Meaning: To screw something up. Open yourself up to the delights of British slang words and talk like a local in no time. "Our Christmas dinner had everything from sprouts to Yorkshire puddings. "You look nice. This is still used in English in the phrase "egging someone on" to do something. Although no one is completely sure of the word's origins, it could derive from thewords "cod" and "wallop," which historically meant "imitation" and "beer" respectively implying that "codswallop" is the kind of rubbish you make up when drunk. What I like about this term and its two/three usages is that the following sentence, "Nick got nicked for nicking something" makes grammatical sense. Since then, the phrase has evolved and refers to something at the "height of cool. "Press down the clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch again. ", "I bumped into him towards the end of his four-day bender. ", "I bumped into him towards the end of his four-day bender. This is more commonly known in the US as "Murphy's law. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? ", If you see someone you find attractive, you would call them "fit.". A slap and a kick for being so quick!". British slang refers to "unconventional words or phrases" the Brits use to express either something new or something old in a new way. "Pull" can also be used as a verb. Some people consider "bloody" offensive (the origins of the word are widely disputed, so we can't be sure why) and it was considered a profanity until the mid-20th century. It's unclear why Britsappear to favour analogue time-telling while Americans go for the digital format. No collection of slang would be complete without casual terminology used for nouns that are common among those who speak the language or dialect. . Bob's your uncle you're driving!". This cheery phrase is widely believed to originate from Northern factory workers around the time of the industrial revolution. If you've "pulled," you've kissed someone. Not to be confused with literally being disembowelled, someone that says they're "gutted" is devastated or extremely upset. The "wind-up merchant" will often claim to be making their comments as a light-hearted jest when the recipients start becoming irritated. It can also refer to someone already asleep or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Insert any . "I'm going up the apples to bed.". According to the Metro, the playground ritual originates from the medieval times, when a "pinch" of salt was believing to make witches weak, and the "punch" resembled banishing the witches entirely. "Press down the clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch again. This phrase is used to confirm or agree with something that another person has just said. If you're "zonked" or "cream crackered," you might want to take a nap. ", "Sam did a botch job on these shelves they're wonky! 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. A gaffe is another word for "mistake" or "blunder.". ", After "The Full Monty" film was released in 1997, there was some international confusion over the phrase, which it was taken as a euphemism for stripping. Is that ham and tuna? Before going deeper into your exploration of British slang words, take the time to discover some slang phrases commonly used in the U.K. Fortunately, in a British slang dictionary, there are quite a few informal phrases commonly used as slang. Someone that's a little bit geeky, with strong interests or expertise in a niche area, might be referred to as an "anorak." The origins of the word are widely disputed. If you're going to have a roast, have the full Monty!". "If it all works out as planned, he'll be quids in.". ", "Joe's children are so cheeky -- they tied my shoelaces together last week!". "Pissed" usually means "angry" in the US. He pulled a blinder there.". Historically, "fags" were the cheaper cigarettes made of lower grade tobacco, however, the slang has spread to encompass all cigarettes. To "faff" is to waste time doing very little. ", "I was going to go out tonight but when I finished work I was absolutely zonked.". 60 British Slang Words And Phrases You Need To Know "A bacon sandwich and a builder's tea. ", "Miffed" possibly derives from the German "muffen," meaning "to sulk. Though it's an older word, knackered is still relevant and used frequently. So, let's crack on and get to the list of British slang words innit! Off their rocker: madthey were off their rocker, they were. Gaff is just a synonym for "home.". Its reported creator, British rapper Lethal Bizzle, elusivelytold the Guardian that the word "means anything you want. An earlier version of this story was written by Bobbie Edsor. Something that is "tickety-boo" is satisfactory and in good order. "A bacon sandwich and a builder's tea. Someone on a spree of excessive drinking and mischief is "on a bender." The action of chatting away with thejaw bobbing up and down resembles a chin "wagging" like a dog's tail. Benjo. You must be chuffed.". ", "I'm Hank Marvin" means "I'm hungry" or "I'm ravenous.". "Thomas is such an anorak when it comes to train trivia.". This is more commonly known in the US as "Murphy's law. "Cack" is old-fashioned slang for faeces. 3. ", "Don't trust him he's a smarmy geezer.". It means literally tilted on one side rather than slightly off or uneasy, as askew can mean in the US. The phrase is sometimes shortened to "give me atinkle.". Marvin played guitar in Cliff Richard's backing band in the 1960s. The phrase is most commonly used when the individual has been lucky and the person saying it is in disbelief that the first person has managed to pull it off. Are you going on the pull?". ", This quintessentially British idiom derives from the Dutch "pap" and "kak," which translate as "soft" and "dung.". 