A REALLY

BRITISH
GUIDE TO
ENGLISH

A book from:

3
 INTRODUCTION

I’ve been British pretty much since Each lexical choice we make is an
the moment I was born. My mum expression of who we are and how
used to say with pride that my first we want people to perceive us.
words were ‘excuse me’, ‘chuffed’
and ‘I’d love a cuppa!’ Do you say ‘toilet’ or ‘little boy’s
room’? Is it ‘aye up?’ or ‘how do
OK, that isn’t strictly true but you do?’ Would you order a ‘cuppa’
I have been passionate about the or a ‘brew’? The words you choose
English language for as long as express who you are on so many
I can remember. levels. And this, to me, is the joy
of language. A free space to assert
I love how we use language to your place in the world. After all,
express our thoughts, feelings, and language is a dance, a dance we
opinions. We use it to make sense get to choreograph as we go.
of the world around us and shape
”
our own individual identity. So why have I written this book
now? Well, I started Eat Sleep
What we learn Dream English in 2016 with the
becomes a part aim of taking my passion for
of who we are teaching to a global audience.

” I wanted students around the

world to learn fresh modern British
English, the language that’s actually
used in the streets, offices, and
homes of the UK. Over the last few
years I have released weekly videos
on YouTube doing just this and it’s
been a dream come true.

4
However, as you can imagine, there
is only so much you can teach in a Tom,
the Chief Dreamer
10-minute YouTube video – and so
the idea for this book was born.

The purpose of ’A Really British

Guide to English’ is to dive deeper
into the language and create a one-
stop resource for English learners
and anyone interested in the
language and culture of the UK.
We cover so much more here than
we ever could elsewhere and I’m
really excited for you to get started.

Please note that you will come

across some rude words in this
book. I took the decision to include
them because they are part of
modern British English and you
will see and hear them if you
spend any time here.

So, whether you are an English

language learner, an English
teacher, an Anglophile or just
someone who randomly picked
this book up at a friend’s house
.... enjoy!

5
HERE’S WHAT’S INSIDE

LET’S GET IT’S A

1 3
STARTED LONDON THING

10 – 13 156 – 161
A very short guide to Britain Cockney rhyming slang
We begin with a briefing on the Get to grips with London’s traditional
geography, politics and religion rhyming slang so that you can tell
of this funny little island nation someone ‘I don’t Adam and Eve it!’
we call the United Kingdom. Once you get your head round it,
you’ll have so much fun.

2
HOW TO 162 – 169
Modern London slang
SPEAK BRITISH Discover what the youth of the
capital are saying with this guide to
contemporary London street slang.
14 – 149 Never let it be said that ESD doesn’t
provide the freshest modern English
A-Z of British vocabulary
for you guys.
Get to know your ‘cuppas’ from your
‘brews’ and your ‘Billy no-mates’ from
170 – 175
your ‘Bob’s your uncles’ with this handy
A-Z of all things British. We’ll have you My perfect weekend
speaking like a local in no time. in London
Take a trip around my favourite parts
150 – 155 of London. From elegant parks to cool
night spots, this is how I would spend
What Brits say and
48 hours in my home city.
what they actually mean
Brits are renowned for not saying what
176 – 185
they actually mean, so this little guide
is intended to help you navigate the Tom’s London need-to-knows
confusion as we translate the most When you come to London it’s all about
common phrases for you. You’ll soon sounding like a local, so we’ve put
be an expert in speaking British. together this essential guide to the most
iconic names and places in the capital.

6
 FOOD AND
4 5 CULTURE
DRINK

186 – 189 198 – 205

Tom’s essential guide Tom’s must-know
to British pubs British public figures
British pubs can be a minefield We identify the most culturally
of strange customs and etiquette, significant people in modern-
so we thought it was of utmost day Britain from Boris Johnson
importance to give you guys a to Harry Kane.
‘how to’ guide, so that you can
visit a pub with confidence. 206 – 213
Tom’s favourite British TV
190 – 191 shows to learn English
Tom’s top 33 slang Whether you love Sherlock or Peaky
alternatives for ‘drunk’ Blinders, TV shows are one of the best
We Brits have an amazing ability ways to learn about a nation’s language
to invent new and fantastic ways of and culture. We’ll give you Britain’s best
describing the state of drunkenness. and explain how each show can help
In this section we document 33 of you learn English.
the most commonly used.
214 – 217
192 – 197 Great British TV catchphrases
Tom’s must-try British Discover what the nation’s best-loved
food and drink catchphrases are.
From Sunday roasts to deep-fried
Mars bars, we take a look at what’s 218 – 223
on the plates of Brits up and down Tom’s must-know
the country. Be warned: this section British cultural events
might make you hungry. From great music festivals to enormous
street parades, Britain is a hotbed of
cultural events throughout the year.
We round up the very best for you,
so that you can come and experience
them for yourself.

7
224 – 227 7 BRITISH LIFE
Tom’s biggest British
sporting events
Britain is sports-mad and experiencing
live sport is a must when here, so we 238 – 241
put together a list of our favourite events 9 tips to avoid culture shock |
to attend. One Spanish lady’s struggles
in Britain
BRITISH VS
Valuable lessons about avoiding culture
shock delivered by the wonderful Isabel
6 AMERICAN from Amigos Ingleses.

ENGLISH 242 – 243

British identity in the 21st
century | A short essay
228 – 235 An exploration into what it means to
British vs American be British by fellow Londoner Anpu.
English differences
A list of over 100 words that are different
in British and American English.
8 BRITISH ACCENTS
236 – 237
American Words
that are rude in Britain 244 – 267
Don’t get caught out using bad
Ranging from RP to Scouse we
language in Britain by accident.
breakdown five British English accents
With this handy little guide you’ll
and their main pronunciation features.
learn all the potentially rude
So that if you want to speak like the
American English words.
Queen or David Beckham, this section
has got you covered.
236 – 237
British words that
are rude in America
Of course we’ve got your back
stateside as well.

8
9 PRACTICE

268 – 285
Time to see what you’ve learned.
Good luck!
Exercise one - initials
Exercise two - expressions with animals
Exercise three- something and something
Exercise four - names for people from
around the UK
Exercise five - slang
Exercise six - food and drink
The Great British Quiz
Practice exercise answers

10 MISCELLANEOUS

286 – 289
Wordlist
Acknowledgments

9
1.
LET’S
GET
STARTED

A Very Short
Guide to Britain

10
POPULATION:66 million
London
CAPITAL:
WORLD CUPS: 1 (England in 1966)

GEOGRAPHY

Let’s start with the basics. What is the difference

between The UK, Britain, England etc?

England, Scotland and Wales are all separate countries in

their own right, and Northern Ireland is a province.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern

Ireland - a sovereign country made up of four countries:
England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Great Britain - a geographical term for the islands that

include three countries: England, Scotland and Wales.

The British Isles - a geographical term for the two islands

that are home to the two sovereign states of The United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and The
Republic of Ireland.

Commonwealth Realms - a group of 16 autonomous

sovereign states that consider the Queen to be their
head of state. These include Canada, Australia, Papua
New Guinea, New Zealand, Jamaica, and Barbados.

British Overseas Territories - a group of 14 non-

independent territories around the world that still have
a British military presence and consider the Queen as
their head of state. Countries include Bermuda, Cayman
Islands, Gibraltar, The Falkland Islands, and the British
Virgin Islands.

Crown Dependencies - the three islands of Jersey,

Guernsey and the Isle of Man which are self-governing
entities that belong to the United Kingdom.

11
 POLITICS

Queen Elizabeth II is the head

of state for the United Kingdom
but holds no political influence.
As such it is the Prime Minister,
as the Head of Government,
who has the most political
authority. The UK has a
parliamentary government
which meets in the Palace of
Westminster (also known as the
Houses of Parliament) in London.
There are two main houses, the
elected House of Commons
and the unelected House of
Lords. The three main political
parties are the Labour Party,
the Conservative Party, and the
Liberal Democrats. Each country
also has its own parties: The
Scottish National Party (SNP) in
Scotland, Plaid Cymru in Wales
and the Democratic Unionist
Party and Sinn Féin in Northern
Ireland. The UK has a fixed-term
parliament which states that a
general election must be held
on the first Thursday of May five
years after the previous election,
although an election can be
called before then if required.

12
Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland all have their own
governments, which make
decisions on matters such
as education, healthcare, and
local government. London has
also had an assembly and a
mayor since 2000.

RELIGION

The United Kingdom’s official

religion is Protestant Christianity
with the Church of England as
the state church of England
and Wales. The UK is also often
described as a multi-faith
society in which any religion
is accepted. There are large
communities of people who
follow Judaism, Catholicism,
Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism.
In addition, there is also a
significant proportion of the
population that doesn’t identify
with any religion. Because of
this huge diversity, you can
find communities observing
all the major religious festivals
throughout the year.

13
2.
HOW TO
SPEAK
BRITISH

A-Z of British
Vocabulary

14
 A.
A&E (noun) /eɪ ən iː/
the accident and emergency
department in a hospital.

‘We spent 7 hours in A&E on

Friday night. It was utterly
miserable.’

A-levels (noun) /eɪ levəlz/

Advanced level qualification in a across the pond (phrase)
certain subject taken by students /əkrɒs ðə pɒnd/
aged between 16–18 in the UK a slang term for the USA/Canada.
(except for Scotland). Students
take A-levels after doing GCSEs. ‘So many bands have found it hard
to go across the pond and be as
‘My daughter is planning to take successful as they are in the UK.’
5 A-levels next year.’
afters (noun) /ɑːftəz/
a bit of (me) (phrase) /ə bɪt əv/ another word for dessert.
an informal phrase used to
say you like something or are ‘What do you kids want for
interested in it. afters? I’ve got ice cream or jelly.’

‘One Direction are a bit of me.’ airy-fairy (adjective) /eəri feəri/

a disapproving term for
ace (adjective) /eɪs/ something that is vague
good/cool. and impractical.

‘Throwing Miko a surprise ‘Ling has had a lot of airy-fairy plans

birthday party is an ace idea since leaving uni; I think she just
guys, well done!’ needs to get a steady job.’

15
alcopop (noun) /ælkəʊpɒp/ agony aunt (noun) /æɡəni ɑːnt/
a type of fizzy alcoholic drink that a magazine or newspaper column
usually comes in fruity flavours. that offers advice to people with
problems.
‘All we ever drank at uni
was alcopops.’ ‘I’ve never written into an Agony
Aunt but I’d be tempted if I had a
all mouth (and no trousers) serious problem.’
(phrase)
talk boastfully about yourself an arm and a leg (phrase)
without backing it up with actions. if something costs an arm and a leg
it’s very expensive.
‘I’m beginning to think the
President is all mouth and ‘I love my new sofa but it cost me
no trousers.’ an arm and a leg.’

all over the (shop/gaff/place) anorak (noun) /ænəræk/

disorganised. a jacket that is worn to protect
you from rain and wind.
A) ‘How was the game?’
B) ‘Terrible! We lost 5-0! The ‘It’s lucky we brought our
team was all over the shop anoraks. It looks like it’s going
from the first minute.’ to rain very soon.’

allotment (noun) /əlɒtmənt/ anorak (noun) /ænəræk/

a small plot of green land that is someone who is really interested
owned by the local council but in a hobby that most people think
rented to individuals to grow their is boring.
own plants and vegetables.
‘My uncle is such a transport
‘My grandma has had an allotment anorak; he loves collecting the
by the canal for over 30 years.” serial numbers of trains that he’s
ridden on.’
alright! (exclamation) /ɔːlraɪt/
a common greeting. anyroad (adverb) /enirəʊd/
a phrase used in the north of
‘Alright Jack, how’s it going?’ England instead of ‘anyway’.

aggro (noun) /æɡrəʊ/ A) ‘Did you hear there is a large

short for aggression. snowstorm coming our way?’
‘There was a lot of aggro at B) ‘Really?’
the football yesterday.’

16
A) ‘Anyroad, you don’t need
to worry. Your flight won’t be
affected tomorrow.’

arse (noun) /ɑːs/

slang for bottom.

‘Did you see John slip on that

banana and fall on his arse?’

arse over tit (phrase)

”
if you go arse over tit, you fall over
in a dramatic and uncontrolled way. The USA and Canada are
‘across the pond’ and
‘We went ice skating last
”
Australia is ‘down under’
weekend and as soon as my
father-in-law got on the ice,
he went arse over tit.’

arsehole (noun) /ɑːshəʊl/

a very rude insult for someone
you think is stupid or contemptible.

‘Halima’s boyfriend has been

acting like a complete arsehole
recently. I wish she’d dump him.’

arty-farty (adjective) /ɑːti fɑːti/

a disapproving term for someone/
something trying too hard to be
cool/arty. It’s similar to pretentious.

‘Simone is out with her arty-farty

friends tonight, so I’m staying in
and watching a film.’

ASBO (noun) /æzbəʊ/

acronym for ‘anti-social behaviour
order’. A court order issued to
anyone who is causing the public
harm or annoyance.

17
‘He got his first ASBO when ‘Autumn is a beautiful season
he was 14.’ here particularly when the leaves
change colour.’
at a loose end (phrase) /æt ə luːs
end/ have nothing to do. ‘ave it (phrase) /æv ɪt/ used
to encourage someone to do
‘I’m at a bit of a loose end this something or go for something
afternoon. Do you fancy doing (short for ‘have it’). Made famous by
something?’ comedian Peter Kay in an advert for
John Smith’s beer.
at Her Majesty’s pleasure
(euphemism) in prison. ‘Come on Everton, let’s ‘ave it!’

‘My uncle has been at Her aye (exclamation) /aɪ/

Majesty’s pleasure for as long used to say yes particularly in the
as I can remember.’ north of England and Scotland.

aubergine (noun) /əʊbəʒiːn/ A) ‘Are you coming to the

a large purple vegetable. party, Rob?’
B) ‘Aye, I’ll be there.’
‘You’ll need to buy an aubergine if
you want to make baba ganoush.’ aye up (phrase) /eɪ ʌp/
a greeting used mostly in
autumn (noun) /ɔːtəm/ the season the North and East Midlands to
between summer and winter replace hello or hi.
(September-November in the UK).
‘Aye up love, how’s your
day going?’

TOM’S TIPS
Aubergine is just one example of
many words in English that have been
borrowed from French. In fact around
30% of English is originally French.
Other examples of words include
'fiancé, 'cul-de-sac' and 'omelette'.

18
 B.
bab (noun) /bæb/
affectionate term used
in the Midlands/North.

‘Come here bab, you must be so

tired. Let me give you a hug.’

baccy (noun) /bæki/

rolling tobacco to make cigarettes.

‘Can I borrow some baccy? you give them a bribe (secret illegal
I fancy a quick cigarette payment).
before work.’
‘It is reported that the government
backbencher (noun) /bæbentʃər/ was receiving backhanders from the
an elected Minister of Parliament construction companies to get big
who is not in the Cabinet. They are contracts.’
called this because they sit
on the benches behind the front BAFTA (noun) /bæftə/
bench which holds the Cabinet British Academy of Film and
or Shadow cabinet. Television Arts. A British organisation
that supports art forms such as film,
‘Several backbenchers rebelled television, and gaming in the
against the government in the latest United Kingdom.
Brexit vote.’
‘The BAFTA awards are some of the
backhander (noun) /bækhændə/ if most important in the world for
you give someone a backhander film-makers.’

19
bagsy (verb) /bæɡzi/ banger (noun) /bæŋə/
an informal word used to guarantee a really great song.
the right to do or have something.
‘Have you heard the new Stormzy
‘I’ve managed to bagsy the song? It’s an absolute banger!’
front seat for our road trip
around Scotland.’ banger (noun) /bæŋə/
slang word for a sausage.
bairn (noun) /beən/
a Scottish term for baby. ‘Kids, we are having bangers and
mash for dinner, is that ok?’
‘Your wee bairn is so cute. How old
is she?’ banger (noun) /bæŋə/
an old car in bad condition.
balls something up (phrase)
to make a mistake or do something ‘I’m sick of driving an old banger,
stupid. Slang term. I’m desperate to get myself
something new.’
‘I completely ballsed up that exam! I
wish I’d studied harder.’ bang out of order (phrase)
if someone does something that is
Baltic (adjective) /bɔːltɪk/ bang out of order, it is not
very cold. appropriate, cool or reasonable.

‘Put on your coats kids. It’s ‘What you said to Molly was bang
absolutely Baltic outside.’ out of order, Elton. You should go
and apologise immediately!’
bank holiday (noun) /bæŋk
hɒlədeɪ/ bang tidy (adjective) /bæŋ taɪdi/
a public holiday in the slang term for very attractive.
United Kingdom.
‘Have you seen Megan’s new
‘There are two bank holidays in the girlfriend? She’s bang tidy if
month of May.’ you ask me.’

bang (verb) /bæŋ/ bang to rights (phrase) /bæŋ tə

slang term for sex. rɑɪts/
enough evidence to prove that
‘How many people have you someone is guilty of a crime.
banged in your life?’
‘He literally had blood on his

20
 BARMY
ARMY
hands so the police had him Barmy Army (noun) /bɑːmi ɑːmi/
bang to rights.’ a name given to a large group
of fans that follow the England
banter (noun) /bæntə/ cricket team.
teasing playful conversation
usually between people that ‘The Barmy Army have been
know each other. singing all afternoon during the
first day of the final test between
‘There’s always a lot of banter England and Australia.’
between my colleagues at work.’
barney (noun) /bɑːni/
barking mad (adjective) /bɑːkɪŋ a fight or argument.
mæd/
crazy. ‘There was a huge barney down
the pub last night.’
‘You’d be barking mad to quit your
job right now.’ barrister (noun) /bærɪstə/
a senior lawyer in the United
barm cake (noun) /bɑːm keɪk/ Kingdom who can argue cases
a bread bun (used in the north of in higher courts.
England).
‘My niece is training to be
‘I’ll get us a couple of barm cakes a barrister.’
for lunch.’
bawl (verb) /bɔːl/
barmy (adjective) slang for crazy. cry.

‘I’m not going on a date with Omar, ‘My little girl has been bawling
are you barmy?’ for her Daddy ever since he left
for work.’

21
BBC (noun) /biː biː ˈsiː/ amount of alcohol.
the British Broadcasting
Corporation is a television and ‘The uni rugby team were
radio organisation. (Also known absolute beer monsters.’
as ‘the Beeb’)
bell-end (noun) /belend/
‘My sister worked for the BBC for a very rude insult for someone
10 years.’ stupid or contemptible.

beastly (adjective) /biːstli ‘Look at that guy having a go at the

unpleasant. bouncers. What a bell-end!’

‘I don’t understand why my boss is belly up (phrasal verb) /beli ʌp/

being so beastly to me today.’ if a company goes belly up it fails
and goes bankrupt.
Bedfordshire (noun) /befədʃaɪər/
a humorous alternative to ‘bed’ ‘My uncle’s business went belly up
made popular by Bridget Jones. during the recession in 2008.’

‘Ok guys, I’m off to Bedfordshire; see belt up (phrase) /belt ʌp/
you all in the morning.’ an informal way to say ‘shut up’.

bedsit (noun) /bedsɪt/ ‘I was shocked when Mary told her

a room where someone lives with kids to belt up! I’d never speak to
sleeping and cooking facilities. my children like that.’

‘I lived in a bedsit in Notting Hill for belter (noun) /beltə/

something that is excellent.
10 years before I was able to buy a
one-bed flat in Hammersmith.’ A) ‘How was your weekend?’
B) ‘I had an absolute belter.’
Beefeater (noun) /biːfiːtə/
traditional ceremonial guards of the belting (adjective) /beltɪŋ/
Tower of London. They wear ornate wonderful or excellent.
red/black uniforms and are formally
known as Yeomen Warders. ‘I’ve had a belting birthday so far
guys, thanks so much for making
‘I’m very proud to say my uncle was me feel so special.’
a Beefeater for his entire career.’
bender (noun) /bendə/
beer monster (noun) /bɪər mɒstər/ a wild drinking session.
someone who can drink a huge

22
 TOM’S TIPS
Britain is a bicky loving nation. Our favourites include
chocolate digestives, hobnobs, rich teas, custard
creams, and jammie dodgers. And if you want to start
a debate with a British person simply ask them if they
think ‘Jaffa cakes’ are biscuits or cakes... This question
divides the country.

‘For Matt’s stag party we went on a quality becomes much worse.

two-day bender. I’ve never felt so ill
afterwards.’ ‘To be honest I generally ignore
best-before dates.’
bent as a nine bob note (phrase)
dishonest. This comes from pre- bevvy (adjective) /bevi/
decimalisation, when Britain used slang for alcoholic drink.
shillings instead of pounds. Another
term for ‘shilling’ was ‘bob’. There ‘Let’s pop into the pub for
were 10 bob notes, but not 9 bob a few bevvies.’
notes - hence the idea that if you
found one it would be a fake. bezzie (noun) /bezi/
an informal way to say best friend
‘I love my uncle Harry but he’s as (also ‘bestie’ and ‘bezzie mate’).
bent as a nine bob note.’
‘Mum, can I bring my bezzie home
berk (noun) /bɜːk/ for tea on Friday?’
an insult for someone
similar to idiot. bicky (noun) /bɪki/
short for ‘biscuit’.
‘Why is that berk trying to park in a
bus lane?’ ‘Do you want a bicky with your tea?’

best-before date (noun) bifter (noun) /bɪftə/

the date printed on food that shows a cigarette (usually containing
consumers when the product cannabis).
should be consumed. After this
date the food is still edible, but the

23
‘Let’s roll a bifter for the car ride.’ ‘Did you hear Rita binned off Timmy
and has started dating a new fella?’
big girl’s blouse (noun)
a humorous and slightly outdated bingo-wings (noun) /bɪŋɡəʊ wɪŋz/
phrase to describe a cowardly man a very informal phrase that
with a low pain threshold. describes the folds of fat that hang
down from someone’s arm as they
A) ‘I think you’ve broken my finger.’ wave. The phrase originates from
B) ‘Don’t be such a big girl’s blouse. old overweight ladies raising their
I barely touched you!’ arms as they shout ‘bingo’ in the
bingo halls of Britain.
Billy no-mates (phrase)
/bɪli nəʊ meɪtz/ ‘I’ve joined a gym because I want to
someone who doesn’t have get rid of my bingo-wings.’
any friends.
bint (noun) /bɪnt/
‘Both my flatmates are away at the
moment, so I’m Billy no-mates for a very offensive insult for a woman.
the weekend.’
‘Please don’t call anyone a bint, it’s
bin man (noun) /bɪn mæn/ terribly rude.’
someone who collects the
rubbish. These days we would say bird (noun) /bɜːd/
‘refuse collector’. a very informal word for ‘woman’
that can be seen as offensive
‘My dad was a bin man after he by some.
left school.’
‘I hope there are loads of hot birds
bin off (phrasal verb) /bɪn ɒf/ at the party tonight.’
end a relationship (mostly used in
the north of England). bits and bobs (noun) /bɪts ən bɒbz/
small objects/miscellaneous things.
We often use it when we would

BINGO
WINGS
24
take too long naming all the things bleeding (adjective) /bliːdɪŋ/
or when we don’t know the words used to emphasise something.
for them. Often used in negative situations.

‘I’m just going to buy some ‘That mattress is bleeding heavy. I’m
bits and bobs from Tesco.’ going to need a hand carrying it.’

blag (verb) /blæɡ/ blighter (noun) /blaɪtər/

use cunning, smarts or dishonesty a person you see as irritating or you
to get something you want from have pity for.
someone e.g. getting into a concert
without tickets or a free coffee. ‘Look at those poor blighters trying
to get on the tube during rush hour.
‘My cousin once blagged his way I’m so glad I’m not one of them.’
into a Prince concert.’
Blighty (noun) /blaɪti/
an old-fashioned nickname
blag artist (noun) /blæɡ ɑːtɪst/
for Britain often used by British
someone who is extremely good people abroad.
at getting what they want using
cunning or slight dishonesty. ‘They haven’t been home to Blighty
since they were children.’
‘I can’t believe how much free stuff
Jenny gets. She is such a blag artist.’ blinder (noun) /blaɪndə/
slang term for an excellent
performance (also ‘play a blinder’).
blank (someone) verb /blæŋk/
to ignore someone deliberately.
‘Tiger Woods played a blinder at the
Ryder Cup.’
‘I walked past my old boss but she
totally blanked me.’
blinding (adjective) /blaɪndɪŋ/
a slang word for excellent.
blast (noun) /blɑːst/
a good time.
‘Francois had a blinding game in
goal for us.’
‘We had an absolute blast at
your party. Thanks so much for
blimey! (exclamation) /blaɪmi/
inviting us.’
used to show surprise.
blast! (exclamation) /blɑːst/
‘Blimey! These shoes cost £200!’
used to express annoyance
or frustration.
block of flats (noun) /blɒk ɒv flæts/
a large building made up of flats/
‘Blast! I accidentally threw away
apartments.
the receipt for this jacket and
now I can’t return it.’
‘She grew up in a block of flats in
25
Hackney.’ blue (noun) /bluː/
a term given to someone who
bloke (noun) /bləʊk/ has played sport for Oxford or
informal word for man. Cambridge University against the
other university.
‘Kwan is such a lovely bloke.’
‘Sally became an Oxford blue when
bloody (adjective/adverb) /blʌdi/ she rowed in the boat race last year.’
used to emphasise something in a
slightly rude way. bob (noun) /bɒb/
an informal word used these days
‘I don’t mean to be rude, but that to describe an indefinite amount of
personal trainer is bloody useless, money. It comes from when Britain
he has no idea what he’s doing.’’ used a pre-decimal system. Back
then a ‘bob’ was the slang term for
a shilling coin.
bloody hell (phrase) /blʌdi hel/
used to show anger or annoyance.
‘Can you lend me a few bob?’
‘Bloody hell mate! Why did you eat
bobbins (adjective) /bɒbɪnz/
my last piece of Dairy Milk?’
something not very good
blooming (adjective before noun / or worthless.
adverb) /bluːmɪŋ/
used to emphasise something ‘My mobile is absolute bobbins! It
or express anger. doesn’t even make calls.’
‘It’s a blooming long way to walk.
bobble hat (noun) /bɒbəl hæt/
Are you sure you don’t want to
a hat made of wool with a small
take a taxi?’
wool ball on top worn usually in
blow me (exclamation) /bləʊ miː/ winter.
used to show surprise (also ‘blow
me down’). ‘My gran made me this bobble
hat for Christmas.’
‘Blow me! Andy has only gone
and got a job at Google without bobby (noun) /bɒbi/
telling me.’ slang word for policeman.

‘You don’t see so many bobbies on

blower (noun) /bləʊə/ the street these days.’
informal word for telephone.
Bob’s your uncle (phrase)
‘Raheem has been on the blower a phrase used to say ‘there it is’
with his girlfriend for hours!’ or ‘and it’s done’.

26
‘You put all the ingredients in a you tell them off / reprimand them
bowl, put that in the oven and in a very strong, angry way.
then Bob’s your uncle, you have A bit rude.
a delicious chocolate cake.’
‘Our hockey coach gave us an
bog (noun) /bɒɡ/ absolute bollocking after we lost the
slang term meaning toilet. game by 5 goals.’

‘Juan has just popped to the bog, bollocks (noun) /bɒləks/

he’ll be back in a minute.’ a rude slang term for a
man’s testicles.
bog roll (noun) /bɒɡ rəʊl/
toilet paper. ‘There is nothing more painful for a
guy than getting hit in the bollocks.’
‘Can you buy some bog roll on your
way home?’ bollocks! (exclamation) /bɒləks/
a word used to show frustration,
bogey (noun) /bəʊɡi/ anger or disagreement.
a small piece of dried mucus
found inside the nose. ‘Oh bollocks! I’ve left my phone
charger in the cafe.’
‘Mate, you’ve got a bogey
hanging out of your nose!’ bonce (noun) /bɒns/
slang for head.
bog-standard (adjective) /bɒɡ
stændəd/ ‘Do you want to borrow a cap to
average / ordinary / not special. cover your bonce? The sun is super
strong today.’
A) ’What kind of TV did you buy?’
B) ‘Nothing special, just a bog- Bonfire Night (noun) /bɒnfaɪə naɪt/
standard one.’ A celebration on 5th November
when British people light bonfires
bollard (noun) /bɒlɑːd/ and fireworks to remember the
a short post used to stop cars Gunpowder Plot to blow up the
from entering an area. Houses of Parliament by Guy
Fawkes in 1605. It’s also called
‘They put a load of bollards across Guy Fawkes Night.
Maltby Street so cars can’t go down
it anymore.’ ‘There’s a huge fireworks display at
Alexandra Palace on Bonfire Night.’
bollocking (noun) /bɒləkɪŋ/
If you give someone a bollocking bonk (verb) /bɒŋk/
slang term for sexual intercourse.
27
‘The newly married couple ‘I dated a guy who was boss-eyed
bonked as soon as they were and I never knew if he was
on honeymoon.’ looking at me or not.’

bonkers (adjective) /bɒŋkəz/ bosting (adjective) /bɒstiŋ/

slang word for crazy. very good (used in the Midlands).

‘Have you gone absolutely ‘Have a bostin’ holiday mate.’

bonkers? Why did you buy
another car when we already botch job (noun) /bɒtʃ dʒɒb/
have a perfectly good one?’ a piece of work that is badly done.

boot (noun) /buːt/ ‘I asked my plumber to fix my taps

the compartment at the back of but he did a complete botch job
a car where you generally put and made things worse.’
luggage or objects to transport.
bottle (noun) /bɒtəl/
‘Shall I put the bags in the boot? slang word for courage.

booze (noun) /buːz/ ‘I’d love to do parkour but I haven’t

alcohol. got the bottle to jump off tall
buildings like they do.’
‘My Dad hasn’t had any booze for
a month.’ bottle it (phrase) /bɒtəl ɪt/
used when someone doesn’t do
boozer (noun) /buːzə/ something because they don’t have
a slang word for pub. It can also the courage.
be a slang term for someone who
drinks a lot. ‘I was going to ask him on a date
during lunch break, but I
‘Do you know any good boozers in
the centre of Birmingham?’ completely bottled it.’

boss (adjective) /bɒs/ bouncer (noun) /baʊnsə/

very good. Heard mostly in the someone employed by a
north-west of England. nightclub/pub to protect the
customers and stop trouble from
‘Your trainers are boss! Where did happening such as fighting/drug
you get them from?’ dealing etc.

boss-eyed (adjective) /bɒs aɪd/ ‘I used to work as a bouncer in a

local nightclub while I was at uni.’
slang for someone who is
crosseyed.

28
bouncy castle (noun) /ˌbaʊnsi who doesn’t understand that
kɑːsəl/ their behaviour isn’t acceptable to
a large inflatable object filled with other people.
air that children (or adults) can jump
and play on. ‘She’s got a brass neck asking me
for money when she still owes me
‘We’ve hired a bouncy castle for £1,000 from last time.’
Wasim’s birthday party.’
brass-monkeys (adjective) /brɑːs
Boxing Day (noun) /bɒksɪŋ ˌdeɪ/
mʌŋkiz/
the day after Christmas Day.
slang phrase for very cold.
‘We always go and visit my cousins
‘It was absolutely brass-monkeys
on Boxing Day and exchange
this morning. I didn’t want to leave
Christmas gifts.’
my nice warm home.’
brass neck (noun) /brɑːs nek/
brassic (adjective) /bræsɪk/
someone who is confident to say
if someone is brassic they have no
or do whatever they want, but
money (also boracic).

”
Brexit is an example of a
portmanteau. This is
when two words are
combined to make a brand
new word e.g. Brexit =
‘Britain’ and ‘exit’. Other
examples include ‘brunch’,

”
‘romcom’ and ‘Singlish’.

29
‘I’m totally brassic till the end ‘There are hundreds of thousands
of the month.’ of Brits who holiday in the south of
Spain every year.’
brew (noun) /bruː/
slang term for a cup of tea. Mostly Brizzle (noun) /brɪzəl/
used in the north of England. slang for Bristol.

‘I’d love a brew if you are going to ‘My cousins live in Brizzle.’
make one.’
brolly (noun) /brɒli/
Brexit (noun) /breksɪt/ short for umbrella.
the withdrawal of Britain and
Northern Ireland from the ‘Damn! I forgot my brolly and it’s
European Union. pouring with rain outside.’
‘Every morning I turn on the
radio and all I hear is people Brum (noun) /brʌm/
talking about Brexit.’ affectionate term for the city
of Birmingham.
Brexiteer (noun) /breksɪtɪə/
someone who voted for and ‘Alice is going back home to Brum
supports Britain’s exit from the for the weekend to see her parents.’
European Union.
Brummie (noun) /brʌmi/
‘Some of the most vocal Brexiteers someone from Birmingham. It’s
have been Boris Johnson and Jacob also the name of the accent of the
Rees-Mogg.’ city. (also Brummy).

brick it (verb) /brɪk ɪt/ ‘The most famous Brummie I know

slang term to feel scared. is Ozzy Osborne.’

‘I was bricking it before my BST (abbreviation) /biː es tiː/

driving test.’ British Summer Time.

brill (adjective) /brɪl/ ‘Our meeting will be at 3 pm BST.’

short form of brilliant.
Buck’s fizz (noun) /bʌks fɪz/
A) ‘Maria says she can come an alcoholic drink made with
to the wedding!’ orange and champagne.
B) ‘Brill!’
‘Do you remember when we went
Brit (noun) /brɪt/ for drinks at sunset in Sydney
short word for a British person. and had Buck’s fizz?’

30
budge up (phrasal verb) /bʌdʒ ʌp/ building society (noun) /bɪldɪŋ
asking someone you are sitting/ səsaɪəti/
standing next to to move along a financial institution where people
and make space for you. can get loans or earn interest on
money they invest.
‘If we all budge up a bit, Katie
can sit on the bench too.’ ‘When I was a kid my Aunt set up
an account for me with a building
buff (adjective) /bʌf/ society.’
slang term for attractive.
built like a brick shithouse (phrase)
‘You have to be buff if you want to an impolite, humorous term
work at Abercrombie and Fitch.’ for someone who is really big
and strong.
bugger (exclamation) /bʌɡə/
slightly rude word used to show ‘Daisy’s new boyfriend is built like
frustration, anger or annoyance. a brick shithouse.’
‘Oh bugger! I’ve forgotten to bum (noun) /bʌm/
bring my phone charger. Can I alternative term for bottom.
borrow yours?’
‘Does my bum look big in this skirt?’
bugger all (phrase) /bʌɡə ɔːl/
rude way to say ‘nothing’.
bumbag (noun) /bʌmbæɡ/
‘We went on a whale-watching trip a small bag that wraps around
in Patagonia and saw bugger all!’ the waist.

buggered (adjective) /bʌɡəd/ ‘Do people still use bumbags?’

offensive way to say broken.
bunk off (verb) /bʌŋk ɒf/
‘My TV is buggered. Can I come take time off school or work
round and watch the match without permission.
at yours?’
‘Did you know that your son
builder’s (tea/brew) (noun) /bɪldɚz bunked off school this morning,
tiː/ Mrs Peters?’
a strong cup of English
breakfast tea. bung (noun) /bʌŋ/
a payment made to persuade
‘I’ll have a mug of builder’s tea and someone to do something,
two coffees please.’ usually illegally.

‘Half the cricket team took bungs

in order to lose the match.’

31
bunged-up (adjective)ˌ/bʌŋd ʌp/ butters (adjective) /bʌtəz/
if you are bunged-up, your nose slang term meaning disgusting
is congested which makes it hard or unattractive.
to smell or breathe. It is usually a
symptom of a cold. ‘Oh my days, this burger is butters!’

‘You sound a little bunged-up butty (noun) /bʌti/ a term used

Marco. Are you feeling alright?’ mostly in the north of England
for sandwich.
bunny-boiler (noun) /bʌni bɔɪlər/
a derogatory term for a woman who ‘Can I get a chip butty and a can
acts in a possessive and jealous way of Coke, please?’
towards a former lover. It originates
from the film ‘Fatal Attraction’, in buzzing (adjective) /bʌzɪŋ/
which a character played by Glen excited or euphoric.
Close kills the pet rabbit of her ex- ‘The girls were buzzing about going
lover’s daughter. to Disneyland.’

‘Just because your ex is still sending by-election (noun) /baɪɪlekʃən/

you WhatsApp messages doesn’t an election to choose an MP who
make her a bunny-boiler, mate.’ is replacing a politician who has
quit or died during their time in
parliament.
busker (noun) /bʌskə/
someone who plays music in ‘Labour suffered an embarrassing
the street for money. defeat in the latest by-elections.’

‘There are some really By gum! (exclamation) /baɪ ɡʌm/

old fashioned way to express
talented buskers if you walk
surprise.
around central London.’
‘By gum! I think I just saw a snake
in the garden.’

32
 C.
C of E (noun) /siː əv iː/
Church of England.

‘I went to a C of E primary school.’

cabbie (noun) /kæbi/

slang term for a taxi driver.

‘My uncle has been a cabbie for 30

years.’ caned (adjective) /keɪnd/
slang term meaning intoxicated on
Cabinet (noun) /kæbɪnət/ alcohol or marijuana.
The Cabinet is a decision-making
body led by the Prime Minister ‘You’re caned, aren’t you? I can see it
and includes the 21 most senior in your eyes. They’ve gone all red.’
elected ministers in the UK
government, known individually cannae (verb) /kæni/
as Cabinet Ministers. Scottish form of ‘can’t’.

‘The Cabinet met on Friday ‘I cannae go to work today

afternoon to discuss the new because I’m not feeling so well.’
trade proposals.’
canny (adjective) /kæni/
cake-hole (noun) /keɪk həʊl/ nice or pleasant (used in the north of
slang term for mouth. England and Scotland).

‘It’s about time you shut your cake- ‘My new neighbour seems like a
hole and started listening to other canny lad.’
people’s opinions.’

33
can’t be arsed (phrase) car park (noun) /kɑː pɑːk/
a rude version of ‘can’t be a place where you can park your car.
bothered’. It’s an expression to say
that someone doesn’t want to do ‘They are building a car park next to
something or doesn’t have the
my office, which will be handy.’
energy to do it.
cardie (noun) /kɑːdi:/
‘I really can’t be arsed to go to work
a short form of cardigan which
today.’
is a sweater with buttons.
can’t be doing with (something)
‘I just bought a new cardie
(phrase)
from H&M.’
If you can’t be doing with
something, you don’t have the
carry the can (phrase) /kæri ðə kæn/
patience or desire to deal with it.
take responsibility or blame for
something that went wrong.
‘I can’t be doing with all this Brexit
nonsense. All the politicians do
‘The government are going to
is argue and never get anything
have to carry the can for these high
resolved.’
unemployment figures.’
capital (exclamation) /kæpɪtəl/
cash machine/point (noun) /kæʃ
old-fashioned way to say excellent.
məʃiːn/
a machine that dispenses cash (also
‘That’s an absolutely capital
ATM).
plan guys.’
‘The only cash point in the village is
caravan (noun) /kærəvæn/
a ten-minute walk away.’
a vehicle, pulled by a car, in which
people can live and sleep.
CBE (noun) /siː biː iː/
Commander of the Order of the
‘One of my first memories is
British Empire. It is a British honour
staying in my aunt’s caravan near
given by the Queen for exceptional
the Lake District.’
service and contributions to Britain.
car boot sale (noun) /kɑː buːt seɪl/
‘Benedict Cumberbatch has a CBE.’
an outdoor market where people
sell items out the back of their car or
Ceefax (noun) /siːfæks/
on little tables next to their car.
an antiquated form of presenting
information via text on television
‘You can get some real bargains
(trademark).
at a car boot sale.’

34
‘I used to check the football scores advantage of situations to benefit
on Ceefax but these days I just use themselves. They may take risks
the internet.’ and do things that other people
wouldn’t do.
cha (noun) /tʃɑː/
a slang word for tea that derives its ‘A lot of the guys I met in the
origins from India (also char). banking industry were chancers
who fought hard to get where
‘Does anyone fancy a cup of cha?’ they were.’

champagne socialist (noun)

a derogatory term for someone TOM’S TIPS
who has socialist values while also The Eurostar takes just over
living a rich lifestyle. two hours to go from London
St Pancras, through the
‘Islington in north London is often channel tunnel, to Paris.
described as an area filled with Perfect for a quick trip!
champagne socialists.’

chance would be a fine thing

(phrase)
The Channel Tunnel (noun)
used when you want something /tʃænəl tʌnəl/
to happen, but there is almost no the Eurostar train line running under
possibility of it actually happening. the English Channel from England
to France.
A) ‘Do you think England can win
the World Cup this year?’ ‘I remember when the Queen
B) ‘Chance would be a fine thing.’ opened the Channel Tunnel
in 1994.’
Chancellor of the Exchequer (noun)
/tʃɑːnsələ əv ði ekstʃekə/ chap (noun) /tʃæp/
the person in the UK government boy or man.
who sets the annual budget and
deals with other financial matters. ‘Right chaps! Shall we head
to the pub now?’
‘The Chancellor of the Exchequer
has kept taxes at the same rate for charity shop (noun) /tʃærɪti ʃɒp/
the last two years.’
a shop that sells mostly
second-hand items for the
chancer (noun) /tʃɑːnsər/
profit of a certain charity.
a chancer is someone who is
opportunistic and takes
‘As a way to practise their English, I
always tell my students to
volunteer in a charity shop.’
35
chat someone up (phrasal verb) ‘The shop I work in only sells cheap
speak to someone in a manner handbags and chavvy watches.’
that shows them you are sexually
attracted to them. cheeky (adjective) /tʃiːki/
slightly rude but in a funny way.
‘I’ve never had the courage to chat
someone up in a bar or pub.’ ‘At school, the teachers always said
I was one of the cheekiest girls in
the chattering classes (noun) the class.’
/tʃætərɪŋ ˌklɑːsɪz/
a derogatory term for intellectual cheeky (adjective) /tʃiːki/
middle-class people who express consume or do something
their liberal views about politics and enjoyable spontaneously or
without planning.
wider social issues.

‘The prospect of a no-deal Brexit ‘Do you fancy getting a cheeky

hasn’t gone down very well with pint before going home?’
the chattering classes.’
cheerio (exclamation) /tʃɪəriəʊ/
chav (noun) /tʃæv/ informal way to say goodbye.
a derogatory term for a young
lower-class person. ‘I’m going to head home
now, cheerio!’
‘The stereotype of a chav is
someone who wears a tracksuit and cheers (interjection) /tʃɪəz/
behaves in an anti-social way.’ informal way to say thank you.

chavvy (adjective) /tʃævi/ ‘Cheers for the lift Zoe. I really

a derogatory word that describes appreciate it.’
something or someone that is seen
as low-class and lacking education. cheesed off (adjective) /tʃiːzd ɒf/
annoyed.

A CHEEKY
36
PINT
‘I’m really cheesed off Joan’s not a person that looks after children
coming to my leaving do.’ while the parents are out
(also babysitter).
Chelsea Pensioner (noun)
/tʃelsi penʃənə/ ‘I’ve booked a childminder for
A Chelsea Pensioner is a resident at Friday night so Silvio and I can
the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a go out for dinner.’
retirement home and nursing home
in London for former members chin chin (exclamation) /tʃɪn tʃɪn/
of the British Army. They are well slightly old-fashioned phrase used
known for wearing very distinctive to express good wishes before
red uniforms. drinking, similar to cheers.

