GREAT

BRITISH

DIGITAL BOOK
 INTRODUCTION
Hey mate!

Welcome to ‘101 Great British Words To Speak Like A Local’

My name is Teacher Tom and I’m so happy you’ve downloaded

my special guide to the English we Brits really speak.

I’ve collected together 101 words and phrases Brits love using,
so you can express yourself more clearly, show your personality
in English and connect with the people from the UK and
beyond.

My goal is to help you understand the world around you

whether you live in the UK or want to visit one day.

The big questions are...

Do you know the difference between a ‘cuppa’ and a ‘brew’?

Have you ever had a ‘cheeky Nando’s’?
Would you ever tell a porky?

Confused?

Don’t worry, you are in the right place! This little book will
explain everything.

Happy reading
Teacher Tom
 HOW WILL THIS
BOOK HELP YOU?

Learning new words in another language is HARD, right?

I’m learning Hindi so that I can speak to

my finacé Shana’s parents in India and
it’s so difficult. There are three things
that I struggle with:

1) Knowing which words to learn

2) Being able to pronounce them well
3) Remembering them

Do these problems sound familiar?

As a teacher for over 15 years in England, Spain, Argentina and Hong

Kong, I’ve developed systems and techniques to help my students learn
new vocabulary. These aren’t magic tricks, they are simple effective ways
to build up your knowledge one word or phrase at a time.

How do I know which words to learn?

My love and passion for authentic English means that I am constantly

consuming British podcasts, radio, films, tv shows, newspapers and
internet memes to find the vocabulary we ACTUALLY use in day-to-day
life. In fact, my favourite place to research new vocabulary is by
overhearing conversations in cafes and on public transport. That’s where I
hear the real gems! And you’ll find them all in this book! These are the
words and phrases people in the UK REALLY use.

How do I know how to pronounce them?

All the individual words have the IPA phonemic script next to them so you
can see how they are pronounced in British English.
 HOW WILL THIS
BOOK HELP YOU?
...but that’s not all!
I’ve also created a special bonus video showing you how
every word and phrase is pronounced.

Click this video to watch...shhh don’t tell anyone though 😉

Watch here

How do I remember them all?

Being able to recall vocabulary at the right moment is one of the hardest
parts of learning a language. I am a firm believer that you need to see
and hear the target words/phrases over and over again to have any
chance of remembering them. SO to start you off there is a quiz at the
end of this book AND a little fun game at the end of the video.

OK! Let’s learn some proper British vocab!

101 BRITISH ENGLISH
WORDS & PHRASES
a bit of (me) (phrase) - all over the (shop/gaff/place)
an informal phrase used to say (phrase) - disorganised.
you like something or are
interested in it. A) ‘How was the game?’
B) ‘Terrible! We lost 5-0! The team
‘One Direction are a bit of me.’ was all over the shop.’

banger (noun) /‘bæŋə/ -

a butcher’s (hook) (phrase) -
a really great song.
Cockney rhyming slang for ‘a look’
‘Have you heard the new Stormzy
‘Have a butcher’s at my new car. What
song? It’s an absolute banger!’
do you think?’

banter (noun) /‘bæntə/ - teasing

across the pond (phrase) - a playful conversation usually
slang term for the USA/Canada. between people that know each
other. It can involve gentle
‘So many bands have found it hard to mocking or teasing.
go across the pond and be as
successful as they are in the UK.’ ‘There’s always a lot of banter
between my colleagues at work.’

after the Lord Mayor’s show

(idiom) - an anti-climatic or
disappointing event that comes
straight after an exciting one.

‘Last week’s cup final was so exciting,

today’s game was always going to
feel a little bit like after the Lord
Mayor’s show.’

alright! (exclamation) /ɔːl’raɪt/ -

a common greeting like ‘hello’

‘Alright Neema, how’s it going?

bingo-wings (noun) /‘bɪŋɡəʊ cheers (interjection) /’tʃɪəz/ -
wɪŋz/ - a very informal phrase informal way to say thank you.
that describes the folds of fat that
hang down from someone’s arm ‘Cheers for the lift Raheem. I really
appreciate it.’
as they wave. The saying
originates from old overweight
ladies raising their arms as they could do (phrase) - a perfect way
shout ‘bingo’ in the bingo halls of to show a lack of enthusiasm for
Britain. a suggestion. It’s usually
followed very quickly by a
‘I’ve joined a gym because I want to counter suggestion to move the
get rid of my bingo-wings.’ conversation off the previous
idea.
booze (noun) /‘buːz/ - alcohol.
A - ‘Shall we get pizza tonight?’
B - ‘We could do or we could get
‘I have’t had any booze since
Thai food?’
January.’

