The Slang Podcast - Learn British English Now

Our slang word of the week is mug spelt M-U-G. This is a tricky word due to its vast range of meanings within both slang and formal English.

Now our first and formal meaning of mug is a noun meaning a vessel for hot drinks.

- Every morning I drink a big mug of earl grey tea-

It can also be used as the quantity that can be held in a mug, for example:

- Oh no I just knocked over a mugful of tea!

However mug has many more meanings. It has origins in working-class communities in Britain, where several definitions can be found.

Our first is a noun meaning a human face. In the 18th century mugs, the vessels, were often shaped like human heads. So people began to refer to the faces of those who were not especially attractive as ‘mugs’ highlighting their unattractive features that resembled the drinking vessel.

Nowadays "mug" can simply mean face, for example:

- The football hit me right in my mug!

This then explains the term "mug-shot", a noun meaning a photograph of a person's face made for an official purpose, especially police records.

These connotations of crime lead us to our next use of mug, this time a verb meaning to be robbed at gunpoint or with the threat of violence. For example:

- I got mugged on the streets of London.

This term stems from the attack itself, where you may perhaps be hit on your face or mug, during a robbery.

In the last few years with the rise of reality television, such as Love island we are beginning to hear a new use of the noun mug. In many of these shows, when rejected by a romantic partner a contestant may comment that they have been "mugged off" or "made to look like a mug".

In this case a mug means someone who is easily deceived or slightly stupid, so if you are "mugged off" you are made to look like an idiot. For example:

- She asked him on a date when she is engaged to you? You have been mugged off.

A new adjective has also been coined in the last few years, which is muggy M-U-G-G-Y meaning to have a tendency to mug people off. A participant in Love island 2017 was even given the nickname "Muggy Mike" due to his tendency to steal girlfriends from other men in the Love Island house.

So what do you drink from a mug? Have you ever been mugged or worse mugged off? Let us know!

That’s the end of our episode so remember to tune in for our next episode to see what new slang we have in store for you!

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast or instagram for updates and more slang!

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Have you ever suffered from FOMO or JOMO? If you've no idea what I'm talking about, then it could be argued that you're in fact already a victim of them without knowing!

So FOMO, F-O-M-O what is it? This relatively new acronym stands for the expression fear of missing out, used to describe that feeling of anxiety which many people experience when they discover that other people have had fun together, spent time together or done just about anything which they were not a part of.

We've all experienced FOMO, or the "fear of missing out," but what about JOMO? JOMO describes the exact opposite to FOMO, JOMO is the acronym for joy of missing out.

Essentially it is a feeling of pleasure you get from spending time doing what you want and not worrying about what other people are doing or saying. If you're more than content to stay in and watch a film and curl up on the sofa, that's the joy of missing out.

Both terms are the latest examples of the way electronic communication, and especially online discourse, have raised the use of acronyms in everyday language. Although mainly found online we can still use them in everyday speech.

Such as;
- "I can’t believe I can’t go the the party, I have such FOMO"
- "I am so happy I am not going to that party, I have JOMO this evening"

That’s the end of our episode so remember to tune in for our next episode so see what new slang we have in store for you!

Are you experiencing JOMO or FOMO? Let us know!

Let us know! You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

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So you have planned three holidays, booked time off work and are totally ready to lay on a beach sipping pina coladas under the sun. This I am sure were many of your summer plans, unfortunately they have been put on hold due to the recent pandemic.

How do you feel now? Angry? Disappointed? Salty? Yes Salty!

Let me explain myself, in formal english Salty S-A-L-T-Y is an adjective meaning tasting or containing salt, Of course, you may have assumed that it was in relation to food. For example:

- "damn you over salted this chicken."
- "these chips are really too salty"

In slang we can also say a person is salty. No I do not mean one should go around licking their friends and commenting on their taste.

In slang salty is an adjective of emotion. Feeling salty is akin to feeling upset or angry. It can be over something minor, like getting teased or sometimes over something larger like your holiday plans being cancelled.

So where does it come from and why do we use it?
In fact the term salty comes from US slang and was first attested in 1938. It has the same meaning as today, to be angry and irritated.

Surprisingly it stemmed from referring to sailors, who were tough and aggressive. In naval terms, the salty guys were the ones who have been on ship for a long time such as sailors and marines. During this time at sea, the ocean waves would knock them around, they would work very hard and while at the top of the ship, the salty sea and air would permeate their clothes and skin, they would feel rough and exhausted and salty.

Now many of us are not sailors battling against the harsh sea, yet we still use salty to describe our emotions. As such "Man, I can’t believe James didn’t want to date you. Are you sad or just salty?" or "Why are you so damn salty today?"

That’s the end of our episode of the day so remember to tune in for our next episode so see what new slang we have in store for you! So what makes you salty? Let us know! You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.
Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

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My friend Kelly used to work at an Italian Pizzeria in Canterbury. She worked with many Italian chefs and would compliment them on the daily pasta specials looking ‘sick’.

Their response was usually one of embarrassment or anger, thinking she had insulted their cooking. A basic cardinal sin in Italy. This led to an awkward work environment to say the least, until so explained ‘sick’ was not an insult at all but in fact a compliment!

Sick S-I-C-K in formal English means to not be in good health. If you are sick you should stay at home and get lots of rest!

However, as we know slang likes to make every formal word very confusing, just like back slang. If you can’t remember what that is go back and check out episode 3 on our website.

So in slang sick is an adjective describing something that is cool or excellent. To describe something being sick is to give a compliment. For example:

- Whoa, your new car is sick!

This word stems from the US and its early uses have been traced to jazz slang popular in the 1920s onwards. It began to find popularly and was frequently used in the UK from the early 2000s.

So if someone from the UK comments that you look sick, don’t worry, you don’t need to rush home and check your temperature. You look great!

That’s the end of our episode so remember to tune in for our next episode so see what new slang we have in store for you! You can find us on our website the https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page http://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

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Today we will be exploring idiomatic phrases that I would say are rare gems of slang. Before we start, I want to give you some context.

You and your friend have decided to go for a day at the beach, you have been planning this trip for a long time, you have organised everything and finally the morning comes. Just as you are about to set off your friend, who should be driving informs you that his driving license expired one month ago!

Now what would we say about this friend, that he is stupid? dumb? Oh no we can be much more creative than that!

How about using some idiomatic phrases?

