Slang Words! Slang words are defined as the words and phrases used informally in any language. Following is a list of 100 English slang words that are commonly used today. Most of them are American slang words and phrases.
Slang Words | Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV9ewwMyceA
Slang Words | Slang Dictionary
List of 100 English slang words and phrases with their meanings and examples:
- Eye-popping – fantastic, astonishing
The New York Times had an eye-popping article this morning.
- Chicken – a coward
You’re a chicken, Tom!
- Con – Swindle
He tried to con me out of $20.
- Couch potato – people who watching T.V all day
You are such a couch potato on weekends.
- Ball – a good time
We had a ball at the party last night.
- Bazillion – uncountable number/ a very big number
We gets a bazillion followers everyday on Facebook fan page.
- Croak – to die
She married a millionaire just about to croak.
- Neat – excellent
Your house is always so neat – how do you manage it with three children?
- Nuts – crazy, mad
She’s beautiful. I’m nuts about her.
- Big guns – powerful, influenced people
Jed wanted to impress a Harvard professor and some other big guns.
- Dynamite – great, awesome
That teenager singer is really dynamite!
- Earful – scolding / reprimanding
I bet Sue gave you an earful when you got home.
- Bitch – complain/ gossip about something
Whenever the girls get together, they always find something to bitch about.
- Bonkers – mad/ insane
The man must be bonkers to take such a risk.
- Break – chance/ opportunity
Never give a sucker an even break.
- Bummed – sad or disappointed
I was really bummed out that there were no tickets left.
- Cheesy – cheap, outdated
We went to some cheesy bar in Baltimore.
- Cruising – going at a high speed
We fly at a cruising speed of 500 mph.
- Cushy – comfortably easy
It’s a cushy life for the rich.
- Deck – hit some on the face
Do that again and I’ll deck you.
- Deep pockets – having a lot of money
They’re looking for someone with deep pockets to pay for the research.
- Dinosaur – something or someone is very old
The Health Service has become a dinosaur. It needs radical reform if it is to survive.
- Airhead – a foolish/ dumb person
Boy, that salesman was the biggest airhead I’ve ever seen.
- Eyeball – look at, look over.
Challenge him, eyeball him, intimidate him.
- Fender-bender – a minor accident/collision between two vehicles
Another time I missed a date because I got into a fender-bender on the way there.
- Idiot box – the television
Phil has been staring at the idiot box all afternoon.
- Icky – unpleasant or annoying
What is this icky old stuff?
- Jam – trouble
How are we going to get ourselves out of this jam?
Slang dictionary | Infographic
- Hang out -spend time together in a place frequently
We often used to hang out in supermarkets.
- All-nighter – study all night
I pulled an all-nighter last night.
- Ditch – leave, abandon something
Let’s ditch school today.
- Flicks – films/ movies
What’s on at the flicks this week?
- Freebie – something that is free
All the journalists were given a freebie lunch.
- Gig – work, job
I had got totally pissed and had to do a gig that night.
- Guts – courage or boldness
Barbara hasn’t got the guts to leave her mother.
- Go bananas – go crazy
Love is making you go bananas!
- Goof off – Wasting time, not doing anything in particular
He’s been goofing off at school.
- Grand – thousand dollars
He lives in a grand house.
- Heave – vomit
The smell of the fish made me/my stomach heave.
- Hot – attractive
You look so hot in that dress!
- Hustle – leave hurriedly
I love the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.
- Glitch – defect or problem
This minor glitch has turned into a big problem for the airline.
- Jock – someone who plays a sport
She is a jock from a family of jocks, articulate only in that special, odd way that coaches are articulate.
- John – toilet
I need to meet John, r-i-g-h-t n-o-w!
- Junkie – a drug addict
His son was a junkie, the kid OD’d a year ago.
- Grub – food
Get yourself some grub and come and sit down.
- Loli – young female with a childlike appearance
This might sound weird, but I am a loli lover!
- Peanuts – very little money
He gets paid peanuts for doing that job.
- Rocking – great, awesome
He had a rocking performance!
- Shades – sunglasses
She was dressed in muted shades of blue.
- Sucks – awful or unacceptable
Life sucks, but worth fighting for.
- Meltdown – the completely breaking down
The stock market crash might lead to financial meltdown.
- Mickey mouse – something that does not make sense
It’s only a Mickey Mouse job.
- Oddball – weird, unusual person
The new boss is a bit of an oddball.
- Pissed off – extremely annoyed
I’m pissed off with the way they’ve treated me.
- Zero – an unimportant person
He is a zero in his family.
- Zit – pimple
I applied some pimple cream on the big zit on my face.
- Crap – worthless thing or a lie
You’re talking a load of crap!
- Crash – sleep
I just want to crash out on the sofa.
- Crash – break into/ attempt to get in somewhere
Last night, a thief crashed my house. Luckily, He was arrested by the polices.
Slang dictionary | Infographic
- Quarterback – lead or initiative
The Carolina Panthers were playing with a backup quarterback.
- Beemer – a BMW car
He’s got a new beemer, what a rich man!
- Quick buck – Easy getting money
I need to make a quick buck without much effort.
- K – A thousand of a currency
It costs 10k.
- Kick back – relax
Kick back, make yourself at home.
- Raw – new and inexperienced
Raw meat must be kept separate from cooked meat.
- Razz – annoy
The pupils are razzing the teacher.
- Umpteen – incalculable
We’ve been there umpteen times and she still can’t remember the way.
- Whiz – Be talented at something
Apparently, he is a whiz at thank – you notes!
- Wimp – a cowardly person
Don’t be such a wimp.
- Up – Feeling cheerful or in good spirits
She feels up and down all day.
- UwU – a reaction to something cute
Bf: I love you bae Gf: Aww Ily UwU
- Vibes – atmosphere or feelings
I have good vibes about this contract.
- Wheels – a car
I’ve got a new wheels on my birthday.
Slang Words | Image
Slang dictionary | Image 1
Slang dictionary | Image 2
Slang dictionary | Image 3
Do you find English so hard to learn? You have been learning English for at least a couple of years, even a decade but still cannot speak naturally to or hard to catch native speaker’s phrases precisely? There should be a language gap between what you learn in school and real life.
It is a fact that native speakers use English slang words in their conversations so often. A high possibility is that you might focus too much on learning academic vocabulary and miss out on learning famous English slang words.
In this article, we suggest a new learning aspect with Word Cloud to improve your English competency, in particular, English slang words. You will have a chance to access the ultimate list of 60 most famous English slang words, phrases, their meaning and examples that are used in both America, and England, and some old English slang words, too.
Table of Contents
- The Reasons to Learn English Slang Words
- British Slang – English Slang Words
- American Slang – England Slang Words
- The Bottom Line
More Tips with AhaSlides
- Live Word Cloud Generator
- Idea Generation Process
- Collaborative word cloud
The Reasons to Learn English Slang Words
If you still wonder why learning English Slang words is beneficial, here are the five reasons:
- Fit the new environment and expand relationship networking quickly
- Increasing the rate of accuracy in expression and preventing faux pas and misunderstanding
- Promoting a sense of belonging and having deep ties to culture and traditions
- Learning deep insight into local history and past events
- Presenting personal opinions and evoking emotions a more fresh and meaningful way to deal with any kind of conversation and speech
Start in seconds.
Beyond English Slang Words, learn how to set up a proper online word cloud, ready to share with your crowd!
🚀 Get Free WordCloud☁️
- Ace – is used to describe something that is awesome. A word that is popular in the north and amongst youngsters.
- A load of tosh – is used to describe something that is not very good. For example, your lecturer might describe your essay “as a load of tosh” …. harsh!
- Bees knees – the phrase does not relate to bees or knees but is an idiom for excellent. It became popular in the 1920s along with “cat’s whiskers.”
- Bird: This is British slang for a girl or a woman.
- Bevvy – The short for the word “beverages,” usually alcoholic, most often beer.
- Bloody: As British slang, “bloody” places emphasis on a comment or another word. “That’s bloody brilliant!” for example. It is regarded as a mild expletive (swear word) but due to its common usage, it is generally acceptable. For example, “Oh bloody hell!”
- Bonkers: Can mean either “crazy” or “angry” depending on the context. Someone can be “completely bonkers” or can “go bonkers” (the latter can also mean losing your temper).
- Bollocking – You get a bollocking when you’ve done something you shouldn’t have. “I didn’t do my homework and the teacher gave me a right bollocking”.
- Butcher’s hook –originates from the East End of London and is a rhyming slang for taking a look.
- Can’t be arsed: A commonly used British slang sentence is “Can’t be arsed.” This is a less polite version of saying that you can’t be bothered doing something. You might also see this abbreviated to “CBA” in textspeak.
