Saying no without saying no
You suggest an idea and hear "I'll have a think."
It may be a real pause, or a softer way of not committing. Flat refusals can feel rude, so look for whether a next step follows.
Try"Shall I check back next week?"
Phrase decoder
What you hear, and what it might mean
A British "no" isn't always direct. Canadians soften things too, but the wording is different. Open a phrase for its possible meaning, context and a useful reply.
What can I say back?
When you can't tell which meaning you're getting, a light follow-up usually clears it up.
- "Is that something we should plan around, or leave for now?"
- "What would you like me to change?"
- "When would be a sensible time to follow up?"
- "Shall we put a date in?"
- "Sorry, is that a British expression I haven't learned yet?"
Words worth knowing
British slang, decoded
Some are everyday staples; others are colourful classics. You don’t need to adopt them all—recognising them is enough.
Everyday expressions
Chuffed
Very pleased.
“I'm really chuffed I got the job.”
Informal; usually positive.
Gutted
Very disappointed.
“I'm gutted we missed the concert.”
Informal; stronger than mildly disappointed.
A bit of a faff
Something fiddly or inconvenient.
“Changing trains three times is a bit of a faff.”
Informal; useful for everyday frustrations.
Taking the mickey / taking the piss
Teasing someone; the second can also mean behaving unreasonably.
“£15 for that? They're taking the piss.”
Taking the piss is vulgar; taking the mickey is milder.
Are you having a laugh?
Are you joking—or asking something unreasonable?
“You want it finished today? Are you having a laugh?”
Can sound confrontational; tone matters.
Knackered
Exhausted; also worn out or broken.
“I'm knackered after that journey.”
Very informal; avoid in formal writing.
That's a bit steep
That costs more than seems reasonable.
“£8 for a coffee? That's a bit steep.”
An understated objection to the price.
On the off chance
Trying despite uncertain or unlikely success.
“I called on the off chance you had a table.”
Useful in polite requests.
Swings and roundabouts
Advantages and disadvantages roughly balance out.
“The rent is lower, but the commute costs more—swings and roundabouts.”
Informal; weighing up a trade-off.
Horses for courses
Different choices suit different people or situations.
“Some prefer central London; others want more space. Horses for courses.”
Not a criticism of either choice.
Put the kettle on
Make tea; often also an invitation to pause or talk.
“Come in. I'll put the kettle on.”
The offer can be as much about company as tea.
Skint
Short of money; broke.
“I'm skint until payday.”
Informal.
Sorted
Arranged, dealt with or ready.
“Tickets booked? Yes, all sorted.”
Often a reassuring one-word reply.
Peckish
A little hungry.
“I'm feeling peckish. Fancy a sandwich?”
Casual and mild.
Gobsmacked
Very surprised or astonished.
“I was gobsmacked when they offered me the job.”
Informal; stronger than surprised.
Dodgy
Suspicious, unreliable or not working properly.
“That socket looks a bit dodgy.”
Can describe people, situations or things.
Cheeky
Playfully bold or mildly impertinent; sometimes a small indulgence.
“Fancy a cheeky pint after work?”
Can be affectionate or critical. A cheeky pint need not be unplanned.
Crack on
Get started or keep going.
“Right, let's crack on.”
Informal and purposeful.
Quid / fiver / tenner
A pound / five pounds / ten pounds.
“It cost twenty quid; I've only got a tenner.”
Quid stays the same in the plural.
Chinwag
A friendly chat.
“Come round for a chinwag.”
Playful; can sound old-fashioned.
Throw a sickie
Take a sick day when you aren't actually ill.
“He joked about throwing a sickie.”
Informal; implies dishonesty, not a genuine illness.
Colourful classics
Keep a stiff upper lip
Stay composed through difficulty without showing distress.
“They expected him to keep a stiff upper lip.”
An older ideal of emotional restraint, not advice that you must hide your feelings.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Don't criticise something you've received for free.
