British slang

British slang is English language slang used and originating in the United Kingdom and also used to a limited extent in Anglophone countries such as the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, especially by British expats . Slang is informal language sometimes peculiar to a particular social class or group and its use in Britain dates back to before the 16th century. The language of slang, in common with the English language, is changing all the time; new words and phrases are being added and some are used so frequently by so many, they almost become mainstream.

While some slang words and phrases are used throughout all of Britain (e.g., knackered, meaning "exhausted"), others are restricted to smaller regions, even to small geographical groups.^[1] The nations of the United Kingdom, which are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have their own slang words, as does London. London slang has many varieties, the best known of which is rhyming slang.^[2] The overseas nations of Britain also use this slang to a certain extent, but also incorporate their own slang words to reflect their different cultures. Not only is the slang used by British expats, but some of these terms are incorporated into other countries daily slang, such as in Canada and Ireland.

British slang has been the subject of many books including a seven volume dictionary, published in 1889. Lexicographer Eric Partridge published several works about British slang, most notably Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, revised and edited by Paul Beale.^[3]

Definitions of slang

Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's dialect or language. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo (see euphemism). It is often used to identify with one's peers and, although it may be common among young people, it is used by people of all ages and social groups. Collins English Dictionary (3rd edition) describes slang as, "Vocabulary, idiom etc that is not appropriate to the standard form of a language or to formal contexts, may be restricted as to social status or distribution, and is characteristically more metaphorical and transitory than standard language".^[4] The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar (1994) describes it as, "Words, phrases, and uses that are regarded as informal and are often restricted to special contexts or are peculiar to specific profession, classes etc".^[5] Jonathan Green, in his 1999 book, The Cassell Dictionary of Slang describes slang as, "A counter language, the language of the rebel, the outlaw, the despised and the marginal".^[6] Recognising that there are many definitions, he goes on to say, "Among the many descriptions of slang, one thing is common, it is a long way from mainstream English".^[6]

History and dating of British slang

The dating of slang words and phrases is exceptionally difficult due to the nature of slang. Slang, more than any other language, remains spoken and resists being recorded on paper (or for that matter any other form of medium). By the time slang has been written down, it has been in use some time and has, in some cases, become almost mainstream.^[7]

The first recorded uses of slang in Britain occurred in the 16th century in the plays of Thomas Dekker, Thomas Middleton and William Shakespeare.^[8] The first books containing slang also appeared around this time: Robert Copland's, The hye way to the Spytlell hous, was a dialogue in verse between Copland and the porter of St Bartholomew's hospital, which included Thieves' Cant; and in 1566, Thomas Harman's A Caveat or Warning for Common Cursitors, vulgarly called vagabonds was published. The Caveat contained stories of vagabond life, a description of their society and techniques, a taxonomy of rogues, and a short canting dictionary which was later reproduced in other works.^[8]

In 1698 the New Dictionary of the Canting Crew by B. E. Gent was published, which additionally included some 'civilian' slang terms. It remained the predominant work of its kind for much of the 18th century, until the arrival in 1785 of The Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Captain Francis Grose which ran to more than five expanded editions.^[8] Grose's book was eventually superseded by John Camden Hotten's Slang Dictionary in 1859. In 1889 two multi-volumed slang dictionaries went on sale: A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon and Cant by Albert Barrere and Charles Leland, and Slang and its Analogues by John Farmer and W. E. Henley; the latter being published in seven volumes. It was later abridged to a single volume and released in 1905 as, A Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English. This book provided the major part of Eric Partridge's Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (1937).^[8] It was not until the 1950s that slang began to make regular appearances in books and the relatively new mediums of motion pictures and television.^[8]

Varieties and purpose of slang

There are a number of different varieties of British slang, arguably the best known of which is Rhyming slang. Chiefly associated with cockney speech spoken in the East End of London, words are replaced with a phrase which rhymes. For example: plates of meat for "feet", or twist and twirl for "girl". Often only the first word is used, so plates and twist by themselves become the colloquialisms for "feet" and "girl".^[9]

Thieves' cant or Rogues' cant was a secret language (a cant or cryptolect) which was formerly used by thieves, beggars and hustlers of various kinds in Great Britain and to a lesser extent in other English-speaking countries. It is commonly believed that cant was developed from Romany but the Winchester Confessions, a pamphlet published in 1616, clearly distinguishes between Gypsy and Cant words.^[10] Now mostly obsolete, it is largely relegated to the realm of literature.

