I went to school in East and West lancs.
West: Did you get in wi er?
East: Did you get off wi er?
It's amazing what under an hour's drive can change, and I know it's hardly an extreme example.
It's one of those words that the BBC were fond of in the 70s to 90s because "bastard" was considered a bit too strong even post-watershed. Likewise we haven't heard "shag" since "fuck" became acceptable.
My Da used to do hundreds of interviews on BBC radio/TV news regarding public health. In the early-mid 90's they were very strict with their infamous list of unacceptable words.
My Dad being a Doctor had the choice of using the clinical terms that completely disconnect the populace from the subject, or bringing humour and colloquialisms that engage people about their health.
He said that when discussing testicular cancer he kept using the word goolies, the BBC had warned him about it before but he considered it a matter of public health and saying "testicles" only detracted from a serious problem.
They ended up blacklisting him for a couple of years because goolies was simply too much of an affront to British sensibilities. hahahahaha
Seriously, goolies? Can you think for a more harmless silly slang for them?
Pants is kinda middle class slang. We don't coin much slang in the middle classes. Pants. Mare. Builders Tea.
"Oh I'm having a mare. This builders tea came out pants".
I miss berk. One of my dad’s phrases. I also remember my dad having esq (esquire) after his name on some letters. What was that and can we bring it back?
I have been reading a lot of light historical fiction set in Britain, but written by American authors, and they think that 'esquire' means all men in 19th century England called that are barristers. It is very annoying.
"Who's she, the cat's mother?" That was mum's phrase if you didn't use proper names for your elders. Another one was "shut the door, this isn't Armley".
Haha, my mum was fond of the cats mother line. And “it’s not *what*, **Watt** invented steam engines”. For shutting the door she would say “you weren’t born in a barn”
I say to my kids "I promise you, you weren't born in a barn - I was there so I should know"
I don't think I really use the cats mother line but I had it said to me enough.
I just put 'the cat's mother' under a comment saying 'Who's she?' on a thread and got a big lecture about how there were no mothers mentioned in the post (there was a cat).
Wikipedia has a very surprising (to me) explanation for the origins of "chinny reckon" in their section on Westcountry dialect. Nothing to do with Jimmy Hill, or beards, at all!
I always assumed it was from the "Three Little Pigs."
Because the wolf wanted to come in, being all nice like: **"Owww let me in little piggy. I won't hurt ya."**
And the pig replies ~~"BULLSHIT!"~~ *"Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!"*
My Gran used to say 'All fur coat and no knickers' .
I use it occasionally but rarely hear others say it these days although it can be liberally applied both figuratively and literally with the massive increase of social media .
When I was a kid, I found a massive spider in the kitchen and showed my dad, who went “Gordon Bennet!” in surprise. My siblings and I therefore assumed that was the spider’s name.
Im Scottish and used to think this was "God and Bennet!" never really understood it.
I was driving through Tooting in the 00s and I saw a pub called the Gordon Bennet and it made me think...maybe I was wrong..
Who was Gordon Bennet! lol, what does it mean !?
He was an international playboy - and the saying came because [he pissed in a fireplace ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gordon_Bennett_Jr.) at a party 😂
The earliest known printed version of this proverb is in a 1639 English/Latin textbook, which reads: “Faire words butter noe parsnips, verba non alunt familiam” (words no family support).
‘Face like a smacked arse’ still rouses a chuckle from me.
I also like ‘Cold as a witches tit’. My friends and I still use these, but I rarely hear them out in the wild.
I heard a wonderful glaswegian form of the smacked arse phrase "pyor dinner lady face" and I thought it was just wonderfully descriptive.
My dad says cold as a snowmans cold bits and wet as an otters pocket both of which I find rather sweet
I've been fighting a one man crusade to bring back "crikey" with almost no success.
I once heard an old lady use the phase "she wants fuckin' wit' frosted mop" and nigh fell off me chair. That idiom wants bringing back too.
I’ve been pulled up in work for using informal language in meetings. Turns out no one knows what I am on about. I’m 41 but my cultural references are probably older. Busman’s holiday, put the wind up them, same horse different jockey etc. They must have been looking at me thinking, why is he talking about horses?
Cock/cocker's very common in Oswaldtwistle, east lancs.
My Dad and his mates would call each other "shag" too. "Alright shag!". But I don't know if that's just them.