‘You are quite likely to see a ‘Chin chin everyone. Let’s hope
Chelsea Pensioner or two if you for a prosperous new year.’
hang around the King’s Road in
west London.’ chinwag (noun) /tʃɪnwæɡ/
an informal conversation or chat.
Chelsea tractor (noun) /tʃelsi
træktər/ A) ‘Who was that on the phone?’
a derogatory and humorous term B) ‘It was my aunt. She just
for a four-wheel-drive vehicle wanted a quick chinwag.’
typically driven around the streets
of London. Chelsea is a particularly chippy (noun) /tʃɪpi/
wealthy area of the city where they a fish and chip shop.
are said to be found.
‘Did you see there’s a new chippy
‘The school run is full of Chelsea that’s opened up by the seafront?’
tractors trying to drop their kids off.’
choccy (noun) /tʃɒki/
Chequers (noun) /tʃekəz/ informal term for chocolate.
the name of the official country
home of the British Prime ‘Can you pick me up some choccy
Minister. from the corner shop?’

‘The Prime Minister has been in chuddies (noun) /tʃʌdi:z/

Chequers all weekend hosting the a term of Indian-English origin
French President.’ for ‘underpants’ made famous by
comedian show ‘Goodness
childminder (noun) Gracious Me’ which had the
/tʃaɪldˌmaɪndə/ catchphrase ‘kiss my chuddies’.

37
‘I need to buy a new pair in her presentation today.’
of chuddies.’
clapped-out (adjective) /klæpt aʊt/
chuffed (adjective) /tʃʌft/ if a machine is clapped-out, it has
very pleased (also chuffed to bits). been used so much that it no
longer works very well.
‘You must be chuffed to bits with
your job promotion.’ ‘It’s impossible to do your job as
a teacher when you’ve only got
chugger (noun) /tʃʌɡər/ a clapped-out photocopier to
humorous and slightly rude slang work with.’
term for someone that stands in the
street trying to raise money for a claret (noun) /klærət/
specific charity. It’s a portmanteau slang for blood.
of ‘charity’ and ‘mugger’.
‘That fight in the pub was vicious. I
‘There is always a gang of saw loads of claret on the floor.’
chuggers standing outside
HSBC bank.’ clearing (noun) /klɪərɪŋ/
the system British universities and
chunder (verb) /tʃʌndə/ colleges use to fill spare places on
slang word for vomit. their courses. Once A-level students
receive their results in August, they
‘Last night was the first time can use Clearing to find a place on a
I’ve chundered in years.’ course they want.

cider (noun) /saɪdə/ ‘My A-level results weren’t as good

an alcoholic drink made as I’d hoped for, so I used clearing
from apples. to get a place at Cardiff uni.’

‘The best cider is from the clear-out (noun) /kliə raʊt/

southwest of England.’ an occasion when you sort through
all your things and throw away
ciggy (noun) /sɪɡi/ what you don’t need.
short for cigarette (also ciggie)
‘I had a good clear-out at the
‘I’m just going to pop out for weekend and gave loads of
a quick ciggy.’ stuff to charity.’

clanger (noun) /klæŋə/ cling film (noun) /klɪŋ fɪlm/

slang word meaning a mistake. plastic used to wrap food.

‘My boss dropped a real clanger ‘Wrap the sausages in cling film and
38
put them in the fridge and we’ll we’ll have to wait a few hours until
have them tomorrow.’ we can check in.’

clobber (noun) /klɒbə/ codswallop (noun) /kɒdzwɒləp/

very informal word for clothes or nonsense.
personal items.
A) ‘I think Arsenal will win the
‘I bought some new clobber with Premier League this year.’
the money I got for Christmas.’ B) ‘What? That’s absolute
codswallop! They have got no
clock (verb) /klɒk/ chance against Manchester City.’
see or notice something.
(the) collywobbles (noun)
‘Did you clock Yuki trying /kɒliwɒbəlz/ a strong feeling of
to chat up Natsumi?’ nervousness and mild fear.

clunge (noun) /clʌndʒ/ ‘I always get the collywobbles

before I fly.’
very rude slang term for a vagina.
come a cropper (phrase) /kʌm ə
‘I have never said the word clunge krɒpə/
in all my life.’ suffer a defeat or get injured badly.

cobblers (noun) /kɒbləz/ ‘Wales won their first game, but

nonsense. they came a cropper against Italy
in the second.’
A) ‘I hardly ever use Instagram,
honestly!’. comprehensive school (noun)
B) ‘Ha! What absolute cobblers! /kɒmprɪhensɪv skuːl/
You are always on it.’ a school for anyone in the UK
between the ages of 11 and 18.
Cockney (noun) /kɒkni/
someone from the East End ‘The comprehensives in this area
of London. all got excellent in their Ofsted
inspections.’
‘My grandmother was a Cockney
born and bred but she lived in Conservative Party
Canada for most of her life.’ /kənsɜːvətɪv pɑːti/
a British political party.
cock-up (noun) /kɒkʌp/
a mistake. ‘Margret Thatcher was leader of
the Conservative Party from 1975
‘They’ve made a massive cock-up to 1990.’
with our room booking. It looks like
39
constituency (noun) ‘I saw a pickpocket run along Oxford
/kənstɪtʃuənsi/ Street chased by two coppers.’
an area in which someone is elected
as its representative in parliament. coppers (noun) /kɒpəz/
slang word for 1p and 2p coins.
‘The constituency of Hackney
North has been a Labour stronghold ‘I’ve got nothing in my wallet except
for years.’ for a bunch of coppers.’

Cool Britannia (noun) Cor blimey! (interjection)

/kuːl brɪtænjə/ /kɔː blaɪmi/
this was a period during the used to show surprise (shortened
1990s in which there was an to ‘blimey!’).
increased pride in British popular
culture, led by the Spice Girls, Oasis, ‘Cor blimey! Have you seen what
Blur, and the election of Tony Blair Jackie wore to the wedding?’
and New Labour.
Corbynista (noun) /kɔːbɪniːstə/
‘The years of Cool Britannia seem a slang term for someone who
like a long time ago now.’ supports Jeremy Corbyn.
cop off (phrasal verb) /kɒp ɒf/
very informal phrase meaning ‘I always vote Labour, but I wouldn’t
to have a sexual encounter call myself a Corbynista.’
with someone.
corner shop (noun) /kɔːnə ˌʃɒp/
‘Did you see Maria cop off with a local convenience store that sells
Shana at the Christmas Party?’ basic food, drinks, and
copper (noun) /kɒpə/ everyday items.
slang term for police officer.
‘Dad’s just popped to the corner
shop to buy some milk for tea.’

40
Cornish pasty (noun) county council (noun)
/kɔːnɪʃ pæsti/ /kaʊnti kaʊnsəl/
a traditional pastry filled with a group of elected people
vegetables and meat originating who represent a county.
from Cornwall.
‘Kent county council have worked
‘When you go to Cornwall you have very hard to improve the
to try a Cornish pasty.’ infrastructure in the local area.’

courgette (noun) /kɔːʒet/

Corrie (noun) /kɒri/ a long green vegetable (zucchini
affectionate name for the popular in American English).
soap opera Coronation Street.
‘All you need to do is chop up a few
courgettes, add them to the soup
‘If you grew up in the north of and you are done.’
England, it was basically compulsory
to watch Corrie.’ Cup Final (noun) /kʌp faɪnəl/
a term that traditionally referred to
council estate (noun) the FA cup final (football), but could
/kaʊnsəl ɪsteɪt/ be used to talk about any sporting
an area of public housing Cup Final.
provided by the government.
‘Newcastle United haven’t got to
‘My husband grew up on a the Cup Final since 1999.’
council estate in Glasgow.’
cuppa (noun) /kʌpə/
council house/flat (noun) short for a cup of tea.
/kaʊnsəl haʊs/
a house or flat provided by the ‘Would you like a cuppa?’
local council for people on the
lowest incomes. curate’s egg (noun) /kjʊərəts eɡ/
something that is partly good but
‘We’ve lived in a council flat in mostly bad.
South Manchester for 5 years now.’
‘Coldplay’s new album is a bit of
county (noun) /kaʊnti/ a curate’s egg in my opinion.’
an area of Britain e.g. Yorkshire,
Surrey or Essex. current account (noun)
/kʌrənt əkaʊnt/
‘The largest county in a bank account that you can
Britain is Yorkshire.’ withdraw money from easily, but
one that doesn’t earn much interest.

41
 I’M
CHUFFED
TO BITS
‘I’ve just opened a current A) ‘Do you mind if I start organising
account for my daughter before she the stationery cupboard?’
starts university next year.’ B) ‘Yeah absolutely, crack on!’

cushty (adjective) /kʊʃti/ crack someone up (phrasal verb)

very good or pleasing. /kræk ʌp/
make someone laugh.
‘I have two weeks off work, so
life is pretty cushty right now.’ ‘No one cracks me up as much as my
little nephew. He’s hilarious!’
cutlery (noun) /kʌtləri/
the collective word for knives, crackers (adjective) /krækəz/
forks, and spoons. a slang word for someone crazy.

‘Can you put all those knives, and ‘You must be crackers if you think I’m
forks in the cutlery drawer?’ going to let you borrow my car.’

crack on (phrase) /kræk ɒn/ crap (adjective) /kræp/

start/continue doing something an impolite way to say not very good.
often with enthusiasm and energy.
42
‘Don’t bother going to see the new crumbs (exclamation) /krʌmz/
action hero film, it’s crap.’ a slightly old-fashioned way to
express surprise or worry.
crikey (exclamation) /kraɪki/
used to show surprise. ‘Crumbs! Is that the time? We need
to get going otherwise we’ll miss
‘Crikey! I can’t believe Stephanie our coach.’
has grown up so fast. When I last
saw her, she was a little girl playing CV (noun) /siːviː/
with her dolls, and now she’s a short for Curriculum Vitae. The
trainee solicitor.’ document you submit to a potential
employer with a list of your relevant
education and work experience.
Crimbo (noun) /krɪmbəʊ/
a short form of Christmas.
‘You’ll need to update your CV
before applying for that job at Sony.’
‘Are you going to your parents
house for Crimbo?’

43
 D.
dab hand (noun) /dæb hænd/
someone that has a high level of
competency and skill in a certain
activity.

‘My dad is a dab hand at fixing

electronics if you want him to take
a look at your computer.’

daft (adjective) /dɑːft/

silly or stupid. dear (adjective) /dɪər/
expensive.
‘Let’s take the bus to the cinema.
It’d be daft to try and walk there in
this rain.’ ‘Blimey! Those shoes are a bit dear.’

damp squib (noun) /dæmp skwɪb/ dear (noun) /dɪər/

an event that doesn’t live up to an affectionate term of
expectations and is ultimately endearment for someone.
disappointing.
‘Morning dear, what would you like to
‘The climate protest was a bit of a drink? I’ve just made a pot of coffee if
damp squib in the end.’ you’d like some.’

death warmed up (phrase) /deθ

dead (adverb) /ded/
wɔːmd ʌp/
a slang word for very. a humorous phrase meaning very ill.
‘That film was dead good, I want to ‘Mate, go back to bed. You look like
watch it again.’ death warmed up.’

44
deffo (adverb) /defəʊ/ diddle (verb) /dɪdəl/
short for definitely. to cheat or trick someone
of their money.
A) ‘Who do you think is going to
win Strictly Come Dancing?’ ‘The shop keeper tried to diddle me
B) ‘Deffo Angela and George. They out of ten quid.’
are easily the best dancers on the
show.’ diddums (interjection) /dɪdəmz/
Used to express sympathy to a child
detached house (noun) /dɪtætʃt or sarcastically to an adult.
haʊs/
a house that is not connected A) ‘Daddy, I hurt my foot playing
to any other houses. football.’
B) ‘Awww diddums!’
‘One day, I’d love to live in a
detached house in the country.’ dig (noun) /dɪɡ/
a remark that is deliberately meant
devoed (adjective) /devəʊd/ to criticise or make fun of someone.
abbreviation of devastated
(mainly used in Liverpool). ‘Whenever I see my brother, he
makes digs at me about how I’m
‘I’m proper devoed Emma can’t not married yet.’
come to our wedding.’
digs (noun) /dɪɡz/
dickhead (noun) /dɪkhed/ place of residence.
a very rude insult for someone you
think is an idiot. ‘My student digs were located miles
from campus and weren’t very
‘A guy on the bus called me a luxurious, if I’m honest.’
dickhead because I was wearing a
Chelsea shirt and an Arsenal scarf.’ dim (adjective) /dɪm/
not very intelligent.
dicky (adjective) /dɪki/
used to refer to body parts to say ‘Harry is a sweet little boy, but he
that they are not well or working can be a little dim sometimes.’
properly.
ding dong (noun) /dɪŋ.dɒŋ/
a very lively argument.
‘My uncle isn’t as active as he used
to be because of his dicky heart.’ ‘My ex-boyfriend and I used to have
massive ding dongs whenever we
got drunk.’

45
dinky (adjective) /dɪŋki/ ‘If we win the lottery, we will have
small in a positive way. to divvy up the winnings between
the four of us.’
‘Awww your babies are gorgeous.
Look at how dinky their hands are!’
DIY (abbreviation) /diːaɪwaɪ/
DIY is short for do-it-yourself. This
dirty weekend (noun) /dɜːti
is the activity of making or repairing
wiːkend/
something inside your home
a weekend away with a sexual
instead of paying someone else
partner with the focus on having
to do it.
lots of sex.
‘I’m doing some DIY this morning
‘Kwame and I have booked a dirty
and then I’m off to the football this
weekend in Paris together before
afternoon.’
Easter.’
do (noun) /duː/
dishy (adjective) /dɪʃi/
slang word for party.
old fashioned term for good-
looking. Usually used to refer
‘Are you coming to Chinami’s
to men.
hen do?’
‘My Mum always thought Cliff
do (verb) /duː/
Richard was very dishy.’
punish/prosecute.
divvy (noun) /dɪvi/
‘I’ve been done twice for speeding
an idiot (also div).
by the police.’
'Charlie, why are you acting like
do (verb) /duː/
such a divvy?’
rip off, outsmart or cheat someone.
Often used in the passive.
divvy up (phrasal verb) /dɪvi ʌp/
share or divide something.

DEAD
46
GOOD
A) ‘How much was that jacket?’ dob someone in (phrasal verb)
B) ‘£120’ inform a person of authority about
A) ‘You’ve been done, mate!’ someone’s illegal actions
or wrongdoings.
do a runner (phrase) /duː ə rʌnər/
leave somewhere like a restaurant ‘I’m going to dob you in to the
without paying. teacher unless you give me back
my pencil case.’
‘We used to do runners from cafes
all the time as teenagers.’ doddle (noun) /dɒdəl/
something really easy to do.
be doing (verb)
things happening. ‘My Spanish test was an
absolute doddle.’
‘I went to Steve’s house party
to see what was going on, but dodgy (adjective) /dɒdʒi/
there wasn’t anything doing so dangerous.
I came home.’
‘I wouldn’t walk around here at
do (somebody's) nut in (phrase) night time. It can be a bit dodgy.’
informal phrase to say someone is
really annoying you. dodgy (adjective) /dɒdʒi/
untrustworthy.
‘The kids have been doing my nut
in all day. I can’t wait for the school ‘I’m looking to move flats because
holidays to end.’ my landlord is super dodgy. He
changes the rent every month.’
do one (exclamation) /duː wʌn/
a rude way to tell someone to dog’s bollocks (phrase) /dɒɡz
go away. bɒləks/
rude way to say brilliant/fantastic
A) ‘There’s no way you are passing (synonym of mutt’s nuts).
your driving test tomorrow!’
B) ‘Do one!’ ‘Elif is the dog’s bollocks when it
comes to darts. She is unbeatable.’
do someone over (phrasal verb)
informal way to say to attack dogsbody (noun) /dɒɡzbɒdi/
someone with punches and kicks. a person who is asked to do all the
menial tasks and jobs no one else
‘He was done over by a group wants to do.
of lads while walking home
last night.’

47
‘The worst job I ever had was at a dosshouse (noun) /dɒshaʊs/
garden centre where I was basically a place where homeless people can
just a dogsbody.’ spend the night.

(on the) dole (noun) /dəʊl/ ‘When my parents kicked me out

the dole is the money the of their home, I had to spend a few
government gives people who nights in a dosshouse.’
are unemployed. It is also known
as the Jobseeker’s Allowance. dotty (adjective) /dɒti/
an informal way to say someone is
‘My sister-in-law has been on slightly strange or mentally ill.
the dole since she left school.’
‘Her grandad has gone a little dotty
donkey’s years (noun) /dɒŋkiz jɪərz/ since his wife passed away.’
a long time.
double-barrelled name (noun)
‘I haven’t seen my school friends for /dʌbəl bærəld neɪm/
donkey’s years.’ a family name made up of two
names put together, usually joined
dosh (noun) /dɒʃ/ by a hyphen e.g. Walker-Peters.
slang for money.
‘It’s become more and more
‘How much dosh have you got common to have a double-barrelled
on you?’ name these days.’

double dutch (noun) /dʌbəl dʌtʃ/

doss around/about (phrasal verb) spoken or written English that is
/dɒs əraʊnd/ incomprehensible.
spend your time not doing
very much. ‘Have you read the CEO’s email to
the board? It’s double dutch!’
‘Isn’t it time you got a job, Jamal? double yellow (line) (noun) /dʌbəl
You’ve been dossing around for jeləʊ laɪn/
weeks now.’ two yellow lines painted along
the sides of some streets. It
doss (noun) /dɒs/ indicates that you may not park
if something is a doss, it is very easy your car there.
and doesn’t require a lot of effort.
‘Why did you park on a double
‘To be honest, I don’t really like my yellow? What if a traffic warden
job, but it’s a bit of a doss.’ had walked past?’

48
dough (noun) /dəʊ/ ‘When I went to the USA and asked
slang word for money. where I could buy a dummy, the
sales assistant looked confused.’
‘Can you lend me some dough
until payday?’ dungarees (noun) /dʌŋɡəriːz/
an item of clothing that includes
Down Under (noun) /daʊn ʌndər/ trousers, a piece of material over
an informal phrase for Australia or the chest, and two shoulder straps.
New Zealand.
‘I haven’t worn dungarees since I
‘He’s been living Down Under was a child.’
with his boyfriend for 5 years.’
dressed up like a dog’s dinner
dual carriageway (noun) /djuːəl (phrase) wearing clothes that
kærɪdʒweɪ/ show you are making an effort,
a road with two lanes going in each but which are not appropriate
direction that is divided by a strip of for the situation.
grass and usually a barrier.
‘My parents turned up at my
‘This dual carriageway takes us all sister’s birthday party dressed up
the way to Leeds.’ like a dog’s dinner. I had to tell them
to go home and get changed into
duck (noun) /dʌk/ something more formal.’
a term of endearment used
particularly in the north of England. drink-driving (noun) /drɪŋk draɪvɪŋ/
the act of driving under the
‘How are you, duck? Were you out influence of alcohol.
last night?’
‘The police pulled him over under
duck and dive (phrase) /dʌk ən daɪv/ the suspicion of drink-driving.’
use your resourcefulness and
cunning to deal with a problem, dross (noun) /drɒs/
situation or possibly an illegal activity. poor quality or of no use.

‘If you come from my part of ‘To be honest, most of the

London, you learn to do a lot of programmes on TV these days
ducking and diving to survive.’ are absolute dross.’

dummy (noun) /dʌmi/

a smooth object given to babies
to suck on in order to soothe them
when they are upset.

49
 E.
earbashing (noun) /ɪəbæʃɪŋ/
angry criticism said to someone.

‘My boss gave me an earbashing for

sending out the report
without her checking it first.’

early doors (adverb) /ɜːli dɔːrz/

at or near to the beginning / at an
early point.

‘I told my boss early doors that I

eff and blind/jeff (phrase) /ef ən
wouldn’t be able to work over the
Christmas holidays.’ blaɪnd/
if you eff and blind you
East Ender (noun) /iːst endər/ say swear words.
someone from the East End
of London. ‘I’m furious with Patricio! He was
effing and blinding around the kids.’
‘Even though we live in Birmingham
both my parents are East Enders effing (adjective) /efɪŋ/
and we still have a lot of family used to add emphasis and avoid
living in Bethnal Green.’ using the F word.

easy peasy (lemon squeezy) ‘There’s no effing way I’m going to

(phrase) /iːzi piːzi/ their wedding after the way they
a playful/childlike way to treated me!’
say something is easy.
eff off (exclamation) /ef ɒf/
‘That driving theory test was used to tell someone to go away in
easy peasy.’ a rude way (less rude than f**k off).

50
 TOM’S TIPS
The EPL was founded in 1992 with Manchester United
winning it a record 13 times. One of the greatest sporting
shocks of all-time came in the 2015/16 season when the
title was won by Leicester City.

A) Charlie wanted to borrow more are seen to be materialistic, lacking

money from me even though he in taste and not very clever.
hasn’t paid me back for last time.’
B) ‘So what did you say to him?’ ‘I think it’s about time people stop
A) ‘I told him to eff off!’ using the term Essex girl, it’s rude
and not accurate in my opinion.’
egg-chasing (noun) /eɡ tʃeɪsɪŋ/ estate agent (noun)
humorous and dismissive term /ɪsteɪt eɪdʒənt/
for rugby. someone who sells houses/flats for
‘I’m more of a football girl, I don’t a living.
like all this egg-chasing nonsense.’
‘The estate agent who sold my
elevenses (noun) /ɪlevənzɪz/ house did a great job of finding the
a break in the late morning in right buyer.’
which one might have a coffee
or light snack. It’s usually around 11 estate car (noun) /ɪsteɪt kɑːr/
o’clock hence the name elevenses. a car with an extended boot so
that you can fit more luggage in it.
‘I brought in some biscuits for our Considered useful for families or for
elevenses.’ people with lots of things to move.

EPL (noun) /iː piː el/ ‘Since having kids we’ve upgraded
English Premier League. our Mini to a Volvo estate.’

‘Millions of people watch Estuary English (noun)

the EPL all over the world.’ /estjʊəri ɪŋɡlɪʃ/
an accent that is found in the
Essex girl (noun) /esɪks ɡɜːl/ south-east of England around
a derogatory and unfair London. It’s a mix of received
pronunciation and cockney.
stereotype of a young woman from
the county of Essex, in which they

51
‘I’d love to learn the housing but has since been bought
different features of an by the tenant and is therefore
Estuary English accent.’ privately owned. From then on
it is known as ‘ex-council’.
eurosceptic (noun) /jʊərəʊˌskeptɪk/
someone who opposes Britain’s ‘All the properties the estate agent
involvement with the European showed us were ex-council.’
Union.
expiry date (noun) /ɪkspaɪəri deɪt/
‘Even though my father was a the date printed on food containers
eurosceptic he always admired that indicates the last day the food
some of the European leaders.’ should be consumed.

ex-council flat (noun) ‘When’s the expiry date on that

/eks kaʊnsəl flæt/ pack of tomatoes?’
a flat that used to belong to the
local council and used for public

”
One of Britain’s favourite
soap operas is “EastEnders’.
It is set in a fictional part of
the East End of London called
‘Walford’. It’s a portmanteau
of ‘Walthamstow’ and
‘Stratford’ two real areas

”
in east London.

52
 F.
FA (noun) /ef eɪ/
stands for Football Association.
This is the governing body that
runs football in England.

‘The FA was founded in 1863’

FA Cup (noun) /ef eɪ kʌp/

first played in 1871, the FA Cup faith school (noun) /feɪθ skuːl/
is the oldest national football a school in the United Kingdom that
competition in the world. All teams teaches a general curriculum but
who belong to England’s Football which has a formal link to a certain
Association compete to win the religion or faith-based organisation.
silver trophy in May every year.
‘I’d like my children to go to a faith
‘Tottenham Hotspur have won the school if possible.’
FA Cup 8 times.’
fancy (verb) /fænsi/
fag (noun) /fæɡ/ if you fancy someone you are
slang for cigarette. attracted to them sexually.

‘My grandma smoked 30 fags ‘All the girls used to fancy this boy
a day until she died.’ called John Williams at school.’

fairy cake (noun) /feəri keɪk/ fancy (verb) /fænsi/

a small round cake with icing to want/desire something.
on the top.
‘I really fancy getting an Indian
‘We made fairy cakes with the kids takeaway tonight. What do you
yesterday afternoon.’ reckon?’

53
fancy dress (noun) /fænsi dres/ ‘We’ve laid on a few snacks and
the special clothes people wear to drinks for you guys so please fill
themed parties. For example, at a your boots.’
Halloween party you might wear
a skeleton costume. first floor (noun) /fɜːst flɔːr/
the floor above the ground floor.
‘I’m thinking of making my
21st birthday party fancy dress.’ ‘She bought a first floor flat two
years ago.’
fanny around (phrase) /fæni
əraʊnd/ fit (adjective) /fɪt/
wasting time instead of getting on slang word to describe someone
with the task you need to get done. as attractive/hot.

‘Can we stop fannying around ‘Have you seen the new guy that
and actually leave the house works in Hollister? He’s so fit.’
before we are late for the
wedding?’ fitba (noun) /fɪtbə/
Scottish pronunciation of ‘football’.
Father Christmas (noun) /fɑːðə
krɪsməs/ ‘Did you go to the fitba
a man in a red suit who brings on Saturday?’
presents to people around the
world on the 25th December (also fiver (noun) /faɪvər/
Santa Claus). slang for five pounds.

‘Father Christmas was very A) ‘How much are those

generous this year and brought me flowers?’
and my little brother a PlayStation!’ B) ‘They’re a fiver.’

festive season (noun) /festɪv siːzən/ flag (verb) /flæɡ/

the period of time before informal word that means to get
Christmas and continuing tired or weak
through to New Year’s Eve.
‘Can we stop walking for a minute
‘Are you going back up north for the guys? I’m flagging a little.’
festive season?’
flaming (adjective) /fleɪmɪŋ/
fill your boots (phrase) /fɪl jɔː buːts/ used to intensify something
informal phrase used to mean ‘have particularly in an angry way.
as much as you want’ e.g. at a buffet
or at dinner. ‘You flaming idiot! You nearly broke
my foot with that dumbbell.’
54
flaming nora (expression) /fleɪmɪŋ flog (verb) /flɒɡ/
nɔːrə/ to sell something, usually quickly,
used to show surprise or irritation. and for a reduced price.

‘Flaming Nora! HMRC have sent ‘Our neighbours are trying to flog
me a huge tax rebate.’ their old Ford Capri, do you think
Marco would want to buy it?’
flash/flashy (adjective) /flæʃ/
ostentatious. fluff (verb) /flʌf/
to fail to do something successfully.
‘You know who Francois is. He’s
the guy that drives a flash car to ‘I hope I don’t fluff my lines in the
the office.’ play tonight.’

flat (noun) /flæt/ fluke (noun) /fluːk/

a place where people live that is something good that comes
part of a larger building. from luck or chance.

‘How long ago did you buy ‘It was pure fluke that I got this job.’
your flat?’
flukey (adjective) /fluːki:/
flatmate (noun) /flætmeɪt/ a person or thing that benefits from
the person you live with in a flat. luck or chance.

‘I live with two flatmates ‘Manchester United scored one of

at the moment.’ the flukiest goals you will ever see.’

the flicks (noun) /flɪks/ flutter (noun) /flʌtə/

slightly old-fashioned term a small bet.
for the cinema.
‘I always like to have a flutter on the
Grand National.’
‘Shall we go to the flicks on Friday
night?’ fly-tipping (noun) /flaɪtɪpɪŋ/
the illegal dumping of unwanted
flies (noun) /flaɪz/ items (usually next to roads and
the zipper on a pair of trousers other public locations).
(also ‘fly’).
‘Fly-tipping has become a
‘Mate, your flies are undone!’ real problem around here
since the Police stopped
patrolling the streets.’

55
footy (noun) /fʊti/ fresher (noun) /freʃər/
shortened term for football. a first year university student.
‘Are you going to come round to
watch the footy tonight?’ ‘The town is starting to feel busier,
I guess it’s because all the freshers
Foreign Office (noun) /fɒrən ɒfɪs/ are arriving and moving into their
halls of residences.’
the British government department
that is concerned with issues in
freshers’ week (noun) /freʃərz wiːk/
other countries.
the first week of university for new
students in which events
‘There was a fabulous
are organised.
documentary about the
Foreign Office on the BBC.’
‘I remember the Arctic Monkeys
played at my freshers’ week ball.’
fortnight (noun) /fɔːtnaɪt/
two weeks.
fringe (noun) /frɪndʒ/
a hairstyle in which the front of the
‘Their cleaner comes
hair hangs over the forehead but
every fortnight.’
stops before the eyes.
free school (noun) /friː skuːl/
‘My parents insisted I have a fringe
A school in England that is free
up until the age of 13.’
to attend as well as being
non-profit making, state-funded
frontbench (noun) /frʌnt bentʃ/
and independent of the
the place in the House of
local authority.
Commons where senior ministers
‘Once I get my PGCE I’m going of the government and the
to apply for a job at a free school opposition party sit.
in Leeds.’

TOM’S TIPS
These days a full English breakfast is more of a weekend
treat than a daily ritual. Brits have become more health
conscious and typically start the day with cereal, porridge
or eggs in some form.

56
 FULL
OF
BEANS
‘The Prime Minister knows fry up (noun) /fraɪ ʌp/
his frontbench will support another phrase for a full
his new plans.’ English breakfast.

frontbencher (noun) /frʌnt bentʃər/ ‘My grandad used to have a fry up

a government minister or every morning before work!’
member of the shadow cabinet.
full English breakfast (noun) /fʊl
‘Government frontbenchers are ɪŋɡlɪʃ brekfəst/
furious about the Prime Minster’s a traditional English breakfast
decision to enter into discussions usually consisting of sausages,
with the opposition leader.’ eggs, bacon, baked beans,
tomatoes, mushrooms, black
fruitcake (noun) /fruːt keɪk/ pudding, and toast.
a slang term for someone crazy.
‘When you visit London you’ve got
‘Look at that fruitcake to try a full English.’
swimming out there on
full monty (noun) /fʊl mɒnti/
a freezing day like today.’
used to describe something that
has everything you require or

57
expect. It is also a term used for a further education (noun) /fɜːðər
male striptease (see the film ‘The edjʊkeɪʃən/
Full Monty’ for more details). this is education for people who
have left school but who are not at
‘Our safari was amazing we saw university.
lions, tigers, elephants, gorillas,
the full monty*!’ (*not the male ‘It’s important for more people to
striptease). have access to further education.’

full of beans (phrase) /fʊl əv biːnz/ the fuzz (noun) /fʌz/

to have a lot of energy and slang term for the police.
enthusiasm.
‘It took ten minutes for the
‘Christina never looks tired, it seems fuzz to finally arrive and break
like she’s full of beans 24/7.’ up the fighting.’

58
 G.
gadgie (noun) /ɡædʒiː/
man (used in Scotland and North
East England) (also gadge).

‘Did you see that proper drunk

gadgie walking in the street?’

gaff (noun) /ɡæf/

slang word for house.
gagging for it (phrase) rude phrase to
‘We’re about to drive past Dave’s suggest someone is eager for sex.
new gaff.’
‘Go and chat to that guy over there,
gaffer (noun) /ɡæfər/ he’s clearly gagging for it.’
boss.
gak (noun) /ɡæk/
‘Have you asked the gaffer if you slang word for cocaine.
can have Friday off?’
‘It’s crazy how many guys on the stag
gag (noun) /ɡæɡ/ party were doing gak.’
an informal word for joke.
gallus (adjective) /ɡæləs/
‘David Walliams and Harry a Scottish term for someone daring
Enfield did this hilarious gag or bold.
about The Queen.’
‘Isla’s more gallus than me if she’s
gagging (for something) (verb) actually going to climb Ben Nevis
/ɡæɡɪŋ/ on her own.’
desperate for something.
gammon (noun) /ɡæmən/
‘I’m absolutely gagging for a glass a modern insult for red-faced angry
of water.’ old men with right-wing views. It was

59
coined by a Twitter user who used gash (noun) /ɡæʃ/ - an offensive
the term to describe a group of slang term for a vagina.
men who supported Brexit and
who supposedly had faces that ‘I first heard the word ‘gash’ used on
resembled gammon steaks. ‘The Inbetweeners’.

‘The town I live in is absolutely gastropub (noun) /ɡæstrəʊpʌb/

full of gammon. I want to move a pub that serves high-quality food.
somewhere more liberal.’
‘They are turning the old cinema
gammy (adjective) /ɡæmi/ into a huge gastropub.’
if a part of your body is gammy
it is painful, stiff or doesn’t work gawp (verb) /gɔːp/
properly. look at someone/something for a
long time in a rude or stupid way.
‘I’ve had a gammy knee ever since I
did the marathon.’ ‘Mina, stop gawping at the barista
and go chat to him.’
gan (verb) /ɡæn/
slang for ‘go’ used in North gazump (verb) /gəzʌmp/
East England. if you are buying a house
and the seller agrees to sell it to
‘I’m gannin’ down the chippy, you but then sells it to someone
do you want anything?’ else for more money, you have
been gazumped.
gander (noun) /ɡændər/
have a look around or ‘We thought we’d bought a
at something. semi-detached house in York but
frustratingly we were gazumped
‘Let’s have a gander around the old at the last minute.’
town and see if we can find a nice
pub for a drink.’ GBH (noun) /dʒiː biː eɪtʃ/
abbreviation for Grievous Bodily
gap year (noun) /ɡæp jɪər/ Harm. This is a legal term for a
a year between leaving school and physical attack by one person
starting university in which the on another.
individual usually works or travels
to gain some life experience. ‘He’s in court for GBH and
armed robbery.’
‘He spent his gap year working on a
vineyard in Tuscany.’ GBP (noun) /dʒiː biː piː/
abbreviation for British Pound.

60
 GEEZER
‘GBP is now weaker against USD (the) gents (noun) /dʒents/
than it was this time last year.’ euphemism for male toilet.

GCSE (noun) /dʒiː siː es iː/ ‘I think the gents is upstairs

General Certificate of Secondary and along the corridor.’
Education. A qualification in a
certain subject taken by students in
gentry (noun) /dʒentri/
the UK (except Scotland) between
the aristocratic class who own
the ages of 14–16. Once students
complete their GCSEs they can go land around Britain.
on to study A-levels.
‘The House of Lords used to
‘I took nine GCSEs and managed be made up of aristocrats and
to get all 7s except for one landed gentry.’
subject in which I got an 8.’
Geordie (noun) /dʒɔːdi/
geet walla (adjective) /ɡiːt wɒlə/ someone from Newcastle.
very big (used in Newcastle).
‘My flatmate is a Geordie and she
‘There was a geet walla queue at pops back home to Newcastle every
the bus stop so I decided to walk.’ other weekend.’

geezer (noun) /ɡiːzər/ get a wriggle on (phrase) /ɡet ə

slang word for a man. It’s often used
rɪɡəl ɒn/
with specific collocations e.g. top
hurry up.
geezer, diamond geezer, old geezer,
dodgy geezer.
‘Come on kids, get a wriggle
‘I got chatting to this old geezer in on otherwise we’ll be late for
the pub who said he knew Bobby Grandad’s birthday.’
Moore, the England captain at the
1966 World Cup.’ get the nod (phrase) /ɡet ðə nɒd/
be selected or given permission.

61
‘Two Liverpool youngsters ‘Come on lads, get your kit off!’
have got the nod from manager
Jurgen Klopp for Saturday’s match get your knickers in a twist (phrase)
with Everton.’ a humorous phrase meaning to get
upset/annoyed about something.
get off (phrasal verb) /ɡet ɒf/
to kiss and cuddle with someone ‘Steve, don’t get your knickers
in a romantic way. Similar to make in a twist. We’ll get to the airport
out with someone. in time!’

‘All I remember from my school ghastly (adjective) /ɡɑːstli/

discos were teenagers getting very bad or unpleasant.
off and bad music.’
A) ‘How was your weekend in
get on someone’s wick/nerves/tits Wales?’
(phrase) annoy someone. B) ‘It was wonderful although the
weather was ghastly for most of our
‘I love my brother but he’s really time there.’
starting to get on my wick. I think
I’m going to ask him to find ginnel / gennel (noun) /ɡɪnəl/ or /
somewhere else to stay.’ ɡenəl/
a narrow alleyway between terraced
get your end away (phrase) /ɡet jɔːr houses in the north of England.
end əweɪ/
if someone gets their end away ‘We used to play games in the
they have sex. ginnels by my gran’s house in
Blackburn.’
‘On Friday nights all Teddy cares
about is getting his end away.’
gip (verb) /gɪp/
get your head down (phrase) retch or feel like vomiting.
/ɡet jɔːr hed daʊn/
work hard and focus on what ‘The strong smell of fish in that
you are doing. market made me gip.’

‘Tomorrow I’m going to get my git (noun) /ɡɪt/

head down and revise for my an unpleasant individual.
French exam.’
‘I don’t talk to my neighbour. He’s
get your kit off (phrase) /ɡet jɔːr kɪt
ɒf/ a bit of a git if I’m honest.’
humorous phrase you might say
to someone meaning ‘take your give over! (phrase)
clothes off’. a way to tell someone to stop

62
doing something that’s annoying. glandular fever (noun)
/ɡlænd jələ fiːvər/
A) ‘Are you going to finally ask an infectious disease that lasts
Chiara out?’ a long time and makes you feel
B) ‘Oh give over! You know I’m not
weak and sick.
interested.’

give someone a bell/ring/call ‘Roberto has been off work for a

(phrase) /ɡɪv sʌmwʌn ə bel/ week with glandular fever.’
to call someone on the phone.
Glasgow kiss (noun) /ɡlɑːzɡəʊ kɪs/
‘I’ll give you a bell when I get out of a slang term for a head-butt i.e.
class.’ using your head to hit someone.

give someone stick (phrase) /ɡɪv ‘She’s threatened to give me a

sʌmwʌn stɪk/ Glasgow kiss if I don’t leave the
criticise or verbally abuse someone. party now.’

‘The fans gave the opposing players Glaswegian (noun) /ɡlæzwiːdʒən/

a lot of stick when they came onto someone from Glasgow.
the football pitch.’

giz (verb) /ɡɪz/

slang variation of ‘give us’.

‘Giz back my pen you little thief!’

”
Each city has a term for
the people that are from
there. The technical term is
a ‘demonym’. People from
Newcastle are ‘Geordies’,
someone from Glasgow is
‘Glaswegian’ and if you
come from Liverpool you

”
are a ‘Scouser’.

63
‘My grandmother was a gobby (adjective) /ɡɒbi/
Glaswegian but lived most someone who talks in a loud
of her life in Edinburgh.’ opinionated way.

GMT (noun) /dʒiː em tiː/ ‘Their son has turned into a right
abbreviation for Greenwich Mean gobby so and so.’
Time, which is the time measured
from the Royal Observatory in gobshite (noun) /gɒbʃaɪt/
Greenwich, London. a rude insult for someone stupid
or contemptible.
‘We are going live on YouTube
at 3 pm GMT.’ ‘Don’t be such a gobshite, Terry!’

go down (phrasal verb) gobsmacked (adjective)

/ɡəʊ daʊn/ /ɡɒbsmækt/
to be sent to prison. very surprised.

‘Gemma’s boyfriend went down ‘Your mother was gobsmacked

for armed robbery.’ when you arrived for her birthday
party.’
go off (phrasal verb) /ɡəʊ ɒf/
if food goes off it turns bad, the Gods (noun) /ðə ɡɒdz/
changes smell or colour and an informal phrase for the seats in
becomes inedible. a theatre that are furthest from the
stage and highest up.
‘I’m going to get some more eggs,
these ones have gone off.’ ‘Even though we were sat in the
Gods, we could see the play
go tits-up (verb) /ɡəʊ titz ʌp/ perfectly well.’
if something goes tits up it goes
wrong/fails. golly gosh (exclamation) /ɡɒli ɡɒʃ/
an old-fashioned way to show
‘My plans to throw Juliana a surprise or worry.
surprise birthday party have gone
completely tits-up. She saw a text I ‘Golly gosh! I never knew my
sent a friend with the time and date neighbour was the daughter of a
of it so she knows I’m famous film star.’
planning something.’
goose pimples (noun)
/ɡuːs pɪmpəlz/
gob (noun) /ɡɒb/
tiny raised areas of your skin that
slang for mouth.
occur because you are excited,
nervous or thrilled in some way.
‘Shut your gob!’
64
‘Watching Meghan Markle walk ‘I’m so impressed with the
down the aisle gave me goose builders doing up my house, they
pimples.’ are such grafters.’
Gordon Bennett (exclamation) grammar school (noun) /ɡræmə
/ɡɔːdən benɪt/ skuːl/
an old fashioned phrase used to
a type of state school in Britain for
show surprise or annoyance.
children aged 11-18. All students
‘Gordon Bennett! Have you seen are required to pass an entrance
what the kids have done to the exam. They are much less
kitchen?’ common now than in the past.

gormless (adjective) /ɡɔːmləs/ ‘My grandmother was the first in our

foolish / slow-witted. family to go to a grammar school.’

A) ‘Is that you in the photo? You grand (noun) /ɡrænd/

look so young!’ one thousand pounds sterling.
B) ‘Yeah, that’s me and my friends at
school. Wow! We look so gormless’. ‘Did you hear the CEO is getting a
fifty grand bonus?’
got (past participle)
UK - get got got grand (adjective) /ɡrænd/
USA - get got gotten great.

GP (noun) /dʒiː piː/ ‘We had a grand time in Blackpool

a general practitioner i.e. a doctor last weekend. I really recommend
who deals with general medical going.’
issues.
grass (noun) /ɡrɑːs/
‘I’ve got to see my GP about someone who tells the police/an
vaccinations for my trip to authority figure, information about
Thailand.’ another person’s wrongdoing
(usually criminal).
graft (verb) /ɡrɑːft/
work hard. ‘The gang never found out who the
grass was.’
‘You have to really graft if you want
to be successful in this world.’ grass on someone (phrasal verb)
/ɡrɑːs ɒn/
grafter (noun) /ɡrɑːftər/ if you grass on someone you
someone who works hard. tell the police/authorities about
their wrongdoing.

65
‘Simon grassed on me to the ‘Protesters demanded the end of
teacher about stealing his a bill that allowed building on the
homework.’ green belt.’

greasy spoon (noun) /ɡriːsi spuːn/ grockle (noun) /ɡrɒkəl/

a cheap and cheerful cafe that sells a derogatory term used in the south
mainly fried food like full English of England (Devon and Cornwall)
breakfasts, chips, burgers etc. for a holidaymaker or tourist.

‘My grandad used to take me to the ‘The town is full of grocks during
local greasy spoon every Saturday summer, it’s unbearable.’
for a full English.’
grotty (adjective) /ɡrɒti/
greedy-guts (noun) /ɡriːdi ɡʌts/ dirty or unpleasant.
a term to describe someone who is
greedy, especially about food. ‘I’ve stayed in some grotty hotels in
my time but this one was the worst.’
‘Did you eat all the chocolate
ground floor (noun) /ɡraʊnd flɔːr/
biscuits? You are such a
the floor that is at the same level as
greedy-guts!’
the ground/street.
green belt (noun) /ɡriːn belt/ ‘She bought a ground floor flat in
The area of protected countryside Selly Oak, Birmingham two years
surrounding towns and cities in ago and the value has gone up
which there are restrictions on 10%.’
building development.

