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R
Rabbit:
Chatter incessantly .
Racialist:
Racist.
RAF:
Royal Air Force.
Rag:
Newspaper
Ralph:
To vomit
Randy:
Feel horny
Rank:
Taxi stand
Rasher:
Slice of bacon.
Rare or Rare Old:
Excellent, great. "We had a rare old time last night!"
Rather:
And how! Without
a doubt.
Rave-up:
Wild party
Read:
While an American would major in his subject at university,
a Brit would "read" his subject.
Ready (The):
Ready cash.
Reading Glass:
Magnifying glass.
Really:
Non-commital response: "He married again? Really."
Red Indian:
American Indian. When a Brit
talks about an "Indian" he means a native of India.
Redundant:
Unemployed. If you are laid off work you are "made
redundant."
Reel:
Spool
Reel:
Lively Scottish dance.
Refuse Tip:
Garbage dump.
Register:
Brits register their luggage; Americans
check their baggage.
Register Office:
Marriage clerk's office.
Registrar:
Doctor
on call who is assistant to a senior physician or specialist.
Registry:
An employment agency for domestic servants.
Removal Van:
Moving truck
Rest Room:
Not a bathroom but a
room for travellers to rest in
Return:
Round, as in round trip or round ticket
Reverse Charges:
Collect
telephone call
Revise:
Review
Rhubarb:
Spoken nonsense
Right:
Used to give emphasis to
another word: "He's a right pillock." Also Dead, Proper.
Ring Book:
Loose-leaf notebook.
Ring up:
To telephone. Also Bell, Tinkle
Ripping:
Good: you might have a "ripping time" or a "ripping good time" or "things went rippingly." Hardly used nowadays.
Rise:
Pay raise
Rising Main:
Cold water supply to a house
Rock:
Hard candy in the form of a stick or
rod, tradional seaside confection
Rolicking:
High spirited, exhuberant, boisterous: "We had a rolicking good time."
Rollie-Pollie:
Children's term for sumersaults
Rollie-Pollie:
Wood louse
Rollmops:
Soused
or pickled herrings
Roll-on:
Lady's girdle.
Ropey:
Of inferior
quality
Rosey Lea:
Tea
Rota:
List of duties
Rotter:
A cad, a cheat
Roundabout:
Traffic circle used as an alternative to an intersection. Traffic has to merge into the flow going around the roundabout
and then out again at their exit - can be a death-defying feat
Rounders:
Game similar to baseball, played by children
Row:
Quarrel, argument
Rubber:
An eraser
Rucksack:
Backpack
Ruddy:
Expletive
used to give emphasis: "He has this ruddy great car." Also Bleeding, Bloody, Blooming, Flipping, Frigging
Rug:
Car
blanket
Rugby:
Sport similar to football with added violence. Players do not wear any form of protective gear
and injuries can be severe
Rugby song:
Particularly lewd and offensive songs sung by Rugby players and their fans
Rugger or Ruggers:
Rugby
Rum:
Odd: "It's a rum business."
Run in:
What you do with a brand new car. In the UK you would "break in" a wild horse
but "run in" a new car.
Runners:
Runner beans; string beans.
S
Sack:
Terminate from employment; fire
Sally
Ann:
Salvation Army
Saloon Car:
Sedan Car
Salt Beef:
Corned Beef.
Sanitary Towel:
Women's
sanitary pad
Sarnie:
Sandwich
Satsuma:
Mandarin orange
Saucy:
Pert; cheeky, impudent.
Savoury:
Canape, hors d'oeuvre.
Savoury biscuit:
Cracker
Savoury Ducks:
Large, savoury meatballs in a brown onion gravy. Also Faggots
Scads:
A
lot: "He has scads of money."
Scarf:
To gobble down food
Scarper:
Run away from trouble
Scatty:
Scatter-brained, whacky
School-leaver:
Student who has completed secondary-level education
and is now joining the workforce.
Scouse:
A native of Liverpool, also Liverpudlian.
Screw:
Prison officer
Scrubber:
Woman of dubious character. Also Slag, Tart
Scrump:
Child's term meaning
to steal
Scrumpy:
Alcoholic drink made from apples.
Scullery:
Room for washing dishes.
