A guest post by Sarah Hollenbeck of The Zebra. We think you will really enjoy it!
“Careful, there’s a chughole on that feeder coming off The 101!” Huh? If you’re wondering what on earth that sentence means, you are about to find out! We’ve compiled some of the strangest, most unique slang for everyday driving terms used in the United States.
Starting with Harvard’s 2003 Dialect Study, we scoured the web for the strangest regionalisms we could find related to driving. Using Google Trends — and even the Oxford Dictionary — we’ve put together a collection of the most bizarre synonyms, phrases, and lexicon used across the country.
There are a lot of linguistics that go into giving someone directions, especially if they are from a foreign place or are lost. Studies have found that people give and receive directions differently based on where they are from. But luckily, there are a few science-backed formulas that will help you communicate more effectively, no matter whom you talk to. Check out those formulas and all the most unique driving terms found across the country in our visuals. Just click here !
Oo Sarah, I’m surprised that Arlene let you get away with ” most unique “!
But it’s great education for an Englishman who frequently travels to the US. We’ve got a load of driving slang over here. Want to have a go at: ‘suicide lane’, ‘British Standard Elbow’, ‘Amber gambler’?
John
I (Arlene) missed it! Oops!