I’LL GIVE
YOU A
66
BELL
grub (noun) /ɡrʌb/ ‘You’re the guv’nor so you let us
slang word for food. know how you want your loft
extension to look and we’ll do it.’
‘Mum left us some grub for when
we got back from football.’ Guy Fawkes Night (noun) /ɡaɪ fɔːks
naɪt/
gutted (adjective) /ɡʌtɪd/ A celebration on 5th November
very disappointed. when British people light bonfires
and fireworks to remember the
‘Oh look, the kids are gutted about Gunpowder Plot to blow up the
the match. Maybe we should do Houses of Parliament by Guy
something to cheer them up.’ Fawkes in 1605. It’s also known
as Bonfire Night.
the gutter press (noun)
/ɡʌtə pres/ ‘There’s a huge fireworks display at
sensationalist or low quality Alexandra Palace on Bonfire Night.’
newspapers.
gyp (noun) /dʒɪp/
‘As a journalist, Owen only ever pain.
worked for the gutter press.’
‘My ankle is really giving me gyp.’
guv’nor (noun) /ɡʌvnər/
a slang term for someone in charge
or used as a greeting to show
respect to someone in authority.

67
 H.
hacked-off (adjective) /hækt ɒf/
annoyed/pissed off.

‘I am so hacked-off I didn’t get

invited to Marlon and Emily’s
wedding.’

hackney carriage/cab (noun)

/hækni kærɪdʒ/
the proper term for a London black
taxi. half term (noun) /hɑːf tɜːm/
a week-long break for schools in
‘There’s nothing more iconic in the middle of each term.
London than the hackney carriage.’
‘Are you guys going away for half
haggis (noun) /hæɡɪs/ term?’
a traditional Scottish dish made of
a sheep’s or calf’s offal mixed with half-arsed (adjective) /hɑːf ɑːst/
suet, oatmeal, and seasoning. do something in a careless and
lazy way.
‘If you go to Scotland, you have to
try haggis.’ ‘She made a half-arsed attempt
to apologise after forgetting
half (noun) /hɑːf/ my birthday.’
half a pint (284 ml).
halls of residence (noun)
‘I’ll just have half a Guinness, please.’ /hɔːl əv rezɪdəns/
a residential building
half-board (noun) /hɑːf bɔːd/ where students live.
a hotel room which also includes
breakfast and either lunch/dinner. ‘Will you walk me back to my halls
of residence?’
‘We’ve booked 2 nights
half-board in a seaside hotel
in Cornwall.’

68
 TOM’S TIPS
In spoken British English ‘handbag’ is actually
pronounced /hæmbæg/. This is due to something
called assimilation which is when one sound changes
because of a neighbouring sound. In this case the /n/
becomes a /m/ because of the /b/. Next time you say it,
think of a bag of ham.

ham-fisted (adjective) /hæm fɪstɪd/ ‘It’s so handy having a mini-

dealing with a situation in a clumsy supermarket underneath our flat.’
unskilled way.
hanky panky (noun)
‘The way the government has dealt /hæŋkɪ pæŋki/
with Brexit has been completely a humorous term for sexual activity.
ham-fisted.’
‘Was there any hanky panky at the
handbag (noun) /hænd bæɡ/ staff party?’
a small bag used to carry personal
items e.g. keys, money etc. usually hanging (adjective) /hæŋɪŋ/
used by women. hungover.

‘My husband bought me a beautiful ‘Paulo, you look like you‘re

Coach handbag for our anniversary.’ hanging mate, did you get drunk
last night?’
handbags (at dawn) (phrase)
/hænd bæɡz/ happy-clapper (noun) /hæpi
a humorous phrase used to klæpər/
describe a fight in which neither someone who is extremely positive
side wants to fight and both fail to and enthusiastic. It originally
inflict any blows upon the other. described followers of the Christian
faith but it is now used more widely.
‘There was a small fight between a The adjective is ‘happy-clappy’.
couple of the players but it was just
handbags and the game continued ‘People describe me as a
soon after.’ happy-clapper Liverpool fan and it’s
true that I don’t like criticising the
handy (adjective) /hændi/ manager or players.’
convenient/easy to access.

69
happy slapping (noun) /hæpi to get advice from Britain’s
slæpɪŋ/ leading surgeons.
the act of attacking someone
randomly, filming it and sharing ‘Dr Sing has opened a small
it with people online for your practice on Harley Street.’
own entertainment.
have a bash at something (phrase)
‘Thankfully happy slapping seems try to do something.
to happen much less frequently
these days.’
‘I’m going to have a bash at
hard (adjective) /hɑːd/ writing a song on the piano.’
tough and willing to fight.
have a face like the back end of a
‘You’ve got to be hard to work bus (phrase)
as a bouncer.’ offensive way to say someone
is ugly.
hard done by (phrase) /hɑːd dʌn
baɪ/ ‘Not only is he a crap reality TV
when you have not been treated contestant, he also has a face like
fairly you could say that you ‘feel the back end of a bus.’
hard done by’.
have a go at someone (phrase)
‘Justina must feel pretty hard done /hævə ɡəʊ æt/
by not getting that promotion. She if you have a go at someone you
totally deserved it.’ criticise them (sometimes unfairly).

hard shoulder (noun) /hɑːd ʃəʊldə/ ‘I’m not having a go at you

the area along the side of Andrey, I’m just saying it would
a motorway where cars are have been nice if you had asked
permitted to stop if they before borrowing my car.’
have a problem.
have a laugh (phrase) /hæv ə lɑːf/
‘Let’s pull on to the hard shoulder have fun or joke around.
and see what’s wrong with the car.’
‘I had such a laugh on Friday night
Harley Street (noun) /hɑːli striːt/ with my uni mates.’
a street in London that is
extremely well known and having a laugh (phrase) /hævɪŋ ə
respected for its private medical lɑːf/
professionals. It has long been the used to challenge a ludicrous or
go-to place for wealthy clients insulting thing someone has said.

70
 ”
Brits love a euphemism for sex.
Some examples include ‘hanky
panky’, ‘how’s your father?’ and

”
‘get your end away’.

A) ‘How much are these running if you have the hump with
shoes?’ someone you are upset with
B) ‘£299’ them or angry.
A) ‘Are you having a laugh?’
‘I’ve got the hump with my boss
have kittens (phrase) /hæv kɪtənz/ because she won’t give me two
to be very anxious or worried. days off work to go on my mate’s
stag do.’
‘If we are not back before
midnight my parents will head girl/boy (noun) /hed ɡɜːl/bɔɪ/
have kittens.’ the top girl or boy who is the leader
of the prefects and represents the
have (someone) on (phrasal verb) school at events.
attempting to fool or deceive
someone, usually as a joke. ‘Do you think Luisa will be a good
head girl?’
‘My sister says she’s met George
Clooney. I’m sure she’s having headteacher (noun) /hed tiːtʃər/
me on.’ the teacher in charge of a school. It
can be used for males or females.
have the hump (with someone)
(phrase) /hæv ðə hʌmp/

71
‘I’ve no doubt Joe will be a ‘A lot of the shops on the high street
headteacher sooner rather have their sales on right now.’
than later.’
high tea (noun) /haɪ tiː/
hen party/do (noun) /hen pɑti/ a light meal in the afternoon usually
the celebration a woman has before containing tea, sandwiches, scones,
she gets married. and cakes.

‘So many hen parties go abroad ‘My mother and I make a tradition of
these days.’ going for high tea every year for her
birthday.’
her indoors (phrase) /hɜːr ɪndɔːz/
a humorous term for one’s wife. Highway Code (noun) /haɪweɪ
kəʊd/
‘It’s her indoors that makes all the the official set of rules that
decisions in this family.’ apply to all road users in the
United Kingdom.
hereditary peer (noun) /həredɪtəri
pɪər/ ‘Before you pass your driving test
a member of the hereditary nobility you have to learn everything you
in Britain. This title is passed down can from the Highway Code.’
from one generation to the next
and 92 are permitted to sit in the hire purchase (noun) /haɪə pɜːtʃəs/
House of Lords. a way to pay for something like a TV
or car in which the purchaser pays
‘The concept of hereditary peers a small amount upfront and then
is such an old fashioned one. I regular instalments thereafter.
can’t believe it still exists in 21st
century Britain.’ ‘We bought this fridge on
hire purchase.’
het up (adjective) /het ʌp/
agitated, anxious or angry. HMS (abbreviation) /eɪtʃ em es/
short for Her/His Majesty’s Ship.
‘Don’t get so het up over Brexit.’ It goes before every ship in the
British navy.
high street (noun) /haɪ striːt/
the principal street in the centre ‘One of the biggest tourist
of a town that has the main shops attractions in London is HMS Belfast
and buildings. which is moored by the South Bank.’

72
hoarding (noun) /hɔːdɪŋ/ hole in the wall (noun)
a large board by the side /həʊl ɪn ðə wɔːl/
of a road with adverts on. informal phrase for an ATM
(automatic cash dispenser).
‘During the election it felt like every
advertising hoarding had Boris ‘Is there a hole in the wall
Johnson’s face on.’ anywhere around here? I need
to get some cash.’
hob (noun) /hɒb/
the surface top of a cooker on
Holyrood (noun) /hɒliruːd/
which pans can be heated.
a metonym for the Scottish
‘The hobs on my cooker don’t seem parliament.
to be working so I can’t cook any
pasta at the moment.’ ‘A decision to change the legal
drinking age in Scotland will be
Hogmanay (noun) /hɒɡməneɪ/ made by Holyrood this week.’
the name of the New Year’s Eve
celebration in Scotland. Home Office (noun) /həʊm ɒfɪs/
the UK government department
‘We’re heading to Edinburgh responsible for visas, passports,
for Hogmanay.’ counter-terrorism and for making
decisions about people who want

YOU’RE
HAVING
A LAUGH
73
to move to the UK from abroad. ‘Half the team like working in the
office and half like working from
‘I’ve applied to the Home Office home. It’s horses for courses.’
for a new passport.’
House of Commons (noun) /haʊs
Home Secretary (noun) əv kɒmənz/
/həʊm sekrətəri/ the lower house in which 650
the government minister in elected members of parliament
charge of the Home Office. meet in Westminster, London.

‘The new Home Secretary is going ‘You can go to the House of

to announce new visa rules for Commons when it is in session.
overseas students.’ It’s a fascinating experience.’

hoodie (noun) /hʊdi/ House of Lords (noun)

a young person wearing a /haʊs əv lɔːdz/
hooded top who is thought the upper house of the UK
to be up to no good. Parliament. The members of
the Lords are unelected which
‘There were a bunch of hoodies is in contrast to the House of
hanging around the entrance to Commons. They look at bills that
the estate so I decided to take a have been approved by the House
different route home.’ of Commons.
hooter (noun) /huːtər/
‘The House of Lords is in session
slang term for a nose.
this afternoon.’
‘The first thing you notice about
him is his enormous hooter.’ how long is a piece of string?
(phrase) used to say it is
hoover (verb) /huːvər/ impossible to give an exact
a British trademark, it is used as a answer to a question.
verb meaning to clean the carpet
with a vacuum cleaner. A) ‘How much is the Christmas party
going to cost?’
‘George, can you hoover the stairs B) ‘How long is a piece of string?’
before the guests arrive?’
howay! (exclamation) /hæweɪ/
horses for courses (proverb) a greeting in the North East
a phrase used to say that different of England.
people like different things or that
different people have different ‘Howay man! Did you have a good
skillsets to other people. weekend?’

74
how’s your father (euphemism) ‘Let’s finish off our fairy cakes
/haʊz jɔːr fɑːðər/ by adding some hundreds and
old fashioned humorous term thousands on top.’
for sexual intercourse.
hunky-dory (adjective)
/hʌŋki dɔːri/
‘Sounds like they are having a bit of an old-fashioned term. If everything
how’s your father upstairs!’ is hunky-dory it’s fine / going well.

HRH (abbreviation) /eɪtʃ ɑːr eɪtʃ/ ‘Everything was hunky-dory on the

short for His/Her Royal Highness roads today so thankfully I got to
which is a title for some members work a little early.’
of the royal family.
HQ (noun) /eɪtʃ kjuː/
an affectionate colloquial term
‘Prince William is HRH the Duke for Twickenham stadium, the
of Cambridge.’ home of the England rugby team.
hundreds and thousands (noun) ‘We’re going to HQ for the big
/hʌndrədz ənd θaʊzəndz/ match against South Africa on
small colourful pieces of sugar that Saturday.’
are sprinkled on the top of cakes.

HOW’S
YOUR
FATHER
75
 I.
ice lolly (noun) /aɪs lɒli/
a fruit flavoured ice stick.

‘Let’s make ice lollies

this afternoon.’

icing sugar (noun) /aɪsɪŋ ʃʊɡər/

the powdery sugar used for icing
on the top of cakes.
matter how hard it might become.
‘We’ll need to buy some eggs and ‘Well we’ve started climbing Mount
icing sugar if we want to make a Snowdon and we can’t turn back, so
cake for Charlie’s birthday.’ in for a penny I guess.’

identity parade (noun) /aɪdentɪti in the buff (phrase) /ɪn ðə bʌf/

pəreɪd/ slang for nude.
a row of people including a
‘Next week I’m posing for an art
suspected criminal. A witness
class completely in the buff.’
or victim is asked to identify the
suspect correctly.
independent school (noun)
‘They had an identity parade on /ɪndɪpendənt skuːl/
Eastenders and I swear all of them another way to say private school
looked exactly the same.’ which is fee-paying.

in for a penny (in for a pound) ‘There is a list of the top 50

(saying) used to express someone’s independent schools in this
intention to complete a task no week’s Sunday Times.’

76
infant school (noun) /ɪnfənt skuːl/ ISA (noun) /aɪsə/
school for children between the abbreviation for ‘individual
ages of 4-7 (also known as ‘the savings account’. A tax-free
infants’). savings account available to
people in the UK.
‘Jasmine is in her last year of
infant school.’ ‘I’m going to open up an ISA
and start saving for a deposit
innit (contraction) /ɪnɪt/ on a house.’
Initially it was a contraction of ‘isn’t
it’ but it has now become widely
used to replace any auxiliary in a ITV (noun) /aɪ tiː viː/
question tag. It can also be used to The first independent television
agree with someone. It’s extremely channel in Britain.
informal and mainly used by
younger members of society. ‘One of the shows that is
synonymous with ITV is
‘You support Arsenal, innit?’ = Coronation Street.’
‘you support Arsenal, don’t you?’

‘You’ve been to Poland, innit?’

= You’ve been to Poland,
haven’t you?’
”
I love the word ‘innit’!
You can use it to
replace any auxiliary
in a question tag, so
there’s no need for any
complicated grammar.....

”
that’s genius, innit?

77
 J.
Jack-the-lad (noun)
/dʒæk ðə læd/
an overly confident young man
who thinks he is attractive and
a bit of a bad boy.

‘Blimey! Shaun has turned into a bit

of a Jack-the-lad, hasn’t he? He used
to be such a quiet, sweet boy.’
jelly baby (noun) /dʒeli beɪbi/
a small baby-shaped fruity sweet.
jacksie (noun) /dʒæksɪ/
slang term for ‘bottom’.
‘When we were kids my Dad always
bought us a packet of jelly babies for
‘Pull your trousers up lad! I can see
long car journeys.’
half your jacksie.’
jessie (noun) /dʒɛsi/
jammy (adjective) /dʒæmi/
An offensive term for a man who
very lucky often without doing
is seen as weak or oversensitive.
anything to deserve it.

‘I can’t believe that jammy little ‘The coach called me a jessie

brother of mine got an interview for wearing gloves during
at Facebook.’ football practice.’

jelly (noun) /dʒeli/ jim-jams (noun) /dʒɪm dʒæmz/

a wobbly sweet fruity dessert. a child-like way to say pyjamas.
‘Can we have jelly for
‘OK kids, go upstairs and put on
dessert Mummy?’
your jim-jams.’

78
Job centre (noun) /dʒɒb sentər/ Joe Bloggs (noun) /dʒəʊ blɒɡz/
the place unemployed people go the name used to represent the
to look for work or get advice about average or typical man.
employment issues.
‘The challenge for every politician
‘I’m going to pop down to is to try and understand what Joe
the Job centre later and see Bloggs wants.’
if they’ve got any workshops
on interview skills.’ johnny (noun) /dʒɒni/
slang for condom
Jobseeker’s Allowance (noun) (also rubber johnny).
/dʒɒbsiːkəz əlaʊəns/
the money the government give ‘I always get so embarrassed
people in search of work. buying johnnies at the chemists.’

‘Half of the people I went to school jolly (adverb) /dʒɒli/

with are on Jobseeker’s Allowance.’ a slightly old-fashioned
way to say ‘very’.
jock (noun) /dʒɒk/
a derogatory slang term for ‘Samantha, that’s a jolly nice coat
someone from Scotland. you are wearing. Where did you
get it from?’
‘The BBC were criticised heavily for
using the word jock in one of their jolly good (phrase) /dʒɒli ɡʊd/
news articles.’ old-fashioned way to express
approval or pleasure.

JOLLY
GOOD
79
A) ‘Sebastian and Farhana can come jumped-up (adjective)
to my graduation, Mum.’ /dʒʌmpt ʌp/ an informal way to
B) ‘Oh, jolly good!’ describe someone who believes
they are more important than
jolly well (adverbial phrase) they actually are. Used mostly
/dʒɒli wel/ in a work context.
old-fashioned phrase used for
‘Dan is such a jumped-up idiot. Why
emphasis particularly when you
does he try to give me orders when
are annoyed or angry. we do the same job?’
‘I should jolly well hope you are jumper (noun) /dʒʌmpər/
sorry after what you did.’ a knitted garment worn on the top
half of your body usually on top of
joy (noun) /dʒɔɪ/
a t-shirt.
success or help usually used in the
negative. Used in questions and
negatives. ‘I’m going to take a jumper to the
picnic just in case it gets a bit cold
‘Did you have any joy finding that this afternoon.’
dress you were looking for?’
junior school (noun) /dʒuːniə skuːl/
jumble sale (noun) /dʒʌmbəl seɪl/ school for children between the age
a sale (usually for a good of 7-11 (also ‘the juniors’).
cause/charity) in which people
sell different types of second- ‘Once you finish infant school you
hand items. go on to junior school.’
‘My daughter’s school had
a jumble sale to help
support Oxfam.’

80
 K.
kecks (noun) /keks/
slang word for trousers
or underwear.

‘Do you like my new kecks? I got

them from Zara.’

keen (adjective) /kiːn/

very interested in something.

‘My dad’s a really keen gardener ken (adjective) /ken/

so for his birthday I always get him a word used in Scotland
something related to gardening.’ to mean ‘know’.

keen as mustard (phrase) ‘I dunnae ken what you are talking

very enthusiastic. about.’

‘The class were keen as mustard kerb-crawling (noun) /kɜːb krɔːlɪŋ/

to go on their geography field trip the activity of driving around the
with Mr Stone.’ streets trying to pick up
prostitutes.
keep your hair on! (phrase)
/kiːp jɔːr heər ɒn/ ‘The police are trying to reduce
used to tell someone to calm kerb-crawling along the Seven
down and not get so angry. Sisters Road.’

A) ‘Jenny I can’t believe you didn’t

pay our electricity bill!’ kerfuffle (noun) /kəfʌfəl/
B) ‘Keep your hair on! I’ll do it a big fuss, commotion or
tomorrow morning.’ excitement about something.

81
‘There was a bit of a kerfuffle as ‘Don’t make any noise, grandad’s
passengers tried to get on the train.’ having his afternoon kip.’

khazi (noun) /kɑːzi/ knackered (adjective) /nækəd/

old fashioned word for toilet slang word meaning very tired.
(also karzi / karzy).
‘The kids were absolutely knackered
‘I’m just popping to the khazi.’ after our day trip to Brighton.’

kick off (phrasal verb) /kɪk ɒf/ knackers (noun) /nækəz/

slang term for testicles.
suddenly become angry and start
fighting or arguing.
‘The ball hit my knackers and I had
to sit out of the match for
‘I think it’s going to kick off between 10 minutes.’
the Leeds and Millwall fans.’
knacker’s yard (phrase) /nækəz
kick something into touch (phrase)
jɑːd/
decide not to deal with a problem
a place we say things go when they
immediately.
are too old to be useful anymore.
‘The government has kicked plans ‘I think your car is ready for the
to raise taxes into touch as they knacker’s yard mate!’
seek a general election first.’

kick your heels (phrase) /kɪk jər hiːlz/

TOM’S TIPS
forced to waste time waiting for The phrase ‘knees up’ comes
something or someone. from a popular song from the
early 20th century ‘Knees up
‘I’ve been kicking my heels since 10 Mother Brown.
o’clock waiting for my Dad to pick
me up. He’s an hour late.’
knees-up (noun) /niːz ʌp/
kickabout (noun) /kɪkəbaʊt/ slang for party.
an informal game of football played
just for fun. ‘After the wedding, we all had a
knees-up at our house.’
‘Shall we take the kids to the park
and have a kickabout?’ knickers (noun) /nɪkəz/
a term for female underwear.
kip (verb/noun) /kɪp/
sleep. ‘I’m just popping to Primark
to buy some new knickers.’

82
knighthood (noun) /naɪthʊd/ couldn’t leave my bed!’
a British rank awarded by The
Queen for exceptional service to knock-off (noun) /nɒk ɒf/
Britain. It is given to men who can a copy or imitation.
then take the title ‘Sir’. ‘All the football shirts at this market
are knock-offs.’
‘Knighthoods have been awarded
to several politicians this year.’ knocking shop (noun) /nɒkɪŋ ʃɒp/
a slang term for a brothel.
knob (noun) /nɒb/
a slang term for a penis. It is also ‘There are quite a few knocking
used as an insult for someone (also shops right next to where I go to
knob-head). college.’

‘His pants ripped and he know your onions (phrase) /nəʊ jər
accidentally showed everyone ʌnjənz/
his knob.’ have a good knowledge of a
particular subject.
knockers (noun) /nɒkəz/
slang word for female breasts. ‘When it comes to world geography
Sally really knows her onions.’
‘I haven’t heard anyone call breasts
‘knockers’ since the days of Page 3.’ the knowledge (noun) /ðə nɒlɪdʒ/
the training course a London black
knock/hit someone for six (phrase) cab driver has to take before they
an informal phrase meaning get a licence. It consists of 25,000
someone is really shocked or streets within a six-mile radius of
overcome by something e.g. bad Charing Cross.
news or an illness.
‘It takes 2 years to study for
‘That virus really hit me for six. I the Knowledge.’

KEEP YOUR
HAIR ON
83
 L.
la’ (noun) /lɑː/
abbreviation of lad used instead of
mate (used mainly in Liverpool).

‘Alright la’, fancy a trip

to Blackpool tomorrow?’

Labour (noun) /leɪbər/

the British Labour Party.

‘My family have been voting

Labour for generations.’ dominated topics such as sport, male
fashion, semi-naked women etc.
lad (noun) /læd/
a boy/young man. ‘My favourite lad mag when I was
growing up was called Loaded.’
‘Alex Turner is a local lad. He was
born here in Sheffield.’ laddie (noun) /lædi/
a Scottish form of address for a male.
lad (noun) /læd/
a man who behaves in a way that’s ‘Come here then laddie and let’s
typical of young men e.g. gets measure you up for a kilt.’
drunk, chats up girls, fights etc.
laddish (adjective) /lædɪʃ/
‘Declan used to be a bit of a lad behaving in a boisterous, loud,
before he got married and settled sometimes rude way.
down.’
‘Alex and Julio are lovely guys but
lad mag (noun) /læd mæɡ/ when they get together they can
a magazine that focuses on male- be a bit laddish.’

84
ladette (noun) /lædet/ lashings (noun) /læʃɪŋz/
a slang word for a female that acts a slightly old-fashioned way to
boisterously and drinks a lot. say ‘lots of’ mostly used for food
and drink.
‘This town turns into a place full
‘I love my mum’s apple crumble
of lads and ladettes on a Saturday
with lashings of home-made
night.’
custard.’
ladies (noun) /leɪdiz/
lass (noun) /læs/ a term used
euphemism for female toilet.
mostly in the north of England and
Scotland for a girl/young woman
‘I’m just going to pop to the ladies
(also lassie).
before we leave.’
‘Did you hear Mary and Jeremy have
the lads (noun) /ðə lædz/
had a wee lass? They are going to
used to refer to a group of friends.
name her Olive.’
‘Me and the lads are going to Lisbon
last orders (noun) /lɑːst ɔːdəz/
for a long weekend.’
in British pubs the bar person
lager lout (noun) /lɑːɡə laʊt/ will shout ‘last orders’ which is an
a man who gets drunk on beer indication that the pub will close
and acts violently. soon and that you have a few
minutes (usually 15) to buy one
‘After midnight the town centre is more round of drinks.
just full of lager louts.’
‘That’s last orders everyone, last
lairy (adjective) /leəri/
noisy and aggressive in orders at the bar!’
an unpleasant way, usually
after drinking. laugh (noun) /lɑːf/
informal word that means
‘There were these two guys in a source of fun.
the pub getting quite lairy so we
decided to leave.’ ‘Reggie is a laugh, isn’t he? We
should invite him to dinner again.’
lamp (verb) /læmp/
to hit someone or something.
laugh like a drain (phrase) /lɑːf laɪk
‘This random geezer got into a ə dreɪn/
fight with my mate Charlie and laugh a lot.
lamped him.’
‘The guy next to me at work
laughs like a drain, it is starting
to get a bit annoying.’

85
 LOVELY
JUBBLY
laughing gear (noun) /lɑːfɪŋ ɡɪər/ lefty (non) /lefti/
slang term for the mouth. someone who supports left-wing
politics (also leftie).
‘Get your laughing gear around
this beer and let’s celebrate your ‘My dad thinks I’m a complete lefty
birthday in style!’ but I actually voted Conservative in
the last election.’
lay-by (noun) /leɪ baɪ/
a small area beside a road in leg it (phrase) /leɡ ɪt/ run away from
which vehicles can pull into and something as quickly as possible.
stop for a short time so that they
don’t disrupt traffic. ‘Franco legged it home from
school so he could say goodbye
‘Why don’t we pull into a lay-by and to his grandad who was flying back
check the map before continuing?’ to Italy.’

leave it out (phrase) let (verb) /let/

a phrase used to tell someone to rent a room or building.
stop doing something e.g. taking
the piss/nagging. ‘Have you seen how many great
holiday homes there are to let in
A) ‘Come on son, when are you Whitstable?’
going to get a good job?’
‘B) Dad leave it out! I’ll get one
as soon as the summer is over.’
86
Liberal Democrats (noun) /lɪbərəl ‘Have you noticed that Kwame
deməkræts/ never takes the lift back to our
a British political party office, he always walks up the stairs.’
(also Lib Dems).
li-lo (noun) /laɪləʊ/ (trademark)
‘I voted for the Liberal Democrats in
this is a plastic mattress you fill
the last general election.’
with air and use to float on water.
lido (noun) /liːdəʊ/
an outdoor swimming pool. ‘Let’s blow up our li-los and go float
in the sea before lunch.’
‘Every Friday evening during the
summer I try and do a few laps at like a headless chicken (phrase)
Brockwell Lido.’ someone who has lost their
composure, self-control and ability
lie down (noun) /laɪ daʊn/ to think sensibly.
have a short rest usually
horizontally on a sofa or bed. ‘After Arsenal went 4-0 down
the players just ran around like
‘Do you want to have a quick lie headless chickens.’
down before we go out for dinner?’
like the clappers (phrase)
lie-in (noun) /laɪ ɪn/ very fast.
the act of staying in bed
longer than is usual. ‘When Florence wants to, she
can run like the clappers.’
‘I get up so early during the
week so it’s always a treat to lippy (adjective) /lɪpi/
have a lie-in on Saturdays.’ a shortened form of lipstick.
life peer (noun) /laɪf pɪər/ ‘Sweetie, can I borrow your lippy?’
a position in the House of Lords
and the title of Lord for people who lippy (adjective) /lɪpi/
have done great things in their if you are lippy, you speak to
career. The title cannot be inherited someone in a disrespectful way.
by their children.
‘The kids in my class are so lippy to
‘It is a great honour to become the teacher, I’m shocked!’
a life peer.’
listed building/structure (noun)
lift (noun) /lɪft/ /lɪstɪd bɪldɪŋ/
a machine that takes people up and
a building that is deemed significant
down in buildings between
for historical/architectural reasons
floors (elevator in American English).

87
and cannot be changed ‘Growing up, my Mum always used
or knocked down. to have lodgers live with us.’

‘I didn’t know that the crossing lollipop lady/man (noun) /lɒlipɒp

on Abbey Road where the leɪdi/
Beatles took their famous a person whose job it is to help
children cross the street usually next
photo is a listed structure.’ to a school. They usually wear high-
visibility jackets and hold stop signs.
local (noun) /ləʊkəl/
the pub you visit the most that is ‘My gran was a lollipop lady for
near your home. Because pub 40 years.’
culture is very important in British
life, traditionally everyone would Londoner (noun) /lʌndənər/
have a ‘local’ they always drank in. someone from London.

TOM’S TIPS
There have been many great songs about London like
‘London Calling’ by The Clash and ‘Hometown Glory’ by
Adele but none of them have the old-school charm of
music hall classic ‘Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner’.
Take a walk along the South Bank whistling this tune
and you’ll feel like a local in no time.

‘Come round to my house for some ‘I moved to London 3 years ago and
dinner and then we can pop down I’ve barely met any Londoners.’
to my local for a couple of pints’
loo (noun) /luː/
loch (noun) /lox/ informal word for toilet.
a Scottish word for lake.
‘Kids, make sure you go to the loo
‘We went to Loch Lomond last year before we leave the house.’
for a few days.’
lorry (noun) /lɒri/
lodger (noun) /lɒdʒər/ a large vehicle used to transport
someone who rents a room in a heavy items/goods.
house where the owner is living.
‘My uncle was a lorry driver until

88
very recently but now he’s an It’s used to express happiness or
Uber driver.’ approval.

lose the plot (phrase) /luːz ðə plɒt/ A) ‘OK, I’ve ordered the pizzas. They
if you lose the plot you are no should be here in 20 minutes’.
longer able to understand a B) ‘Lovely jubbly.’
situation and deal with it.
lucky dip (noun) /lʌki dɪp/
‘After his wife left him Fergus a game in which participants select
completely lost the plot for a while.’
a prize from a container of prizes all
lounge (noun) /laʊndʒ/ concealed from view.
another word for sitting room.
‘There’s always a lucky dip at the
‘Let’s go into the lounge and open staff Christmas party.’
the presents there.’
lughole (noun) /lʌɡhəʊl/
love (noun) /lʌv/
humorous slang term for an ear.
an affectionate term for someone
(also luv).
‘I think you kids need to clean your
‘Alright love, how was your day?’ lugholes because you didn’t hear a
word I just said, did you?
love bite (noun) /lʌv baɪt/
a red mark on the skin of lurgy (noun) /lɜːɡi/
someone made by someone else
an unspecific illness that isn’t very
sucking with their lips on the skin.
serious but is easy to catch.
‘The most embarrassing moment ‘Little Freddy has caught the lurgy
of my life was when my Grandfather from one of the kids at nursery.’
asked me why I had a love bite
on my neck in front of the lush (adjective) /lʌʃ/
whole family.’ a slang word meaning very
impressive or desirable. Mainly used
lovely (adjective) /lʌvli/ in the West Country (also ‘gert lush’).
enjoyable or pleasing.
‘Wow! That birthday cake
‘We had such a lovely weekend in looks lush.’
Cornwall. I can’t wait to go back.’

lovely jubbly (phrase) /lʌvli dʒʌbli/

an expression made famous in a TV
show called ‘Only Fools and Horses’.

89
 M.
M1 (noun) /em wʌn/
the main motorway in England
connecting London to the north
of England or, if you prefer, the
north of England to London.

‘Let’s take the M1 north until

junction 25.’
‘I’m absolutely made up your
Mackem (noun) /mækəm/ Auntie Tess can come to your
someone from Sunderland. wedding in June.’

‘Mackems and Geordies have maisonette (noun) /meɪzənet/

a big footballing rivalry.’ a small flat with two floors that is
part of a larger block of flats but
mad (adjective) /mæd/ has its own entrance.
crazy.
‘I grew up in a maisonette just
‘You are going out without an a street away from the old West
umbrella when it’s pouring down Ham stadium.’
with rain. Are you mad?’
mam (noun) /mæm/
mad for it (phrase) /mæd /fər ɪt/ a variation of Mum used in the north
a phrase coined in Manchester to of England.
mean you are full of enthusiasm to
do something. ‘My mam is set to retire this year
after working 26 years at the local
‘Let’s go out lads, I’m mad for it!’ primary school.’

made up (adjective) /meɪd ʌp/ Mancunian (noun) /mæŋkjuːniən/

happy. someone from Manchester
(also Manc).

90
‘My ex-boyfriend was a Mancunian mate (noun) /meɪt/
and supported Manchester City.’ informal word for friend.

manor (noun) /mænər/ ‘My parents have let me invite all of

my mates round to our house for
slang word meaning area/
the England game.’
neighbourhood.
mates’ rates (noun) /meɪts reɪtz/
‘There aren’t many nice shops or preferential price/rate because you
restaurants in my manor.’ are friends with someone.

mardy (adjective) /mɑːdi/ ‘Why don’t you come live in

moody/sulky mainly used in my spare room and I’ll give you
northern England. mates’ rates?’

‘My brother always gets really MBE (noun) /em biː iː/
mardy if his football team loses.’ Member of the Order of the
British Empire. It is a British
marmite (adjective) /mɑːmaɪt/ honour given by the Queen
if something is marmite, people for exceptional service and
either love it or hate it. contributions to Britain.

‘That new character in EastEnders ‘Shahid Khan was given an MBE for
is totally marmite. Half my friends services to his local community.’
can’t stand him and the other half
adore him.’
meat and two veg (euphemism)
mash (noun) /mæʃ/ /miːt ən tuː vedʒ/
short form of mashed potato. a man’s private parts.

‘I’ll have pie and mash, please.’ ‘Have you ever had a ball kicked into

TOM’S TIPS
Marmite is Britain’s most divisive food. You either love it
or you hate it! I really recommend trying it at least once
in your life. There’s also a snack called ‘twiglets’ which
has a very similar flavour. In Australia they have their own
version called ‘Vegemite’

91
your meat and two veg? It’s bloody MI6 (noun) /em aɪ sɪks/
painful!’ Formally known as the Secret
Intelligence Service, MI6 is
melt (noun) /melt/ responsible for foreign
a slang term for someone that acts intelligence gathering to help
in a pathetic wimpy way in the protect the United Kingdom’s
pursuit of a girl/boy. national security.

‘Seamus has got no chance with ‘The MI6 headquarters is that

Laura. He’s too much of a melt.’ impressive building by the river at
Vauxhall station.’
mental (adjective) /mentəl/
slang term for someone insane milk float (noun) /mɪlk fləʊt/
or crazy. a vehicle that would deliver milk to
people’s houses. It’s now
‘Have you gone absolutely mental? become a somewhat old
Why would you think we can afford fashioned system and the
to go on a yoga retreat when we majority of people get their milk
can hardly pay our rent?’ from the supermarket.

Metropolitan Police (noun) ‘I remember hearing the milk float

/metrəpɒlɪtən pəliːs/ coming up our road every
London’s police force (also ‘The morning before 6 o’clock.’
Met’).
minger (noun) /mɪŋər/
‘The Metropolitan Police are derogatory term for someone ugly.
responsible for policing 32
London boroughs.’ ‘There’s no way I’d go on a date
with him, he’s an absolute minger.’
MI5 (noun) /em aɪ faɪv/
the United Kingdom’s domestic minging (adjective) /mɪŋɪŋ/
security service responsible for a person who is ugly or
protecting British political and something that is smelly and
economic interests as well as unpleasant.
counter-terrorism and espionage
within the UK. ‘Your shoes are minging. Please give
them a good clean before bringing
‘I’d love to apply for a job at MI5 but them into the house.’
I don’t think I’ve got the
necessary skills.’ mint (noun) /mɪnt/
slang term for good or excellent.

‘Your new speakers are mint, mate.

Where did you get them from?’
92
minted (adjective) /mɪntɪd/ Morris dancing (noun) /mɒrɪs
very wealthy. dɑːnsɪŋ/
a traditional English folk dance by a
‘I didn’t realise just how minted group of people dressed in a special
Alison’s parents are!’ costume usually with bells attached.

misery guts (noun) /mɪzəri ɡʌts/ ‘If you visit Broadstairs Folk Week
someone who is quite negative, you’ll see lots of Morris dancing.’
miserable and likes to complain.
motorway (noun) /məʊtəweɪ/
‘I love spending time with Katie, but a road with several lanes on which
her husband Noel can be a bit of a
cars can drive at high speed. In
misery guts.’
Britain, they are named M and then
a number e.g. M25.
mockney (noun) /mɒkni/
when someone affects the
pronunciation features of cockney ‘I think we have to take the M6 to
even though they are not a get to Manchester.’
Cockney. They might do this to fit
into a social situation or appear move the goalposts (phrase)
‘cool’. It is usually done by someone to change the rules/requirements
from the upper-middle classes while someone is trying to do
trying to be seen as one of the something.
common people.
‘Our marketing team had come up
‘People often accuse Jamie Oliver with a great strategy for the year,
of being a mockney.’ but then the CEO changed her
mind and moved the goalposts,
money for old rope (phrase) so now we need to rethink the
/mʌni fɔːr əʊld rəʊp/ whole thing.’
receive money for doing
something you consider easy. MP (noun) /em piː/
Member of Parliament. A person
‘Honestly tutoring maths to primary who has been elected to become
school kids is money for old rope.’ a politician and represent their
constituency.
monkey (noun) /mʌŋki/
London slang for £500.
‘A large number of Conservative
MPs voted against the government.’
‘I can’t believe that car only costs
a monkey!’
muck about/around (phrasal verb)
/mʌk əˈbaʊt/
waste time and behave in
a silly way.
93
‘This class is the hardest to teach. ‘I always loved mufti day so I could
All they want to do is muck about!’ go to school wearing my favourite
purple dress.’
muck in (verb) /mʌk ɪn/
share tasks that need to be done. mug (noun) /mʌɡ/
insulting word to describe
‘If everyone mucks in with the someone as a fool or idiot.
cleaning, we can all go home early.’
‘Look at that mug over there trying
muck up (phrasal verb) /mʌk ʌp/ to park his car! The man can’t drive.
make a mistake that means They should take away his driving
something is spoiled. licence.’

‘I keep mucking up this Mozart mug someone off (phrasal verb)

piece I’m learning for the school /mʌɡ ɒf/
concert next week. It’s so make someone look an idiot or fool.
frustrating.’
‘Did you text your ex-girlfriend last
mucker (noun) /mʌkə/ night? Don’t try and mug me off, I
slang term for friend. know you did!’

‘Hello my old mucker, come in and mummy’s boy (noun) /mʌmiz bɔɪ/
I’ll make you a cuppa.’ a boy/man who is severely
influenced by his mother and
does what she says.
mufti day (noun) /mʌftiː deɪ/
a school day in which the pupils
‘Don’t you think Sammy is a bit of a
can wear whatever clothes they like
mummy’s boy? He doesn’t seem to
and are not required to wear their
have a mind of his own.’
school uniforms.

MUSN’T
GRUMBLE
94
munter (noun) /mʌntər/ mutt’s nuts (phrase) /mʌtz nʌts/
derogatory word for someone ugly. brilliant or fantastic (synonym of
dog’s bollocks).
A) ’Charli why have you only ever
gone out with munters?’ ‘This sausage roll is the mutt’s nuts.’
B) ‘Get lost!’
mutton dressed as lamb
muppet (noun) /mʌpɪt/ (derogatory phrase) /mʌtən drest
a foolish person. æz læm/
an older/middle-aged lady* who
‘I’m such a muppet! I’ve left my
laptop at home so I can’t access my wears clothes that might be
emails today.’ considered more suitable for a
younger woman. *it’s noticeable
muso (noun) /mjuːzəʊ/ that we don’t have a word for an
someone who is really into music. older man who does something
similar.
‘I’ve never met a bigger muso than
Nick. He knows his stuff, particularly ‘People think she’s mutton dressed
90s hip hop.’ as lamb, but I think she looks great.
Good on her!’
mustn’t grumble (phrase) /mʌs.ənt
ɡrʌmbəl/
a humorous phrase used to say that
life is OK and you have no cause to
complain.

A) ‘How’s life, Harry?’

B) ‘Oh you know how it is, mustn’t
grumble.’

95
 N.
nae (adverb) /neɪ/
Scottish English for no.

‘I’ll give you a lift to the station, it’s

nae bother.’

naff (adjective) /næf/

without style or class.

‘Look at that naff jacket that nan (noun) /næn/

politician is wearing! Don’t you slang for grandmother.
think he should have worn
something more formal?’ ‘My nan makes the best chocolate
cake in Manchester.’
naff off (phrasal verb) /næf ɒf/
used to say go away in a rude way. nappy (noun) /næpi/
a piece of absorbent towel that
A) ‘When are you guys going to babies wear to soak up their urine or
finally get married?’ faeces.
B) ‘Oh naff off! Why does everyone
keep asking us that?’ ‘Will you pick up some nappies while
you are in Tesco?’
nah (adverb) /næː/
a spoken variation of ‘no’ used in narked (adjective) /nɑːkt/
many British English accents. angry about something.

A) ‘Have you got a phone charger I ‘Don’t get narked but I think Marie has
can borrow?’ stolen your last piece of chocolate.’
B) ‘Nah mate, sorry.’

96
narky (adjective) /nɑːki/ ‘The government has just raised the
easily annoyed. National Living Wage by 5%.’

‘There’s no need to get narky! All I National Minimum Wage (noun)

said was that I liked Pablo’s cooking /næʃənəl mɪnɪməm weɪdʒ/
more than yours because he’s a this is a statutory minimum wage
professional chef.’ given to all school leavers aged
16 and over. The amount varies
National Curriculum (noun) depending on how old you are.
/næʃənəl kərɪkjʊləm/
almost all state schools in England ‘At the moment my daughter is
and Wales follow the National only earning minimum wage but
Curriculum, which is an established hopefully she’ll get a promotion
course of study for each subject and earn a little more soon.’
between the ages of 5-16.
National Trust (noun)
‘There are plans to change the /næʃənəl trʌst/
National Curriculum next year.’ a British organisation that is
concerned with maintaining
National Grid (noun) /næʃənəl ɡrɪd/ and preserving historic buildings
the system of power lines that and natural habitats in England
connect across Britain. and Wales.

‘The National Grid was established ‘The National Trust does an amazing
to make sure the power supply job preserving historic buildings.’
around Britain was always met.’
neck (verb) /nek/
National Insurance Number (noun) to drink the entire contents
/næʃənəl ɪnʃɔːrəns nʌmbər/ of your glass in one go.
a number given to every UK citizen
to help with the administration of ‘Jess, let’s neck our drinks and
tax and social security. go to another bar.’

‘I can never remember my National neeps and tatties (noun)

Insurance Number.’ /niːpz ən tætiz/
a Scottish side dish served
National Living Wage (noun) with haggis made of swede
/næʃənəl lɪvɪŋ weɪdʒ/ and potatoes.
this is a statutory minimum wage
given to all workers 25 years old ‘You’ve always got to have neeps
and above. and tatties with haggis.’

