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- Meaning: Someone who talks a lot but doesn’t follow through with their words. Origin: Describes someone who’s all talk without substance, as if they forgot to put their trousers on. Usage: “He claims he’ll beat the record, but he’s all mouth and no trousers.”
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Our guide to British slang words, lingo & expressions includes regional variations from the Queen's English, Cockney, to Welsh colloquialisms.
- Bollocks
- 3., and 4. Cob, Bap, and Barm
- To Have A Cob on
- And 10. Bladdered and Pissed
- Punter
- Tory
- Offie
- Tosser
- Pillock
- Cwtch
Literally,bollocks means “testicles.” Colloquially, it can be used as a general expression of annoyance or distaste; it also means “nonsense.”
All terms used to refer to a bread roll. According tothe BBC, there may be as many as 20 terms across the UK for “what is perhaps the most inoffensive foodstuff known to man.”
When someone has a cob on, that means they’re annoyed or in a bad mood. One reader of The Guardian speculated that the phrase may have come from the old practice of wearing bread as a status symbol and was originally used in a derogatory way to mean “high and mighty” before evolving to its current meaning. It might also come from the fact that male...
Both bladdered and pissed mean “drunk.” Insert basically any noun, add -edon the end of it, and it means “drunk” if you give it the right emphasis. The British have a lot of words for being drunk.
Punter has a few meanings, and it’s fairly important not to mix them up. It can be used to describe paying customers (usually as part of a crowd or audience), or it can be someone who’s gambling (they’re having a punt, as in “bet”). The third meaning? A sex worker’s client. Seriously, don’t get them mixed up.
A Tory is a member of the British Conservative Party; the word is used casually in a slightly demeaning way to denote a posh person.
Offie is short for off-license, a shop that can sell alcohol for consumption off the premises. It’s similar to a liquor store, but usually has a greater variety of non-alcohol products.
This insult for “a foolish or despicable person” probably comes from toss off, meaning “to masturbate.”
Since the 1960s, pillock has been used as a term for a stupid person, but when it originated in the 1530s it meant“penis.”
A Welsh term for a hug (pronounced “kutch,” as if it rhymes with butch)—specifically, a nice, cozy hug that makes you feel all warm inside.
- Chris Deeley
Apr 12, 2023 · These British slang words from the UK are bloody brilliant! Read on for the meanings of these slang words and phrases we're stealing from the Brits.
Oct 13, 2020 · A list of delightfully descriptive British slang words and phrases taken from across the UK. Once you read this list, you’ll basically become British yourself. Did you know that the UK has around 40 different dialects of English, each with their own accents and slang?
May 30, 2024 · If you’ve ever come across British slang words and you live anywhere other than the UK, it’s understandable if you’re confused by what they mean! But, fear not! This ultimate list of British slang words covers the popular slang words and phrases that you might hear in the UK.
May 23, 2022 · Do you hear about slang words, but can't really figure them out enough to recognize them? No worries: Browse this list of slang examples and get better acquainted.
