vinnied

en-adj

vinnied (comparative more vinnied, superlative most vinnied)

more vinnied (comparative)
most vinnied (superlative)

(UK, Devon, dialect, obsolete) mildewed or sour


ONS

The government’s statistics agency said suits[…] were not bought often enough to make it into the basket of 733 representative goods and services selected to measure the UK’s cost of living. They have been replaced in the ONS basket with a “formal jacket or blazer”.

2022 April 18, Rupert Neate, “The end of the suit: has Covid finished off the menswear staple?”, in The Guardian:

Office for National Statistics
w:Office for National Statistics

(UK) Initialism of Office for National Statistics.


any hole's a goal

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-any hole's a goal.wav

See, I don't really like screwing men, although any hole's a goal and all that, but women are soft and smooth and weak and small. They're easy to grab, easy to control.

2015, J.S. Law, The Dark Beneath, →ISBN, page 19:

“Probably because you were only thinking about one thing.” She smothered her own thoughts and feelings as she took on the necessary role. “That's what men are like, right? Any hole's a goal?”

2018, Emma Newman, A Split Worlds Omnibus: Between Two Thorns, Any Other Name, and All Is Fair, page 94:

"Of course I knew that it all goes to the same place," she beamed back at him. "I can't believe how nice you are to me. I mean you're right, my throat really has been getting pretty sore lately, and any hole's a goal." She had no idea what this meant, but it sounded like the right thing to say.

2020, Vanessa Morse, “There's Something about Gabby”, in Daddies Explicit... Anthology, page 594:

Being a virgin is not cool (the cool people are not virgins). I heard at my secondary school, that kids get battered if they're a virgin. Sexual promiscuity, for the most part, elicits a positive peer response. Any hole's a goal. Britain has more sexually active under-18s than any other country in Europe. We also have the highest number of teenage mothers and the highest teenage abortion rate in Western Europe.

2021, Kerry Louise Stalker, Life, One Big Existential Crisis, page 69:

(UK, vulgar) Any receptive sex partner (or orifice) is acceptable.

em tempos de guerra qualquer buraco é trincheira

en tiempos de guerra cualquier agujero es trinchera


loose-coupled

It consists exclusively of loose-coupled open mineral wagons and a guard's brake van; owing to the isolation of the branch the last-named is equipped with a first aid box and a jack, to enable any emergency to be dealt with rapidly.

1940 December, Charles E. Lee, “The Wenford Mineral Line”, in Railway Magazine, page 643:

The line here rises in the up direction, for the most part on a 1 in 132 gradient, and three spring-operated catch points—Basildon West, Basildon and Vange—are provided at intervals on the up line between the two stations, to derail any runaway wagons of a loose-coupled freight train.

1961 December, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Laindon”, in Trains Illustrated, page 717:

(rail transport, UK, historical) Of older railway wagons, having a chain coupling between them, without the buffers on each wagon touching those of the next wagon when the train was in motion.


Norwich Pharmacal order

en-noun

Norwich Pharmacal order (plural Norwich Pharmacal orders)

First granted in 1974 in the case of Norwich Pharmacal Co. v Customs and Excise Commissioners.

(UK, Ireland, law) A court order granted against a third party which has been innocently mixed up in wrongdoing, forcing the disclosure of documents or information.


working party

(UK) A committee or group appointed to study and report on a particular question and make recommendations based on its findings.


cross-Channel

The continued growth of cross-Channel traffic, the urgent question of the renewal of the short-sea fleet of the B.T.C. and its installations, and the possible entry of Britain into the Common Market make an early decision on the tunnel highly desirable, if not vital.

1961 December, “The Channel Tunnel—a realistic proposal”, in Trains Illustrated, page 722:

The TSSA said that access to the furlough scheme should be reinstated for the cross-Channel operator to protect jobs, while the RMT said a financial 'safety net' was needed to prevent Eurostar "tipping over". It follows similar but unheeded calls made at the very start of the pandemic, when international travel fell by more than 95% and Eurostar was forced to scale back its operation to just one service between London and Paris each day.

2022 January 12, “Network News: Unions urge government to provide financial support for Eurostar”, in RAIL, number 948, page 6:

(UK) Usually relating to anything that takes place across the English Channel, as opposed to other channels.


crossrail

A crossrail link to Aberdeen and Stonehaven is planned.

2004, Bernard Ingham, Gerry Hassan, The Political Guide to Modern Scotland: People, Places and Power, Politico's Publishing:

We need to change the name of the Manchester Hub. Crossrail for the north of England is a better term, otherwise people will view it as a Greater Manchester project and will miss out on exactly what it is actually going to do.

2010 February 15, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee, quoting Professor Begg, Priorities for investment in the railways: third report of session 2009-10, Vol. 2: Oral and written evidence, The Stationery Office, →ISBN, page 7:

The proposal to build a second Crossrail line would create a new high-frequency, high-capacity rail line running south west to north east across London.

2013 June 27, Great Britain: H.M. Treasury, Investing in Britain's future, Stationery Office, →ISBN, page 25:

(UK, rail transport) A commuter rail line that crosses a major city through a tunnel and which continues for a significant distance into the surrounding areas, generally with relatively high speeds and widely spaced stations compared to an underground or metro.


wag it

en-verb

wag it (third-person singular simple present wags it, present participle wagging it, simple past and past participle wagged it)

wags it (present singular third-person)
wagging it (participle present)
wagged it (participle past)
wagged it (past)

(UK, slang, dated) Synonym of play the wag (“to play truant from school”)


big jobs

(UK, informal) number two (the act of defecation)


and have done with it

and be done with it
and be done with it#English


Rag

(UK, slang, obsolete) Synonym of Rag and Famish (“the Army and Navy Club in London, England”)


PCHR

Personal Child Health Record
w:Personal Child Health Record

(UK) Initialism of Personal Child Health Record.


queer as a coot

(simile, UK, informal) Ostentatiously homosexual.


how very dare you

Catchphrase from British TV comedy series The Catherine Tate Show (first broadcast in 2004).

'How very dare you! I'm a respectable lady, I'll have you know. I've never left my key ring in anyone's fruit bowl.' I feign outrage. I know what he's referring to, but it's still fun teasing him.

2015, Carmel Harrington, Every Time a Bell Rings:

There was something 'how very dare you' about Jeremy Corbyn's recent temper tantrum in rebuttal of the charge that the company he kept reflected badly on him.

2017, Howard Jacobson, The Dog's Last Walk (and Other Pieces):

(British, humorous, emphatic) Synonym of how dare you


OGC

Office of Government Commerce
w:Office of Government Commerce

(UK, historical, 2000–2011) Initialism of Office of Government Commerce.


wood burner

(UK) A heater or stove that burns wood for fuel.


brake tender

By the beginning of April at least seven green-liveried diesel brake tenders had been delivered to Toton depot and were being tested with B.R. Sulzer Type 4 diesels.

1962 June, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region”, in Modern Railways, page 423:

(rail transport, UK) A railway vehicle which provided extra braking on freight trains with unfitted wagons (without automatic brakes) hauled by diesel locomotives, which being generally lighter than steam locomotives had less braking power. With the phasing out of unfitted wagons the brake tenders became redundant.


cliff lift

A branch of rail transport that seems to been rather neglected by historians is that concerned with cliff railways, of which a fair number exist in Great Britain. This is probably because these lines are overshadowed by the more spectacular funicular railways in Switzerland and other mountainous regions; perhaps, too, because of the general habit of referring to them as "cliff lifts," which tends to associate them with the vertical indoor type.

1951 August, P. W. Gentry, “Cliff Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 514:

(transport, UK) A funicular that runs between the top and the bottom of a cliff, usually at a seaside location.


rubber heels

[…] Going in to do the work of the Rubber Heels.'
She asked what the Rubber Heels were, when they were at home.
'The Rubber Heels, heart, are the police investigation department. […]

2003, John E. Gardner, The Streets of Town, page 14:

[…] their programme may actually have served to enhance the attractiveness and legitimacy of CIB work, a job much reviled in the heyday of The Sweeney when the 'rubber-heels' brigade of A10 were portrayed as yet another hurdle in the pursuit of villains and justice.

2012, Frank Leishman, Paul Mason, Policing and the Media, page 147:

(UK, dated, informal) Police officers tasked with investigating corruption within the police force.


pipe the side

pipe the side (third-person singular simple present pipes the side, present participle piping the side, simple past and past participle piped the side)

pipes the side (present singular third-person)
piping the side (participle present)
piped the side (participle past)
piped the side (past)

(UK, nautical) To salute a distinguished visitor arriving on a warship by playing the boatswain's pipe.


idiot's lantern

en-noun

idiot's lantern (plural idiot's lanterns)

The idea of restoring a car is very tempting on many levels, whether it is the sense of achievement in having saved a 2CV from the scrap man, the acquiring and exercising of new skills, better use of your time than hours glued to the idiot's lantern or last but not least, the chance to save some hard earned money.

2007, Mark Paxton, The Essential Buyer's Guide: Citroën 2CV, Veloce Publishing, page 51:


jocteleg

1836, Joanna Baillie, Witchcraft, Act 1, p.41.
'O you ugly witch! show your elrich face from behint the hangings there, an' I'll score you aboon the breath wi' a jocteleg.'

(UK dialectal, chiefly Scotland) Pocketknife.


tumpty

(UK, dated, dialect, Shropshire) A small, solid or padded stool, footstool or pouf.


early closing

The index to stations does not show early closing days or stations with car parks.

1962 July, “Talking of Trains: The new all-line timetable”, in Modern Railways, page 10:

(UK, dated) The practice of business premises in a town closing for one afternoon each week.


clapperdudgeon

(UK dialectal, archaic) A beggar who would apply blood or sores to his body in order to gain attention and attract more alms.


car-sleeper

The Car-Sleeper is a British Railways ingenuity that has caught the Continental fancy. The convenience of the car for the short-distance journey is undeniable—but not so its comfort and relaxation for the long haul. The Car-Sleeper doesn't attempt to challenge the car's attractions for the start of the journey or its usefulness at destination; but it relieves driver and passengers of the strain of a gruelling long-distance drive, [...].

1962 July, Marcus Newman, “By Car-Sleeper to Switzerland”, in Modern Railways, page 48:

(rail transport, UK) A sleeping car train which also includes vehicles for carrying passengers' motor cars.


shower of shite

shower of shite (plural showers of shite)

(vulgar, chiefly UK, Ireland, very uncommon) Alternative form of shower of shit


family allowance

family allowance (plural family allowances)

(UK) A former type of social security payment made to families with children; now replaced by child benefit.


gouch

en-verb

gouch (third-person singular simple present gouches, present participle gouching, simple past and past participle gouched)

gouches (present singular third-person)
gouching (participle present)
gouched (participle past)
gouched (past)

The TV is everyone's go-to when they're off and gouching in the house.

2020 November 21, Christina O'Neill, “40 things to do while staying at home during Tier 4 lockdown”, in Glasgow Live:

(UK, slang) to feel drowsy due to the effects of heroin


unfulfil

unfulfil (third-person singular simple present unfulfils, present participle unfulfilling, simple past and past participle unfulfilled)

unfulfils (present singular third-person)
unfulfilling (participle present)
unfulfilled (participle past)
unfulfilled (past)


Oxfordish

en-adj

Oxfordish (comparative more Oxfordish, superlative most Oxfordish)

more Oxfordish (comparative)
most Oxfordish (superlative)

(UK, colloquial) Resembling or characteristic of the English city of Oxford.


