Tag: British slang

Frenemy – English Slang

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Have you ever been betrayed by a friend? It happened to me in the past and I must say, it’s pretty awful! Unfortunately, it’s something common and there are several ways to refer to this kind of people:

frenemy meaning - English vocabulary slang- Free English Materials For You - femfy (1).jpg

Image source

Example sentences from the web:

  • “What do you think about frenemies?”
    “I say, keep your friends close, and your frenemies closer.”
  • Zack is John’s frenemy. They get a long in the office but both of them work on internal competing teams.
  • Gwyneth had a frenemy once and was troubled at the joy she felt when thisperson suffered a terrible public humiliation.

“Frenemy” on the Web: How to Deal With Frenemies

P.S.: I’m sure you got it, but if you didn’t … This term is a combination of the words “friend” and “enemy” ;-).

 

 

“Cock up” – British slang

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cock up meaning - English slang - Free English Materials For You.jpg

Example sentences from the web:

  • The whole affair was a monumental cock-up from start to finish.
  • Nothing goes right, it’s just one cock-up after another!
  • I cocked up the orders for table number four.

*Notice that this expression isn’t commonly used in the USA, where it is generally assumed to have a vulgar meaning.

“Blinding” – British slang

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Blinding - British slang - Free English Materials For You.jpg

Example sentences from the web:

  • I was waiting for a blinding revelation that never came.
  • He showed a blinding display of skills.

“Blinding” in the news: The Blinding Success Of The Lumineers

 

“Knackered” – British slang

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Knackered

Example sentences from the web:

  • The rider forgot to eat before the last climb of the day and he was completely knackered half way up
  • I helped my parents with house chores today. I’m too knackered to join you for dinner, I’m sorry.
  • She has finished the book. Then she fell asleep immediately, she was so knackered!

“Butty; buttie” – British slang

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butty - buttie

Example sentences from the web:

  • Get yourself a piece of bread, I’ll make you a chip butty.
  • Give us an egg butty and don’t break the yolk.
  • “What’ve you got for your dinner?”
    “Cheese butties.”

Notice that you could also hear the term ‘sarnie’ (British slang) referring to a sandwich.

Bacon-Sarnie

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Example sentence from the web:

  • Do us a favour, pop to the shops and get us a sarnie.

“To waffle” – British slang

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To waffleImage source

Probably you knew already the common meaning of “waffle” in British and American English. If you didn’t … this is a “waffle”:
waffle

A “waffle” is a type of pancake with a pattern of square dents in it, made in a waffle iron.

According to Random House Dictionary waffle with the British English meaning of talking idly, and foolishly without purpose is derived from waff (which means to bark or to yelp like a dog) and first appeared in print between 1695-1705.

Example sentences from the web:

  • She waffled when asked what she thought of her sister’s new boyfriend.
  • If you don’t know the answer, it’s no good just waffling (on) for pages and pages.

From a British newspaper clipping (1957):
newspaper - to waffle

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Remember that in American slang the meaning of “to waffle” is different.
Example sentences from the web:

  • American voters waffled in 2000.
  • He waffled on an important issue.
    [= to fail to make up one’s mind; to equivocate; to waver; to oscillate between options].

“Bloke” – British slang

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bloke

Other examples from the web:

  • You blame that bloke for your situation.
  • You look like the bloke from Stranger Danger posters.
  • Who’s that bloke with the funny sunglasses sitting on the plush lounge next to Susan?
  • He’s a funny bloke.
  • I was told you had more imagination than other blokes in the big firms.

Terms you may not know:

– TO BLAME = to hold responsible; to find fault with.
– PLUSH = expensive and luxurious.
– LOUNGE = waiting room; casual bar (hotel).
– FIRM = a partnership or association for carrying on a business.