those "what??" moments (food, slang, etc.)

[silvermoonfairy3]

I had trouble using the term lemonade in the USA. In my family, lemonade is just another word for sprite or similar. However, lemonade in the USA, obviously refers to lemon flavoured soft drink (soda) such as Solo or Lift.

Lemonade in east coast US (not sure about elsewhere) isn't a soda because it's not carbonated. It's lemon juice and water and sugar.

My SO says they have lemonade in NZ but that it's always carbonated, so similar to a Sprite or something for him. I told him he'll have to try uncarbonated lemonade since he never has, but I wonder if it'll just taste like flat soda to him, hehe.

They also have the term traffic circle. The definition was obvious from the get go, but it sounds weird to me, since we call them roundabouts.

In my state we use all the terms for that interchangeably. Traffic circle, rotary, roundabout. But rotary is probably the most common.

Then there's also biscuits, which in Australia are cookies, but in USA, biscuits are those pastry type roll things that you have with dinner.

aka, DELICIOUSNESS. :P

I don't like the terms, sweatsuit, sweatpants or sweatshirt.

We don't use those on the east coast commonly anymore. We have yoga pants or workout pants, and hoodies. I guess some people would still use "sweatshirt" for non-hooded hoodies, but I haven't heard anyone say sweatpants or sweatsuit since I was a kid.

[kittyo9]

We don't use those on the east coast commonly anymore. We have yoga pants or workout pants, and hoodies. I guess some people would still use "sweatshirt" for non-hooded hoodies, but I haven't heard anyone say sweatpants or sweatsuit since I was a kid.

Yoga pants and workout pants are still separate from the dreaded sweatpants, in my experience. Girls wearing sweatpants to class was totally a hot topic during college.

[Hollandia]

Can someone in UK explain this whole "mushy peas" thing to me? Every time we have been to the pub they ask us if we want regular or mushy peas? Is that like a dip or soup? We have been afraid to try it, but it has been chilly here for late June and I am tempted to start embracing it and trying out some warmer foods.


My and my SO call sweat things, "comfys" or "sweats" He calls his jogging pants, that we both use, both terms even though they are not made of sweat pant material at all.


In Delaware area they are called circles and most people have a hard time with the concept. They are a fairly new addition, never really had them much before and now every new intersection and some old ones have been converted. I cringe at the idea of getting behind some twit in a circle that stops instead of just driving till their turn. In Holland he calls them roundabouts and everyone seems quite adept at not only the traffic pattern but also adjusting for the bikes that continually keep coming too.

[squeeker]

Can someone in UK explain this whole "mushy peas" thing to me? Every time we have been to the pub they ask us if we want regular or mushy peas? Is that like a dip or soup? We have been afraid to try it, but it has been chilly here for late June and I am tempted to start embracing it and trying out some warmer foods.


My and my SO call sweat things, "comfys" or "sweats" He calls his jogging pants, that we both use, both terms even though they are not made of sweat pant material at all.


In Delaware area they are called circles and most people have a hard time with the concept. They are a fairly new addition, never really had them much before and now every new intersection and some old ones have been converted. I cringe at the idea of getting behind some twit in a circle that stops instead of just driving till their turn. In Holland he calls them roundabouts and everyone seems quite adept at not only the traffic pattern but also adjusting for the bikes that continually keep coming too.

Oh I know what mushy peas are!! They are basically peas that have been mushed up!! lol like a thick consistency. I think they usually (always ? I'm not sure ) use marrow fat peas which are bigger peas which are delicious.. but I haven't actually eaten mushy peas but I've seen them in the store and my boyfriend's dad eats them sometimes. Mushy peas could more easily be used eaten as a dip with some chips (fries) or maybe even a spread for a sandwich, I imagine that would be okay. It's just peas.. though I think a lot of brands add colouring to give it a more green colour. Marrow fat peas also usually have colouring but sometimes you can get ones without the added colouring which is better. My boyfriend and I made a meal when we first started our relationship where we had peppers, spring/green onion and marrow fat peas, though I probably used just green peas or no peas if I tried to make it when I wasn't in the UK. I haven't actually eaten mushy peas but I know what looks like. :P Definitely more of a dip than a soup :P

[emsimes]

We call them "roundabouts" here in Cali
Also, when I was in France about 10 years ago, I went out to eat with my family and ordered a lemonade. I was really confused when the waiter came back with a Sprite
Speaking of yoga pants, it's really popular now for college students to wear them. Everyone and their grandma at my university wears yoga pants to class, including me, lol.

