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British slang is English language slang used in Great Britain. While some slang words and phrases are used throughout all of Britain (e.g. knackered, meaning "exhausted"), others are restricted to smaller regions.^[1] London has its own varieties of slang, one of the most well-known of which is Cockney rhyming slang.^[2].

Lexicographer Eric Partridge has published many works about British slang, most notably A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, currently revised and edited by Paul Beale.^[3]

Varieties of slang

Rhyming slang

Rhyming slang, chiefly associated with Cockney#Cockney speech spoken in the East End of London, replaces a word with a phrase which rhymes with the word, for example, plates of meat for "feet", or twist and twirl for "girl". Often only the first word is used, so plates and twist by themselves become the colloquialisms for "feet" and "girl".^[4]

Back slang

Back slang is simply the practice of using words spelled in reverse, e.g. yob for "boy" or ecilop for "police".^[4]

Polari

Polari is a variety of slang used by gay men and lesbians in Britain and the United Kingdom, which has a history going back at least a hundred years.^[5]

Definitions

arse bandit, bum bandit, ring raider, shit stabber, turd burglar, poof/poofter, fairy, bender, bent, shirtlifter, fudge packer, marmite miner: homosexual (offensive, derogatory)
bell/bell-end: glans of the penis or fool
berk: idiot, irritating person (from Berkeley Hunt, Cockney rhyming slang for cunt)
Billy: amphetamines. (From Billy Whizz, a British comic strip character.) friendless (Billy No-Mates)
Bobby, Old Bill, Plod, 5-Oh, Rozzers, Bizzie (Scouse), The Scum, The Filth: police, police officer
blagger: Liar or Robber. Also 'Blag' is 'lie to' or 'rob' someone. Also somebody who boasts a lot.
bloke, chap, geezer: Man (informal)
blooming: euphemism for bloody
bog: toilet
bog off: Go away
bog roll: Toilet paper
bird: girl
brown bread: dead
Bugger: Anal sex, an exclamation of dissatisfaction ("OH BUGGER!"), in a dire situation ("Well, we're buggered now"), acute surprise
Bum: The Buttocks, The Anus or Both.
chav, ned, bam, scally: A person who dresses in a certain style, typically badly or in sports clothing. Often used as a form of derogation.
Cheers: Thank you or goodbye
Cock: An idiot
Duff: Doesn't work "these batteries are duff" or beat "let's duff him up"
Fag: Cigarette
Fanny: Female external genitalia
Fit: Sexually Attractive
gaff: house
gash: derogatory term used for females or the female genitalia
gay: bad e.g. "It was 'gay' being mugged"
git, bell-end, knob-end: incompetent, stupid, annoying, or childish person
Gob: Mouth; to spit
Gobsmacked: Flabbergasted, dumbfounded, astounded, speechless
Half-Inch: To Steal
Helmet: 'Glans of the Penis' or 'fool'
handbags: a harmless fight
Ickle: Small
I('ll) say: expression of surprise, amazement (quaint)
Jack, Raise: Steal
jammy: lucky. (also 'spawny')
Jizz: Semen
Kip: Sleep, Nap
knackered: exhausted, tired
Knob head: a stupid, irritating person
Knob jockey: homosexual (to ride the penis like a jockey rides a horse)
Fruitbat, Spazmo: idiot
Loo: Lavatory
Manc: someone from Manchester
Manky: Dirty, filthy
Meat and Two Veg: male external genitalia
Minge: Vagina
Minger: Ugly or filthy-minded person
Minted: Wealthy
Munter: Ugly person
Nick: Steal or Police Station "He's in the 'Nick'"
Nicked: Arrested or Stolen i.e. "He got 'Nicked' after he'd 'Nicked' that Car"
Nonce: Paedophile or idiot
Nutter: Insane person
pig pen: police station
Pillock: Someone who is stupid
Pinch: Steal
Pissed: Drunk
ponce: pimp; a posh, effeminate man.
Ring: Anal Sphincter
Safe: Good, Agreed
See A Man About A Dog: Attend a secret deal or meeting or to go to the toilet.
Scouser: Someone from Liverpool
Scrote: Scrotum or pestilent child or teenager^{[dubious – discuss]}
Shag: Have sex with
Shiner: Black Eye or Erection
Skint: without money
Skanked: Ripped-off, daylight robbery, expensive
Skanky: vile
Slag, Slapper, Tart, Scrubber: Prostitute, Loose woman
Slash: urinate, urination
snog: French kiss
Sod: idiot, moron, or annoying person (from sodomite)
Sod off: go away, i.e. fuck off.
Steaming: Extremely Drunk
Stuffed: sexual intercourse (e.g. "Get Stuffed") or to have had too much to eat ("I'm stuffed")
spawny: lucky
spunk: semen, ejaculate
Take the piss (out of): To mock, "Are you taking the piss?"
Tosser: Literally someone who masturbates (to toss off), but generally means an idiot or someone whom the speaker doesn't like
twat: Female genitalia or an idiot
wank: masturbation
wanker: Literally someone who masturbates (verb - to wank), but generally means an idiot or someone whom the speaker doesn't like.^[6]
Whizz: Amphetamines. See also 'Billy'

