Richard Smith's
Compendium of Britishisms
General British Phrases
Phrase Meaning
------ -------
99 a popular style of ice cream, usually
ordered with a 'flake'
'A' levels exams taken at age 18
abso-bloody-lutely a more definite form of 'absolutely'
afters dessert
aggro trouble; violence
all broke up on holiday, usually from school
all of a twitter very nervous or apprehensive
aluminium aluminum
arse bottom, or ass
arse bandit a homosexual
arse over tit to fall head over heels
arse about playing around, being silly
e.g. "stop arsing about!"
artic an articulated lorry; a bick truck
Aussie an Australian
backhander a bribe
bag an unattractive or elderly woman
balderdash rubbish; nonsense
balls-up a mess; a confusion
banger (1) an old car; (2) a sausage
barking mad crazy
batty dotty; crazy
beak magistrate
beehive a tall hairstyle
bees knees something really good
beetle crusher a boot; a foot
behind bottom; buttocks
berk a stupid person
e.g. "you silly berk"
bevvy a drink
bit of fluff a pretty young single woman
bill, the police, sometimes called "the old bill"
binge a drinking bout
bin liner garbage bag
bin men garbage collectors
bint a rough girl
biro a ballpoint pen
bit of alright something highly satisfactory
black maria a police van
black pudding a sausage like food made from
- pigs blood
- oats
- fat
black sheep of the family a relative who gets into trouble with the
police
blag a robbery; to rob
blagger a robber
Blighty England
blimey ! an expression of surprise
blob a contraceptive
blotto drunk
blower telephone
e.g. "there's somebody on the blower for you"
blow your own trumpet to brag; to boast
blubber to cry
bobby dazzler a remarkable person or thing
bog a toilet, a washroom
bollock naked stark naked
bollocks testicles
bonce head
bonk to copulate
bonnet hood of a car
bookie betting shop owner
boot trunk of a car
boracic penniless
bosch a derogative term for germans
bovver trouble
bovver boot a heavy boot, possibly with a toe cap and laces
quite often worn by skinheads
bovver boy a hooligan; a troublemaker
brass monkey weather cold, taken from the phrase, "it's cold enough
to freeze the balls off a brass monkey"
breakdown van a tow truck
brickie a bricklayer
brill ! short form of brilliant, meaning fantastic
brolly an umbrella
browned off bored; fed up
Brummy a native of Birmingham
bubble and squeak fried cabbage and potatoes
bubbly champagne
bugger all nothing; very little
bumf toilet paper
this led to 'bumf' being used for superfluous
papers, letters etc.
bumming a fag requesting a cigarette
e.g. "Can I bum a fag from you mate ?"
Note: This has a VERY different meaning
in the U.S.
bunch of fives a fist
"button it !" "be quiet !"
caff a cafe
cake hole a person's mouth
cardy abbreviation of cardigan
champers champagne
char tea; a domestic worker
cheeky monkey a rude person
cheesed off bored; fed up
chin chin a drinking toast
chippy a fish and chip shop; a carpenter
chokey prison
chuffed very pleased or proud
clapped out worn out, broken
clappers to go very fast; to work hard
e.g. That car goes like the clappers !
e.g. I have to work like the clappers
to finish it by lunchtime !
clickety click 66 in bingo calling
clink prison
clinker somebody who is outstanding
clobber clothing
clodhopper a clumsy person
clogger a soccer player who tackles heavily
clot a fool
cloth-ears a person with a poor sense of hearing
cobblers testicles; rubbish
cock and bull a story with very little truth in it
cock up to ruin something
e.g. "it was a real cock-up"
e.g. "haved you cocked it up ?"
coffin nail a cigarette
conk nose
conkers a childrens game played with horse chestnuts
copper police man/woman
cough up to pay
crackers crazy
cracking great; fantastic
crackling a woman who is regarded as a sexual object
crate an old name for a very old plane
create to make a fuss or an angry scene
crown jewels male genitalia
crumbly an old or senile person
crumpet a desirable woman
dabs fingerprints
daft stupid
dark horse somebody who suprises others by their actions
des res Estate agents use this to describe a
"desirable residence"
dial face
dickie bow a bow tie
diddicoy a gipsy
dip a pickpocket
dishy good looking
do a runner to leave quickly avoiding punishment
doddle easy
dog's bollocks something really good
dog's breakfast a mess
donkey's breakfast a straw hat
doodah to be in a state of excitement
e.g. "He was all in a doodah !"
