American English VS British English
Books by Description
Conditionals
Idioms
C1 Vocab
Things occupying a lot of SPACE
Things occupying a lot of SPACE
100
These fried potato snacks are called "chips" in the US, but in the UK, "chips" are what Americans call these.
french fries
100
This 1925 novel set in the Jazz Age introduces readers to a mysterious millionaire known for his lavish parties and his enduring love for Daisy...
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
100
Of course you don’t expect to win the lottery. Which do you say?
a If I win the lottery, I’ll buy a big house.
b If I won the lottery, I’d buy a big house.
b If I won the lottery, I’d buy a big house.
100
in a nutshell
in few words
100
the capital city has a(n) ______ underground railway network
extensive
200
In the UK, you wait in a "queue"; in the US, you wait in this.
in a "line"
200
In this chilling 1949 novel, Winston Smith rebels against a regime led by Big Brother, where independent thought is a crime and history is constantly rewritten.
1984
200
You’re not going to sell your car because it’s old and not worth much. Which do you say?
a If I sell my car, I won’t get much money for it.
b If I sold my car, I wouldn’t get much money for it.
b If I sold my car, I wouldn’t get much money for it.
200
That was the last straw
The final negative occurrence in a series of negative events that causes one to take action
200
I’d prefer a ___ car on a long journey
roomy
300
An American would say "I already did it." A Brit is more likely to use this tense.
the present perfect: "I've already done it"
300
This groundbreaking Gothic novel features an orphaned protagonist who becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall and falls in love with the mysterious Mr. Rochester, only to discover a dark secret in the attic.
Jane Eyre / Charlotte Brontë
300
You often see Sarah. A friend of yours wants to contact her. Which do you say?
a If I see Sarah, I’ll tell her to call you.
b If I saw Sarah, I’d tell her to call you.
a If I see Sarah, I’ll tell her to call you.
300
when it rains it pours
when something bad happens other bad things usually happen at the same time
300
The city of Washington is ____ and green.
spacious
400
When something disrupts a plan, a Brit says it "throws a spanner in the works." An American uses this different tool.
wrench
400
this novel follows the journey of an orphan nicknamed Pip from his humble childhood to his life as a gentleman, all while pursuing the heartless beauty Estella, thanks to a fortune from a secret benefactor.
Great Expectations / Charles Dickens's
400
You don’t expect that there will be a fire in the building. Which do you say?
a What will you do if there is a fire in the building?
b What would you do if there was a fire in the building?
b What would you do if there was a fire in the building?
400
To put all your eggs in one basket
Having all your valuable items only in one place at the risk of losing everything
400
Every time I visit my aunt's _____ mansion, I nearly get lost trying to find my way back to the front door.
rambling
500
If an American needs to go to court, they hire an "attorney." [əˈtɜːnɪ] A Brit would hire this type of lawyer, who is qualified to argue in higher courts.
barrister
500
This 1925 novel, based on a real 1906 murder case, follows the ambitious guy. He plots to drown his pregnant working-class girlfriend to clear the way for a marriage to the wealthy socialite , a crime that ultimately exposes the dark side of the American Dream.
An American Tragedy
500
You’re in a lift. There is an emergency button. Nobody is going to press it. Which do you say?
a What will happen if somebody presses that button?
b What would happen if somebody pressed that button?
b What would happen if somebody pressed that button?
500
I am on the fence with this one
Having an undecided opinion, indecisiveness
500
The problem with this university is that the buildings are rather ___ and it takes a long time to get from one place to another. [not close to one another]
spread out