Vote for your Favorite British Slang
Codswallop!
Nonsense
What? You don't drive a British car? That's codswallop, that!
–Wilson Evans
Blimey
Oh my god
Blimey mate, give me a break.
–Stanley Breita
Top it up
Fill 'er up!
I just checked the oil. It looks like it is time to top it up.
–Bob Labuz
Chuffed; dead chuffed
Happy; very happy
I was dead chuffed when my MG started today
–David Steverson
Good nick
Functioning properly
I say old boy, your TR seems to be in rather good nick
–Rob Wood
Zebra Crossing
The white lines allowing pedestrians a route to cross the street; a crosswalk
My brakes were right well tested when I came upon a granny in the zebra crossing last night.
–Benjamin Coutu
Put some glass in it
Roll up the window
It's getting a wee bit chilly. Put some glass in it.
–Brad Campbell
Bloomin'
Derived from "Bloody" meaning darn or dang
Close the bloomin' bonnet ya twit!
–John Huffman
Tickety-Boo
Things are the way they should be; every thing is neat and tidy
I restored my SUs and now my MG-TC is Tickety-Boo!
–Curt Sorensen
Squabs are adjustable for rake
The seat cushions may be adjusted for tilt
Whilst reading my TA's manual I discovered that the squabs are adjusted for increased rake by pumping up the Dunlop bladder using the tyre pump.
–Randy Schultz
Water butt
It is a rain collector for watering gardens, usually a plastic barrel, placed under a downspout.
Saw a nice looking water butt at the B&Q on the weekend. Not as nice as the ones at the village ironmonger's, though.
–Dennis Oldland
Fiddly
A repair on a car that takes more time or work than anticipated.
I recently removed the dash from my Spitfire. What a fiddly job that was.
–Harry Siegel
Pudding Club
Pregnant
Margaret has had a hell of a time getting out of the MG since she joined the Club.
–Ken and Barby Smith
Operate your spanner smartly
Take it easy with the wrench
Operate your spanner smartly, and save your King Kong impression to save Fay Wray.
–Ray Diesel
Frog 'n Toad, Rub-A-Dub, Jam Jar, pimple & Blotch
Cockney rhyming slang.
Frog 'n Toad = Road.
Rub-A-Dub = Pub
Jam Jar = Car
Pimple & Blotch = Scotch (whisky)
I'm going down the Frog 'n Toad to the Rub-A-Dub in the Jam Jar for a quick Pimple 'n Blotch.
–David Patience
Bloody Norah!
Expression of extreme surprise, anger, dread. Refers to the murderous housemaid of the Duke Wodingtonshire.
(While driving a Bugeye at full tilt) "Look out for that pot hole..." WHAM! SNAP! "...Oh, Bloody Norah!"
–James Hill
A dog's breakfast
A complete mess
I made a dog's breakfast of my Big Healey tri-carb tune up.
–Bill Allan
Bob's your uncle
An expression at the end of simple instructions; similar to "thats it," or "there you are"
To find the pub, go one mile on this road, turn left, go one half mile and Bob's your uncle.
–Bill Marcus
Get a wiggle on!
Get a move on!
Get a wiggle on, and buy that MG.
–Donald Bartley
Cheeky
Smart Aleck
He's a cheeky little twit!
–Wes Barbour
Barmy
Crazy
I think old Colonel Weatherby has gone a bit barmy, he's marching around his garden with his helmet on again...
–Alan Lovatt
I cut it off twice and it's still too short
Just can't figure it out; an expression of frustration
Three hours into a difficult Lucas issue the mechanic said, "I cut it off twice and it's STILL too short."
–Charles Durning
Spot
A small amount—as beautifully understated as Brits can be
I ran into a spot of trouble this afternoon when my front wheel was jettisoned on the A1 at 144kph.
–Tony Graham
Donkey's Years
A very long time
Passing a small town on our drive back to Yorkshire I said, "Crikey, we haven't been here for Donkey's Years." Our American friend, Mark, said "What? You haven't been here for Donkey's Ears? Are your crazy?" Mark took to our language very quickly and even bought himself a flat cap! (Very English!)
–Gerry Duniec
Her Majesty's pleasure
To be imprisoned with no planned release date
As he sped down the motorway, he passed 100 miles per hour, was stopped and will now be subject to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure.
–David Hogan
Gobsmacked
Amazed
I was gobsmacked when I switched on my Lucas headlights and they worked!
–Missy McKenna
Skive
To evade something
When I was a kid we used to skive off school on Wednesdays.
–Bernie Grant
Knackered
Tired, broken, useless, done for
I had to push that MG up this hill—I'm absolutely knackered. That's why I drive a Triumph.
–Keith Norrie