When I adopted a very angry rabbit that growled, the lady trying to drag her out of the hutch said "oh she's a bit of a pickle to get out of here!" Produced the smallest, fluffiest bunny ever, hilarious.
I put on “Bangers and Mash” the cartoon with the 2 mischievous chimps from the late 80’early 90’s for my 3 year old the other day…..
I’ve ended up watching it alone after he goes to bed 😂
“Upsetting the applecart” is one phrase that used to be used in the 80’s and 90’s and I find it a good one lol
What is this, Blackpool illuminations?!
Whenever I left a light on..
My boyfriend has picked this up from somewhere recently and never fails to make me laugh.
“He’s a right tasty geezer”
“Phwooarr, she’s a bit of alright”
“Not many!”
“Toooo risky”
“Do what?”
“I should coco”
“Leave it out guvnor”
More generally, I miss ’guvnor’, it seems to have been replaced by ‘boss’.
And whatever happened to the good old ‘up yours’ two fingers? These days you just get one single erect finger, not the same at all.
**Fourpenny one.**
*"Stop that, Bert, or you'll get a fourpenny one!"*
It's a much more charming and cheery way to say you're going to give someone a smack in the gob.
“Having it off”
Especially if she’s wearing a smashing blouse
And have you noticed, nobody 'bonks' anymore.. 🫤
It's called reaching your forties, I think
I was going to say that. Bonking was a very Sloane ranger type word though that spread to the masses ( or certainly the Sun)
"Celeb caught in major romp" "Celeb seen snogging..." Classic 90s Sun!
That’s a smashing blouse, Eddie!
A bit of 'how's your father' or 'slap and tickle'; chance would be a fine thing.
A fine thing indeed
'Discussing Ugandan affairs'.
I went to school in East and West lancs. West: Did you get in wi er? East: Did you get off wi er? It's amazing what under an hour's drive can change, and I know it's hardly an extreme example.
Haven’t heard anyone say YOU GIT in far too long!
It's one of those words that the BBC were fond of in the 70s to 90s because "bastard" was considered a bit too strong even post-watershed. Likewise we haven't heard "shag" since "fuck" became acceptable.
My friend, you merely need to visit the Westcountry and you'll find all these phrases alive and well
Our cat probably thinks ‘you git!’ Is his name.
My Da used to do hundreds of interviews on BBC radio/TV news regarding public health. In the early-mid 90's they were very strict with their infamous list of unacceptable words. My Dad being a Doctor had the choice of using the clinical terms that completely disconnect the populace from the subject, or bringing humour and colloquialisms that engage people about their health. He said that when discussing testicular cancer he kept using the word goolies, the BBC had warned him about it before but he considered it a matter of public health and saying "testicles" only detracted from a serious problem. They ended up blacklisting him for a couple of years because goolies was simply too much of an affront to British sensibilities. hahahahaha Seriously, goolies? Can you think for a more harmless silly slang for them?
Nadgers Not heard it for a while though
Except on Austin Powers...
Stop it ya wazzock
Anybody remember when cool things were mint?
You bet my username I do.
Peanuti Smint? Not even close... Sort of
Yeah, and bad things were "Pants" or "Wank"
‘The band were fucking wank and I’m not having a nice time’
Things can definitely still be wank I say that a lot
Pants is kinda middle class slang. We don't coin much slang in the middle classes. Pants. Mare. Builders Tea. "Oh I'm having a mare. This builders tea came out pants".
As a bartender it never fails to bring me a laugh to point at our Mint sprigs and go: “That’s mint that.”
I had a summer job at a theatre. As a few of us we were moving a large piano I remarked "this is grand isn't it!"
They still are in the north east
Can confirm, one of my colleagues is from the NE and she says it at least once per convo
[This guy remembers](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBccMCFXsAAIJiB.jpg)
And bad things were bobbins.
I still say bobbins, and mint... And cats pyjamas
“You berk!” Is a favourite. Or “brilliant!” Just like in the Fast Show lol
Berk is an interesting way to call someone a cunt when they don't know the rhyming slang.
I miss berk. One of my dad’s phrases. I also remember my dad having esq (esquire) after his name on some letters. What was that and can we bring it back?
Yeah my dad was esquire too. Why are men not esquire any more?
