Can You Translate These British Slang Words?

By: Kennita Leon
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Translate These British Slang Words?
Image: Ground Picture / Shutterstock

About This Quiz

No matter where you are in the world, people will say things differently. For instance, to some, a soda is just that - a soda. But in other places it might be called a soft drink, or fizzy drink, or pop, or soda pop. In fact, the same thing is done right here in the United States. Depending on where a person grew up, a specific kind of sandwich might be a sub, while others call it a grinder, hero, po'boy or hoagie. Do you get the drift? Well, that's what this quiz is all about today. But we're not going to explore the entire world - this quiz is dedicated to Great Britain.

As cute as the accents may be, sometimes it's so hard to understand just what the bloody hell those blokes are going on about - pardon our French. And we want to see if you can. So, we're going to ask you what some British slang words mean. Will you be able to define the words "snog," "bagsy," "cuppa," "knackered" and "gutted"? 

If you're able to do that and more, you'll definitely be able to survive Great Britain. But can you? Can you define these British slang words? 

Which of these slang words means "tired"?
Tosser
Bloke
Knackered
Cheesed off
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This British slang originates from the word "knacker," which is an old term used to refer to someone who slaughters old, tired horses. The slang "knackered" is used to express exhaustion.

What does "cuppa" mean?
A cornucopia
A catapult
A cappuccino
A cup of tea
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This slang word was created by the fusion of the words "cup" and "of." As can be inferred from its origin, the term cuppa is used in place of "cup of tea." If you want something other than tea, you must specify something after the word "cuppa" - for instance, a cuppa coffee.

Which of these words is closest in meaning to "cigarette"?
Fag
Bants
Gutted
Starkers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not to be confused with the American derogatory term for homosexual, the term "fag" in British culture means "cigarette." Also in British slang, it can mean "an unwelcome task."

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Which of these slang words means "friend"?
Bagsy
Know your onions
Mate
Snog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The term "mate" is commonly used in English to refer to a life partner. However, in British slang, "mate" is often used to refer to a friend. It is also used when speaking to strangers informally.

What's the definition of "gutted"?
Disappointed
A tummy ache
Needing to go to the bathroom
Food that makes one sick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "gut," as defined by dictionaries, is a verb used to refer to the removal of the insides of an animal, and also a noun that refers to said animal insides. In British slang, the term "gutted" refers to the feeling of utter disappointment.

Which of these slang words means "in a bad mood"?
Pear-shaped
Skint
Miffed
Narky
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Also common in Australian and New Zealand dialects, the word "miffed" is used in British slang as a synonym for "bad-tempered."

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What does "chuffed" mean?
Annoyed
To be very pleased
A choo-choo train that goes fast
Chubby
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In place of the words "happy" and "joyful," British use the slang word "chuffed," which means "very pleased." If you're really really happy, you can be "chuffed to bits" or "chuffed to ribbons."

Which of these words is closest in meaning to "bothered"?
Cracking
Arsed
Cuppa
Gagging
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An impolite term, "arsed" is used to express the willingness of an individual to partake in activities. The word is often used in the negative, as in "can't be arsed," which means "can't be bothered."

Which of these slang words means "butt"?
Bog roll
Bum
Chuffed
Kip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The slang word "bum" is most commonly used to refer to one's bottom or buttocks. Its second meaning is being able to get something for free.

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Which of these slang words denotes frustration?
Snog
Bloody
Bagsy
Legless
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When used by Brits, the word "bloody" should not be taken for its literal meaning. The word is used in British slang as a curse word which places stress on another word.

Which of these words is closest in meaning to "legend"?
Ledge
Gutted
Bants
Trollied
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The term "ledge" is quite simply a shortened form of the word "legend"; thus, it refers to just that. The word is commonly used in exaggeration.

What's the definition of "bants"?
An argument
A kind of midterm speech
An apology
Jokes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Bants" is simply a shortened form of the word "banter," which means to joke with others. Don't get caught with your bants down!

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Which of these slang words means "brash or irreverent"?
Know your onions
Cheeky
Bloke
Starkers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The term "cheeky" has two meanings. The word is often used by Brits to mean rude and disrespectful. It is also used to refer to a wrongful act.

What's the definition of "bloke"?
A type of curtain
A weather system in the U.K.
A guy
A sexy woman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dating as far back as 1839, the term "bloke" is equivalent to the American "dude." It is a common word used to refer to a British man.