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. "Skiving" is the act of avoiding work or school, often by pretending to be ill. "Skive" is derived from the French "esquiver," meaning "to slink away. To "whinge" means to moan, groan, and complain in an irritating or whiney fashion. If you want to tell someone to not concern themselves with issues that don't directly affect them, you might tell them to "wind their neck in.". "That guy's got such swagger -- he's a proper geezer. "Well, this has all gone a bit pear-shaped.". So, if you're "ready for the knacker's yard," you're exhausted beyond relief. The phrase describes the mayhem caused when something is recklesslythrown into the intricate gears and workings of a machine. In the UK, the word buzzard denotes to the genus Buteo, generally . 7 essential British slang words to know before your trip - Evan Evans Tours Dench is the equivalent of "solid" or "cool" when used in response to someone else. A phrase is whispered around a circleand the last person to hear the phrase has to guess what the initial phrase was. Some believe it's derived from the Dutch word "blute," meaning "bare." Others believe the word is a contraction of the 17th century phrase "by our. 1. If you've "pulled," you've kissed someone. ", If your favorite football team were to lose, you'd be "gutted.". Some believe it's derived from the Dutch word "blute," meaning "bare." "Did you see Scott last night? "Oh, nothing exciting to report. The phrase is reportedly old slang from the Royal Air Force and was used to described awry expeditions and flights. "Hank Marvin" is Cockney rhyming slang for "starving. mess up, cock up (British, slang), mishandle, fuck up (offensive, taboo, slang), mismanage, muff, make a hash of (informal), make a nonsense of, bodge (informal), misfield, crool or cruel (Australian, slang) in the sense of fumble Definition the act of fumbling Fans cheered a fumble by the home team's star. "Did you hear what happened to John's old man? He's turned into such a swot! 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. "Don't put down a leaking mug on top of the newspaper, you wally!". "Don't you worry, Alan, I'm on it like a car bonnet.". "Is it just me or is that painting a bit skew-whiff?". A "good old chinwag" is a good chat,catch up, or gossip with someone. "I was going to go out tonight but when I finished work I was absolutely zonked. "A bacon sandwich and a builder's tea. . The team at the Business Insider UK office have compiled a list of the best British slang and idioms that define the weird and wonderful British dialect we grew up with. A "knacker" was the person that slaughtered worn-out horses in the 19th and 20th centuries for their meat, hoofs, and hide. "Goodness, you're full of beans this morning!". A "good old chinwag" is a good chat, catch up, or gossip with someone. If you want to tell someone to not concern themselves with issues that don't directly affect them, you might tell them to "wind their neck in.". This road is chocka! Someone that's "on the pull" has gone out, usually on a night out, with the intention of attracting a sexual partner. When they were working on the factory floor, employees had to wear hard clogs to protect their feet. No returns of any kind" is a school playground rhyme often exchanged between friends on the first day of a new calendar month, accompanied by a pinch and a punch to the recipient. "Faff" comes from the 17th century word "faffle," which means to flap about in the wind. It's derived from "mint condition," which refers to something pre-owned that retains its pristine condition although something that's just "mint" doesn't have to be pre-owned. Not to be confused with literallybeing disembowelled, someonethat says they're "gutted" is devastated or extremely upset. "That's when all of the lights came on, and so we legged it.". To "whinge" means to moan, groan, and complain in an irritating or whiney fashion. "How was the hostel?" I'm cream crackered. Eg, "half past seven," and "ten to six.". Historically, only women would announce they were going to "spend a penny," as only women's public toilets required a penny to lock. ", Similar to "nerd" or "geek" but less derogatory -- someone that takes academic study very seriously might be described as a "swot. "Chinese whispers" are rumours that have been circulated and watered down until they only vaguely resemble the truth. "And did you see thatequalising goal in the last minute of injury time? "If it all works out as planned, he'll be quids in.". Bap: a bread roll. Others believe the word is a contraction of the 17th-century phrase "by our lady," and is blasphemous. Since then, the phrase has evolved and refers to something popular or cool. Each term is partneredwith a description and example. "Stop being such a wind-up merchant and be serious for one second! Although the origins of this phrase are largely unknown, a gaff in the 18th-century was a music hall or theater, and so it's believed to derive from this. Like a local: 11 bits of London slang you should know A 'cock up' is a mistake, a failure of large or epic proportions. The very British equivalent to "Hey presto!" "Would you take a butchers at this broken bike for me? It's Sod's law. "How was the hostel?" Kecks: a bread rolhang on, no, trousers. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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", "I could just about deal with the dog barking at 5:30 a.m., but the lawnmower at 3 a.m. really takes the biscuit.". It's trousers. GOBSMACKED: A quintessentially British slang term that refers to being stunned and surprised beyond belief. When we get home, I'm going to take a quick kip.". 47 British Slang Words And Phrases To Read Over A Cuppa - Scary Mommy According to the Metro, the playground ritual originates from the medieval times, when a "pinch" of salt was believing to make witches weak, and the "punch" resembled banishing the witches entirely. ", Someone that lacks common knowledge might be described as "dim," whilst someone that's intelligent might be described as "bright.".
