Saturday, August 13, 2011

British speak

I've been reading a lot of British chick lit lately and I have to say, I really love the way those people talk. A few of my favorite British terms:

--Brilliant: Meaning something that's really great. Now I finally understand why Simon Cowell kept saying performances on Idol were "brilliant" because I really didn't think any of them were that smart.

--Chucked: Sounds so much better saying that your boyfriend chucked you than that you got dumped

--Rubbish

--Mobile: Meaning your cell phone. You don't call someone's cell, you dial their mobile.

--Flat: This sounds like a really swank apartment, but I guess it's just a regular apartment.

--Tart: I think this is the equivalent of hussy. And they also say "tarted up," which I think is cute.

--Bloke

--Knickers

--Takeaway: Meaning takeout. Especially takeaway curry.

--Shattered: I think this means tired.

--Fancy: I fancy you.

Why couldn't I be British? I'd be so brilliant at it.
Posted by at

30 comments:

  1. Quarter Life CrisisAugust 13, 2011 at 4:54 AM

    I'm rather fond of the term gherkin.

    ReplyDelete
  2. FizzyAugust 13, 2011 at 4:59 AM

    Is that a kind of hobbit?

    ReplyDelete
  3. CateAugust 13, 2011 at 5:02 AM

    I adore British chick lit. When I read them ill adopt some of the terms. They really sound much more elegant than American english

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 13, 2011 at 5:18 AM

    I assume they're controversial, but I still love 'chav' and 'chavvy'.

    ReplyDelete
  5. LisaAugust 13, 2011 at 5:28 AM

    We use a lot of those in Australia too (especially mobile and takeaway) but they sound so much better in a British accent.

    ReplyDelete
  6. dolce vitaAugust 13, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    My postdoc mentor is from Scotland and studied in London. Along with using all of the above frequently, he also calls Teddy Grahams "Tasty little nibbles" and often uses the phrase "a wee bit"

    ReplyDelete
  7. RickAugust 13, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    met my first british friend a few weeks ago. i legitimately thought that "pip pip, cheerio" was a common english greeting. apparently...not true.

    ReplyDelete
  8. SuFu PhDAugust 13, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    My favorite is "chuffed" of anything that starts with an extra silent O (oestrogen).

    ReplyDelete
  9. FizzyAugust 13, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    Oh, and quid.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Graduate MedicAugust 13, 2011 at 9:32 AM

    @Rick You would be much better off with "y'alright, mate?"

    ReplyDelete
  11. Just an InternAugust 13, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    I always envision Flat as a very fancy apartment. Hip, with clean lines.
    haha

    ReplyDelete
  12. Doctor BlondieAugust 13, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    As a speaker of British/South African English this pleases me.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Quarter Life CrisisAugust 13, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    A gherkin is similar (and used instead of) a pickle. It's also the name of a building in London...at least in polite company.

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousAugust 13, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    I once had a British patient tell me that he just had a bloody large bowel movement, and I was quite worried for about 2.5 seconds.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Food AddictAugust 13, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    Nobody can swear like us Brits - the creativity is mind-boggling and the words so satisfying.

    Another set of words that you've missed from your list and need clarification includes derivatives of the word 'piss'.
    Piss - urine
    Pissed off = angry
    Pissed = drunk
    Pissing = urinating - but can also be substituted for other words of frustration such as 'bloody'
    Take the piss = make fun of, or take advantage of. Pissing down = raining
    Simples!

    ReplyDelete
  16. AmandaAugust 13, 2011 at 7:10 PM

    I'm American and I use the terms brilliant, fancy and mobile in the way you described.

    Maybe I should get a flat in London and hook up with a British bloke...hmm, what's the British term for hook-up?

    ReplyDelete
  17. SpencerAugust 13, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    YOB- rude, thuggish boy, which I guess is a prerequisite to become a Chav.

    Fag- a cigarette. The first time I heard the term: "Heya, give me a fag" I thought it was a rather bold request for something else.

    My fav: Bangers and mash.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Med School OdysseyAugust 13, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    "Why couldn't I be British? I'd be so brilliant at it."

    Could you handle the teeth?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousFebruary 14, 2013 at 6:10 AM

      You do realise that is just a myth and as someone from Britain I can tell you that we do know what a toothbrush is and that we have dentists.

      Delete
  19. LumpageAugust 14, 2011 at 2:54 AM

    I think you'll find shattered means something more like devastated, as in: "He was shattered when he found out some bloke burnt down his flat"

    ReplyDelete
  20. FizzyAugust 14, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    Food addict: I entirely forgot about "pissed". Great word.

    Lumpage: I was recently reading a Jill Marsall book and she definitely used the word "shattered" to mean tired. Something like, "I'm going to have to call it a night. I'm completely shattered."

    ReplyDelete
  21. FizzyAugust 14, 2011 at 6:03 AM

    Amanda: Snog?

    Med School Odyssey: I think I could handle the teeth if it's a trade-off for that sexy accent.

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousAugust 14, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    Lumpage -- 'shattered' means very tired.

    ReplyDelete
  23. LumpageAugust 15, 2011 at 5:45 AM

    Ah nuts, I stand corrected.

    ReplyDelete
  24. PA HoneybeeAugust 15, 2011 at 2:01 PM

    I was going to mention snogging! That term baffles me to no end! It doesn't sound sexy or sensual, like kissing truly is, it sounds like snotting which is not a turn on!

    ReplyDelete
  25. HuderonAugust 15, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    It's funny you think of a flat as swanky apartment as in the UK estate agents often use apartment to mean swanky flat.

    Also shattered definitely means tired.

    Being British is brilliant, other than the recent spate of marauding chavs nicking tellies.

    ReplyDelete
  26. ronstewAugust 15, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    Is a hussy a prostitute? A tart is.

    ReplyDelete
  27. angelspinenvyAugust 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    I really like "Tosser," meaning like, a stupid person.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Apinya WongAugust 16, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    snogging- my fav term from harry potter lol

    ReplyDelete
  29. --Sunrise--August 18, 2011 at 12:47 PM

    As a British (Indian), I like this post! :) The British accent is cute, you were correct with all the definitions. :-)

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)