English is the de facto national language of Britain, but that doesn’t mean you’ll take to the vernacular like a duck to water. The locals like their slang more than most, and deciphering it requires expert supervision. This guide to British sayings, funny British phrases, dirty expressions, slang words, and more will not only help you understand what the people of England, Wales, and Scotland are saying, but it’ll also help you pass for a local if need be. Just make sure you use these in the right context — if you’re having tea with Charles III at one of his many residences, keep the crude British sayings listed below under wraps. We wouldn’t want to offend Her Majesty or create a major diplomatic incident.
Photo: Salma Bashir Motiwala/Shutterstock
This Guide to British Sayings and Slang Will Have You Chitchatting With Charles III in a Snap
- British phrases and slang words and how to use them
- Things British people say that Americans don’t understand
- Funny British sayings and their meaning
- Dirty and rude British sayings and their meanings
British phrases and slang words and how to use them
Buzzin’
Meaning: To be slightly drunk or to be excited
Example of usage: “John’s had a couple of pints; he’s buzzin'” / “Evie’s passed her exams; she’s buzzin'”
It’s chucking it down
Translation: It’s raining heavily
Example of usage and translation: “It’s really chucking it down; I wish I had my brolly” = “It’s raining hard; I wish I had my umbrella”
Do one
Translation: Get lost
Alternative: Piss off
It’s parky out
Translation: It’s cold outside
Alternative: It’s brass monkeys out
Did you just fluff?
Translation: Did you just fart?
Alternative: Did you just pop?
I’ll give you a bunch of fives
Translation: I’m going to punch you in the face
That’s pants
Meaning: It’s not great, not very good
I’m knackered
Translation: I’m exhausted
Bloody hell
Explanation:“Bloody Hell” is a term used to express anger, surprise, or shock
Example of usage: “What the bloody hell was that all about?” / “The dog needs to go out again — oh bloody hell” / “Bloody hell, Amie, I think I’m in love with you”
I’m gutted
Translation: I’m very disappointed
Example of usage: “I’m gutted, man; I didn’t even have the chance to get her phone number”
On the pull
Meaning: Being on the pull means to be on the lookout for someone to have sex with during a wild night out
I’m skint
Translation: I have no money
Example of usage: “Sorry, lads, I can’t go to Ibiza with you this spring — I’m skint”
Snog
Meaning: A snog is the equivalent of making out. Full-blown, tongue-wrangling kissing.
Taking the Mickey
Meaning: Making fun of or teasing someone
Alternatives: Taking the Mick / Taking the Michael / Taking the piss
Example of usage: “Stop taking the Mickey; I love my new yellow raincoat!”
Gobsmacked
Translation: Utterly astonished
Example of usage: “I was gobsmacked to read that in the papers”
Don’t be daft
Translation: Don’t be silly
Explanation: This slang phrase usually comes about in conversation when you ask someone a favor or apologize for something trivial
Example of usage: A: “Sorry I ruined your tea, Mark” B: “Oh, don’t be daft”
This is mint
Translation: This is awesome
Example of usage: “The concert was mint, mate”
He’s such an anorak
Translation: He’s such a nerd
Waffle
Meaning: To talk on and on and on and on and on about nothing
Sloshed
Translation: Drunk
Alternatives: Shitfaced / Arseholed / Trollied / Legless / Pissed / Battered / Steaming / Hammered / Leathered / Squiffy / Lubricated / Rat-arsed / Pickled / Well-oiled / Merry, etc.
Bodge
Meaning: To bodge something together means to do/write/make something quickly so that it’ll just about do. It usually isn’t good enough and probably won’t last.
Telling porkies
Translation: Telling lies
Explanation: This slang phrase comes from the Cockney rhyming slang “pork pies” which rhymes with “lies”
Slagging someone off
Meaning: To say horrible things about someone behind their back
Wacky-backy
Meaning: Weed, pot
Explanation: The term is a little bit old-fashioned. Don’t use it if you want to look cool.
Faff
Meaning: When someone faffs around they are taking their time and not doing much
Alternatives: Fannying / Fannying around
Example of usage: “Oh my God, sorry we’re late. Tom was faffing about.”
Smarmy
Meaning: Being smarmy means that you hold a certain attitude often accompanied by an air of superiority that instantly makes people dislike you
Jammy
Translation: Lucky
Not too shabby
Translation: Not bad
You alright?
Translation: How are you?
