British Slangs

berk , burk noun [ C ] UK slang

a stupid person

I felt a right berk when I couldn't remember where I'd parked the car.

bevvy noun [ C ] UK slang

an alcoholic drink

Are you coming down the pub for a bevvy?

the Bill noun [ S + sing/pl verb ] ( also the ˌ old ˈ Bill ) UK slang

the police

bird noun [ C ] PERSON

3. UK slang a young woman

Is that Lee's new bird?

bleeding adjective [ before noun ] UK slang

used when you are annoyed with something

I can't get the bleeding car to start!

bloomer noun [ C ] MISTAKE

1. UK old-fashioned slang a silly or embarrassing mistake which does not have serious results

blow noun DRUG

5. [ U ] slang UK cannabis

bog noun TOILET

2. [ C ] UK slang a toilet

I'm just going to nip to the bog.

We've run out of bog paper / roll .

bonk verb HAVE SEX

2. [ I or T ] UK humorous slang to have sex with someone

'I bonked the prince, says sexy Sarah' declared the newspaper headline.

bottle noun BRAVERY

3. [ U ] UK slang approving bravery or willingness to take risks

It took a lot of bottle to do what she did.

chav noun [ C ] UK slang

a young, often uneducated person who dresses in a particular way, often with a lot of jewellery, and whose behaviour many people find offensive

Chinky noun [ C ] UK slang

an offensive word for a restaurant serving Chinese food

chocka adjective [ after verb ]

UK slang for chock-a-block

chocker adjective ( also chockers )

UK slang for chock-a-block

chopper noun PENIS

4. [ C ] UK slang for penis

codswallop noun [ U ] UK slang

nonsense

What a load of codswallop!

cop verb [ T ] -pp- CRIME

1. UK slang to arrest someone for a crime

He was copped for driving without a licence last week.

cor exclamation UK slang

an expression of interest and admiration or surprise

Cor! Did you see him in the blue swimming trunks?

cottaging noun [ U ] UK slang

sexual activity between gay (= homosexual) men in places such as public toilets

cred noun [ U ] UK slang

street-cred

crock noun [ C ] CAR/PERSON

2. UK old-fashioned slang an old person or car

crumpet noun WOMAN

2. [ U ] UK slang one or more people, usually women, who are sexually attractive

a nice bit of crumpet

dishy adjective

UK slang sexually attractive

What a dishy guy.

dose noun [ C ]

3. UK slang a case of gonorrhea (= a disease of the sexual organs)

dosh noun [ U ] UK slang

money

doss verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] UK slang

1. to sleep outside or in an empty building because you have no home and no money

She was dossing in doorways until the police picked her up.

doss verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] UK slang

2. ( also doss down ) to sleep somewhere without a bed

Can I doss down at your house tonight, after the party?

doss noun [ S ] UK slang

dosser noun [ C ] UK slang

1. someone who has no home and no money

dosser noun [ C ] UK slang

2. a very lazy person

effing adjective [ before noun ] UK slang

used to add force to an expression. Some people might consider this offensive

He's such an effing nuisance!

fag noun CIGARETTE

1. [ C ] UK slang a cigarette

a packet of fags

She's gone outside for a quick fag.

There were fag ends all over the floor.

fit adjective fitter , fittest ATTRACTIVE

7. UK slang sexually attractive

I met this really fit bloke in the pub last night.

flaming adjective

1. [ before noun ] UK slang used to add force, especially anger, to something which is said

Put that down you flaming idiot!

flipping adjective , adverb UK slang

used to emphasize what is being said, or to express anger

It's a flipping nuisance!

You'll do as you're flipping well told!

fruitcake noun PERSON

2. [ C ] UK slang a crazy person

My teacher's a bit of a fruitcake.

fuzz noun [ U ] POLICE

2. UK and US old-fashioned slang and informal Australian English the police

Watch out! It's the fuzz.

gob noun [ C ] UK slang

1. a mouth

gob verb [ I ] -bb- UK slang

to force out the contents of the mouth, usually saliva ; to spit

grass noun PERSON

3. [ C ] UK slang a person, usually a criminal, who tells the police about other criminals' activities

gutted adjective UK slang

extremely disappointed and unhappy

He was gutted when she finished the relationship.

guv noun [ S ] UK old-fashioned slang

1. used to address a man

Excuse me, guv, could you spare an old man the price of a cup of tea?

guv noun [ S ] UK old-fashioned slang

2. guvnor

Check with the guv first.

guvnor noun [ C ] ( also guv ) UK old-fashioned slang

a man who is in a position of authority over you

If you want any time off work you'll have to ask the guvnor.

honk verb [ I or T ] VOMIT

2. UK slang to vomit

He honked (up) all over the floor.

innit short form UK slang

isn't it. Used in a non-standard way at the end of a statement for emphasis

"It's wrong, innit?"

