‘What are some British expressions that only British people understand?’ – 23 answers that will have you chuffed to bits
12.
”It’s like Picadilly Circus in ‘ere!’. When there’s two other people down the veg aisle in Asda.’
–BastardsCryinInnit
13.
‘Many a mickle makes a muckle.’
–tangl3d
14.
‘Cobblers (meaning rubbish, nonsense) is one of my faves.’
–Ambivalent-Axolotl
15.
”It’s Baltic in here’ was a common phrase growing up for its cold in here.’
–Sean_13
16.
‘Cheers Drive.’
–Fluffy_Juggernaut_
17.
‘I still ask people for ‘council pop’ when they ask if I’d like a drink: most people know what it is but it makes me laugh when they don’t and then ask ‘is tap water okay?’.’
–Unlikely-Tip-5962
18.
‘Owt and nowt, which means anything and nothing.’
–Lastof1
19.
‘Fine words butter no parsnips, meaning any amount of talk won’t make things better.’
–Mammothsherd
20.
‘Rare as rocking horse shit.’
–thehatesponge
21.
‘It’s brass monkey weather.’
–DarthScabies
22.
‘You’ve got more front than Harrods!’
–PhantomLamb
23.
‘Swings and roundabouts. What you gain on the swings you lose on the roundabouts. Zero sum game.’
–roywill2
Some excellent idioms there, and here’s a brilliant explanation of the origins of a phrase that is a particular British favourite…
”Taking the piss” or ‘taking the Mickey (Bliss)’ in Cockney has a great origin. Urine was used for millennia in the textiles industry, for cleaning fresh wool and the ammonia helps hold a dye. The textile industry got so big in the north the locals couldn’t produce enough piss so they paid for countless barrels of piss to be transported from London. The people on the boats found it a bit embarrassing so would try to bullshit saying they were moving barrels full of wine. People would call them out, ‘Nah mate, you’re taking the piss’.’
–Parking-Tip1685