Chippy
Meaning: The fish and chips shop, i.e. a no-nonsense place where you can get a bag full of fries, with pies, sausages, and fried cod or haddock
Things British people say that Americans don’t understand
Tea
Explanation: In the north of England, “tea” is another word for dinner
Dinner
Explanation: Again, in the north of England, “dinner” means lunch
I’ve got the hump
Meaning: Feeling blue and grumpy
Explanation: This British expression often refers to feeling grumpy for no real reason
Note: Be careful with the word “hump” because to hump someone means to have sex
Going up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire
Meaning: Going to bed
Explanation: Heading up the wooden hill (the stairs) to Bedfordshire (bed)
I’ve got to go see a man about a dog
Meaning: I need to take care of some business, and I don’t necessarily want to share all the details
Let’s have a butcher’s
Translation: Let’s have a look
Explanation: This slang phrase comes from the Cockney rhyming slang “Let’s have a butcher’s hook” which rhymes with “look”
Example of usage: “Let’s have a butcher’s at your new dress”
I’m off to spend a penny
Translation: I’m going to the bathroom
Alternative: I’m going for a slash
Sweet Fanny Adams
Translation: Nothing
Example of usage: “My boyfriend got me Sweet Fanny Adams for Valentine’s Day. Can you believe it?”
He’s a bit dishy
Translation: He’s good looking
Going up the apples and pears
Translation: Going up the stairs
Explanation: This slang phrase is an example Cockney rhyming slang as “apples and pears” rhymes with “stairs”
Funny British sayings and their meaning
You’re all bum and parsley
Translation: You’re a loud know-it-all
Example of usage: “You don’t know what you’re talking about; you’re all bum and parsley”
She’s a picnic short of a sandwich
Meaning: She’s not very bright
Alternative: She’s a slice short of a loaf / She’s not the full shilling
Pop one’s clogs
Meaning: To pop one’s clogs is a euphemism for dying or death
That went down a treat
Translation: It was very enjoyable
Example of usage: “That cake went down a treat”
Cheap as chips
Meaning: Very cheap, or a bargain
Example of usage: “Only a fiver for a concert ticket — cheap as chips, mate!”
Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves
Meaning: If you take care not to waste small amounts of money, then it will accumulate into something more substantial
Happy as a pig in muck
Translation: Very happy
Example of usage: “When he’s left alone to read, he’s happy as a pig in muck”
Not give a monkey’s
Translation: I don’t care
Example of usage: “I don’t give a monkey’s about your baby’s sleeping schedule”
That’s the badger
Translation: That’s it
Example of usage: “That’s the badger! That’s the name I could not remember!”
Bob’s your uncle
Translation: There, you have it
Example of usage: “Just flick that switch and Bob’s your uncle”
Making a right pig’s ear of something
Translation: To do a bad job
Example of usage: “He made a right pig’s ear of this plumbing job. Everything’s leaking!”
Dirty and rude British sayings and their meaning
As the actress said to the bishop
Meaning: This is the British equivalent of “That’s what she said.” It highlights a sexual reference, whether it was deliberate or not.
Example of usage: “Blimey, that’s a big one — as the actress said to the bishop”
For shits and giggles
Meaning: For fun
Pull your finger out of your arse
Meaning: Get on with it
Bollocks!
Translation: Oops, shit, f*ck, crap, oh no
You’ve got your knickers in a twist
Translation: You’re overreacting
Careful, he’s on the chunder bus
Translation: Watch out, he’s going to throw up
He’s the dog’s bollocks
Translation: He’s great
Alternatives: He’s the dog’s danglies / He’s the mutt’s nuts
He’s such a plonker
Translation: He’s an idiot
Alternatives: He’s such a ponce / pillock / tosser / twit / knob / bellend
To get a bollocking
Meaning: To get told off
I can’t be arsed
Translation: I can’t be bothered
Arse about face
Translation: Back to front
They don’t know their arse from their elbow
Translation: They are stupid
It’s piss poor
Translation: It’s not very good
On the piss
Meaning: Going out on the town with your mates to get drunk
Example of usage: “We have not seen Alice all evening. She’s been on the piss with the girls from school.”
Shag
Meaning: Sex
Alternatives: Slap and tickle / Bang / Bonk / Rumpy-pumpy / A bit of how’s ya father / A good rogering
Example of usage: “God, I can’t believe I almost shagged that guy last night.”
What a cock up!
Explanation: Something got messed up
Alternative: It’s all gone pear-shaped
Example of usage: “We went to the theater and all the actors forgot their lines and the orchestra played the wrong songs. What a cock up!”
I just went arse over tit
Translation: I fell very badly 
This article is the combined work of five writers: Cory Varga, Lauren Williams, Susannah Rigg, Stacy Ullenes, and Alice Latham.