary term. See bowler-hatted. demonstrator, n. laboratory assistant At an academic institution. dene, n. 1. sandy stretch by the sea 2. dune 3. wooded vale denominational school parochial school denture, n. removable bridge A denture, in America, is usually understood to denote a set of upper or lower false teeth. It is used that way in Britain, too, but the term is also used for any removable bridge, whether one or more teeth are involved. Bridge means ‘fixed bridge’ only. Dentures, in the American sense, are occasionally referred to in Brit- ain, especially by older people, as dentacles or dentals. departmental store department store deposit account savings account Cf. current account, running account. Derby, n. see comment (Pronounced ‘Darby’). The famous annual horse race held at Epsom Downs every June. It is a flat race for three-year-old horses, run over a distance of one- and-a-half miles. de-restricted road road without speed limit For many years there were no speed limits on British country roads. Now the government has imposed an overall speed limit of 70 m.p.h. However, as one approaches a city, town, or village there are signs reading “30” or “40” restricting the driver to those limits while passing through those areas. Once beyond the geographical limits, you find a de-restriction sign, which means that you are back on the overall speed limit of 70 m.p.h. Desert Island Discs see comment A popular, long-running radio program on BBC Radio 4 in which a guest chooses eight pieces of music that he or she would like to have if stranded, alone, on an island. The guest talks about his or her life, both generally and with reference to the music, and an excerpt from each piece is played on air. The phrase ‘Desert Island …’ has entered common usage as describing any favorite in any category: Desert Island dish, Desert Island book, etc. desiccated coconut shredded coconut Des. res., n. abbrev. desirable residence 102 demob dessert, n. fruit course at end of meal In Britain dessert is a fresh fruit course (sometimes also nuts and/or trifling sweetmeats) served at the end of a meal either after, or in place of, what the British call a sweet. British dessert can be any fresh fruit. Dessert in America is a generic term for the last course of the meal whether it consists of fruit, pudding, ice cream, or whatever. In spite of the aforementioned restricted use of dessert in Britain, the British use dessert plates, dessert knives, dessert forks, and dessert spoons. destructor, n. incinerator detached house. See semi-detached; terrace. detain, v.t. 1. arrest 2. keep 1. Often used in this sense in America. Three men were detained in connection with the shooting of a policeman. A man was detained after a raid on a bank. See also assist- ing the police. 2. Used commonly about people kept in the hospital after an accident, as opposed to those whose injuries were superficial. In American you would be kept in the hospital; in Britain you would be detained in hospital (no article). See also Appen- dix I.A.2. detained during the Queen’s (King’s) pleasure sentenced to an indeterminate term Sometimes, during His/Her Majesty’s pleasure. Predictably, there is the story of the woman so sentenced during the reign of a male monarch: “I thought I was too old for that sort of thing.” developer, n. real-estate developer Used by itself, in Britain and in America, the term describes a person engaged in the purchase of land and the erection of buildings on it. It sometimes appears in the phrase property developer. In both countries developer also means ‘photographic developing solution.’ development area see comment An area suffering from temporary or intermittent severe unemployment. devil, n., v.i. 1. law apprentice 2. literary hack Americans may be familiar with the old-fashioned term printer’s devil meaning ‘printer’s errand boy’ or ‘junior apprentice.’ In Britain devil has two additional meanings. 1. Assistant to junior legal counsel in the chambers of a leader. 2. Hack, or ghostwriter. To devil is to act in either of these lowly capacities, often underpaid in the literary field, and not only unpaid, but a privilege usually paid for, in the legal field. devil on horseback prune wrapped in bacon One of many different types of savoury, served on a small piece of toast. Some- times an oyster replaces the prune. See also angel on horseback. devil on horseback 103 devilry, n black magic The British say deviltry as well to refer to this diabolical art. devolution, n. home rule (The e is long in British English, short in American.) Governmental decentraliza- tion. A term that has lately come into vogue in political discussion. A devolution- ist is one who urges decentralization of government. Devonshire cream (clotted cream) See clotted cream. dewar thermos bottle Sir James Dewar was a British physicist who invented the ‘dewar’ or ‘Dewar ves- sel,’ a double-walled glass container with the air between the walls exhausted to prevent conduction of heat in either direction. Rarely heard nowadays. dhobied, adj. washed Inf. From dhobi, meaning ‘washing.’ Usage restricted to retired India hands. diabolical, adj. Inf. 1. extremely bad 2. see comment In sense 2, as an intensifier meaning lamentable. It’s a diabolical shame that she didn’t get into Oxford. dialling tone dial tone diamante, n. rhinestone diamond jubilee see comment The usual meaning in Britain is ‘sixtieth anniversary,’ though it occasionally means ‘seventy-fifth,’ as in America. dibs, n., Slang. Slang. dough (money) Lolly is more usual. See brass. dicey, adj. touch and go Slang. A term based on the figurative aspect of the throw of the dice. Applied to the weather in the perennial British problem of whether or not to plan a picnic and similar games of chance. A somewhat less common British slang equivalent is dodgy. dickey, n. rumble seat Slang. Also given as dicky. This was the familiar name in the old days for the servant’s seat in the rear of a carriage. dicky, adj., Slang. Inf. shaky dicky-bird, n. Rhyming slang. word diddle, v.t. Slang. screw Slang. In the sense of ‘fleece’ or ‘gouge,’ i.e., to ‘do somebody out of something.’ digestive biscuits see comment Somewhat close to Graham crackers, and very tasty. Sometimes shortened to digestives. See also Bath Oliver. 104 devilry digs, n. pl. place (rooms; lodging) Inf. Short for diggings. A Briton speaks of his digs in the way an American speaks of his place, or his pad. Mostly actors’ and students’ terminology. See drum. dim, adj. Slang. thick; thickheaded Slang. Short for dim-witted. See also as dim as a Toc H lamp. ding-dong, n., Slang. 1. heated argument 2. noisy party ding dong, n. Inf. a noisy argument dingle, n. dell Sometimes combined as dingle-dell. Usually a deep hollow, shaded with trees. dinky, adj. pretty; dainty Inf. This word is the equivalent of the American term cute or cunning in the sense of ‘sweet’ or ‘adorable,’ not in the sense of ‘sly.’ The word dinky in America has the pejorative meaning of ‘ramshackle’ and is more or less synonymous with the American slang term cheesy which, however, in Britain can mean ‘swanky.’ dinner-jacket, n. tuxedo Americans say dinner jacket too, but tuxedo is never used in British English. Com- monly shortened to D.J. dinner lady, n. see comment A woman employed to prepare and serve school lunches. diplomatist, n. diplomat The shorter form is almost universal nowadays. directly, conj. as soon as Immediately after: Directly he left the room, she began to talk freely. director, n. approx. executive To the British layman director means about the same thing in the context of busi- ness epithets as executive would mean to an American layman. Directorships in British companies and American corporations (see chairman; company; man- aging director) amount roughly to the same thing, although their duties and prerogatives (as a matter of law) and their functions differ in some respects in the two systems. In both countries important personages are frequently elected to membership on boards of directors as window-dressing and don’t participate actively in the affairs of the company. But the general connotation of director in Britain is that of an ‘operating executive’ whose American opposite would be the company’s vice-president-in-charge-of-something-or-other. directory enquiries. See enquiries. dirty week-end illicit weekend Inf. A few days spent with one’s lover, with the implications of all those circum- spect arrangements. dirty week-end 105 dish, n. serving dish; platter Although both countries use dishes generically, dish in Britain usually has the nar- rower meaning of ‘serving dish’ and platter is considered archaic. dished, v.t. Inf. cheated Inf. Often carrying the meaning of ‘defeated through illicit means.’ dish-washer. See wash up. dishy, adj. Slang. very attractive Slang. Usually applied to people, but also to inanimate objects, such as sports cars. dismal Jimmy, Slang. Slang. gloomy Gus A person eager always to see the negative side of anything, no matter how posi- tive. dismiss, v.t. put (someone) out; get (someone) out Cricket term. One doesn’t get or put the batsman (batter) out. He (and when he is last in the batting order, his side) is said to be dismissed when he is run out, caught, etc. dismissal with disgrace dishonorable discharge A term applied to noncommissioned soldiers and sailors alike. A naval officer would be dismissed with ignominy, an army officer cashiered. dispatch, n. mailing and handling As in Price £1 + 40p. for dispatch. See also posting (postage) and packing. dispensary. See dispenser. dispenser, n. see comment In America a dispenser usually means a container that feeds out some substance in convenient units, or a vending machine. The British use the word dispenser that way, too, but primarily it means in Britain what Americans would call a pharmacist, a person in the profession of making up medical prescriptions. Dis- pensing Chemist is a sign commonly seen on the store front of a British drugstore (chemist’s shop). The related word dispensary means the ‘drug department’ of a drugstore, hospital or doctor’s office (surgery). dissenter, n. see comment A member of a Protestant sect that has split off from the established church, i.e., the Church of England. See also chapel. distemper, n. canine distemper A common and fatal infectious disease of cats and dogs. district, n. precinct div, n. Slang. a pitiable person divan, n. sofa; couch Divan is not nearly so frequent in America as in Britain: couch is rarely used in this connection by the British. 106 dish diversion, n. detour A traffic term. All too frequently one sees a road sign reading diversion leading one away from the main road and only sometimes back onto it. divi; divvy, n. dividend Slang. Short for dividend, especially that distributed periodically. As used in Brit- ain, dividend, which in America applies only to shares of stock, can refer as well to bond interest. division, n. 1. see comment 2. see comment 1. Area represented by a Member of Parliament: corresponds to Congressional District (see constituency; Member). 