- They're so good, you'll really have to start using them.
Which British word do you use the most? Some of their true meanings might really surprise you.
Fit
The word fit is used to describe someone physically attractive and means to describe their physique.
Give Me a Tinkle on the Blower
To give someone a tinkle on the blower means you are going to call someone or ring them. The saying is sometimes used in a shorter form and said give me a tinkle. Tinkle is meanings the ring of the phone and blower the telephone as it refers to the device that predated the phones used on Naval ships. Back in the day, sailors would blow down pipes to the recipient and a white at the end of the pipe would sound to spark attention. This is a weird British word and a phrase I’ve never heard before.
Gallivanting
To galivant is to roam or set off for an expedition for the sole reason of having some fun. A gallant was someone brave or valiant, so gallivanting is done in a carefree yet confident way.
Dim
You may describe someone as dim meaning someone who lacks knowledge as the same way you could describe someone bright as someone who’s smart and intelligent.
Gobsmacked
To be gobsmacked is to be astounded, bewildered or shocked. You may even grab your jaw or cover your face in disbelief. Is this a British word you’ve used?
Quids In
If someone quids in, that’s to say that they have invested in an opportunity which with massively benefit them. In British, quid means pounds as in money, so five quids means five pounds.
Anorak
Anorak is used sometimes meaning raincoat but in playground slang, it means something a little different. If you’re a bit geeky or have strong knowledge or expertise in one area, you could be called an anorak. It could have come from the “uncool” anorak coats and people wearing them.
Bender
If someone’s been drinking a lot or being mischievous, you could say they’ve been on a bender. Benders can last for more than 24 hours, where the phrases a weekend bender or three-day bender come in. This word in common here in the United States, British word or not.
Curtain Twitcher
A curtain twitcher would be a nosy neighbor or someone who is caught looking and peering at the people around him. The idea comes from looking out of a curtained window, hence the name curtain twitcher.
Boot
The boot is the compartment at the back of the car, known as a trunk in America. The idea of putting your purchases in the boot is the same as putting your shopping bags in the trunk.
Shirty
You could call someone a shirty to say that they’re short-tempered or irritated. The word shirt coming from the Norse word short, for short-tempered. Shirty could also refer to the disheveled look. Have you heard of shirty as a British word?
Lurgy
To be caught in the lurgy is to suffer from symptoms brought on by the flu or a cold. The dreaded lurgy comes from a British TV shows from the 1950s, The Goon Show, where a character has a unidentified illness that’s a national epidemic. Lurgy as a loosely or mispronounced way to say allergy.
Poppycock
Poppycock is said to mean something is nonsense, rubbish or just untrue. It comes from the British idiom pap and kaka, meaning soft dung.
Dench
Dench means solid or cool when it comes to responding to someone else. The word essentially means anything you want according to British rapper Lethal Bizzle. Do you use the British word dench?
Pissed
Pissed means angry in the United States but to say that your pissed with the British meaning it’s to say that you’re drunk.
Do you use these British words? Let me know what you think the most fun ones are in the comments!