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The English language is notoriously difficult to get to grips with. Sure, you can master the basic

range of vocabulary to successfully order yourself a portion of fish and chips, but a complex

spelling system and seemingly nonexistent rules of pronunciation make sounding like a local a

little more tricky. To further muddy the waters, entrenched in British culture there exists a

language within a language. The art of British slang. We guide you through 100+ words and

phrases from the English dictionary that may well have an entirely different meaning to what you

first imagined. Learn the lingo and you’ll soon be conversing like a true Brit.

101 Must-Know British Slang Words and Phrases

1. All right?

Used most commonly as a greeting and certainly not one that requires a response. Brits

will welcome friends and family members alike by grunting these two words to one

another.

2. Arse

There could be an entire English dictionary devoted to variations of this single word.

Referring to what in the US would be your ass, this word can be coupled with a variety of

other words to create whole new realms of British slang (see below).

3. Arse over tit

The undignified process of falling over, most commonly occurring when completely

arseholed (drunk).

4. Arseholed

See above. Be sure not to fall arse over tit.

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5. Ass

In the British English dictionary, this is not really a curse word, just a donkey. You have

been warned.

6. Bagsy

One of the first words learned by children throughout the British Isles, shouting bagsy is

a way of staking a claim on something. The equivalent of calling shotgun, a successful

Bagsy is legally binding in an English court of law (not really).

7. Bloke

A man. What in American English might be called a dude.

8. Baccy

The tobacco that you use to roll your own fags (no, that’s not what you think it is — see

below).

9. Bog

Not a muddy marsh, unless you’ve got digestive problems, but a toilet. British people will

often find themselves bustin’ for the bog.

10. Bog roll

The paper you use in the bog.

11. Botched

Something that has not gone according to plan.

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12. Barmy

If someone calls you this then they’re not being kind, it means you are bonkers (see

below).

13. Bonkers

It means you are a bit barmy (see above!).

14. Cheesed off

Annoyed or displeased. The British population spends most of their time cheesed off

with the weather.

15. Chips

Many an American has come ashore and innocently ordered chips, only to be right

royally cheesed off. In the UK, chips are deep-fried strips of potato, and chunky ones at

that. In the US, thin bastardized versions of British chips might call themselves french

fries.

16. Chock-a-block

A place that is very busy. A road, street, or shop full to the rafters could be described this

way.

17. Chuffed

Thrilled to bits. Happy. Delighted. Just don’t show it outwardly, we’re British, remember?.

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18. Codswallop

A load of rubbish, something that is clearly nonsense.

19. Daft

A bit stupid. Not particularly offensive, just mildly silly.

20. Dishy

A person, usually male, who is very good-looking. David Beckham could be described as

dishy, or in fact, a bit of a dish.

21. Dodgy

Used to describe something a little bit suspicious or questionable. The American English

equivalent is shady.

22. Dosh

Money. Cash. Slang for all types of currency.

23. Dog’s Bollocks

A strange but surprisingly popular term in British slang. If something is exceptionally

good it is known as the dog’s bollocks.

24. Easy peasy

If something is not difficult then it is loudly pronounced as being easy peasy.

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25. Faff

Faffing around is a very British pleasure. It’s taking unnecessary time over something

that should be straightforward. A Brit likes nothing more than a good faff.

26. Fag

A cigarette.

27. Fiddlesticks

A harmless curse word held in reserve solely for use by British grandmothers. Dropping

a vase of freshly cut daisies could result in a gently whispered fiddlesticks.

28. Filch

Simply to steal.

29. Flog

To sell something.

30. Fluke

If something happens purely by chance then it is a fluke. It’s a lucky occurrence that

doesn't often happen.

31. Flutter

To bet or place a wager. Most usually used to describe someone who likes to have a

small stake on a horse race, for example, Mr. Smith likes to have a flutter.

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32. Full of beans

Someone who is full of energy might be described as being full of beans. It’s possessing

endless quantities of get up and go, almost to the point of annoyance.

33. Gallivanting

Strutting or striding about with a seemingly endless supply of confidence.

34. Gander

To take a look around.

35. Give us a bell

Calling somebody on the telephone. In this instance ‘us’ actually means ‘me’.

36. Gobsmacked

Completely and utterly awestruck in amazement.

37. Gormless

A person who has little clue or idea about what is going on around them.

38. Gutted

Being incredibly upset about something. If your favorite sports team has just lost then

you might be gutted.

39. Haggle

To negotiate or argue over the price of something, entering into a heated and lengthy

discussion about its value and worth.

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40. Hanky panky

In American English this would be known as making out.

41. Hard

The British slang definition of hard is somebody who is ready to take on anyone or

anything in a fight. Usually a self-inflicted state of mind after several pints of British ale, a

hard man is someone to be avoided.

42. Hard lines

A way of saying bad luck.

43. Her Majesty’s pleasure

While this sounds like a pleasant invitation to tea at the Palace, it’s best to avoid a stint

at Her Majesty’s pleasure, as it means spending time in prison.

44. Honking

Being violently sick.

45. Jammy

Consistently being on the right side of good fortune. If you are repeatedly lucky you

might be described as jammy.

46. Khazi

British slang for the toilet. Don’t forget your bog roll.

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47. Kip

A short power nap, the English word for a snooze.

48. Knees up

A proper British party, full of warm beer and loud music. Just don’t end up honking.

49. Leg it

To run away, usually from trouble.

