You'll be chatting like a local in no time at all! Here the top 80 most used Irish slang phrases. However it can be used to describe anything flashy or needlessly classy or expensive. U.K. slang includes some interesting insults. The suitcase was chockablock with clothes. on May 01 2014. A penis, but also an annoying person. Normally used together with "a bit". British slang and dialect is rich and diverse. Submitted by Natalie L. from Thousand Oaks, CA, USA This is another version of the phrase isnt it. It is commonly used to show agreement rather than to genuinely ask a question. on Mar 03 2002. Though it may seem strange at first, its pretty simple, it is constructed out of the expressions second word, in this case the way hook rhymes directly with look however, perhaps contrary to expectations, the word hook is often removed, so you may hear someone say have a butchers at this.. The origin of this one is related to *ahem* morning wood. 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. A monster online slang dictionary of the rich colourful language we call slang. The Welsh clearly place a high value on tidiness. Beer is drunk in pints in the UK, which is still valiantly struggling against the encroachment of the EU-mandated metric system. Where It Gets Twisted: American And British Slang Words Ledge 10. For example, 'that is a tad expensive'. Used with toddlers, teenagers and adults alike. For example, The guys on TV last night were taking the piss out of the government again.. For example, I had a right kerfuffle with my girlfriend this morning over politics.. When youve made a pigs ear of something, youve really messed it up. Do not use a wet cloth to clean your computer, you wally! Get 70% off + 10 languages + 14 day free trial. It is very expensive! [orchestral music] Bob's your uncle, I never really know what this one means. For example, He tried to skive off work but got caught by his manager.. From New York, to California, Louisiana to Hawaii (and so much more! on Oct 03 2009. For ex: Ill be back in a minute, Im just off to spend a penny! Short for "brother", this London street slang is used to refer to a male friend. Bobs your uncle is used at the end of a set of instructions that are very easy to follow. on Oct 28 2001. See also mandem. f you hear a word that's not on this list, give a Cockney translator a try. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. The difference is that people from the UK also use "cheers" to mean "thank you". It is believed these terms were imported from India by returning servicemen. And, as with everything else, practice makes perfect! You'll have a blast and learn more than a few new words that might be ripe for importation when you come back home. Unlike bars, they open in the morning, often serve food, and normally have at least one resident drunk. Download: It is used to emphasize almost anything! Mental!) on Mar 02 1999. 3. Fancy Gobsmacked 11. A grand is used when talking in thousands. . Last edited on Apr 25 2013. A break in the routine. Quids in 14. Home. Follow our writing guidelines and make your words COUNT! Slang can vary a lot throughout England. I had three pieces., This is a relatively newer entry to the lexicon of British Slang, most often used by youth. Hunky-dory a neat little piece of British slang that means that a situation is okay, cool, or normal. Fresher. Untrustworthy. 4. 2. Banter means to joke around or talk back and forth quickly with witty remarks. If you want to know what's going on when you re-watch Harry Potter, or when you see Drake on Insta pretending to be a north London roadman, this list of words should help. Bloody How to Learn More UK Slang Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. For example, you might say Im going to Steves birthday do tonight.. Contents 1. Dench 7. Beast - really cool. Did I miss any of your favorite British slang off the list? English slang, colloquial expressions, what's cool to say on the streets in English, get up to speed on what to say in English with our in depth slang pages. You can also talk bollocks (speak nonsense, or lie) and if something is a load of bollocks, its not true. Smarmy 15. Think twice before you ask someone if they know a good place to get some food A slang term for the national sportfootball. Hes making loads of moolah. To make instant noodles, just add hot water and Bobs your uncle, they are ready. We also participate in other affiliate advertising programs for products and services we believe in. Bants 4. In this case something being sick is actually a good thing. Submitted by Rob H. from Newton, MA, USA Submitted by Anonymous from Tennessee, USA For example, You messed up the Rutherford order? Gutted Meaning: Being heartbroken or upset over something. Its uncountable, so wed say: For ex: My son just bought a new house for three hundred thousand grand. A customer. For example, The papers sent out to the students were all in the wrong language its a real cock up. Also, I cocked up the orders for table number four.. British people like to enjoy themselves. 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. For example, That tackle from the Spanish player was blinding.. Sam was quids in after he sold his software to Microsoft. All rights reserved. Now KSWL is a rather unique slang which doesn't really exist in English. Other British slang words for attractive include fit, lush, a sort, piff, buff, leng. 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. A British pint is roughly 20% larger than a US one, which means Brits are 20% more likely to be drunk. Citation from "Episode 3", Little Britain (TV, 2004), Season 2 Episode 3 blacked out to resolve Google's penalty against this site . 