British Sayings – British Slang - British Words

Raining Cats and Dogs

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This old unique British Slang Phrase probably originates from the 17th Century when dead cats and dogs would be carried through the filthy streets of England after heavy rainfall.
In current British culture it means raining very, very hard indeed!

Bloody Nora

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Another great British Slang Term that means “Bloody Hell”. Not used much nowadays but still one of the greats.

Chockers

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Chockers – Another lovely British Slang word that simply means full to the brim or to bursting point.

Chip Butty

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Chip Butty – This unusual British Slang word is actually a food group unto itself in the UK. It is beyond fattening in its construction. Made from a bread roll, spread lovingly with lashings of butter and stuffed to the rafters with chips, it is guaranteed to clog up those arteries in a hurry. Dieters be for warned!

Shrek in a Frock

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Shrek in a Frock – Got this lovely British Slang term from one of our famous exports, Mr. Gordon Ramsay. Simply translated it means someone who is acting out of control and being loud and obnoxious – screaming and shouting.

Pleased as Punch

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Pleased as Punch – This lovely British Saying has origins in the popular Punch and Judy puppet show in England. It has a similar meaning to “Chuffed to Bits” and translates as, “very pleased with or very happy with something”. In the original puppet show the lead character, Punch, was known for being very pleased with  his evil deeds, hence the British Saying, “Pleased as Punch”.

Chuffed to Bits

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Chuffed to Bits – This is another great British Slang Term. It means very pleased with or very happy about something and is very similar to another British Saying, “Pleased as Punch”.

Throw a Wobbly

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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”.

Voddy

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Voddy – Us Brits love to abbreviate words or add a “Y” to the end and this British Word didn’t escape either. It’s the English way of saying Vodka.

Having a Benny

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Having a Benny – Another unusual British Saying. It simply means, “Having a tantrum” or “Throwing a fit”.

What Are You Like?

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What Are You Like? – This recent British Saying is used when you see someone do something rather silly or outrageous. Similar to the rhetorical, “What are you doing?”

I Don’t Give a Toss

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I Don’t Give a Toss – A great British Slang phrase that simply means, “I don’t care”.

Spiffing

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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?

Queen’s English

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Queen’s English – Perfectly Proper English Language Pronunciation. Usually spoken by the Upper Crust of British Society.

Up The Duff

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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”.

Red Rag to a Bull

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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!

Mad as a Hatter

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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.

Englishman’s Home is His Castle

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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.

Cream Crackered

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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!

Search by Letter

The toolbar allows you to search for British words and sayings by clicking on the letters. You will find tons of different slogans and slangs when browsing.

If you would like to suggest a British word or phrase you can use the Suggest a British Saying page.

Zed

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Zed – the letter Zee to the Americans. It’s the last letter in the alphabet but probably the most popular. And even in the ABC children’s’ ditty we Brits rhyme Zed with Cee at the end. Works for me!

You’re the Bees Knees!

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You’re the Bees Knees – You’re Fantastic. You’re Fabulous. You’re the Bee’s Knees. Let the Special People in Your Life Know Exactly What You Think, With This Say It Out Loud UK Slogan. This Design on T-Shirts, apparel t-shirts, Mugs and Stickers.

Yer Tiz

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Yer Tiz – More Bristol England Words – Can’t Find That Special Pair Daps Your Mum Bought You For Your Burfday – Then Finally You Spot Them Under the Settee, Next to Your Dad’s Old Socks…”Yer Tiz” is What a True Bristolian Would Exclaim!

Wanker

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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!

Dodgy

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Dodgy – Not To Be Trusted. Used Car or Second Hand Car Sales Men, to us Brits are “Dodgy”. Kebabs from your Local Chippy (Fish and Chips Shop) on a Friday Night after a Good Booze Up can be Dodgy as well as Curry from your Indian.

Two Finger Salute

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Two Finger Salute – Insult Along The Lines Of The One Finger Salute. This hand Gesture Dates Back to 15th Century When English Bowmen in the Hundred Years War with the French. The French Threatened to Cut off the Two Arrow Shooting Fingers of the Long Bowmen After the Battle at Agincourt. However the English Won and Came Out Showing off their Two Fingers Intact to the Losing French.