97
new town (noun) /njuː taʊn/ Nice one! (phrase) /naɪs wʌn/
a town that is designed and built used to show approval
to create a new place for people to
live usually on land that wasn’t used A) ‘We’ve just been invited to Kaz’s
before. English examples include wedding.’
Welwyn Garden City and Milton B) ‘Nice one!’
Keynes.
nick (verb) /nɪk/
‘New towns like Milton Keynes were informal way to say steal.
built in the 1960s.’
‘When I was 12 I nicked a packet of
NHS (noun) /en eɪtʃ es/ sweets from my local corner shop.’
National Health Service. The service
in Britain that provides free medical be in (good) nick (phrase)
care to everyone living here. good condition or health.

‘The NHS was founded in 1948.’ ‘Even though my grandma is 80,

she’s still in pretty good nick.’

”
Established by the
Labour party in 1948,
the NHS was one of
the first universal
health care systems

”
in the world.

98
the nick (noun) /ðə nɪk/ ‘Northerners are much more friendly
slang for prison. than Southerners.’

‘He’s been in the nick for as long as I northern monkey (noun)

can remember.’ /nɔːðən mʌŋki/
offensive term for someone from
niggle (noun) /nɪɡəl/ the north of England.
a small pain, annoyance or worry.
‘If I’m a northern monkey mate, you
‘Harry Kane has got a little niggle in are a southern softie.’
his ankle, but he should be able to
play on Saturday.’ nosh (noun) /nɒʃ/
slang word for food.
niggle (verb) /nɪɡəl/
if something is niggling at you, ‘Do you kids want some nosh
it causes you worry, annoyance before footy?’
or pain.
nosy (noun) /nəʊzi/
‘What my boss said to me about a look around a location because
my future at the company is really you are curious to see what it is like.
niggling away at me.’
‘I’d love to have a nosy around
nip (verb) /nɪp/ Buckingham Palace and see how
go somewhere quickly and for a the Queen lives.’
short time. It can be used with lots
of different prepositions. nosy parker (noun) /nəʊzi pɑːkər/
someone who is overly interested in
‘I’m just going to nip downstairs other people’s business/affairs.
and put the kettle on. Do you want
a drink?’ ‘Why do you want to know who I
was speaking to? You are such a
nippy (adjective) /nɪpi/ nosy parker!’
chilly/cold.
not a patch on (phrase)
‘It’s really warm during the /nɒt ə pætʃ ɒn/
day, but then it gets a bit nippy not nearly as good.
in the evening, so bring a jumper
with you.’ ‘Have you tried soy milk? It’s not a
patch on oat milk.’
northerner (noun) /nɔːðənər/
someone from the north of
England.

99
not a sausage (phrase) ‘The way that newspaper secretly
/nɒt ə sɒsɪdʒ/ recorded people’s phone calls is just
humorous slightly old-fashioned not cricket!’
phrase meaning nothing.
not half (phrase) /nɒt hɑːf/
A) ‘Do you have any coins I can an informal phrase used to
borrow to feed the parking emphasise a positive statement.
meter?’
B) ‘Sorry mate, I haven’t got a ‘It wasn’t half hot in Mallorca.’
sausage.’ (meaning ‘it was very hot in
Mallorca’)
not cricket (phrase) /nɒt krɪkɪt/
old-fashioned phrase to describe ‘He doesn’t half look like his Dad.’
something that is not honest or (meaning ‘he looks a lot like his
moral. Dad’)

NOT
MY
CUP OF
TEA
100
not give a monkey’s (about ‘She’s obviously not short of a bob
something) (phrase) or two if she’s living in a two-
if you don’t give a monkey’s about bedroom flat in Mayfair.’
something, you are not worried
about it or don’t care. now then! (expression) /naʊ ðen/
a way to greet someone in some
‘I don’t give a monkey’s if you are parts of the north of England.
hungover, we have to go to this
brunch with my friends.’ ‘Now then Andy, how are you lad?’

not know your arse from your nowt (pronoun/adverb) /naʊt/

elbow (phrase) a word used in the north of
incompetent, stupid and unable England to replace ‘nothing’.
to do simple tasks.
‘I’ve got nowt in my fridge except
‘Don’t ask Frank to build your
for milk and cheese.’
wardrobe. He doesn’t know his
arse from his elbow.’
number plate (noun)
/nʌmbə pleɪt/
not my cup of tea (phrase)
/nɒt maɪ kʌp əv tiː/ the sign fixed to the front and
if something is not your cup of back of a car with letters and
tea, it isn’t something you like. numbers that denotes the car’s
registration number.
A) ‘Have you ever gone fishing,
Gabriela?’ ‘When he bought his new car he
B) ‘Yeah, I went once with my dad also got a personalised number
but to be honest it’s not really my plate with his name: B0B1.’
cup of tea.’
Number 10 (noun) /nʌmbə ten/
not on your nelly! (phrase) this refers to 10 Downing Street, the
/nɒt ɒn jɔːr neli/ official home of the Prime Minister
old fashioned phrase meaning ‘no (also No.10).
way’ or ‘absolutely not’.
‘The Prime Minister left Number 10
A) ‘Mum, can we get a big bottle early this morning in preparation for
of Fanta to share?’ the G8 summit.’
B) ‘Not on your nelly!’
numpty (noun) /nʌmpti/
not short of a few bob or two a stupid person.
(phrase) an informal phrase used
to say someone is wealthy.

101
‘You are such a numpty. Why did nutter (noun) /nʌtər/
you leave the front door unlocked?’ a crazy person.

nut (verb) /nʌt/ ‘You are a nutter if you think I’m

head-butt someone i.e. use your going to go skydiving with you.’
head to hit someone violently.
NVQ (noun) /en viː kjuː/
‘The only time I have seen a fight, abbreviation for National Vocational
I saw this super drunk guy nut this Qualification. This is a practical skill-
other man.’ focused qualification in subjects
such as auto repair and carpentry.
nutmeg (noun/verb) /nʌtmeg/
the act of playing a ball between ‘My nephew is studying an NVQ
someone’s legs while playing in plumbing.’
football.

‘Dele Alli is the king of nutmegs!’

TOM’S TIPS
In the north of England there are certain words and
phrases that you are unlikely to hear anywhere else in
the UK, e.g. ‘now then!’ as a greeting or ‘nowt’ meaning
nothing. When you are in the UK it’s useful to know the
regional variations for different words. For example in
a bakery you’d order a ‘barm cake’ in the North and a
‘bread roll’ in the South.

102
 O.
OAP (noun) /əʊ eɪ piː/
an acronym for old age pensioner.

‘My grandparents don’t like it when

I call them OAPs.’

OBE (noun) /əʊ biː iː/

Officer of the Order of the British
Empire. It is a British honour given
by the Queen for exceptional off the back of a lorry (phrase) /ɒf ðə
service and contributions to Britain. bæk əv ə lɒri/
if something is off the back of a lorry
‘British boxer Anthony Joshua was it has been acquired dishonestly and
given an OBE in 2018.’ therefore is being sold for a cheaper
price.
odds and sods (noun) /ɒdz ən endz/
miscellaneous items. ‘There’s a market in London where
everything is off the back of a lorry.’
A) ‘Have you finally unpacked and
settled into your new flat?’ off-licence (noun) /ɒf laɪsəns/
B) ‘Almost! I’ve got a few odds and a shop that sells alcohol (also offy/
sods in a box I need to unpack.’ offie).

off (adjective) /ɒf/ ‘All the off-licences in the town have

rude. closed down.’
‘I just think it’s a bit off that he didn’t off one’s trolley/rocker (phrase)
get you a Valentine’s card.’ an informal way to describe someone
as crazy.

103
‘You must be off your trolley if old bean (noun) /əʊld biːn/
you think I’m going to do your old-fashioned term of endearment.
homework for you.’
‘Good morning old bean, how are
Official Secrets Act (noun) you today?’
/əfɪʃəl siːkrəts ækt/
a law in the UK forbidding old bill (noun) /əʊld bɪl/
government workers from sharing a slang term for the Police.
secret information about the
government. ‘I’ve called the old bill so they
should be here shortly.’
‘When she joined the Ministry of
Defence she had to sign the Official old girl/boy (noun)
Secrets Act.’ /əʊld ɡɜːl/ or /bɔɪ/
a former student of a school.
Ofsted (noun) /ɒfsted/
this is the short name for the ‘They’ve invited all the old girls back
non-ministerial department of to my school for a reunion in the
the government that deals with summer.’
standards in education. All schools
in England have Ofsted inspections omnishambles (noun)
to determine if they meet the /ɒmnɪʃæmbəlz/
required standard. a situation that has been completely
mismanaged by a large number of
‘My school just had an Ofsted people or departments. This word
inspection and everyone was derives from a British TV show called
‘The Thick of it’.
on their best behaviour.’
‘Let’s be honest, Brexit has been a
oi (interjection) /ɔɪ/ complete omnishambles.’
used to get someone’s attention.
on the blink (phrase) /ɒn ðə blɪŋk/
‘Oi kids, come down here and finish not working or functioning properly
your dinner.’
‘My hot water is on the blink at the
old banger (noun) /əʊld bæŋər/ moment so I’m showering at the
an old car that has nearly stopped gym every day.’
working.
on the blob (phrase) /ɒn ðə blɒb/
‘I bought this old banger for 250 a very slang term for a woman’s
period. It can be seen as offensive.
quid 7 years ago and it’s
still working fine.’

104
 HELLO
OLD
BEAN
‘I’m on the blob until the end of ‘Our neighbours’ plans to build
the week.’ an extension on their house is just
not on!’
on the piss/razz/lash (phrase)
/ɒn ðə pɪs/ one-armed bandit (noun)
slang phrase to describe the act /wʌn ɑːmd bændɪt/
of heavy drinking. a slang term for a slot machine with
a large handle on the side you pull
‘That’s the uni rugby team over down. It’s a form of gambling.
there. They’re clearly on the lash
tonight after winning the league ‘Whenever I come to this pub Frank
earlier today.’ is always on the one-armed bandit.’

on the pull (phrase) /ɒn ðə pʊl/ one of the lads (phrase)

if you are on the pull you are /wʌn əv ðə lædz/
actively looking for someone to kiss a man (or woman) who is accepted
or have sexual relations with. as part of a group of men who
behave in a way that is seen
‘Let’s go on the pull tonight and see as masculine.
if we can have some fun.’
‘To be honest, even though I was in
be not on (phrase) /nɒt ɒn/ all the school football teams I was
not acceptable or reasonable. never really one of the lads.’

105
one-off (noun) /wʌn ɒf/ to describe something that is
if something is a one-off it is only excessive or extreme.
done once. If someone is a one-off
they are unique and special in ‘Breaking up with Vladimir because
some way. of his affair is one thing, but locking
him out of the house as well seems
‘I can babysit tonight but it’s a one- a bit OTT.’
off. I’m not great with kids.’
our kid (phrase) /ɑːr kɪd/
ono (abbreviation) a slang term for younger brother or
stands for ‘or nearest offer’ used sister mainly used in the North.
in informal adverts where people
are trying to sell something. They ‘Our kid’s going to join us for
set the price they want and write a drink later.’
‘ono’. It’s an invitation to offer an
amount you think is reasonable. It owt (pronoun) /aʊt/
is used in written English rather a word used in the north of England
than spoken English. to replace ‘anything’.

‘Bike for sale, 2 years old. £80 ono.’ ‘Do you want owt from shops?’

Open University (noun) Oxbridge (noun) /ɒksbrɪdʒ/

/əʊpən juːnɪvɜːsɪti/ a term used to refer to the
a British university in which students universities of Oxford and
study from home and submit Cambridge.
their work online/by post. It was
designed for older people who
’20% of students from this school go
had never gone to university (also
on to get places at Oxbridge.’
known as the OU).
Oz (noun) /ɒz/
‘I did a course with the OU last year
a short form of Australia.
and absolutely loved it.’
‘She grew up in Oz but moved to
OTT (adjective) /əʊ tiː tiː/
the UK when she was 8.’
it stands for ‘over the top’. It’s used

106
 P.
P45 (noun) /piː fɔːti faɪv/
the official document issued to
someone when they have stopped
working at a company.

‘Your P45 will be sent to you in the

next few weeks.’

P60 (noun) /piː sɪksti/

usually because it’s annoying you.
the end of tax year certificate
showing someone’s taxable income
‘Kids, can you pack it in! I’ve had
and deductions made by PAYE.
enough of you running around
screaming.’
‘Can you please send us a copy of
your P60 and proof of address?’ packed lunch (noun) /pækt lʌntʃ/
a meal prepared at home and taken
PA (noun) /piː eɪ/ to school, work or on an excursion.
abbreviation of personal assistant.
This is someone who helps a person ‘My mum used to make the most
of authority with their basic tasks delicious packed lunches.’
like arranging meetings etc.
page 3 (noun) /peɪdʒ θriː/
‘I worked as a PA in the city for this was a feature on the third page
many years before leaving to start of The Sun newspaper in which a
young woman posed topless. It was
my company.’
stopped in 2015.
pack it in (phrase) /pæk ɪt ɪn/ ‘I can’t quite believe page 3 still
an exclamation used to tell existed as recently as 2015.’
someone to stop doing something

107
pain in the arse/neck (phrase) ‘The music at the club last night
rude way to say something/ was pants.’
someone is very annoying.
paracetamol (noun) /pærəsiːtəmɒl/
‘This weekend’s Tube closures are a a pain-relief drug.
real pain in the arse.’
‘If your tooth still aches this
Pancake Day (noun) afternoon, take some paracetamol.’
/pænkeɪk deɪ/
(also Shrove Tuesday) a Tuesday parky (adjective) /pɑːki/
in February/March when people slang word meaning cold
traditionally eat pancakes before
a period of fasting called Lent. ‘It’s a bit parky today, I might go
Although it is a religious day it home and get my jumper.’
is widely celebrated by people
who aren’t of the Christian faith pavement (noun) /peɪvmənt/
in the UK. the area on the side of a road on
which pedestrians walk.
‘This year Pancake Day falls on my
birthday so we’re having pancakes ‘The pavements here are in such
instead of birthday cake.’ bad condition, the council really
should do something about it.’
pantomime (noun) /pæntəmaɪm/
a traditional theatrical performance PAYE (abbreviation) /piː eɪ waɪ iː/
around Christmas time. It always pay-as-you-earn tax system used in
involves a well-known story like the UK.
Robin Hood or Aladdin with lots of
topical jokes, colourful costumes, ‘I have always paid my tax with
and music (also ‘panto’). PAYE but now I’m self-employed I
have to do a tax return myself.’
‘My family always go to the
pantomime at the Hackney Empire.’ PC (noun) /piː siː/
police constable.
pants (noun) /pænts/
another word for underwear. ‘PC Robinson chased the
burglar out of the house and
‘Did you pack enough pairs of pants into the garden.’
for your trip?’
pea-souper (noun) /piː suːpər/
pants (adjective) /pænts/ an old-fashioned term for very
slang term for not very good. thick fog.

108
‘What a shame we can’t see Big Ben, petrol station (noun) /petrəl
it’s a real pea-souper today.’ steɪʃən/
the place where you can buy petrol
peaky (adjective) /piːki/ for your vehicle. There is usually a
pale and unwell. small shop too.

‘You look a bit peaky, love. Do you ‘Excuse me, do you know where the
want to have a lie-down?’ nearest petrol station is?’

go pear-shaped (phrase) /peəʃeɪpt/ PGCE (noun) /piː dʒiː siː iː/

if a plan or activity goes pear- an abbreviation of Postgraduate
shaped it goes wrong. Certificate in Education. This is the
qualification required for teachers in
‘My plans to go travelling over the mainstream education for children.
summer went pear-shaped when I
broke my leg’ ‘So many of my friends are doing
the PGCE right now.’
peckish (adjective) /pekɪʃ/
a little bit hungry. pie (verb) /paɪ/
slang term meaning to break up
‘I’m always a little peckish around 11 with someone.
o’clock in the morning.’
‘He got pied by his girlfriend via
pelican crossing (noun) /pelɪkən text message.’
krɒsɪŋ/
piece of cake (phrase) /piːs əv keɪk/
a pedestrian crossing
If something is a piece of cake it is
operated by lights.
easy to do.
‘Don’t cross there guys! Let’s walk to
‘Learning how to drive was a piece
the pelican crossing, it’s much safer.’
of cake.’
pet (noun) /pet/ piggy in the middle (phrase)
a term of endearment for someone /pɪɡi ɪn ðə mɪdəl/
most commonly heard in the north a game usually played by children
of England. in which two people throw a ball
to each other and try to make sure
‘Alright pet, how’s your a person in between them doesn’t
mum doing?’ get it.

‘One of my favourite games to play

109
with my little cousins was piggy in piss about/around (phrasal verb)
the middle.’ slang phrase to say waste time
doing unimportant things.
pillar box (noun) /pɪlə bɒks/
a large red post box in the street A) ‘Did you write your essay?’
where you put your mail B) ‘No! I’ve just been pissing around
(also post box). all day avoiding it.’

‘Where’s the nearest pillar box? I piss artist/head (noun) /pɪs ɑːtɪst/
need to post this letter.’ a rude way to describe someone
who drinks a lot of alcohol.
pillock (noun) /pɪlək/
a rude way to call someone an idiot. ‘When I was at uni I’d definitely
have classified myself as an absolute
‘Gavin is such a pillock. He left the piss artist. I went out drinking every
car lights on all night and now the night and never went to lectures.’
battery is dead.’
piss down (with rain) /pɪs daʊn/
pinch (verb) /pɪntʃ/ a slang term for heavy rain.
steal.
‘We’ll need to take an umbrella, it’s
‘Have you pinched my lighter?’ pissing it down out there.’

pint (noun) /paɪnt/ piss off (phrasal verb) /pɪs ɒf/

a measurement of alcohol (568 ml). a rude way to say ‘go away’.

‘I’ll have a pint of Guinness, please.’

PIECE
OF
CAKE
110
‘I’m sick of you moaning about ‘We all pissed ourselves when Sven
everything. Piss off and leave me slipped over on the dance floor and
alone.’ ended up flat on his face.’

piss (someone) off (phrasal verb) plaster (noun) /plɑːstər/

/pɪs ɒf/ a small sticky strip that is used to
make someone annoyed or angry. cover a small cut or wound.

‘He never texts me back. It’s really ‘When we were kids we used to
starting to piss me off.’ have plasters with Mickey Mouse
on them.’
pissed (adjective) /pɪst/
a slang word for drunk. playgroup (noun) /pleɪɡraʊnd/
a group for pre-school children
‘I’ve never seen my uncle as pissed aged 3-5 years old.
as last night.’
‘I have very fond memories of going
pissed off (adjective) /pɪst ɒf/ to playgroup.’
angry.
play up (phrasal verb) /pleɪ ʌp/
‘Haruki is really pissed off we forgot if someone plays up they behave
his birthday.’ badly. If something plays up it stops
working properly.
piss-take (noun) /pɪs teɪk/
the act of making fun of ‘The kids have been playing up all
or teasing someone. day so I’ve said they can’t have any
screen time this evening.’
‘Don’t take what I said so seriously.
It was just a piss-take.’ plonk (noun) /plɒŋk/
slang for cheap wine.
piss-up (noun) /pɪs ʌp/
a slang term for a group of ‘Shall we get a bottle of plonk to
people getting together to drink have with our meal?’
lots of alcohol.
plonk (verb) /plɒŋk/
‘Let’s have a piss-up to celebrate put something down on a surface
John’s birthday.’ carelessly or heavily.

piss yourself (laughing) (phrase) ‘Don’t just plonk your chair there
/pɪs jɔː self lɑːfɪŋ/ otherwise we won’t be able to see
to laugh a lot. the TV.’

111
plonker (noun) /plɒŋkər/ idiot. pootle (verb) /puːtəl/
move in a leisurely and relaxed way
‘I’m such a plonker! I’ve left my keys or do things that you enjoy but
at the office. I’ll have to go back and aren’t essential.
get them.’
‘I think we’re just going to pootle
PMQs (noun) /piː em kjuz/ around town for a bit before
abbreviation of Prime Minister’s heading home.’
Questions which is a session in
the House of Commons every pop (verb) /pɒp/
week when MPs can ask the Prime to go somewhere for a short time
Minister questions. and return. It is often used with a
preposition.
‘I love watching PMQs and seeing
how the Prime Minister deals with ‘I’m just going to pop out for a
tough questions.’ minute to get some fresh air.’

polling station (noun) pop (noun) /pɒp/

/pəʊlɪŋ steɪʃən/ slang term for a carbonated drink.
the place where people go to vote
in an election. ‘Would you kids like a bottle of
pop for the journey home?’
‘The nearest polling station is about
a mile away.’ poppycock (noun) /pɒpikɒk/
old fashioned way to say that
pommie (noun) /pɒmiː/ something is nonsense.
technically an Australian English
word meaning someone from the ‘This new housing bill the
United Kingdom (also pommy). government has announced is
absolute poppycock.’
‘The stadium in Sydney was packed
with pommies cheering on the porridge (noun) /pɒrɪdʒ/
England cricket team.’ old-fashioned term for a prison
sentence.
pony (noun) /pəʊni/
London slang for £25. ‘My grandad did porridge at
Wormwood Scrubs prison in
‘Can I borrow a pony to buy west London.’
Grandma a birthday present?’
posh (adjective) /pɒʃ/
classy or sophisticated.

112
‘We went to that new posh poxy (adjective) /pɒksi/
restaurant that has just opened on something of little value or
Park street.’ importance.

posho (noun) /pɒʃəʊ/ ‘Do you know what he gave me for

a posh person you find annoying. my birthday? This poxy mug and a
pair of socks.’
‘He’s friends with a bunch of poshos
from west London.’ prefect (noun) /priːfekt/
a senior pupil in secondary
postcode (noun) /pəʊst kəʊd/ school who has extra duties and
a series of letters and numbers that responsibilities.
represent a specific area of Britain.
It helps the post to be delivered to ‘I really wanted to be a prefect
the correct place. at school just so I could boss my
friends about.’
‘The postcode for their flat in Brixton
is SW2 1BE’ preggers (adjective) /preɡəz/
slang for pregnant.
postcode lottery (noun)
/pəʊst kəʊd lɒtəri/ ‘Have you heard Jenny is
the unfortunate situation in which preggers?’
people are able to get different
levels of medical treatment and premium bond (noun)
health services depending on /priːmiəm bɒnd/
which area of Britain they live. a government-run lottery. You can
buy a ticket and draws are made
‘It’s a disgrace that Jihyun can’t monthly.
get adequate health services just
because of where he lives. It’s just ‘My aunt bought me some
another example of the postcode premium bonds when I was a child.’
lottery.’
prep school (noun) /prep skuːl/
postgraduate (noun) a private school for children aged
/pəʊstɡrædʒuət/ 7-13 (short for preparatory).
someone studying for a further
qualification having received their ‘Our sons go to a prep school in
degree (also postgrad). Hampstead.’

‘The postgraduates on my course prezzie (noun) /prezi/

are mostly in their 30s with families alternative form of present.
and kids.’

113
‘We need to buy your nan a public school (noun) /pʌblɪk skuːl/
birthday prezzie.’ an elite group of British private
schools in which students pay
private school (noun) very high fees to attend. The most
/praɪvət skuːl/ a school that is not famous examples of public schools
are Eton and Harrow.
government-funded and requires
parents to pay a fee every term. ‘It’s no surprise that many of our
Prime Ministers have gone to public
‘I’d love my kids to go to private school.’
school but we simply don’t have the
money to afford it.’ pudding (noun) /pʊdɪŋ/
a sweet dish served at the end of
PTA (noun) /piː tiː eɪ/ a meal. It’s a synonym of dessert
parent-teacher association. An (short form is pud).
organisation of parents and
teachers that meet in order to think ‘What’s for pudding Dad?’
of ideas to help improve the school.
pukka (adjective) /pʌkə/
slang word meaning very good.
‘The PTA meets once a month.’
‘These pies are pukka Mrs Brown,
pub (noun) /pʌb/ short for public can I have the recipe?’
house. A building in which alcohol
is sold and consumed. pull (verb) /pʊl/
‘There are so many great pubs in succeed in having sexual relations
Manchester.’ with someone.

pub-crawl (noun) /pʌb krɔːl/ ‘Whenever Tony goes out he’s

visiting numerous pubs, one after always looking to pull.’
the other and having at least one
drink in each. pull a sickie (phrase) /pʊl ə sɪki/
to take the day off work or school
‘There’s a pub-crawl tonight at the by pretending you are ill even
university if you fancy coming?’ though you are perfectly healthy.

‘I can honestly say I’ve never pulled

a sickie in my life.’

114
Punch and Judy Show (noun) punter (noun) /pʌntər/
/pʌntʃ ən dʒuːdi ʃəʊ/ a customer/user of services or
a puppet show that is traditional someone who gambles.
British seaside entertainment for
children. ‘Theme parks are reducing their
prices to get more punters through
‘We used to go and watch Punch the door.’
and Judy every week when we
were kids.’ purple patch (phrase) /pɜːpəl pætʃ/
successful or lucky for a period of
punnet (noun) /pʌnɪt/ time (usually in sports).
a small container that holds fruit.
‘Tottenham are having a bit of
‘They are selling punnets of a purple patch right now with
strawberries for £2 in Tesco.’ 5 wins in a row.’

punt (noun) /pʌnt/ pushchair (noun) /pʊʃtʃeər/

informal word for small bet. a foldable seat on wheels to
transport babies (also buggy /bʌɡi/).
‘I’m going to take a punt on Wales
winning the World Cup.’ ‘The price of a good pushchair these
days is crazy!’

”
A ‘pony’ is just one example
of a slang term used in
British English for money.
Others include a ‘monkey’,

”
a ‘quid’ and ‘shrapnel’.

115
 Q.
QC (noun) /kjuː siː/
Queen’s Counsel. A senior barrister.

‘Her mother is a QC so she’s

decided to study law too.’

quango (noun) /kwæŋɡəʊ/

a quasi-autonomous non-
governmental UK organisation
started by the government but not
run by them.
‘There is always a massive queue
‘The British Council is a quango that to get into the Wimbledon tennis
promotes British interests around championships.’
the world.’
queue-jumping (noun)
Queen’s English (noun) /kjuː dʒʌmpɪŋ/
/kwiːnz ɪŋɡlɪʃ/ the act of someone unfairly moving
the pronunciation of the royals and ahead in a queue.
upper classes in Britain.
‘If there’s one thing I hate, it’s
‘The only time I ever hear the people queue-jumping!’
Queen’s English is when I watch
‘The Crown’ on Netflix.’ quid (noun) /kwɪd/
slang for one pound sterling.
queue (noun/verb) /kjuː/
a line of people or vehicles ‘Can I borrow a quid so I can get a
waiting for something. cup of tea?’

116
 R.
RAF (noun) /ɑːr eɪ ef/
Royal Air Force. The airforce of the
United Kingdom.

‘Our son is thinking of joining the

RAF when he leaves school.’

radge (noun/adjective) /rædʒ/

angry/wild/crazy (used in Scotland A) ‘Do you think we should host a
and the north-east of England). New Year’s Eve party this year?’
B) ‘Rather!’
‘She seems a little bit radge, did you
say anything rude to her?’ ratty (adjective) /ræti/
becoming annoyed quickly.
rah (noun) /rɑː/
a very posh person. ‘Jen’s husband gets a bit ratty when
he hasn’t eaten.’
‘There were so many rahs
at Bristol Uni.’ read (verb) /riːd/
study a subject usually at university.
rank (adjective) /ræŋk/ ‘She went to Edinburgh to read
disgusting. English and Politics.’

‘The food at that place is rank! Let’s readies (noun) /rediːz/

go somewhere else.’ slang word for cash.

rather (exclamation) ‘Have you got any readies I can use

old-fashioned way to say yes. to pay the builders?’

117
recce (noun) /reki/ ‘Mrs Bakewell is teaching reception
short for reconnaissance. The act next term.’
of gathering information about
something. reckon (verb) /rekən/
synonym of think.
‘When I worked in TV we used to do
recces for potential filming locations ‘My girlfriend reckons I should get a
all the time.’ haircut’

received pronunciation (noun) red-brick (adjective/noun) /redbrɪk/

/rɪsiːvd prənʌnsieɪʃən/ red-brick universities are British
a British English accent associated universities that were built in the
with the educated and wealthy. It industrial cities such as Liverpool
has no geographical root but it is and Birmingham around the late
commonly found in London and 19th and early 20th centuries. They
the south of England (abbreviation derive their name from the gothic
RP). architecture of the buildings.

‘In received pronunciation, it’s very ‘My teachers are really encouraging
important to pronounce every me to apply to one of the red-brick
sound as clearly as possible.’ universities to read History.’

reception (noun) /rɪsepʃən/ redundant (adjective) /rɪdʌndənt/

the first year of infant school for unemployed because your
children aged 4-5. employer no longer needs you.

A
BIT
RATTY
118
‘They’ve made 100 people ‘I lost my poppy somewhere on the
redundant this week in the Tube while rushing to meet you.’
hope of cutting costs.’
Remembrance Sunday (noun)
redundancy (noun) /rɪdʌndənsi/ /rɪmembrəns sʌndeɪ/
the situation in which someone is a day for people to commemorate
told they are no longer needed by the contribution of British and
their employer. Commonwealth soldiers in conflicts,
principally the 1st and 2nd World
‘A large number of my colleagues Wars. It’s held on the nearest
are facing redundancy after the Sunday to 11th November. It is
company announced huge losses.’ marked with a 2-minute silence at
11 o’clock.
remembrance poppy (noun)
/rɪmembrəns pɒpi/ ‘Every year on Remembrance
this is the red poppy that Sunday people lay wreaths at the
people wear in the first weeks of Cenotaph on Whitehall.’
November as a way to remember
and acknowledge the sacrifice remoaner (noun) /rɪməʊnə/
made by people in the British and derogatory term for someone
Commonwealth military who died who believed the UK should stay
for their country. in the EU.
”
If you want to sound like
a posh British person you
could use words like ‘rather’
and ‘rugger’. Other words
that are associated with
the upper classes include
‘spiffing’, ‘tally-ho’ and ‘jolly

”
good show’.

119
‘I’m sick of hearing remoaners ‘All the kids in my area aspire to be a
demand a second referendum.’ roadman, it’s so worrying.’

return (ticket) (noun) /rɪˈtɜːn tɪkɪt/ rollicking (noun) /rɒlɪkɪŋ/

a travel ticket from one place to a very strong telling off or
another and then back again. reprimand.

‘I’d like a return to St Albans please.’ ‘We got an absolute rollicking from
the Headteacher for letting off the
revise (verb) /rɪvaɪz/ school fire extinguisher.’
reread work that you have already
studied in preparation for an exam ropey (adjective) /rəʊpi/
or test. not feeling very well or not good
quality.
‘Harry’s coming round to revise for
our Maths exam.’ ‘Are you ok Marina? You look a bit
ropey.’
rib (someone) (verb) /rɪb/
tease someone. rota (noun) /rəʊtə/
a list with the order in which
‘My mates used to rib me because different people have to do a
I would always blush when I talked particular job e.g. waiters and
to girls.’ waitresses in a restaurant etc.

right (adjective) /raɪt/ ‘I’ll put July’s rota up on the wall

used in a similar way tomorrow so please make sure to
to very or really. check your schedule.’

‘You were a right little naughty boy round (noun) /raʊnd/

when you were at school.’ a set of drinks bought for a group
of people usually within a system.
ring (verb) /rɪŋ/ Each person takes it in turn to buy a
call or phone someone. round for everyone else.

‘What do you want lads? It’s my

‘Your sister rang for you but she
round.’
didn’t leave a message.’
roundabout (noun)
roadman (noun) /rəʊdmən/
/raʊndəbaʊt/
slang term for a young male a circular area where three or more
connected to drugs, violence and roads meet. A car goes around the
other anti-social behaviour. roundabout until it reaches the road
it requires.

120
‘When I was doing my driving rucksack (noun) /rʌksæk/
lessons I hated going near a bag that you wear on two
roundabouts.’ shoulders.

row (noun/verb) /raʊ/ ‘Would you like to get a new

a loud argument. rucksack before the school
term starts?’
‘My boyfriend and I broke up
because we found ourselves rowing rugger (noun) /rʌɡər/
about almost anything.’ slang term for rugby.

Royal Mail (noun) /rɔɪəl meɪl/ ‘I think the BBC are showing the
a postal service in the United rugger this afternoon.’
Kingdom.
rumpy-pumpy (noun)
‘I sent your birthday card via Royal /rʌmpi pʌmpi/
Mail.’ a humorous way to describe sexual
intercourse.
rubbish (adjective) /rʌbɪʃ/
slang term for not very good. ‘The film isn’t really suitable for kids.
There’s a bit of rumpy-pumpy at the
‘This book is absolutely rubbish, beginning.’
don’t waste your time reading it.’

YOU LOOK
A BIT
ROPEY
121
 S.
sack off (phrasal verb) /sæk ɒf/

if you sack something off you avoid

or stop doing it.

‘I was going to go for drinks after

work but I’m quite tired so I’ll
probably sack it off.’

saddo (noun) /sædəʊ/

an insulting term for a socially
inadequate person similar to a loser. at work, I’m going to get myself into
trouble one of these days.’
A) ’Only saddos play computer
games.’ sarnie (noun) /sɑːni/
B) ‘What are you talking about? It’s another way to say sandwich.
super cool these days.’
‘I really fancy a sarnie for lunch.’
samey (adjective) /seɪmi/
boring because there is no variety. SAS (noun) /es eɪ es/
abbreviation for ‘Special Air Service’
‘I really don’t like blues music, it’s all which is an elite military force in the
so samey.’ British army that conduct highly
dangerous secretive missions.
sarky (adjective) /sɑːki/
another way to say sarcastic. ‘I signed up to an SAS training camp
and didn’t survive the first day.’
‘I can’t help making sarky comments

122
scally (noun) /skɒliː/ Scouse (noun) /skaʊs/
an offensive slang word for a young accent and dialect found in and
boisterous, often uneducated, boy/ around the Liverpool area.
girl.
‘My flatmate speaks with a thick
‘There are a bunch of scallies Scouse accent’
hanging outside our house
smoking, drinking and causing a lot Scouser (noun) /skaʊsər/
of noise.’ someone from Liverpool.

scarper (verb) /skɑːpər/ ‘Do you know if all the Beatles were
leave or escape very quickly. Scousers?’

‘By the time the police had got Scots (adjective) /skɒts/
there the thieves had scarpered.’ from Scotland (people or things)
(also Scottish).
school run (noun) /skuːl rʌn/
the journey parents make when ‘She has a lovely Scots accent.’
they take their children to school
and bring them back home. scran (noun) /skræn/
food (used mostly in northern
‘I’m going to leave home early dialects).
tomorrow so I can avoid the traffic
from the school run.’
”
The term ‘Scouse’
comes from
‘lobscouse’ which
was a traditional
lamb/beef stew
served to sailors

”
in Liverpool.

123
‘Do you want some scran before send someone to Coventry (phrase)
you go out?’ a slightly old-fashioned phrase. If
you send someone to Coventry you
scrap (verb/noun) /skræp/ refuse to speak to them as a way of
fight. punishing them.

‘When I was at school we used to ‘Has anyone ever sent you to

have scraps all the time with the Coventry for some reason?’
school down the road.’
shadow cabinet (noun)
scrote (noun) /skrəʊt/ /ʃædəʊ kæbɪnət/
derogatory term for someone members of the opposition party
deemed a low-life or unpleasant. who hold ministerial positions to
Mainly used in the north of England. mirror the government’s cabinet of
ministers.
‘Mind out for the little scrotes
hanging around the chippy, they ‘Another shadow cabinet minister
are causing a bit of trouble.’ has just resigned.’

scruff (noun) /skrʌf/ shag (verb) /ʃæɡ/

someone who is untidy. to have sex.

‘Sam you look like an absolute scruff ‘How old were you when you first
in that suit. At least iron your shirt.’ shagged someone?’

Secretary of State (noun) shandy (noun) /ʃændi/

/sekrətəri əv steɪt/ an alcoholic drink of beer mixed
a politician in charge of a particular with lemonade.
government department e.g.
Secretary of State for Health. ‘Barman, can I have a pint of cider
and half a shandy, please?’
‘They’ve just announced the new
Secretary of State for Education.’ shambles (noun) /ʃæmbəlz/
if something is a shambles it is badly
semi-detached house (noun)
organised and confusing.
/semi dɪtætʃt haʊs/
a house which is connected to
‘The office party was an absolute
another house on just one side.
shambles! There wasn’t any food,
the organisers hadn’t booked a DJ
‘In the suburbs of London, you’ll see
and half the people there didn’t
lots of semi-detached houses.’
even work for our company.’

124
 shell-out (verb) /ʃel aʊt/
spend a lot of money on something.
TOM’S TIPS
If you are ever struggling ‘We had to shell-out a ton on
to go to sleep, turn on the alcohol for the staff Christmas party.’
BBC’s shipping forecast. The
soothing monotone voice will shipping forecast (noun)
help you drift off into a sweet /ʃɪpɪŋ fɔːkɑːst/
slumber within minutes. a radio programme broadcast on
the BBC that describes the weather
at sea around the United Kingdom.
shambolic (adjective) /ʃæmbɒlɪk/
‘There’s something really reassuring
completely and utterly chaotic and
about listening to the shipping
disorganised.
forecast when you are in bed at
night.’
‘I loved working for my previous
company but it was completely
shire (noun) /ʃaɪər/
shambolic in the way that it
(also the shires) a county in
was run.’
England/Wales e.g. Yorkshire,
Leicestershire etc.
sharpish (adverb) /ʃɑːpɪʃ/
quickly.
‘You should definitely try and
explore some of the shires while
‘We need to leave sharpish
you are in England.’
otherwise we’ll miss our train.’
shirty (adjective) /ʃɜːti/
shattered (adjective) /ʃætəd/
very informal word for bad-
slang for very tired.
tempered.
‘The kids are shattered, let’s put
‘There’s no need to get shirty, I’ll do
them straight to bed.’
the dishes when I get back.’
shedload (noun) /ʃedləʊd/
shit stirrer (noun) /ʃɪt stɜːrər/
a slang term for a large amount of
an offensive term for someone that
something.
causes trouble deliberately, usually
by passing on information that is
‘Don’t bring any beer, I’ve got a
secret or untrue.
shedload in my fridge leftover from
our last party.’
‘I never said I didn’t like my new
flatmates! Don’t be such a shit
stirrer.’

125
shite (noun) /ʃaɪt/ not attend school or work without a
an offensive word used as an good reason.
alternative to ‘shit’.
‘We used to skive off from school all
‘It looks like the weather is going to the time.’
be shite for the next few days.’
silly billy (noun) /sɪli bɪli/
shout (noun) /ʃaʊt/ someone that behaves in a silly way.
an informal word meaning
someone’s turn to buy a round of ‘Oh Rafael, you are a silly billy. If you
drinks or dinner. keep splashing in the bath, you’ll
get water everywhere.’
‘What do you guys want? It’s my
shout!’ simples (exclamation) /sɪmpəlz/
used after a statement that has
short-arse (noun) /ʃɔːt ɑːs/ given the solution to a problem. It
a rude word to call someone short. comes from a TV advert featuring a
Russian meerkat.
A) ’How are you so tall? Are your
‘Mate, if you want to lose weight,
parents tall as well?’
you’ve got to go to the gym more
B) ‘No, my Dad is a short-arse.’
often. Simples!’
shrapnel (noun) /ʃræpnəl/
slag (noun)
slang for loose change i.e. coins.
really offensive term for
someone (often female) who
‘Have you got any shrapnel I can is perceived to have a lot of sex
borrow to put in the parking meter?’ with multiple partners.
skew-whiff (adjective) /skjuː wɪf/ ‘Calling anyone a slag is an
not straight. extremely offensive thing to do.’
‘That painting is hanging a little
slag (someone) off (phrasal verb)
skew-whiff, don’t you think?’
/slæg ɒf/
criticise someone in a mean way.
skint (adjective) /skɪnt/
broke/have no money.
‘Why does Finn always slag off his
‘When is payday? I’m absolutely friends behind their back?’
skint!’
slanging match (noun)
skive (off from something) (verb) / /slæŋɪŋ mætʃ/
skaɪv ɒf/ an argument between two sides in
which they exchange angry insults.

126
‘My sister and I had a huge slanging Sloane Square and the people who
match on Saturday night after she’d live there are generally extremely
said my boyfriend wasn’t invited to wealthy (also Sloanie).
her birthday party.’
‘If you’ve ever seen the TV
slap and tickle (noun) programme ‘Made In Chelsea’
/slæp ən tɪkəl/ you’ll know exactly what a
humorous slightly old-fashioned Sloane Ranger is.’
term for kissing, cuddling and other
sexual activity. small print (noun) /smɔːl prɪnt/
the text in formal agreements
‘We went back to her place after the written in very small font. It usually
club and had a bit of slap and tickle.’ holds important information that
they hope won’t be noticed.
slapper (noun) /slæpər/
very offensive term for a woman ‘You have to check the small print
who has lots of sex. before signing a contract.’

‘I can’t believe she called you a snaffle (verb) /snæfəl/

slapper! That’s awful.’ quickly take something
without asking, usually
slash (noun) /slæʃ/ something that isn’t yours.
slang term meaning go to
the toilet to urinate. ‘Who has snaffled all the biscuits?’

‘Thiago’s just having a slash and snap (noun) /snæp/

then we can go.’ informal word for a
photograph usually taken
slip road (noun) /slɪp rəʊd/ without professional equipment.
a road that allows drivers to get on
or off a motorway. ‘Hey, do you want to see my holiday
snaps from my trip to Thailand?’
‘Remember to slow down when you
turn off at the slip road.’ snog (verb) /snɒɡ/
slang for kiss.
Sloane Ranger (noun)
/sləʊn reɪndʒər/ ‘How old were you when you first
a derogatory term used to describe snogged a boy?’
the stereotypical young upper-
class female from west London. SNP (noun) /es en piː/
There is an area in Chelsea called an abbreviation for the Scottish

127
National Party which is a political ‘I’ve hired a solicitor to help me
party in Scotland. with the selling of my house.’

‘The SNP have done better than soppy (adjective) /sɒpi/

expected in the local elections.’ overly emotional and
romantic in a way that
so-and-so (noun) /səʊ ən səʊ/ seems silly or embarrassing.
a person who is considered to have
a negative characteristic. ‘Pepe wrote me a really soppy note
saying how much he missed me.’
‘My neighbour is a nosy old
so-and-so.’ sorted (adjective) /sɔːtɪd/
organised or arranged.
sod (noun) /sɒd/
a rude term to call someone. ‘I’ve sorted us two tickets to see Ed
Sheeran at Wembley!’
‘You’ve deleted all the data from my
hard drive, you stupid sod!’ sorted (exclamation) /sɔːtɪd/
a slang term used mainly in the
sod it/that (exclamation) /sɒd ɪt/ north of England to mean OK or
slightly rude way to show anger great.
or annoyance at something or
someone. A) ‘You’ll never guess what, I just
passed my driving theory test!’
‘Ah sod it! Let’s give up trying to B) ‘Sorted, mate!’
build this wardrobe for today and
try again tomorrow when Jessica sound (adjective) /saʊnd/
gets here to help.’ good or nice.

sod off (phrasal verb) /sɒd ɒf/ ‘My new colleagues seem really
a rude way to tell someone to go sound.’
away.
southern softie (noun)
‘Sod off and leave me alone! I’ve /sʌðən sɒfti/
had enough of you moaning for an offensive term for someone from
one day.’ the south of England.

solicitor (noun) /səlɪsɪtər/ ‘Mate, it’s not cold at all! You are
a British lawyer who gives such a southern softie!’
legal advice.