"They're such a wicked band, innit."

Jock noun [ C ] UK slang

a man who comes from Scotland. This term is considered offensive by some people.

johnny noun [ C ] UK slang

a condom

jug noun PRISON

4. [ U ] UK old-fashioned slang prison

I always knew he'd end up in (the) jug.

knacker verb [ T ] UK slang BREAK

1. to break something

Careful or you'll knacker the gears!

knacker verb [ T ] UK slang MAKE TIRED

2. to make someone very tired

Don't go too fast or you'll knacker yourself in the first hour.

knackered adjective UK slang BROKEN

1. broken or too old to use

My bike's knackered.

knackered adjective UK slang TIRED

2. [ after verb ] very tired

I'm too knackered to go out this evening.

knackering adjective UK slang

making you feel very tired

What a knackering day it's been!

Knickers! exclamation UK slang humorous

used to express annoyance or disagreement with something someone has said

lairy adjective UK slang

behaving in a loud, excited manner, especially when you are enjoying yourself or drinking alcohol

The bar was full of lairy, pint-swilling lads in football shirts.

legless adjective [ after verb ] UK slang

extremely drunk

lolly noun MONEY

3. [ U ] UK old-fashioned slang for money

lug noun [ C ] EAR

1. UK slang a lughole (= ear)

lughole noun [ C ] ( also lug ) UK slang humorous

an ear

You'll get a clip round the lughole if you're not careful.

manor noun AREA

2. [ C usually singular ] UK slang the area in which a person works or which they are responsible for

mental adjective

2. UK slang crazy

minger noun [ C ] UK slang

an ugly person, especially a woman

minging adjective UK slang SMELL

1. smelling bad

You're minging, mate! Go and take a shower.

minging adjective UK slang UGLY

2. ugly

Man, she was minging!

monkey noun [ C ] MONEY

3. UK slang £500

mouldy UK , US moldy adjective BAD

2. [ before noun ] UK old-fashioned slang of little value; unpleasant

All he gave me was a mouldy old 50p.

mullered adjective UK slang

drunk

naff adjective UK slang

not stylish or fashionable

His haircut was a bit naff.

nark verb ANNOY

1. [ T usually passive ] UK slang old-fashioned to annoy someone

I was a bit narked by David's comment.

nark noun [ C ] CRIMINAL

1. UK old-fashioned slang a person, especially a criminal, who gives the police information about other criminals

a coppers' nark

narky adjective UK slang old-fashioned

easily annoyed

You were a bit narky with me.

nick noun CONDITION

3. [ U ] UK slang a stated condition, especially of health

He's in pretty good nick for a man of his age.

The car really is in excellent nick.

nick verb [ T ] CATCH

2. UK slang If the police nick someone, they catch them for committing a crime

They nicked him for driving at seventy in a fifty speed limit area.

nobble verb [ T ] UK slang CAUSE TO FAIL

1. to make something fail, especially to make a horse in a race fail by giving it drugs

nobble verb [ T ] UK slang PERSUADE

2. to persuade someone to do what you want them to do, especially by using money or threats

The jury who convicted him were suspected of being nobbled.

nobble verb [ T ] UK slang CATCH ATTENTION

3. to intentionally catch the attention of someone so that you can talk to them

He nobbled her in the corridor to sign the invoice.

nosh noun

1. [ C or U ] UK old-fashioned slang food or a meal

They serve good nosh in the cafeteria.

oik noun [ C ] UK slang

a rude and unpleasant man from a low social class

In his latest film he plays a racist oik from the East End of London.

pants adjective [ after verb ] UK slang

not useful or of bad quality

This music is pants.

porkie noun [ C usually plural ] ( also pork pie ) UK humorous slang

a lie

Have you been telling porkies again?

porridge noun [ U ] PRISON

2. UK slang a period of time spent in prison

He did ten years porridge for armed robbery.

pot noun DRUG

9. [ U ] US slang or UK old-fashioned slang cannabis

a pot smoker

sad adjective sadder , saddest BORING

5. UK slang showing that you are not fashionable or interesting or have no friends

You enjoy reading timetables? You sad man!

saddo noun [ C ] UK slang

someone, especially a man, who is not fashionable or interesting or has no friends

So who says trainspotting is for saddos?

scarper verb [ I ] UK slang

to leave very quickly, often to avoid getting into trouble

The police are coming! We'd better scarper.