doolally scatter-brained; crazy
doorstep a thick sandwich
dosh money
doss house a cheap lodging house
dosser a tramp
do the dirty on to play a mean trick on
dough money
droopy drawers an untidy or sloppy person
drop a sprog have a baby
drum a house or flat
duffer a stupid person
dummy a baby's pacifier
earful to get a shouting
e.g. "My mum gave me a right earful !"
easy-peasy something very simple
earner a lucrative job or task
elevenses morning tea break
extracting the urine see "taking the piss"
fab fabulous; wonderful
face-ache a miserable looking person
fag cigarette
fag-end a cigarette butt
fairy a homosexual man
family jewels male genitalia
fanny female genitalia
fence a receiver of stolen goods
filth, the police
fishy about the gills looking the worse for drink
fizzog face
flake a stick that is made up of flaky
pieces of chocolate
flicks, the the cinema
flog to sell
footy football; soccer
fuzz, the police
gamboll a somersault done on the ground
gamp an umbrella
gentleman's gentleman a valet
Geordie a native of Newcastle
gift of the gab being very free with speech
git an insult
e.g. "You stupid git !"
give it a whirl try it out
give someone the pip to get on someone's nerves
gob mouth
gobsmacked speechless
goes like stink very fast
good nick very good condition
gooseberry a fifth wheel
goosegog a gooseberry
go to the dogs to go to ruin
grass, grasser an informant
hang about wait a moment
hell for leather very fast
hols holidays
home and dry to be safe
hush silence
inexpressibles trousers
in good fettle in good health
in the altogether nude
in the know to have inside information
in the noddy nude
jam packed very full
jar a drink, usually a pint of beer
jelly jello
jerry a chamber pot
jerry builder a builder of unsubstantial houses
Jock a scottish person
Jonah a bringer of bad luck
jumped up to be conceited
jumper sweater
keep you hair on please calm down
kick the bucket to die
kissed the Blarney Stone a person who tells tall stories
knackered tired, worn out
derived from horses being taken to the
'knackers yard'
knockers breasts
leg it ! quick lets run !
legless drunk
like a rat out of a very fast
drainpipe
load of bollocks you're talking crap
utter nonesense
loo a toilet; a washroom
Liverpudlian a native of Liverpool (also see Scouser)
lorry a truck
man in blue a policeman
marmite a spread for sandwiches
me old cock my old friend
meat and two veg. male genitalia
mind your P's and Q's to be careful; to be polite
moggy cat
mom`s the word it's a secret between you and me
can be abbreviated to "Keep mom !"
money for jam an easy job
money for old rope an easy job
mother's ruin gin
mucker mate, friend
mucky pup someone who has soiled themselves
e.g. "You mucky pup !"
mug face
mutton chops side whiskers
nancy boy an effeminate male
nark a police informer
nightie a nightdress
nick prison; to steal
e.g "Hey, my bike's been nicked !"
nick, the prison
nincompoop a fool
nipper a young or small child
nippy (1) fast, or (2) cold
e.g. (1) "that car is nippy !"
e.g. (2) "it's nippy out today"
nix nothing
none too easy very difficult
e.g. "that exam was none too easy !"
nosey parker somebody who is nosey
not bad very good
not so hot not very good, awful
old man father
old girl mother
old lady mother
one in the oven pregnant, also "a bun in the oven",
"up the plum duff" and "in the pudding club"
on spec on chance
on the nod on credit
on the razzle dressed up and looking for sex
on the tap looking for sex
on your bike! go away!
out for a duck obtained a zero score
Paddy an Irishman
paralitic to be drunk
pavement sidewalk
pictures, the the cinema
pick-me-up a tonic
pie eyed to be drunk
pigs, the police
pigs breakfast a mess
pigs ear a mess
pig in muck somebody in their element
e.g. "he is as happy as a pig in muck"
pillock an insult
pinny apron
pissed drunk
pissed off to be annoyed
e.g. "I was pissed off !"
e.g. "He really pissed me off !"
