As with all countries and languages, the British have some strange phrases which can confuse even the most proficient English speaker! Here’s a quick & handy guide to some of the most common words and phrases you may hear – and think – “what on earth does that mean?”!
Blinder – “pull a blinder” – achieving something difficult without fault or with luck
Bloody – added to sentences to intensify a point or show anger
Builders Tea – a strongly brewed cup of English breakfast tea with milk
Brew – a cup of English breakfast tea
Chinwag – to have a chat
Chockablock – full
Chucking it down – it’s raining hard
Chuffed – happy or pleased
Fag, Tab, Cig – all terms for cigarettes
Full of beans – a term to describe someone with lots of energy
Gobsmacked – to be shocked or astounded or bewildered
Lurgy – if someone has “caught the lurgy” they will have cold of flu like symptoms or are just not feeling great
Minging – something unpleasant or ‘gross’
Pissed – drunk
Raining cats and dogs – it’s raining hard
Spend a penny – a euphemism for going to the toilet
Whinge – to complain
Have a question? Get in touch, the Indigo Team are ready to help!
Call: 0330 123 9665
Email: contactus@indigohealthcare.co.uk