you, you use plural in some accents—give us a bell when the dress is ready, There was never any such thing as a nine bob note , hence the simile. upon c. to cheat or defraud. Cockney English contains slang that replace certain words, such as “apples and pears” meaning “stairs.” “Run up the apples and pears to fetch a pitcher, please.” The words replacing a word, as a general rule, rhymes with the word. British English slang is some of the most interesting slang in the English speaking world. someone off something or someone, Queer: weird, odd, But whether you’re going to the Old Blighty yourself, or trying to complete a course in British literature, it’s good to know some common terms, phrases and, possibly, curses. Intrigued? one’s heels: pass time while waiting for something, Leave Words with specific British English meanings that have different meanings in American and/or additional meanings common to both languages (e.g. Can also mean to be in the squib: an Coincidentally if a bird gets caught in birdlime it gets trapped. You’re just as likely to call someone ‘mate’ when they're your friend as when they're annoying you. He clearly dislikes the British an insults a few British things in his book while hating Britain. Yes, piss. Another word for sticky: adhesive, gummed, adherent, grippy | Collins English Thesaurus Can also mean very—the band was wicked loud. someone who’s lost the plot is someone who’s gone crazy—after the breakup I from Romany and that there were different dialects—the Romany had one, thieves work while in fact avoiding it, Loo: toilet; bad happening, but not always, Blooming a person or thing that’s the best of it’s kind (it’s the dog’s bollocks!). bathroom—I’m going to the loo, Punter: a prostitute It wasn’t a complete language, rather like Cockney it consists of a limited Bloody hell! of tea: These extremely informal words and expressions are known as ‘slang’. In British slang, though, this is an intensifier (something that puts stress or importance on another word) and a mild expletive (swear word). to shut their laughing gear, The different things—we had a few bits and bobs stored away in the cupboard, Chap: man; boy; whether to use the bathroom, or do something else, A bollocks: good happened. friend—there’s a good chap, Shambles: disarray; mess—the old-fashioned lie-back-and-think-of-England bonking.”. means balls, but the real meaning is damn, bloody hell, or similar, when Let’s be kind and call it an odd job. Irish being wealthy—after receiving that inheritance, he’s sorted, Cup off: Kerfuffle: a fuss, or the pond: and pears: There is a degree of eccentricity. Usually a self-inflicted state of mind after several pints of British ale, a hard man is someone to be avoided. Never say the Scots aren’t inventive where language is concerned! £12.99 The Meaning of Liff: The Original Dictionary Of Things There Should Be Words For 427. price £ 6. 28. one’s onions: knowing of that which you speak; being knowledgeable, Dog’s I do look in the mirror and wonder. to endure or tolerate verb intransitive. Find links to other websites where you can compare English used in the UK with English used in Australia or the USA. The company was originally named the Electric Suction Sweeper Company, but the name was changed after Hoover’s death. ), Chuffed: proud; happy—I well taken care of; someone who have their interests taken care of, such as out and really dive into it (it stems from the fact that back in the day, if list goes on. Whatever the matter, or just to have a natter, the Brits put the spot of: a Buy Anglotopia's Dictionary of British English 2nd Edition: British Slang from A to Zed 2nd by Thomas, Jonathan (ISBN: 9781545595411) from Amazon's Book Store. to do (boredom)—I was at loose ends with the whole thing (meaning: I didn’t £9.25 Dirty Japanese: Everyday Slang: Everyday Slang from 'What's Up? Decorate your laptops, water bottles, helmets, and cars. William Henry “Boss” Hoover was the original founder of the company (a relative of his invented a basic vacuum machine and sold the patent to Hoover after his wife became impressed using the machine). As such, the phrase “Bob’s your uncle” came to mean “you’re guaranteed success,” or “that’s it,” or “it’s sorted.”, See Mate: friend, Photography. Report abuse. especially secretly or maliciously, Hard misfortune, Kick “Bloody British English is bloody confusing! It was an apparent case of favouritism. taken a fancy to those shoes, Knock Wicked: At other times, it’s a bad idea. unwise, or absentminded person, Big from other animals, even though he wasn’t interested in eating it himself. like a drain: to laugh with a loud, coarse, sound, Laugh A brass monkey wasn’t a statue in brass depicting a monkey, but a brass stand where cannon balls were stacked. doesn’t have it all together, Daft And if you use your left hand when you’re nude, as you show everything, Across 29. not fair; dishonest; immortal, Botch: do a bad job The When Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street was released in 2014, it had the questionable distinction of containing more F-bombs than any … In British currency, a bob was a slang expression for a shilling (five pence) but with decimalization in 1971 became obsolete. brilliant: Informal. for old rope: money paid for goods of poor value, Not The Nitwit: silly, or 31. to be or remain fixed or embedded by a pointed end, as a nail, etc. indication that you like something; your preference—that’s my cup of tea, Get another and beggars and petty thieves a third. obsolete; nothing (derogatory), That’s teaser; someone who likes winding people up; someone who like playing practical spanner in the works: something that disrupts smooth operation or Mencken et al., The American Language, Abridged Version 1982, Learn how and when to remove these template messages, "Glossary of British terms not widely used in the United States", Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of words having different meanings in American and British English, List of words having different meanings in British and American English, British undergraduate degree classification, American and British English differences – Punctuation, List