The US replace "pissed off" with "pissed" alone.
piss head somebody who is drunk quite often
plastered drunk
e.g. "He's plastered !"
play hookey to play truant
plimpsolls childrens non-laced sneakers
plod police man/woman
plonk cheap wine
e.g. "This plonk's not bad !"
plonker (1) penis, (2) fool
e.g. "you silly plonker !"
plus fours trousers
ponce a homosexual
pong a bad smell
pooh pooh to reject an idea
e.g. "He pooh pooh'd my idea !"
pools, the a weekly betting game based on the outcome
of soccer matches; run by Vernons and
Littlewoods (and possibly others)
pratt an insult
e.g. "you stupid pratt !"
preggers pregnant
pudding dessert
pull a bird meet a woman; pick up a girl
quite often shortened to 'pull'
e.g. "Did you pull ?"
pull a fast one to fool or swindle somebody
pull a pint hand pump beer into a glass
pull a stroke to outsmart
pull the other one I don't believe you
short form of "pull the other one, it has
bells on"
pull your pud to masterbate
pumps running shoes
punter a customer
purse a ladies wallet
put a sock in it to be quiet
put the anchors on to apply the brakes; to slow down
put the boot in to beat somebody up
put the kibosh on to put a stop to something
put the wind up to scare
Queer Street where you are if you don't have
any money
quiff a fancy hairstyle
randy horny
rave up a good party
readies cash
ropey flaky or dodgey
rozzer policeman
rug a wig; a toupee
rubbed the wrong way to upset somebody
salt a sailor
same to you with brass usually said in response to a derogatory
knobs on !! remark
sarnie a sandwich
scab a strike breaker
scallywag a mischevious person
scarper to run away fast, possibly avoiding
punishment
Scouser a native of Liverpool (see also Liverpudlian)
scrap a fight
scrubber a cheap or loose woman
shag to copulate
shake a leg to get a move on
shall I be mother ? shall I pour the tea ?
sheckels money
silly arse a foolish person
skivvy a domestic servant
slash to urinate
e.g. "I'm going for a slash."
smalls underwear
smart alec a clever person
snifter a drink of spirit
snog to kiss
snuff it to die
sod derogatory remark, derived from sodomy
soldiers bread cut into thin strips for dipping into
a boiled egg
so stick that in your usually said after a derogatory remark
pipe and smoke it !
sozzled drunk
spam a rather tasteless form of tinned meat
spanner a wrench
sparky an electrician
splice the main-brace to drink
spread a good meal; a feast
sprog a young child or baby, could also
mean illegitimate
spud a potato
squiffed drunk
stewed drunk
strides trousers, pants
subway an underpass
a pedestrian walkway beneath a road
swag stolen money; a thief's plunder
swing the lead a malingerer
swizz a swindle or cheat
swot somebody who studies
ta thankyou
Taffy a Welshman
ta muchly thankyou very much
Tandy Radio Shack
take French leave to leave without permission
taking the piss making fun of
tea leaf thief
terminus the end of the bus route
the smoke London
three sheets in the wind drunk
Tic Tac Man a bookmakers signaller
ticker the heart
tights pantyhose
"Time gentlemen please !" Usually said as the pub is closing,
so as to request that the patrons
finish their drinks.
tip a mess
e.g. "Your room is a tip !"
toff a posh person
tomato sauce ketchup
Tommy Rot nonsense
top sad extremely bad
torch flashlight
tosser see wanker
toss pot one who drinks too much
trainers running shoes
trollop not a nice girl
trousers pants
tube London Underground
tuck in schools it means cake, crisps,
sweets etc.
turf accountant betting shop owner
turn-ups trouser cuffs
turps turpentine
under the weather ill; sick
unmentionables underwear
vest a man's undershirt
wag a joker
wagging it to play truant
wallflower a woman who does not dance
wanger penis
wanker infers that the subject masturbates
weed a weak person
welly wanging the art of throwing wellington boots
white elephant a valuable, but useless article
willies, the nerves
willow a cricket bat
willy penis
wings fenders of a car
Winkle Pickers shoes with pointed toes
wireless a radio
wishy washy feeble; stupid
Regional Slang
In this section, I have attempted to record the phrases in such a way that when the
written word is spoken aloud, the regional accent can be emulated.
