Top 30 UK Slang & Britishisms | Things We Heard British People Say | Americans React to UK Slang

[@patrickrrmiller]

I find it noteworthy that those from the USA refer to their home country as 'the states'. 'Back in the states.' Imagine if we from the UK said 'Back in the kingdom'.

[@WanderingRavens]

You should! That would be awesome 🤣

[@AndrewofWare]

British people often say 'blighty' meaning 'home'. A British person abroad might say, 'Oh, back in blighty we would never do/eat/say that'. It dates back to at least the Great War when many soldiers would hope for a 'blighty wound'. This was a wound that was not bad enough to kill you or permanently harm you, but was bad enough for you to receive lengthy treatment at home (and maybe get you out of the war for good).

[@LolM.]

I'm definitely going to start saying 'Back in the kingdom'.

[@WanderingRavens]

@@LolM. Thanks you xD

[@57bananaman]

Shouldn't we say "Back In The Kingdoms"???

[@gedwhittaker874]

The 'Lighter' incident - you met a nutter!

[@garynewell1533]

If he had a gun he wouldn't have told you.

[@antonycharnock2993]

Sounds a bit schizo. Usually found near bus stations.

[@lawrencegillies]

yeah, definite nutter

[@cass2239]

Yep, that's what I thought, a nutter or on something

[@rde4017]

Yep, a fucking whack-job

[@maccatarquin7098]

Someone isn't a "So so". They're a "so and so". it isn't "long in the teeth", it's "long in the tooth"

[@langjones3846]

Yes, and 'long in the tooth' is a very common saying.

[@liuzhou]

so so is a phrase, but different from so and so.

[@maccatarquin7098]

@@liuzhou indeed. "So so" is used to describe something that is OK. Not bad, not especially good. It's alright. It's so so.

[@tomlamb7542]

Piss on your chips...mainly a northern expression...means about to disappoint you over something....like"sorry to piss on your chips but you haven't won the lottery, got the numbers wrong"

[@Mephilis78]

Exactly. And both of these are used in the US, so they have no excuse.

[@Zooumberg]

Did you hear the one about the man who was run over by a steam train? He was chuffed to bits.

[@gosccc]

There is a difference between "Pissed" (drunk) and "Pissed off" (really unhappy about a situation)

[@diamondsam]

Yeah like if you say the for example old man was Pissed off his rocker that means he was really drunk (hammered even), or if you say people who cut in queues piss me off then it means people who cut in queues really annoy me/ make me unhappy

[@EndingzZ]

OR pissed as in something's not straight. (a shelf can be put up 'on the piss')

[@johndonson1603]

I was in Florida 1990 and had an interesting experience when I suggested a fella was pissed. Meaning drunk. He kept saying I'm not pissed but I will get pissed if you keep saying it.

[@jemmajames6719]

EndingzZ or that’s piss poor!

[@FlippingC]

@@EndingzZ although that could be "on the piss" which also ironically could also mean to go out drinking (similar to "on the lash") Not heard "cheesed off" mentioned here

[@alanroutledge2962]

When you say someone could do it for England the person does it so much they could represent England at it .Like a sport

[@harriedavies3940]

national champion innit!

[@fraserknight-wk9448]

It is a good thing

[@fionagregory9376]

I detest sport and maths

[@thingimabob0]

“He talks for England” means more that, if there were to be an international competition of who can talk the most/the longest, he would represent England, rather than he represents the views of England. :)

[@WanderingRavens]

That makes sense! Thank you for clearing that up :)

[@7822welshsteam]

Interestingly, in Wales, it's "talk for Britain" but it's always said as, "He could talk for Britain."

[@thingimabob0]

William Roberts oh yeah, “He could talk for England” is way more common that “He talks for England” :)

[@jedislap8726]

Bog Standard has actually a very interesting meaning. In 1898 a company called Meccano created a Construction play kit ( I think in America you had a company called Erector do the same). Now, these kits came in two types. the 1st was a cheap version Called Meccano Box Standard, the 2nd was a more expensive kit called Meccano Box Deluxe. Being the cheap version, the Box Standard became known through slang as the Bog Standard meaning the 'average, normal, no frills' and that has carried on to mean anything that is similarly average. The 2nd set also got changed by slang from Box Deluxe to Dog's Bollocks meaning the best of something. So now when anyone says That something is the Dog's Bollocks they mean it is the best and when they say it is Bog Standard they mean it is average. I knew that this useless information would come in handy someday.

[@AnakinS86]

This is hilarious! Thank you! You're the Dog's Bollocks!

[@garybarnes4169]

Not just useless, baseless in fact, as far as I am aware. Hornby didn't register the name Meccano until 1907 for starters...

[@jedislap8726]

@@garybarnes4169 Meccano is a model construction system created in 1898 by Frank Hornby in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Just because it wasn't trademarked till 1907 is completely irrelevant.

[@TheGeoffpike]

Bollocks is a particular favourite word of the British public...

[@robertomoi2044]

Steve Adams never trust what you read online.

[@zupermaus9276]

she can talk for England means if there was a Talk Olympics, she'd be the representative. 'Pukka' is actually slang from India that UK has appropriated.

[@mollyclark4877]

Wenzhe Chen that’s what I always thought it was as well

[@katiestuttle1579]

However, Pukka is also a brand of pies. It's know for it's quality

[@paddy864]

"Pukka" is a word of Hindi and Urdu origin literally meaning "cooked, ripe" and figuratively "fully formed", "solid", "permanent", "for real" or "sure". In UK slang, it can mean "genuine" or simply "very good"; see also pukka sahib." It came to the UK from the Raj and particularly from the Army and soldiers who had served in India who used it to mean proper, correct, genuine or real. It's still heard in the Army today, as in "That's pukka mate, I 'eard it from the Company Clerk!"

