This "word shift" Terry mentions can lead to some funny results when English-speaking people go to other countries.
An example: this friend went to Brazil and, wanting to be cool, tried to order for himself - instead of having help from his Portuguese-speaking friend - a "potato pie" (don't ask me where they were).
He asked the word for potato ("batata") and the word for pie ("torta"). Turned to the waiter and promptly ordered a "batata torta", which, in Portuguese, means "crooked potato", while potato pie would be translated correctly as "torta de batata" (pie of potato). The waiter probably thought he was crazy until the friend corrected the order.
malu
