47 British Slang Words And Phrases To Read Over A Cuppa - Scary Mommy 50 Must-Know British Slang Words and Phrases. 75 British Slang Words 1. The phrase goes back to Victorian public toilets, which required users to insert a single penny in order to operate the lock. A "fag end" is also the ratty bits towards the ends of a reel of fabric, which are the worst and the cheapest bits of the reel. Someone that's a little bit geeky, with strong interests or expertise in a niche area, might be referred to as an "anorak." "Those twoare having a proper chinwag I haven't been able to get a word in edgeways for half an hour! British Slang Words and Phrases - Tandem Stop faffing around and start doing your homework. "I don't mean this as a par, but did you remember to wash this morning? This is an England expression for something that takes you by surprise and is something you might often hear on Doctor Who. "Flogging" also refers to whipping a racehorse in order to make it move faster, so there is some speculation into whether you flog goods in order to make them shift faster, too. However, "the full Monty" actually refers to pursuing something to the absolute limits. Don't over-egg the pudding. Are yougoing on the pull?". Cock Up 'Cock up' - a British slang term that is far from the lewdness its name suggests. A "geezer" is a man that could be described as "suave" or "dapper," and is often suited and booted. ", An act which could be deemed as impolite or shameless, but for some reason comes across as funny or endearing to others, would be described as "cheeky. "Chinese whispers" are rumours that have been circulated and watered down until they only vaguely resemble the truth. Like a local: 11 bits of London slang you should know Something untrue -- often made up for dramatic effect. I'm slumped. To "whinge" means to moan, groan, and complain in an irritating or whiney fashion. Whether you think this list is the "bee's knees" or if it's enough to make you want to "pop your clogs," scroll on to discover 88 very Britishphrases in alphabetical order that will confuse anybody who didn't grow up in the UK. Bladdered: drunk. "Don't you worry, Alan, I'm on it like a car bonnet.". Something that is "long" is probably also annoying or aggravating. You don't want to be described as "dim," "a mug," or "a few sandwiches short of a picnic.". 11. He's turned into such a swot! Although this sounds like an analogy about the chemistry of baking, or putting too many eggs in a cake batter, "egg" actually comes from the Anglo Saxon "eggian," meaning to "excite." After "The Full Monty" film was released in 1997, there was some international confusion over the phrase in which it was taken as a euphemism for stripping. ", "Sod's law" is often used to explain bad luck or freakish acts of misfortune. ", Something full to the brim, or rammed, could be described as "chockalock. ", "We should've taken the other route. Low London phrase meaning "to thrash thoroughly," possibly from the French battre a fin. "Did you see Scott last night? ", "Skive" is derived from the French "esquiver," meaning "to slink away. Are you going on the pull?". You don't want to be called a few sandwiches short of a picnic." From "chockablock" to a "full Monty," the Brits have a wide range of interesting phrases. ", "Did you see Scott last night? 23 Brilliant British Expressions to Blend in with the Brits British slang & colloquialisms: see an A-Z listing of British slang, colloquialisms and dialect words and phrases including Cockney rhyming phrases. This is a shambles! "She's great fun, but she's a few sandwiches short of a picnic.". "He handles a screwdriver very cack-handedly. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets screencap, no one is completely sure of the word's origins, Britsappear to favour analogue time-telling, Wikimedia Commons/Sabine Crossen/Puzzle Productions, reportedly old slang from the Royal Air Force, only women would announce they were going to "spend a penny,". Benders can last over 24 hours, and so you might say that someone is on "a weekend bender," or a "three-day bender. The phrase was first documented in the BBC's "Lenny Henry Christmas Special" in 1987. Dodgy: Suspicious, dubious. To be 'gutted' about a situation means to be devastated and saddened. This phrase became mainstream in the USA in the 1920s despite its British origins, but its popularity in the States has dwindled since the turn of the century. Is that ham and tuna? ", Similar to "nerd" or "geek" but less derogatory -- someone that takes academic study very seriously might be described as a "swot. "Pinch punch, first of the month. The "wind-up merchant" will often claim to be making their comments as a light-hearted jest when the recipients start becoming irritated. However, there is no proof for this theory. 