Common Slang Used In The United Kingdom: An Immigrant’s Guide To The Local Talk

Communicating well and clearly with the locals is a very important aspect of moving to a new country and living there as an immigrant. This is the case for a lot of immigrants especially those who move to a country that does not primarily speak English. However, there are also countries that are open to immigrants which primarily speak English, like the United Kingdom. Moving to a country like that is easier for these newcomers, however, it is still important to understand that there are slang and lingo used in the UK that they should learn as these terms are usually embedded in how the locals communicate daily.

 

What are the slang or lingo that are used by the locals in the UK? Immigrants should be familiar with them and know how to use them properly. That way, when they are in the country already, they would be able to talk the talk with the locals and feel right at home. They may even impress some locals which could be the start of some great friendships.

 

Here are some of the slang commonly used in the UK.

 

Off-colour

 

This term means that a person may be looking sick, poor, or just under the weather. Some people really just do not look that good when they are not feeling okay.

 

Peter was feeling under the weather today but he still decided to go to work. His colleagues that he was a bit off-colour and HR decided to let him go home and just get some rest.

 

Off your trolley

 

When an individual in the UK is said to be off their trolley, this usually means that the person is behaving quite crazily.

 

Who knew that a few shots of tequila would make MJ go off her trolley? This is the first time that I saw her dance… while wearing a coconut on her head and empty cola bottles as shoes.

 

On your bike

 

This term, when used in the United Kingdom, is surely not the politest way of telling a person that he or she would go away.

 

I have told you many times over that I hate being disturbed when I’m working. Now, on your bike!

 

Pants

 

In other countries, pants are usually referred to as the shortened form of ‘pantaloons’ which are trousers. However, in the UK, pants are actually undergarments. Yes, undergarments.

 

Marco was trying to pack all the stuff that he would need for his two-week holiday. But he surely had to rush out to get some pants. He doesn’t want to be caught dead wearing old pants on his holiday.

 

Parky

 

The term ‘parky’ is actually used to describe weather that is cold. It is used when the weather is a bit chilly, and definitely not that cold yet.

 

It was a good thing Otto brought his parka. The weather was a parky today.

 

 

 

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