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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!
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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!
anecdote British Sayings – British Slang – British Words
- 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.
- Chockers:
Chockers - Another lovely British Slang word that simply means full to the brim or to bursting point.
- Pleased as Punch:
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".
- A Load of Codswallop:
A Load Of Codswallop - A Load Of Rubbish, Crap.
- Mad as a Hatter:
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.
- Ark at Eee!:
Ark at Eee - Another Bit of Bristolian Slang That Simply Means: Listen to Him or Her! A True Colloquial expression from Bristol, England.
- 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.
- Jammy:
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!
- Der!:
Der! - UK Equivalent Of "Duh" In The US
- Sod's Law!:
Sod's Law! - If Something Can Go Wrong, It Will! A British Twist on that Old Chestnut Known More Commonly as "Murphy's Law"
- Cheeky Bugger:
Cheeky Bugger! - Naughty. Someone Comments That You've Got A Nice Pair (Rack, To The Americans), Call Them This!
- Arse Over Tit:
Arse Over Tit - Head Over Heels. Ah, such a choice British Saying.
- Red Rag to a Bull:
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!
- Cheeky:
Cheeky - Very naughty and a little bite rude but in a attractive and charismatic way.
- Gobsmacked:
Gobsmacked - At A Loss For Words. Just Absolutely Amazed
