The British have given us a lot more than rock bands. (Okay, so there's also fish and chips.) Many terms used by the British seem to be the same as American English words, but you may be surprised at how differently the terms are used. Most Americans know that a bobby is a police officer in Britain. But did you know that a jitney is a bus or that a mackintosh is a raincoat? Check out these other examples:

• In the United States, bonnet is used to describe a hat. In England, bonnet means the hood of an automobile. The trunk is the boot.
• When Americans want something to dip into the onion dip, they ask for potato chips. The British ask for crisps.
• Americans wait on the curb before crossing the street. The British wait at the kerb.
• In America, French fries are a popular side dish. In England, this same side dish is known as chips.
• At the license branch, Americans line up. The British get in a queue.

So you're thinking, "I'll never go to England. The weather stinks, and the beer's warm." But keep in mind that British English — not American English — is taught, spoken, and used in India, the Caribbean, Africa, and many other places around the world. So when you meet English speakers who have come to America from around the world, you'll have the words you need to understand what on earth they're talking about!