2. A term used in sentencing convicted criminals. Preceded by first, second, or third, it means ‘lenient,’ ‘medium,’ or ‘severe’ treatment in prison, as prescribed by the sentencing judge. divvy. See divi. divvy up Slang. divide up, share out When we’ve finished trick-or-treating, we’ll divvy up the sweets. DIY abbrev. Do It Yourself The abbreviation is used for an approach to home improvements and, more gen- erally, for any job you do yourself rather than paying someone else to do it. Build- ing-supply stores aimed at the domestic market are sometimes called DIY stores. D-notice approx. press publication restriction Notice given by the D-notices Committee, representatives of government and press, to newspapers, ordering them to omit mention of material that might endanger national defense. The D stands for defence. A wartime institution, now rare. do, n. 1. deal 2. swindle 3. ruckus 1. Quite a do—a wedding, for instance—would more likely be quite a deal, or a big deal, in America. 2. The nasty transaction by which one is done. 3. Americans would be likely to say ruckus or hoax. do, v.t. offer In America a shop does or doesn’t have, sell, keep, stock, or make a particular item. The British often substitute do in those cases. A stationer may do daily newspa- pers but not the Sunday edition. An upholsterer may do hangings but not slipcov- ers (which he would call loose covers). A certain restaurant will be recommended because, though their soups are indifferent, they do a good mixed grill. do a runner. See runner. do bird Slang. serve time Slang. In prison. Bird here is short for birdlime (the sticky stuff people spread on twigs to catch birds) which is cockney rhyming slang for time. See Appendix II.G.3. do bird 107 [...]... Generally applied to Acts of Parliament that are ignored and made to appear useless driver, n motorman British trams (tramways) and American trolleys (trolley cars) are both practically obsolete, but when they were in common use the man who operated them was known as a driver in Britain and a motorman in America The same distinction exists today with respect to the underground or tube (subway) On a bus,... appeal should be made not only to the Almighty but to the elements as well Deo volente is Latin for God willing dye stamp Stationery, for example A term used in printing engrave dynamo, n generator See Appendix II.E In the U.S., dynamo, formerly much used, especially to describe a D.C generator, is now rarely heard; an A. C generator is now usually called an alternator, especially as an automotive part;... chicory ask for endive, and vice versa endorse, v.t record on license Under a point system similar to that used in America, a British operator’s license is said to be endorsed with a record of the offense engage, v.t hire; employ A Briton engages a chauffeur and hires a car; an American hires a chauffeur and rents a car In America, one rents a house to or from another In Britain, you rent a house from... part; a generator can be A. C or D.C eh each way see comment Inf At an American track, you can bet to win, place, or show, or any combination of the two, or all three Betting on all three in America is called betting across the board In American horse racing, to place means to ‘come in second,’ to show to ‘come in third.’ In British betting, place describes any of the first three to come in (or in a race... Eastern part of London, which, like its Manhattan parallel, the Lower East Side, was the area in which immigrants settled during the first half of the century Much of it is still essentially a working-class area east end of a westbound cow All this to avoid saying or hearing ass south end of a northbound horse easy about it See I’m easy (about it) easy as kiss your hand See as easy as kiss your hand... drainage, the house is connected to a public sewer system dram, n Usually used in Scotland, for Scotch whisky a small alcoholic drink draper’s shop dry goods store; haberdashery The shop can be omitted, and the draper’s can also mean a ‘haberdashery,’ in the American sense of ‘men’s shop.’ But a British haberdashery would be called a notions store in America See also Manchester; fancy goods; haberdashery;... and let your own to a tenant However, the sign to let is seen in both countries engaged, adj busy It is as frustrating to be told by a British telephone operator that the line is engaged or to hear the engaged tone as it is to hear the word busy or the busy signal in America He’s engaged, used by a British telephonist, is just as irritating in Britain as the dreary American equivalents He’s busy talking... This quaint term was originally British nautical slang Dog’s body, in that idiom, means a ‘dish of dried peas boiled in a cloth.’ For reasons apparently lost in history, it also means ‘junior naval officer.’ As a matter of obvious practical extension, it came to mean ‘drudge,’ hence an errand boy (in the slang sense) or in an even slangier sense a prat boy, or gofer Also spelled dog’s-body and dogsbody... longshoreman docket, n judgment roll In British legal parlance a docket is a register in which judgments are entered, but the term can be narrowed to mean an ‘entry’ in such a register In America, also meaning a list of causes for trial or persons having causes pending dockyard, n navy yard or shipyard doctor, v.t castrate or spay Applied to animals of both sexes Not in America Both countries also use... eagre, eager, n tidal flood ear-bashing, n Inf a good talking -to Curiously, one never ear-bashes; one only gets the bashing in question early closing see comment At one time, most British villages and towns had an early closing day This custom is observed in a few parts of America, but even in those towns there are often nonconforming individual holdouts, a practice rare in Britain In the smaller British . sentimental nickname for any loving couple of advanced years is sup- posed to have originated from an allusion in a ballad that appeared in 1 735 in a publication. second syllable.) Short for demobilize and demobilization. A mili- tary term. See bowler-hatted. demonstrator, n. laboratory assistant At an academic institution.