Oxfordish

"[…] Did I not forbid all these nicknames and all this Oxfordish, by proclamation, last Long."
"Last Long?"
"Hem! last protracted vacation."

(UK, colloquial, dated) The slang spoken at the University of Oxford.


all standing

[…] and then with a terrific crash the ship brought up all standing, and we were hurled against the bridge screens by the force of the collision.

2008, Robert C. Stem, Destroyer Battles: Epics of Naval Close Combat:

A couple of girls were standing alongside an ambulance drawn up next to the lorry, out of which they had apparently just crawled, having slept all standing, as all had I suppose.

1917, Edward Percy Stebbing, At the Serbian Front in Macedonia, page 77:

No man had aught to cover him save his blankets, in which he slept “all standing,” i.e., with his clothes on.

1925, Fitzhugh Green, Our Naval Heritage, page 106:

(UK, naval) Wearing one's clothes, for example while sleeping.


field ambulance

en-noun

field ambulance (plural field ambulances)

(British and Commonwealth, chiefly historical) A military mobile medical facility set up on or near the battlefield in order to provide initial medical treatment to the wounded.


wakeman

(UK, historical) A man employed to preside over a nightly curfew in the city of Ripon, England.


Gronk

(British, rail transport) A British Rail Class 09 locomotive.


signal lad

Signal lads are employed at the panel-operated boxes to record train times. A small replica of the track diagram with simplified track circuit indications and the general circuit telephone concentrators are incorporated in their desk, as here at Tonbridge.

1962 August, G. M. Kichenside, “Resignalling for the Kent Coast electrification—Phase II”, in Modern Railways, page 113, photo caption:

(rail transport, UK) A young man employed in a signalbox to record the times of trains as they pass through the area served by the signalbox.


third time lucky

third time's a charm
third time's a charm#English


fanackapan

term of endearment
term of endearment#English

(dated, chiefly British) A term of endearment, used especially when addressing a child.


euhemerisation

euhemerisation (countable and uncountable, plural euhemerisations)


prat around

en-verb

prat around (third-person singular simple present prats around, present participle pratting around, simple past and past participle pratted around)

prats around (present singular third-person)
pratting around (participle present)
pratted around (participle past)
pratted around (past)

(British, Ireland, intransitive, informal) To behave foolishly.


extension lead

(electronics, UK, Ireland) extension cord


above a bit

Eh Polly! Aw do you love thee above a bit.

He did vex me above a bit.


that's done it

(UK, informal) Used to express annoyance or announce that one has reached the limit of one's patience or temper.


groaning board

(UK, historical) A platter of food traditionally given to the mother of a household around the time of childbirth.


conditional unconditional

en-noun

conditional unconditional (plural conditional unconditionals)

(UK, education) An offer of a place at a particular university for a student, regardless of their performance in examinations, on the condition that they agree to choose that university over any other.


egg flip

egg flip (countable and uncountable, plural egg flips)


yawnups

(UK, Yorkshire, dialect, obsolete) A stupid person.


yowlring

(British, dialectal, obsolete) Alternative form of yoldring (“yellowhammer”)


ferry wagon

One train ferry wagon, with the inscription "On hire to L.N.E.R.," was carrying British prisoners; and another odd sight was an L.N.E.R. container on a German flat wagon, offering "Door to Door Transport."

1946 March and April, “Notes and News: Train Watching in a P.O.W. Camp”, in Railway Magazine, page 117:

The first of 150 Continental-type four-wheel ferry wagons ordered by B.R. have been received for the Harwich/Zeebrugge train ferry service. Built by the Pressed Steel Co., the vans have a maximum capacity of 20½ tons in ordinary and 18 tons in express freight service.

1962 October, “New ferry wagons for B.R.”, in Modern Railways, page 225:

(rail transport, UK, dated) Any type of goods wagon built for train ferry traffic to and from continental Europe.


precarisation

precarisation (usually uncountable, plural precarisations)

British standard spelling of precarization.


trip working

trip working (countable and uncountable, plural trip workings)

The provision of the new yard permitted closure of four existing installations, between which there was a great deal of trip working.

1962 October, G. Freeman Allen, “The New Look in Scotland's Northern Division—II”, in Modern Railways, page 267:

(rail transport, UK, uncountable) The operation of short-distance freight trains, e.g. between goods yards.


cassabully

(UK, Cornwall, dialect, obsolete) wintercress


zhooshy

en-adj

zhooshy (comparative zhooshier, superlative zhooshiest)

zhooshier (comparative)
zhooshiest (superlative)

First to catch out eye are the zhooshy ombre coloured cushions, Stravklint, and duvet set, Pipstakra but that's just the tip of the flatpack iceberg.

2019 July 31, Kylie Klein-Nixon, “Ikea: Five things in the 2020 catalogue we hope to buy in New Zealand”, in Stuff:

(originally Polari, British, Australia, New Zealand, slang) Showy, flashy, ornate.


faffage

(UK, informal) Time-wasting or preparatory tasks; faffing about.


halliblash

(UK, Lancashire, dialect, obsolete) A great blaze, or something that dazzles.


yezzy

yezzy (comparative more yezzy, superlative most yezzy)

more yezzy (comparative)
most yezzy (superlative)

"They tell me tha's bin takken for murdher," David began, addressing the trembling wanderer, "but that's o a mistake, so keep thi mind yezzy abeaut it."

1894, John Trafford Clegg, David's Loom: A Story of Rochdale's Life in the Early Years of the Nineteenth Century, page 259:


yonside

(UK, dialect, obsolete) On the other side.


yonside

(UK, dialect, obsolete) On the other side of.


policeman's helmet

(UK, uncountable) The invasive plant Impatiens glandulifera.


bullimong

From Middle English bulimong from bule (“bull”) + imong (“mixture”).

(UK, obsolete) A mixture of oats, barley, etc. sown to provide cattle feed.


Brummagem

(UK, colloquial, dialect) The city of Birmingham, England.


cattle dock

The depot covers an area of 57 acres and consists of a shed 480ft by 207ft to handle both forwarded and received traffic, a combined office and amenities block, weighbridge and a cattle dock.

1962 December, “Talking of Trains: Walsall sundries concentration depot”, in Modern Railways, page 367:

(rail transport, UK, dated) A pen on a platform in a railway goods yard for cattle travelling by rail.


loading bank

(rail transport, UK, dated) A platform, often with a ramp at one or both ends, provided in a railway goods yard for the purpose of loading and unloading goods wagons.


daddocky

daddocky (comparative more daddocky, superlative most daddocky)

more daddocky (comparative)
most daddocky (superlative)


Eireann

Borrowed from Irish Éireann "Ireland's; of Ireland", genitive case of Éire, "Ireland".

The neutrality, however, causes some peculiar situations, such as that arising from the prohibition of uniforms other than those of the Eireann Defence Forces and the Diplomatic Corps. This would be simple if no one from Eire were a sailor, soldier, or airman in the British Forces, but thousands of them are, and as such they may not wear mufti unless on leave from the B.E.F.

1940 May, “The Irish Railways Today”, in Railway Magazine, page 295:

An Eireann member of the Forces can, however, elect to take his discharge here and stay here for good or proceed to Eire and return within the period of demobilization leave, that is eight weeks, and then remain.

1945 December 10, Sir William Jowett, "IRISH VOLUNTEERS AND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT" Hansard HL Deb vol 138 c540

1971 November 30, "EIREANN CITIZENS IN GREAT BRITAIN" Hansard HL Deb vol 326 cc140-2

(British, politics, obsolete, deprecated) Alternative spelling of Eirean


Eirean

From Eire + -an. "Éire" is the official Irish-language name of the state under its 1937 Constitution. In the United Kingdom "Eire" was used in English, officially until 1949 and unofficially for decades longer. The adjective "Eirean" was invented accordingly. See names of the Irish state.

Clause 1 of this Bill enables the Parliament of Northern Ireland to make legislative provisions for hydro-electric, drainage, water and other schemes to be operated on both sides of the border in conjunction with the Eirean authorities.

1947 June 13, George Oliver "NORTHERN IRELAND BILL" Hansard HC Deb vol 438 c1468

Since Eire was a neutral country the Air Force could not place its own rescue-launches on her coasts, but the life-boats in Eire were part of the single life-boat fleet of the British Isles, and the Institution was able, with the consent of the Eirean Government, to do what the Air Ministry asked of it.

1957, “Lifeboats and Lifesaving”, in Encyclopaedia Brittanica, volume 14, page 26:

At the outset I must make it plain that I have no objection to the principle of the Anglo-Eirean Free Trade Agreement. On the contrary, I am in favour of full co-operation with Eire in trade, commerce and tourism from which both countries can derive considerable economic advantage.

1967 November 30, James Hamilton [later Duke of Abercorn] "NORTHERN IRELAND (MEAT INDUSTRY)" Hansard HC Deb vol 755 c797

1982 December 16, "NORTHERN IRELAND RESIDENTS AND EIREAN PASSPORTS" Hansard HL Deb vol 437 c834WA

(British, obsolete, deprecated) of the state called Eire or the Republic of Ireland, as distinct from the island of Ireland


Eirean

Adjectives become missiles when used by an Eirean. The word “elegant,” for instance, is used by Mr. O'Casey as if it were a synonym for unmentionable crimes. It is applied to every non-Eirean he mentions.

1945 November 30, St. John Ervine, letter to The Spectator

As things are, Ulstermen are being kept more successfully in Ulster than Eireans are being kept in Eire.

1956 July 21, “Was Ulster Right?”, in The Economist, page 215:

The tragedy was that Northern Ireland (Scottish) Protestants thought themselves like the British. Northern Ireland (Irish) Catholics thought themselves like Eireans (proper Irish).

1996, Robert McLiam Wilson, Eureka Street, Arcade, published 1997, →ISBN, page 163:

(British, obsolete, rare, deprecated) A citizen of Eire


arm in crook

1849, Anne Beale, Traits and Stories of the Welsh Peasantry, London: George Routledge, No. 5, p. 104,
We were determined not to let go of one another this time, so we went on, arm in crook again;

‘The proper way is for the bridesmaids to walk together,’ suggested Fancy.
‘What? ’Twas always young man and young woman, arm in crook, in my time!’ said Geoffrey, astounded.

1872, [Thomas Hardy], chapter I, in Under the Greenwood Tree: A Rural Painting of the Dutch School, volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, →OCLC, part V, pages 198–199:

Once outside the gate, Frederick and Karl stride ahead, arm in crook, their heads tilted close so as not to drop anything important between them.

2015, Gavin McCrea, Mrs Engels, Melbourne: Scribe, page 28:

(UK, dialectal, dated, of two people) With arms linked together.


Pencourt

(UK, journalism) Barrie Penrose and Roger Courtiour collectively.


parlour palm

British standard spelling of parlor palm.


dinner man

Based on dinner lady. This was traditionally a female occupation.

(British, informal) A man employed to serve food in a school or work canteen.


user-worked

A near-miss between a Greater Anglia Class 755 and two cars on a user-worked level crossing near Wroxham is being investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).

