NAVIGATION OF BEAUTIFUL WORDS
About Site | New!| Feedback | Help |Home Page
Index: Word Lists ~ Index: Featured Word Lists
Search site below or use Advanced Search to search the site & content in my vocabulary books.
About Site | New!| Feedback | Help |Home Page
- Sitemaps - alphabetical and topical
- Reference Corner - helpful guides to learn more about language and words
Index: Word Lists ~ Index: Featured Word Lists
- Literary, Language, Writing and Words
- Obscure, Rare, Unusual and Obsolete
- Creative, Deep, Technical and Profound
- Dark, Melancholic, Mystical and Risqué
- The Universe and World We Live In
- The Exotic Languages of the World
- Downloads: my vocabulary books in the Series of Beautiful Words or all my books
- Social Media: @kairosoflife on Twitter #BeautifulWords & Pinterest Boards
Search site below or use Advanced Search to search the site & content in my vocabulary books.
DIRECTORY OF SAUCY SLANG
Where Did That Expression Really Come From?
Know Your Onions! A Jumble of Random Slang
THE QUEEN’S ENGLISH
View Slang and Curses WordMap
A cheeky collection of all slang, insults, curses and idioms available from all categories
Where Did That Expression Really Come From?
Know Your Onions! A Jumble of Random Slang
THE QUEEN’S ENGLISH
- The British Greatest Hits List
- The British Love their Bits N’ Bobs
- Chockablock of Quirky British Slang
- The Cockney Bits About Rhyming Slang
- Raggabrash Runaway to the Middle Ages
- The Victorian Play of Bricky Old Bags
- The Victorian Replay of Bags of Mystery
- Is That Victorian Gibberish or Slang?
- V is for Vulgar Victorian Vagabonds
- Insulted by a Clanging Church Bell
- Two Whoops & A Cowboy Holler
- Penny for Your Thoughts - l Money Talks
- Making a Portmanteau Love Connection
- The Name of the Game in Sports Idioms
- Stealing the Cliff Notes for Millennials
- Pirates Plundering With Curses and Slang
- Walkabout of Aussie Slang - (Home)
- Stirring the Possum - (People)
- Happy Little Vegemite - (Feelings)
- True Blue Values - (Country & Government)
- Sozzled Didgeridoo Solo - (Entertainment)
- Scratching Your Arse - (Curses & Insults)
- Short the Stack - (Abbreviations)
- Froth and Bubbles - (Rhyming Slang)
View Slang and Curses WordMap
A cheeky collection of all slang, insults, curses and idioms available from all categories
THE BRITISH GREATEST HITS LIST
KNOW MORE BRITISH SLANG THAN YOU KNOW
British slang is well known worldwide - they are famous for slang and tie with the Aussie’s on. Relativity and originality’.. This list is full of the most common words with simple meanings. Be sure to check out the Victorian slang - that is British slang from the Victorian era.
ACE
‘Ace’ – a British slang term that means something that is brilliant or excellent. Can also mean to pass something with flying colors.
ALL TO POT
Slightly more of an outdated version, this British slang term is still used, and its meaning remains relevant today. ‘All to pot’ refers to a situation going out of your control and failing miserably.
BLIMEY
‘Blimey’ is used as a way of expressing surprise at something, often used when seeing or looking at something surprising or impressive instead of shocking or upsetting.
BLOKE
Bloke is an extremely common term denoting a man, usually it is used in reference to an ordinary man, akin to the US ‘average joe’, but it it not uncommon to hear it used to describe a man generally.
BLOODY
You probably don’t need me to describe this, out of all British slang, this is by far the most popular and most commonly used. In the past it was regarded as a swearword but now, due to its common usage, it is generally acceptable. It is often used as an expression of anger or is used to emphasize a comment.
BOLLOCKS
Perhaps one of the most internationally famous British slang terms, ‘bollocks’ has a multitude of uses, although its top ones including being a curse word used to indicate dismay, e.g. ‘Oh bollocks’; it can also be used to express derision and mocking disbelief, e.g. ‘You slept with Kate Upton last night? Bollocks…’; and, of course, it also refers to the scrotum and testicles.