Which of these words is closest in meaning to "drunk"?
Snog
Legless
Fluke
Cracking
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not to be confused with its literal meaning of being physically impaired, "legless" in British slang means "drunk." The term describes the manner in which drunkards walk, as if legless.

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What does "plastered" mean?
A paint color
A type of wall treatment
Drunk
A kind of house
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A term similar to "legless," "plastered" is used to refer to someone as being tipsy or having had too much to drink. If you're plastered, don't drive.

Which of these words is closest in meaning to "dibs"?
Bagsy
Cuppa
Trollied
Gagging
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Known as "dibs" in American slang, the term "bagsy" is used to claim the right to items or activities, such as the last snack or the front seat of a car.

Which of these slang words means "annoyed"?
Miffed
Bog roll
Bonnet
Knackered
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Like the term "cheesed off," the term "miffed" is used to refer to being in a state of annoyance or being irked. Are you miffed or chuffed?

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Which of these slang words means a certain amount of money?
Poppycock
Plastered
Snog
Quid
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The "quid" is to Britain as the "buck" is to America. Money slang, a quid is one pound. The term is believed to be of Latin origin.

Which of these slang words means "delicious"?
Tosser
Bog roll
Scrummy
Dodgy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The British term "scrummy" is merely a short form of the word "scrumptious." It is used to refer to food as just that - delicious.

What's the British definition of "chips"?
Fries
Pringles
A type of chicken
A place in London
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This British slang is most popular, thanks to the popular British dish of "fish n chips." The word "chips" here is known to mean "fries."

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What does "snog" mean?
Bad weather
To kiss
To find fault in something
A kind of sneaker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A term easily associated with something awful off the bat, "snogging" actually refers to kissing when used in British slang. It is similar to the American slang "making out."

Which of these slang words means "good-looking"?
Dosh
Bagsy
Legless
Dishy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The term "dishy" is used to refer to an individual's physical appearance. It means attractive or good-looking.

What's the definition of "starkers"?
A house in "Game of Thrones"
A constellation
A crazy person
Completely naked
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An alternative and shortened form of the term "stark naked," the word "starkers" means "in the nude." No shirt, no shoes, no service!

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Which of these words is closest in meaning to "toilet paper"?
Bog roll
Gutted
Bants
Sherbet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The bathroom is often referred to as the "bog" by the British. As such, "bog roll" is a term used to refer to toilet paper.

What does "kip" mean?
A kind of book
A type of hat
To sleep
A fancy salad
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "kip" is a British way of saying "to nap or sleep."

Which of these slang words means broke?
Kip
Bloke
Skint
Know your onions
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "skint" is used by Brits to refer to someone being broke and out of money. It is a slang variant of the word "skinned."

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Which of these slang words means "stupid"?
Cheesed off
Bog roll
Wazzock
Plastered
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Another insulting term, the word "wazzock" is British for "stupid." It can also mean "annoying." The term is believed to have been created during the 1990s.

What's the definition of "uni"?
University or college
A kind of bar or restaurant
A bed
A specific train
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "uni" - predictably - is short for "university." Are you at uni?

Which of these slang words means crammed?
Tosser
Chock-a-block
Legless
Kip
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Known as an old and nautical phrase, the term "chock-a-block" can be dated back to the early nineteenth century. The term means "crammed tightly or jammed."

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What does "tosser" mean?
A salad
A move done in the bedroom
A stupid person
To throw something out
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "tosser" can be used interchangeably with the word "wanker." They both serve as insults and are used to refer to someone as being stupid. They're both offensive terms.

What's the definition of "know your onions"?
A farmer
Someone who can cook like Gordon Ramsay
Someone who doesn't know anything
Know your stuff
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The term "know your onions" is completely unrelated to scents or vegetables. Instead, the term is used when someone is knowledgeable.

Which of these slang words means "ditch"?
Skive
Plastered
Bog roll
Starkers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The word "skive" means to "ditch or evade responsibilities." It is most often used in the terms "skive off school" and "skive off work."

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Which of these slang words means "utter nonsense"?
Tosser
Codswallop
Bagsy
Cheesed off
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The term "codswallop" is used by the British to refer to something as being "complete nonsense." We hope you don't think this quiz is codswallop.

Which of these words is closest in meaning to "suspicious"?
Sherbet
Cuppa
Dodgy
Bants
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An equivalent to the American slang "sus," the word "dodgy" is used in British slang to mean "suspicious or questionable."

You Got:
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