182 in a way; in a great way in a way; in a great way. See way. in (someone’s) bad books Inf. in dutch with (someone) Inf. Variant: in (someone’s) black books. Synonymous with in the cart. in baulk, balk Inf. in a spot Inf. Meaning ‘in difficulties.’ in care in a foster home incident room (approx.) situation room A term beloved of English detective story writers; temporary headquarters set up during the investigation of the crime; a control room where the hero-detective and staff meet and discuss things. indent, n., v.t. requisition indexed. See index-linked. index-linked, adj. adjusted for inflation Describes savings programs, investments, etc. where the income and/or capi- tal are geared to the British cost-of-living index (the UK General Index of Retail Prices—RPI for short). Index-linked is sometimes shortened to indexed, and the process has been dubbed indexation, which can be applied to wages and salaries as well. Indian. See red Indian. Indian meal corn meal An old-fashioned term, little used nowadays, just as Indian corn is little used to mean what Americans call corn and Britons sweetcorn. indicators, n. pl. car signals And to signal that you’re turning, you indicate. indoors at home industrial action union protest activity Anything from a slow down to a full-fledged strike. industrial estate. See under estate. ingle-nook, n. chimney corner A word that summons up an irresistibly cozy, even stirring, image of the quint- essential Briton by his or her hearth. Rooms in old houses sometimes have fire- places as much as eight or ten feet wide, with a grate or stove in the center from which the smoke runs into a narrow flue. Comfortable chairs can be placed on either side, within the fireplace. ingrowing, adj. ingrown Referring to toenails or facial hair. The Americans seem resigned to a fait accom- pli. inspectorate 183 in hand 1. at one’s disposal 2. under control 1. As in, Aberdeen still has two games in hand, and though trailing at the moment, might yet win the Scottish first division football (soccer) championship. In this sense, in hand would be to go in America: … two games to go. 2. Being attended to: Not to worry; the matter is in hand. inland, adj. domestic; internal The British speak of inland postage rates and inland revenue. The opposite num- ber of an American internal revenue agent is the British inland revenue inspector. But see internal. in low water 1. Inf. hard up 2. Slang. in hot water 1. Inf. Financial stress is the usual connotation. 2. Inf. Difficult straits or a depressed state generally (e.g., the weak position of a political party out of favor) is the broader implication, and in this sense its Ameri- can equivalent would be in hot water. Low in the water is a variant, meaning ‘up against it.’ innings, n. sing. inning Note the -s, which does not make innings plural. An American inning is a British innings. The standard British plural is the same as the singular; informally, it is inningses. The technical term is used only in cricket, but has found its way from there into general, figurative use, especially in the phrase good innings. Inns of Court see comment These are the four legal societies which alone may admit persons to the bar in the sense of allowing them to practice as barristers as distinguished from solicitors. These societies are the Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Lincoln’s Inn, and Gray’s Inn. The term Inns of Court denotes not only those societies but also their build- ings in London. in one’s gift at one’s disposal With particular reference to a living, but also to an appointed job. in pod Slang. knocked up Slang. Both countries use inelegant terms for “pregnant.” See also preggers and pudding club. See knock up for its various British meanings. inquiry. See enquiry. insect, n. bug Americans use insect and bug more or less interchangeably. In Britain bug means ‘bedbug.’ Bug has slang meanings in both countries. inside (of a bus) bottom And the outside of a bus is its top. These terms refer to double-deckers and are remi- niscent of the days when the top was uncovered, and therefore the outside. Nowa- days it’s all inside, literally speaking, but outside is still often heard from conductors. inspectorate, n. see comment Governmental body for inspection of schools, prisons, and a few other public institutions. Performs some of the functions of a Board of Education. 