Common British Slang Words You Need To Know

Oscar Wilde once mentioned something about America in his short story The Canterville Ghost: “We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language." I like that Wilde statement because what he said back then is still very true today. English is spoken on both sides of the pond, but the English language spoken in both places has its special differences.

While there are similarities, their differences are crystal clear. You can see and hear variations in spelling, accents, pronunciation, regional dialects, and most especially in slang. In this case, we are talking about British slang phrases. Believe it or not, there are plenty of British slang phrases that many Brits use here and there. They might sound funny to your ears, but these words mean no harm, so why not get to know them, eh?

• bits and bobs: a small selection of things; the miscellaneous details
• cheesed off: to be angry or to be upset
• hunky-dory: fine; everything is okay
• knees-up: a wild party
• pip pip: bye
• telling porkies: telling lies
• sod off: another way of saying “go away”
• peng: very attractive or very beautiful
• jiggery-pokery: dishonest or suspicious behavior
• botch job: a very bad or poorly done job
• builder’s tea: a very strong cup of tea
• cack-handed: clumsy
• codswallop: nonsense
• dog’s dinner: describing something that is messy and chaotic
• dog’s bollocks: something that is very, very great
• full of beans: having a lot of energy
• leg it: to run away
• miffed: annoyed
• twee: quaint; pretty; small
• fag: a cigarette
• take a punt: take a risk
• pig’s ear: something that is done terribly
• put a sock in it: stop talking; be quiet