We could say that this person is a few two sandwiches short of a picnic. This phrase is used to indicate in a humorous way that you think someone is very stupid or is behaving very strangely. Basically meaning they are almost complete but not fully. 'A few sandwiches short of a picnic' is fairly recent. The first citation of it was documented in a BBC's Christmas Special in December 1987.

This pejorative phrase meaning not very intelligent or of questionable mental capacity can appear in many different forms and variations .

There are many phrases of the form 'an X short of a Y'. These all mean the same thing, that is, the person being spoken of is stupid. The 'short of' insult began in Australia and New Zealand in the mid 19th century.

I have found it can be traced back to 1852 when Colonel Godfrey Mundy wrote:

- "Let no man having, a shingle short try this country."

Basically meaning that he did not want anyone stupid to come and live in his country.

Many of these phrases have been adapted while always including having something loose or missing for example we could say something is A few crumbs short of a biscuit or A few cards short of a full deck. So the next time you want to call someone stupid try to be a bit more creative about it! Remember the form 'an X short of a Y'.

That’s the end of our episode so remember to tune in for our next episode so see what new slang we have in store for you!

If you can think of any great Slang insults we would love to hear them.

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

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Things don’t seem easy these days, whether you're setting up an online bank account, learning how to work i-teach platform to teach your students, or finding the right ingredients in the supermarket to make your boyfriend's favorite cake.

I hope things feel easier soon, and to prepare you for when they are I have a few phrases to teach you today.

Imagine it is summer 2019 and you want to go to the beach, well hop in your car, drive for twenty 20 minutes and Bob’s your uncle you are there!

No no I am not talking about your literal uncle at the beach."Bob's your uncle" is a phrase commonly used in United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries that means "and there it is" or "and there you have it.".

However a recent article from the New York Magazine asked ten different Brits what the expression means and got ten different answers, ranging from "anything's possible" to "there you are".

Simply translated we could say that this phrase means that the activity you have done or want to do is simply and easy. Typically someone says it to conclude a set of simple instructions or when a result is reached. The meaning is similar to that of the French expression "et voilà!" or the American phrase "easy as pie".

This expression was first coined in 1887. The origins are uncertain, but a common theory is that the expression arose after Conservative Prime Minister Robert Cecil known as Bob appointed his nephew Arthur Balfour as Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1887, an act of favoritism which was apparently both surprising and unpopular. Whatever other qualifications Balfour might have had, "Bob's your uncle" was seen as the main one. So "Bob's your uncle" is another way of saying "your success is guaranteed."

Remember your pronunciation when you use this phrase as it is contracted, we don’t say Bob's your uncle, but it is more fluid such as bobsyauncle.

A phrase with the same meaning is ‘Fanny’s your aunt’. When used together it means complete or the whole lot. If Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt you've got a full set of relatives and you are complete.

Today we can use it like this:

- Where is the post office ?
- Go straight on until you reach the park, take the first right, and Bob’s your uncle - you're there!

That’s the end of our episode of the day so remember to tune in for our next episode so see what new slang we have in store for you! You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

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As I have been trapped inside for a while now, I have been "face timing" many of my close friends who are far away, as I am sure you have all been doing. While speaking to my closest friend Ella I commented:

- "woah! Your face looks absolutely beat!"

You may think this comment is strange as in formal beat BEAT the word beat has negative and strong connotations.

In formal English beat has many meanings as a verb. Firstly beat can mean to defeat someone in a game or other competitive situation. Used as so:

- "France beat Portugal in 2000 in a great football match"

It could also mean to strike someone or something repeatedly and violently. As a noun it is the main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry. Finally beat can be used as an adjective meaning completely exhausted. For example:

- "I'm beat—I need an hour or so to rest"

However when I commented on the appearance of my friends face I was not referring to any of these meanings. The slang term beat B-E-A-T isn’t as aggressive as it sounds. In slang “Beat” can be used as a verb or adjective, and surprisingly it is about beauty and makeup. The verb to beat refers to the application of one's makeup. As an adjective beat means someone either applied their makeup well, or just applied a lot of it. For example:

- " You face looks beat! Where are you going out tonight?"

The term is popular among makeup enthusiasts and the gay community. You can find many examples of ‘beat’ being used in the fantastic ball culture documentary Paris Is Burning created in 1991.

So to clarify when I commented that Ella’s Face was beat I was telling her that her makeup looked beautiful and very professional.

So if your feeling bored at home, get your makeup out and beat your face!

That’s the end of our episode, remember to tune in for our next episode to see what new slang we have in store for you! You can find us on our website http://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-slang-podcast-learn-british-english-now--4117941/support.

Before we get started I wanted to say a few words about the current global situation.
In desperate times we feel panicked and scared for many reasons. I want to thank everyone who is helping us during this crisis, especially doctors and nurses tirelessly working against this pandemic.

All we can do is wait, be kind to each other and most importantly stay inside.

It's safe to say we are all shook. Shook S-H-O-O-K is a slang term that can be used as an adjective meaning shocked, surprised, or startled. The inner monologue for feeling shook is thinking:

- ‘Whoa, what just happened?’

In formal English shook is the past participle of the verb to shake. To shake is to move backwards and forwards or up and down in quick, short movements, or to make something or someone do this. Many things can shake your body and your voice usually, because you are frightened or nervous. For example:

- ‘Her voice shook as she talked about the person who attacked her.’

There is a perfect Idiom reflecting the word shook which you may all know as shaking like a leaf. If you say that someone is shaking like a leaf, you mean that their body is shaking a lot, for instance because they are very cold or frightened. If someone says I was shaking like a leaf before the test, it means they were very nervous.

My guess would be that S-H-O-O-K came from the old phrase “shook up” that was used in the 19th century. Shook up meant to be excited in those times and was revived in 1957 by Elvis Presley.

So in slang Shook describes feelings ranging from discombobulation and fear to rage and elation, kind of like "all shaken up." We could use it like this:

- ‘How you feeling about the current social and economical climate?’
- ‘To be honest Im shook’.

That’s the end of our episode, remember to tune in for our next episode so see what new slang we have in store for you! You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-slang-podcast-learn-british-english-now--4117941/support.

This weekend I have been lazy, I have gone shopping, tidied my flat and spent some time with my chum... Louisa what are you talking about now? What are your chums?