Some slang was developed because of a need for secrecy, such as prison slang, believed to be derived from thieves cant,^[11] and Polari, a variety used by homosexuals in Britain and the United Kingdom. Homosexuality was a crime until 1967 and Polari has a history going back at least a hundred years.^[12] Sometimes the purpose of slang is to cause offence, insults such as wanker or gobshite for example; and sometimes the purpose is to prevent it by substituting a slang word for the offensive one, berk (rhyming slang for cunt) for example.^[13] Sometimes a Spoonerism, is employed to make taboo speech more acceptable. For example: Cupid stunt and Betty Swallocks.^[14]

Slang is also used to create an identity or sense of belonging and a number of occupations have their own slang; most notably the armed forces, referred to as Forces or Service slang; and the construction industry.^[5][15] A dictionary of service slang by J. L. Hunt and A. G. Pringle was published in 1943.^[16] It was reprinted in 2008. The introduction acknowledges that slang is an ever changing language with new slang terms emerging all the time. It also recognises that some service slang has made its way into civilian use.^[17][18][19] Examples of this include the old naval terms, "Talking bilge" (nonsense) and "A loose cannon" (an unorthodox person with the potential to cause harm).^[20]

Phrases

A

air one's dirty linen/laundry 

To discuss private matters in public.^[21]

all to cock 

(Or all a-cock) Unsatisfactory, mixed up.^[22]

all mouth and (no) trousers 

All talk and no action, a braggart, sexual bravado.^[23] (The inclusion or otherwise of "no" in the expression is disputed.)^[24]

all piss and wind 

All talk and no action. Originally the phrase was, "all wind and piss" (19th century).^[25]

anchors 

Brakes. "Slam on the anchors" to brake really hard.^[26]

argy-bargy 

An argument or confrontation.^[27]

arse 

1. The buttocks.^[28] 2. Someone who acts in a manner which is incompetent or otherwise disapproved of.^[28]

arse about face 

Back to front.^[28]

arse around 

Mess around or waste time (17th century).^[28]

arsehole 

1. The anus.^[28] 2. General derogatory term.^[28]

arse bandit 

homosexual (offensive, derogatory).^[28]

arse over tit 

Head over heels, to fall over or take a tumble.^[29]

B

ball bag 

Scrotum.^[30]

balls up 

A bungled or messed up situation. (WWI Service slang).^[15]

bang to rights 

Caught in the act.^[31]

bang up 

1. To lock up in prison (prison slang).^[32] 2. To inject an illegal drug.^[31]

barking mad 

(also just barking) completely crazy; insane.^[33]

barmy 

crazy or foolish.^[34]

barney 

a noisy quarrel or fight. Sometimes claimed to be rhyming slang (Barney Rubble, trouble) but actually dates back to 19th century.^[35]

bender 

1. a drinking binge.^[36] 2. A homosexual (derogatory)

bent 

1. dishonest or corrupt, 2. homosexual (mildly derogatory).^[37]

bent as a nine bob note 

Extremely dishonest or corrupt. A nine shilling (bob) note never existed and would therefore have to be counterfeit.^[38]

berk 

(also spelt burk) idiot, stupid person (from Berkeley Hunt, Cockney rhyming slang for cunt)^[39]

Billy 

1. Amphetamines (from Billy Whizz, a British comic strip character.)^[40] 2. Friendless (Billy No-Mates)

billyo 

(also spelt billyoh) an intensifier. Going like billyo (travelling quickly).^[41]

bird 

1. Girl, woman.^[42] 2. Prison sentence (From the rhyming slang: Bird lime) ^[42]

Birmingham screwdriver 

A hammer.^[43]

bizzie 

Policeman (Scouse).

blag 

As a noun, a robbery or as a verb, to rob or scrounge. Not to be confused with blague, talking nonsense.^[44]

blah 

(or blah blah) worthless, boring or silly talk.^[44]

blim 

A very small piece of Hashish, enough for one joint maybe or a decent hot tong. Also used as Traveller Slang with the word bus (Blimbus) for the shortest British coach bodies of the 60s to 80s.

blimey 

or sometimes 'cor blimey' (archaic). An abbreviation of 'God blind me' used as an interjection to express shock or surprise. Sometimes used to comic effect, in a deliberate reference to it being archaic usage.^[45]

Blighty 

(or Old Blighty) Britain, home. Used especially by British troops serving abroad or expatriates.^[45][46] A relic of British India, probably from the Hindi billayati, meaning a foreign land.^[47]

bloke 

any man or sometimes a man in authority such as the boss.^[48][49]

blooming, blummin' (archaic)

euphemism for bloody. Used as an intensifier e.g. 'blooming marvelous'.^[50]

blow off 

To fart.^[51]

blue 

1. Policeman.^[51] 2. a tory.^[51]

bobby 

Policeman. After Robert Peel (Home Secretary in 1828).^[52]

bod 

A male person. Short for body.^[53]

bodge 

(also botch) To make a mess of or to fix poorly.^[53]

bog 

Toilet ^[54]

bog off 

Go away (originally RAF slang)^[55]

Bogtrotter 

Derogatory term for an Irishman particularly an Irish peasant.^[54]

bogroll 

Toilet paper.^[55]

bollocking 

A severe telling off.^[56]

bollocks 

(or ballocks) Vulgar term used for testicles. Used to describe something as useless, nonsense or having poor quality, as in "That's a load of bollocks". Is often said as a cry of frustration or annoyance.^[56] Also see "dog's bollocks".

