American people have been left in hysterics after discovering British words that have a ruder meaning on the other side of the Atlantic.
American author Margaret Owen took to Twitter to say she ‘may never recover’ after finding out that the UK’s version of a dollar store is called Poundland.
But in the US, ‘pound’ has a slightly different meaning to a description of British currency, and is used as a colloquial term for having sex.
So when Margaret saw this was the shop used by millions every year to pick up bargain items for just £1 each, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
It prompted US followers to share other examples from Britain that had made them snigger too, including a man who said his wife had laughed for an hour over a sign saying: ‘Humped zebra crossing’.
One pointed out that squirty cream in a can sounds rather rude, while a fellow commenter shared a snap of the video game store Cex.
American author Margaret Owen took to Twitter to say she ‘may never recover’ after finding out that the UK’s version of a dollar store is called Poundland, as in the US, ‘pound’ is a word used to describe sexual activity
Kicking off the thread, Margaret shared a photo of Poundland and wrote: ‘Hi Twitter I just learned that the UK edition of Dollar Tree is this and I may never recover.;
She continued: ‘BRB [be right back]. Drafting change.org petition to rebrand the erotica section.’
Warming to the theme, she added: ‘Quick this is important, does Poundland have a prime minister or a chancellor (I am American so I do not know the difference).
‘I feel like “chancellor of poundland” hits harder, I would put that on my resume.’
The Twitter thread then took a life of its own, with people responding with other British signs, shop names and terms used to describe every-day items like squirty cream
The Twitter thread then took a life of its own, with people responding with other British signs, shop names and terms used to describe every-day items.
If you fancy a very indulgent dessert, you could add some squirty cream on top – and one woman from the US, where they call the topping whipped cream’, shared a picture of a Co-Op’s squirty cream, when she made the ‘discovery’ a few years ago.
Simon Smith then went to post a picture of a shop in Macclesfield, called S&M Supplies.
Scotswoman Catriona Faolain tried to clear up any confusion for the Americans in the thread: ‘Oh we’re way past that kind of innuendo.
Users began sharing their own experiences and run-ins with normal signs and things in everyday British life, including this man whose American wife found a sign that read ‘humped zebra crossing’ hilarious
‘I mean we have a popular second-hand goods chain (mostly DVDs, games and electronics) called Cex.
‘Technically it was originally an abbreviation of “computer exchange” but I’m sure choosing *that* abbreviation was not accidental. Or subtle.’
A commeter replied to this with a photo of the tech store, for the American ‘unbelievers’ and said: ‘Yeah, that one always makes me feel like I should snigger when saying it.’
Michael Veale pointed out that the innuendo has never come up for him when thinking of pound shops that we see every day on UK high streets.
He said: ‘In London not far from where I am now, genuinely I don’t think anyone will have ever made the connection to US slang, ever. I certainly didn’t until I was told today…’
But the innuendos then became worldwide, with some users sharing what they found funny when visiting various places around Europe, Asia and small towns in America
And another user recalled a funny moment with his wife, who is from the US, who he said ‘laughed for over an hour’ at a sign in the UK which read: ‘Humped Zebra Crossing’.
The laughs continued, with people throwing in their favourite things that they find funny in the UK with one saying he still gets a giggle every once in a while when he remembers traditionally British steamed pudding, spotted dick.
But the innuendos then became worldwide, with some users sharing what they found funny when visiting various places around Europe, Asia and small towns in America.
Bacha Rackhams posted a picture of German ice cream called ‘Bum Bum’, which has bubblegum in the stick: ‘This was my favourite discovery when I went to Hamburg.
Another German winner was from @femhist8, who said: ‘Let me introduce you to a snack we have here in Germany’, which is a marshmallow-centred chocolate dome with a waffle base.
Michael Brown posted a picture of Hard Off, a ‘major Japanese second-hand electronic store’, and @tammaye shared a photo of ‘Pump N’ Munch’, a gas station franchise in the US.
And the Americans took the innuendo jokes back into their own hands to finish with ‘Cum Park Plaza’, as posted by @tyrant_t336, who said the shopping complex is one in his hometown.
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