British English in America

I would say that some of the words are now cropping up in the United States because the country is a little less insular than it used to be -- and also the UK is coming back into 'fashion' again like in the early 1960's.

Frankly, I have never heard an American say 'chav' but I think the word is much more efficient and less offensive than 'white trash.'

I'm not so convinced about lumping Americans and Canadians together in that article.

There are definite differences in vocabulary, although Canadians have become more and more influenced by what they hear on US Tv shows. But for me, the word "bum" was always common usage -- only now do I hear "butt" among certain people in Canada.

I have never heard an American say 'chav'

The word 'Chav' often refers to 'Council house and violent'.
I don't believe The USA has 'Council' houses. Maybe that's why USA residents don't use the word.
Looking at the link (in the OP), the word 'Shag' gets a mention and quote.
However, it fails to add that in The USA (if I remember rightly) a shag is a dance. Is that correct?

The origin of "chav" is disputed and the "council house adolescent vermin" is probably a backronym.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chav

I heard President Obama use the word "gobsmacked." How's that for a Britishism?

I hear it, instead, as an example of an educated and widely read American using a word that 99% of his audience won't understand. Some of the comments are ludicrous, others demonstrate the ignorance of the speaker.

Here's my take on some of those "Britishisms":

Autumn+ and +fall+ are both used here, and have been as far back as I can remember. +Fall+ may be the more frequently heard of the two, but I suspect that only a tiny percentage of Americans, if any at all, would think of +autumn as a "British" usage.

Flat+ has been in common use here since before I was born, and I'm retired. Chicago, where I live, has dwellings that are commonly referred to as two-flats, three-flats, etc., up to six-flats. (Something larger would probably be called an apartment building.) If +flat seems "British" to some of the respondents cited, it would seem to demonstrate their ignorance of American usage.

Frock+, although rare, has been in use here at least as long as +flat.

Gap year ? It's not just our "trailer trash" that don't know the term. I'd say that 99% of Americans couldn't tell you what it means.

I believe (without checking) that (UK) 'Gap year' is quite a new phrase.

One that isn't on the list that I hear occassionally (very occassionally) is "buggered" which in America means messed up or in diasarray (regardless on the English use of the term).

*8....
Often used as to mess things up here too. But officially, means something very different.

*11.... Brilliant ! !