British-isms

Sometimes I think North American English is limited. So, since I can’t borrow Colin Firth or Prince William, I'm suggesting we adopt more British words. Let’s face it, English, the language we speak, already shares a root word with England. Why not just take a few more?


Here then are some of my favourite British-isms.

Imported Word #1: Knackered
Meaning: Exhausted, beyond tired
Application: Back to work after two weeks and still not feeling 100%...makes meknackered.

Imported Word #2: Cheeky
Meaning: Rude, insolent, smart-alec
Application: My cheeky so-worker told me my hair looked like a fluffy puppy. No Friday donuts for him. Ever.

Imported Word #3: Whinge
Meaning: To protest or complain, usually in a persistent manner
Application: Me: “Hey, pick up the tools by the patio door (that have been there for three weeks) or the Vacuum Zombie is going to eat them.”

Imported Word #4: Dishy
Meaning: Attractive, beautiful, good-looking
Application: I was once dishy, but then I started infertility treatments and medications, which meant I was super tired and started spending an average of five minutes per week on my appearance.

Imported Word #5: Faff About/Around
Meaning: To waste time doing unimportant things
Application: Adam: “Are you still faffing about on blogs?” Me: “Absolutely not. I am doing something useful, like, like, like…”

And I haven’t even mentioned snogging or knickers...love those ones!


                             Vintage dictionary page art by Ex Libris Journals via Etsy


Comments

  1. LunaApril 17, 2012 at 9:57 AM

    And you can cockney rhyming slang them up too. Knackered becomes 'I am done in, absolutely cream-crackered'.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 17, 2012 at 12:27 PM

    My husband and I were playing scrabble, and looking up random words in the dictionary. He has now decided to call me "fubsy" meaning "chubby and somewhat squat". I am not sure how commonly this is actually used in British English, but he certainly cracks himself up every time he calls me "Oh Fubsy..."

    ReplyDelete
  3. LizApril 19, 2012 at 3:59 PM

    Ha! I didn't know half these words were obscure. My blog must be incomprehensible!

    ReplyDelete

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