184 in store in store. See under store. instruct, v.t retain Term used in the legal profession. In Britain a client instructs a solicitor, that is, engages him. In America a client retains, engages, or hires a lawyer. The term is also used in accountancy and with estate agents. insulating tape, n. electrician’s tape intake, n. entrants Inf. Those recently taken in. Covers entrants into a university, the ministry, the armed forces, etc. The slang American equivalent in military and sports usage would be rookies. interfere with molest To rape, sodomize, or otherwise sexually attack (e.g., a child). The British circumlo- cution is even more euphemistic than the American. interior-sprung, adj. inner-spring Type of mattress. internal, adj. domestic Term applied to air travel. But see inland. international, n. see comment Also internationalist. An athlete who has represented his or her country abroad, especially at soccer, rugby, or cricket, although for cricket the proper term is test player (see Test Match). interval, n. intermission The short period of time between acts at the theater or between the halves of a concert. Tea in the interval? (at the matinee) or Coffee in the interval? (at an evening performance) used to be the courteous and comforting question addressed to members of the audience by British ushers in most theaters, and if the question was answered in the affirmative, you were served at your seat. The practice no longer exists, sadly. Stronger beverages may be procured at the bar in every Brit- ish theater. in the basket Slang. no soap; no dice Slang. When a proposed project is in the basket, it’s no soap (rejected, discarded, noth- ing doing). in the cart, Slang. Slang. in the soup in the club. See pudding club. in the dock. See dock, 2. in the driving seat, Inf. Inf. in the driver’s seat in the event as it turned out Thus: In the event, the vote was much closer than expected. The phrase does not connote futurity, as does an expression like In the event of rain . . . , but refers to something that actually came to pass despite predictions or expectations to the contrary. -ish 185 in the hunt Inf. in the running Inf. And out of the hunt is not in the running. in the picture fully informed in the same case in the same situation Used when comparing one person’s situation with another’s. in trade. See trade. in train coming along Sometimes on train. These expressions are not often heard in America. In Britain the phrases are heard quite frequently, as the normal response of merchants or contractors to whom one is complaining about delay: It is in train, meaning he has done all he can, and you must be patient. in tray, n. in box Both receptacles provide efficient means for letting papers pile up on one’s desk and serve as visible reminders of our dilatory natures. The British by now surely have filled their in trays to overflowing and we also hear them saying they have in boxes that need attention. in two shakes of a duck’s tail, Inf. Inf. in two shakes of a lamb’s tail Inf. Lamb’s tail, as well, in Britain. Shake, by itself, can mean ‘moment’ in either country, of a duck’s or lamb’s tail being understood. In a brace of shakes is synony- mous in Britain with in two shakes of a lamb’s or duck’s tail. inty, n. (school) recess Schoolboy slang. Rare. The interval of freedom. invalid carriage electric tricycle Formerly issued by the Ministry of Health, in some cases to working people who could not otherwise get around. Now replaced by electric buggies. invalid’s chair wheelchair Also called bath chair and wheeled chair. Now obsolete. inverted commas quotation marks invigilator n. proctor at school examinations To invigilate is to keep vigil, i.e., watch over students during examinations. ironmonger n. hardware dealer I say! gosh, wow! Old-fashioned but often heard. It might be paraphrased in certain situations as That’s amazing! -ish, adv. somewhat; sort of; rather; about Inf. Tacked on to an adjective or adverb, this suffix adds an attenuating nuance, with the same force as placing somewhat, fairly, or sort of before the word, or about or around in expressions of quantity or time. Americans are familiar with -ish after 186 I shall be glad if you will . . . adjectives of color: reddish, greenish, or of general age: youngish, oldish. But the British are prone to add -ish to almost anything: tallish, fattish, poorish; to numerals in expressions of quantity: How many people were at the party? Oh, fiftyish; in gen- eral or specific expressions of time: earlyish, latish; I’ll get there elevenish (‘around eleven o’clock’); and with adverbs: The play began slowish (‘got off to a rather slow start’), but smartish is used instead of quickish. There are British uses that do not occur in American speech: After a name, meaning characteristic of, as in That’s a Maryish gesture (‘one characteristic or reminiscent of Mary’); That’s a Teddyish reac- tion (‘the way Teddy would react’). By itself, as an answer or reaction, meaning ‘well, sort of,’ or ‘if you say so,’ or ‘somewhat,’ to someone else’s statement or question: She’s pretty. Well, -ish. I found the food in that restaurant quite good. How about you? -Ish, or, Only -ish. I shall be glad if you will . . . Please . . . Officialese, properly objected to. I spy strangers! see comment A term used in the House of Commons for anyone who is not a member of Par- liament. Strangers are allowed