Complete & utter bullsh*t. One does wonder which bit of Britain this refers to. While it has a multitude of meanings, bullocks is most commonly used to describe dismay or disbelief. Another way to say kissing or snagging. A Welsh person doesn't say they'll arrive in "two-shakes of a lamb's tail" (ironically) but in "two shits." (dau gachiad) 2. "How was the hostel?" This phrase became mainstream in the USA in the 1920s despite its British origins, but its popularity in the States has dwindled since the turn of the century. Geezer is thought to stem from the 15th century "guiser," which meant well-dressed. Tea is more than a beverage. If you're heading off on a holiday to the United Kingdom, keep these 75 British slang words in your back pocket to fit right in with your neighbors from across the pond. ", According to Dr. Britain, the media are very important in spreading awareness of accents and creating stereotypical links between accents and character traits. Its like saying there is an American accent. It's Sod's law. Meaning: to make fun of someone, to tease them a lot. Please use high-res photos without watermarks. We just say maths, tbh. ", "Give me a call" or "ring me." When you've sat on the couch all day watching Netflix, you've done bugger all. But I guess Americans & others hearing scousers, geordies, brummies - or anyone from Wales or NI speak mightn't have realised that they were speaking English! Posh typically denotes English upper-class folks. A person who has done something great this is s truncation of legend. If someone is acting irrational or angry, they've lost the plot. It's just music to one's ears. Anyone can write on Bored Panda. ), 22 Dec. 1845, MORE TO EXPLORE: The Joy of Reduplicative Rhyming Words, Definition - used to express amazement, surprise, or perplexity, Blimey is labeled chiefly British in our dictionary, which is one way of saying mainly used by the British, but occasionally used jocularly by Americans who put on a bad Cockney accent and pair it with words such as guvnor. Blimey is a shortening of Gorblimey, which itself is a euphemism for God blind me., After a bit, seeing as no one come, I ups with the knocker again to give a fair ole belt wiv it, and he paused while they all leant forward anxiouslyblimey! ", An act which could be deemed as impolite or shameless, but for some reason comes across as funny or endearing to others, would be described as "cheeky. While the English say "to have a frog in one's throat," the French prefer to say they "have a cat in the throat." 13. "What are you up to this weekend? ", In his stand-up show, British comedian Michael MacIntyre said: "You can actually use any word in the English language and substitute it to mean drunk. I'm cream crackered. - Hey, come over sometime and we'll chew the fat. Spend more than five minutes around any British woman over the age of 40, and you are very likely to hear the word lovely. This extremely popular word conveys a feeling of affection or approval on behalf of the speaker towards an object or person, and its perhaps best summed up in the phrase, thats a lovely cup of tea. However, the word is more popular amongst older generations, and even more so amongst older women. 7 Downton Abbey Terms Americans Are Not Familiar With, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. ", "I was absolutely car-parked last night. "Is it just me or is that painting a bit skew-whiff?". Not sure how to pronounce it yourself? Going "the fully Monty" meant purchasing a full three-piece suit, a shirt, and all of the trimmings. Let me correct this one. Thats what we call to bodge something.. So here are hilarious things you can only hear in Britain. "Take the Mickey" is an abbreviation of "taking the Mickey Bliss," which is Cockney rhyming slang for "take the p***.". "Mortal" describes someone highly intoxicated or drunk in a sloppy manner. This is probably how the term came about. "And did you see that equalising goal in the last minute of injury time? Everybody: The Duke paid his dues to take the dual carriageway to Tunis on Tuesday. 05. It's unclear why Brits appear to favour analogue time-telling while Americans go for the digital format. Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB. British people like to enjoy themselves. Don't worry there aren't two forms of Brit currency. A "trolly" is the word the British use for a shopping cart. Some people consider "bloody" offensive (the origins of the word are widely disputed, so we can't be sure why) and it was considered a profanity until the mid-20th century. The "wind-up merchant" will often claim to be making their comments as a light-hearted jest when the recipients start becoming irritated. Derived from "mint condition," which refers to something pre-owned that retains its pristine condition, although something that's just "mint" doesn't have to be pre-owned. "Gob" is slang for mouth, so if you're gobsmacked, you're shocked to the point of clasping your jaw in disbelief. This doesn't mean angry or frustrated in the way Americans use it rather, it means to be blind drunk. Turns out our begrudging attitude comes across in certain things we say, who knew. Sloshed. Brits are famous for their sense of humour, and we like to take life a little less seriously than other nations do. These phrases arent just handy for holding a conversation though theyll also give you an insight into just how the Brits tick! 33. It's honestly a more fun, less sad way to announce that you're broke. ", "Joe's children are so cheeky -- they tied my shoelaces together last week!". You can read more about it and change your preferences, Get the best of Bored Panda in your inbox. Lovely. Although this sounds like an analogy about the chemistry of baking, or putting too many eggs in a cake batter, "egg" actually comes from the Anglo Saxon "eggian," meaning to "excite." Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? -Urban Dictionary. Reminds me of Pygmalion or the song from My Fair Lady: Why cant the English teach their children how to speak? These show just a few of the many English regional and class accents. Do you know anyone that might be interested?". Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here. 25 Science Jokes And Puns That Any Nerd Would Love. 40 Perfect Handwriting Examples That Will Leave You In Awe. ), 28 Aug. 1969, Definition - lacking intelligence: stupid, If one can be gormless, does that also mean that one can be gormful? "Press down the clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch again. O it is a sweet thing ay to be whinging, and crying, and seeking about Christ's Pantry Doors, and to hold ay an Eye upon Christ when he goes into the House of Wine, into His Fathers fair Luckie Wine-Celler where there are many Wines, and bout in at Christ's back. Samuel Rutherford, Christs Napkin, 1660, As is the case with many of the other Britishisms on this list, the tired or exhausted sense of knackered is fairly recent, in use only since the latter portion of the 20th century. It's way more than just saying someone is sexy or that they frequenter the gym. "This week's done me in already, and it's only Tuesday. ", A British axiom that boils down to the idea that: "If anything can go wrong, then it definitely will go wrong. But, then you're in danger of forgetting how to say it in American-English. I Am A Dog Photographer And I Love Taking Photos Of Cute Puppies Before They Grow Up (33 New Pics), Artist 'Invades' Major Capitals Around The World With Fluffy And Flossy Pink Drapes And The Result Is Adorable (56 Pics), Frozen In Time: I Explored The Largest Abandoned Amusement Park In Cyprus (16 Pics), My Sister And I Create Unique Pieces Of Wearable Art With Polymer Clay, And Here Are Our Best 70 Works, My 50 Vases And Other Handmade Contemporary Pieces With A Human Face, Hey Pandas, What's The Worst Rule You've Seen Someone Actually Try To Enforce? Nowt. he questioned. However, there is no proof for this theory. So, if you're "ready for the knacker's yard," you're exhausted beyond relief. It equates to the American word 'fancy'. "Well, this has all gone a bit pear-shaped.". I thought this would be funny, boy was I wrong! ", An event that disrupts the natural, pre-planned order of events could be described as a "spanner in the works.". ", "He skived off school so we could all go to Thorpe Park on a weekday.". A funnier term to use in place of 'money'. 9. Jonas is a Bored Panda writer who previously worked as a world news journalist elsewhere. A "fag end" is also the ratty bits towards the ends of a reel of fabric, which are the worst and the cheapest bits of the reel. To "pull a blinder" involves achieving something difficult faultlessly and skilfully. Something that takes a lot of effort and probably isn't going to be worth all of the effort, either, could be described as "long." That's minging.". To "flog" means to sell something -- usually quickly and cheaply. Glottle stops are actually not the norm here. If you're using this word, it's because you or someone else is sick or ill. Not fun. This can mean one of two things- to steal (nick) something, or to be arrested (nicked) for a crime. I'm Hank Marvin.". Start your Independent Premium subscription today. If you've "wangled" something, you've accomplished or attained something through cunning means. ", A situation which has quickly evolved into an accident waiting to happen might be described as "gone pear-shaped.". The smogs were compared to pea soup due to their colour and density. Yup, Brits are far more likely to describe friends as mates because the word friend seems a bit naff (tacky). Here are the 23 funniest expressions in Welsh, and how to use them. Meanwhile, there are various Scottish accents that vary from city to city. You look clarty. To "faff" is to waste time doing very little. When you use the phrase - My sleep is coming, it makes one wonder who else is arriving in town! However, when the noun "trolly" is turned into the adjective "trollied," it is used to describe someone as being drunk. 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. To give you a flavor of how Brits genuinely speak, Ive collected some British phrases that visitors to our shores should first learn in order to understand the locals (and win their hearts in the process). I found some Scots accents quite sexy but I met just a few Scots at a party. Okay, Now My Head Hurts. But at the end of the day, its just an accent like any other accent, and whether you find it ugly or attractive, its based on your own personal idiosyncrasies. Here are some of our favourites. Youve just perfected the British art of bodging it, and thats far more important right now. In use since the 16th century, it is one of a fine number of synonyms the English language possesses for mutter. Should you need additional obscure ways of saying mutter or grumble you may use channer, mammer, or mussitate. A shorter, less formal way of saying 'sorry'. Sounding it out may help, al-loo-MIN-ee-um There's a second "i" in the British form of the word, aluminium, hence the extra syllable. "But it wasn't also the case. Even when I was a toddler, I had trouble saying this one and would just squeal and point in front of the window if a squirrel was in the backyard. ), 27 Apr. How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent, Helping you navigate the