Lost in translation

Use these English words abroad, and you are in for a big surprise

We Americans like to think that since we speak English, we can get by just fine anywhere from London to Bridgetown. But traveling abroad can quickly turn into a game of linguistic telephone! Imagine the sheer confusion of a tourist asking for a nice, warm biscuit with breakfast, only to be handed a chocolate chip cookie, or trying to pack their luggage into a boot instead of the trunk. It pays to think twice before you open your mouth overseas, or you might find yourself in some hilariously awkward situations. Here are 12 everyday words that mean something completely different once you leave American soil.

Picture yourself at a quaint London bed-and-breakfast, ordering gravy to go with your morning biscuit. The waiter returns, looking baffled, with a plate of crunchy chocolate chip cookies.

To us, a biscuit is that fluffy, buttery piece of heaven perfect for breakfast. To the British, a biscuit is what we call a cookie. Save the gravy for home, or you'll get some very strange looks!

You arrive at a London hotel, and the polite bellhop asks, "Shall I put your bags in the boot, sir?" You might look down at your leather footwear and wonder how on earth your suitcase is going to fit in there.

Don't worry, your shoes are safe. While Americans call the rear storage compartment of a car the trunk, the British call it the boot.

Imagine your Irish tour guide points to a menu and promises you a "classic banger" for lunch. You might expect the pub to start blasting a high-energy, catchy song right there at the table.

Instead, you'll be served a sizzling, savory sausage. In Ireland and the U.K., bangers are just sausages, famously paired with mashed potatoes for a comforting meal. It's a hit for your stomach, not your ears!

Next time you hear a Scotsman say he is "going for the messages," don't expect him to return with a handful of letters or a phone full of unread texts.

In Scotland, this delightful phrase simply means going grocery shopping. He’s just heading out to grab some milk, bread, and eggs, completely offline.

If an Aussie hotel clerk tells you your reservation is locked in for a fortnight, you might be taken aback. While we rarely use this old-fashioned word in the States, it is completely standard down under and in the U.K. It simply means a period of two weeks. Enjoy your long vacation!

Imagine ordering a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich in Auckland, only to watch the café worker stare at you in absolute horror.

In New Zealand and the U.K., jelly isn't a smooth fruit spread; it’s what we call Jell-O. Putting a wobbly, strawberry gelatin dessert between two slices of bread is definitely an acquired taste you might want to skip.

You’re celebrating a beautiful anniversary at a lovely restaurant in Montreal. Eager for the main event, you order a delicious-sounding steak from the entrée section of the menu, expecting a giant plate.

Unfortunately, you’ll be left scratching your head when a tiny appetizer arrives. In Canada and Europe, the entrée is the starter. The actual main course comes later, so pace yourself!

Imagine a stylish American gentleman telling his British colleagues that he bought a bright red pair of suspenders to wear to the office. The room will likely go dead silent with embarrassment.

To Americans, suspenders are just classy elastic shoulder straps that hold up trousers. In the U.K., however, suspenders are garter belts used to hold up women's stockings. That's one major office mix-up!

If you are relaxing on a beautiful beach in Barbados and a friendly local warns that someone might "give you a lick," please don't expect anyone to come over and run their tongue across your arm!

In the Caribbean, giving someone a lick means to hit or strike them. It’s an aggressive warning, a far cry from the completely innocent, sugary action we think of back home.

Imagine walking through London when an angry cyclist yells, "Get off the pavement!" You might look down, confused, thinking, "But I’m not standing in the middle of the street!"

In the U.S., pavement refers to the asphalt road where cars drive. In the U.K., the pavement is actually the sidewalk. He’s just asking you to clear the pedestrian path, so no need to dodge traffic!

Imagine complimenting a British gentleman at a formal dinner by telling him, "I love your pants!" Instead of a thank you, you'll likely receive a look of absolute horror.

To Americans, pants are simply trousers. But to the British, pants refer strictly to underwear. Telling someone you like their pants means you’re complimenting their briefs, which is a bit too much information for polite conversation!

Picture yourself walking into a London pub and ordering a burger with a side of potato chips. You might be disappointed when the waiter brings out a basket of steaming, thick-cut French fries instead of a crispy bag of Lay's.

In the U.K. and Ireland, chips are fries. If you actually want those thin, crunchy snacks from a bag, you have to ask for "crisps."

Hidden marketing

You say ChapStick, I say lip balm… and other trademark tales

Image: Diggity Marketing

Ever asked for a Band-Aid when you really meant any bandage? Or told someone to Google something even if they used another search site? We all do it, and we don’t even notice, and that’s because some everyday words we use are actually trademarks that belong to specific companies. Here, we’ve just gathered just a few, but you may end up realizing you sound like a walking commercial more often than you thought.

Image: Trew

Cold weather hits, your lips get dry, and you ask for a ChapStick. But unless it says ChapStick on the tube, you are probably just using a regular lip balm. Wyeth LLC owns the trademark, and they made it official in 2009. By then, the name was already rolling off everyone’s tongue, so it stuck for good.

Image: Possessed Photography

Every cut, scrape, and blister seems to call for a Band-Aid, even when the box actually says something else. Johnson & Johnson trademarked the name in 1925, and it became the word we all use without thinking. Kids, especially, never say "adhesive bandage." It is always a Band-Aid.

Image: The Drink Break

That little blue-and-white jar might not really be Vaseline, but who is checking the fine print? Unilever owns the name, and technically, it just refers to one brand of petroleum jelly. Yes, that’s the generic term. Still, most of us reach for the name Vaseline whether we are soothing dry skin or covering a scrape.

Image: Wander Fleur

Moving boxes are stressful, but Bubble Wrap makes up for it. Sealed Air Corporation owns the name, trademarked in 1983, but we call just about any sheet of cushioning bubbles Bubble Wrap. And let’s be honest, we care less about the trademark and more about the fun of popping it.

Image: Jacob McGowin

"Throw it in the Crock-Pot" has become kitchen shorthand for slow cooking. Sunbeam registered the name in 1972, and it quickly became part of family dinner traditions. The generic term is slow cooker, but to most of us, Crock-Pot is the only name that matters.

Image: Jure Zakotnik

Table tennis might be the proper term, but Ping-Pong is the one most of us grew up saying. The trademark dates back to 1931 and belongs to Escalade Sports in America. Still, when friends set up a folding table in the basement, nobody calls it table tennis. Ping-Pong just feels right.

Image: Jarritos Mexican Soda

Hot summer afternoon, kids run to the freezer, and what do they want? A Popsicle. Unilever owns the trademark, registered in 2001, but really, they are ice pops. Try calling them that and see how many eye rolls you get. Popsicle is the word that stuck.

Image: SJ 📸

That rip of Velcro is instantly recognizable. The company Velcro Industries trademarked the name in 1975, but technically, it is called a hook-and-loop fastener. Try saying that three times fast. That’s why Velcro won the word war, simply because it is fun to say and easy to remember.

Image: Go to Firmbee.com's profile Firmbee.com

When was the last time you told someone to "Bing it"? Exactly. Google became such a dominant name that it turned into a verb almost overnight. They registered the trademark in 2004, but by now "Google it" means "look it up," no matter which search engine you use.

Image: Tierra Mallorca

Not every real estate agent is a Realtor. That word was trademarked in 1950 by the National Association of Realtors, and it refers only to members of the group. Still, most people toss it around for any agent who shows them a house. It is another case where the trademarked name became the everyday word.