bomb 

A large sum of money as in 'to make a bomb'. Also 'to go like a bomb' meaning to travel at high speed.^[56]

bonce 

Head, crown of the head. Also a large playing marble.^[57]

booze 

As a noun, an alcoholic drink; as a verb, to drink alcohol, particularly to excess.^[58]

boozer 

1. a pub or bar.^[58] 2. Someone who drinks alcohol to excess.^[58]

Bo-Peep 

Sleep (rhyming slang).^[59]

boracic

without money. From rhyming slang boracic lint = skint (skinned).^[59]

bottle 

1. nerve, courage.^[60] 2. Money collected by buskers or street vendors.^[60] 3. As a verb, to attack someone with a broken bottle.^[60]

bounce 

1. To con someone into believing or doing something.^[61] 2. To forcibly eject someone.^[61] 3. Swagger, impudence or cockiness.^[61] 4. Of a cheque, to be refused by the bank due to lack of funds.^[61]

bouncer 

Someone employed to eject troublemakers or drunks.^[61]

bovver boy 

A youth who deliberately causes or seeks out trouble (bother).^[62]

bovver boots 

Heavy boots, sometimes with a steel toecap, worn by Bovver boys and used for kicking in fights.^[62]

brass 

1. Money.^[63] 2. Cheek, nerve.^[63] 3. a prostitute.^[63]

Bristols 

The female breasts (Cockney rhyming slang, from Bristol bits = tits, or Bristol City = titty).^[64]

broke 

Without money. Also 'stoney broke', or just 'stoney'.^[65]

brown bread 

Dead (Cockney rhyming slang).^[66]

brown-tongue 

Sycophant, toady or someone who attempts to curry favour with another (from the idea of licking another's backside).^[67]

buff 

1. Bare skin, naked as in 'in the buff'.^[68] 2. Having a lean, muscular physique (usually referring to a young man).^[69]

bugger 

anal sex but in slang terms can be used : 1. As a term of abuse for someone or something contemptible, difficult or unpleasant.^[70] 2. Affectionately, as in 'you silly bugger'.^[70] 3. As an exclamation of dissatisfaction, annoyance or surprise.^[70] 4. To mean tired or worn out as in 'I'm absolutely buggered'.^[70] 5. To mean frustrate, complicate or ruin completely, as in 'You've buggered that up'.^[70]

bugger about (or around) 

1. To fool around or waste time.^[70] 2. To create difficulties or complications.^[70]

bugger all 

nothing.^[70]

bugger off 

go away.^[70]

bum  

buttocks, anus or both.^[71] Not particularly rude. 'Builders' bum' is the exposure of the buttock cleavage by an overweight working man in ill-fitting trousers.^[72]

bumf 

derogatory reference to official memos or paperwork. Shortened from bum fodder. Slang term for toilet roll.^[73]

bumsucker 

a toady, creep or someone acting in an obsequious manner.^[73]

bumfreezer 

any short jacket but in particular an Eton Jacket.^[73]

bung 

1. a gratuity or more often a bribe.,^[74] 2. Throw or pass energetically; as in, "bung it over here".^[75]

bunk 

1. To leave inappropriately as in to 'bunk off' school or work.^[74] 2. To run away in suspicious circumstances as in to 'do a bunk'.^[74]

butcher's 

Look. Rhyming slang, butcher's hook.^[76]

C

cabbage 

1. A stupid person or someone with no mental abilities whatever. 2. Cloth trimmed from a customer's material by a tailor. 3. Pilfer or steal.^[77]

charver or charva 

1. Sexual intercourse (Polari).^[78] 2. A loose woman, someone with whom it is easy to have sexual intercourse, an easy lay.^[78] 3. To mess up, spoil or ruin; to fuck up (from 1.).^[78]

chav, chavi or chavvy 

Child (from the Romany, chavi. Still in common use in rural areas).^[79] Also used in Polari since mid-19th century.^[79]

Chav 

Someone who is, or pretends to be of a low social standing and who dresses in a certain style, typically in "knock off" sports and designer clothing, especially Burburry. Often used as a form of derogation. Popularised by British tabloids during the 00's using the backronym 'Council-Housed and Violent': actually comes from the Romany for child, 'chavi'.^[80]

cheers 

a sign of appreciation or acknowledgement, or a drinking toast.^[81]

cheesed off 

fed up, disgusted or angry.^[81]

chinky or chinky chonky 

Chinese takeaway^[82]

chippy 

1. A carpenter;^[83] chip shop 2. A prostitute or promiscuous young woman.^[84]

chuff 

The buttocks or anus.^[85]

chuffed 

to be very pleased about something.^[86]

clock 

1. The face. 2. To spot, notice. 3. To hit as in "clock round the earhole".^[87]

cock 

1. Penis. 2. Nonsense. 3. A friend or fellow.^[88]

cockup 

as a noun or verb, blunder, mess up or botch.^[89]

codswallop (archaic)