Brummy (Birmingham) Slang
Phrase Meaning
------ -------
aggen again
arffa bitta half a pint of bitter (beer)
e.g. "Oi'll 'ave arffa bitta please !"
ar kid younger brother
arntarff they are indeed
e.g. "they arntarff mad"
avya ? have you ?
e.g. "Avya gorra fag ?"
awroit that's okay, all right
may be used as a question to ask how
somebody is
ast past tense of "ask"
"I ast him, burree didn't know !"
bab, babby a baby
e.g "The bab's croin aggen !"
bluddyell an exclamation of surprise
e.g. "Bluddyell ! Whats that ?"
boozer a public house
e.g. "Oi'm gooin to tha boozer"
borrow me "lend me"
e.g. "Canya borrow me a fiver till Thursday ?"
Brumidgum Birmingham
buzz a bus
canya ? can you
carntya can you not ?
cop'old to grab hold of
e.g. "Cop'old of this will ya !"
come off it to show disbelief
cut canal
daint did not
daft as a box o'lights stupid
dinna a lunchtime meal
dun'arf don't half, meaning "to really do"
e.g. "'e dun'arf run fast !"
ee aa, eeyar here you are
'er the female subject of the conversation
'ers to belong to a female
forgerrit forget it
for us for me
e.g. "That munnee was ment for us !"
gardin the garden
garridge the garage, the place for parking cars
gerroff, gerrout get off, i don't believe you
gew to go, e.g. "Where yer gewin ?"
givvitear give it here, give it to me
gizzussit give it here, give it to me
gob mouth
e.g. "Shut yer gob !"
intit is it not ?
'im the male subject of the conversation
'is to belong to a male
me an all me as well, me also
moyn to belong to one's self
nunk nothing
oydernow i do not know
ooz izzit ? who does it belong to ?
owzzizz houses
punchyered to hit in the face
e.g. "Oi'll punchyered if ya doo'it aggen !"
rung incorrect
e.g. "Yow're rung !"
ten arff it really is
e.g. "Ten arff cold !"
terraa goodbye
watsmarra ? what is wrong ?
wha ? what ? pardon ?
wstyme ? what is the time ?
wuzup ? what is up ? what is wrong ?
yorn belonging to you, e.g. "It's yorn !"
yow you
Note:
A comedian from Birmingham called Jasper Carrot had a hit record
called "Funky Moped" that was sung entirely with a Brummy accent.
Cockney Rhyming Slang and London area Phrases
Note:
Quite often, Cockney rhyming slang may be shortened to to the first word.
This is to increase the deception factor.
Examples of the shortened form are given where possible.
Phrase Meaning
------ -------
abaht about
Adam and Eve to beleive
e.g. "I don't Adam and Eve it !!"
airs and graces braces; suspenders in the US
Alan Whicker's knickers, lady's underwear
Ally Pally a nickname for the Alexandra Palace
in Muswell Hill, North London
apple pie sky
apple pips lips
apples and pears stairs
April showers flowers
arf half
Artful Dodger a lodger
army and navy gravy
baked potatah see you later
bakewell tart fart
barnet fair hair
Derived from the annual horse fair in Barnet
North London.
Barney Rubble trouble
e.g. "are you in a bit of Barney ?"
bar of soap dope
battle cruiser boozer, pub
boat race face
e.g. "She's got a nice boat race!"
bottle and stopper copper, policeman
bottle of bear ear
Brahms and Liszt pissed, drunk
bricks and mortar daughter
bride and groom broom
bristols from "bristol city" meaning titties, breasts
brown bread dead
bubble and squeak a week
a greek person
butchers from "butchers hook" to look
e.g. "have a butchers at this !"
cain and abel a table
Captain Cook a book
cat and mouse a house
ceramics, ceramic tiles piles, heamorrhoids
chalfonts piles, heamorrhoids from "Chalfont St. Giles"
Charlie Prescot a waistcoat
china plate mate, friend
e.g. "hello me old china !"