128
southerner (noun) /sʌðənər/ ‘Oh George, thank you for hosting
someone from the south of last night’s party. It was a spiffing
England. occasion.’

‘Some people say you are not a true splash out (on something) (phrasal
southerner unless you were born verb) /splæʃ aʊt/
south of Watford!’ spend a lot of money on something.

spag bol (noun) /spæɡ bɒl/ ‘Let’s splash out for our wedding
informal term for spaghetti anniversary and go to a fancy
bolognese. restaurant.’

‘Do you kids want spag bol for spod (noun) /spɒd/
dinner?’ a geeky person who studies a lot
and isn’t fashionable.
spanner in the works (phrase)
/spænər ɪn ðə wɜrks/ ‘My data science class is full of spods
something that stops or spoils a like me, I love it!’
plan or process.
spots (noun) /spɒts/
‘The rain has put a real spanner raised red marks on the skin
in the works for our picnic this (commonly found on teenagers).
afternoon.’
‘I had terrible spots growing up
sparky (noun) /spɑːki/ and I still get the odd spot on my
slang term for an electrician. forehead.’

‘My son is training to be a sparky spot on (adjective) /spɒt ɒn/

just like his Dad.’ exactly correct.

spend a penny (phrase) A) ‘I reckon a house around here

costs about £350,000. Am I right?’
/spend ə peni/
B) ‘Spot on!’
an old-fashioned phrase meaning
to go to the toilet.
sprog (noun) /sprɒɡ/
slang word for child.
‘I’m just going to spend a penny
before we leave.’ ‘They’ve had 4 sprogs in 5 years.’
spiffing (adjective) /spɪfɪŋ/ spud (noun) /spʌd/
old-fashioned term for excellent. slang word for potato.

129
‘Would you like some spuds with stag party/do (noun) /stæɡ pɑːti/
your roast chicken?’ the celebration a man has before he
gets married.
squaddie (noun) /skwɒdi/
a private soldier in the British army. ‘I said I wouldn’t have a stag do
but then my friends organised one
‘All the squaddies come into anyway!’
Chelmsford for drinks because there
is an army barracks nearby.’ starkers (adjective) /stɑːkəz/
naked (humorous).
squidgy (adjective) /skwɪdʒi/
soft and changing shape easily. ‘My mother-in-law walked into our
room without knocking and my
‘I’ve bought my niece a squidgy toy wife and I were completely starkers.’
for her to play with.’
state school (noun) /steɪt skuːl/
squire (noun) /skwaɪər/ a school that is funded by the
an old fashioned and informal way government and therefore free to
to address a man usually of higher attend for all children.
social standing (although that
doesn’t always have to be the case). ‘The vast majority of children in the
UK go to a state school.’
‘Good morning squire, can I help
you with your bags?’ steady on (phrase) /stedi ɒn/
an expression used to tell someone
the squits (noun) /skwɪts/ to be more reasonable or modify
slang term for diarrhoea. what they have just said.

‘Mate, I’ve had the squits all A) ‘That’s it! Didier is going to have
weekend. It’s been miserable.’ to move out. I’m sick and tired of his
behaviour.’

STAG
130
PARTY
B) ‘Steady on! Let’s have a chat ‘Now the kids are teenagers we
about it with him first.’ have to deal with a lot more strops
than we used to.’
steam in (phrasal verb) /stiːm ɪn/
join or start a fight. stroppy (adjective) /strɒpi/
moody and unpleasant.
‘A bunch of Birmingham City fans
went steaming in to a group of ‘Were you a bit of a stroppy
Cardiff fans and it all kicked off.’ teenager?’

STI (noun) /es tiː aɪ/ (get) stuck in (phrase) /stʌk ɪn/
an abbreviation of ‘sexually do something in a determined
transmitted infection’ (also STD - enthusiastic way.
sexually transmitted disease).
‘Come on, let’s get stuck into the
‘There’s a clinic in the hospital cleaning so we can relax and watch
where they test for STIs.’ a movie tonight.’

stuffed (adjective) /stʌft/

stick (noun) /stɪk/
very full after eating a lot.
abuse/criticism.
‘That Sunday roast was delicious
‘The England rugby team received
guys, I’m absolutely stuffed.’
a lot of stick after losing their 5th
consecutive game.’
sub (noun) /sʌb/
the amount of money paid to be a
stodgy (adjective) /stɒdʒi/ member of a club or team.
an adjective to describe food that is
heavy and filling. ‘Have you guys paid your subs for
the new season?’
‘I had this beef pie for lunch that
was so stodgy I couldn’t finish it.’ subway (noun) /sʌbweɪ/
an underground walkway allowing
stonking (adjective) /stɒŋkɪŋ/ pedestrians to go under a busy road
informal term for something safely.
very big.
‘Let’s take the subway instead of
‘Blimey Maggie! That’s a stonking trying to cross this dangerous road.’
great garden you’ve got.’
summat (pronoun) /sʌmət/
strop (noun) /strɒp/ a variation of ‘something’ mainly
a bad mood usually because you used in the north of England.
have to do something you don’t
want to do.
131
‘Do you want to do summat this ‘absolutely nothing’ (also ‘sweet
weekend?’ FA’).

sunshine (noun) /sʌnʃaɪn/ ‘I won sweet Fanny Adams at the

a term of address for someone, horse racing today.’
usually affectionate.
swot (noun) /swɒt/
‘Alright sunshine, are you ready to a slightly mean term for someone
go?’ (usually a child) who studies very
hard.
suss (something) out (phrasal verb)
/sʌs aʊt/ ‘All the kids at school called me a
discover or find out the things you swot because I did extra homework
need to know about something or every night.’
someone.
swot up on something (verb)
‘We finally sussed out why Kiara /swɒt ʌp ɒn/
has been so distant lately. Her to learn a lot about a subject
girlfriend doesn’t like her hanging particularly for an exam.
out with us.’
‘I need to swot up on my maths
sweet Fanny Adams (phrase) before the exams next week.’
/swiːt fæni ædəmz/
a slightly rude phrase that means

132
 T.
ta! (interjection) /tɑː/
thank you.

A) ‘Here’s your tea, Mum.’

B) ‘Ta love!’

ta-ra (exclamation) /tə rɑː/

a way of saying goodbye, used
mostly in the north of England.

‘One of Liverpool’s most famous

personalities, Cilla Black, used
‘The use of the word taff is not
to say ‘ta-ra chuck’ as one of her
socially acceptable anymore.’
catchphrases.’
tailback (noun) /teɪlbæk/
ta-ra a bit (exclamation) /tə rɑː ə bɪt/
a long line of traffic that moves very
goodbye mainly used in
slowly or not at all.
Birmingham.
‘There are tailbacks all along the
‘I’m off to the Bullring, ta-ra a bit.’
north circular tonight after an
accident.’
tad (noun) /tæd/
a small amount.
take the piss (out of someone)
(phrase) /teɪk ðə pɪs/
‘It’s a tad cold in here, don’t you
tease or mock someone.
think?’
‘My mates used to take the piss out
taffy/taff (noun) /tæfi/
of me because I listened to metal
derogatory term for a Welsh person.
music’ (also take the mickey).

133
tart (yourself) up (phrasal verb) gold medals at the 2016
/tɑːt ʌp/ Rio Olympics.’
usually about a female, very
informal/humorous way to say that tear up (noun) /teər ʌp/
you make yourself more attractive a fight.
with makeup, clothes, jewellery etc.
‘He was the only guy I knew who
A) ‘Where are the girls?’ enjoyed having a tear up every now
B) ‘They are in the ladies tarting and then.’
themselves up.’
tekkers (noun) /tekəz/
Tartan army (noun) /tɑːtən ɑːmi/ sporting skills.
the name given to the group
of fans who follow the Scottish ‘Stan’s got the best tekkers
football team. in the team.’

‘The Tartan army celebrated their telly (noun) /teli/

victory over England in Trafalgar short for television.
Square.’
‘There’s nothing good on the telly
tat (noun) /tæt/ tonight.’
an item that is absolute rubbish
or low quality. ten a penny (phrase) /ten ə peni/
very common (also two a penny).
‘In my opinion, most of the
shops around Leicester Square ‘Around Shoreditch, trendy coffee
sell tourist tat.’ shops are ten a penny.’

tea (noun) /tiː/ tenner (noun) /tenər/

used mainly in the north of England slang for ten pounds.
as the word for the evening meal.
‘Do you have that tenner I lent you
‘Mam, can Stan come round for tea last week?’
tonight?’
terraced house (noun)
Team GB (noun) /tiːm dʒiː biː/ /terəst haʊs/ a house connected to
the Great Britain and Northern houses on both sides.
Ireland Olympic team.
‘My family lived in a terraced house
in the East End of London until the
‘Team GB won a record number of
1960s.’

134
the Territorial Army (noun) ‘My old boss was such a tight-
a voluntary reserve army force (now arse who refused to give his staff
known as the Army Reserve). bonuses.’

‘I joined the Territorial Army so that tights (noun) /taɪts/

I could get basic army training and an item of clothing usually worn by
learn new skills.’ females made of thin material like
nylon that covers the legs up to the
tick (noun) /tɪk/ waist.
informal term for a
very short moment. ‘Oh bother! I’ve got a ladder in my
tights!’
‘I’ll be there in a tick, just wait
where you are.’ Tipp-Ex (noun) /tɪp eks/
Trademark. A white liquid used to
ticket tout (noun) /tɪkɪt taʊt/ correct written mistakes.
someone who buys tickets and sells
them on for a profit. ‘Can I borrow your Tipp-Ex? I’ve
written the wrong date on my
‘There are always ticket touts essay.’
standing outside the big concerts
trying to sell tickets.’ tipping it down (phrase)
/tɪpɪŋ ɪt daʊn/
tickety-boo (adjective) raining heavily.
/tɪkərtiː buː/
old fashioned way to say everything ‘Take your umbrella with you, it’s
is as you want it to be. absolutely tipping it down out
there.’
A) ‘How’s your trip going?’
B) ‘Tickety boo, thanks.’ tired and emotional (phrase)
/taɪəd ənd ɪməʊʃənəl/
ticking off (noun) /tɪkɪŋ ɒf/ a euphemism for drunk.
a light scolding or telling off.
‘I’m going to take Felipe home, he’s
‘I just got a ticking off from my a little tired and emotional.’
neighbour for parking in front of his
drive.’ tit (noun) /tɪt/
an insult similar to idiot.
tight-arse (noun) /taɪt ɑːs/
someone who is stingy and not ‘Get down from the bar, you tit!
willing to spend money. You’ll hurt yourself.’

135
 TOM,
DICK,
AND
HARRY
titchy (adjective) /tɪtʃi/ toff (noun) /tɒf/
very small (also ‘titch’ as a noun). derogatory term for
a posh/rich person.
‘Oh my goodness! Your hamster is
so titchy! How old is she?’ ‘The opera is just for toffs, it’s so
elitist!’
thou/thee (pronoun) /ðaʊ/ /ðiː/
used in the Yorkshire dialect (get) togged up/out (phrasal verb) /
as a replacement for the second tɒɡd ʌp/
person singular. get dressed for a special occasion.

‘How are thee today Sam?’ ‘All the lads got togged out for the
rugby club Christmas party.’
todger (noun) /tɒdʒər/
rude slang term for penis. Tom, Dick, and Harry (noun)
/tɒm dɪk ænd hæri/
‘How many other words for penis a phrase used to refer to ordinary
other than todger can you think of?’ people (also Tom, Dick, or Harry).

toe-rag (noun) /təʊræɡ/ ‘Darts isn’t a sport! Any Tom, Dick

someone who behaves in a naughty and Harry could play it to a high
or malicious way. level with enough training.’

‘That little toe-rag has stolen my top oneself (verb) /tɒp/

bike!’ slang phrase for commit suicide.

136
‘Enrique threatened to top himself ‘They are building a huge tower
last night so we’ve called the block right next to my office.’
authorities for help.’
trump (verb) /trʌmp/
top-up (noun) /ˈtɒp.ʌp/ to pass wind/fart.
an extra amount of something to
meet the necessary amount e.g. A) ‘Did you just trump?’
money or liquid. B) ‘No, it was the dog!’

‘Do you need a top-up on your trustafarian (noun) /trʌstəfɛərɪən/

phone credit this month?’ a young person from a wealthy
background whose trust fund
Tory (noun) /tɔːri/ allows them to live an alternative
someone who supports the lifestyle without working. They
Conservative party. generally choose to live in poorer
places than they need to in order
‘My grandad has been a Tory to seem cool.
all his life.’
‘Let’s be honest, Kate and Oscar
tosh (noun) /tɒʃ/ are total trustafarians. They live
nonsense. in a dodgy part of the city and yet
they both went to public school.’
‘I’ve never heard so much tosh in
all my life.’ the Tube (noun) /tʃuːb/
the Tube is an alternative term
tosser (noun) /tɒsər/ for the London Underground.
a rude insult for someone you think
is an idiot. ‘The quickest way to get to
Hammersmith from here is to
‘I just saw this complete tosser take the Tube from Green Park.’
throw his crisp packet on the floor.’
tummy button (noun)
touch wood (phrase) /tʌtʃ wʊd/ /tʌmi bʌtən/
if you say ‘touch wood’ you hope to informal term for navel.
have good luck about something
you have just said. ‘Don’t tickle my tummy button,
I really don’t like it.’
‘Touch wood we get sunny weather
for our BBQ on Sunday.’ twit (noun) /twɪt/
someone who is stupid.
tower block (noun) /taʊə blɒk/
a very tall building used for flats ‘Don’t be such a twit, Boris, you
or offices. know your plans will never work.’
137
twat (noun) /twæt/ at someone by physically or
offensive word for an idiot. metaphorically raising your two
fingers in a V sign.
‘Look at those twats over there
trying to fight each other.’ ‘She basically put two fingers up at
her boss.’
twee (adjective) /twiː/
disapproving way to describe two-up two-down (noun)
something overly cute, pretty or /tuː ʌp tuː daʊn/
sentimental. a small house with two rooms
downstairs and two rooms upstairs.
‘I enjoyed our holiday but I found
the village we stayed in to be a bit ‘My grandad was raised in a two-up
twee.’ two-down in Tottenham.’

two fingers (noun) /tuː fɪŋɡəz/

a rude way to show your anger

”
The Tube (aka the
London Underground)
was the world’s first ever
underground railway when

”
it was opened in 1863.

138
 U.
UCAS (noun) /juːkæs/
an abbreviation for Universities and
Colleges Admissions Service. UCAS
organises the admissions process
for British universities.

‘Have you filled out your UCAS

form yet?’

undercarriage (noun)
/ʌndəˌkærɪdʒ/ ‘The best way to get around London
euphemism for a person’s is on the Underground.’
private parts.
under the cosh (phrase)
‘This bike is really uncomfortable on /ʌndər ðə kɒʃ/
my undercarriage.’ under pressure or in a difficult
position.
undercrackers (noun)
/ʌndəkrakəz/ ‘Liverpool were under the cosh
slang term for men’s underwear. for the entire second half against
Barcelona.’
‘Pull up your trousers dude! I can
see your undercrackers.’ undies (noun) /ʌndi:z/
short for underwear.
the Underground (noun)
/ʌndəɡraʊnd/ ‘Khaled you left your undies in the
the most common name for bathroom. Can you go and pick
the London Underground Tube them up?’
network.
uni (noun) /juːni/
a short form of university.
139
‘I’m seeing my uni mates this up the duff (phrase) /ʌp ðə dʌf/
weekend.’ slang for pregnant.

Union Jack (noun) /juːniən dʒæk/ ‘I didn’t know Chika is up the duff!’
the red, white and blue flag that
represents the United Kingdom. up the (noun) e.g. Up the Blues! /
Up the Reds! (phrase) /ʌp ðə/
‘The Union Jack is flown above used to show support for a group or
Buckingham Palace.’ sports team.

up for something (phrase) /ʌp fɔː/ ‘West Ham fans shout ‘up the
enthusiastic to do something. Hammers!’ to show support for their
football team.’
‘Are you up for going to Brighton
next weekend?’ use your loaf/noggin’/brain
(phrase) use your common sense.
up sticks (phrase) /ʌp stɪks/
go and live somewhere else. ‘Mate, don’t ask me how to do the
task, use your loaf!’
‘At the end of the year, I think
we’re going to up sticks and move
to Australia.’

TOM’S TIPS
One big distinction between accents in the north and
south of England is the /ʌ/ and /ʊ/ sounds. In the South
they say both /ʌ/ and /ʊ/ but in the North they only use /ʊ/.
A phrase like ‘up the duff’ showcases this perfectly. In the
North it’s /ʊp ðə dʊf/ whereas in the South it’s /ʌp ðə dʌf/.

140
 V.
VAT (noun) /vat/
Value-added tax. This is the tax paid
during the production of goods and
services and by the end customer.

‘The prices listed on the menu

already include VAT.’

veg (noun) /vedʒ/

short form for vegetables.

‘My diet growing up was meat and

two veg every night.’ voddy (noun) /vɒdɪ/
slang term for vodka.
veggie (noun/adjective) /vedʒi/
informal term for vegetarian. ‘Can I have a voddy red bull and a
cider please?’
‘My Mum was a veggie her
whole life.’ vox pop (noun) /vɒks pɒp/
a short video clip of a member of
Victoria Cross (noun) the public commenting on a topic
/vɪktɔːriə krɒs/ that is then broadcast on a TV show.
the highest honour for bravery
in the United Kingdom ‘BBC Wales did vox pops around
(abbreviation VC). Cardiff city centre asking people
what they thought of Welsh
‘The Victoria Cross was first independence.’
presented by Queen Victoria
in 1856.’

141
 W.
waffle (on) (verb/noun) /wɒfəl/
say or write a lot of words without
really saying anything interesting or
important.

‘Professor Wong’s lectures are really

dull. He just waffles for most of
them and then doesn’t give us time
to ask questions at the end.’
‘Harry, stop being a wanker and
WAG (acronym) /wæɡ/ tell me where you’ve hidden my
stands for ‘wives and girlfriends’. A phone.’
slightly derogatory term that refers
to women who are married to or wanky (adjective) /wæŋki/
date football players. stupid or pretentious.

‘The England team and their WAGs ‘Holly wants to go to some wanky
stayed in a hotel near my town in club for her 30th.’
Northern France.’
washing up liquid (noun)
wally (noun) /wɒli/ /wɒʃɪŋʌp ˌlɪkwɪd/
idiot. the liquid used to clean
cutlery and plates in a sink.
‘Did you see what that wally did? He
just drove through a red light!’ ‘Have we got any more washing up
liquid? I want to do the dishes.’
wanker (noun) /wæŋkər/
a very rude insult for someone you watering hole (noun)
think is stupid or contemptible. /wɔːtərɪŋ, həʊl/

142
humorous term for a pub. ‘It’s hard to believe you were a
‘Shall we try and find a good weedy little teenager when I first
watering hole around here and get met you.’
out of the rain?’
weegie (noun) /wiːdʒi/
waz (verb/noun) /wæz/ someone from Glasgow (mainly
if you need a waz, you need to used by people from Edinburgh).
urinate (also wazz).
‘I lived with a bunch of weegies
‘Does anyone need a waz before we when I was at uni.’
leave the pub?’
well (adverb) /wel/
wazzock (noun) /wæzək/ used before adjectives
a stupid person. to add emphasis.

‘Don’t be such a wazzock, Tony! Of ‘That new Mission Impossible

course you can’t drink and drive.’ film is well good.’

WC (noun) /dʌbəljuː siː/ wellington boots (noun)

abbreviation of ‘water closet’, /welɪŋtən buːts/
meaning toilet. Only used in written waterproof rubber boots usually
English. worn in rainy, muddy conditions
(also wellies).
‘WC on the second floor.’
‘Put on your wellies kids, it’s really
wedding tackle (noun) muddy in the woods.’
/wedɪŋ tækəl/
euphemism for male private parts. wet (adjective) /wɛt/ having a weak
character and lacking strength of
‘I accidentally saw his wedding personality.
tackle when he got out of the
shower.’ ‘My dad doesn’t like my new
boyfriend, he says he’s a bit wet
wee (adjective) /wiː/ and needs to toughen up.’
a mostly Scottish term for
little/small. wet the baby’s head (phrase)
celebrate the birth of a baby by
‘Can I have wee bit more wine having an alcoholic drink.
please, if you have any?’
‘We’re going to wet the baby’s head
weedy (adjective) /wiːdi/ on Saturday if you’d like to join us.’
physically weak.

143
whacked (adjective) /wækt/ wheeze (noun) /wiːz/
slang term for tired. a clever or amusing idea or plan.

‘I’m really rather whacked, I might ‘I’ve got a brilliant wheeze that
go and have a lie down on my bed’ might earn us enough money to
pay for our Glastonbury tickets.’
whatevs (exclamation) /wɒtevz/
used to show a sense of indifference whiffy (adjective) /wɪfi:/
to someone’s comment. It’s another smelly.
way to say that you don’t care.
‘Rafa, your sports bag is really whiffy.
A) ‘Did you see Jackie has started Go and put everything into the
dating your ex?’ washing machine immediately.’
B) ‘Whatevs!’
whinge (verb) /wɪndʒ/
wheelie bin (noun) /wiːli bɪn/ complain about something.
the large rubbish bin outside a
house that is on wheels so that ‘Kids, stop whinging! We are nearly
it can be collected by a refuse home, you can have something to
collector. eat when we arrive.’

‘Charlotte, can you put this Whitehall (noun) /waɪthɔːl/

rubbish bag straight into the a term used for the British civil
wheelie bin please?’ service. It’s a street in London

”
The term ‘Whitehall’ is an
example of a metonym.
This is a word that
represents something
closely associated to
it so when people talk
about ‘Whitehall’ they are
referring to the civil service
and government. Another
example is ‘The City’ which
refers to the financial

”
industry in London.

144
where many of the civil service A) ‘Shall we get a fish supper
offices are located. tonight?’
B) ‘Why aye man!’
‘A new plan for a Brexit deal is being
discussed in Whitehall.’ wicked (adjective) /wɪkɪd/
great or brilliant.
whip-round (noun) /wɪp raʊnd/
when a group of people all put ‘I watched a wicked new series on
money into a collection in order to Netflix about hip hop music.’
buy a gift for someone e.g. when
someone leaves a job, a birthday wide boy (noun) /waɪd bɔɪ/
present etc. a young man, who is wealthy but
who earns it in a dishonest way.
‘Let’s have a whip-round and buy
Joyce a goodbye gift.’ ‘For some reason that I don’t
understand, Lucy only seems
white van man (noun) /waɪt væn to date wide boys.’
mæn/
a male van driver whose driving wind someone up (phrasal verb)
is aggressive. /waɪnd ʌp/
to tease or annoy someone.
‘I was driving around the ring road
and this white van man cut me up.’ ‘Sally, don’t wind your brother up
and please give him back his hat.’
whoopsie daisy (phrase) /wʊpsiː
deɪzi/ wind-up merchant (noun)
a phrase used to acknowledge a /waɪnd ʌp mɜːtʃənt/
mistake e.g. someone falling over someone who enjoys teasing or
or the spilling of a drink. It was annoying other people.
popularised by Hugh Grant in the
1999 film Notting Hill. (also oops-a- ‘There’s a guy at work who is a
complete wind-up merchant. He
daisy/upsie daisy).
tries to annoy me on a daily basis.’
‘Whoopsie daisy! Katie has just spilt
windscreen (noun) /wɪndskriːn/ the
her milk on the carpet. Can you get
glass panel at the front of a car.
a cloth?’
‘Dude, you need to clean your
why aye (man)! (phrase) /waɪ aɪ/
windscreen, it’s filthy!’
yes or of course, used largely in
the north-east of England.
wireless (noun) /waɪələs/
slightly old fashioned word
for radio.
145
‘Turn on the wireless, I think the ‘We’d like to welcome WPC Jones to
United game is on.’ the police force here in York.’

wobbly (noun) /wɒbəli/ wrinkly (noun) /rɪŋkli/

if you throw a wobbly you suddenly humorous slang term for
become very angry or upset. an old person.

‘Jane throws a wobbly every time I ‘Look how many wrinklies are
come home late from the pub.’ queuing up for this music night,
don’t you think we are a little young
wonga (noun) /wɒŋɡə/ to be here?’
slang for money.
write-off (noun) /raɪt ɒf/
‘My Dad has made so much wonga a vehicle that has been damaged
betting on horses over the years.’ to the point where it is no longer
drivable.
wotcha (exclamation) /wɒtʃər/
very informal greeting similar to ‘My old Toyota is a complete write-
‘hey’ (also wotcher). off, you’ll never get it started again.’

‘Wotcha Malik, how’s school going?’ wrong ‘un (noun) /rɒŋən/

a bad or untrustworthy character.
WPC (abbreviation)
/dʌbəljuː piː siː/ ‘Christina only ever seems to date
Woman Police Constable. guys you’d class as wrong’uns.’

WHY AYE
MAN
146
 Y.
yam yam (noun) /jæm jæm/
someone from the black country
which includes Wolverhampton,
Dudley, and Walsall.

‘My boss is a yam yam and I love her

accent.’

yank (noun) /jæŋk/

a disapproving term for someone
from the USA. yellow line (noun) /jeləʊ laɪn/
a yellow line of paint along the side
‘Why are there so many yanks in this of a road indicating that vehicles
bar?’ cannot be parked there at certain
times.
yea big (phrase) /jeɪ bɪɡ/
a term used when using your ‘I think we can park here between
hands to demonstrate the size 9-5, it’s only a single yellow line.’
of an object.
Y-fronts (noun) /waɪ frʌnts/
underwear worn by males that are
‘Her old TV is about yea big. Do
Y-shaped.
you think you have space for it
in your flat?’
‘I stopped wearing Y-fronts when I
was 12.’
year (noun) /jɪər/
the particular level a student is at
yob (noun) /jɒb/
school or university.
a young person who behaves in an
aggressive, rude way.
‘Isla is in her second year at uni.’

147
 YORKSHIRE
PUDDING
‘There is always a group of yobs ‘It’s hard for young offenders to re-
hanging outside the arcade at enter normal society after they have
night.’ been released.’

yonks (noun) /jɒŋks/ young offender institution (noun)

an informal word meaning /jʌŋ əfendər ɪnstɪˌtʃuːʃən/
a very long time. a type of prison that is designed
to hold young offenders from as
‘Blimey! I haven’t seen my old young as 15 all the way to 21.
headteacher Mrs Jelani for yonks.’
‘A lot more funding needs to go
yoof (noun) /juːf/ into young offender institutions’
humorous non-standard
spelling of ‘youth’. youth hostelling (noun)
/juːθˌhɒstəlɪŋ/
‘I don’t know anything about yoof the act of staying in youth hostels
culture these days.’ and traveling between them.

Yorkshire pudding (noun) ‘When I was 12 we went youth

/jɔːkʃə pʊdɪŋ/ hostelling in Cornwall.’
a traditional side dish eaten with a
Sunday roast. It’s a batter consisting yummy mummy (noun)
of eggs, flour, and milk or water. /jʌmi mʌmi/
a mother who is attractive.
‘My mum makes the fluffiest
Yorkshire puddings in the world.’ ‘There are so many yummy
mummies in this area.’
young offender (noun)
/jʌŋ əfendər/
a criminal under the age of 21.

148
 Z.
Z /zed/

‘Do you know how to pronounce all

the letters of the alphabet A to Z?’

zebra crossing (noun)

/zebrə krɒsɪŋ/
an area across a road where pedes-
trians can cross. Zebra crossings are
painted white and black.

‘The Beatles walked across a zebra

crossing in their iconic Abbey Road zimmer frame (noun)
album cover photo.’ /zɪmə freɪm/
the metal frame frail or ill people use
zero hour contract (noun) to help them have more balance
/zɪərəʊ aʊər kɒntrækt/ when they are walking.
a fairly modern concept in which
the employer isn’t obliged to offer ‘They think Grandma is going to
the employee a minimum number need a zimmer frame when she
of working hours. It is seen as highly gets out of hospital.’
unfair to workers but is common-
place in many workplaces.

‘I’m sick and tired of working in

places that only offer zero-hour
contracts.’

149
2.
HOW TO
SPEAK
BRITISH

What Brits Say

and What They
Actually Mean

150
 As if learning a new language wasn’t hard enough, Brits have
chosen to add an extra layer of complexity for you. What we say
isn’t always what we mean. This is an important lesson to learn early
because you can avoid years of misunderstandings and confusion.
We use certain phrases that may appear to say one thing but in
actual fact, the speaker’s intention is entirely different. Have a look
at this conversation between two Brits.

Shall we go
outside and
play in the rain?
We could do!

Let’s test your ability to decode what this Brit meant. Is B saying…

1) yes, I want to
2) we literally have the ability to play in the rain
3) no, I really don’t like that idea

If you chose option 3, you are of course correct. While it might

appear that B responded with an affirmative response, ‘could do’ is
actually a subtle way to show a lack of enthusiasm to a suggestion.
Now clearly a lot of meaning lies in the intonation of the speaker, and
how they said the phrase must be taken into account. Below are a
few light-hearted examples of where a Brit might say one thing but
mean another (don’t take them too seriously).

151
could do - a perfect way to first place’.
show a lack of enthusiasm
for a suggestion. It’s usually I’ll see what I can do - used
followed very quickly by a as a reply to someone’s request.
counter suggestion to move Essentially you are saying ‘I
the conversation off the really can’t do what you’ve
previous idea. asked’ either because you
genuinely can’t or you simply
sorry - please don’t think don't want to.
for one minute that when
someone bumps into you I’ll bear it in mind - this may
on the Tube and then says sound like your boss is going to
‘sorry’ they are genuinely consider your suggestion but
apologising (OK they might don’t be fooled! They’ve already
sometimes). It’s much more dismissed it in their mind as a
likely that they are using terrible idea. You’ll probably be
‘sorry’ to avoid embarrassment fired the following day.
and social awkwardness. We
use it to acknowledge that that’s not bad - this may sound
something awkward has negative but in actual fact,
happened and that using it’s a positive affirmation that
any more words would cause someone likes something. So if
further embarrassment and you show a colleague a piece
awkwardness. If in doubt just of work and they respond with
say ‘sorry’ and you’ll be fine. ‘that’s not bad’ they think it’s
pretty decent and you should be
we should meet up soon (or a quietly pleased with yourself.
variation of this) - used when
you bump into someone you I’d love to but… - this is the
know and you have to make perfect way to reject someone’s
small talk. The only way to invitation politely. It sounds to
exit this situation politely is the invitee that you want to do
to promise to ‘meet up soon’. the activity but you can’t, when
Clearly, neither of you have any in actual fact you never had any
intention of doing so, ever! intention of doing it. You can
add any excuse after this phrase
that’s an interesting point - if e.g. ‘I’d love to but I’ve already
you hear someone say this, what got plans’, ‘I’d love to but I have
they really mean is ‘I have tried to take my dog for a walk’ or ‘I’d
to erase what you just said from love to but I need to wash my
my memory. In fact, I’m not sure hair.’ I challenge you to find a
I ever really listened in the more useful phrase in English.

152
I’m not entirely sure - when alright/you alright? - to the
someone responds to your untrained ear, this sounds
question with ‘I’m not entirely like the person is asking you
sure’ it’s another way of saying ‘I about your health and mental
have absolutely no idea’. wellbeing but really it’s just
another way to say ‘hi’. Answer
back with ‘alright’ and you have
What do you navigated another tricky British
want to study interaction successfully.
at University?
by the way - if someone
I’m not introduces a seemingly
entirely sure incidental piece of information
by saying ‘by the way’ it is NOT
incidental! It is, in fact, the most
important point that they have
been wanting to say all along.
anyone want the last piece? Here’s an example…
- imagine one last piece of
chocolate cake on the table and A) ‘I’m going to Katie’s party on
someone says ‘anyone want the Saturday, are you?’
last piece?’ It’s natural to think B) ‘Yeah, I’m going.’
they are genuinely offering it to A) ‘Oh by the way, have you seen
you, but they are not! They want my hairdryer anywhere? I left
it and they are willing to kill for it on the kitchen table.’
it. But they don’t want to seem
rude so they ask this question. What’s really going on here?
Be careful how you reply. Do you Does A care whether B is going
really want that piece of cake? to the party? No! Of course not.
All A cares about is where that
bloody hairdryer has got to and
if B has sneakily borrowed it.

I’D LOVE
TO BUT...
153
I might see you there - make yourself at home - what’s
sounds like they are coming, this? You think you can behave
right? Wrong! I’m sorry but as if their home is yours? Turn
they have no desire to come the TV on and put your feet up?
to this party, social gathering, Ha! You have been fooled again!
dinner or whatever it is you are Don’t under any circumstance
talking about. The use of might think you have free rein to do
is what tells us this. If they were as you please. You may sit in
coming they’d say ‘I’ll see you the designated visitor’s chair
there.’ and you may use the loo (with
permission) and that is all.
can I have a quick word? -
translation: ‘you are in trouble’. you’ve caught the sun -
If someone in your office translation ‘the sun has burned
asks you if they can have a you to a crisp, you idiot!’
quick word, start panicking. 9
times out of 10 it’ll be about
something you did wrong like
break the photocopier or make
the intern cry. Still, there’s
always the chance it’s that 1
out of 10 job promotion and
big bonus news you were
dreaming of… so not all bad.

154
155
3.
IT’S A
LONDON
THING

Cockney
Rhyming Slang

156
 For anyone not from London, all 7 billion of you, Cockney
rhyming slang can be a bizarre and slightly confusing concept.
Stick with me while I explain it, it’s worth the effort. So as we know,
Cockneys are the people born within the sound of the Bow Bells
in the East End of London. During the 1800s a new type of slang
developed within this community. Although the exact origins are
uncertain, it is believed that it was within the criminal underworld
that these slang phrases first appeared. It was used as a type of
cryptolect, a way for the thieves and pickpockets to communicate
with each other without the authorities understanding. These days,
Cockney rhyming slang isn’t as widely used as it was in the past.
Having said that, modern versions are still created and added to
the growing list of rhyming phrases (see Britney Spears).

So how does it work?

1. Take a phrase like ‘apples and pears’.

2. Find a word that rhymes with the last word - ‘pears’ = stairs
3. You have the meaning - ‘apples and pears’ = stairs

Let’s use it in an example sentence:

I’m just going

to pop up
the apple
and pears and
get my book

= ‘I’m just going to pop up the stairs

and get my book.’ (Standard English)

Now it’s important to note that we don’t always use the full
phrase. For example ‘Barnet fair’ means ‘hair’ but we only use
the word ‘Barnet’.

157
 I’m going
to get my
Barnet
cut this = I’m going to get my
afternoon hair cut this afternoon.
(Standard English)

So to summarise, there are two main types of rhyming

phrases. Ones where we use the whole phrase and others where
we can use just one word.

This is by no means a complete list of Cockney rhyming

slang. It’s simply a sample of the ones I have heard most
commonly in and around London. The big question is should you
use Cockney rhyming slang? To be honest, it’s unlikely you will
ever hear it, let alone need to speak it, but it’s interesting to know
and if you want to have a go, I say why not? I personally love using
certain phrases in my daily conversations. If you want to hear it
being used, listen to TV personality Danny Dyer speaking or films
like ‘Green Street’ and ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’.

Adam and Eve - believe apple and pears - stairs

‘Did you hear Sharon and Phil ‘I’m just popping up the apples
are getting divorced? I can’t and pears to grab my scarf, do
Adam and Eve it!’ you need anything?’

Alan Whickers - knickers / bag (of sand) - a grand (£1,000)

underwear
‘Oi, you still owe me a bag for the car
‘I haven’t got any clean Alans!’ you bought last year.’

(Aunt) Joanna - piano (In a Cockney Barnet (fair) - hair

accent it’s pronounced ‘pianna’)
‘Mate, what have you done to your
‘My grandad used to play the old Barnet? It looks terrible!’
Joanna for a living.’

158
battle cruiser - boozer (pub) brown bread - dead

‘We’re going down the battle cruiser ‘When the police found him in his home
tonight if you want to he was brown bread.’
join us.’
bubble (bath) - laugh
bees (and honey) - money
‘Are you having a bubble?
‘I’ve got no bees until payday.’ There’s no way you got tickets
for Elton John!’
bird (lime) - time (in prison)
Chevy Chase - face. This is another
‘My brother did bird for robbing relatively modern one that comes
a Post Office when he was 18.’ from popular culture.

Brahms and Liszt - pissed (which is ‘I could look at her Chevy Chase
slang for very drunk) for hours.’

‘We got absolutely Brahms and Liszt at china (plate) - mate/friend

Yewande’s party last night.’
‘How are you doing me ole china?’’
Bristol (City) - titty (female breasts)
cream-crackers / crackered -
‘My Bristols didn’t feel comfortable in knackered (very tired)
that bra.’
‘You guys look absolutely cream-
a butcher’s (hook) - look crackered, have you been running?’

‘Have a butcher’s at my new car. What Currant Bun - The Sun newspaper
do you think?’
‘Did you know you can’t buy the Currant
bread (and honey) - money Bun in Liverpool?’

‘I’m not making enough bread at the daisy roots - boots

moment to pay the rent.’
‘Jerry, clean your daisy roots before you
Britney (Spears) - beers. This is a go out tonight.’
relatively modern one and is a good
example of how new slang phrases Desmond (Tutu) - a 2.2 (a lower 2nd
develop alongside popular culture. class UK university degree)

‘Shall we get a couple of Britneys after A) ‘What grade did you get for your
work?’ degree?’
B) ‘I got a Desmond.’

159
Dicky (Bird) - word so I can buy a sandwich?’

‘I won’t tell a Dicky Bird to anyone about loaf (of bread) - head
your little secret.’
‘Use your loaf before you do something
dog and bone - phone stupid like that again.’

‘I’ll get on the dog and bone and call the half-inch - pinch / steal
restaurant for you.’
‘Someone’s half-inched my phone from
donkey’s (ears) - years (a long time) the table.’

‘I haven’t seen my school mates for Hampstead (Heath) - teeth

donkey’s.’
‘Two of my Hampsteads got knocked

LET’S HAVE
A BUTCHERS
frog (and toad) - road out while I was playing rugby.

‘I’m just going down the frog to see Hank Marvin - starving
Claudia, I’ll be back in an hour.’
‘I’m absolutely Hank Marvin. Is there
Jack Jones - alone / on your own anything in the fridge?’

‘Murat has gone for a run and left me all on your tod - alone (originates from
on my Jack Jones. a jockey called Tod Sloane)

Jimmy Riddle - Piddle (wee) ‘I’ve got to go to the party on my tod

because my girlfriend’s away.’
‘Is there a toilet near here? I’m desperate
for a Jimmy Riddle.’ Pete Tong - wrong (modern-day
Cockney rhyming slang)
Lady Godiva - fiver (five-pound
note) ‘Oh this cake is a disaster, it’s all gone
Pete Tong.’
‘Can you lend me a Lady Godiva

160
pony (and trap) - crap / not very septic tank - yank
good
‘Loads of septic tanks work
‘My football team are absolutely in my office.’
pony, but we just love playing
for the fun for it.’ syrup (of figs) - a wig

pork pie - a lie ‘My grandfather used to wear

a black syrup.’
A) ‘Did you eat the last piece
of chocolate?’ tea leaf - thief
B) ‘No!’
A) ‘Don’t tell me porkies.’ ‘That tea leaf has gone and stolen my
B) ‘Honestly, I didn’t!’ last piece of chocolate. The little git!’

rabbit (and pork) - talk trouble (and strife) - wife

‘This geezer has been rabbiting on his ‘Trouble’s on her way up north to see
phone the entire bus journey at the top her family for the weekend.’
of his voice.’
Vera Lyn - gin
radio rental - mental/crazy
‘I can’t drink any more Vera otherwise
‘Mum went radio rental when I’ll be sick.’
she saw the mess I’d made in
the kitchen.’ whistle (and flute) - suit

Rosy (Lee) - a cup of tea “I’ve gotta buy a whistle for Stan and
Mary’s wedding.’
‘Do you want a cup of rosy before we
start the film?’

rub-a-dub-dub - pub

‘Are we going down the rub-a-dub-dub

tonight or what?

Ruby (Murray) - curry

‘Shall we get a couple of Rubys on the

way home tonight for our dinner?’

Scooby (Doo) - clue

‘I haven’t got a Scooby where I left my

car keys.’

161
3.
IT’S A
LONDON
THING

Modern
London Slang

162
 Multicultural London English, or MLE as it’s also known,
is a dialect used by the city’s young multi-ethnic citizens. Walk
down Oxford Street or take a ride on a local bus and you will be
sure to overhear someone speaking MLE. As the name suggests, it
is a reflection of the social make-up of the city and its immigrant
communities. The words and phrases found in MLE have their
roots in Caribbean patois, Arabic, South Asian, and even Polish.

The majority of these words have yet to enter standard

dictionaries, in part because of how new they are, so I felt it was
important to document them here. They are all slang terms and
therefore extremely informal. A lot of them describe things that
relate to the issues of youth culture like social hierarchy, sex,
money, and violence. MLE is also known for its ‘hypersynonymy’.
This is when there are multiple words for the same thing much
like how in British English we have a plethora of words for ‘drunk’
or Inuits have numerous words for ‘snow’.

aks (verb) - an alternative way to beef (noun) - a grudge or

pronounce ‘ask’ disagreement

‘Let me aks you, why are you still going ‘There has been beef between these
out with Jake?’ two boxers for years.’

allow (it/that) (phrase) - leave it / beg (friend) (noun) - a person who

don’t worry about it sucks up to other people in order to
be their friend.
A) ‘I’m going to tell Asha her boyfriend
asked me out.’ ‘Louis was such a beg. Why did we let
B) ‘No! Allow it! Don’t get involved.’ him chill with us?’

bait (adjective) - obvious bennin (verb) - laugh out loud

‘Kasim is going to beat you on FIFA ‘I went to The Comedy Store last night
bruv, that’s so bait!’ and I was bennin the whole time.’

bare (adverb) - intensifier meaning big man ting (noun) - used to assert
very / a lot high status

‘There were bare mandem ‘You can’t work out with me fool. The
at Luke’s party.’ gym is a big man ting!’

163
blaze (verb) - smoke marijuana bruv (noun) - a short form of
brother used to greet a male.
‘What have you done except for blazing
all day?’ ‘Bruv when is your birthday?’

blud (noun) - used instead of chirpse (verb) - chat to someone in

friend/mate a flirtatious manner

‘Yes blud, what’s going on?’ ‘The only reason I came to the club
tonight was to chirpse ladies.’
bossman (noun) - it can be used as
mate or guvnor but also to address cotch (verb) - hang out / relax
a proprietor of a shop.
A) ‘What are you doing?’
‘Yes bossman, I’ll have the spicy chicken B) ‘I’m just cotching at man’s yard.’
burger and a Coke.’
crease (verb) - laughing out loud
bozz (noun) - leader
‘Oi fam! Why are you creasing?’
‘Paris is the bozz of this crew so show
him some respect.’ creps (noun) - shoes

braap! (exclamation) - a sound ‘Fam your creps are fresh! Where did
that’s made when something good you get them?’
has happened like defeating an
opponent in a video game. It’s a dead (adjective) - not very good /
similar sound to a gun being fired boring
or an engine revving.
‘Man, this film is dead.’
‘Yes, you beat Sam at Call of Duty.
Braap!’ dizzy (adjective) - crazy mad

brederin’ (noun) - friend ‘That guy is dizzy! Why is he walking on

the train tracks?’
‘Fabian and Marcus have been brederins
since they were at school.’ dope (adjective) - cool / excellent

buff (adjective) - attractive/hot ‘Fam, those sunglasses are dope. Where

did you get them from?’
‘I’ve heard Jack’s got a buff mate
called Leon.’ dun know (phrase) - you already
know / you know it
bun (verb) - smoke (usually
cannabis) ‘Boy, you dun know I’m gonna
beat you at FIFA!’
‘Come we go bun a joint in the park.’

