50
A
FOR
D
o you know what
“kip”, “knackered”
and “going Dutch”
mean? They’re three fairly
common English slang
expressions. Here are
50 useful English slang
expressions to describe
going out at night.
PLANNING THE NIGHT
Not be bothered
If you “can’t be bothered”
to do something, you
don’t want to do it, often
because you don’t have
the energy or you’re
feeling lazy.
“I can’t be bothered to go into
town – let’s just go to the pub
round the corner.”
Kip
A short sleep, often in the
afternoon.
“I think I’ll have a kip before we
head out.”
To get dolled up
To put on nice clothes for
a special occasion (usually
for women).
“I’m going to get dolled up for
the party.”
To put your face on
To put make-up on
(usually for women).
“Wait! I’ve got to put my face
on!”
To have pre-drinks
To have some drinks at
home before going to a
club or pub (often as a
way of saving money!).
Also, “to pre-drink”.
“Let’s have a few pre-drinks
before going out!”
Make it
If you can’t “make it”
somewhere, you aren’t
able to go there.
“Thanks for the invite, but I
don’t think I can make it as I’ve
got a conference to go to the
next day.”
MEETING UP
A sight for sore
eyes
People often use this
expression when they
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USEFUL
SLANG
BIG NIGHT OUT
meet up with someone
they haven’t seen for a
long time.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes!
Last time I saw you was at
Brad’s wedding.”
you Must be mad /
you must be mental
People often use these
expressions to say that
they’d never do the thing
they're talking about. It’s a
way of emphasising what
you want to say.
“You must be mad if you think
I’m going to drink that”, which
means, “I'd never drink that!”
To hang out
If you “hang out” with
people, you spend time
with them, chatting,
drinking, socialising, etc.
“We’re going to hang out with
Jamie and Harriet before going
to the party if you fancy coming
along.”
To take a chill pill /
to chill out
If you tell someone to
“chill out “, you’re telling
them to relax and be calm.
A: If we don’t leave soon, we’ll
be late.
B: Chill out! We’ll be fine.
To be gutted
If you’re “gutted” about
something, you’re
unhappy and disappointed
about it.
“I’m gutted they cancelled the
concert. I was really looking
forward to it.”
AT THE RESTAURANT
To be starving
To be really hungry.
“I hope the food comes soon.
I’m starving.”
To eat a horse
If say you could “eat a
horse”, you’re saying that
you’re really hungry.
“Let’s order now. I’m so hungry
I could eat a horse.”
To scoff
If someone “scoffs”
food, they eat all of it very
quickly.
A: I didn’t get any of the
starters.
EXPRESSIONS
B: That’s ‘cos Bryan scoffed “He can’t even stand up. He’s
them all. wasted!”
Note: In Britain “to
To wolf down be pissed” means to be
To eat food very quickly. drunk, but in the USA it
“You must have been hungry. means “to be angry”.
You wolfed that pizza down in
seconds!” To have had one
too many
To be stuffed If you say that someone
If you’re “stuffed”, you feel has had “one too many”,
full because you’ve eaten you’re saying that they’ve
too much. had too much alcohol.
“I never should have had that The “one” refers to a
dessert. I’m stuffed.” glass of beer / wine /
whisky, etc.
To go Dutch “You should go home. I think
To divide a bill equally you’ve had one too many.”
between the people who
are there. For example, if To get the drinks in
there are two people, each To buy drinks for everyone
pays 50% of the bill. in the group you're with.
“Let’s go Dutch!” “I think it’s my turn to get
the drinks in. What are you
To do a runner having?”
To leave a bar or
restaurant without paying Round
the bill. A “round” of drinks is
“Quick, the waiter isn’t looking! a selection of drinks for
Let’s do a runner!” everyone in the group
you’re with.
AT THE BAR/CLUB “I’ll get this round! /
It’s my round!”
Kitty Tight / stingy
An amount of money that If you say that someone is
everyone contributes to “tight”, you’re saying that
and that is used to pay for they never spend money.
drinks, etc. “He never gets anyone else a
“Everybody has to put ten euros drink. He’s just so tight.”
into the kitty.”
To split the cost
To splash out If you “split the cost” of
To spend a lot of money, something, you share the
often in order to celebrate cost, often dividing it in
something. half.
“Let’s get a bottle of champagne. “Let’s split the cost!”
I feel like splashing out.”
THE PARTY
To down in one
To drink all the contents of
a glass without stopping House-warming
or pausing. party /
“Look, everyone! I’m going to house-warming
down this pint of beer in one.” A party someone has soon
after moving into a new
Hit the spot house/flat.
If something “hits the “We moved in last Thursday,
spot”, it’s perfect for you. and we're having the house-
“Mmm... That cold beer really warming party on Saturday
hit the spot.” night if you want to come
along.”
To be wasted /
plastered / To gatecrash
hammered / To go to a party you
slaughtered / weren’t invited to.
pissed (UK) “They gatecrashed a party in
To be very drunk the town centre.”
Objective: To learn some English slang.

Think about it!

Do you use a lot of slang when speaking in your language? In what situations do you
use slang, and in what situations should you avoid it? Is English slang difficult to
learn? Why? Why not? Why is it a good idea to learn English slang?

To rock
If something “rocks”, it’s GOING HOME
great / fantastic.
“This party rocks!”
To hit the road /
To be awesome to get going /
To be great / fantastic. to get moving /
“The party was awesome!” to make tracks
To leave a place /
To be lame / to suck to go home
If something is “lame” or if it “I think I’m going to hit the road.
“sucks”, it’s terrible. I’ve got to get up early tomorrow.”
“This party is totally lame!”
To have a blast
to Check out If you “have a blast”,
If you tell A to “check you have a great time.
something (or someone) “I had a blast last night! Let’s do it
out”, you’re telling A to look again sometime!” THE PLACE BEYOND OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN THE GREAT GATSBY
at that thing or person. THE PINES 10th MAY 17th MAY
10 MAY
th

“Check out that guy on the dance Knackered / shattered

floor – he’s really cute.” If you’re “knackered”,
you’re very tired.
Talent “I’m going home. I’m knackered!”
This word is used to refer to
attractive people in general. To hit the sack / hay
A: Shall we go? To go to bed
B: No way! There’s loads of talent “I can’t wait to get home and hit

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