Meaning: Going for several pints and possibly a couple of shots
“This is just great”
Meaning: Whatever is happening is really shit
There’s also “could be better” which means “lifes shit”
And
“It’s fine” means youre in deep shit
“In a spot of bother”- life threatening situation
“I’m really pleased for you”
When you can’t stand them and are anything but “pleased” for them. Usually accompanied by a weak and unconvincing smile.
‘In a bit of a pickle’. Been caught smuggling few Kg of contraband in a country that does capital punishment.
“That’s brave” WTF. Why are you attempting that? It won’t work
‘Sorry to be a nuisance but’ is the prefix to something absolutely horrendous and unbefitting the tone of delivery.
e.g. ‘sorry to be a nuisance but it appears your mother is on fire’
We understate to overstate and vice versa.
My favourite was a YouTube dash cam video of a guy who swerved to avoid a head on collision, hit the kerb, flipped his car and rolled it down the narrow country lane he was on. When it finally came to rest all you hear in the video is “hmm, that was scary” in the most disinterested tone of voice thinkable.
We really are an odd lot, haha.
“I hate it” = I secretly love it
“Your powers of observation are exceptional”
when someone states the obvious.
My favourite is “what could possibly go wrong?”
It’ll be a disaster, that.
“No offence but”
“I’m not being racist but”
“Not bad”, said in slightly cheery voice = life’s amazing
“Not bad”, said in neutral voice = life’s not bad
“Not bad”, said in almost imperceptibly negative tone = life is absolutely horrific and I am on the verge of full-blown madness/clinical depression
How are you? ‘I’m living the dream’ = I am most certainly living the absolute nightmare that is life right now
“There’s a kerfuffle” – Gary glassed Darren and Vicki has gone apeshit.
“It could be worse.”
Can be used to describe any situation, regardless of if it’s good or bad.
There’s genuine historical accounts from WW1 or WW2 (I forget which), where British summaries of situations led to misunderstanding from their US allies.
Like the Americans radioed over to the Brits for a sitrep, and the Brits replied “it’s a bit sticky over here”. And the Americans didn’t render adequate assistance because they thought the Brits were just complaining about the mud XD
“A bit damp” meaning torrential rain
As a former teacher I can assure you that every single school report is written in this vein.
Its a bit awry – Its actually FUBAR
They’re a tad miffed – They are furious beyond measure
So ‘I can live with that’ means ‘I’ll jump into the Thames’?
“Disappointing”. Said at all levels and especially at the most senior political and corporate levels when something a hundred times stronger or angrier should be used.
“I’m disappointed that he turned out to be a criminal who committed fraud on an industrial scale”.
“This news of the country plummeting into recession is disappointing”
“Those decades of systematic abuse and cover ups are disappointing”
“I’m obsessed with….”(insert something mundane like a new chocolate bar you’ve been back to Tesco for twice in a month)
A “touch of” anything. Meaning it’s exponential.
“A touch of rain” = it’s the biblical floods.
“Not Bad” – the best thing ever.
From Bridge too Far
Capt. Arie D. “Harry” Bestebreurtje: Why the emergency meeting?
Brig. Gen. James Gavin: Just keeping me abreast of the little changes.
Bestebreurtje: How big are the little changes?
Gavin: I’ll answer with typical British understatement: gigantic. For example, they can’t get us all in at once. Too many men, too much equipment, not enough planes. It’s gonna take three days to get the men into Arnhem, Poles and the British.
“thanks, you’ve been very helpful”
meaning: you were about as much use as wheels on a bull
“Ladies and gentleman, we have a small problem”
All four engines on the aircraft have failed, something appears to be on fire and we can’t see where we’re going.
31 comments
“Going for a pint”
Meaning: Going for several pints and possibly a couple of shots
“This is just great”
Meaning: Whatever is happening is really shit
There’s also “could be better” which means “lifes shit”
And
“It’s fine” means youre in deep shit
“In a spot of bother”- life threatening situation
“I’m really pleased for you”
When you can’t stand them and are anything but “pleased” for them. Usually accompanied by a weak and unconvincing smile.
‘In a bit of a pickle’. Been caught smuggling few Kg of contraband in a country that does capital punishment.
“That’s brave” WTF. Why are you attempting that? It won’t work
‘Sorry to be a nuisance but’ is the prefix to something absolutely horrendous and unbefitting the tone of delivery.
e.g. ‘sorry to be a nuisance but it appears your mother is on fire’
We understate to overstate and vice versa.
My favourite was a YouTube dash cam video of a guy who swerved to avoid a head on collision, hit the kerb, flipped his car and rolled it down the narrow country lane he was on. When it finally came to rest all you hear in the video is “hmm, that was scary” in the most disinterested tone of voice thinkable.
We really are an odd lot, haha.
“I hate it” = I secretly love it
“Your powers of observation are exceptional”
when someone states the obvious.
My favourite is “what could possibly go wrong?”
It’ll be a disaster, that.
“No offence but”
“I’m not being racist but”
“Not bad”, said in slightly cheery voice = life’s amazing
“Not bad”, said in neutral voice = life’s not bad
“Not bad”, said in almost imperceptibly negative tone = life is absolutely horrific and I am on the verge of full-blown madness/clinical depression
How are you? ‘I’m living the dream’ = I am most certainly living the absolute nightmare that is life right now
“There’s a kerfuffle” – Gary glassed Darren and Vicki has gone apeshit.
“It could be worse.”
Can be used to describe any situation, regardless of if it’s good or bad.
There’s genuine historical accounts from WW1 or WW2 (I forget which), where British summaries of situations led to misunderstanding from their US allies.
Like the Americans radioed over to the Brits for a sitrep, and the Brits replied “it’s a bit sticky over here”. And the Americans didn’t render adequate assistance because they thought the Brits were just complaining about the mud XD
“A bit damp” meaning torrential rain
As a former teacher I can assure you that every single school report is written in this vein.
Its a bit awry – Its actually FUBAR
They’re a tad miffed – They are furious beyond measure
So ‘I can live with that’ means ‘I’ll jump into the Thames’?
“Disappointing”. Said at all levels and especially at the most senior political and corporate levels when something a hundred times stronger or angrier should be used.
“I’m disappointed that he turned out to be a criminal who committed fraud on an industrial scale”.
“This news of the country plummeting into recession is disappointing”
“Those decades of systematic abuse and cover ups are disappointing”
“I’m obsessed with….”(insert something mundane like a new chocolate bar you’ve been back to Tesco for twice in a month)
A “touch of” anything. Meaning it’s exponential.
“A touch of rain” = it’s the biblical floods.
“Not Bad” – the best thing ever.
From Bridge too Far
Capt. Arie D. “Harry” Bestebreurtje: Why the emergency meeting?
Brig. Gen. James Gavin: Just keeping me abreast of the little changes.
Bestebreurtje: How big are the little changes?
Gavin: I’ll answer with typical British understatement: gigantic. For example, they can’t get us all in at once. Too many men, too much equipment, not enough planes. It’s gonna take three days to get the men into Arnhem, Poles and the British.
“thanks, you’ve been very helpful”
meaning: you were about as much use as wheels on a bull
“Ladies and gentleman, we have a small problem”
All four engines on the aircraft have failed, something appears to be on fire and we can’t see where we’re going.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_009
“I can’t complain” = “I’m having the worst day of my life I just don’t have the energy to talk about it”
“Ah F*ck” – Something has happened that will have minor consequences or is a minor inconvenience.
“Oh F*ck” – Something has happened that will possibly end my life or career.
Comments are closed.