2021 March 10, “RAIB investigates near-miss at user-worked crossing”, in RAIL, number 926, page 18:

(rail transport, UK) Of a level crossing, one where a railway crosses a right of way such as a road on private land, a footpath or a bridleway. Any gates or barriers provided often need to be operated manually, with some crossings requiring users to telephone a signaller to check that it is safe to cross.


alchochoden

To his judicial astrology , And trowl the Trine , the Quartile , and the Sextile , Platic aspect , and Partile , with his Hyleg , Or Alchochoden , Cuspes , and Horoscope

1625 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, The Staple of Newes. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot […], published 1631, →OCLC, (please specify the page), (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

(obsolete, UK, dialect, astrology) The planet which bears rule in the principal places of an astrological figure when a person is born.


second-gear valuation

en-noun

second-gear valuation (plural second-gear valuations)

From the notion that the agent not only is doing a drive-by evaluation but also is not even necessarily doing it slowly: second gear rather than first gear (low gear).

(UK, informal) The assignment of a property to a tax band by an estate agent who evaluates the property while driving past it.


APTU

(UK, historical) Initialism of anti-poll tax union.


IOPC

Independent Office for Police Conduct
w:Independent Office for Police Conduct

(UK) Initialism of Independent Office for Police Conduct.


monomark

From mono- + mark. The original company, British Monomarks Ltd, launched its service in 1925.

(UK, historical) A short alphanumeric sequence used in place of a postal address.


pupil premium

(UK, education) A grant awarded by the government to schools in England for the benefit of disadvantaged students.


knobend

No, I'm fuckin ' delited dat meself an ' Derek leave youse two alone fer two bleedin' minits te go te de jax, an' wen we come back, yer givin' it lodes te some knobend ! ”

2003, Donal Ruane, Tales in a Rearview Mirror, page 170:

We'd bother beforehand when some knobend took exception to Fred's accent. Within seconds, a team of boys from Kelty was on the scene, and the knobend was removed.

2011, Adrian Searle, The Hope That Kills Us:

That isn't to say there aren't “knobends” in the voluntary sector – there are plenty of them. But the ethos of the sector is about positive social change for the better, and breaking taboos of all kinds is part of this.

2019, Jen Wight, Rattled: Overcoming Postpartum Psychosis:

(UK, Ireland) Alternative form of knob-end


knob-end

He appreciated a man giving head as much as anyone, and he was sure as hell gonna enjoy the feel of his knob-end slipping between Casey's hungry lips.

2006, Marc Holland, Mark Stone: Secret Agent, page 30:

Lenny Plant thought the world of his foreskin, appreciating the benefits it bestowed on his knob-end.

2014, Andrew Price, Poor Enid, page 343:

(UK, Ireland, slang, vulgar) The glans penis

Why did these knob-ends so much want us to fail?

2001, Hamish MacDonald, The Gravy Star, page 51:

Nothing ever sickened me more than pre-season friendlies, when English teams would come over and total knob-ends would actually show up at the matches to cheer on the foreign side.

2006, Johnny Fallon, Party Time: Growing Up in Politics, page 157:

That's it, you pair of knob-ends.

2010, Kimberley Chambers, The Betrayer, page 150:

(UK, Ireland, slang, offensive, vulgar) A stupid or contemptible person


infant school

(UK) A primary school, generally for children aged between four and seven.


monkey boat

(UK, slang) A long, narrow kind of half-decked canal boat.


Stinkomalee

Coined by Theodore Hook, apparently Blend of stink + Trincomalee, perhaps because some cow-houses and dunghills stood on the original site.

(UK, slang, derogatory, obsolete) The University of London.


carry me out

(UK, informal) Exclamation of pretended astonishment on hearing news too good to be true, or a story too marvellous to be believed.


Piccadilly butcher

Piccadilly butcher (plural Piccadilly butchers)

In reference to their savage onslaught upon the crowd on the occasion of the arrest of Sir Francis Burdett at his house in Piccadilly.

The mob in the meantime holloaed out, "No Corn Bill!" While they were proceeding in this manner, a cry was raised that "the Piccadilly butchers were coming."

1875, The Law Magazine and Review, page 554:

"In 1810, my father very nearly had his head cloven by a Piccadilly butcher when merely looking on to see Sir Francis Burdett taken to the tower."

(obsolete, UK, slang, derogatory) A member of the regiment of Horse Guards, or "Royal Blues".


snake and pygmy pie

snake and pygmy pie (plural snake and pygmy pies)

steak and kidney pie
steak and kidney pie


Newgate knocker

Newgate knocker (plural Newgate knockers)

Supposed to resemble the knocker on the prisoners' door at Newgate.

(UK, slang, obsolete) A lock of hair worn twisted back toward the ear.


schism-shop

(UK, slang, obsolete) A Dissenters' meetinghouse.


Hob Collingwood

(card games, obsolete, UK, North Country) The four of hearts, considered an unlucky card.


Paddy's Goose

"Paddy's Goose," or the "White Swan," as it is called by its owner, is perhaps the most frightful hell-hole in London. The very sublimity of vice and degradation is here attained, […]

1870, Daniel Joseph Kirwan, Palace and Hovel, Or, Phases of London Life, page 633:

To-day the White Swan, better known as Paddy's Goose, once one of the vilest dance-houses in Ratcliff Highway, is to be opened as a Mission Hall by the Wesleyan Methodist Home Mission, […]

1890, Francis Edward Smiley, The Evangelization of a Great City, page 209:

(UK, slang, obsolete) The White Swan, a celebrated public house in Ratcliff Highway, east London, England.


never trust me

Pet[ruchio]. Now for my life Hortentio feares his Widow.
Wid[ow]. Then neuer truſt me if I be affeard.

c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii], page 227, column 2:

Never trust me if I had not a suspicion from the first that 'twas that ill-looked fellow B— who made that story Mr. D— told you.

1888, Letters from Dorothy Osborne to Sir William Temple, 1652-1654:

(UK, slang, obsolete) Used in oaths, suggesting that one should never be trusted again if what one says now is not true.


Spike Park

(UK, slang, obsolete) The Queen's Bench Prison in south London, England.


Tooley Street tailor

Tooley Street tailor (plural Tooley Street tailors)

The "three tailors of Tooley Street" are said to have immortalized themselves by preparing a petition for Parliament bearing only their own signatures, which began, "We, the people of England..."

(UK, slang, archaic) A self-important, vainglorious person.


London Ordinary

(UK, slang, obsolete) The beach at Brighton.


muffin worry

But Benedict has not only changed his manner and his habits, he has got new duties, and where his wife goes he may go, and ought to go. He can no longer claim exemption from solemn dinners, from weary muffin-worries, […]

1864, The Habits of Good Society, page 99:

I wish she was at the bottom of the sea, or else having muffin worries in her musty old London lodgings — anything but coming here and turning everything into gall and vinegar.

1874, Eliza Stephenson, Hope Meredith, page 118:

(UK, slang) An elderly lady's tea party.


egg-hot

Jennie Fox watched it with thoughtful pleasure, and the rest were chatting and telling of bygones, enjoying a glass of egg-hot; it being a custom for them to partake of this beverage on this particular night.

1881, Pearl Hyem, The fisherman's cove; or, Christianity realised, page 54:


Tories on bikes

So-called due to bicycles being commonly prescribed as an environmentally friendly form of personal transportation.

The only viable alternative for decades has been The Australian Greens, formerly a protest party, but now a progressive middle-class party. It’s a coalition of Tories on bikes, socially conscious baby boomers who live in architect-designed homes, and millennials who haven’t yet graduated from edgy liberalism to socialism.

2018 September 7, Ivan Mitchell, Daniel Lopez, “The Immodest Victorian Socialists”, in Jacobin, retrieved 2021-04-01:

A derogatory name for the Greens is "Tories on bikes"; they also oppose building on green belts around cities, and thus inadvertently encourage car commuting, with its attendant car pollution.

2019, Danny Dorling, Rule Britannia: Brexit and the End of Empire, Biteback Publishing, →ISBN, retrieved 2021-04-01:

But lest we forget the Green Party’s concern for the workers who make these cheap clothes in counties such as Bangladesh, the reality is that when it comes to employees’ rights they are merely Tories on bikes.

2020 September 11, Pat Flanagan, “Green Party out of touch with ordinary people and seem to like punishing poor”, in Irish Mirror, retrieved 2021-04-01:

(politics, derogatory, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) Members or supporters of a Green Party who are politically conservative.


O&G

Alternative form of obs and gynae (British, Commonwealth, not Canada)


obs and gynae

obs and gynae (countable and uncountable, plural obs and gynaes)

a physician in obstetrics and gynaecology


LTN

LTNs are areas closed to through-traffic, which allow people to drive to them but not through them, to prevent motorists using residential roads as shortcuts.

2021 June 19, “Hundreds protest over Oxford Low Traffic Neighbourhoods”, in BBC News:

In fact, LTNs are championed by the Oxfordshire county council; the separate Oxford City Council has cited the 15-minute city as an inspiration for its vision of the city in 2040.

2023 March 28, Tiffany Hsu, “He Wanted to Unclog Cities. Now He’s ‘Public Enemy No. 1.’”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(UK, urban studies) Initialism of low-traffic neighbourhood.


fag packet

But what they have done is to make an announcement and then patch it up with a 'back of a fag packet' announcement... and then practically banned fag packets! […] The list may have sounded impressive as Rishi Sunak rattled them off in his speech, but it did not take more than a cursory examination to reveal that the fag packet had been used to draw it up.

2023 October 18, Christian Wolmar, “The back of a fag packet used for unworkable rail plans”, in RAIL, number 994, pages 44-45:


jobmistress

(UK, historical) A female job master (one who lets out horses and carriages).


roasting tin

(cooking, UK) A kitchen utensil used for roasting.


NPQH

w:National Professional Qualification for Headship

(UK, education) Initialism of National Professional Qualification for Headship.


neshly

en-adv

neshly (comparative more neshly, superlative most neshly)

more neshly (comparative)
most neshly (superlative)


stitched up like a kipper

en-adj

stitched up like a kipper (not comparable)

Probably from done up like a kipper and stitch up, or directly from kipper and stitch up.

(simile, UK, slang) cheated or exploited; treated unfairly


Blind Half-Hundred

So called because many members suffered from ophthalmia.

(UK, military, historical, slang) The 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot.


Grove of the Evangelist

(UK, slang, obsolete, humorous) The district of St John's Wood in London, England.


nap the regulars

en-verb

nap the regulars (third-person singular simple present naps the regulars, present participle napping the regulars, simple past and past participle napped the regulars)

naps the regulars (present singular third-person)
napping the regulars (participle present)
napped the regulars (participle past)
napped the regulars (past)

(UK, slang, obsolete) To divide up the booty.


medical Greek

Their form is like the "Medical Greek" of London medical students, who "poke a smipe" instead of smoking a pipe, and take a "stint of pout" for a pint of stout.

1898, The Pedagogical Seminary, volume 5, page 375:

(UK, historical) The English slang once used by medical students in London hospitals, involving deliberate spoonerisms.


mahogany flat

When ready for sea we went up to Greenhithe, that their lordships might inspect us, and then to Portsmouth, to take troops to Cork, a pleasant trip; but the troops left us a legacy of "mahogany flats," with which their beds were so swarming that we never got them under.

1892, Sir George Giffard, Reminiscences of a Naval Officer, page 45:


Norfolk Howard

Said to be an allusion to a person named Ephraim Bug, who advertised that in the future he would call himself by the more aristocratic name of Norfolk Howard.

All the insects he had sorted, / Placed in paper bags the insects, / In one bag the Norfolk Howards, / In one bag the fleas, the Jumpers […]

1888, James Arthur Lees, Walter J. Clutterbuck, B.C. 1887: A Ramble in British Columbia, page 244:

Speaking of advertising changes of name, a title by which those lodging-house pests, bugs, are now often known, that of Norfolk Howards, is derived from an advertisement in which one Ephraim Bug avowed his intention of being for the future known as Norfolk Howard.

1874, Henry Sampson, A history of advertising, page 278:


old gentleman

(UK, slang, obsolete) A playing card that is almost imperceptibly longer than the others in the deck, used by cheats.


cat and kitten sneaking

In the police courts it is not uncommon to hear that such and such low persons have been "had up" for "cat and kitten sneaking," i.e., stealing quart and pint pots.

1867, Jacob Larwood, John Camden Hotten, The History of Signboards, page 177:

(UK, slang, obsolete) The theft of pint and quart pots and small pewter spirit measures from public houses.


Field-lane duck

en-noun

Field-lane duck (plural Field-lane ducks)

Field Lane was a low London thoroughfare leading from the foot of Holborn Hill to the purlieus of Clerkenwell.

(UK, obsolete, slang) A baked sheep's head.


needy mizzler

(UK, slang, obsolete) A shabby person; a tramp who runs away without paying for his lodging.


bellows to mend

This constitutes the process of respiration or breathing, and on its due performance will chiefly depend the health and usefulness of the animal. A horse calling “bellows-to-mend” is fit for little.

1859, James Crawford Ledlie Carson, The Form of the Horse, page 25:

A pause now took place, and some mutual feinting and dodging, it being 'bellows to mend' on each side.

1897, R. G. Allanson-Winn, Bertram Fletcher Robinson, Boxing, page 72:


cold meat train

cold meat train (plural cold meat trains)

So called because this train used to convey corpses to Woking on behalf of the London Necropolis Company.

(UK, slang, obsolete, military) The last railway train of the night by which officers could reach Aldershot via the South Western Railway.


give someone his gruel

en-verb

give someone his gruel (third-person singular simple present gives someone his gruel, present participle giving someone his gruel, simple past gave someone his gruel, past participle given someone his gruel)

gives someone his gruel (present singular third-person)
giving someone his gruel (participle present)
gave someone his gruel (past)
given someone his gruel (participle past)

Perhaps a reference to administering poison.

"Cruel! Cruel! Cruel!" he cried. "Yes, you gave him his gruel hot enough," answered Charlotte.

I have 'barkers' by Nock, Sir,
 With percussion locks, Sir,
 Will give you your gruel —
 hang me if I box, Sir

1856, Thomas Ingoldsby, The Ingoldsby Legends: Or, Mirth & Marvels, page 87:

(UK, slang, obsolete) To kill or trounce someone.


Dizzy

(UK, slang, humorous) Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881), 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, and twice prime minister of the United Kingdom.


EHCP

(UK, education) Initialism of education, health and care plan.


wodgy

en-adj

wodgy (comparative wodgier, superlative wodgiest)

wodgier (comparative)
wodgiest (superlative)

(colloquial, chiefly UK, Ireland) bulky, solid


NDPB

non-departmental public body
w:non-departmental public body

(UK, government) Initialism of non-departmental public body.


Seeley's pigs

From the surname, Seeley, of a member of parliament who called attention in the House of Commons to the waste of pig iron in the dockyards.

(UK, slang, obsolete) Unused blocks of iron kept in government dockyards.


French cream

An allusion to the French custom of taking brandy in one's tea instead of cream.


upon my sivvy

Sivvy is a clipped corruption of asseveration.

(UK, obsolete, slang) Upon my soul or honour; used to underline the truth of what one is saying.


foont

Perhaps from French vingt (“twenty”), since a sovereign was worth 20 shillings.

(UK, slang, obsolete) A sovereign (the coin).


copus

tlb

(UK, slang, obsolete, Cambridge University)

We beg you would not stand fiddling about it, but be married forthwith, and then take chaise, and come […] all the way to Cambridge […] for our copuses and Welsh rabbits are impatient for you.

1855, Thomas Gray, William Mason, John Mitford, The Correspondence of Thomas Gray and William Mason, page 352:

A drink of ale mixed with spices, and varied by spirits, wines, etc.


gay tyke boy

The Sprig of Myrtle is matched with the pink of Bow—the gay tyke boys are all up in their stirrups at the news.

1850, William Thomas Moncrieff, An original collection of Songs, sung at the Theatres Royal, etc, page 107:

The Plate is a correct representation of the animation displayed upon this subject by the gay TYKE-BOYS; and most of their nobs for low cunning are able to get the “best of” the keenest barristers in the kingdom, […]

1870, Pierce Egan, Life in London, etc, page 260:


shoful

en-noun

shoful (countable and uncountable, plural shofuls)

From German Schofel (“worthless stuff, rubbish”), substantive use of schofel (“base, mean, worthless”), representing the German-Jewish pronunciation of Hebrew שפל (shāphēl, “low”).

bor

(obsolete, UK, slang, countable) A Hansom cab.

To discover […] how the honest poor are compelled to hob-and-nob with the “shoful pitcher” and the “gun,” it is necessary to visit the vast nursery-grounds of crime.

1863, Blanchard Jerrold, Signals of Distress in Refuges and Homes of Charity (etc.), page 2:

(obsolete, UK, slang, uncountable) Counterfeit money.


dukey

Delicate perfumes floated through the theatre; at the penny "dukey," fried fish and hot codlins reminded you more of food than fantasy.

1919, Thomas McDonald Rendle, Swings and Roundabouts: A Yokel in London, page 50:

Between the pieces were individual turns, comic songs and dances. […] Simpson, also the proprietor of a Dukey in Queen Square, Westminster, was the aristocrat of the Penny Gaffs.

1960, Theatre Notebook, volumes 14-16, page 122:


shop-bouncer

This scheme has had a great run among the shop-bouncers, as has that of taking a boy in with them, when they first go into the shop, who, whilst the same examination of the goods is going on, contrives to put three or four pieces of handkerchiefs into the man's hat, which has been previously laid on the counter for the purpose.

1833, Thomas Wontner, Old Bailey Experience, page 372:


butcher's mourning

Hats off, down there, you in the white hat and crape — you in the butcher's mourning — bonnet him — silence! Yes, says the Brahmin, the ceremony is about to begin; the national games are about to commence.

1855, William Calcraft, The Groans of the Gallows, page 13:

(UK, slang, obsolete) A white hat with a black mourning hatband.


yh

Yh I can understand that.[…]Yh I agree with you on this, although links don't really kill it for me.

2010 December 1, Adam Rowney, “Why no real forum?!”, in rec.juggling (Usenet):

There is no point in me uploading this, since it is practically last minute, but yh....[…]So yh..

2014, Anastasios Maragiannis, Multidisciplinary Design Processes, 2nd edition, →ISBN, page 150:

Yh, I see.

2021, Roger Francis, Thank God For Atheism, AuthorHouse, →ISBN:

(UK, Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of yeah.


spacko

(UK, slang, derogatory, offensive) A person with cerebral palsy.

They pushed him in and began shouting at him: 'We don't want any 'Spackos' living here.'

2015, Paul Giannasi, Robina Shah, Tackling Disability Discrimination and Disability Hate Crime:

(British slang, derogatory) Synonym of spack (“clumsy, foolish, or mentally deficient person”)


Uppinghamian

(British) A student or alumnus of Uppingham School in Rutland, England.


wet break

(UK, education) A school playtime when pupils are kept indoors because of rain.


Brown Book

(UK) An annual report to parliament from the Secretary of State for Energy.


snogathon

(UK, slang) A prolonged period of kissing.


ground wallah

(UK, military, aviation, slang, dated) An officer who does not fly aircraft.


I'll get my coat

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-I'll get my coat.wav

From a recurring sketch in British 1990s comedy series The Fast Show, in which a character embarrasses himself and announces "I'll get my coat" before departing.

(Internet slang, UK, humorous) An admission that one has embarrassed oneself and should leave.


on the debit side

On the debit side, I do not recommend the room service.

(idiomatic, British) On the negative or bad side of things.


JMI

(UK, education) Initialism of junior mixed infant. (designating a school that teaches both infant and junior age ranges)


pantile shop

In reference to the steeple-crowned or "pantile" hats of the attendees.

(UK, slang, obsolete) Synonym of meetinghouse (“building where Quakers assemble for worship”)


blue Billy

(UK, slang, obsolete) The refuse ammoniacal lime from gas factories.


Essex stile

(UK, slang, humorous, obsolete) A ditch.


lump the lighter

en-verb

lump the lighter (third-person singular simple present lumps the lighter, present participle lumping the lighter, simple past and past participle lumped the lighter)

lumps the lighter (present singular third-person)
lumping the lighter (participle present)
lumped the lighter (participle past)
lumped the lighter (past)

(UK, slang, obsolete) To be transported as a felon.


wobble shop

(UK, slang, obsolete) A shop that sells beer without a licence.


a quid for a quod

(UK, obsolete, slang) A good turn to repay another.


Queen's tobacco-pipe

(UK, humorous, dated) Synonym of Queen's pipe (“furnace in which contraband tobacco is burned”)


Jerry Lynch

It is now about the foulest specimen extant of that kind of backslum or alley where, a generation back, according to Hood, pigs and Irish were wont to rally. The pigs, except in the form of hocks, "Jerry Lynch" heads, and other portions of bacon, have been removed by Act of Parliament […]

1875, Henry Sampson, A History of Advertising from the Earliest Times, page 392:

(UK, Ireland, slang, obsolete) A pickled pig's head.


red lane

Now this Malvoisie has a body, and slips down the red lane with an unctuous savour; but the very sweetness which would recommend it to the fancy of a raw drinker, does it damage […]

1852, The Royalist and the Republican, volume 1, page 108:

When you mean to save, begin with your mouth; many thieves pass down the red lane. The ale jug is a great waste.

1884, The Universal Household Assistant, page 128:


mud student

This dog was bred by a “mud student” in the Coldstream or Cornhill district, and had for his sire a dog Dandie, bred by Mr. Frain of Trows.

1865, Henry Hall Dixon, Field and Fern: Or, Scottish Flocks & Herds (South), page 188:

“Is he a new mud student?”
“He is not the cut of a mud student.”

1894, Rhoda Broughton, A Beginner, page 20:

(UK, slang, obsolete) A student of agriculture.


psalm-smiter

(UK, slang, obsolete) A Ranter; one who sings at a conventicle.


lift car

New lift cars were installed as part of the project.

2021 May 5, “News in Brief: New Macclesfield lifts”, in RAIL, number 930, page 27:

(UK) The passenger-carrying vehicle in a lift shaft.


T Level

(UK, education) A two-year technical course taken after GCSEs and equivalent to three A levels, developed to meet the needs of industry.


fifteening

From the British Board of Film Classification's 15 rating.

