For us Brits, who are notoriously lazy about learning other languages, the widespread use of English on the continent is a godsend when travelling. However, the English you encounter when abroad may incur confusion rather than enlightenment. In Germany, for example, a handsome youth may tell you proudly that he’s a ‘Dressman’. This does not mean that he’s a transvestite, but a male model. Similarly in France, liking ‘foot’ is not some bizarre fetish but a love of football, whereas in Spain ‘footing’ means jogging! So perhaps investing in a phrasebook isn’t such a bad idea after all…