Phrases That Have Different Meanings Across the Pond

Summary

The Nightly – "Phrases That Have Different Meanings Across the Pond"

Date: June 17, 2026
Host: Matt Bragg (Hatch Podcasts)
Guest: Liz (Listener, American expat in Norwich, UK)

Episode Overview

This cozy bedtime episode explores quirky and surprising differences in language and culture between the US and UK through a playful interview with Liz, an American expat now living in Norwich. Host Matt Bragg and Liz compare phrases, cultural norms, and accidental miscommunications, ultimately celebrating the curiosities of “crossing the pond.”

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Festival Life in the UK

(00:24–04:49)

• Matt shares his recent experience performing stand-up at the Download (aka “Drown Load”) heavy metal festival in Donington Park.
  • Notes on festival audiences: "There is a certain smell from a festival audience around 11am midday... I saw a person in a Cannibal Corpse T shirt buying a falafel wrap. I saw people dressed as Vikings. It was very much outside my comfort zone." (02:51)
• Light-hearted musings on muddy festival conditions and why he refuses to wash his car until festival season ends.

Liz's Move: From New York to Norwich

(04:51–06:46)

• Liz moved from Long Island and New York City to Norwich, UK, five years ago for grad school and to start a new life.
• She reflects on adjusting to East Anglian life: "Just a bit" of a change from NYC’s pace and energy. (06:37)
• Liz enjoys the slower tempo and nature access, especially after city living.

Phrases with Different Meanings: "Quite"

(06:46–07:54)

• Liz describes her confusion about the word “quite”:
  • “I found out that the word ‘quite’ means something completely different in the US vs. the UK... In the US, we use it as like a very qualifier. So, like, I thought they meant, ‘Oh, that’s really nice,’ but no.” (07:18)
  • Matt explains: "If you don't want to be horrible about something, you go, 'Yeah, it's quite good.' So that's very different." (07:40)
• Liz humorously admits to using the word wrong for years and thinking people were very excited.

Pants vs. Trousers (and Regional Quirks)

(07:54–08:44)

• Discussion of “pants” meaning underwear in most of the UK, but “trousers” in the northwest.
• Matt: “If you wanted to feel a little bit more at home purely in that sense...you could go to Burnley. They all call them pants.” (08:31)

Navigating British Indirectness

(09:45–10:31)

• Liz notes British people’s “passiveness” and frequent use of hedging language:
  • “He’ll say something like, ‘We could do,’... I’m like, what does that mean? Do you actually want to do it?” (10:12)
  • Matt: “Maybe a bit more commitment wouldn’t go amiss because I’m terrible for that.” (10:31)

The Weather & Outdoors Habits

(11:07–12:27)

• Liz is surprised by Brits’ determination to go for walks regardless of weather:
  • “People just like go for a walk in any weather, which...is not really my experience from back home.” (11:17)
• She appreciates easy access to countryside and green spaces, contrasting with New York.

UK Travel Dreams & "Small Country, Big Variety"

(12:48–13:54)

• Liz wants to travel more within the UK—especially a big road trip in Scotland:
  • “Being from the US, driving for like five hours doesn’t really bother me. Like, that feels quite close actually.” (13:41)

Embracing British Outdoor Culture: Kayaking

(14:05–15:57)

• Liz and her husband joined a local kayaking club—she’s new to kayaking but finds formal training and the Norfolk Broads area a big plus.
• Discussion about British Canoeing licenses and joys of outdoor recreation.
  • “There’s a club quite close to our house actually, and so that’s been quite fun because now I’ve gotten some more formal training in it.” (14:41)
  • “Norfolk Broads... there’s a ton of rivers around and whatnot. I would love to do some sea kayaking at some point.” (15:13)
• Matt’s anecdote about nearly calling a rescue helicopter during a poorly planned hike in Wales.

