Open Writing

They say that the British and the Americans are divided by a common language. I'll testify to that. On my one and only trip to the U.S. I behaved suspiciously at Chicago's O'Hare airport because I couldn't understand the security guard. Thank goodness that was before the War on Terror.

Here in Korea where quite a few American English words are used in everyday transactions, I have had to learn U.S. speak. I can't ask for a takeaway, I have to say takeout. A lift is an elevator, the pavement is the sidewalk, and the loo is the restroom.

That's no problem for me because like most Britons I watch an awful lot of American television.

Koreans are far more familiar with American English than any other variety. I once got lost in Seoul with an Australian. Nobody could comprehend our non-American pronunciation of the word subway.

Sometimes in the mornings I like to buy a scone from Starbucks. For quite a while I couldn't make the lady behind the counter understand that I wanted to have the scone warmed up.

"Hot. Hot? Hot!" I would say, pointing from the scone to the microwave on the worktop behind the lady.

Eventually a Korean told me that it was my accent. "You should say hat. That's how they've been taught to say hot." So I did and I haven't had a problem since.

Anyone curious about British English as it is spoken on the streets of the U.K., can learn a lot by reading celebrity stories in our tabloid newspapers.

Reality television star Jade Goody hit the headlines for failing to complete the London marathon. Goody collapsed in the street and had to be rushed to hospital. According to The Sun she later said:

"I was just so exhausted I couldn't carry on -- but the doctors say I'm OK. I'm gutted I didn't get my medal, but I've only got myself to blame as I did hardly any training."

"I'm gutted" is an informal way of saying, "I'm very upset."

In formal English "gut" is a word used to describe the intestines. In informal English it is also used to refer to the belly. Someone who carries a lot of fat on their belly as a result of drinking too much beer, might point to it and say:

"Look at my beer gut!"

In formal English the expression "to gut an animal," means to remove the creature's internal organs.

Gut also means "to destroy." "The fire gutted the house," is a common way to say that the flames destroyed the internal structure of the building.

In essence then, when Jade Goody declared "I'm gutted," she meant "I'm destroyed," or perhaps, "I am so upset I feel as if my internal organs have been removed."

Gut also appears in other informal English expressions.

"I hate your guts" means "I really hate you a lot."

"I busted a gut" is literally, "I worked so hard that I broke my intestines," but actually means "I worked very hard."

"I'll have your guts for garters" is a humorous threat. A garter is an item of clothing used to hold up socks and stockings.

"If you eat my scone I'll have your guts for garters," literally means, "if you eat my scone I'll use your intestines to hold my socks or stockings up."

I wanted to find out how many of these informal expressions are also used in American English, but so far I have not found any answers. The fact that I do not know should tell readers that Britons are not 100 percent familiar with American usage.

When I was checking an online dictionary of American English I was reminded that the word "guts" is used in both Britain and the U.S. to indicate that someone is tough or brave.

"She's got guts" or "she's a gutsy lady" is another way to say "she's tough, she's brave."

The same dictionary reminded me that "gutless" and "gutlessness" signify weakness.

I suspect that the linking of guts with bravery was imported from America into the U.K., but I am not certain.

British English is littered with words and expressions that were exported to other countries and then returned decades later with modifications.