Sweet Fanny Adams

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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.

Sod’s Law!

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Sod’s Law! – If Something Can Go Wrong, It Will! A British Twist on that Old Chestnut Known More Commonly as “Murphy’s Law”

Sod Off!

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Sod Off! – Impolite – Get Knotted – Piss Off! – F_ _ _ Off! You will Find Out Very Quickly that Us Brits Have Loads of Synonyms for the Infamous Vernacular “Eff off”.

Slap & Tickle

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Slap & Tickle – Have A Bit Of A Snog or Making Out to our American Counterparts. A Tongue-in-Cheek British Saying that’s a Bit Naughty But Nice!

Pratt

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Pratt – This UK Expression Sounds Very Rude But is Actually Quite Harmless. If Someone’s Being a Little Bit Out of Line, Call Them This. Or Just Point to the T-Shirt and Give Them a Wink.

Off Your Trolley

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Off Your Trolley – This British Phrase Simply Means ” Mad (in the Traditional Sense and not Angry in the American Sense) or Insane or Crazy. This is One of my Favourite British Sayings and, Yes I Spellt the Word “Favourite” the English Way. It’s a British Site, after all, isn’t it?

Nookie

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Nookie – Have A Bit Of The Other – Sex. Again this British Phrase a Bit Naughty but a Covert Way to Let Someone Know What You Were Really up to Last Night.

L.O.M.B.A.R.D.

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L.O.M.B.A.R.D. – A Cockney Acronym for a  Bloke with Loads of Money But a Right D_ _ k Head! Not Much Upstairs…Get me?

Keep Your Hair On!

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Keep Your Hair On! – Calm Down! Such a Visual British Slang Term. You can Imagine Someone Actually Losing their Hair in a Fit of Rage. Nice!

Jammy

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Jammy – Superlicously Luvverly! Another Bristolian Sparkler. If You Happen Whilst Walking Down the Street to Find a £50 Note, then You Could be a Very “Jammy” Sod Indeed – Or Very Lucky in Everyone Else’s Language!

Bees Knees

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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.

I’m on The Piss

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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.

Cheesed Off

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Cheesed Off – This Little Ditty Means Tired Or Bored With Something. It Can also Stretch to Feeling Annoyed.

Hanky-Panky

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Hanky-Panky – To Have A Bit Of A Snog or “Making Out” in American English.  It’s Original Meaning is That of Trickery or Shenanigans But it’s More Commonly Used in the First Sense in Modern England.

Gobsmacked

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Gobsmacked – At A Loss For Words. Just Absolutely Amazed

Get Stuffed

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Get Stuffed! – Faff Off Not Doing the Trick, Then? Try This Slightly More Obvious Expression. This Cool Design Gets Funny UK T-Shirts Stamp of Approval. Don’t You Wish You Had a T-shirt Like This at School? Could Have Saved You the World of Time!

Get Knotted!

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Get Knotted! – A Not So Polite Way to Tell Someone Who’s Being a Bit of a Nuisance to Get Stuffed.

Gert Macky

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Gert Macky – Gi-normous, Huge, Out of This World! This is a Bristolian specific expression that many other Brits would have never ever heard of.

Faff Off

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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!

Dog’s Bollocks

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Dog’s Bollocks – Such Words Conjure Up a Configuration of Eloquence That Just Flows Off the Tongue with Elegant Ease. You’re Just Super, You Are! You Just Can’t Fault Us Brits for Tongue In Cheek Humour. One of our favorite funny British Sayings.

Der!

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Der! – UK Equivalent Of “Duh” In The US

Corrr!

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Corrr! – Exclamation Of Surprise

Cock It Up

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Cock It Up -  Er, You’ve Made A Mistake.

Cheeky Bugger

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Cheeky Bugger! – Naughty. Someone Comments That You’ve Got A Nice Pair (Rack, To The Americans), Call Them This!