Today's BWOTD is one your lovely old granny might use:
"Oh fiddle sticks, I made a total mess of that!"
'Fiddle Sticks' = substitute for any cuss/swear word
Basically if you don't like to cuss or are just too well mannered to do so, then you need to know this word if you ever visit the UK. Because everyone will understand that you are effectively cussing, even though you're not!
Today's BWOTD is one that originally came from the former British Colony of India:
"I thought it would be poor quality, but it was pukka!"
'Pukka' = good stuff/the genuine article
This is a word you heard more in the 1980-90's in the UK, it seems to have gone out of 'fashion' somewhat, but it's still popular in London.
It originates from the Hindi word 'pakka', meaning substantial.
Today's BWOTD is one that drives the average Brit' nuts in the summer!
"Oh wonderful (dripping sarcasm), another bloody caravan ahead!"
'Caravan' = trailer home/5th wheel kind of thing!
The main difference being it is smaller and light enough to be pulled behind the average family car. But in no way is it even slightly comparible to your versions and it is most definitely NOT an RV! Due to it's lightness of weight, they also have a much slower speed limit imposed upon them, as they are positively dangerous on windy days.
If you don't own one, then it's highly likely you dislike or despise them. Because on our winding, narrow Brit' roads, they can and do cause long delays behind them and are nigh on impossible to pass.
Whilst we're on this subject, we saw a new huge RV, towing an equally huge Hummer on Saturday. There we were craning our necks to see what kind of super human could afford that kind of gas/petrol bill combo'!?
Today's BWOTD came in to being because of a hugely popular Brit' TV show called 'Only Fools and Horses':
"Oh that's luvverly jubberley"
'Luvverley jubberley' = all is well/great
This was the catchphrase of a leading character in the show and within a few years it became a common phrase in daily use nationally.
Today's BWOTD is one I have heard for years:
"Not on your nelly"
'Not on your nelly' = not on your life/no way
It actually kind of continues my cockney theme, as it originally derives from the rhyming slang 'Nelly Duff' an invented name that means 'puff' or 'breath (of life)'.
Today's BWOTD is a common phrase in the UK and bemuses Americans!
"I am just going to spend a penny"
'Spend a penny' = have a pee!
We found out today that despite being married to a Brit' for many years pamokc did not know this one!
My mum once caused much confusion with some very good friends of ours here, when she told them she got up around 2am to spend a penny. They told us they had a whole conversation afterwards about what she could possibly 'spend a penny' on at 2am in the morning where we live! :-) They finally had to ask me as it was intriguing them so much.
This originates from when you had to pay a penny to use a public toilet in the UK, which I remember, so it must have gone on well into the 1970's.
Carrying on the BWOTD Cockney Rhyming Slang week, I thought I'd let you have a guess at this one:
"Mutt 'n Jeff" = ??
Today's BWOTD is some cockney rhyming slang to throw my many 'tea loving' readers out there:
"That boy has always been a right tea-leaf"
'Tea-leaf' = Thief
I am not 100% certain, but I actually think this phrase features in the script of the movie 'Oliver Twist' about one of the young pickpockets.
Today's BWOTD is a bit more cockney rhyming slang which means a new word as well! So today you get a twofer:
"I'm a bit Bernie Flint after all the home renovations"
'Bernie Flint' = Skint = Broke
'Skint' the word is a word used daily all over the UK and I had no idea you didn't know it until I asked the Hubster as I wrote this.
Today's BWOTD continues the cockney rhyming slang feature:
"She got herself into a right two 'n' eight about it"
'Two 'n' Eight' = State
This is one I use alot myself and has always really tickled me!
Today's BWOTD is actually going to start a little featurette just for this week of my favourite 'cockney' (London) rhyming slang phrases:
"He found himself a new trouble and strife"
'Trouble & Strife' = Wife!
I just know a few of my male readers are sniggering to themselves right now and thinking how right the Londoners got that! Don't worry ladies I'll come up with something for us to enjoy too ;-)
Today's BWOTD was in an email I got from a friend back home today and just instantly made me laugh out loud!
"I looked like a right numpty"
'Numpty' = Idiot
I haven't heard this one in awhile which is why I found it so funny. But it's such a cool Brit' word, even I am going to resurrect it - thanks Jo!
Today's BWOTD is open for gross mis-interpretation!
"Would you just leave it out"
"Leave it out" = "stop doing/saying that" or "you must be joking"
This is another real Londoner and the Home Counties phrase that I would hear on a daily basis and it often made me smile to hear it, or use it myself!
So if a Brit' ever says this to you, they are not asking you to leave anything out for them, they're basically telling you to "shut-up", "quit that" or "be serious" in a friendly/jokey manner.
Today's BWOTD is something I like to keep on hand:
"It's always good to have some readies on you"
"Can you let me have some readies?"
'Readies' = Cash
Now I have a full-time job, I am looking forward to having some more readies around my person every month!
Today's BWOTD is a popular phrase in London and the Home Counties especially:
"Oh that's sweet as a nut mate"
'Sweet as a nut' = nice, simple or no problem
In my experience London Cab drivers are particularly fond of using this line, but it's in daily use all over the place. So if anyone ever says this to you, they are not making any reference to eating or nuts!
Today's BWOTD is a fave' of mine:
"Oh it's all just very cushty"
"Everything is cushty now"
'Cushty' = Fine/Resolved/Pleasant
A very useful word meaning any of the above depending on the context it's used in. It's originally from the Hindustani 'khush' meaning 'pleasant' and goes back to the days of the British Empire.
Today's BWOTD totally got the Hubster!
"I am off to play the fruit machines"
'Fruit Machine' = Slot Machine
Not as the Hubster thought a 'dumbass' or fruitcake! LOL
I have no clue as to why we call them this, I would hazard a guess that it may be something to do with it paying out and so it can be 'fruitful'? But that's a guess!
Today's BWOTD is used alot to describe many things:
"She's looking a bit ropey since she married him"
"I'm feeling decidedly ropey today"
"I need to replace it, it's looking very ropey"
'Ropey' = not in as good a state as it could be
This is a bit of a slang term but you'll hear it regularly in everyday conversation back home. It can literally be used to describe any person, place or thing!
Today's BWOTD is a common saying back home:
"I always like to have a bolt-hole I can go to when I need to"
'Bolt-hole' = Sanctuary
Somewhere you like to go to when you need to escape from everyone and spend some quiet time on your own or with a someone special. This might be a room in your home, your church, a fave' cafe/bar 'where nobody knows your name', a vacation spot or if you're me - my hammock in the yard. It has nothing to do with holes in walls!
Todays BWOTD originates from our seafaring history:
"When they showed up, it totally scuppered our plans"
"The whole event was scuppered by bad weather"
Scuppered = obstruct something, throw a monkey wrench in
This term comes from our nations seafaring days, the scupper being a drain designed to allow water to flow overboard from the deck of a ship. To be “scuppered” is to be hit by a wave large enough to knock you into this drain. It is also derived from the obvious seafaring term, where “scuppering” something is to sink it.
