This one is more a "lost in translation" word. The word being 'cracker'.
In Australia (& I suspect UK also,) a cracker can be a number of things e.g.
a decorated paper cylinder which when pulled apart, makes a sharp noise (bang) & releases a small toy or novelty, paper hat & jokes (used at Christmas time) (also call Bon Bons;
a firework exploding with a sharp noise;
a thin dry biscuit typically eaten with cheese;
a fine example of something;
an attractive person; or
a person who breaks into a computer system.
Then there is the definition we learnt tonight. Apparently in America, a 'cracker' is an offensive term for a "poor white". My daughter & I had never heard this before and fortunately I have an excellent dictionary that gave us this additional definition. This all came about when my daughter was posting something on another Forum & used the word 'cracker' - meaning something was good & the Forum's programme automatically censored it! (That Forum is based in the US.)
I thought it strange to find a word we normally use as a compliment, being used as an insult. Editors of novels that are to be released all over the world must have to have a lot of knowledge & be up to date with 'word fashion'. This Forum is UK based & because we are part of the Commonwealth, Australia & Canada are quite familiar with most of the words/terms used & therefore are aware of what is and is not offensive.
Can any one else think of some words that could be innocently used and end up being offensive?