couldn’t organise a piss-up in a

bruv (noun) /brʌv/ - an informal
brewery (phrase) - used to
short form of ‘brother’ used to
describe someone who is useless
greet a male.
and can’t organise anything.
‘Bruv when is your birthday?’
‘Boris Johnson’s government couldn’t
organise a piss-up in a brewery.’
chat (someone) up (phrasal verb)
/tʃæt ʌp/ - speak to someone in a
manner that shows them you are council house/flat (noun)
sexually attracted to them. /’kaʊnsəl haʊs/ -
a house or flat provided by the
‘I’ve never had the courage to chat local council for people on the
anyone up in a bar or pub.’ lowest incomes.

‘We’ve lived in a council flat in South

cheeky Nando’s (noun) Manchester for 5 years now.’
/‘nændəʊz/ -
a very British phrase used to talk crack (someone) up (phrasal verb)
about eating at a popular grilled /’kræk ʌp/ - make someone laugh.
chicken chain called Nando’s.
‘No one cracks me up as much as my little
‘I went to the cinema and then I got a nephew. He’s hilarious!’
cheeky Nando’s on the way home.’

CHEEKY
NANDO’S
cuppa (noun) /‘kʌpə/ - short for a eff off (exclamation) /‘ef ɒf/ -
cup of tea. used to tell someone to go away
in a rude way (less rude than f**k
‘I’m putting on the kettle. Who wants off).
a cuppa?’
A) ‘Joe wanted to borrow more
money from me even though he
dig (noun) /dɪɡ/ - a remark that is
hasn’t paid me back for last time.’
deliberately meant to criticise or B) ‘So what did you say to him?’ A) ‘I
make fun of someone. told him to eff off!’

‘Whenever I see my brother, he

makes digs at me about how I’m not
fag (noun) /fæɡ/ - slang for cigarette.
married yet.’
‘My grandma smoked 30 fags a day until
she died.’
dodgy (adjective) /‘dɒdʒi/ -
dangerous.
fam (noun) /fæm/ -
‘I wouldn’t walk around here at night time. modern London slang for a close
It can be a bit dodgy.’ friend

‘Yes fam, let’s go Oxford street.’

down under (noun) /daʊn ‘ʌndə/ -
an informal phrase for Australia
fiver (noun) /‘faɪvə/ - slang for five
or New Zealand.
pounds.
‘He’s been living down under with his
boyfriend for 5 years.’ A) ‘How much are those flowers?’
B) ‘They’re a fiver.’

duck (noun) /dʌk/ -

a term of endearment used for real (phrase) - an expression
particularly in the east midlands & the used to show surprise, excitement
north of England (also ‘ducky’). or shock.

‘How are you, duck? Were you out last A) ‘Stormzy just announced he’s going
night?’ to release a track with Drake.’
B) ‘For real? That’s crazy news!’

”
Brexit is an example of a
portmanteau. This is
when two words are
combined to make a
brand new word e.g.
Brexit = ‘Britain’ and ‘exit’.
Other examples include
‘brunch’, ‘romcom’ and
‘Singlish’. ”
full of beans (phrase) /fʊl əv hanging (adjective) /’hæŋɪŋ/ -
‘biːnz/ - to have a lot of energy hungover.
and enthusiasm.
‘Paulo, you look like you‘re hanging
‘Christina never looks tired, it seems mate, did you get drunk last night?’
like she’s full of beans 24/7.’

have a laugh (phrase ) /hæv ə lɑːf/ -

gaffe (noun) /ɡæf/ - a mistake.
have fun or joke around
‘Ross made a terrible gaffe at his ‘I had such a laugh on Friday night with
wedding when he said Rachel’s the girls.’
name and not Emily’s.’

have (someone) on (phrasal

gap year (noun) /‘ɡæp jɪə/ -
verb) - attempting to fool or
a year between leaving school and
deceive someone, usually as a
starting university in which the
joke.
individual usually works or travels to
gain some life experience. ‘My sister says she’s met George
Clooney. I’m sure she’s having me on.’
‘He spent his gap year working on a
vineyard in Tuscany.’
high street (noun) /‘haɪ striːt/ -
go tits-up (verb) /ɡəʊ titz ‘ʌp/ - the principal street in the centre
if something goes tits up it goes of a town that has the main
wrong/fails. shops and buildings.

