Do YOU know these American slang words? British teacher is quizzed on quirky phrases from across the pond
We have a lot in common with our transatlantic neighbors across the pond, but there are some quirky differences, whether you say “garbage” or “crap” or choose a Hershey’s bar over a Cadbury’s Dairy Milk.
And when it comes to slang, both Brits and Americans enjoy some unique – and sometimes baffling – phrases.
A man from Britain was left baffled – after being quizzed about words used by people from the United States – during a language podcast.
English teacher Sam, from Manchester, co-host The Bridging Boundaries Podcastwas tested on simpler terms such as ‘extra’ and on harder regional expressions.
Fellow host Veronika Mark – a Russian translator and content creator – started the episode, which was uploaded YouTube in February and was viewed 2,000 times – with ‘bussin”.
A man from Britain was left baffled – after being questioned about words used by people from the United States – during a language podcast
“I definitely heard this,” Sam said weakly. “But I’ll have to wait until the verdict.”
However, he has successfully deduced that it is a widely used term, especially used for food.
However, Veronika added that “anything is possible” because it simply implies that something is “great” or “really good.”
Then Sam easily guessed that ‘amped’ meant ‘excited’ or ‘hyped’.
“I think that makes more sense, because it’s an amplifier,” he told Veronika.
However, he stumbled a bit over the word ‘extra’.
“Over the top,” he suggested. “As if… you’re giving too much energy or focus to something.”
English teacher Sam, from Manchester, co-host of The Bridging Borders Podcast, was tested on simpler terms such as ‘extra’ and on harder regional phrases
“Not exactly,” Veronika replied. “Well, I think you were very close. It means dramatic, like attracting attention.”
Her next slang word was “salt.”
“I know this one,” Sam replied. ‘People say this in Britain too. It’s like you’re irritated, but it’s just a little more than irritated.’ The pair also concluded that it means you’re “a bit childish.”
Veronika then questioned her co-host about the phrase “all hat, no cattle.”
“I think it’s the equivalent of all bark, no bite,” Sam said, but admitted he wasn’t sure why.
“I think it comes from a shepherd,” Veronika said. “You wear this hat that they wear…but you don’t have any cattle.
“So it means you’re pretending to be something, but you don’t have the resources or the skills.”
Sam also revealed that he has “no idea” about the next term, namely “he was born at third base but thinks he hit a triple.”
He struggled with the more regional words, including “brick,” which New Yorkers say refers to cold weather, and “bubbler,” which is another word for a water fountain.
“Isn’t he as good as he thinks he is?” he proposed.
Veronika explained that the expression comes from a popular sport in the US.
“In baseball, if you’re at third base, that’s a really good position,” she said. ‘It means you were born with enormous advantages.
“I think there’s an expression in English… you were fed with a silver spoon… that’s the way it is.
“But then you ‘think you’re hitting a triple’… hitting a triple in baseball is very difficult. It requires a lot of skill and a lot of work. So you think you are where you are because of your own hard work.”
“That really showed my lack of baseball knowledge,” Sam joked.
Veronika then asked Sam to describe what it means when something ‘smacks’ or ‘smells’.
“I didn’t hear any bangs,” he admitted. However, he rightly said that something is ‘really good’ if it ‘pops’.
Veronika said there is “a huge debate in the United States” about when to use “slaps” versus “smacks.”
Fellow host Veronika Mark – a Russian translator and content creator – started the episode, which was uploaded to YouTube in February and racked up 2,000 views – with “bussin”
“Many Americans say you should smack food and hit music,” she added.
Sam was also tested for ‘no limit’ – which he had ‘heard a lot’ but had ‘no idea what it means’.
“It means something like… really,” Veronika said. “No lie, I’m not lying to you.”
He struggled with more regional words, including “brick,” which New Yorkers say refers to cold weather, and “bubbler,” which is another word for a water fountain.
Sam, however, knew what “GOAT” – the “greatest of all time” – meant, although he felt it was “a term far too overused.”
“There should only be one greatest of all time,” he insisted. ‘It has to be the very best… people use GOAT far too freely.’
“Americans tend to exaggerate a lot,” Veronika replied.
He also rightly knew that ‘on God’ meant ‘the absolute truth’ and ‘to swear by God’ that one is honest.
The Brit stumbled upon the last question, which was an acronym: ‘ASL’. Veronika explained that in older chat rooms this meant “age, gender, location,” but has since taken on a new meaning on TikTok.
“I’m 28, Veronika, I’m not on TikTok,” Sam said. “Actually, I have no idea.”
His co-host explained that the acronym used at the end of a phrase means “as hell.” For example, someone might say that he is “tired” in the sense of “tired as hell.”
‘People say that? I’m clearly getting old and uncool,” Sam said in response.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the divide, a British man has quit the internet after asking his American girlfriend to guess the meaning of popular British slang.
Rya and Luke have built a loyal fan base of over 152,000 followers TikTok thanks to their light-hearted couple videos.
Recently, the duo took to the platform again to compare and contrast slang in both cultures – with surprising results.
In the original clip, which has been viewed more than 383,000 times to date, Luke wasted little time in putting Rya’s knowledge to the test.
His first example was, “I’m going to talk to a man about a dog.”
Rya initially burst out laughing before replying: ‘That sounds like: ‘I’m going to see a doctor about my illness. I’m going to talk to someone who knows what he’s talking about.”
But she was a little wrong when Luke explained that it actually meant, “I’m going to the bathroom.”
His girlfriend burst out laughing before questioning the “terrible” wording.