You open a catalogue or walk into a shop and are offered goods but don't recognize the names.
You know what you want from a shop or ebay but don't know the word for it.
Answers
Google it. Search for something similar on ebay until you narrow down the useful terms.
Stories
I saw a sign saying 'no thongs' at a beach side restaurant in Australia.
I thought it meant no skimpy bathing suits. But it meant no toe-post beach shoes.
Tips/ Translations
baseball hat /cap - hat with a large brim at the front to protect the eyes from sun, worn by Baseball players and casually for outdoors in the USA, UK and worldwide
chemise,
flip-flops - uk, backless, beach shoes, anchored across the toe or instep which make a flip flop sound
godet - inset, often triangular, in skirt
pants - in America what the British call trousers. Can cause confusion or embarrassment in the UK if an American says he or she will wear pants or not wear pants. In the UK pants are what Americans call underpants.
slippers - UK soft indoor shoes with fabric top and fabric or thin soles; Singapore, backless outdoor shoes you slip on, like beach shoes but not thongs, with a band across the toe or instep
onesie - one piece outfit, used to be called a jump suit, or pyjama suit, but pyjamas are usually two piece
skid lid - slang for helmet for motor cyclists
thongs - string back panties in the UK; toe-post beach shoes in Australia
trousers - UK male or female clothing covering legs, what Americans call pants
toque - woolly hat (Canadian)
underpants - USA underwear, UK simply called pants
Author
Angela Lansbury, teacher of English language and languages. Author and speaker. More blogs and posts in blogger.com, and profiles and pictures on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Twitter, Youtube. Please like, follow and share your favourite posts.
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