BRASS MONKEYS
A more obscure British term, ‘brass monkeys’ is used to refer to extremely cold weather. The phrase comes from the expression, ‘it’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’.
BRILLIANT
‘Brilliant’ is not a word exclusively in the British lexicon, but has a very British usage. Specifically, when something is exciting or wonderful, particularly when something is good news, ‘brilliant’ can mean as such.
BUGGER ALL
‘Bugger all’ – a British slang term used to be a more vulgar synonym for ‘nothing at all’.
CHUFFED
Chuffed is used more or less all over the UK, it seems to be decreasing in popularity, but is still in relatively common usage. Essentially, it is an expression of pride at your own actions or achievements.
CHUNDER
Not a wonderfully melodic word, ‘chunder’ is part and parcel of British slang terms. Meaning ‘to vomit’ or ‘to be sick’, ‘chunder’ is almost always used in correlation with drunken nights, or being hugely ill and sick.
COCK UP
‘Cock up’ – a British slang term that is far from the lewdness its name suggests. A ‘cock up’ is a mistake, a failure of large or epic proportions.
DAMP SQUIB
More of an usual term, a ‘damp squib’ in British slang terms refers to something which fails on all accounts, coming from the ‘squib’ (an explosive), and the propensity for them to fail when wet.
DO
A “do” is essentially a party; it doesn’t refer to a particular form of party, so feel free to use it as you like.
DODGY
In British slang terms, ‘dodgy’ refers to something wrong, illegal, or just plain ‘off’, in one way or another.
FORTNIGHT
‘Fortnight’ – a British slang term more commonly used by virtually everyone in the UK to mean ‘a group of two weeks’.
GOBSMACKED
‘Gobsmacked’ – a truly British expression meaning to be shocked and surprised beyond belief. The expression is believed by some to come literally from ‘gob’ (a British expression for mouth), and the look of shock that comes from someone hitting it.
GUTTED
‘Gutted’ – a British slang term that is one of the saddest on the lists in terms of pure contextual emotion. To be ‘gutted’ about a situation means to be devastated and saddened.
HAVE A GANDER
I believe this expression originates in the English county of Cheshire. The word relates to the way a goose (a male goose is called a gander) cranes its neck to look at something. As such a form of this expression ‘Have a goosey’ also exists, but is much more uncommon.
HUNKY-DORY
‘Hunky-dory’ – a neat little piece of British slang that means that a situation is okay, cool, or normal.
JAMMY
Jammy is in semi-common use in the north west and south west of England. It is a descriptive word, used to describe someone who is extremely lucky for something, without putting in much effort for it.
KERFUFFLE
Another rather delightful and slightly archaic word in this list of British slang terms is ‘kerfuffle’. ‘Kerfuffle’ describes a skirmish or a fight or an argument caused by differing views.
KNACKERED
‘Knackered’ – a great word and phrase used by Britons to describe their tiredness and exhaustion, in any given situation. Often substituted in friendly circles for ‘exhausted’.
LOST THE PLOT
‘Lost the plot’ is one that can actually be discerned by examining the words themselves. To ‘lose the plot’ can mean either to become angry and/or exasperated to a fault, or in a derogatory – if slightly outdated sense – to mean someone who has become irrational and/or acting ridiculously.
MATE
‘Mate’ – one of the commonly used terms of endearment and affection in British slang terms. Used when you are talking to a close friend, and is often easily substituted for the American ‘buddy’, ‘pal’, or ‘dude’.
MINGING
Minging (pronounced: ming-ing) is a lovely alternative to the word “disgusting” or “gross”. I feel there is something appropriate about it.
MUCK
Muck is a substitute for “dirt” however, in many ways I find it a superior word. There is something oddly onomatopoeic about it and seems to have a dirty quality of itself.
NICE ONE
‘Nice one’ – used almost always sarcastically in common British lexicon, although it can be used sincerely depending on the context.
