I thought I'd start this in answer to a comment Judy made about one of my answers. The comment was in this thread:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/real-e...tml#post879470

I wrote that I suspected the OP was from the UK and Judy marveled at how I knew that. Tickle supplied the answer. It was the OP's use of the term "estate agents" rather than real estate agent or broker as most people from the US would write.

But that got me thinking about other ways we can deduce where a person is posting from based on their use of language. One prime example is the use of the pound symbol rather than dollar sign when entering currency amounts. Another is using colour rather than color or similar spelled words. A recent example was one OP's use of the phrase "council house", which I believe refers to some form of public housing.

There are other clues for other locales so if anyone wants to contribute their favorites feel free.

When one particular member indicated his fuel economy in litre's per kilometer, I knew he wasn't stateside!
And the term "flat" when here in the US use the term apartment, or "flatmate" when we use roommate.
There are lots of examples.

Also "lift" instead of elevator - my friend is English and always says "lift." When she asks people where the "lift" is they just stare at her.

I notice where I live nobody LIVES anyplace. They STAY somewhere. If you ask where they LIVE they say, "Well, I STAY ..." wherever. Drives me crazy.

And the word "youse" - I believe half of the World thinks that "youse" is the plural of the word "you." People constantly refer to me and my partner as "youse people."

Maybe it's local but it sure is aggravating!

And a lot of Canadians don't say vacation; I always hear them say "holiday" such as, "I am visiting here on holiday."

Hello:

Some guy was telling us to buy Rigid. I thought that was the name viagra used in the UK.

excon

My father told the story of visiting some relatives in the UK during WW II and talking about his "pants" (for some reason). This amused our brit relatives who consider pants something you wear UNDER your trousers.

In the US how about the soda vs pop controversy? To say nothing of submarine sandwiches, hoagies, grinders -

(So what did Rigid end up to be? I'm almost afraid to ask - )

Some time ago a customer asked my husband where the "wrappers" were, if they were behind the counter. Ended up he was asking about condoms.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

So what did Rigid end up to be?

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Hello Judy:

A hand tool - what else?

excon

PS> Ok, they're power tools from the Home Depot.

Another term we use for just about the same purpose, but most don't know why:
"Fart," or "farting" is a European term for vacationing. We use the term in the US, too, but I'm going to guess that few knew it's legit.

I think I'll go fart around...