cock sparrow a barrow
currant bun son
Daisy roots boots
dickie bird word
e.g. "he didn't say a dicky"
dickie dirt a shirt
dickory dock a clock
ding dong a song
dog and bone a telephone
e.g. "somebody's on the dog and bone for you"
Duke of Fife a knife
Duke of York a fork
eau de cologne a phone
elephant and castle stick it up your arsehole
elephant's trunk drunk
engineers and stokers Brokers
five-to two a jew
forsyte saga lager
frog and toad road
German band hand
Gertie Gitana banana
ginger beer queer, homosexual
gypsies kiss piss
half an Oxford Scholar half a dollar
half inch to pinch or steal
Hamstead Heath teeth
Harry Randle a candle
hey diddle diddle fiddle
hot potater a waiter
irish jig wig, hairpiece
Jack and Jill a Bill
Jack Jones on your own
e.g. "I'm on my Jack"
Jack Tar a sailor
Jack the Ripper a kipper
jam jar a car
Jimmy Riddle to piddle; to urinate
Jim Skinner dinner
Joanna a piano
Joe Blake steak
Joe soap a dope, stupid person
kettle a watch (if you "watch" a kettle, it doesn't
boil!)
King Lear ear
Lady Godiva a fiver; a five pound note
Lillian Gish fish
lilley and skinner dinner
loaf of bread head
e.g. "use your loaf !"
London fog a dog
Lord of the Manor a tanner; sixpence
Major Stevens "evens", a betting term
Marconi a pony = 25 pounds
marvlus marvellous
merchant banker a wanker
Michaels, Michael Miles piles, hemarroids
Mickey Mouse a house
minces, mince pies eyes
mortar and trowel a towel
mutt'n jeff deaf
Ned Kelly telly; television
Nelson Mandela Stella Artios, a type of beer
north and south mouth
oak and ash cash; money
Oliver Twist a fist
Oxo cube the tube; the London underground
railway
Peckham Rye a tie
pimple and blotch scotch, whiskey
plates, plates of meat feet
pony and trap crap
pork and cheese a portuguese person
pork pies, porkies lies
rabbit and pork to talk
rannit paw jaw, to talk too much
e.g. "She's got more rabbit than Sainsbury's"
raquel welch belch
rats and mice dice
raspberry tart a fart
rob dog a money grabber
rosey lea tea
Richard the Third a turd (I cringe when I hear that one !)
rubbadubdub pub, drinking establishment
Ruby Murray a curry
Ruby Murray was a singer in the 50's (??).
saucepan lid kid
sausage roll dole, unemployment benefit
Sexton Blake a cake
shell like ear
Sherman Tanks yanks; americans
skin and blister sister
sorted a transaction is completed, usually profitably
stewed prune a tune
Sweeney Todd a police group called the "flying squad"
tea leaf thief
thruppeny bits tits, breasts
tit for tat hat, short form = "tit'fer"
Todd Sloane on your own
e.g. "Are you on your Todd ?"
Tommy Tucker supper
tom tit "shit"
trouble and strife wife
turtle doves gloves
whistle and flute suit, gentelman's attire
woolly woofter a pufter, an effeminate person
zeig heils piles, heamorrhoids
Denominations of Money:
Name Amount
bob a shilling
grand 1000 pounds
monkey 500 pounds
pony 25 pounds
tanner a sixpence
tenner 10 pounds
tilbury a sixpence
Cornish Phrases
Phrase Meaning
------ -------
bloody emmet a tourist
cup't a cup of tea
like a pig in a poke not very good
proper job that's good
where's it too then ? where is it ?
Geordie Slang (Newcastle)
Phrase Meaning
------ -------
aalreet allright
aalreet pet i'm gannin okay darling, i am going
bairn baby
bait a packed lunch
berra better
borstin in need of the washroom
canny good, lucky
fatha father
gan to go
gan canny take it easy
hadaway mara i'm stowed you're joking friend, go away I'm busy
off
heed head
howay get off with you, you must be joking
mesel myself
mutha mother
neet night
netty outhouse, toilet
ney none, nothing
pet affectionat name for wife or darling
proppa proper
samidges sandwiches
spakka fantastic, great
spawny get a lucky person
way-ay ! but of course !
y'cannat you can not
y'divvent you do not
yee you
whorrama ganna dee ? what am i going to do ?
Note:
Watch "Spender" on Showcase Television for some "real" geordie
verbage !
