", Someone short-tempered or irritated might be described as "shirty.". 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. "A bacon sandwich and a builder's tea. Getting a good sense of UK slang terms that describe everyday actions will help prepare you to understand what the locals mean when they're describing actions. ", Benders often last over 24 hours, and so you might say that someone is on "a weekend bender," or a "three-day bender. This second theory has been disproved, however, by the slang's first documentation predating the widespread use of the phrase "by our lady.". ", Although the adjective's origins remain largely unknown, early documented uses seem to use the word as synonymous with "smear," further suggesting that someone who is "smarmy" is also "slick" or "slippery. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. ", Someone that comes across as scheming or untrustworthy might be described as "smarmy. He's absolutely gutted.' 26. He's turned into such a swot! I'm Hank Marvin.". ", "Par" can also be used as a verb, eg, "You just got parred.". Historically, "gallant" described someone brave or valiant, so "gallivanting" is a carefree and confident act. 23 Brilliant British Expressions to Blend in with the Brits ", 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. "Over-egging the pudding" means embellishing or over-doing something to the extent that it's detrimental to the finished product. "Thomasis suchan anorak when it comes to train trivia.". Unrelatedly, "Clangers" was also a children's TV show from the 1970s about pink mouse-like creatures that lived on the moon. Fortunately, there are quite a few descriptive British slang terms that paint quite a vivid picture to anyone who knows what the informal words mean. To "take the Mickey" means to take liberties at the expense of others and can be used in both a lighthearted and an irritated fashion. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Some believe it's derived from the Dutch word "blute," meaning "bare." It works." It works." Examples include . Whether you're keeping up with all the drama surrounding the royal family or binging shows like Fleabag and Peaky Blinders, you've undoubtedly run across the weird and . "What did you do on your day off from work? This probably originates from the "uncool" appearance of anorak coats and the people wearing them. 27 Common British And Their Meaning - Bscholarly This is more commonly known in the US as "Murphy's law. It's usually used to describe a woman between the ages of 18 and 50, particularly one who is attractive. It's unclear why Britsappear to favour analogue time-telling while Americans go for the digital format. British people like to enjoy themselves. Someone silly or incompetent might be described as a wally. ", Something full to the brim, or rammed, could be described as "chockalock. ", This quintessentially British idiom derives from the Dutch "pap" and "kak," which translate as "soft" and "dung.". I'm Hank Marvin.". Calling "bagsy" is the equivalent of calling "shotgun" or "dibs" when something, like the front seat of the car, is offered up to a group. U.K. slang is nothing if not interesting! ", "Sod's law" is often used to explain bad luck or freakish acts of misfortune. She's fit.". "That guy's got suchswagger he's a proper geezer. The word could be a variation of "toddle" like a young child's first steps. 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." If you're "zonked" or "cream crackered," you might want to take a nap. Bladdered: drunk. "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. 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.". The phrase is reportedly old slang from the Royal Air Forceand was used to described awry expeditions and flights. 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. Check out these British slang words and phrases from England, Scotland and Wales. "Quid" is British slang for "pounds," eg, "five quid" means 5. The action of chatting away with thejaw bobbing up and down resembles a chin "wagging" like a dog's tail. You'll quickly pick-up contrasting meanings between other English speaking countries and common English slang words. "By getting pregnant, Mary threw a spanner in the works.". 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. ", When someone makes a great speech while skirting around a subject or saying little of any value, you might say that they're talking "waffle," or that they're "waffling.". Budge up and make some room for us, too!". Is that ham and tuna? "Would you take a butchers at this broken bike for me? Lacking in energy; usually after a long period of exertion. . Something that is "long" is probably also annoying or aggravating. The action of chatting away -- with the jaw bobbing up and down -- resembles a chin "wagging" like a dog's tail. In the UK, the word buzzard denotes to the genus Buteo, generally . Geezer is thought to stem from the 15th century "guiser," which meant well-dressed. It's related to an earlier sense of knacker that meant "to kill.". He was a wreck.". In his stand-up show, British comedian Michael MacIntyre said: "You can actually use any word in the English language and substitute it to mean drunk. It can also mean worn-out or damaged. This is commonly used as a greeting that doesn't always need a response. Budge up and make some room for us, too!". 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. 60 British Slang Words And Phrases You Need To Know "The Nick" can refer to a prison. Historically, "gallant" described someone brave or valiant, so "gallivanting" is a carefree and confident act. Dog and Bone = Phone. To "spend a penny" is a polite euphemism for going to the toilet. 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. "That's when all of the lights came on, and so we legged it.". Something that is "bog-standard" is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons. ", "Sam did a botch job on these shelves they're wonky! ", Someone that makes comments just to spark controversy or argument might be labelled a "wind-up merchant.". It's Sod's law. For even more fun, take a look at these common U.K. expressions. He's a bloody curtain twitcher, but he still won't sign for our packages.". ", "Par" can also be used as a verb, eg, "You just got parred.". Someone that lacks common sense might be described as "a few sandwiches short of a picnic.". He pulled a blinder there.". ", "Grab your brolly, it's drizzling outside. In the US, buzzard denotes vultures, but also a contemptible or rapacious person to use definition 3 from the online Merriam-Webster.The most common phrase I'm personally familiar with is to say you old buzzard, usually said to some old guy who you are half-jokingly saying is lecherous or a cheater or some other un-good thing.. To "spend a penny" is a polite euphemism for going to the toilet. The term comes from the Scottish slang word "ming," meaning faeces. "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. A "geezer" is a man that could be described as "suave" or "dapper," and is often suited and booted. