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The 60 Most Common British Expressions PDF
The 60 Most Common British Expressions PDF
Every language/dialect has its own fair share of most commonly used (and often
overused!) words and expressions. These words signal a deeper knowledge of the local
language and culture, and make the newly learned accent sound more authentic if they are
integrated into speech.
Here are the Top 60 most common expressions you can hear in and around London and the
Southeast of England:
[Please note: mild vulgarities are much more common in everyday British English than
most other English dialects; therefore a small number of such expressions have been
included to reflect the authentic use of the language. Cursing (called ‘swearing’ in Brit.
English) is to many people a very normal, frequently used way of expressing themselves.
Many of these expressions are often not seen as very vulgar at all but a ‘normal’, ‘colourful’,
and expressive way of speaking.]
Exclamations:
1. (Cor) Blimey ‐ expression of surprise
2. Bloody – same as ‘very’, as in ‘Bloody good’ or ‘Bloody awful’
3. Wicked, sweet, excellent, brilliant, safe, cool expressions of wholehearted
agreement
4. Crikey – same as ‘Really? No way!’; expression of surprise, astonishment
5. F.cking hell! ‐ probably THE most used expression in England!; same as ‘My god/gosh’
6. Bollocks! (vulg.) – same as ‘Damn!’
Food and drink etc
7. Grub food, nosh
8. A pint of lager half a liter of beer
9. A cuppa a cup of tea
10. Biscuits/Bikkies cookies
11. Sarnie sandwich
12. Ciggie cigarette
13. Bangers – English sausages
14. Chips French fries
15. Crisps chips (as in potato crisps)
16. Boozer pub
17. Beans on toast traditional British snack
Slang
18. Cheers thank you/goodbye
19. Mate buddy, pal
20. Chap guy, buddy
21. Bloke man, guy, dude
22. Geezer – as in ‘Alright, geezer?’ guy, buddy, (not necessarily old) man
23. Dodgy dubious, shady person or thing
24. Alright?/Alright, mate? typical greeting of strangers but also acquaintances
25. Sort it out – same as ‘Get it done!’
26. Get on with it – same as ‘Hurry up!’
27. To reckon to guess, figure, think
28. Innit/Int’ya/In’e/In’t she/In’t they/In’t we these are so called question tags: isn’t
it, aren’t you, isn’t he, isn’t she, aren’t they, aren’t we
29. Proper – same as ‘totally/ absolutely’
30. Decent good
31. Nice one! universal expression, same as ‘Good stuff’ or ‘Cool’
32. Poor/lucky bastard (slightly vulg.) expression that shows empathy/sympathy
33. ‘Choice’ car/stuff etc great car, great stuff, etc
34. Take the piss (mildly vulg.) to make fun of something/someone, to abuse, exploit,
take for granted, as in ‘They’ve given him so many pay rises already and he keeps
asking for more he’s taking the piss!’
35. To skive to play hookey, to shirk from duty, etc
36. To go walkabout go missing/to take a walk
37. Go out on the piss (vulg.) – to go out drinking/clubbing
38. Pull meet members of the opposite sex
39. Effing – using the f word
40. Having a laugh to have fun (but: ‘You’re having a laugh!’ = ‘You must be joking!’/
‘You’re joking, aren’t you?’)
41. Tata/ cheerio (both slightly dated) – same as ‘Bye for now’/ ‘See you soon’
42. Aggro short for aggravation or violence
43. P.ssed very drunk
44. P.ssed off very upset/ angry
45. (Bang) out of order! (totally) unacceptable
46. Quid ‐ Pounds Sterling (the national currency)
47. A fiver five pound note
48. A tenner ten pound note
49. A score twenty pound note
50. P short for ‘pence’; as in ‘That’ll be 50 p please!’
51. A grand 1000 pounds
52. K short for one thousand; as in ‘Office manager position available 60k/p.a.’
53. Biggie something important; as in ‘Don’t worry that’s no biggie!’
54. Go bonkers go crazy
55. Plonker idiot, moron, fool
56. Bod body
57. Brass monkeys freezing cold; as in ‘Gosh, it’s brass monkeys today!’
58. To throw a sickie to take the day off work or call in sick, despite being perfectly
healthy
59. The full monty the whole lot, everything
60. Blighty old word for ‘England’