It's an obvious fact that there are two types of English: US English and British English. Both have the same words, but with different meanings. There are also phrases only used in England that are not used in the US. The same goes for the other way around. Phrases used in the US that are not used in England. According to MSN.com writer Erin McDowell, here are 60 British phrases that would confuse other people.
Looking at some of these phrases, I already knew what they mean. And they make me laugh. My personal favorite is "a few sandwiches short of a picnic". I tend to use variations of that sometimes. Like "a few crayons short of a box" or "a few bricks shy of a load". I grew up watching British television programs like Are You Being Served?, The Young Ones, Keeping Up Appearances. So I do have somewhat of a good knowledge of British English. And two of my current favorite programs on television are from "across the pond", Law & Order UK and Top Gear UK. I have to say Top Gear UK so as to not be confused with Top Gear US. Most would find it odd that I know what most of these mean. But, then again, growing up watching British television will certainly educate you in how those who are from England speak
I had to remove one of them for fear of trouble. It is not a strong swear word, but to see which one I mean, use the above link to see all of them. If you've seen the Harry Potter films, it's a term used frequently by Harry's friend Ron. I removed that term from this to avoid trouble
1. "A few sandwiches short of a picnic" refers to someone who does not appear to have common sense
-It was first said in 1987 on the BBC program Lenny Harry Christmas Special.
-I honestly didn't know this was a phrase from Britain
-There can be all sorts of variations on this, whether they be British in origin or not. "A few bricks shy of a load", "a few ants short of a colony", etc. There's also phrases like "not the sharpest pencil in the box", "not the brightest bulb", "not the brightest crayon in the box"
2. "Anorak" is also known as nerd
-This term can refer to someone who is a bit nerdy, with strong knowledge or expertise in a certain area. It can also refer to a type of raincoat. The term is thought to have originated from the uncool appearance of anorak coats and those who wear them
3. "Bagsy" is the British equivalent to calling "shotgun" or "dibs" on something, such as the front seat of a car when food is offered
-This is something commonly used among kids. "Does anyone want thi-" "Bagsy!"
4. "Bee's knees" is a way of describing something as being the height of cool
-Despite the British origins, this phrase was adopted in the US in the 1920s, at the height of the flapper era. Nowadays, it's a way of saying something is cool. "The Beatles are the bee's knees."
5. "Bender" refers to a massive binge of something, such as drinking to excess
-This refers to an excessive spree of mischief or drinking, often described as being "on a bender."
6. "Bird" does not refer to the animal, but a girl or young woman
-This phrase could be considered, by some, to be chauvinistic. It's still used to this day. It's particularly used to describe women between the ages of 18-50, especially those who are attractive. "Look at that bird over there. She's fit."
7. "Pull a blinder" means to successfully and faultlessly excel at something
-When someone has been lucky and the person witnessing it is in disbelief. That other person is amazed the person pulled it off. "And did you see that equalizing goal in the last minute of injury time? He pulled a blinder there."
8. "Bob's your uncle" is the British equivalent of saying "Well, there you go" or "Here you go"
-It's often used to describe things that are more seemingly difficult than it actually is. "Press down the clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch again. Bob's your uncle-you're driving!"
9. "Bog standard" is something with no frills, completely ordinary
-In England, "bog" is not a swamp, like most would think. It's another word for toilet. To say something is "bog standard", means it's not special, it's just common, everyday, nothing special about it. "How was the hostel?" "Oh, nothing exciting to report. Just your bog-standard dorm, really."
10. "Boot" refers to not the type of footwear, but actually the trunk of a car
-If you watch the program Top Gear UK, you'll often hear James May, Richard Hammond or Jeremy Clarkson mention the "boot" of the car, which means the trunk. Or they will say "bonnet", which means the hood of a car
11. "Botch job" refers to a repair job that, has been rushed and poorly done, and will fall apart soon
-This can also refer to anything that has been haphazardly done. "Sam did a botch job on these shelves-they're wonky!"
12. "Brolly" is umbrella
-Keep an umbrella on you at all times, in case it rains. "Grab your brolly, it's drizzling outside."
13. "Budge up" is also known as "scoot over", "move over", "make room"
-This is an informal way of asking someone to shift over to make room for you to sit too. To do so, ask them to "budge up". "Hey, there's loads of room on that bench. Budge up and make some room for us, too!"
