British English A to Z - past 9

288 QAA. See Honours (2). Q.C. See take silk. quad, n. approx. campus Inf. Oxford University term, short for quadrangle. It denotes a square bounded by college buildings rather than the whole campus. Some American colleges also use the term quad. The Cambridge equivalent is court. quadrillion. See Appendix II.D. Quango, acronym. see comment Acronym for ‘quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization.’ These are public bodies receiving government funding, and reporting/advising on official matters, but independent (in theory) of central government. quant, n., v.t., vi. boat pole A quant is a punting pole with a flange near the tip to prevent its sinking into mud, used to propel the boat along. As a verb, to quant is to pole the boat, or to punt. quantity, bill of. See bill of quantity. quantity surveyor materials appraiser Particularly in the contracting business, with expert knowledge of specifications and prices. quarrel with one’s bread and butter Inf. bite the hand that feeds one Inf. Generally, like its American equivalent, restricted to negative statements, e.g., One shouldn’t quarrel with one’s bread and butter. So don’t quit your job until you have lined up a new one. quart, n. See Appendix II.C.2. quarter, n. quarter of a pound Inf. One asks for a quarter of those chocolates (pointing) at the sweet-shop. Quar- ter of a pound would sound ponderous in Britain. This would apply equally, of course, to mushrooms at the greengrocer’s, nails at the ironmonger’s, etc. The usage has become steadily rarer as metrification has taken hold. quarter-day, n. approx. due date Quarter-days are the four days in the year when quarterly payments traditionally fall due in Britain and are the common dates for tenancy terms. They are: Lady q h Day (March 25); Midsummer Day (June 25); Michaelmas Day (September 29); Christmas Day (December 25). quartern, n. see comment Four-pound loaf of bread, but now archaic. quaver, n. eighth note Musical term. See Appendix II.F. quay, n. wharf/pier Pronounced key. (the) Queen 1. see comment 2. see comment 1. Inf. To stay at a dance through the Queen is to stay to the very end. The term dates from the days when it was usual to play God Save the Queen to close the pro- ceedings, and the Queen in this context is simply short for the title of the national anthem. 2. Inf. The toast to the Queen, known as the Loyal Toast. Queen Mother see comment The mother of the reigning monarch. Informally, Queen Mum. Queen’s Speech, n. see comment A speech written by the government, and delivered by the Queen, outlining the government’s agenda for the year at the beginning of a new parliamentary ses- sion. The Queen sits in the House of Lords, and Black Rod summons the Com- mons to listen. queer, adj. Inf. queasy Inf. Unwell or indisposed, not really ill. I went queer has no homosexual connota- tions whatsoever. See also sick. queer card, Inf. Slang. oddball (in) Queer Street Inf. hard up When the British talk of somebody’s being in Queer Street, they mean that he or she is in bad trouble, in a bad way, in bad odor. The expression originates in the custom of writing Quaere (‘enquire’) against a person’s account when it was con- sidered advisable to make enquiries about him before trusting him. queer the pitch stymie; thwart To queer someone’s pitch is to thwart him, to spoil his chances before he begins. A pitch is part of a cricket ground (field); in football (soccer) pitch is used to describe the entire playing field. To queer someone’s pitch, then, is to mess up his game, not literally, but figuratively in the sense of ‘spoiling his chances.’ There are some however, who claim that this term is not derived from cricket, but from pitch in the sense of the territorial prerogative of bookmakers and outdoor entertainers on the streets of London and other cities. quench, v.t. squelch To shut (somebody) up. quench 289 query, n., adv. 1. n. complaint 2. adv. approximately 1. n. This connotation of query is not met with in America. It appears most fre- quently in the phrase query department of an organization. 