164
dutty (adjective) - dirty finesse (verb) - to rob or take
something
‘Don’t come in man’s yard with your
dutty trainers on.’ ‘Bruv, did you finesse those trainers
cos there’s no way you can afford
dry (adjective) - boring to buy them.’

‘This film is dry, let’s just play Fortnite flex (verb) - show off
instead. ‘
‘Did you see AJ flexing his new car
ends/endz (noun) - area/ around the ends today?’
neighbourhood
for real (phrase) - an expression
‘My ends is dangerous fam.’ used to show surprise, excitement
or shock.
fam (noun) - very close friend
A) ‘Stormzy just announced he’s going
‘Yes fam, let’s go Oxford street.’ to release a track with Kanye.’
B) ‘For real? That’s crazy news!’
fassy (noun) - a derogatory word for
someone who lacks courage garms (noun) - clothes

‘Come let’s tell the headteacher what ‘I need to get some new garms before
just happened. Don’t be such a fassy!’ my trip to Ibiza next week.’

feds (noun) - police gassed (adjective) - excited

‘There are so many feds by the ‘I’m gassed about the new FIFA game.’
underground station. Something
serious must be going on.’ gully (adjective) - cool / excellent

‘Your Nikes are gully fam!

TOM’S TIPS
If you want to hear modern London slang and
the MLE accent check out two British TV shows
‘Top Boy’ and ‘People just do nothing’.

165
gyal (noun) - girl jokes - fun/enjoyable

‘There are some peng gyals at this ‘Your sister is jokes fam, why are you so
party.’ boring?’

gyaldem (noun) - a group of girls leng (adjective) - attractive/good

looking (a synonym of peng)
‘My gyaldem were looking hot last
night.’ ‘Troy’s new girlfriend is leng.’

heads (noun) - people licked (adjective) - drunk

‘There were bare heads at the house ‘Man was licked last night! I had the
party last night.’ worst hangover today.’

heavy (adjective) - really good link (up) (verb) - meet up with

someone
‘That new Jay-Z tune is heavy.’
‘Yo, let’s link up next week and get a
hench (adjective) - muscular drink or something.’

‘Mate you are looking hench! Have you long (adjective) - if something is
been hitting the gym hard?’ long it requires too much effort

hush up (expression) - shut up A) Come let’s go Westfield and get

McDonalds’
‘Hush up you fool, I don’t want B) Westfield? Bruv that’s long! Let’s
to hear what you’ve got to say.’ just go Nando’s on the High Street.

jack (someone/something) - to rob mad (adjective) - amazing

someone or steal something
‘Yo, that Dele Alli goal against Arsenal
‘Did you hear Jay got jacked in Wood was mad!’
Green yesterday?’

MANDEM
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mad ting (adjective) - used as a way ‘That rave in Brixton was off the hook!’
to show surprise, amazement or,
agreement with someone oh my days! (phrase) - used to
express shock or surprise
‘That party was a mad ting!’
‘Oh my days! Have you seen that
man (pronoun) - used as a video of those guys walking on the
replacement for 1st person singular top of skyscrapers without any safety
(I/my/me) harnesses?’

‘Man doesn’t care if it’s late fam, on my life (phrase) - a phrase used
let’s go club.’ to emphasise that the speaker is
telling the truth
mandem (noun) - a group of friends
‘On my life, I didn’t tell Mum you took
‘All the mandem were at the house her hairdryer.’
party last night.’
P (noun) - money
man like (phrase) - a way to
re-affirm / talk about someone ‘I’m earning mad Ps in my new job.’

‘Man like Harry Kane is scoring mad paigon (noun) - an enemy or friend
goals for Tottenham at the moment.’ who lies

mazza (noun) - madness ‘Don’t waste your time with Sam,

he’s a paigon.’
‘It was mazza in Westfield today fam.’
peak (adjective) - if you have had
merk (verb) - kill someone or insult bad luck or an injustice against you,
someone you could say it’s peak.

‘I heard Lee merked you at FIFA!’ ‘We’ve got a surprise Maths test?
That’s peak bruv!’
my man (pronoun) - used to replace
3rd person singular peng (adjective) - hot / good-
looking
‘My man is getting hench!’
‘Wow! The girls at this party are peng.’
nang (adjective) - impressive or
really good piff (adjective) - good or attractive

‘Your freestyle was nang bro.’ ‘These are some piff chips!’

off the hook (phrase) - if something Rah! (expression) - wow / expression

is off the hook it’s awesome or super of surprise
cool.
‘Rah! Man City just lost to Crystal Palace!’

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ramp (verb) - mess with or tease safe (exclamation) - used to greet
someone someone/agree/show approval or to
say goodbye.
‘You met Harry Kane! Don’t ramp
me fam.’ ‘Safe blud, wah’gwan?’

rasclart (noun) - idiot/fool screwface (noun) - an angry facial

expression
‘Tony you rasclart! Why did you switch
off the light? I’m trying to read my book’ ‘Why are you giving me a screwface?’

rinse (verb) - use something up shook (adjective) - shocked/scared

‘I’ve totally rinsed my phone credit. Can I ‘You look shook bruv, what just
borrow your phone to call my mum?’ happened?’

roadman (noun) - a young person shot (verb) - sell drugs

who hangs around on the streets
‘Reece was shotting when he
‘All those boys in my endz want was a teenager but now he’s
to be a roadman.’ back in education’

rude boy/rude girl (noun) - a term sick (adjective) - cool, awesome,

for a man/woman which has its very good.
origins in Jamaica and ska mu-
sic culture. These days it is used ‘Bruv, that is a sick jacket. Where did you
much more generally as a term of find it?’
endearment (also rudie)
sket (noun) - a derogatory term
‘Yes rude boy, how’s it going?’ for a female who has multiple
romantic partners
rush (verb) - attack someone in a
group ‘Don’t call her a sket, she’s not like that
at all!’
‘We got rushed by a bunch of boys
in the park and ended up having to
run for help.’

WAH’GWAN
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 WASTEMAN
standard (adjective) - normal wasteman (noun) - a man who
doesn’t do anything with their life/
‘West Ham lost again today, standard!’ a loser

swear down (phrase) - seriously / ‘My cousin is such a wasteman, he

I’m telling the truth needs to get a job fam!’

A) ‘There’s no way you got an interview wah’gwan - greeting like ‘what’s

at Google!’ going on?’
B) ‘I swear down! It’s next Tuesday.’
‘Wah’gwan mandem?’
tonk (adjective) - muscular
yard (noun) - someone’s home
‘Janay’s new boyfriend is tonk!’
‘Come round man’s yard and watch the
twos (verb) - share something (also football.’
‘get twos on something’)
(you) get me? (phrase) - a phrase
‘Can I twos your cigarette?’ meaning ‘do you understand what I
mean or said?’
vex (adjective) - angry
‘Man needs to see some sunshine
‘You should have seen Selina. She was soon fam, you get me? I’m done with
proper vex after chatting to Misha.’ this rain.’

wallad (adjective) - foolish stupid yute (noun) - a young person

male (very derogatory)
‘The yutes in my area are all wearing
‘That wallad just tried to shoplift and got North Face jackets now.’
caught by the police!’

169
3.
IT’S A
LONDON
THING

My Perfect
Weekend
in London

170
 WHEN A MAN
IS TIRED
OF LONDON,
HE IS TIRED
OF LIFE – SAMUEL JOHNSON, 1777

London is a city of villages, from genteel Hampstead to

trendy Shoreditch, each one with its own unique charm and
identity. I’ve spent my life exploring the city’s streets and I still
haven’t scratched the surface. Over the years, I’ve loved stitching
the city together in my mind and seeing how it all fits together
like a giant patchwork quilt. One thing I’ve realised is that London
is so much more than just the tourist traps of Leicester Square
and Piccadilly Circus. The real London lives in local pubs and
street markets, it lives in the buzzing high streets and greasy
spoon cafes. It’s incredible free museums and night buses, it’s
tube strikes and Nando’s! So with this guide ‘My Perfect Weekend
in London’, I attempt the impossible. You can’t see this city in
just one weekend but you can get a pretty awesome feel for
the energy and atmosphere of the place… so here we go.

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SATURDAY MORNING
Walk along the South Bank - My favourite
way to reconnect with the city after a period of
time away is to walk along the South Bank, west
to east, from Waterloo to London Bridge (or Tower
Bridge if I’m feeling energetic). It’s a route that
takes you past some of the most iconic London
landmarks such as the London Eye, St Paul’s
Cathedral and Tate Modern. But more importantly,
it’s a route that connects you to London’s energy.
You’ve got the fast-flowing river on your left,
the South Bank skaters on your right and a
mix of street entertainers, tourists and
runners all around you. Look out for the
Millennium Bridge nicknamed the ‘wobbly
bridge’ after it swayed in the wind soon after
opening. If you have time, walk across it to
the north side and find a building called One
New Change. Take the lift to the top floor for
magnificent (free) views and photo opportunities
looking back towards St Paul’s Cathedral. I like
to finish the walk in Borough Market, which is
back on the south side of the river. Grab a coffee
from Monmouth and peruse the food stalls for
something delicious to nibble for lunch.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Experience a live football match -
The Premier League has become a globalised
phenomenon with millions of people watching
games on their TVs and phones across the world
but nothing beats watching the action live in the
stadium. London has (at the time of writing) five
Premier League teams, each one with its own

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history and identity. For me, there is no greater
way to spend a Saturday afternoon than going to
a match. The energy and excitement are palpable.
Even if you don’t like football, it’s a great way to
get a feel for the local people and culture. Buying
tickets for Premier League games is quite hard
these days so you could also try a Championship
team instead, where tickets are easier to obtain. I
advise researching good pubs to go to before the
game and maybe learn one or two of the songs so
you can be a part of the atmosphere.

SATURDAY EVENING
So we’ve had a super fun day and our
team has just won 3-0 so we need to celebrate.
What better way to do that than with dinner and
drinks? Depending on my mood I might choose
SushiSamba for the views, Tayyabs in Whitechapel
for the bustling atmosphere or St John’s for the
imaginative dishes. The night would then continue
at Wilton’s Music Hall, a music venue dating back
to 1859. It’s my favourite place in London. You
can literally feel the history as you walk through
the doors. I highly recommend you get tickets for
a show in the main theatre or go to one of the
super fun swing dance nights organised by Swing
Patrol. Alternatively, you could have a drink in
the Mahogany bar and imagine you have been
transported to Victorian London.

SUNDAY MORNING
Of course on my perfect London weekend
it’s a sunny Sunday, so that means I’ll start the day
with a walk in my favourite green space Victoria

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Park. Set in east London, this glorious park was
created in 1845 after 30,000 local petitioners
demanded a place for recreation in one of the
city’s most overcrowded areas. I’d have brunch
at the Pavilion cafe next to the lake. I thoroughly
recommend the veggie breakfast. If you aren’t
hungry, sit a while with a coffee and people/
dog watch. Look out for their delicious turmeric
buns too! I would then walk west along Regents
Canal to Columbia Road Flower Market. This is
my favourite market in the city because it’s a little
hidden oasis of colour and charm. You’ve got
locals rubbing shoulders with tourists, all set to
the soundtrack of authentic Cockney flower sellers
trying to flog their stock before 3 pm. Pick up a
bunch of flowers and continue on to Brick Lane.
If there’s one food item you have to try in London
it’s a salt beef bagel from Beigel Bake. The queue
is long and the service is grumpy at best but that’s
all part of the fun. Walk down Brick Lane and
explore the various shops and markets in the area,
including Spitalfields.

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SUNDAY AFTERNOON
We could have spent all day in east
London, but for a change of pace, I would head to
Primrose Hill in north London for my favourite view
of the city. Walk to the top of the hill, enjoy the
panorama and see if you can name ten buildings
in the London skyline. If it’s sunny, grab a picnic
or a bottle of wine and sit in the long grass for
the rest of the afternoon. Make sure you walk
around the village and take in the colourful houses
around Chalcot Square. If you are still hungry, I’d
recommend lunch at Lemonia, a wonderful family-
run Greek restaurant.

SUNDAY EVENING
After a full weekend of fun, I’d want to
spend the evening in a pub with good friends
debating the weekend’s football results or sharing
Netflix recommendations. Pub culture is a huge
part of London life and there are so many good
pubs to choose from. Some of my favourite ones
include The Flask in Highgate, The Prospect of
Whitby in Wapping, The Mayflower in Rotherhithe,
Crate Brewery in Hackney Wick, The Cow in
Notting Hill and for great views of London, Frank’s
rooftop bar in Peckham.

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3.
IT’S A
LONDON
THING

TOM’S LONDON
NEED-TO-KNOWS

176
Black cab - One of London’s most by the DLR and Jubilee lines. Its
iconic sights, London black cabs are most iconic building is One Canada
a popular form of transportation Square which is the second tallest
around the city. Because they are building in London.
fully licensed they are the only taxis
you can hail from the street. Drivers Cockney - A Cockney is someone
(cabbies, as they are known) are born in London within the sound
required to pass a gruelling test of the Bow Bells, the bells of St
called ‘The Knowledge’ in order to Mary-Le-Bow church. Traditionally,
get their licence. It takes two years a Cockney speaks with a working-
and they must memorise 25,000 class dialect also known as Cockney.
streets within a six-mile radius of We explore the main features of the
Charing Cross. This is signified by accent in this guide and there is a
cabbies wearing a green licence. section on Cockney rhyming slang
There is a minimum fare of £3 at too.
all times.
Congestion Charge - A daily
Boris Bike - The nickname given charge for anyone driving a vehicle
to the bicycles used in London’s within the charging zone located
cycle hire scheme, officially known across central London. There is also
as Santander Cycles. The scheme now an Ultra-Low Emission Zone
was introduced in 2010 when Boris (ULEZ) in the same area which
Johnson was the Mayor of London. encourages vehicles to meet the
The bikes became synonymous with ULEZ emissions standards or drivers
him and the name stuck. could pay a larger charge. The zone
stretches from Kings Cross in the
Canary Wharf - A busy financial north to Shoreditch in the east and
area in London where a number from Elephant & Castle in the south
of large banks and financial to Mayfair in the west.
institutions have their headquarters.
It is located along the Thames to DLR - The Docklands Light Railway
the east of the centre and is served was opened in 1987 to connect

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the City of London with the pushed back to late 2020.
redeveloped Docklands area in east While it’s under construction it is
London and in particular, the new commonly known as Crossrail but
financial area of Canary Wharf. It once it is opened it will be named
is unique in that trains are above after the Queen and become the
ground and fully automated so they Elizabeth Line.
don’t require a driver. If you get the
front seat you can pretend you are Emirates Stadium - The home
the driver. stadium of Premier League
football team Arsenal. The club
East End - The traditional working- moved into their new 60,260
class area of London set to the capacity home in 2006. It has
east of the City of London. How also hosted several international
far it actually spreads is debated matches featuring Brazil.
but it certainly stretches eastwards
from Tower Bridge and includes Evening Standard - The ‘Standard’,
areas such as Bethnal Green, as it’s commonly known, is London’s
Hoxton, Shoreditch, Stepney, and free daily newspaper published
Bow. For centuries it was known Monday to Friday. For 180 years
for its deprivation and poor living it was sold by sellers shouting
conditions, with many residents ‘Standard, get your Standard’
living in slums and tenement (and variations of that phrase) in
buildings. During the Second the busiest areas of London e.g.
World War it was devastated by Tube stations and near offices.
German air raids, a time known In 2009 it became free but you
as The Blitz, and much of the area can still hear the iconic cries of
was completely destroyed. Over ‘Standard’ by distributers if you are
the years the East End has been in Central London. The paper covers
home to many immigrant groups international and national events as
settling in London, most notably the well as all things London.
Ashkenazi Jews who settled in the
1800s, and more recently a sizeable Fleet Street - Fleet Street is a
Bangladeshi community. These days metonym for the British national
the East End is changing rapidly press. Traditionally this central
with the regeneration of the docks, London street was home to all the
The Olympic Park development in major newspapers in the country,
Stratford and the gentrification of and so it became a term used to
areas like Shoreditch and Hoxton. refer to the industry. These days
many of the papers have moved to
Elizabeth Line / Crossrail - A brand other parts of London.
new rail network that will run
through London from east to west Football nicknames - Football is a
linking Essex with Berkshire. It was huge passion in the Capital and the
due to open in December 2018 but four major teams in the city all have
due to delays in the construction nicknames which you will hear or
work, the opening date has been read if you spend any time here.

178
The Hammers - West Ham United, Harrods - Possibly Britain’s
a team who play in the London most famous shop, Harrods is a
Stadium in Stratford, east London. department store in Knightsbridge,
They are known as the Hammers London. It moved to its current
because they were formed by location in 1849 and has become a
workers at an iron works. true icon of British retail. There are
over 300 departments within the
The Gunners - Arsenal, a north store, dedicated to everything from
London team who play at the women’s fashion and children’s
Emirates stadium in Islington. toys to Christmas decorations and,
They are originally from Woolwich of course, its famous food hall. A
Arsenal in south London which is dress code was introduced in 1989
where the Royal Artillery Barracks for customers, which includes no
are located, hence the name flip flops or beach shorts. Harrods
Arsenal and the club emblem has featured in both TV and film
which is a canon. including the 2018 version of ‘Peter
Rabbit’ and ‘Merry Christmas Mr
Bean’, in which Mr Bean accidentally
turns off the Harrods lights.

Heathrow Airport (LHR) - The

second busiest airport in the world
behind Dubai International airport
for international passenger traffic.
Heathrow is located 14 miles west
of central London and is accessible
via the Heathrow Express or the
Piccadilly line. It has four functioning
The Blues - Chelsea, a club in the terminals including terminal 5 which
west of the city, are called the Blues houses all British Airways flights.
because they play in an all-blue kit. Heathrow stars in many films, mostly
famously the 2003 classic Love
Spurs - Tottenham Hotspur, a team Actually.
from north London, are named after
a Shakespearean character called Home Counties - This is the term
Sir Harry Hotspur. used to describe the counties
that surround London. They are
Gatwick Airport (LGW) - Located Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey,
about 30 miles to the south of Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, Sussex
central London, Gatwick is the and Berkshire. Other counties are
second busiest airport in the sometimes included as there is no
United Kingdom. It has two strict definition. You will often hear
terminals, North and South and ‘London and the Home Counties’
is a major base for British Airways used to describe the south-east area
and low-cost airlines like easyJet of England.
and TUI Airways.

179
LDN - This is a modern abbreviation smart card for the whole city
for London. allowing you to ride on public
transport. That includes the Tube,
London City Airport (LCY) - Located buses, trams, the overground, the
in the east of the city near Canary DLR, boat services and the Emirates
Wharf, City Airport is the fifth Airline. It’s a pay-as-you-go system
busiest airport in the London area. in which you need to add money
It is conveniently placed to serve to your card at Tube stations or
the business community in Canary newsagents. These days you can
Wharf and The City. The best way to also use your contactless bank card
get there is via the DLR. instead of an Oyster card. However,
check to see if your bank charges
Lord’s - Lord’s Cricket Ground is a for overseas payments. Expert
sports stadium in St John’s Wood, tourist tip - remember for the Tube
an area in north-west London. you need to touch in and out when
Often referred to as the ‘home’ of you enter and exit, whereas on a
cricket, its most distinctive feature bus you just need to touch in (don’t
is a Grade II listed Pavilion which touch out).
was built in 1889. Both England
and Middlesex play their cricket Routemaster bus - A classic red
matches here. double-decker bus that used to
be ubiquitous around London
M25 - The motorway that orbits but has now become much rarer
London. It is notorious for having to find. Its distinctive feature was
traffic problems and some its open door from which you
Londoners joke that anything north could hop on or off at any time
of the M25 is ‘the north of England’. (safety permitting). The original
Routemaster buses were withdrawn
Night bus - An absolute institution from service in 2005. However, one
in London, the night bus is a bus heritage route was kept and still
service that runs through the night. runs today. The number 15 bus
They usually run on a reduced runs from Trafalgar Square to the
service and the routes will have the Tower of London and is well worth
prefix ’N’ in front of them. So, for a ride for any visitors to London.
example, the ’43’ will become ‘N43’ The Routemaster bus design was
at night. updated with safer doors and can
be seen around London.
Number Ten - A metonym for the
Prime Minister and their staff. The
name comes from the fact that the
Prime Minster’s residential address
is Number 10 Downing Street.

Oyster card - Possibly the most

important part of any trip to
London! The Oyster card is your

180
Scotland Yard - The headquarters Stamford Bridge - The home
for the Metropolitan police. Official stadium of Premier League football
name New Scotland Yard. team Chelsea.
It is also used as a metonym
for the police force in London. Stansted Airport (STN) - London’s
third busiest airport, located about
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre - A 40 miles north-east of the city
beautiful reconstruction of the centre in Essex. It mostly caters for
original Globe Theatre which low-cost airlines like easyJet and
was built in 1599, but was later Ryanair.
destroyed by a fire. Shakespeare’s
Globe theatre has sat by the Tate Modern - One of London’s top
River Thames on the South Bank tourist attractions, Tate Modern is
since its construction in 1997. It home to some of the best modern
holds 1,400 spectators, half of art in the world. Sitting by the
whom choose to stand in the bank of the River Thames, it is
yard in front of the stage as a situated in the old Bankside Power
‘groundling’ for a much-reduced station which was converted into
price. The theatre is also open- an art gallery in 2000. Perhaps the
air which means performances most iconic part of the gallery is
can often be interrupted by rain, the enormous Turbine Hall which
birds or helicopters, which all add houses larger exhibits. There is also
to its charm. Alongside the main a cafe on the sixth floor which offers
theatre, there is also an indoor wonderful views of the London
theatre called the Sam Wanamaker skyline towards St Paul’s Cathedral.
Playhouse. A visit to London should
certainly include a performance at TFL (Transport For London) - The
the Globe if you can get tickets. organisation in charge of running
the London transport network
South Bank - The South Bank is which includes the Tube, trams,
an area that runs along the south buses, boats, and cycles.
side of the River Thames from
the London Eye to Tower Bridge. The Cheesegrater - Another
The walkway passes several iconic City of London skyscraper, The
London landmarks and cultural Cheesegrater is one of the city’s
institutions including the Royal most distinctive buildings with
Festival Hall, BFI, Tate Modern, and its unique cheese-grater shape.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. It is, in It is formally known as 122
my opinion, the best place to walk Leadenhall Street.
in London and really connect with
the city. Start at Westminster Bridge The City - A term used to describe
and slowly make your way along to the central business district of
London Bridge or Tower Bridge if London (also known as The Square
you have the energy. Mile). As well as containing major
financial institutions, it is the historic
centre of London. If someone

181
says they ‘work in the City’ it is a London Olympic Games. The entire
metonym for working in London Olympic Park was developed on
finance. disused land in Stratford, east
London and has now become a hub
The Gherkin - Formally known for sport, business, and technology.
as 30 St Mary Axe, The Gherkin is After the games, the stadium was
a commercial skyscraper in the redeveloped into a multi-purpose
City that resembles the shape of venue that hosts concerts and other
a gherkin. It was opened in 2004 sporting events alongside football.
and stands on the former site of the
Baltic Exchange and the Chamber The North Circular - This is the
of Shipping which were damaged inner ring road around the north
in an IRA bomb in 1992. side of London, from Woolwich in
the east to Chiswick in the west.
The London Eye - Sitting on the It’s often congested and slow.
south bank of the River Thames, It’s probably not somewhere you
The London Eye is an observation will want to add to your London
wheel that attracts hundreds of itinerary if you can help it.
thousands of visitors every year. It
was opened in 2000 as part of the The Oval - London’s second
millennium celebrations and was major cricket ground, The Oval
initially supposed to be a temporary is the home of Surrey Country
structure, but in 2002 it was given Cricket Club and also hosts
permanent status. There are 32 England matches. It’s located
glass pods and it takes 30 minutes in Kennington, south London
to do a full revolution of the wheel. and holds 25,000 spectators.

The London Stadium - The home The Overground - A train line

stadium of Premier League football opened in 2007 with 112 stations
team West Ham United since across all of London. It serves some
2016. It was originally built as the of the trendier parts of London like
centrepiece venue for the 2012 Shoreditch High Street, New Cross,

TOM’S TIPS
If you want to know whether the Queen is at
home or not, look at the flagpole on top of
Buckingham Palace. If the Royal Standard is
flying she’s in, if it’s the British flag she’s away....
probably clubbing in Ibiza or backpacking in
South-East Asia.

182
and Dalston. Because it’s under the
management of TFL you can use
your Oyster card on it.

The Palace - A short name for

Buckingham Palace, The Palace
is, of course, The Queen’s London
residence. It contains a mind-
boggling 775 rooms and is opened
to the public from August to Sep-
tember. The Palace has always been
a place for Brits to gather during
times of celebration and mourning.

The Shard - Opened in 2012, The Shard is the

United Kingdom’s tallest building, standing at
95 storeys high. It’s called the Shard because
of its resemblance to a shard of glass and
indeed it reflects the sunshine in spectacular
fashion on a sunny day. There is a public
viewing gallery at the top alongside offices,
restaurants and the Shangri-La hotel, which
occupies the 34th to 52nd floors.
The Silicon Roundabout - Also
known as the East London Tech
City, this is an area containing
a large number of high tech
businesses. It originated around
the Old Street roundabout in
2008, but has expanded towards
Shoreditch. Notable companies that
have offices in the area are Google,
Amazon, and Microsoft.

The Square Mile - Another term

for The City, this is the historic
and financial centre of London.
It’s known as the Square Mile
because it is indeed a square mile
in area, and includes The Gherkin,
The Walkie Talkie, and Bank. It
is also a metonym for the UK’s
financial industry.

The Thames - London’s iconic river

183
runs through the centre of the seen as very unusual and, of course,
city from west to east dividing the always always always mind the
city into north and south. It truly is bloody gap!
the heartbeat of the city with The
Houses of Parliament, The Tower Twickenham - The stadium for the
of London, Tate Modern and many England national rugby team. It
other famous landmarks all dotted holds 82,000 people and is located
along its banks. It has long been in an affluent area of south-west
the inspiration for music, art, and London. It’s also referred to by
literature. The Kinks mentioned people within rugby as HQ.
the ‘dirty old river’ in their song
Waterloo Sunset, and much of The V&A - Founded in 1852
Charles Dickens’ work name- and named after Queen Victoria
dropped the river in some way or and Prince Albert, The Victoria
another. The Thames also hosts and Albert Museum is one of
the Oxford vs Cambridge boat race the world’s great homes for art
every April. The race starts at Putney and design. Located in South
and finishes a few miles west at Kensington near the Natural
Mortlake. Remarkably, in 2006 a History Museum it holds over 2
northern bottle-nosed whale got million objects including sculptures,
lost in the Thames estuary and ceramics, jewellery, and fashion. The
swam up the river as far as the architecture of the museum itself is
Houses of Parliament. very striking, and there is a beautiful
central garden to find some peace
The Thames Barrier - The Thames and calm after a long day walking
Barrier stretches across the river to around the museum.
the east of the city and is designed
to prevent the flood plain of London The Walkie Talkie -
from tidal surges. It was officially The nickname for ’20 Fenchurch
opened by the Queen in 1984 and Street’ a skyscraper in the City of
since then there have been 15 boat London. Apart from resembling a
collisions into the barrier. walkie talkie, it is also known for its
Sky Garden at the top which offers
The Tube - This is the nickname panoramic views of the city. In
for the London Underground. Use 2013 a sunbeam reflection off the
it and you’ll sound like a local building’s windows caused damage
immediately. The first line was built to a parked car below by melting
in 1863 and it has expanded to 11 the bodywork. The developers
lines and 270 stations. The famous were required to pay the owner
Tube map was designed by Harry almost £1,000 in costs. Even more
Beck in 1933 and its success can be improbably, a journalist was able to
put down to its simplicity. There are fry an egg on the pavement where
a few unwritten rules of the Tube. the reflected beams had heated up
Always stand on the right-hand side the area to over 90°C.
of an escalator (not on the left!),
conversations with strangers are The West End - The area in London

184
where most of the main tourist Tomorrow’.
attractions, entertainment venues
and shops are located. It is situated Wembley Stadium - Wembley
to the west of the City of London is the national stadium of the
and includes areas like Covent men’s England football team. It
Garden, Soho, Oxford Street, and was redeveloped in 2007 to hold
Leicester Square. 90,000 spectators and was given a
distinctive arch that hangs above
The Westway - An iconic elevated the pitch and lights up when a goal
dual carriageway that runs from is scored. It hosts both the League
Paddington and heads westwards Cup and FA Cup finals as well as
past Ladbroke Grove towards East large music concerts.
Acton. It was part of a plan in the
1960s to create a circuit of high- White Hart Lane | Tottenham
speed ring roads within London. The Hotspur Stadium - The home
plan was scrapped but not before stadium of Premier League football
the Westway was built. It has since team Tottenham Hotspur. It was
become the subject of numerous completed in April 2019 and
songs including The Clash’s contains 62,000 seats.
‘London’s Burning’ and Blur’s ‘For

185
4.
FOOD
AND
DRINK

Tom’s
Essential Guide
to British Pubs

186
 If there is one thing Brits do well, it’s going
to the pub. Thursday night after work, Friday night
because it’s the weekend, Saturday night because
it’s a friend’s birthday, Sunday afternoon for a
roast… you get the idea. Brits’ love of a pub isn’t just
about alcohol though, it’s about social bonding.
Back in the day, public houses (pubs) were the
centre of the community and the one warm, dry
place where people could gather. Where many
cultures socialise over food, the British generally
prefer to do it over a beer or glass of wine. Each
pub has its own charm and character. It’ll have its
regulars (people who frequent it on a regular basis)
and it’ll probably have a curious name like ‘The Dog
and Duck’ or ‘The Cock in Cider’. A visit to a pub is
an absolute must for anyone in Britain, so here are
a few tips on what to expect.

PUB
CRAWL
187
 14
IMPORTANT THINGS

A PUB
OBEY THE INVISIBLE QUEUE YOU NEED TO KNOW IN
Even though it may not look
like it, there is an ‘invisible’
queue at the bar. Everyone
knows who is ahead of them
so make sure you know who SIZES
is ahead of you and make sure If you would like a beer you can
you don’t jump the queue. ask for a pint (568ml) or a half
pint (284ml). Wine is usually
BAR SNACKS served in a 175ml glass. However,
While some pubs do food, it’s you can ask for large or small
common for people who just depending on the pub. Spirits are
want to drink to order a few bar served in shots. One shot is 25ml
snacks as well. These range from and a double is 50ml.
peanuts and crisps through to
sausage rolls and pork pies. It WHAT YOU’LL HEAR
all depends on the pub. The barman/lady will
ask ‘What can I get
ROUNDS you?’ or ‘What would
In Britain, we generally buy our you like?’
drinks in rounds. This is a set
WHAT YOU SAY
of drinks bought for a group
You can say something
of people within a system.
like ‘A pint of lager please’
Usually everyone in the group
or ‘Can I get a pint of
is supposed to buy a round,
Guinness, please?’
therefore making it fair and
equal. Make sure you buy your
NO TABLE SERVICE
round when it’s your turn as it’s
Firstly you’ll need to
really frowned upon if someone
go to the bar as there
‘forgets’ to buy theirs.
is no table service.

188
‘MIND YOUR BACKS’
Pubs are often crowded places,
and carrying drinks from the
bar to your table can be tricky.
Use ‘Mind your backs’, ‘Mind
yourselves’ or ‘Excuse me’
to warn people that you are DON’T ALL GO TO THE BAR
passing them with drinks in If you are with friends you don’t
your hands, and they should all need to go to the bar. One
make space for you. or two of you should go to the
bar and order while the rest of
THE BELLS your group sits down.
When you hear the first bell
ring that means it’s last orders. PUB QUIZ
You usually have 15 minutes Lots of pubs have weekly
to order your last drinks before quizzes that are open to
the bar closes. When you hear anyone. They are usually good
the second bell it means the fun and a great way to meet
bar is closed. So listen out for new people and test your
the bell and be quick. general knowledge

NO SMOKING! PUB CRAWL

Remember: smoking A pub crawl is a tour of several
has been banned in pubs by a group of people
pubs since 2007. visiting one pub after another.
It’s custom to have one drink
NO TIPPING in a pub and then move on to
We don’t tip in pubs, but if you the next one and so on. From
want to express your gratitude to my experience pub crawls
the bar staff you can offer to buy are a lot of fun, but can get
them a drink by saying ‘get one very messy, so you have been
for yourself’ as you are ordering. warned. Needless to say, always
drink responsibly, guys.
189
 33
pissed up
TOM’S TOP /pɪst ʌp/

fucked
/fʌkt/
SLANG rat-arsed
ALTERNATIVES /rætɑːst/
FOR DRUNK
blotto
/blɒtəʊ/
wrecked
/rekt/ mullered
sloshed
/slɒʃt/ /mʌləd/
trolleyed paralytic
/trɒlid/ /pærəlɪtɪk/
sozzled
/sɒzəld/
destroyed
/dɪstrɔɪd/

pished pissed
blathered /pɪʃt/
/blæðərd/ /pɪst/

190
leathered shit-faced
/leðəd/ /ʃɪtfeɪst/
under the table
/ʌndə ðə teɪbəl/
steaming (drunk) wasted
/stiːmɪŋ/
half-cut /weɪstɪd/
/hɑːfkʌt/
smashed
/smæʃt/ boozed-up out of it
/buːzd ʌp/ /aʊt əv ɪt/
slaughtered
/slɔːtəd/ twatted
/twætɪd/
plastered legless
/plɑːstəd/ /leɡləs/
bladdered
/blædəd/ wankered
hammered
/hæməd/
/wæŋkərd/

off your tits/face/pickle

/ɒf jɔːr tɪtz/ bevvied up
/bevi:d ʌp/
191
4.
FOOD
AND
DRINK

Tom’s Must-Try
British Food
and Drink

192
 British food is often criticised for being bland and, frankly,
not very tasty. Of course, I’m going to disagree with that. Anyone
who says such a thing simply hasn’t sampled the good stuff.
Approach British food with an open mind (and open mouth)
and you will be rewarded. Do your research and find local
recommendations for the best Sunday roast, fish and chips or full
English in your area. Promise me this: you won’t eat a supermarket
scotch egg and think you’ve ‘done’ British food! Be brave and try
some of the food items on this list. You might surprise yourself!

baked beans - a British classic! bread and butter pudding -

Baked beans are a delicious a traditional pudding made of
combination of haricot beans in layered bread slices, eggs, cream,
a tomato sauce. They are usually vanilla, and dried fruit. It’s baked
served on toast or as part of a full in the oven and served hot.
English breakfast.
bubble and squeak - essentially
Bakewell tart - an almond a recipe that uses up leftovers,
flavoured tart with white icing and bubble and squeak is usually
layers of jam that originates in a made up of potato and cabbage.
Derbyshire town called Bakewell. However, it can contain many
different vegetables depending
Balti - a British style of curry served on what someone has available.
in a metal dish that originates in It can be eaten as part of a full
Birmingham. There is an area called English breakfast.
the Balti Triangle in the south of the
city which has a large number of chicken tikka masala - with origins
Balti houses. in the South Asian community of
Britain, the chicken tikka masala
bangers and mash - sausages and has been voted as Britain’s most
mashed potato, usually served with popular dish. It’s a creamy aromatic
onion gravy. chicken curry served with rice or
naan bread. Highly recommended.
beef wellington - a very special
dish using a large beef fillet which cider - an alcoholic drink made
is covered in a pâté and then from apples that is most associated
surrounded by puff pastry. with Somerset and the West
Country. Most ciders in the UK
black pudding - a type of are sparkling and come in three
blood sausage made with pork main varieties: sweet, medium dry
blood, cereal, and oats. It’s most and dry. It has also become very
commonly eaten as part of a full common for cider to be made with
English breakfast. pears and other types of fruit.

193
cullen skink - a thick Scottish one should put the jam on first and
soup made of smoked haddock, the clotted cream on top, whereas
potatoes, and onions. in Devon it’s clotted cream first then
jam. It’s a controversial issue! Either
Cornish pasty - one of the most way, it’s a British institution that
iconic British dishes, the Cornish should be tried by every visitor.
pasty is a must-try for any visitor
to these shores. It’s a type of warm deep-fried Mars bar - Exactly what
semi-circular pie made from it sounds like! A chocolate bar
shortcrust pastry and filled with dipped in batter and then deep-
beef, potato, and vegetables. It fried. This delicacy originated in the
originates in Cornwall and was fish and chip shops of Scotland.
the staple food for the local tin Let’s just say it’s an acquired taste.
miners in the area thanks to its
portable nature. digestive biscuit - a round biscuit
usually eaten as a snack in between
cottage pie - a dish of minced meat meals and often with a cup of tea.
in gravy with a mashed potato
topping that is cooked in the oven. Eccles cake - a small sweet cake
Very similar to a Shepherd’s pie but filled with dried fruit and covered in
made with beef, not lamb. flaky pastry. It originates in a small
town called Eccles near Manchester.
cream tea - a light meal taken in
the afternoon consisting of tea, English breakfast tea - a black tea
scones, clotted cream, and jam. It blend served with milk and sugar
originates in Cornwall and Devon. (optional). It is the classic tea used
However, there is a dispute as to for a British ‘cuppa’.
how it should be eaten. In Cornwall,

PIE&
MASH
194
fish and chips - possibly Britain’s oatmeal, suet, and spices. It is
most famous dish. It consists of a served with neeps and tatties
white fish, usually cod or haddock, and traditionally eaten during
dipped in batter, deep-fried and Burns Night.
then served with chips. There are
regional differences as to how it’s jellied eels - a traditional East End
served. In the north of England, dish of chopped eels covered in jelly
mushy peas are very common that is eaten cold alongside mashed
and chips are often eaten with potato. You can find jellied eels
gravy or curry sauce. In the south, in London’s Pie and Mash shops
tartare sauce is popular and chips like L. Manze in Walthamstow and
are often eaten with ketchup or Goddard’s in Greenwich.
mayonnaise. If you are in Britain and
visit a seaside town like Brighton or kedgeree - a lightly spiced rice
Blackpool, a trip to a fish and chip dish with smoked fish, onions and
shop is an absolute must. eggs. Its origins are disputed but
it seems that it was first created
full English - the ultimate breakfast! in India during the colonial era
A full English contains many of the and adapted by Scottish troops
following items: bacon, sausage, returning home who yearned for
eggs any style, baked beans, Indian flavours. It’s usually served
mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, black for breakfast or brunch.
pudding, hash browns, bubble and
squeak, and fried bread or toast.
It’s important to say at this point
that British people DO NOT eat this
every day for obvious reasons.

gin & tonic - G&T, as it is known,

is another classic British alcoholic
drink, although gin’s origins lie
across the sea in Holland. Gin
became popular in Britain in the
17th century and many distilleries, Lancashire hot pot - said to have
particularly in London, started been invented by the millworkers
producing it in vast quantities. of Lancashire, this dish is a stew of
These days it is mixed with tonic lamb and vegetables, topped with
and served with a slice of lime, and sliced potato before being cooked
perhaps a little mint too. M&S do in the oven so that the top is crispy.
a great G&T in a green can that’s a
personal favourite of mine for long- laverbread - a traditional dish from
distance train journeys. Wales that, despite its name, is not
actually bread. It’s boiled seaweed
haggis - a Scottish dish made that is then added to oatmeal and
of sheep’s heart, liver, lungs, fried. It can be served on toast or as
and stomach along with onion, part of a Welsh breakfast. Famous

195
Welsh actor Richard Burton is the most commonly eaten is the
quoted as describing laverbread as Melton Mowbray pork pie from
‘Welsh caviar’. Leicestershire. They can be eaten
hot or cold
Marmite - made of yeast extract
Marmite is a spread commonly porridge - a grain (often oats)
served on toast. It’s definitely simmered in milk or water that is
an acquired taste and their ad eaten for breakfast. In Scotland,
campaign had the line ‘you either people tend to cook it with
love it or hate it’. salt whereas that isn’t the case
elsewhere. The big question is what
mushy peas - marrowfat peas toppings you go for! These days
cooked and then mushed up. They there is a wide variety of things one
go very well with fish and chips. can add such as sugar, honey, fresh
fruit, seeds etc.
neeps and tatties - a Scottish
dish served with haggis, made scone - a small lightly sweetened
of mashed swede/turnip and cake served as part of an afternoon
mashed potato. tea (see Cream Tea).

pie, mash, and liquor - the scotch egg - classic picnic food
traditional working-class food that also makes a great snack.
from the East End of London. It It’s a boiled egg wrapped in pork
consists of a minced beef pie, meat then covered in breadcrumbs
mashed potato and covered in a and deep-fried. In my opinion, it’s
thin parsley sauce. Pie and Mash best served warm with a slightly
shops can still be found in various runny yolk. In a lot of London food
locations in London such as markets, you can find interesting
L. Manze in Walthamstow. variations on the traditional recipe
using chorizo or smoked haddock
Pimm’s & lemonade - instead of pork. Personally, I think
a quintessentially British the supermarket scotch eggs don’t
alcoholic drink that’s very popular taste as good as the gourmet
on a hot summer’s day. Pimm’s versions found in food markets and
itself is a gin-based liqueur with gastro-pubs.
herbs and citrus flavours and when
mixed with lemonade and chopped shepherd’s pie - Exactly the same
pieces of fresh fruit becomes the as a cottage pie but made with
perfect summer drink. lamb (hence the name Shepherd’s
pie).
pork pie - a type of meat pie made
from chopped pork and pork fat steak and kidney pie - this is proper
with bits of jelly encased in pastry. British comfort food. A traditional
It’s commonly eaten on picnics pie with diced beef and kidney in
or as a snack. There are different gravy and topped with pastry.
types of pork pies but perhaps

196
strawberries and cream - a toad in the hole - a delicious
summer classic! Fresh strawberries combination of sausages cooked
covered in double cream and in a Yorkshire pudding batter and
sprinkled with a little sugar if you served with vegetables and onion
fancy it. The perfect dessert or gravy.
treat famously served at the All
England Tennis Championships at trifle - a classic English dessert
Wimbledon. consisting of layers of fruit, sherry-
soaked sponge fingers, custard,
Sunday roast - the most and whipped cream. Made famous
quintessentially British meal. A by Rachel from Friends when she
proper Sunday roast contains a attempts to make it and adds a
roast meat (beef, chicken, lamb, layer of meat and peas in between
pork), roast potatoes, a variety of the fruit and custard. This was
cooked vegetables and gravy. There because the trifle and Shepherd’s
are certain traditions that go with Pie recipe pages got stuck together
each type of meat. Beef is served in her cookbook.
with Yorkshire pudding. Chicken
often comes with sage and onion Yorkshire pudding - hands down
stuffing. Lamb is served with mint my personal favourite British dish.
sauce and pork usually comes with It’s essentially a fluffy batter made
apple sauce. On a personal note, I of eggs, flour, milk, and water. They
love Yorkshire puddings so much are put in the oven where they rise
I break with convention and have up into quirky uneven shapes. The
them with any type of meat. As outside should be crispy while the
the name suggests this meal is inside should remain fluffy and
traditionally served on Sunday and doughy. They are served as a side
was often the main family meal of dish with roast beef in a Sunday
the week. It is an absolute must- Roast. However, in Yorkshire they
try when you come to Britain, with are much larger and act almost as
veggie options often available. It’s a bowl inside which the roast meat
also known as a roast dinner. and vegetables are placed. Either
way, they are delicious!
tartare sauce - a condiment served
with fish made of mayonnaise and
chopped capers/pickles.

