You say Tomato . . . Trivia Quiz

Answer: suspenders / braces

'Braces' is also the word for the device used by dentists to straighten teeth.

Answer: elevator / lift

Well - 'lift' and 'elevate' do mean the same thing! While it could be an escalator, that word refers to the same thing in both countries, so is not a difference between the two.

Answer: sidewalk / pavement

Basically a paved area at the side of the street for people to walk on - it is usually slightly higher than the road itself.

Answer: line / queue

A group of people may 'form a queue', 'get in line', join a 'queuing system', 'cut in line' or 'jump the queue' - to name just a few variations of this.

Answer: freeway / motorway

This fast road was first built in Germany, and there it is called an 'autobahn'.

Answer: diaper / nappy

Whether these are terry towelling or disposable, both words cover all types of 'rear end protection for babies'! The word 'napkin' is sometimes used in Britain as well.

Answer: jello / jelly

Jello (US) and Jelly (UK) are the words used to describe this - a fruit-flavoured clear desert set with gelatine. Jelly (US) and Jam (US and UK) describes a preserve, sometimes containing fruit, which has been boiled with sugar until the mixture sets - this is not usually eaten on its own.

The word 'preserve' is sometimes used to describe this, but it is far more often called 'jam' or 'jelly'.

Answer: faucet / tap

In the US both 'faucet' and 'spigot' are used, but in the UK only 'tap' is used.

Answer: porch / veranda

In Britain a 'porch' is a small enclosed area built around the front door, usually only large enough to keep a few plants in pots. A 'veranda' is a much larger covered walkway, usually open on the side away from the house, which runs around the house or on one side of the house. Like the word 'bungalow', 'veranda' comes from India and was borrowed from that country in the late Victorian era. 'Porch' is commonly used to refer to both situations in the U.S. (although in some parts the term veranda is also used, just to make life difficult).

The alternative spelling of verandah is also used.

Answer: trunk / boot

In Britain a 'trunk' is a large packing case or an elephant's nose, and in both countries a 'boot' is also a form of footwear.

Answer: hood / bonnet

A 'bonnet' is also a type of hat, generally associated with Easter festivities. A 'hood' is the head covering which is usually attached to a coat, and in the US it describes a type of criminal.

Answer: pants / trousers

American references to 'pants' often has amusing undertones in the UK! 'Pants' are underwear, especially for children, but for all genders and ages in Britain.

Answer: nightstick / truncheon

As carried by policemen on both sides of the Atlantic! The word 'truncheon' is being used less and less in the UK as they are now issued with retractable truncheons called asps.

Answer: bathroom / toilet

In the UK this room is only called a 'bathroom' if it contains a bath or a shower; if the room does not have either of these, it is a 'toilet'. The word 'john' is also used, but this is an American word, not English. There are reams of words used on both sides of the pond for this room - bog, little room, loo, head, dunny, restroom - etc. You may be interested in another of my quizzes, 'The Littlest Room', which is about toilets in general.

Answer: vest / waistcoat

In Britain a vest is a garment worn directly next to the skin, under the shirt, jumper or similar. The American (and Australian) 'vest' is the English 'waistcoat'.

Answer: cookies / biscuits

These come in various types, but are generally similar to each other. In the UK one would be offered biscuits with a cup of tea or coffee. (Mind you, my cakes fit the description as well!)

Answer: movie / film

As with a lot of American words, 'movie' is finding its way into English English, but the word 'film' is still by far the more popular in the UK.

Answer: fall / autumn

One can see the logic behind the choice of 'Fall' for the season when the trees lose their leaves, but in the UK the word 'Autumn' is here to stay! I understand that 'Autumn' is sometimes used in America, especially in more formal situations, but by far the more popular term is 'Fall'.

Answer: license plate / number plate

These two phrases appear to be interchangeable on both sides of the Atlantic, but generally speaking the Americans use the phrase 'license plate' and the British the phrase 'number plate' to describe the plate containing the identification number (registration number) on both ends of a road vehicle. (In the UK 'license' is spelt 'licence')

Answer: lawyer / solicitor

There is a tendency to use the word 'lawyer' more and more in the UK, but technically speaking, 'solicitor' is correct given the description in the question, even though the word actually derives from the Old English word 'lauier' and has always been used as a general encompassing term for the legal profession in Britain. I think the reason for its return to everyday use lies with countless American shows (programmes) and movies (films) being shown in this country.

A Barrister is able to represent a client in the higher courts, and a QC is a Queen's Counsel (a title only used when the sovereign is female, otherwise it is a KC - King's Counsel); both of these are British terms.

Answer: show / programme

In the UK a 'show' is something that is watched in a theatre - such as a variety show. In America the word is used to encompass all entertainments put on public television.

The spelling 'program' in England is used only for computer programs - with the 'me' at the end it is used to describe television programmes and also the printed material sold/given at theatres to describe the performance and actors.

Answer: chips / crisps

These are called 'potato chips' in America and 'potato crisps' in Britain, and eaten as a snack (confectionery). Potatoes which are cut into strips and deep fried and served with fish, burgers or any other meals, are called 'fries' in America and 'chips' in the UK (where fish and chips is a national favourite); these are not a confectionery.

Answer: mall / precinct

Sometimes the shopping area would be called the town centre in the UK, but the equivalent of the American 'mall' would be a 'precinct'.

Answer: Santa Claus / Father Christmas

Although 'Santa' is becoming more popular in Britain, it will be a long time before 'Father Christmas' is obsolete! 'Pere Noel' and 'Kris Kringle' are other names by which Santa Claus / Father Christmas is known by, but these are not generally used in the US and the UK.

Answer: button / badge

Buttons, in both countries, are also clothing fasteners frequently seen on shirts and coats. Badges, again in both countries, can be fabric decorations sewn on clothing to indicate some level of accomplishment or achievement. The pins used to display slogans, commonly during an election campaign, are called campaign buttons in the US, and political badges in the UK.