‘A lot of the shops on the high street

‘My plans to throw Helen a surprise
have their sales on right now.’
birthday party have gone completely
tits-up!'
I’d love to but... (phrase) -
this is the perfect way to reject
hammered (adjective) /ˈhæməd/ - someone’s invitation politely. It
a slang term for ‘very drunk’ sounds to the invitee that you
want to do the activity but you
‘Mate, you were hammered last night!’ can’t, when in actual fact you
never had any intention of doing it’s like Piccadilly Circus
it. You can add any excuse after (phrase) - used to say somewhere
this phrase e.g. ‘I’d love to but I’ve is extremely busy or crowded.
already got plans’, ‘I’d love to but I
have to take my dog for a walk’ or ‘I wouldn’t go to Westfield right now.
‘I’d love to but I need to wash my It’s like Piccadilly Circus!’
hair.’ I challenge you to find a
more useful phrase in English.
jolly (adverb) /‘dʒɒli/ -
‘I’d love to come but I’m on a slightly old-fashioned way to
babysitting duty tonight.‘ say ‘very’.

‘Samantha, that’s a jolly nice coat

innit (contraction) /‘ɪnɪt/ - you are wearing. Where did you get it
initially it was a contraction of from?’
‘isn’t it’ but it has now become
widely used to replace any
auxiliary in a question tag. It can knackered (adjective) /‘nækəd/ -
also be used to agree with slang word meaning very tired.
someone. It’s extremely informal
‘The kids were absolutely knackered
and mainly used by younger
after our day trip to Brighton.’
members of society.

‘You support Chelsea, innit?’ = ‘you

support Chelsea, don’t you?’ lass (noun) /læs/ - a term used
mostly in the north of England
‘You’ve been to Poland, innit?’ = and Scotland for a girl/ young
'You’ve been to Poland, haven’t you?’ woman (also lassie).

it’d be rude not to (phrase) - ‘Did you hear Mary and Jeremy have
had a wee lass? They are going to
humorous phrase to say ‘yes’ to a name her Olive.’
suggestion or proposal.

A) ‘Do you fancy getting a drink after

work?’
B) ‘It’d be rude not to.’

IT‘S LIKE
PICCADILLY
CIRCUS IN HERE
Londoner (noun) /‘lʌndənə/ - make a song and dance
someone from London. (about something) idiom -
to make an unnecessary fuss about
‘People say Londoners aren’t that something.
friendly but I think they are.’
‘Will made a real song and dance about
having to split the bill at dinner last night.’
loo (noun) /luː/ -
informal word for toilet.

‘Kids, make sure you go to the loo before

we leave the house.’

love (noun) /lʌv/ - marmite (adjective) /‘mɑːmaɪt/ - if

an affectionate term for someone something is marmite, people
(also ‘luv’). either love it or hate it.

‘Alright love, how was your day?’ ‘That new character in EastEnders is
totally marmite. Half my friends can’t
stand him.’
lovely (adjective) /‘lʌvli/ -
enjoyable or pleasing. minging (adjective) /‘mɪŋɪŋ/ -
a person who is ugly or
‘We had such a lovely weekend in
Harrogate. I can’t wait to go back.’
something that is smelly and
unpleasant.

lovely jubbly (phrase) /‘lʌvli ‘Your shoes are minging. Please give
‘dʒʌbli/ - an expression made them a good clean.’
famous in a TV show called ‘Only
Fools and Horses’. It’s used to muck about/around
express happiness or approval. (phrasal verb) /mʌk ə’baʊt/ -
waste time and behave in a silly
A) ‘OK, I’ve ordered the pizzas. They way.
should be here in 20 minutes’.
B) ‘Lovely jubbly’ ‘Kids! Stop mucking about and get
back to your homework.’
nae (adverb) /neɪ/ - Scottish
English for 'no'.

‘I’ll give you a lift to the station, it’s

nae bother.’

nice one! (phrase) - used to show

approval

A) ‘We’ve just been invited to Kaz’s

wedding.’
B) ‘Nice one!’

not ideal (phrase) - if something

isn’t ideal, it’s a disaster! Well,
that’s a strong word, but it is an
issue. Brits use ‘not ideal’ to
understate the significance of a
problem mainly because they ‘There’s a market in London where
everything is off the back of a lorry.’
don’t want to acknowledge how
big of a problem it actually is.
oh my days! (phrase) - used to
A - ‘We won’t have wifi back until express shock or surprise
tomorrow.’
B - ‘Ah, that’s not ideal. I have several ‘Oh my days! David Beckham is
important meetings today.’ coming to visit my school next week’

not give a monkey’s (about oi (interjection) /ɔɪ/ - used to get

something) (phrase) - someone’s attention.
if you don’t give a monkey’s
about something you are not ‘Oi kids, come down here and finish
worried about it or don’t care. your dinner.'