TOM’S TIPS
There are lots of popular brands of tea but my
personal favourite is ‘Yorkshire Gold’

197
5.
CULTURE

Tom’s Must-
know British
Public Figures

198
Olivia Colman - An English actress Sir Norman Foster - One of Britain’s
who won an Oscar for her portrayal leading architects, Sir Norman
of Anne, Queen of Great Britain in Foster has designed some of the
the 2018 film ‘The Favourite’. She world’s most famous buildings. His
is also well-known for her roles works include Wembley Stadium,
in ‘Peep Show’, ‘The Crown’, and The Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe), Hong
‘Fleabag’. Kong International Airport, The
Millennium Bridge and Apple Park
Phoebe Waller-Bridge - An in California.
English actress and writer, Waller-
Bridge wrote and starred in British Danny Dyer - Much loved
breakout hit ‘Fleabag’. She also English actor who currently stars
developed and wrote the hit ‘Killing in legendary BBC soap opera
Eve’. Most recently she has been ‘EastEnders’. His distinctive Cockney
part of the scriptwriting team for accent combined with his likeable
the 25th James Bond film. manner make him one of the
most popular faces on TV. He has
Emma Watson - English actress also starred on the big screen in
who most famously played ‘The Football Factory’ and ‘Mean
Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter’. Machine’. Recently on the BBC
Watson has gone on to have a show ‘Who do you think you are?’
successful career in Hollywood Dyer discovered he was related to
starring as Belle in ‘Beauty and the distant royalty in King Edward III.
Beast’. She is also well known for
her tireless work as UN Women Raheem Sterling - Manchester City
Goodwill Ambassador. and England footballer who has
become an unofficial spokesperson
Piers Morgan - Currently co- for issues of racism within British
presenter of Good Morning football and media. His talents on
Britain on ITV, Piers Morgan the field have led to several Premier
is also a well-known journalist League trophies and FA Cups,
with outspoken views and a and he is a key part of the English
very active Twitter account. national team.

Akala - A man of many talents, Sir David Attenborough - A true

Akala is an author, rapper, poet great of British broadcasting, Sir
and activist. His book ‘Natives: Race David Attenborough pioneered
and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ natural history programming. His
was a Sunday Times best seller. In voice and style of presenting have
addition to all these achievements, become iconic and series such
he also set up the Hip-Hop as ‘Planet Earth’ and ‘Blue Planet’
Shakespeare Company.

199
 TOM’S TIPS
Sir David Attenborough is the nation’s grandfather.
If you want to see him at his best, search for a clip of
his encounter with some mountain gorillas in BBC
documentary ‘Life on Earth’

have made him a global name. To Jack Whitehall - English comedian

honour him he has had at least 15 and actor, Jack has become a
species named after him including familiar face on British TV over the
one spider and a butterfly. last few years. He first appeared on
Channel 4 series ‘Fresh Meat’ a show
Jamie Oliver - Essex born celebrity about university students. He has
chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver gone on to write and star in several
has gone from sous chef at The films and has his own Netflix show
Riverside Cafe to becoming one ‘Jack Whitehall: Travels with My
of Britain’s household names. Father’.
Alongside his successful TV
programmes like ‘The Naked Chris Evans - Radio DJ and TV
Chef’ and ‘Jamie & Jimmy’s Friday presenter who has found his niche
Night Feast’, he has also been the on breakfast radio. He presented
figurehead of several campaigns to the Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast
improve children’s diets in schools shows and has now moved his
both in Britain and the USA. talents to Virgin Radio UK. He also
hosted iconic 1990s show ‘The Big
Mary Berry - A renowned British Breakfast’ and ‘TFI Friday’ as well as
chef who has released over 75 ‘Top Gear’ for a brief period.
cookbooks and in recent times
has become best known as a Ed Sheeran - Hugely successful
judge on ‘The Great British Bake British musician who has sold
Off’ until 2016. over 100 million singles. His best-
known songs include ‘Shape of You’,
Gemma Chan - English actress who ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and ‘Perfect’.
made a name for herself playing He has also written songs for other
Astrid Leong-Teo in the Hollywood successful artists including ‘Love
hit film ‘Crazy Rich Asians’. Gemma Yourself’ by Justin Bieber.
has also played roles in ‘Captain
Marvel’ and sci-fi TV series ‘Humans’. Gareth Bale - Real Madrid footballer
and Welsh international Gareth Bale

200
was once the most expensive player Adele - London-born singer Adele
in the world when he moved from has become a global star, winning
Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid numerous Brits and Grammy
for a reported €100.8 million. awards. She even won an Oscar
for ‘Skyfall’, the theme song to the
Boris Johnson - Conservative Prime James Bond film of the same name.
Minister, BoJo, as he is also known, She featured in an episode of Eat
has held the posts of Mayor of Sleep Dream English.
London (2008 - 2016) and Foreign
Secretary (2016- 2018). He was Anthony Joshua - World
one of the main voices behind heavyweight boxing champion
the Leave campaign prior to the Anthony Joshua is a British sporting
Brexit referendum. Perhaps most icon. He rose to fame when he won
importantly, his name is given to gold at the 2012 London Olympic
the bicycles in London’s cycle hire Games. His fight against Wladimir
scheme, ‘Boris bikes’. Klitschko in 2017 had an audience
of over 90,000 spectators.
Harry Styles - Styles made it
famous on the British reality TV David Walliams - Actor and
show “The X-Factor’ with his band Comedian Walliams came to
One Direction. The band have the nation’s attention in British
been on hiatus since 2016 but comedy show ‘Little Britain’ in 2003.
he continues to make music as a However, it’s now his children’s
successful solo artist. He also had a books that he is most famous for.
role in the film ‘Dunkirk’. Titles include ‘Gangster Granny’ and
‘The Ice Monster’. Most impressively
Martin Lewis - English financial he also managed to swim the
journalist and TV presenter, Lewis English Channel 21 miles from
has become the go-to expert for England to France.
those seeking advice about money.
He has his own programme ‘The Dame Judy Dench - Considered
Martin Lewis Money Show’ on the British acting royalty, Dame Judy
BBC, which provides viewers with Dench has starred in countless
information about everything from films earning her seven Oscar
bank charges to energy bills. nominations. She played M in
several James Bond films as well
David Beckham - Former as Queen Elizabeth I in
Manchester United, Real Madrid, ‘Shakespeare in Love’. In her early
and England footballer David career she made a name for herself
Beckham is a football and fashion in the theatre with the Royal
icon, in Britain and across the Shakespeare Company.
world. Married to Victoria Beckham,
a former Spice Girl, he is also a Idris Elba - He first made his
UNICEF UK ambassador. name as Stringer Bell in HBO
series ‘The Wire’. He has gone on
to be one of Britain’s top actors,
starring in Luther and ‘Mandela:
Long Walk to Freedom’.
201
Stephen Fry - Multi-talented icon Sir Richard Branson - British
of British culture, Stephen Fry is a entrepreneur who founded the
comedian, TV presenter, author, Virgin Group, which has over 400
actor and all-round legend. He is companies including Virgin Atlantic
known for being one half of comedy Airline and Virgin Records. He was
act Fry and Laurie, and he was also knighted in 2000 for his services to
the voice for all seven Harry Potter entrepreneurship.
audiobooks.
Grayson Perry - British artist who
Sir Andy Murray - British tennis is known for his tapestries, social
player who won Wimbledon commentary, and love of cross-
twice, in 2013 and 2016 as well as dressing. He was awarded the
Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016. He Turner Prize in 2003 and has gone
also managed to become World on to present a number of TV shows
Number 1 over Roger Federer and on Channel 4.
Novak Djokovic.
Laura Kuenssberg - The first female
Benedict Cumberbatch - British political editor of BBC News, Laura
actor from London who is best Kuenssberg has been an ever-
known for playing ‘Sherlock Holmes’ present face during Brexit, reporting
in the TV series Sherlock. He has every twist and turn to the nation.
also starred in ‘The Imitation Game’,
‘Doctor Strange’ and ‘Avengers’. He JK Rowling - One of Britain’s
was given a CBE by the Queen for most famous authors, JK Rowling
his services to performing arts and found fame with her Harry Potter
to charity. books that were later turned into
Hollywood films. She has won
Stormzy - British rapper and multiple awards and sold over 500
award-winning musician Stormzy million copies of her books.
is one of the biggest names in
music today. He has collaborated Sir Alan Sugar - British
with Ed Sheeran and performed businessman who is perhaps best
the live entrance music for World known these days as the presenter
Heavyweight boxing champion of the TV show ‘The Apprentice’.
Anthony Joshua.
Sir Mo Farah - British distance
Harry Kane - England football runner who won double gold
captain and Tottenham Hotspur medals at both the 2012 London
striker. and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic
Games.
Deliciously Ella - Ella Woodward
found fame under the name Simon Cowell - Most famous for
Deliciously Ella. Known for her being the judge on reality TV shows
promotion of clean eating and like Britain’s Got Talent, The X
plant-based diets she is a successful Factor, and Pop Idol. Simon Cowell
author, blogger, and entrepreneur. has a blunt, no-nonsense style to

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his judging that has made him a Kate Moss - Croydon-born model
household name in Britain. He is and businesswoman, Kate Moss is
also known for helping start the one of the most iconic names in
musical careers of One Direction British culture. She has been a top
and Westlife. model since she was spotted by a
talent scout at the age of 14 in JFK
Gareth Southgate - Current airport, New York.
England men’s football manager,
he was also a renowned player. Yotam Ottolenghi - Israeli-British
He played for Aston Villa and chef and restaurant owner who is
Middlesborough and went on to also a best-selling author. His titles
represent England. He found infamy include Jerusalem, Plenty and
when he missed the deciding Simple. He has a weekly column in
penalty in the Euro 96 Semi- The Guardian newspaper called ‘The
final against Germany. He is also New Vegetarian.’
known for his sartorial excellence,
particularly his love of waistcoats. Sir James Dyson - British inventor
and Chief Executive of Dyson Ltd. Sir
Graham Norton - Born in Ireland, James is best known for inventing
Graham Norton is a comedian and the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum
tv/radio presenter who has found cleaner. He has also been a loud
fame in Britain. He is currently most voice in favour of Brexit.
famous for starring in his very own
TV chat show ‘The Graham Norton Gary Lineker - Former England
Show’ on the BBC. football player and current
presenter of the BBC’s football
Lewis Hamilton - Five-time Formula highlights show ‘Match of the Day’.
One World Champion, Lewis He is also the face of a long-running
Hamilton is one of Britain’s most ad campaign for Walkers Crisps. He
successful sportsmen. He currently won the Golden Boot at the 1986
races for Mercedes AMG Petronas. World Cup and is England’s third-
highest goalscorer.
Zoella (Zoe Sugg) - Zoella is one of
Britain’s most famous YouTubers. Joe Wicks - Fitness coach
She is a beauty vlogger, author and and author of several popular
business owner. Her brother, Joe cookbooks, Joe Wicks found fame
Sugg, and boyfriend Alfie Deyes are on YouTube and Instagram. His
also YouTubers. channel ‘The Body Coach TV’ has
over 2.5m subscribers and he now
Jon Snow - British news anchor and has a TV show on Channel 4.
TV presenter Jon Snow has been
the face of the Channel 4 news Sadiq Khan - British politician who
since 1989. was elected Mayor of London in
2016. He had previously been a
Labour MP for Tooting in London.

203
Professor Brian Cox - English TV show ‘The Office’. He has won
physicist from Oldham who several BAFTAS for his work and
has become best-known as the has even hosted the Golden Globe
presenter of numerous science Awards in America.
programmes on television.
Tracey Emin - British artist brought
Zadie Smith - Best selling author up in Margate who is known for her
whose debut novel ‘White Teeth’ provocative work. In 1999 she was
won numerous prizes when it was shortlisted for the Turner Prize for
released in 2000. This book, and her controversial piece ‘My Bed’. She
Smith’s subsequent releases, deal is currently a Royal Academician of
with themes of multiculturalism, life the Royal Academy of Arts.
in London and Britain’s relationship
with its former colonies. She is now Lauren Laverne - Radio DJ and TV
a tenured professor of fiction at presenter from Sunderland, North
New York University. East England. Lauren hosts the
breakfast show on BBC 6 Music and
Reni Eddo-Lodge - Award winning the iconic BBC Radio 4 programme
author, journalist and podcaster ‘Desert Island Discs’ in which well-
Reni became the first black British known guests select the eight songs
author to top the UK’s official book they would take to a desert island.
charts with her debut non-fiction
title ‘Why I’m no longer talking to James Corden - Actor, writer
white people about race’. and talk show host Corden’s rise
to fame has been stratospheric.
KSI - YouTuber, rapper and all round His most notable early work was
entertainer KSI is one of Britain’s co-writing and starring in British
biggest internet personalities. He sitcom ‘Gavin and Stacey’. He then
is a member of YouTube gaming went on to play the lead role in
collective ‘Sidemen’, who first the stage production of ‘One Man,
made their name creating gaming Two Guvnors’. In 2015, he took over
content. In late 2019, KSI made his as host of ‘The Late Late Show’ in
professional boxing debut defeating America and introduced the world
fellow YouTuber Logan Paul on a to his now legendary ‘Carpool
split decision. Karaoke’ skit where he drives
around with famous stars singing
Rita Ora - A hugely successful songs with them.
singer, Rita Ora was born in Kosovo
but grew up in Notting Hill, west Louis Theroux - TV presenter,
London. She once auditioned for author and podcaster best-known
Eurovision, before finding fame and for his TV documentaries that
going on to appear as a judge on explore subcultures such as white
the ‘X Factor’ and ‘The Voice UK’. supremacists in America or the
Church of Scientology. In 2020
Ricky Gervais - Comedian and he started a podcast series called
writer Gervais first made his name ‘Grounded’ on which he interviews
as David Brent on legendary British a plethora of famous people like Jon
Ronson and Helen Bonham Carter.
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5.
CULTURE

Tom’s
Favourite British
TV Shows to
Learn English

206
The Apprentice - A reality TV show LANGUAGE
hosted by successful businessman Wide variety of accents | Natural
Sir Alan Sugar in which contestants conversational English | Business
have to prove their ability and skills English | Debate language |
through a series of business-related Phrases to express ideas and
challenges. Lord Sugar has become suggestions
known for his tough, no-nonsense
manner and he’s coined the phrase CULTURE
‘you’re fired’ whenever he eliminates British entrepreneurship
a contestant from the show.

Black Mirror - British science fiction LANGUAGE

series created by Charlie Brooker. Variety of accents
Black Mirror takes an often dark (American/British)
look at how technology shapes our
present/future. It was first broadcast CULTURE
on Channel 4 but moved over to Technology
Netflix in 2015 and has become an
international hit.

Britain’s Got Talent - A talent show LANGUAGE

on ITV created by Simon Cowell, in Phrases to give opinions
2007. The show involves auditions
across Britain for thousands of CULTURE
hopeful contestants with various British pop culture
skills ranging from juggling to
dancing. Four judges, including
Cowell, mentor the contestants
and a winner is eventually chosen
in a public vote.

Countdown - Long-running British LANGUAGE

game show on Channel 4 in which Vocabulary building |
contestants have to complete word Spelling & mathematics
and number puzzles. It is a great
show for anyone who enjoys English CULTURE
language word games. British culture

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Coronation Street - Much- LANGUAGE
loved British soap opera set in Mancunian accent | Everyday
Weatherfield, a fictional place in conversational English
Manchester. The first episode was
aired in 1960 and in 2010 it entered CULTURE
the Guinness Book of Records as Insight into life in
the longest-running soap opera. the north of England
It’s known for its depiction of
a working-class community in
northern England and notably,
most characters possess a
Mancunian accent which is
the accent of Manchester.

The Crown - The biographical LANGUAGE

story of Queen Elizabeth II and her Formal structures |
reign as Queen of Great Britain Advanced vocabulary |
and Northern Ireland. It has been The Queen’s English accent
praised for its accurate portrayal of
the Queen and is a great show to CULTURE
learn about the British monarchy British royal family
and the Queen’s English.

Doctor Who - Running since 1963, LANGUAGE

Doctor Who is a science-fiction Advanced vocabulary | Fast
show with a large cult following. dialogues | Conversational English
It follows the adventures of ‘the
Doctor’ who travels the universe in a CULTURE
time-travelling space ship called the British culture
Tardis. There have been 13 actors
who have played ‘the Doctor’.

Downton Abbey - Historical period LANGUAGE

drama set in the early 1900s. It Received pronunciation |
takes place on a Yorkshire country Variety of northern accents
estate and follows the lives of two
different worlds, the aristocratic CULTURE
Crawley family upstairs and the Historical British class systems
servants downstairs. There is a great
range of accents from very posh
received pronunciation through to a
strong Yorkshire accent.

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Dragon’s Den - Business LANGUAGE
reality show in which hopeful Business vocabulary | Question
entrepreneurs pitch their ideas forms | Persuasive language
to 5 business experts known as
‘The Dragons’. CULTURE
British entrepreneurship

EastEnders - A British institution, LANGUAGE

EastEnders is a BBC soap opera set Cockney accent | Slang phrases
in the East End of London. It follows
the lives of several families living in a CULTURE
fictional place called Albert Square. Insight into what life is like
There have been many famous in the East End of London
characters over the years such as
Phil and Grant Mitchell, their mum
Peggy Mitchell, Dot Cotton, Alfie
Moon, Mick Carter etc. Because it
is set in east London it has always
tried to reflect the local community
through a multi-cultural cast
and many characters having
a Cockney accent.

First Dates - A British reality TV LANGUAGE

show on Channel 4 in which people Wide variety of accents |
are invited to have a first date with Natural conversational English
someone they have never met
before. They are filmed having a CULTURE
meal in a central London restaurant British people
and then interviewed afterwards
to see if they are compatible as
a couple. It is known for its funny
awkward conversations. It has a
wide cross-section of British society
so you’ll hear a variety of accents.

Fleabag - Hugely popular British LANGUAGE

comedy starring Phoebe Waller- Received pronunciation | Natural
Bridge who also wrote the series. everyday conversational language
It centres around a young woman | Profanity and swear words
living in London and her struggle
to navigate the friendships and CULTURE
relationships in her life, usually with Contemporary London |
hilarious consequences. For anyone British people

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interested in contemporary London
life this is must-see television. It also
stars Olivia Colman who is one of
Britain’s finest actresses.

The Great British Bake Off - LANGUAGE

A hugely popular baking Wide variety of accents |
competition in which amateur Cooking/baking vocabulary
bakers compete against each other.
They complete baking challenges CULTURE
with the hope of impressing the British food | British people
judges and winning. It was first
aired in 2010 on BBC2 and starred
Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood
as the judges. When it became
more popular it moved to BBC1,
until 2017 when it moved over to
Channel 4. It is currently presented
by Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas,
with Paul Hollywood and Prue
Leith judging the contestants. It’s
a show that has inspired a new
interest in baking and is seen as
quintessentially British.

Gogglebox - Reality TV show LANGUAGE

on Channel 4 in which ordinary Wide variety of accents |
everyday people from different Giving opinions and discussion
parts of Britain sit at home, watch
television programmes and CULTURE
comment on them while being British people | British television
filmed. It started in 2013 and has
grown a cult following with many
of the families and groups of friends
on the show becoming famous.

Love Island - A reality dating show LANGUAGE

with a cult following that has grown Variety of accents |
in popularity in the past few years. Modern slang vocabulary
A group of attractive young men
and women are put into a villa and CULTURE
asked to couple up. Over the course Modern British youth culture

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of the show some are eliminated or
replaced by new contestants. It is
a fascinating window into a side of
British culture that doesn’t usually
get seen abroad. There are usually
a variety of accents including Essex,
Estuary English and many more
from across Britain.

Match of the Day - A British LANGUAGE

institution, Match of the Day (MOTD Football related vocabulary
as it’s also known) is the BBC’s
primary football highlights show CULTURE
aired every Saturday night during Premier league football
the Premier League season. Hosted
by former footballer Gary Lineker,
it is the world’s longest-running
football programme, having first
aired in 1964. It also has an iconic
theme tune that every Brit is able to
hum or whistle.

Peaky Blinders - A crime drama LANGUAGE

set in Birmingham, England, just Variety of accents
after World War I. It was first aired including Brummie
in 2013 on the BBC and it has gone
on to win several BAFTAs. The show CULTURE
can also claim to have brought the Historical insight into Britain
flat cap back into fashion. in the early 20th century

Question Time - A long-running LANGUAGE

topical panel show in which Wide variety of accents |
politicians and public figures Vocabulary across a wide range
discuss the latest news and issues. of topics | Question forms
It is currently shown on BBC1 and
is hosted by Fiona Bruce. CULTURE
Current affairs in Britain

Sherlock - British crime drama LANGUAGE

based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Advanced vocabulary |
detective stories Sherlock Holmes. Fast dialogues
It is set in modern-day London and
stars Benedict Cumberbatch as CULTURE
British culture

211
Sherlock and Martin Freeman
as Watson.

Strictly Come Dancing - Strictly is LANGUAGE

a hugely popular dancing reality Phrases to give praise, advice &
show that airs on the BBC. Hosted criticism
by Claudia Winkleman and Tess
Daly, the show pairs celebrities CULTURE
with professional dance partners British celebrities and pop culture
who work together over several
weeks to train and then compete
in the live shows. Each week a
couple is eliminated until one
couple is crowned the winner. In
America, it’s known as ‘Dancing
with the Stars.’

LANGUAGE
Top Gear - Popular car programme Car vocabulary | Idiomatic
that sees the hosts attempt language | Conversational English
motoring-based challenges along-
side vehicle reviews and other CULTURE
features. Airing on BBC2 on Sundays British motorsports |
it has become a worldwide hit for British pop culture
the BBC since its relaunch in 2002.
Previous hosts Jeremy Clarkson,
Richard Hammond and James May
left in 2015 under some controversy.
A main feature of the show is a time
trial where celebrities try to beat the
time of someone called ‘The Stig’
who is an anonymous racing driver.

The X Factor - A hugely popular

music competition produced by LANGUAGE
Simon Cowell. Wannabe singers Phrases to praise and
from all around Britain audition to criticise | Narrative tenses |
progress in the competition and Storytelling vocabulary
earn the mentorship of the judges.
Previous contestants include Little CULTURE
Mix, One Direction and Olly Murs. British pop culture

212
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5.
CULTURE

Great British TV
Catchphrases

214
 So much of what bonds us as Brits is shared culture, and
there is no better example of this than British TV catchphrases.
Universally known, they bring us together as a nation. It’s
common for us to incorporate them into our conversations in a
humorous way, and they give us the opportunity to be playful
with language. Some of the examples below are from old TV
shows that are no longer on air. However, the catchphrases live
on long after the shows have died. I suggest you go and find clips
of them on YouTube to get the full flavour.

“Am I bovvered”
FROM THE CATHERINE TATE SHOW
Catherine Tate played a schoolgirl called Lauren who had a
disdain for anything and everything. This catchphrase summed
up her attitude perfectly. You’ll notice she uses the /v/ sound
instead of the /ð/ on ‘th’. That’s very common in British regional
accents like cockney and estuary English.

“You’re fired!”
FROM THE APPRENTICE
Alan Sugar uses this brutal line to sling one of the hopeful
candidates out of the show. It’s paired with a devastating pointed
finger so they are in absolutely no doubt who he wants off the
show. Ouch!

“Aha!”
FROM KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU WITH ALAN PARTRIDGE
One of the great British comedy characters, Alan Partridge
greeted his audience and guests with this catchphrase. It is
inspired by lyrics from ‘Knowing me, knowing you’ by Swedish
pop group ABBA.

215
“ Lovely jubbly”
FROM ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES
Although this colloquial phrase existed before the show, it
was Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses who made it famous.
Whenever he wanted to show delight he would say ‘lovely jubbly’
and rub his hands with glee. Sounds best in a cockney accent.
The show also had another great catchphrase ‘Rodney, you
plonker’. This can be adapted nicely for your own purposes, just
insert your friend/partner’s name.

“ I want that one”

FROM LITTLE BRITAIN
This famous catchphrase was said by a character called Andy
played by Matt Lucas. He would point to things and say ‘I wan’
tha’ wun’ which as you can imagine is very fun to copy when you
are in the supermarket with a friend or partner.

“ I don't believe it”

FROM ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE
This show featured a miserable old man called Victor Meldrew
who expressed his annoyance and frustration with everything in
life by saying ‘I don’t believe it’.

“ Don't panic!”
FROM DAD'S ARMY
This was a show set in the Second World War and had a
character called Mr Jones who would often have a fit of anxiety
and start shouting ‘don’t panic!’

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“ Exterminate!”
FROM DOCTOR WHO
An oldie but a goodie. The Daleks would announce that they
were about to kill you with the words ‘exterminate!’ said in a
robotic voice. I spent many happy days in my childhood chasing
my friends while saying ‘exterminate’. You should try it.

“ Tonight Matthew,
I'm going to be…”
FROM STARS IN YOUR EYES
Another oldie but one that is still quoted. Stars in Your Eyes was
a show in which people did impressions of their favourite singers.
They would introduce who they're going to be to presenter
Matthew Kelly by saying ‘Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be…’

“ To me, to you”
FROM THE CHUCKLE BROTHERS
This slightly odd (in retrospect) kids TV show spawned the phrase
‘to me, to you’. It was used when Barry and Paul Chuckle moved
objects together. As a result any time I’m moving a table or
bed with someone I’ll say ‘to me, to you’ in their distinctive
Yorkshire accent.

“ Loadsamoney!”
FROM HARRY ENFIELD AND CHUMS
In the 1980s and 1990s Harry Enfield was possibly the most
famous comic in Britain, with his sketches satirising British life.
“Loadsamoney!’ was a response to the materialistic yuppie culture
of the 1980s and the policies of the Thatcher government. Other
Harry Enfield catchphrases include ‘Calm down, calm down’ said
in a Scouse accent and ‘only me!’

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5.
CULTURE

Tom’s Must-
know British
Cultural Events

218
Burns Night - A Scottish festival Christmas Day - As opposed to
that celebrates the life of the other European countries who
famous poet Robert Burns. He celebrate Christmas on the 24th
wrote, among other things, Auld December, the biggest day of
Lang Syne which is sung at the the year in British culture is 25th
stroke of midnight on New Year’s December, Christmas day. It is a day
Eve. Burns Night is held every year where families get together and
on his birthday, the 25th January. celebrate in their own unique ways.
Traditionally, people eat haggis Some traditions include eating
with neeps and tatties and attend Christmas dinner which usually
gatherings with poetry readings includes roast turkey, watching the
and folk music. Queen’s Speech, opening presents
under the Christmas tree, going to
Changing of the Guard - church in the morning, watching
A ceremony that happens Christmas specials on TV, playing
in front of The Queen’s residence, board games etc. and generally
Buckingham Palace in which one eating and drinking too much!
set of uniformed soldiers changes
place with another set. It is a very Diwali - First celebrated in 2001,
popular tourist attraction and a ‘Diwali in London’ is an outdoor
great photo opportunity. event held in Trafalgar Square with
dancing, talks, and food for all
Chelsea Flower Show - One of the attendees to enjoy.
most colourful events of the British
calendar, the Chelsea Flower Show Edinburgh Fringe Festival -
showcases the very best landscapes Established in 1947, The Fringe, as
and garden designs. It is held on it’s also known, is the world’s largest
the grounds of the Royal Hospital arts festival. Happening throughout
Chelsea in west London and is the month of August, the festival
attended by the Royal Family takes over Edinburgh as attendees
every year. criss-cross the city going from
improv comedy shows to spoken
Chinese New Year - In Jan/Feb word poetry and everything in
every year CNY is celebrated by between. Venues for performances
London’s Chinese community and it vary from grand theatres to public
is reportedly the biggest celebration phone boxes and black taxis. It truly
of its kind outside Asia. There are is a festival for everyone.
special events including a huge
parade, stage performances and of Eid - Londoners celebrate the end
course, lots of food stalls. The main of Ramadan with a large event in
celebration in London is located Trafalgar Square. There are family
around Chinatown, Leicester activities and food stalls as well
Square, and Trafalgar Square. as a main stage with music and
entertainment.

219
Glastonbury - If there is one cultural around the world. Past winners
event that encapsulates what it is include Sir Mo Farah and the great
to be British, I think Glastonbury Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie.
might be it. It’s an epic five-day
music festival held on a farm in Guy Fawkes Night (also known
Somerset and has been running as Bonfire Night) - This is a British
since 1970. Over 100,000 festival- celebration on 5th November to
goers descend on the picturesque commemorate the failure of the
site in the English countryside for Gunpowder Plot by a man called
the biggest and best contemporary Guy Fawkes. In 1605 he planned to
music acts including Coldplay, blow up the Houses of Parliament
Rolling Stones, Kylie Minogue, Ed and kill King James I. However, it
Sheeran, and Beyoncé. The festival was uncovered before Guy Fawkes
is run and curated by Michael and could carry it out and he was
Emily Eavis, a father-daughter team promptly executed. To celebrate
who live on the farm. Together his failure to kill the King people
they have created a diverse cultural burned bonfires around London,
event of music and entertainment and the day soon became a
unlike any other in the UK. If you national celebration. We now have
have the chance to go, I thoroughly local bonfires and firework displays,
recommend it at least once. Just and there is a particularly large
make sure you take your wellington celebration in Lewes, East Sussex
boots in case you get a rainy year. with up to 80,000 attendees.

Glyndebourne - As the website Halloween - While not as big over

announces, ‘Glyndebourne is here in the UK as it is in the United
an opera house in the heart of States, Halloween is still marked
the Sussex countryside.’ More every year on the 31st October. Its
broadly, it is an annual opera roots go far back to a Celtic festival
festival held during the summer called Samhain which was meant
with a resident orchestra from the to mark summer’s end. These days
London Philharmonic. Popular children go from door to door trick
with the London elite, it is part or treating and there are fancy dress
of the summer social season for parties up and down the country
many. One of the great attractions (also known as All Hallows’ Eve).
is the beautiful grounds on which
attendees can have picnics Harvest Festival - It occurs in
during intervals. late September and is an annual
celebration to express gratitude
Great North Run - As the name for a successful harvest. There are
suggests, the Great North Run is a special Harvest Festival church
running race from Newcastle-Upon- services and it’s common for
Tyne to South Shields in the north- schools to organise donations of
east of England. It is the largest half non-perishable food to those in the
marathon in the world and attracts community who are most in need.
some of the best athletes from

220
Henley Royal Regatta - One of New Year’s Day - Although most
the events of the English social of the country wakes up with a
scene, the Henley Royal Regatta is a hangover, the 1st January is still a
rowing competition held every July. day of celebration here in the UK.
It attracts the rich and beautiful to It’s a public holiday and in London
the banks of the Thames for five there is a New Year’s Day Parade
days of international class rowing along Piccadilly past Trafalgar
and partying. This is where posh Square and onto Parliament Square.
Brits come to let their hair down
and they do it all following the strict Notting Hill Carnival - Possibly the
somewhat over-the-top dress code most colourful and lively event in
(no trousers for women). Britain, the Notting Hill Carnival
has been named Europe’s largest
Hogmanay - The Scottish street festival. It is set in the affluent
celebration of New Year on 31st area of Notting Hill and has been a
December and 1st January. There celebration of London’s Caribbean
are huge festivities across Scotland community since 1966. For anyone
with various traditional events such attending, it’s a glorious mix of
as parades and fireball swinging. food, music, costumes, dancing and
It is also common for partygoers everything in between. It’s a party-
to sing an old traditional Scottish goer’s heaven. It happens every year
song ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at the stroke on the August bank holiday and
of midnight. there is a family-friendly day on the
Sunday with a more raucous day on
Manchester Pride - An annual the Monday.
LGBTQ+ pride festival held
every August bank holiday in The Peter Pan Cup - A great
Manchester’s Canal street area. Over example of British eccentricity,
the ten-day festival, there are film there has been a swimming race
screenings, community workshops on every Christmas morning since
and cabaret events and it all 1864. Members of the Serpentine
culminates in a big music festival Swimming Club meet at the
featuring artists like Arianna Grande Serpentine in Hyde Park for the
and Rita Ora. very chilly swimming race. It’s a
great spectator sport if you are
New Year’s Eve - The 31st in the area.
December is a huge celebration
in Britain with parties and events The Queen’s Christmas Message -
going on all over the country. The Since 1952 the Queen has delivered
main celebration centres around a message on Christmas Day which
the London Eye and Big Ben, where is broadcast on the BBC at 15:00
there is a spectacular fireworks GMT around the world. The theme
display at the stroke of midnight. of the speech usually reflects the
One of the main traditions is for big events of the past year (also
people to sing Auld Lang Syne as known as ‘The Queen’s Speech’).
the clock strikes 12.

221
Remembrance Sunday - A day English, although there are no large
for people to commemorate events or celebrations on his day.
the contribution of British and
Commonwealth soldiers in conflicts, St Patrick’s Day - St Patrick is the
principally the 1st and 2nd World patron saint of Ireland and his day
Wars. It’s held on the nearest falls on the 17th March. Curiously
Sunday to 11th November. It is this is celebrated in Britain with
marked with a 2-minute silence much more exuberance than any of
at 11 o’clock, and people wear red the other patron saint days, possibly
poppies on their clothes. owing to the large Irish population
living here. There is a St Patrick’s day
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo - parade in London and other events
A military festival that takes over in many other cities across Britain.
the cobbled streets of Edinburgh
Castle every August. Marching Trooping the Colour - A military
bands and bagpipes from the display to mark the official
British Armed Forces and forces birthday of the Queen in June.
from around the world come Marching soldiers, horses, and
together in a celebration of military musicians all come together in a
prowess and tradition, with crowds great display of military skill and
of people cheering from the sides. power. It’s an impressive event
with crowds lining the streets to
St Andrew’s Day - St Andrew is see the parade go down The Mall
the patron saint of Scotland, and towards Horse Guard’s Parade. Of
St Andrew’s day is celebrated on course, the Royal Family are always
the 30th November. Although it is in attendance and the event is
a holiday in Scotland not everyone closed with a fly-past by the RAF.
has the day off work, but the day
is marked by some with ceilidhs Valentine’s Day - A day for all the
(pronounced /keɪli/) which are romantics in Britain! Well, those
traditional Scottish dances. that want to celebrate their love
of love on the 14th February every
St David’s Day - St David is the year. There are of course many
patron saint of Wales, and on the cynics who see the day as overly
1st March Welsh people wear commercial and frankly a bit of
daffodils or leeks (the two symbols a rip-off. It’s customary to send
of Wales). There are also parades in Valentine’s Day cards to the one/
the main cities. ones you love, and possibly stretch
the budget to a bunch of flowers or
St George’s Day - St George is the a romantic dinner.
patron saint of England and his day
falls on the 23rd April. According
to the legend, St George slew a
dragon and saved a princess while
in the Roman army. As a result, he
is seen as a symbol of bravery by the

222
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5.
CULTURE

Tom’s
Biggest British
Sporting Events

224
All England Championships
(Wimbledon) - Sport doesn't get
more British than this. Beautiful
grass courts, elegantly dressed
crowds and of course strawberries
and cream. Wimbledon is one
of the four Grand Slam tennis
tournaments of the year and is
watched by millions all over the
world. It’s usually held at the end of
June when the weather in Britain is
notoriously unpredictable and rain
delays are common. It’s a great day
out for anyone in London, although
queues can be very long just to gain
access to the outer courts.

The Ashes - The rivalry between the Australian and

English cricket teams goes back to the late 1800s
when Australia came to England and beat them
in a test match series. The British press declared
this the metaphorical ‘death’ of English cricket and
said that the Australians had taken the ashes back
home with them. From this moment on, any test
series between the two fierce rivals has been known
as The Ashes. To fit with the name, the trophy for
the winning team is a tiny urn said to hold
the ashes of the cricket stumps from one
of the first matches. If you are in England
when an Ashes series is on I thoroughly
recommend going for a day, even if you
don’t know anything about cricket.
Take a picnic and a bottle of wine and
enjoy a day in the sunshine
(fingers crossed).

225
British Grand Prix - A race in the years. According to reports, British
Formula One World Championships, punters place bets totalling £300
the British Grand Prix (pronounced million on the race and personally I
/grɒn priː/) is raced at Silverstone always like to have
circuit in Northamptonshire. a little flutter.

The Calcutta Cup - A passionate London Marathon - In my opinion,

rugby match between Scotland and this is the most emotional sporting
England. It’s usually held during the event in the British calendar. Every
Six Nations tournament and has year central London is closed to
one of the coolest trophies as the traffic on one Sunday in May for
prize. The trophy is a majestic silver thousands of professionals and
cup with cobras for handles and an amateurs to run the 26-mile course.
elephant on top. This is because the It’s a wonderful event to attend as
first-ever Calcutta Cup was played crowds line the streets and cheer
in Calcutta in 1873 between two on the runners. It is customary for
groups of English and Scottish men. many of the runners to do it for
charity and often the stories are
The FA Cup - The longest-running very personal, making it such an
national football competition in emotional event.
the world, The FA Cup has a special
place in the hearts of English The Old Firm Derby -
football fans. Over 700 teams from Without question,
10 levels of national football are Britain’s most
eligible to enter. As a result, it has a passionate sporting
real David versus Goliath feel to it. event. The Old
There are often ‘giant-killings’ with Firm Derby is
small teams eliminating Premier
league teams. The semi-finals and
final are held at Wembley and the
winner receives the famous FA Cup
trophy decorated with ribbons in
the club’s colours (FA stands for
Football Association).

The Grand National - If there is one

horse race that British people bet
on, it’s this one. First run in 1839,
The Grand National is the nation’s
biggest horse race, with millions
of people tuning in to watch it
live. It’s held at Aintree Racecourse
near Liverpool and has become
somewhat notorious for having
some very high fences. There have
been several horse fatalities over the

226
a football match between the two Oxford Cambridge Boat Race -
biggest teams in Glasgow: Celtic An annual rowing event between
and Rangers. The rivalry goes these two world-famous universities.
back to 1888 and is based upon First held in 1829, the Boat Race
the social, political and religious sees teams of 8 rowers race from
differences between the two clubs. Putney Bridge on the River Thames,
Glasgow Celtic are the team of upstream to Mortlake. There are
the Irish Catholic community and both men’s and women’s races
Glasgow Rangers are the team of with Oxford wearing dark blue and
the Protestants. While the matches Cambridge wearing light blue. It’s
are usually fast and furious it’s the a fun spectator sport with crowds
incredible atmosphere generated lining the river bank to watch the
by the fans that makes this derby boats pass by.
so special.
Royal Ascot - As the name suggests
this is a week-long horserace
meeting attended each year by the
Queen and other members of the
royal family. Located in Berkshire,
just west of London, Ascot is a
major event in the British
social calendar. There is a strict
dress code in the Royal
Enclosure, requiring men to
wear top hats and for women
not to show their bare midriff
or shoulders. Ladies’ Day is held
on the Thursday when there is
also the Gold Cup, Royal Ascot’s
centrepiece race.

The Six Nations - An intense

and bruising professional rugby
tournament between France,
Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales,
and Italy. Each team plays each
other once in a league format to
decide who wins the trophy. The
The Open Championships team that comes bottom of the
One of the four major tournaments league ‘wins’ a wooden spoon as
in professional golf. The Open, as it’s the loser. It is held every February
known, is held in different locations and March and it’s well worth
within Britain every July and attracts attending a match to see how
the world’s best golfers to compete passionate the atmosphere gets
for the famous Claret Jug trophy. inside the stadiums.

227
6.
BRITISH
VS
AMERICAN
ENGLISH

British vs
American English
differences

228
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230
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234
235
6.
BRITISH
VS
AMERICAN
ENGLISH

Rude
Words

236
AMERICAN ENGLISH BRITISH ENGLISH
WORDS THAT ARE WORDS THAT ARE
RUDE IN BRITAIN RUDE IN THE USA

Trump (noun/verb) - Donald rubber (noun) - in British English

Trump’s name is actually a slang a rubber is something you use to
word for fart in British English. So erase a mistake made in pencil. This
if you have trumped in Britain, you would be an eraser in American
have farted. English. The confusion lies in the
fact that rubber is a slang word
bum (noun) - a derogatory word for condom in the USA so ‘can I
for a homeless person in American borrow a rubber?’ makes for a funny
English. This is another word for question.
bottom/arse in British English.
fag (noun) - in British English it’s a
bird (noun) - an animal with two slang word for cigarette whereas in
wings in both the USA and the UK. American English it’s a derogatory
It is also a slang term for a young word for a homosexual person.
woman in Britain that can be seen
as a bit offensive. hooker (noun) - in British English it’s
a position in a rugby team however
fanny pack (noun) - a bag tied in American English it’s a slang
around one’s waist in America. term for a prostitute.
A fanny is another word for vagina
in British English. dummy (noun) - the small plastic
thing put in a baby’s mouth to
Randy (noun) - a male name in calm it down. In American English,
America that means ‘sexually dummy is used as an alternative
charged’ in Britain. This gives to idiot.
the phrase ‘Hi, I’m Randy’ an
interesting twist.

pants (noun) - not rude as such

but you have to be careful. Pants
in America are trousers whereas
pants in Britain are underwear.
The confusion comes when an
American says to a Brit
‘I love your pants!’

237
7.
BRITISH
LIFE

9 Tips to Avoid
Culture Shock |
One Spanish Lady’s
Struggles in Britain

238
 As a Spaniard who lived in Cambridge for
four years and is married to a British man, there
are a few things that I could never really get used
to during my time in, as I like to call it, fish and
chips land.

1. All seasons in one day: you wouldn’t be considered

a nutter for putting a raincoat and a pair of
sunglasses in your backpack. The weather changes
constantly – one minute it’s sunny, the next it’s
spitting, then it’s boiling hot and finally it’s pissing
it down.

2. Putting vinegar on chips: while the Brits look

astonished when I add some salt on my salad, it
still amazes me when I observe their faces of joy
while munching their soggy chips covered in rivers
of vinegar.

3. Massive spiders: I was fairly fond of the little cottage

where I used to live in the English countryside.
However, living in fear of waking up with a huge
spider crawling over my face made me pretty
uneasy. There are spiders everywhere!

4. Transport prices: if you’re going to spend some

time in England, you’d better be in good shape
or get a bike as soon as you arrive. So that you get
an idea, buying a monthly return train ticket from
Cambridge to London will cost you around £400,
which is the same price that you would pay to rent
a single room in Cambridge. The reason for this is
that the British railway system is not managed by
the government, but by private companies instead.

5. Two separate taps: I know life is all about choices

and making decisions, but this is just too cruel.
The hot tap water is basically ‘burning hot’ and the
cold water tap is more like ‘freezing to death cold
water’. Pick yours and happy hand washing!

239
6. No kissing and only one kiss for family
and friends: in Spain, we kiss strangers all the
time and we give tight hugs to close friends and
family. Shaking someone’s hand while I’m having
a pint in a pub is just so weird. So just bear in
mind, if it’s a stranger, just shake their hand and
keep the distance!