- Cheers: A multi-purpose word that can be used as a toast, to thank someone or even say goodbye.
- Cheesed off – is a quirky euphemism for being unhappy. Obviously, you would be unhappy if your cheese went off! It can be used in casual and formal situations for example someone could say “I’m cheesed off that you ate the last piece of cake.”
- Chuffed: If someone is “chuffed,” they are very happy or delighted
- Dead: A common English slang word for “very”, particularly in the north of England. “Did you see that bloke? He’s dead gorgeous”.
- Donkey’s years – Apparently donkey’s live for a long time so when someone says “I haven’t seen you for donkey” they are saying they haven’t seen you in a long time.
- Dodgy: Untrustworthy. A person can be dodgy but so can an object: “I think I ate a dodgy curry”.
- Easy peasy – A fun and childish way of expressing something is easy to do or understand. We dare you to use it next time your lecturer is explaining something.
- Earful – is an expression used to describe someone who is being told off. For example, you may hear someone say “They got an earful for being so loud last night.”
- Ends: London slang for the area you’re from. It’s important to represent your ends.
- Fancy: Used as a verb to show a desire for something or someone. “I really fancy her” is a profession of a love interest, but you could also ask someone: “Do you fancy some lunch?”.
- Flogging a dead horse – to try and find a solution to a problem that is unsolvable. For example: “You’re flogging a dead horse by asking Martha to move to the UK – she hates rain”
- Jokes: Used as an adjective, to mean “funny” or just “fun”. “Let’s go into town tonight mate, it’ll be jokes”.
- I’m easy – next time you are in a restaurant and your friends are debating what to order just say “order whatever. I’m easy”. That’s a signal that you’re happy with whatever they order.
- Jim jams – is slang for pyjamas and as a student, you’ll hear “I think it’s time to put on my Jim jams and get into bed – I’m exhausted!” – a lot!
- Lemon: If you think that someone looks foolish because they are shy or slow to take action, you can say that they are like a lemon. Eg: I just stood there like a lemon.
- Lush: Heard a lot in Wales but also in parts of northern England to mean “great” or “very nice”.
- Leave it out – means you want someone to stop doing or saying something that you find upsetting or annoying.
- Plonker: Someone who is a bit stupid or annoying. A little bit more affectionate than calling someone a pillock. “Don’t be such a plonker”.
- Shook: London street slang for “scared”.
- Rosie lee – is cockney rhyming slang for a cup of tea.
American Slang – English Slang Words
- Bummer: A disappointment. Eg. “That’s such a bummer. I’m sorry that happened.”
- Chick: a word to indicate a girl or young woman. Eg. “That chick is hilarious.”
- Chill: means relax. Eg: I will go to Pari to chill for my upcoming holiday
- Cool: same as awesome means “great” or “fantastic.” It also shows that you’re okay with an idea that is given by others.
- Couch potato: a person who takes little or no exercise and watches a lot of television. Eg: ‘It is no good you being a couch potato and having a Dobermann”
- Cram: Study like crazy. Eg: I am gonna take a history test and now I have to cram as much knowledge as possible.
- Flakey: is used to describe someone indecisive. Eg: “Garry is so flakey. He never shows up when he says he will.
- Flick: the movie. Eg: The flick Avatar is worth watching.
- Hypebeast: Someone who only wants to be popular
- I can’t even!: used without the following phrase to indicate that the speaker is overwhelmed with emotion. Eg: “This is just so ridiculously cute. I can’t even.”
- I don’t buy that: I don’t believe it
- I’m down: I’m able to join. Eg. “I’m down for ping pong.”
- I’m game: I’m up for that. Eg: that you are willing to do it/want to do it. Eg: does anyone want to go to a nightclub tonight? I’m game.
- In no time: Very soon. Eg. “We’ll have our homework done in no time.”
- In the bag: North American word for drunk. Eg: After a long night in the pubs, he was in the bag”
- It sucked: It was bad/poor quality. Eg. “That movie sucked.”
- Lame: The opposite of cool or fantastic. Eg. “That’s so lame that you can’t go out tonight.”
- Lighten up: mean relax. Eg. “Lighten up! It was an accident.”
- My bad: means My mistake. Eg. “My bad! I didn’t mean to do that.”
- No biggie – It’s not a problem. Eg: “Thanks for tutoring me, David!” – “No biggie, Lala.”
- Once in a blue moon: means very rarely. Eg: “he comes round once in a blue moon”
- Party animal: someone who enjoys parties and party activities very much and goes to as many as possible. Eg: Sarah’s a real party animal – she likes to dance all night.
- Rip-off: A purchase that was very overpriced. Eg. “That phone case was a rip-off.”
- Same here: mean “I agree”. Eg: “I’m having a hard time studying for this exam.” – “Same here.”
- Score: Get what you want, or have sex with someone that you have usually just met: Did you score last night, then?
- Screw up: To make a mistake. Eg. “Sorry I screwed up and forgot our plans.”
- That’s the stuff: That’s really great or satisfying. Eg: Ah, that’s the stuff. Nothing like a cold beer after a long day’s work.
- That’s rad: That’s exceptionally good, excellent, cool, or exciting. Eg: You’re going to the BlackPink concert too? That’s rad!
- Tying the knot: If you say two people tie the knot, you mean they get married. Eg: Len tied the knot with Kate five years ago.
- Wasted – Intoxicated. Eg. “She was wasted last night.”
The Bottom Line
Basically, there is no way to speak like a native if you don’t add some English slang words in your vocabulary list. Learning new words is more challenging if you don’t practice them so often. If you are thinking of a game idea to learn new words effectively while having fun, why don’t you try AhaSlides Word Cloud. For learners, educators, and trainers, you can leverage the Word Cloud game to help you build cool and fancy language learning and teaching programs.
When learning a foreign language, it is normal to begin with formal structures.
However, once you have mastered these, it is good to brush up on the casual terms and phrases that many native speakers use in conversation.
English slang is a term for this type of language. Many non-natives find it challenging to watch English movies and television shows because slang words and phrases are so common in them.
If you are one of those who are trying to learn the most common slang words in English and their meanings, this post is for you. Please continue reading.
What are the Common Slang Words in the English Language?
Slang refers to words in a person’s vocabulary that are not frequently found in dictionaries.
Many of these buzzwords have multiple definitions, but you must pay great attention to the context to effectively use them. This makes it a better idea to improve and practice.
English slang terminology with coworkers before using them with strangers. Knowing slang words and phrases has several advantages, including being able to use them in everyday situations and being able to connect with others on a more personal, intimate level since they provide an element of informality to our interactions.
Slang terms are an important part of the English language. Slang is full of odd sayings and colloquialisms that are useful in a wide range of casual circumstances.
Whether you are an experienced English speaker or a newbie, you may wish to brush up on your command of the most popular slang expressions used in everyday life!
You will not be able to learn the most common slang words and phrases in English with simply a manual. Picking up on social cues while listening to native speakers is the key to making these slang terms and phrases sound regular.
Listen to how these terms are utilized in music, cinema, and television to understand better. Do not be scared to copy what they are saying. Make these common slang phrases a part of your everyday speech.
Where Do Slang Words Come From?
Over time, language evolves and changes. New terms and new connotations for old words arise regularly. This occurs as people seek fresh and inventive methods to express themselves. People might use slang to be amusing, intelligent, unique, startling, friendly, or even covert.
The most common slang terms in English have emerged from three distinct sources during the last two decades. Popular music, politics, and the Internet are three examples.
Many slang phrases have emerged due to popular music, particularly rap and hip hop. Lyricists help by coming up with new and innovative ways to express oneself.
Politics has also spawned a slew of English’s most common slang words and phrases. This is partly because people appear to be divided on major subjects.
Words like ‘snowflake,’ ‘woke,’ and ‘triggered’ have taken on new meanings, for better or worse. This is frequently due to the constant fighting that occurs prior to, during, and after election cycles.
The Internet, on the other hand, the Internet is perhaps the most important generator of the most common slang words and phrases in English. That truth should come as no surprise in today’s technology world.
This can arise due to the changing nature of technology (‘selfie’, anyone?). Occasionally, it is a passing fad (‘Y.O.L.O.’ — “You only live once!”). More new slang words are created on the Internet than anywhere else.
The Internet, however, is not merely a source of new slang terms. It also makes it easier for those words to get into our heads and affect our language faster.
In several weeks, if not days, the Internet and social media can help a new slang word emerge and spread worldwide.
Why Do People Use Slang Words?
Slang is rarely used to exchange information. More frequently than not, slang is used for social purposes: to identify group members, shift the tone of the conversation toward informality, and challenge established authority.
Sharing and sustaining a continually evolving slang vocabulary promotes group cohesion and allows members to be included and excluded.
Slang is the equivalent language of fashion, and it has a similar function.
