Lost in Translation

This page is design to provide a quick reference of phrases and terms that members of the collaborative have used, but in doing so generated confusion or alarm from member from countries

A

Aunt Sally: UK - To have some thing designed to generate feedback

B

Better Other Half: UK used humorously to mean your husband, wife, or partner

Box and Cox : UK - The title of a play (1847) by J. M. Morton, in which two characters, John Box and James Cox, unknowingly become tenants of the same room. Now used to refer to when resources are used to their maximum.

Busking : UK - Busking or Street performance is the act of performing in public places for gratuities

Bun Fight : UK - (Has been known to be miss heard) A heated exchange of views in a meeting

C

Chips : UK - are Fries in the US, since Chips in the US are Crisps in the UK. When buying Chips in the UK, its a "portion of chips" and not an "order of chips"

(Working at the) coalface: UK - doing the work involved in a job, in real working conditions, rather than planning or talking about it

Comforter: USA - an bed cover in the UK called a blanket

C-Suite: USA - term used to collectively refer to a corporation's most important senior executives e.g. Chief executive officer, chief operating officer and chief information officer.

D

Derby : UK - Either a classic horse race or a game held between local teams. Pronounced "Dar-bee", but not to be confused with "Doddie" who is a character from Harry Potter

Druthers :US - Druthers is a shortening of 'would rathers' for example "if I had my druthers, I would prefer to be a workforce planner"

E

Elephant trap: UK - This is a Chess move, but also its an expression for a trap which you should never fall into if you have your wits about you, since the hole you fall in is rather big and you can't talk your way out of it.

F

Fit for Purpose : UK - When something is well equipped or well suited for its designated role or purpose

Flannel : UK - the piece of cloth to wash your face which would make it a facecloth

FMLA : US - Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is a United States labor law requiring covered employers to provide employees with job-protected and unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons.

H

Half Term : UK - the short holiday/vacation, of around a week, in roughly the middle of each of the three school terms

L

Lollygagging : US - Idly wasting time, hanging around with no purpose

M

MDD : US - A Micheal Dill Day - when things take longer than they do.

MRA multilateral agreement - Yes I know its rather confusing that this TLA (Three Letter Acronym) has a TLD (Two Letter Definition)

N

NIH: US - Not Invented Here - the irresistible urge to re-invent the wheel

P

(To give your finest) Paddington Bear Stare - a hard stare on those who incur your disapproval. "Paddington had a very persistent stare when he cared to use it. It was a very powerful stare. One which his Aunt Lucy had taught him and which he kept for special occasions."

Pants: UK - Pants in the UK refers to underwear and not trousers. This means, comments such "He has a hole in his pants", may be meet with surprise.

Physician: US/UK - Physician in the US refers to all medically qualified doctors, whilst a physician in the UK refers to the group of doctors working in the medical specialties only.

Playing Golf in the Dark: All - Undertaking an activity when there is no way to evaluate the outcome.

R

Relegate: UK Transfer (a sports team) to a lower division of a league

Remit: UK -The task or area of activity officially assigned to an individual or organization: "the committee was becoming caught up in issues that did not fall within its remit" see [1]

S

Starter for Ten: UK is a catch from the TV quiz show University Challenge, where the host sets the initial question (the Starter) and if you get the answer correct you get 10 points and then set of additional questions for gain more points. Hence starter for ten is the starting point of a process

Sticker Shock: US shock or dismay experienced by the potential buyers of a particular product on discovering its high or increased price.

Stroppy: UK to be easily annoyed and difficult to deal with

Squeaky bum time: UK An exciting part of a sporting event, particularly the final moments of a close game or season

T

Three line whip: UK literally a written notice, underlined three times to denote urgency, to members of a political party to attend a parliamentary vote. More widely a term used for when your "Better Other Half" tells you to do something.

Tired and Emotional: UK is a British euphemism for alcohol intoxication (or drunkenness)

W

Wonk as in "I'm a policy wonk', comes from "know everything backwards"