Hi,
I’m writing a book set in the States - the problem is I’m British. I know we all speak English, but… Yep, it’s those darn trunk/boot, elevator/lift, panty hose/tights kind of problems. Can I beg the indulgence of you folks over the water to give me a hand with some of the words and phrases I’m struggling to get to grips with, please?
There are also some odd, trivia questions, too. Any help with those will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for looking at this.
Cheers,
Steve
- Does the US use the phrase ‘My shout’, meaning, for example, ‘it’s my turn to buy a round of drinks’? (Not only drinks. It could be just be an offer to pay for something.) If not, what’s the equivalent?
- December 26 – in the UK, it’s called Boxing Day. Does it have any special name in the US?
- Due process – how is the term used? Is someone held in custody ‘awaiting due process’?
- I need the name of a fairground ride that spins, so could make your head spin, too. Is it a ‘Tilt-’n’-whirl’? The best one here would be a Waltzer – a number of 4/5 seat booths on a circular, undulating track, which the fairground guys spin round by hand to increase the fun. (A little more hectic than Disney’s Teacups!)
- Is there a McDonald’s anywhere in the US that delivers?
- A gurney is collapsed to allow an accident victim to be lifted onto it, but is that the correct terminology? Is it a collapsed/folded/lowered gurney?
- A UK living-room or lounge is the room in the house where the family relax together on the couch to watch TV, etc. What’s the most commonly used US name for this room?
- What’s the most popular chain store at which to buy the kind of posters students might hang?
- Here, credit card companies send out monthly statements. We call them… ‘credit card statements’. (No fooling!) Is it the same term in the US?
- A ‘staff room’ is a room for the staff of a company to use for breaks, etc. What’s the US name?
- What’s the term for sending a text message (SMS) on a cell phone? We’ve invented a new verb - we ‘text’ someone.