BRITISH SLANG

Slang are words that are not considered part of the standard vocabulary of a language and that are used very informally in speech especially by a particular group of people.
Here's a list of some common British slang expressions.

All of these words and phrases are defined in Anglotopia’s Dictionary of British English, which has over 1,000 words and phrases.

CHUFFED TO BITS – To be thrilled by something.
KNACKERED – Tired
CHEERS! – Thank you.
BRILLIANT! – Something wonderful or outstanding (an American would say Awesome!).
TICKETY BOO – Going smoothly, doing all right.
JOLLY GOOD – An expression used to describe happiness and joy
CHEERIO – Goodbye
RIGHTO – Yes or saying someone is right.
TALLY HO! – A military term often used to mean charge! Also used in hunting.
CREAM CRACKERED – To be very tired.
LOVELY JUBBLY – Excellent. As popularised by ‘Only Fools And Horses’
GOBSMACKED – When someone is left speechless after witnessing or being told something incredible.
BOB’S YOUR UNCLE – It’s a catch phrase dating back to 1887, when, in a blatant case of favoritism, British Prime Minister Robert Cecil (a.k.a. Lord Salisbury) decided to appoint his nephew Arthur Balfour to the prestigious and sensitive post of Chief Secretary for Ireland. So “Bob’s your uncle” is another way of saying “your success is guaranteed.”
SHIP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION – Everything is in order. Sorted.
GIVE YOU A BELL – Give you a call.
LOST THE PLOT – Gone mad – ceased to act rationally.
A BIT OF A KERFUFFLE – A spot of bother/trouble.
KNICKERS IN A TWIST – To get unnecessarily upset over a trivial matter.
THE BEE’S KNEES – Something that is excellent and of high quality.
KNOW YOUR ONIONS – To be knowledgable on a particular subject.
OFF TO BEDFORDSHIRE – To go to bed.
DUDE / GUY / BROTHER / BUDDY- Friend.
BIG SLEEP / END OF LINE - Die
CHICKEN - Coward
JUNKIE / POTHEAD - Drugaddict
DODGY - Risky, triky, hazardous.
SHAG - To have sexual intercourse.
SNOG - To kiss and cuddle
PISSED - Drunk, intoxicated
TAKING THE PISS - Laugh at someone, be mocked
BOLLOCKS - Testicles, rubbish, nonsense, vulgar.

JOBS & EMPLOYMENT (Vocabulary practice)

More vocabulary and practice related to jobs and employment.
Link to jobs & occupations vocabulary.

WHAT DO YOU DO? JOBS & OCCUPATIONS

Here's a post devoted to the vocabulary of jobs and different occupations.

What do you do? / What's your job?

I'm / (s)he's a...

Practice:

Where do each of them usually work in?
[office / plane / school / hospital / clinic / newspaper, TV channel / pub, restaurant / court / garage / classroom, school, university / building site / police station / bus, taxi / street / shop...]

What requirements are needed for each job? 

[working hours / physical strength / university degree / professional training / attractive appearance / good people skills / knowledge of languages...]

Which personality characteristics are needed?

[courageous / patient / calm / creative / adventurous / friendly / organized / outgoing...]

Link to the MAP OF GRADUATE CAREERS.


Video about JOBS:

CONFUSING WORDS: JOB vs WORK

JOB & WORK, two words easily confused, look at the chart above to spot the difference between them.

Link for difference between JOB, WORK, CAREER & EMPLOYMENT.

WHY DO BRITS & AMERICANS SPELL WORDS DIFFERENTLY?

Here's a video from Anglophenia which explains why Brits and Americans spell words differently. Take a look:

Video:

ZODIAC SIGNS: WHAT HOROSCOPES SAY ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY. DO YOU AGREE?

These are the personality descriptions which the zodiac signs have for each and everyone of us depending on the day we were born. Have a look and see if you agree with your own description...

AQUARIUS – Does It in the Water (January 20 to February 18)

Trustworthy. Attractive. Great kisser. One of a kind. Loves being in long-term relationships. Tries hard. Will take on any project. Proud of themselves in whatever they do. Messy and unorganized. Procrastinators. Great lovers, when they’re not sleeping. Extreme thinkers. Loves their pets usually more than their family. Can be VERY irritating to others when they try to explain or tell a story. Unpredictable. Will exceed your expectations. Not a fighter, but will knock your lights out.

PISCES – The Partner for Life (February 19 to March 20)

Caring and kind. Smart. Likes to be the center of attention. Very organized. High appeal to opposite sex. Likes to have the last word. Good to find, but hard to keep. Passionate, wonderful lovers. Fun to be around. Too trusting at times and gets hurt easily. VERY caring. They always try to do the right thing and sometimes get the short end of the stick. They sometimes get used by others and get hurt because of their trusting. Extremely weird but in a good way. Good sense of humor!! Thoughtful. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet. Good friend to others but needs to be choosy on who they allow their friends to be.

