You having a go at Anglo here? Cos surely "standing for office" is a US term too?

I think "pelican" is some sort of acronym involving Pedestrian-controlled Lights and Crossing. As our ped. crossings have black and white stripes, we call trhem "zebra crossings". So when these automated xings were introduced I guess it was natural to "animalise" the name too.

Don't you "wash-up" in the USA?

Petrol - well it IS petroleum spirit - not exactly a "gas" now is it.

Fag - you only question that because the US use is different

Soldiers?

Reverse charges - Ah - that's exactly what happens. What's "collect" supposed to mean. OTOH we used to say a phone is "engaged". Now sadly the robot operator says "busy" - US style - shame.

Maths short for mathematicS. Why you guys dropped the "s"?

Cot is a bed that's not a divan could ba a baby's "crib" (Which now means a "home" over there). Squaddies used to sleep on cots.

Car park - a place to park a car. Parking lot - a lot that does parking?

>Makes as much sense as 'standing for office.' Where did that come from? Or bap, pelican crossing, washing up, petrol, fag, soldiers, boot, callbox, car park, maths, cot, and reverse charges? :o)
>
>
>>>>>>>>I don't know when it changed, but it did. I simply can't remember when anything started on Tuesday, or on any other day of the week.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Didn't anyone else notice?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Pretty sure Tuesday starts on Tuesday. Right at the beginning.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Nope, it's "Tuesday starts Tuesday". Learn newspeak.
>>>>>
>>>>>Remember that English is a dynamic language – always changing. The vernacular tends to influence our language. What is acceptable today could well change tomorrow. If enough people use a different form of speech then the chances are that those changes will become common. :)
>>>>
>>>>I should off guessed :)
>>>
>>>lol
>>>
>>>The reality is painful to me.
>>>
>>>A term from the late 1950’s when transistor radios were becoming the fad was; “I am going to listen to my transistor”. That upset me and still does, so I would tell anyone daring to make such a statement in my presence; “A transistor is a current amplifying device and you 'cannot hear it'. You are listening to a transistor radio”!
>>
>>We long got over that problem by calling it a "tranny". However, as you probably know, that's the same as teh word for a transvestite. But context gets you round the problem. After all, who ever listens to a cross-dresser?
>>
>>Similarly, audio tape players are often called a "tape" which I find strange.
>>
>>>
>>>Words change, get chopped off and substituted. You know, it is a bit like technology – always changing especially when you think that you are comfortable! :)
>>>
>>>It has been 35 years since I took English in College. Perhaps I should go back to school and study English as a Second Language! My daughter teaches that subject. I think that I speak a different language, like "Old American English" or something! :)