to watch parliamentary debates from the Strang- ers’ Gallery but Parliament maintains its right to debate in private. If an M.P. cries, I spy strangers!, the speaker must put forward a motion that all strangers leave the Strangers Gallery forthwith. If the motion is passed, the debate contin- ues in private. issue, v.t furnish Used as follows: There is no charge for issuing you with our credit card. The British might also have said: . . . for issuing our credit card to you. The Americans might say furnishing you with or supplying you with but would not use issue in the British construction. it. See gin and it. item, n. plank An item in a political program in Britain is what Americans would call a plank in a political platform. It isn’t true! That’s (or It’s) incredible! izzard, n. (letter) z Archaic. jack, v.t. Inf. steal Abbr. of ‘highjack.’ jacket potato, Inf. baked potato Jack the lad, n. Slang. see comment A man who is independent and sly, and who looks out for himself. There might be an implication of impropriety, but rarely enough to call for outright moral con- demnation. Operator is an approximate American equivalent. Jag, n. Inf. Jaguar car jakes, n. Slang. can (privy) Slang. Archaic word for outhouse, toilet. jam, n. treat Slang. A real jam is British slang for a real treat. A jam sandwich in Britain can mean what it does in America, but it is also a term used to mean the kind of layer cake that has preserves between the layers. See also jam sandwich. jam, money for. See money for jam. jam on it. See have jam on it. jam sandwich police car Slang. So named because the vehicles have been white with a red stripe along the middle, suggesting jam between two slices of white bread. Cf. panda car; Z-car. jam tomorrow, Inf. Inf. pie in the sky Easy enough to promise jam, harder to provide it. Janeite, n. Jane Austen fan Sometimes spelled Janite. Not an American word, since Jane Austen is not a national craze. jankers, n., pl. Slang. jug Slang. In the special sense of military jail. Jankers has other meanings in military slang: ‘defaulters’; their ‘penalty’ or ‘punishment’; the ‘cells’ themselves. To get ten days’ jankers is to be confined to the stockade for that period. jaunty, n. master-at-arms Naut. Slang. Head policeman on a naval vessel. The official title in both the Royal Navy and the United States Navy is master-at-arms, often abbreviated to M.A.A. J 187 h jaw, n. talking to Slang. A contemptuous term. A pi-jaw (pi- is short for pious) is one of those lectures or sermons delivered by a schoolteacher or a scout leader on a man-to-man basis to prepare the nervous youngster for life’s pitfalls. More generally, a conversation or a meeting. jaw-bacon. See chaw-bacon. jaw-jaw, n., v.i. 1. endless discussion 2. drone on and on Slang. See also jaw. jellied eel see comment A traditional Cockney dish, pieces of eel simmered till soft and served cold with their cooking liquid (liquor). The liquor sets to a jelly, hence the name. Less popu- lar now than it once was. jelly, n. gelatin-type dessert Jelly is used in Britain as in America, but in a British restaurant if you wanted Jell- O or its equivalent for dessert, you would ask for jelly. jelly-bag cap stocking cap Inf. Jelly-bags are used for straining jelly and are made of the kind of stretchable material associated with what Americans call stocking caps. jemmy, n. jimmy British burglars use jemmies; their American colleagues use jimmies. Jemmy is also used as the British name for a dish made from sheep’s head. Jeremiah, n. Inf. gloomy Gus Inf. Everybody knows (or should know) that Jeremiah was a doleful prophet. jerry, n. Inf. potty Slang. Also called jerrycan or jerrican, a 5-gallon chamber pot. With a capital J it is British slang for a German, or Germans collectively. jersey, n. pullover; sweater See also jumper; woolly. jib, v.i. hesitate, buck Inf. Normally applied to balking horses and in Britain, informally, to cars as well or even to stubborn persons. jiggered, adj. 1. Slang. pooped 2. Slang. up the creek 3. Slang. damned! 1. Slang. After a long day’s work, you’re jiggered. 2. Slang. In a tough situation, like running out of gas in the middle of the night, you’d feel jiggered. 3. Slang. The exclamation I’m jiggered means ‘I’ll be damned’ as in Well, I’m jig- gered—fancy meeting you here! 188 jaw jiggery-pokery, n., Inf. Inf. hanky-panky jim-jams, n. pl. Slang. Slang. willies A fit of nervousness or depression. Jimmy, dismal. See dismal Jimmy. jink, v.t., v.i. dodge To dodge about jerkily, to avoid being hit. Said of game birds and extended to warplanes. job, v.t. 1. rent (horse and carriage) 2. prod 1. The British used to job horses and carriages in the old days, the verb being applied to both supplier and user (the way Americans use rent). Jobbing, in this sense, described an arrangement for a specified period of time, and the supplier was called a jobmaster. 