British English equivalent of these American English words.

half eight - half past eight or eight thirty

chat up - flirt, make a pass at

"mind you" at the beginning of a sentence

"then" at the end of a sentence

anti-clockwise (pronounced antee-clockwise) - counter clockwise

I just thought of another one:

Holiday makers - vacationers

Krissy just used this in the double dutch thread:

skipping rope  =  jumping rope

While we are all at it explaining the differences, how about our American friends deciphering this cockney rhyming slang [fast dissapearing now].....................

Wanted a night out, so on went the old whistle and flute followed by the pork pie. down the apple and pears along the frog and toad and into the rub-a-dub-dub. Ufortunately the trouble and strife wasn't pleased and followed me there, and planted a right hook into my mince pies. The Guvnor called the old bill who weren't too pleased, and banged her up in the dingley dell. she's up before the beak in the morning.

Something about the wife....right??

I still cannot wrap my head around cockney rhyming slang!! Is there a manual??

Unfortunately not! usually you don't use all the slang for one word.

example...whistle and flute=suit. Most people who use the slang would just say whistle. I wouldn't be too concerned about it should you ever visit London, it's not used much nowadays.

Translation for the post.....Wanted a night out. I put on my suit and tie, went down the stairs and along the road to the pub. The wife wasn't pleased about it and followed me there and hit me in the eyes with a right hook. The pub landlord wasn't happy and called the Police who arrested her and put her in the cell. She was brought before the Judge the next morning.

Very cool, David.  Welcome, BTW.  Any relation to Margaret?  That is truly a coded dialect that any outsider would have no hope of cracking, kind of like the Navajo code talkers in WW2.

OK, here's a few more.

Advert - ad, commercial

Spot on - absolutely correct

Cor - expression of emphasis or surprise

Phoarrh - same as above (I think )

Tread - walk or step 

Mash - mashed potatoes

Bangers - sausages

Sweets - candy

Chuffed - proud

Quid - pound

Smart - look good, especially the way one's dressed

Jumper - sweater

Knickers - underwear

Fortnight - 2 weeks