[@wessexdruid7598]

There are many, many words used in English that originated in India - avatar, bungalow, calico, catamaran, cheroot, chintz, chutney, etc, etc, etc. Many of them came via the British Army.

[@mandyg6874]

It always makes me smile when you describe vibrant and diverse language as ‘colourful’. In my family if a person uses a lot of ‘colourful language’ it means that a person ‘swears a lot’. Knackered or “cream crackered” One they seem to use down South quite a lot about someone they don’t like is “I wouldn’t spit on them if they were on fire”. Not a pleasant one but I’d never heard it before I lived in London.

[@BOLLEFISK123]

I've !ived in the UK for 66 years and I've never heard " piss in your chips"

[@ethelmini]

That's because one pisses ON chips, not in them. It's like "burst your bubble".

[@king1and]

I have never heard this expression either, must be a local one.

[@lisajones4683]

I'm from the Midlands and it's used here. Its pissed on your chips, like "ooh, who pissed on your chips?' if you were upset. I think it's a younger expression, I don't really like it.

[@BOLLEFISK123]

A very un PC expression expression retarding chips I've heard in Glasgow is to describe someone as being as bent as a bottle of chips

[@ramsay2234]

I’m from Edinburgh and it’s used there too.

[@g8ymw]

"If he fell down the lavatory (bog), he'd come up with a gold watch in his mouth" Not heard that version. The one I have heard often is "If he fell in a s**t heap, he'd come up smelling of roses" Another far more polite is "He's got more jam than Hartley's" or "Jammy git" Basically a very lucky person

[@johnshufflebottom7907]

The opposite of this is someone who is very clumsy or unlucky is if he fell in a barrel of tits he would come up sucking his thunb.

[@cleoldbagtraallsorts3380]

It is a version of an Arabic proverb, "Throw him into the sea and he will arise with a fish in his mouth. "

[@niknak8005]

More jam than Hartleys, hah I use that all the time

[@lynnejames9419]

@@niknak8005 I do, but a lot of youngsters don't know what Hartleys is!

[@imstuman]

If he fell in the (insert name local river) he'd come out with salmon in his pockets.

[@barryevans791]

"Mutton dressed as lamb" - an old person trying to dress up like a younger person. "Putting lipstick on a pig" - someone wearing makeup and it doesn't help. Don't use either of these in polite company!

[@mookrage]

Or even worse is offal dressed as mutton

[@franl155]

not "an old person" an old or older woman - never heard this expression applied to old or older men

[@simhedges]

@@jw6680 Barry Evans is correct. Mutton is from an older sheep, Lamb is from a younger one, so mutton dressed as lamb is an older person dressing too young for their age (and not to good effect). Its meaning may have expanded to the example you give, but what Barry said is the original (and still a current) meaning.

[@l.o.s.c.8118]

Mutton dressed as lamb is usually nicer on the eye than just plain old mutton! But the phrase is usually derogatory and used by someone who is just mutton and directed at someone that looks better than them. It's a phrase used in bitternesss...

[@bigmatt5853]

“About as much use as a chocolate teapot”......

[@christinafoote9655]

Or a chocolate fireguard

[@Sophie.S..]

I love that - my mum uses it a lot.

[@oasis4life014]

About as useful as sunglasses on bloke we one ear 😂😂

[@Tam19399]

Or an ashtray on a motorbike.

[@craftsmanwoodturner]

Or a roofrack on a helicopter

[@helenbanks7599]

It's ' he's a bit of a so and so' and it's not always used in contempt, it's quite often used to lovingly joke about someone being a bit cheeky.

[@LucifersTear]

"Never in a month of Sundays" means an almost impossible task to master. Derived from Sunday being Sabbath day. You wouldn't be able to learn/complete/master that task with a whole month of free time.

[@iamreg1965]

"Fill your boots" can refer to anything really (from food to nookie) where something is on offer and one is invited to help themselves without too many restrictions. A little like "knock yourself out".

[@lazyoldmanathome7699]

In the South it means to have been cut short on the way to the loo or because you were shit-scared of something.

[@iamreg1965]

@rxp56 Well excuse me. If a comely bird comes up to me in a pub, a mate standing close by may well say "Fill your boots", inferring that I may well be in with a chance of sexual intercourse with this lady and not to waste the opportunity.

[@gillianrimmer7733]

Long in the tooth - not teeth. Pissed means under the influence of alcohol - either a bit merry or really drunk - it's a synonym for drunk. We also say ' going out on the piss', to mean going out drinking when a lot of alcohol is expected to be imbibed.

[@WanderingRavens]

Thanks for setting us straight on that one!

[@ramsay2234]

Pissed can also be used as in pissed off. Or if it’s raining quiet hard outside ‘it’s pissing it down’. And pissed is somewhere between tipsy and being wrecked.

[@markrichardson3421]

'Getting rat-arsed' was another term for getting drunk. Anyone know the origins of this one?

[@dale897]

We have alot for drunk its a good job you didnt add more in this vid.

[@rb93077039]

For anyone unclear, 'long in the tooth' refers to how teeth can appear longer as the gums recede as one ages.