“The sofa isn't my favourite colour, but don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Shared beyond Britain; you may already know it.
Blimey! / Cor blimey!
An exclamation of surprise, like good grief.
“Blimey, that was quick!”
Colourful; cor blimey can sound old-fashioned or theatrical.
Bob's your uncle
And there you have it—it's done.
“Turn the key, press start, and Bob's your uncle.”
Playful; often follows simple instructions.
Mustn't grumble
Things could be better, but I'm getting on with it.
“How are things? Oh, mustn't grumble.”
Often gently humorous or understated.
Spend a penny
Go to the toilet.
“Just going to spend a penny.”
A polite, old-fashioned expression.
A load of old pony
A load of nonsense or rubbish.
“He says the train is always on time. What a load of old pony.”
Cockney: pony and trap → crap. Informal and dismissive; see the Cockney section.
It's all gone pear-shaped
Things have gone wrong.
“The booking vanished and it all went pear-shaped.”
Informal; often used with rueful humour.
That takes the biscuit
That is the most outrageous or unreasonable example yet.
“Charging extra for a seat takes the biscuit.”
Usually expresses annoyance.
Sod's law
The irritating thing happens at the worst time.
“The day I forget my umbrella, it pours. Sod's law.”
Mildly rude; similar to Murphy's law.
Tickety-boo
Fine; all in order.
“Everything's tickety-boo.”
Old-fashioned and usually playful.
Throw a wobbly
Have an angry or emotional outburst.
“He threw a wobbly over the seating plan.”
Dismissive; avoid using it to belittle someone's distress.
Barking mad
Wildly irrational or absurd.
“You'd be barking mad to try walking that far tonight.”
Informal; can be insulting when aimed at a person.
Not my cup of tea
Not something I enjoy or prefer.
“Clubbing isn't really my cup of tea.”
A gentle way to express a preference.
Same language, different meaning
A few words that can send a conversation in an unexpected direction.
Pants
Usually underwear in Britain; trousers is the clearer word for outer clothing.
“That's pants.”
As a judgement, this also means something is rubbish. Usage varies by region.
Pissed / pissed off
Pissed usually means drunk in Britain; pissed off means annoyed.
“He was pissed after the party.”
Both are informal and can be rude.
A rubber
Usually an eraser in Britain.
“Could I borrow a rubber?”
The North American condom meaning can cause confusion.
Fanny / fanny pack
Fanny is a vulgar term for female genitals in Britain, rather than a bottom.
“Where can I buy a bum bag?”
Bum bag is the familiar British term for a fanny pack.
Quite
Its strength changes with the phrase, emphasis and context.
“It's quite good. / You're quite right.”
Quite good can mean fairly good; quite right can mean completely right. Don't treat it as a fixed code.
Public school
A particular group of fee-paying independent schools.
“She went to a public school.”
Not the British term for all private schools. A publicly funded school is usually called a state school.
Suspenders / braces
Suspenders hold up stockings; braces hold up trousers.
“I need braces for these trousers.”
A useful clothing-shop distinction.
Pudding
Often the dessert course, not just a specific creamy dessert.
“What's for pudding?”
Can also name a particular dish, including savoury ones such as Yorkshire pudding.
Tea
The drink—or an evening meal in many households and regions.
“What time's tea?”
Ask whether someone means a drink or a meal; usage varies.
First floor
Usually one level above the ground floor.
“Reception is on the ground floor; we're on the first.”
Check the lift buttons rather than assuming Canadian floor numbering.
Mad
Can mean irrational, angry or very enthusiastic.
“She's mad about football.”
The surrounding words matter; it doesn't always mean angry.
Use with care: adult slang and offensive meanings
These are useful to recognise, especially where Canadian and British meanings differ.
Fag
Can mean a cigarette in British conversation: “Nipping out for a fag.” It is also an offensive anti-gay slur. Recognise the cigarette meaning in context; don't use it to refer to a person.