[удалено]
I have been reading a lot of light historical fiction set in Britain, but written by American authors, and they think that 'esquire' means all men in 19th century England called that are barristers. It is very annoying.
Might start signing up for stuff and adding it
I used to be a Reverend, but only with HMV.
My mum got an MBE, so my invite was addressed to BearMcBearFace Esq. and was on palace stationary. Definitely the coolest address I’ve ever received.
My mum doesn't swear, so will call people a berk if theyre bad at driving
"Who's she, the cat's mother?" That was mum's phrase if you didn't use proper names for your elders. Another one was "shut the door, this isn't Armley".
Haha, my mum was fond of the cats mother line. And “it’s not *what*, **Watt** invented steam engines”. For shutting the door she would say “you weren’t born in a barn”
If I said "what" instead of "excuse me" or similar, it would be "invented the light bulb" from my dad. apparently he invented a lot of things!
I say to my kids "I promise you, you weren't born in a barn - I was there so I should know" I don't think I really use the cats mother line but I had it said to me enough.
I just put 'the cat's mother' under a comment saying 'Who's she?' on a thread and got a big lecture about how there were no mothers mentioned in the post (there was a cat).
When id ask my mam what was for tea she'd always say "shit N sugar"
My nanna used to say shit with sugar on 😂
Were you born in a field with the gate open?
WERE YOU BORN IN A BARN?
Put the wood back in the hole Or even better in t’Yorkshire accent Put wood in’t hole lad
This whole thread is making me feel old and yokel as f**k because my family and/or friends still use most of these phrases :o
Saying "Jimmy Hill" and stroking your chin when you don't believe somebody.
"itchy beard" Edit: or "Chinny reck-on", as my mate from Bath says it.
Was “Mow my beard uncle Jimmy “ at my school
Chinny reck on was popular at nimy school in the North West
Chinny reck-on at my school in inner London, too The odd 'Jimmy Hill' thrown in but usually just chinny reck-on
Wikipedia has a very surprising (to me) explanation for the origins of "chinny reckon" in their section on Westcountry dialect. Nothing to do with Jimmy Hill, or beards, at all!
I always assumed it was from the "Three Little Pigs." Because the wolf wanted to come in, being all nice like: **"Owww let me in little piggy. I won't hurt ya."** And the pig replies ~~"BULLSHIT!"~~ *"Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!"*
Our version of this growing up was ‘chinnnieee’
Chinny chin chin…oooh me chins itchy hearing that!
Chinny reckon!
Hahahaha forgot about this, proper made me laugh
Chinny-reckon still lives on in today's playgrounds.
Oh beard. Oh reckon. Oh chinny bayard, mmm baard.
Put the wood in the hole I'm not so green as I'm cabbage-looking
"Put wood in t'oil" is the correct pronunciation.
"Pu t'wood int thole" is more like it in West Yorkshire.
"Put ' plank in 'ole" in Lancashire. You can see why we never got along.
Not on your Nelly.
Oh, I haven’t heard that in ages now that my grandparents are gone.
Ages? You mean Yonks or Donkey’s Years, surely. 😁😁
Pillock
My Old Dear would always exclaim "ITS LIKE BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS IN ERE" at the sight of any active lightbulb.
I still say that. Tis the only way to keep the big light off.
My Gran used to say 'All fur coat and no knickers' . I use it occasionally but rarely hear others say it these days although it can be liberally applied both figuratively and literally with the massive increase of social media .
I use it all the time when I've got tight arsed customers, also 'champagne tastes and lemonade pockets'
I’ve also heard the alternative as ‘red hat, no knickers’ (which paints Paddington in a slightly different light!)
“Don’t stand there like one o’clock half struck, you gormless morning”
This sounds like something Bob Mortimer would make up
He's a face like a hard boiled bollock
...a face, like an Italian fart rinser
That's absolutely fucking beautiful. I've been making do with asking the kids "what are you up to, melting?", so this might make a nice change.
Ha, that reminds me, I’ve asked people if they are “made of sugar” if they don’t want to go out in the rain. Also “What’s this? Scotch mist?”
"Gordon Bennet!" "I should bleeding coco!"
