English Words Explained!

One of D's favorite sayings when we're turning in for the night is "You coming up the apples?" It took me about 2 weeks to figure out that this was short for "You coming up the apples & pears?", which was actually Cockney rhyming slang for "You coming upstairs?"

Without even touching on the difficulties of understanding Cockney rhyming slang, I wanted to run through a few of the most commonly used English words that differ from US terms, or are not used in America at all. I plan to add to this list whenever I hear a new word, so keep checking back or subscribe to an RSS feed for this page!

People & places

Babb = darling, dear (for a woman), used informally

Son = buddy, pal (for a man), used informally & for those older than you

Bloke = man (informal)

Brummie = someone from Birmingham, England

Bluenose = a supporter of the Birmingham Blues Football Club

Jock = someone from Scotland

Geordie = someone from Newcastle region

Manc = someone from Manchester region

Cockney = someone from East London

WAGs = wives and girlfriends (usually of football/soccer players)

The Old Bill = the police

Bobby = a policeman

Gaffer = (slang) old man; (informal) boss, football manager

Pikey = a derogatory word that used to refer to Irish travelers; now generally used to refer to someone whose life is characterized by itinerancy, theft or regard for authority, without reference to national origin

MOT = Ministry of Transport (like DMV in America), MOT Test = annual vehicle roadworthiness test

OAP = Old Age Pensioner, senior citizen

Poof = derogatory reference to a homosexual male

Off-license = store for the sale of alcohol to take away and consume at home; liquor store

Clothing

courts = high heeled pumps

jumper = sweater

vest = tank top

trainers = running shoes or sneakers

body = bodysuit (usually with snaps in crotch)

braces = suspenders

pants = underwear, underpants

kecks = underwear

knickers = women's underpants

Y-fronts = men's briefs or jockey shorts (i.e. tighty-whities)

trousers = pants

nappy = baby's diaper

plaited = braided

swimming costume = swimsuit

suspenders = garter belt for holding up ladies stockings

wellies = rubber rainboots, Wellington boots

Items or Things

fag = cigarette

rubber = eraser for pencil

flat = apartment

pavement = sidewalk

petrol = gasoline

bin = wastebasket

queue = line up

arse = buttocks

pram = stroller, baby carriage

pushchair = forward facing stroller for a small child

dummy = baby's pacifier

artic lorry = semi trailer truck

blues & twos = slang for an emergency vehicle w/ lights & sirens

bog roll = toilet paper roll

boiled sweet = hard candy

building society = a savings & loan association

fanny = a woman's genitalia (i.e., the English say "bum bag", never "fanny pack" for a bag worn around the waist)

butty or sarnie or sarny = a sandwich

caravan park = trailer park

coach = bus

carriageway = lanes of auto traffic on a road

central reservation = lines dividing traffic on highway (i.e., median strip)

cashpoint = ATM

council flat = public housing

dole = welfare

dosh = (slang) money

dress circle = seats in the first balcony of a theater (balcony or loge)

stalls = seats in the ground floor level of a theater (orchestra section)

estate car = station wagon

flannel = washcloth (for the face)

fairy lights = Christmas lights

fortnight = 14 days, or 2 weeks

fringe = bangs, describing the hair covering the forehead

hash sign = the pound key (#)

high street = the primary business & shopping street in a town

hob = stovetop burner; the hot surface on a stove

pelican crossing = pedestrian crossing with traffic lights operated by pedestrians

varruca = a wart on one's foot, a Plantar wart

Actions & emotions

argy-bargy = (informal) pushing & shoving or outright fighting

blag = (v.) to obtain or achieve by deception, to bluff, to rob or (n.) a tall story, bluff

chuffed = proud, pleased or satisfied

to 'pull' or 'cop off with' = to successfully engage the company of a potential sexual partner, or to fornicate with

to snog = make out with, to French kiss

to fancy = to like someone or something, to have a desire for

fit = highly attractive, hot

have a kip = take a nap

minging = dirty, rotten, smelly, unattractive

parky = cold, usually with reference to the weather

to row = to have a fight

skint = out of money, broke

to slag off = to badmouth, defame or speak badly of someone

take the piss/take the mickey = to make fun of someone, or to transgress beyond what's acceptable, as in "the increases in car taxes are taking the piss"

to go 'tits up' = to suddenly go wrong (mildly vulgar)

to whinge = to complain or whine about something

Profanities and Vulgarities

sod (as in "Sod it!"), sodding = f--k, f--king

Sod off! = Get lost, go away

bugger (n.) = a--hole, jerk, or more innocently ('a cheeky bugger' = a rascal)

bugger! = Damn! or Shoot!

bugger it (v.) = screw it

I buggered it = I screwed it up

We're buggered = we're thwarted, in a predicament, screwed

Bollocks = literally refers to male testicles, used as "Bollocks!" (i.e. "Dammit!") or "That's a load of bollocks."

git = a scumbag, idiot or annoying person

tosser or wanker = a no-good waster, a jerk