7. Full English breakfast: this is almost impossible

in the beginning if you’re used to a continental
breakfast, such as toast, orange juice, coffee, fruit …
But try it on a Sunday morning after you’ve been to
a party the previous night, and it will do wonders
for your hangover!

8. Greeting cards: don’t get me wrong, I absolutely

love receiving birthday or Christmas cards in
the post but British people will jump at any
opportunity to send them. New job, new baby, new
house, getting engaged, getting married, getting
divorced… They even have card shops where you
can purchase a card for every occasion. I always
felt really guilty about throwing them away, but
after a few years of living in Britain, I accumulated
hundreds! Call me cold-hearted but it makes no
sense to me. Why send a tacky card to someone
you see every day?

9. British gastronomy: apart from crumpets, scones,

custard cream biscuits, carrot cake, Cornish pasties,
cheese & onion crisps, fish & chips, Marmite, apple
crumble, bubble and squeak, bacon rolls, Sunday
roast … Trust me, there’s not much left to eat in
Britain. Just type ‘British food’ on Google images
and you’ll understand why one of the British
people’s favourite things to do on a Saturday night
is to go for a curry!

240
 However, if you’d like to have the full British
cuisine experience, go and order some pork pies
and scotch eggs as starters, toad in the hole for the
main, and spotted dick for dessert.

Ahhh complaining is always so much fun, isn’t

it? But please don’t misunderstand me – there are
so many things I adore about Britain and the Brits,
such as:

British punctuality, British politeness, respecting

queues, free museums, British music, Christmas
spirit and decorations, Shetland ponies, country
cottages, fresh flowers in every supermarket,
fashionable grannies who drink vodka and go
dancing on Saturday night, people minding their
own business, stunning countryside and respect for
nature, being called love & sweetheart by strangers,
double-decker buses, red phone boxes (only from
the outside, inside they smell of pee), beer gardens,
antique and charity shops, men walking around in
skirts without being noticed … I could go on and on!

I hope you had fun reading this and

thank you so much to the chief dreamer
Tom for letting me share it with you.

Keep going, Eat Sleep Dreamers!

xoxo

ISABEL
amigosingleses.com
An English teaching blog for
super motivated students.

241
7.
BRITISH
LIFE

British Identity
in the 21st
Century |
A Short Essay

242
 My family and I were in deep conversation one night after coming
back from a party; I had some things on my mind that I needed to
get off my chest. A guy at the party made a joke about how my Tamil
wasn’t up to scratch. Although I was born and raised in England, my
mother tongue is Tamil and I’ve spoken it with my parents at home
as my first language. Practising your mother tongue can be incredibly
difficult away from one’s homeland.

When the guy decided to insult me, I decided to respond in a

passive-aggressive way in true British fashion. This wasn’t necessarily
impactful in that particular setting though, as everyone at the
party was Tamil. They probably all missed my sarcasm and passive-
aggressive language. I asked my parents for some advice about
the best way to have handled the situation based on our cultural
Tamil values. They explained various social cues and norms to me in
Tamil social settings, which got me thinking about different sides of
my identity. I realised we are continually showcasing our identities
in different ways, which becomes more apparent in multicultural
settings.

What does it mean to be British? There are hundreds on this

list, but I find our passive-aggressive subtext in everyday phrases and
sharp-witted sarcasm a classic element of British culture. But in the
21st century, what makes a good Brit is our ability to adapt ourselves
to other cultures and acquire a level of understanding and sympathy
to realise that everyone comes from different walks of life and may
not relate to you in every sense. I find that in British culture we’re very
good at adapting our language to match the situation we’re in. We’re
calm, we’re patient, we’re understanding. I see that as an example of
what it means to be British in the 21st century. But here’s a complex
thought to ponder over a cuppa: is the definition of British culture
static and permanent? Are we all just incorporating a mix of different
cultures in our globalised world? I definitely have incorporated habits
from other cultures. Or is the definition of being British completely
changed from what it once used to be because of multiculturalism?

I often tell people I’m proud to be Tamil, but I’m also proud to be
British. It’s possible to be proud of both cultures, by drawing upon the
best of both worlds.

WRITTEN BY ANPU
anpu.london
243
8.
BRITISH
ACCENTS

An Introduction
to British Accents

244
 To hear the audio for all the PRACTICE SENTENCES
in this section, go to: eatsleepdreamenglish.com

There is no one ‘British’ accent! If I had a penny for every

time a student has asked me to help them acquire a ‘British’
accent I’d be a rich man - well, I’d be able to buy a pair of Harry
Potter socks from Primark at the very least. In Britain, we have
over thirty different regional accents, each with its own distinctive
pronunciation. Towns that are ten miles apart can have widely
different pronunciation features. Broadly speaking, in England,
accents are divided into two categories: those in the North and
those in the South. Meanwhile in Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland, accents all contain variations between cities or regions.
In this section we go into five of the most predominant British
accents: Received Pronunciation, Cockney, Multicultural London
English, Scouse, and Mancunian.

One of the things I love most about accents is how we use

them to help construct our identity. An accent can tell you so much
about a person. It can indicate where someone is from, their social
background, their age, their education, their job, their cultural
influences etc. And yet Britain’s relationship with its accents is a
complicated one. For example, received pronunciation was once
the only accent you would hear on the BBC and was seen as the
accent of education and authority. While this mindset has shifted
over the years, and regional accents are now heard on the BBC, this
old perception of RP being the ‘proper’ way to speak still lingers
for some. The aim of this section is to give you some background
information about each accent, outline the most distinctive features
so you can identify them and then give you some examples of
famous people who speak with these accents. It is by no means
an exhaustive list, but can be used as a foundation for anyone who
wants to understand the basics. There are practice sentences with
voice recordings so that you can hear the sounds modelled in each
accent and then practise them yourself. Enjoy!

245
RECEIVED PRONUNCIATION
Received Pronunciation, or RP as it’s also known,
is perhaps the most commonly studied accent
for learners of British English. It has been used by
many course books, dictionaries and teachers as
the ‘standard’ model of British English, despite
less than 5% of the population of England actually
speaking it. There are two main reasons for this:
firstly it has long been perceived to be the accent
of the educated and privileged within British
society. And secondly, it was the accent of the BBC
and other media outlets. These two factors have
cemented RP’s status as the preferred accent for
the majority of students learning British English as
a foreign language. Unlike other accents, the use
of RP is not confined to one geographical area,
although it is often associated with the south of
England. As such, you can have RP speakers from
London, Yorkshire or Scotland. Indeed, as with
any accent, RP can vary considerably and has
certainly changed a lot over time. We are going to
focus on two main forms, traditional ‘conservative
RP’ and the more modern version known as
‘contemporary RP’. In this section, we will identify
the distinguishing features of RP with examples.

1) The trap/bath split - /æ/ and /ɑː/

One feature that clearly distinguishes RP and other

southern accents from northern ones is the use of
two vowel sounds on ‘a’, as seen here.

/ɑː/ - bath / fast / laugh / scarf / glass / grass / dance

/ banana / ask / photograph / chance / France

/æ/ - man / hand / Japan / can / hamster / Harry /

gas / chat / action / pasta / maths

246
It is important to note that because RP speakers
can be found across Britain there may be some
local influence on how individuals pronounce
certain words i.e. an RP speaker from Harrogate
might say ‘bath’ /bæθ/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Harry had a banana in the bath.’

2) The glottal T

The topic of the glottal T is a controversial one

with some speakers of RP seeing it as lazy or even
uneducated. However, it has become more and
more common for speakers of RP to incorporate
it into their accent and this is one feature that
differentiates contemporary RP from conservative
RP. In the latter, a glottal T would almost never
be used. The only exception to this would be
when a ’t’ is in the end position e.g. that / wait.
In contemporary RP it is more common to
incorporate a glottal T into a word especially when
it is in the mid-position e.g. Scotland / daughter.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘My daughter’s flat in Scotland didn’t have any hot water.’

3) i: vs /ɪ/

At the end of a word with a ‘y’ contemporary

RP uses /i:/ whereas conservative RP uses the
shortened /ɪ/ e.g. ‘very’ /verɪ/ or ‘happy’ /hæpɪ/

Other words include - city / slowly / really / naughty

/ Piccadilly / Italy / pretty / likely / Mary

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I walked slowly through the city to Piccadilly.’

247
4) Yod-coalescence vs Yod-retention

In conservative RP the /j/ sound is present when

there is a /u:/ after /t/ /d/ /s/ however this has
disappeared in contemporary RP, something we
call yod-coalescence. This is when the /j/ sound
merges with the proceeding consonant to make
new sounds like /tʃ/ and /dʒ/.

Conservative RP
‘tuna’ duty super opportunity
/ˈtjuːnə/ /djuːti/ /sjuːpə/ /ɒpətjuːnəti/

Contemporary RP
‘tuna’ duty super opportunity
/ˈtʃuːnə/ /dʒuːti/ /suːpə/ /ɒpətʃuːnəti/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘There’s a super opportunity at YouTube to be a
producer.’

5) The tapped r

Received pronunciation is a non-rhotic accent

which means the /r/ sound is only pronounced
before a vowel. In conservative RP there is
something called a tapped r. This is when the tip
of the tongue hits the alveolar ridge (roof of the
mouth) to pronounce the /r/. This happens when
the /r/ is between two vowels e.g. Harry or after a
dental fricative e.g. throw. In contemporary RP the
tapped /r/ doesn’t exist.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
’The very first time I saw Mary I knew I was meant to
marry her.’

248
6) Smoothing of triphthongs

A triphthong is a collection of vowels that occur

together in a word for example /aʊə/ in power.
While /paʊə/ would be the correct pronunciation in
contemporary RP, it is very different in conservative
RP. The three sounds become one in a process of
smoothing, resulting in /paʊə/ becoming /pɑː/.

/aʊə/ becomes /ɑː/ e.g. tower (/taʊə/ = /tɑː/ )

power (paʊə/ = /pɑː/) shower (/ʃaʊə/ = /ʃɑː/)
/aɪə/ becomes /ɑː/ e.g. fire (/faɪər/ = /fɑː/)
liar (/laɪər/ = /la:/) inspire (/ɪnspaɪər/ = /ɪnspa:/
/eɪə/ becomes /ɛː/ e,g. layer (/leɪə/ = /lɛː/)
player (/pleɪə/ = /plɛː/)

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I had a shower for an hour.’

7) /ɒ/ vs /ɔː/

In conservative RP when an ‘o’ comes before a

voiceless fricative /f/ /s/ and /θ/ it’s pronounced /ɔː/
e.g. off /ɔːf/ cough /kɔːf/ boss /bɔːs/

In contemporary RP the ‘o’ is pronounced /ɒ/ e.g.

off /ɒf/ cough /kɒf/ boss /bɒs/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘My boss looks a little bit off. She’s got a sore throat and
a cough.’

8) Linking /r/

As mentioned previously the /r/ sound is not

present when it occurs in the end position of a
word e.g. water /wɔːtə/. However, when the next
word begins with a vowel, the /r/ sound links the
two words together.

249
e.g. water aid /wɔːtə reɪd/ or better off /betə rɒf/.
This is a common part of RP and many other
British English accents. Strictly speaking, a speaker
of conservative RP might prefer to pronounce each
word separately.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I think you are better off leaving the letter on the table.’

9) /ʊ/ vs /ʌ/

Another distinguishing feature of RP and southern

accents is the distinction between /ʊ/ vs /ʌ/. This
distinction is not made in northern accents.

/ʊ/ - put / foot / good / woman / would / could /

sugar / cushion / butcher

/ʌ/ - putt / shut / nut / butter / summer / thunder /

up / run / truck / Sunday

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Did you have a good Sunday putting pictures up?’

10) /əʊ/

In conservative RP the articulation of /əʊ/ is made

at the front of the mouth with lips in a rounded
position close together. Words with /əʊ/ include -
ago / know / throw / elbow / phone / those / home.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Long ago I lost my phone on the way home.’

11) Clear /l/ and dark /l/

In RP there are two main ways to pronounce L

when it occurs in a word. There is the clear /l/
which is when the tip of the tongue touches the
alveolar ridge (roof of the mouth behind the top

250
teeth) and air is released from the mouth e.g.
letter/light/allow. The dark /l/, which occurs after a
vowel or before a consonant, is made by drawing
the tongue down and back e.g. jewel/fuel/beautiful.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘The sunlight on that lovely jewel is beautiful.’

12) Intonation and speed

Because speakers of RP focus so much of their

attention on being clear and understandable the
pace of speech is slow, steady and hardly ever
rushed. In terms of intonation, it rises and then falls
at the end of a sentence. This is the case for most
RP speakers although some younger speakers of
contemporary RP might use something called
uptalk. This is when the speaker’s intonation rises
at the end making their utterance sound like
a question. This is believed to be the influence
of Australian English although linguists are not
entirely certain about this.

SPEAKERS OF RP
Benedict Cumberbatch, Gemma Chan, Emma
Watson, Boris Johnson, Naomi Harris, Ed Sheeran,
Sir David Attenborough, Daniel Radcliffe, Dev Patel,
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Dame Judy Dench, Henry
Golding, Claudia Winkleman, Louis Theroux and
Princes William and Harry.

TOM’S TIPS
I have analysed the accents of The Queen,
Emma Watson, Prince Harry, Adele, Stormzy
and David Beckham on my YouTube channel.

251
COCKNEY
Cockney is the traditional accent of the working
class in London. Strictly speaking, to be considered a
true Cockney you have to be born within the sound
of the Bow Bells which are located in St Mary-Le-
Bow church in the Cheapside area of London. A
study was undertaken in 2000 to see how far the
bells could be heard and it concluded that if you
were born six miles to the east of the church, five
miles to the north, three miles to the south, and four
miles to the west you were a Cockney. These days,
while the Cockney accent is associated with the East
End of London, it is common to find speakers all
across London and the Home Counties. Cockney is
much more than just an accent, it’s an entire culture.
Take for example Cockney rhyming slang which
is a unique set of words and phrases particular to
speakers of Cockney. They were designed to confuse
outsiders who weren’t aware of the meanings. The
Cockney accent has been captured in numerous
films such as ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’,
‘Green Street’ and rather less successfully by Dick
Van Dyke in ‘Mary Poppins’. It can also be heard on
one of Britain’s best-loved soap operas ‘EastEnders’
which is set in a fictitious area of east London called
Walford. Today the Cockney accent has migrated
from its original roots as many working-class
Londoners have left the city for the Home Counties
e.g. Essex, Hertfordshire, and Kent. Here we look at
the main pronunciation features of the accent and
identify what it is to sound like a true Cockney.

252
1) Glottal T

This is perhaps the quintessential feature of the

Cockney accent. Any /t/ in the mid or final position
is articulated with a glottal stop. This means the
airflow is stopped in the vocal folds and is not
released, creating the glottal stop. Phonemically
it is represented by /?/ so ‘water’ pronounced with
a glottal T would be /wɔː?ə/. It’s important to note
that a glottal T cannot be used on a /t/ at the front-
position of a word i.e. top. The act of glottalisation
also occurs with /p/ and /k/ e.g. paper /peɪ?ə/ like
/laɪ?/

Mid-position words - water / daughter / hotter /

better / Tottenham / Italy / Batman / letter / butter

End-position words - that / hot / sat / chat / cat /

tracksuit / bat / planet / paint

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘The hotter the water, the better it is.’

2) th-fronting

In received pronunciation and other British accents,

there are two sounds for ‘th’ /θ/ (throw) and /ð/
(this). However in Cockney /θ/ is replaced with a
/f/ sound e.g. ‘thing’ /fɪŋ/, ‘bath’ /bɑːf/, ‘Thursday’ /
fɜːzdeɪ/. The /ð/ sound on ‘th’ is replaced by /v/ so
‘other’ would be pronounced /ʌvə/. If ‘th’ is found at
the beginning of a word however it is more likely to
be dropped completely or replaced by a /d/ sound
so ‘that’ would be /æt/ and ‘the’ would be /d/.

/f/ on ‘th’ - thing / think / bath / thanks / throne /

throw / cloth / thunder / birthday / tooth / healthy

253
/v/ on ‘th’ - other / brother / mother / bother /
although / clothes / together / weather / father /
either

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I think it was my mother’s birthday the other day.’

3) /h/ dropping

It is common for a Cockney speaker to drop Hs

at the beginning of words or in the middle. For
example ‘help’ /elp/ - ‘hospital’ /ɒspɪtəl/ - ‘behave’ /
bɪeɪv/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I need some help getting Harry to the hospital.’

4) L vocalisation

A very distinctive feature of Cockney is something

called L vocalisation. When an /l/ occurs a) after a
vowel b) before a consonant in the same syllable
or c) as a syllable itself it becomes a vowel sound.
This sound can vary depending on the speaker and
to many people, the sound that best represents
L vocalisation is actually a semivowel /w/ which is
how I transcribe it phonetically.

a) ‘full’ /fʊw/ - ‘tall’ /tɔːw/ - ‘Paul’ /pow/

b) ‘milk’ /mɪwk/ - ‘help’ /hewp/

c) ‘bottle’ /bɒ?əw/ - ‘table’ /teɪbəw/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I’ve given Paul the milk bottles to put on the table.’

5) Yod-dropping

There is a tendency to drop the /j/ sound on /u:/

254
when it comes before /t/ and /d/ e.g. ‘Tuesday’
/ˈtuːzdeɪ/ or ‘due’ /du:/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Is the essay due on Tuesday?’

6) -ing /ɪn/ and -thing /ɪŋk/

It is common in Cockney for words ending -ing to

be pronounced /ɪn/ e.g. ‘singing’ /sɪŋɪn/ - ‘running’
/rʌnɪn/

On words that end -thing it is common, though

not always, for a /ɪŋk/ to occur at the end of the
word e.g. ‘something’ /sʌmfɪŋk/ - ‘anything’ /enifɪŋk/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘She loves singing anything at karaoke.’

7) /r/ as /w/

In some speakers of Cockney, but certainly not all,

there is a tendency to replace the /r/ sound with a
labiodental /w/ sound e.g. ‘alright’ /ɑːwaɪ?/ - ‘really’
/wɪəli:/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I don’t remember nothing, is that alright?’

8) /a:/

Cockney follows the same pattern as many

southern English accents and RP by having a broad
/a:/ sound on many words like ‘bath’, ‘laugh’, ‘after’,
‘banana’ etc.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I’ve only eaten half a banana this afternoon.’

255
9) /æ/

Before a voiced consonant it’s possible to hear /æ/

as /e/ or /eɪ/ e.g. back /bek/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I’ve got a bad back.’

10) Diphthongs

/aʊ/ is pronounced /æə/ or /æʊ/ e.g. how /æəw/ -

now /næʊ/ - allow /əlæʊ/

/eɪ/ is pronounced /æɪ/ - paper /pæɪ?ə/ - train

/træɪn/ - plane /plæɪn/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Hurry up, the train’s coming now.’

11) Double negatives

Unlike standard English, double negatives are a

common feature in Cockney syntax. It is not an
error, simply a non-standard variation. They occur
when two negatives are used in the same clause to
express a single negative idea.

PRACTICE SENTENCES
‘I didn’t see no one’ meaning ‘I didn’t see anyone’

‘We ain’t got nothing’ meaning ‘We haven’t got anything’

SPEAKERS OF COCKNEY
Adele, David Beckham, Danny Dyer, Ray Winstone,
Harry Kane, Harry Redknapp, Michael Caine, Idris
Elba and Jason Statham.

256
MULTICULTURAL
LONDON ENGLISH
Multicultural London English, or MLE as it’s also
known, is the youngest of all the British accents
having only really developed in the last 30 years or
so. It is the perfect representation of contemporary
London: young, diverse and constantly evolving. It is
the accent of the city’s young multi-ethnic citizens
and has pronunciation features that reflect this. It
is also heavily influenced by the traditional white
working-class Cockney accent. MLE can be heard
all across London and indeed it has travelled, via
social media, to other major urban areas in Britain,
where its influence is felt by young people.

1) Glottal T

The /t/ sound is such a distinctive part of British

English and it’s no different in MLE. Generally
speaking, it is articulated with a glottal stop which
means the air is restricted by the vocal folds.
Just as in Cockney you’ll find words like ‘butter’
pronounced /bʌ?ə/ or ‘water’ as /wɔː?ə/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I’ll have a can of Coke and a bottle of water, please.’

2) /h/ dropping

Unlike Cockney the /h/ sound is often pronounced

e.g. ‘happy’ /hæpi/ ‘Hackney’ /hækni/ and ‘horse’
/hɔːs/. There are instances in which it might be
dropped such as ‘have’ /æv/. However, this can
often depend on the individual speaker who may
or may not decide to drop the /h/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘If we get off at Hackney Central we’ll have time to go

257
back home.’

3) /a:/ and /æ/

Because this is a southern English accent it follows

the same pattern as RP and Cockney. There is a
distinct difference between /a:/ and /æ/.

/a:/ - laugh / half / class

/æ/ - hand / fam / gas

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I’m gassed that you’re going to be in my class next year.’

4) th-fronting

One of the main distinctions between MLE and all

other British English accents is the pronunciation
of ‘th’. While it can follow the th-fronting pattern of
Cockney where /θ/ becomes /f/ and /ð/ turns into
/v/ it also has its own unique articulation. The best
example of this is when /θ/ transforms into /t/ in
‘thing’ /tɪŋ/. For other words with /θ/ like ‘three’,
‘thanks’ and ‘thin’ speakers would generally lean
towards /f/ over /t/. The other pattern to note is the
use of /d/ instead of /ð/ so that ‘there’ becomes
/deə/ and ‘this’ becomes /dis/.

/t/ on ‘th’ - thing / think / thanks

/d/ on ‘th’ - there / this / that / those / brother /

mother

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Are these things yours or are they your brother’s?’

5) Non-standard use of ‘be’

It’s common for MLE speakers to use a non-

258
standard conjugation of ‘be’, in the affirmative that
means simply using ‘was’ for all subjects. In turn,
the negative form is ‘weren’t’. It should be noted
that ‘man’ is used as a first/second/third person
pronoun and conjugates with was/weren’t too.

I was / weren’t
You was / weren’t
He / She / It was / weren’t
We was / weren’t
They was / weren’t

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘We was proper late for our school.’

6) Non-standard dropping of ‘to’

It’s very common to drop ‘to’ after ‘go’ e.g. ‘Come

we go cinema’ or ‘Man went Soho yesterday.’

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Let’s go McDonald’s and get some nuggets.’

7) /ɔɪ/

This sound is articulated more at the front of the

mouth than in RP or Cockney e.g. boy /bɔɪ/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I swear that boy goes to my school.’

8) /aɪ/

Wide articulation of /aɪ/ in words such as like /laɪk/

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘No fam, I don’t like it!’

259
9) Stress patterns

Stress plays a very noticeable role in the spoken

English of MLE. Speakers will often use heavy stress
on certain syllables to emphasise what they are
saying or make something clearer. For example
adjectives of opinion will often be heavily stressed
e.g. ‘That’s PEAK blood!’

SPEAKERS OF MLE
Stormzy, Dizzee Rascal, Alesha Dixon, Raheem
Sterling, Akala, The Chicken Connoisseur (YouTube
Channel) and AJ Tracey

SCOUSE
Liverpool, as a city, has a very proud and unique
identity. Famously home to the Beatles and
Liverpool football club, it also has one of the most
distinctive accents in Britain. Known as ‘Scouse’ the
accent is heavily influenced by the Irish migrants
who came to Liverpool in the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries. It has pronunciation features
found in other northern accents as well as a few
sounds not found elsewhere.

1) /k/

The /k/ sound is a really distinctive feature of the

Scouse accent. When it appears at the end of a
word or syllable it is pronounced as a fricative e.g.
back/look/tracksuit/New York/rucksack

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Don’t look back in anger!’

260
2) /ð/ as /d/

Words with /ð/ can be realised with a /d/ sound e.g.

‘there’ /ðeə/ becomes /deə/ or ‘that’ /ðæt/ becomes
/dæt/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘She didn’t do that there, did she?’

3) /t/ as an affricate

The /t/ sound can be pronounced with an /s/ sound

so that a word like ‘start’ would sound like /stɑːts/
and ‘tea’ would be /tsi:/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I’m popping into town to buy some tea.’

4) /h/ dropping

It’s common for many Scouse speakers to drop

the /h/ sound just like in Cockney so ‘hotel’ would
become /əʊtel/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I’ve booked a hotel by the harbour.’

5) Final /t/ as /h/

Whereas in most British accents the /t/ sound is

often glottalised, in Scouse it is replaced with /h/.
So ‘it’ would sound like /ɪh/ or ‘that’ would sound
like /dæh/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Wait one minute and I’ll show you that hat I was talking
about.’

261
6) Tapped /r/

Scouse speakers have a tendency to make a

tapped /r/. That means that the tip of the tongue
touches the roof of the mouth quickly. This would
be found in words like ‘right’, ‘road’ ‘very’ etc.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Take the road on your right and go round the
round-a-bout.’

7) Intervocalic /t/

When a /t/ is found between vowels it can be

pronounced as a flapped /r/. There was a famous
celebrity from Liverpool called Cilla Black and her
catchphrase was ‘A lorra lorra laughs’. The ‘lorra’
part was her Scouse pronunciation of ‘lot of’ in
which the /t/ became a flapped /r/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘What a lot of fun we’ve had.’

8) /ɜː/

The /ɜː/ sound is pronounced quite distinctly in

Scouse. The sound is made further forward in the
mouth with the tongue positioned at the front
instead of drawing back as it does in RP. This
affects words like ‘sir’, ‘fur’, ‘bird’ etc.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘That’s the third bird I’ve seen in my garden today.’

9) Two different /əʊ/ realisations

Unlike in RP where the tongue sits in the middle

of the mouth for the /əʊ/ sound, Scouse has two
alternative realisations. One where the tongue is
at the back and one where the tongue is at the

262
front of the mouth. So words like ‘no’, ‘go’ and
‘throw’ can be pronounced in two different ways
depending on the speaker.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I didn’t know there was snow in Spain.’

10) Other vowel sounds

As with other northern English accents, there is no

difference between ‘trap’ and ‘bath’ so /æ/ is used
for both. In southern English accents ‘bath’ would
have a longer /ɑː/ sound. Equally the /ʌ/ sound is
not used so words like ‘sun’, ‘run’ and ‘shut’ all have
a /ʊ/ sound.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘We had a right laugh on Sunday at Mum’s birthday.’

SPEAKERS OF SCOUSE
Sir Paul McCartney, Trent Alexander-Arnold,
Abbey Clancy, John Bishop, Steven Gerrard,
Jamie Carragher, Mel C, Wayne Rooney, Katerina
Johnson-Thompson, Craig Charles, Jodie Comer
and Ringo Starr.

263
MANCUNIAN
The Mancunian (or Manc) accent is spoken in
Manchester, a city in the north-west of England.
It is perhaps one of the country’s best-known
accents, largely because of the exposure given to it
by popular ITV soap ‘Coronation Street’ and famous
Mancunians like Noel and Liam Gallagher from
Oasis. It has a distinct nasal quality to it and follows
similar pronunciation patterns as other northern
English accents. That said, it is quite different from
the Scouse accent of Liverpool despite the cities
only being 30 miles apart.

1) /ʌ/ and /ʊ/

One of the biggest differences between accents

in the north and south of England is the /ʌ/ and
/ʊ/ sounds. Mancunian speakers would use /ʊ/ for
words like ‘up’, ‘tough’ and ‘but’.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Alright love, can you help me get this cupboard up the
stairs?’

2) /æ/ and /ɑː/

As with other northern English accents, the

Mancunian accent doesn’t follow the ‘trap’ ‘bath’
split so it uses /æ/ for words like ‘laugh’, ‘bath’,
‘scarf’ and ‘dance’.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I love a dance and a laugh with my mates on a Friday
night.’

3) /h/ dropping

In line with many other accents in Britain, /h/ tends

264
to be dropped at the beginning of words or in the
middle position e.g. ‘behind’, ‘hotel’ and ‘hang out’

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Man United are behind at half time.’

4) /e/ on final ‘y'

In RP words like ‘lazy’ or ‘easy’ end with an /i:/

sound whereas in Mancunian the final vowel is
pronounced as more of an /e/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘He’s a proper easy-going geezer.’

5) th-fronting

Like other British accents, there is a degree of th-

fronting in Mancunian so that /θ/ can become /f/
and /ð/ turns into /v/

/f/ on ‘th’ - thing / thanks / healthy

/v/ on ‘th’ - brother / weather / either

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I think the weather is going to get better this weekend.’

6) -ing as /ŋg/ or /n/

There are two main articulations of the -ing. It can

either be /ŋg/ for example ‘sing’ /sɪŋg/ or it can be
/n/ ‘singing’ /sɪŋɪn/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Are you thinking of singing at the school talent show?’

265
7) Glottal /t/

The /t/ sound is glottalised in a Mancunian accent.

As with other accents it can be found occurring
in the middle and final positions so ‘butter’ is
pronounced /bʊ?ə/ and water is /wɔː?ɒ/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘Can you pass me a bottle of water?’

8) Other vowel sounds

One of the more distinctive sounds in Mancunian

is how the final unstressed syllable is articulated.
In RP and other accents words like ‘better’, ’later’
and ‘brother’ have a schwa sound on the final
syllable whereas in Mancunian it can sound more
like an /ɒ/.

PRACTICE SENTENCE
‘I saw your mother and brother at the sports centre.’

SPEAKERS OF MANCUNIAN
Liam and Noel Gallagher, Marcus Rashford, Nick
Grimshaw, Jason Manford, Brian Cox, Danny Boyle,
Gary Neville, Tina O’Brien, Gary Barlow, Shaun
Ryder, John Cooper Clarke and Karl Pilkington.

266
267
9.
PRACTICE

268
EXERCISE ONE: INITIALS
What do the initials stand for?

1. People can write to their local MP

about problems where they live.

A. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT B. MAIN PARTNER C. MAJOR POLITICIAN

2. He had his operation done on the NHS, not privately.

A. NURSES AND HOSPITALS C. NATIONAL HEALTH

B. NEED HELP? SHOUT!
SOCIETY SERVICE

3. Phone for sale, £100 ono.

A. ONE NICE OWNER B. OR NEAREST OFFER C. OR NAFF OFF

4. PC Daniels arrested the suspect.

A. PERSONAL COMPUTER B. POPULAR CAPTAIN C. POLICE CONSTABLE

5. The FA Cup Final is always held at Wembley Stadium.

A. FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION B. FINEST ATHLETES C. FOOTBALL ALLIANCE

6. My GP signed me off work for two days.

A. GOVERNMENT PHYSICIAN B. GIVER OF PRESCRIPTIONS C. GENERAL PRACTITIONER

269
EXERCISE TWO:
EXPRESSIONS WITH ANIMALS
Choose the right animal to complete the phrases.

MONKEY MONKEYS DOG (X2)

KITTENS PONY ZEBRA

DONKEY STAG HEN

1. Yesterday was a bit chilly, but today is absolute

brass-____________.

(slang phrase for very cold)

2. This new app is the ____________’s bollocks.

(a rude phrase to say that something is the best)

3. I haven’t been back to my home town in ____________’s years.

(a long time)

4. Don’t tell your parents you’re doing a skydive. They’ll have

____________!

(to be very anxious or worried)

270
5. I got paid a ____________ for repainting that house.

(London slang for £500)

6. Let’s not go somewhere expensive. I’ve only got a ____________

in me pocket.

(London slang for £25)

7. I got myself a job in the shop as a general ____________sbody -

stocking shelves, sweeping the floor, that sort of thing.

(a person who is asked to do all the menial tasks and jobs no one else wants
to do)

8. Helen’s having her ____________ party the weekend before the

wedding.

(the celebration a bride has before she gets married)

9. James’ best man organised his ____________ do - with a few

surprises.

(the celebration a groom has before he gets married)

10. Drivers should stop at the ____________ crossing and let

pedestrians cross.

(an area painted white and black across a road where pedestrians can cross)

271
EXERCISE THREE:
SOMETHING AND SOMETHING
Choose the right word to complete the phrases. All the phrases
have the form ‘_____ and _____’.

SODS EMERGENCY BLINDING

TATTIES BOBS CAMBRIDGE

SO THOUSANDS

1. We’ve almost got everything we need for the barbecue. We just

need a few more bits and ____________ but we can get them
last-minute.

(Small objects/miscellaneous things. We often use this phrase when it would

take too long naming all the things or we don’t know the words for them)

2. Did you see Ronaldo when he got sent off? He started effing
and ____________ to the ref!

(Saying swear words)

3. That cupcake with the hundreds and ____________ on top

is so good.

(small colourful pieces of sugar that are sprinkled on the top of cakes)

272
4. You lazy so-and-____________! Why don’t you give me a hand
once in a while?

(a person who is considered to have a negative characteristic)

5. Neeps and ____________ are the traditional thing to serve

with haggis.

(a side dish served with haggis made of swede and potatoes)

6. An ambulance will take too long to get here. I’d better drive
you to A&E myself.

(the accident and ____________ department in a hospital)

7. A) What’s in that box over there?

B) Just a few odds and ____________ from my old flat.’

(miscellaneous items)

8. Ahmed’s dream is to get into Oxbridge, and then become a

politician.

(a term used to refer to the universities of Oxford and

____________)

273
EXERCISE FOUR: NAMES FOR
PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE UK
Match the people with the place where they’re from.

A. SOMEONE FROM
1. A BRUMMIE THE EAST END
OF LONDON

2. AN EASTENDER B. SOMEONE FROM

GLASGOW

3. A GEORDIE C. SOMEONE FROM

BIRMINGHAM

4. A GLASWEGIAN D. SOMEONE FROM

MANCHESTER

5. A LONDONER E. SOMEONE FROM

NEWCASTLE

6. A MACKEM F. SOMEONE FROM

LONDON

7. A MANCUNIAN G. SOMEONE FROM

LIVERPOOL

8. A SCOUSER H. SOMEONE FROM

SUNDERLAND

274
275
EXERCISE FIVE: SLANG
Choose the right slang expression for the sentence.

1. Somebody’s made a massive ________. We ordered two items

but they’ve delivered 20!

A. KNEES-UP B. COCK-UP C. BUST-UP

2. Sam, you look ________. Have you been running?

A. CHUFFED B. KNACKERED C. GUTTED

3. Have we run out of milk? I’ll just pop out to the ________.

A. CORNER SHOP B. CHARITY SHOP C. OFF-LICENCE

4. We don’t really need the premium package. Let’s just get the
________ one.

A. BOG-STANDARD B. A-LEVEL C. FULL MONTY

5. I’ve got to get out of this pub before the football match starts. I
________ all the shouting and screaming.

A. CAN’T BE DOING WITH B. CAN’T WAIT FOR C. HAVE THE HUMP WITH

6. That documentary last night was ________ good.

When’s the next episode?

A. ACE B. DODGY C. DEAD

276
7. I had to work a 12-hour shift without a proper break.
I’m ________!

A. SORTED B. SHATTERED C. JAMMY

8. That T-shirt’s a bargain. Only costs ________.

A. A MONKEY B. A GRAND C. A FIVER

9. I was working on this massive project at work but it all ________

when the buyer pulled out of the deal.

A. WENT DOWN B. WENT PEAR-SHAPED C. PISSED OFF

10. I think I passed the exam, ________. I’ll get the results next
month.

A. MUSTN’T GRUMBLE B. TOUCH WOOD C. JOLLY GOOD

11. Can I pay you back next week? I’m absolutely ________ at the
moment.

A. ACE B. MINTED C. SKINT

12. That area’s a bit ________. I wouldn’t walk alone round there,
especially after dark.

A. DODGY B. POSH C. RUBBISH

277
EXERCISE SIX: FOOD AND DRINK
Use the clues to complete the crossword.

278
ACROSS
2. A slang term for a cup of tea. Mostly used in the north of England.
5. A long green vegetable (zucchini in American English).
6. Slang word for food.
7. A sweet dish served at the end of a meal. Synonym of dessert. The
short form is pud.
9. A fish and chip shop.
10. A wild drinking session.
13. The evening meal. Used mainly in the north of England.
15. A term used mostly in the north of England for sandwich.
16. A building in which alcohol is sold and consumed. Short for public
house.
18. A greasy ________ is a cheap and cheerful cafe that sells mainly
fried food.
20. A ________ pudding is a traditional side dish eaten with a Sunday
roast made of batter consisting of eggs, flour, and milk or water.
22. A break in the late morning in which one might have a coffee or
light snack. It’s usually around 11 o’clock.

DOWN
1. A type of fizzy alcoholic drink that usually comes in fruity flavours.
3. A full ________ breakfast is a traditional breakfast usually consisting
of sausages, eggs, bacon, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms,
black pudding, and toast.
4. Informal term for vegetarian.
8. A wobbly sweet fruity dessert.
9. Short for a cup of tea.
11. An adjective to describe food that is heavy and filling.
12. Feeling very full because you’ve eaten a lot of food.
14. A large purple vegetable.
15. A sausage.
16. A small container that holds fruit.
17. ________ fizz is an alcoholic drink made with orange and
champagne.
19. Short for vegetables.
21. An alcoholic drink of beer mixed with lemonade.

279
EXERCISE SEVEN:
THE GREAT BRITISH QUIZ

1. What is the second biggest city in Britain by population?

A. EDINBURGH B. MANCHESTER C. BIRMINGHAM

2. Who is the patron saint of Scotland?

A. ST ANDREW B. ST JOHN C. ST DAVID

3. Who lives at Number 10 Downing street?

A. THE QUEEN B. THE PRIME MINISTER C. DAVID BECKHAM

4. What year did London most recently host the summer Olympic
Games?
A. 1948 B. 2012 C. 2016

5. What is the most popular pub name in Britain?

A. THE WHITE HORSE B. THE KING’S HEAD C. THE RED LION

6. What is the longest running British soap opera on TV?

A. EMMERDALE B. CORONATION STREET C. EASTENDERS

7. Where is the highest point in Great Britain?

A. MOUNT SNOWDON B. BEN NEVIS C. HOLME FEN

280
8. What is the name of the British flag?

A. UNION JOHN B. UNION JIM C. UNION JACK

9) Who is next in line to the throne?

A. PRINCE WILLIAM B. PRINCE HARRY C. PRINCE CHARLES

10) Which team plays their football matches at Anfield?

A. LIVERPOOL B. MANCHESTER UNITED C. WEST HAM UNITED

11) Which British king established the Church of England?

A. GEORGE V B. HENRY VIII C. JAMES II

12) How old do you have to be to receive a personalised birthday

card from the Queen?

A. 1 B. 50 C. 100

13) What is the tallest building in the United Kingdom?

C. CANARY WHARF (ONE
A. THE GHERKIN B. THE SHARD
CANADA SQUARE)

14) Which British national doesn’t need a passport?

A. THE QUEEN B. THE PRIME MINISTER C. THE FOREIGN MINISTER

15) The legal drinking age in the UK is

A. 16 B. 18 C. 21

281
16) What is the longest river in Britain?

A. THE THAMES B. THE TRENT C. THE SEVERN

17) What accent comes from Liverpool?

A. COCKNEY B. GEORDIE C. SCOUSE

18) How many times have the England men’s football team won
the World Cup?

A. NEVER B. ONCE C. TWICE

19) Who was the first female British Prime Minister?

A. MARGRET THATCHER B. THERESA MAY C. HARRIET HARMAN

20) How many people live in the United Kingdom?

A. 66 MILLION B. 86 MILLION C. 106 MILLION

282
283
 284
Down
1. alcopop
3. English
4. veggie
8. jelly
9. cuppa
11. stodgy
12. stuffed
14. aubergine
15. banger
16. punnet
17. Buck’s
19. veg
21. shandy
THE GREAT BRITISH QUIZ
1. Birmingham
2. St Andrew
3. The Prime Minister
4. 2012
5. The Red Lion
6. Coronation Street
7. Ben Nevis
8. Union Jack
9. Prince Charles
10. Liverpool
11. Henry VIII
12. 100
13. The Shard
14. The Queen
15. 18
16. The Severn
17. Scouse
18. Once
19. Margret Thatcher
20. 66 million
285
ANSWERS:
EXERCISE ONE
1. a 2. c 3. b 4. c 5. a 6. c
EXERCISE TWO
1.monkeys 2. dog 3. donkey 4. kittens 5. monkey 6. pony 7. dog
8. hen 9. stag 10. zebra
EXERCISE THREE
1. bobs 2. blinding 3. thousands 4. so 5. tattoos 6. emergency
7. sods 8 Cambridge
EXERCISE FOUR
1. c 2. a 3. e 4. b 5. f 6. h 7. d 8. g
EXERCISE FIVE
1. b 2. b 3. a 4. a 5. a 6. c 7. b 8. c 9. b 10. b 11. c 12. a
EXERCISE SIX
Across
2. brew
5. courgette
6. grub
7. pudding
9. chippy
10. bender
13. tea
15. butty
16. pub
18. spoon
20. Yorkshire
22. elevenses
10.
MISCELLANEOUS

Word List

286
1. bat 19. bought
2. bath 20. about
3. dance 21. no
4. laugh 22. throw
5. water 23. meet
6. better 24. mate
7. city 25. last
8. good 26. later
9. food 27. think
10. beer 28. brother
11. pool 29. singing
12. pull 30. very
13. Paul 31. really
14. poor 32. ask
15. tune 33. cook
16. duty 34. hello
17. boy 35. little
18. buy 36. happy

All audio clips are available on my website:

eatsleepdreamenglish.com

287
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to start by I’m really grateful to super

saying a huge thank you to artist and Eat Sleep Dreamer
every single one of my Eat Sleep Ramazan Abbasoglu for your
Dreamers. I am so grateful for brilliant illustrations of me.
your dedication, enthusiasm,
and support throughout this Thanks to Jonathan Rickard for
journey. writing the exercises at the end
of the book and for generally
This book is dedicated to my being an inspiring teacher, wise
mum Hilary Parnall. I followed head and good friend from my
in her footsteps to become days in Hong Kong.
a teacher and now with this
book, I have followed her into A big thanks to my fellow
publishing too. She taught me YouTube English teachers
the importance of loving what Isabel and Phillip from
you do and doing what you love. ‘Amigos Ingleses’ and Anpu
She was a remarkable woman from ‘Conquer British English
who was loved and admired by with Anpu’ for your excellent
all those around her. This is for contributions to this book and
you, Mum. for doing inspirational work.

Thank you to superstars Many thanks to my very dear

Azamaeen, Adeyemi, and Sonja friend Dax for providing your
for bringing your expertise dulcet tones on the MLE accent
and knowledge to the Modern recordings.
London Slang section. I’d also
like to thank my best mate Joe A huge thank you to my Dad
for casting your expert eye over for your incredible support
my work and for doing some and guidance from the very
life-saving proofreading work. beginning. Your mentorship has

288
been invaluable throughout this
journey and I’m so grateful for
your weekly updates. I couldn’t
ask for a better Chief Data
Officer and proofreader.

Another huge thank you to

Grace for being my cheerleader,
wise sounding board and for
pushing me to do work of
substance and meaning.

I owe an enormous debt of

gratitude to Luke Jones, my best
mate and Chief Designer. You
have helped make ESD sparkle
and shine with your brilliant
logo, branding and continuous
support including this book.

Last but not least, a big

thanks to my sister Anya for
your constant love and support
throughout this ESD journey.
You provide me with so much
wisdom, balance, and positivity.
I love you.

289
 Copyright © 2020 Eat Sleep Dream English

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be

reprinted or reproduced without permission
in writing from Eat Sleep Dream English.

Words by Tom Rees

Book design by Luke Jones
- lenjonesjunior.com

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