British slang stems from Shakespeare to Chaucer and encompasses nearly every generation of human speech. From Cockney rhyming slang to short-lived colloquialisms, England contains a mixture of euphenisms that often leave Americans scratching their heads.
| A |  |
| A row | A fight |
| A rum go | A bad experience |
| Abdabs | Terror, the frights, nerves |
| Abroad | Overseas |
| Absobloodylutely | Absolutely |
| Abysinnia! | I'll be seeing you!" |
| Ackers | Money |
| Anchors | Brakes |
| Ankle biters | Babies |
| Anorak | Parka |
| Arrows | Darts |
| Articulated lorry | Semi truck with more than one trailer |
| Axe | A guitar |
| B | |
| Backhander | A bribe |
| Ballistic | Mad with rage |
| Banged up | Put in prison |
| Bangers | Sausage |
| Barmy, balmy | Mad or crazy |
| Bathing costume | Swimsuit |
| Baton | Sandwich on a long roll |
| Bedfordshire | Bed or bedtime |
| Belt up | Shut up |
| Bender | Drinking spree |
| Biff | To hit |
| Bikkies (short for biscuit) | Cookies |
| Billy no mates | A person who appears to have no friends |
| Bin | Trash can |
| Bird | Girl |
| Biro | Ballpoint pen |
| Biscuit | Cookie |
| Blag | To lie or use clever talk |
| Bleeder | An objectionable person |
| Blighter | An insignificant or objectionable person |
| Bloke | Guy |
| Bob | To visit briefly |
| Bobbie | Policeman |
| Bobs | Shillings |
| Bonnet | Hood of car |
| Boot | Trunk |
| Braces | Suspenders |
| Brilliant | Great, terrific |
| Brolly | Umbrella |
| Bugger! | An expression of surprise or anger |
| Bum | Rear end, derriere |
| Bumbag | Fanny pack |
| Bung | Throw out |
| Bussing | Kissing |
| Butty | Sandwich |
| C | |
| Cabbie | Taxi driver |
| Camp bed | Cot |
| Candy floss | Cotton candy |
| Car park | Parking lot |
| Cardy | Cardigan |
| Cheeky | Flippant |
| Cheers | Thanks |
| Chemist | Pharmacy or drugstore |
| Chippy/Chippie | Fish and chip shop |
| Chips | French Fries |
| Choc ice | Chocolate covered ice cream |
| Choc-a-block, chockers | Full to overflowing |
| Chuffed | Very happy, delighted |
| Ciggie | A cigarette |
| Clingfilm | Saran wrap |
| Coach | Bus |
| Codger | An eccentric old man |
| Cooker | Stove, oven |
| Copper | Policeman |
| Cor Blimey! | An exclamation of surprise or anger |
| Crisps | potato chips |
| Cupa | Cup of tea |
| D | |
| Daft | Foolish or stupid |
| Dead clever | Smart |
| Dipstick | Idiot |
| Dishy | Attractive or good looking |
| Do a runner | Leave a crime scene immediately, leave an area quickly. |
| Don't get your knickers in a twist | Don't get upset |
| Doss | Sleep |
| Dozey mare | Female fool |
| Dual carriageway | Divided highway |
| Dummy | Pacifier |
| Dustbin | Trash can |
| Duvet | Comforter |
| E | |
| Eppy | Freak out or go mad |
| F | |
| Fancy | To want something or have a crush on someone |
| Fanny around | To muck about and waste time |
| Flat | Apartment |
| Football | Soccer |
| Fortnight | Two weeks |
| Free phone | A toll free number |
| Fringe | Bangs (hair) |
| Frock | Dress |
| G | |
| Gander | To look at |
| Gas | Petrol |
| Get stuffed | Get lost |
| Git | Idiot |
| Glove box | Glove compartment |
| Gob | Mouth |
| Gobsmacked | Flabergasted, surprised |
| H | |
| Hapenny | Half penny (no longer used) |
| Have another go | To try again |
| Helter Skelter | Children's slide |
| I | |
| Ice Lolly | Popsicle |
| Indicator | Turn signal |
| J | |
| Jacket potato | Baked potato |
| Jammy | Lucky |
| Jelly | Jello Gelatin |
| Jumper | Sweater |
| K | |
| Keep your pecker up | Stay positive, look on the bright side |
