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."

The truth about your brain

You won’t believe what happens in your brain while you sleep

Image: Milad Fakurian

Your brain is one of the most powerful and mysterious organs in your body. It controls everything from your thoughts to your emotions and even processes information at lightning speed. But how much do you really know about it? Some long-believed myths about the brain have been debunked, while other surprising facts reveal just how incredible this organ truly is. Get ready to be amazed by these fascinating brain facts!

Image: Natasha Connell

You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s completely false! While it’s true that not all parts of the brain fire at the same time, imaging studies show that most regions are active throughout the day, even when we sleep.

Your brain is constantly working, controlling bodily functions and emotions, and processing information. So next time someone says you’re only using 10% of your brain, you can confidently tell them that’s just a myth!

Image: Aarón Blanco Tejedor

Here’s a weird fact: While your brain processes pain signals from the rest of your body, it has no pain receptors of its own. This is why surgeons can perform brain surgery on conscious patients without causing them pain.

However, the membranes and tissues surrounding the brain do have pain receptors, which is why headaches and brain injuries can be so excruciating.

Image: Usman Yousaf

How come we have headaches if the brain has no pain receptors? Well, that’s because headaches are triggered by chemical activity in the brain, changes in nerves and blood vessels, and even fluctuating serotonin levels.

In some cases, hormones like estrogen can also play a role, which explains why migraines are more common in women.

Image: Go to Johannes Plenio's profile Johannes Plenio

Dreams are proof that your brain never rests! (Warning: this fact can make you feel exhausted.) While you sleep, your limbic system, that is, the part of the brain that deals with emotions, becomes especially active, which is why dreams often feel so intense.

On average, humans experience four to seven dreams per night, even if we don’t always remember them. And what about that scary nightmare about falling? Well, you can thank your amygdala, the brain’s fear center, for that one.

Image: Brett Jordan

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly forgotten what you were after? That’s because short-term memory only lasts about 20-30 seconds! That’s not enough!

Your brain holds a limited amount of information in its active state before deciding whether to store it or discard it. Ironically, we can’t really choose what makes the cut, but we do hope these facts stay with you!

Image: BUDDHI Kumar SHRESTHA

That sharp, icy pain when you eat something too cold? It’s your brain’s way of telling you to slow down! Officially called sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, a brain freeze happens when cold food or drinks rapidly chill the blood vessels in your throat, causing them to constrict and then rapidly expand. This sends pain signals to your brain, warning you of the sudden temperature shift. It’s annoying, but it’s actually your body trying to protect itself!

Image: Josh Riemer

You didn’t need us to tell you, but let’s look at the details: The average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. What’s even more interesting? 95% of those thoughts are the same ones you had yesterday. Is that not surprising enough? Hear this out: 80% of them tend to be negative. That’s because our brains are wired for survival, constantly analyzing risks and potential dangers.

Image: Terry Vlisidis

Even though it only makes up about 2% of your body weight, your brain employs a major quantity of energy! It consumes 20% of your oxygen and blood supply, making it one of the most demanding organs in your body.

If your brain goes without oxygen for just five minutes, brain cells start dying, leading to irreversible damage. This is why deep breathing and cardiovascular exercise are great for brain health!

Image: Alexander Andrews

Do you know that feeling when you hit the back of your head and see stars? That’s because your occipital lobe, which controls vision, is located at the back of your brain. If you get hit there, your brain momentarily misfires, causing flashes of light.

Interestingly, your brain processes vision on the opposite side; while your right brain controls your left eye, your left brain controls your right eye. It’s one of the many ways the brain operates in a complex way.

Image: Rodion Kutsaiev

Believe it or not, your brain generates between 12 and 25 watts of electricity when you’re awake. If you can’t really grasp how powerful that is, check this out: It’s enough to power a small light bulb! Your brain’s electrical activity is what allows neurons to send signals at speeds of up to 260 miles per hour.

Image: Robina Weermeijer

Your brain may be the fattiest organ in your body, consisting of at least 60% fat! This is why consuming healthy fats, like omega-3s and omega-6s present in fish, for example, is essential for brain health.

Healthy fats stabilize brain cell walls, reduce inflammation, and support cognitive function. So go ahead and enjoy that avocado toast, it’s food for your brain!

Image: Robina Weermeijer

It’s not just your memory that fades over time; the brain itself physically shrinks as one gets older. It continues developing until your late 40s, but after that, it slowly decreases in size.

Now, size doesn’t equal intelligence, so a smaller brain doesn’t necessarily mean a less capable one. Staying mentally active, exercising, and eating brain-boosting foods can help keep it in top shape!

Image: Lisa Yount

We often think of cholesterol as bad, but your brain actually depends on it! In fact, 25% of your body’s cholesterol is stored in your brain, where it helps with learning and memory. However, unlike other organs, the brain can’t absorb cholesterol from the blood, it has to produce its own. So, while too much cholesterol in the body can be harmful, the right amount is vital for brain function. At least you can use that as an excuse to get that burger!