Devon Course Glossary

Aussie /ˈɒzi/ a person from Australia

batty silly, crazy
blaze the white patch on horses’ heads
boatel hotel on a boat
Chinese whispers (Ch. telephone/US) an internationally popular children’s game
chuffed (He is chuffed to be back here) to be chuffed about sth. = very pleased
dodgy (e.g. dodgy curves on the road) risky, difficult or dangerous
fluke (That spring snowstorm was a just chance, mere coincidence, a chance occurrence;
total fluke.) Games: an accidentally good or successful stroke in
billiards or pool.
grasp the nettle hold (leaf from underneath, so as to avoid the stinging
sensation); tackle a difficulty boldly.
stag night/party/do - informal bachelor party - a party held for a man shortly before
he enters marriage, to celebrate his "last night of
freedom." Usually planned by the best man.
hen night/party/do - informal a party for women only, esp. held for a woman shortly
before she enters marriage
old chestnuts (I wondered whether there worn-out and overused stories, ideas, subjects or jokes
might, after all, be some truth in the old which are not interesting or funny anymore.
chestnut that one's school days are the
happiest of one's life.)
outdoor classroom lesson in the open – teaching outside the classroom, in
the open air.
screen-oriented generations young generations
texties text-stimulated learners
movers and shakers people who always make things happen or organize
them
silver surfers older people keen on Internet surfing
Oyez, Oyez /oʊˈjeɪ/ a traditional interjection said two or three times in
succession used in court trials or sights.tours
proper job good job, well done (Cornish expression that has
become internalized in Devon)
pry look or inquire closely, curiously, or impertinently: He
was always prying into the affairs of others.
snoop, have a snoop have a look (in a shop);
to pry into the private affairs of others, especially by
prowling (moving quietly) about.
take a butcher’s (at this/here/there…) take a look
get on your bike beat it, get away from here
yarn; spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing;
sb. spinning a yarn telling a story which doesn’t sound true.
a spring chicken very young person
(He’s not a spring chicken himself).
donkeys years (old) very old (It’s been donkeys years here; donkeys years
ago
NIMBY (= I don’t want that in my Not In My Back Yard
neighbourhood.)
witticisms funny notes on boards in bars (Beauty is in the eye of
the beerholder in the bar in Bideford)
privacy - /ˈprɪvəsi/ Br., /ˈpraɪvəsi/ Am.

prom = promenade (dance) - a semi-formal (black tie) dance or gathering of high school students,
typically held near the end of the senior year (the last year of high school). High school juniors
attending the prom may call it "junior prom" while high-school seniors may call it "senior prom".

breaked – nonstandard Past Tense and Past Participle of break for stopping the car