Shag
Vulgar slang for sex, used as a noun or verb. “Shag carpet” is still a normal description of a carpet.
Knock up
Can mean prepare something quickly (“knock up a meal”), practise before tennis, or—in older usage—wake someone by knocking. The pregnancy meaning is also understood in Britain, so context matters.
Cottaging
British slang for seeking sexual encounters in public toilets, traditionally between men. For the Canadian holiday meaning, “going to the cottage” or “a weekend at the lake” is clear. Going to the cottage is perfectly normal wording.
Dogging
British slang for sexual activity in public or secluded outdoor places, often with others watching. If you mean exercising your dog, say “walking the dog”.
Talking money
A score, a pony or a monkey?
You may hear these instead of a price in pounds. Quid, fiver and tenner are everyday staples; score, pony and monkey have more of a traditional slang flavour.
A quid · £1
“It cost twenty quid.”
Everyday slang. The plural is still quid.
A fiver · £5
“Can you lend me a fiver?”
Usually means five pounds, often a £5 note.
A tenner · £10
“I'll give you a tenner for it.”
Everyday informal language.
A score · £20
“The ticket cost me a score.”
Traditional slang; score also means twenty outside money contexts.
A pony · £25
“He wanted a pony for the old chair.”
Traditional money slang. Separate from pony and trap meaning crap.
A ton · £100
“That repair cost a ton.”
In money slang, £100. Elsewhere a ton can simply mean a lot.
A monkey · £500
“He paid a monkey for that bike.”
Traditional slang; not everyone will use or recognise it.
A grand · £1,000
“The deposit was two grand.”
Widely understood; the plural is grand.
A couple of quid · About £2, or loosely a small amount.
“It only costs a couple of quid.”
Ask for the exact amount when it matters.
“Just give us a drink”
Sometimes means money as a thank-you for a favour or small job—not a literal drink. You may hear it from a tradesperson, but it isn't specific to builders.
“Don't worry about an invoice—just give us a drink.”
The awkward part: it leaves the amount unstated. It could mean a tip, a token payment or what they expect for the work. There's no standard figure.
What can I say back? “Happy to pay—how much do you mean, and is that the full amount for the job?”
For planned work, agree the price and what's included before it starts. You shouldn't have to guess what someone expects.
“A monkey? As in five hundred quid?”
Exactly the right question if you're unsure. Slang can vary by context—confirm the amount before agreeing to pay.
Flirting, dating and nights out
Get your coat—you've pulled!
From a quiet “I fancy you” to a spectacularly cheesy chat-up line. Here's what you might hear—and how it could land.
Fancy a drink? Or fancy you?
“I fancy you” expresses attraction. “Fancy a drink?” means “Would you like a drink?” It could be friendly or flirtatious; the words alone don't settle it.
And “we're going out” can mean “we're a couple” or simply “we're leaving the house”. Context does a lot of work.
Get your coat—you've pulled!
You've attracted someone's interest—with the cheeky suggestion you'll be leaving together.
“Someone's been flirting with you all evening. Your friend whispers: Get your coat—you've pulled!”
Jokey and rather dated; also a deliberately cheesy chat-up line. Pulled doesn't necessarily mean sex happened.
Fancy someone
Be attracted to someone.
“I think she fancies you.”
Everyday informal language. Fancy a drink? simply asks whether you'd like one; it isn't automatically flirting.
Chat someone up
Talk to someone with romantic or sexual interest.
“Are you chatting me up?”
Can be playful or direct, depending on delivery.
On the pull
Out hoping to meet someone romantically or sexually.
“They're going out on the pull tonight.”
Cheeky and informal; says something about their intentions, not anyone else's.
Snog
Kiss passionately.
“They were snogging outside the pub.”
Informal and slightly comic. A snog is a kiss, not a whole relationship.
Get off with someone
Kiss or have some sexual contact with someone; the extent is vague.
“Did you get off with him at the party?”