Seaside:
Oceanside; beach
See-Saw:
Teeter-totter
Secateurs:
Pruning
shears
Secondary School:
School for 11-16 year olds
Self catering:
Bring your own lunch
Sellotape:
Scotch tape
Semi:
Semi-detached house
Send Up:
Make fun of
Septic:
An American (Apologies to all
Americans: American = Yank = Septic Tank = Septic)
Serviette:
Napkin
Shag:
Have sexual congress
Shagged
out:
Tired out. Also Whacked, Nackered
Shandy:
Drink made of beer and lemonade
Shank's Pony:
Go
by foot: "I missed the bus so it's Shank's Pony for me."
Shared Line:
Party line.
Sharp:
Suspicious, shady: "I don't trust him
- he's too sharp for my liking."
Sheath:
Condom
Shepherd's Pie:
Dish made from chopped or minced lamb
or mutton, topped with mashed potato. See Cottage Pie
Shingle:
Pebbles on the beach
Shire:
Rarely used word for County
Shooting Brake:
Station wagon
Shooting Stick:
Walking stick that folds out into a small seat
Shop:
The store
Shorthand Typist:
Stenographer
Shrift and Short Shrift:
Shrift means confession to a priest, so a person
might have said, "I have to make shrift this Sunday.' It also became a phrase, now redundant, meaning one had to so something
quickly: "If I don't make shrift I'll be late for work." From this "short shrift" developed, meaning little time between
condemnation and punishment: "The landlord will make short shrift of him if he doesn't pay the rent this week." Nowadays,
if used at all, it often means just to do something fast: "I'll make short shrift of that!"
Shtum or Shtumf:
Be quiet!: "I don't want to hear another word, so shtum it!"
Shufti:
Take a look (at
something.) Also Decko, Squint
Shyster:
Swindler; dishonest person
Sick Up:
Throw up.
Sideboards:
Sideburns
Sidesman:
Church
usher
Silencer:
Car muffler
Silly Billy:
Foolish person
Sindy:
Barbie
Single:
One way trip. See Return
Sister:
Registered nurse
Skint:
Broke; pennyless
Skipping Rope:
Jump rope
Skirting Board:
Baseboard
Skittles:
Game similar to bowling
Skive or Skive Off:
Avoid work
Skiver:
Person who regularly skives off
Skivvy:
To do menial tasks, or a person who
does menial tasks
Slag:
Woman of dubious character. Also Scrubber, Tart
Slang:
To insult: "They had
a slanging match right in the middle of the high street."
Slash:
Urinate
Slate:
To slander a person
Slate:
On credit. Regular patrons may keep a slate at their local pub or shop
Sledge:
Sled
Sleeper:
Railroad tie
Sleeping Policeman:
Speed bump
Slide:
Hair barrette
Slight:
To feel unwell: "He's not coming to the match, he's feeling
slight."
Sloan Ranger:
Preppie
Slog:
Hard work; graft
Slowcoach:
Slow poke
Smack:
Spank
Smalls:
Underwear
Smarmy:
Smug and sauve: "Thinks he knows it all - smarmy devil."
Smarties:
M & Ms
Smashing:
Very nice: "That's a smashing skirt."
Snazzy:
Conspicuously dressed, but
said as a compliment
Snog:
To neck; make out
Snooker:
Billiards
Snotty:
Supercillious;
snobbish
Snuff it:
Die
Sod:
Nasty person
Sod off!:
Go away! or shut up!
Solders:
Bread or toast cut into finger-sized pieces. Usually dipped in the yolk of a soft-boiled egg
Soppy:
Inane;
silly
Sorbet:
Ice sherbert
Sozzled:
Drunk. Also Blotto, Bombed, Legless, Paralytic, Pissed, tanked
Spanner:
Wrench
Sparks:
An electrician
Spaz:
From the word "spastic", an idiot or to behave
idiotically: "Don't be a spaz!"