Chums C-H-U-M-S, is a tricky slang word, we can use it as a noun, a verb or an adjective. So let’s see how now!

As a noun Chum simply means a close friend. The origin of “chum” in this sense is strictly used in speech. The phrase Chum first appeared in the late 17th century and was derived from “chamber fellow” meaning roommate. It was used in schools and colleges around Britain simply referring to the person who you shared a room with, however by extension it started to denote, a close friend and/or constant companion.

Nowadays as a noun a chum is a friend or a pal. For example you and your best chums might spend the weekend camping together. The informal word chum is more common in Britain than the US. In Scotland another kind of chum couldn't be more different from a friend. There chum means a chopped up fish parts used as bait on a fishing boat. So be careful how and when you use it.

As a verb to chum someone means to hang out with, escort or to accompany someone somewhere. As a verb it is often used in Scottish slang, especially by people from Glasgow or Edinburgh.

It could be said:

- "Will you chum me to the station?"

Meaning will you come with me to the station. Or it could be used like this:

- "Jake will you chum me up to my house?"
Meaning William will you accompany me up to my house?

Finally as an adjective we have chummy C-H-U-M-M-Y meaning companionable, sociable, intimate. As in:

- "Susan and I are great friends, we are really chummy".

So start using it today! Do you have lots of chums who are very chummy?

That’s the end of our episode of the day so remember to tune in for our next episode so see what new slang we have in store for you! You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-slang-podcast-learn-british-english-now--4117941/support.

While telling my Italian friends about my good friend Ollie from Glasgow I said "he is a good bloke". Bloke? what nationality is that? No it is not a nationality! So what is my friend Ollie?

Bloke B-L-O-K-E is an extremely common term denoting a man. It is a noun used in reference to an ordinary man, with a similar meaning to "average joe" in America.

Bloke is a slang term for a common man found used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The earliest known usage is from the early 19th century, when it was recorded as a London slang term. The word's origin is unknown, although many theories exist regarding its etymology… It has been claimed that the word's roots arise from the Hindi word loke L-O-K-E, meaning a man.

In England bloke was originally found within the language of criminals meaning a man who was not a criminal and usually of high social standing. Criminals themselves would use the term to distinguish themselves from high class ‘blokes’ for example:

- "I stole the bloke's watch right off em."

The earliest found written use of bloke was in 1829 in the court papers of the Old Bailey, The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales. During the trial of 17-year-old John Daly who was charged with housebreaking, where the owner of the house is referred to as a bloke.

Nowadays in the UK bloke is viewed as an average man, however this understanding is slightly different in Australia. In Australia, a bloke is a staple masculine archetype closely associated with the country's identity and pride. The ideal "Aussie bloke" has been portrayed in important works of art and associated with famous Australian men throughout history. In Australia The phrase "He's a good bloke" is frequently used and it literally means "he's a good man".

That’s the end of our episode of the day so remember to tune in for our next episode so see what new slang we have in store for you! You can find us on our website http://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-slang-podcast-learn-british-english-now--4117941/support.

You are listening to our fourth and final episode specialising on slang and money!

Ok on to our next slang term for money… a pony. I can hear you asking me- Louisa why are we now talking about a baby horse? Spelt the same P-O-N-Y pony actually means 25 pounds.

The word has been traced back from the late 18th century in London and has a vast range of suggestions for its etymology. By some it has been suggested that in the 18th century £25 was the typical price paid for a small horse, although historians have contested this is not accurate and far too much money.

Others have suggested that an Indian twenty-five rupee banknote featured a pony, therefore this image was also connection to the cash amount.

A final claim is that pony might derive from the Latin words 'legem pone', which means, 'payment of money, cash down' which begins on the March 25, a quarter day in the old financial calendar, when payments and debts came due.

Our last slang term for money and again animal related we have a monkey M-O-N-K-E-Y, no not the animal but actually meaning 500 pounds.

While this London centric slang is entirely British, it actually stems from 19th century India. The term was coined by British soldiers returning from India where the 500 rupee note of that era had a picture of a monkey on it. They used the term monkey for 500 rupees and on returning to England the saying was converted to sterling to mean £500.

That’s the end of our money series so remember to tune in for our next episode to see what new slang we have in store for you!

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-slang-podcast-learn-british-english-now--4117941/support.

You are listening to our third episode specialising on slang and money!

Today we are starting by looking at the most common and widely used slang terms. I was in a bar recently with my Italian friend, i bought some drinks and she asked me how much i owed her.

I replied ‘only a fiver’ my friend looked at me with such confused on her face and replied ‘five what?!’.

This is when I released we have never spoken about one of slang terms I use most frequently. A fiver F-I-V-E-R simply means a five pound note.

This slang term is used everywhere in the UK, especially down south. You will hear it in pubs, supermarkets and even in restaurants.

Luckily we can also use a tenner T-E-N-N-E-R for a ten pound note. A fiver and a tenner have been used in slang since the mid 1800s. There is no clear reason for these slang terms but they are used daily in the UK, for example

- ‘how much was your t shirt?’
- ‘I gave him a tenner for the T-Shirt."

A five pound note is also sometimes referred to as a bluey for the obvious reason that they used to be the colour blue.

In cockney rhyming slang five pounds can also be referred to as a deep sea diver, rhythming with fiver, however this is not a common slang term. Just a fun one!

So next time you are in an english pub and someone says the pint is a fiver, do not raise your hand in the air and try to high five them! Just hand over a five pound note.

That’s the end of our episode of the day so remember to tune in for our next episode so see what new slang we have in store for you!

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.
Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-slang-podcast-learn-british-english-now--4117941/support.

In our most recent episodes we are discussing slang words for money! Something key when travelling to a different country or even speaking a new language! Today we will be examining slang words for the British Pound Coin.

The most common slang word used for a pound is a quid, a word I use frequently to the confusion of my Italian friends. A quid is equal to 100 pence, and it is generally believed to come from the Latin phrase “quid pro quo,” which translates into "something for something," or an equal exchange for goods or services. It is always used in the singular, so one speaks of 'ten quid' or 'fifty quid', never of 'quids'. This is pretty widely used throughout the country, but a rather old term.

What is a newer one I hear you ask? Well its the word nicker N-I-C-K-E-R, this term has much stronger London associations and dates from early this century. Not pluralised for a number of pounds, eg:

- "It cost me twenty nicker"

Its origins stem for the word N-I-C-K, a word we explored some episodes ago. If you have forgotten go back and check it out! As we found out then 'Nick' has a wide variety of meanings based on cheating, snatching, and stealing. Maybe, a one pound coin was viewed as an item of currency worth nicking and became known as a nicker.

