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Aug 9, 2023 · Origin: Derived from “hey up”, where “up” is an old Middle English word meaning “on the rise” or “awake”. Usage: “Ey up, mate. How’s it going?” Easel. Meaning: Not to be confused with the tripod stand for artists, in slang, it can mean easy. Origin: Rhyming slang, where words rhyme with the intended word.
- 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.
- Chris Deeley
Learn British slang words, expressions, and meanings including regional variations from Queen's English to Cockney and Welsh colloquialisms.
- 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). But it can also be a reference to an annoying person: “Stop being such an arse”.
- Banter. Making jokes, often at the expense of others in your company. British people love to banter, and someone with good banter is likely to be popular.
- Bare. Used mostly in London to mean "a lot of". “There were bare man at the rave”. Note the use of “man” in the singular to mean “men” or even “people”.
- Barmy. Crazy. “That’s a barmy idea”.
- A cuppa: A cup of tea. Commonly used when someone wants to express a desire for a hot beverage, particularly tea. Example sentence: “I fancy a cuppa after that long walk.”
- All right: A greeting or inquiry about one’s well-being. Used as a casual way to say hello and check in on someone. Example sentence: “All right, mate? How’s it going?”
- Arse: Buttocks or backside. A more informal and potentially humorous term for the posterior. Example sentence: “I nearly fell on my arse when I slipped on the ice.”
- Banter: Playful and teasing conversation. Often used in the context of joking and light-hearted exchanges. Example sentence: “We always have good banter at the pub.”
Aug 3, 2021 · Open yourself up to the delights of British slang words and talk like a local in no time. Don't fret about understanding their shorthand - this list is ace!
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We should note that many words in this list have formal definitions separate from their slang meaning. In other words, some words below can be used as slang, but they’re also used with their original meaning. The list focuses only on their slang usage. 1. Bet. Bet is used as a way to confirm or agree with something.