2. Also meaning stab, though this is little used. jobber, n. see comment On the London Stock Exchange, there are a dozen firms that act as wholesalers and are analogous to oddlot firms on the New York Stock Exchange, in that they are principals, acting for their own account, rather than brokers acting only as agents for buyer or seller. jobbernowl, n., Inf. Slang. dope; jerk job centre, n. see comment A government-run employment agency. job of work job Inf. In the sense of work to be done. job seeker’s allowance, n. see comment A payment made to someone who is looking for work. It may be income-based (depending on income and savings) or contribution-based (depending on National Insurance contributions made while working). jobsworth, n. Inf. see comment A particularly bureaucratic person who would never break the rules. Derives from the saying, It’s more than my job’s worth to do that for you. Joe Bloggs Joe Doakes Mr. What’s-his-name; anybody who isn’t anybody; Tom, Dick, or Harry; the man in the street. Sometimes given as Fred Bloggs. John Dory See Appendix II.H. johnny, n. Inf. guy Slang. Usually pejorative. For the British meaning of guy, see guy. johnny 189 John O’Groats see comment A small town on the northeasternmost tip of Scotland. Though a tourist destina- tion of some note, its most famous feature is the expression From Land’s End to John O’Groats, a short way of saying: From one end of the British Isles to the other. join, v.t. board To join a train, ship, plane, etc. is to board it. joiner, n. carpenter Technically speaking, joiners in both countries, as distinct from carpenters, engage especially in interior light carpentry (doors, shelves, etc.) and cabinet making. The British appear often to use the terms interchangeably, but joiner is rarely heard in ordinary American speech. joint, n. roast In Britain that tasty leg of lamb or roast of beef or loin of pork is known as a joint. Popular for Sunday lunch, hence the Sunday joint. jokes, adj. Slang. funny jollop, n. Inf. guck Slang. Any witches’ brew you take for whatever ails you, like patent medicines and home remedies. jolly, n. Slang. leatherneck Slang. A Royal Marine. Synonymous with guffy and bullock. jolly, adv., Inf. approx. mighty (very) joskin, n. bumpkin Slang. Sailors use this term to describe any lubberly hand. The exact meaning of joskin is a man from the Norfolk area who works as a farmhand during the summer and on trawlers in wintertime, and is therefore, presumably, a green hand on board. josser, n., Slang. Slang. geezer jotter, n., Inf. 1. steno pad 2. notebook 2. Also exercise book. judder, v.i. shake Violently and noisily. A bit of onomatopoeia, also influenced by shudder. It can apply to anything from a jalopy to an opera singer, and is also used as a noun to denote the phenomenon. Judy, n. Slang. broad Slang. An uncomplimentary word for woman, suggesting that she’s no beauty. jug, n. pitcher In Britain it is the milk jug or water jug which is placed on the table. Jug is also a slang word for ‘poison’ in both countries. juggernaut, n. large truck Inf. Very large; short for juggernaut lorry. (See lorry.) Usually refers to an enor- mous trailer truck (see articulated lorry). The word is related to Jagannath, an 190 John O’Groats idol of the Hindu god Krishna that was drawn in processions on vast carts and under whose wheels fanatics threw themselves in their ecstasy, to be crushed to death. juggins, n. Slang. dope; fool Slang. Synonymous with muggins. See also git. jumble, n. see comment Goods sold at a jumble sale or unwanted things in the house allocated to the local jumble sale. Can also be used loosely to mean ‘junk.’ jumble sale, n. rummage sale jumper, n. pullover This term is used to describe a woman’s pullover sweater. See also jersey; woolly. jump jockey, Inf. steeplechase rider jump leads jumper cables jump to it, Inf. Inf. hop to it junction box. See box. junk worn-out rope Old, worthless stuff, rubbish, which is called junk in America, is generally referred to as rubbish or lumber in Britain, where junk, though now extended to mean ‘rubbish’ generally, was long more especially a nautical term meaning ‘worn-out hawsers’ or ‘cables’ which are either discarded or picked apart for use as caulking material or in making swabs. just, adv. adv. right Where an American would say, “I can’t find it now, but it was right over there,” i.e., no farther than that, a Briton would say “ . . . just over there.” Were the Briton to say, “ . . . right over there,” he would mean ‘ . . . way over there,’ i.e., no nearer than that. If he said, “Drink it right up,” he would mean ‘drink it all,’ whereas an American would mean “drink it at once, right now.” just a tick! Inf. right with you! Inf. See also hold on! just going just about Used in expressions of time of day: it’s just going twelve means it’s just about twelve, or, practically twelve. The expressions just on and going on for are used by the Brit- ish in the same way: it’s just on nine o’clock, or it’s going on for nine, i.e., it’s not quite or it’s just about nine. See also gone. just here right here just on. See just going. just on 191 [...]