18 American Words Not Widely Used In Britain | P

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Continuing an alphabetised list of words and phrases common to the U.S. that are not widely used in the UK, here are 18 such words beginning with the letter 'P'.

1. Pacifier
UK equivalent: dummy, comforter.

2. Pantyhose
UK equivalent: tights, a term used for similar non-sheer garments in the U.S.; "pantyhose" refers only to sheer or semi-sheer nylon-based tights. 

3. Panties
A form of underwear typically worn by women. UK equivalent: knickers.

4. Paper route
A regular series of newspaper deliveries (UK: paper round)

5. Parking garage
Multi-storey car park

6. Parking lot
A usually outside area for the parking of automobiles. UK equivalent: car park.
 
7. Penitentiary
UK (and US) equivalent: prison; gaol/jail.

8. Penny-ante
Petty, insignificant—from penny ante, poker played for a very low ante

9. Period
Punctuation mark at the end of a sentence. UK equivalent: full-stop.
 
10. Person of color
A person who is not white.

11. Plastic wrap
Polymer material for sealing food items. UK equivalent: cling-film.

12. Plexiglas
Trade name; transparent thermoplastic sometimes called "acrylic glass". UK equivalent: Perspex.

13. Plumber's butt or plumber's crack
Buttock cleavage, also called the working man's smile. UK equivalent: builder's bum, brickie's bum, or builder's cleavage.

14. Plushie, plush toy
Soft toy. UK equivalent: cuddly toy. Also in the U.S.: stuffed animal, not to be confused with a dead animal mounted by a taxidermist.

15. Popsicle
A trademarked brand of frozen juice, or flavored ice on a stick. The term is widely used to describe all such confections without regard to brand. UK equivalent: ice lolly.

16. Powdered sugar
UK equivalent: icing sugar.

17. Pre-authorized payment/withdrawal
UK equivalent: direct debit (variable amount)/standing order (fixed amount).

18. Public holiday
UK equivalent: bank holiday, although public holiday is also used, more formally, when referring to New Year's Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

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Laurence Brown is a British man documenting his life in the truly bizarre and beautiful world of America. Before the end of the decade, he plans to achieve his goal of visiting all 50 United States - highlighting each one in Lost in the Pond's Finding America web series. To help fund this exciting project, consider becoming a patron. Your contribution would be incredibly useful.