A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |  |  |
British | Canadian | American |
B | | |
| baby, babby | baby | baby |
| back alley, back lane | back alley, back lane, alleyway | back alley |
backhander | backhander, kickback | kickback |
| back to front, arse about face | back to front | back to front |
badge | badge, pin | pin |
| bagsie | call dibs on | call dibs on |
baked potato, jacket potato | baked potato | baked potato |
| bakery | bakery, bakeshop | bakery, bakeshop |
baking tin | baking pan | baking
pan |
balaclava | balaclava, ski mask, skidoo mask | ski
mask |
| balcony (house) | balcony, deck (although are different things. Deck doesn't exist in BE) | balcony, deck |
ballpoint pen, biro, pen | ballpoint pen, pen | ballpoint pen, pen |
balti, Indian restaurant, curry house, Indian | Indian restaurant | Indian restaurant |
banger, hot dog sausage, chipolata, saveloy, frankfurter, sausage | sausage, link, wiener, frankfurter, frank, steamie (Que), smokie | sausage, link, wiener, frankfurter, frank |
bank holiday, public holiday | holiday, national holiday, public holiday, statutory holiday, stat | holiday,
national holiday |
bap, bun, batch, roll, cob | roll, bun | roll, bun |
barbecue, barbie, have a BBQ | barbecue, host a BBQ | barbecue,
cookout |
| barbed wire | barbed wire, barbwire | barbed wire, barbwire |
barber’s | barbershop | barbershop |
| Barbie, Sindy | Barbie | Barbie |
| bargain | bargain, bargoon (sl) | bargain |
barmaid | bar tender, beer slinger, slinger | bar tender |
barman | bartender, beer slinger, slinger | bartender, slinger |
batch, roll, bap, bun, cob | roll, bun | roll, bun |
bath | bath, bathtub, tub | bathtub,
tub |
bathing trunks, trunks | Speedos, trunks | swim trunks, Speedos |
| beauty contest | beauty contest, beauty pageant | beauty contest, beauty pageant |
bed-settee | hide-a-bed, hideaway bed, sofa bed | hide-a-bed,
hideaway |
bedsit, bedsitter | bachelor apartment, studio apartment, kitchenette | studio apartment, efficiency, kitchenette |
beefburger, hamburger, burger | hamburger, burger | hamburger, burger |
| beer, ale, lager, stout, porter, bock, bock beer, dry (different types of beer) | beer, ale, brew, lager, stout, porter, bock, bock beer, dry, brewski | beer, brewski, ale, brew |
beer belly | beer belly, Molson muscle | beer belly |
beer mat | coaster | coaster |
beetroot | beet | beet |
beggar | panhandler | panhandler |
| bellboy | bellboy, bellhop, bellman | bellboy, bellhop, bellman |
bent, queer, nancy boy, pansy, fairy, gay, poof, poofta, (all offensive, except for `gay`) | gay, fag, faggot, homo, fairy, queer, lesbo, nancy, (all offensive, except for `gay`) | gay, fag, faggot, bent, queer, homo, fairy, lesbo, (all offensive, except for `gay`) |
| bespoke, made-to-measure, custom-made (suit) | custom-made, bespoke | custom-made |
| best man | best man, groomsman | best man, groomsman |
bickie (sl), biscuit | cookie | cookie |
| bicycle, bike, push-bike | bicycle, bike | bicycle, bike |
bill (restaurant) | bill, check | check |
billion | trillion | trillion |
bin, rubbish bin, wastepaper basket/bin | garbage can, trashcan | garbage can, trashcan |
bird, chick, bit of fluff, bit of skirt (woman) | chick | chick |
biro, ballpoint pen, pen | ballpoint pen, pen | ballpoint pen, pen |
biscuit, bickie (sl) | cookie | cookie |
| bitch, cow, dog | bitch | bitch |
bitter | dark beer | dark beer |
black (person) | black, Carribean-Canadian | black, person of color, African-American |
| blackboard | blackboard, chalkboard | blackboard, chalkboard |
blinkers (horse) | blinders | blinders |
block of flats | apartment building, apartment block | apartment building, apartment house, apartment complex |
bloke, guy, chap, lad, geezer | guy | guy |
| Bloody hell!, Blinkin' heck!, Blinkin' hell!, Oh my God!, Crikey!, Blimey!, Flippin' 'eck!, Get away! Shitting hell!, Sodding hell! Christ! | Oh my God! (and?) | Oh my God! (and?) |
