The Slang Podcast - Learn British English Now

One of my friends is a musician and he is performing at his first concert tomorrow! This morning I saw him for a coffee and said:Looking at me with confusion and fear he repeated:Break a leg? Why on earth would I want thatYou may be as confused as he was, so let's explore this slang phrase...To clarify I am not wishing him bad luck! The opposite actually. This idiom "to break a leg" has in fact positive connotations, strange as it seems. So where does this strange idiom come from and when do we use it?Now there are many claimed reasons for the existence of this phrase, usually involving connotations with the theatre."Break a leg" earliest written evidence can be found in Bernard Sobel's 1948 Theatre Handbook in which Sobel explains that actors never said "Good luck," only "I hope you break a leg."It has been suggested that wishing someone to "break a leg" dates back as far as Ancient Greek Theatre. After watching ancient greek audiences would stomp their feet to express their praise for a play, rather like how we clap and applaud now. By wishing an actor to "break a leg", they hoped that the show would be such a hit that a member of the audience would stomp so hard that they literally may break their own leg, showing that the play was a total success!However this is only one theory, our second stems from ancient superstition, that when you want something to be a success you must wish for the opposite.For an actor on opening night it could be argued that the worst thing to happen would be to break a leg, so wishing for it may in fact insure it is avoided!Nowadays we can use this term not just concerning luck in the theatre but in general, for example:Hope you break a leg at your job interview!orBreak a leg on the English test today!So when do you next need to break a leg? A job interview? An English exam? 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 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!

After a long day at work my partner always asks how I am feeling. I usually reply with one of the two:hungry-ish or tired-ish.So what does this 'ish’' mean? Do I need to eat or go to bed? Ish spelt I-S-H is an informal suffix used to say about or approximately. This informal suffix can be added to many words including numbers or times of the day. For example:How old is she?Umm 40ish...orWhat time will you be at home?’Around 2ish...You can also use ish with gradable adjectives. A gradable adjective is one that can have different levels of intensity. An example of a gradable adjective is hot, so you can be a bit hot, fairly hot or hot ish. For centuries now, "ish" has been rather promiscuous in English. In 1894 in an article from The Daily News, a London newspaper of which Charles Dickens was briefly the editor! We can find an example of ish being used while describing a house, they wrote:Some huge pile of building, generally much more Queen Anne-ish than the houses of Queen Anne’s own time.Here the building was being described as similar to the style of Queen Anne but not the same, hence the use of ish.Nowadays ish can be used, not only as a suffix but alone, in this sense ish means more or less the same thing: kind of, thereabouts, in a way.As described by the linguist Stefanie Kuzmack, ish refers back to a particular idea. So we have a breakaway from a suffix to a stand-alone word. So instead of simply adding ish to an adjective, I am coldish. It can be used alone:Are you cold?Yeah, ish.So how are you feeling? Hungry-ish? Tired-ish? English-ish? 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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!