British English A to Z - past 6

jack, v.t. Inf. steal Abbr. of ‘highjack.’ jacket potato, Inf. baked potato Jack the lad, n. Slang. see comment A man who is independent and sly, and who looks out for himself. There might be an implication of impropriety, but rarely enough to call for outright moral con- demnation. Operator is an approximate American equivalent. Jag, n. Inf. Jaguar car jakes, n. Slang. can (privy) Slang. Archaic word for outhouse, toilet. jam, n. treat Slang. A real jam is British slang for a real treat. A jam sandwich in Britain can mean what it does in America, but it is also a term used to mean the kind of layer cake that has preserves between the layers. See also jam sandwich. jam, money for. See money for jam. jam on it. See have jam on it. jam sandwich police car Slang. So named because the vehicles have been white with a red stripe along the middle, suggesting jam between two slices of white bread. Cf. panda car; Z-car. jam tomorrow, Inf. Inf. pie in the sky Easy enough to promise jam, harder to provide it. Janeite, n. Jane Austen fan Sometimes spelled Janite. Not an American word, since Jane Austen is not a national craze. jankers, n., pl. Slang. jug Slang. In the special sense of military jail. Jankers has other meanings in military slang: ‘defaulters’; their ‘penalty’ or ‘punishment’; the ‘cells’ themselves. To get ten days’ jankers is to be confined to the stockade for that period. jaunty, n. master-at-arms Naut. Slang. Head policeman on a naval vessel. The official title in both the Royal Navy and the United States Navy is master-at-arms, often abbreviated to M.A.A. J 187 h jaw, n. talking to Slang. A contemptuous term. A pi-jaw (pi- is short for pious) is one of those lectures or sermons delivered by a schoolteacher or a scout leader on a man-to-man basis to prepare the nervous youngster for life’s pitfalls. More generally, a conversation or a meeting. jaw-bacon. See chaw-bacon. jaw-jaw, n., v.i. 1. endless discussion 2. drone on and on Slang. See also jaw. jellied eel see comment A traditional Cockney dish, pieces of eel simmered till soft and served cold with their cooking liquid (liquor). The liquor sets to a jelly, hence the name. Less popu- lar now than it once was. jelly, n. gelatin-type dessert Jelly is used in Britain as in America, but in a British restaurant if you wanted Jell- O or its equivalent for dessert, you would ask for jelly. jelly-bag cap stocking cap Inf. Jelly-bags are used for straining jelly and are made of the kind of stretchable material associated with what Americans call stocking caps. jemmy, n. jimmy British burglars use jemmies; their American colleagues use jimmies. Jemmy is also used as the British name for a dish made from sheep’s head. Jeremiah, n. Inf. gloomy Gus Inf. Everybody knows (or should know) that Jeremiah was a doleful prophet. jerry, n. Inf. potty Slang. Also called jerrycan or jerrican, a 5-gallon chamber pot. With a capital J it is British slang for a German, or Germans collectively. jersey, n. pullover; sweater See also jumper; woolly. jib, v.i. hesitate, buck Inf. Normally applied to balking horses and in Britain, informally, to cars as well or even to stubborn persons. jiggered, adj. 1. Slang. pooped 2. Slang. up the creek 3. Slang. damned! 1. Slang. After a long day’s work, you’re jiggered. 2. Slang. In a tough situation, like running out of gas in the middle of the night, you’d feel jiggered. 3. Slang. The exclamation I’m jiggered means ‘I’ll be damned’ as in Well, I’m jig- gered—fancy meeting you here! 188 jaw jiggery-pokery, n., Inf. Inf. hanky-panky jim-jams, n. pl. Slang. Slang. willies A fit of nervousness or depression. Jimmy, dismal. See dismal Jimmy. jink, v.t., v.i. dodge To dodge about jerkily, to avoid being hit. Said of game birds and extended to warplanes. job, v.t. 1. rent (horse and carriage) 2. prod 1. The British used to job horses and carriages in the old days, the verb being applied to both supplier and user (the way Americans use rent). Jobbing, in this sense, described an arrangement for a specified period of time, and the supplier was called a jobmaster. 