Effective slang, like fashionable apparel and forms of popular entertainment, must be novel, engaging, and able to win approval in a group swiftly. Using archaic vocabulary is the most detrimental thing you can do to your group’s status.
A familiar lexicon unknown outside the group is often found to be a beneficial approach for counterculture or anti-establishment groups to keep information secret or enigmatic.
Slang is often developed by persons in society who have little real political power (such as adolescents, college students, and military enlisted soldiers) or who have the motivation to disguise what they know or do from those in positions of authority.
What Effect Does Slang Have on Society?
Without question, slang is crucial because it allows you to communicate with individuals around you while emphasizing your communication.
We use slang to establish our identities as members of groups, which is one of the main reasons.
We regard someone who uses the same type of slang as us as a member of our in-group, whereas others who do not grasp the slang phrases are considered out-group members.
Slang has always had and will continue to have a beneficial and detrimental impact on society.
New slang emerges as society evolves and changes, while old slang fades away. However, this will make it more difficult for individuals to distinguish between when to use slang and when not to use them.
Millennials have moved away from texting language and now use memes and emojis to communicate with others.
Furthermore, teenagers are the ones who generate the majority of slang. This also acts as a means of further separating them from their parent’s generation, making slang words and phrases all the more interesting.
Difference Between British and American Slang Words/Phrases
Right today, there are 1.5 billion English speakers on the planet. It is not surprising that the English language has 160 different regional variations.
Each has its own set of spellings, pronunciations, and slang.
The following section focuses on the difference between the most common slang words and phrases in British English and American English.
Using American Slang Words and Phrases
As you read through this list, remember that American slang varies depending on where you are in the country. Certain slang words, for example, are more widely used in rural areas than in urban areas.
Remember that slang words are intended for casual conversation and should not be used in a formal setting.
Also, do not expect these English slang terms to be accepted in England. While there are a few expressions that are shared by both countries, each has its own set of English slang.
Everyday Slang Words
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| I feel you. | I sympathize with you. | “I feel you; I have been in that predicament before.” |
| I get it. | I understand. | “I get it. I know you have other things to do.” |
| My bad. | My mistake. | “My bad for ordering the wrong pizza. Please wait; I’ll have to buy you the right flavor.” |
| No big deal. | No problem. | “Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal.” |
| No biggie. | No problem. | “I apologize for the mess. I’ll clean it up.” “No biggie.” |
| No worries. | That’s alright. | “I’m sorry about the miscommunication.” “No worries.” |
| Oh my God! | Used to describe the shock, surprise, or excitement | “Oh my God! Is this a new iPhone?” |
| Same here. | I agree. | “I can’t attend the meeting tonight. I have other things to do.” “Same here.” |
| What’s up? | How are you? | “Hi Jim! We haven’t seen each other in a long time. What’s up?” |
| You bet! | Certainly. You are welcome. |
“Thank you for the sweater.” “You bet.” |
Slang Descriptors
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| beat | Exhausted | “He was so beat after driving for eight hours.” |
| bomb | Really good | “The food last night was so bomb!” |
| bummer | A disappointment | “It’s such a bummer you could not go with us yesterday.” |
| cheesy | Silly | “That was such a cheesy excuse. Who would believe that? |
| chill | Relax | “You’ve got to chill. They’re going to be fine.” |
| cool | Fantastic | “It’s not going to rain today.” “Cool.” |
| corny | Lame | “Your joke is corny. No one laughed.” |
| epic | Awesome | “The trip was so epic! I’m going there again!” |
| flakey | Indecisive | “Let’s not trust her; she tends to be flakey.” |
| hot | Attractive | “That actor is hot.” |
| It sucked. | Used to refer to someone or something that is not good or of poor quality | “The movie sucked. Don’t watch it.” |
| laid-back | Calm or relaxed | “He’s a laid-back person. Everyone loves him.” |
| lame | Opposite of fantastic | “The play was so lame. I wasted my time watching it.” |
| ripped | Physically fit | “There’s no way I would win against him; he’s so ripped!” |
| shady | Suspicious or questionable | “I wouldn’t trust her; she’s shady.” |
| sick | Awesome | “These sunglasses are sick!” |
| sweet | Fantastic | “The professor has agreed to postpone the exam.” “Sweet.” |
Slang for People & Relationships
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| babe | A term of endearment | “Hey babe!” |
| chick | A young woman or a girl | “That chick is funny!” |
| dump | To put a stop to a romantic relationship | “She dumped him over a silly matter.” |
| ex | A former partner or spouse | “I am friends with my ex.” |
| getting hitched | About to get married | “I can’t believe you’re finally getting hitched.” |
| party animal | Someone who loves to party | “He was a party animal before he got married.” |
| turn-off | Something that makes one feel repulsed | “He’s such a show-off; it’s a turn-off.” |
| tying the knot | About to get married | “One of my closest friends is tying the knot in October.” |
| whiz | An extremely smart or intelligent person | “She is a whiz! She was able to solve the puzzle in seconds.” |
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| A blast | A very exciting and fun event | “I had a blast at the concert! The band was amazing!” |
| booze | Alcoholic drinks | “Booze isn’t allowed at the party.” |
| flick | A movie | “I don’t like horror flicks.” |
| grub | Food | “Do you want to order some grub later?” |
| hang out | To spend time with other people | “Let’s hang out sometime next week!” |
| I’m down. | I will join. | “He’s down for basketball.” |
| I’m in. | I will join. | “I’m in for pizza and drinks.” |
| show up | To appear at an event or gathering | “I’m not sure if he will show up. He’s not answering my calls.” |
| wasted | Intoxicated | “I was so wasted last night I don’t know what time the guests left.” |
Slang for Actions
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| ace | To be good at something | “He aced his piano lessons.” |
| bail | To not join | “I would have to bail from bowling tonight; I have an urgent matter to attend to.” |
| busted | To be seen or caught while doing something improper | “You’re busted! I am going to tell mom and dad.” |
| cram | To devote a lot of time preparing and studying before a test | “She always crams every time there is an exam.” |
| crash | To sleep | “He was so tired; he’s going to crash soon.” |
| ditch | To leave something or someone, a location, or an item behind | “She ditched her friends to watch a movie with him.” |
| goof | To make a mistake | “The newly-hired employee goofed and messed up the company’s finances.” |
| lighten up | To relax | “You have to lighten up; we’ll be landing soon.” |
| pig out | To eat a lot | “I was pigging out lately; I think I’ve gained four pounds.” |
| score | To obtain what is desired | “I scored a pre-loved purse at a thrift shop for only $5!” |
| screw up | To make a mistake | “He is in big trouble for screwing up the company’s budget.” |
| wrap up | To end something | “Let’s wrap up this meeting and carry on with our work.” |
Modern American Slang Words
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| freebie | Something that is free | “The shop offers freebies for customers who will purchase more than $20.” |
| lemon | A bad purchase | “That painting is a lemon. You could have bought it at half of its price at other shops.” |
| shades | Sunglasses | “I need new shades.” |
| shotgun | The passenger seat in the front | “Can I sit shotgun?” |
| in no time | Very soon | “The meeting will end in no time.” |
| buck | A dollar | “Do you have three bucks I can borrow?” |
| rip-off | A purchase that was way too expensive | “That belt is a rip-off; it’s a fake.” |
Using British Slang Words and Phrases
Whether you prefer watching The Royal Family or binge-watching series like ‘Doctor Who,’ you have come across some strange and fantastic British English terminology.
Different areas can have their own distinct lingo within the same country or even within the same city.
It is no surprise, then, that slang in the city of London alone, let alone between other English-speaking countries in general, can be so disparate.
Here is a list of some of the most common slang words and phrases in British English.