[Hollandia]

Oh I know what mushy peas are!! They are basically peas that have been mushed up!! lol like a thick consistency. I think they usually (always ? I'm not sure ) use marrow fat peas which are bigger peas which are delicious.. but I haven't actually eaten mushy peas but I've seen them in the store and my boyfriend's dad eats them sometimes. Mushy peas could more easily be used eaten as a dip with some chips (fries) or maybe even a spread for a sandwich, I imagine that would be okay. It's just peas.. though I think a lot of brands add colouring to give it a more green colour. Marrow fat peas also usually have colouring but sometimes you can get ones without the added colouring which is better. My boyfriend and I made a meal when we first started our relationship where we had peppers, spring/green onion and marrow fat peas, though I probably used just green peas or no peas if I tried to make it when I wasn't in the UK. I haven't actually eaten mushy peas but I know what looks like. :P Definitely more of a dip than a soup :P

Awesome! I totally want to try them now. I think we will be going to the pub tomorrow for USA-Belgium game so maybe time for mushy peas. I also have one more question. I read a decent amount of chick lit and my British based ones seem to mention Pimms a lot. I asked the bartender at the local pub and he really did not know what it was. Should I try it? What does it taste like?

[TwoThree]

During this last visit my SO told me that the expression "to be taken behind the sauna" means you're going to get executed I thought it was the funniest thing ever, but I'm not sure how serious he was.

[80anthea]

Awesome! I totally want to try them now. I think we will be going to the pub tomorrow for USA-Belgium game so maybe time for mushy peas. I also have one more question. I read a decent amount of chick lit and my British based ones seem to mention Pimms a lot. I asked the bartender at the local pub and he really did not know what it was. Should I try it? What does it taste like?

You definitely need mushy peas with your fish and chips.

Pimms should be everywhere, it tends to be really popular when Wimbledon is on so it's the right time for it. You usually have it with ice, lemonade and fruit: it's a sneaky drink that gets you drunk without noticing. Another good one to try is Crabbies alcoholic ginger beer mmmmmm

Anyway have been on the phone to my SO tonight discussing potato products. .....potato tots? Potato crowns? I apparently insulted him by calling them potato waffles

Also grilled cheese sandwiches we call cheese toasties which he thinks is hilarious for some reason.....and he'd never heard of Branston pickle - poor deprived 'mericans

[squeeker]

Awesome! I totally want to try them now. I think we will be going to the pub tomorrow for USA-Belgium game so maybe time for mushy peas. I also have one more question. I read a decent amount of chick lit and my British based ones seem to mention Pimms a lot. I asked the bartender at the local pub and he really did not know what it was. Should I try it? What does it taste like?

Yay I hope you like the mushy peas! With some chips!! yay!! Oh I've heard of Pimms a few times before but we don't drink much alcohol when I'm in the UK so I've never tried it. :O It looks like some kind of fruity drink by my searches. I say try it!! As long as it's not too expensive.. maybe one of you could get it first so you both can try it and see if you like it so you can order another one or two if you like it! It sounds like there are a few varieties. It looks like it would be pretty good with spices and citrus fruits. Maybe someone else knows here?

EDIT: Thank you 80anthea, I'm glad someone here knows what Pimms is better

During this last visit my SO told me that the expression "to be taken behind the sauna" means you're going to get executed I thought it was the funniest thing ever, but I'm not sure how serious he was.