2. Also meaning stab, though this is little used. jobber, n. see comment On the London Stock Exchange, there are a dozen firms that act as wholesalers and are analogous to oddlot firms on the New York Stock Exchange, in that they are principals, acting for their own account, rather than brokers acting only as agents for buyer or seller. jobbernowl, n., Inf. Slang. dope; jerk job centre, n. see comment A government-run employment agency. job of work job Inf. In the sense of work to be done. job seeker’s allowance, n. see comment A payment made to someone who is looking for work. It may be income-based (depending on income and savings) or contribution-based (depending on National Insurance contributions made while working). jobsworth, n. Inf. see comment A particularly bureaucratic person who would never break the rules. Derives from the saying, It’s more than my job’s worth to do that for you. Joe Bloggs Joe Doakes Mr. What’s-his-name; anybody who isn’t anybody; Tom, Dick, or Harry; the man in the street. Sometimes given as Fred Bloggs. John Dory See Appendix II.H. johnny, n. Inf. guy Slang. Usually pejorative. For the British meaning of guy, see guy. johnny 189 John O’Groats see comment A small town on the northeasternmost tip of Scotland. Though a tourist destina- tion of some note, its most famous feature is the expression From Land’s End to John O’Groats, a short way of saying: From one end of the British Isles to the other. join, v.t. board To join a train, ship, plane, etc. is to board it. joiner, n. carpenter Technically speaking, joiners in both countries, as distinct from carpenters, engage especially in interior light carpentry (doors, shelves, etc.) and cabinet making. The British appear often to use the terms interchangeably, but joiner is rarely heard in ordinary American speech. joint, n. roast In Britain that tasty leg of lamb or roast of beef or loin of pork is known as a joint. Popular for Sunday lunch, hence the Sunday joint. jokes, adj. Slang. funny jollop, n. Inf. guck Slang. Any witches’ brew you take for whatever ails you, like patent medicines and home remedies. jolly, n. Slang. leatherneck Slang. A Royal Marine. Synonymous with guffy and bullock. jolly, adv., Inf. approx. mighty (very) joskin, n. bumpkin Slang. Sailors use this term to describe any lubberly hand. The exact meaning of joskin is a man from the Norfolk area who works as a farmhand during the summer and on trawlers in wintertime, and is therefore, presumably, a green hand on board. josser, n., Slang. Slang. geezer jotter, n., Inf. 1. steno pad 2. notebook 2. Also exercise book. judder, v.i. shake Violently and noisily. A bit of onomatopoeia, also influenced by shudder. It can apply to anything from a jalopy to an opera singer, and is also used as a noun to denote the phenomenon. Judy, n. Slang. broad Slang. An uncomplimentary word for woman, suggesting that she’s no beauty. jug, n. pitcher In Britain it is the milk jug or water jug which is placed on the table. Jug is also a slang word for ‘poison’ in both countries. juggernaut, n. large truck Inf. Very large; short for juggernaut lorry. (See lorry.) Usually refers to an enor- mous trailer truck (see articulated lorry). The word is related to Jagannath, an 190 John O’Groats idol of the Hindu god Krishna that was drawn in processions on vast carts and under whose wheels fanatics threw themselves in their ecstasy, to be crushed to death. juggins, n. Slang. dope; fool Slang. Synonymous with muggins. See also git. jumble, n. see comment Goods sold at a jumble sale or unwanted things in the house allocated to the local jumble sale. Can also be used loosely to mean ‘junk.’ jumble sale, n. rummage sale jumper, n. pullover This term is used to describe a woman’s pullover sweater. See also jersey; woolly. jump jockey, Inf. steeplechase rider jump leads jumper cables jump to it, Inf. Inf. hop to it junction box. See box. junk worn-out rope Old, worthless stuff, rubbish, which is called junk in America, is generally referred to as rubbish or lumber in Britain, where junk, though now extended to mean ‘rubbish’ generally, was long more especially a nautical term meaning ‘worn-out hawsers’ or ‘cables’ which are either discarded or picked apart for use as caulking material or in making swabs. just, adv. adv. right Where an American would say, “I can’t find it now, but it was right over there,” i.e., no farther than that, a Briton would say “ . . . just over there.” Were the Briton to say, “ . . . right over there,” he would mean ‘ . . . way over there,’ i.e., no nearer than that. If he said, “Drink it right up,” he would mean ‘drink it all,’ whereas an American would mean “drink it at once, right now.” just a tick! Inf. right with you! Inf. See also hold on! just going just about Used in expressions of time of day: it’s just going twelve means it’s just about twelve, or, practically twelve. The expressions just on and going on for are used by the Brit- ish in the same way: it’s just on nine o’clock, or it’s going on for nine, i.e., it’s not quite or it’s just about nine. See also gone. just here right here just on. See just going. just on 191 K., n. see comment Inf. To get one’s K. is to be knighted (see Birthday Honours). K.C. See under take silk. kedgeree, n. see comment (Accent on the first or third syllable.) Composed of fish, usually smoked haddock, cooked with rice and eggs, and other variable ingredients. The word is derived from the Hindi word khichri. It is normally a breakfast dish, and not very common. keel, n. 1. barge 2. 