British Phrases That Baffle The Rest Of The World

[Sage Ages]

Why do you guys call cigarettes fags? What did they ever do to you?

I believe it predates the homophobic use of "fag".

 

[Peter.]

You must be fun at parties.

 

[Lizard]

Why do you guys call cigarettes fags? What did they ever do to you?

Burnt my special places.

 

[PeterJB]

One of my favourite words is "peng". Also love "reem", "bang tidy", and "you're the dog's bollocks"

 

[Jump_Ace]

Not exactly phrases, but I think this is worth sharing:

Language warning

It was so bad (and funny) I couldn't help but watch the whole thing


Jerome

 

[imported_rik19]

One of my favourite words is "peng". Also love "reem", "bang tidy", and "you're the dog's bollocks"

Im british, and have no idea what peng and reem is..ha

 

[Com Fox]

Yeah... I'm going to stick to the Australian slangs thank you very much. I don't want to hurt my head anymore trying to learn more English .

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

Im british, and have no idea what peng and reem is..ha

Peng / reem = good, i.e. 'I look peng'

 

[Grayfox]

Yeah... I'm going to stick to the Australian slangs thank you very much. I don't want to hurt my head anymore trying to learn more English .

I use a combination of Austalian, American and British in every day.
I use jail instead of gaol which is what i used in austalia
I use color instead of colour which is what i used in austalia

 

[SPhilli911]

A friend of mine, who is an Australian (born) and American citizen (spent half her life in both countries) and now lives in London, has the most confusing accent. Her slang is all over the place and it's almost impossible to know where she is from. People think she's Canadian, which is pretty funny actually. She tells me all the time though that British slang is the hardest to get used to and is quite weird.

 

[imported_rik19]

Peng / reem = good, i.e. 'I look peng'

I have never heard of them...

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

Think they're common in the Essex area. My friends tend to use them ironically, so I doubt they're actually too popular.

 

[Famine]

I look peng

Nah, it's not that bad. Get some sleep and plenty of fluids and you'll be right as rain in the morning.

 

[imported_rik19]

Im up in southport, we use words like mider and stop midering, you know if someone keeps asking you to do something...

 

[Lizard]

Scottish slang is horrid. My brother lives in Glasgow and oh dear oh dear.

Going to get the messages is one that will stick with me, meaning going to do the shopping.

 

[daan]

Going to get the messages

Mind and get me some ginger.

 

[sems4arsenal]

I'm an Arsenal fan and they always do videos of Cockney slang. I understand none of it.

 

[DG_Silva]

One thing I couldn't get after moving up to Birmingham was the word outdoor; it's another word for an off-license.

 

[polysmut]

Me old mucker (northern)

I'm northern & always thought that was a London phrase?

 

[Lizard]

I'm northern & always thought that was a London phrase?

I always thought it was a rural Yorkshire phrase.

Hmm.

 

[imported_rik19]

One thing I couldn't get after moving up to Birmingham was the word outdoor; it's another word for an off-license.

What the heck..

 

[torque99]

Blimey
your having a larff
thats 'sick'man
reem
shuuutuuuup
whats the score mate:tup:
you serious
alright bro

 

[Lizard]

Blimey
your having a larff
thats 'sick'man
reem
shuuutuuuup
whats the score mate:tup:
you serious
alright bro

They are hardly British only.

 

[torque99]

Tally Ho....Where did they originate? I thought most were made up in England (London/Essex)

 

[MUSC4EVER]

Some Welsh ones??

Big one from where I'm from is 'Mun' which is basically 'Man' at the end of nearly every sentence we say!
'Presh' is short for Precious and is a sign of endearment like 'dear' or 'Honey'
'Boyo' is like 'Son' or 'Lad'

That's all I've got for now, ill think of some more..

 

[Lizard]

Tally Ho....Where did they originate? I thought most were made up in England (London/Essex)

It's RAF speak for Bandit (confirmed enemy aircraft) spotted.

 

[Famine]

Some Welsh ones??

You have an entirely separate language, and that's cheating.

 

[Lizard]

You have an entirely separate language, and that's cheating.

I will never forget standing on Cardiff station with the announcements in Welsh before English and thinking where the hell is my train?

 

[TheCracker]

Im up in southport, we use words like mider and stop midering, you know if someone keeps asking you to do something...

You mean 'Mither' ?

 

[Liquid]

Why do you guys call cigarettes fags? What did they ever do to you?

I didn't know this before hand but looking it up out of curiosity I read that middle English fagge means flap or remnant. Fag end is the end or butt of a cigarette so it must come from that.