Haha wow that is crazy. :O

[Miasmata]

I was baffled when I found out that for my SO, taking off his shoes at the front door or at least right after coming in wasn't normal. I learnt that in the US, not a lot of people take their shoes off when they go inside, and it still confuses me a lot. I just don't get why you wouldn't want to get rid of your street shoes when you come home - Not to mention all the dirt you'll bring in. When he visits me, I make him take his shoes off, it just bugs me too much to let him keep them on.

Another thing that was very odd to me was that apparently, in the US, electric water boilers are not common. I was told that it could have something to do with the different amounts of volt you get from outlets in the US versus those in Europe - Since our system has higher voltages, our boilers work faster. Still, even with that in mind, I just don't get how people in the US boil their water then? Kettles for the stove are very inefficient, and I can't imagine anyone microwaving water. My SO loves tea, but for whatever reason, he was okay with getting the overpriced stuff Starbucks calls tea, so for his birthday I got him an electric kettle. Amazon.com stocks them for very cheap, so it's not like they're not avaible to Americans, it really just seems to be a cultural thing. He was stoked about the kettle, at least, and now makes his own tea every day. Whoop!

[SmileyK]

I was baffled when I found out that for my SO, taking off his shoes at the front door or at least right after coming in wasn't normal. I learnt that in the US, not a lot of people take their shoes off when they go inside, and it still confuses me a lot. I just don't get why you wouldn't want to get rid of your street shoes when you come home - Not to mention all the dirt you'll bring in. When he visits me, I make him take his shoes off, it just bugs me too much to let him keep them on.

We're sort of the same. It's not really a custom here. A lot of people will courteously take them off outside the front door (mostly older people I think), but a lot of people won't as well, and a lot of house owners just say "don't worry about it". I guess you're more likely to do it at a stranger's house, but how many stranger's houses do you visit? I don't tend to take my shoes off at other people's houses, unless other visitors are doing so or if I'm asked (which is next to never). Or unless they're really obviously dirty, which is also next to never. Depending on the type of shoes you're wearing, I also think it just tends to be a hassle, and I for one have always had difficulty putting on and taking off shoes like sneakers/joggers/strapped shoes etc whilst standing up or bent over. I like to sit down. When I went to Sweden, I was forewarned about the shoes, because I'd asked my SO about it beforehand and his response was logical enough - because over there, you have the snow and don't want to be dragging the snow through the house, and so there's shoe racks at the door. And so, I had no problem with that, but even there, I had to sit on the bottom step of the stairs to tie up my boots which always had to be tied, where everyone else just seemed to slip into their laced boots I also found it very much a nuisance that should you forget something inside the house, it was etiquette to generally just not wear shoes in the house at all, so you'd have to take them off and run to get it whatever it was.

You very rarely have shoe racks at the door here, and I just think it's so much more convenient to put your shoes on in the bedroom when you're going out and getting ready in there. I also don't really like going barefoot/socks in anyone's house, unless it's family/friends I know really well or some place I'm sleeping over (which also tends to be friends/family ofc) aka somewhere I'm comfortable. I think I just don't like to look at people's feet for some reason and I don't want them to look at mine. xD I've also been in a few houses that have different sort of like... slate? (dunno how to describe them) tiles that feel really horrible and always dirty on your feet, hence the shoes worn there. And I know at least two people (one of my friends and one of my mum's friends) who live in miniature pigsties with mess always over the floor, so I think it's very understandable to want to keep shoes on there. When I come home, the first thing I do is take them off, but I wait until I get to the bedroom.

[silvermoonfairy3]

I was baffled when I found out that for my SO, taking off his shoes at the front door or at least right after coming in wasn't normal. I learnt that in the US, not a lot of people take their shoes off when they go inside, and it still confuses me a lot.

I think it varies by part of the country and/or closeness to the person/people. I take my shoes off without thinking about it in most people's houses when I walk in, unless I don't know them very well. Sometimes people will explicitly ask if they should, or the host will ask you politely to remove them, etc.

