The phrase goes back to Victorian public toilets, which required users to insert a single penny in order to operate the lock. Used to describe someone physically attractive, usually referring to their physique. ", 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.". I'm Hank Marvin.". There are already sufficient good answers here, but I always like participating in questions like this, knowing I probably won't end up breaking BNBR. It’s probably the most overused piece of New England/Boston slang in the world, but not for nothing. A "good old chinwag" is a good chat, catch up, or gossip with someone. While Americans are more likely to say "seven thirty" or "five fifty," Brits will more often than not refer to times in "minutes past" the hour. Ever wondered just what the Irish are talking about?? 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. Be careful though, using too many british words can make you sound like a wanker. ", "Don't trust him -- he's a smarmy geezer. If you're asking how to gain a British stranger's attention in public, then it's rather simple. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. Looking for information on common UK expressions and slang? May 4, 2017 - Explore Laurie's board "Cockney Slang" on Pinterest. 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. 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.". Irish Translation. ! The titles and common match rulings will also help ringside spectators and fans of … ", "Par" can also be used as a verb, eg, "You just got parred.". I heard you got promoted—bully for you! To "take the Mickey" means to take liberties at the expense of others -- and can be used in both a lighthearted and an irritated fashion. It's common courtesy to offer a labourer or builder working on your house a builder's tea while they're working -- especially if they're working out in the cold. english language quiz. "Take the Mickey" is an abbreviation of "taking the Mickey Bliss," which is Cockney rhyming slang for "take the p***.". While Canada may have two official languages, the country boasts a third, rather unofficial, language: Canadian slang. Someone who's "quids in" has invested in an opportunity which is probably going to benefit them massively. See more. "We get it -- you've injured yourself. Well done thou good and faithful servant without a comma is grammatically identical to the KJV text. Although no one is completely sure of the word's origins, it could derive from the words "cod" and "wallop," which historically meant "imitation" and "beer" respectively -- implying that "codswallop" is the kind of rubbish you make up when drunk. Thanks for helping us make our content. Unrelatedly, "Clangers" was also a children's TV show from the 1970s about pink mouse-like creatures that lived on the moon. The phrase describes the mayhem caused when something is recklessly thrown into the intricate gears and workings of a machine. ", "Yeah, he's been swotting like mad for his Spanish exam. Is that ham and tuna? "I'm trying to flog my old sofa. The term comes from the Scottish slang word "ming," meaning faeces. "Flogging" also refers to whipping a racehorse in order to make it move faster, so there is some speculation into whether you flog goods in order to make them shift faster, too. We usually use this phrase to refer directly to some work that someone has done — that someone has done well. He's a bloody curtain twitcher, but he still won't sign for our packages.". This phrase is used to confirm or agree with something that another person has just said. ", A situation which has quickly evolved into an accident waiting to happen might be described as "gone pear-shaped.". The phrase is most commonly used when the individual has been lucky and the person saying it is in disbelief that the first person has managed to pull it off. recommended esl / efl books. However, even before that, people were using beef as slang. "Gob" is slang for mouth, so if you're gobsmacked, you're shocked to the point of clasping your jaw in disbelief. This step of my argument was addressed to Well done you. The origins of the word are widely disputed. Become a Patron, give a one-time donation with KoFi. 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." Photography slang, quotes and photographer jargon that will make you laugh and inspire. The word "shirt" is derived from the Norse for "short," hence short-tempered. Shitfaced - If you hear someone saying that they got totally shitfaced it means they were out on the town and got steaming drunk. ", "Joe's children are so cheeky -- they tied my shoelaces together last week!". Some believe it's derived from the Dutch word "blute," meaning "bare." It's definitely a … web-based esl / efl activities Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. "Thomas is such an anorak when it comes to train trivia.". Winsome from Southern California by way of Texas on December 13, 2009: Is Texas still allowed to fly their flag the same ... you made my day. In addition to the British Royal Navy, it has also been used as part of vernacular slang within NATO and … Click on ‘hint’ for an example sentence if you’re having problems. Rhyming slang is believed to have originated in the mid-19th century in the East End of London, with sources suggesting some time in the 1840s. For example, my British ground floor is an American first floor, and my first floor becomes a second floor. Calling "bagsy" is the equivalent of calling "shotgun" or "dibs" when something, like the front seat of the car, is offered up to a group. Whether you think this list is the "bee's knees" or if it's enough to make you want to "pop your clogs," scroll on to discover 88 very British phrases -- in alphabetical order -- that will confuse anybody who didn't grow up in the UK. "Cack" is old-fashioned slang for faeces. "Bagsy" Calling "bagsy" is the equivalent of calling "shotgun" or "dibs" when something, like the front … I should jolly well think so! "Pinch punch, first of the month. Well-done definition, performed accurately and diligently; executed with skill and efficiency. "She's great fun, but she's a few sandwiches short of a picnic.". Lacking in energy; usually after a long period of exertion. To "faff" is to waste time doing very little. "Pop" has evolved from "cock," and when someone "cocked" their clogs, the toes of their clogs pointed up in the air as they lay down dead. It’s a great way to hear UK slang words in natural contexts , the way British English speakers really use them. That's minging.". Are you going on the pull?". word riddles . Once you’ve been in Australia for, well, an hour, you’ll notice that nearly every word has an ‘o’ on the end of it. It's unclear why Brits appear to favour analogue time-telling while Americans go for the digital format. Click on a letter above to see the corresponding slang terms and their definitions. “Well DONE, mate!” Just so you know they really mean it. 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About 100 camera, shooting, and photography slang set expressions to use in your blog. "Is it just me or is that painting a bit skew-whiff?". Well done. A "knacker" was the person that slaughtered worn-out horses in the 19th and 20th centuries for their meat, hoofs, and hide. You might say that the work was … well done. "Quid" is British slang for "pounds," eg, "five quid" means £5. ", "I'm Hank Marvin" means "I'm hungry" or "I'm ravenous.". The original meaning of the term was “puffed with fat,” as in “having a big head.” However, if someone else is patting you on the back, they could say, “I’m chuffed for you.” 3. World famous Canadian popsinger known as the `` height of cool '' will claim. `` lurgy '' is satisfactory and in good order ’ 37 short of a picnic ``. Commenters and create constructive debates party tonight unpleasant, unappetising, or add-ons British stranger 's in. Biscuit '' is probably based on a bender over '' or `` me... 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