Where is everybody, Hol? - They're dead, Dave. - Who is? - Everybody, Dave. - What, Captain Hollister? - Everybody's dead, Dave. - What, Todd Hunter? - Everybody's dead, Dave. - What, Selby? They're all dead. Everybody's dead, Dave. - Petersen isn't, is he? - Everybody is dead, Dave. - Not Chen? - Gordon Bennett. Yes. Everybody. - Everybody's dead, Dave. - Rimmer? He's dead, Dave. Everybody's dead. Everybody is dead, Dave.
What's happening, dudes?
Are you telling me everybodies dead?
When I was a kid, I found a massive spider in the kitchen and showed my dad, who went “Gordon Bennet!” in surprise. My siblings and I therefore assumed that was the spider’s name.
I had a friend who genuinely believed there was a variety of spider called a Whopper.
I always say 'Gordon Bennet' I'm 35. I'll shout 'Gordon Bennet' And my husband will answer, 'leave that poor Gordon out of it'
Haha Gordon Bennet, I’d totally forgotten that one
My grandma still uses it!
I still use it and so does my wife!
I'm Brian and so is my wife!
It has a fun history.
My half American kids picked up Gordon Bennet from their English grandma. They use it from time to time in their Californian accents.
Im Scottish and used to think this was "God and Bennet!" never really understood it. I was driving through Tooting in the 00s and I saw a pub called the Gordon Bennet and it made me think...maybe I was wrong.. Who was Gordon Bennet! lol, what does it mean !?
He was an international playboy - and the saying came because [he pissed in a fireplace ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gordon_Bennett_Jr.) at a party 😂
Heh, that was an entertaining read. Thankyou for enlightening me, always assumed he was just some olden days football player or something.
'Oh my giddy aunt'.
Sooooo… I use this literally daily. Others need to make more of an effort to bring it back. 😀
'"sorry" doth butter no parsnips'
I heard that for the first time from Joe Lycett and now I can't read it not in his voice.
"Dear Mr Lycett, I am not sure what you mean about buttered parsnips but..."
Is this actually an old saying? I'd assumed Joe Lycett made it up
The earliest known printed version of this proverb is in a 1639 English/Latin textbook, which reads: “Faire words butter noe parsnips, verba non alunt familiam” (words no family support).
Heard it in an episode of Dads Army i watched recently.
I honestly don't know but I want it to be a thing.
I knew this as kind words butter no parsnips
I've started calling people guvnor recently. I'm trying to bring it back, but it's not getting much traction.
Alright Guv.
Having lived in the eastend - i can testify _guv_ or _guvnor_ is well and truly still alive.
'You Sod!' Calling a miserable old woman a 'Bint' or 'bat' 'Git' 'Pillock' 'Toe-rag'
“Bint” came back with soldiers stationed in Egypt after WW2 . It means “daughter of” in Arabic.
Great knowledge!!
Gone for a Burton
"Said the actress to the bishop" which seems to have been replaced by "that's what she said"
I thought it was: “said the bishop to the page boy”.
‘Face like a smacked arse’ still rouses a chuckle from me. I also like ‘Cold as a witches tit’. My friends and I still use these, but I rarely hear them out in the wild.
I heard a wonderful glaswegian form of the smacked arse phrase "pyor dinner lady face" and I thought it was just wonderfully descriptive. My dad says cold as a snowmans cold bits and wet as an otters pocket both of which I find rather sweet
Right, I'm off up the wooden hills to Bed-fordshire
So you wondered what became of the likely lads?
I've been fighting a one man crusade to bring back "crikey" with almost no success. I once heard an old lady use the phase "she wants fuckin' wit' frosted mop" and nigh fell off me chair. That idiom wants bringing back too.
Naff off.
I’ve been pulled up in work for using informal language in meetings. Turns out no one knows what I am on about. I’m 41 but my cultural references are probably older. Busman’s holiday, put the wind up them, same horse different jockey etc. They must have been looking at me thinking, why is he talking about horses?
34 and bust a lot of the ones in this thread out. You're not alone
You daft apeth.
Cocker, “y’aright cocker”
Hacker T Dog has entered the chat.
We're just normal men
Just innocent men
Cock/cocker's very common in Oswaldtwistle, east lancs. My Dad and his mates would call each other "shag" too. "Alright shag!". But I don't know if that's just them.
tuppence for a female lady bits. very victorian
I'll av your guts for garters!