Last and maybe my favourite slang word for 1 pound is a squid S-Q-U-I-D, yes as in the eight armed sea creature. Not normally pluralised, still expressed as 'squid', not squids, e.g., 'Fifty squid'. The most likely origin of this slang expression is from a joke in 1960-70s about a shark who meets his friend the whale one day, and says:

- "I'm glad I bumped into you - here's that squid I owe you.."

So having a squid, quid or a nicker is usually always a good thing, especially if you are on your way to the pub!

Next episode we will be exploring more ways to discuss money in slang, so don’t miss it!

That’s our episode of the day, let’s catch up soon to talk more about slang terms for money. You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-slang-podcast-learn-british-english-now--4117941/support.

Today we will be talking about money, something universal….however us brits have found many words and phrases to use when talking about it.

While the origins of these slang terms are many and various, certainly a lot of English money slang is rooted in various London communities, many sectors such as with street traders and gangs developed their own specific slang, which has produce some strange interpretations commonly used today.....so we are going to explore them now!

Our first word for money is Bread B-R-E-A-D. In formal English this refers to the food but within slang it represents money. This term stems from cockney rhyming slang and metaphoric use of 'bread'. Bread or bread and honey rhymes with = money. Bread also has associations with money, in a metaphorical sense as it can traced back to the Bible. Bread in the sense of money is also linked with the expression 'earning a crust', which alludes to having enough money to pay for one's daily bread.

Closely linked to this phrase, another word for money is dough D-O-U-G-H which appears to be based on "bread". Both words have been popular slang for money since the 1930s.

They could be used like this:

- "Do you have any dough? Or do we need to go to a bank?"
- "Its ok I have some bread for a pint at the pub"

Ok moving on to our next word for money which is Moolah M-O-O-L-A-H. If you have a lot of moolah, you're rich, you have plenty of cash. The word "Moolah" has an Indian origin. Moolah, in Hindi, means the root cause of something. This this slang word has many implications for the way we view money, that it is the root of all!

Last but not least we have Wedge W-E-D-G-E. In formal english a wedge is a triangular shaped tool, used to split open an object. Its connotations with money arise from when coins could be split into quarters so exact weights could be measured. The shape of these sections was a wedge. Nowadays "a wedge" is a pay-packet amount of money or the amount someone earns.

So there we go! Many ways to say money...

Next time you are with an english speaker and they ask you for a wedge, some bread or a bit of moolah you know what they are talking about!

Tune in to our next episode to find out how we can refer to a pound coin in slang, and trust me there are many ways.

That’s our episode of the day, you can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-slang-podcast-learn-british-english-now--4117941/support.

Today we will be exploring more social media slang, in particular how do we identify the sea of people on social media, from trolls to baes...what are they and what do they mean?! Now is your chance to find out so lets get started...

So in formal English a Troll T-R-O-L-L is a character from fairytales, usually an ugly creature depicted as either a giant or a dwarf. However online it means something much different or perhaps even worse.

In Internet slang, a troll is a person who who deliberately starts arguments or says offensive things online, for the troll's amusement or a specific gain. Both the noun and the verb forms of "troll" are associated with Internet discourse. However, the word has also been used more widely. Media attention in recent years has equated trolling with online harassment. In a sentence we could use the verb like this:

- "Someone left a nasty comment on my facebook post"
- "Ignore them, they are just trolling you.’

They are horrible people so watch out for them when you are online! Trolls usually post or respond to comments in a way that will annoy or anger the most people possible. There’s a saying online:

- "Don’t feed the trolls."

This means you shouldn’t interact with someone who is “trolling,” since it will only encourage them. You usually find trolls hanging out on forums, but they can be anywhere online, from your Facebook, to the comments section on a news article.

Ok number two, someone who is not as bad as a troll but still seen in a negative light, a lurker spelt L-U-R-K-E-R. This is someone who visits a forum, blog or website often, but doesn’t leave any comments. The word stems from formal english as "to lurk" means to hide just out of sight. A lurker could also be one who never messages on group chats but simply reads. I must admit during busy work times I find myself doing the same on many group chats. The word could be used as so:

- "On my new blog I really want my lurkers to comment, so I’m going to have a competition!"

Ok last but not least we have bae B-A-E a term of affection for a romantic partner, thought to have come from "baby" or "babe". In fact "bae", is an acronym that stands for "before anyone else".

You will find this word all over social media, especially if you are following a very cringey couple. Ironically and quite unromantically bae in Danish means poop and to worsen things it means "bye" in Icelandic.

That's our episode of the day, you can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

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Today we will be exploring more social media slang! The internet is super important when learning a new language as social media is something that allows you to connect with people from all over the world.

So let’s have a look now at how to navigate the rabbit hole that is social media abbreviations. As most online slang words are acronyms, they will be our focus for today.

To start with we have AMA meaning ‘ask me anything’. The AMA was first made popular on the sharing forum and community, Reddit. Short for “Ask Me Anything,” an AMA is when someone, usually well-known or from an interesting background, goes online and answers questions posed by the community. I would suggest writing on another's or creating your own AMA as it is the perfect way to practice English!

Ok our next is acronym is IRL meaning ‘in real life’ When you’re talking about something that exists offline, you can use IRL. For example: My screen name is PerfectChef because I’m a chef IRL. If you have been chatting to someone online you may want to take a risk and actually meet them IRL!

To finish off this episode I want to tell you two ways of saying goodbye in internet slang! The first is GTG meaning got to go, showing the person you are talking to you are in a bit of a rush and will not be online from now on.

The second is to show you will be gone for a bit but will be back soon BRB, meaning be right back, and that’s what we will be!

That’s our episode of today. Next episode we will be looking at more social media slang especially for how we address people online, so make sure you give it a listen!

You can find us on our website the https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

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Last episode we mastered internet slang and abbreviations but this episode we will become experts on slang specifically for social media.

Even if you’ve mastered English vocabulary offline, you might find yourself scrolling through Social Media and getting pretty confused. Why do people keep asking me to DM them? Why is everyone hashtagging TBT? Let’s find out why now!