Everyday Slang Words
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| blimey | An expression of surprise | ‘Blimey that was an amazing performance!” |
| bog roll | A toilet paper | “Please buy some bog rolls when you go grocery shopping.” |
| buggar all | Nothing at all. | “I’ve done buggar all today.” |
| Cheerio! | Goodbye! | “Cheerio! I have to go!” |
| Cheers! | Thank you! | “Cheers to all of you for coming tonight!” |
| crack on | To get going or continue doing something | “It’s getting dark, I better crack on.” |
| gutted | To be disappointed | “I’m so gutted when the Lakers lost.” |
| innit | Short for ‘Isn’t it?’ | “It’s raining, innit?” |
| quid | British pounds | “I need some quids to ride the bus.” |
| soz | Short for ‘sorry’ | “I forgot it’s your birthday. Soz.” |
Slang Descriptors
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| barmy | A crazy idea | “Spending a hundred bucks for a meal is barmy!” |
| bloody | Used to mean ‘really’ or ‘extremely’ | “That’s a bloody brilliant idea!” |
| cheeky | Rude and disrespectful | “He is known for being cheeky.” |
| chuffed | Happy and delighted | “My parents are chuffed that I am finally graduating.” |
| daft | Silly | “That is such a daft idea. Let’s not do that.” |
| dead | Used to mean ‘really’ or ‘extremely’ | “He is dead serious about the plan.” |
| dodgy | Suspicious or questionable | “She is acting a little dodgy.” |
| knackered | Tired | “My dad is absolutely knackered after building the treehouse.” |
| minging | Something disgusting or gross | “The way you’re saying it, it looks like it’s such a minging scene to witness.” |
| mug | Gullible | “She is a mug; I’m pretty sure you can convince her.” |
Slang for People & Relationships
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| bev | A handsome man | “He is a bev.” |
| bloke | A man | “He’s a good and decent bloke.” |
| bruv | Friend or brother | “He’s my bruv back when I was at university.” |
| grafting | Flirting | “They are totally grafting at each other.” |
| lad | A young man | “That lad moved in just a few weeks ago.” |
| sod off | To go away | “Will you please sod off? I’m studying.” |
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| banter | To make jokes — generally about someone else, but all in good humor | “People who like to banter are well-liked.” |
| bevvy | Short for beverages | “Would you serve us some bevvy, please?” |
| buzzin’ | Tipsy or a little drunk | “I’m buzzin’ after only two bottles of beer.” |
| cuppa | A cup of tea | “My manager invited me for a cuppa.” |
| kerfuffle | A disagreement with someone | “He was sent to the dean’s office because he had a kerfuffle with one of the professors.” |
| nosh | Food | “Those are really good nosh!” |
| posh | Fancy | “They ate at a posh restaurant.” |
Slang for Actions
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| gander | To look around | “They try to gander and see if they like the place.” |
| gobsmacked | To be completely taken aback or astonished beyond belief | “The audience was gobsmacked when he started singing.” |
| lost the plot | To become furious | “My mom lost the plot when she saw my younger sister’s mess.” |
| nick | To steal | “He nicked those sweets for his younger sister.” |
| take the piss | To be sarcastic | “Relax, and don’t get upset; I was just taking the piss.” |
| tell porkies | To tell lies | “Do not dare tell porkies about what happened while I was not here.” |
| throw a wobbly | To throw a tantrum, usually by adults or someone older | “He’s too old to throw a wobbly like that.” |
Modern British Slang Words
| Slang Words and Phrases |
Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| fag | A cigarette | “Do you have some fags?” |
| fiver | A five-pound note | “Do you have a fiver? I need to buy some sandwiches.” |
| gaff | Home | “I’m heading gaff; I’m tired.” |
| jiffy | A short period | “I’ll finish my homework in a jiffy.” |
| kip | A power nap | “Let me take a kip real quick.” |
| pissed | Drunk | “He’s totally pissed last night.” |
| skint | Having no money | “She is now skint after investing in such a horrible business idea.” |
| tenner | A ten-pound note | “Can you lend me a tenner?” |
Is it Appropriate to Use Slang Words in Academic Writing?
A good writer’s goal should be to explain ideas clearly; each paragraph should be easily understandable.
This implies that you must disregard the specific grammatical form, language, and, in general, the relationship between thoughts and expression forms.
Believe it or not, the respective stated thoughts may lose courage and strength due to inadequate language expression.
Therefore, if your writing is full of slang, it may contain specific ideas that are contradictory to others, and therefore, the outcome will be poor. It is essential always to be cautious.
Slang should never be used and should be avoided at all costs.
It is common to see academic writings with daily language or slang in today’s world. It is important to remember that technical language is formal and follows certain norms.
What you say in a conversation or in colloquial language may sound excellent, but it may sometimes be improper when written.
When you write, you should be mindful that your work will be read by others other than your teacher.
They could be from various countries, educational backgrounds, and so on.
Hence, you should be cautious in incorporating slang words and phrases so that everyone will understand your message.
Summary Table of the Most Common Slang Words and Phrases in English
Aside from the slang words and phrases mentioned earlier, there are still some that are worth learning and studying.
Here are some of them.
| Slang Words and Phrases | Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| axed | To get fired from a job | “My aunt was axed, and she’s now looking for a new job.” |
| balling | To have a luxurious lifestyle | “Their family is now balling after winning the lottery.” |
| beef | Conflict with someone | “They’ve had beef for over a decade.” |
| bling | A flashy piece of jewelry | “It’s obvious he’s showing off his bling.” |
| brick | Cold | “Put on some layers; it’s brick outside.” |
| cabbie | A cab/taxi driver | “The cabby was friendly and funny.” |
| cahoots | Working together secretly | “My friends were in cahoots with my parents when they planned for my birthday.” |
| cold fish | An unfriendly person | “I wouldn’t approach her; she’s a cold fish.” |
| cranky | Irritable | “He’s cranky because he’s getting old.” |
| cringe | Frequently accompanied by a face or body expression expressing disgust or discomfort. | “He cringed when he saw them eat those foods.” |
| crusty | Dirty; unclean | “The kitchen is crusty; you have to clean it.” |
| deck | To knock someone down to the ground | “The police decked the man and handcuffed him.” |
| dicey | Risky; unsafe | “Do not walk by yourself at night; it’s dicey.” |
| diss | To exhibit disdain by saying or doing something demeaning | “The two neighbors dissed each other.” |
| dork | Socially awkward | “I used to be a dork when I was in high school.” |
| dunno | I don’t know. | Do you know what time the guests will arrive?” “Dunno.” |
| elbow grease | Hard work | “The team could secure the championship because of a little elbow grease.” |
| extra | Unnecessarily dramatic, extravagant, and exaggerated | “She wore and changed into three gowns during the party. She was so extra.” |
| fib | A small innocent lie | “She told a fib to get out of trouble.” |
| flex | To show off | “If you visit his social media accounts, you can see him flexing his travels.” |
| flip-flop | To make an abrupt change in one’s mind or policies | “The committee seemed to be flip-flopping over who’s to blame.” |
| fluke | A favorable outcome is due to luck rather than talent | “It was a fluke that he won the contest; many participants couldn’t make it to the venue on time.” |
| for real | Used to speak truthfully and honestly | “He’s really coming tonight, for real!” |
| fronting | Pretending to be good at something to impress someone | “She is fronting her Spanish to impress the judges.” |
| G.O.A.T. | Short for Greatest of All Time | “Michael Jordan is the G.O.A.T.” |
| garbage | Something that is of poor quality | “This project is garbage!” |
| ghost | To stop communicating with someone | “Jim ghosted Jane after a few months of dating.” |
| go nuts/bananas | To go crazy | “The crowd went nuts/bananas when the players started dancing.” |
| guts | Courage | “Mindy didn’t have the guts to tell her relatives about what happened.” |
| hella | Used as an adjective to indicate something that is exceptionally good | “She’s hella kind and friendly.” |
| hooked | Addicted | “I’m currently hooked on perfumes.” |
| hype | Excessive praise for a product or person | “Products are often overhyped.” |
| in | fashionable; trendy | “Loop earrings are in back in the day.” |
| just kidding | I’m just joking. | “Don’t take it seriously. He must just be kidding!” |
| lit | Fantastic | “The game was totally lit! I’m sorry you didn’t watch it live!” |
| loser | A disliked person | “He is such a loser.” |
| mood | When one wants to say anything that is relatable | “Mark walking out of the event is such a mood.” |
| nope | No! | Have you seen Sue today?” “Nope!” |
| on fleek | Perfectly done | “The food at the party was on fleek!” |
| real talk | When one wants to talk about anything serious | “We need to have a real talk. Come home early.” |
| roast | Refers to instances in which someone is offended or insulted. | “He got roasted by his colleagues.” |
| salty | When a person becomes agitated or enraged over a minor issue | “He left the event early after not getting the promotion. He is so salty.” |
| shook | Shocked | “Oh my God, I’m shook! I need to watch the movie adaptation!” |
| slay | A manner of expressing deep gratitude for someone who excels at something or completes a task | “She slays every performance!” |
| stoked | Excited | “Everyone’s stoked for the new shop to open.” |
| tea | A hot news | “Here’s the tea: the couple has money problems and is filing for bankruptcy.” |
| throw shade | To negatively judge or say something terrible against another person | “She is throwing shade at her ex-husband.” |
| wack | Disappointing; not able to meet expectations | “The movie is a complete wack.” |
| what on earth | When you see something that you cannot identify | “What on earth is this?!” |
| yep | Yes! | “Are you going to Mike’s party tonight?” “Yep!” |
Why Do We Have to Learn Slang Words and Phrases?
Slang words and phrases are an essential component of any language. Though they can sometimes be vulgar, they make a language more interesting and colorful.