2. adv. Query, after an adjective, indicates that the adjective is only approximate, and the quality or quantity expressed is somewhat doubtful or questionable. A teacher might characterize a student’s performance (the British often use alpha, beta, gamma, rather than A, B, C in marking) as beta-alpha query, or beta, query alpha, i.e., somewhere between A and B but I don’t know exactly where, or beta, query minus (B, but perhaps a bit closer to B minus). question in the House see comment There’ll be a question in the House means, ‘This is going to be brought up in Parlia- ment at ‘question time’ (the period when Members may question ministers). The nearest American equivalent would be: This is going to be brought up in Congress, but more likely before a House or Senate committee. Legislators in the United States do not, of course, have regular opportunities to question directly the executive branch of the government. queue, n., v.i. line; line up (Pronounced cue.) The verb sometimes takes the form queue up. Foreigners are often surprised at the self-imposed discipline that leads the British to form queues. Queue-jumping leads to very positive remonstrations. Americans stand either in or on a line; but Britons stand only in a queue. See Appendix I.A.1. quick as thought, Inf. Inf. quick as a wink quid, n. see comment Slang. One pound (£), referring to British money, not weight. No American slang equivalent except buck for dollar. In general use, unlike many other slang currency terms. See also have a quid each way. quid each way. See each way. quieten, v.t., v.i. quiet down quintillion. See Appendix II.D. Quis? Who wants this? Inf. Public school and upper-middle-class cant, pronounced quiz, addressed by an individual amid a group of his or her peers. The ‘this’ can be anything from the remains of something being eaten to a comic book or any old bit of anything found while cleaning out a desk. The affirmative answer is Ego (a suitable Latin answer to a question in Latin); the negative response is fains. Very rare. See fains I! quite, adj. Inf. approx. up to snuff Inf. Quite used as an adjective—not as an adverb modifying an adjective or an adverb—is found in negative expressions only, such as: He isn’t quite, meaning, ‘He isn’t quite acceptable socially.’ An example of posh language. quite, adv. absolutely 290 query Used alone, as a response, expressing more or less emphatic agreement; roughly equivalent to That goes without saying. ‘Are you sorry the holiday’s over?’ ‘Quite.’ quiz, v.t. Inf. poke fun at Quiz originally meant to ‘make fun of’ and also to ‘look curiously at,’ but because of the popularity of American television quiz programs, the more common mean- ing of the word in Britain now is the American one, i.e., to ‘interrogate.’ quod, n. Slang. pokey Slang. Clink, a slang term in both countries, is derived from an actual prison of that name in Southwark (London) where there is still a Clink Street. The old prison is long gone. See also porridge, 2. quod 291 292 rabbit, n. Inf. dub Inf. In sports, a beginner or a player of little skill; a duffer. rabbit on jabber away Slang. On and on and on. Originates from rhyming slang (see Appendix II.G.3.) rabbit and pork (shortened to rabbit) for talk. R.A.C. Abbreviation for Royal Automobile Club. race-course, n. racetrack The British never use race-track for horse racing but do use the term for auto rac- ing and use dog-track for greyhound racing. Rachmanism, n. see comment Inf. The practice of taking over lower-class residential property and deliberately creating intolerable living conditions in order to force the poor tenants to get out, so that the landlord can then turn the property to more profitable commercial uses. The term is derived from a man named Rachman, who in the 1960s pio- neered in this type of manipulation. racialist, n., adj. racist And racialism is racism. rackety, adj., Slang. Slang. harum scarum rack-rent, n., extortionate rent Rack-renting is the wicked practice of exacting excessive rent from tenants. R.A.D.A. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Pronounciation rhymes with ‘Prada’ as an acronym.) radiogram, n. radio-phonograph Radiogram is no longer heard much in Britain or in America. R.A.F. Royal Air Force This doughty band, who fought the Battle of Britain, are almost invariably referred to by their initials. rag, v.t., v.i., n. 1. v.i., v.t., Inf. fool around; tease 2. n., Inf. stunt; gag 1. Inf. Rag is used intransitively to mean ‘fool around’ or ‘kid around,’ in a man- ner involving a little mild horseplay. Transitively it means to ‘tease’ or to ‘pull someone’s leg.’ 2. Inf. A rag is a stunt or gag and from this use we get rag-week, which is a week at the university during which students put on stunts in aid of charity, especially dressing up and riding around on weird and grotesque floats. r h rag-and-bone man, Inf. Inf. junkman A peddler who deals in old clothes etc. raglan. See Balaclava. raid, n. burglary In America raid brings up the image of a group assault of one sort or another, particularly military or police. One reads in British newspapers of a raid made last night on a house or shop. All it means is a ‘burglary,’ the work of one or more persons called raiders. A dawn raid in the stock market is something different: an attempt to gain control of a corporation by swiftly buying up shares of stock through tempting offers to shareholders, a takeover attempt. railway, scenic. See scenic railway; switchback. railway carriage. See carriage. rain stair-rods Inf. rain cats and dogs Inf. Synonymous with bucket or tip down; pour with rain. Very old-fashioned, and exceedingly rare. raise the wind. See get the wind up. rake up Inf. dig up Inf. In the sense of ‘procure with difficulty.’ Also used in Britain in the usual American sense of ‘bring up an old sore subject,’ like a complaint or a scandal. rally, v.t., Inf. Inf. pull (someone’s) leg; kid A good-natured act. rambler, n. see comment A person who regularly takes walks in the country for recreation and exercise. Ramblers’ Association see comment A large private organization aiming to promote the interests of ramblers, espe- cially as regards right of access to private land. ramp, n. 1. bump 2. Slang. racket 3. talk up 1. A special use, to denote a bump deliberately built into a private or restricted road to encourage people to drive slowly; synonymous with rumble strip. The term is used as well to denote the point at which the true and the temporary surfaces join where road repairs are going on. The road signs say beware ramp. The bump in question is occasioned by the fact that the temporary surface is at a somewhat higher level. 2. Slang. Ramp is also sometimes used as transitive or intransitive verb meaning ‘swindle.’ 3. Especially a product or a company whose prospects one seeks to enhance. random, adj. Inf. surprising, unexpected random 293 randy, adj., Slang. Slang. horny ranker, n. 1. soldier in the ranks 2. officer risen from the ranks rape, n. see comment Don’t be alarmed if you see one rape after another when you look at an old map of the County of Sussex, England. That is what the six old divisions of the county used to be called. rare, adj. approx. Inf. great Inf. Rare is an informal intensive. A rare lot of something is a helluva lot of it. Rare also implies excellence. A rare something is a splendid something. A rare time is a swell time; a rare old time is even sweller. But watch out, because in the expression have a rare time of it, rare time means quite the opposite: a ‘tough time.’ rasher, n. slice or strip of bacon rate, n. local tax Usually in the plural, meaning ‘local real estate taxes.’ A ratepayer is a local tax- payer. rate, v.t. Inf. hold in high esteem My friends don’t like the new teacher, but I really rate her. Rather!, interj., Inf. Inf. And how! Also translatable as ‘without doubt!’ rating, n. able seaman Low rank of British sailor, just above ordinary seaman. rats! Slang. baloney! Slang. Also ‘Nonsense’ or ‘I can’t believe it.’ rattling, adj., adv. 1. brisk 2. Slang. damned 1. Inf. A rattling pace is a brisk one. 2. Inf. A rattling good story is an unusually good one or more likely a damned good one. In the adverbial use, rattling has about the same meaning as ripping. raver, n. Slang. knockout Slang. In the sense of raving beauty. Synonymous with the old-fashioned Briti- cisms stunner, smasher, etc. ravers. See stark ravers. (have a) rave-up, n. Slang. (have a) ball Slang. A helluva good time. razzle, n. Slang. spree; binge; toot Slang. Americans go on a spree; happy Britons go on the razzle. They also go on the spree (note the definite article). See Appendix I.A.2. 294 randy R.D. insufficient funds These letters are an abbreviation of refer to drawer, a bank indication of incipient penury. R.D.C. see comment These letters are short for Rural District Council, the governing body of a rural district, once an area comprising a group of parishes, now become obsolete since the creation of district councils. See council; parish. reach-me-down, adj. Inf. ready-made Slang. As a plural noun reach-me-downs became slang for ready-made clothes. It may have come from the image of a salesperson reaching to get a stock garment down off a shelf. Not heard now: off-the-peg is the common term, and ready-made is creeping in. Unrelated to American hand-me-down. read, v.t. major in One reads philosophy at Oxford, for example, or law, or chemistry. An American majors in a subject. read, n. see comment A read is a spell of reading, time spent in reading, an opportunity to read: ‘The reviewer said my novel was a good read.’ reader, n. approx. associate professor In a British university, the order of academic hierarchy is assistant lecturer, lec- turer, senior lecturer, reader, and professor. The term professor is more exclusive than in America, where it covers the grades of assistant professor and associate professor, as well as (full) professor. See also don; Fellow; master. Reading (of Parliamentary Bill), n. see comment Every bill is formally put before Parliament in three successive readings (First, Second, and Third Readings), when it is discussed and reported on by a commit- tee. reading glass magnifying glass read (someone; something) up read up on (someone; something) For example, I read him up before interviewing him, or, I read the subject up before lecturing on it. (the) ready, n. Slang. dough Inf. Ready is colloquially short for ready cash. Often, the readies. Synonymous with brass; dibs; lolly. ready for off, Inf. ready to go reafforest, v.t., v.i. reforest The noun is reafforestation. Both countries use afforest to describe the planting of land with trees, but they differ in describing the renewal of forest cover. real jam. See jam. real jam 295 rebate, n. rabbet Term used in carpentry. But American carpenters (joiners) say rabbet. recce, n. Inf. gander (look-see) Inf. An abbreviation of reconnaissance which became the official term among the military from World War I days, when one went out on a recce. It is pronounced recky and is in the general language. Shall we try that pub? Let’s have (or do) a recce first. See also shufty. Received Pronunciation see comment Commonly called R.P. An accent confined virtually to English people and those educated at English public schools. R.P. speakers believe their speech has no indication of where they were born or live. reception, n. 1. office 2. front desk 1. A sign on a place of business reading Reception would read Office in America. 2. Reception at a hotel would be known as the desk or front desk in America; and the reception clerk or receptionist at a hotel is called room clerk in America. reception-room waiting room A room available for receiving visitors or company. record card index card recorded delivery Approx. certified mail The post office (G.P.O.) gives one a certificate of posting (mailing) but holds on to the certificate of delivery. Registered post is the approximate equivalent of special handling, and allows insurance up to a certain sum. An A.R. (advice of receipt, also known as advice of delivery) is the approximate equivalent of a return receipt in America. recorder, n. criminal court judge recovery van tow car Also called wrecker in America. red as a turkey-cock, Inf. Inf. red as a beet red biddy cheap red wine Slang. Any cheap red wine or a shot of whisky in a glass of such wine. Very rare, having been replaced by plonk. redbrick university see comment A now somewhat dated term for a British university other than Oxford and Cambridge. The name is derived from the use of red brick in the building of the first universities established after the original old ones, which were constructed of gray stone. Now, redbrick universities are built of whatever pleases the architect. Used alone, as an adjective, redbrick may still connote a “self-made” image as opposed to the privileged, upper-class image of Oxford. See also Oxbridge. redcap military policeman 296 rebate red card, n. see comment In football, a piece of red card is held up by the referee in a game to indicate that a player has to be sent off for foul play. It is also used generally to mean fired for a misdemeanor. redemption fee prepayment penalty A term used in mortgage financing; the fee charged for paying off before maturity. Red Indian Native American When a Briton says Indian he means a ‘native of India.’ If he has in mind an American Indian, he says Red Indian. redirect, v.t. forward Directions to post office on envelope: Redirect to . . . . Americans would write Forward to . . . . red rag Inf. red flag Inf. Usually in the phrase a red rag to a bull, meaning something that enrages a bull. redundant, adj. (made or become) unemployed This harsh word normally used in Britain describes a person who has lost his or her job because of automation, reorganization, or deterioration of economic conditions generally, and not through poor job performance. Redundancy is the equally oppressive noun for the condition. To make someone redundant is to termi- nate his employment, or fire him, or let him go. In the plural, redundancies means unemployment generally, in a sentence like: There has been a considerable increase in redundancies in that area. Redundant is met with occasionally, in British usage, in the sense of superfluous, as in Home computers will make newspapers redundant, or Improved widespread electronic communications systems will make daily trips to the office redundant. The word is not used that way in America. It is used, commonly in Britain and exclusively in America, in its grammatical application, to indicate tautology (as in free gift). reel, n. spool Reel of cotton is spool of thread. See also cotton. referee reference A referee is one who gives someone a reference for employment, admission to a club, etc. Referee has many of the other meanings intended in America. refer to drawer insufficient funds Refer to drawer, discreetly written in red on the upper left-hand corner of the face of the check (cheque) explains that the check writer’s bank doesn’t trust him, and returns the check to the payee’s bank, which then debits the payee’s account. If the check writer’s bank trusts its depositor, the legend (still in red ink) is length- ened to: Refer to drawer; please re-present (note hyphen). See also overdraft, which is quite another matter in Britain. See also Queer Street. Reform Jew Conservative Jew See also Liberal Jew. Reform Jew 297 [...]