Travel & Transport

Vehicles, journeys, directions, and getting around

Introduction

Whether you're "catching the Tube" in London, "riding shotgun" in America, or planning a "road trip," the language of travel reveals how different English-speaking cultures move through the world.

British English has developed distinctive terms for public transport (the "bus," the "underground"), while American English reflects a car-centric culture. Australian English contributes its own colorful terms for long journeys across vast distances.

This chapter covers the vocabulary of movement—from daily commutes to epic adventures, from traffic jams to scenic routes.

Themes

All British Slang & Idioms in This Chapter (82)

• The Tube The London Underground railway system.
• Mind the gap Warning to watch out for the space between train and platform; also used meta...
• Riding shotgun Sitting in the front passenger seat of a car.
• Road trip A long journey by car, especially for pleasure or adventure.
• Pit stop A brief stop during a journey for fuel, food, or bathroom.
• Backseat driver Someone who gives unwanted advice, especially about driving.
• Rush hour The busiest time of day for traffic and commuting.
• Gridlock A complete traffic standstill where nothing can move.
• Fender bender A minor car accident with little damage.
• Prang A minor car accident or collision.
• Flat tyre/tire A punctured or deflated tire.
• Banger An old, noisy car in poor condition.
• Motor A car.
• Wheels A car or means of transportation.
• Ride A car or a lift/journey in a vehicle.
• Lift A ride in someone's vehicle.
• Cabbie A taxi driver.
• The Knowledge The test London taxi drivers must pass to become licensed.
• Motorway A major highway for high-speed traffic (British).
• Petrol Gasoline for vehicles.
• Boot The trunk of a car (British).
• Bonnet The hood of a car (British).
• Lorry A large truck for transporting goods (British).
• Caravan A trailer/camper towed behind a car for holidays (British).
• Roundabout A circular junction where traffic flows around a central island.
• Sat nav GPS navigation system in a vehicle.
• Dual carriageway A road with two lanes in each direction, separated by a central barrier.
• Slip road An entrance or exit ramp on a motorway.
• Zebra crossing A pedestrian crossing marked with white stripes.
• Pelican crossing A pedestrian crossing with traffic lights activated by a button.
• Car park A parking lot or parking garage.
• Pavement The sidewalk (British); the road surface (American).
• Kerb/Curb The edge between the pavement/sidewalk and the road.
• Indicator The turn signal on a vehicle (British).
• Windscreen The front window of a vehicle (British).
• Number plate The license plate on a vehicle (British).
• Lay-by A rest area beside a road where vehicles can pull over.
• Services A service station on a motorway with food, fuel, and toilets.
• Ute A utility vehicle or pickup truck (Australian).
• Arvo Afternoon (Australian).
• the Tube London Underground
• mind the gap watch the space between train and platform
• Oyster card London transport payment card
• banger old, unreliable car
• motor car
• jalopy old, rickety car
• put your foot down drive fast / insist on something
• boot car trunk
• bonnet car hood
• windscreen car windshield
• petrol gasoline
• motorway highway/freeway
• dual carriageway divided highway
• roundabout traffic circle
• zebra crossing striped pedestrian crossing
• pelican crossing signal-controlled pedestrian crossing
• lorry truck
• caravan travel trailer
• coach long-distance bus
• pavement sidewalk
• kerb curb
• car park parking lot
• sat nav GPS navigation
• gear stick gear shift
• indicators turn signals
• number plate license plate
• MOT annual vehicle safety test
• fly by the seat of your pants improvise without proper preparation
• off the beaten track away from popular routes
• hit the road start a journey
• jaunt short pleasure trip
• on the hoof while traveling / without planning
• backseat driver person who gives unwanted advice
• give a wide berth stay far away from
• packed like sardines crowded very tightly together
• rush hour peak travel time
• gridlock complete traffic standstill
• tailback queue of slow traffic
• contraflow traffic using opposite lane
• detour alternative route around obstruction
• diversion official alternative route
• layover wait between connecting flights