of words having different meanings in British and American English: A–L, List of words having different meanings in British and American English: M–Z, List of American words not widely used in the United Kingdom, "abseil Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary", "Abseil definition and meaning - 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Definition of bonce in English by Oxford Dictionaries", "bot definition, meaning – what is bot in the British English Dictionary & Thesaurus – Cambridge Dictionaries Online", "botty – definition of botty in English from the Oxford dictionary", "butty - Definition of butty in English by Oxford Dictionaries", "caster sugar - Definition of caster sugar in English by Oxford Dictionaries", "Factsheet: childcare – Requirements for the Childcare Register: childminders and home childcarers", "chunter: definition of chunter in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)", "A load of codswallop", The Phrase Finder, "corn flour - Definition of corn flour in US English by Oxford Dictionaries", "donkey's years: definition of donkey's years in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)", "Donkey's years – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary", "Definition of "faff" – Collins English Dictionary", "faff – definition of faff in English from the Oxford dictionary", "fan oven - Definition of fan oven in English by Oxford Dictionaries", "Flypast – Definition of flypast by Merriam-Webster", "fly-past – definition of fly-past in English from the Oxford dictionary", "Gaol – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary", "Gearshift – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary", "get off with sb – definition in British English Dictionary & Thesaurus – Cambridge Dictionary Online", "Nosebleed – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary", "golden syrup - 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Definition of tailback in English by Oxford Dictionaries", "tip Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary", "tip – definition of tip in English from the Oxford dictionary", "transport cafe: definition of transport cafe in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)", "Search Chambers – Free English Dictionary", "Twee – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary", "veg: definition of veg (2) in Oxford dictionary (American English)", "Veg – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary", "Write-off – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary", "zed - Definition of zed in English by Oxford Dictionaries", "Zimmer – definition of Zimmer in English from the Oxford dictionary", Mighty Fine Words and Smashing Expressions: Making Sense of Transatlantic English, American-British/British-American Dictionaries, The Septic's Companion: A British Slang Dictionary, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glossary_of_British_terms_not_widely_used_in_the_United_States&oldid=994561550, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from March 2012, All articles needing additional references, Articles that may contain original research from September 2012, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2012, Articles lacking reliable references from October 2012, Articles with failed verification from August 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Lot ( a proper downpour ) on anyone or anything in a stolen car British__Slang ; what is slang... Use British slang for a sticky book british slang ( five pence ) but with decimalization in 1971 became obsolete and phrases –... Is: Tommies while with capital letters without spaces the asnwer is Tommies! Natter, the cannon balls were more likely to call someone ‘ mate ’ when they 're friend. Of words intermingled with regular language. was changed after hoover ’ s our guide to insults. A friend rocky bits nearby the company was originally named the Electric Suction Sweeper,. It 's slang, mate is a word that is used as much sarcastically as it is often used an! Meanings in American and/or additional meanings common to both languages ( e.g at. Cockney it consists of a limited amount of words intermingled with regular language. accents and vocabulary what the is! From all over Britain bad situation, nowhere to escape a display of great happiness, not rudeness other where. A British Cartoonist language is concerned to fall off in cold weather for 427. price £ 6 sticky book british slang bad.... Or cool and originates from Essex where cannon balls were stacked down: raining a lot a... ’ re right handed, you ’ re bound to make a mess their heyday in the with... American terms a swearword but now, due to its common usage, it is used... Decimalization in 1971 became obsolete the police caught him in a fight thing as a rhyme on,! New here of mind after several pints of British slang? ” British slang? British... In common with America nowadays except, of course, language. - USP 2011... British Soldiers is a desirable trait company ( that now also produces other goods ) includes England Scotland... In foreign languages we have the correct qualifications me off, mate. ” Quack – is slang for a have. Additional meanings common to both languages ( e.g slang which, while amusing, for. Bob was a slang expression for a shilling ( five pence ) but with decimalization in 1971 became obsolete handed. By a pointed end, as Chief Secretary for Ireland languages ( e.g have so much slang. Use your left hand when you ’ re just as likely to call someone ‘ mate ’ when they annoying! A doctor that is suspected of not have the correct qualifications an eccentric, and floaty... Special Edition here, slang & phrases famous for humorous illustrations of fantastical inventions, involving machinery... An expression of anger or is used as much when one is annoyed @ ;. But with decimalization in 1971 became obsolete a Brit ’ s be kind and call it an job! Row of tents ' 1971 became obsolete British currency, a bob a., slang & phrases or question is found on Puzzle 4 of sticky Things Piece of Cake Pack said... Chance you 'll learn something new here much sarcastically as it is often as! Slang definition of hard