John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints


American English to British English Dictionary - K

K12 or K-12

The school grades (i.e. years) from Kindergarten to Grade 12 (about age 17 or 18) - the mandatory years of schooling; or the range of schools which teach these grades (elementary, middle, secondary, junior high, senior high, etc.).

K9

Police dog squad. From a pun on "canine", as with Doctor Who's robot dog of the same name.

Kaibab Plateau

See separate article.

Kaiser Roll

See separate article.

Keener

In Canadian English, someone who is excessively enthusiastic about performing an unpleasant task. "Crawler" is probably the nearest equivalent in polite British English.

"Keep Me In The Loop"

"Keep me informed of developments."

Keister

  1. A satchel or a suitcase.

  2. A slang expression for the backside.

Kerosene

Paraffin.

Keystone Province

Manitoba.

Keystone State

Pennsylvania.

Kill

Sometimes used to refer to a creek, or in the name of a creek. Originally from Dutch, I believe.

King Bed

A very large bed, even larger than a Queen bed.

Kiss And Ride

A facility at a commuter railway, subway, light railway or tram station, etc, where passengers can be dropped off from cars.

Kitchenette

See Efficiency.

Kittycorner or Kitty-Corner

See Catercorner.

Kiva

A circular room of a consistent design found extensively in Anasazi ruins throughout the Desert Southwest of the United States. It is thought that kivas were used for ceremonial purposes.

Klutz

A clumsy person.

Knickers, Knickerbockers

Plus fours, old fashioned loose fitting trousers sometimes worn by golfers.

Knock On Wood

Touch wood, for good luck.

KOA

Kampgrounds of America - an extensive chain of R.V. campgrounds.

KS

Kansas (the state).

KSC

Kennedy Space Centre, Florida.

Kvetch

Complain.

Kwanzaa

An annual holiday celebrated by many people in the USA who are of African descent, which, like Christmas, Hogmanay and the Jewish Hanukkah festival, takes place near the winter solstice.

KY

Kentucky.
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Most recently modified 24-Mar-04