ARIES – The Aggressive (March 21 to April 19)

Outgoing. Lovable. Spontaneous. Not one to mess with. Funny… Excellent kisser. EXTREMELY adorable. Loves relationships, and family is very important to an Aries. Aries are known for being generous and giving. Addictive. Loud. Always has the need to be ‘Right’. Aries will argue to prove their point for hours and hours. Aries are some of the most wonderful people in the world.

TAURUS – The Tramp (April 20 to May 20)

Aggressive. Loves being in long relationships. Likes to give a good fight. Fight for what they want. Can be annoying at times, but for the love of attention. Extremely outgoing. Loves to help people in times of need. Good kisser. Good personality. Stubborn. A caring person. They can be self-centered and if they want something they will do anything to get it. They love to sleep and can be lazy. One of a kind. Not one to mess with. Are the most attractive people on earth!

GEMINI – The Twin (May 21 to June 20)

Nice. Love is one of a kind. Great listeners. Very good at confusing people. Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you out. Geminis will not take any crap from anyone. Geminis like to tell people what they should do and get offended easily. They are great at losing things and are forgetful. Geminis can be very sarcastic and childish at times and are very nosy. Trustworthy. Always happy. VERY Loud. Talkative. Outgoing. VERY FORGIVING. Loves to make out. Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. THE MOST IRRESISTIBLE.

CANCER – The Beauty (June 21 to July 22)

MOST AMAZING KISSER. Very high appeal. A Cancer’s love is one of a kind… Very romantic. Most caring person you will ever meet in your life. Entirely creative person, most are artists and insane, respectfully speaking. They perfected sex and do it often. Extremely random. An ultimate freak. Extremely funny and is usually the life of the party. Most Cancers will take you under their wing and into their hearts where you will remain forever. Cancers make love with a passion beyond compare. Spontaneous. Not a fighter, but will kick your ass good if it comes down to it. Someone you should hold on to!

LEO – The Lion (July 23 to August 22)

Great talker. Attractive and passionate. Laid back. Usually happy but when unhappy tend to be grouchy and childish. A Leo’s problem becomes everyone’s problem. Most Leos are very predictable and tend to be monotonous. Knows how to have fun. Is really good at almost anything. Great kisser. Very predictable. Outgoing. Down to earth. Addictive. Attractive. Loud. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Not one to mess with. Rare to find. Good when found.

VIRGO – The One that Waits (August 23 to September 22)

Dominant in relationships. Someone loves them right now. Always wants the last word. Caring. Smart. Loud. Loyal. Easy to talk to. Everything you ever wanted. Easy to please. A pushover. Loves to gamble and take chances. Needs to have the last say in everything. They think they know everything and usually do. Respectful to others but you will quickly lose their respect if you do something untrustworthy towards them and never regain respect. They do not forgive and never forget. The one and only.

LIBRA – The Lame One (September 23 to October 22)

Nice to everyone they meet. Their love is one of a kind. Silly, funny and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! However, not the kind of person you want to mess with… you might end up crying. Libras can cause as much havoc as they can prevent. Faithful friends to the end. Can hold a grudge for years. Libras are someone you want on your side. Usually great at sports and are extreme sports fanatics. Very creative. A hopeless romantic.

SCORPIO – The Addict (October 23 to November 21)

EXTREMELY adorable. Loves to joke. Very good sense of humor. Will try almost anything once. Loves to be pampered. Energetic. Predictable. GREAT kisser. Always get what they want. Attractive. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Loves to party but at times to the extreme. Loves the smell and feel of money and is good at making it but just as good at spending it! Very protective over loved ones. HARD workers. Can be a good friend but if is disrespected by a friend, the friendship will end. Romantic. Caring.

SAGITTARIUS – The Promiscuous One (November 22 to December 21)

Spontaneous. High appeal. Rare to find. Great when found. Loves being in long relationships. So much love to give. A loner most of the time. Loses patience easily and will not take crap. If in a bad mood stay FAR away. Gets offended easily and remembers the offense forever. Loves deeply but at times will not show it, feels it is a sign of weakness. Has many fears but will not show it. VERY private person. Defends loved ones with all their abilities. Can be childish often. Not one to mess with. Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone they meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in bed!!! Not the kind of person you want to mess with- you might end up crying.

CAPRICORN – The Passionate Lover (December 22 to January 19)

Love to bust. Nice. Sassy. Intelligent. Sexy. Grouchy at times and annoying to some. Lazy and love to take it easy, but when they find a job or something they like to do they put their all into it. Proud, understanding and sweet. Irresistible. Loves being in long relationships. Great talker. Always gets what he or she wants. Cool. Loves to win against other signs in sports, especially Gemini’s. Likes to cook but would rather go out

To eat at good restaurants. Extremely fun. Loves to joke. Smart.

DO YOU AGREE WITH WHAT YOUR ZODIAC SIGNS SAYS ABOUT YOU? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.

PERSONALITY DEPENDING ON BIRTH ORDER. ARE YOU TRUE TO THE TYPE?

Continuing with our posts on personality, here's one found on the net from Interesting-Facts.info. But we're including the main points below:

Are the birth order personality types true for you and the people you know? Are you a typical only child, firstborn or middle or youngest child? The theory that birth order affects personality has been around for centuries. It was first proposed by psychiatrist Alfred Adler (1870-1937), and some of it must be true... Here are the basic birth order personality types, according to Kevin Leman, PhD, author of The Birth Order Book: Why we are the way we are. Are they true for you?

THE FIRST-BORN CHILD

Firstborns are natural leaders. Taking the lead from their parents, they like taking charge and want everything to be just right. This may also mean they struggle to admit when they are wrong.

Typically reliable and conscientious, firstborns are often perfectionists who don’t like surprises. Although firstborns are usually aggressive and confident, many are also people pleasers with a strong need for approval from anyone in charge.

THE ONLY CHILD

According to Leman, only children are “Super Firstborns” or “firstborns in triplicate.” They share many of the same traits as firstborns and frequently shoulder parents’ high expectations. Thus, they tend to be even more responsible and even bigger perfectionists. They also tend to struggle more with criticism.

Only children are often confident, well spoken and tend to do well at school. They are also likely to use their imagination more than other children, and usually get along better with people older than themselves.

THE MIDDLE-BORN

Middle-born kids are the most difficult to pin down, because while they are guaranteed to be opposite of their older sibling, that difference can manifest in many ways. Middle kids will usually develop skills and interests different from those shared by the family, and prioritize friends and peer groups since they often feel they do not have a special place within the family.

Middle children often feel that they receive the least attention, which can make them insecure and secretive; however, it also makes them more independent, inventive and resourceful. They can usually read people well, and often act as mediators or peacemakers since their “middle” role allows them to see all sides of a situation.

THE LAST-BORN

The lastborn or “baby” of the family usually benefits most from the fact that by the time they come around, parents are more comfortable and experienced when it comes to the art of parenting.

Lastborns “shoulder less responsibility, so they tend to be more carefree, easygoing, fun-loving, affectionate and sociable, and they like to make people laugh,” says Leman.

He adds, however, that while lastborns may be charming, they have the potential to be manipulative, spoiled or babied to the point of helplessness. They are also the most financially irresponsible and can turn rebellious, with an “I’ll show them!” attitude, as they tend to view their elder siblings as faster, stronger, bigger and smarter.

DO YOU AGREE WITH WHAT YOUR BIRTH ORDER SAYS ABOUT YOU? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.

YOUR PERSONALITY ACCORDING TO THE MONTH YOU WERE BORN

Take a look at what the month you were born in tells you about your personality. Do you agree?

JANUARY

Can be stubborn and hard-hearted at times. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses to let them know what they are. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very Stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY

Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislike unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH

Attractive personality. sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Can be very moody at times.

APRIL

Can be very active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY

Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE

Thinks far with great vision. Can be quite wishy-washy. Easily influenced by the kindness of others. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY

Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST

Loves to joke around. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride of oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and writing. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax when not having many tasks to finish. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER

Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER

Extreme visionary. Has very strong clairvoyance. Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Always a daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Sees and thinks in colors. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. People easily look up to them. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Feels sadness deeply. Easily influenced.

NOVEMBER

Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciates praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions.

DECEMBER

Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egoistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical thinker.

DO YOU AGREE WITH WHAT THE MONTH YOU WERE BORN SAYS ABOUT YOU? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.

GREAT FRONT PAGE ON TODAY'S "THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY": HERE'S THE NEWS, NOT THE PROPAGANDA

Last Friday another Western citizen (the fourth) was killed by the Islamic State. Alan Henning, a taxi driver father-of-two, who had travelled to Syria to deliver aid, was beheaded in a video on Friday. On Saturday, many newspapers chose old images from him, rather than the ones from the video, in the orange jumpsuit, waiting to be killed. But today, "The Independent On Sunday" has nailed it with the front page we show. No publicity for the terrorists.

ADVERBS

Post devoted to articles: what they refer to and how they can be formed from adjectives.