60 British Slang Words And Phrases You Need To Know "How was the hostel?" ", An informal way of asking someone to make room where they are sitting for you to sit down, too, would be asking them to "budge up. Every language has a few phrases that don't always translate well -- and the British English has some absolute corkers. "How was the hostel?" Open yourself up to the delights of the English language, especially the variety that's spoken where English got its start. "Press down the clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch again. He's a bloody curtain twitcher, but he still won't sign for our packages.". ", A "par" breaches social and common courtesy, eg, a disrespectful comment could be seen as a "par. "Quid" is British slang for "pounds." The phrase was first documented in the BBC's "Lenny Henry Christmas Special" in 1987. Liverpool rescue three points, chase top-four finish after surviving Men from east London are also commonly referred to as "geezers.". If you've "pulled," you've kissed someone. 2. Crease up: To laugh heartily (so one's face creases up). "Don't you worry, Alan, I'm on it like a car bonnet.". ", "She's come down with the dreaded lurgy. It's common courtesy to offer a labourer or builder working on your house a builder's tea while they're working especially if they're working out in the cold. This phrase is often used to describe a process that seems more difficult than it actually is. "Mint" might be used when referring to something of the highest calibre. The action of chatting away with thejaw bobbing up and down resembles a chin "wagging" like a dog's tail. ", "I haven't seen Tom since he started revising for his exams. "I'm trying to flog my old sofa. "Is it just me or is that painting a bit skew-whiff?". ", "Grab your brolly, it's drizzling outside. Therefore, if you're "having a butchers," you're having a look at something. An adjective used to advocate something that is impressive or agreeable, dench is the equivalent of "solid" or "cool" when used in response to someone else. ", "I bumped into him towards the end of his four-day bender. 3. Some entries also feature surprising facts aboutthe phrase's origins, with a few quintessentially British idiomsnot actually coming from British roots at all. School kids might call "bagsy" on items in their friends' pack lunches, like an apple or a cereal bar, that the friend isn't going to eat. "Being cheeky" means being funny or humorous, but slightly mischievous at the same time. 2. "Well, this has all gone a bit pear-shaped.". Privacy Policy. Cockney rhyming slang for "knackered," if you're "cream crackered" then you're incredibly tired. "Wind your neck in and stop being so nosy! ", An informal way of asking someone to make room where they are sitting for you to sit down, too, would be asking them to "budge up. "Innit" is an abbreviation of "isn't it" most commonly used amongst teenagers and young people. Dog and Bone = Phone. Knackered is British slang for "very tired.". Menu. "Thomas is such an anorak when it comes to train trivia.". Barmy. This word probably originates from the "uncool" appearance of anorak coats and the people wearing them. ", Someone that comes across as scheming or untrustworthy might be described as "smarmy. "What's in that sandwich? "And did you see that equalising goal in the last minute of injury time? The origins of the word are widely disputed. However, there is no proof for this theory. This second theory has been disproved, however, by the slang's first documentation predating the widespread use of the phrase "by our lady.". "That guy's got such swagger -- he's a proper geezer. "Do we have to go to the dinner party tonight? This is more commonly known in the US as "Murphy's law. In the 1960s, someone who was unfashionable might be nicknamed a "wally," according to dictionary.com. Nowadays, "bloody" is used widely it's even used in children's films such as "Harry Potter" andis arguably one of the most quintessentially British words on the list. The word "shirt" is derived from the Norse for "short," hence short-tempered. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions "Faff" comes from the 17th century word "faffle," which means to flap about in the wind. "Hank Marvin" is Cockney rhyming slang for "starving. Batty-fang. Others believe the word is a contraction of the 17th century phrase "by our lady," and is blasphemous. This phrase is used to describe a process which seems more difficult than it actually is. "If it all works out as planned, he'll be quids in.". The phrase describes the mayhem caused when something is recklessly thrown into the intricate gears and workings of a machine. This cheery phrase is widely believed to originate from Northern factory workers around the time of the industrial revolution. This second theory has been disproved, however, by the slang's documentation predating the popularity of the phrase "by our lady.". Geezer is thought to stem from the 15th century "guiser," which meant well-dressed. If you've "pulled," you've kissed someone. The word could be a variation of "toddle" like a young child's first steps. 75 British Slang Words And Their Meanings - Parade
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