56 Business English Phrases for Speaking Professionally and Advancing Your Career 1. Beginning a Conference Call. You will either hear these phrases or need to use them yourself while talking to people on a conference call. “Are we all on?” “Can I ask that we all state our names, please?” “I’m here. It’s your name in your city.”.
- When British people use language like this, it’s no surprise that some students say they can’t understand native speakers. But perhaps learners don’t need to worry about communicating with native speakers so much. Research shows that most of the English spoken in the world today is spoken between non-native speakers of the language.
- English, read magazines in English, chat online in English or are interested in English song lyrics then understanding slang can be very useful. You probably won’t see much slang in your English exam though. Slang: Life in the UK.
Given the number of places around the world that English is spoken, differences are bound to emerge. Despite how much the USA and UK have in common, there are enough differences between their two versions of the English language that someone may not always understand exactly what someone from the other country is saying. Not only are there 160 distinct dialects of the English language, but there's also different spelling and even words, used to describe one or other thing. Fortunately, the US State Department has created a series of these useful graphics to help clear things up between the British English Vs. American English usage.
Did you know, that the difference between spelling words like American color and British colour, or humor and humour, comes from the Brits adopting, their now called British words, from Old French language? When it came to America later, the spelling was simplified. And so is with many other American English and British English differences, as the adaptation of grammar took its part.
The US and the UK's imperial histories and modern influence over the world have changed the English wording forever. Because it was exported to countries all over the world, it has been forced to accept different variations of the same language, the most known one to be the British Vs. American.
Even if you're a native speaker of UK or US English, there's a good chance you'll learn something new here. Check the brilliant graphs about British Vs. American English language differences below.
More info: americanenglish.state.gov (h/t: designyoutrust, demilked)
In the UK we also call jumpers sweaters and have done for years
26We too have french fries (what you get in McDonalds) chips are different. We also use peckish and hungry they indicate a degree in our state of hunger.
40I always thought gray was the other way around.
15In the UK jacket and baked potato are interchangeable terms
20Labeling of floors in elevators in both the US and UK is a permanent cause of confusion for continental ppl lol
38Charles Franks is obviously an English language scholar. Please consult him before writing these articles
41In the philippines, we call it signal lights lol
10One of my sister in laws had a period of schooling in the states and had the class in fits of laughter when she asked for a rubber to rectify a mistake she had made not realising that a rubber was slang for a condom. Very red faced.
51Autumn is widely used in the US. Basically holiday means a public holiday (what would be called a bank holiday in the UK) whereas vacation is your time off work. Actually that seems pretty reasonable.
4Estate wagon sounds so much better. Would probably sell better too. You can't call a '78 Oldsmobile station wagon a 'sports wagon'...estate wagon would totally work tho
9A parlour is a nice room in your house for special guests (bit old fashioned), you generally don't by ice cream there.
30We use both TV and telly
10sweets/candy in Australia = lollies, candy floss= fairy floss, ice lolly = icy pole,
13I use many of these terms and I've never been to England.
22Poor letter U
44In the U.S. we use the word pitch in soccer, field in football.
4The southern U.S. version of dish towel is 'cup towel,' even though you dry other dishes with it. And if we are betraying our roots, we say 'dishrag' or 'washrag' instead of dish cloth. I have to be really cautious to say the fancier one.
8The 'U' is getting to me now...
6I always tried to spell mustache as moustache because it looked right to me, but autocorrect says it's incorrect! I guess I wasn't wrong, I was just a little British :D
19Zebra crossing sounds like it would be way cooler than it actually is.
25Postcode not postal code
23Are you feeling a bit knackered or fagged today, internet, and need something to be gobsmacked by? Then rest your zonked peepers on these 71 simple British phrases (compiled fromslangdictionaries). Some are common, some are out of use, but all of them you will want to start using immediately. Gretchen Wieners once advocated that everyone start saying “fetch,” but don’t stop there. Don’t be a tosser. Use them all.
And just remember: be very careful when you ask a British person how their father is. You know not what you’re asking.
1. Any road: used in place of “any way,” primarily used in the north of Britain.
2. Baccy: shortened word for “tobacco;” also, “wacky backy” means marijuana.
3. Barmy: crazy, insane; always derogatory.
4. Bender: derogatory term for homosexual, like “poof.” (Note: You probably shouldn’t use it or you’ll get slapped, but it’s worthy of note for giving Futurama a very different meaning.)
British English Slang Pdf
5. Biggie: term children might use to describe feces; also, an erection.
6. Bits ‘n Bobs: various things. (Example: “My mother has a lot of Bits ‘n Bobs around the house.”)
7. “Bob’s your uncle!”: “There you go! You’ve got it!”
