Is it any surprise to learn that there are 160 different regional variations, and 1.5 billions native speakers of the English language?
Each one uses slightly different spellings, pronunciations and slang. Perhaps most famously, there are quite a few differences between the English of the United Kingdom and the English of the United States.
If you’re using a mix of UK-English and US-English study materials, it can be useful to learn which words are specific to each country.
Learning the slang of any country can be absolutely baffling (difficult to understand). However, most of the time, the strangest slang phrases will be the ones that locals are most excited to teach you! If you spend a little time in the USA or the UK, you are sure to meet people who want to discuss these weird phrases and many more.
Want to know as many slang terms as possible before a trip to the USA or England? It will certainly help you communicate more naturally with the locals!
Here’s a quick rundown of common terms, expressiopns and slang with different meanings on either side of the Atlantic, and a few explanations of some common phrases.
COMMON AMERICAN SLANG
1. For the birds
Meaning: worthless, meaningless, useless.
His opinion on my jacket is for the birds. He knows nothing about good style.
This phrase dates back to WWII. Soldiers noticed that birds would peck at horse feces to look for seeds to eat. The original phrase contained a swear word; “don’t worry about that, it’s s*** for the birds.”
2. Jonesing
Meaning: have strong desire or craving for something.
Let’s take a break, I’m jonesing for a nice cup of coffee.
“Jonesing” sounds like it might have something to do with the common American surname “Jones.” The truth is much darker: the term was originally used to describe heroin addiction. In the late 1960s, the word “Jonesing” was invented to discuss the strong feeling of needing more heroin after taking one dose.
3. Get my goat
Meaning: make somebody extremely angry, irritated and annoyed.
He got my goat. I almost shouted at him in the street.
This is a fairly old-fashioned American slang phrase. It’s quite funny that it sounds so cute because it is used to talk about fits of anger!
Many people think this expression comes from a tradition in horse racing. In the past, it was normal for a goat to be placed in a horse’s stable before the race. Goats have a calming influence on horses and were used to help them relax. If someone had “got the goat,” the horse would not have a little friend to calm it down, and might become wild and twitchy.
4. Spill the beans
Meaning: to reveal someone’s private information or a secret.
She already spilled the beans about the time of her sister’s birthday party.
There are a few theories on the origin of this phrase. One theory is that it comes from a voting process in ancient Greece. When faced with a decision, people made their votes by putting beans in a jar — a white bean for yes, a black bean for no. Hence, if anyone “spilled the beans,” the votes were lost (or at least, in a messy pile on the floor).
Another theory suggests that the phrase first appeared as a combination of two older phrases, “spill blood” and “spoil the beans”.
5. Pass the buck
Meaning: shifting your responsibility to somebody else.
Ralph didn’t want to do the paperwork so he passed the buck to his assistant.
This phrase comes from the world of poker. Years ago, there was a tradition that poker players had a knife made out of the horn of a buck, or male deer. “The buck” was placed in front of the person whose turn it was to deal the cards. If a player decided not to deal, he could “pass the buck” to another player, so it would be their turn instead.
6. To take a raincheck
Meaning: When you are unable to do something right now, but want to politely decline the offer and do it later.
I’m busy this weekend so I can’t meet for lunch… can we take a raincheck?
The typically American phrase originated from a typically American sport: baseball. When it rained too much, a baseball game would be postponed for a later date. The ticket holders were given a “rain check”, which was a voucher to attend another match.
7. To have a crush on someone
Meaning: A light-hearted way to say that you have a strong affection for someone.
I think Daniel has a crush on Lisa. Did you see the way he blushed when she was talking?
The etymology of “crush” in the romantic sense comes from way back… a 1884 journal of Isabella Maud Rittenhouse, who wrote: “Wintie is weeping because her crush is gone.” It has been suggested that “crush” may have been a variation on the word “mash”, because by 1870 “mashed” was a popular way of saying someone was in love, and to crush something was to mash it.
COMMON BRITISH SLANG
1. Bits and bobs
Meaning: various random things.
You should finally sort out all bits and bobs on our basement shelves.
“Bits and bobs” can also be called “knick-knacks,” “odds and ends” or “junk.” This comes from an old-fashioned way of talking about small change. In the earlier 20th century, the word “bit” was slang for a coin, and the word “bob” was slang for a shilling. British people often talk about “bits and bobs” so this is a very useful phrase to learn.
2. Taking the Mickey
Meaning: to make fun of someone, to tease them a lot.
I don’t want to meet your British friend because he’s constantly taking the Mickey!
First of all, this phrase has nothing to do with Mickey Mouse, although maybe that is a good way to remember it!
