{"id":23148,"date":"2016-11-03T12:10:03","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T11:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/?p=23148"},"modified":"2023-01-04T11:00:06","modified_gmt":"2023-01-04T11:00:06","slug":"an-illustrated-guide-to-weird-british-expressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/an-illustrated-guide-to-weird-british-expressions\/","title":{"rendered":"An Illustrated Guide to Weird British Expressions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Britain is weird. If it\u2019s not too cold, it\u2019s too hot. If we\u2019re not talking about the weather, we\u2019re talking about the rain. If you asked someone what\u2019s our most peculiar trait, they\u2019d probably tell you it\u2019s our odd choice of expressions. With so many strange, weird and wonderful British expressions to explore we’d thought it would be a great idea to put together a definitive list of the most unusual British expressions.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s 9 of the weirdest phrases Britain has to offer.<\/h2>\n

1. You’re all bum and parsley<\/h3>\n

Scotland knows how to say it like it is, and own the \u201cless polite\u201d phrases in the English language. Know someone who\u2019s a little too full of themselves? Bring them back to earth with the wit of the Scots.<\/p>\n

\"youre-all-bum-and-parsley\"<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> A description of someone who is a loud know-it-all.
\nHow you would use it in conversation:<\/strong> \u201cYou don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about; you\u2019re all bum and parsley!\u201d
\nPart of the UK typically used:<\/strong> Scotland<\/p>\n

Hear this phrase being used by booking a cottage in Scotland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Happy as a pig in muck<\/h3>\n

Pigs and mud go together like a match made in heaven. So don\u2019t take offence when a Yorkshire-person suggests you are a pig and like rolling in the dirt, they’re actually being nice!<\/p>\n

\"happy-as-a-pig-in-muck\"<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Very happy
\nHow you would use it in conversation:<\/strong> \u201cIf no one bothers him, he\u2019s happy as a pig in muck.\u201d
\nPart of the UK typically used:<\/strong> Yorkshire<\/p>\n

Hear this phrase in action by booking a Yorkshire holiday cottage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. Were ya born in a barn<\/h3>\n

No, we\u2019re not talking about baby Jesus\u2019 place of birth. Yorkshire residents use this expression if someone was to enter or leave a room and forget to do that crucial thing.<\/p>\n

\"were-ya-born-in-a-barn\"<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Close the door
\nHow you would use it in conversation:<\/strong> \u201cI just got it warm in here, were ya born in a barn?\u201d
\nPart of the UK typically used:<\/strong> Yorkshire<\/p>\n

4. Not give a monkey\u2019s<\/h3>\n

This cheeky phrase captures the mischievous nature of these creatures. There\u2019s debate over the missing word (a monkey\u2019s what?).<\/p>\n

\"not-give-a-monkeys\"<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Be completely indifferent
\nHow you would use it in conversation:<\/strong> \u201cI don\u2019t give a monkey\u2019s about what your dream was last night Jessica.\u201d
\nPart of the UK typically used:<\/strong> UK wide<\/p>\n

5. It looks a bit black over Bill\u2019s mothers<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s claimed that Bill refers to William Shakespeare with his mother, Mary Arden of Stratford, stuck in the rain. Perhaps she\u2019s sat humming away to Travis, \u201cWhy does it always rain on me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"it-looks-a-bit-black-over-bills-mothers\"<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> The sky is dark with rain
\nHow you would use it in conversation:<\/strong> \u201cOoh heck, it looks a bit black over Bill\u2019s mothers that way\u201d
\nPart of the UK typically used:<\/strong> Midlands<\/p>\n

6. That\u2019s the badger<\/h3>\n

If you were to exclaim this when not in the West Country you should prepare yourself for a few confused explanations -\u201cThat\u2019s not a badger Colin…\u201d<\/p>\n

\"thats-the-badger\"<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> That\u2019s exactly the one I was looking for
\nHow you would use it in conversation:<\/strong> \u201cThat\u2019s the badger! That\u2019s the name I couldn\u2019t remember!\u201d
\nPart of the UK typically used:<\/strong> West Country<\/p>\n

