Dictionary Of Slang

Here we’ve got some examples of how to say things in different situations.

Situation Formal Relaxed Informal

You are going to leave a place:

People have been speaking badly about you:

You tell someone to look at something: I am departing I’m going I’m off; I’m out of here, I’m shooting off, I’m gonna run

They have been tarnishing my name They’ve been talking behind my back They’ve been having a go at me; they’ve been slagging me off; they’ve been bad-mouthing me; they’ve been putting in the boot

I’d like you to inspect this Take a look at this Get a load of this; have a butcher’s at this; get an eyeful of this

You were talking about something with someone:

You are happy with the result of something: We were engaged in conversation We were having a chat We were nattering away; we were having a chin wag, we were chewing the fat; we were shooting the breeze (US)

This is very good indeed This is great Excellent!; nice one!; cool!; wicked!

You have just finished a job: That job is terminated It’s all done It’s all wrapped up; sorted; done and dusted

Someone complains to you about a job you have done for them. They want you to do it again. You refuse: Accept it if you wish Take it or leave it Like it or lump it

Please note that the words in this glossary box are literal translations of parts of idiomatic expressions. G L O S S A R Y

to shoot vb to fire a gun so a bullet comes out gonna abbr going to a slag n offens an insulting word to refer to someone (usually a woman) you think has sex with too many people a boot n a large shoe a load n a lot a butcher’s n a shop that sells meat a chin n the area of your face that is below your mouth to wag vb if a dog “wags” its tail, it moves its tail from side to side to chew vb if you “chew” food, you use your teeth to break the food and move it from side to side a breeze n a light wind wicked adj evil and bad to dust vb to clean a surface and take off the dust (little pieces of dirt) a lump n a solid piece of something