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9 British Slang Words That Absolutely Baffle Americans

Lost in the Pond

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I have used British slang on Americans more times than I can count. It has not always gone as expected. Here are 9 British slang words that absolutely confuse the heck out of Americans

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20 Comments

@LostinthePond Creator 3 weeks ago Pinned

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@phen314 3 weeks ago

I'm gobsmacked to learn that "gobsmacked", "fancy", and "peckish" are British slang and surprising to most Americans, because I've heard them plenty.

@that_old_bob 3 weeks ago

This American knows that "knackered" comes from the Knacker's Yard, a uh... retirement home for tired old horses, shall we say.

@toastyanon8902 3 weeks ago

The distinction between the English “Pissed” and American “Pissed” fascinates me. They signal different states of being, but can often overlap during drunken arguments

@Leód-Siġefæst 3 weeks ago

I wouldn't say chuffed merely means to be 'happy'. To me it has always had a hint of pride or to be proud of something: "I'm dead chuffed I passed my test!".

@Ithirahad 3 weeks ago (edited)

I figured that calling someone a "muppet" basically means they're liable to make a fool of themself, kind of like an actual Muppet.

@philroberts7238 3 weeks ago

I'd say that it's rare to be 'absolutely' peckish, because 'peckish' usually means only 'a bit' hungry - rather than, say, being 'absolutely' starving.
My second observation would be to point out that no one shortens ordinary English words more than the Australians. Words are habitually shortened to a single syllable and then a random vowel sound (usually an 'oh' or an 'ee') is then tacked on to the end. Make sure, for example, that you bring some tinnies with you if you're ever invited to a barbie at your mate's place!

@Davidshonfield 3 weeks ago

Not sure you can be absolutely peckish. A bit peckish, quite peckish, rather peckish... absolutely famished.

@jamesfrankiewicz5768 3 weeks ago

As an American, I only know what a "bumbershoot" is due the nearby, annual Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle. As far as I know, nobody actually uses the term "bumbershoot" in everyday life, except to mention the festival. As for the festival itself, it's an eclectic music and arts festival that takes place the first weekend of September (so about the time the rains return; this year's festival just wrapped up at the time I'm writing this).

@wlan246 3 weeks ago

I always associated "peckish" with wanting a snack, not a proper meal.

(see what I did there?)

@BouncySlim1 3 weeks ago

You tickle my "fancy" is another way we use fancy on this side of the pond.

@Oldtanktapper 3 weeks ago

I haven’t lived in Yorkshire for years, but calling somebody a gormless wazzock is still a favoured insult.

@williamscoggin1509 3 weeks ago

I'm a 69-year-old Texan and I've heard godsmacked my entire life. Mainly on TV shows, or we've always known what it meant. 🙂

@saraross8396 3 weeks ago

"Whatever tickles your fancy" is a phrase used when someone asks another about what they should do about something. So for example if you asked Tara where the two of you should go eat dinner, and she replies, "Whatever tickles your fancy," it means she doesn't have an opinion and is willing to go wherever you would like to eat.

@michaelcorbett4236 3 weeks ago

It was actually Britain and Lew Grade who gave the Muppets their shot. Jim Henson had been doing puppets for two decades before but when he wanted to do the Muppet Show no American broadcaster would take it on. It was all shot in the UK at Elstree studios and Grade even invested in the first Muppet movies as well as The Dark Crystal. The feel of the Muppet Show itself is more British that expected. So technically America created the Muppets but Britain gave the world the Muppet Show.

@bingisningis 3 weeks ago

1:15 The Kaleidoscope transition to a picture of you looking slightly shocked was absolutely necessary

@rovcanada1 3 weeks ago (edited)

In my youth (70's - 80's) it was forbidden for kids to say 'knackered', because in Scouse (regional accent in Liverpool/Birkenhead) it specifically referred to being tired after sex! Of course, we all know that horses went to the 'knackers yard' to be rendered into glue once they became too old and tired to work, i.e. they were knackered.
EDIT TO ADD: Speaking of Cockney rhyming slang; "cream crackered" means "knackered".