Many people can understand them, not only inside a specific community, especially these days where the Internet can make something viral overnight.
Slang words and phrases draw us closer together while also enriching the language.
We hope that this post has enriched your vocabulary about the most common slang words and phrases and when to use them more effectively. Cheers!
Additional Reading — ENGLISH GRAMMAR
- I’ve managed to book the best seats at the theatre for us, this weekend!
- Wicked! Thank you. I’m really excited!
What do you think ‘wicked’ means? No, it doesn’t mean ‘evil’ or ‘bad’.
Believe it or not, ‘wicked’ is actually a slang term that means ‘Brilliant!’ or ‘Awesome!’
Slang is a type of jargon that originates from various small groups of people. They tend to come about from conversation, and people naturally use words that have a meaning for them, then over time, these words alter and become slang.
It is probably one of the hardest aspects of the English language to learn, because there are so many variations in each small town, let alone in different English-speaking countries!
People use slang to sound less formal. Slang is mainly used because it relaxes the mouth, and allows people to speak in a more comfortable way. It is a lot easier to use slang than ‘perfect English’, which is probably why it’s so common!
This blog post will show you some of the most popular slang terms, but this doesn’t cover all of them! There are just too many! Hopefully the list below will cover some of the most common ones that you might hear!
1. UNREAL
Something that is unbelievably cool or brilliant
- I love this party, it’s just unreal!
2. PROPS
This means respect, recognition
- I know he failed the test, but you’ve got to give him props for trying.
3. KUDOS
Another word for respect, recognition
- Kudos for organising this party. It’s brilliant!
4. BOTTOM LINE
The main point
- The bottom line is we just don’t have enough money to make it work.
5. DISS
When a person disrespects someone else
- Stop dissing her behind her back. Show some respect!
6. DIG
To really like something
- Hey, I dig your new style. Where did you buy that T-shirt?
7. BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
This is a well-used phrase in the UK. It is added to the end of sentences, and means something like and that’s it!
- How did you make this cake? It’s delicious!
- Well, I just mixed in the batter thoroughly, poured it into a cake pan, baked it for 30 minutes and Bob’s your uncle!
8. BUDGE UP
When you ask someone to move and make space for you
- I want to sit down too, could you budge up a little please?
9. ACE
This has two meanings, something that is awesome, really cool. Or to achieve something with perfection, really easily
- Ace! I just got a promotion at work!
- Robert aced his physics exam!
10. ALL RIGHT?
This means ‘hello, how are you?’
- All right?
- Good thanks, you all right?
11. FULL OF BEANS
This means to have loads of energy
- All the children were full of beans at the party today. I couldn’t get any of them to sit still!
12. BLATANT
Something that is really obvious
- She’s blatantly very annoyed, everyone can see it apart from you.
More for you:
What’s the difference between slang and idioms?
Teenage Slang Words by American, British and Australian Teens
13. PEAR SHAPED
This means something has become a disaster
- I was trying to organise a surprise birthday party for her, but it’s all gone pear-shaped!
14. PIECE OF CAKE
When someone is boasting or they think something is extremely easy to do, they would use this
- What did you think of the exam? I thought it was really difficult.
- No, it was a piece of cake!
15. BLIMEY
This is an exclamation of surprise
- Blimey, look at all this mess here! I’d only left the house for an hour, and look what you’ve done!
16. BOTCH
There are two ways of using this expression ‘to botch something up’ or ‘to do a botch job’. They both mean that the work done was not of a high standard, or was clumsy workmanship
- The builder did a terrible job on the roof. He just botched it up, and it still leaks every time it rains!
17. CHEERS
Used when drinking with friends to salute or make a toast (raise your glasses and clink them together)
- Cheers everyone! Happy birthday to John!
18. SMASHING
This means something is terrific, brilliant
- I had a smashing time on holiday, it was so much fun!
19. SOD’S LAW
This is another name for Murphy’s Law – whatever can go wrong, will go wrong
- I wore my pretty new dress, because it was a sunny day, but as soon as I stepped out of the house, it started raining, and I got completely soaked!
- Sod’s Law!
20. CHIN WAG
This means having a nice, long chat with someone. You can probably tell why!
- I saw Mary after such a long time yesterday! We had a lovely chin wag together, like the good old days.
21. CHUFFED
Used when someone is really pleased about something
- My mum bought me a fantastic car when I passed my driving test. I was chuffed to bits!
22. CRAM
This means to study hard in a very short period of time
- I was so busy with my family before the exam, that I only had three days to cram in all the revision work!
23. NICE ONE
Can be used when someone does something particularly impressive
- I published my first book last year, and I’ve already started working on the sequel!
- Nice one! You’re doing really well.
24. CRIKEY
An exclamation of surprise
- I went shopping today! (comes in with lots of bags)
- Crikey! Have you spent all of our savings??!!
25. DEAR
Something that is expensive
- I avoid going shopping into the town centre nowadays, everything is so dear!
26. FAFF
This is when someone procrastinates, or wastes time wondering around
- Come on we have to go now. Stop faffing around, we’re going to be late!
Check your Grammar ››
More for you:
Other Ways To Say WHAT’S UP!
50 Popular English Idioms to Sound Like a Native Speaker
27. DO
Another word for a party
- Are you going to Lizzie’s birthday do next week?
28. FLOG
To sell something
- I managed to flog my car for a really good price!
29. FORTNIGHT
Two weeks. This comes from an abbreviation of ‘fourteen nights’
- I’ve been really ill for the past fortnight, and still haven’t recovered.
30. GOBSMACKED
This means amazed (your gob is your mouth, and if you smack your gob, it would be out of amazement!)
- I can’t believe I passed that exam! I thought I was going to fail, I’m completely gobsmacked!
31. SPLASH OUT
When you spend far too much money
- I wanted to give Sarah a special treat for her birthday, so I splashed out on a very romantic weekend away.
32. GRUB / NOSH
Both these words mean food
- I’m going to get some grub for myself from the local takeaway. Do you want anything?
33. BEE’S KNEES
Something or someone fabulous, spectacular
- You should see my new sound-system, it’s the bee’s knees!
- I don’t like Harvey very much, he thinks he’s the bee’s knees!
34. GUTTED
When someone is really upset or disappointed
- I’m so gutted I failed my driving test, again!
35. PEANUTS
When something is cheap, financially low
- I hate my job. I have to work such long hours, and I get paid peanuts.
- You should buy your clothes on-line. You can find some great designs for peanuts!
36. HAGGLE
To argue over, and try to negotiate the price of something you want to buy
- The last time I went shopping with my mum, she was haggling for something that was already really cheap!
- I managed to haggle the price of this shirt down by 25%!
37. JOLLY
You might hear people use this in all sorts of ways, but basically it means ‘very’. So “jolly good” would mean ‘very good’
- Don’t worry, I will pay you back before the end of this month.
- I should jolly well think so!
38. THROW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS
This is an expression that means to wreck something
- I managed to keep the surprise a secret, right up until the day before my sister’s birthday, then he threw a spanner in the works by telling her!
39. KIP
A short sleep, forty winks, a nap, a power nap, or a snooze.
- Why don’t you try and have a kip before everyone gets here? You won’t have time to rest later.
40. WIND UP
This has a couple of meanings. If something you do is a ‘wind up’ it means you are making fun of someone – you could be called a wind-up merchant if you do this.
However, if you are ‘wound up’ it means you are annoyed.
- John really is a wind-up merchant, but the girl he was picking on was so gullible!
- I was just winding her up for fun, but she took offence to it and got really angry!
41. MATE
This means friend, chum, pal, or buddy.
- I’m going to the cinema with my mates tonight.
42. NOT MY CUP OF TEA
This is a common saying which means that something is not to your liking.
- I don’t really like this sort of music. It’s just not my cup of tea.
43. PORKIES
This means telling lies. It comes from cockney rhyming slang. Short for ‘porky pies’, meaning ‘pork pies’, which rhymes with lies!
- Don’t listen to her, she’s telling porkies!
44. ROW
This means an argument (rhymes with ‘cow’)
- My brother had a huge row with his girlfriend yesterday. He’s really upset!
45. DONKEY’S YEARS
If someone says ‘I haven’t seen you in donkey’s years’, it means they haven’t seen you for a very long time!
- Hi Sarah! What a surprise to see you here. I haven’t seen you in donkey’s years! How have you been?
46. EASY PEASY
A childish term for something very easy
- I could make that for you, if you like? It’s easy peasy!
47. SORTED
When someone asks you about a problem you have already fixed, you could say this.
You can also say “get it sorted”, when you are telling someone to get on with something they have to do.
- What’s happening about that roof leak then?
- Oh that’s sorted now. I found a really good builder to do the job.
More for you:
10 Brilliant TV Series to Improve Your English Speaking
How Many Types of Expressions there are in English?