British Heatwaves & Seasonal Quirks

(16:42–18:16)

• Liz previews the comedic British tradition of topless men as soon as the temperature exceeds 20°C:
  • “I’m looking forward to seeing a bunch of men just walking around topless for no reason.” (16:46)
  • Matt: “There is no need for it at that temperature! Fish and chips, topless workmen…” (17:13)
• Coping strategies for UK’s rare hot summer nights, with Matt’s quick tip:
  • “What helped me was a hot water bottle in the freezer. You can have that for free.” (18:03)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On British indirectness:
  “He’ll say something like, ‘We could do’... I’m like, what does that mean? Do you actually want to do it or are you just... the constant hedging drives me nuts.”
  – Liz (10:12)

• On “quite” as a qualifier:
  “I thought they meant, ‘Oh, that’s really nice,’ but, no.”
  – Liz (07:26)

• Festival culture sums up British weather:
  “Download... it’s become known as Drown Load because it just rains and rains.”
  – Matt (02:39)

• On embracing new hobbies:
  “There’s a club quite close to our house actually... I’ve gotten some more formal training in it.”
  – Liz (14:41)

• On British summer traditions:
  "I'm looking forward to seeing a bunch of men just walking around topless for no reason."
  – Liz (16:46)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:24 – Matt recaps music festival adventures and British mud
• 04:51 – Liz’s origin story: from New York to Norwich
• 06:46 – The “quite” confusion: British vs. American meaning
• 07:54 – Pants vs. trousers & regional language variations
• 09:45 – Navigating British vague language and hints
• 11:07 – Brits and their weatherproof outdoor walks
• 12:27 – UK’s scenic access; country vs. city contrasts
• 13:23 – Liz’s UK travel bucket list and view on distances
• 14:05 – Kayaking adventures in Norfolk
• 16:42 – Coping with British heatwaves and cultural oddities

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Tone & Style

Warm, witty, and slightly self-deprecating, with playful cultural observations and a focus on everyday humor. The conversation is casual, relatable, and rich with the small surprises and adjustments that come with expat life—making it a comforting listen for anyone pondering about language, belonging, or the quirks of British culture.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode of The Nightly gently unpacks the joys and confusions of American-British cross-cultural living—reminding listeners that every misused word (“quite”) or awkward topless summer encounter is an opportunity for laughter, learning, and late-night musing.

Transcript

[A]

Audio for sleep by hatch.

[B]

All right, I'm Matt. Welcome to the Night Leaf from Hatch, where your late night thoughts go to. And tonight it's just me in the pillow fort this evening. We will be opening up the lines to talk to a listener shortly. But first I just thought I'd have a quick chat before we get into it. There's been a lot going on recently. Obviously the World cup has kicked off, but more importantly than that, it's festival season over here. So I've been attempting to do stand up comedy at music festivals that I've been. I've been booked for. It's not like I've just turned up and started trying to do it in the queues for the food outlets. I am booked officially and on the lineups, but it's a tough thing to do, you know, when people are there for music, they kind of happen across comedy, not necessarily ready for it, probably not in the greatest shape physically and emotionally at the time that comedy's on. I have to say I love all audiences that come to see me, but there is a certain smell from a festival audience around 11am midday, which I understand it's difficult conditions, particularly at Download Festival, which is where I was this week, the first major festival in the UK calendar. It's a heavy metal festival, so not really my kind of thing, but interesting to kind of see a different side of a different side of music. I suppose I'm more open minded now than I was before. Like I would have loved to have stayed to watch Limp Bizkit. That's not a phrase I thought I'd ever say, but I'm actually a huge, huge fans. Too far. I'm a fan. I do, I do enjoy bits of it. Linkin park, they were, they were headlining. I think if you really want to get under the skin of a person who's into that kind of music, do walk around calling them LinkedIn Park. That's something that I found out over the weekend. But the thing is, because it's the first one in the festival calendar, it's a notoriously wet festival. Although it's called Download, it's become known on the UK music scene as Drown Load because it's just. It just rains and rains and rains and it actually takes place on a racetrack called Donington park, which is a famous racetrack for. I don't think it's Formula One, maybe like rattan, not rally cars. What's the other one in between? You know, if you played gran Turismo on PlayStation 1, what were you doing there? There'll be people screaming at me now, I'm sure it's that kind of driving anyway, it's not Formula one, it's not just driving to the shops, it's somewhere in between those two things. But you'd think that's not a bad place for it. There's a lot of asphalt there, so if it rains you'll be alright. But yeah, outside of any of the asphalted stuff with the grass drop offs, it was absolute carnage. So almost got my car stuck in there on the way out, which is quite traumatic, but managed to get. Well, I sort of got away with it. My car is the muddiest it's ever been and I refuse to wash it. There's no point until the end of festival season anyway. It'll only get muddy again. Which just begged the question, why would you ever bother washing your car? I suppose it's always going to get muddy again, isn't it? But it makes me feel better. So that was interesting. Anyway, I saw a person in a Cannibal Corpse T shirt buying a falafel wrap. I saw people dressed as Vikings. It was very much outside my comfort zone, which is kind of. It's a good theme for the evening because we've got a caller. We've got Liz coming on the line this evening who has actually moved over to the UK because she's married a Brit. Liz, welcome to the Nightly.

