Are you feeling a bit knackered or fagged today, internet, and need
something to be gobsmacked by? Then rest your zonked peepers on these 71
simple British phrases (compiled from slang dictionaries). Some are
common, some are out of use, but all of them you will want to start using
immediately. Gretchen Wieners once advocated that everyone start saying
“fetch,” but don’t stop there. Don’t be a tosser. Use them all.
And just remember: be very careful when you ask a British person how their
father is. You know not what you’re asking.
Flickr/
careybaird
1. Any road: used in place of “any way,” primarily used in the north of
Britain.
2. Baccy: shortened word for “tobacco;” also, “wacky backy” means
marijuana.
3. Barmy: crazy, insane; always derogatory.
4. Bender: derogatory term for homosexual, like “poof.” (Note: You
probably shouldn’t use it or you’ll get slapped, but it’s worthy of note for
giving Futurama a very different meaning.)
5. Biggie: term children might use to describe feces; also, an erection.
6. Bits ‘n Bobs: various things. (Example: “My mother has a lot of Bits ‘n
Bobs around the house.”)
7. “Bob’s your uncle!”: “There you go! You’ve got it!”
8. Bollocks: technically means “balls,” but often describes something seen
as extremely negative or lacking in value; e.g. “total shit.”
9. “Bugger off!”: “Go away!” or “Leave me alone!” (Note: Bugger, used on
its own, is akin to “Fuck!” or “Shit!”)
10. Chav: white trash.
11. Cheeky: to be not respectful of something, having a flippant or facetious
attitude.
12. Chin Wag: to have a chat with someone.
13. Collywobbles: extreme queasiness or stomach pain brought on by
stress, nervousness or anxiety.
14. Crusty Dragon: a piece of snot or booger.
15. Daft Cow: a very stupid person (See also: “Wazzock.”)
16. Dog’s Bollocks: extremely good or favorable, great
17. Dog’s Dinner: to be dressed nicely or look dapper.
18. Donkey’s Years: ages, as in “I haven’t seen you in ages!”
19. Fagged: disturbed, bothered or interrupted (Example: If one were
studying for a test, one would not want to be “fagged.”)
20. Fall Arse Over Tit: to have an embarrassing fall or to topple over.
Flickr/
erjkprunczyk
21. Fanny: vagina.
22. Fit: hot or sexually desirable.
23. The Full Monty: going all the way with it, going big instead of going
home.
24. “Get stuffed!”: “Beat it” or “Scram!”
25. Gobby: loudly opinionated, offensive or prickish. (See: Donald Trump.)
26. Gobsmacked: amazed or awed by something.
27. Gormless: completely clueless, like Alicia Silverstone in the 90s film.
28. To Have A Butcher’s: to take a look at something or someone.
29. Her Majesty’s Pleasure: being incarcerated or put in prison.
30. “How’s Your Father?”: euphemism for sex (Example: “Have you and
your wife had any of the ol’ ‘How’s your father?’ recently?”)
31. “I’m Off To Bedfordshire!”: “I’m hitting the hay!”
32. “It’s Monkeys Outside!”: “Wow, it’s very cold out!”
33. John Thomas: penis.
34. Knackered: phrase meaning “extremely tired,” often uttered after a
long, exhausting day; also see: “zonked.”
35. Knees Up: A term for a mixer or a dance party (Example: “I went to
this wild knees up this weekend. I wish you could have been there.”)
36. Legless: totally, completely hammered.
37. Lose The Plot: to go “crazy” or become mentally unstable.
38. Lurgy: sick or under the weather.
39. Made Redundant: to be fired or let go from one’s position.
40. Minted: to be extremely rich.
Flickr/az1172
41. Off One’s Trolley: mad, out of one’s mind.
42. On The Piss: binge drinking solely for the purpose of getting totally
smashed.
43. On The Pull: cruising for sexual intercourse.
44. Pavement Pizza: euphemism for puke or vomit.
45. “Pip pip!”: archaic, out-of-use phrase used to say goodbye.
46. Plonk: a pejorative word used to describe red wine of poor quality,
usually purchased at little expensive.
47. Ponce: a poser.
48. Porkies: old Cockney rhyming word used to mean “lies.” (Example: If
one is “telling porkies,” you’re telling lies.) Comes from “pork pies,” which
rhymes with lies.
49. Puff: a fart.
50. Rumpy-Pumpy: amazing phrase used as a euphemism for sexual
intercourse.
Flickr/Paolo
Margari
51. See A Man About a Dog: what you say as an excuse for leaving, in
order to hide your destination; also, to excuse oneself to take a giant shit.
52. Shambolic: in a total state of bedlam, chaos or dismay.
53. Shirty: ill-tempered, insolent.
54. Skive: a character deemed particularly lazy or incapable of being of use.
55. Slap And Tickle: making out or heavy petting.
56. Slapper: a promiscuous female.
57. Spend A Penny: to use the restroom.
58. Snookered: to be in a bad situation, totally fucked or otherwise
without a paddle.
59. Starkers: completely naked.
60. Stonker: a boner.
Flickr/
erjkprunczyk
61. Strawberry Creams: hunger-inducing term for a woman’s breasts.
62. Sweet Fanny Adams: code for “Sweet fuck all”, meaning little to
nothing at all. (Example: “I thought I had a chance with her, but I ended up
with Sweet Fanny Adams.)
63. Taking The Piss: messing or screwing around.
64. Throw A Spanner In The Works: to make a mistake or fuck up
something.
65. Tickety-Boo: phrase for when everything’s going great (Example: “All
is tickety-boo in my world.”)
66. Todger: another word for “dick.”
67. Tosh: total bullshit, nonsense or rubbish.
68. Tosser: derogatory term for male masturbator, used to indicate that
you look upon someone unfavorably. (Example: “He fancies himself the
bee’s knees, but frankly he’s quite the wanker.”)
69. Twig And Berries: male genitalia, the penis and balls.
70. Up The Duff: pregnant or with child.
Flickr/NASA’s
Marshall Space Flight Center
71. “Who blew off?”: “Who farted?”