References

^ Mattiello, Elisa (2008). An Introduction to English Slang. Polimetrica. p. p. 51. ISBN 8876991131. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
^ Todd, Richard Watson (2006). Much Ado about English. Nicholas Brealey Publishing. p. p. 67. ISBN 1857883721. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
^ Algeo, John (1999). The Cambridge History of the English Language. Cambridge University Press. p. p. 58. ISBN 0521264774. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)
^ ^a ^b Kövecses, Zoltán (2000). American English: An Introduction. Broadview Press. pp. pp. 135-136. ISBN 1551112299. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
^ Baker, Paul (2004). Fantabulosa: a dictionary of Polari and gay slang. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 0826473431. {{cite book}}: Text "p. vii" ignored (help)
^ http://entertainme.excite.co.uk/news/5569/Bono-calls-Chris-Martin-a-wanker-the-BBC-panic

External links

The Septic's Companion: A British Slang Dictionary– an online dictionary of British slang, viewable alphabetically or by category.
English slang and colloquialisms used in the United Kingdom

[1] Mattiello, Elisa (2008). An Introduction to English Slang. Polimetrica. p. p. 51. ISBN 8876991131. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)

[2] Todd, Richard Watson (2006). Much Ado about English. Nicholas Brealey Publishing. p. p. 67. ISBN 1857883721. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)

[3] Algeo, John (1999). The Cambridge History of the English Language. Cambridge University Press. p. p. 58. ISBN 0521264774. {{cite book}}: |page= has extra text (help)

[American-4] Kövecses, Zoltán (2000). American English: An Introduction. Broadview Press. pp. pp. 135-136. ISBN 1551112299. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)

[5] Baker, Paul (2004). Fantabulosa: a dictionary of Polari and gay slang. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 0826473431. {{cite book}}: Text "p. vii" ignored (help)

[6] ttp://entertainme.excite.co.uk/news/5569/Bono-calls-Chris-Martin-a-wanker-the-BBC-panic

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@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==Definitions==
-; arse bandit, bum bandit, ring raider, shit stabber, turd burglar, poof/poofter, fairy, bender, bent, shirtlifter : [[homosexual]] (offensive, derogatory)
+; arse bandit, bum bandit, ring raider, shit stabber, turd burglar, poof/poofter, fairy, bender, bent, shirtlifter, fudge packer, marmite miner : [[homosexual]] (offensive, derogatory)
 ; bell/bell-end : glans of the penis or fool
 ; berk : idiot, irritating person (from [[Berkeley Hunt]], Cockney rhyming slang for [[cunt]])