Category: Local Language

Real Estate Agent or Realtor.

Quite pleased. Tickled. Almost giddy. (i.e. The Landlord is chuffed to have you as tenants – a nice, stable, married, professional couple.)

A big stinkin’ house that has been converted into separate, smaller (obviously) properties.

A “conversion” is what an estate agent would explain is a flat within a large mansion house, which has been converted into separate smaller properties (or flats). If it is another type of conversion, they will add a modifier like “warehouse”, “schoolhouse”, “houseboat” – you get the point.

(noun) A vacuum. Of any kind. No matter what brand. i.e. Does the flat come with a hoover? (verb) Vacuum. i.e. Will you be so kind as to hoover before the guests arrive, dear?

Anus. (If you ask me, that’s an exit – not an entrance.)

Bathroom or restroom.

To collect money, as in fundraising by asking for donations.

Garbageman. (or “person who collects rubbish”, for those pc people out there.)

Sled. For sledging (sledding).

Slippery. (Well it’s just shorter innit?)

Isn’t it. (i.e. “That’s wrong way ’round, innit?”)

Fat. It’s what you get around Christmas, apparently.

Santa Claus.

Small Christmas tree lights.

Christmas party accessory which is pulled by two people to ‘pop out’ a prize.

Decorative balls that would typical be hung in a Christmas tree.

A dish that originated in Yorkshire, which is a bread-texture pastry used most commonly as a means to hold roast (or roasted veg) with gravy. Mini yorkshire puddings are made in a pan like you might imagine making muffin tops in and baked similar to the way you might bake cornbread – pan oiled and…

A gift exchange where participants buy a gift for a name drawn from a hat, but never tells who the gift is from. I know it sounds familiar to you, but in the UK, they actually keep the secret.

Call or ring (via telephone); can be used as a noun or a verb. i.e. “I’ll bell you when I’m almost there.” or “Give us a bell when you’re ready for us to pick you up.” It’s versatile like that. And it’s very local.

To utilise the facilities. (i.e. go to the bathroom) It used to cost one penny to use the public convenience, so people got in the habit of saying things like, “We can go in a second, but I must spend a penny first”.

A polite way to say ‘wanker’; generally, an undesirable person.

The hood of a vehicle.

Lipstick or lip gloss.

Cool, fantastic, and/or nifty.

Underwear. But not the respectable kind…

Thick, streaky bacon strips. ‘Streaky bacon’ is American style as far as I can tell.

The police, in general.

A collection. Of something. Or anything. We’ll report back if we figure it out.

Goofing off, wasting time, fooling around.

Steal.

All-purpose flour.

Self Rising Flour.

Chock full.  i.e. ‘Let’s schedule something soon because my schedule is chocker.’

In some parts of England, ‘brought’ is used interchangeably with the word ‘bought’.

In addition to its other meaning, ‘tea’ is sometimes used to refer to the evening meal.

Completely finished.

Brekkie=Breakfast, though I have only ever heard it used when speaking to a child.

Zipper.

Brilliant; see brilliant.

Awesome, rad, wicked, cool, and/or phat.

To mock or ridicule. Also a slang term for eating something very quickly.

To go bad, like milk after the expiration date. Not to be confused with ‘going on about’.

It’s a phrase used like ‘we’ll talk later’, or to signify the closing of a conversation at the same time suggesting that there will be more to come at an undisclosed time in the near future.

Chair rail, the interior decorating kind. Yup, I’m serious.

Trim (as in the interior decorating term), the kind that goes along the bottom of the wall touching the floor.

Crown Moulding.

In addition to the common meaning, it is also used to mean ‘starting at’. (i.e. Dinner is served at this restaurant from 6pm.)

Stir. (‘Would you like me to mingle your tea bag?’)

Flashlight.