PORK PIES
This term comes from cockney rhyming slang, a form of communication originated in old east London by merchants to communicate with each other in a way that is disguised and incomprehensible to outsiders. Unlike most rhyming slang expressions, it is still in semi-popular use both in London and outside.
The expression is a synonym for ‘lies’. Note how the second word ‘pies’ rhymes directly with ‘lies’. As such when you hear it in use, even if you aren’t familiar with the expression you can often tell what is being said by the rhyme and the context it is being used in.
POSH
Generally, ‘posh’ denotes the English upper classes. However it can be used to describe anything flashy or needlessly classy or expensive. It is similar to the American word ‘fancy’, however it has a much more entrenched class basis.
RUBBISH
One of the most commonly-used British phrases, ‘rubbish’ is used to mean both general waste and trash, and to also express disbelief in something to the point of ridicule (in this sense it is a much-more PG-friendly version of ‘bollocks’.)
SCRUMMY
One of the more delightful British slang terms in this list, ‘scrummy’ is used as a wonderfully effusive term for when something is truly delicious and mouth-wateringly good.
SICK
This is a relatively newer entry to the lexicon of British Slang, most often used by youth. In this case something being “sick” is actually a good thing. It’s like a stronger form of “cool”
SKIVE
‘Skive’ – (Pronounced sky-ve)a British slang term used to indicate when someone has failed to turn up for work or an obligation due to pretending to fake illness. Most commonly used with school children trying to get out of school, or dissatisfied office workers trying to pull a sick day.
TAKING THE PISS
Given the British tendency to mock and satirise anything and everything possible, ‘taking the piss’ is in fact one of the most popular and widely-used British slang terms. To ‘take the piss’ means to mock something, parody something, or generally be sarcastic and derisive towards something.
THE BEE’S KNEES
The bee’s knees – a rather lovely term used to describe someone or something you think the world of.
THROWING A WOBBLY
This phrase means the same thing as having a tantrum. However there is one notable difference is that throwing a wobbly tends to be used when describing tantrums thrown by adults, or people who should otherwise know better.
TO NICK/NICKED
Depending on how it is used, “Nick” can mean one of two things (three including the name). The most commonly used form is as an alternative to “steal”. As in “I accidentally nicked this pen from work.” Another way it can be used is as a term for being arrested.
TOSH
A nifty little British term that means ‘rubbish’ or ‘crap’.
TRAINERS
Trainers are the British equivalent of the American sneakers denoting athletic shoes. In some ways, “trainers” is the more appropriate term, after all, athletes tend to wear them while training, not sneaking.
WANKER
Possibly the best British insult on the list, it fits a certain niche for a single-worded insult to lobbied out in a moment of frustration, anger, provocation, or, of course, as a jest amongst friends. ‘Wanker’ fits the closest fit by ‘jerk’ or ‘asshole’, but to a slightly higher value.
British slang is well known worldwide - they are famous for slang and tie with the Aussie’s on. Relativity and originality’.. This list is full of the most common words with simple meanings. Be sure to check out the Victorian slang - that is British slang from the Victorian era.
ACE
‘Ace’ – a British slang term that means something that is brilliant or excellent. Can also mean to pass something with flying colors.
ALL TO POT
Slightly more of an outdated version, this British slang term is still used, and its meaning remains relevant today. ‘All to pot’ refers to a situation going out of your control and failing miserably.
BLIMEY
‘Blimey’ is used as a way of expressing surprise at something, often used when seeing or looking at something surprising or impressive instead of shocking or upsetting.
BLOKE
Bloke is an extremely common term denoting a man, usually it is used in reference to an ordinary man, akin to the US ‘average joe’, but it it not uncommon to hear it used to describe a man generally.
BLOODY
You probably don’t need me to describe this, out of all British slang, this is by far the most popular and most commonly used. In the past it was regarded as a swearword but now, due to its common usage, it is generally acceptable. It is often used as an expression of anger or is used to emphasize a comment.
- In anger you might say, “oh bloody hell!”
- Or to use it as emphasis, ‘that’s bloody cool!’