Specs:
Spectacles
Spelt:
Spelled
Spiffy or Spiffing:
When
something is good, or looks good; smart looking
Spiv:
A shady character who avoids honest work and lives by his
wits; black marketeer
Spiv:
Flashy dresser
Splash Out:
To spend a lot of money; be extravagent
Spot:
Zit
Spot on:
Accurate
Spring Onion:
Green onion
Spud:
Potato
Spunk:
Semen
Squash:
Game resembling racket ball
Squash:
Fruit flavoured drink that must be diluted with water
Squint:
Take a look. Also Decko, Gander, Shufti
Standing account:
Savings account
Starkers:
Stark naked
Stars:
Horoscope
Starters:
Appetizers; the first course in a multi-course meal
Sticking plaster:
Bandaid
Sticks:
An isolated rural area
Sticky tape:
Scotch tape
Stodgy:
When food is thick and heavy
Stone:
Fourteen pounds
Storey:
Floor (of a building)
Stout:
An Irish beer
Straight away:
Immediately
Straight up:
The equivalent of saying "honestly." "He really said that! Straight up!"
Strip Lighting:
Tubular florescent lighting.
Stroll on!:
An exclamation of disbelief or amazement
Stroppy:
Argumentative and difficult; bad tempered.
Stuck Up:
Snobbish.
Struth! or Strewth!:
An exclamation
Subway:
Pedestrian crossing that goes
under a road
Sultanas:
Golden raisins
Surgery:
Doctor's office
Surname:
Last name
Suss
out:
Investigate
Suspenders:
Garters
Swede:
Rutabaga
Sweeney:
London's Scotland Yard
police force. Another bit of cockney: Mr. Plod = Sweeney Todd = Sweeney. See Mr. Plod
Sweet:
Dessert
Sweets:
Candy
Swimming suit:
Bathing suit
Swipe:
To steal
Swish:
Nice: "That dress is swish."
Swot:
To study: "I have to swot for tomorrow's exam."
T
Ta:
Thank you
Tanked:
Drunk. Also
Blotto, Bombed, Legless, Paralytic, Pissed, Sozzled
Tanner:
Sixpenny piece
Tannoy:
Public address
system
Tap:
Faucet
Ta-ra:
Goodbye
Ta-ta:
Goodbye
Tarmac:
Blacktop
Tart:
Woman of dubious character, but often not meant seriously. Also Scrubber, Slag
Tart up:
Dress up. Also Togged
Up
Tatty:
Shoddy
Tatties:
Potatoes
Tea or Tea Time:
A light evening mean usually consisting
of sandwiches. A heavier cooked evening meal is dinner
Teacake:
Cake similar to a yeast bread. Several kinds include
Eccles Cake, Lardy Cake, Chelsea Bun
Tea Leaf:
A thief
Tea towel:
Dish towel
Telly:
Television
Terrace House:
Town house
Tetchy:
Sensitive, touchy
Theatre:
Where one goes to watch a
play or opera, not a movie
Thimgumygig:
Subsititute word for the actual name of something, when you can't remember
the real name: "I bought him one of those ... you know ... thingumygigs to unscrew bolts." Also Wotsit
Thick:
Stupid
Throne:
Commode
Tick mark:
Check mark
Tick off:
Tell off; reprimand
Ticked off:
Annoyed
Tiddly:
Tipsy
Tied Cottage:
Home provided to an employee rent free as long as he works
for the person who owns it
Tiffin:
Light meal
Timber yard:
Lumber yard
Tin:
Tin can
Tinkle:
Call on the telephone
Tip:
Rubbish dump
Tipper lorry:
Dump truck
Tipple:
Favourite
drink: "What's your tipple?"
Tissue:
Facial tissue
Titch:
Slang name for a small child or person
Tizzy
or Tivvy:
Tantrum. Also Wobbly
Toad in the Hole:
Yorkshire Pudding baked with sausages in the batter
Tod:
Alone: "On your tod tonight?"
Toff:
Upper class man; gentleman
Toffee nosed:
Pretending you're
better than you are; snobbish
Togged up:
Dressed up
Togs:
Clothing
Toilet:
Commode
Toilet:
A room with a commode that may or may not contain a bath tub. Public conveniences are labeled "Toilet," so if you're out
and about and need one, look for a sign to the "Toilets." Also Bog, Kharzi, Lavatory, Loo, Prive, Throne, WC
Tomato
Sauce:
Tomato ketchup
Tombola:
Raffle
Tommie:
British soldier
Tommy bar:
Crow bar
Ton:
Twenty hundredweight
Toney:
Trendy; sets the tone
Toodle-oo:
Goodbye
Toot:
To fart. Also Parp, Trunkle
Torch:
Flashlight
Tosh!:
Nonsense!
