Local Language – Page 2 – Drew and Jen go to London

Estate Agent

Real Estate Agent or Realtor.

January 25, 2010

Chuffed

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

January 24, 2010

Mansion Block

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

January 23, 2010

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.

January 22, 2010

Hoover

(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?

January 19, 2010

Back Entrance

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

January 18, 2010

Public Convenience

Bathroom or restroom.

January 17, 2010

Whip ’round

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

January 16, 2010

Dustman

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

January 15, 2010

Sledge

Sled. For sledging (sledding).

January 14, 2010

Slippy

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

January 13, 2010

Innit

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

January 12, 2010

Lardy

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

December 26, 2009

Father Christmas

Santa Claus.

December 25, 2009

Fairy Lights

Small Christmas tree lights.

December 24, 2009

Christmas Poppers

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

December 23, 2009

Baubles

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

December 22, 2009

Yorkshire Pudding

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…

December 21, 2009

Secret Santa

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.

December 20, 2009

Bell

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.

December 18, 2009

Spend a Penny

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”.

December 17, 2009

Tosser

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

December 16, 2009

Bonnet

The hood of a vehicle.

December 15, 2009

Lippy

Lipstick or lip gloss.

December 8, 2009

Spiffing

Cool, fantastic, and/or nifty.

December 7, 2009

Knickers

Underwear. But not the respectable kind…

December 6, 2009

Rashers

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

November 26, 2009

Filth

The police, in general.

November 25, 2009

Kit

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

November 19, 2009

Mucking About

Goofing off, wasting time, fooling around.

November 17, 2009

Pinch

Steal.

November 16, 2009

Plain Flour

All-purpose flour.

November 15, 2009

Self Raising Flour

Self Rising Flour.

November 14, 2009

Chocker

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

November 13, 2009

Brought

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

November 12, 2009

Tea

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

November 11, 2009

Done and Dusted

Completely finished.

November 10, 2009

Brekkie

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

November 9, 2009

Zip

Zipper.

November 4, 2009

Brill

Brilliant; see brilliant.

November 3, 2009

Brilliant

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

November 2, 2009

Scoff

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

October 29, 2009

Go off

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

October 27, 2009

Speak soon

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.

October 25, 2009