British Turns of Phrase or Expressions?

[Anonymous]

I watch waaay too much British TV and pay waaay too much attention to Britishims. Here are some more that I don't think have been mentioned above.

I'll ring you - I'll call
Come through - Come on in
A&E - emergency room
pants - underwear
trousers - pants
to grass - to tell on someone
the nick - police station/jail in police station
nicked - stolen
do you want to come to mine? - do you want to come over?
daft - crazy
dozy cow - stupid
dodgy - questionable
knackered - very tired
bog roll - toilet paper
lose the plot - go crazy
cock up - mistake
skive - fake being sick to get out of school/work
pulling - trying to hook up
up the duff - pregnant
skint - without cash
punter - bettor/customer/john

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm always jarred by "takin' the piss out" when used in casual conversation. I've heard and read complaints in Britain that there is becoming a common drift towards a working class accent all over the country--with everyone turning the "th" into an "f" sound and genally speaking with a Yorkshire accent. It used to be you could practically tell which street a person lived on in Liverpool and now everyone has a "scouse" accent?

Oh, regional accents are still quite strong.

There is sort of a broader shift towards Estuary English (greater London) as sort of the closest to a national generic accent but it’s far from standard. Not sure where th turning into f is true, however. Class based accents are weaker than in the past but they definitely still exist.

It's chavvy street-speak and it's turning the th to a v like "brovah."

[Anonymous]

I'm reading a series of British cozy mysteries, and I love the way they always refer to creepy and rude men as "odious".

Also, using "alright?" as a greeting.

The "loo" = The Toilet

"I'll say!" = Agreeing with someone

"Oh....go on with you!" = "You're pulling my leg."

"Your betters" = someone of a higher social status

Season = Presenting the young elite members to "society"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my Brit friends called the other "a jammy sod" on FB this week. I laughed so loud - it's the most British expression ever.

I'm going to use that phrase!!!!! If only I knew what it meant.....

I’m British, living this thread. Don’t think anyone responded to this yet - it means you’re lucky

My grandmother wouldn't allow the words sod or bugger in her presence so be careful with those. And bloody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Snog = kiss
Right slapper = whore, hussy
Fanny = vagina
Half-five = 5:30

I lived Manchester and when people would say thank you as “ta.” So, “Ta, luv, for the Quavers.”

They’d also say “Our Name” in reference to a friend/relative. “Our Andy went down the pub.”

A slapper is a noun but adding right to the beginning adds emphasis. So "she's a slapper"= she is a hussy and "she's a right slapper" is "she's such a hussy"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Help me with this one -- cheeky.

How would you define that?

Sassy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused by the expression like chalk and cheese. (Is that even right?) What does it mean?

I also like how the british call string lights fairly lights.

And how fancy dress means a costume party.

Chalk and cheese = “these things are totally dissimilar”

I’m going to start using this one.

[Anonymous]

Cheeky is a gentler word than "disrespectful" - if someone is described as cheeky its tolerated, indulged by the describer usually. Like you might describe your small kids as "cheeky monkeys", etc.

There is no direct word you can replace it with in US English, because "sassy" is stronger, and less innocent meaning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my Brit friends called the other "a jammy sod" on FB this week. I laughed so loud - it's the most British expression ever.

I'm going to use that phrase!!!!! If only I knew what it meant.....

I’m British, living this thread. Don’t think anyone responded to this yet - it means you’re lucky

My grandmother wouldn't allow the words sod or bugger in her presence so be careful with those. And bloody.

what would sod mean?

[Anonymous]

I forgot 2 of my favorites-

crikey- damnit!

and

pikey- white trash/low class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my Brit friends called the other "a jammy sod" on FB this week. I laughed so loud - it's the most British expression ever.

I'm going to use that phrase!!!!! If only I knew what it meant.....

I’m British, living this thread. Don’t think anyone responded to this yet - it means you’re lucky

My grandmother wouldn't allow the words sod or bugger in her presence so be careful with those. And bloody.

what would sod mean?

British PP here. I think “sod” was originally short for “sodomite”, so obviously a pretty awful word. But it really is innocuous in modern English, it’s almost interchangeable for “person”. It’s certainly not the word you would use to refer to a gay person. “Jammy sod” = “you lucky thing”, “poor old sod” = “poor bloke” are some other ways you could say things if you didn’t want to say “sod”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading a series of British cozy mysteries, and I love the way they always refer to creepy and rude men as "odious".

Also, using "alright?" as a greeting.

The "loo" = The Toilet

"I'll say!" = Agreeing with someone

"Oh....go on with you!" = "You're pulling my leg."

"Your betters" = someone of a higher social status

Season = Presenting the young elite members to "society"

Apart from the first two, these are all very old-fashioned. I feel like you must be reading Mrs Marple, or something!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My grandmother wouldn't allow the words sod or bugger in her presence so be careful with those. And bloody.

The bomb site scene from Hope and Glory must make her cringe!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qVvpKkYchw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I forgot 2 of my favorites-

crikey- damnit!

and

pikey- white trash/low class

Pikey is a slur referring to Irish Travellers or other Gypsies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my Brit friends called the other "a jammy sod" on FB this week. I laughed so loud - it's the most British expression ever.

I'm going to use that phrase!!!!! If only I knew what it meant.....

I’m British, living this thread. Don’t think anyone responded to this yet - it means you’re lucky

My grandmother wouldn't allow the words sod or bugger in her presence so be careful with those. And bloody.

what would sod mean?

British PP here. I think “sod” was originally short for “sodomite”, so obviously a pretty awful word. But it really is innocuous in modern English, it’s almost interchangeable for “person”. It’s certainly not the word you would use to refer to a gay person. “Jammy sod” = “you lucky thing”, “poor old sod” = “poor bloke” are some other ways you could say things if you didn’t want to say “sod”

I think it's a generational thing. I wouldn't use it around older folks. My grandfather used to swear at people in traffic and call them bloody buggers etc and it upset my grandmother. But she was very proper.