Liverpool Area Phrases
Phrase Meaning
------ -------
all fur coat an no pretending to have more money
knickers than you have
takeout a packed lunch
Northern England (e.g. Manchester) Area Phrases and Slang
Phrase Meaning
------ -------
adams ale water
anyroad anyway, also "anyroad up"
argy-bargy argument
bap a barmcake
barmcake a soft white bun
barmpot a fool
barmy being daft
belt up ! be quiet !
bobbins rubbish
e.g. Manchester United played bobbins !
brass money
butty a sandwich, e.g. a "chip butty" made with
french fries
calf lick hair that does not lie flat at the front
of the head
cat lick see "calf lick"
cha tea
champion fantastic, great
chara a bus
chinwaggin gossiping
chuck friend or darling, e.g. "hello chuck"
chippy a fish and chip vendor
chucky egg a hen's egg
clap eyes on to see
clever clogs a person who answers a question in a clever
way
clock to see
cock friend, e.g. "hello cock"
codswallop nonesense, rubbish
conk nose
cuppa a cup of tea
dimp cigarrette butt
ding dong an argument
earwig to listen in
Eccles cake a round-currant filled pastry
'ecky thump ! an exclamation
fair do's fair enough
flaming nora an exclamation
flummoxed puzzled
ganzie a pullover
gawp to stare
gobslotch a greedy person
gooseberry to be the odd one out
gor blimey ! an exclamation, short for of "God blind
me ...", can sometimes be heard as
"cor blimey!"
Gordon Bennet ! an exclamation
graft work
gyp an expression of upset.
e.g. "my stomach is giving me gyp"
happen maybe
e.g. "Happen I will go this evening .."
harp to go on about something
heck as like no, to show disagreement
hey up a greeting
jack it in stop it, cease doing something
kalied drunk
kid term of endearment
e.g. "hello kid!"
lardy cake a heavy cake made similar to bread dough
let to have landed on
let the dog see the get out of the way
rabbit
lummock a clumsy or large person
mardy to be spoiled
midden a rubbish heap
mither to worry or go on about something
mutton dressed as lamb an older woman dressing in a young fashion
naff all nothing
not half absolutely, or completely
nowt nothing
parkin a cake made from oatmeal and treacle
pobs bread in milk
prom the promenade or boardwalk
put the mockers on to put a stop to something
runt a weak person
scran food
simnel cake a fruit cake
skint without money
slummock a dirty or unkempt person
snap a packed lunch
sneck to fasten or close
stick abuse
stingo good beer
sup up drink up, finish a drink
wacker a liverpudlian
wally a fool
wazzock a fool
wuzzock a fool
yonks a long time
Scottish Phrases and Slang
Phrase Meaning
------ -------
a' all
ablow below
aboot about
abune above
ach an expression of disgust
aff off
afore before
agley something that is not qite straight
ah I
ahint behind
ain own
aince once
Arabs Dundee United supporters
awa away
aye yes
baffies slippers
bairn a baby or young child
baith both
ballop a zip fly
banjo a single punch
Bankie someone from Clyde Bank
coggle something that is unsteady
gowk an April fool
hoy throw
Hun a Rangers supporter (derogative)
I cannae I cannot
I dinnae ken I do not know
left footer a Roman Catholic
lug an ear
micht might
nae no; not
ned a young hooligan or criminal
neebur a neighbour
peen a pin
piece sandwich
ra the (Glaswegian term)
roup an auction
tamashanta hat
Tartan Army supporters of Scotlands National
football team
tattie a potato
tattie-bogle a scarecrow
wee small
whit what
wi with
windae a window
Welsh Phrases and Slang
Before I start the list, I believe that this placename deserves mention:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
translation:
"Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid
whirlpool and the church of Saint Tysilio near a red cave."
Note:
(w) indicates that this is an actual 'Welsh' word.
Phrase Meaning
------ -------
atto laugh had to laugh, e.g. "I atto laugh"
atuaa that you are
awa uncle
banjo a loaf of bread
bard minded somebody who thinks bad of others
batch a loaf of bread
bished tired out
bonk a blow, a hit
boo nor bah nothing
buzz off go away
cera ! (w) get on with it
cochyn (w) someone with red hair
croeso (w) welcome
dal very little
done a bunk run away
done shee doesn't she
done wannoo I do not want to
dub toilet
gorsaf (w) station
fagged out tired
forrid forehead
gissit year give it here
gul girl
guts greedy
hawk carry
jest just
jibog a funny face
lay off stop doing it
loosed to have let go
never all there acting foolishly
niff a smell
not fussed not bothered
oo off who gave you that
reel bard very bad
rheilffordd (w) railway
tocyn (w) ticket
tren (w) train
urdy gurdy a circular, rotating clothes line
wine yoo sayen what are you saying ?
