Americanisms: it sucks, my bad, sickened, tearing up, throwing up, outstanding

I lived in the USA, in Rockville, Maryland, for more than a year I read, plus odd weeks in New York and elsewhere, plus several holidays. I read the daily mail online which is like my blogs in that it has more American readers than English readers, presumably because there are more Americans in the world.

In the USA I visited Websters House and learned about the reasons behind the reformation and simplification of American spelling to help immigrants.

So I think I know American spelling and phrases pretty well. However, I do get the occasional surprise and challenge. Up pops one - tearing up.

American English - British English

my bad - my mistake / my fault 
Tearing up - UK get tearful?

throwing up - vomiting, being sick

sickened - got sick, was ill
standout - outstanding (very good)

it sucks - it's a disaster, it's a disappointment, it stinks, it's really bad, it's awful

British English - American English

it's awful - it sucks

being ill - sickened

being sick, vomiting - throwing up

my fault / my mistake - my bad
was in tears/ got tearful - tearing up

outstanding (unusually good) - standout

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer