Category: Local Language

It’s like ‘smarty pants’, but can be either complimentary or derogatory in a teasing way, I think. (Aren’t you a clever clogs for visiting the site today?!)

‘Tick the box’ is a term used very often in London to mean that one has placed a figurative or literal tick in a box next to an item in a To Do list to denote that the ticked item has been done.

Here, we use it the way we use the word ‘orient’. I think the meanings have just been confused.

Operating Room, as in a surgical theatre. (It makes surgery sound so dramatic, don’t you think?!)

Carbonated (as in a carbonated beverage).

Non-carbonated, as in still water.

Cake.

Idiot, someone stupid (like an idjit.)

Gas – the kind your body makes.  (see also Trapped Wind.)

Hemorrhoids.

Appetizers.

Dessert(s).

Similar to an apartment or condo; I’ll let you know what the difference is when I figure that bit out.

The Underground, subway, public transport via underground train.

Pee. (i.e. I need to take a wee.)

A dessert like cobbler that has a crumble topping of flour, butter, and sugar.

A party or event, like a hen do or a stag do. (Similar in meaning to a big “tuh-do”.)

Bachelor.

Bachelorette.

A good name to call someone who is stupid, mean, ignorant, drunk, rude, or otherwise unpleasant.

Toilet paper.

Bathroom. Restroom. Loo.

Bathroom. Restroom. Toilet.

Someone ugly. See minging.

Trash.  It goes in the bin.

Trash can.

Cup of tea.  If you are worried about steeping your tea for the wrong amount of time, check this out.

Check.  You ask the waiter for the bill, not the check.  (A check is a thing write on to make a payment.)

Sleep (fill in the gap) with.

Paper cutter.  [Yeah, they say this ’round the office all the time.  Bit creepy.]

Crazy, like a train wreck metaphor.  Think Amy Winehouse or Britney Spears; they’ve both gone off the rails.

The thing that holds your “purse“. And shoes, computer, brolly, granola bar, map, bottled water, a half eaten sandwich from lunch, glitter eyeshadow (just in case), tissues, hand sanitizer (pro’ly not), iPod, phone, sunglasses, oyster card, and keys.

The thing that holds your money, used like the word “wallet”. Boys still carry “wallets” and girls have “purses” in their bags. I think.

The cat’s meow, all that and a bag of chips, the stuff, something especially good.

While, in the time between one point and another.

(Slang, informal, colloquial, considered more of an east London expression by some proper British people) Thanks.

Nutters, bonkers, crazy, or something similar.

Domino effect.

Unmotivated, unbothered.

A brand of pocket tissue.

(slang) Complaining about or long-winded excited conversation about any subject, i.e. “What are you on about?”.

A party “in the bush” or without an address, like the woods or some remote location.

A British private soldier, especially of the first world war.

(slang) short for cellophane, I think. Used like this: ‘May I use your “cello”tape?’

(slang) A person who steadily overindulges in food, especially at public events.  Like the bird.

Settled, taken care of.

Good, sometimes better than good.

Kiss or “make out”.

Coaster; can be used with any beverage.