Nonsense.^[90]

collywobbles 

An upset stomach or acute feeling of nervousness.^[91]

conk 

The head or the nose. To strike the head or nose.^[92]

cop 

1. A policeman (short for copper). 2. An arrest or to be caught out, as in 'It's a fair cop'. 3. Used with a negative to mean of little value, as in 'That's not much cop'. 4. To get, as in for example, to 'cop off with', 'cop a feel' or 'cop a load of that'.^[93]

copper 

A policeman.^[94]

cor blimey 

An exclamation of surprise. Originally from "God blind me". See also "blimey".

corker 

Someone or something outstanding.^[95]

corking 

Outstanding, excellent.^[95]

cottage 

A public lavatory.^[96]

cottaging 

Homosexual activity in a public lavatory.^[96]

crack 

1. A gibe. 2. Someone who excels at something. 3. Fun or a good time. From the Irish 'craic'.^[97]

cracker 

Something or someone of notable ability or quality.^[97]

crackers 

Insane.^[97]

D

darbies 

Handcuffs.^[98]

debag 

To remove someone's trousers by force.^[99]

dekko 

Look. From the Hindi, dekho.^[100]

dick 

1. Fellow. 2. Penis.^[101]

dicks 

Headlice or Nits. "Here comes the dick nurse" "You mean nitty nora the head explorer"

dip 

a pickpocket.^[102]

div 

idiot (prison slang)^[103] From "The Divisional room" where extra reading was taught in the northern comprehensive schools during the 70s and 80s.

do one's nut 

Become enraged.^[104]

doddle 

Something simple or easy to accomplish.^[105]

dodgy 

1. Something risky, difficult or dangerous. A 'dodgy deal' for example.^[105] 2. Of low quality. "Spurs' dodgy defence had thrown away a 2-0 lead" ^[106]

dog 

1. A rough or unattractive woman. 2. A fellow.^[105]

dog's bollocks

1. Anything obvious ("Sticks out like the dog's bollocks").^[107] 2. Something especially good or first rate ("It's the dog's bollocks", sometimes abbreviated to, "it's the dog's").^[107]

Donkey's years 

(Donkey's ears) a very long time. In reference to the length of a donkey's ears. Sometimes abbreviated to, "donkey's".^[108]

Done up like a kipper 

1. Beaten up. 2. Fitted up or framed. 3. Caught red-handed by the police.^[109]

doofer 

An unnamed object.^[110]

dosser 

Someone who might stay in a dosshouse.^[111]

dosshouse 

A cheap boarding house frequented by tramps.^[111]

duck 

A term of endearment used in the North of England.

duff 

1. broken, not working. 2. To beat, as in 'duff up'. 3. Pregnant (up the duff).^[112]

E

earwig 

1. To eavesdrop. 2. To twig (rhyming slang)^[113]

eating irons 

Cutlery.^[114]

end away 

to have sex (get one's end away).^[115]

F

fag 

cigarette.^[116]

fag end

the used stub of a cigarette and by extension the unpleasant and worthless loose end of any situation.^[116]

fanny 

female external genitalia, a woman's pudendum.^[117]

fanny adams 

(Usually preceded by 'sweet' and often abbreviated to F.A., S.F.A. or sweet F.A.) Nothing at all. A euphemism for fuck all.^[117]

fence 

Someone who deals in stolen property.^[117]

fit 

sexually attractive (Afro-Caribbean).^[118]

fit up 

A frame up.^[119]

fiver 

five pounds.^[119]

filth (the) 

The police (derogatory).^[120]

flasher 

Someone who indecently exposes oneself.^[121]

flick 

Motion picture, film. 'The flicks', the cinema.^[122]

flog 

Sell.^[123]

flog a dead horse 

1. To continue talking about a long forgotten topic. 2. To attempt to find a solution to a problem which is unsolveable.^[123] An unhealthy combined interest in sadism, necrophilia and bestiality.

flutter 

(To have a flutter) To place a wager.^[124]

fly 

Quick witted, clever.^[124]

fork out 

To pay out, usually with some reluctance.^[125]

French letter 

Condom.^[126]

frig 

1.(Taboo) To masturbate. 2. When followed by 'around' or 'about', to behave aimlessly or foolishly.^[127]

frigging 

1. The act of masturbating. 2. Used as an intensifier. For example, "You frigging idiot". Considered milder than 'fucking'.^[127]

Frog 

Derogatory term for a Frenchman.^[128]

fuck all 

nothing at all^[129]

fudge packer 

homosexual.

fuzz (the) 

The police.^[130]