shag noun EFFORT

2. [ S ] UK slang an activity which needs a lot of effort or causes small problems

shop verb -pp- GIVE INFORMATION

2. [ T ] UK slang to give the police information about a criminal

His ex-wife shopped him to the police.

skint adjective [ after verb ] UK slang

having no money

I get paid each Friday, and by Tuesday I'm always skint.

slag noun WOMAN

2. [ C ] UK slang disapproving a woman who people disapprove of because she has had a lot of sexual partners

slash noun TOILET

5. [ S ] UK slang when you go to the toilet and urinate

sneak verb sneaked or US ALSO snuck , sneaked or US ALSO snuck TELL SECRETLY

2. [ I ] UK slang disapproving to secretly tell someone in authority, especially a teacher, that someone else has done something bad, often in order to cause trouble

She was one of those dreadful children who was always sneaking on other kids in the class.

sneak noun [ C ] UK ( US snitch , Australian dobber )

slang disapproving a person who tells people in authority when someone else does something bad

You told Mrs Cooper that it was me who tipped the paint over, didn't you - you nasty little sneak!

sprog noun [ C ] UK slang

a baby or young child

She's got a couple of sprogs now.

sprog verb [ I ] -gg- UK slang

to have a baby

Has she sprogged yet?

squaddie noun [ C ] UK slang

a low-ranking soldier

stonkered adjective UK slang

very tired

I was completely stonkered after that game of squash.

stonking adjective UK slang

used to emphasize how good something is

We had a stonking good time at the party last night.

stonker noun [ C usually singular ] UK slang

something very good

Christmas this year will be a stonker - we're going skiing.

tackle noun SEXUAL ORGANS

3. [ U ] ( also wedding tackle ) UK slang humorous the male sexual organs

talent noun ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE

2. [ U ] UK slang mainly humorous people who are sexually attractive

There was plenty of talent at the party last night.

tit noun [ C ] PERSON

3. UK slang a stupid person. This word is considered offensive by some people

Why did you do that, you stupid great tit?

totty , tottie noun [ U ] UK slang

sexually attractive people

Any totty around last night?

well adverb better , best TO A GREAT DEGREE

5. UK slang very

The film was well good .

Watch out for those two - they're well hard (= strong and willing to use violence) .

whizz noun DRUG

2. [ U ] UK slang for amphetamine (= drug which makes the mind and body more active)

wonga noun [ U ] UK slang

money

billy-o adverb UK old-fashioned slang

boss-eyed adjective UK slang

having eyes that look in towards the nose; cross-eyed

ˈ bovver ˌ boots plural noun UK slang

heavy thick boots, used especially for kicking people in fights

He was attacked by two youths wearing bovver boots.

ˈ bovver ˌ boy noun [ C ] UK slang

a young man who likes fighting and trouble

cack-handed adjective UK slang disapproving

describes someone who often drops or breaks things or does things badly

That's a cack-handed way of going about it!

cock-up noun [ C ] UK slang

something that is done wrong or badly

Gerry's made a right cock-up with/of those figures!

So it was delivered to the wrong place? What a cock-up!

Gordon Bennett exclamation UK old-fashioned slang

used to express great surprise or anger

ˌ pork ˈ pie noun [ C ] LIE

2. UK humorous slang another word for porkie

the readies plural noun

UK slang for money

I'm a bit short of the readies.

stitch-up noun [ C usually singular ] UK slang

a police stitch-up

berk , burk noun [ C ] UK slang

a stupid person

I felt a right berk when I couldn't remember where I'd parked the car.

guvnor noun [ C ] ( also guv ) UK old-fashioned slang

a man who is in a position of authority over you

If you want any time off work you'll have to ask the guvnor.

lughole noun [ C ] ( also lug ) UK slang humorous

an ear

You'll get a clip round the lughole if you're not careful.

totty , tottie noun [ U ] UK slang

sexually attractive people

Any totty around last night?

the Bill noun [ S + sing/pl verb ] ( also the ˌ old ˈ Bill ) UK slang

the police

doss verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] UK slang

2. ( also doss down ) to sleep somewhere without a bed

Can I doss down at your house tonight, after the party?

half-assed , UK also half-arsed adjective slang disapproving

A half-assed idea or plan is stupid or has not been considered carefully enough

It's another one of her half-assed ideas for getting rich.