“Taking the Mickey” comes from a variety of East London English called Cockney rhyming slang. In this dialect, words — usually rude words — are swapped out for other words that rhyme with them.
The phrase “taking the Mickey” was originally longer: “to take the Mickey Bliss.” No one is quite sure who “Mickey Bliss” was, but he might never have existed. The important thing is that the name rhymes with a British swear word which means urine, “p*ss.” The expression “taking the p*ss” also means to tease someone.
3. Bob’s your uncle
Meaning: There you go! You’ve managed to do that effortlessly! This is a phrase used to emphasize how easily something can be completed or achieved.
What you need is to watch these videos and, Bob’s your uncle, you’ll have all the necessary details.
There are several ideas for how this word came about. It most likely arose from a famous case of favoritism in British politics.
“Bob” is an informal nickname for “Robert.” In the 1880s, there was a British Prime Minister called Robert Cecil, and people sometimes referred to him as “Bob” if they were discussing him disrespectfully. In 1886, PM Robert Cecil gave his nephew a position of great power in government. The other ministers noticed, “that man only got that job because Bob’s his uncle!” and this sarcastic slang phrase was born.
4. To par / to parr off
Meaning: to blow off, to show disrespect to someone or something.
I’m going to par that party tonight, I have too much to do.
I’m so cross with Katie for parring me off.
This piece of very modern slang is common with young people in London. You can also talk about “parring someone off,” which means, to refuse to give someone the attention they expect.
The term was popularised by the London rapper Tempa-T, with his 2009 song, “Next Hype.” It is possible that “par” comes from the French term Faux Pas, which means “a false step against the norm.”
5. Bog standard
Meaning: an adjective describing something basic, functional but not exciting.
It was just a bog standard hostel but it was very expensive because of the location.
In the UK, “bog” is slang for the toilet. However, calling something “bog-standard” is not an insult. It just means that, like a toilet, it serves an essential purpose but is not exciting, pretty, or special.
6. Gutted
Meaning: When you feel extremely disappointed or upset that something has happened.
I was gutted when Chelsea lost the cup final. John Terry should have scored that penalty.
The normal term “gutted” means to remove the internal organs from an animal before cooking it. So it can be quite clear to see the link between such a violent action, and a word that means “extremely disappointed”. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, this term originated from prison slang.
7. Dull as dishwater
Meaning: Something extraordinarily boring.
I wish I didn’t watch that online lecture… it was as dull as dishwater.
This phrase originally came from the simile “dull as ditchwater”, which compares something to the muddy water on the side of roads. Perhaps through mispronunciation, at some point the phrase was changed to become “dishwater”. Similarly, this water is the grayish, dirty water that remains after you have washed your dishes.
COMMON DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH.
| Meaning | American | British |
| Boy or man | Dude | Bloke |
| An electric light you can hold in your hand | Flashlight | Torch |
| A mobile home | Trailer | Caravan |
| Toilet | Restroom | Loo |
| Bons where household waste is stored | Trash | Rubbish |
| The service which delivers letters to your house | Post | |
| Fuel for a car | Gasoline (or gas) | Petrol |
| The third season of the year when it starts to get cold | Fall | Autumn |
| The part of the body you sit on | Butt/fanny/booty | Bum |
| The hatch at the back of a car | Trunk | Boot |
| A basket on wheels to carry groceries | Shopping cart | Trolley |
| Hand-pushed carriage for a baby | Stroller | Pushchair/buggy |
| The part of the street next to the road where people walk | Sidewalk | Pavement |
| Time away from school or work | Vacation | Holiday |
| The grassy area behind a house | Backyard | Garden |
| A place that serves liquor, beer, and other spirits | Bar | Pub |
| Drunk | Wasted | P*ssed (explicit) |
| Story told with video | Movie | Film |
| A public space where you go to watch movies | The movies | The cinema |
| A sweet and crunchy snack | Cookie | Biscuit |
| The sweet course at the end of a meal | Dessert | Pudding |
| Sugary snacks | Candy | Sweets |
| Sticks of hot friend potato | French fries | Chips |
| A purple-black vegetable | Eggplant | Aubergine |
| Strong alcoholic drinks like vodka, gin and whiskey | Liquor | Spirits |
| A soup-like breakfast made of oats | Oatmeal | Porridge |
| Clothing for your torso with sleeves | Sweater | Jumper |
| What babies wear on their bottoms | Diaper | Nappy |
| Shoes for playing sports | Sneakers | Trainers |
| Women’s underwear | Panties | Knickers |
| An item of clothing that covers the legs | Pants | Trousers |
Comments
Post a Comment