23. bracelets, chains, earrings. Used as a signifier for preference. Ends London slang for the area you're from. More common, and common in the north and southwest England. 2. But, remember that this is not normal spending. A brief essay outlining the parameters of this dictionary and information on slang can be read in the slang introduction which, to avoid disappointment, I'd recommend reading before . As in, 'I ain't bovvered.'. It is similar to the American word fancy, however it has a much more entrenched class basis. I feel there is something appropriate about it. British / Australian / New Zealander. If you're heading off on a holiday to the United Kingdom, it'll be handy to have certain British slang definitions down pat. New words come and go like fashions. In the old days, you had to pay one penny to use the public toilet and the expression to spend a penny has lived on to this day. Bodge something 6. on Feb 05 2002. Click words for definitions. Someone can be completely bonkers or can go bonkers (the latter can also mean losing your temper). Though, to make things slightly more confusing, that could also be called a "tenner". Batty-fang Low. Used mostly in Manchester to mean "very excited/happy". To inform on someone to the authorities. To run away. Float my boat - usually used in the phrase, 'yeah, whatever floats your boat' meaning whatever you like. Blinding is a positive term meaning excellent, great, or superb. Cor blimey, its bloody hot today, innit!. Feet whips: Can be used to refer to any type of shoe. It means to make a profit. Nice one used almost always sarcastically in common British lexicon, although it can be used sincerely depending on the context. Those curtains are a bit naff, dont you think?. While American slang has become nearly universal with the influx of TV shows, films, and other media filling the screens of a significant majority of the media-viewing global population, there is so much more available once you dig beneath the surface of British slang terms and can discover some real gems beneath the surface. These English slang words have made every language have its unique fascinations that are understood only by native speakers. Example - My new Mercedes car has cost me an arm and leg. We put them on when we wake up, we change into new ones before a night out and sometimes, when we're desperate, we even wear them to bed (just me then). Insulting. London street slang for money, from a shortening of "pounds". It is used for people who are not trustworthy and who make you suspicious of their motives. Yes! For example, 'Jenny is ace at the lab experiments', or, for the latter definition, 'I think I aced that exam'. Sherbets 12. To pay through the nose - To pay an excessive amount for something Example - These days one has to pay through nose to eat out in a fancy restaurant. No collection of slang would be complete without casual terminology used for nouns that are common among those who speak the language or dialect. For example, Dont listen to him hes telling pork pies.. It comes from the expression God blind me. So, blimey is used when something so extreme happens that a person wishes that they did not see it. spendy college patron pricey ipod whip d.a.r.e. In other words, butchers hook is used as an expression for look because the word hook rhymes with look.. "Hold out yer donny bab", meaning "Hold out your hand, small child". So, sit back and enjoy the ride! For example, I cant believe you won that, proper jammy.. Used in Wales to mean "fantastic". Foreign-exchange students. Originally a reference to gambling but can be used in a broader context now. Another London term, for someone or something that is attractive or desirable. Usually used in conjunction with mate. Check out some, This classic British insult literally means that someone masturbates, but is used much like. Another rather delightful and slightly archaic words in this list of British slang terms is kerfuffle. A parka is a cold-weather jacket that zips in the front.Jumper: A type of girls' or women's dress that pulls down over the head.Knickers: (Short for "knickerbockers') Short pants that end just below the knee (fastened with elastic or buttons), usually worn with long socks. Ten Very British Behaviours "Brolly" Abbreviation of "umbrella." "Grab your brolly, it's drizzling outside." Pixabay "Budge up" An informal way of asking someone to make room where they are. Cost an arm and leg - Something which is very expensive. Submitted by Dan L. from Evanston, IL, USA A nifty little British term that means rubbish or crap. To take the piss means to mock something, parody something, or generally be sarcastic and derisive towards something. I avoid the morning traffic that way. 1999 March 19, PETER MCALEER, "The Long Kiss Goodnight (R4)", in aus.dvd, Usenet: I am renting my machine, it might be more exy but it gives me time to sus out (with the help of newsgroups like this one), just exactly which machine or . I always carry a brolly in my bag-pack. This phrase means the same thing as having a tantrum. To be gutted about a situation means to be devastated and saddened. Arsed 16. any expensive, flashy, or shiny jewelry, usually gold or silver, esp. Bloke is an extremely common term denoting a man, usually it is used in reference to an ordinary man, akin to the US average joe, but it it not uncommon to hear it used to describe a man generally. Butcher's hook 22. While all of these expressions may sound fun and interesting, learners should always be careful when using them. The expression is believed by some to come literally from gob (a British expression for mouth), and the look of shock that comes from someone hitting it. Ace a British slang term that means something that is brilliant or excellent. I believe this expression originates in the English county of Cheshire. 