Learning British English: Idioms, Slang, and Everyday Vocabulary

Many international students we’ve spoken to over the years say they’ve learnt a lot of English from watching movies and TV. That’s great—learning through something you enjoy is motivating, and you get to pick up authentic language along the way. However, a lot of what’s on TV in Asia is American media. Think of shows like The Big Bang Theory or Friends that are always on reruns.

While these shows can give you a solid foundation in English, they don’t use British English. So, when many students arrive in the UK, they’re surprised by just how different it is. British English is full of quirky idioms and expressions that often don’t make much sense on the surface. To understand them, it helps to know the meaning—or sometimes the metaphor—behind them.

Here’s a list of common idioms you’re likely to hear in everyday British life:

Everyday Idioms

• “It’s not my cup of tea” – I don’t like it.
  “The Big Bang Theory isn’t my cup of tea.”

• “A piece of cake” – Something that’s really easy.
  “Moving to the UK was a piece of cake.”

• “Under the weather” – Feeling ill.
  “I’m feeling a bit under the weather today.”

• “Cost an arm and a leg” – Very expensive.
  “I love my new laptop, but it cost me an arm and a leg.”

• “Over the moon” – Very happy.
  “I’m over the moon with my exam results!”

As we mentioned earlier, American TV has its own set of idioms, and while many are understood in the UK thanks to global media, British expressions can still catch you off guard. Some of these are so local they might not make sense outside the UK at all. Have you heard these before?

Very British Idioms

• “Bob’s your uncle” – There you go/It’s that simple.
  “Just press the red button and Bob’s your uncle – it starts working.”

• “Throw a spanner in the works” – To cause a problem or disruption.
  “The train strike really threw a spanner in the works.”

• “As right as rain” – Feeling perfectly fine again.
  “He was ill last week, but now he’s as right as rain.”

• “I haven’t got a scooby” – I haven’t got a clue.
  (From Cockney rhyming slang: ‘Scooby Doo’ = clue)
  “I haven’t got a scooby what this lecture is about.”

• “Taking the mickey” (or “mick”) – Making fun of someone.
  “Are you taking the mick?”
  (Thought to come from “taking the Mickey Bliss” – another bit of Cockney rhyming slang.)

Some idioms might come in handy at university or while living with housemates. Here are a few more that are worth knowing:

Useful Uni and Study Idioms

• “Hit the books” – Start studying seriously.
  “Right, enough TV – it’s time to hit the books. Exams are next week.”

• “Learn the ropes” – Get to grips with how something works.
  “It’ll take a few weeks to learn the ropes, but I’ll get there.”

• “Pull your weight” – Do your fair share of the work.
  “Chris, I don’t think you’re pulling your weight on this project.”

• “Bite the bullet” – Do something difficult you’ve been avoiding.
  “I finally bit the bullet and emailed my professor about the assignment.”

Of course, idioms are just one part of the picture. There’s also day-to-day vocabulary that Brits use all the time—and it can be confusing if you’ve only been exposed to American English. Here are a few essentials.

Money-Related Terms

• “Quid” – Another word for pound.
  “That’ll be five quid, please.”

• “Fiver” / “Tenner” – Five or ten pounds.
  “That costs a tenner.”

• “Skint” – Having no money.
  “Sorry, I can’t come out—I’m skint!”

• “Splash out (on something)” – Spend a lot of money.
  “I’m going to splash out on some new trainers for my birthday.”

Everyday Life and Socialising

• “Loo” – Toilet.
  “I’m just popping to the loo.”

• “Chuffed” – Very pleased.
  “I’m chuffed with how my presentation went.”

• “Knackered” – Very tired.
  “I’m staying in tonight—I’m knackered.”
  (Or “cream-crackered”—Cockney rhyming slang for the same thing.)

• “Cheeky” – Bold, playful, or slightly inappropriate in a light-hearted way.
  “Fancy a cheeky Nando’s?”

• “Gutted” – Very disappointed.
  “I was gutted when Taylor Swift cancelled the gig.”

University Life and Slang

• “Revision” – Studying for exams.
  “I’ve got loads of revision to do.”

• “Module” – A subject or class in your degree.
  “I’m taking four modules this semester.”

• “Dissertation” – Final-year research project.
  “I’m working on my dissertation—it’s due in two weeks!”

Commuting and Everyday Activities

• “Queue” – A line of people waiting.
  “I had to queue for ages at the bus stop.”

• “Bin” – Rubbish container (trash can).
  “Just chuck it in the bin.”

• “Takeaway” – Food you buy to eat at home (takeout).
  “Let’s get a Chinese takeaway tonight.”

• “Rubbish” – Can mean both ‘garbage’ and ‘nonsense’.
  “Throw your rubbish away.” / “He was talking absolute rubbish.”

Final Thoughts

Getting used to British English can be a bit of a culture shock—but it’s also part of the fun of studying in the UK. The more you listen, watch, read, and interact, the more natural these expressions will become. Don’t worry if you don’t get them all straight away—just ask if you’re unsure. Most Brits will be happy to explain, and you’ll soon start picking them up yourself.

Stay tuned—we’ll cover regional slang, accents, and even more cultural tips in future posts!