I read an article at the BBC web site today that called homeless people, rough sleepers.

[KWR65]

I guess the MP's can say with a straight face that the UK has no homeless people. Weird.

[marybourg]

1. That's an expression Brits use that means the same

thing to them that "homeless" means to us. They usually say: "sleeping rough". Neither better nor worse, just different. Hopefully, still room in the world for small difference s.

[OnDoutside]

7. Correct. And in some cases they don't want to be in a home or shelter, for different reasons.

[oldtime dfl_er]

2. It makes sense

if you assume the "rough" refers to the conditions and not the sleepers. "Sleeping rough" is a common phrase in the UK and not derogatory at all.

[Liberal In Texas]

3. Not so weird. Sleeping rough has always meant sleeping outdoors.

Difference in our "common" language.

I'm married to a Brit, and we have in almost 20 years confusion about what she says and how I take it.

[Greybnk48]

4. As everyone said, it means the same as homeless over there. n/t

[JI7]

5. like flat means apartment ?

[democratisphere]

6. Means homeless with the rough edges taken away.

Cheerio!