semantics across the pond

[benmrii]

There are a lot of us on both sides of the pond and beyond. Thought it would be fun to have a space to check with one another on slang and colloquialisms we come across, both on these boards and elsewhere. Maybe it's just me, but I love hearing what they mean and where they developed from.

First of all, being from the US, some of my English favorites are "prat" and "taking a piss." I usually get to work prat into my week once or twice, and the very nature of the situation usually means I don't care if they know what I mean. The latter... doesn't translate too well over here.

So here's my question: What does "corker" mean?

 

[swiftaw]

As a brit living in the US I have exposure to both sets of slang.

Corker usually means great, as in "That's a corker of a shot" means "That's a great shot"

My other favorite british slang are: b*llocks, the dog's b*llocks, and pants.

 

[R-41157]

Heres a few for you . . . Im a brit by the way!

"Boss" = "Really good"/"Great" - Mainly used in Liverpool and the surrounding area!

"Sack it off" = "Leave it alone"/"stop doing something" - Again a liverpool based term.

"Killer" = "Awesome"

"mint" = "good"

"having a laugh" = "you must be messing"

Might post some more later is i can think of any!

 

[JNB]

"Boss" = "Really good"/"Great" - Mainly used in Liverpool and the surrounding area!

That one died in the States (same meaning) about thirty years ago or so.

We progressed from that to "wicked" and "bad," and I think we're about done with "sick."

 

[OllyW]

A few from The Black Country

"saft" = A combination of "silly" & "daft"

"yampy" = "mad"

"bostin" = "really good"

"suck" = "sweets" (or "candy" for our American friends)

 

[nick9191]

Geezer - Person, usually male, usually a friend or acquaintance
"Alright Geezer?"

**** - An idiot
"Go away you ****"

Cotch - Pleasing
"Those were some cotch seats"

 

[themadchemist]

We progressed from that to "wicked" and "bad," and I think we're about done with "sick."

Perhaps we'll move on to comatose.

 

[Much Ado]

Is there a US word for "tosser"? That's a pretty British word. It's the default greeting in some parts of the country.

 

[Neil321]

Is there a US word for "tosser"? That's a pretty British word. It's the default greeting in some parts of the country.

Dunno which part of the UK your from ? but if i greeted people by calling them "tosser" id end up with a smack in the chops

 

[iJohnHenry]

I always liked "porkie", from Jack Frost - A Touch of Frost.

A big, fat lie.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I always liked "porkie", from Jack Frost - A Touch of Frost.

A big, fat lie.

Pork pie = lie – it's cockney rhyming slang, that.

Anyway, a few from my neck of the woods...

Tenfoot
A wide alleyway running behind a row of houses.
Usage: The bairns are larking down't tenfoot.

Bool
To roll or push a wheeled object.
Usage: Bool yer pram ovva 'ere!

Bray
To punch or hit.
Usage: I'll bray yer 'ead in!

Mafting/Mafted
Hot.
Usage: Open window, it's bloody mafting in 'ere!

Nithering/Nithered
Cold.
Usage: Put 'eating on, I'm bloody nithered!

It's the language of kings, it really is.

 

[BoyBach]

There is only one word that deserves to take over the world:

CWTCH

The literal translation is a cupboard, but the real meaning is difficult to explain. It can a hug, snuggling up with someone or something, a cuddle, having a lie down...

It is the best word in the world and I demand that everybody start using it!

 

[Blue Velvet]

It is the best word in the world and I demand that everybody start using it!

If only we knew how to pronounce it.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

CWTCH... It is the best word in the world and I demand that everybody start using it!

How pray should this word be pronounced? We want to sound all authentic, after all.

 

[Cromulent]

American slang is decidedly boring.

Anything from Rab C. Nesbitt has to rank pretty highly on my favourite slang.

 

[skunk]

NB: Taking a piss is very different from taking the piss.

 

[Grey Beard]

Cwtch

CWTCH: pronounced cutch, like clutch without the 'L'. also the 'u' sound is more, but not quite an 'oo' sound. from the welsh word 'cwtch'

KGB

 

[skunk]

CWTCH: pronounced cutch, like clutch without the 'L'. also the 'u' sound is more, but not quite an 'oo' sound. from the welsh word 'cwtch'

If one of the meanings is "to lie down with", it's presumably derived from the French coucher.

 

[Queso]

I've always liked mithering, but you knew that already

 

[skunk]

I've always liked mithering, but you knew that already

Frankly, I'm surprised that got through the MR censorbot. Save it for Mithering Sunday.

 

[Queso]

Frankly, I'm surprised that got through the MR censorbot.

I'm always surprised any of my posts do TBH

 

[0098386]

Fag = cigarette
Ruddy nora = bloody hell = holy f**k dude!
Yey big (usually with hand action) = this big
Bloomin = Bloody = Duuuuude
I wouldn't touch that with a 10' barge pole! = Dude I wouldn't go near that
Squire = home boy

now I'm off to bed, nanite = good night.

 

[souldawg]

I did my MA in Bristol, moving from America. The biggest snafu I had wasn't with the traditional slang. I caught on to "fanny pack" quite quickly. It was however the idea of a fancy dress party, which led to my epic Bridget Jones moment.

In England, fancy dress is equivalent to a costume party in the US. Well, I came dressed to the nines, only to find most everyone ... not. I stood out like a sore thumb and had to try and figure out a costume idea from my evening wear. I ended up trying for Audrey Hepburn, but it was lame, lame, lame.

 

[Abstract]

Perhaps we'll move on to comatose.

My friends and I have moved beyond "sick". Things that are really sick are deemed "Ebola", like "Yo, that's ebola!"


Don't hate me. We were like 16 when we started doing that.

Geezer - Person, usually male, usually a friend or acquaintance
"Alright Geezer?"

I hate when you walk into a store and are greeted with that. I once walked into a Dixon's and got a, "Howz it goin', Geezaaaa!"

 

[0098386]

It's way too easy to make stuff up here and have them seep into regular conversation. A long while back me and a friend started to drop some daft words into conversation and it really spread quite well.

To drop chip was to expel gas.
Through the middle meant to get out of wherever you were ASAP.
Forgot the rest