Arsed 16. However it's been surmised that bonbon isn't meant as candy, but something much better: genitals. Often used with good attached. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA A man. Submitted by Anthony from Hazlet, NJ, USA Ponchos have neither hoods nor sleeves. Ace: 'Ace' stands for excellent. El cheapo- He bought the el cheapo model and now he's back to the shop within 3 months to buy a new one. You slept with Kate Upton last night? 5. A gaffe is another word for mistake or blunder.. Knackered a great word and phrase used by Britons to describe their tiredness and exhaustion, in any given situation. Some of the London slang for money is based on animals thought to have originally appeared on ruppe banknotes. Submitted by Dan L. from Evanston, IL, USA - Bumpkin: A term used to describe someone from . "Hold out yer donny bab", meaning "Hold out your hand, small child". 2023 Enux Education Limited. This expression is generally used in the context of trying to repair something. One of the definitions of the word pop is to move quickly or suddenly. Often preceded with the word "quite" or "pretty" because British people dont like to show off. You get a bollocking when youve done something you shouldnt have. Bovvered - verb describing a lack of interest. 23 Brilliant British Expressions to Blend in with the Brits. More of an usual term, a damp squib in British slang terms refers to something which fails on all accounts, coming from the squib (an explosive), and the propensity for them to fail when wet. Ace. Citation from "Episode 3", Little Britain (TV, 2004), Season 2 Episode 3 blacked out to resolve Google's penalty against this site . You can refer to a person who grassed you up as a "grass". Example - My new Mercedes car has cost me an arm and leg. Bum 8. As such, you can use it like this, That bob is a good bloke.. London's infamous roadmen have their . Possibly caused by telling someone to shut their gob. We guide you through 100+ words and phrases from the English dictionary that may well have an entirely different meaning to what you first imagined. You are a lush . Often substituted in friendly circles for exhausted. For example, I left my car in the car park this morning.. British tradesman slang As inventors of the English language, Brits are constantly looking for new ways to keep conversations fresh and exciting. I prefer taking the Tube to go to work every day. 11. A grand is used when talking in thousands. When in doubt, refer to this list so you can carry on conversations with ease, even with the locals. Possibly because you nicked something. It's nice to know what the locals are saying, and it makes it a lot easier to have a conversation without looking (and feeling) like a dolt! A Ace - is used to describe something that is awesome. And if you would like to speak like a native English speaker, it is a good idea to get to know some of these colorful inventions. Foreign-exchange students. From "bourgeois." To run away. There were bare man at the rave. Taking the piss out of your friends can be done as part of banter. You alright fam?. Blud/Blad - brother, friend. Hell be down the local. FluentU is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Thats a lovely wee doggie youve got there. Unlike bars, they open in the morning, often serve food, and normally have at least one resident drunk. U.K. slang includes some interesting insults. It's mostly used by CP (which we saw above) while they are watching their favourite couple in a Chinese drama etc. So, quids in means that someone has made moneyusually more than what they expectedfrom something. Aggro: Though this format of abbreviation seems very Australian, this is a British slang for being aggressive or in your face. The word relates to the way a goose (a male goose is called a gander) cranes its neck to look at something. These extremely informal words and expressions are known as 'slang'. So, the context of the word largely determines its meaning. Bang up to the elephant This phrase originated in London in 1882, and means "perfect, complete, unapproachable." 6. 'Oh bollocks'; it can also be used to express derision and mocking disbelief, e.g. Check out some peng chicken. Blimey is used as a way of expressing surprise at something, often used when seeing or looking at something surprising or impressive instead of shocking or upsetting. Rank Meaning: Disgusting. Bare - a lot of something. Another university-related cool British slang word is fresher which means a first-year student. They just want a cigarette, guys. Fresher. No one likes someone who tells porkies. New words come and go like fashions. on Sep 21 2009. Check out some, This classic British insult literally means that someone masturbates, but is used much like. With FluentU, for example, you can create a personalized flashcard deck based on the words that pop up in the programs English media clips, like movie trailers and interviews. 75 British Slang Words 1. Used mostly in London to mean "a lot of". The slow way to perfection is years of study and practice; the fast way is to put it into the hands of our professional editors! Narky 14. The Welsh clearly place a high value on tidiness. A geezer or dapper geezer is a man who is well-dressed in formal clothes. Home. You'll have a blast and learn more than a few new words that might be ripe for importation when you come back home. Have you met Bobs girlfriend? 