21 tons 4 cwt. 1. Type of boat used, usually to carry coal, on the Rivers Tyne, Humber, etc. Still seen, but going out of use. 2. Weight of coal that can be carried on a keel, and still used as a wholesale coal measure. Since a British ton is 2240 lbs. and a British cwt. (hundredweight) is 112 lbs., a keel is, in American terms, 47,488 lbs., or a sliver under 23 3 / 4 tons. See also Appendix II.C.1. keelie, n. Inf. tough Slang. A Scottish term, derived from the Keelie Gang, a band of hoodlums that terrorized the streets of Edinburgh in the early 19th century. It is applied particu- larly to street ruffians from Glasgow and environs. keenest prices biggest bargains Inf. Often seen in advertisements: For keenest prices shop at So-and-So’s. keen on Inf. enthusiastic about The object of the enthusiasm is most likely to be sexual in nature (I’m really keen on him), but it may be a composer, a hair style, an article of clothing, etc. Dead keen on and mad keen on indicate mounting degrees of enthusiasm. keep, v.t. raise A Briton who keeps pigs is not simply having them as pets; he is in business and in America would be said to be raising them. keep a straight bat Inf. play fair Inf. One of many expressions borrowed from cricket, which is itself synonymous with fair play in the mind and idiom of a Briton. keep cave. See cave. keeper, n. custodian; guard Keeper is the usual British term for a museum guard or zoo employee. To a Briton, guard would normally invoke the image of a railroad conductor or a sentry. K 192 h keep obbo on Inf. keep an eye on Slang. An obbo was an observation balloon in World War I. Keeping obbo is police- men’s slang for surveillance. keep one’s terms. See eat one’s terms; Inns of Court. keep shtoom, v. Inf. keep quiet Also spelled shtum. From the Yiddish word meaning silent or dumb. Direct bor- rowings from Yiddish are rarer in the UK than in the United States, but this is one that has found its way into common speech. keep the ring. See hold the ring. keep your eyes skinned. Inf. Inf. keep your eyes peeled Keep your pecker up! Inf. Chin up! Inf. In this expression, pecker means ‘spirits’ or ‘courage.’ This connotation of pecker is probably derived from its original meaning of a ‘bird that pecks’ (e.g., woodpecker), and by extension that with which it pecks, i.e., its beak, which became slang for ‘nose.’ Kendal green green woolen cloth Coarse in texture. Takes its name from Kendal, a town in England where the cloth was originally made. Kentish-fire, n. see comment Prolonged rhythmic applause to express disapproval. The expression is attrib- uted to anti-Catholic demonstrations in Kent in the early 1800s. Kentish man see comment Native of the County of Kent, England, born west of the River Medway. If born east of it, he is a man of Kent. kerbside-crawl. see comment Slang. Crawl is used by the British the way Americans use cruise to indicate the slow driving of a car. Kerb-crawl describes the nasty conduct of a motorist on the prowl for women foolish enough to accept an invitation to hop in. Gutter-crawl is synonymous. (Kerb is spelled curb in America.) kerfuffle, n. fuss; commotion; dither Slang. Found also in the spellings cufuffle and gefuffle, and probably in others as well. It is sometimes used as synonymous with shemozzle. kettle-boy, n. tea maker Formerly, boy employed on a construction site to keep the tea kettle going all day long. kettle-holder, n. pot-holder keyless watch stem-winder keyless watch 193 kibble, n., v.t. 1. n., mine bucket 2. v.t., grind Kibbled wheat is cracked wheat. kick the beam lose out kick-up. See dust-up. Kilkenny cats squabblers Inf. Based on an old Irish legend about two cats who fought each other so long and so murderously that finally there was nothing left but their tails. The figura- tive meaning of the phrase retains reference to the audible squabbling of the cats, rather than to their gruesome end. King’s (Queen’s) evidence state’s evidence In Britain, the accused cooperates with the prosecution by turning King’s or Queen’s evidence, the phrase being determined by the sex of the sovereign at the time. In America, the phrase is state’s evidence. kinky, adj. 1. sexually unconventional 2. twisted; odd 3. sophisticatedly off-beat 4. Inf. cool 1. Slang. Or appealing to such tastes. 