Ok so our first is the easiest and for an English learner the most useful D-M, meaning direct message or a private message with a person on social media, especially Twitter or Instagram.
So if you have found a mother tongue or fellow English learner on a group chat you may want to DM to share more conversations and discussions in english.

Ok number two is selfie S-E-L-F-I-E. This is an english phrase but appears to have permeated the rest of the world. A selfie is a self-portrait, typically taken with a digital camera or smartphone, which may be held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick.

They are often casual in nature (or made to appear casual). I'm sure all of you have taken one at some point in your life…. even if you don’t want to admit it!

So for our third, we have FOMO F-O-M-O Fear of Missing Out. It basically symbolizes the feeling of being sad or anxious that something fun is happening without you. For example if you friends are all going on holiday but you have work you may be experiencing FOMO.

For our last abbreviation today we have T-B-T meaning Throwback Thursday. If you use instagram you may have seen this once before. TBT is a hashtag used to share old pictures that are a "throwback" to the past. People use it when sharing old photos and videos of themselves for nostalgia or if they have found a selfie they took months ago and fancy a slight hit of self esteem.

So now we nearly have the all social media slang you need at your fingertips….however not all of it! Next episode we will be looking at more social media slang so stay tuned.

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

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Today we will be exploring essential internet abbreviations.

The more time you spend learning English, the more time you’ll spend reading and writing English on the internet. I know as a language learner this can be exciting but also very frustrating!

You may be familiar with L-O-L (laugh out loud) or O-M-G (oh my god). But there are many more us brits use that are slightly less obvious.

So to start, we will discuss an abbreviation used to decline or refuse offers. I use many of these frequently, the most being C-B-A meaning I can’t be asked, which means I do not want to because I do not have the energy or desire.

It can be used as so if my friend asks me to go out for dinner late on a cold January evening I will often reply CBA, in short meaning no.

Ok my second most used internet abbreviation is T-B-H translating to to be honest. A way of signifying you are about to tell the truth. It does not really add anything to a conversation but many people use it when they feel like what they’re about to say is extra honest, something they really believe, or something they’ve thought about thoroughly before saying.

We could use it like this "TBH I don’t want to go to the party as I do not like the host." meaning if I am honest I don’t like the host of the party so I will not be attending.

Ok number three, B-T-W... no I am not talking about a fake version of a BMW! BTW translates to By the Way. A way of introducing a new topic into conversation.

For example I could text my flatmate "I will be back at four, BTW you need to go shopping as there is no food at home".

Ok so on to our last abbreviation. T-M-I translating to "Too much information". A way of saying that something contains too many intimate details. For example if my brother is sick and starts describing how many times he has vomited today I may respond "TMI Joe, I know you are sick and don’t need to know everything".

So they are our phrases of the day! Maybe now you can decode what your British friends are talking about!

Don’t want to leave your bed?! Tell them: TBH I CBA to go to that party! Let them know!

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

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Last episode we looked at the slang term "hen party" an event for a woman before she gets married.
But is there one for men? Yes! And that’s what we will be looking at today.

This is a stag party S-T-A-G, a noun, which is a celebration held for a man who is about to get married, attended only by men. In America it is called a bachelor party, as bachelor means a signal man. In Italy it is called "addio al celibato", meaning goodbye to being single.

As an adjective stag party means "composed of males only" and has been used in American english since 1848.

In formal english a stag has many meanings, the first being noun meaning male deer. The second, a stag event which we are discussing now is a social gathering attended by men only. We could use the noun like this "your best mate's stag party should be a time of extravagance". Meaning his party should be one that spares no expense. The last way we can use stag is as an adverb meaning to be without a female partner at a social gathering. For example ‘ at the party a lot of boys went stag".

So why do us brits use the terms stag party or going stag? It has been suggest that Stags have unique male connotations that makes them the perfect emblem for this event. The stag is a leader of their pack, a virile and strong animal and in the prime of their lives.

The stag party can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece. While modern stags aren’t too far away from the spartan tradition, where the night before a wedding was a celebration of the man by his military comrades. They would enjoy a feast and toasts to the end of his youth and continued commitment to the cause.

In the UK today, stag weekend trips are becoming mini-holidays with the groups taking part in various day-time activities as well as the expected night out on the town. They may involve traveling to another location in the UK or going abroad, with Budapest, Dublin, and Prague topping the list. So if you are in one of these locations and spot a group of drunk and noisy men, you may be witnessing a stag party.

Before we finish I must tell you about the name for a drunken party for both sexes before a wedding, which is sometimes jokingly called a "hag H-A-G party" (a combination of "hen" and "stag").

That’s our episode for today...

So which, if any, will you be attending this year? A Hen, Stag or Hag party? Let us know!

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Let’s catch up on soon!

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Ok so this week's episodes are inspired by my friend Rosie Higginbottom, who is soon to be married! I was telling my Italian friend about traditional english celebrations, concerning weddings... an important one being a hen party.

What is that she replied? A party for chickens?! Oh no!

The name is deceiving... so what exactly is a hen party?

A hen party H-E-N is a noun simply meaning a party for a woman who is going to get married, to which only her female friends are invited. Do not mistake this as any random party featuring lots of women, nor any of the specialized women-only parties like a baby shower or wedding shower.A hen party has a few rare traditions… we shall look at them shortly. This is a celebration found in many countries but the name hen party is specially used in the UK. In America it is known as a "bachelorette party" or in Italy an "addio al nubilato".

So why in the UK do we say "hen"? In formal english hen signifies a "female of any bird species" and was first coined in the early 14th century. However in slang hen means woman, this term dates from 1620s.

Depending on which part of the UK you come from referring to a woman as a “hen” can have different effects.

In England it is seen as offensive - implying that a woman is an “old chick”.

In parts of Scotland, however, notably in Glasgow, addressing a woman or a girl as “hen” is a term of affection, such as sweetheart. Is important to note the lady who is addressed would be the one to determine whether or not she was offended by it.

So back to our event, hen party means "gathering of women," which was first recorded 1887. So nowadays what takes place at a hen party? Depending on what type you want, usually there will be drinking, possibly a stripper, certainly some raucous laughter and dirty jokes. The bride to be may wear a big "L" as a necklace, this is the symbol that normally goes on a car for a learner driver, and implies the bride-to-be is a "learner" who is about to start having sex.

I know that doesn't make much sense, but it's tradition!

