translations

I am finding myself talking to someone and thinking they are using a general word for a specific word and then I will say the specific word and they will repeat the general. Then I realize I am actually translating English to American. There are people who are kitchen or bathroom Fitters by trade. I now know that meat can be lovely and weather can be appalling. If someone says I look smart, they do not mean I look intelligent but nice or sharp. My neighbor had builders not a contractor put up an extension not an addition. He said he was going to be decorating his daughter's new room. He meant he was going to be painting, wallpapering, and finishing the interior not picking out hello-kitty lamps.