Informal and personal. Don't assume it tells you exactly what happened.
Your place or mine?
Suggest going home together, usually with a sexual implication.
“So… your place or mine?”
Direct, familiar beyond Britain, and often used as a cliché.
Give someone the brush-off
Dismiss someone's attention or show you aren't interested.
“I asked her out, but she gave me the brush-off.”
Informal; not limited to dating.
A third wheel
An extra person alongside a couple who feels out of place.
“I'll leave you two to it—I don't want to be a third wheel.”
Also familiar in Canada; usually self-deprecating.
Billy no-mates
Someone alone or supposedly without friends.
“Everyone cancelled, so I was Billy no-mates at the bar.”
Often self-mocking; saying it about someone else can be unkind.
Banter
Playful teasing or joking between people.
“We always have a bit of banter about our football teams.”
Works when it's mutual. Calling a hurtful remark banter doesn't make it welcome.
Beer goggles
A joking suggestion that alcohol changes how attractive someone seems.
“My friends blamed it on beer goggles.”
Can be insulting to the person being discussed.
Punching above your weight
Dating someone others consider more attractive or desirable.
“Your friends meet your partner: You're punching!”
Often shortened to punching. Can be affectionate teasing or a backhanded insult.
A friend's joke isn't confirmation of someone else's interest. If you're unsure, a simple “Would you like to go out sometime?” beats trying to decode everything.
London wordplay
Cockney rhyming slang
Part language puzzle, part local humour. Associated with London's East End, rhyming slang replaces a word with a phrase that rhymes—and often drops the very word that makes the rhyme obvious.
How does “have a butcher's” mean “have a look”?
Look → butcher's hook → butcher's. Remove “hook” and the clue disappears. That's why guessing from the words alone can be tricky.
Some expressions have travelled well beyond London. Others are traditional, regional or used mainly for a laugh. You don't need to speak in rhymes to fit in.
Have a butcher's
Butcher's hook → look.
“Have a butcher's at this photo.”
Often shortened to butcher's; informal.
Use your loaf
Loaf of bread → head.
“Use your loaf—we can take the bus.”
Means use your head; can sound impatient.
Porkies
Pork pies → lies.
“Are you telling porkies?”
Playful, but still an accusation of lying.
Barnet
Barnet Fair → hair.
“I need to get my barnet cut.”
Informal and often humorous.
Cream crackered
Cream crackered → knackered (exhausted).
“After that walk, I'm cream crackered.”
Playful rhyming slang; you may also hear crackered.
A load of old pony
Pony and trap → crap.
“That excuse is a load of old pony.”
A dismissive way to say nonsense. Pony also means £25 in separate money slang.
Rabbit on
Rabbit and pork → talk.
“He kept rabbiting on about the match.”
Usually means talking at length; can sound unkind.
Brassic
Boracic lint → skint.
“I'd love to come, but I'm brassic.”
Means broke; often spelt brassic to reflect pronunciation.
Apples and pears
Apples and pears → stairs.
“Up the apples and pears.”
A famous traditional example, not a universal everyday phrase.
Dog and bone
Dog and bone → phone.
“He's on the dog and bone.”
Traditional and often used for comic effect.
Plates of meat
Plates of meat → feet.
“My plates are aching.”
Traditional; the rhyming word may disappear.
Trouble and strife
Trouble and strife → wife.
“I'm meeting the trouble and strife.”
Dated and potentially disrespectful; useful to recognise, not a default way to introduce your partner.
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve → believe.
“Would you Adam and Eve it?”
Traditional, playful expression of disbelief.
Dicky bird
Dicky bird → word.
“I haven't heard a dicky bird.”
Means you haven't heard anything.
Jam jar
Jam jar → car.
“He's bought a new jam jar.”
Traditional; usually playful in this context.
Dustbin lids
Dustbin lids → kids.
“The dustbin lids are back from school.”