(UK, fandom slang) The practice of adding swearing to an English anime dub in order to get a higher age classification, which may attract more buyers.


Norway-plus

From the similarity to Norway's arrangement, with plus denoting the addition of a customs union outside of EFTA.

European Economic Area
European Economic Area

(UK, politics) A proposal for a post-Brexit settlement that would have consisted of membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area as an EFTA member state, combined with a separate customs union with the European Union.


towzery gang

(UK, obsolete, slang) A group of swindlers who set up fraudulent auctions with shill bidders.


shivering Jemmy

en-noun

shivering Jemmy (plural shivering Jemmies)

(obsolete, UK, slang) A person who goes half-naked on the streets in order to beg for money.


bubble company

bubble company (plural bubble companies)

(UK, slang, obsolete) A sham business that swindles people.


white satin

What did she want with money, except now and then for a drain of white satin.

1966, Henry Mayhew, Peter Quennell, London's Underworld, page 48:


bug-walk

Presumably in reference to the bedbugs that might infest it.

[…] Who, when he encounters an over-filled guest, / Either staggering homewards or taking his rest, / Sees him safe to his bug-walk […]

There would be no more visiting in that direction for a while, and back he would roost in his 'bug-walk'.


chive-fencer

(UK, slang, obsolete) A hawker of cutlery in the streets.


pongelow

Of Anglo-Indian origin, from an Indian language.

(UK, slang, obsolete) beer, or half and half


staggering bob

(UK, Ireland, obsolete) An animal slaughtered not long before it would have died from disease or accident.


suck the mop

en-verb

suck the mop (third-person singular simple present sucks the mop, present participle sucking the mop, simple past and past participle sucked the mop)

sucks the mop (present singular third-person)
sucking the mop (participle present)
sucked the mop (participle past)
sucked the mop (past)

"Now then, poppy-head:" — this to the conductor of a rival omnibus before us — "how long am I to go on sucking the mop?"

(slang, idiomatic, UK, obsolete) Of a bus: to be deliberately boxed in by another so as to lose the opportunity to pick up passengers.


chatter-basket

(UK, informal, archaic) A talkative person; chatterbox.


crack a crust

crack a crust (third-person singular simple present cracks a crust, present participle cracking a crust, simple past and past participle cracked a crust)

cracks a crust (present singular third-person)
cracking a crust (participle present)
cracked a crust (participle past)
cracked a crust (past)

Yet for all this I do not hear one giving him a good name, though there are many cracking a crust on his account.

1880, Arthur Hamilton, The Confessions of a Scribbler, page 80:

"Cracking a tidy crust, thank you, mate," Abe said sheepishly.

1947, Robert Briffault, New Life of Mr. Martin, page 270:

BIANCA: Well, it's a cooshy enough way to crack a crust...

1997, Eric Lane, Nina Shengold, Plays for Actresses, page 585:

(UK, slang, idiomatic, obsolete) To make a living.


smish

From earlier slang commission, from chemise or related.

He awoke shivering, his heart racing. His smish was soak'd.

2018, Jordy Rosenberg, Confessions of the Fox:

(UK, slang, obsolete) A shirt or chemise.


flue-faker

The gipsy queen, too, of the flue-fakers was just behind in a donkey-tandem, escorted by a bodyguard of thin-legged gentry of the forked-radish pattern, kiddily togged.

1883, Lewis Strange Wingfield, Abigel Rowe, volume 3, page 23:


Tib's Eve

After Tib (or Tibb), a fictional woman of loose morals in 17th-century English plays. Such a woman would not be a saint and so there was no Saint Tib and therefore no Tib's Eve.

Marry you? I'll marry you on Tib's Eve!

(UK, slang, obsolete) A supposed future time that will never arrive.


Harry-soph

According to a 17th century chronicler, from Latin sophister Henricianus after King Henry VIII, but remodeled to fit a fanciful Ancient Greek *ἐρίσοφος (*erísophos, “very wise indeed”), from ἐρι- (eri-) + σοφός (sophós).

der

(UK, slang, obsolete) A student of law or medicine at Cambridge who, being of the same standing as the students in arts in his year, is allowed to wear a full-sleeved gown when they assume their BA gowns, though he does not obtain his actual degree so soon.


cushion-smiter

[…] they pass alternately into church and Dissenting chapel, where “Cushion smiters” once abounded.

1868, Dr. John Doran, Saints and Sinners: Or, In Church and About It, volume 2, page 293:

Who's preaching now? You speak like a cushion-smiter.

1888, James McGrigor Allan, A lady's four perils, volume 1, page 160:

(UK, slang, obsolete) A tubthumping clergyman or preacher.


finnuf

From Yiddish פֿינף (finf, “five”). Doublet of five, pimp, and fin.

Them that puts the most steam into it will get a finnuf slipped to 'em.

1927, Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb, Ladies and Gentlemen, page 129:

"Ya-ar, she's rich, ain't she? Wotjer think? I lay they got a 'aul! Sixty bob, may be. And crowns! And finnufs! Ar!"

1949, Theodore Bonnet, The Mudlark, page 216:

(UK, slang, archaic) A five-pound (£5) note; the sum of five pounds.


sold again and got the money

Costermongers' slang, from the announcement that used to be made when goods were sold.

(UK, slang, obsolete) Announced on having successfully deceived somebody.


fadger

(UK, slang, obsolete) A glazier's frame.


everlasting staircase

en-noun

everlasting staircase (plural everlasting staircases)

(UK, obsolete, idiomatic, slang, historical) A prison treadmill.


friendly lead

(UK, obsolete) A gathering at a public house, with songs, dancing, etc., to raise money for somebody who is in prison or otherwise in trouble.


like one o'clock

Brought up as a gentleman, he was, if ever a man was. Ed’cated at no end of expense. Went into the Marshal’s house once to try a new piano for him. Played it, I understand, like one o’clock—beautiful! As to languages—speaks anything.

1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC:

I went over the fence like a shot, and ran like one o'clock for the trap, cussing and swearing as I went.

1899, H. G. Wells, Mr. Brisher's Treasure:

(UK, simile, slang, obsolete) Very quickly or vigorously.


sank work

Perhaps from the Old French sanc (“blood”), in allusion either to combat or to soldiers' red coats.

[…] even some of the 'honourable' men were reduced to this sweated 'sank work' for as little as 4s. to 6s. a week.

2002, John Burnett, Idle Hands: The Experience of Unemployment, 1790-1990, page 84:

Many master tailors keep more hands than they have employment for, especially in the slack. But no work means no pay. Some of those journeymen can't pay their bills and take home 'sank work' of custom-house and post clothing.

2017, Darlene A. Cypser, The Consulting Detective Trilogy Part II: On Stage, page 48:

(UK, historical) Work done by tailors on soldiers' clothes.


Billy Barlow

Named after a real Billy Barlow, who (according to Hotten; see reference) was a well-known street character around the East End of London, and died in Whitechapel Workhouse.

[…] for at an election meeting in East Maitland in 1845 William Lipscomb, the local wit, said of the squatters that 'so far from being wealthy, they had produced more Billy Barlows than any other class'.

1960, Bill Wannan, A Treasury of Australian Humour, page 40:

[…] as Jerry White notes in his history of London in the nineteenth century: There were the clowns or “Billy Barlows”; jugglers, some on stilts, and slack-rope walkers; […]

2009, Dan Michael Worrall, The Anglo-German Concertina: A Social History, volume 1, page 49:

(UK, obsolete) A clown who performs in the streets.


put the beggar on the gentleman

en-verb

put the beggar on the gentleman (third-person singular simple present puts the beggar on the gentleman, present participle putting the beggar on the gentleman, simple past and past participle put the beggar on the gentleman)

puts the beggar on the gentleman (present singular third-person)
putting the beggar on the gentleman (participle present)
put the beggar on the gentleman (participle past)
put the beggar on the gentleman (past)

He called for two gills of ale, and I took my share; but I was determined not to put the beggar on the gentleman, that was my phrase to him, being a fellow workman. And when they brought the two glasses of ale, I took mine, and gave it to a man of the name of Thomas Kay; […]

1838, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Parliamentary Papers, volume 11:

And there is the grandmother who says scornfully, if someone makes a good cake with poor icing, "That is putting the beggar on the gentleman".

1979, Harold W. Thompson, Body, Boots, and Britches, page 504:

(UK, idiomatic, slang, obsolete) To follow up something good with something inferior.


lad of wax

(UK, obsolete, slang) A male cobbler (shoe repairer).


cock one's toes

cock one's toes (third-person singular simple present cocks one's toes, present participle cocking one's toes, simple past and past participle cocked one's toes)

cocks one's toes (present singular third-person)
cocking one's toes (participle present)
cocked one's toes (participle past)
cocked one's toes (past)

I'll be well pickled by the time I'm ready to cock my toes!

1951, The Irish Monthly, volume 79, page 191:

Captain Giles: Fianna Fáil would like to see you cock your toes but I hope they will not be able.

1955, Ireland. Oireachtas. Dáil, Díosbóireachtaí Párlaiminte: Tuairisc Oifigiúil, volume 151, page 123:


twag

twag (third-person singular simple present twags, present participle twagging, simple past and past participle twagged)

twags (present singular third-person)
twagging (participle present)
twagged (participle past)
twagged (past)

(UK, dialectal, Yorkshire) To play truant.


hungrisome

en-adj

hungrisome (comparative more hungrisome, superlative most hungrisome)

more hungrisome (comparative)
most hungrisome (superlative)

For thirty would not suit this hungrisome Quintin of ours.

1898, Samuel Rutherford Crockett, The Standard Bearer, page 102:

"She'm hungrisome, Captain, ” said Abner.

1925, Henry Williamson, Sun Brothers, page 77:

(UK dialectal, Scotland) Having a keen appetite, hungry.


buckhorse

After a celebrated "bruiser" of the same name, said to have allowed anybody to strike him on the side of the face for a small sum of money.

[…] the hands of the same exalted young lady being also well calculated to give any man such a 'buckhorse' as would have sent him whirling round the presence-chamber […]

1870, George Musgrave Musgrave, A Ramble Into Brittany (volume 1, page 80)

(UK, slang, obsolete) A smart blow or box on the ear.


wooden wedge

(UK, Cambridge University slang) Synonym of wedge: the person whose name stands lowest on the list of the classical tripos.


put the stunners on

en-verb

put the stunners on (third-person singular simple present puts the stunners on, present participle putting the stunners on, simple past and past participle put the stunners on)

puts the stunners on (present singular third-person)
putting the stunners on (participle present)
put the stunners on (participle past)
put the stunners on (past)

George MacDonald, If I Had A Father
JACK: Well, you do put the stunners on me!

(UK, slang, archaic) To astonish greatly.


rain napper

Within a few minutes, Mr. Fair, who was also the Sheriff, came into the building while closing his rain napper.

2010, Ann DeWitt, Kevin M. Weeks, Entangled in Freedom: A Civil War Story, page 17:

“Tonight I would trade every fancy racer for a hansom nag, or even for a rain napper.”

2015, Laurie R. King, In the Company of Sherlock Holmes:

“Glad to hear it,” he said. “Shoulda taken a rain napper, though. You're wet through.”