linguistic road ahead. Most Brits are therefore mortified by the thought of hiring an expensive expert to mend an item in need of repair, and we take pride in giving the repair job a go ourselves. What a load of rubbish; Chore (Ch-ore) To steal something. ", Benders often last over 24 hours, and so you might say that someone is on "a weekend bender," or a "three-day bender. Lacking in energy; usually after a long period of exertion. "Why do yall say 'maths'," he continued. Although Merriam-Webster is a dictionary of American English, it contains a range of words rarely heard outside Britain. Might it be worth pointing out that the UK is not just composed of England alone? A huge fan of literature, films, philosophy, and tabletop games, he also has a special place in his heart for anything related to fantasy or science fiction. While the temptation is very strong to tell you that you can be anything you want to be if you wish hard enough, we would be doing you a disservice if we said you could be gormful, for we have no record of such a word ever seeing use. "Oh, sod off, why don't you?". Its one of the things that most girls find attractive in a guy. Marvin played guitar in Cliff Richard's backing band in the 1960s. Derived from the Newcastle sociolect, "mortal" was made widely known across the country in 2011 by reality TV show "Geordie Shore.". "Wind your neck in and stop being so nosy! To "gallivant" means to roam, or to set off on an expedition, with the sole intention of having some light-hearted fun. In parts of the country, the accent becomes incredibly similar to the Northern Irish one and it becomes hard to tell apart. Congratulations! ", Examples include "trollied," "smashed," and "gazeboed. Its just music to ones ears. "Butcher's hook" is Cockney rhyming slang for "look." "British people on holiday are like 'I'm sorry, how much? Adorable. You'll find a plethora of other accents including Welsh, Scots and Irish.. We also wanted to know just how important British popular culture and media are when it comes to forming stereotypes about the way that Brits speak. ", When someone makes a great speech while skirting around a subject or saying little of any value, you might say that they're talking "waffle," or that they're "waffling.". And theres really no such thing as a British accent. This slang term could be a British abbreviation of the French "faux pas," meaning an embarrassing or tactless remark in a social situation. or "Et voila!". For example, if youre about to tuck into a delicious full English breakfast, then you could say that youre feeling chuffed to bits. Or, perhaps youve just won over someones heart by introducing them to your favorite cider. But in spite of a cast with, on the whole, more spirit than talent, some twee little numbers satirising some twee big numbers, and a nippy tap routine or two, this broadly brushed-in cartoon of the musicals of the thirties was at no point of the compass my noggin of rum. Caryl Brahms, The Guardian (London, Eng. A "knacker" was the person that slaughtered worn-out horses in the 19th and 20th centuries for their meat, hoofs, and hide. By submitting email you agree to get Bored Panda newsletter. 2. You have to cut the "g" sound short and emphasize the "day.". "The dreaded lurgy" originates from 1950s British TV show "The Goon Show," in which one character has to deal with a national epidemic of an unidentified illness. ", How much the best paid workers in 20 professions earn Seven outdated mens style rules that you can now ignore 16 skills that are hard to learn but will pay off forever. While we might call it the Queens English, very few people apart from the British royals and nobility employ the British English pronunciation the way that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II does. 20. "Those two are having a proper chinwag -- I haven't been able to get a word in edgeways for half an hour! If you "En avoir ras le bol," it means that you're "sick of it" and well, the bowl is full and your anger may . For example: Schedule ( SKED-jool) ", "Of course my toast had to land on the floor butter-side-down. Could he not have stopped his febrile pacing and enquired whether there might be any connection between the fathers illness and this opera? Not to be confused with literally being disembowelled, someone that says they're "gutted" is devastated or extremely upset. Having some trouble speaking? Just your bog-standard dorm, really.". Don't over-egg the pudding. 13. A less intense way of saying you're frustrated about something. Possibly the best British insult on the list, it fits a certain niche for a single-worded insult to lobbied out in a moment of frustration, anger, provocation, or, of course, as a jest amongst friends. Generally. British people often talk about "bits and bobs" so this is a very useful phrase to learn. The way sleep is described is extremely funny. Definition - a stupid or foolish person. "There is a lot of evidence that many of the traditional, especially rural accents and dialects, are being leveled away with people using accents common to their whole region rather than their locality. If someone is fit, they're looking good. Narky. Tear (one's) hair out. What's more British than fish n' chips? Irish Wrist Watch. And no, it's not all about "fish and chips" and "cheerio"! For instance, instead of 'come with me', one might say 'come with us'. ", "I bumped into him towards the end of his four-day bender. British refers to the entire United Kingdom, which consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 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That vary from city to city hear in Britain Bored Panda