48. STROP
If someone is sulking or being particularly miserable, you would say they are ‘being stroppy’, or ‘throwing a strop’
- Janet would you please cheer up? It’s your birthday, don’t be so stroppy!
49. CHEERIO
This is a friendly way of saying goodbye
- Right, I have to go now, see you soon. Cheerio!
50. WANGLE
This is used to say some people have all the luck
- I can’t believe he managed to wangle an upgrade on their airline seats, AND the honeymoon suite in their hotel!
51. BLINDING
If something is a blinding success, it means it was awesome, brilliant
- They had a blinding party after their wedding ceremony. Everyone had such a great time!
52. WONKY
If something is shaky or unstable, you might say it is wonky.
- I can’t eat my dinner at this table. It’s wonky and won’t stop wobbling!
53. ZONKED
If someone is zonked or ‘zonked out’ it means they are totally knackered, or exhausted
- He had a lot of fun at his birthday party earlier, but he’s completely zonked out now!
54. DODGY
If someone or something is a bit dodgy, it is not to be trusted.
- I saw a few dodgy-looking people standing around along that quiet street near our house, so just to be on the safe side, I notified the police.
- This food looks a bit dodgy, it might have passed its expiry date. I don’t think we should eat it.
55. LEG IT
This is a way of saying ‘run’ or ‘run for it’
- I went out on Halloween night, and someone jumped out from behind a bush to scare me. I was so frightened, that I just legged it all the way back home!
So there you go. Now you have a long list of slang words that you can familiarise yourself with, and try to remember! If you’re going to England or another English-speaking country, you might feel a bit more prepared to make conversation, if you’ve gone through this list!
Сленг, сокращения, идиомы
Сленг (от англ. slang) — терминологическое поле, набор особых слов или новых значений уже существующих слов, употребляемых в различных человеческих группах (профессиональных, социальных, возрастных и иных).
В отличие от просторечных выражений сленг активно используют в своей речи и образованные люди, представители определённой возрастной или профессиональной группы. Часто этим как раз и подчёркивается принадлежность к определённой группе людей. Общеизвестный пример — молодёжный сленг.
У лингвистов нет простого и четкого определения сленга, но они согласны с тем, что это постоянно меняющееся языковое явление, присутствующее в каждой субкультуре мира. В английской лексикографии термин «сленг» получил широкое распространение приблизительно в начале XIX века.
Понятие «сленг» смешивается с такими понятиями, как «диалектизм», «жаргонизм», «вульгаризм», «разговорная речь», «просторечие». Сленг отличается от разговорных и жаргонных терминов из-за его специфического социального контекста. В отличие от просторечных выражений, сленг активно используют в своей речи и образованные люди, представители определённой возрастной или профессиональной группы. Часто этим как раз и подчёркивается принадлежность к определённой группе людей.
Хотя разговорные выражения и жаргонизм могут показаться сленгом, потому что они относятся к определенной группе, они не обязательно соответствуют одному и тому же определению, поскольку не представляют собой особой попытки заменить общий лексикон стандартного языка. Разговорные выражения считаются более приемлемыми и более ожидаемыми в стандартном использовании, чем сленг, а жаргон часто создается для обсуждения аспектов конкретной области, которые не учитываются в общем лексиконе.
Однако эта дифференциация не всегда применяется лингвистами; термины «сленг» и «жаргон» иногда рассматриваются как синонимы, а сфера применения «жаргона» иногда расширяется.
Часто бывает трудно отличить сленг от разговорной лексики и даже лексики литературного уровня, потому что сленг со временем обычно становится общепринятым и включается в словари.
Многие слова и обороты, начавшие своё существование как сленговые, в настоящее время прочно вошли в литературный язык (например, в русском языке: «шпаргалка», «шумиха» и пр.)
Тем не менее, общий тест на то, является ли слово сленговым или нет, заключается в том, будет ли оно приемлемым в академической или юридической среде, поскольку и то, и другое является сферой, в которой стандартный лексикон считается необходимым, и / или был ли термин введен в Оксфордский словарь английского языка в случае английского сленга.
Идиома (от греческого idios — «собственный», «свойственный») — лингвистический термин, обозначающий выражение (оборот речи), употребляющееся как единое целое; фразеологическое сращение.
Характерным для идиомы является то, что значение ее не равно значению ее составных элементов: значение выражения «спустя рукава» не связано со значениями отдельных слов «спустить» и «рукава».
Выделяется несколько типов идиом – лексическая (сочетание слов: сделать ноги – убежать, орать во всю ивановскую – громко кричать), морфологическая (слово, части которого утратили смысловую функцию: чернила от чёрный, бельё от белый) и синтаксическая (конструкция, значение которой определяется только в целом: Ну и народу! Проси хоть не проси). Идиомы возникают при частом употреблении сочетания, из-за утраты связей между компонентами. Обычно идиомы имеют слитное значение и в целом реализуют общую тенденцию языка к образованию простых знаков на основе составных.
Как правило, идиомы очень сложно перевести сохранив их смысл, если только не использовать различные слова заменители. Для понимания таких оборотов необходимо знать особенности языка, литературы и культуры конкретной страны.
▨ Дополняющие материалы: — Популярные английские сокращения и аббревиатуры
200+ популярных выражений английского сленга
В таблице приведены наиболее употребительные слова и выражения английского сленга. Современный английский сленг с переводом
| 1 | Abs | stomach muscles | кубики (на животе (пресс) |
| 2 | Ace | туз, главный козырь или веский довод, а также ас, мастер своего дела | нечто потрясающее, действительно крутое, а также безупречное исполнение какого-либо действия (на высший балл, то есть на оценку «a») |
| 3 | Aight | все в порядке | сокращение от слов all right. |
| 4 | Ain’t | is/are/am not | по сути, это просто сокращенный глагол «to be» с отрицанием (am/is/are not =ain’t) |
| 5 | All right? | Используется в качестве приветствия | Как дела? Как оно? Как жизнь? |
| 6 | All-ears | to listen attentively | весь внимание |
| 7 | Amigo | friend (from Spanish) | друг |
| 8 | Antifreeze | alcohol | алкоголь, бухло |
| 9 | Argy–bargy | Используется в основном для того, чтобы показать нелепость происходящего. | дурацкий спор или стычка |
| 10 | Awesome | Положительное значение, эмоция восхищения и восторга | офигенный, классный, потрясный |
| 11 | B.O. | body odor | телесный запах |
| 12 | Bae | Это смесь двух выражений – «Baby»(«Детка») и «Before anyone else» («Впереди всех остальных») | любимый (любимая), детка |
| 13 | Bail | to leave | слиться, уйти |
| 14 | Ball | a testicle | яйцо (гениталии) |
| 15 | Baltic | очень ветреная погода | |
| 16 | Bang to rights | равносильно «dead to rights». | взять с поличным, прижать к стенке, взять за жабры, поймать на месте преступления. |
| 17 | Bants | [bænts]. сокращенная версия «banter» | означает добродушно подшучивать, стебаться с друзьями или просто знакомыми, обмениваться приколами |
| 18 | Barf | to vomit | блевать |
| 19 | Barmy | придурошный | Так говорят о человеке, который странно себя ведет («чудила»). Также можно употребить в отношении чего-то глупого и странного, дурацкого поступка, |
| 20 | Bazillion | an infinite number of something | куча, навалом |
| 21 | Beans | money | тубрики, деньги |
| 22 | Bee’s knees | нечто удивительное, выходящее за рамки привычного | |
| 23 | Biggie | something important | нечто важное |
| 24 | Binge-watch | «Binge» + «Watch» | просмотр большого количества эпизодов сериала без перерыва |
| 25 | Blatant | нечто явное, очевидное | |
| 26 | Blimey | по одной из версий, искаженное «Blind me!» (Чтоб я ослеп!) | восклицание удивления, изумления |
| 27 | Blinding | великолепный, потрясающий | |