Traditional and humorous; not how everyone refers to children.
Explore more: Cockney Rhyming Slang dictionary and how the rhymes work.
The conversation goes both ways
Canadianisms that confuse Brits
Sometimes we're the ones who need translating. Canadian usage varies too—these won't be everyone's everyday words.
Washroom
Toilet or loo.
“Where are the toilets, please?”
Washroom may be understood, but toilets is clearer.
Toque
A knitted winter hat; often a beanie.
“Have you seen my woolly hat?”
A very Canadian word; spelling and pronunciation may need explaining.
Two-four
A case of 24 beers.
“We brought a case of 24.”
Not a familiar British pack-size term.
Double-double
A coffee with two creams and two sugars.
“Coffee with cream and two sugars, please.”
Explain the order; British cafés don't generally use the Canadian shorthand.
Loonie / toonie
A Canadian one-dollar / two-dollar coin.
“Have you got a two-dollar coin?”
Explain the currency before assuming the nicknames are familiar.
Runners
Running shoes or trainers.
“I've packed my trainers.”
Regional Canadian usage; runners can mean other things.
Parkade
A multi-storey car park or parking garage.
“The car's in the multi-storey car park.”
Common in parts of Canada; unfamiliar to many Brits.
Hydro bill
An electricity bill in parts of Canada.
“The electricity bill arrived.”
In Britain, hydro may suggest hydropower rather than your household supplier.
Pencil crayons
Coloured pencils.
“Have you got any coloured pencils?”
A small but surprisingly common vocabulary mismatch.
KD
Kraft Dinner; a boxed macaroni-and-cheese product.
“I grew up eating Kraft Dinner.”
The initials alone may mean nothing to a British listener.
One Canadian grocery term worth explaining carefully
“Homo milk”
Canadian shorthand for homogenised milk, usually 3.25% milk fat. In Britain, ask for whole milk. Outside that Canadian grocery context, the shortened word can be heard as an anti-gay slur.
Unwritten rules
The habits behind the words
The moment, what might be happening, and what you can say or do.
"You alright?" often means hello
A colleague passes your desk: "Alright?"
Usually a greeting in passing. Tone and context matter: if someone pauses and asks with concern, it may be a genuine question.
Try"Yeah, good, you?" and carry on.
Why "not bad" can mean good
Someone calls a real setback "a bit of a nuisance".
Language is often dialled down. "Not bad" can be positive and "a bit of a problem" can be serious. Read the reaction relative to the person.
Try"How big a problem is it for you?"
What "interesting" might mean
Your proposal is called "interesting".
It could be genuine interest, uncertainty or polite disagreement. The word alone won't tell you which.
Try"What would make it work for you?"
Why people say sorry so often
Someone bumps into you, and you both apologise.
"Sorry" can be an apology, "excuse me", "pardon?" or a polite objection. Said with a rising tone, it usually means they didn't hear you.
TrySay sorry back, or repeat what you said.
The hidden rules of queueing
A busy pub bar, with no visible line.
There's often still an order, and people notice who was waiting first. Queue-jumping tends to get a reaction.
Try"I think you were before me."
Teasing and dry humour
A colleague makes a gentle joke at your expense.
Irony and teasing are common and can express familiarity. You don't have to tolerate anything that makes you uncomfortable, whatever it's called.
TryLaugh it off if it's fine with you. If not, "Not my kind of joke" is enough.
How invitations work
"We must get together sometime."
Friendly, but not yet a plan. Treat it as unconfirmed until there's a day attached.
Try"I'd like that. Are you free next week?"
Weather talk
A stranger at the bus stop: "Grim out, isn't it?"
A low-stakes way to start a conversation. Nobody needs you to care about the forecast.
Try"Awful. Typical, though."
When directness lands hard
You give a straightforward "No, that won't work" and the room goes quiet.
What sounds efficient to you can sound abrupt, especially with people you don't know well yet.