G

gaff 

House or flat.^[131]

gaffer 

Boss, foreman or employer.^[131]

gander 

Usually preceded by 'have a' or 'take a'. To look.^[132]

gash 

1. Surplus to requirements, unnecessary.^[133] 2. Derogatory term used for female genitalia.^[134]

gassed 

Drunk.^[133]

geezer 

(informal) Man. Particularly an old one.^[135]

get 

Variant of git.^[136]

git 

incompetent, stupid, annoying, or childish person.^[137]

go down 

To go to prison.^[138] oral sex as in "did you go down on her?"

go spare

To become angry, frustrated, distressed, enraged.^{[139][140][141][142][143]}

gob 

1. Mouth 2. To spit. 3. Spittle.^[138]

gobshite 

(Taboo) A stupid or despicable person.^[138]

gobsmacked 

flabbergasted, dumbfounded, astounded, speechless.^[138] Possibly either from the gesture of clapping one's hand over one's mouth in surprise, or the idea that something is as shocking as being smacked in the mouth

gogglebox 

Television.^[144]

gong 

A medal. Usually a military one.^[145]

goolies 

The male genitals and in particular the testicles.^[146]

grass 

originally London (rhyming) slang for informer.^[147]

grand 

£1000^[148]

grot 

Rubbish or dirt.^[149] hence also porn as in "grot-mags"

guff 

1. Ridiculous talk. Nonsense.^[150] 2. Flatulence. Probably from the Norwegian gufs, a puff of wind.^[151]

H

half-inch 

to steal (rhyming slang for 'pinch')^[152]

hampton 

Penis (rhyming slang from, Hampton Wick = prick; and Hampton Rock = cock).^[153]

handbags 

a harmless fight especially between two women.^[154] (from "handbags at dawn" an allusion to duelling)

hard cheese 

Bad luck.^[155]

helmet 

The glans of the penis.^[156]

henry 

A henry is (or was) an eighth of an ounce (as in Henry the 8th) = in weight to a decimal penny

honk 

Vomit.^[157]

hook it 

To run away quickly.^[158]

hooky or hookey 

1. Something that is stolen (probably from hook = to steal).^[159] 2. Loosely used to describe anything illegal.^[159]

hooter 

Nose.^[160]

hump 

1. To carry or heave.^[161]

I

idiot box 

Television.^[162]

inside 

In or into prison.^[163]

ivories 

1. Teeth. 2. The keys of a piano. 3. Dice.^[164]

I'm all right, Jack 

A remark, often directed at another, indicating that they are selfish and that they don't care about it.^[165]

J

jacksy (or jacksie) 

The buttocks or anus.^[166]

Jack the lad 

A young man who is regarded as a show off and is brash or loud.^[166]

jack up 

Inject an illegal drug.^[166]

jag 

1. A drug taking, or sometimes drinking, binge. 2. A period of uncontrolled activity.^[167]

jammy 

1. Lucky. 2. Pleasant or desirable.^[168] as in "More Jam than Hartleys" when an impressive pool shot is pulled off.

jerry 

A chamber pot.^[169]

Jerry 

A German or German soldier.^[169]

jessie 

An effeminate man or one that is weak or afraid. (Originally Scottish slang) ^[170]

jism, jissom

semen.^[171]

Jock 

word or term of address for a Scot.^[171]

Joe Bloggs 

A man who is average, typical or unremarkable.^[172]

Joe Soap 

An idiot, stooge or scapegoat.^[172]

Johnny 

Condom.^[171] Sometimes also a 'Johnny bag'^[173] or 'rubber Johnny'.^[174]

John Thomas 

Penis.^[175]

josser 

A cretin or simpleton.^[176]

jump 

As a noun or verb, sexual intercourse.^[177]

K

kip 

1. Sleep, nap 2. Bed or lodging 3. Brothel (mainly Irish) ^[178]

knackered 

1. Exhausted, tired, 2. Broken, beyond all usefulness.^[179]

knackers 

vulgar name for testicles.^[179]

knees up 

A lively party or dance.^[179]

knob 

1. Penis.^[180] 2. (of a man) To have sexual intercourse.^[181]

knobhead 

a stupid, irritating person.^[181]

knob jockey 

homosexual (to ride the penis like a jockey rides a horse).^[181]

knob-end 

an idiot, or tip of penis (see bell-end).^[181]

knockers 

Breasts.^[180]

knocking shop 

Brothel.^[180]

know one's onions 

To be well acquainted with a subject.^[182]

L

lady 

A five pound note. Rhyming Slang, Lady Godiva-Fiver

lag 

1. Convict, particularly a long serving one (an old lag).^[183]

lash 

1. Urinate.^[184] 2. Alcohol.^[184]

lashed 

very inebriated. Also 'on the lash' meaning to go out drinking with the intent of getting drunk.^[184]

laughing gear 

Mouth.^[185]

louie 

A louie is (or was) a sixteenth of an ounce (as in Louie the 16th) = in weight to a decimal halfpence

local 

A public house close to one's home.^[186]

lolly 

money.^[187]

loo 

lavatory.^[188]

