Bob: When I lived in the Highlands, I salted my 'chips,' and crisps came in a 'packet.' My 'messages' were stowed in the 'boot' of my (original) Mini. When I wanted Scotch I called for a 'dram,' and I ordered 'to-MAH-toes' and 'courgettes' (rather than zucchini) from the 'greengrocer.' The gun I shot in those days was a 12 'bore.'
Of course, most of my neighbors would have understood the American equivalents, but as a courtesy I used terms more familiar to them. There's good logic - and courtesy - behind the old saying, "When in Rome..."
If I used British terms this side o' the Pond, some folks might either be momentarily confused, or reasonably conclude that I was being pretentious.
IMHO, Americans needlessly affecting European ways
in America are as comical as Germans dressing up in cowboy boots and Stetsons (which, BTW, they seem to enjoy doing).
