washing-up

[sunsunmoon]

a pile of washing-up

What do Americans say in place of "washing-up"?

 

[Barb_D]

We "do the dishes."
There's a pile of dishes to be done.

 

[Ouisch]

I once sat through a truly bad movie years ago (Close My Eyes) just because my heartthrob Alan Rickman was in it, and I was surprised to hear him refer to the dishwasher as "the washing-up machine." I had heard British friends refer to "doing the washing up", but I thought that they'd meant an overall cleaning of the dining area after a meal. It hadn't occurred to me at until I saw the movie (and then did further investigation) that "doing the dishes" was an AmE phrase, and "washing up" was the BrE equivalent.

 

[SoothingDave]

That's a pile of dirty dishes.

 

[emsr2d2]

That's a pile of dirty dishes.

Out of curiosity, if the bowl only contained dirty cups, glasses and crockery but no plates or bowls, would they still be called dirty "dishes"?

 

[SoothingDave]

Yes. When it comes to cleaning utensils and implements used for preparing and eating food, it's all "dishes." And "do the dishes" is understood to mean cleaning them.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[arzgol]

What is the difference between doing the dishes and washing the dishes? Are they the same?

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, to me they mean the same. The question is, what else would one do with dishes?

In Greece, throw them on the floor and smash them!

 

[sunsunmoon]