Have you ever wondered why scores of British words and phrases—such as one-off, kerfuffle, easy peasy, and cheeky—have been enthusiastically taken up in the United States? Britishisms have been making their way into the American lexicon for more than 150 years, but the process seems to be accelerating, leaving many curious about this language revolution involving our mates from across the pond.

Drawing from his new book, Gobsmacked!: The British Invasion of American English (Princeton University Press), writer Ben Yagoda takes a deep dive into the most popular British terms in the United States today. He explores why Americans have embraced British insults and curses, sports terms, and words about food and drinks. Along the way he tackles grammar, pronunciation, and British expressions that are often misconstrued and offers a wee bit of guidance on just how many Britishisms an American can safely adopt without coming off like an arse.

Yagoda’s book is available for purchase.

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• Purchase your copy of Gobsmacked!: The British Invasion of American English by Ben Yagoda here.
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