That’s our episode of the day. Now if you are invited to a hen party, you know exactly what to expect.

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!

Let’s catch up on soon!

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Ok so today we will be focusing on a slang word that has got so much negative and positive attention recently. This word is "woke"... So what does it mean?
Is it positive or negative? Let’s explore it and get some answers now!

In formal English woke is a verb and the past of wake: "I woke early this morning", simple yeah? Not so much when we are using it within slang!

The slang word woke W-O-K-E is an adjective that means to be conscious of racial discrimination in society and other forms of oppression and injustice. Woke sometimes takes a superlative form, "wokest", emphasizing the extent of someone’s "wokeness", or the state of being woke.

For example "he always stays woke", meaning he is alert to injustice in society. Woke can also more generally describe someone as being "with it" or awake to injustice, showing its connection to its formal meaning. The expression "stay woke" is frequently used within social media and the press, referring to a continuing awareness of these issues.

Woke is derived from African-American Vernacular English which is often found in urban communities. The first recorded use of "woke" in its political context was in May 1962 in the N.Y. Times Magazine glossary of "phrases and words you might hear today in Harlem".

The Times published a piece on white beatniks appropriating black culture titled "If You're Woke, You Dig It."

Nowadays "woke" had been adopted as a more generic slang term to demonstrate the need for awareness of an issue. It’s widespread use has been suggested as a result of the black lives matter movement. It is also used by music artist, like Erykah Badu. In her song master teacher she sings "Only master teachers? I stay woke".

However recently this word has been seen through a negative or ironic lens.
Firstly, it has become the subject of memes and ironic usage, with people mocking the use and need for this term.

Furthermore Barack Obama has expressed his disapproval of "woke", while speaking at the Obama Foundation summit last month. He commented being woke "is not activism and that it is not bringing about change", he continued to comment "If all you're doing is casting stones, you are probably not going to get that far".

It has now been suggested that woke started out as a way to label people as politically aware and has now become evidence of how politically aware people like to think they are.

So that’s our word of the day! Let us know your thoughts on the positive and negative connotations of woke.

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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One of my students recently moved to England. His dream was to meet a lovely english woman and settle down. I wished him luck and warned him to watch of for ghosting! He responded by saying that he was fully aware of the rumors that England was a haunted place. I quickly corrected him, telling him that this was not the type of ghosting I was referring to. So let’s look at this word today!

No matter how you use it, ghosting G-H-O-S-T-I-N-G never really means anything good.

In formal English ghosting is a verb with two meanings, the first is when an apparition of a dead person appears to the living, this is what my student was thinking of.

The second formal use of ghosting is to move smoothly and effortlessly. For example "they ghosted up the river" meaning they moved smoothly up the river.

But today we will be looking at the frequently used slang meaning of this word. In slang the verb to ghost signifies ending a personal relationship with someone suddenly and without explanation by withdrawing from all communication.

Awful right? But it gets worse, as well as stopping communication with a partner, a "ghoster" usually ignores the partner’s attempts to reach out or communicate. Another way of saying this is English is "stonewalling" or giving someone the "silent treatment".

The act of "ghosting", has become popular because of the explosion of the dating app culture over the last few years. It usually refers to all contact face-to face and online.

There's no clear origin for this word but it seems to have come about around 2012 during the rise of dating apps.

It can be used as so: "I didn’t really enjoy our second date so I just ghosted him", meaning "I didn’t like the date so I have decided to not message or respond to any messages from him".Or "I didn't want to ghost her, so we ended up having ‘the talk’", meaning I didn’t want to cut off all communication suddenly so I decided to talk to her.

So that’s our word of the day! If you are looking for love in an English speaking country please remember avoid ghosting whether you are the target or perpetrator!

You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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Ok so today we will be looking at a word that I use all the time! This word is fancy. If you are an English language learner you most probably have heard this word before however I encounter students daily who do not fully understand how and when to use this word so let's clear it up today!

Fancy F-A-N-C-Y is a verb with many meanings used all the time in the UK, especially in the south.

You may recognise fancy as an adjective from the Iggy Azelea song I am so fancy meaning to be elaborate or beautiful.

But today we will be exploring it when used as a verb. The first way you can use fancy is formally, to express to want to have or do something, for example "Do you fancy a drink this evening?" meaning "would you like a drink this evening?"

It can also be used with the ing form such as "I didn't fancy swimming in that river" meaning I didn't want to swim there.

We find many questions in the uk using fancy intertwined with slang referring to want. For example:

- "Fancy a Cuppa?" meaning "Would you like a cup of tea?"
- "Fancy a fag?", meaning "Would you like a cigarette?"
- "Fancy some grub" meaning "Do you want some food?"

So let’s look at the next meaning, In Uk slang fancy means to be sexually attracted to someone, for example "Wow all the boys really fancy Emily!" meaning all the boys found Emily very attractive.

Furthermore someone can can fancy themselves, however this has negative connotations and refers to someone who thinks they are very attractive or important. For example "Claire really fancies himself, doesn't she?". Meaning Claire thinks she is very important when other may not agree.

The last way we can use the verb fancy is to imagine or think that something is so. For example "He fancies himself as a bit of a singer." meaning he imagines himself as a singer, not that he actually is one.

So there we go! One word 5 different meanings!

So whether you fancy a cup of tea, another person, or your self as fluent in slang good luck!

That's our episode of the day, you can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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While telling my Italian friend about my travels around Italy we got onto the topic of Rome, a beautiful and lively city. I stayed there for 3 weeks alone over a recent summer while studying classics. However I had to admit that some areas were slightly dodgy and I preferred not to stay alone in them. Dodgy she responded? Louisa I don't understand this at all. So let's look at this word today…

In slang Dodgy D-O-D-G-Y is an adjective used for people, places, things you should avoid. In slang we can use it like this: "don't go to that park at night it's a bit dodgy" meaning that park may be dangerous so don’t go there.

Dodgy in slang is derived from the formal english word dodge D-O-D-G-E used as both a verb and noun. As a verb dodge means to move aside or change position suddenly for example "he dodge the ball" or to get away from or avoid (someone or something) in a skillful or dishonest way such as "When asked a direct question, he dodges".

It originated in the 1680s and perhaps it is from or akin to Scottish and Northern English word dodd D-O-D-D meaning to jog or run.

As a noun dodge means a shifty tactic or clever trick such as "He keeps his money overseas as a tax dodge".