British Personalities
Peronality Bio
---------- ---
Abbot, Russ entertainer and comedian
Blair, Lionel dancer and TV personality
Cant, Brian childrens entertainer
Cooper, Tommy magician and TV personality, his famous
catch-phrase was "not like that...
like that !" (deceased)
Daniels, Paul magician and TV personality, his catch
phrase is "you will like this, not a lot,
but you'll like it"
Grayson, Larry personality and game show host with a
homosexual tint. (deceased) Famous catch
-phrases include:
- "shut that door"
- "look at this muck"
- "what a gay day"
Green, Hughie ex host of the game show "Opportunity
Knocks" (very much alive !)
La Rue, Danny very famous drag artist (artiste ?)
Monkhouse, Bob ex host of many game shows
O'Connor, Des entertainer, usually made fun of
Parsons, Nicholas ex host of the game show "Sale of the
Century"
Rogers, Ted ex host of the game show '321'
He is best remembered for his dextrous
ability in forming the numbers 3,2 and 1
quickly with his fingers.
Wogan, Terry ex BBC radio personality, now chat show host
Just for fun !!
Here is a list of television programmes that were fun to watch when I was
a little lad, along with a few memory joggers:
Aubrey
Bagpuss
- "but Emily loved him", the mice, professor Yaffle
Banana Splits
- the arabian knights "size of an elephant!"
- "what time is it ?"
- trendy beach buggies
Barnaby the Bear
- "Barnaby the bear's my name, never call me Jack or James.."
Blue Peter
- John Noakes, Valerie Singleton
- Sticky backed plastic
- "Get down Shep !"
Bod
- Aunt Flo
Boris the Bold
Camberwick Green
- Windy Miller, whistle for the wind
Champion the Wonder Horse
Crackerjack
- "It's Friday, it's five to five and it's time for
Crackerjack !"
Crystal Tips and Alistair
Double Deckers
Finger Bobs
Flashing Blade
Grange Hill
- Tucker Jenkins, her from Eastender's
Hammy Hamsters Tales of the River Bank
Hector's House
How
Ivor the Engine
- "sshh tickum, sshh tickum, sshh tickum etc. etc.etc."
Jackanory
Magpie
Marine Boy
- jet boots, oxy gum
Mary, Mungo and Midge
- the lift
Mister Men
- Mr Happy, Mr Sad, Mr Fat, Mr Small etc.
Monkey
- Tripitaka the girl who was a boy, Sandy, Pigsy
- "Elemental forces caused the egg to hatch, from the egg came
a stone monkey"
- flying on clouds, pulling hair from chest and casting spells
Mr Benn
- as if by magic ... the shopkeeper appears
Paddington Bear
- sandwiches, hats
Pipkins
- Hartley Hare, Topov the Monkey, some pig or other
Play Away
- Brian Cant
Pogles Wood
Rainbow
- Rod Jane and Freddy, Zippy, Bungle and George
- "Up above the streets and houses, rainbow flying high ..."
Sooty and Sweep
- Sue, Mr Corbett, Mathew Corbett
- "izzy whizzy let's get busy"
The Clangers
- the soup dragon
The Herbs
- Sage the owl, Dill the dog, Parsley the lion
The Moomins
- great intro music
Noah and Nellie
- the skylark
The Wombles
- Orinocho, Uncle Bulgaria, rubbish collection etc.
- "Underground overground wombling free, the wombles of
Wimbledon common are we"
Trumpton
- "Time flies by when your the driver of a train, when you
ride on the footplate, there and back again, under
bridges, over bridges, to our destination ..."
Vision On
White Horses
Why don't you
- "why don't you switch off your television set and go and do
something
The Magic Roundabout
- Dougal, Florence, Zebedee, Dylan, Brian
- "Time for bed!"