Americanisms
What are they? Where do you find them?
Answer
You find them on line in articles written in and distributed from the USA. You can also buy books of Americanisms and find lists on line.
Story
I was reading an article in the Daily Mail when I came across a new word to add to my ongoing list:
pocketbook.
From the context, that it came with a shoulder strap, I assumed it is what we in Britain would call a shoulder bag. Another phrase which is becoming common online and in the USA and UK is messenger bag, a small shoulder bag, used by men as well, but mostly women, worn either over one shoulder of diagonally to leave both hands free, help prevent loss, keep the bag in front of you to prevent theft and for ease of access and stop it falling off your shoulder.
As I was describing the article to somebody else, I found myself about to use another Americanism I had picked up from the article: She was 'raised' ...
Raised and Grown
In the Uk we would say, 'She was brought up in London.' (Or New York, or wherever). In the UK you raise plants and crops and cakes have a raising agent. That's for the passive. I am thinking about the verb to grow. Plants, crops and people grow and are grown. The active verb would more likely be: 'She grew up in London.'
English people often use the instruction 'grow up' pejoratively (negatively or insultingly). It means: Don't be so juvenile or petty.
Summary
US - British English (alphabetical)
billfold - wallet
pocket book - handbag
purse - bag
wallet - purse
British English - Americanism (alphabetical)
bag - purse
handbag - pocket book
purse - wallet
wallet - billfold
Tips
http://www.learnenglish.de/mistakes/usvsbrenglish.html
Author
Angela Lansbury, author and English teacher.
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