... very rarely, if at all, nowadays road-metal See metalled road road, n way Inf The British use road in a number of instances where Americans use way In someone’s road means ‘in someone’s way,’ and to get out of someone’s road is to get out of his way But railroad is the common term in America, railway in Britain roof road-sweeper, n Road Up Roadside warning sign roadway, n Pavement in Britain means ‘sidewalk.’... household to do the rough 2 Slang Street rowdy; tough guy round, n., prep., adv 1 sandwich 2 route 3 around 1 The British use the word sandwich the way the Americans do After all, it was said to be the Earl of Sandwich who ate meat between slices of bread during a twenty-four-hour gambling bout But in a British pub you may well hear the cus- rozzer 305 tomers ask for a round of ham or a round of beef instead... ripping, adj Inf great Slang Ripping is also used as an adverb with good: one can have a ripping time or a ripping good time Once in a while one hears the adverb rippingly, as in Things went rippingly Practically out of the language now See also rattling rise, n 1 raise 2 gain 1 In salary 2 On the stock market And a fall is a loss Some newspaper stock market reports list the number of rises and falls, rather... gate resurrection gate See lich-gate resurrection pie, Slang dish made of leftovers retrospective, adj retroactive Describing the effect, e.g., of a statute applicable to past actions or events return, n round-trip ticket In Britain one might ask for a return to London on the train or bus, meaning a ‘round-trip ticket.’ A day return is valid only that day on certain trains; one can also purchase a. .. is a hard top A soft one, i.e., a convertible top, is called a hood in Britain See Appendix II.E 304 roofer roofer, n Inf Synonymous with Collins roof-rack, n See Appendix II.E roopy, adj., Slang Inf bread-and-butter letter luggage rack hoarse ropy, adj Slang see comment Shabby, coming apart at the seams, like threadbare clothes or a nearly extinct jalopy It is occasionally used about oneself, as in... a hole in the middle ring-road; ringway, n beltway; by-pass A single route around a town; a bypass In a big city like London, it can consist of a succession of streets constituting a route arranged to avoid congested points See also orbital rip, n Inf hell-raiser Inf Literally, a lecher, a man of lax morals, but more commonly much less pejorative, with the emphasis on mischief and usually applied to. .. riveting, adj fascinating; absorbing A participial adjective to describe something that attracts and holds one’s attention, to the exclusion of whatever else is happening; that glues one to his chair or keeps one on the edge of it Too riveting means ‘terribly exciting.’ Positively riveting means ‘utterly fascinating.’ roach, n small carplike fish Caught for sport only in streams and an occasional moat Eaten... appear that, unlike a working party, a Royal Commission is all too often a device created to give a burial to a nagging question rozzer, n Slang cop Slang An outmoded term The British share fuzz with the Americans See bobby for synonyms 306 R.P R.P See Received Pronunciation RSPCA, acronym see comment Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals The British equivalent of the ASPCA R.S.M 1 see... rarely used as an interjection in America rub up the wrong way Inf See Appendix I .A. 3 Inf rub the wrong way ruby wedding 40th wedding anniversary Marriages seem not to be made in heaven anymore, so today’s Americans and Britons do not encounter many ruby weddings Wedding observers in both countries use the same customs in designating what today are considered marathon anniversaries to be celebrated with... see the real character of a person; to get to the bottom of a situation rumble strip speed bumps Raised bumps placed across a road to slow down motorists a sensible precaution in both countries See also ramp, 1 rumbustious, adj Inf Obstreperous; unruly rambunctious rum-butter, n hard sauce More or less interchangeable with brandy-butter, containing at least soft brown sugar, grated orange and lemon . ready-made Slang. As a plural noun reach-me-downs became slang for ready-made clothes. It may have come from the image of a salesperson reaching to get a stock. from tenants. R .A. D .A. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Pronounciation rhymes with ‘Prada’ as an acronym.) radiogram, n. radio-phonograph Radiogram is no