[@MATT0V3Y]

‘not my cup of tea’ = not to my preference, or something you would be interested in

[@matthewshaw988]

“Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire” = time for sleep.

[@ianprince1698]

mum or dad telling us its bedtime.

[@ianprince1698]

many years ago.

[@SvenTviking]

Unless you live in Sandy, which is in a valley, in Bedfordshire.

[@peterbrown6645]

You must have heard ‘bollocks’ a lot but it has multiple meanings. “The dogs bollocks” =something good, the best. “A load of bollocks”=someone talking a load of crap. “bollocks to that”= no way,. I’m not doing that. “Kick in the bollocks” = kick in the nuts. “A bollocking” = telling someone off. “Drop a bollock”= made a mistake.

[@WanderingRavens]

Thank you for catching us up on our bollocks lingo! xD

[@peterbrown6645]

@Wandering Ravens 🤣 brilliant 😂🤣✔️

[@Trebor74]

@@peterbrown6645 another one of our words where context and tone give multiple meanings like 'pissed'

[@trevordance5181]

Also... "To bollocks something up" = to make a mess of something, and "I'm bollocked" = I am worn out or tired, "This engine is bollocked" = This engine is broken/not working

[@jimjobson1958]

@@trevordance5181 Or up in Yorkshire it's Bollocksed as opposed to Bollocked........or I'm Bollocksed..., Bollocked would be more appropriate to "I've just been Bollocked"😅👍

[@Korrihor]

"First Rate" is one of many British slang terms that come from the Royal Navy in the golden age of sailing ships. Battleships were rated by their number of guns so something like HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar with around a hundred guns, was a first rate battle ship, whereas a frigate of the time, with around forty guns, would be a fourth rate. Other Navy terms have come into common use as well, some that spring to mind are: "There isn't room to swing a cat in here." The cat in question is the cat of nine tails, a whip used for corporal punishment at the time. This was always done on the main deck as there was not space to swing the cat properly belowdecks. "To let the cat out of the bag." Things are about to go badly, the aforementioned cat o' nine tails was kept in a special baize bag, if someone let it out, someone was about to get a whipping. This was probably because they had "earnt their stripes" the whip would leave stripes in their skin, in the form of scars. A guilty man had earnt them and would have to "take his licks" of the cat. Ever had a "square meal" that was "piping hot"? Meals in the Royal Navy were served on square platters that would fit better on the table and not slide off in bad weather. You would know when it was ready and hot by a whistle from the bosun's pipes. There are many more but for now I will "pipe down". Another whistle from the bosun's pipe, this time at the end of the shift to tell the men to shut up, turn the lights down and go to sleep.

[@jazzyb4656]

To run the gauntlet as well. It was a naval punishment.

[@et4751]

Thanks for those explanations

[@TheMarkyMarx]

Excellent, thanks for those. Also, another one from the Royal Navy: 'He's a son-of-a gun.' A common insult used on both sides of the pond. It means that 'he's a bit of a bastard.' This one originates from when the off-duty sailors, while away at port, would illegally bring back a woman, often of ill repute, to their ship and then fornicate by the ship's cannons as they had nowhere else to go. A bastard child born of this encounter would then be referred to as 'A son-of-a-gun.'

[@discomikeyboy2012]

Also, three sheets to the wind (staggering around drunk, like a sail flapping in the breeze uselessly). Cut and run, cut of one's jib, balls up, between the devil and the deep blue sea, the devil to pay, learning the ropes, chock a block, batten down the hatches, leeway, in the offing... There's loads of nautical slang that's entered the everyday language.

[@wessexdruid7598]

@@jazzyb4656 'Run the gauntlet' originates with armies fighting the 30 years war - it originally comes from a Swedish word, 'gatlopp', meaning running lane/course. It was a punishment where the guilty party was forced to run between two lines of soldiers and beaten with sticks and other weapons. But something similar was used by the Roman Army - Fustuarium - and before that, those of Ancient Greece, primarily as a form of execution, or very severe punishment. It was used in the RN - for minor offences, only - but it's use was banned in 1806.

[@verykeen2please]

i prefer vinegar on my chips, but each to their own

[@utuberhoda]

Most that you didn’t know are commonly known in 🇨🇦 Canada :) And we consume TONS of American TV, but these britishisms are soooooo common here ❤️

[@crowhillian58]

This one made my American friend laugh..,Rushing around like a blue arsed fly.….

[@elsanovak4098]

*Blue arse flee

[@crowhillian58]

@@elsanovak4098 *arsed fly. You say arse 'flee' if you want.

[@pamelamason3004]

I'm from the southern US and we use several of the expressions you discussed. We use a month of Sundays for a long period of time. We use wonky for something out of whack. You got a problem? for someone looking lost or staring at us. Long in the tooth to refer to someone old. And give it both barrels to tell someone to give it all they have! Plus, there was a form of jazz music known as bop or be-bop. And we used to say that someone walking in a fashion resembling a dance was just bopping along. All of the original families that settled our area were English, Scottish and Irish so it just goes to show that we didn't fall far from the original family tree!

[@WanderingRavens]

Thank you for taking the time to comment, Pamela! It's always good to hear from a fellow American :) We'd never heard any of these slang used before, but we're from the West Coast (Seattle) so it's probably a regional thing due to the UK settlers that came to your area.

[@TheMarkyMarx]

Yes, there a lot of English roots in much of the southern states, probably the reason why the Brits also considered siding with the Confederacy during the Cilvil War.

