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

10个英美两国意思不同的词（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.

英语就是一成不变的吗？当然不是。即使美国人与英国人同用英语，但有些词在美国表达的意思和在英国完全不同，反之亦然。掌握了这些恼人的释义变化，我们才能避免可能出现的尴尬。

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.

在美国，bird是一种带有羽毛、会鸣叫的动物。然而在英国，bird通常被用来形容年轻的女性，类似于美国称年轻女性为“chicks”。不过，要警惕将老板的女儿称呼为“bird”，因为一些英国人认为这个词是贬义的。

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.”

在美国，“geezer”是一个贬义词，经常与“old”配在一起，用来形容一位年迈的（通常是古怪的）老人。而在英国，“geezer”这个词是描述普通人的俚语，类似于美国人称年轻人为“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.

你在美国和英国说你需要一个新的“trainer”，意思完全不同。在美国，“trainers”是能帮助你锻炼的健身专家。而在英国， “trainers ”只是运动鞋或网球鞋的另一种说法。

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.

在美国，“jumper”通常会出现在和911的对话中，一般指试图从桥上或楼房上跳楼的人。而在英国，这个词的意思完全不同，“jumper”是指针织毛衫，即美式英语里的 “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.

美国“rubber”这个词是安全套的俚语。但在英格兰，它有一个更纯洁的含义：它仅仅只是铅笔橡皮擦的名字。

（来源：沪江英语）