BOLLOCKS
Perhaps one of the most internationally famous British slang terms, ‘bollocks’ has a multitude of uses, although its top ones including being a curse word used to indicate dismay, e.g. ‘Oh bollocks’; it can also be used to express derision and mocking disbelief, e.g. ‘You slept with Kate Upton last night? Bollocks…’; and, of course, it also refers to the scrotum and testicles.
BRASS MONKEYS
A more obscure British term, ‘brass monkeys’ is used to refer to extremely cold weather. The phrase comes from the expression, ‘it’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’.
BRILLIANT
‘Brilliant’ is not a word exclusively in the British lexicon, but has a very British usage. Specifically, when something is exciting or wonderful, particularly when something is good news, ‘brilliant’ can mean as such.
BUGGER ALL
‘Bugger all’ – a British slang term used to be a more vulgar synonym for ‘nothing at all’.
CHUFFED
Chuffed is used more or less all over the UK, it seems to be decreasing in popularity, but is still in relatively common usage. Essentially, it is an expression of pride at your own actions or achievements.
CHUNDER
Not a wonderfully melodic word, ‘chunder’ is part and parcel of British slang terms. Meaning ‘to vomit’ or ‘to be sick’, ‘chunder’ is almost always used in correlation with drunken nights, or being hugely ill and sick.
COCK UP
‘Cock up’ – a British slang term that is far from the lewdness its name suggests. A ‘cock up’ is a mistake, a failure of large or epic proportions.
DAMP SQUIB
More of an usual term, a ‘damp squib’ in British slang terms refers to something which fails on all accounts, coming from the ‘squib’ (an explosive), and the propensity for them to fail when wet.
DO
A “do” is essentially a party; it doesn’t refer to a particular form of party, so feel free to use it as you like.
DODGY
In British slang terms, ‘dodgy’ refers to something wrong, illegal, or just plain ‘off’, in one way or another.
FORTNIGHT
‘Fortnight’ – a British slang term more commonly used by virtually everyone in the UK to mean ‘a group of two weeks’.
GOBSMACKED
‘Gobsmacked’ – a truly British expression meaning to be shocked and surprised beyond belief. The expression is believed by some to come literally from ‘gob’ (a British expression for mouth), and the look of shock that comes from someone hitting it.
GUTTED
‘Gutted’ – a British slang term that is one of the saddest on the lists in terms of pure contextual emotion. To be ‘gutted’ about a situation means to be devastated and saddened.
HAVE A GANDER
I believe this expression originates in the English county of Cheshire. The word relates to the way a goose (a male goose is called a gander) cranes its neck to look at something. As such a form of this expression ‘Have a goosey’ also exists, but is much more uncommon.
HUNKY-DORY
‘Hunky-dory’ – a neat little piece of British slang that means that a situation is okay, cool, or normal.
JAMMY
Jammy is in semi-common use in the north west and south west of England. It is a descriptive word, used to describe someone who is extremely lucky for something, without putting in much effort for it.
KERFUFFLE
Another rather delightful and slightly archaic word in this list of British slang terms is ‘kerfuffle’. ‘Kerfuffle’ describes a skirmish or a fight or an argument caused by differing views.
KNACKERED
‘Knackered’ – a great word and phrase used by Britons to describe their tiredness and exhaustion, in any given situation. Often substituted in friendly circles for ‘exhausted’.
LOST THE PLOT
‘Lost the plot’ is one that can actually be discerned by examining the words themselves. To ‘lose the plot’ can mean either to become angry and/or exasperated to a fault, or in a derogatory – if slightly outdated sense – to mean someone who has become irrational and/or acting ridiculously.
MATE
‘Mate’ – one of the commonly used terms of endearment and affection in British slang terms. Used when you are talking to a close friend, and is often easily substituted for the American ‘buddy’, ‘pal’, or ‘dude’.
MINGING
Minging (pronounced: ming-ing) is a lovely alternative to the word “disgusting” or “gross”. I feel there is something appropriate about it.
MUCK
Muck is a substitute for “dirt” however, in many ways I find it a superior word. There is something oddly onomatopoeic about it and seems to have a dirty quality of itself.