2. Slang. Peculiar; kooky. 3. Slang. As of clothes, for instance. 4. Teenage slang. Synonymous with gear and fab. kiosk, n. 1. newsstand 2. telephone booth kip, n., v.i. 1. rooming-house 2. room in a rooming-house 3. bed 4. sleep Slang. The house, the room in the house, the bed in the room, the sleep in the bed; sometimes seen in the expressions go to kip, have a kip, take a kip, or kip down, mean- ing to ‘turn in for a night’s sleep or a nap.’ kipper, n. Inf. kid; tot Slang. Synonymous with a like-sounding British slang word—nipper. kirby grip n. bobby pin Also known in Britain as hair-slide and hair grip. kissing gate Approx. cattle gate Kissing gates found in rural Britain are gates hung with the side away from the hinge swinging within a V-shaped or U-shaped enclosure in such a way that people can get through but cattle can’t. You push the gate away from the nearside of the V or U, step into the latter, slide over to the other side, and push the gate back. This quaint device may have acquired its romantic name because it was the place where a swain said goodnight to his lady love, and a certain amount of lingering was in order. 194 kibble kiss of life 1. mouth-to-mouth resuscitation 2. boost 1. The life-saving procedure. 2. Inf. Probably modeled on the phrase kiss of death, it has acquired the meaning of something that revitalizes or provides new hope for an ailing project, situation, etc. kiss your hand. See as easy as kiss your hand. kit, n., v.t. outfit As a noun, outfit in the sense of special dress, like skiing kit, camping kit, etc. As a verb, outfit in the sense of equip. Sometimes lengthened to kit up. kitchen garden family fruit and vegetable garden kitchen towel paper towel kith and kin friends and relations One’s own people. knacker, n. see comment One who purchases animal carcasses and slaughters superannuated livestock for rendering into various products. The plant in which this is done is called a knackery or knacker’s yard. knackered, adj. Slang. tuckered out Slang A grim image, derived from the previous entry. knave, n. jack In playing cards. Jack is another name for this card in Britain. knees-up, n. Inf. a party with dancing knickers, n. pl. Inf. panties Inf. In America knickers would be understood as short for knickerbockers, which is the British term for plus fours, an article of wearing apparel still seen there. See also camiknickers. To get your knickers in a twist is to get all het up about some- thing or to make a muddle of things. knife-and-fork tea Approx. light supper Inf. A high tea at which meat or fish is served and a knife is required. See also high tea; cream tea. Knight. See K. knighthood, n. the rank of knight knob, n., Slang. Slang. scab (strikebreaker) Scab is now more common. knob, n. lump Of butter, sugar, etc. knob 195 knobble. See nobble. knobs. See with knobs on! knock, n. Slang. hit (success) Slang. Synonymous with the British sense of bomb. But see bit of a knock. knock, v.i. Slang. wow (impress) Slang. To knock someone in American slang is to disparage him, but in British slang it means to impress him greatly, i.e., to knock him dead, and is probably short for knock for six (see six). knock acock Inf. bowl over Inf. To astonish, to present with the unexpected. knocked off, adj. Inf. confused, dazed She’s been a bit knocked off since her stroke. knocker. See up to the knocker. knocker, n. door to door salesman Slang. To work on the knocker is to work from door to door. Synonymous with door- step salesman. knocker-up, n. 1. arouser 2. see comment 1. Inf. A person whose job is to summon sleeping railroad workers or miners to their jobs. 2. Inf. The term is used also in political circles, to describe a party worker charged with the function of getting out the vote. knock for six. See six. knocking-house, n., Slang. whorehouse knocking shop, n. Slang. brothel knock on Inf. turn up Inf. To knock on for work is to turn up for work; generally applied to casual labour- ers; an echo of the more common knock off (work), used in both countries. knock-on effect side effect The concomitant result, incidental consequence. knock oneself up knock oneself out To overdo it. knock-out, n. 1. warm-up 2. elimination contest 1. A tennis term, synonymous with knock-up. 2. A competition involving the elimination of losers, on the way to the finals. knock up 1. wake up by knocking 2. exhaust; wear out 3. Inf. throw together 4. earn 196 knobble [...]