[A]

Hello, how are you?

[B]

I'm very well, thank you, how are you?

[A]

I'm good, thanks.

[B]

Excellent news. So, Liz, you've. Let me just get this right. Are you, you have moved over to the UK or are you in the process of moving or is it something that's in the future?

[A]

I've moved over to the UK about almost five years ago now.

[B]

Wow, okay, five years. So fairly settled in, feet under the table.

[A]

Yeah, I think so. But I still feel like every day I'm learning something new about the culture here.

[B]

I'm looking forward to getting into this. So you moved over five years ago, so 20, 21, that is, yeah. And just roughly, broadly speaking, whereabouts in the UK did you move to?

[A]

I live in Norwich, so it's like the Southeast.

[B]

Okay, yeah. East Anglia, very nice. Norwich Football Club, The Canary. Have you got down the football club at all?

[A]

I have not, no.

[B]

No, I mean, to be fair, even people with a long lineage of being from Norwich don't tend to go down to the football game. But it's worth looking into at some point if you fancy. Well, I don't know, I don't Know, a bit of a bit quiet time. So what's the biggest thing so far that you've noticed, Liz? That's a difference between. Whereabouts were you in the us? Sorry?

[A]

Before you moved, I lived in New York. I grew up on Long island right outside the city, and then lived in New York City until moving over from 18 to now. Yeah.

[B]

Wow. That's a real gear change, isn't it, from New York to East End?

[A]

Yeah, just a bit.

[B]

Wow. Okay. So what was the biggest change for you then that you felt coming over?

[A]

I think there's just been a lot of small things, which I feel like the US and the UK have a lot of similarities, but, I mean, everyone knows sort of the things, like, I don't know, pants versus trousers or whatnot. But I feel like there's just even more to it. Like, this actually just happened to me the other day. I found out that the word quite means, like, something completely different in the US versus the uk. Like, when people are saying quite here, they mean, like, oh, yeah. It's like, okay, it's average. But in the us we use it as more of, like, a very qualifier. So, like, I feel like I've been living in, like, a different reality for five years when people. People have been saying, like, oh, that's quite nice. I thought they meant, like, oh, yeah, that's really nice, but no.

[B]

Oh, okay. That is interesting because it can almost be used as a. I mean, I wouldn't say like a passive aggressive thing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But it is kind of. If you don't want to be horrible about something, you go, yeah, it's quite good. Yeah, yeah. So that's very different.

[A]

I thought people were, like, excited about something, and I've definitely used it in the completely wrong context in the last. Over the last five years.

[B]

So as long as it wasn't. Yeah, no, Liz, she's. She's quite nice. I'm sure it wasn't that. So that's. Did you. Is there anything else that's kind of tripped up the whole pants versus trousers. That's interesting, actually, because it's. That actually changes regionally. So if you had moved to somewhere, say, in the northwest of England, like Manchester or Burnley or somewhere up there, because my girlfriend's from up Burnley way and she calls me out for calling trousers trousers, because they all call them pants.

[A]

Oh, okay.

[B]

If you wanted to feel a little bit more at home purely in that sense, in no other sense, then you could go to Burnley. You came over, you married a Brit, is that right?

[A]

Yes, I did. In 2021, I moved over and then we met in 2022, early on and then we're almost married two years now.

[B]

Wow. So where did you. You met in the US presumably?

[A]

No, no, we met in the uk. Good old fashioned dating app.

[B]

Oh, really? Okay. So what brought you over to the UK Initially?

[A]

I came over to do my master's post. Covid decided to go for a career change and now I'm actually doing a PhD.

