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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!
British Sayings – British Slang – British Words
- 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?
- Zed:
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!
- Shrek in a Frock:
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.
- Bloke:
Bloke - A Strange and Befuddling Word to the Americans. Try Using it as a Verb Instead of a Noun. I'm Right Bloked, I am! A British Bloke is You Guessed it. It's a Guy.
- 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.
- Having a Benny:
Having a Benny - Another unusual British Saying. It simply means, "Having a tantrum" or "Throwing a fit".
- 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
- Arse Over Tit:
Arse Over Tit - Head Over Heels. Ah, such a choice British Saying.
- Bob's Your Uncle:
Bob's Your Uncle - This Brit Saying Always Reminds me of Bob Monkhouse. Other Brits Will Know Who I'm on About. There's Not Much More British Than This Expression Which Means, "Presto" to the Rest of the World. Bob's Your Uncle? - There You Go! You Might Get a Lot of Strange Looks from Persons who've Actually Got an Uncle Called Bob, Just Don't Spend Too Much Time Trying to Educate Them. Yeah, We Call Our Uncles Bob Over There...It's A Term of Endearment...
- 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".
- 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!
- Corrr!:
Corrr! - Exclamation Of Surprise
- Raining Cats and Dogs:
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!
- Cheeky Bugger:
Cheeky Bugger! - Naughty. Someone Comments That You've Got A Nice Pair (Rack, To The Americans), Call Them This!
- What Are You Like?:
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?"
