If someone's "caught the lurgy," they're suffering from cold or flu-like symptoms. Is that ham and tuna? Something that is "bog-standard" is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons. Each term is partneredwith a description and example. ", Although the adjective's origins remain largely unknown, early documented uses seem to use the word as synonymous with "smear," further suggesting that someone who is "smarmy" is also "slick" or "slippery. This could be due to the lengths that the person will have to go to in order to complete the task. "Grab your brolly, it's drizzling outside. ", "I was absolutely car-parked last night. The phrase was first documented in the BBC's "Lenny Henry Christmas Special" in 1987. However, in the UK, someone that's "pissed" is most probably drunk. "What's in that sandwich? "When are we going to eat? You'll be chatting like a local in no time at all! "That's when all of the lights came on, and so we legged it.". ", Something full to the brim, or rammed, could be described as "chockalock. Dog and Bone = Phone. 50 Must-Know British Slang Words and Phrases. A disorganised mess or chaotic environment might be described as a "shambles. Codswallop - nonsense. "Our Christmas dinner had everything from sprouts to Yorkshire puddings. We've got a party at our gaff, if you fancy it? Throw a wobbly - get . "I don't mean this as a par, but did you remember to wash this morning? To "gallivant" means to roam, or to set off on an expedition, with the sole intention of having some light-hearted fun. Although the origins of this phrase are largely unknown, a gaff in the 18th-century was a music hall or theatre, and so it's believed to derive from this. He was mortal.". ", "You've made a dog's dinner of that paint job.". To "flog" means to sell something -- usually quickly and cheaply. British Slang & Colloquialisms - Travel Guide To Britain No returns of any kind" is a school playground rhyme often exchanged between friends on the first day of a new calendar month, accompanied by a pinch and a punch to the recipient. "Skiving" is the act of avoiding work or school, often by pretending to be ill. "Skive" is derived from the French "esquiver," meaning "to slink away. A "knacker" was the person who slaughtered worn-out horses in the 19th and 20th centuries for their meat, hoofs, and hide. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Historically, "gallant" described someone brave or valiant, so "gallivanting" is a carefree and confident act. ", Examples include "trollied," "smashed," and "gazeboed. "Mug" likely originated in London with Cockney slang. Derived from the Newcastle sociolect, "mortal" was made widely known across the country in 2011 by reality TV show "Geordie Shore.". It works." It works." Examples include . "Do we have to go to the dinner party tonight? Although its origins are largely debated, the term's meaning has evolved over the last 50 years alone. If you're "splashing out," it's implied that you're spending money on a treat to mark a special occasion or celebration. The "wind-up merchant" will often claim to be making their comments as a light-hearted jest when the recipients start becoming irritated. Your grasp of the slang portion of British English won't be complete unless you master a few of the most common U.K. slang exclamations and expressions. If you're heading off on a holiday to the United Kingdom, it'll be handy to have certain British slang definitions down pat. However, in the UK, someone that's "pissed" is most probably drunk. Are yougoing on the pull?". Someone silly or incompetent might be described as a wally. Cock up - a mistake, as a verb "to cock up" is to make a mistake. Although it sounds crude, the phrase is actually considered a polite way of announcing that you are going to visit the bathroom. So, if you're "ready for the knacker's yard," you're exhausted beyond relief. Now that's a proper breakfast.". However, other people believe that "shirty" has connotations of being dishevelled. If you want to tell someone to not concern themselves with issues that don't directly affect them, you might tell them to "wind their neck in.". Some entries also feature surprising facts about the phrase's origins, with a few quintessentially British idioms not actually coming from British roots at all. You don't want to be called a few sandwiches short of a picnic." From "chockablock" to a "full Monty," the Brits have a wide range of interesting phrases. Therefore, if you're "having a butchers," you're having a look at something. You can use it to refer to a person or an object. U.K. slang is nothing if not interesting! In the 1960s, someone that was unfashionable might be nicknamed a "wally," according to dictionary.com. Benjo. This cheery phrase is widely believed to originate from Northern factory workers around the time of the industrial revolution. "By getting pregnant, Mary threw a spanner in the works.". as well as other partner offers and accept our, Martin Rler/EyeEm/ master1305/Getty Images, Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures, Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star via Getty Images, no one is completely sure of the word's origins. "Chinese whispers" are rumours that have been circulated and watered down until they only vaguely resemble the truth. As a result, "pinch punch, first of the month" was a way of warding off witches and bad luck for the near future. Its origins are somewhat unclear, but a "bog" is another word for a toilet in British slang, adding to the connotations that something "bog-standard" is unglamorous andunspecial.
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