14. "Builder's Tea" is a type of strongly brewed English Breakfast Tea with sugar and milk
-In England, it's a common courtesy to offer a contractor, worker or builder a nice cup of builder's tea while their working. It's especially helpful when working in the cold. "A bacon sandwich and a builder's tea. Now that's a proper breakfast."
-Ironically enough, I actually drink English Breakfast tea, minus the milk. I get jokes in my house from my mom and sister because in the books and films for Fifty Shades of Grey, the main character, Anastasia Steele, drinks English Breakfast tea and has a desire to go to London. Those are two things I share with her
15. "Butcher's hook" is slang for having a look
-If you're looking at something, you're having a "butchers hook" at something. "Would you take a butchers at this broken bike for me?"
16. "Cheeky", depending on the context and / or way it's used, could be used to describe impolite and shameless to some or funny and endearing to others
-When someone is "being cheeky", they are being funny, humorous, with a bit of mischief thrown in for good measure. "Joe's children are absolute rascals-they tied my shoelaces together last week!" "Those cheeky monkeys!"
17. If you are chatting or having a conversation, you are having a "chinwag"
-A "good old chinwag" is a way of saying having a chat or a conversation. The action of talking, with the jaw moving up and down, resembles the way a dog's tail sometimes wags. "Those two are having a proper chinwag - I haven't been able to get a word in edgeways for half an hour!"
18. When something is jam packed full or full to the brim, it's described as "chockablock"
-This is most often used to describe heavy motor vehicle traffic. It's often shortened to "chocka". "We should have taken the other route. This road is chocka!"
19. When you are overjoyed at something, you are "chuffed"
-This term is a way of saying how overjoyed you are at something. "I heard you got the promotion. Congratulations! You must be chuffed!"
20. "Codswallop" is another way of saying "nonsense", "rubbish", something you simply don't believe
-Simply put, this is a way of saying something is absolute nonsense, something that doesn't seem right, something that is completely unbelievable. "Oh, what a load of codswallop!"
21. "Cream crackered", "knackered" are two ways of saying "tired" or "exhausted"
-These two phrases are London slang for "tired" or "exhausted". Some people in England will say that if they are exhausted beyond all recognition, they are "ready for the knacker's yard." This phrase originates from the 19th and 20th centuries, with people called "knackers", who put down worn out horses and used the meat and hooves and hide. "This week's done me in already and it's only Tuesday. I'm cream crackered."
22. "Dench" is another way of saying "cool", "impressive"
-Used in response to someone else, this is a way of saying how cool or impressive something is. It can mean anything, according to British rapper Lethal Bizzle. "I'm going to make us spaghetti carbonara for dinner." "Dench."
23. "Dim" is someone who lacks intelligence
-On the opposite end of that, someone is who intelligent is referred to as "bright". "She's a bit dim."
24. "Doddle" is an easy task
-It's thought this word could have originated from toddle, what a toddler does when first learning how to walk. "This will be a doddle."
25. When something is a mess or complete disaster, it's a "dog's dinner"
-Referred to also as a "dog's breakfast", it means a complete disaster or mess. "You've made a dog's dinner of that paint job."
26. "Faff" or "faff about" is to waste time doing nothing
-It comes from the 17th century word "faffle", meaning to flap in the wind. "What did you do on your day off from work?" "We were just faffing about."
29. "Fit" refers to someone who is physically attractive, with a good body
-If you see someone who you find attractive, you would describe them as "fit." "He's fit"
30. To sell something cheaply and quickly, you "flog" something
-Unfortunately, in the past, "flogging" also means a whipping. It referred to whipping a racehorse to make it go faster. So there is some sense in using the word flog to make something move faster. "I'm trying to flog my old sofa. Do you know anyone who might be interested?"
31. "A full monty" or "the full monty" refers to "all the way", "the whole thing"
-When the film The Full Monty was released in 1997, it lead to quite an array of confusion over the meaning of the phrase. Many thought it only referred to stripping. In fact, according to IMDB.com, under the Did You Know category for the film, many theaters (cinemas) in the US had to issue brochures translating the British English used in the film. This phrase, nowadays, is used to say "all the way", "the whole thing". The origins of this phrase are from an old tailor named Sir Montague Burton. Doing "the full Monty" meant buying a complete three piece suit, with shirt, tie and everything. "Our Christmas dinner had everything from sprouts to Yorkshire puddings. If you're going to have a roast, have the full Monty!"
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