Suggest a British Saying
If you don’t see a British Saying or any British Slang that you would like added to the site, please make a comment on this page and we’ll happily add it.
9 comments - What do you think?
Posted by admin Date: Friday, October 30, 2009
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British Sayings – British Slang – British Words
- Hanky-Panky: 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.
- Pratt: 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.
- 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.
- Dog's Bollocks: 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.
- 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!
- 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?
- Der!: Der! - UK Equivalent Of "Duh" In The US
- Off Your Trolley: 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?
- Chip Butty: 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!
- Best of British: Best of British - Wish Them Good Luck, British Style. This British Phrase Is an Example of How Strong the British Empire was to the Point Where Being British was Synonymous With Good Luck.
- Yer Tiz: 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!
- By The Short And Curlies: By The Short And Curlies - To get caught In a Bind, As It Were?
- Tudor Dynasty of England Clothing: The Tudor dynasty ruled England from 1485 to 1603. Their story encompasses some of the most impressive and extraordinary dealings in European history. And they remain the most celebrated and notorious of royal families. We have added an interesting line of clothing and medieval accessories from TudorDressing. From Dresses and Gowns to Swords and Armour TudorDressing has it all. They also have a great line of Renaissance Chemises and a full line of pirate attire. Renaissance costumes were unique. The Renaissance society was very mindful of fashion, and their gear was tremendous, intricate, stylish sophisticated and most importantly
- 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".
- Cheesed Off: Cheesed Off - This Little Ditty Means Tired Or Bored With Something. It Can also Stretch to Feeling Annoyed.
It’s easy. Just post a suggestion and we’ll put it on the site.
If in fact you don’t find the British Slang, Word or Expression that you are looking for, you may want to check out the books on the right side of the page in the sections entitled “British Slang and Sayings”, “British Sayings Slang Book” and “British Slang – Sayings – Words”.
Hello. Great site, I am not sure if it is a British thing or an elderly thing (maybe a collaboration of both?) but my Grandmother will say;
“BLOODY NORA!”
To display shock or surprise.
Also;
“Raining Cats and Dogs” surely that’s another British one. Anyway fantastic site, much enjoyed.
Upon preforming an internet search for…”blast it all Geoffery” I came up wity nothing at all. Compels one to think that the saying has been retired. I should continue my diligent search to discover exactly who said it and what their circumstances were exactly…Daugie
Sorry Daugie, I have also come up empty on this saying. I will see if I can ask around in the British ex-pat community and perhaps someone will know what it means. That said I do believe that the phrase, “blast it all” by itself, means “to hell with it” in American Slang.
How about Train Crash. Basically Spam. British soldiers in WW2 had to eat meat in a can that looked like meat after a train crash.
howa bout wank off, sorta like sod off or piss off but you know … not.
“Catchpenny”. Saw it in an old book, but can’t find a definition anywhere.
Help??!!?
Wish I knew it too Andrew!