Learn English – Words with opposite meanings in different regions

american-englishantonymsbritish-englishmeaningvocabulary

I can't recall it, but there is a word in American English which now means the opposite of itself in British English. What words are there that have opposite (not just different) meanings in different regions?

Best Answer

The verb to table, when applied to parliamentary procedure, has opposite meanings in the US and UK.

From Wikipedia:

  • In the United States, the motion to lay on the table (often simply "table")...is a proposal to suspend consideration of a pending motion.
  • In the United Kingdom and the rest of the English-speaking world, a motion to place upon the table...is a proposal to begin consideration of a proposal.
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