[@kensaberi1925]

As a Brit (and London born) loved the video, thanks for posting. It's "he's and old so-and-so" not "so so" and "I'm getting a bit long in the tooth" rather than "teeth". Grace's interpretation of "it's just not cricket" was pretty spot on, so well done for that. To be "pissed" you'd need to be pretty drunk. Grace is a bit of a sort by the way, look that one up. Cheers!

[@lederhosenkid]

You two make really fun, interesting videos. You also seem like nice people to boot. Keep up the good work! 👏

[@WanderingRavens]

Thank you so much Steven! We appreciate you! x

[@mattick1012]

Loved the video guys! I’m from Yorkshire in England which is our largest county (a county is similar to a state) and here we have some very unusual phrases that just don’t make sense to people from other parts of England! Good job on the translations though! Hope you enjoyed England 🙏🏻

[@robbikebob]

Have you ever heard "ee, it's black oer Bills mother's"?

[@mattick1012]

@@robbikebob definitely. It’s a classic!

[@missmakeupaddict24]

A similar one to the “gold watch” idiom is “he could fall in shit and still come out smelling of roses” (which is one that I used more and think it’s funnier)

[@keithfrost1190]

"Pucker" is an Indian word introduced into Britain during the Empire and it means the best or genuine. "Pucker Pies" is a brand of pies sold at many fish and chip shops.

[@jumbo4billion]

Pukka

[@keithfrost1190]

@@jumbo4billion Thank you sir.

[@adamcampbell5977]

it does also mean good

[@roberthindle5146]

Pukka up!

[@DaveBartlett]

@@roberthindle5146 That one is "PUCKER (to tightly gather or contract into wrinkles or small folds) up".

[@Ecchidna]

The best part about language in the uk is that it changes every 10km or so as you go around

[@WanderingRavens]

It's crazy how regional the speech is here! I love it! Was reading a book by Bill Bryson the other day (English: The Mother Tongue), and he was saying how 1000 years ago English the language was so different from city to city that you could go 10 miles and not be able to communicate with folks anymore.

[@huntergray3985]

@@WanderingRavens Still true today.

[@DaveBartlett]

@@WanderingRavens 1) not that many cities in England 1000 years ago 2) In the eleventh century there were still people whose native language was 'Old Norse' 'Cumbric' 'Old English' 'Norman', 'Cornish', etc. so not surprising that travelling around, you wouldn't be sure to meet people who were universally understandable.

[@johndonson1603]

@@WanderingRavens Apparently if you could go back to Shakespearean times English speach would most closely resemble Mountain, Country, people in the USA.

[@WanderingRavens]

@@johndonson1603 That's what we've heard!

S/he does something for England means that they do it so much/well, they could do it competitively, ie for a national team, like at the Olympics.

[@redbeki]

Great observations guys .. our phrases sound weird when they're isolated like this .. you're right , we do have so many .

[@abbyhuntley3171]

Aww poor Grace! Who would say “you got a problem?” to you?! 🥺

[@5imp1]

The capiche man? Sounds like he may have escaped from the funny farm.

[@alanrawlings9791]

italian...means understand... threateningly

[@brianpowell6058]

capiche, to understand.

[@NTLBagpuss]

Definitely had a screw loose, wasn't playing with a full deck.

[@lawrencegillies]

a person can be a right "so and so" if something is "so-so" its average

[@RichardMoore1947]

Pissed means both angry and drunk depending on the context.

[@kendee4421]

Only means annoyed since American shows and films used it late 20th century. Before that P ed off meant fed up or bored with, which could be extended to mean annoyed I supposed

[@kbrickell4732]

Pissed off means angry, Pissed means drunk

[@booshank2327]

Nope. You now must be exiled from the realm.

[@shazwelly]

Chuffed doesn’t actually mean happy exactly, chuffed is that warm feeling you get when someone pays you a compliment, or when you have achieved something ... as “I was chuffed when she said I was a great cook”, or “I was chuffed to get all A’s in my exams.”

[@RainbowSauceGames]

Here’s a few: “About as useful as a chocolate teapot” Meaning: absolutely useless “As rare as rocking horse poo” Meaning: super rare “It’s like Blackpool Illuminations in here!” Meaning: it’s so bright, why are all the lights on? To ‘cock something up’ or to ‘balls something up’. Both mean the same thing: to mess up very badly. Example sentence: “The electrician cocked up/balls up all the electrics in the house and now we have to find another electrician to fix it!”

[@l3v1ckUK]

We always used 'chocolate fire guard'.

[@RainbowSauceGames]

l3v1ckUK Yes! That’s a good one too!

[@nicolejarrett265]

Bunch of yoghurt knitters is my current favourite britishism. Really enjoyed this video, thank you for reminding me how silly our language can be and you both seem very lovely. X

[@WanderingRavens]

Thank you for the kind words! And what does "yoghurt knitters" mean???

[@nicolejarrett265]

Wandering Ravens stupid people who do pointless things... lots of politicians are considered yoghurt knitters

[@raindancer6111]

@@nicolejarrett265 I've normally heard this used for the Green, leftist, pc correct middle class types that live in nice suburbs. The knit your own yoghurt brigade.

[@angelmichaelcorr]

A Nelson Mandela - A pint of Stella. If you ever visit Glasgow never ask the locals for a welcoming Glasgow Kiss.

[@liuzhou]

Or a Mars Bar

[@stephenmuirhead2615]

Or worse, ask them to give you a lovely Glasgow smile.