... roads with layers of crushed stone Tarmac, short for tar macadam, added tar to the crushed stone layers But since tar is almost universally added to the crushed stones these days, macadam road is used in Britain the way Americans use blacktop road See also metalled road machinist, n machine operator This term, used by itself in Britain, can mean any kind of machine operator, especially a sewing machine... operator The British also use the term machine-minder where Americans would say machine operator mad on Inf crazy about Inf Americans also say mad about and the British also say crazy about, but only the British say mad on to mean infatuated When a Briton wants to be emphatic, he says mad keen on, or sometimes dead keen on, or even struck on maffick, v.i exult riotously Mafeking is a small town in Cape... Loyal Toast!” Thereupon all stand, raise their glasses, and say in unison: “The Queen!” They take a swallow and sit down, and thereafter—and only then—is smoking permitted L plate approx Student Driver A large red L (standing for learner) on a square white plate attached to the rear of an automobile gives fair warning to all An L-driver is one who has not yet passed his driving test, and is allowed to. .. quarter-day 198 landed 199 ladyfy (ladify), v.t see comment To ladyfy or ladify a woman is to make a lady of her, though it can mean merely to lend dignity to a woman by calling her a lady Ladified describes a woman exhibiting the airs of a refined lady Lady of Threadneedle Street See Old Lady of Threadneedle Street lag, n., v.t 1 Slang jailbird 2 Slang send up; pinch Slang A lag is a jailbird and the... the Law Lords are subject to review by the European Court of Justice Law Society approx Bar Association There is a national Law Society and there are also many local ones in Britain just as there are a nationwide Bar Association and many local ones in America In certain matters such as the setting of ethical standards of conduct, the furtherance of legal education, and so on, the functions of the British. .. for this lark,” says a sweating laborer doffing his jacket, using lark, specifically a sport, as a sardonic synonym for job or task—the same type of British humor as found in “Are you happy in your work?” addressed to one who is palpably miserable as he plugs away at an unwanted task lasher, n Particularly, one formed by water spilling over a weir lashings, n pl., Slang pool Slang scads lay (someone)... low water (Her Majesty’s) Loyal Opposition party not in power Loyal to the monarch; opposed to the party in power Almost always shortened to the opposition (the) Loyal Toast see comment As the coffee is served at a meal which is part of the proceedings at a regular meeting of an organization like a guild, Rotary Club, and that sort of thing, the chairman stands up and announces, in stentorian tones:... been adopted by some British political pundits The term can also be applied to a firm in financial difficulties, or a troubled industry 2 Slang This term also describes a person unable to meet his obligations on the London Stock Exchange Also a lossmaking company Lancashire hotpot, n A traditional stew of meat, potatoes, and onions land agent Synonymous with estate agent landed, adj see comment real... grouped together in the 18th century to destroy machinery that caused loss of jobs Now used for anyone deemed to be irrationally opposed to new technology luge, n toboggan luggage, n baggage Britons register luggage, Americans check baggage On a British train, bags go into the luggage van; on an American train, into the baggage car Luke’s Little Summer Inf Indian summer Inf Other British names: St... in Britain also leg it Walk hard, run hard Slang beat it legitimate drama stage plays This phrase means very different things in the two countries In Britain it refers to dramatic works of established merit as opposed to melodrama or farce, no matter how well known, e.g., Hamlet vs East Lynne, or The Rivals vs Charley’s Aunt In America the legitimate theater means the ‘stage’ as opposed to any other . (privy) Slang. Archaic word for outhouse, toilet. jam, n. treat Slang. A real jam is British slang for a real treat. A jam sandwich in Britain can mean what it does in America, but it is also a term. situations as That’s amazing! -ish, adv. somewhat; sort of; rather; about Inf. Tacked on to an adjective or adverb, this suffix adds an attenuating nuance, with the same force as placing somewhat, fairly,. incredible! izzard, n. (letter) z Archaic. jack, v.t. Inf. steal Abbr. of ‘highjack.’ jacket potato, Inf. baked potato Jack the lad, n. Slang. see comment A man who is independent and sly, and who