Tosh:
Form of address for a friend: "Wotcha, tosh!"
Tot up:
Add up numbers
Tout:
A scalper
Tower
block:
High rise apartment block
Trainers:
Sneakers
Tramp:
Hobo, vagrant
Transport Cafe:
Truck stop restaurant
Trap:
A person's mouth
Travellers:
Families or individuals who live in caravans
and travel throughout the country
Travel sick:
Car sick; motion sickness
Treacle:
Syrup. See Golden
Syrup, Black Treacle
A Treat:
When something is terrific. "That cake baked up a treat."
Trendy:
An object that is fashionable, or to be
fashionable
Trick Cyclist:
Therapist; psychiatrist
Tripe:
Rubbish; nonsense
Trolley:
Shopping
cart.
Trollop:
Slatternly woman.
Trots(the):
Diarrhea
Trousers:
Pants.
Trouser Suit:
Woman's pants suit.
Truncheon:
Billy stick
Trundle:
Amble along
Trunk call:
Long
distance phone call
Trunkle:
A particulary resonant expulsion of air from the nether regions. Also Parp, Toot
Tube:
London subway system
Tuck Into:
Eat
Tuck Shop:
Usually a shop within a school, run by the school, that sells candy and snack items to students.
Tuition:
Instruction
Tumble:
Catch on; realise. Also Twig
Turf Accountant:
Bookie
Turn ups:
Trouser cuffs
Twaddle:
Nonsense
Twee:
Fey
Twerp:
An idiot
Twig:
Catch on; realise. "He had to tell me twice before I twigged." Also Tumble
Twit:
An idiot; fool
Tyre:
Tire (vehicle)
U
Underground:
The subway
Up Market:
Of a higher status: "Her new flat is definitely up market."
Upper Crust:
Of the upper class
Us:
This word is often substituted for "me.": "Be
a dear - give us a couple of quid."
V
Vacuum Flask:
Thermos flask.
Verge:
Shoulder of the road
Verger:
Church
warden
Vest:
Undershirt
Vet:
Interrogate
Vicar:
Pastor of the Church of England
W
Waistcoat:
Vest
Wally:
An idiot
Wank:
To masturbate
Wash up:
Wash the dishes
Waste Bin:
Waste paper basket; trash can
Way out:
The exit
WC:
See Toilet. Also Bog, Kharzi, Lavatory, Loo, Privy, Throne
Wee:
To urinate
Wellies:
Wellington boots; rubber boots
Wet:
Useless, ineffective
Whacked:
Worn out; weary. Also Shagged,
Knackered
Whinge:
To whine
Whisky:
Scotch whisky
Whiskey:
Irish whisky
Wideboy:
Shady operator
Willie:
The penis
Willies:
Shivers: "That film gave me the willies."
Windscreen:
Windshield
Wing:
Car fender
Winkle Pickers:
Shoes with very pointed toes.
Wobbly:
A trantrum
Wodge:
Wedge: "Givbe me a wodge of that apple tart."
Wonky:
Unstable: "That table has
a wonky leg."
Wood Louse:
Small insect found under logs. Also Rollie-Pollie
Wooly:
Sweater; jersey
Wotcha:
This comes from "what are you," as in "Whotcha doing?" or "Wotcha up to?" Not to be confused with
"Wotcher."
Wotcher:
A greeting; probably from "what cheer,"
an old greeting meaning "how's it going?"
Wotsit:
Substitute word for the actual name of a thing you can't remember the name of. See Thingumygig
Wrinklies:
Senior citizens
Y
Y-Fronts:
Men's briefs
Yank:
An American,
whether from North or South
Yank tank:
One of those massive American cars that can seem to fill a narrow English
country lane
Yard:
Outside area connected to a business used for parking or storage. NOT a garden
Year Dot:
Year one. Usually in a phrase "Since the
year dot," meaning for ages.
Yob or Yobo:
A hooligan
Yonks:
Ages;
a long time
Yorkshire Pudding:
This deserves mention because it is NOT a dessert. It is a type of batter baked
along with the roast. See Toad in the Hole
Z
Zed:
The letter Z
Zed bend:
Double
bend in the road
Zed Car:
Police car
Zebra Crossing:
Pedistrian crossing so named for the black and
white stripes across the road
Zimmer Frame:
A walking frame used by a handicapped or elderly person.
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