SE Session 5: Bits and bobs
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This document provides information about common English slang words and phrases used informally in both Britain and parts of the United States. It includes short definitions and explanations of terms like "Bob's Your Uncle", "Gobsmacked", "Lost the Plot", and examples of Cockney rhyming slang. The document also notes some differences between British and American English vocabulary and spellings of certain words. It recommends several websites that can help with learning English pronunciation, vocabulary, and culture.
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SE Session 5: Bits and bobs
- 1. Spoken English A few bits and pieces
- 2. Common English slang words Slang words are not universally used, but they are commonly heard in informal conversation. Bob’s Your Uncle – There you go, you’ve got it! Gobsmacked – Amazed, awed by something
- 3. Give You A Bell – Call you Blimey! – My Goodness Gutted – Devastated Chuffed – Proud Fancy – Like
- 4. Lost the Plot – Gone Crazy Fortnight – Two Weeks Sorted – Arranged Bee’s Knees – Awesome
- 5. Dodgy – Suspicious Wicked – Cool! Whinge – complain, moan Tad – Little bit Tenner – £10 Fiver – £5 Quid – £1 Skive – to avoid doing something
- 6. Cockney rhyming slang Cockney rhyming slang originated in the East End of London. This is a different world to “normal” English - but sometimes on tv shows etc. you hear these phrases: Butchers’ – look, from butcher’s hook - “Would you like to have a butchers?”
- 7. Adam and Eve – believe - “Would you Adam and Eve it…?” Apples and pears – stairs - “I’m off up the apples and pears to bed.” Barney Rubble – trouble - “You’re going to be late home again, you’re in for some Barney Rubble from the wife.”
- 8. Plates of meat – feet – “Sit down and take the weight off your plates?” Ruby Murray – curry – “Do you fancy having a ruby murray tonight?” Trouble and strife – wife - “Time to go and pick up the trouble and strife…” Skin and Blister – sister – “That’s my skin and blister over there…”
- 9. A few websites that might be helpful in Learning English Excellent general sites: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/ http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/
- 10. More general sites: http://www.okey-dokey.co.uk/index.php http://www.learnbritishenglish.co.uk/ Specifically for speaking with a British accent: http://www.wikihow.com/Speak-in-a- British-Accent
- 11. These videos looking at English language are on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-I_ jNXdVbRIAGDl27NPLKA https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCwk6ifONlkvqnoMF2uyA05g This one focusses on culture: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCAm0yDpqqVEvBbqwlTAJNfg
- 12. If you like football this is a fun site to learn English: http:// premierskillsenglish.britishcouncil.org/ An online pronunciation dictionary: http://www.howjsay.com/
- 13. Different words English and American people speak the same language but use different words: A film becomes a movie, a wardrobe is a closet, a toilet / lavatory becomes a restroom
- 14. Trousers Nappy Rubber Holiday Petrol Flat Biscuit Pants Diaper Eraser Vacation Gas / Gasoline Apartment Cookie
- 16. Bonnet Windscreen Boot Reversing lights Exhaust Hood Windshield Trunk Back-up lights Tail pipe / Muffler
- 17. British English words that end in -re often end in -er in American English: centre center fibre fiber litre liter theatre theater
- 18. British English words ending in -our usually end in -or in American English: colour color flavour flavor humour humor labour labor neighbour neighbor
- 19. Other examples include: Words ending in -yse are always spelled -yze in American English: analyse analyze breathalyse breathalyze paralyse paralyze
- 20. Other examples include: Words that include two (or more) vowels together are spelled without one of the vowels in American English: leukaemia leukemia manoeuvre maneuver oestrogen estrogen paediatric pediatric
- 21. And so on… defence defense licence license offence offense analogue analog catalogue catalog dialogue dialog