2016, Matthew J. Kirby, A Taste for Monsters:


go a raker

go a raker (third-person singular simple present goes a raker, present participle going a raker, simple past went a raker, past participle gone a raker)

goes a raker (present singular third-person)
going a raker (participle present)
went a raker (past)
gone a raker (participle past)

1891, 3 April, Lie. Vict. Gaz.
Then he went a raker on the favourite for the St. Leger, but the brute was not even shopped.

Finally, rendered desperate by failure after failure, I went a raker for a horse that I had heard on unquestionable authority was a real 'good thing' for the Cambridgeshire. He came in last but one in the race, […]

1902, Finch Mason, Annals of the Horse-Shoe Club, page 195:

(UK, slang, archaic) To bet a large amount of money on a certain racehorse.


flatty-ken

(UK, thieves' cant, obsolete) A public house whose landlord is ignorant of the practices of the thieves and tramps who frequent it.


running powers

No wonder, then, that against a background of surging aggressive prosperity, South Wales built up during the last half of the nineteenth century a local railway system of great density and complexity, in which almost every company competed with every other in its area, and in which working agreements, running powers and strategic junctions ran riot across the railway map.

1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 158:

This was done, and in many cases still is done by the main-line railway groups, through the exercise of running powers, which on application to Parliament by the company using them have been granted for the express purpose of affording this access without the necessity for building independent tracks. In other cases, such running powers have been granted without recourse to Parliament, by voluntary agreement between the parties.

1940 May, “The Why and the Wherefore: Running Powers”, in Railway Magazine, page 318:

(rail transport, UK) Permission given in an agreement allowing one railway company to run trains over certain tracks belonging to another railway company.


star the glaze

star the glaze (third-person singular simple present stars the glaze, present participle starring the glaze, simple past and past participle starred the glaze)

stars the glaze (present singular third-person)
starring the glaze (participle present)
starred the glaze (participle past)
starred the glaze (past)

(UK, obsolete, thieves' cant) To break a window in order to commit robbery.


skull-thatcher

Having been sent to London on a medical trip by his uncle, Mr. Quince, he had become smitten with a fair milliner — a skull-thatcher, anglice, a maker of straw bonnets, but with no more money in her purse than would buy a dose of salts […]

1828, Cumberland's Minor Theatre, page 5:

'Which accounts for your frequent attendance, loveliest of skull thatchers!' said Harry in a polite bantering tone, which did not make the intended sarcasm less apparent.

1859, J. W. Overton, Harry Hartley; or, Social science for the workers, volume 420, page 29:

(UK, slang, obsolete) A maker of straw bonnets.


Haymarket Hector

en-noun

Haymarket Hector (plural Haymarket Hectors)

You cannot have forgotten that when the late King took offence at an expression of Sir John Coventry's, he employed O'Brian, Sir Thomas Sands, and some other Haymarket Hectors, to cut off Sir John's nose as he returned home at night.

1899, Horace Smith, Walter Colyton: A Tale of 1688, page 121:

(UK, slang, obsolete) A thug, bully or pimp inhabiting the London neighbourhood of Leicester Square and the Haymarket.


AQA

(UK, education) Initialism of Assessment and Qualifications Alliance.


LTT

Land Transaction Tax
w:Land Transaction Tax

(UK) Initialism of Land Transaction Tax.


RATOG

(British, aviation, military) Initialism of rocket-assisted take-off gear.


on the sick

(UK, colloquial) In receipt of any of various current or former sickness, disability or incapacity benefits.


surge testing

Reading Borough Council will also be conducting surge testing in targeted areas, and has several test centres that may be better suited to residents in Bulmershe and Whitegates

2021 June 17, “Surge testing to start in Wokingham Borough to control spread of Covid-19 variant”, in Wokingham Borough Council News Centre, archived from the original on 2022-10-15:

(UK, neologism) Increased testing for, and tracing of, people with coronavirus within a particular area, in an attempt to study and limit the spread.


Perisher

A pun on periscope and perish, in allusion to the supposedly low pass rate.

(UK, naval, slang) The Submarine Command Course.


TSG

tactical support group
tactical support group#English

(UK, law enforcement) Initialism of tactical support group.


ESO

(UK) Initialism of electricity system operator.


Sea Lord

The legend and sketch designs were submitted to the Board on 27th March 1916 and, after examining a model and the drawings, the Sea Lords generally favoured proposal 'B'; the extra weight involved being acceptable.

1976, Alan Raven, John Roberts, British Battleships of World War Two: The Development and Technical History of the Royal Navy's Battleships and Battlecruisers from 1911 to 1946, page 63:

(UK, naval, historical) Any member of the British Board of Admiralty who is also a serving admiral in the navy.


combined school

combined school (plural combined schools)

The phrase, and the type of school, were originally proposed in the Plowden Report in 1967.

(UK, education) A school accepting pupils from age 4 to 12.


open prison

(UK) A prison with minimal restrictions on the prisoners.


remand centre

(UK, Canada) A jail that holds people who are awaiting a trial or sentencing.


twelve godfathers

(UK, slang, obsolete) A jury of twelve people.


dot-and-go-one

[…] I shouted, though with inward misgivings on account of my game leg; and we started off towards camp as fast as we could go — which is not saying much, as I could only get over the ground in a dot-and-go-one sort of way.

1893, The Boy's Own Annual, volume 16, page 805:

"I think the doctors messed it up a bit. They said he wouldn't limp or anything, but when he left here he was still completely dot and go one."

1928, Agatha Christie, The Mystery of the Blue Train, page 127:

(UK, slang, archaic) Having a lame or limping gait.


sluice one's bolt

en-verb

sluice one's bolt (third-person singular simple present sluices one's bolt, present participle sluicing one's bolt, simple past and past participle sluiced one's bolt)

sluices one's bolt (present singular third-person)
sluicing one's bolt (participle present)
sluiced one's bolt (participle past)
sluiced one's bolt (past)

When his heart has been the least thing warmed with sluicing his bolt and cocking his broseley, he has told us strange stories of foreign countries, so that even old Zingary has turned up the whites of his eyes.

1845, George William MacArthur Reynolds, The Mysteries of London:


wokery

The backlash against corporate wokery is well under way. Victoria's Secret earlier this month rowed back on the diversity agenda after profits fell and it worked out that its typical customer just wants to look slim and attractive.

2023 October 29, Matthew Lynn, “It will take Unilever a long time to shed its woke nonsense”, in Chris Evans, editor, The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-11-05:

(neologism, derogatory, chiefly UK) The opinions, actions, and behaviours associated with wokeism or wokeist ideologies.


VAdm

(UK) Alternative form of vadm, abbreviation of vice-admiral.


backshunt

Another peculiarity of this branch is that, like the Chard line, it has no direct connection with the main line, a backshunt into a siding being necessary before this can be reached.

1939 December, John D. Hewitt, “Some Notable British Main Lines: II. Salisbury and Exeter, S.R.”, in Railway Magazine, page 412:

(rail transport, UK) A section of railway track which gives access to a siding (or another section of railway line) only by reversing direction; also a train movement which uses such track.


FDEA

(UK) Initialism of Food & Drink Exporters Association.


blue pigeon flyer

en-noun

blue pigeon flyer (plural blue pigeon flyers)

(UK, slang, obsolete) One who steals lead from the roof or other parts of a building.


blow the gaff

en-verb

blow the gaff (third-person singular simple present blows the gaff, present participle blowing the gaff, simple past blew the gaff, past participle blown the gaff)

blows the gaff (present singular third-person)
blowing the gaff (participle present)
blew the gaff (past)
blown the gaff (participle past)

(UK, slang, obsolete) To disclose a secret.

(UK, slang, obsolete) To inform against a person.


fly the blue pigeon

fly the blue pigeon (third-person singular simple present flies the blue pigeon, present participle flying the blue pigeon, simple past flew the blue pigeon, past participle flown the blue pigeon)

flies the blue pigeon (present singular third-person)
flying the blue pigeon (participle present)
flew the blue pigeon (past)
flown the blue pigeon (participle past)

(UK, slang, obsolete) To steal lead from the roof or other parts of a building.


like old boots

Well, I worked like old boots; and all through the beastly long term I went on steadily creeping ahead of those two.

1905, The Windsor Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly for Men and Women, page 639:

(UK, slang, archaic) Synonym of like anything (“with plenty of effort, speed, etc.”)


kinchin cove

(obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) An orphan beggar boy trained to become a thief.

(obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) A man who robs children.


put someone's pipe out

put someone's pipe out (third-person singular simple present puts someone's pipe out, present participle putting someone's pipe out, simple past and past participle put someone's pipe out)

puts someone's pipe out (present singular third-person)
putting someone's pipe out (participle present)
put someone's pipe out (participle past)
put someone's pipe out (past)

“I'll tell you something, too,” retorted the captain, duskily flushing. “I wouldn't sail this ship for the man you are, if you went upon your knees. I've dealt with gentlemen up to now.”
“I can tell you the names of a number of gentlemen you'll never deal with any more, and that's the whole of Longhurst's gang,” said Jim. “I'll put your pipe out in that quarter, my friend. Here, rout out your traps as quick as look at it, and take your vermin along with you. I'll have a captain in, this very night, that's a sailor, and some sailors to work for him.”

1892, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 10, in The Wrecker:

(UK, slang, archaic) To scupper someone's plans.


Gladstone claret

en-noun

Gladstone claret (countable and uncountable, plural Gladstone clarets)

After William Ewart Gladstone, who reduced the duty on French wines.


go-along

A boy called Hewitt, awaiting transportation on the Euryalus hulk in the mid-1830s, told an interviewer that the swell-mob would often call into lodging-houses in order to recruit "go-alongs" for thieving expeditions: "boys are delighted [they] think it an honour to go with a swell-mob".

2002, Meg Arnot, Cornelie Usborne, Gender And Crime in Modern Europe, page 82:

(UK, obsolete, thieves' cant) A person duped into accompanying thieves during a robbery.


scaldrum dodge

(UK, obsolete, slang) A beggar's trick of burning the body with a mixture of acids and gunpowder, so as to appear to have been injured in an accident.


cold meat box

"Perhaps you have a charm for never growing any older?"
"No; but I could not lead such a life. I have already a bad cough."
"Ah, I see you already in the cold-meat box."

1899, Eugène Sue, The Works of Eugène Sue: Illustrated with Etchings, page 45:


Master of the Rolls

Master of the Rolls (plural Masters of the Rolls)

The sense of a baker is a pun alluding to bread rolls.

What do I care for lawyers! Aʼnt I a baker and Master of the Rolls myself: […]

1828, George Cruikshank, The Universal Songster, Or Museum of Mirth, page 144:

(UK, slang, obsolete, humorous) A baker.


dimidium dimidiumque

Humorously Latinized version of "half and half", once used by students.

And when the young Anglo-Roma Gents went out between the acts, in order to imbibe dimidium dimidiumque, or gingiber, (doubtless the ginger-beer of the moderns,) they received at the theatre door […]

1848, Albert Smith, Angus Bethune Reach, The Man in the Moon, volume 3, page 107:

I was still fresh, which was something; a trifle warm perhaps, and well disposed towards a pint of the dimidium dimidiumque of the ancients had such been available, but, in default of nectar, I sought another comforter, […]

1893, Charles Thomas Paske, Frederick George Aflalo, Myamma: A Retrospect of Life and Travel in Lower Burmah, page 153:

(UK, slang, obsolete, humorous) half and half (mixture of ale and porter, or similar)


hangman's wages

(UK, slang, obsolete) The sum of thirteenpence halfpenny.


yoxter

[…] U was an Uptucker, fly with the cord; / V was a Varnisher, dressed like a lord; / Y was a Yoxter that eat caper sauce; / Z was a Ziff who was flashed on the horse.