ˌ odds and ˈ ends plural noun ( UK slang odds and sods ) informal

various things of different types, usually small and not important or of little value

I've taken most of the big things to the new house, but there are a few odds and ends left to collect.

porkie noun [ C usually plural ] ( also pork pie ) UK humorous slang

a lie

Have you been telling porkies again?

tackle noun SEXUAL ORGANS

3. [ U ] ( also wedding tackle ) UK slang humorous the male sexual organs

bog off phrasal verb UK slang

to go away

Bog off and leave me alone.

bottle out phrasal verb UK slang

to suddenly decide not to do something because you feel frightened and lose your confidence

I was going to enter a belly-dancing contest, but I bottled out at the last minute.

cock sth up phrasal verb [ M ] UK slang

to do something wrong or badly

David cocked up the arrangements and we ended up missing the reception.

"How did the exam go?" "Terrible - I panicked and really cocked it up."

fit sb up phrasal verb [ M ] UK slang

to make someone appear guilty

Of course she didn't do it - someone fitted her up.

get off with sb phrasal verb UK slang

to begin a sexual relationship with someone

She'd got off with some bloke at the party.

go down phrasal verb PRISON

6. UK slang to be put in prison

She went down for three years for her part in the robbery.

grass on sb phrasal verb UK slang

If a person grasses on somebody else, they tell the police or someone in authority about something bad that that person has done

Dan grassed on them to the local police.

naff off phrasal verb UK slang

used to rudely tell someone to go away because they are annoying you

peg out phrasal verb UK slang

1. to die

peg out phrasal verb UK slang

2. to stop working

The car finally pegged out about 20 miles from home.

stitch sb up phrasal verb [ M ] UK slang

to intentionally make someone look guilty of doing something which they did not do

He claims he was stitched up by the police.

and all

b. UK slang too

I'd like some and all.

do a bunk UK old-fashioned slang

to leave suddenly and unexpectedly

They'd done a bunk without paying the rent.

cobblers UK slang

[ U ] nonsense or lies

a load of old cobblers

a doss UK slang

an activity that is easy or does not need hard work

be gagging for/to do sth

UK slang to be very eager to do something

I was gagging for a pint of cold lager.

the nick UK slang

prison

He's been in the nick half his life.

top yourself

[ R ] UK slang to kill yourself

On yer bike! UK slang

a rude way of telling someone to go away

"Can you lend me some money?" "On yer bike, mate!"

do bird UK old-fashioned slang

to spend time in prison

be a bit of all right UK slang

to be an attractive person

bit of fluff/stuff/skirt UK slang

a sexually attractive woman

Have you seen his latest bit of skirt?

be the business

UK slang to be extremely good or skilful

That new defender is the business!

do the business

2. UK slang to have sex

have a butcher's UK old-fashioned slang

to look at something

Let's have a butcher's at your present, then.

in the club UK old-fashioned slang

pregnant

Cor blimey! UK old-fashioned slang

a way of expressing surprise or anger

Cor blimey, I didn't see you there!

No fear! UK slang

certainly not

"Are you coming to the concert?" "No fear!"

have it off ( also have it away ) UK slang

to have sex

He was having it off with his friend's wife.

have it off ( also have it away ) UK slang

to have sex

He was having it off with his friend's wife.

get your kit off mainly UK slang humorous

to take off your clothes

Come on, get your kit off!

Get knotted! UK old-fashioned slang

a rude way of telling someone who is annoying you to go away

Leave it out! UK slang

1. stop doing or saying that

Hey, leave it out! That hurt.

Leave it out! UK slang

2. I do not believe you

"I tell you, he was driving a sports car." "Leave it out!"

get your leg over UK slang

(of a man) to have sex

not give a monkey's UK slang

If you don't/couldn't give a monkey's about something, you are not at all worried by it

"Chrissie won't like it." "I don't give a monkey's."

do your nut UK slang

to become extremely angry

She'll do her nut when she sees the mess.

play silly buggers UK slang

to behave in a silly, stupid or annoying way

There'll be a serious accident sooner or later if people don't stop playing silly buggers.

rule OK UK slang

is the best

The graffiti on the wall said 'Liverpool rules OK'.

shut your mouth/face ( UK also shut your gob ) slang

a rude and angry way of telling someone to stop talking

He told me to shut my mouth or there'd be trouble.

"You're a lazy slob!" "You shut your mouth (= Don't talk to me like that) !"

sick as a parrot UK humorous slang

very disappointed

He was sick as a parrot when his team lost the match.

sling your hook UK slang

to leave

She told him to sling his hook.

be up the spout UK slang

to be pregnant

up the spout UK slang

wasted or spoiled

Peter lost his job so that was our holiday plans up the spout.

stuff it/them/you, etc. mainly UK slang

used to show anger, disapproval or a refusal to obey towards a situation, person or thing

He's expecting us to work late, well stuff that/him!

"Shall we tidy up now?" "No, stuff it!"

be up yourself UK Australian slang

to think that you are better and more important than other people

She's so up herself since she landed this new job, it's unbearable.