[@helenchelmicka3028]

🤣🤣

[@hadz8671]

It's either "He's a bit so-so" (i.e. uninspiringly average) or "He's a bit of a so-and-so" (i.e. a reprobate).

[@cliffbetton8893]

"The dogs bollocks" meaning that something is very good, the best - It's the dogs bollocks.

[@sandees9lives345]

Like amazeballs. LOL

[@lazyoldmanathome7699]

Best posting so far! Well done guys.

[@WanderingRavens]

Glad you think so!

[@markrichardson3421]

'Put t' wood in't 'ole' - literally put the wood in the hole, Yorkshire slang for shut the door. Can also use 'were you born in a field?' directed at someone who left a door open.

[@RaymondOreFineArt]

For me, the expression would be 'born in a barn' meaning the same but I do think 'field' works better.

[@markrichardson3421]

@@RaymondOreFineArt the sarcastic response to mine was usually 'aye, Huddersfield'

[@DanielGurney]

Mark Richardson "born in a barn?" and "lost her doors at '0me" have been heard by I

[@thingimabob0]

I also love “you’d make a better door than a window” when someone blocks your view

[@rachelpenny5165]

We always used to say were you born in a barn.

[@Theinternalrewrite]

"You got a problem?!" Aggressive and/or intimidated people reading the situation as someone being rude to them. If they think you've given them an odd look they might feel judged and suddenly think you want to start something or that they should retaliate. You were just looking around the room taking an interest. It's sad really.

[@warrensmith8606]

its a "poor area/person" thing, where people are trying to intimidate to be top dog and have a reputation as someone you dont mess with. Bit like "the hood" and all that sort of heirarchy culture. It is probably difficult for a foreigner to determine who is legit someone you should walk away from briskly and who is someone you should stand up to and laugh at. I'd probably just play it safe if i were you with these types. And no, very few people have a gun, but if he heard your accent it was probably because of that that he chose that particular metaphor for "i dont like you and i'll fuckin av you if you're not careful". A prick basically. Stick to nice areas and away from rowdy drunken types and youll be fine

[@warrensmith8606]

also i think this tends to be more southern people where strangers are like enemies rather than potential friends like up north

[@AT-yx3up]

@@warrensmith8606 I'd say its more the dim/thick people but yeah

[@karmicobsession1636]

Warren Smith It’s not a “poor person” thing. In some cultures it’s just not polite to stare. In cultures who say this it is impolite to stare you can glance but you can not stare.

[@karmicobsession1636]

Also “you got a problem” is used a lot in America. Just maybe not where these two grew up. Im an african american and we use it all the time and it means the same thing and usually comes out when an argument might start or when someone you dont know is staring. It’s not really a domination thing, it’s just very very rude to stare in black american culture. You can glance but you can not stare.

[@excismos8056]

"Who rattled your cage?" As in who badly upset you.

[@ianprince1698]

a third party makes a comment on your conversation. or a quiet person suddenly makes a remark

[@simonpowell2559]

"Who asked you?"

[@davekelly9345]

who rattled me cage ? the same person who kicked your kennel !

[@enterthebruce91]

@@davekelly9345 'Who took the jam out of your doughnut?' Is one I don't really use but find it funny when I hear it.

[@laugingcow]

very strange, i've lived in London for 30 years and i've never heard anyone shout 'do you have a problem'. maybe slightly stronger 'excuse me'

[@FionaNici-jq7mz]

Really? I've lived in London, well all my life, and it's used alot I live in Southeast London so maybe it's just more so here but yh it's used alot.

[@georgiehannon264]

Yes Pukka is used by a chief “Jamie Oliver” meaning it’s was really good!

[@OwenM476]

Pukka is Indian, or pigeon Indian. It came back from the British Empire.

[@alexwilkinson1689]

"He could talk the hind legs off a donkey/talk a glass eye to sleep!" - self explanatory 👍😝

[@WanderingRavens]

What's your ABSOLUTE FAVO(U)RITE British slang? Drop your answer under this comment and we'll try to feature you in our next slang video! 😆

[@WanderingRavens]

@@hustlarrr Never heard of Roadmen before...can you fill us in?

[@stevesilk51]

long in the "tooth" - too old to understand, sorry for multi messages :-(

[@stevesilk51]

Must say you've gone down a real rabbit hole with this vid, there are hundreds of them, some are regional. My personal favourites, not particularly clean but used extensively " load of bollocks- (load of crap) or conversely "the dogs bollocks" - The best (applies to anything really, clothes, food , music etc etc)

[@WanderingRavens]

@@stevesilk51 "The dogs bollocks" I like that one 😆

[@teambrit2039]

@@WanderingRavens or the "The Mutts Nutts" means same thing

[@sirjambon]

I don't know what my fellow countrymen are talking about in the comments. I've heard all of these before, especially piss on chips. I live in the Midlands though so it might be a regional thing.

[@WanderingRavens]

We definitely did a lot of eavesdropping in the Midlands 😂

[@BOLLEFISK123]

Me neither and I'm Scottish

[@SarthorS]

Yup. I'm from the West Country and have lived in and around London. Never heard it before.

[@57bananaman]

I've never heard "piss on chips" being used and I'm from The East Midlands (Leicester) …. it must be a West Midlands expression.

[@barryevans791]

Why do you have a face like a slapped arse? Did someone piss on your chips or something?

[@fatherjohnholoduekoca4587]

"In a month of Sundays" IS used in the US, especially in the NY/NJ Area....