In slang dodgy can be a synonym for dangerous, bad or untrustworthy for example "That guy looks a bit dodgy" meaning he looks untrustworthy.

Or "urgh! That cheese smells dodgy!"meaning its gone off.

Remember if something or someone is dodgy, keep your distance.

That's our episode of the day, you can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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In November I often feel gutted, its cold, the sun has disappeared and as Christmas crawls closer I check my bank account and wonder if my family would each be happy receiving an ironic orange.

Not sure how I am feeling? Let's clarify this word gutted now.

Gutted spelt G-U-T-T-E-D is British slang word of pure contextual emotion. To be "gutted" about a situation means to be devastated and saddened.

It can be used like this: "His girlfriend broke up with him. He’s absolutely gutted." meaning he is very sad about the relationship ending.

In formal english gut can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb. As a noun "gut" G-U-T mean stomach or belly.

As an adjective it means Instinctive. For example to have "a gut reaction" is to have an instantaneous reaction made without thought.

For instance "When he saw that lion leaping towards him, his gut reaction was to run."

As a verb it signifies the removal of intestines and other internal organs from a fish or other animals before cooking it. For example "The fisherman guts the fish before cooking them".

So in slang when saying "I am gutted" it signifies that one may metaphorically feeling like somebody has ripped their guts out.

In fact, it shares a very close meaning to the term "gut wrenching" which is used to describe a deeply profound event or feeling.

The earliest use of this slang term "gutted" has been found in a book by an American journalist about the Vietnam War in 1986. In the book Keith William Nolan comments "The whole platoon had felt gutted, an attitude rarely reflected in the press".

Nowadays, in slang, as well as symbolizing sadness and pain It can also be used to show bitter disappointment about something.
For example "I was gutted when I failed the exam" or "When England lost the match I was gutted". Meaning these two things made me feel very disappointed.

So start using it today! Make sure not to miss the next episode or you are going to be gutted!

That’s our word of the day. You can find us on our website http://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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Having a partner of a different nationality has many benefits however I must say, me and my Italian boyfriend often find ourselves slightly lost in translation over small things, mainly due to slang.

For example Yesterday I ask my boyfriend if we should link at 5pm, he agreed. By 5pm I was waiting outside his flat, very annoyed and very cold. Once he finally arrived I asked him why he was late. He told me that he was at a bar waiting for me as I had earlier suggested we ‘drink’ at 5pm. Our argument quickly came to an end when I clarified the meaning of this word ‘link’.

So let’s look at this word today. Link spelt L-I-N-K is a slang verb meaning to meet or connect with someone. It can be used to suggest a meeting such as:

‘hey are you free to link tonight? Yeah let's link up.’

Meaning are you available this evening to meet? Yes I am let's meet.

In formal english link is both a verb and a noun. It comes from the germanic word GHE LENK meaning joint. As a noun it means anything serving to connect one part of something with another. For example, ‘there is a missing link in my necklace chain’.
As a verb it means to join or unite for example ‘The children linked arms as they ran’. So it is understandable how this verb has become a slang expression symbolising the link or tie of people.

Today it can be used to express the meeting or hanging out of friends and family.
However it can be also used to express a relationship, linking can mean that you are not officially in a relationship with someone but you are 'seeing' or dating each other.
For example John and Lizzy are linking at the moment, meaning John and Lizzy are dating.
In a song by British group serious thugs they say ‘It’s not love it's just a link ting’ meaning the relationship is not serious. So think about your phrasing before you use it!

So start using it today! Take a day off work and link with your mates or take the next step and change your linking buddy into a partner!
That’s our word of the day. You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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I was telling my class about my close friend from England who called me yesterday. She was very upset because her coat got nicked on the subway.

When i told them, they responded with little sympathy. One commented "I'm sure she can fix it", however this was not true as the coat was gone. So today we will be clarifying the slang term for "nick".

In formal British English, nick is a noun and a verb meaning a small cut and this is what my student was thinking of earlier when advising my friend to get her coat fixed.

However this word nick is very tricky, as it is used for many things in both formal and British slang.

In slang nick N-I-C-K is a verb meaning to steal. For example "Susie’s phone got nicked at the party!" meaning Susie’s phone was stolen at the party.

The verb "nick" can be traced back to the late 16th century meaning trick or cheat. The first found reference of the word was in 1576 by the English dramatist George Whetstone where he says "I never nicked his pay" meaning I never stole his pay.

The reasoning behind this word is unclear, however it has been suggested it relates to the name Nicholas, as in the 1940s the name nick was often used to refer to the devil or satan, giving it negative connotations.

However in slang nick has a second meaning: Prison.

For example "he got taken to the nick" meaning he was sent to jail. This use can be traced back to Australia and the word can be found in a book of Sydney slang from 1882.

Today we can use it like this: "We cant see Kelly this weekend as she is in the nick" meaning my friend Kelly is in prison so I can’t see her.

So if you hear nick on the street in the UK remember, it could mean to cut, to steal or just prison.

So start using it today! Make sure you don’t go to the nick because you have nicked something!

That’s our word of the day. You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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Have you ever been to a boring party? Stuck with the same music and dry conversation on repeat? Then it’s time to tell your mates to bail! Confusing right? Why am I talking about jail and money at this party, well let me explain...

In formal english bail B-A-I-L is a noun meaning the temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condition of paying a sum of money. However as slang bail means to leave, cancel or back out of something.

Historically as a noun, bail means bond money. This comes from the Middle English word bayle B-A-Y-L-E meaning "captivity." As a verb bailing is the act of pushing water out of a sinking boat. These two meanings presented of escaping and surviving guide us to how we use it today in slang.

As slang we use as a verb, to cancel something or leave somewhere.

For example: "I'm so annoyed Lizzy bailed on the party tonight!" Meaning Lizzy is not coming to the party, she cancelled last minute.

Or "This festival is so boring, let’s bail". Meaning I'm bored lets leave!

So start using it today! The next time your at a boring party, turn to your english friends and say let’s bail! They will know exactly what you mean and you will be out in no time!

That’s our word of the day. You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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While living in Italy I have noticed the vast range of adjectives that can be used to describe positive or cool things. Having a lack of knowledge of these in Italian is something that makes me really stand out as a language learner. So today I want to share a great word to describe something in a positive way. Wavy. W-A-V-Y.