1846, George William MacArthur Reynolds, The Mysteries of London, page 60:

(UK, slang, obsolete) A convict returned from transportation before his time.


head beetler

The line of flunkies, like a rijiment of tin men workin' on strings, all together threw up their hands in horror, a look on their face like someone stole their last penny, and the head beetler of them, bowin' till his three ends met, said, […]

1920, Seumas MacManus, Top o' the Mornin', page 161:

Later Mattie, the 'head beetler' of my father's family, arrived wearing his customary tweed jacket.

2016, Patrick Deeley, The Hurley Maker's Son:

(archaic, UK, dialect) The leader of a group of workmen.


cock-robin shop

cock-robin shop (plural cock-robin shops)

(UK, slang, obsolete) A small, disreputable printing office.


cat's meat

Animals' lungs used to be sold as food for cats.

You must let him have all the jaw-work to himself, and give a holiday to your cat's meat.

1821, J. Burrowes, Life in St George's Fields:


Jack-in-the-water

(UK, slang, obsolete) An attendant at the watermen's stairs on the river and seaport towns.


put in the pin

en-verb

put in the pin (third-person singular simple present puts in the pin, present participle putting in the pin, simple past and past participle put in the pin)

puts in the pin (present singular third-person)
putting in the pin (participle present)
put in the pin (participle past)
put in the pin (past)

From the ancient peg tankard, which was furnished with a row of pins, or pegs, to regulate the amount which each person was to drink.

(UK, slang, obsolete) To refrain from drinking alcohol.


shove in the mouth

en-noun

shove in the mouth (plural shoves in the mouth)

Then he's the most comfortable ghost I ever heard of; for Theodore and I saw him not a week ago taking a shove in the mouth at old Mother Murly's in St. Martin's Lane, with two or three underlings of the gallery about him […]

(UK, slang, obsolete) A glass of spirits drunk quickly in one go.


shirtlifting

(slang, derogatory, UK, Australia) Of a man: effeminately homosexual.


daisy-kicker

Do you observe that stout fellow yonder, with a stick in his hand? He has been a Daisy-kicker, and, by his arts and contrivances having saved a little money, is now a regular dealer, and may generally be seen here on selling days.

There was a “daisy-kicker” there in a twinkling to take reins and lead the horses off for a drink and a rubdown, with the older ostler waiting hopefully by the stable doors to see if he might make money by putting them up for the night, […]

(UK, slang, obsolete) An ostler at a large inn.


what's the betting

(UK, informal) How much do you want to bet that …?


aeroplane mode

aeroplane mode (countable and uncountable, plural aeroplane modes)

(UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia) Alternative form of airplane mode


turn queen's evidence

en-verb

turn queen's evidence (third-person singular simple present turns queen's evidence, present participle turning queen's evidence, simple past and past participle turned queen's evidence)

turns queen's evidence (present singular third-person)
turning queen's evidence (participle present)
turned queen's evidence (participle past)
turned queen's evidence (past)

Coordinate term: (when the monarch is male) turn king's evidence

(British, law) Of a person accused of a crime, to give evidence against one's accomplices in the hope of receiving a lighter punishment. Used when the monarch is female.


turn king's evidence

turn king's evidence (third-person singular simple present turns king's evidence, present participle turning king's evidence, simple past and past participle turned king's evidence)

turns king's evidence (present singular third-person)
turning king's evidence (participle present)
turned king's evidence (participle past)
turned king's evidence (past)

turn queen's evidence
turn queen's evidence#English

(British, law) Alternative form of turn queen's evidence (used when the monarch is male)


chapwoman

From Middle English chapwoman, by analogy with chapman.

(chiefly British, archaic) A woman who buys and sells; a female trader.


logarithmisation

(UK) Alternative spelling of logarithmization


CAMHS

w:Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

(UK) Initialism of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.


VCP

vehicle checkpoint
vehicle checkpoint#English

(UK, law enforcement) Initialism of vehicle checkpoint.


Ingerland

/ˈɪŋɡəˌlænd/

♪ Ingerland, Ingerland, Inger-la-and / Ingerland, Ingerland, In-ger-land ♪

(slang, UK, representing pronunciation used in football chants) England.


parish-pump

parish pump politics

parish-pump squabbles

(UK, dated, derogatory, figurative) parochial, of local interest only; petty


obstacle race

(chiefly UK) A race on foot through an obstacle course.


caravanist

(UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) One who travels in a caravan (towed furnished vehicle).


Nightingale court

en-noun

Nightingale court (plural Nightingale courts)

Derived from the establishment of temporary hospitals to house the surplus of patients created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the first being NHS Nightingale in Canning Town, East London. Ultimately named after British nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale.

named-after

The Lowry Theatre in Manchester is to be turned into a Nightingale court as part of the Government's bid to clear a 500,000-case backlog.

2020 September 22, “Lowry Theatre lands new role as Nightingale court”, in The Daily Telegraph, page 4:

CIRENCESTER’S former magistrates court will become a ‘Nightingale Court’ to help deal with the hearing backlog. There are more than 1,000 criminal cases are waiting to be heard in Gloucestershire – a record high and a number that has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic.

2020 December 3, “‘Nightingale Court’ may open next month”, in The Gloucestershire Echo, page 5:

The Mercure Nottingham Sherwood Hotel, in Mansfield Road, has become a “Nightingale Court”, which the Ministry of Justice said will “free up the Crown Court for more jury trials.”

2021 March 25, Matt Jarram, “Hotel is ‘Nightingale Court’”, in Nottingham Evening Post, page 6:

MOST nightingale courts in England and Wales – including the one in Swansea – will be kept open for another year in a bid to cut backlogs of cases and reduce the time victims spend waiting for justice.

2023 February 20, “Nightingale court to continue”, in South Wales Evening Post, Swansea, page 8:

(UK, neologism) A temporary court in England and Wales established to deal with the backlog of legal cases brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020.


chatterbag

(UK, dialect, informal) Synonym of chatterbox (“talkative person”)


UKVI

(UK, visas) Initialism of UK Visas and Immigration.


fagless

en-adj

fagless (comparative more fagless, superlative most fagless)

more fagless (comparative)
most fagless (superlative)

She gave him the whole cigarette and he swaggered back to the group, flaunting his trophy to the fagless.

(UK, Ireland, colloquial) Without a cigarette.


do one's sums

en-verb

do one's sums (third-person singular simple present does one's sums, present participle doing one's sums, simple past did one's sums, past participle done one's sums)

does one's sums (present singular third-person)
doing one's sums (participle present)
did one's sums (past)
done one's sums (participle past)

(UK, informal) To figure out whether one can afford to pay for something.


all-Ireland

(British, Ireland) The Republic of Ireland and the British Northern Ireland collectively.


double-jabbed

Double-jabbed adults will no longer be forced to isolate at home after coming into contact with someone with Covid, Boris Johnson has declared.

2021 May 7, Paul Waugh, “Double-Jabbed Adults Will No Longer Have To Isolate At Home After Covid ‘Contact’”, in Huffington Post UK:

The requirement for double-jabbed people to isolate after contact with a positive case is due to end on 16 August, four weeks after the majority of England's Covid rules are set to end, to allow more people to be vaccinated.

2021 July 8, Hamish Mackay, Alex Kleiderman, “Covid-19: Amber list quarantine for fully vaccinated to end on 19 July”, in BBC News:

Self-isolation will also be removed for arrivals from Amber list countries from July 19, if they have been double jabbed within a UK vaccine programme.

2021 July 13, Elsa Maishman, “Covid Scotland: Self-isolation requirement to be scrapped for double jabbed from August 9”, in The Scotsman:

It comes just days before Freedom Day, with ministers urging everyone to get double jabbed.

2021 July 14, Ellie Cambridge, “Two-thirds of British adults now double jabbed as Boris beats Freedom Day target”, in The Sun:

Graham McLeod, from Bolton, who has been staying on on France's Atlantic coast, said he would also have to isolate despite being double-jabbed.

2021 July 16, Sophie Morris, “COVID-19: Travellers frustrated at 'chaotic' government U-turn over France quarantine rule”, in Sky News:

Starting yesterday, primary schools can arrange extracurricular activities for pupils double-jabbed for more than two weeks after classes or during the other half of a school day.

2022 October 26, Lilian Cheng, Fiona Sun, Danny Mok, “Full-day primary classes to resume if 70pc double-jabbed”, in South China Morning Post, Hong Kong, page A1:

(US, UK, neologism) Of a person, having received both doses (jabs) of a COVID vaccine.


go off at a tangent

go off at a tangent (third-person singular simple present goes off at a tangent, present participle going off at a tangent, simple past went off at a tangent, past participle gone off at a tangent)

goes off at a tangent (present singular third-person)
going off at a tangent (participle present)
went off at a tangent (past)
gone off at a tangent (participle past)

go off on a tangent
go off on a tangent#English

(UK) Alternative form of go off on a tangent


trouser leg

(British) Either of the legs of a pair of trousers.


bogie bolster wagon

en-noun

bogie bolster wagon (plural bogie bolster wagons)

(rail transport, UK) A long flat wagon mounted on two four-wheel bogies, with transverse baulks of timber (bolsters) placed at intervals on the wagon's bed to carry the load.


day return

Special cheap day return facilities have been introduced to popularise the railbuses.

1959 March, “Talking of Trains: Railbuses on the W.R.”, in Trains Illustrated, page 121:

(travel, UK) A reduced-price fare and ticket for a journey on public transport out and back in one day.


in the lap of the gods

(UK) Up to chance; Outside of one's ability to control or affect the result.


flag shagger

The flag shaggers love it. He's got them all up in arms about the IMP's policy on trade deficits and surpluses.

(UK, slang, derogatory) A fervent patriot.


bed-and-breakfast deal

bed-and-breakfast deal (plural bed-and-breakfast deals)

From the idea that one might stay in a bed and breakfast, since the trades take place on two consecutive days.

(UK, finance) The practice of selling a position on the last trading day of the year to establish a tax loss, and then repurchasing early on the first session of the new trading year, to restore the position.


ozzie

From a pronunciation of hospital with h-dropping, + -ie.

I became most distressed when talking to a man from Liverpool who said he was going up the ozzie? I thought he was planning to examine an Australian, but it turned out he was going to the hospital.

2001, Nursing Times, Nursing Mirror, volume 97, numbers 5-8:

What a way to start the new century – in the ozzie or a police cell.

2014, Maureen Lee, The Seven Streets of Liverpool:


bed-and-breakfast transaction

bed-and-breakfast transaction (plural bed-and-breakfast transactions)

bed-and-breakfast deal
bed-and-breakfast deal#English

(UK, finance) Synonym of bed-and-breakfast deal


on the phone

(dated, UK) Connected to a telephone system or having a landline telephone in one's home.


a fair bit

(informal, UK) a little bit, somewhat, kind of; a good amount


lennock

en-adj

lennock (comparative more lennock, superlative most lennock)

more lennock (comparative)
most lennock (superlative)


as the gull flies

From the fact that whilst gulls fly to their source of food, their flight bypasses obstacles like rivers and terrain. Compare beeline.

