Unique British Words from A to C

There are some words that are used in Britain that you will simply never ever hear used in the United States. Here is a fun list of some of the interesting word and phrase you will most likely hear spoken if you visit there.

 

Abseil – this means to rappel or descend down a rope as in “I abseiled down the mountain using my par cord today.”

 

Agony aunt – this is slang for an advice columnist like Dear Abby

Approved school – a nice way of saying “reform school” as in “Johnny is in the approved school for two months for beating up a beagle (beagle is slanged for cop!)

Argy-bargy – This is another word for a push and shove fight

Artic – a nick name for a semi-trailer truck

Auntie Beeb – a nickname for the BBC which is the national broadcasting system of Britain

Baby-minder – slang for a nurse that looks children

Banger – slang for a sausage as in “bangers and beans” but it can also mean a car that backfires with a big noise

Banknote – slang for paper money

Barney – describes a small quarrel or fight

Berk – a term that means a silly person

Biccky – slang for a cookie; also means biscuit

Bint – describes a domineering or dominant woman

Blimey – an exclamation of surprise as in “Gor Blimey!” which means” God blind me!”

Bloke – word that means fellow as in “Terence is a fine bloke!”

Blower – another word for the telephone

Bobby – nickname for a police officer

Bobbins – describes people who lack ability or who are low class

Bodge – means the same thing as botch as in “you really bodged that job!”

Bog – slang for the washroom

Bollocks – slang for testicles

Bonnet –slang for a car’s engine hood

Brolly – means umbrella

Bunce – a raise, profit, windfall or bonus

Butty – a sandwich as in a “bacon butty”

Car hire – means a car rental place

Cats eye – reflective pane used to mark divisions and edges of roads

Chancer – a greedy opportunist

Chemist – nickname for the drugstore or pharmacy

Chinwag – to have a chat

Clingfilm – plastic wrap like Saran wrap for wrapping food

Cockup – to make a big mistake

Cotton bud  -same as a cotton swab or Q-Tip

Counterfoil – the stub of a check or a ticket

Crack onto – to get on with something as in I am going to “crack onto buying my plane ticket to England:

Crisps – slang for potato chips

Cuppa – refers to a cup of tea as in “Would you like your cuppa now dearie.”

 

In the next blog we will look at some more uniquely British words alphabetically from D to M.