[@brianpowell6058]

Dewonkifying = straighten. Pukka is a trade name for pies. As well as being great. Pop your clogs = die.

[@alangknowles]

It's a word that came to Britain from India and means great. Then it was used for the pie company.

[@noodle3681]

Pukka Pies are usually found in chip shops. Typically a meat pie in a foil tray sweating away in plastic wrap on the heated counter - not your highest standard of food but great if you fancy some stodge!

[@brianpowell6058]

@@noodle3681 they are also sold in various stores and supermarkets, where they are normally kept on the chilled shelves.

[@noodle3681]

@@brianpowell6058 Agree but I meant typically known to be found in chip shops. I'd rather make my own pie if I'm honest, unless I was hungover :D

[@brianpowell6058]

@@noodle3681 in Britain many chip shops have gone out of business due to the closure of so many public houses.

[@homeone4054]

"You got a problem"? You went to London then?

[@WanderingRavens]

Yup! 🤣

[@MarkFarm]

@@WanderingRavens Standard reply.... "yes, you". Fight ensues shortly after!

[@jazzyb4656]

We also say "what's your problem pal!"

[@OneLadAndHisDrone.]

It's a little like Robert Deniros famous line in Taxi driver are you talking to me!

[@liuzhou]

It's not only London. I've heard that aggressive "You got a problem?" in Glasgow, Bimingham and other places.

[@SJ-GodofGnomes21]

Totally right about 'Another string to your bow'

[@WanderingRavens]

Thank you for letting us know!

[@shakysenior]

It’s a metaphor deriving from archery. It means an alternative, a back up.

[@rbu83145]

That guy with the lighter sounds like he's not fully collected in the head.

[@WanderingRavens]

We thought so too 🤣

[@glwinggar]

must have been a sarnie short of a picnic

[@darrellrichards5142]

Gary Cox 🤣

[@woodentie8815]

A right nutter/barmy/not all there/off his rocker/has a screw loose/ mad as a hatter/away with the fairies/daft as a brush & etc..

[@raindancer6111]

Toys in the attic.

[@MrJonphoto]

My grandmother always described being very happy of pleased as 'I was tickled pink!'. It's mainly fallen out of use now. I'm going to bring it back.

[@MorgoUK]

One thing that tends to Faze our American Cousins is the greeting “Alright?” or “You alright?” This isn’t a question about your health or circumstances and isn’t inviting a detailed reply. The usual response is the same or a non-committal “Fine thanks”....even if your shoes were on fire!

[@WanderingRavens]

"You alright" confused us so bad the first time we visited the UK!

[@tonywalton1464]

One that confuses Southerners, let alone Americans, is the Yorkshire "see you later". In the supermarket: Cashier: that's £3.95 Cu: Here you are Ca: Thanks, here's your change Cu: Ta very much Ca: Ta. Cu: See you later I didn't even realise we did it until a mate of mine from Darn Sarf left Sainsbury's with me and asked "do you know her? When are you seeing her later?"

[@tonywalton1464]

I've been known to say "barely surviving in a cruel and uncaring Universe", but only with people I know!

[@LenScapoff]

"Pukka" - a term borrowed from Hindi. "Bungalow" (single storey house) is another example. "Pissed" simply means drunk, as in "rat-arsed". Add a suitable degree adverb to express the extent e.g. "totally pissed/rat-arsed" = blind drunk. 😀

[@WanderingRavens]

Thanks for clearing up the context around "pissed" for us! 😂

[@geoffpoole483]

Alternatively, if someone is "pissed off", they're annoyed about something. To go "on the piss" means to go out and get drunk.

[@jonpaddick1295]

"Pukka" in Hindi means a baked, as opposed to a mud brick.

[@chrisspere4836]

Builders finished half a house but wanted to go home so they said let's bungalow roof on it.🙂🙂

[@allanpurslow7106]

12:24 - Muntjac is a small deer. The person "suffering from the Muntacs" was probably having their gardens invaded and eaten by the deer.

[@WanderingRavens]

That's exactly what was happening

[@cmcculloch1]

Fill your boots yeah it’s food / consuming specific but can be used in any process where you take something - kids in the park”dad Can I play on the swings” Go on fill your boots

[@WanderingRavens]

Oooo, that's a fun way to use that expression. Thanks for answering our question!

[@Theinternalrewrite]

I'm British and always loved fill your boots. Also an alternative to wonky I once saw a TV Christmas movie where Ray Winston referred to a lop sided or leaning Christmas tree as "on the wonk" and loved the phrase.

[@gavinparks5386]

I think British people might use " fill your boots " where Americans would say " knock yourself out " ( which I've never quite fully understood - I mean why?)

[@vhc6600]

Can we open the presents now ?

[@raindancer6111]

Fill your boots probably also relates to the phrase "he's got hollow legs" meaning someone is eating a lot. Not only filling their stomach but also their hollow legs.

[@glenmartin7978]

Pukka means really good the chef Jamie Oliver uses it all the time it is also a brand name for pie, pukka Pie

[@robbikebob]

I'd say pukka is more southern. In Yorkshire, although we love pukka pies, things used to be 'Reyt tozzin'.

[@RainbowSauceGames]

Pukka Pies are a brand of pies. Pukka is usually said to mean something is really really good or top quality. Chuffed basically means your really pleased with something. Knackered is not just tired. It means you’re really really tired. Like exhausted. You’re extremely tired. Pissed does mean drunk, but it can also be used to mean you’re angry or annoyed.