| 28 | Blow | to spend or waste money | угрохать, спустить |
| 29 | Bollocks | чушь, ерунда | |
| 30 | Bonkers | сумасшедший | |
| 31 | Booty | a butt | задница |
| 32 | Booze | alcohol | выпивка, алкоголь, бухло |
| 33 | Botch | to botch something up или to do a botch job | топорная работ, работа спустя рукава |
| 34 | Bottom line | нижняя (итоговая) линия | суть, самое главное |
| 35 | Bounce | На сленге так говорится о факте ухода. | уходить, свалить |
| 36 | Brass Monkey | дословно переводится как «медная обезьяна». | жуткий холод |
| 37 | Broad | girl, woman | бабёнка, телка |
| 38 | Buck | dollar | американский доллар. |
| 39 | Budge up | просьба подвинутся | подвигать(ся), сдвигать(ся) |
| 40 | Bug | to agitate, disturb | доканывать, капать на мозги |
| 41 | Bugger all | ничего вообще, «нифига» | |
| 42 | Butter face | Страшненькая | звучит как but her face .., используется обычно когда говорят о девушке, хорошо сложенной, но с некрасивым лицом |
| 43 | Cash | money | наличные деньги |
| 44 | Cheerio | Пока! До свидания! | дружеское «до свидания» |
| 45 | Cheesy | cheap, tacky | дешёвый, убогий, безвкусный, вульгарный |
| 46 | Chick | girl, woman | тёлка, девушка, цыпочка |
| 47 | Chill out | to relax | расслабиться |
| 48 | Chill | расслабление, релакс | |
| 49 | Chin wag | «Chin» – «подбородок», «Wag» – «кивать»; то есть, беседа, при которой собеседники кивают друг другу в знак понимания | долгая, приятная беседа |
| 50 | Chippy | место, где продают fish&chips |
| 51 | Chuffed | To chuff — 1) пыхтеть; 2) ободрять, воодушевлять | быть чем-то очень довольным |
| 52 | Cock Up | обозначает ошибку, большей провал («налажать») | |
| 53 | Cool | good; excellent | клёво, круто |
| 54 | Cop | police officer | полицейский |
| 55 | Corker | что–то или кто–то круче, чем остальные, «молоток» | |
| 56 | Couch potato | a lazy individual | лежебока, увалень |
| 57 | Crack up | По-русски мы бы сказали «лопнуть со смеху». | заставить кого-то сильно смеяться |
| 58 | Cram | to study very hard | зубрить, заучивать наизусть |
| 60 | Crap | Негативный оттенок, пренебрежение, презрение | Чушь, ерунда |
| 61 | Crash | come uninvited | вломиться куда-л. |
| 62 | Crash (at) | to sleep some place | ночевать (у) |
| 63 | Creep | a weird person; an eerie person | придурок, отморозок |
| 64 | Cuppa | чашка чая | |
| 65 | Dear | дорого (о стоимости) | 3то слово можно перевести не только как «дорогая» (сердцу, например), но и использовать, говоря о чем-то слишком дорогом. |
| 66 | Dig | копать | ловить кайф, тащиться |
| 67 | Diss | высказываться в чей-то адрес неуважительно, пренебрежительно | |
| 68 | DIY | Аббревиатура от популярной фразы «Do It Yourself» | т.е. в буквальном переводе «сделай сам», а используется в широком контексте от домашнего ремонта до поделок. |
| 69 | Do you fancy …? | Синонимы: Like, wan | Хочешь… ? |
| 70 | Dodgy | Синонимы: Unreliable, suspicious, likely to break | Сомнительный, с подвохом, ненадежный, подозрительный, не заслуживающий доверия |
| 71 | Doofer | штуковина, штука | объект без названия, такая штука, штуковина, это самое. Обычно употребляется, когда не можешь вспомнить слово |
| 72 | Down to earth | practical realistic | прозаический, прагматичный |
| 73 | Drive up the wall | annoy, irritate | бесить, выносить мозг |
| 74 | Dude | Довольно старое слово, но актуально и по сей день. Наряду с dude американская молодежь часто использует слова bro, homie и другие. | чувак |
| 75 | Dump (smb.) | to break up | бортануть, бросить |
| 76 | Dunno | don’t know | я не знаю |
| 77 | Earworm | Дословно – «червяк в ухе» | Песня, «застрявшая» в голове |
| 78 | Easy peasy | Проще простого | |
| 79 | Epic fail | complete disaster | Провал, большая неудача, полный абзац |
| 80 | Ex | former mate | бывший, бывшая |
| 81 | Faff | от лат. pro — «на», crastinus — «завтра» | Тянуть резину, откладывать дела на потом |
| 82 | Fail | Слово перекочевало в русский язык как фейл. | неудача |
| 83 | Fam | Семья | |
| 84 | Feel blue | to feel sad | хандрить; унывать |
| 85 | Fishy | questionable | сомнительный; неправдоподобный |
| 86 | Flog | сбывать, продавать что-либо | |
| 87 | For real | Обычно задается как вопрос:, типа — в натуре? | удивление |
| 88 | Fortnight | two weeks | 2 недели |
| 89 | Fortnight | Дословно – «14 ночей» | Две недели |
| 90 | Full of beans | полный бобов | энергичный, заводной |
| 91 | Geek | a nerd, a dork | ботан |
| 92 | Give a ring | call | позвонить |
| 93 | Go dutch | each person paying his own expenses | заплатить за себя |
| 94 | Goat | Это не «коза», это аббревиатура от «Greatest of all times» | Величайший из всех времен |
| 95 | Gobsmacked | «Gob» – «рот», «smack» – «ударять»; то есть, человек хлопает себя рукой по рту от сильнейшего удивления | Крайне удивленный, ошарашенный |
| 96 | Gonna | going to | собираться |
| 97 | Gotta | have got to, have to | должен |
| 98 | Gross | Американский аналог британского minging. | мерзкий, противный, неприятный |
| 99 | Grub / nosh | оба слова обозначают еду на скорую руку, перекус | |
| 100 | Gutted | от глагола «to gut» — потрошить | когда кто-то сильно расстроен или опустошен, разочарован |
| 101 | Haggle | сбивать цену, торговаться (особенно по мелочам) | |
| 102 | Hampsteads | зубы | |
| 103 | Hang out | to spend time aimlessly | зависать, тусить |
| 104 | Hang-over | headache caused by drinking excess alcohol | похмелье |
| 105 | Hard cheese | Сложная ситуация | |
| 106 | Hit on | to ask out, flirt | клеиться, подъезжать, подкатывать |
| 107 | Hit the books | to study | засесть за учебу |
| 108 | Hit the road | leave | уходить, проваливать |
| 109 | Hit the sack | go to sleep | давить на «массу», задрыхнуть |
| 110 | Hold your horses | to calm oneself, to relax, to stop | подожди, не суетись |
| 111 | Holla | дать знать о чем-то | Обычно употребляется американцами как высказывание намерения сделать что-то. Еще можно использовать как неформальное приветствие (Holla!) или в значении «позвонить»: |
| 112 | Homie | брат по духу | Так американцы говорят о «своих ребятах», корешах и братанах. |
| 113 | Hoover | Синоним: Vacuum cleaner | Пылесос |
| 114 | How come … ? | Синоним: How did it happen that … ? Why … ? | Как так получилось, что … |
| 115 | Hyped | exited | в предвкушении |
| 116 | In no time | very soon | быстро, в два счёта |
| 117 | Jack up | raise, increase | повышаться; расти |
| 118 | Jerk | болван | Так американцы говорят о глупом, раздражающем человеке. |
| 119 | John hancock | your signature | собственноручная подпись |
| 120 | Jolly | Очень | это слово используют в самых разных ситуациях, но обычно оно означает «очень» («jolly good» — «очень хорошо»). |
| 121 | Jones | craving, burning desire | очень сильная потребность, желание чего-либо |
| 122 | Just plain | clearly; simply | попросту |
| 123 | Kip | Также глагол, обозначающий «вздремнуть ненадолго». | короткий сон |
| 124 | Knackered | Синоним: Tired | Измотан, очень устал, без сил |
| 125 | Knees up | Вечеринка | весёлая неформальная вечеринка; попойка |
| 126 | Knock | to criticize someone or something | критиковать; осуждать |
| 127 | Knock it off | to stop doing something that annoys | кончай базарить! |
| 128 | Knockout | a very attractive person, usually female | красавчик; красотка |
| 129 | Kudos | от греческого kydos («признание» | браво, респект |
| 130 | Lame | Используется как прилагательное для описания чего-то совсем не крутого и стремного. | отстойный |
| 131 | Lighten up | to be less serious about something | уймись, остынь |
| 132 | Lit | Новое слово, чтобы выразить что-то ошеломительное, гораздо сильнее по эмоциональной окраске, чем просто cool или crazy. | что-то очень крутое |
| 133 | Lookalike | «Look» + «Alike» | Двойник, человек, очень похожий на другого |
| 134 | Looker | good looking person | красотка, красавец |
| 135 | Lost The Plot. | “потерял сюжет” | говорится при описании действий человека, ведущего себя иррационально/неразумно и возмутительно (слететь с катушек) |
| 136 | Mate | приятель, друг, напарник, товарищ, сосед по комнате | |
| 137 | Meh | Неинтересный, ничего из себя не представляющий, никакой | |
