+2 votes
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in Fun & Humor ☻ by
US and UK Confusions, Seen from the British Side

Jelly & Jam. In the UK, jelly is either the stuff you US-types call jello or a seedless preserve made from fruit, sugar and pectin. To confuse things further, fruit preserves are generically called jam over here too. Hence, if you were in an English restaurant enjoying a piece of bread with peanut butter and fruit preserve on it you would be eating 'a peanut butter and jam sandwich.' BTW, I used to enjoy peanut and jelly sandwiches when I was little in the UK sense of the word... Sloppy, but very nice.

Cars. In the UK, only the luxury car market have automatic transmission - in other words the Jaguars, Rolls Royces and Bentleys of the world. Most cars have manual transmission. This is because our roads aren't straight. As a consequence all learner drivers have to learn how to drive using a car with manual gears. I was told that in the States this is referred to as 'learning how to drive stick.' In the UK, asking your driving instructor whether he could teach you how to drive stick may cause potential embarrassment...

Stones. To you big rock things that geologists play with. To us also a unit of weight. 1 stone is equal to 14 pounds. Also, English pints show remarkable value for money compared to their US counterparts - 567ml compared to 430ml. Good thing to know when ordering beer.

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Link: http://www.dur.ac.uk/~dgl3djb/~ukus.html

2 Answers

+2 votes
by

I will be careful not to inquire about driving stick in England.  :O :blush: :ermm: :angel: :) :D

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by

Lol, T(h)ink - it is indeed a rather "delicate matter":

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%A4hlhebel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_stick

:O:angel::D:D

+2 votes
by

Yes, I learned to drive with a stick shift transmission and my first car was an Austin-Healey Sprite. Loved that little car!

Jelly, Jam? Hardly ever have it.

Hmmm. I like the English pints better! :D :D :D

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by

Lol, Rooster, yes, the "Sprite" was really a nice car, and it is quite logical that you prefer the English pints or, perhaps a litre. :D:D:D

As to jam, it was a current ingredient of the Continental European breakfast, with bread and butter and/or honey, coffee, milk or hot chocolate. Depending on the regions, yoghurt, fresh cheese, fruits, hard or soft boiled eggs, etc. were added.

:):D


by

Oops, I lost a link.

If we feel peckish around 9 on work-intensive days having started too early, this little break was very useful:

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