具有相同含義的英語表達在英式和美式英語中措詞可能有所不同。比如，“像家里一樣舒適的地方”的英式表達是 a home from home，而美式英語里寫成 a home away from home；當英國人祈求好運時說“touch wood 摸木頭”，而美國人則說“knock on wood 敲木頭”。兩種英語分支同大于異，然而為避免誤會，最好分清二者的區別。試做六道小題，學習英式英語和美式英語的同義表達中措詞的差別。

1. An American English speaker would use the expression 'I could care less.' What would a British English speaker say?

a) I don't care less.

b) I won't care less.

c) I shan't care less.

d) I couldn't care less.

2. A British English speaker would say, 'Could you please hold the fort?' What would an American English speaker say?

a) Could you please hold up the fort?

b) Could you please hold around the fort?

c) Could you please hold down the fort?

d) Could you please hold in the fort?

3. An American English speaker would say, 'Take it with a grain of salt.' What would a British English speaker say?

a) Take it with a knob of salt.

b) Take it with a pinch of salt.

c) Take it with a nip of salt.

d) Take it with a grit of salt.

4. An American English speaker would say, 'I'm sorry. My bad.' What would a British English speaker say?

a) I'm sorry. My worse.

b) I'm sorry. My mistake.

c) I'm sorry. My evil.

d) I'm sorry. My atrocious.

5. A British English speaker would say, 'That's thrown a spanner in the works.' What would an American English speaker say?

a) That's thrown a wrench in the works.

b) That's thrown a screwdriver in the works.

c) That's thrown a hammer in the works.

d) That's thrown a jackhammer in the works.

6. An American English speaker would say, 'Don't sweep it under the rug.' What would a British English speaker say?

a) Don't sweep it under the floorboards.

b) Don't sweep it under the floor towel.

c) Don't sweep it under the mat.

d) Don't sweep it under the carpet.

答案

1) d, 2) c, 3) b, 4) b, 5) a, 6) d.