25 British Slang Words and Phrases: Meanings and Examples

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British slang can be colourful, funny and confusing, especially when a familiar word has a completely different meaning in context.

There is no single way that everyone in Britain speaks. Usage varies by region, age and situation, and a few of the expressions below are offensive. Start by learning to recognise them. If you want to use one yourself, listen to how people around you use it first.

Some entries, such as trainers and fortnight, are everyday British English rather than slang in the strict sense. They are included because learners often meet them in the same conversations. Here are 25 British slang words and phrases, with examples to show you how they work.

A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away with a native speaker for at least 15 minutes with the “Fluent in 3 Months” method. All it takes is 90 days. Tap this link to find out more.

1. Gutted: “Extremely Disappointed”

If someone is gutted, they are extremely disappointed and unhappy about what happened. It is informal and common in British English.

He was gutted when he realised he was the only one of his friends who hadn’t been invited to the pub.

2. Wanker: “An Unpleasant Person” (Offensive)

Wanker is an offensive insult for someone you consider stupid, obnoxious or unpleasant. You may hear it in angry banter or casual conversation, but it is not suitable for polite or professional settings.

He’s being a wanker. I wish he would stop harassing the staff and let them work.

3. Tosh: “Nonsense”

Tosh means nonsense. It can sound old-fashioned or playful, so you are more likely to encounter it than need it yourself.

That article was a load of tosh.

4. Throw a Wobbly: “Lose Your Temper”

To throw a wobbly is to become suddenly angry or upset, often in a way that resembles a tantrum.

He threw a wobbly when the referee made another call against his team.

5. Take the Piss: “Mock or Exploit” (Vulgar)

To take the piss out of someone is to mock or tease them. Taking the piss can also mean behaving unreasonably or exploiting someone’s patience. Both uses are informal and vulgar.

Are you taking the piss? You said the job would take ten minutes.

6. Rubbish: “Nonsense”

As well as meaning waste or litter, rubbish can dismiss an idea or excuse as nonsense. It can also describe something as poor quality.

He claimed he was late because of the train, but I think that’s complete rubbish.

7. Posh: “Expensive or Upper-Class”

Posh can describe something expensive and fashionable, or a person, voice or place associated with a high social class.

We booked afternoon tea at a posh hotel.

8. Our [Name]: “Someone Close to Us”

In some British dialects, especially in northern England, speakers may put our before a relative’s or close friend’s name. It marks a family or community connection, not possession.

Did you hear about our Stephen? He’s working as a surgeon now.

9. Muck: “Dirt”

Muck is an informal word for dirt, mud or other unpleasant matter.

Wear your boots. The path is full of muck after the storm.

10. Knackered: “Extremely Tired”

If you are knackered, you are extremely tired. It is informal, so save it for casual conversation.

I walked 20 kilometres today, so I’m absolutely knackered.

11. Mate: “Friend”

Mate is an informal word for a friend, and people of different genders use it. It can also be a casual way to address someone. Tone matters: a sharp “Listen, mate” may not be friendly.

I’m meeting a few mates after work.

12. Gander: “Look”

To have a gander means to take a look.

Have a gander at the printer and see why it isn’t working.

13. Trainers: “Sports Shoes”

Trainers are sports or casual shoes. This is standard everyday British vocabulary rather than slang. In American English, people often say sneakers.

14. Lose the Plot: “Become Confused or Irrational”

If someone has lost the plot, they have become confused, unreasonable or unable to deal sensibly with a situation. It is an exaggeration, not a clinical description.

After the airline cancelled her third flight, Gwen completely lost the plot.

15. Grockle: “Tourist”

Grockle is a regional word from south-west England for a tourist or holidaymaker. It can be mildly disparaging, depending on who says it and how.

16. Fortnight: “Two Weeks”

A fortnight is a period of two weeks. Like trainers, this is ordinary British English rather than slang.

I’ll be back in a fortnight.

17. Gobsmacked: “Astonished”

If you are gobsmacked, you are extremely surprised. The surprise can be pleasant or unpleasant.

She was gobsmacked when her best friend turned up for her birthday.

18. Cock-Up: “Mistake or Botched Job”

A cock-up is a mistake or something that has been handled badly. The verb is cock up. It is informal and may sound mildly rude.

There was a cock-up with the booking, so they gave us the wrong room.

19. Chuffed: “Pleased”

Someone who feels chuffed is pleased or delighted, often because something has gone well.

I passed my exam, and I’m really chuffed.

20. Bob’s Your Uncle: “There You Have It”

Bob’s your uncle comes at the end of a simple set of instructions. It means the result will follow easily, much like “there you have it”.

Open the app, enter the code and Bob’s your uncle. You’re signed in.

21. Brass Monkeys: “Freezing Cold”

If someone says it’s brass monkeys, they mean the weather is freezing cold. The shortened phrase is informal. Stories about its origin are disputed, so it is safer to learn the meaning than repeat an origin tale.

Take a warm coat. It’s brass monkeys outside.

22. Bloody: An Intensifier (Mild Swear Word)

Bloody is an intensifier that can express anger, emphasis or frustration. It is widely treated as a mild swear word in Britain, but its force depends on the speaker and situation.

If this bloody traffic jam doesn’t clear, I’m going to be late again.

23. Dodgy: “Suspicious, Unsafe or Unreliable”

Dodgy can describe a person who seems dishonest, an object likely to fail or a situation that feels unsafe or suspicious.

• I wouldn’t trust that dodgy mechanic.
• Don’t use that ladder. It looks dodgy.

24. Proper: “Real, Complete or Very”

In informal British speech, proper can mean real or genuine, as in “a proper cup of tea”. It can also add emphasis, as in “proper tired”. The second use is especially informal and varies by region.

25. Nick: “Steal or Arrest”

As a verb, nick can mean to steal something. It can also mean that the police arrested someone.

• Someone nicked my bike outside the station.
• The police nicked two people after the robbery.

British Slang: Over to You

You do not need to force all 25 expressions into your next conversation. Pick a few that you are likely to hear, notice who uses them and in what setting, then try one when the context feels natural. For more pronunciation and vocabulary pointers, see how to speak English like the English.