#CUPPA BRITISH SLANG MOVIE#

When asked how long it would take, they would reply, 'donkey's years.'ĭefinition: A way to show you don't care or that it's all the same to you.Įxample: I don’t mind which movie we watch I’m easy! Origin: When people put things on ships, they used a crank named a donkey, which was very slow. Originates from: Popularized by the Victorian novel Oliver Twist, the Artful Dodger was called so because he was a skilled and cunning person.Įxample: This cake is taking donkey’s years to bake. Dodgyĭefinition: Someone or something that seems unreliable.Įxample: I don't like the look of this rollercoaster, it seems dodgy. The expression was shortened and is now used to describe situations as well as people.

Originates from: Another slang expression is 'daft halfpenny' (or 'daft ha’porth'), used to describe an unintelligent person (a halfpenny was not very valuable in the old British system of money). Origin: no one knows the true origin of this phrase, but most believe it derives from the Victorian times and was popularized more recently in British culture in the 50s and 60s.ĭefinition: the best very good (the English usually say the word without pronouncing the last ‘g’)Įxample: This gym is cracking because it has everything I need.Įxample: You look daft with that pink sparkly hat on. For decades after, 'Bob’s your uncle' became a sarcastic piece of slang and is still used today if Prime Minister Robert (“Bob”) is your uncle and gives you things, everything will be easy!ĭefinition: an informal chat between peopleĮxample: Sorry I was late, Harry stopped me on the street for a quick chinwag. Origin: This is a phrase back from 1887 when British Prime Minister Robert Cecil made the unpopular decision to appoint his nephew Arthur Balfour (Lord Salisbury) as Chief Secretary for Ireland. Here is a list of old sayings and English slang terms from the UK to help you really fit in with British culture – some of which have since been carried overseas, and others of which will mark you as a true British master! Bob's your uncleĭefinition: Added to the end of sentences to express 'and that's it.'Įxample: To get the restaurant, you take the next left turn and it is right in front of you, Bob’s your uncle! With the help of movies, television, and social media, British sayings and slang words spread more easily throughout the world than they used to, but some expressions remain uniquely local. If you are studying English in the UK, you might notice some of these words or phrases quite quickly.

British slang has been transforming and adapting for centuries from city to city every different town comes with a slightly new set of words. Every country has its own slang, but the UK is known for having particular terminologies that are unique and sometimes rather quirky.

Cuppa british slang