If there's one essential thing you should take with you on your trip to Britain this year, it's knowledge of the slang words the British can't stop using. Imagine arriving in London and looking very strange because you can't communicate with the locals. TO SUGGEST! Luckily, I'm here to teach you nine common British expressions you can't live without.
1. Next
It's the equivalent of shotgun in American English, it's what you say when you claim something before everyone else, e.g. the front seat of the car or the last scone (if you don't know what a scone is, google it and have a blast. Then find a recipe for scones and make some).
2. Chips
Think you know how to order fries in Great Britain? You are wrong! In Britain we have a worryingly high number of words for different types of potato foods. We simply call fries, and thicker fries that come from a deep fryer are called fries. Then you have thick, triangular pieces called potato wedges, which are not the same as circular fried slices (also called chips in other countries) called potato chips. That's all before you move on to the more complex crunchy types, like tortilla chips (which count as chips, but are called chips, but aren't chips like real chips). Maybe just stick to healthy foods to avoid confusion?
3. Poach field
If you are really happy or happy about something, you are happy. If you are very happy about something, you can even be devastated by it. Chuffed used to mean 'full' so I'm not sure why or how it means happy now. Just roll with it.
4. Unreliable
If something is questionable or suspicious, we call it risky. It's a funky throwback to 90s slang and just plain fun to say.
5. Miffy
If something has made you unhappy or irritated, you can say you are sorry. This might not be the coolest slang to use with the younger crowd, but they would probably use something a lot more NSFW. It's best to be as polite as possible and use the PG13 version.
6. Quid
This one is so common that you can't pass by without knowing it. In Great Britain, quid is slang for a one pound coin. Make sure you pronounce the words that end in "s" clearly, otherwise it will sound like you're saying "octopus," which is cute but inaccurate.
7. Uni
Do you want to study at a British university? Make sure you call it by its correct name. In Britain, university means something very different than in the US, where it is a different word for university. British colleges are intended for students between the ages of 16 and 18 who graduate there to go to university, which is abbreviated to uni. If you don't do it right, you could study in the wrong place and with people two years younger than you. How embarrassing!
8. Cleaned
Didn't get into the university you wanted? You are probably very disappointed and upset, also called 'purged'. Where this comes from is a mystery, but it probably has something to do with the sad feeling you get in your stomach when you're sad.
9. Disc
Maybe you went to your favorite college, but you keep pretending to be sick to avoid classes. First of all, shame on you. Secondly, there is a word for it, which is scrape. The 'ski' part is pronounced cloud and not ski. Now go back to class!