'Ace' - a British slang term that means something that is brilliant or excellent. fancy, impressive, cool, showy. But there is something wonderfully tender and endearing about it. Specifically, when something is exciting or wonderful, particularly when something is good news, brilliant can mean as such. Hes made a complete pigs ear of that project. The definitions of these slang words appear below the list. Improve your writing by downloading our English Editing Tips. For ex: Wheres my share of the filthy lucre then? Bodge something 6. Alternatively, to not be serious about something (this essay was a jokeare you taking the piss?). Usually used in conjunction with mate. The art of British slang. Brolly 3. Used as an adjective, to mean funny or just fun. 2. a socially inept person. Usually, this expression is used without the verb be. This means that people do not generally add the phrase I am before the expression. Seriously?Sneakers, Tennis Shoes, Trainers - all three are used depending on the type of rubber soled shoe we're talking about. For example, Mrs Walkers pie was absolutely scrummy. Anna is the Editor-in-Chief & Content Strategist of Lifehack. Speaking of underwear, while many Americans understand the meaning of this entry, it is nonetheless not widely used in the U.S. Moving on to baby fashion, this is one of the more well-known U.K./U.S. Bugger all a British slang term used to be a more vulgar synonym for nothing at all. However there is one notable difference is that throwing a wobbly tends to be used when describing tantrums thrown by adults, or people who should otherwise know better. It is similar to expressions like cool and awesome.. Banter means to joke around or talk back and forth quickly with witty remarks. A shortened form of isnt it, this can be added onto the end of sentences for emphasis. ), read on for an exploration of fascinating, common, odd, rare and unique American slang. Don't be such a plonker. 1. on Apr 07 1998. This expression became popular around the Industrial Revolution in England when lots of factories burned coal and cities like London were always surrounded by a thick fog of pollution. Did you see that bloke? Let us know in the comments below. Boffin - A scientist, inventor or engineer. Used with toddlers, teenagers and adults alike. The 'bag' refers to the gut which contained the chopped meat." 5. Boss or manager. We want to make sure youre leaving a professional image of yourself. For example, Thats a load of tosh about what happened last night, or Dont talk tosh.. Used mostly in Manchester to mean "very excited/happy". In this post, we will teach you some common British expressions you can use in casual conversation! Mate is what you call someone, usually a friend and often male but it's also expanded to use between females in recent times. You alright bruv?. From a higher social class, Proper denotes actions appropriate to certain circumstances. Blinding a slang term that is far from something that physically causes someone to lose their sight. A short period of time. 3. Its important to represent your ends. This dictionary of British slang includes popular words and phrases that you might hear in the UK and will help you with your own spoken English. Feet whips: Can be used to refer to any type of shoe. Come over to my gaff; we are having a party there. What I like about this term and its two/three usages is that the following sentence, Nick got nicked for nicking somethingmakes grammatical sense. The origin of this phrase is disputed, but the most likely candidate for inspiring the expression is an eccentric wealthy newspaper owner named James Gordon Bennett Jr. 1,000. "bloody brilliant ". As such a form of this expression Have a goosey also exists, but is much more uncommon. To be gutted about a situation means to be devastated and saddened. Minging (pronounced: ming-ing) is a lovely alternative to the word disgusting or gross. Daylight robbery- so expensive it isn't worth it. Also used as an adjective in parts of northern England to mean "fantastic": Thats grand. No other language in the world has been as bastardised as this one! Get an instant price to have your English document edited by professionals. This is a slightly politer way to say our next expression: To mock or laugh at someone or something. London street slang for someone untrustworthy. Lets go to another club. [orchestral music] Bob's your uncle, I never really know what this one means. More common, and common in the north and southwest England. A mouth. Another rather delightful and slightly archaic words in this list of British slang terms is kerfuffle. In context, I cant come in, my shoes are all mucky.. the British slang, please tell me what is happening here. You might get a bollocking. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA She sought work as an "agony aunt." Cockney Slang uses language in one of the most interesting ways, by rhyming with . For example, I had a right kerfuffle with my girlfriend this morning over politics.. There are no categories underneath this one. Last edited on Feb 23 2002. Gob is the informal word for mouth, and smack means to hit something with your hand. all from a British perspective, with new slang added every month. Apparently we imported the word grand, which means a thousand, from the States. Mate 9. 14. If you want to read more about cockney rhyming slang and money, read this BBC article. You never know when it starts to rain in England. Submitted by Anonymous from Tennessee, USA Another London term, for someone or something that is attractive or desirable. Usage: "Air force Ones are the cadillacs of feet whips". Cost an arm and leg - Something which is very expensive. However it can be used to describe anything flashy or needlessly classy or expensive. Cuppa 7. Submitted by Mark E from BC, Canada A word that is popular in the north and amongst youngsters. Think rockstars, mid-90s footballers and Prince Harry. I always carry a brolly in my bag-pack. The first form of this is far more common, and is sometimes used internationally. Leg it. The rules about capital letters and currency are the following: you dont use a capital letter to spell out the whole name, therefore: pounds, euros and dollars. on May 01 2014. Sam was quids in after he sold his software to Microsoft. Rob is the only one on the team who does not faff around in the office. on Mar 08 2002. To be arrested. Perhaps the most interesting slang you'll hear in England is the infamous Cockney Rhyming Slang. Can be combined with "hard" for emphasis. For even more fun, take a look at these common U.K. expressions. An exclamation of surprise. If you're heading off on a holiday to the United Kingdom, it'll be handy to have certain British slang definitions down pat. Its a bit nippy out, isnt it!. The most commonly used form is as an alternative to steal. This one is chockablock with people. It is another way of saying that you will be back soon. Your written English leaves a trace of you: your ideas, your expertise, your brand. Yes, British people have a lot of slang words for money. A not so polite way to ask