a few blocks away from here

[Teia]

I have always heard -in movies- a sentence as it follows :
e.g.:
His car is a few blocks away from here.

I understand that "blocks" means " streets". But is there any difference between the two words ? Is this word usually used in AE or is it common in BE , as well?

Thank you very much in advance.

ps. I used to sign as "sheena55ro" but I had to change my profile settings, and my username is now Teia.

[Humble]

Hi, Teia,
A block is a group of buildings in a city surrounded by 4 streets. Yes, it's known to be from AE; I wonder what they call that in Britain.
Regards




















y

[Ouisch]

In the US, most cities are laid out on sort of a grid. (Picture an X and Y axis, like in Algebra class ) The area between two parallel streets is referred to as a "block." Usually there is a row of buildings (houses or commercial/industrial buildings) along each street. People in the US often give directions using "blocks":
"Where is McDonald's?"
"Go two blocks south and then turn right, you can't miss it."

[DavyBCN]

I have always heard -in movies- a sentence as it follows :
e.g.:
His car is a few blocks away from here.
I understand that "blocks" means " streets". But is there any difference between the two words ? Is this word usually used in AE or is it common in BE , as well?
Thank you very much in advance.
ps. I used to sign as "sheena55ro" but I had to change my profile settings, and my username is now Teia.

Block is used in the UK to describe a large building which is divided into separate parts, e.g. office block or apartment block. Because towns and cities in the UK are not divided into the grid system common to the USA I cannot think of an equivalent word.

[Teia]

Thank you all very much.