Language is fascinating and English is said to be one of if not the most difficult languages to learn. On top of this I find that the English are particularly adept at deriving fascinating slang terms for everyday items and situations. I’ve selected the following list of slang words and phrases based on one criteria; I have used or heard it used in abundance in the press and by friends colleagues and in socialising.
Barmy: crazy person or deed, but not derogatory. The Barmy Army for instance are fanatical English cricket supporters following the English cricket team across the world on their tours
Blag: persuade or convince someone with smooth talking
Butty: sandwich
Chav / chavette: men or woman respectively with crass taste
Cut-up: a driving term referring to forcing your car in front of another’s
Cuppa: refers to a cup of tea or less likely coffee
Dosh: money
Dodgy: refers to suspicious article, deed or person. A dodgy car salesman for instance or a dodgy car
Elevensies: eleven in the morning tea refreshment
Jobs a good un: something well done or achieved
Flash: something or someone impressive e.g. he’s looking flash, that’s a flash pen
Filch: appropriated slyly, or simply stolen
Footie: Football match. Don’t refer to football as soccer when in the UK like I happened to!!
Git: is somebody loathsome or usually just some poor git you don’t like
Gutted: devastated or distraught such as “I was gutted that our team lost”
Give over: relent and object or argument
In the beer: somebody well into a beer drinking binge
Jobs a good un: something well done or achieved
Kick-off: a fight or argument starts or “kicks off”. Not to be confused with the start a footie game!
Laddette: see “chavette,but tougher. Drinks, swears and fights like a man.
Laggered: well drunk. Very drunk.
Leathered: the result of being out drinking too much. Drunk!
Leg-it: distancing yourself at speed and can refer to running, walking and driving. Get away.
Lemon: a dud. A car for instance is a lemon as it appears to be fine, but keeps breaking down
Lovely-jubbly: affirmation that something is great, “Okay, lovely jubbly, see you then” Not hip!
Ming or minging: something dirty, rotten or disgusting.
Nick: steal something
Nicked: steal or caught stealing something
Nosh: food of course
Nutter: somebody that acts crazy or out of the ordinary
On the lash: out drinking and partying
Pull: attracting or getting off with somebody for instance, he went to the club tonight to pull a girl
Pissed: you’re very drunk. Lots of derivatives such as “Pissing the night away” as in the lively song
“Tubthumping” by the band “Chumbawamba”
Rozzer: policeman or copper
Sarnie: a sandwich, which are of course a favourite in the UK
Shed-load: lots of
Shift-it: see “leg it”. Meaning move it fast as in drive, run or walk, but most commonly to drive
Skank: a less than nice person or “low life”
Skint: broke with little or no money left until next wage day
Skive: actively avoid tasks
Sarnie: a sandwich, which are of course a favourite in the UK
Slapper: loose girl or girl who dresses and speaks as though she were
Snog: kiss
Sorted: refers to a deed that is done well for instance “that’s that sorted!”
Take the piss: be ridiculous in your expectations or demands
Tosser: (derogatory) somebody held in low regard
Tea: supper/dinner
Twat: (expletive) referring to female genitalia and used of course to describe anybody who irks you
Wellies: Wellington boots
Wicked: a deed or event that is outrageous fun
What are you like!:Used in reaction to somebody doing or saying something outrageous or daft
Well: used to add emphasis emotion or outcome for instance “she’s well happy with that frock”
Wind-up: frustrate, irritate and anger somebody
Yob: thug, hooligan or lout. See also “Chav””