M

manky 

dirty, filthy. (Polari).^[189]

Manky Snatcher 

Maggie Thatcher

marbles 

Wits. As in, to lose one's marbles.^[190]

mare 

Woman (derogatory).^[191]

mark 

A suitable victim for a con or swindle.^[192]

matelot 

Sailor (from the French).^[193]

meat and two veg 

Literally a traditional meal consisting of any meat, potatoes and a second type of vegetable; euphemistically the male external genitalia.^[194] Is sometimes also used to mean something unremarkable or ordinary.^[194]

mental 

Crazy or insane.^[195]

Mick 

An Irishman (derogatory).^[196]

miffed 

Upset or offended.^[197]

milk run 

A 'safe' mission or patrol.^[198]

minge 

Vagina ^[199]

minger 

Someone who smells.^[200]

minted 

Wealthy.

mizzle 

Decamp.^[201]

moggy 

Cat.^[202]

moke 

Donkey.^[202]

monged (out) 

Severely drunk/high.^[203] Derogatory use of archaic phrase for Downs Syndrome.

moniker or moniker 

Name, nickname, signature or mark.^[204]

monkey 

£500.^[205]

mooch 

Loiter or wander aimlessly, skulk.^[206]

moody gear, or story 

stolen property or an improbable tale.

moolah 

Money.^[206]

moon 

To expose one's backside (from Old English, mona).^[206]

moony 

Crazy or foolish.^[207]

muck about 

Waste time. Interfere with.^[208]

mucker 

Mate, pal.^[208] Romanichal

muck in 

Share a duty or workload.^[208]

mufti 

Civilian dress worn by someone who normally wears a military uniform.^[209] Probably from the Muslim dress, popularly worn by British officers serving in India during the 19th century.^[209][210] Now commonly used to refer to a non-uniform day in schools.

mug 

1. Face. 2. A gullible or easily swindled person.^[209]

mug off 

Sell Short, Underestimate, Insult as in "Is he mugging me off?"

munter 

Ugly person.^[211]

mush 

1. Face or mouth.^[212] 2. Familiar term of address. Probably from the Romanichal moosh, a man.^[212]

N

naff 

Inferior or in poor taste.^[213] Also used as sentence substitute as in, for example, "Naff off!"^[213]

nark 

1. As a verb or noun; spy or informer.^[214] from "Narcotics" as in the "drug squad" 2. Someone who complains a lot (an old nark).^[214] 3. Annoy or irritate.^[214]

ned 

(Scottish) a lout, a drunken brawling fellow, a tough.^[215] Often said to stand for Non-Educated Delinquent but this is a backronym. More likely to come from Teddy Boys being a contraction of Edward. More recently, sometimes equated with the English chav.^[80]

nick 

1. Steal.^[216] 2. Police Station or prison.^[216] 3. To arrest.^[216] 4. health or condition, "to be in good nick"

nicked 

Arrested or stolen.^[216]

nicker 

Pound sterling.^[216]

noggin 

a lump of Hashish, bigger than a blim but less than a louie

nob 

1. Person of high social standing.^[217] 2. Head.^[217]

nobble 

Disable (particularly a racehorse).^[217]

nod out 

To lapse into a drug induced stupour.^[218]

nonce 

Sex offender, most commonly a child molester. (Prison slang)^[219]

noodle 

Brain . as in " Use your noodle for once"

nordle 

Hashish codeword, now a type weed with lower THC and higher CBD

nookie or nooky 

Sexual intercourse.^[220]

nose rag 

Handkerchief.^[221]

nosh 

1. Food. 2. To eat.^[221] Oral sex.

nosh up 

A feast or large, satisfying meal.^[221]

nugget 

A pound coin, as in golden nugget.

numpty 

Incompetent or unwise person.

nut 

1. Head. 2. Eccentric person.^[104]

nutcase 

An insane person.^[222]

nuthouse 

A lunatic asylum.^[222]

nutmeg 

In association football, to pass the ball between an opposing player's legs.^[222]

nuts or nutty 

Crazy or insane.^[222]

nutter 

Insane person.^[222]

O

odds and sods 

Substitute for 'odds and ends'. Miscellaneous items or articles, bits and pieces.^[223]

oik 

Someone of a low social standing (derogatory).^[224]

off one's head (or out of one's head) 

Mad or delirious.^[225]

off the hook 

Free from obligation or danger.^[158]

off one's nut 

Crazy or foolish.^[104]

old bill, the old bill 

A policeman or the police collectively.^[226]

one's head off 

Loud or excessively. "I laughed my head off" or "She screamed her head off" for example.^[53]

out to lunch 

To doze off drunk or high and neglect a responsibility. also "Lunch Out"

P

packet 

1. A large sum of money (earn a packet).^[227] 2. A nasty surprise (catch a packet).^[227]

paddy 

a fit of temper.^[228]

Paddy 

(capitalised) An Irishman (derogatory).^[228]

Paki 

(Derogatory, offensive) A Pakistani or sometimes used to loosely describe anyone or anything from the Indian sub-continent.^[229]

Paki Black 

High quality Hashish from Pakistan. Very very dark brown hence "black" rumoured to be opiumated.