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. You're such a mug. 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. To "faff" is to waste time doing very little. This classic British idiom may seem stereotypically twee, however, some sources believe that "tickety-boo" in fact derives from the Hindu phrase "hk hai, bb," meaning "it's alright, sir. "Be careful when you're driving it's a pea-souper out there.". This phrase could be a reference to coffee beans, although these claims have been disputed. "Oh, nothing exciting to report. "Would you take a butchers at this broken bike for me?". Something that is "bog-standard" is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons. "She's great fun, but she's a few sandwiches short of a picnic.". 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. "Joe's children are absolute rascals they tied my shoelaces together last week!". "Those two are having a proper chinwag -- I haven't been able to get a word in edgeways for half an hour! The origins of the word are widely disputed. ", Similar to "nerd" or "geek" but less derogatory someone that takes academic study very seriously might be described as 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." So, let's crack on and get to the list of British slang words innit! It means a stupid, often gullible, person who is easily taken advantage of. ", "You've made a dog's dinner of that paint job.". Its reported creator, British rapper Lethal Bizzle, elusivelytold the Guardian that the word "means anything you want. . Some believe it's derived from the Dutch word "blute," meaning "bare." The meaning of this slang has been debated at length. Although its origins are largely debated, the term's meaning has evolved over the last 50 years alone. "Pull" can also be used as a verb. Hank Marvin is a British musician from the 1960s and 1970s, and is a pretty obscure reference nowadays. Now that's a proper breakfast.". Around the same time, the word "cod" was a little-known slang term for a . Something that is "tickety-boo" is satisfactory and in good order. ", 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. ", "Miffed" possibly derives from the German "muffen," meaning "to sulk.". "Mortal" describes someone highly intoxicated or drunk in a sloppy manner. The phrase is reportedly old slang from the Royal Air Force and was used to described awry expeditions and flights. 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. "That's when all of the lights came on, and so we legged it. It can be used in both a lighthearted and an irritated fashion. ", If someone has done something highly irritating or surprisingin an exasperating fashion, you might say that they've "taken the biscuit.". 8. British Phrases That Will Confuse Anybody Who Didn't Grow up - Insider Of course, there also have to be slang options to describe actions and behaviors people engage in on a regular basis. ", Examples include "trollied," "smashed," and "gazeboed. Every language has a few phrases that don't always translate well and the British English has some absolute corkers. 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. ", How much the best paid workers in 20 professions earn Seven outdated mens style rules that you can now ignore 16 skills that are hard to learn but will pay off forever. Barm: a bread roll. The idiom was first used to describe the thick, choking smog that settled over London, caused by lots of people burning fossil fuels in close vicinity, as early as 1200. ", Someone that lacks common knowledge might be described as "dim," whilst someone that's intelligent might be described as "bright.". He's turned into such a swot! Bollocks - One of the more well-known British terms, it actually has a multitude of meanings. ", Someone short-tempered or irritated might be described as "shirty.". ", A British axiom that boils down to the idea that: "If anythingcan go wrong, then it definitelywill go wrong. The phrase is mostcommonly used when the individual has been lucky and the person saying it is in disbelief thatthe first person has managed to pull it off. Something that takes a lot of effort and probably isn't going to be worth all of the effort, either, could be described as "long." If you're heading off on a holiday to the United Kingdom, it'll be handy to have certain British slang definitions down pat. Are yougoing on the pull?". Calling "bagsy" is the equivalent of calling "shotgun" or "dibs" when something, like the front seat of the car, is offered up to a group. ", "Yeah, he's been swotting like mad for his Spanish exam. ", An event that disrupts the natural, pre-planned order of events could be described as a "spanner in the works.". If the joker forgets to say "no returns of any kind," the recipient can say "a slap and a kick for being so quick," accompanied by a slap and a kick. ", An event that disrupts the natural, pre-planned order of events could be described as a "spanner in the works.". "Gob" is slang for mouth, so if you're gobsmacked, you're shocked to the point of clasping your jaw in disbelief. "Taking the biscuit" is the equivalent of taking the nonexistent medal for foolishness or incredulity. However, "the full Monty" now usually refers to taking something as far as it can go, similar to "the whole nine yards.". 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. 50+ Common British Phrases to Impress your British Mates If someone's "caught the lurgy," they're suffering from cold or flu-like symptoms. 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. 88 very British phrases that will confuse anybody who didn't grow up in However, there is no proof for this theory. A "botch job" can also refer to anything that's been done haphazardly, like a work assignment.