Sparkles and Shoes

A Fashion, Travel, and Lifestyle Blog

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
  • My Style
    • Spring Style
    • Summer Style
    • Fall Style
    • Winter Style
  • Fashion
    • Really Love My …
    • Shop My Instagram
    • Style Icons
    • Trending
  • Travel
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Southern Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Qatar
      • Singapore
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Cyprus
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • England
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Scotland
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Vatican City
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Central America
      • St Lucia
      • US: East Coast
      • US: West Coast
    • South America
  • Favorites
    • Beauty
    • Delicious Eats
    • London
    • Sparkle Sessions
  • wedding
    • Engagement Story
    • Planning My Day
    • Wedding Inspo

Learning to Speak British, Volume II

11/13/19 | England, Expat Life, London

Pods of the London Eye

Living in England comes with an entirely different set of customs (the Brits love to queue), business decorum (it is rude if you do not start a meeting  with at least five minutes of “chat”), and a whole host of new phrases.   After two months of living in London I did a round up of the terms I picked up and since that post in June 2018 I have shared some of the fun words I have picked up on Instagram but it felt like I was due for a new list.  This latest is full of words and phrases that mainly have come up in conversations like, “are you feeling any better?” and someone responds with “still a bit ropey 😢”.  The meaning is inferred but still, odd.  And without further ado, my list of new British vocabulary and the “Amreican” translation: 

Bulldog Clip – Binder Clip

Canoodling – Making Out

Chockablock – Very Full / Busy

Fancy Dress – Costumes (think Halloween)

Gaffa tape – Duct Tape

Grotty – Dirty / Unpleasant / Unwell 

Hundreds and Thousands – Sprinkles

Juggernaut – 18-Wheeler

Lose Sight of the Wood for the Trees – Too Involved in the Details 

Manky – Grubby

Naughts and Crosses – Tic-Tac-Toe

Paracetamol – Tylenol

Pinch – Steal / Borrow 

Poorly – Sick 

Reverse Charge – Collect Call 

Ropey – Ill/ Unwell

Snap – Go Fish

Sledging – Sledding

Polyfilla – Spackle

Spanner – Wrench 

Spud Me – Fist Bump 

Tippex – White Out 

In addition to all of these new phrases that I have learned I have also found there are a variety of words that I use that the Brits do not understand.  I am not talking about things like when I say “highway” and they know I mean “motorway”, I am saying direct blank stares of absolutely zero comprehension.  Sadly I have not written them all down but two of the biggest ones are Peeps (for Easter) and Poison Ivy – who knew?  And then there is the overabundance of American things we just call by their brand names even though we mean anything that will do that job; Bandaid, Kleenex, Tylonol, and Windex. I do not think I will ever stop picking up new phrases!

Which of these British vocabulary words did you not know? 

Signature

Subscribe

« Pattern Mixing, Done Right
My Best Fall 2019 Purchases »

Related Posts

  • Easter Egg Hunt in Chelsea LondonEaster Weekend in London, Part Two
  • Columbia Road Flower Market HydrangeasLondon’s Columbia Road Flower Market
  • Pink Food and Beverage OptionsThe Grand Opening of Eataly London
  • Kelly and Kitty at Tower BridgeSnapshots from a Sunny London Tourist Weekend

Comments

  1. Lucy says

    November 14, 2019 at 10:03 am

    There are so many fun new words you have learned – the sprinkles one is the weirdest!

  2. Tori says

    November 13, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    I am moving to London shortly and these are going to be really helpful. I also enjoyed your post with the first set interesting English words.

    This will save me a lot of embarrassment between making faux pause and not getting inside jokes.

  3. Lonnie says

    November 13, 2019 at 3:32 pm

    One would never know that you were speaking the same language.

    I would have to be constantly asking for the definitions.

  4. Fran says

    November 13, 2019 at 11:30 am

    There sure are a lot of funny ones. How do you keep them all straight?

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog.Ā  I am a New York City girl at heart but I moved to London in the Spring of 2018!

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

POPULAR POSTS

  • Black Long Sleeve Shirt with Cut Out ShouldersĀ and Houndstooth Trousers Explore
  • Lauren Kay Sims Everywhere Belt Bag The Everywhere Belt Bag
  • Manicure Ideas - Gradient Rainbow Mani 20 Ideas for Summer Nails
  • White Lace for Evening with Kate Spade and David Yurman Summer White Dresses Under $100
  • About

Susbscribe via E-mail

WHERE I SHOP

Amazon (US)

Amazon (UK)

Beauty Pie

NordstromĀ 

Sephora

Wayfair



Archives

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

Fine Print

Sparkles and Shoes is a part of several affiliate advertising programs. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or any related social media platforms (including Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest), I may make a commission from that click and/or purchase. All opinions are my own.

Ā© Kelly Donlin and Sparkles and Shoes, 2012-2022 Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kelly Donlin and Sparkles and Shoes with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Get the latest

Receive Sparkles and Shoes right to your inbox!

Connect with me

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 · Designed by High Note Designs, LLC

Copyright © 2022 Ā· Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework