You may think you know English, but do you know British English? English in the United Kingdom can sound like a completely different language from the English spoken in the United States. Accent aside, the colorful idioms and unique slang can be hard to decipher at first. But, once you do, you’ll be absolutely charmed and ready to give it a go yourself.
Scroll through these 10 slang terms that will have you sounding like a Brit the next time you travel across the pond.
Budge Up
Public transportation is a big deal in the U.K., especially in the cities. From The Tube to double-decker buses, black cabs to Ubers, you can find a ride anywhere you need to go. But it can also get a bit crowded at peak times. Don’t take up more space than you need. Otherwise a fellow passenger may growl at you to "budge up."
Bagsy
If a friend picks you up and you want the front seat, call "bagsy." It’s the British equivalent for "dibs" or "shotgun." It's also excellent to use when you want the last crumpet with jam. Calling "bagsy" on something is taken seriously — use it with total confidence.
Twee
A quaint little word to accurately describe something . . . quaint and little. In the U.K., you’re likely to see many things that are "twee." Houses, shops, lanes, cakes — all so twee. Even the word "twee" is, well, twee.
Chuffed
The first time you hear someone is chuffed you may need some context to determine if this is a good thing or bad. "Chuffed" is actually slang for pleased, with a slightly surprised connotation. As in, “She was chuffed to see a choice between strawberry or blackberry jam.” In other words, that person is actually quite happy with their discovery.
Tory
A Tory is a member of the conservative political party. If you’re discussing British politics or Brexit with young, liberal people, they may roll their eyes as they describe someone, typically posh, as a Tory.
Gutted
The opposite of "chuffed," "gutted" means feeling quite upset. Brits could be gutted over their favorite football team losing, or someone calling bagsy on the last delicious crumpet. Or Brexit. Or someone not budging up on the bus. Whatever it is, it’s devastating.
Knackered
After all your touring, you’ll likely to feel exhausted. When you have to turn down a night at the pub with your new British friends, tell them you’re too knackered from exploring. That will fully explain how tired you really are.
Cheesed off
A stronger emotion than gutted, "cheesed off" implies red-hot anger. Hopefully when you’re on vacation in Great Britain, there will be little to be cheesed off about. Even if the weather is not cooperating with your tour plans, embrace it. The Brits do.
Kip
Still knackered from visiting Stonehenge in the rain? You’ll want to get some sleep, or kip, so you can hit Buckingham Palace and the British Museum tomorrow. "Kip" is also a verb, as in, “Don’t bother Bert while he’s kipping.”
Legless
The British have many, many words for getting drunk, and "legless" is one. The term refers to the feeling of walking home after having a few too many pints. Those legs just don’t work as well when you’ve been having a good time getting overserved.