50. Lurgy

If you have the dreaded lurgy then you are unwell with either the flu or a cold.

51. Mate

A good friend or acquaintance. Regularly used as a greeting or term of affection.

52. Mufti

A military term that has seeped its way into British slang to mean casual or civilian

clothes.

53. Mug

If you are a bit of a mug then you are gullible, and will believe anything.

54. Mush

Slang for your mouth, i.e. shut your mush.

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55. Naff

Something that is a bit uncool would be described as naff.

56. Narked

Cheesed off, irritated. If you’re in a bad mood you might be labeled as narked or even a

bit narky.

57. Nick

To steal or take something that doesn’t belong to you. If you are then caught by the

police/law/fuzz then you would be nicked.

58. Nitwit

An inoffensive way of describing someone a bit silly.

59. Nosh

Food! You might describe a tasty meal as a good nosh up.

60. Not my cup of tea

A classic British phrase that is trundled out to describe a situation or circumstance that

does not bring one pleasure.

61. Nowt

Originating in the North of England (another instance where an entire subcategory of

British slang terms could be procured) this word has entered mainstream language to

mean nothing.

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62. Nut

To headbutt someone. Not pleasant.

63. Off-colour

Sick, poorly, or generally under the weather. If you are looking off-colour then the

chances are you don’t look well.

64. Off your trolley

Someone who is described as such is usually behaving in a crazy manner.

65. On your bike

A not so polite way of telling someone to go away.

66. Pants

Tricky for our US cousins to get their heads round, but British pants are our

undergarments. They go underneath our trousers. To show one's pants is very uncouth.

67. Parky

Used to describe cold weather. Not drastically cold, just a bit chilly.

68. Pear-shaped

When something has not gone entirely to plan, it is said to have gone a bit pear-shaped.

69. Piece of cake

When something is easy peasy it could be described as a piece of cake. No food or

confectionery necessary.

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70. Pinch

Another word for stealing, or purchasing something at a heavily discounted rate.

71. Pissed

This doesn't mean annoyed or angry as in American English. It means blind drunk.

72. Plastered

Another British slang term for being drunk. Anyone would think the Brits like a drink.

73. Porkies

Spreading lies. Anyone not being straight with the truth could be accused of telling

porkies.

74. Porridge

Doing a stretch in porridge means serving time in prison.

75. Prat

A low-key curse work for a stupid person. Pratting around could also be used to describe

someone behaving in a foolish way.

76. Put a sock in it

This is a fairly rude way of telling someone to be quiet.

77. Quid

Slang word for a British pound.

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78. Rubbish

Everything a Brit throws in the bin is called rubbish. Not trash or garbage, but rubbish.

79. Scrummy

A word to describe something deliciously tasty.

80. Skive

To skive off work or school is to bunk off or play truant. Hopefully not getting caught in

the process.

81. Sloshed

Yep, another way to describe being drunk, pissed, blotto, trashed, plastered…

82. Smarmy

A person, usually male, who is too smooth for their own good and comes across not as

charming, but saccharine sweet to the point of repulsion.

83. Snog

A kiss.

84. Snookered

Appearing in the English dictionary thanks to the ancient game of snooker, to be

snookered means you are in a situation from which you can see no obvious escape.

85. Sod’s law

when something can go wrong, it will, owing largely to Sod’s law.

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86. Shirty

Someone who is demonstrating signs of irritability might be described as getting shirty.

87. Spend a penny

This means going to the bathroom. Originating from a time when public toilets charged

one penny for their services.

88. Squiffy

On the way to being drunk. Not quite sloshed but only a few drinks away.

89. Starkers

Nude. Naked. Without clothing.

90. Strop

A public display of displeasure might be described as having a strop.

91. Swear

In the United Kingdom to swear is the same as to cuss or curse.

92. Ta

Short for thanks.

93. Toodle pip

An old English word that means goodbye.

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94. Twee

Small, dainty, or quaint. A very British term to describe lots of aspects of life in the

United Kingdom.

95. Taking the biscuit

if you are taking the biscuit when you are starting to push your luck. A similar phrase in

American English is to take the cake.

96. Waffle

To endlessly drone on about nothing. Someone talking incessantly would be described

as waffling on.

97. Welly

If you give something welly you’ve given it a really good go.

98. Wobbler

To have a tantrum or throw a strop.

99. Yakking

Talking too much.

100. Yonks

A general term for a long period of time, i.e. We haven't visited there for yonks.

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 101. Zonked

– is used when someone is sleeping or by someone who is expressing they are super

tired.

So there you have it, 101 British words and phrases to liberally sprinkle across your daily

dialogue. Which are your favorites and how do you like to use them? And let us know in the

comments below if you think we’ve missed any proper corkers.

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्वरष्णुगुररुर्दे वो महेश्वरः ।

गुरुरे व परं र्ब्ह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥१॥

Meaning:

1.1: The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, the Guru Deva is Maheswara (Shiva),

1.2: The Guru is Verily the Para-Brahman (Supreme Brahman); Salutations to that Guru.

अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं ये न चराचरम् ।

तत्पर्दं र्दर्शरतं ये न तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥२॥

Meaning:

2.1: (Salutations to the Guru) Whose Form is an Indivisible Whole of Presence, and By Whom is Pervaded
the Moving and the Non-Moving Beings,

2.2: By Whom is Revealed (out of Grace) That Feet (of Indivisible Presence); Salutations to that Guru.

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