61 British phrases that will confuse anybody who didn't grow up in the UK

Erin McDowellJun 8, 2021, 22:18 IST

"A few sandwiches short of a picnic."Martin Rüßler/EyeEm/ master1305/Getty Images

From "codswallop" to a "full Monty," the Brits have a wide range of interesting phrases.
Insider compiled a list of slang words that define the weird and wonderful British dialect.
You don't want to be described as "dim," "a mug," or "a few sandwiches short of a picnic."

An earlier version of this story was written by Bobbie Edsor.

"A few sandwiches short of a picnic" means someone who lacks common sense.

A picnic with sandwiches. Malcolm P Chapman/Getty Images

"Anorak" refers to someone who's a little bit geeky, with strong interests or expertise in a niche area.

Nerd. Shutterstock

"Bagsy" is the equivalent of calling "shotgun" or "dibs" when something, like the front seat of the car or food, is offered up to a group.

People grabbing chicken off a serving plate at a family-style dinner. EyeWolf/Getty Images

"Bee's knees" refers to something at the "height of cool."

Beekeepers. Manuel Medir/Getty Images

A "bender" is an extended period of drinking, usually in excess.

People drinking cocktails. HEX/Getty Images

A "bird" is an informal word for a girl or young woman.

Birds. Taufik Ardiansyah/Shutterstock

To "pull a blinder" involves achieving something difficult faultlessly and skillfully.

A girl playing soccer. skynesher/Getty Images

"Bloody" or "bleeding" is used to add emphasis to adjectives, similar to how "wicked" is used in New England.

Ron Weasley in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stoner." Warner Bros

"Bob's your uncle" is the very British equivalent to "hey presto!" or "et voilá!"

Snapping fingers. Nisara Tangtrakul/EyeEm/Getty Images

Something that is "bog-standard" is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons.

Empty dining room. Emilija Manevska/Getty Images

The "boot" of a car is the trunk in American English.

Car boot. supergenijalac/Shutterstock

A "botch job" is a repair job that's been completed in a hurry and will probably fall apart reasonably soon.

A broken TV on a shelf. rawf8/Shutterstock

A "brolly" is a shortened word for an umbrella.

Meghan Markle holding an umbrella over Prince Harry. Ian Vogler/PA Images via Getty Images

"Budge up" is similar to "scoot over" or "move over."

People sharing a park bench. Westend61/Getty Images

"Builder's tea" is the name of a strongly brewed cup of English breakfast tea with milk and sugar.

English breakfast tea. Emma Fierberg/Business Insider

"Butcher's hook" is Cockney rhyming slang for "look."

Butcher handling sausages. Westend61/Getty Images

"Cheeky" refers to an act that could be deemed as impolite or shameless, but for some reason comes across as funny or endearing to others.

A child with marker on his face. Catherine Delahaye/Getty Images

A "chinwag" is a chat or conversation.

A couple having a conversation. Hinterhaus Productions/Getty Images

"Chockablock" could be used to describe something that's full to the brim or rammed.

Bumper-to-bumper traffic. Tetra Images/Getty Images

"Chuffed" means overjoyed and full of pride.

A happy group of people. Klaus Vedfelt/getty Images

"Codswallop" means something untrue, often made up for dramatic effect.

A person taking a lie detector test. Edward Kitch/AP

"Cream crackered" is Cockney rhyming slang for "knackered," or incredibly tired.

A person tired at their desk. shapecharge/Getty Images

"Dench" is an adjective used to advocate something that is impressive or agreeable.

Spaghetti alla carbonara. Nattaphat Littlekop/Getty Images

"Dim" refers to someone who lacks common knowledge.

A dim lightbulb. Oleksandr Filon/Getty Images

A "doddle" is an easy task.

A person doing homework. NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty

A "dog's dinner" is a mess or fiasco.

A dog making a mess. Shutterstock

To "faff" or "faff about" is to waste time doing very little.