‘I don’t give a monkey’s if you are

hungover, we have to go to this out out (adverb) /aʊt aʊt/ -
brunch with my friends.’ if you go ‘out out’ you have a very
big night out i.e. stay out late
going to bars or clubs.
off one’s (face/tits/pickle)
(phrase) - a slang term for ‘very ‘The last time I was in Newcastle, my
drunk’ uni mates and I went out out and we
got back home around 4am!’
‘Rory came back completely off his
face and left the front door wide open.’
pain in the arse/neck (phrase) -
rude way to say something/
off the back of a lorry (phrase) -
someone is very annoying.
if something is off the back of
a lorry, it has been acquired
‘This weekend’s Tube closures are a
dishonestly and therefore is real pain in the arse.’
being sold for a cheaper price.
 IT’S ALL GONE
PETE TONG!
peckish (adjective) /pekɪʃ/ - a little pork pie (phrase) -
bit hungry. Cockney rhyming slang for ‘a lie’

‘I’m always a little peckish around 11 A) ‘Did you eat the last piece of
o’clock in the morning.’ chocolate?’
B) ‘No!’
A) ‘Don’t tell me porkies.’
Pete Tong (phrase) - modern-day B) ‘I’m not, I promise!’
Cockney rhyming slang meaning
‘wrong’. pull a sickie (phrase) /pʊl ə ‘sɪki/ -
to take the day off work or school
‘Oh this cake is a disaster, it’s all gone
by pretending you are ill even
Pete Tong.’
though you are perfectly healthy.

piss down (with rain) /‘pɪs daʊn/ ‘I’ve never pulled a sickie in my life.’
- a slang term for heavy rain.

‘We’ll need to take an umbrella, it’s quid (noun) /kwɪd/ - slang for one
pissing it down out there.’ pound sterling.

‘Can I borrow a quid so I can get a

piss (somebody) off cup of tea?’
(phrasal verb) /‘pɪs ɒf/ -
make someone annoyed or
angry. right (adjective) /raɪt/ -
used in a similar way to ‘very’ or
‘He never texts me back. It’s really ‘really’.
starting to piss me off.’
‘You were a right little naughty boy when
you were at school.’
pop (verb) /pɒp/ -
to go somewhere for a short time
and return. It is often used with a round (noun) /raʊnd/ - a set of
preposition. drinks bought for a group
of people usually within a system.
‘I’m just going to pop out for a minute to Each person takes it in turn to
get some fresh air.’
buy a round for everyone else.

‘What do you want lads? It’s my

round.’
Rosy (Lee) - Cockney rhyming Sunday roast (noun)
slang for ‘a cup of tea’. /ˈsʌndeɪ rəʊst/ -
quintessentially British meal
‘Do you want a cup of rosy?’ containing roast meat, potatoes
cooked vegetables and gravy.
scran (noun) /skræn/ - food (used
mostly in northern dialects). ‘My grandma’s Sunday roast is the
best in the world.’
‘Do you want some scran before you
go out?’ tad (noun) /tæd/ - a small
amount.
spag bol (noun) /spæɡ ‘bɒl/ -
informal term for spaghetti ‘It’s a tad cold in here, don’t you
bolognese. think?’

‘Do you want spag bol for dinner kids?’ take the piss (out of someone)
(phrase) - tease or mock
spend a penny (phrase) /spend ə someone. (also ‘take the mickey’).
‘peni/ - an old fashioned phrase
meaning to go to the toilet. ‘My mates take the piss out of me
because I still can’t ride a bike.’
‘I’m just going to spend a penny
before we leave.’
telly (noun) /’teli/ -
short for television.
Spoons (noun) /‘spuːnz/ -
the short form of ‘JD ‘There’s nothing good on the telly
Wetherspoon’, a popular pub tonight.’
chain in the UK.
(the) gents (noun) /’dʒents/ -
‘I’m having my leaving do at the
Spoons in town.’ euphemism for male toilet.

