English United Kingdom

to go balls to the walls

Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone

To try your best / give everything to achieve something

Danny is really working hard at the gym. Yeah, he’s going balls to the walls.

Confirmed by 3 people

English United Kingdom

wicked

Slang USED On Occasion BY People Over 30

(evil) • Another word for cool, awesome, great, amazing or fun

"What did you think of the rollercoaster?" "It was wicked!"

"What did you think of the rollercoaster?" "It was great!"

Confirmed by 8 people

English | Bristolian Bristol, United Kingdom

cheers drive

Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

A greeting to express thanks to a bus driver when getting of the bus

"Cheers drive! Have a good day!"

Confirmed by 2 people

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English United Kingdom

car crash underwear

Expression USED On Very Rare Occasion BY women

The kind of underwear women are supposed to wear, just in case you end up in a car crash.

"I don't want to show you my underwear, cos obviously I haven't got my car crash underwear on."

English United Kingdom

they couldn't lie straight in bed

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

The person referred to is very dishonest and is unable to tell the truth in any context.

"Boris Johnson couldn't lie straight in bed."

Confirmed by 3 people

English United Kingdom

No shit, Sherlock

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

A response to someone who is stating the obvious. It refers to the famous detective Sherlock Holmes.

"The sky is blue" "No shit, Sherlock!"

Confirmed by 13 people

English United Kingdom

cinnamon roll

Expression USED On Occasion BY Young People

(n.) • A positive, descriptive term for a person that is wholesome (ie kind, helpful, goes out of their way to support others, honest, perhaps sometimes a little naive or innocent). Rarely said to the person in question’s face but about them to others. Common in manga reader forums.

"I saw Christopher helping an old lady across the road this morning." "Aw Christopher is such a cinnamon roll!"

Confirmed by 7 people

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English United Kingdom

not a foggy one

Expression USED On Occasion BY Adults

It’s an abbreviation of the phrase “I haven’t (got) a clue in the foggiest”. When you really have no idea why something has happened or the answer to a question. Saying “not a foggy one” can be used depending on the individuals choice of changing the original phrase, but it is always understood by other Brits when used.

“Do you remember which bus stop we’re supposed to get off at?” “Not a foggy one, mate. I’m just following everyone else!”

Confirmed by 3 people

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English England, United Kingdom

the pot calling the kettle black

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

Criticizing something that you yourself are guilty of.

"He said my dog was ugly but his own is so inbred it can hardly breathe!" "Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!"

Confirmed by 5 people

English United Kingdom

on my Larry

Slang USED On Occasion BY Young People

Refers to someone who is a loner. Someone who has no friends.

"Please hurry up! I'm all on my Larry"

Confirmed by 2 people

English United Kingdom

hatchings, matchings and despatchings

Expression USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People

Births, weddings, and deaths.

"I only go to church for hatchings, matchings, and despatchings."

Confirmed by 2 people

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English London, United Kingdom

a cock and bull story

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Londoners

It means a long-winded story that is nonsense. The literal translation of the expression is from cock or rooster to donkey/ass.

"Some men’s whole delight is to talk of a Cock and Bull over a pot." (the earliest example in print: The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton,1621)

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English United Kingdom

It’s chucking it down

Expression USED Very frequently BY Most People

An expression used for very heavy rain, or rain that has come on very suddenly.

“Would you look at the rain? It’s chucking it down now!”

Confirmed by 4 people

English | Yorkshire Yorkshire, United Kingdom

siling it down

Slang USED Very frequently BY Everyone

Just a local way in Yorkshire and the North East of England to talk about heavy rainfall.

"It's siling it down out there."

English North West England, United Kingdom

sound

Slang USED Very frequently BY Young People

(adj.) • The word 'sound' has two uses and meanings in English slang. The first is as an adjective, to describe a person as cool and/or easy to get on with. The second is as an affirmation, like 'alright' or 'yes, of course'.

"Have you met Josh?" "Yeah, he's well sound." "Is it okay if we get there at about 8pm?" "Yeah, sound, no worries."

Confirmed by 9 people

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English United Kingdom

It's looking a bit black over Bill's mother's

Idiom USED Frequently BY Older Generations

When dark clouds appear on the horizon, signalling that it's about to rain. The "Bill" in question is usually said to be William Shakespeare, but sometimes Kaiser Wilhelm.

"It's looking a bit black over Bill's mother's... I bet it'll rain."

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English Midlands, United Kingdom

round the Wrekin

Expression USED Frequently BY older Midlanders

Slang for going the long way around, based on "the Wrekin", a large hill in east Shropshire, England.

"Sorry I'm late. I got on the wrong bus and it took me round the Wrekin!"

Cornish United Kingdom

divedhow

Standard Phrase USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(un-drunk) • Sober. Composed of medhow (drunk) and di (un) meaning that Cornish people are either drunk or un-drunk.

“Res yw dhym eva Korev, re dhivedhow esov!”

“I gotta drink a beer, I'm too un-drunk!”

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English United Kingdom

#ClapForCarers

Hashtag USED In the past BY Most People

Hashtag used to express gratitude for NHS workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Refers to the act of clapping outside your house at 8pm on a Thursday night.

"A special #ClapForCarers will take place at 5pm today as we say happy birthday to our precious NHS."

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English United Kingdom

Oright?

Standard Phrase USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(Are you alright?) • A common and informal way to greet someone.

"Oright mate, how's it going?" "Yeah, not too bad, thanks."

Confirmed by 12 people