NICE ONE
‘Nice one’ – used almost always sarcastically in common British lexicon, although it can be used sincerely depending on the context.
PORK PIES
This term comes from cockney rhyming slang, a form of communication originated in old east London by merchants to communicate with each other in a way that is disguised and incomprehensible to outsiders. Unlike most rhyming slang expressions, it is still in semi-popular use both in London and outside.
The expression is a synonym for ‘lies’. Note how the second word ‘pies’ rhymes directly with ‘lies’. As such when you hear it in use, even if you aren’t familiar with the expression you can often tell what is being said by the rhyme and the context it is being used in.
POSH
Generally, ‘posh’ denotes the English upper classes. However it can be used to describe anything flashy or needlessly classy or expensive. It is similar to the American word ‘fancy’, however it has a much more entrenched class basis.
RUBBISH
One of the most commonly-used British phrases, ‘rubbish’ is used to mean both general waste and trash, and to also express disbelief in something to the point of ridicule (in this sense it is a much-more PG-friendly version of ‘bollocks’.)
SCRUMMY
One of the more delightful British slang terms in this list, ‘scrummy’ is used as a wonderfully effusive term for when something is truly delicious and mouth-wateringly good.
SICK
This is a relatively newer entry to the lexicon of British Slang, most often used by youth. In this case something being “sick” is actually a good thing. It’s like a stronger form of “cool”
SKIVE
‘Skive’ – (Pronounced sky-ve)a British slang term used to indicate when someone has failed to turn up for work or an obligation due to pretending to fake illness. Most commonly used with school children trying to get out of school, or dissatisfied office workers trying to pull a sick day.
TAKING THE PISS
Given the British tendency to mock and satirise anything and everything possible, ‘taking the piss’ is in fact one of the most popular and widely-used British slang terms. To ‘take the piss’ means to mock something, parody something, or generally be sarcastic and derisive towards something.
THE BEE’S KNEES
The bee’s knees – a rather lovely term used to describe someone or something you think the world of.
THROWING A WOBBLY
This phrase means the same thing as having a tantrum. However there is one notable difference is that throwing a wobbly tends to be used when describing tantrums thrown by adults, or people who should otherwise know better.
TO NICK/NICKED
Depending on how it is used, “Nick” can mean one of two things (three including the name). The most commonly used form is as an alternative to “steal”. As in “I accidentally nicked this pen from work.” Another way it can be used is as a term for being arrested.
TOSH
A nifty little British term that means ‘rubbish’ or ‘crap’.
TRAINERS
Trainers are the British equivalent of the American sneakers denoting athletic shoes. In some ways, “trainers” is the more appropriate term, after all, athletes tend to wear them while training, not sneaking.
WANKER
Possibly the best British insult on the list, it fits a certain niche for a single-worded insult to lobbied out in a moment of frustration, anger, provocation, or, of course, as a jest amongst friends. ‘Wanker’ fits the closest fit by ‘jerk’ or ‘asshole’, but to a slightly higher value.
A BEAUTIFULLY OBSCURE WORD
this site for logophiles and writers & word lovers is a part of A SERIES OF BEAUTIFUL WORDS
Collection of Vocabulary Books, Sites and Resources
Series Homepage | View Sites | Download Books
Words are also posted on twitter under the hashtags #beautifulwords and shared on pinterest boards
HOME | ABOUT SITE | SITEMAPS | SEARCH
Content by Kairos ~ @kairosoflife
Homepage | Portfolio | Contact | Feedback
Never underestimate the strength and power of a beautiful vocabulary
Original content © 2021 Copyright, Kairos
this site for logophiles and writers & word lovers is a part of A SERIES OF BEAUTIFUL WORDS
Collection of Vocabulary Books, Sites and Resources
Series Homepage | View Sites | Download Books
Words are also posted on twitter under the hashtags #beautifulwords and shared on pinterest boards
HOME | ABOUT SITE | SITEMAPS | SEARCH
Content by Kairos ~ @kairosoflife
Homepage | Portfolio | Contact | Feedback
Never underestimate the strength and power of a beautiful vocabulary
Original content © 2021 Copyright, Kairos
