10 British Slang Words and Expressions in English

What Are ‘Slang’ Words and Expressions?

Slang is very informal or colloquial language, used among people who belong to the same social group. Slang is usually used in speaking rather than writing, and different slang can go in and out of fashion. It’s important not to use slang with people outside of your social group, that you don’t know well, so you don’t run the risk of offending them. Don’t use slang in a job interview for example!

Slang expressions are very common and unless you know the meaning of them, you can find yourself excluded from your social group. So we’re going to look at 10 common British slang words and expressions to help you out.

Practice These Slang Words and Expressions:

Number 1: ‘a load of tosh’ -/ə ləʊd ɒv tɒʃ/.

This is used to describe something that is not very good or ‘rubbish.’

For example, ‘That film I saw last week was a load of tosh.’

Number 2: ‘the bee’s knees’ -/ðiː biːz niːz/.

This is also an idiom, which means ‘excellent’ or ‘wonderful’.

Our practice sentence is, ‘The essay you wrote was the bee’s knees.’

Number 3: ‘cheerio’ – /ˈʧɪərɪˈəʊ/.

This is one of many words to mean ‘goodbye’ in the UK.

So you might say to a friend: ‘See you next week, cheerio.’

Number 4: ‘cheesed off’ -/ʧiːzd ɒf/.

Make sure you link the words chessed and off, so it becomes ‘cheesedof’.

This means that you are unhappy about something.

For example, ‘Stephanie was really cheesed off with Mark’s behaviour at the party.’

Number 5: ‘Don’t cry over spilt milk’ -/dəʊnt kraɪ ˈəʊvə ˈspɪlt mɪlk/.

Link the words ‘cry’ and ‘over’. So it’s cryover. ‘don’t cryover spilt milk”

This is used when you have got something wrong or have broken something.

It means not to worry about it because what is done is done.

Our practice sentence is: ‘The vase is broken, so don’t cry over spilt milk.’

Number 6: ‘donkey’s years’ – /ˈdɒŋkiz jɪəz/.

Donkeys are believed to live for a long time (reputedly up to 40 years), so we use the expression ‘donkey’s years’ to refer to a long time.

For instance, ‘I haven’t seen you in donkey’s years!’

Number 7: ‘full of beans’ – /fʊl ɒv biːnz/.

Link the words ‘full’ and ‘of’. So it becomes ‘fullof’. ‘fullof beans’.

This means someone is very energetic and vivacious.

Our practice sentence is: ‘Jack was full of beans at his birthday party and couldn’t sit still.’

Number 8: ‘flogging a dead horse’ – /ˈflɒɡɪŋ ə dɛd hɔːs/.

You need to link the words ‘flogging’ and ‘a’. So it becomes ‘flogginga’.‘ng’ to ‘a’. ‘nga’  ‘nga’ ‘flogginga’ dead horse’.

This means to try and find a solution to a problem that is unsolvable.

For example: ‘You won’t change their mind, don’t flog a dead horse, just move on.’

Number 9: ‘gobsmacked’ – /ˈɡɑbˌsmækt/.

From the K straight to the T.

If you’re gobsmacked you’re amazed by something or someone.

It could be in a good or a bad way.

Our practice sentence is: ‘Sally was gobsmacked at the new sports car that her father had bought her!’

Number 10: ‘not my cup of tea’ –  /nɒt maɪ kʌp ɒv ti:/.

Link the words ‘cup’ and ‘of’. So it becomes ‘cupof’. ‘not my cupof tea’.

We use it when something is not to our liking.

For instance: “My boyfriend loves football but it’s not my cup of tea.’

Try Yourself

So next time you hear any of these 10 British slang phrases and expressions, you’ll know what people are talking about!

You can also try using them yourself and impress your friends with your ‘inside knowledge’ of British slang phrases!