| Knackered | Tired |
| Knees-up | Party, normally with dancing |
| Knickers | Underpants |
| L | |
| Leave off | Stop doing that |
| Lift | Elevator |
| Limey | Englishman |
| Loo | The Toilet |
| Lorry | Truck |
| M | |
| Mac | A raincoat |
| Made redundant | Laid off, not fired. |
| Making music in the street for money | Busking |
| Mate | Friend |
| Miffed | Fed up |
| Mitts | Hands |
| Motorway | An interstate |
| Muck about | Mess around |
| Mum | Mother |
| N | |
| Naff | Uncool |
| Nappies | Diapers |
| Nosh | Eat |
| Not on | Inappropriate, wrong |
| Nugget | Pound coin |
| Nutter | Crazy person |
| O | |
| Off-License | Liquor store |
| On the blower | On the telephone |
| On the dole | Receiving government assistance |
| Oy | Like the American "Hey," |
| P | |
| Page 3 girl | A scantilly (or not at all) dressed woman on page three of many newspapers |
| Peckish | Hungry |
| Pie and Mash | Meat pie with mashed potatoes |
| Pillock | A moron |
| Pinch | Steal |
| Pissed | Drunk |
| Plimsolls | Sneakers |
| Polo neck sweater | Turtle neck sweater |
| Posh | Fancy |
| Post a letter | Mail a letter |
| Potty | Crazy |
| Pram | Baby Carriage |
| Prat | Idiot |
| Prawn | Shrimp |
| Pressie | Present |
| Proper Cupa | Cup of tea with cream and sugar |
| Pub Crawl | Bar hopping |
| Public baths | Community swimming pool |
| Punter | The paying public, a customer |
| Pushpin | Thumbtack |
| Q | |
| Queue (up) | To stand in line |
| Quid | One pound sterling |
| R | |
| Randy | Horny |
| Ring road | Circumferential Highway |
| Ring someone up | Call someone on the phone |
| Roundabout | Traffic circle |
| Rounders | Game similar to baseball |
| Row | Argument |
| Rubber | Eraser |
| Rubbish | Garbage or Nonsense |
| S | |
| Sacked | Fired, laid off |
| Scrounge | To beg or sponge off others |
| Secateurs | Gardening shears |
| Sent to Coventry | Being ignored by everyone |
| Shoving off | Leaving |
| Silencer | The muffler |
| Skank | To steal |
| Skint | To have no money, penniless |
| Skip | Dumpster |
| Skiving off | Not working when you should be |
| Slag | Loose woman |
| Sloshed | Drunk |
| Snog | Kiss |
| Sod | An idiot or silly person |
| Solicitor | Lawyer |
| Spanner | Wrench |
| Spending a penny | Using a pay toilet |
| Spot on | Exactly right, you've got it |
| Squiffy | Something has gone wrong |
| Straight up | Genuine |
| Strimmer | String trimmer, weed wacker |
| Stroppy | Hostile, beligerant |
| Stuffy Puff | Fart |
| Suss someone out | Figure someone out |
| T | |
| Ta | Thank you |
| Take a Kip | Take a Nap |
| Takeaway | Take out food |
| Taking the mick | Joking around |
| Telly | Short for television |
| That's not quite cricket | That's not quite fair |
| The Underground | Subway |
| Tights | Pantyhose |
| Tip | Dump, landfill |
| To let | For rent |
| To nick | To steal |
| Toerag | Moron |
| Toodle pip | Goodbye |
| Torch | Flashlight |
| Trainers | Running shoes |
| Trolley | Shopping cart |
| Trousers | Pants |
| TTFN | Ta ta for now |
| Tube | Underground train system |
| Tube Station | Subway Station |
| Twit | Jerk |
| U | |
| Using your loaf | Using your brain |
| V | |
| Verge | Shoulder of road |
| Vest | Undershirt |
| W | |
| Wally | Deli Pickle |
| Washing-up | Doing the dishes |
| WC (water closet) | Bathroom |
| Wellies or Wellingtons | Galoshes |
| Whimpy Bar | Hamburger Restaurant |
| Whinge | Whine |
| Windscreen | Windshield |
| X | |
| X-directory | Unlisted phone number |
| Y | |
| Z | |
| Zebra crossing | Pedestrian crossing |
| Zonked | Totally exhausted |
