10 Everday American Words That Are Totally Inappropriate In Britain

2. Knocked Up

This is the centre of a plethora of jokes; in the sitcom Frasier the misconceptions and miscommunication between the American cast and Daphne, the Mancunian physical therapist made light of these disparities in a compulsive manner. In one stand out episode Frasier's father spoke of how he had 'knocked her up' that morning; when Daphne heard this the miscommunication caused immense laughter by making it clear that what she had heard was that he had got her pregnant that morning. Whilst this term is not one of inherent offence, it has such lascivious and sexual overtures that it is hard to use it without creating some modicum of awkwardness. The offence in this language is not one born of its innate definition; pregnancy is not an offensive concept, but the obvious prerequisite physical behaviour is one which is hard to make humour from in daytime TV. American conceptions of this phrase are beginning to change; the comedy film of the same name made this clear with crystal clarity, yet these amusing confusions continue to delight British viewers of American programs to an enormous extent.