| 138 | Miffed | расстроенный или обиженный; оскорбленный; вне себя | |
| 139 | Minger | урод, мерзость | Британцы используют это слово, чтобы назвать что-то противное или неприятное. От него происходит и прилагательное minging. |
| 140 | Mingle | Talk informally with different people | Пообщаться с несколькими людьми, смешиваться с толпой |
| 141 | Minted | быть в достатке, т.е. при деньгах | |
| 142 | Nada | nothing, none (from Spanish) | ничего |
| 143 | Nailed it! | Синоним: Got something exactly right, completed successfully. | Попал в точку! Отлично получилось! Часто используется с оттенком сарказма. |
| 144 | Nats | crazy | сумасшедший |
| 145 | Nice one | Nice — хороший, милый | так можно сказать, когда кто-то делает что-то особо впечатляющее |
| 146 | No worries | Показывает уверенность в себе | Без проблем, легко |
| 147 | Nuts | То же самое, что и crazy. | сумасшедший |
| 148 | Old lady | wife | жена |
| 149 | Old man | father | старик (отец) |
| 150 | Oops! | Oh, exclamation of a mistake | ой!; ух!; ох! Блин! |
| 151 | Pass the buck | give the responsibility to someone else | свалить ответственность |
| 152 | Peanuts | Очень низкая цена или зарплата | |
| 153 | Pear shaped | Неправильно, наперекосяк, не по плану | |
| 154 | Petty | Человек, склонный делать из мухи слона, раздувать проблему | |
| 155 | Piece of cake | о деле, которое представляется говорящему легко исполнимым — как съесть кусок торта (пирога) | проще некуда, ерунда! |
| 156 | Pig out | to eat too much | обжираться |
| 157 | Piss off | make someone angry (American) | раздражать, злить, бесить |
| 158 | Plonk | дешевое вино | Обычное столовое вино, портвейн, одно из самых дешевых в своей категории. |
| 159 | Porkies | Ложь, неправда | |
| 160 | Pre sci | Предварительный экзамен | |
| 161 | Props | proper recognition , proper respect | выражение уважения, признания |
| 162 | Quid | Синоним: Pound sterling | Обозначение фунта, когда называют цену |
| 163 | Raincheck | Словосочетание пошло от возможности обменять билет на спортивный матч в случае дождя. | просьба перенести что-то на другое время |
| 164 | Ret | Сигарета | |
| 165 | Ride shotgun | to sit next to the driver | ездить на переднем сидении |
| 166 | Row | ссора | Глагол можно перевести как «поссориться» или «повздорить». |
| 167 | Rumpy–pumpy | секс, «шуры–муры», «шпили–вили». | |
| 168 | Salty | Американцы называют кого-то «соленым» на сленге, когда хотят сказать, что человек обижен или «дуется». | обиженный на что-то, злой |
| 169 | Sauce | Уверенный в себе, успешный человек | |
| 170 | Savage | Брутальный, крутой | |
| 171 | Screw up | to mess up | накосячить, облажаться |
| 172 | Scrummy | термин, используемый для описания чего-то очень вкусного, от которого слюнки текут | что-то очень вкусное |
| 173 | Shattered / Knackered | Невероятно уставший, измотанный, без сил | |
| 174 | Shoot the breeze | to chat | болтать ни о чем |
| 175 | Shorty | a very attractive female | красотка |
| 176 | Sick | awesome | клево |
| 177 | Skint | быть на мели | на мели, без гроша |
| 178 | Skive (off) | говорится, когда кто-то попытался симулировать болезнь, чтобы не пойти на работу/учебу (сачкануть) | отлынивать |
| 179 | Slay | Приятно удивить, впечатлить | |
| 180 | Smashing | разящий, сокрушительный, потрясающий | |
| 181 | Sod’s Law | Произошло от разговорного sod, что означает «бедолага». | закон подлости |
| 182 | Sorted | так говорят о решенной проблеме (sorted problem). | Решить проблему — «to get it sorted». |
| 183 | Spaced out | disoriented | рас-сосредоточенный |
| 184 | Spill the beans | reveal, tell | слить информацию |
| 185 | Splash out | дословно — «выплеснуть(ся) | потратить слишком много денег |
| 186 | Stan | Фанат, буквально помешанный на своем кумире | |
| 187 | Staycation | «Stay» + «Vacation» | Отпуск, проведенный в родном городе |
| 188 | Stroppy | Бука, злюка | |
| 189 | Stuffed | Наевшийся до отвала | |
| 190 | Suck | Употребляется как глагол. Что-то вроде «я плох в этом». | отстой |
| 191 | Suh! / Hey! / Yo! | Привет! | |
| 192 | Swag | Стильный, модный, клевый | |
| 193 | Sweet | good; excellent | Здорово, отлично, клевая |
| 194 | Take a raincheck | to do something another time | откладывать на будущее, переносить |
| 195 | Take for granted | fail to properly appreciate | воспринимать как должное, не ценить |
| 196 | Taking the piss | Синоним: Tease, mock, make fun of someone. | Дразнить, подшучивать. Не перепутайте с “take a piss”, что переводится буквально =) |
| 197 | The joint | prison | тюряга |
| 198 | Tight | close to someone | дружеский; близкий |
| 199 | Tmi | too much information | Слишком много информации |
| 200 | To be amped | excited; enthusiastic | мега-активный, гиперактивный |
| 201 | To be beat | to be very tired or exhausted | умотаться |
| 202 | To be busted | to be caught in the act of wrongdoing | хватать с поличным |
| 203 | To be hooked on | to be addicted to | подсесть на |
| 204 | To be in | to be included in something | участвовать в чем-л. |
| 205 | To be ripped | to look very muscular and built | большой, мускулистый человек |
| 206 | To be ripped off | get a bad deal or have money stolen | ободрать |
| 207 | To give the cold shoulder | a show of deliberate indifference | демонстративно избегать |
| 208 | To have a blast | to have a great time | оттянуться, оторваться |
| 209 | To have a crush on | to be attracted to somebody | запасть на к.л. |
| 210 | To kick the bucket | to die | сыграть в ящик |
| 211 | To mess something up | to ruin something | провалить, налажать |
| 212 | To spot | to see something or find something | видеть, обнаруживать, засечь |
| 213 | Tosh | означает чепуху, вздор, чушь лажу или просто дичь | |
| 214 | Tough | strong, determined | крутой |
| 215 | Trash | to damage or wreck | испоганить что-л |
| 216 | Trash | Нечто неприятное, плохое, отстой | |
| 217 | Turn-off | Something repulsive | отбить охоту; отталкивать |
| 218 | Twenty four seven | Non-stop, around the clock | круглосуточно |
| 219 | Unreal | нереальный | нечто удивительное, потрясающее, впечатляющее. |
| 220 | Uptight | tense; nervous | скованный, зажатый |
| 221 | Wack | crazy person | псих, ненормальный |
| 222 | Wag off | попусту тратить время, прогулять, валять дурака | |
| 223 | Wangle | Хитрить, обводить вокруг пальца | |
| 224 | Warts and all | «как есть»; несмотря на недостатки | |
| 225 | Weird | От этого слова происходит также weirdo существительное, которое можно перевести как «чудак». | странный |
| 226 | What’s up? | how are you? bonjour | Как дела? Что новенького? |
| 227 | Wheels | a car or a bicycle | тачка, машина |
| 228 | Wicked | Изначально это слово переводится как «злой», но британцы часто используют его для описания чего-то очень крутого. | что-то потрясающее |
| 229 | Wierdo | strange person | чокнутый ненормальный |
| 230 | Wimp | a weak person | рохля, нюня, баба |
| 231 | Wind up | В прямом переводе слово означает «заводиться», но на сленге приколоться над кем-то, то есть намеренно говорить неправду ради шутки. | приколоться над кем-то, подшутить |
| 232 | Wonky | так говорят о чем-то неустойчивом | Неустойчивый, шатающийся, изменчивый |
| 233 | Wrap smth up | to settle the final details | завершить; закончить |
| 234 | Wtf | what the fuck? (used as an expression of incredulity or annoyance) | что за хрень |
| 235 | You are telling me | I know exactly what you mean | полностью согласен! |
| 236 | You bet | Of course, surely | ясное дело! |
| 237 | You can say that again | I agree with you completely | разумеется! ещё бы |
| 238 | Yummy | Так говорят о чем-то очень аппетитном и нереально вкусном. | вкусный |
| 239 | Zam | Экзамен | |
| 240 | Zonked | utterly exhausted | истощённый; изнурённый. В отпаде |
ДОПОЛНИТЕЛЬНЫЕ МАТЕРИАЛЫ
55 самых употребительных слов английского сленга (skyeng.ru)
skyeng.ru/articles
Argy-bargy, blimey и cuppa: учим популярные сленговые слова в английском языке (puzzle-english.com)
puzzle-english.com
Английский сленг — британские и американские сленговые выражения (englishdom.com)
englishdom.com