101 British Slang Words, Insults and Phrases

Learning to speak English is one thing, learning to speak British English like a native is quite another. With a bewildering variety of slang phrases and idioms, the Brits have a way of expressing themselves that can leave the uninitiated in the dark.

But never fear – over the next few pages is our list of 101 words and phrases that will have you speaking the lingo as if you were born in England…

Single Page Version

1-10

1. Hard lines – originating in the 1950s, this simply means bad luck.
2. Blast – used to express surprise, particularly when something has gone wrong
3. Spend a penny – visit the bathroom
4. Dog’s bollocks – rude expression meaning extremely good (also known as “the mutt’s nuts”)
5. Knock off – to steal, or sometimes counterfeit (“That’s not Chanel, it’s a knock off”)
6. Mate – friend
7. Gormless – clueless
8. Wonky – unstable or not firm
9. Collywobbles – extreme nausea or pain in the stomach as a result of stress
10. Donkey’s Years – ages, as in “I haven’t seen that type of thing in donkey’s years”.