'You slept with Kate Upton last night? Alcohol and words relating to pubs and being drunk feature prominently in British slang. Example: "How about I skive off during lunch? Hes dead gorgeous. See also, Another London term, for someone or something that is attractive or desirable. I think he bodged the presentation while editing it. For example, I left when Darren threw a wobbly.. Cockney Rhyming Slang. For example, busted can mean "broken" or "ugly," sick can mean "ill" or "very cool," and hip can mean "trendy" or "fashionably un-trendy.". Crazy. We also refer to a ten pound note as a tenner. Testicles. No other language in the world has been as bastardised as this one! Sneakers: Another word for running shoes, or "trainers" - light weight shoes having . Skive (Pronounced sky-ve)a British slang term used to indicate when someone has failed to turn up for work or an obligation due to pretending to fake illness. Bog-standard - To be plain, or run-of-the-mill. A pub that may be your closest or just your regular favorite. The most commonly used slang term for a pound is a, This expression has negative connotations, so, If youre in London you may overhear many other terms for money and many of these will come from, Some of the London slang for money is based on animals thought to have originally appeared on ruppe banknotes. Last edited on Apr 25 2013. When writing in English you put the currency symbol in front of the digits, so 10, 150 or $20. For example, it can be used to mean illegal He got my dad a dodgy watch for Christmas; it can be used to mean something food-related that is nauseous or nauseating I had a dodgy kebab last night and I dont feel right. For example, I am absolutely knackered after working all day.. Submitted by Scott McNabney from Richmond Hill, ON, Canada Bob's your uncle 5. Check out some peng chicken. acting above one's station. Most commonly people use the word minging to describe something that smells bad. I got completely wankered last night. Her Majesty's Pleasure - HMP, which is Her Majesty's Prison. In context it works like this, Come here and have a gander at what hes doing.. 4. Im pretty chuffed with my results on that exam. Popular during the Victorian age and popularised further by Charlie Chaplin, the, This is one of those words I truly took for granted when I first moved to the U.S.; never in a million years did I imagine that the word, This word, on the other hand, is one of those I intuitively reconciled would not have much of a presence in the U.S.mainly because of its identity as a slang expression. Fag This slang word for a cigarette has no pejorative associations in the UK, but causes all sorts of problems for Brits visiting the US. But wait before you tighten your seat belts, there is a catch. Learning directly from native speakers is the best way to become an advanced English speaker. The expression comes from baking, where if you put too many eggs in a pudding, it will be ruined. Stop slagging him off behind his back. Oh, the Brits. However it can be used to describe anything flashy or needlessly classy or expensive. You alright bruv?. For some reason, you dont go to the localyou go/are down the local. Try it for free! Look at that!. For example, His girlfriend broke up with him. But like most things cockney, its becoming less popular. Privacy Policy. Or before tea, "Have ya washed yer donnies?" The story - possibly an urban myth - is that Bri. The British Council's Sophie Cannon explains some of the weird and wonderful words and phrases you might encounter. Can also be used sarcastically in this same sense. Hes got an ugly mug would be the former, do you take me for a mug?, the latter. For example, 'Cheers for getting me that drink, Steve'. Note how the second word pies rhymes directly with lies. 1. 2. a socially inept person. Boffin - A scientist, inventor or engineer. Last edited on Jul 11 1997. Dont be such a knob. This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you But don't worry, we're going to help. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. Lost the plot is one that can actually be discerned by examining the words themselves. Last edited on Jan 13 2012. Calling someone a tosser to their face wont normally go down well. exhausted; very tired: He is really knackered after work. In Scottish English, wally means something that is pleasing or strong. Libes. Not a wonderfully melodic word, chunder is part and parcel of British slang terms. A mouth. "That looks like a total mess". This project was a really hard slog. Possibly the best British insult on the list, it fits a certain niche for a single-worded insult to lobbied out in a moment of frustration, anger, provocation, or, of course, as a jest amongst friends. Last edited on Jul 24 2013. Im cheating a bit with this one, as this is used almost exclusively used around Manchester and the North of England. 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. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. A toilet. Check your spam folder if you don't get an email immediately! Acting the maggot Bad dose Bags (to make a bags of something) Bang on Banjaxed Black stuff Boyo Brutal Bucketing down Bunk off Chancer Chiseler Ciotg Cod/codding ya Craic Crack on Culchie Cute hoor Delira and excira Deadly Donkey's years Dosser Eat the head off Eejit Earwigging Effin' and blindin' One of the definitions of the word pop is to move quickly or suddenly. Top UK English Slang Terms 1. You get a bollocking when youve done something you shouldnt have.