‘I think the gents is upstairs and along

spot on (adjective) /‘spɒt ɒn/ - the corridor.’
exactly correct.

A) ‘I reckon a house around here

costs about £350,000. Am I right?’
B) ‘You are spot on!’

sprog (noun) /sprɒɡ/ -

slang word for baby/child.

‘They’ve had 4 sprogs in 5 years.’

stick (noun) /stɪk/ -

abuse/criticism.

‘The England rugby team received a

lot of stick after losing their 5th
consecutive game.’
twat (noun) /twæt/ - offensive voddy (noun) /‘vɒdɪ/ - slang term
word for an idiot. for vodka.

‘We met Obafemi’s new flatmate last ‘Can I have a voddy red bull and a
night and he came across as a bit of cider please?’
a twat if i’m honest.’
wedding tackle (noun)
uni (noun) /juːni/ - a short form of /‘wedɪŋ tækəl/ - euphemism for
university. male private parts.

‘I’m seeing my uni mates this ‘I accidentally saw his wedding tackle
weekend.’ when he got out of the shower.’

I’M UP
FOR IT
up for something (phrase) wee (adjective) /wiː/ - a mostly
/‘ʌp fɔː/ - Scottish term for little/ small.
enthusiastic to do something.
‘Can I have wee bit more wine,
‘Are you up for going to Brighton next please?’
weekend?’
wind-up merchant (noun)
up (one’s) street (idiom) - used to
/‘waɪnd ʌp mɜːtʃənt/ -
talk about something you like
someone who enjoys teasing or
doing or are interested in.
annoying other people.
‘You should go and see Hamilton, it’s
‘There’s a guy at work who is a
right up your street.’
complete wind-up merchant.’

up the duff (phrase) - slang for worldie (noun) /‘wɜːldi/ - used in a

pregnant. sporting context, a ‘worldie’ is an
excellent performance or
‘I didn’t know Chika is up the duff!’ amazing goal.

veggie (noun/adjective) /‘vedʒi/ - ‘Heung Min-Son scored an absolute

informal term for vegetarian. worldie against Arsenal.’

‘My mum was a veggie her whole life.’

yank (noun) /jæŋk/ - a yummy mummy (noun) /jʌmi
disapproving term for someone ‘mʌmi/ - a mother who is
from the USA. attractive.

‘Why are there so many yanks in this ‘There are so many yummy
bar?’ mummies in this area.’

you’ve caught the sun - a zebra crossing (noun) /zebrə

phrase said to someone who has ‘krɒsɪŋ/ - an area across a road
clearly been in the sun a lot. where pedestrians can cross.
Translation ‘the sun has burned Zebra crossings are painted white
you to a crisp and now you look and black.
like a lobster, you idiot!’
‘The Beatles walked across a zebra
A - ‘Blimey! You’ve caught the sun crossing in their iconic Abbey Road
mate.’ album cover photo.’
B - ‘Yeah, I’m an idiot. I totally forgot
to put on sun tan cream this
morning.’

13
THE
GREAT
BRITISH
ENGLISH
QUIZ
1. What is the Scottish English word for ‘small’?

A. TEE B. WEE C. BEE

2. A euphemism for going to the toilet - ‘spend a ________’

A. POUND B. QUID C. PENNY

3. Brits describe Australia as ‘down _______’

A. ABOVE B. UNDER C. OUT

4. The phrase ‘up the duff’ means you are

A. PREGNANT B. HUNGRY C. LOST

5. If you make someone ‘crack up’, you make them

A. CRY B. SNEEZE C. LAUGH

6. If someone is selling stolen goods, it’s ‘off the back of a _________’

A. BUS B. VAN C. LORRY

7. Brits use the word ‘knackered’ to say they are

A. ANNOYED B. TIRED C. SICK

8. For Brits, America is ‘across the _______’

A. LAKE B. SEA C. POND

9. An adjective to describe feeling a little bit hungry?

A. PECKISH B. MINGING C. BANGER

10. If a plan goes wrong, it goes

A. LEGS-UP B. TITS-UP C. HEADS-UP

1.B, 2.C, 3.B, 4.A, 5.C, 6.C, 7.B, 8.C, 9.A., 10.B
ANSWERS
26
 Copyright © 2024 Eat Sleep Dream English

All rights reserved. No part of this

book may be reprinted or reproduced without
permission in writing from Eat Sleep Dream
English.

Words by Tom Rees

Book design by Luke Jones, Tom Rees &
Daniela Gonçalves

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