... levels (A- levels; O-levels) See A- levels lie up 205 ley, n temporary pasture (Pronounced lay.) Ley-farming is the system of putting a given area into grazing pasture for a few years, then catching the fertility, as they say, and using that area for a particular crop A ley is a rotating pasture; variant of lea Liberal Democratic Party see comment A political party formed in 1988 when the Liberals merged... known as the General Council of the Bar lay, v.t 1 set 2 impose 1 The table 2 A tax, as in a tax laid on wealth by certain governments layabout, n loafer; hobo lay-by, n driver’s rest area Roadside parking space When you see a road sign reading lay-by as you drive along in Britain, you know that up ahead on your left, there will be a turn-out which broadens into a parking area People use it for short-term... power Almost always shortened to the opposition (the) Loyal Toast see comment As the coffee is served at a meal which is part of the proceedings at a regular meeting of an organization like a guild, Rotary Club, and that sort of thing, the chairman stands up and announces, in stentorian tones: “The Loyal Toast!” Thereupon all stand, raise their glasses, and say in unison: “The Queen!” They take a swallow... is a national Law Society and there are also many local ones in Britain just as there are a nationwide Bar Association and many local ones in America In certain matters such as the setting of ethical standards of conduct, the furtherance of legal education, and so on, the functions of the British and American bodies coincide Membership in law societies is confined to solicitors only Barristers have... suggests loyalty, solidarity, and affection The word may also have a connotation of mild moral disapproval, especially in the sentence ‘He’s a bit of a lad.’ See also Jack the lad ladder, n run This term applies to ladies’ stockings and pantyhose (tights) Ladder-proof hose, etc., are advertised in Britain just as run-proof articles are advertised in America, but the ladies remain skeptical on both sides... also be a peeress in her own right.) If Lady Jane Smith marries Mr Bloggs, she becomes Lady Jane Bloggs See also Lord; Dame; K.; baronet; peer ladybird, n Also called a golden-knop ladybug Lady Day see comment March 25, so called because that is the day of the Feast of the Annunciation See quarter-day 198 landed 199 ladyfy (ladify), v.t see comment To ladyfy or ladify a woman is to make a lady of her,... is always used figuratively in America to describe a person who doesn’t plan ahead, and this figurative use, too, is shared with Britain In other words, the British use long-sighted and short-sighted literally where the Americans would say farsighted and nearsighted The British use far-sighted figuratively, as the Americans do; and the Americans use shortsighted figuratively, as the British do long-stay,... Britain, toilet is the usual term, perhaps because toilet or a recognizably similar term (toilette, toiletta, toiletten) is thus used in many foreign countries whose nationals often come to Britain In Britain at one time the educated and literary said lavatory or W.C.; others said loo or toilet The common American euphemism is bathroom looby, n Slang Also a lazy person simpleton look like look as... out to rubbish heap lea See ley leader, n 1 newspaper editorial 2 chief counsel 3 concert master This word has three distinct British meanings that are not found in America: 1 It means ‘newspaper editorial,’ especially the principal one There is a related (and rather unattractive) word leaderette, which has nothing to do with female leaders but means a ‘short editorial paragraph’ following the main... describe a left-handed bowler (approx cricket counterpart of a pitcher); but a left-handed batsman (batter) is called left-hand left luggage office checkroom lefty, n Slang leftist Inf The American usage meaning ‘left-handed person’ is often heard in Britain legal aid see comment In Britain, legal aid is supplied from Government funds made available to litigants who otherwise could not afford to pay for . a given area into grazing pasture for a few years, then catching the fertility, as they say, and using that area for a particular crop. A ley is a rotating. Society approx. Bar Association There is a national Law Society and there are also many local ones in Britain just as there are a nationwide Bar Association and