blue riband | blue ribbon | blue ribbon |
blusher | blusher, blush | blush |
blu tack | poster putty, sticky tack, fun tack | sticky tack, poster putty |
| bobbin, reel, spool | bobbin, reel, spool | |
bobby, cop, police constable (PC), policeman/woman, copper, PC Plod | police officer, Mountie, patrolman, cop | police officer, cop patrolman, trooper, state trooper |
bobsleigh | bobsled | bobsled |
body clock | biological clock | biological clock |
bogey | booger | booger |
| bogeyman | bogeyman, boogeyman | bogeyman, boogeyman |
boiled sweet | hard candy | hard candy |
| boiling | boiling, broiling | boiling, broiling |
| Bollocks!, Bullshit! | Bullshit! | Bullshit! |
| Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes' | Bonfire Night (Nfld) | n/a |
bonnet
(on a car) | hood | hood |
book
(into a hotel) | book | make a reservation, book |
booking | reservation, booking | reservation |
booking
office | ticket office | ticket office |
bookstall | newsstand | newsstand |
boot (of car) | trunk | trunk |
| booze, alcohol, spirits, cargo (Glasgow only), plonk | alcohol, liquor, booze | alcohol, liquor, Daddy's juice (Northern Virginia), Daddy's soda (East Texas) |
| booze cruise (going over the English Channel for the day or weekend to purchase cheap alcohol) | n/a | n/a |
| booze-up, piss-up, bender | ? | ? |
| boozer, pub, bar | bar, pub | bar, pub |
borstal | reform school | reform school |
| boss, gaffer, governor, guv, guv'ner, head honcho | boss | boss |
bottom drawer | hope chest | hope chest |
| Boxing Day | Boxing Day | n/a |
braces (to hold up trousers) | suspenders, braces | suspenders |
brackets | brackets, parentheses | parentheses |
| breadbin | breadbox | breadbox |
break (play time at school) | recess | recess |
| breakfast, brekkie | breakfast, brekkie | breakfast |
breeze-block | cinder block | cinder block |
bricklayer, brickie | bricklayer | bricklayer |
| bridesmaid (child) | flower girl, bridesmaid | fl(take an inventory?)er girl, bridesmaid |
| bring up (children) | ? | raise |
| Brit, Briton, British person | Brit, Briton, British person | Brit, Briton, British person, Limey (offensive) |
Brits, Brit Awards | Junos | Grammys |
broad bean | broad bean, fava bean | fava bean |
brolly, umbrella | umbrella | umbrella |
brooch | pin, brooch | pin, brooch |
| broody (to describe a young woman desiring a baby) | ? | ? |
brook, stream | creek, stream, brook | creek, stream, brook |
brown bread, wholemeal bread | brown bread, whole wheat bread | whole wheat bread |
| brown sauce, HP sauce | HP sauce | HP sauce |
| Bugger! Buggeration! Shit! Damn! Bloody hell! Bugger-it! | Shit! Damn! | Shit! Damn! |
| bugger, sodomite | sodomite | sodomite |
buggy, pushchair | stroller, buggy | stroller, buggy |
building site | building site, construction site | construction site |
building society, credit union, cooperative bank | credit union
| credit
union, cooperative bank, savings and loan association |
bullshit, codswallop | hogwash, baloney, BS, bullshit | hogwash, baloney, BS, bullshit |
bum, bottom, backside, behind, rear-end, arse, botty, jacksie | butt, tush, bum, duff, fanny, keister, rear-end, buns, ass | butt, tush, fanny, derriere, rear-end, caboose, buns, duff, keister, ass |
bum bag | fanny pack | fanny pack |
bumper (of car) | fender, bumper | fender |
bun, batch, roll, bap, cob | roll, bun | roll, bun |
bunches | pigtails | pigtails |
bunk off, skive off, (school/work) | skip, play hooky | skip, play hooky |
bungalow | rancher, bungalow | bungalow, ranch house, single-storey house |
burgle | burgle, burglarize | burglarize |
busker | street busker | street entertainer |
busybody, nosey parker | busybody, nosy parker | busybody |
butter bean | lima bean | lima bean |
butty, sandwich, sarni | sandwich | sandwich |
| bye, cheerio, ta-ta, see ya | bye, see ya, later, later skater (any more?) | bye, see ya, later, later skater (any more?!) |
©Karen Bond 2001-2006. All rights reserved.