Credits: Social Media
Americans try to guess the meanings of 20 obscure British words and phrases
While Americans and British people both speak English, there are certain words and phrases that are exclusive to each country and to test peoples knowledge, The Focus asked a group of Americans to try and guess the meanings behind some British slang words.
Brits use of the words crisps and chips when referring to potato chips and French fries is already well-known, so weve attempted to pick out some slightly more obscure words when quizzing our assembled group of Americans.
In order to help our volunteers in their efforts to guess the selection of words and phrases, we included a brief sentence to add a small amount of context, such as whether the word relates a person or if its an adjective used to describe something.
Below youll see our introductory phrase followed by the list of guesses from our test group, with the true definition of the word or phrase coming after.
1. Tosh
If something is ‘tosh’ it is… Cool / Tacky (opposite of posh) / If “trash” and “posh” were combined, it would mean something is trash that is posh.
Actual meaning: Refers to something that is silly or nonsensical.
Example: Paul talks a load of tosh, doesnt he?
2. Chuffed
If someone is chuffed they are& annoyed / angry
Actual meaning: Feeling delighted or satisfied.
Example: Paul was chuffed that his team won the game.
3. Gormless
If someone is ‘gormless’ they are… Squeamish / Gutless / Not making sense, clueless
Actual meaning: Used to describe someone lacking intelligence.
Example: Pauls a bit gormless, isnt he?
4. Ankle-biters
If someone is an ‘ankle-biter’ they are… A pain / Annoying little kid / Someone who tries to get ahead / Attention-seekers
Actual meaning: Used to describe a young child.
Example: Im just going to pick the ankle-biters up from school.
5. Know Your Onions
If someone ‘knows their onions’ they are… Smart / Knowledgeable, well-versed, really smart (know all the layers) / Aware of what goes around them, they understand each layer of a situation
Actual meaning: A person who is knowledgeable about a particular topic. Turns out this was a pretty easy one to guess for our American volunteers.
Example: Paul really knows his onions when it comes to movies.
6. Chin wag
If someone is having a chin wag they are& Having a good time / Confused / Having a conversation / Meeting like good friends
Actual meaning: Having a conversation with someone, usually with a close friend.
Example: Lets meet at the caf� and have a good old chin wig.
7. Knackered
If someone is ‘knackered’ they are… Tired / Drunk / Tired or just spent / Exhausted beyond words
Actual meaning: Extremely tired or exhausted
Example: Im absolutely knackered after work today.
8. Collywobbles
If someone has the collywobbles they are& Feeling under the weather / Unsteady / Not feeling well
Actual meaning: Used to describe feeling anxious or nervous, sometimes to the point where it causes stomach pain.
Example: The thought of going to the dentist is giving me the collywobbles.
9. Minted
If someone is minted they are& Accepted / Good or perfect feeling / Older / Rich
Actual meaning: Used to describe someone who is very wealthy.
Example: Jeff Bezos must be absolutely minted.
10. Donkeys Years
If someone says ‘It’s been donkeys years they mean& A long time / Long time
Actual meaning: Its been a long time. Another phrase our volunteers guessed easily. The term is believed to be derived from rhyming slang for donkeys ears which are long and sound like years.
Example: Its been donkeys years since I last saw you.
11. Yonks
If someone says ‘It’s been yonks they mean& A long time / They have lost their mind / Bonkers, crazy / Sounds similar to Yank – so maybe doing something that they perceive as a dumb American thing
Actual meaning: Its been a long time. Believed to be a shortening of Donkeys years.
Example: Its been yonks since I saw that film.
12. Doddle
If something is a doddle is it& Someone who takes their time / Wasting time
Actual meaning: An activity that is quick and easy.
Example: Painting the shed will be a doddle.
13. Dog’s dinner
If something is the dogs dinner it is& Horrible / Diner-like (like American “Waffle Houses”) / Terrible food
Actual meaning: An action that has been poorly performed with messy results. Also referred to as ‘the dog’s breakfast.’
Example: Paul made a real dogs dinner of painting the shed.
14. Bairn
If someone is a bairn they are& Stubborn / A baby / Something to do with women, because women can be barren
Actual meaning: A child. Primarily heard in Scotland but also used in some areas of Northern England as well.
Example: Aw, look at the wee bairn, arent they adorable.
15. Codswallop
If something is codswallop it is& Finished / Silly, stupid, a joke / News that is hard to digest
Actual meaning: Used to describe something silly or nonsensical.
Example: That politician talks a load of codswallop.
16. Dropped a clanger
If someone has dropped a clanger they have& Told something big / Dropping some big news / Dropped a good song
Actual meaning: Made an embarrassing mistake. Thought to be derived from the sound of a dropped metal object. For example, a chef dropping a metal pan.
Example: Paul really dropped a clanger in the meeting last week.
17. Naff
If something is naff it is& Insignificant / Sweet / Bad
Actual meaning: Something that is tacky, lacking in taste or generally not very good.
Example: The new England football kit is a bit naff.
18. Wally
If someone is a wally they are& Unsure / Always lost – like Wheres Waldo / Dull
Actual meaning: A silly or inept person
Example: Pauls a real wally, isnt he?
19. Its Brass Monkeys Out
If someone says Its brass monkeys out theyre saying& Its a sunny day / Storming or hailing / A team is all in
Actual meaning: The weather is cold. Derived from a traditional phrase used in the Navy, its cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey,” referring to a brass structure where cannon balls would be stacked.
20. Hole in the Wall
If someone says theyre ‘going to the hole in the wall they are& Grabbing some food / Going to a dive bar – smaller, dumpy drinking establishment
Actual meaning: A name given to an ATM, specifically one built into the exterior wall of a bank or supermarket. This is a bit of an older term as youre more likely to hear people say cash machine now.
Example: Wait there, I just need to get some money from the hole in the wall.
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Wed like to thank Michelle Mintz – founder and CEO of Baby Blooming Moments, Jessica Plonchak – executive clinical director at ChoicePoint, and PR strategist Stacey Dillon and the team at PRP Group for taking part and offering up their guesses.