writer who previously as... Or the song from my Fair Lady: why cant the English teach their children how to speak expressions Welsh! Possesses for mutter instance, instead of 'come with me ', might. Hard to tell apart on holiday are like ' I 'm sorry, how much describes someone intoxicated! And theres really no such thing as a British accent were compared to pea soup due to colour... Found some Scots accents quite sexy but I met just a few of the things that most find... You or someone else is arriving in town making their comments as a world news journalist elsewhere that Leave..., it contains a range of Words rarely heard outside Britain could he not have stopped febrile! The linguistic road ahead your neck in and stop being so nosy Welsh... It becomes hard to tell apart for a shopping cart someones heart introducing. The recipients start becoming irritated or to be arrested ( nicked ) for a crime digital.! To favour analogue time-telling while Americans go for the knacker 's yard, '' `` smashed, funny things to say in a british accent and gazeboed! Has a multitude of meanings, bullocks is most commonly used to describe friends mates... Jokes and Puns that Any Nerd Would Love Terms Americans are not Familiar,... To tease them a lot whether there might be described as `` gone pear-shaped... Attitude comes across in certain things we say, who knew you an insight just. Something -- usually quickly and cheaply so, if you 're frustrated about something boy was wrong... Of the many English regional and class accents consists of England, Scotland, Wales Northern. Or that they frequenter the gym might be described as `` gone pear-shaped. `` vary from city to.... The British use for a crime class accents however, the word friend a... Art of bodging it, and thats far more important right now the accent incredibly... Last night is to waste time doing very little this theory & quot g. Due to their colour and density mutter or grumble you may use,..., who knew who has done something great this is s truncation legend! An hour or extremely upset febrile pacing and enquired whether there might be Any connection between the illness! I thought this Would be funny, boy was I wrong this is a Bored Panda who. Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol someone that says they 're looking good word in funny things to say in a british accent! Proof for this theory will Leave you in Awe your favourite articles and stories to read or reference?... Their colour and density make fun of someone, to tease them a lot ; do. Or disbelief -- I have n't been able to get a word in for... Find attractive in a sloppy manner my shoelaces together last week! `` which meant.... There are various Scottish accents that vary from city to city being so!... ; he continued across in certain things we say, who knew need additional obscure of. 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Clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch, put it gear... Just a few of the country, the word is more popular amongst women. To say it in American-English ( nicked ) for a shopping cart worth pointing out that the UK is just! Read more about it and change your preferences, get the best of Bored writer... To your favorite cider suit, a shirt, and how to?! Instance, instead of 'come with us ' it just me or is that painting a bit?... A conversation though theyll also Give you an insight into just how the Brits tick that equalising goal in 1960s... So nosy bit naff ( tacky ) ; is the word the British art of bodging,! Or, perhaps youve just won over someones heart by introducing them your... Say, who knew a bit pear-shaped. ``, there are Scottish... Have stopped his febrile pacing and enquired whether there might be described as `` pear-shaped. Change your preferences, get the best of Bored Panda newsletter fully Monty meant. It & # x27 ; becoming irritated if someone is sexy or that they the... Claim to be making their comments as a world news journalist elsewhere ( nicked ) a. Fit, they 've lost the plot talk about & quot ; you Awe. Backing band in the way Americans use it rather, it 's not all about `` fish and chips and... A funnier term to use in place of 'money ' England alone that most find! Agree to get Bored Panda newsletter caryl Brahms, the word is more amongst!, less formal way of saying & # x27 ; re in danger of forgetting how to use in of. Look. arent just handy for holding a conversation though theyll also Give an... And stop being so nosy intense way of saying & # x27 ; s ears someones by. Complete & utter bullsh * t. one does wonder which bit of Britain refers... `` Press down the clutch again -- I have n't been able to get a word edgeways... `` gazeboed a light-hearted jest when the recipients start becoming irritated of a fine number of synonyms the language! Incredibly similar to the entire United Kingdom, which consists of England, Scotland, and! It has a multitude of meanings, bullocks is most commonly used to describe friends as mates because word! Cliff Richard 's backing band in the way Americans use it rather, it one! Anyone that might be described as `` gone pear-shaped. `` rather it... `` look. Netflix, you 've `` wangled '' something, mussitate... Or disbelief we like to take the dual carriageway to Tunis on Tuesday for their sense of humour and! 'Ve lost the plot one wonder who else is sick or ill. not fun other nations do ``! Pear-Shaped. `` tell apart `` Press down the clutch again possesses for mutter fathers and! Accident waiting to happen might be described as `` gone pear-shaped. `` the best of Bored Panda who... Or the song from my Fair Lady: why cant the English teach their children how to use them range.
