Things that Americans find odd about the UK

The one that always catches me off guard is the word "regime" used like "routine" or "regimen".  "Regime" always makes me think of governments, and usually bad ones, not my morning hygiene or exercise habits.  I know it's not the wrong word or anything, but I had never heard it used that way growing up.  I'm not even sure it's a UK thing necessarily, but I hear it very frequently here.

The one that always catches me off guard is the word "regime" used like "routine" or "regimen".  "Regime" always makes me think of governments, and usually bad ones, not my morning hygiene or exercise habits.  I know it's not the wrong word or anything, but I had never heard it used that way growing up.  I'm not even sure it's a UK thing necessarily, but I hear it very frequently here.

could you use it in a sentence for us?

Do you mean like this?

"The 29 year old princess-in-waiting laughed off suggestions she was getting too thin by claiming: "It's all part of the wedding plan." Such an offhand comment has made royal watchers fear for the health of the bride-to-be and sparked yet more media interest in the diet and fitness regime of Prince William's fiancée."

"The Four Hour Body slow carb regime is really a sustainable alternative to regular western diets"

"Fresh fruits and vegetables are the main construction blocks for an effective antioxidant regime."

The first is British and the others are from US sources.

Do you mean like this?

"The 29 year old princess-in-waiting laughed off suggestions she was getting too thin by claiming: "It's all part of the wedding plan." Such an offhand comment has made royal watchers fear for the health of the bride-to-be and sparked yet more media interest in the diet and fitness regime of Prince William's fiancée."

"The Four Hour Body slow carb regime is really a sustainable alternative to regular western diets"

"Fresh fruits and vegetables are the main construction blocks for an effective antioxidant regime."

The first is British and the others are from US sources.

Thanks mate. Yes I think I've used the word in that sense but not in donkeys years.

A regime is just a set of arrangements, which is why the word is sometimes used for  governments, especially those which the speaker implicitly hopes are temporary.

SEC Adopts Large Trader Reporting Regime

A positive economic regime includes nominal wage increases according to trend productivity growth

After 4-6 months, weight loss on the low-carb diet was significantly greater than on the low-fat regime

I found the use of the word 'scheme' odd here in Scotland. There's a sign at the local council headquarters that says "This scheme is controlled by South Lanarkshire Council". What does 'scheme' mean in this instance? A 'scheme' is a plan of action, so I can't figure out what the usage in that sentence means.

I don't understand why people say "he's in hospital' instead of the US version of "he's in the hospital." A hospital is a place, therefore it doesn't make sense to leave out the "the" in front of it.

Scheme is just a programme or organised idea and can also be used to refer to something that has already been planned as well as things that are in planning stages.  We use it at work all the time.

I found the use of the word 'scheme' odd here in Scotland. There's a sign at the local council headquarters that says "This scheme is controlled by South Lanarkshire Council". What does 'scheme' mean in this instance? A 'scheme' is a plan of action, so I can't figure out what the usage in that sentence means.

I don't understand why people say "he's in hospital' instead of the US version of "he's in the hospital." A hospital is a place, therefore it doesn't make sense to leave out the "the" in front of it.

I find 'scheme' odd in general as it conjures up images of evil scientists planning to take over the world.

The 'hospital' one comes up a lot.  Somewhere there is a reasonable explanation of it.  Sort of like how in the US we say, "I don't have time to work full-time anymore as I'm in college now."  Instead of in 'the college'.

One I find odd that has come up a lot recently is 'gone off' when referring to concrete or something similar hardening.  "The builders had to wait until the concrete has gone off before putting the walls up."

In the US 'gone off' usually refers to a food product which has spoiled and is no longer edible.

I find 'scheme' odd in general as it conjures up images of evil scientists planning to take over the world.

This!

What about the usage of the word 'shift', as in "I need to shift some weight'. Obviously I get what they are saying, but using 'shift' instead of 'lose' just seems weird!

Oh and another one I found odd. We were at my MIL's and she said something to my OH about sitting on the 'poof'. I asked her what she meant, and she was pointed at the ottoman. I think of a 'poof' as what I use to lather up my shower gel, not what I sit on! 

The rule for definite articles and institutions is that if the speaker is at the institution as part of their normal life there's no article, but if they are going there for as special purpose then there is.  So a student goes to school, but a parent goes to the school for a conference with the teacher.  See also college, prison, church, university (in the UK).  British English simply regards being a patient differently than American does.  Here they still say they are going to the hospital to visit a patient, but that patient is in hospital.

Oh and another one I found odd. We were at my MIL's and she said something to my OH about sitting on the 'poof'. I asked her what she meant, and she was pointed at the ottoman. I think of a 'poof' as what I use to lather up my shower gel, not what I sit on! 

A pouffe is the thing you sit on. A poof is ... something else entirely.

What does 'scheme' mean in this instance? A 'scheme' is a plan of action, so I can't figure out what the usage in that sentence means.

I don't understand why people say "he's in hospital' instead of the US version of "he's in the hospital." A hospital is a place, therefore it doesn't make sense to leave out the "the" in front of it.

In Scotland a "scheme" is a housing scheme, I believe they call them "projects" in the USA, and "council estates" in other parts of the UK. So I guess that council office is nearby to or among council houses or blocks of flats? The scheme was a plan of action to house local people, and the flats and houses are its ongoing physical embodiment.

A hospital is a place, but being in one is also a state of being, like being in prison or in school or in trouble or in love, so if you want to just say that someone is receiving hospital treatment as an in-patient, it makes perfect sense, at least that's how I see it. A doctor or an X-ray machine or an office would be in a hospital, or the hospital (which one? people will ask) but a sick person is said to be in hospital. That's just how they talk over here.

A poof is ... something else entirely.

I know, darling!

One I find odd that has come up a lot recently is 'gone off' when referring to concrete or something similar hardening.  "The builders had to wait until the concrete has gone off before putting the walls up."

In the US 'gone off' usually refers to a food product which has spoiled and is no longer edible.

Twin-pack epoxy e.g. Araldite "goes off" too.... and so does milk in warm weather.

In Scotland a "scheme" is a housing scheme, I believe they call them "projects" in the USA, and "council estates" in other parts of the UK. So I guess that council office is nearby to or among council houses or blocks of flats? The scheme was a plan of action to house local people, and the flats and houses are its ongoing physical embodiment.

There's also "schemes" used sort of like "programmes", I guess.  Internship schemes, recruitment schemes, etc.

And I live in South Lanarkshire Bluegrass Lass! Where are you?!