I Keep a List of Brilliant British Slang and So Should You
I’m not exactly an anglophile but I do love me the Brits. They brought me Radiohead and the Beatles and Led Zeppelin and manners and wicked bizarre pronunciations and tea and Dr. Who. But what I love most about them—besides the fact that they are definitely the funniest people in the world—is their slang.
Sorry New Yorkers: the Brits have the coolest expressions on the planet.
The word “toilet” sounds dirty, like you can just imagine the poop flushing when you hear it. But when you say, “I’ve got to go to the loo,” well, it sounds like you’re just going to powder your nose right quick.
Want to swear in front of the kids but don’t want to use potty language? American substitutions for swears are so freaking lame. “Oh sugar!” “Dagnabbit!” “Fudge!” I’m sorry, but no. Those words just don’t cut through the anger like a good “Fuck shit bastard!” But if you say, “You’re a bloody wanker,” you do feel a little bit better.
A while back when I was in grad school, a delightful gentleman by the name of Dan Walker Smith came over from London and brought me serious joy by simply joining in the conversation. That’s when I decided to keep a list of the awesome shit he, and by extension, the Brits, said. Since then, I’ve continued to add to the list every time I watch Harry Potter or Love Actually or The Doctor or anything by Guy Ritchie. Here’s a small selection of a few of my favorites:
shite
arse
tosser
nicked
How’s your father
wellies
fancy (the verb)
dodgy
jumper
What are you on about?
daft
bloody hell
pisser
tosh
bloke
Bob’s your uncle
That’s just a slice of the actual list, which is by no means comprehensive. That’s where you all come in, mates. Add your favorite British words and expressions in the comments section and I will love you forever. And if you’re not a fan of the Brits, well…sod off.
The Olive Gal
green of skin, black of heart
Right (used in the context of “alright”)