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Spiffing – This is old British slang for splendid or wonderful. It’s not used much nowadays but one of readers suggested it for this online dictionary. And who are we not to oblige?
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Queen’s English – Perfectly Proper English Language Pronunciation. Usually spoken by the Upper Crust of British Society.
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Up the Duff – This is a British Euphemism for being pregnant or “preggers” as a Brit might also say. It can pertain to an unplanned pregnancy but in recent times it usually just means “preggers”.
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Red Rag to a Bull – To purposely provoke someone into an adverse reaction. Say for example you “borrow” your sister’s best frock and then flaunt it in front of her down your local on a Friday night. Now you’d be asking for it – that’s like a “red rag to a bull” and certain to end quite nastily!
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Mad as a Hatter – This wonderful British saying means completely crazy and is rather macabre in its origin. Hat makers (hatters) would commonly use mercury in the making of hats. The prolonged excessive exposure to this toxic chemical damaged the nervous system and caused them to shake uncontrollably. Thus making them appear to be completely insane or bonkers as we Brits would say.
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An Englishman’s Home is His Castle – This English dictum means that a man’s home is his world to do as he pleases with no rules – in general. It dates back to the 17th Century when Sir Edward Coke, declared in the “Institutes of the Laws of England,1628 that: -
“For a man’s house is his castle, et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium (and each man’s home is his safest refuge”
In modern times, the majority of Brits still believe in this to an extent. It’s common for a man to look upon his place of domain as his kingdom or “castle”, over which he reigns supreme.
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Cream Crackered – This is another bit of rhyming slang, which is very common in the cockney dialect. It rhymes with another bit of British slang called – “knackered”. All of this simply means very tired or exhausted. Whether your knackered or cream crackered, this little British saying is a perfect retort when your friends want to drag you out on the town after a long day at work!
British Sayings – British Slang – British Words
- Throw a Wobbly:
Throw a Wobbly - Very similar to the British Saying, "Have a Benny", this British Slang term means to, "Throw a Fit" or "Have a Tantrum". Although in BritSlang.com's view, it's a little less violent than "Having a Benny".
- Cheesed Off:
Cheesed Off - This Little Ditty Means Tired Or Bored With Something. It Can also Stretch to Feeling Annoyed.
- Spiffing:
Spiffing - This is old British slang for splendid or wonderful. It's not used much nowadays but one of readers suggested it for this online dictionary. And who are we not to oblige?
- Arse Over Tit:
Arse Over Tit - Head Over Heels. Ah, such a choice British Saying.
- I'm on The Piss:
I'm On The Piss - Out Getting Drunk. This Phrase Gets Straight to the Point. It Lets all Your Mates Know Your Exact Objective on a Night Out on the Town.
- Sweet Fanny Adams:
Sweet Fanny Adams - Absolutely Nowt - Nothing! This is an Unusual British Saying that Has an Intriguing and Macabre Origin. In 1867 an Young Lady was Killed and Her Corpse Butchered by a Man Named Frederick Baker. A Couple of Years Later, British Seamen Were Given Tinned Mutton as Rations. They Decided that it Tasted so Bad it Must be the Remains of Fanny Adams. From that Point on, "Fanny Adams" became Slang for Mutton or Stew and Later on Anything Worthless.
- Faff Off:
Faff Off! - Ever So Politely - Go Eff Yourself! When Patience Eludes You, Just Say It With These Two Very British Words. Go Away! Leave Me Alone!
- Up The Duff:
Up the Duff - This is a British Euphemism for being pregnant or "preggers" as a Brit might also say. It can pertain to an unplanned pregnancy but in recent times it usually just means "preggers".
- Wanker:
Wanker - Time For A Little Anecdote. My English Friend and I were Driving Along When a Maniac Almost Took off the Side of My Car. In Unison We Both Yelled WANKER Out the Window. It Was A Thing of Beauty!
- Bees Knees:
The Bees Knees - I'm Fantastic. I'm Fabulous. I'm the Bee's Knees. Let Everyone Know Precisely How Proud You Are to Hail from the Other Side of the Pond with This Funny British Saying.
- Englishman's Home is His Castle:
An Englishman's Home is His Castle - This English dictum means that a man's home is his world to do as he pleases with no rules - in general. It dates back to the 17th Century when Sir Edward Coke, declared in the "Institutes of the Laws of England,1628 that: -
"For a man's house is his castle, et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium (and each man's home is his safest refuge"
In modern times, the majority of Brits still believe in this to an extent. It's common for a man to look upon his place of domain as his kingdom
- I Don't Give a Toss:
I Don't Give a Toss - A great British Slang phrase that simply means, "I don't care".
- Bugger!:
Bugger! - S_ _ _! D_ _ _! Usually Used After You've Done Something Wrong or "buggerd" something up
- Bloody Hell:
Bloody Hell - Be a Bit Naughty and Say Bloody Hell - It's Enough to Make You a True Brit. It's Not Meant to Be Funny, It's Hell in Other Words. Really Effin Bad.
- Queen's English:
Queen's English - Perfectly Proper English Language Pronunciation. Usually spoken by the Upper Crust of British Society.