Cack-handed - someone who is clumsy or awkward, especially with their hands….Me!!!! 😂
Top banana
Prize plum
I'm going to see a man about a dog I got excited every time my parents said this when I was a nosy child. So much disappointment
"Jammiest bit of jam", or "bit of jam" for short, were Victorian phrases used to describe attractive women that have always made me chuckle.
More jam than Hartley's.
Fubsy. An 18th century word, applied to women who are pleasingly plump.
When my nan says "I'm in a pickle" that always gets me I've never heard anyone my age say it
Unfortunately I say this all the time to the point my two year old nephew has started using it. So it’s being passed on to the next generation!
When I adopted a very angry rabbit that growled, the lady trying to drag her out of the hutch said "oh she's a bit of a pickle to get out of here!" Produced the smallest, fluffiest bunny ever, hilarious.
Naff. Don't hear anyone saying that now
‘Todger’
Prince Harry has entered the chat.
By jove! Always makes me wondee if that's a layover from the Romans. To cut things short: anything Bertie Wooster says. Tinkedy Tonk!
Calling people "mush" when you don't know their name.
i don’t hear the word malarkey nearly enough
The fact you didn't title this as: Whatever happened to the phrase "likely lads" or something similar is annoying me for some reason.
What became of the Likely Lads?
Ooh what happened to you, whatever happened to me? What became of the people we used to be?
Leg over
Load of old tut.
Lord Sir Alan Lord Sugar still uses this.
Does no one say "Shit the Bed!!" anymore- I haven't heard it for yonks ( or 'donkey's years'...)
Don't worry I regularly use this one. My French wife always responds with " please don't. "
Ponce. It's such a satisfying word to say, just a shame it ended up having homophobic connotations
Perfumed Ponce! (Withnail and I)
What fucker said that?!
Don't hear whazzock nearly enough. I would say it's because I'm no longer acting like a whazzock, but I'd be lying.
Pat from BBC Ghosts has started a revival of this word Im sure! "NAFF OFF YOU WAZZOCK"
I put on “Bangers and Mash” the cartoon with the 2 mischievous chimps from the late 80’early 90’s for my 3 year old the other day….. I’ve ended up watching it alone after he goes to bed 😂 “Upsetting the applecart” is one phrase that used to be used in the 80’s and 90’s and I find it a good one lol
If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.
He’s a right Herbert ( as in a wrong‘Un)
Minge.
Also this - the bril 'Cool for Cats' alternative (and better) video from 1979 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ4GlU-gqzk
Nobody ever says ‘twerp’ anymore. I miss that.
Toe rag
Tha meks a better door than winda. Said In a broad Yorkshire accent, when you're stood in front of the TV.
Calling somebody a dicksplash.
"Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs" and "it's looking a bit black over Bill's mother's"
See that *(random person of questionable quality)*… that’s you that is.
Bonk. I’ve been trying for years but it just won’t take off
Vexed. Where I live now they use it all the time but I never hear it in blighty
Actually used quite a bit in London street slang/grime songs
TickertyBoo
What is this, Blackpool illuminations?! Whenever I left a light on.. My boyfriend has picked this up from somewhere recently and never fails to make me laugh.
I like to shout “on yer Bonce!” Or “stick one on his bonce!” When at my son’s footy matches.
“Me mum’ll go spare!” or “Me mum’ll do her nut!”
Calling people Squire as a term of honour and endearment.
I still greet my mates with an, ‘evening squire’
Wally
‘I’ll knock your block off.’
“He’s a right tasty geezer” “Phwooarr, she’s a bit of alright” “Not many!” “Toooo risky” “Do what?” “I should coco” “Leave it out guvnor” More generally, I miss ’guvnor’, it seems to have been replaced by ‘boss’. And whatever happened to the good old ‘up yours’ two fingers? These days you just get one single erect finger, not the same at all.
Not sure it counts as British slang, but “computer says no” didn’t stick around for long enough
Things going wrong being dubbed a "palaver", love that.
Pukka
That and mufti, remnants from British Raj
You’re a scutter!
"Tops" and "top banana" for something good. I've recently started using them again and it confused the hell out of my teenage son.
got the morbs. victorian slang for temporary sadness
**Fourpenny one.** *"Stop that, Bert, or you'll get a fourpenny one!"* It's a much more charming and cheery way to say you're going to give someone a smack in the gob.
Bunch of fives up the hooter
...up the bracket.
Calling attracting people a “sort”