Paki-bashing 

Unprovoked attacks on Pakistanis living in Britain.^[230]

paste 

To hit, punch or beat soundly. From a 19th-century variant of baste, meaning to beat thoroughly.^[231]

pasting 

A sound thrashing or heavy defeat.^[231]

penny-dreadful 

A cheap, sensationalist magazine.^[232]

phiz or phizog 

The face (from a 17th-century colloquial shortening of physiognomy).^[233]

pickled 

Drunk.^[234]

pie-eyed 

Drunk.^[235]

pig's ear 

1. Beer (Cockney rhyming slang.^[236] 2. Something that has been badly done or has been made a mess of.^[236]

pikey 

Pejorative term used, mainly in England to refer to travellers, gypsies or vagrants.^[237] Sometimes also used to describe people of low social class or morals. Someone less than quarter blood Romani who travels, but may have less inclination to keep to the old ways (from Lancs Romanichal oral tradition)

pillock 

Stupid or annoying person.^[238]

pinch 

1. (noun) A robbery.^[239] 2. Sail too close to the wind (nautical slang).^[239]

pissed, pissed up 

Drunk.^[240]

on the piss 

Getting drunk, drinking alcohol.^[241]

plastered 

Extremely drunk.^[242]

plonker 

1. Something large or substantial (mid-19th century).^[243] 2. Penis.^[243] 3. A general term of abuse (from 2.; in use since 1960s ^[243] but may have been popularised by the BBC comedy series Only Fools and Horses.)

pony 

£25 (18th century).^[244]

poof 

homosexual

porkies 

Lies (from the cockney rhyming slang pork pies)^[245]

punt 

1. To gamble, wager or take a chance.^[246] 2. To sell or promote.^[246]

punter 

1. Customer, patron.^[246] 2. Gambler (one who takes a punt).^[246] 3. A victim in a confidence trick or swindle.^[246]

Q

queer as a clockwork orange 

1. Very odd indeed.^[247] 2. Ostentatiously homosexual.^[247]

Queer Street 

A difficult or odd situation (up Queer Street).^[248]

queer someone's pitch 

1. Take the pitch of another street vendor, busker or similar.^[248] 2. Spoil someone else's efforts.^[248]

quim 

Vagina (possibly a play on the Welsh word for valley, cwm).^[249]

R

Richard the Third 

A piece of excrement (rhyming slang Richard the Third = turd).^[250]

ring 

Anal sphincter ^[251]

ringburner 

1. A curry. 2. Diarrhoea or painful defecation.^[251]

rozzer 

Policeman.^[252] from "Rosicrucian"

rumpy pumpy 

sexual intercourse, used jokingly. (Popularised by its usage in The Black Adder and subsequent series; the suggestion of actor Alex Norton of a Scots term.)^[253][254]

S

safe 

An all purpose term of approval.^[255] Popularised during the early rave era 1988-1995.

savvy 

Knowledge, understanding (from the French, savoir).^[256]

scally 

A hooligan youth (Scouse), short for scallywag.^[257]

scarper 

Run away. Sometimes claimed to be rhyming slang: Scapa Flow (go).^[258][259]

scrubber 

In Britain, a promiscuous woman; in Ireland, a common or working class woman.^[260]

Scouser 

Someone from Liverpool.^[261]

scrote 

Term of abuse, from scrotum.^[260]

see a man about a dog 

1. Attend a secret deal or meeting.^[262] 2. Go to the toilet.^[262]

shag 

Sexual intercourse.^[263]

shagged 

1. The past historic of shag. 2. Extremely tired (shagged out).^[263]

shiner 

Black eye.^[264]

shitehawk 

Someone of little worth, originally military slang.^[265]

shit-faced 

Drunk.^[265]

skanky 

Dirty, particularly of a marijuana pipe.^[266] However originally Jamaican Patois for lazy dancing or "The Rasta Swagger" as in Easy Skanking

skint 

Without money.^[267]

slag 

1. Worthless or insignificant person. 2. Promiscuous woman or prostitute.^[268]

slag off 

A verbal attack. To criticise or slander.^[268]

slap-head 

A bald man.^[268]

slapper 

Promiscuous woman or prostitute.^[268]

slash 

Urinate, urination.^[269]

sling one's hook 

Go away.^[158]

snog 

French kiss, or any prolonged physical intimacy without undressing or sexual contact.^[270]

sod 

Annoying person or thing (from sodomite).^[271]

sod off 

"Go away".^[272]

spawny 

Lucky (possibly from the Scottish game, Spawnie).^[273]

splud 

archaic slang - short for "God's Blood". It was used as a mild curse word. It was used to replace other words seen as blasephmy.

spunk 

1. Semen, ejaculate. 2. Courage, bravery.^[274]

steaming 

1. Extremely drunk.^[275] 2. An intensifier, e.g. "You steaming gurt ninny!" ^[275] 3. Extremely angry.

stuffed 

1. Sexual intercourse (e.g. "get stuffed")^[276] 2. Used negatively to mean bothered, as in, "I can't be stuffed to do that!".^[276] 3. having a full belly (e.g. "I am completely stuffed, and can't eat another thing.").

