Some of the differences are well known:
We know that "fish and chips" means fish and French fries, right?
And that a scone is what we call a biscuit.
Their biscuits are what we call cookies.
And potato chips are crisps.
Some usages are different, but understandable.
They use the word "brilliant" quite regularly to mean great, wonderful, or cool. I really like this one! It seems like a brilliant one to bring back with us!
If they tell you to look "smart," they mean well dressed or dressed up.
If they want to tell you you are smart, they would say "clever," or quite clever. (For us, clever has a more nuanced meaning, like tricky.)
When you get dressed for cold weather, you would want a "cardigan" (a sweater that buttons up the front) or a "jumper" (a pullover sweater). And you would want warm trousers (not pants. "Pants" here mean underwear.) And if' it's wet, you would definitely want your "wellies" (Wellingtons or galoshes), not plimsoles (light weight tennis shoes).
If you are sick, you would need to go to the "surgery." Surgery is a place, the doctor's office, not an operation. While you are there, you could get a "flu jab" (a flu shot). Or if you're really sick, you might need to go to the "A&E" (the emergency room)--A&E stands for accident and emergency.
On a nice day, it would be fun to go into the "garden" (the back yard). "Yard" is a paved section. And what we call a garden is a vegetable patch. And sidewalk is called "pavement" here.
There is much to be "sorted". We would say "sorted out." Here sorted is a very handy word to mean to organize or put in order. We sometimes have a "Bring and Share" (a covered dish dinner). And you might cook the dish you were going to take on the "hob" (the stove). And if you are making a drink, you would put it in a "jug," not a pitcher. And after you'd finished with the cooking you'd need to do the "washing up" (doing the dishes). And the trash that's left should be put in the "bin" (trash can). Then you could rest by spending time in the "lounge," which we call the living room. And if you need to get things sorted, you would often put out a "rota" for people to sign up on. We would call that a sign-up sheet.
And if you want to go downtown, you would go to the "Town Centre," or toward the "High Street" (not Main Street). And usually you would go there to go to the "shops" (not the store). And if you're driving to get there, you need to watch to know when to "give way" (yield) and when to "overtake" (pass), and be careful if you come to an area of "road works" (construction). And it would be nice if you could drive on "dual carriageway" (divided highway).
And if you're ready for a break, you should plan a "holiday" (a vacation). Or if you just need a smaller break, you might go to the "cinema" (the movie theater.) Or if you're going to church, you might want to put your babies in the "creche" (the nursery).
Same language, but different. Fortunately, most of the time we understand each other pretty well.