[B]

Wow. Okay, nice. What's a. Yeah, I mean, good place for it out in. So where is that in East. Any. What is the university out there?

[A]

University of East Anglia. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, nice. Okay, cool. So I mean, how often do you head back to the us? Is it something that. Do you miss? Is there anything you really miss from the US that you just, you just don't get over here?

[A]

I think mainly just my friends and family. I mean, I've been able to build some community here, but of course I have like very deep ties to my family and really good friends that I've had for over 10 years there. So that's been kind of the hardest thing. And also everyone here is so passive. I think that's one of the things,

[B]

the kindest way of putting it.

[A]

Yeah. And like language especially like, you know, we could do, we should do. And that's probably like the biggest issue between me and my husband is like, he'll say something like, I'll be like, oh, do you want to do this or whatnot? He'll be like, oh, could do. I'm like, what does that mean? Do you actually want to do it or are you just. The constant hedging it like, drives me nuts.

[B]

That's very interesting. That's a good learning point, I think, for every Brit listening to this. I think that's something that you should take on board because. Yeah, I agree. Maybe a bit more commitment wouldn't go amiss because I'm terrible for that. You go, yeah, we could do. Yeah. Okay. So that. Is there anything that's really sort of shocked you since you've been or like you're surprised about that? You, I mean, obviously like liking football. I assume that isn't one because you don't go and watch the Canaries, but is there anything that you kind of that has surprised you that you weren't expecting when you came over?

[A]

I think I'm shocked that people like really will go for a walk in like any weather, which I think maybe that's more of like living in a more rural. I mean, Norwich isn't rural, but like going out to the countryside, like people just like go for a walk in any weather, which, like, is not really my experience from back home.

[B]

It's like. It's slightly more extreme from where you're from, isn't it? I think if you went out in any weather where you're from, I mean, that could be least.

[A]

Yeah, that's true.

[B]

The worst thing that could happen in East Anglia is that you get your. Your shoes are slightly damp, which. Yeah, it's not the end of the world, is it? And also, I guess, is it? That must be quite nice, not being too far away from. Because it is. You can get to rural places quite quickly.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

From Norwich, can't you? And that's. Is that. Have you. How have you found the kind of scenery and because there's a lot of green open space in that part of the country.

[A]

Yeah, I love it. It's one of the things that I've liked the most about moving, especially coming from New York City, being in a place that has, like, a lot more access. Nature has been great. I just spent a month in Sheffield for a work thing and getting out to the Peaks, like, after work was incredible. That was something that was. That's. It's been really, really nice to be able to just kind of like go and do some hiking or biking or whatnot.

[B]

Yeah, I bet. I mean, it is lovely out that way, actually, in the Peak District. It doesn't. Yeah, it doesn't feel. I think that's one of the crazy things about England is that you can be in somewhere like Sheffield, which, I mean, we can be frank, Liz. It's not. It's not. Not Venice.

[A]

Is it a bit industrial?

[B]

Yeah, you've got such a great polite way of phrasing things. It is a bit industrial and yet within a kind of 15 minute drive, you can be amongst hills and, you know, waterfalls and trees and all sorts of. So is there anything that you kind of. That you've got on your radar, Liz, that you've not got round to doing yet, that you think that's something that you really want to tick off? Because I know it's. Whenever you move somewhere, quite often you don't end up doing the tourist things because you live there. But is there anything that you thought, I really want to do that and you just haven't got around to it yet?

[A]

Yeah, I just want to travel more in the uk. I've been to a few places in like, Wales and. Yeah, like the Peaks. I went to Cornwall for the first time last year. But I would really love to get up to like Scotland and do like a big road trip up there. I do. I love that the UK is like so varied over such like a small distance. And also, like, being from the US driving for like five hours doesn't really bother me. Like, that feels quite close actually.

[B]

Of course, yeah. So you can basically. Yeah. I mean, you could do a day trip out anywhere, couldn't you?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And what kind of thing are we talking? Are you a camper, Liz, or a van or five star hotel luxury?

[A]

Yeah, we like, we're campers, hikers. We kayak. We recently joined a kayaking club which has been really fun. Yeah. So definitely trying to get out to more like nature stuff has been. Has been high on the list.

