In message , at 10:57:22 on
Tue, 14 Jul 2009, Recliner remarked:
As you say, there are many other British class-based terms that confuse
even other native English speakers, for example:
- "Public" schools, which are actually expensive private schools. This
really confuses Americans, for whom public schools are the free ones
provided by the state.

Public schools in the UK are open to the public (who can afford to pay
etc) just like "public transport".
--
Roland Perry