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What are the most commonly used words and phrases in British slang? Here are 20+ expressions used in British jargon you should know to finally understand what all these characters in British TV shows are actually saying so you can understand and speak like a true Brit.
- Ace
- Any Road
- A Load of Tosh
- A Kent Face
- Bees Knees
- Bite Your Arm Off
- Brassed Off
- Bits ‘N Bobs
- Bob’s Your Uncle
- Cheerio
– is used to describe something that is awesome. A word that is popular in the north and amongst youngsters.
– when you hear this, the person isn’t asking you to pick a road! They are most likely substituting it for “anyway” and the context could be “any road are you from China or Japan.”
– is used to describe something that is not very good. For example, your lecturer might describe your essay “as a load of tosh” …. harsh!
– commonly used in Scotland when a person has seen a person they know, such as “I saw a few Kent faces in the library”. This idiom has nothing to do with the surname or the place. It is taken from an old English word that means “to know”.
– the phrase does not relate to bees or knees but is an idiom for excellent. It became popular in the 1920s along with “cat’s whiskers.”
– don’t be alarmed if someone says this. No one is about to literally bite off any part of your anatomy. It is used to describe willingness. For example someone might say to you ”they will bite your arm off if you offer to write their essay.”
– considering the Brits are good at hiding their emotions we still have plenty of words to describe when we are not happy with something. One of which is “brassed off”.
– is used these days when you want to say you have an odd selection of things for example you could say “I have a few bits’n bobs in the fridge. I’ll see what I can make”. However, it was originally used to describe loose change in your pocket.
– the origins of this saying and how it is used today differ. The saying originally meant you could get anything or do anything if you had the right connections because it came about after the 20th British Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, famously appointed a nephew into an important political post for which he didn’t have the relevant experience. T...
– No it is not just a breakfast cereal but also one of the many words used to say goodbye in the UK. “Ta ta” is popular in the North of England and you will also hear “laters” and “see ya”.
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A Dictionary of English Slang and Colloquialisms of the UK | British Slang. A monster online slang dictionary of the rich colourful language we call slang... all from a British perspective, with new slang added every month.
- Arse. What a great way to start the list. An arse is your rear end (not to be confused with an ass, which is a donkey). But it can also be a reference to an annoying person: “Stop being such an arse”.
- Banter. Making jokes, often at the expense of others in your company. British people love to banter, and someone with good banter is likely to be popular.
- Bare. Used mostly in London to mean "a lot of". “There were bare man at the rave”. Note the use of “man” in the singular to mean “men” or even “people”.
- Barmy. Crazy. “That’s a barmy idea”.
Aug 3, 2021 · 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. bog-standard - nothing special; bonkers - crazy; botched - something going wrong; cack-handed - clumsy; camp - flamboyant; cheeky - sassy; chockablock - filled to the brim; cobblers - nonsense
- Mary Gormandy White
- Staff Writer
Nov 4, 2022 · The world of British slang is vast, and it includes everything from modern abbreviations to terms that have existed for a century. So let’s dive in and learn some other UK originals that you might hear more often if you mingle with the locals.
Apr 12, 2023 · These 75 British Slang Words From Across the Pond Are Bloody Brilliant. Learn more about the meaning of this UK slang. If you've ever watched British television, odds are you've found...