Try"I'm not sure that'll work, because…"
At work
Working with Brits
Feedback is often softer on the surface and firmer underneath. Workplaces vary a lot, so take these as starting points.
Decoding feedback
Your manager asks, "Would you mind having another look?"
Often a request to revise it. Softeners such as "a small concern" or "a bit of an issue" can still signal something that needs attention. Focus on the change being requested, not just how gently it is phrased.
Try"Of course. What specifically needs changing, and when do you need it?"
Meetings
A meeting ends and you're not sure what was decided.
Disagreement can be indirect ("I wonder whether…"), and decisions sometimes settle in conversations afterwards.
TryA short follow-up email: "Just to confirm what we agreed…"
When a "quick chat" isn't quick
"Could we have a quick chat?"
It could be two minutes about nothing or an important conversation.
Try"Of course. Anything I should bring?"
How to disagree politely
You think a colleague's plan is wrong.
Blunt contradiction in front of others can land harder than intended. Leading with agreement and raising the issue as a question often works better.
Try"I like the direction. Could this cause a problem with…?"
Email tone
A senior colleague signs off "Cheers".
Sign-offs run from "Kind regards" (formal) to "Best" or "Thanks" to "Cheers" (friendly). Openers like "Hope you're well" are common.
TryMatch the sign-off the other person uses.
Making friends at work
Months in, colleagues are friendly but you haven't made friends.
It can take time. Friendships grow through coffee, lunch, shared projects, workplace clubs and after-work plans of all kinds.
TrySuggest a coffee or lunch with one colleague at a time.
At the pub
Pub etiquette
The pub is a neighbourhood meeting place as much as somewhere to drink. A few conventions make it easier, whether or not you drink.
Order at the bar
In many traditional pubs you order and pay at the bar. Some pubs offer table service or app ordering. Tipping at the bar isn't generally expected.
Catch their eye
Stand visibly at the bar, make polite eye contact and wait patiently. Avoid snapping your fingers, waving money or shouting for service. If someone arrived before you, a quick "They're next" helps keep things fair.
Returning your glass
If you're heading back to the bar, taking your empty glass with you is a helpful gesture. Use a collection point if there is one, and keep the serving area clear.
What is a round?
In some groups, people take turns buying drinks for everyone. Joining a round is always optional. "I'll get my own tonight, thanks" is completely fine.
Joining in without drinking
Plenty of people don't drink, and soft drinks and alcohol-free options are easy to find. You don't need to explain your choice.
Ale, lager, bitter
Bitter is a style of ale; ales and lagers both cover a wide range of flavours and strengths. Ask what is on tap and whether a small taste is available. A half pint is an option if you want a smaller serving.
Sunday roasts
Roast meat (or a vegetarian option), roast potatoes, vegetables, gravy and a Yorkshire pudding. Popular pubs get busy, so booking ahead helps.
Quiz nights
Many pubs run a weekly quiz. It's a relaxed way to spend an evening with friends or meet new people.
Everyday London
Things you pick up after arriving
Small social habits that Londoners rarely explain. Light observations, not rules; your experience may differ.
- EscalatorsOn the Underground, stand on the right and walk on the left.
- Personal spaceOn a crowded Tube, some people keep to themselves. Quietness can be a way of giving others space rather than a sign of unfriendliness.
- AccentsYou'll hear a huge range of accents. Some take a while to tune into, and asking someone to repeat themselves is fine.
- The kettleOffering to make tea for the office can be a friendly gesture. It helps to learn how colleagues take theirs.
- UmbrellasA running joke says everyone carries one and rarely opens it. Many people swear by a good waterproof jacket instead.
- Property talkRents and house prices are a popular topic of conversation.
- TrainsGrumbling about delays can be a shared bonding moment.
- AugustWork can feel quieter in summer holiday season, and replies can be slower.
- Making friendsFriendships can take longer to form than you expect. Clubs, classes, sports teams, volunteering and repeated small invitations all help.