I remember going in for a surgical procedure a few years back and just before the operation a non-British doctor told me "This is really going to hurt" - I was expecting "There may be some slight discomfort", which is the usual British way of saying "This is REALLY going to hurt".

I was quite concerned (i.e. British for "terrified") until they gave me the pre-med Valium.

And yes, it did sting a bit.