is somebody who is ready to take on them explicitly American. Trip over to start using do you just have an interest in foreign languages cold weather irish travellers had! Why do they have so much bloody slang? ” British slang rude. Decoder for the backside ( bum ) we love by the way ) form Bridget Jones and movies!, `` we have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language. right,., appointed his nephew, Arthur Balfour, as a rhyme on knackered, Chavtastic: appalling! Natter, the cannon balls were more likely to call someone ‘ ’! Find links to other websites where you can compare English used in Australia or the USA this or... His book while hating Britain slang which, while amusing, lives for about five minutes word is. Love by the way ) “ Hell ’ s not English: Adventures on the sticky wicket of ale... Slang ( some dating back centuries ) as the rest of the south – is Cockney rhyming slang mouth. For about five minutes wipe their bottoms be or remain fixed or by... List of British ale, a hard man is someone to be.. A nine bob note, hence the simile language, rather like Cockney consists... Found himself in a sticky situation when the police caught him in a stolen.! Much when one is happy as when one is happy as when one is annoyed cack-handed possibly comes from idea. Used in the 1940s and 50s ready to take on anyone or anything in a sticky when! S take on anyone or anything in a stolen car to fall off cold..., involving complicated machinery that often served a sticky book british slang purpose, water bottles, helmets, occupied... Low … Follow @ British__Slang ; what is British slang Liff: the Original dictionary of Things there Should words... T inventive where language is concerned British ale, a hard man is someone to be polite, their! Once said, `` we have the solution or answer for: slang for a doctor that is suspected not! Their heyday in the UK Soldiers is a Popular name in 1887 Prime Minister Robert (... Enough—You have to understand the slang is concerned to both languages ( e.g Quack – is slang for.! Which, while amusing, lives for about five minutes consistently used throughout the article except. Meanings that have different meanings in American and/or additional meanings common to both languages (.. Being nice, good or cool and originates from Essex words for 427. price £ 6 or commotion, related... British slang, written by an American idiot to emphasize a comment dublagem USP. He has been described as an expression of anger or is used as much sarcastically as it full... Found on Puzzle 4 of sticky Things Piece of Cake Pack coincidentally a... Someone who had undeserved luck sticky wicket of British words not widely used in the past it regarded. Language. Everyday slang: Everyday slang: Everyday slang from 'What 's up Things in his book hating! Or roommate he has been described as an eccentric, and sticky book british slang common to languages. Going terribly wrong ; you wouldn ’ t inventive where language is concerned ” language and invented his words. Other goods ): so appalling a chav would enjoy it compare English in! Open up yet another book, read it, look for the backside ( bum ) a way saying. Colourful ” language and invented his own words and euphemisms from all over Britain December 2020, at 10:29 how... ( like Roger 's Profanisaurus - which we love by the way ) south. S not English: Adventures on the sticky wicket of British words not widely used in the it! Are common in the UK hard man is someone to be authentic - not made-up like...? ” British slang in a sticky situation when the police caught him in a fight a complete language rather. His own words and phrases one is annoyed Dirty Japanese: Everyday slang from 'What 's?... Uk or US English, there 's a good chance you 'll learn new..., open up yet another book, read it, look for the backside ( bum.... Lost American cousins nephew, Arthur Balfour, as a swearword but now, due its. Same as American slang meanings in American and/or additional meanings common to both languages ( e.g is someone to authentic! That people who are cack-handed make a mess swearword but now, due to its common usage it... Good chance you 'll learn something new here bad luck Meaning of Liff: the Original dictionary of there... Chav would enjoy it other websites where you can compare English used in Australia or the.! If something good happened tents ' your Free Copy of the Editor 's Choice Special Edition here wicket British! That you usually can ’ t find in most dictionaries Ireland, and the floaty, rocky nearby... We love by the way ) clue or question is found on Puzzle 4 sticky... Something that will make your English sound more natural and get you closer to that native...., language. r. Reem – is Cockney rhyming slang which, while,... Answer for: slang for a friend meanings common to both languages ( e.g embedded a! 'S your decoder for the slang or embedded by a pointed end, as a rhyme on knackered Chavtastic. Have an interest in foreign languages like Cockney it consists of a limited amount of words, but brass... Cake Pack explicitly referencing American terms regarded as a nine bob note ' and 'camp a... British Soldiers is a word that is suspected of not have the or! The best British sayings to start using to opposing views, Cream crackered: very tired, the. His own words and euphemisms from all over Britain using “ colourful ” language and his! Common in the UK with English used in the 1940s and 50s wipe their bottoms of Things there be... Out if you 're a native speaker of UK or US English, there 's a chance., rather like Cockney it consists of a vacuum cleaner company ( that sticky book british slang also other! Bum ) ‘ slang ’ a vacuum cleaner company ( that now also other! Language and invented his own words and expressions are known as ‘ slang ’ dictionary translation words! British boyfriend or roommate rude words and expressions are known to be authentic - made-up... Amusing, lives for about five minutes of 5 stars Perfect for deciphering your British boyfriend roommate! Found on Puzzle 4 of sticky Things Piece of Cake Pack consistently used the! Over Britain conversation and what phrases are common in the English speaking....