T

tad 

a little bit^[277]

take the piss (out of) 

To mock.^[278]

take the mickey 

To tease or mock.^[196]

tart 

Commonly a prostitute or term of abuse but also used affectionately for a lover. Shortened version of sweetheart.^[279]

tenner 

Ten pounds.^[280]

toff 

Posh person ^[281]

ton 

1. A large unspecified amount (18th century).^[282] 2. £100 (1940s).^[282] 3. 100 MPH (1950s).^[282] 4. Any unit of 100 (1960s).^[282]

tosh 

Nonsense ^[283]

tosser 

1. Someone who masturbates (to toss off). 2. Someone the speaker doesn't like (from 1.).^[283] 3. An affectionate form of address (from 1.) e.g. "All right you old tosser!"^[284]

tosspot 

Drunkard or habitual drinker (from tossing pots of ale) ^[283]

tube

1. The London Underground (19th century. Originally 'Tuppeny tube').^[285] 2. Penis.^[285] 3. A person (Scottish).^[285] 4. A general term of contempt (Irish, 1950s).^[286]

twag

bunk off school, play truant. "You off to twag maths" Lincolnshire, Humberside probably from "to wag"

twat 

1. Vagina.^[287] 2. Term of abuse (from 1.).^[287] 3. To hit hard.

W

wag off 

Skyve or play truant.^[288]

wank 

1. Masturbation or to masturbate.^[289] 2. Inferior.^[289]

wanker 

1. Someone who masturbates.^[289] 2. Abusive term (from 1.), someone the speaker doesn't like.^[289][290]

wankered 

1. Very drunk.^[289] 2. Exhausted.^[289]

wanking spanner(s) 

Hand(s).^[289]

warts and all 

Including all negative characteristics (from a reported request from Oliver Cromwell to Peter Lely)^[291]

whizz 

1. Urination.^[292] 2. Amphetamine Sulphate (also known as speed; from whizz, to move very fast).^[292]

willy 

Penis (hypocorism).^[293]

willy-waving 

Acting in an excessively macho fashion.^[293]

wind up 

to tease, irritate, annoy, anger ^[294]

See also

• British English
• London slang

Notes

References

• Breverton, Terry (2010). Breverton's Nautical Curiosities. 21 Bloomsbury Square, London: Quercus Publishing PLC. p. 169. ISBN 978-1-84724-776-6. 
• Collins English Dictionary. Glasgow GN4 0NB: Harper Collins Publishers. 1991. ISBN 0-00-433286-5.
• Green, Jonathon (1999). The Cassell Dictionary of Slang. London: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34435-4.
• Hunt, J. L. and Pringle, A. G. (2008). Service Slang. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-24014-2.
• Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar. Oxford University Press (1995).
• Quinion, Michael (2009). Why is Q Always Followed by a U?. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-1-84614-184-3.

Further reading

• Partridge, Eric (2002). Beale, Paul, ed. A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-29189-5. 
• James, Ewart (1998). NTC's Dictionary of British Slang and Colloquial Expressions. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-8442-0838-8. 
• Baker, Paul (2002). Dictionary of Polari & gay slang. 
• Baker, Paul (2002). Polari-- the lost language of gay men. 
• Barrère, Albert; Leland, Charles (1889). Dictionary of Slang, Jargon and Cant. 
• Bernstein, Jonathan (2006). Knickers in a twist : a dictionary of British slang. 
• Farmer, John; Henley, W. E. (1905). A Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English. 
• Geris, Jan (2003). American's guide to the British language : really, they talk like this every day. 
• Green, Jonathon (2008). Chambers Slang Dictionary. 
• James, Ewart (1999). Contemporary British slang : an up-to-date guide to the slang of modern British English. 
• Parody, A. (Antal) (2007). Eats, shites & leaves : crap English and how to use it. 
• Soudek, Lev. (1967). Structure of substandard words in British and American English. 

External links

• A Dictionary of Slang and Colloquial English Farmer & Henley (1905)
• The Septic's Companion: A British Slang Dictionary – an online dictionary of British slang, viewable alphabetically or by category.
• English slang and colloquialisms used in the United Kingdom
• Roger's Profanisaurus An online version of the list of vulgar definitions which occasionally appears in Viz magazine