Experience this weird expression by staying in a West Country cottage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7. Bob’s your uncle<\/h3>\n

A quintessentially British slang word<\/a> typically used after explaining how to do something. There remains doubt however who\u2019s Uncle Bob this was.<\/p>\n

\"bobs-your-uncle\"<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> There you have it
\nHow you would use it in conversation:<\/strong> \u201cJust pull that handle, press the button, Bob\u2019s your Uncle!\u201d
\nPart of the UK typically used:<\/strong> UK wide<\/p>\n

8. Making a right pig\u2019s ear of something<\/h3>\n

Pigs do seem to get it hard when it comes to expressions. Despite it becoming a new fashionable food trend, if you\u2019ve ever messed something up you\u2019ll be sure to have heard this phrase before.<\/p>\n

\"making-a-right-pigs-ear-of-something\"<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> Handle something badly
\nHow you would use it in conversation:<\/strong> \u201cShe made a right pig\u2019s ear of that presentation!\u201d
\nPart of the UK typically used:<\/strong> UK Wide<\/p>\n

9. You\u2019re peckin\u2019 me \u2018ead<\/h3>\n

Ever get that feeling that a bird is tapping at your head? It\u2019s likely someone is really testing your patience. Or a bird thinks you\u2019re a tree. Either way, get out of there fast!<\/p>\n

\"youre-peckin-me-ead\"<\/p>\n

What it means:<\/strong> You are annoying me
\nHow you would use it in conversation:<\/strong> \u201cWould you give it a rest, you\u2019re peckin\u2019 me \u2018ead!\u201d
\nPart of the UK typically used<\/strong>: North West England<\/p>\n

Hear this quirky phrase first-hand when booking a cottage in North West England<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Our Top 9 weirdly funny British sayings infographic<\/h2>\n

\"Illustrated<\/p>\n

Fair use<\/h2>\n

If you’re a journalist interested in covering this project, we encourage you to use any of the graphics included above. When doing so, please attribute the authors by providing a link back to this page so your readers can learn more about this project and the related research.<\/p>\n

There you have it, 9 of Britain\u2019s weirdest phrases. We tried not to make too much of a pig\u2019s ear of it, but if you don\u2019t give a monkey\u2019s, well, you\u2019re all bum and parsley!<\/p>\n

If you would like to add to our collection of weird British phrases then get in touch with us on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a> using the #SykesBritishSayings<\/p>\n

\n

Sources<\/h2>\n

McAlpine, F. (2014). 25 Scottish Saying That Will Get You Through Life. bbcamerica.com
\nBBC. (2014). Voices. bbc.co.uk
\nBBC. (2014). Voices. bbc.co.uk
\nRubery, J. (2016). 10 British animal idioms and expressions. oxforddictionaries.com
\nBentley, D. (2016). The 50 top words and phrases that say you\u2019re from Birmingham or the Black Country. birminghammail.co.uk
\nCork, T. (2016). The BEST 23 West Country words \u2013 but how many do you use? somersetlive.co.uk
\nMartin, G. (Date unknown). The meaning and origin of the expression: Bob\u2019s your uncle. phrases.org.uk
\nRubery, J. (2016). 10 British animal idioms and expressions. oxforddictionaries.com
\nFlannagan, E. (2016). Mancunian dictionary: The 50 top words and phrases that say you\u2019re a Manc. manchestereveningnews.co.uk<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Britain is weird. If it\u2019s not too cold, it\u2019s too hot. If we\u2019re not talking about the weather, we\u2019re talking about the rain. If you asked someone what\u2019s our most peculiar trait, they\u2019d probably tell you it\u2019s our odd choice of expressions. With so many strange, weird and wonderful British expressions to explore we’d thought […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":24282,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-tips","location-england","location-scotland","location-wales"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23148\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sykescottages.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}