A simple definition of the word wavy means for something to be cool and mellow.

The word began to be used and recognised within American rap in the early 2000s in New York City. Rapper Max B released acclaimed mixtapes like Wave Gods in which he used the terms the wave and wavy and they became hip-hop lexicon. In his self-made slang, Max B’s wave and wavy evoke a calm attitude of positivity and creative energy. Referring to the noun wave, describing a moving billow of water.

After using this positive adjective with mellow connotations other rappers such as Kanye West soon followed this trend and now it is commonly used in the UK. It is often used to describe clothing, music, an event or a person for example "wow that party was so wavy!" meaning the party was really good.

It can also be as a comparative "I am wavier than you" meaning i'm cooler than you.
Or a superlative "that coat is the waviest" meaning that coat is the coolest.

Do remember it can also refer to someone being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. "I drank to much wine last night, I was so waved" so be careful how you use it.

So start using it today! Look around you and think about what is wavy? I guarantee if you ask a British friend to help you buy some wavy clothes you wont be disappointed.

That’s our word of the day. You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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While having dinner with an Italian friend, she asked me if I would like to go for a glass of wine, I told her I was very tired and was planning to go and cotch. She nodded and asked me where I was getting and coach to. I quickly explained the spelling and meaning of the word and this is what I am going to share with you all today.

Cotch C-O-T-C-H is a verb meaning to sit, relax and chill out.
We can also use it as an adjective, describing somewhere as cotch means it seems comfortable and capable of being cotched in.

The etymology of this word is widely debated. It is said that it originated from the late 19th century in Jamaican English, used in the sense of "rest or lean on something for support" . Furthermore, it is said that the word stems from the french term "ce coucher" meaning someone who is lazy with no athletic abilities. However Jonathon Green in his Dictionary of Slang claims it is from the Scottish word scotch, meaning "prop up" or support.

Nowadays we can use it in the sense of spending time to relax for example "just been cotching on the sofa since I got in" meaning I have been relaxing on the sofa since I arrived home.

However it has also been used to show you are sleeping or staying somewhere on a temporary basis. For example "looks like I'm cotching at my boyfriends house tonight" meaning I will be sleeping at my boyfriends this evening.

So start using it today! Go home or to a local pub and cotch with your friends!

That’s our word of the day. You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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While arriving in my class yesterday I apologized to my students for being late. I told my students this was because there were bare people outside. They all suddenly rushed to the window and stared out of it. One of my students said "I don’t see any naked people! They all have their clothes on!".

I explained to my students that within slang bare doesn’t actually have anything to do with nudity as they thought, so let’s clear this up.

In formal english bare B-A-R-E is an adjective meaning not clothed or covered. However in slang the meaning is reversed and used as an adjective meaning "a lot of", or "very much". For example "there are bare people here today", meaning there are lots of people here.

You can find this reversal with other slang words such as wicked and cool. Due to this deliberate inaccuracy bare is one of a number of slang terms which was recently banned by a London school. These negative connotations stem back Victorian criminals who did the same with reversing words, this is called back slang, for example the word boy B-O-Y was changed to Y-O-B, a word still used today.

It has been suggested that the use of the word "bare" as slang comes from Jamaica. It’s popularity has grown with the widespread of Grime music and the diversity of London.
Furthermore, it can also be used as an adverb used as an intensifier to replace very or really. For example, "I can't come to your party, I've got bare work to do." Meaning I have too much work to do and therefore I cant come. Or If you are bare hungry, then you are really hungry.

So start using it today! Think about what is "bare" around you whether it be people, work or new english slang!

That’s our word of the day. You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps.

Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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Recently one of my students are I were joking with each other about our accents, he was mocking me for my poor accent while speaking Italian, especially when rolling my Rs. I told him that I wasn't offended for this comment as firstly is it true and secondly because his comment was only banter.

At this moment he turned to me and looked very confused, this word was brand new for him, as it might be for you. So we are going to clear it up today.

Banter is both a noun and verb about talking, both spelt B-A-N-T-E-R.

It simply means a playful and friendly exchange of teasing comments for example as a noun we can say "there was good banter at the party" meaning there was fun conversation.
Or as a verb "the men bantered with each other" the men joked with each other.

It’s traced back to the 17th century in Ireland, where in Gaelic, the word bean BEAN meant woman, so that "banter" means "talk of women." However when used today it is not focused on gender but general remarks between anyone.

Nowadays banter can be shortened to "bants" B-A-N-T-S and refers to the clever art of using word play including irony or sarcasm in order to make fun of and joke with friends. Banter is used globally, but often associated with London. You can engage in banter with family friends and even fun-natured colleagues.

So start using it today! Start having banter with your friends and family, but make sure not to insult them, it’s a very thin line!

That’s our word of the day. You can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Let’s catch up soon to explore our next slang word.

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Hello and Welcome to Slang . I am Louisa May Adams, this is our first podcast so if you enjoy it please keep checking out what more we have in store! I am an English Language teacher living in Italy, I am originally from Canterbury England.

Have you ever noticed some of the best non native English speakers totally freak out when they visit the UK? I have and trust me, this is not because of their level of English, simply because they have never been exposed to such slang before.
So my hope is to give you listeners the chance to hear, understand the origins and meanings of new slang and to use it immediately! So let’s get started……

One of my students recently asked me, why Brits are so hung up on discussing meat, they went to London and claimed that in every other pub they went to they overheard people getting so angry while discussing if they had or hadn't got ‘beef’.

So this word beef in fact has two meanings, both spelt the same -B E E F.
It’s most well known definition is the meat from a cow ‘beef’. However it’s commonly used by Londoner’s meaning to have a grudge, problem, or argument ‘I have a beef with them’.

It’s Origin is from American soldiers, complaining about the quantity or quality of beef rations they were given during the war, these discussions would obviously cause arguments and problems. The use of the word beef as noun meaning complaint was first recorded in the 1880s.

However we use it nowadays to talk about having a big problem with someone. For example ‘don’t invite Sophie to the party I have beef with her!’ Meaning I have issues with her so I don’t want her to come. Or another one I use frequently is I just had a bad day, don't start any beef with me’ meaning ‘it’s been a long day, lets not fight’.

So start using it today! Start causing or defusing beef with the people around you.
That’s our word of the day. You can find our transcript for this episode in the description below. Let’s catch up tomorrow to explore our slang new word.

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