someone to go away. Short for "of course" and normally followed by a word like "mate" or "bruv". For example, He tried to skive off work but got caught by his manager.. Other British slang words for attractive include fit, lush, a sort, piff, buff, leng. We live it, we breathe it, we make our living from it. on Mar 02 1999. It is a descriptive word, used to describe someone who is extremely lucky for something, without putting in much effort for it. Gaff is just a synonym for home. Although it might sound quite similar to gaffe, its meaning is completely different. This can cause a great deal of confusion if youre exploring the country, or even if youre just looking to stream the latest British TV series. The expression is a synonym for lies. Submitted by Josh from NJ, USA In formal English, gaff can also mean a stick with a hook that is used to kill large fish. A little bit coldas if the cold air was nipping at your skin. 2. Stop faffing around and start doing your homework. Cor blimey, did you see that? For more usage examples, check out, London street slang for sneakers (which British people call, An exclamation of surprise. Very wealthy. Wix has got your covered with thousands of design features, built-in SEO and marketing tools, that will allow you to scale your content, your brand and your business. Another British slang for this activity is wag off, which means to waste time while at work. I was gobsmacked when she told me she was pregnant with triplets.. 3. on Aug 30 2011. Beef - a hostility between two people that usually results in violence. Youve got to keep the punters happy. One pound is subdivided into 100 pence, the singular of which is one penny. British slang and dialect is rich and diverse. If a British friend asks to borrow a fiver from you, he means a five pound note. You know, one problem we terminal Anglophiles have is that we mostly know these terms because we're freaks of Nature who glom onto any tidbit of British culture, language, television, literature, etc, that we possibly can. ; Trainers refer to shoes designed for cross-training. A nifty little British term that means rubbish or crap. Hes dead gorgeous. Submitted by bob from New York, NY, USA Smarmy 15. London street slang for sneakers (which British people call trainers). Students mostly refer to their university and/or college by just saying uni. Slightly more of an outdated version, this British slang term is still used, and its meaning remains relevant today. any expensive, flashy, or shiny jewelry, usually gold or silver, esp. For example, You messed up the Rutherford order? You probably dont need me to describe this, out of all British slang, this is by far the most popular and most commonly used. It ultimately harms the end result. Snog Meaning: A kiss or to kiss. Or before tea, "Have ya washed yer donnies?" The story - possibly an urban myth - is that Bri. Last edited on Dec 06 2002. These men usually wear suits and are quite fashion-conscious. exhausted; very tired: He is really knackered after work. Copyright English TrackersDesigned by Niels Loomans. When someone spends a lot of time doing very little work, it is called faffing. Dench 7. For example, Yeah, everythings hunky-dory at the office.. I had three pieces., This is a relatively newer entry to the lexicon of British Slang, most often used by youth. A penny-pincher is someone who is unwilling to spend money. I feel there is something appropriate about it. Your grasp of the slang portion of British English won't be complete unless you master a few of the most common U.K. slang exclamations and expressions. Last edited on Mar 19 2011. For example, you might say Im going to Steves birthday do tonight.. There's no getting around itclothes are just an important part of everyday life. And, as with everything else, practice makes perfect! Used to mean "very", particularly in the north of England. This is because, as you might have guessed from the title, there are a number of U.K. clothing words that are either not used stateside or are, at the very least, not very common. It is similar to the American word 'fancy', however it has a much more entrenched class . So, as a way of easing you in, here are some of my favorite slang words, phrases and expressions from around the British Isles. a foolish or senseless person I knew I'd been an idiot to stay there. Grandparents might use it to better communicate with their grandchildren. 2. Kerfuffle describes a skirmish or a fight or an argument caused by differing views. Bob's your uncle means like, I thought it was gonna rain. Brilliant is not a word exclusively in the British lexicon, but has a very British usage. British people love to banter, and someone with good banter is likely to be popular. Since the subway is totally underground in London, it looks like a network of tubes. The slang words in this thesaurus category appear below the table of contents. One of the more delightful British slang terms in this list, scrummy is used as a wonderfully effusive term for when something is truly delicious and mouth-wateringly good. In the case of the first meaning, the word anorak didn't in fact enter the English language until 1924. Most commonly people use the word minging to describe something that smells bad. Our new defenders the dog's bollocks. A toilet. Cracking 18. As in, 'that outfit is beast.'. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA "Hello mate, how are you?" % buffered 00:00 2. Cor blimey, did you see that? For more usage examples, check out this instructive video by British rapper Bigz. For example, 'Jenny is ace at the lab experiments', or, for the latter definition, 'I think I aced that exam'. I was gobsmacked when I found out that I lost my job. A do is essentially a party, to my knowledge it doesnt refer to a particular form of party, so feel free to use it as you like. As in, 'I ain't bovvered.'. Trainers are the British equivalent of the American sneakers denoting athletic shoes. used to relate something to money; "wow, that's fancy!". . This is a shorter form of the word umbrella.. Hes a good bloke. For example you could say Im feeling proper chuffed I won that., If youre talking to someone else you can use it as such, I bet youre pretty chuffed you won!. Last edited on Dec 10 2000.