8. Bollocks: technically means “balls,” but often describes something seen as extremely negative or lacking in value; e.g. “total shit.”
9. “Bugger off!”: “Go away!” or “Leave me alone!” (Note: Bugger, used on its own, is akin to “Fuck!” or “Shit!”)
10. Chav: white trash.
11. Cheeky: to be not respectful of something, having a flippant or facetious attitude.
British English Phrases Pdf Printable
12. Chin Wag: to have a chat with someone.
13. Collywobbles: extreme queasiness or stomach pain brought on by stress, nervousness or anxiety.
14. Crusty Dragon: a piece of snot or booger.
15. Daft Cow: a very stupid person (See also: “Wazzock.”)
16. Dog’s Bollocks: extremely good or favorable, great
17. Dog’s Dinner: to be dressed nicely or look dapper.
18. Donkey’s Years: ages, as in “I haven’t seen you in ages!”
19. Fagged: disturbed, bothered or interrupted (Example: If one were studying for a test, one would not want to be “fagged.”)
20. Fall Arse Over Tit: to have an embarrassing fall or to topple over.
21. Fanny: vagina.
22. Fit: hot or sexually desirable.
23. The Full Monty: going all the way with it, going big instead of going home.
British English Phrases Pdf Online
24. “Get stuffed!”: “Beat it” or “Scram!”
25. Gobby: loudly opinionated, offensive or prickish. (See: Donald Trump.)
26. Gobsmacked: amazed or awed by something.
27. Gormless: completely clueless, like Alicia Silverstone in the 90s film.
28. To Have A Butcher’s: to take a look at something or someone.
29. Her Majesty’s Pleasure: being incarcerated or put in prison.
30. “How’s Your Father?”: euphemism for sex (Example: “Have you and your wife had any of the ol’ ‘How’s your father?’ recently?”)
31. “I’m Off To Bedfordshire!”: “I’m hitting the hay!”
32. “It’s Monkeys Outside!”: “Wow, it’s very cold out!”
33. John Thomas: penis.
34. Knackered: phrase meaning “extremely tired,” often uttered after a long, exhausting day; also see: “zonked.”
35. Knees Up: A term for a mixer or a dance party (Example: “I went to this wild knees up this weekend. I wish you could have been there.”)
36. Legless: totally, completely hammered.
37. Lose The Plot: to go “crazy” or become mentally unstable.
38. Lurgy: sick or under the weather.
39. Made Redundant: to be fired or let go from one’s position.
40. Minted: to be extremely rich.
41. Off One’s Trolley: mad, out of one’s mind.
42. On The Piss: binge drinking solely for the purpose of getting totally smashed.
43. On The Pull: cruising for sexual intercourse.
44. Pavement Pizza: euphemism for puke or vomit.
45. “Pip pip!”: archaic, out-of-use phrase used to say goodbye.
46. Plonk: a pejorative word used to describe red wine of poor quality, usually purchased at little expensive.
47. Ponce: a poser.
48. Porkies: old Cockney rhyming word used to mean “lies.” (Example: If one is “telling porkies,” you’re telling lies.) Comes from “pork pies,” which rhymes with lies.
49. Puff: a fart.
50. Rumpy-Pumpy: amazing phrase used as a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
51. See A Man About a Dog: what you say as an excuse for leaving, in order to hide your destination; also, to excuse oneself to take a giant shit.
52. Shambolic: in a total state of bedlam, chaos or dismay.
53. Shirty: ill-tempered, insolent.
54. Skive: a character deemed particularly lazy or incapable of being of use.
55. Slap And Tickle: making out or heavy petting.
56. Slapper: a promiscuous female.
57. Spend A Penny: to use the restroom.
58. Snookered: to be in a bad situation, totally fucked or otherwise without a paddle.
59. Starkers: completely naked.
60. Stonker: a boner.
61. Strawberry Creams: hunger-inducing term for a woman’s breasts.
62. Sweet Fanny Adams: code for “Sweet fuck all”, meaning little to nothing at all. (Example: “I thought I had a chance with her, but I ended up with Sweet Fanny Adams.)
63. Taking The Piss: messing or screwing around.
64. Throw A Spanner In The Works: to make a mistake or fuck up something.
65. Tickety-Boo: phrase for when everything’s going great (Example: “All is tickety-boo in my world.”)
66. Todger: another word for “dick.”
67. Tosh: total bullshit, nonsense or rubbish.
68. Tosser: derogatory term for male masturbator, used to indicate that you look upon someone unfavorably. (Example: “He fancies himself the bee’s knees, but frankly he’s quite the wanker.”)
69. Twig And Berries: male genitalia, the penis and balls.
70. Up The Duff: pregnant or with child.
71. “Who blew off?”: “Who farted?”