My favourite is the story explained in the first paragraph here. http://www.oxbridgeediting.co.uk/blog/british-and-american-english/
Winston Churchill in his memoirs discusses a rather animated debate with his American counterparts in the heart of World War Two. A disagreement arose in the discussion of a particularly sensible wartime matter, which when the British side argued it should be tabled, the American delegation insisted most strongly it should not. Mutual antagonism continued for a good amount of time until it become clear that the American word ‘to table’ means to ‘leave on the table’, i.e. to defer the matter, while the British word means to ‘bring to the table’, i.e. to discuss the matter.
and you guys wonder why we have different photographic paper sizes in different countries? I think the EU members just agreed on a color for different EU passports. well done!FWIW, we here in British Columbia, Canada refer to the plates on our car as licence plates and the numbers (and letters) on them as our car's licence number - even if it might more properly be described as a registration number. If we trade in or switch cars we can in most cases move the plates (and associated number) from the old car to the new.
In addition, a lot of the pay parking around here requires us to punch in our licence (plate) number into the machines that take our money.
For that reason, more often than not we tend to refer to the number on our driver's certificate (which serves as proof that we are licenced to drive) as our driver's licence number.
We also don't refer to the storage area at the back of the car as the "boot".
Isn't it marvelous how the English language offers so much flexibility?
If your stuff is stolen, just file a claim on your homeowners insurance. Life is short.
I have a driving licence, any automobiles I own, have registration papers. The driving licence number stays with you and is not used again.
As a consumer of used camera equipment, I find engraving to be an unsightly abomination.
But just this is one of the intended effects.
Churchhill's mother was Jenny Jerome who was American, he of all people ought to have known the difference.My favourite is the story explained in the first paragraph here. http://www.oxbridgeediting.co.uk/blog/british-and-american-english/
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