[@stuartpriest8868]

Also another version of popped your clogs is ‘kicked the bucket’ ( I have no idea where that one comes from) and also ‘snuffed it’

[@WanderingRavens]

ooo, we use "kicked the bucket" too!

[@WanderingRavens]

@Robert Stallard That makes sense!

[@woodentie8815]

Dead...passed on..ceased to be..expired and gone to meet his maker..a stiff, bereft of life, rests in peace..pushing up the daisies..kicked the bucket, shuffled off this mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible! (dead parrots need not apply).

[@BiteYerBumHard]

This expression is a reference to suicide. If I was to say "kicked the chair away" you will see where this comes from.

[@martintabony611]

"Pissed as a fart".

[@veritasvincit2745]

I think pukka derives from India. Back to the days of the Raj. Pajamas, khaki, jugganaut, dungarees, muka(gee) etc. Indian words anglicised by Britons.

[@OC35]

Veritas Vincit There is a brand of pies. www.pukkapies.co.uk

[@Derry_Aire]

And others like cot, avatar, shampoo, bungalow, bangle, thug, dinghy, bandana, looting.

[@Bazk01]

Boggs was the company that pioneered porcelain lavatory fittings. The Toilet and tank and sinks. They became the standard everyone else had to meet. A lot of stuff came from this. "Bog Standard" their fittings where what the industry standardised on. (They were also ubiquitous - you'd seen one, you'd seen them all. They were all of a similar quality.) Calling a toilet "a Bogg" or saying you were going to the bogg, happened because it was marked on the toilet itself. Which changed to using Bogg instead of toilet - hence "Bogg Roll" for toilet paper.

[@clivepygott4206]

'Get stuck in' is a useful phrase with multiple meanings. Relating to food its like 'fill your boots', usually used when serving a dish that is to be shared, 'get stuck in' invites the diners to help themselves and start eating. Its also used when reluctantly starting an onerous or unpopular task. 'I'm not keen on gardening, but I just got stuck in'. More aggressively, it can mean to join a fight

[@archez8363]

In our family we still say “I’m going to the khazi “ meaning I’m going to the toilet. That may be just a London saying from a long time ago when we had language influences from all over the Empire.

[@jazzyb4656]

We say Khazi for toilet up north as well.

[@slightlyconfused876]

Used in Birmingham too

[@TheMarkyMarx]

Originates from the British military as a slang term for the latrine.

[@georgeharrison4498]

13:30 Probably should be “so and so” meaning a unreliable or badly behaved person

[@GrahamS67]

Yes of course! I was wondering what they were on about

[@JohnHollands]

It's a polite euphemism for "bastard".

[@highpath4776]

I thought it was Sew and Sew, someone who does a stitch (of time= a jail term)

[@GrahamS67]

@@highpath4776 while that would make sense, the phrase "so and so" is ancient in its origins, even found in the earliest manuscripts of the Bible. It was originally just used as a generic term for an unnamed individual.

[@larryfroot]

"Come up smelling of roses" is being lucky. Long in the tooth rather than teeth is common.

[@99loki]

"Another string to your bow" derived from archery (along with "rule of thumb"), always useful to have another string, just in case.

[@tj..aworkinprogress1102]

I've always been told "rule of thumb" came from the law you could beat your wife with a rod, so long as the rod was no thicker than your thumb

[@MrMartibobs]

Fill your boots mostly refers to food, but can DEFINITELY be used in other contexts. James O'Brian (LBC commenator) uses it when talking to callers. In this case, it means, "Go ahead, talk as much as you like to explain your position."

[@leahjohnson6074]

I live in England and I have never heard of some of these phrases! 😂

[@johndonson1603]

Dewonkify, never heard of it I'm English by the way That fella just made his own word up. Quite good though.

[@TheMarkyMarx]

I'm an Expat living in the midwest and I recently heard 'that's a bit caddywompus...' which I had never heard before. Apparently it means out of alignment, or wonky. I've also heard wonky in both the UK and the US, but never heard 'dewonkify.'

[@boobic55]

Nope - I'm with @JohnDonson on this one, I was born in the 1950s (Scotland) and yes, wonky means crooked but never heard wonkify or dewonify so suspect it was made up by the person during the conversation.

[@auroranueva]

agree, and I just wrote the same. Wonky is the word, they were just creative.

[@markrichardson3421]

One of my favourites is 'as much use as a chocolate fireguard' - something or someone is useless.

[@johnbath616]

or chocolate tea pot much the same

[@ayanhart]

I've always heard it 'as much use as a chocolate teapot'

[@WanderingRavens]

Brilliant!

[@davemaddock7164]

Another way of saying this is as much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle

[@lisajones4683]

I heard a sentence the other day - 'she has a sister but she's a chocolate teapot' which sounds really mad to a non British speaker but everyone knew what the speaker meant.

[@76bently]

"Knackered" meaning tired, exhausted etc. Is from (historically) when a working horse became too old or lame to work, it was sent to the "knackers yard" where it was put down and oftern processed into glue.

[@TheMarkyMarx]

Also refers more specifically to being exhausted after a good bonking session. ;-)

[@paulm5885]

String to bow correct just like another tool in tool box or another trick up your sleeve but could also mean you've completed a task well in that context similar to another feather in your cap which like the string to your bow is regionally used to mean the same thing. You might be interested to know that one of the first companies in the UK to make and sell modern -at the time - toilets was Boggs (not sure on the spelling) and this is the reason why toilets are colloquially called bogs and I believe that's the origin of bog roll. The same reason why vacuums here are called Hoovers.

[@jonathangriffin1120]

A cad is a smooth talking guy of dubious morality, the actor Leslie Phillips can play cads for England!

[@boobic55]

Also I have rarely ever heard anyone else described as a cad apart from the aforementioned Lesle Phillips although there was a (pitiful) show in the 70s named 'The Cad' - I'd say the word had fallen pretty much out of use these days.

[@huntergray3985]

"Bop" to dance comes from 1950's US slang. a shortening of "bebop."

[@jca111]

Never ever heard Piss In Your Chips.

[@jazzyb4656]

We say "piss on your chips" it's just a more vulgar way of saying "rain on your parade "

[@jca111]

@@jazzyb4656 or the same as piss on your bonfire, which I have heard many times

[@simonpowell2559]

I think it's a Northern thing.

[@l3v1ckUK]

Not a northern thing. We have Rain on your parade, or Piss on your bonfire. Forty years of being a northerner and I've never heard of Piss on your chips before

[@simonpowell2559]

@@l3v1ckUK ok. Maybe a middlelanland thing, but "piss on your chips" means to put you down.

[@SteveSmallMusic]

Loving the vids! Just a quick one... It's not "he's a bit of a so so". "so so" can be used to describe anything that is neither good nor bad. "Did you enjoy your food?" "Hmmm, it was so so". Often used with a puzzled/faux thoughtful facial expression and a gesticulation (flat hand, wobbled from side to side). Can be used about anything or anyone to describe it or them as "just OK".

[@NengsCreationsUSA]

You two have been away too long, or maybe it's just that you are so young, but I'm 60 and (by the way I'm typing on my wife's KZbin so ignore the photo to your left, that is not me) in the USA we do say "Month of Sundays" and "Wonky" and "First Rate" and "Long in the Tooth" and it means the same thing here. (Wonky is a newer saying here, but the others are ancient). And I believe I have heard "give them both barrels" in the movies, especially in Westerns. Love your channel, hope you, and all of us, can travel again soon!

[@paulguy2545]

I find US Slang interesting too, things like “I got Trashed”, meaning got Really Drunk, ‘Knucklehead’ meaning an Idiot etc. I love American Culture and watch ALOT of your TV Shows. It looks like you guys have learned quite a lot about our culture already, I’m really impressed!

[@nikos327]

"Long in the tooth" not teeth it's pretty common.

[@imstuman]

I think it was used for horses. When their gums receded it was a way to tell they were older.

[@DavTomo]

Great vid. All great ones and I can related to pretty much all of them from the north! Few others: Steaming = really drunk Hammered = really drunk Sloshed = really drunk Battered = really drunk Trollied = really drunk Smashed = really drunk 🤣🍺

[@WanderingRavens]

These are brilliant! Thanks 🤣🤣

[@lisajones4683]

Anyone would think us Brits drink a lot 😁

[@llittlemissknowitall]

You forgot shit faced 😂😂 🍻

[@RobFarley74]

Let's not forget "Wankered" or indeed "well Wankered", "totally Wankered", and "completely Wankered"!!

[@jumpferjoy1st]

Pukka can be used for anything that is good/genuine. "That was a pukka film"

[@markymark13ification]

A few things I noticed. Pissed can be pissed as in angry, annoyed raging but also drunk. Knackered again can mean tired or exhausted but can also mean an item is useless broken beyond repair. Surprised you never came across anyone saying they had the lurgies or were full of lurgies

[@excismos8056]

Nackered, as in really tired. Old worn out horses went to the Nackers yard for their final journey..

[@huntergray3985]

Perfectly good definition; but it's "knackered" spelled with a K. Sorry if this seems a little pedantic. And the expression can also refer to anything that is worn out.

[@liuzhou]

"bop" meaning "dance" came from America!

[@rebeccamayers5025]

Yes, like ‘Unskinny bop”, which is an American song.

[@greendragonpublishing]

Also 'She-bop' by Cyndi Lauper in the 1980s (which really meant something other than dancing, but it had that double meaning)... and I'm sure it originated in the doo-wop songs of the 1960s.

[@SvenTviking]

“Pukka” is Indian, from the Raj.

[@JensterEx]

Knackered also has a horse connection. It comes from the fact that old tired horses that can't be worked any longers where sent to the knackers mainly go be turned into hides and glue.

[@ey1806]

In the UK, most people don't say bog roll as their main way of saying toilet roll/paper, and might just say it ironically or in a joking way. Obviously I can't speak for everyone, but as a Brit born and raised, I can say that almost everyone I know says toilet roll, toilet paper, or loo roll (but never loo paper!)

[@corriehingston6744]

Yeah. I would never say bog roll

[@chelsal]

This video is really the bee's knees :)

[@chrishall7915]

17:17 - Someone who is completely bladdered is considered pissed.

[@ianlivsey7200]

American pissed is short for pissed off. English pissed is short for pissed up.

[@boobic55]

And blutered in Scotland!

[@sage6336]

You too are so sweet. FromEngland

[@WanderingRavens]

We appreciate you Mark! x

[@onlyme1028]

As useful as a chocolate teapot Got a memory like a sieve Spend a penny (go to the loo) A bird in the hand is worth two in the hedge The dreaded lurgy (ill)

[@edinburghwaytrsmd2776]

Fill your boots can be a positive thing and a negative thing. For example you mentioned how a server said “fill your boots” as they put food down, but it can also be negative. Like “fill your boots, I don’t care”. It depends on the context in which it’s used