A person sitting on a couch on their phone. Oscar Wong/Getty Images

"Fit" is used to describe someone physically attractive, usually referring to their physique.

Zac Efron in "Neighbors." Universal Pictures

To "flog" means to sell something, usually quickly and cheaply.

A woman browses a box of old books. Westend61/Getty Images

A "full Monty" refers to pursuing something to the absolute limits.

British roast dinner. Emma Farrer/Getty Images

"Full of beans" can be used to describe someone who's energetic, lively, or enthusiastic.

Spectators at the Gay Pride Parade in Greenwich Village. DanielBendjy/Getty Images

"Gaff" is an informal word for "home."

A house with artwork and decorations. Andreas von Einsiedel/Getty Images

A "geezer" is a man who could be described as "suave" or "dapper," and is often suited and booted.

A man in a business suit texting. Shutterstock

"Gutted" means devastated or extremely upset.

A sad child. Ute Grabowsky / Contributor/Getty Images

"Innit" is an abbreviation of "isn't it," most commonly used amongst teenagers and young people.

Friends hanging out outside. iStock

"Leg it" means to make a run for it, run away, or escape.

People run away as Kurdish animal rights activists release a bear into the wild after rescuing bears from captivity in people's homes. Ari Jalal/Reuters

"Lurgy" refers to sickness.

A sick person blowing their nose. Biserka Stojanovic/Getty Images

"Miffed" means slightly irritated or annoyed.

An annoyed couple. Tara Moore/Getty Images

"Minging" means something unpleasant, unappetizing, or highly unattractive.

A Halloween cake. Carol Yepes/Getty Images

"Mint" might be used when referring to something of the highest caliber.

Mint. Oxana Denezhkina/Shutterstock

"Mortal" describes someone highly intoxicated or drunk in a sloppy manner.

A man drunk texting at a bar. South_agency/Getty Images

A "mug" is someone who has been made a fool of.

Clown shoes. sturti/Getty Images

In the same vein, to "mug off" someone is to make a fool of them, usually by deceiving or cheating on them.

Peter Cade/Getty Images

To "nick" something means to steal it.

Pickpocketing. Bildagentur-online/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Someone who's "on the pull" has gone out, usually on a night out, with the intention of attracting a sexual partner.

People dancing at a club. Reuters

"Pants" means something is rubbish, trash, or garbage.

Underwear. vasanty/Shuttershock

A "pea-souper" is a thick fog, often with a yellow or black tinge, caused by air pollution.

A smoggy city. d3sign/Getty Images

To "pop your clogs" means to die.

A morgue. Felipe Mahecha/Shutterstock

"Poppycock" means something that is nonsense, rubbish, or simply untrue.

Poppy flower. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

"Quids in" means invested in something, sometimes - but not always - financially.

British money. Matt Cardy/Getty Images

"Shirty" could be used to describe someone who is short-tempered or irritated.

Angry businessman arguing during video call over a computer. skynesher

"Skew-whiff" means askew.

Crooked picture frame hanging on the wall. dja65/Getty Images

To "skive" is to avoid work or school, often by pretending to be ill.

Thorpe Park theme park. ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images

"Smarmy" is used to describe someone who comes across as scheming or untrustworthy.

A smirking man. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

"Take the biscuit" is used similarly to "take the cake."

Tea and biscuits. Shutterstock /mcmc

To "take the Mickey" means to take liberties at the expense of others.

Mickey Mouse leaps in the air while crossing the street with a fan in Toronto. Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star via Getty Images

To "waffle" means to talk at length while not getting to the point.

Waffles. Rachel T./Yelp

A "wally" is someone silly or incompetent.

Two people making silly faces. iStock

To "whinge" means to moan, groan, and complain in an irritating or whiney fashion.

Clare Crawley on "The Bachelorette." The Bachelor/ABC

"Wind your neck in" means to mind your own business.

A giraffe. brytta/Getty Images

"Zonked" means exhausted or tired.

A family sleeping. Ray Kachatorian/Getty Images

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