Understand Proper English Like What I talk
Seventh revision. Includes some suggestions and requests by readers from all over the place.
More demented ravings by The Wanderer
(with some help from readers and friends).
A note and disclaimer by The Wanderer.
The original synopsis for this document, it plainly said "English as The Wanderer writes it" if you don't like that, "Bollocks!" I've been kicking around this country for over sixty years now. If a reader hasn't come across the words being used in the same context, there ain't much that I can do about it. This originally was a list of words and phrases that I've come into contact with over the years and their use as I understand them. If you don't like my list, then write your own bleeding one. On the other hand there are many words and phrases I've haven't heard and I'm happy to add them if you'd like to send them to me
This is not and does not claim to be a complete list of English colloquial words and phrases. It is just a list of them that I have commonly come across or might use in my stories and that I'm have been made aware that some folks might not be familiar with and have difficulty understanding. Plus there are some words and information that I've added purely for interest value.
If you find you have trouble understanding something in one of my tales, you could well find the answer here. If you don't, please feel free to drop me a line and I will try to explain it to you, then I can add it to this list.
However, I must point out there are many variations in the use and meaning of the words in different parts of the UK. I'll ask my fellow countrymen to help me here, if they spot any, what they consider inconsistencies in the list; please let me know what the word commonly means where you live and then I can add that to the list.
To make life easy, please mark all emails on this subject "Do What?"
Colloquial words in the UK, can take on different meanings depending on the context, your location and/or whose company they are used in. I've already mentioned about different meanings in different parts of the UK. Please don't blame me if you use the wrong word in the wrong way or part of the country and find yourself in a compromising situation.
As an example, I'll take the word "Prat" or "Pratt". (Both spellings are in common use.)
"Prat" is a word you wouldn't normally use when the vicar comes to tea. But it can be used in mixed company where it should normally be taken to mean "A foolish person".
However when used amongst the boys, maybe in anger down at the pub or in the workplace, it can also mean the backside or buttocks.
To try to explain further, if a friend does something silly or stupid, you can call him a Prat - often phrased "You silly Prat!" (Preferably with a smile on your face). You are in effect calling him a fool, and he'll generally laugh with you.
However if you call somebody a Prat in an argument or because you don't like them. Then you are, in effect, calling them an arsehole. Any resultant punch-up is your own responsibility, not mine!
A word about rhyming slang. This is attributed to having been created by Cockney's in East London. But the same idea can often be found in use all over the country.
In Cockney rhyming slang, usually only the one part
(normally the first, but not always)
of the rhyme is used. This is a useful way to tell whether someone is "putting it on", and it is not his/her usual form of speech. i.e. if someone was referring to a new suit they might say "How'd you like the whistle?" They should definitely not say, "Do you like my new Whistle and Flute?
I have included some of the rhyming slang that some members of my family - who were not Cockneys by the way - used in their normal speech whilst I was growing up. Most of these will, on occasions, still be heard and understood in nearly all of Southeast England. I'm not too sure about the rest of the UK; but to my knowledge, I have normally been understood.
Just a little note about grammar! I often get comments on some of the grammar in my tales of woe. Well, I'll just say that normally my stories are told in the first person and I try to write as people think and talk. In your thoughts and when you speak, you don't think and talk in proper grammatical English. Well, I don't and I'm afraid I've never come across anyone who actually does. I'm not trying to write bloody English textbooks here!
And one further point. English English and American English are not spelt the same. Actually if it comes down to brass tacks we use a slightly different alphabet. We have Z pronounced zed, whereas over the pond, I'm pretty sure they have a Z pronounced zee! It might not sound like much but it does make a difference.
There are quite a few, sometimes subtle and sometimes not so subtle differences between British and American spelling that show-up with regularity. Especially for me, because both of the editors who have kindly accepted the unenviable task of reading through my stories to try to make some sense of them, come from the other side of the pond. Actually I think they are both closet masochists, but don't let on that I told you.
English dictionaries differentiate between colloquial English, slang and coarse slang. Quite a lot of what can be found bellow can be considered as belonging to the later definition.
DC
The Wanderer
Abbreviations - Police officer ranks. PC - Police Constable, DC - Detective Constable, DS - Detective Sergeant, DI - Detective Inspector, DCI - Detective Chief Inspector. There are more but you get the general idea. Also in the past, I think that many of them could be prefixed by a "W", to denote a female police officer, political correctness and women's lib have made the distinction obsolete.
A lady of the night --
A Prostitute
A Monkey --
£500
A Pony --
£25
A runner --
(he did a runner) -- Run away from a situation or responsibilities.
A4 --
Standard European paper size as used in most offices.
AC/DC --
Bisexual.
Across the pond --
the other side of the Atlantic
Affray --
A breach of the peace by fighting or rioting in public. Catchall offence, can be used by the British police to arrest anybody whose actions could be construed to instil fear in the general public.
Antipodes --
Australia and New Zealand
Any Bottle --
Any good
Artic (articulated lorry) --
A lorry consisting of two or more sections connected by a flexible joint. (In North America a semi-trailer).
Are you still with us? --
Are you understanding what (1) we are saying? (2) is going on.
At her majesty's pleasure --
In prison
Ay-Up --
Used when attracting someone's attention.
Back door
(on the road) -- Someone travelling behind you, that you are reporting road conditions to or the presence of the police approaching from the rear. Usually by CB radio.
Ball and chain --
The wife
Bedlam --
A scene of uproar and confusion; a madhouse; an asylum. (From the Victorian mental "Hospital of St Mary of Bethlehem" in Lambeth London. Now the Imperial War Museum.) [Out of interest my family routes are in Lambeth]
Boat race (The Boat Race) --
Traditional yearly race between Oxford and Cambridge university rowing eight's held over a course on the river Thames in London. Considered to be the toughest race of its kind.
Before you can say Jack Robinson. --
Something happening extremely quickly
Between you, me and the gatepost. --
Keep this to yourself.
Blimey --
Expressing surprise or alarm.
Blew-out --
Something that was planned and then cancelled
Bloomin --
I haven't got the foggiest idea, I can never recall anyone ever using the word, except characters pretending to be English in the movies. I can only assume they thought it up to replace the blasphemies in common use.
Boffin --
scientist or technician, originally a person engaged in scientific (esp. military) research. Now is commonly understood to mane any scientist or technician
Bollocks --
Testicles, also a term of frustration or insult. Hey, just heard that Wilma Flintstone used the word in one of the Flintstones cartoons, apparently there was a little bit of strife over it.
Bonnet
(in reference to automobiles) -- Engine cover (in North America, the hood)
Bottle/d out --
Chicken/ed out.
Boot
(in reference to automobiles) -- luggage compartment (in North America, the trunk)
Bottoms up! --
Cheers
Brass tacks --
actual details; real business (get down to brass tacks).
Brief (1) (My Brief) --
Solicitor or barrister representing the person talking. Attorney or lawyer in U.S.
Brief (2) --
Legal document allowing the holder to undertake his profession i.e. a truck or bus drivers licence.
Bristols
(Bristol City's) -- Breasts; tits (rhyming slang)
Bristol fashion --
All ship shape and Bristol fashion is/was a nautical term meaning "All ready to put to sea". Nowadays it is taken to mean everything is prepared and ready, as it should be.
BT --
British Telecom the main landline telephone service supplier in the UK. Well they supply and maintain the exchanges lines etc.
Bullshit --
I believe what you just said is untrue. (You know, what politicians talk.)
Bullshitter --