It is 240 miles as the gull flies.

(UK, Ireland, idiomatic) In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.


biscuit tin

She rang under my feet like an empty Huntley and Palmer biscuit-tin kicked along a gutter; she was nothing so solid in make, and rather less pretty in shape, but I had expended enough hard work on her to make me love her.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 218:

(UK) A medium-sized metal container with removable lid used to store biscuits and keep them fresh.


plot armour

British standard spelling of plot armor.


railwayist

The importance of the British railways in the prosecution of the war makes it necessary to restrict the broad tolerance and even encouragement with which the railway companies in the past have viewed the enthusiasm of the railwayist.

1940 July, “Notes and News: The Appearance of Evil—A Warning to Railway Enthusiasts”, in Railway Magazine, page 418:

(rail transport, UK, dated) A railway enthusiast or railfan.


pingdemic

Blend of ping + pandemic, coined in 2021.

The Metropolitan Line was forced to close on July 17 because so many workers were self-isolating that insufficient control room staff remained to run the service.

2021 July 28, Paul Clifton, “Network News: COVID 'pingdemic' forces Metropolitan Line closure”, in RAIL, number 936, page 10:

Output in consumer-facing services fell 0.3 per cent in July, the first decline since January, mainly because of a 2.5 per cent drop in retail sales during bad weather and a spike in cases in mid-July that caused the so-called "pingdemic", after the NHS Covid-19 app ordered hundreds of thousands to self-isolate.

2021 September 11, Valentina Romei, “Recovery slows as 'pingdemic' dents growth: Delta variant”, in Financial Times, London, page 3:

To that end, testing should be used to keep society open not shut it down, which is what is happening now despite Mr Johnson's intentions. That lesson should have been learnt with the "pingdemic" last summer but apparently was not.

2022 January 5, “‘Pingdemic’ lessons: established 1855”, in The Daily Telegraph, London, page 17:

The NHS Covid-19 app behind the controversial “pingdemic” is to be shut down next month. The digital contact tracing service, which crippled businesses and forced millions of workers into quarantine, will stop working on April 27 for lack of use.

2023 March 29, “‘Pingdemic’ Covid app to be locked down forever”, in The Daily Telegraph, page 2:

(UK, informal, neologism) The rapid rise in self-isolation resulting from many people being sent advisory alerts ("pings") by the National Health Service’s COVID-19 test and trace app for mobile phones.


gypsy cream

Coordinate term: custard cream

Avril helped herself to a gypsy cream.

2014, Joan Plant, The Cure Is Sometimes...:

Betty Hutch would have the tea waiting for them and Beth's mouth was watering at the prospect of a gypsy cream to have with it.

2019, Nadine Dorries, The Lovely Lane Box Set: Books 1-3:

(UK) A biscuit consisting of a soft vanilla or chocolate cream layer between two oaty biscuits.


on the district

Midwives working on the district rarely saw women die because, on the whole, they would transfer to hospital any women with severe problems.

2013, Nicky Leap, Billie Hunter, The Midwife's Tale:

Pethidine, a synthetic opioid developed in Germany during the war, was used in 75 per cent of hospital labours by 1948. In contrast midwives working on the district were not able to offer it to their women until 1951.

2013, Tania McIntosh, A Social History of Maternity and Childbirth, page 96:

(UK, medicine, historical) Of a midwife: associated with a particular hospital, and travelling to attend patients in the nearby area.


elevener

(British, informal, dialect, dated) Synonym of elevenses (“mid-morning break for a drink or snack”)


buy a pup

en-verb

buy a pup (third-person singular simple present buys a pup, present participle buying a pup, simple past and past participle bought a pup)

buys a pup (present singular third-person)
buying a pup (participle present)
bought a pup (participle past)
bought a pup (past)

(UK, slang, dated) To buy something that ultimately proves to be worth nothing or less than promised.


crown witness

(UK law) A person implicated in a criminal case who turn against their accomplices by serving as a witness for the state and who may enter into a witness protection program afterwards.


Yankland

(slang, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, UK, sometimes derogatory) The United States.


barmskin

From Middle English barnyskyn, barym skyn.

(UK, dialect, obsolete) A blacksmith's leather apron.


beanfeaster

(chiefly British) One who takes part in a beanfeast.


pitcoal

(historical, British) Coal from a pit: mineral coal mined from a mine, as opposed to charcoal or seacoal.


bogglebo

(UK, obsolete) A bugbear (imaginary fearsome creature).

In the north country witches were sometimes called boggleboes. This was the name given to a woman from Hylton. [...] to the villagers of Hylton and the stall keepers at the market, she was known as Old Bogglebo.


emparish

emparish (third-person singular simple present emparishes, present participle emparishing, simple past and past participle emparished)

emparishes (present singular third-person)
emparishing (participle present)
emparished (participle past)
emparished (past)

Sufficient petition signatures to emparish the entire area was acquired from residents by August 2006, which the Isle of Wight Council then submitted to Government with their support. (Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council)

(UK, uncommon) To create a parish for an area, in particular a civil parish.


own brand

Supermarkets are fighting national brands with own brand products.

He stared at his mother across the kitchen while she put a box of own-brand cornflakes into the press.

2018, Sally Rooney, “Two Days Later (April 2011)”, in Normal People:

(UK) A brand name that is associated with or owned by a place of business (often a supermarket, or other chain) that sells products under that name, usually for less money than other brands.


compulsory purchase order

en-noun

compulsory purchase order (plural compulsory purchase orders)

The plans also required several Compulsory Purchase Orders to acquire nearby land.

2021 July 28, Peter Plisner, “The race to the Games has begun”, in RAIL, number 936, page 57:

(law, UK, Ireland) An order made, usually for the purchase of land required for a construction project.


JBC

Joint Biosecurity Centre
w:Joint Biosecurity Centre

(UK) Initialism of Joint Biosecurity Centre.


unshagged

And as if to confirm what cycling shorts had suggested, the magazines that once determined what would make a girl shaggable now explained to me why I and most of the other sixty per cent would remain unshagged until our buns could crack the porcelain.

2003, James Birrell, The Manana Man, page 29:

(British, slang) With whom nobody has had sexual intercourse.


makeaway

Thousands of venues are offering “makeaways” – a part-cooked takeaway that you finish off or reheat – so that you can enjoy fine dining in the comfort of your own home.

[2021 February 6, Sarah Rainey, “Bring l'amour to your door”, in Scottish Daily Mail, page 53:

Recreate your favourite meat-free dishes with these DIY ‘makeaway’ kits

2021 February 8, Kayleigh Rattle, “10 best vegan restaurant meal kits for you to make at home”, in Independent:

Even the most well thought-out Makeaway or Finish At Home menu kits come with a degree of preparation and pots and pans.

2021 May 23, Julie Scrumptious, “Crumbs up for chocolate treat; Broken up Rich Tea biscuits elevate this choccy cake to a dessert status”, in Daily Record and Sunday Mail, page 19:

Local pub group, Oakman Inns, have recently launched their exciting new “Makeaway” meal boxes, Oakman At Home. […] This year, with their pubs still closed, their award-winning Chef Director, Ross Pike, and his team have created a special three-course Mother's Day Makeaway Feast to deliver direct to your door.

2022 February 15, Jupiter International Pty, “Oakman Inns & Restaurants: When The Local Really Means Local”, in News Bites Finance:

(UK) A kit containing the ingredients for a meal, delivered by a restaurant to the diner's home for them to cook.


anotherkins

These Theologers were grand Adversaries of the Christian Religion, but they symbolize with the Principles of it at anotherkins rate than the Epicurean Exploders of Magick.

1706, Richard Brocklesby, An Explication of the Gospel-Theism and the Divinity of the Christian Religion, page 322:

(UK, regional, obsolete) Of another kind.


clayhead

It has its own local delicacy, the oatcake, a sort of heavy-duty tortilla with the texture of flannel, which exiled 'clayheads' get all tearful about […]

2008, Stuart Maconie, Pies and Prejudice: In search of the North, page 33:

She is proud to be called a 'Clayhead'—a person born in the Potteries (Stoke on Trent) and will always turn over a china cup to see where it is made.

(UK, slang, rare) A person from the Potteries region of England.


city gent

Gone, never to return, is the famous minute bell at High Barnet, the sound of which has caused generations of ' City gents ' to precipitate themselves with most undignified acceleration down the steep station slope in an endeavour to scramble aboard the 8.34 a.m. Moorgate.

1940 October, “Notes and News: The High Barnet Branch”, in Railway Magazine, page 569:

(UK, informal) A businessman working in the City of London financial district.


landed gentry

(British, historical) A largely historical social class of landowners who could live entirely from rental income, or at least owned a country estate.


wardable

His Lordship having left a ward there, the castle being wardable, the Lord Mountgarrett was put at liberty, and therehence [the Lord Lieutenant] marched to Limerick, […]

1899, Great Britain, Calendar of the State Papers Relating to Ireland ...: Apr. 1599-Feb. 1600, Public Record Office, page 134:

(UK, obsolete) Liable to the tax called castle-guard.


put some timber on

en-verb

put some timber on (third-person singular simple present puts some timber on, present participle putting some timber on, simple past and past participle put some timber on)

puts some timber on (present singular third-person)
putting some timber on (participle present)
put some timber on (participle past)
put some timber on (past)

Most of us will probably go on to have boring jobs but one day I'm probably gonna have me own company and you'll go on Facebook and tell people ya went to school with me. I'll message ya back and I'll say 'yeah I went t' school with ya and din't we have a great time', whilst all along I'll be finking 'cor, you've put some timber on.'

2015, Keith Lemon, Keith Lemon's Big One:

(UK, slang, intransitive) To put on weight; to become more heavy or obese.


shoffice

This spring, is your fancy turning towards a delightful garden room? Whether it’s a place to hang out (or hide from the family), an art studio, a gymnasium, a home office or shoffice, or even occasional accommodation for visitors, these stylish domestic add-ons have never been so popular.

2019 February 22, Jayne Dowle, A pod, a ‘shoffice’ or a garden room:

Cropping up at the bottom of gardens up and down the UK is the latest trend among the country’s home workers – the “shoffice”, an office in a shed.

2021 May 30, Joanna Partridge, Home working drives demand for ‘shoffice’ space in UK gardens:

(British, informal) A small building, located in a garden, serving as a home workspace.


mad lad

(UK, slang) A male who engages in unusual and/or dangerous behavior, typically in a light-hearted manner.


RASC

Royal Army Service Corps
w:Royal Army Service Corps

(UK, historical, military) Initialism of Royal Army Service Corps.


arsebiscuit

(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, slang, vulgar) Alternative form of arse biscuit


arse biscuit

(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) A piece of dried excrement that remains attached to the hair of the anus.


too right

(informal, UK, Australia, New Zealand) Used to express complete agreement with a previous statement by the interlocutor.


combination pliers

(US, UK) A type of pliers used by linemen, electricians, and other tradesmen primarily for gripping, twisting, bending and cutting wire, cable and small metalwork components.