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Our guide to British slang words, lingo & expressions includes regional variations from the Queen's English, Cockney, to Welsh colloquialisms.
Aug 9, 2023 · Meaning of the Slang Term: GOAT. The British Isles have a rich linguistic history with colloquial expressions like 'bloke', 'cheeky', 'mate', and 'blimey'. Navigate the myriad of British slang terms and idioms that offer a unique window into UK culture.
- 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.
2 days ago · 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.
Aug 26, 2024 · Learning British slang can be tricky but also fun and incredibly useful if you want to sound more natural when speaking English. Here’s a guide to 50 popular British slang words and phrases, along with explanations and example sentences to help you understand and use them in context.
Oct 13, 2020 · So, as a way of easing you in, here are some of my favorite slang words, phrases and expressions from around the British Isles. 01. 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).
Learning English slang words is just like learning any other type of word—it takes practice and familiarization. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of current terms commonly used in everyday English. We’ll tell you what they mean and give you example sentences to show you how to use them correctly.
