Bum Bags and Fanny Packs : A British-American American-British Dictionary

I purchased this book for an upcoming trip to London for 6 weeks. Although speaking the same language, but not being familiar with some of the terminology, and constant "what was that??" made me want to find something to help clear up this barrier. I'm very happy I found this book as it is the perfect companion in this language disparity.Pros:Funny coverAlphabetical so easy to look up wordsCons:This is a dictionary, so is not reading material for most, beyond looking up words!

I read a lot of British mysteries and keep running across words that I have never seen. I bought this book hoping that it would help me understand Britishisms that I was not familiar with. I was able to find only about one third of the words I was looking for in the first Brit mystery I've read since buying this book. This dictionary is not comprehensive enough for an avid reader. If you're really into Brit lit, save your money and look up the words online.

Being British with American friends/children. This book was appropriately family friendly and very humorous. with enoughin it for a young 'early teen' to read and find absolutely amusing. Very good family fun, plus being informative. A funny learning experience. Brilliant as we Brit's say.

Enjoyed the book, but was so much other things (ancient history, currency differences, US Presidents/UK Kings & Queens, etc) that really held no interest for me. Was more wanting dictionary of US/UK slang words. Had some, just not enough.

Great gift for someone going over the pond in ether direction! Would get it again for the next victim... I mean traveler! ;-)

My British friend found this even more fascinating than I did, so i gave it to him when I was over there. It's a bit academic, going into all sorts of history of coins, measurements, etc. I am more of a one-liner kind of person when it comes to this sort of topic, so I enjoy the knickers in a twist book a bit more. But for intellectuals, this book is chock full of facts.

A "must read" before a trip to England, to create understanding in communication. A great many differences exist in word usage, & expressions used in "British English", for common everyday activities, compared to "American English". This book gives many interesting details about how these differences developed. It's a "fun" book to enjoy & learn from.

I am an anglophile and I had such a blast reading this. I enjoyed the more humorous entries. Even though I am familiar with many of the entries, there were many that were new to me and now explained I can "translate" for my less Brit saavy friends.

This is one of the most detailed and organised book on the differences between English and American English (the term 'British English' is misleading because there is no 'British English). It has a section on American words followed by the English equivalent - for example, 'A1 sauce' (an American term, is explained as equivalent to the British 'HP sauce'. Then it has a section on English words and their equivalent in American usage - For example, Ribena in America is known as 'blackcurrant juice'. There are also sections on the differences in spellings and pronunciations. There is also a bonus of having a concise history of the English language as well as the English alphabet. The short section on the differences between English and American people is fascinating and amusing - especially if one is neither English or American. There is nothing offensive, just interesting differences, for example, in England (or so the author says), once introduced to anyone, including the prime minister, you can address him by his first name.

Excellent book, useful and at times very funny. Gives both American to 'British' English and 'British' to American English lists. But published in 2006 and it is amazing to realise how much has changed since then. Please consider an update.

Was brought as a leaving gift for friend moving to America. They said it was a great read with so much helpful information. Good for American - English and the other war around!

Purchase for friend who was going on holiday in the States.

I teach English as a foreign language. I bought this as an excuse to teach some differences between British and American English to somebody who is emigrating to USA, but I keep it by my bedside and find it such a joy to read that sometimes it is too interesting to put it down. There are so many interesting things about the "two countries divided by the common language" and it is written in this lively language that reads like a story.Unputdownable!