[B]

Nice. Kayak club sounds really interesting. Was that. Were you just a, like complete beginner before that? Had you ever been into kayaking previously?

[A]

Yeah, so my husband was a big kayaker when I met him and I had maybe gone like one time before, so we sort of got more into that together. And last year I think we went kayaking one time. So this year we kind of were like, okay, well, let's make it a priority. And there was a club like quite close to our house actually. And so that's been quite fun because now I've gotten some more like formal training in it through the club, which has been really great.

[B]

It's a great thing to be able to do that, I think. How? I mean, I know nothing about the sort of provision for kayaking in this country, but do you have your own boat or is that something that they supply?

[A]

We have our own kayaks, but the club also has their own. And it's really great in Norwich because we have like the Norfolk Broads, which is one of the national parks, and so there's a ton of rivers around and whatnot. I would love to do some like, sea kayaking at some point, but it's a little more technical, I guess.

[B]

Yeah. How does that work? Do you need to. There's not like licenses or anything. It's not like diving, is it? Is it just. Just until you feel comfortable to get out there?

[A]

Yeah, I think so. There is like a British canoeing license that covers most of the rivers in the uk, so outside of like club activities, you're supposed to have sort of your own license, which I think is just like insurance, really.

[B]

Okay. I did. I did have a friend who was into that once and he did. I think he did the. Well, it was after. I mean, long story, we went on A little sort of lads weekend away to the Brecon Beacons in Wales once, which I'd highly recommend, but we just weren't prepared for it. So we ended up almost having to call rescue helicopters and all sorts. It was incredibly embarrassing. But I think he ended up doing the full length of the Thames, which I always thought would be an interesting thing to do.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

Yeah. As long as you weren't too worried about the effects of cholera and whatnot.

[A]

Right. Yes, well, this.

[B]

It's been an absolute pleasure chatting to you, Liz. What's. What have you got coming up this week? Anything. Anything fun and British.

[A]

Anything fun and British. Well, it's about to be quite warm here, so I'm looking forward to seeing a bunch of men just walking around topless for no reason. I feel like that happens as soon as it's like more than 20 degrees out.

[B]

You're absolutely right. Weirdly, it's 21 degrees today and as I walked into the studio this afternoon, there was four workmen. Just a tiny shorts on a no top. Yeah. There is no need for it at that. That temperature.

[A]

It's the great British culture that I'm getting exposed to.

[B]

Yeah, that is. There's nothing really more to it than that. That's fish and chips. Topless workman. How are you going to cope with it, Liz, just before. Before I let you go, what's the game plan there? Because obviously aircon isn't as prevalent.

[A]

Yeah, just fans, really. I mean, we live in kind of an old house, which. It's like a old terraced Victorian, and so it stays pretty cool during the day, but then it's like. Yeah, wow. I mean, we don't get as hot as, like, New York City does in the summer, so that's kind of like the only saving grace, I think.

[B]

Yes. That. Yeah. If it got much hotter than. Well, I mean, that's about last summer. Was. That was a real. That was about 40 odd, wasn't it? That was enough.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah. No, just basically not sleeping well.

[B]

I would recommend what I did last summer. One of the things that helped me was a hot water bottle in the freezer. You can have that for free.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

I hope you cope with it. All right, Liz, it's been an absolute pleasure. I'll hopefully talk to you soon.

[A]

Great. Take care.

[B]

Night, Liz.

[A]

By

[B]

Liz from Norwich there. Really interesting stuff. I definitely didn't know about kayaking there and it's nice to. To have someone else who knows where I'm coming from in terms of the heat in this country. And yeah, I hope you deal with it. All right, Liz. And if you want to come on the show, you can talk about anything that's on your mind or, you know, anything you want to talk about. Email us or send a voice memo to the Nightly. It could be, I mean, it could be that. It could be kayaking, could be the weather, could be Lego. That's something that I've been to recently. Can't stop thinking about it. Or a cheese roll that I saw on Twitter. It was a cheese and onion roll and I just love the look of it that's been at the forefront. If you wanted to call up and talk about cheese roll, you'd be more than welcome. Whatever you want. I'd like to give a very quick goodnight of my own to anybody who was at Download Festival at the weekend survived the rain. It was an absolute pleasure to see you and good night to you.

[A]

Sa.

[B]

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