It's not considered safe or professional to do in most business environments, though. I work in an office, and I tend to kick my shoes off at my desk and be barefoot (with socks) in my immediate area of the company (a few cubicles, a small table, etc.) but if I leave my department I put my shoes back on.

Another thing that was very odd to me was that apparently, in the US, electric water boilers are not common.

Nope, and when I was in Wales, it was really nice to have.. I told myself I'd buy one when I got home, but I haven't.

I just don't get how people in the US boil their water then? Kettles for the stove are very inefficient

Kettles are very common for it. And in offices, Keurig coffee/tea makers. Some offices also have water coolers that dispense hot water in addition to cold.
But you gotta remember, while the rest of the world drinks more tea, America drinks way more coffee. So a lot of people just use a coffeemaker and don't need to separately heat water. (Or, they buy the over-priced coffees from Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks on their way to work.)

I can't imagine anyone microwaving water.

We do it all the time.
I personally don't ever need to these days, but when I was in college and didn't have a kettle and was generally broke, I'd microwave water to make instant oatmeal.

Amazon.com stocks them for very cheap, so it's not like they're not avaible to Americans

Yeah, I've even seen them in major stores like Target. They're definitely available, it's just as you say, not really a cultural thing we do.

[Lea-le-Lea]

Holy crap, I don't even know where to start. Australian slang is so weird!! And awesome.
Tracky Dacks
Wukkin Furries/Wukkas
Bickies (I wouldn't known if he said Biscuits)
Arvo
How you goin? (I've heard him say it so much I started saying it at work and people gave me weird looks)
Jetty
Ice Block (Like wut, it's popsicle man)

I could go on forever. I used to pretend I knew what he meant until I could no longer understand 50% of what he was saying. He finds the way I say things funny, because of my California "Valley Girl" accent. I really don't think I sound like that though. I hope I don't...

[whatruckus]

Ha. Even though we're both from the US, we definitely have different sayings and he makes fun of me for not knowing some and I make fun of him.

Examples:

Him: Pork Roll
Me: Taylor Ham

Him: Hoagies
Me: Subs

Him: Tank Tops/Wife Beaters
Me: Guinea Tees

Him: Nasty - "That guy is nasty" (meaning really cool, or something)
Me: Awesome/Amazing/Cool

Him: Seen - "Yea, I seen that before"
Me: See

Him: Sev - "I'm going to sev"
Me: Seven Eleven (7-11, the store)

Him: The City (Center City, or just plain Philly in general)
Me: The City (New York City)


There's others, but I can't think of them right now. Lol. I'll probably add on as I remember, or as they come up. The ones we tease each other about the most is the Pork Roll/Taylor Ham, Hoagies/Subs, and Tank Tops-Wife Beaters/Guinea Tees. Obviously the Hoagie-Sub/Pork Roll-Taylor Ham ones are the major ones I get into arguments with his friends about sometimes. Lmao.

Gotta love that Philly pride.

He also tells me I have a "Jersey/New York" accent and I tell him he has a "Philly" accent.

[Alsfia]

Awesome! I totally want to try them now. I think we will be going to the pub tomorrow for USA-Belgium game so maybe time for mushy peas. I also have one more question. I read a decent amount of chick lit and my British based ones seem to mention Pimms a lot. I asked the bartender at the local pub and he really did not know what it was. Should I try it? What does it taste like?

That's a weird pub if the barman didn't know about Pimm's... They even serve Pimm's at my SO's speech days at school (or at least did) to parents and old enough students (generally they say they're old enough around 17). Anyway it's a rather sweet, fruity long drink, it is meant to be mixed with lemonade, though some use coke instead. It's usually served with cucumber, mint and strawberries, lemon and/or lime. It's quite a summery drink, though I think it's got quite a... big... flavour. You can usually order them iether individually or in jugs. You can buy it fairly cheap at any shop if you want to mix your own, Tesco or Waitrose are probably your best bets