‘Ace’ – a British slang term that means something that is brilliant or excellent. Can also mean to pass something with flying colors.

For example, ‘Jenny is ace at the lab experiments’, or, for the latter definition, ‘I think I aced that exam’.

meaning: “I don’t believe you!”

“Rubbish” is the British word for “garbage,” so if you want to point out that an idea or suggestion has no quality or is blatantly false, this is the British phrase you’ll need. You’ve just heard someone describe Oasis as “the greatest band who ever walked this Earth”? There’s only one recourse for you: Stop them dead in their tracks by exclaiming, “That’s rubbish!”

Want to learn more about British English? Then check out this episode of the Chatty con Leche podcast!

meaning: beautiful; attractive

Spend more than five minutes around any British woman over the age of 40, and you are very likely to hear the word “lovely.” This extremely popular word conveys a feeling of affection or approval on behalf of the speaker towards an object or person, and it’s perhaps best summed up in the phrase, “that’s a lovely cup of tea.” However, the word is more popular amongst older generations, and even more so amongst older women. For instance, the following exchange is definitely happening right now on the streets of Oxford:

• Woman #1: “Ohhh look at that lovely young man by the bus stop!”
• Woman #2: “Right! And look how lovely his shoes are!”
• Woman #1: “Yes! They’re lovely!”

However, be careful because British people are famously over-polite, and the innate fear of being rude is so ingrained within our national psyche that most Brits are terribly afraid of registering their dislike at anything. So whether it’s bad service, undercooked food or crap weather, if we want to keep up appearances and not offend the company we’re with, then rather than expressing our disappointment or disgust at something we’re far more likely to say “Oh it’s lovely!” when asked for our opinion. If you want to blend in and “do as the British do,” then you’ve also got to master the art of hiding your disappointment like a true Brit.

• Excited child returning home from school: “Look mummy, I drew a picture of the family!”
• Mum: “Oh that’s lovely dear. Let’s hang it on the fridge right away.”

meaning: “I’m drunk.”

This one isn’t just confusing for non-native English speakers — it regularly trips up Americans too! In American English “to be pissed” means to be extremely angry about something. In British English, the phrase is used to describe the feeling of having had a few too many lagers down the pub, and the resulting struggle to walk in a straight line.

meaning: to mend, or repair something clumsily

In the past, Britain bequeathed onto the world the steam train, the telephone and, most importantly, the chocolate bar. So it’s fair to say that modern-day Brits have got a pretty impressive standard to live up to when it comes to the world of inventions and mechanics. Most Brits are therefore mortified by the thought of hiring an expensive expert to mend an item in need of repair, and we take pride in giving the repair job a go ourselves. But what if this repair job is of a low-quality, and doesn’t really get the job done? That’s what we call “to bodge something.”

This verb perfectly describes the clumsy and invariably futile attempt to mend a broken item. For example, if the tape has come off the handlebars on your bike, don’t go to a professional bike repair shop and pay through the nose for the application of expensive “bike tape” by a man who knows what he’s doing — perish the thought! Instead, grab some cheap sellotape from the newsagent’s and affix it to your handlebars yourself! Who cares if the end bits continue to flap in the wind? You’ve just perfected the British art of “bodging it,” and that’s far more important right now.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel would be proud of your inventiveness.

meaning “I’m very pleased.”

This is the perfect phrase to use when describing a great deal of pleasure about something, or displaying immense pride in one’s own efforts. For example, if you’re about to tuck into a delicious full English breakfast, then you could say that you’re feeling “chuffed to bits.” Or, perhaps you’ve just won over someone’s heart by introducing them to your favorite cider. Boom! You could now say that you’re “chuffed to bits with yourself.”

meaning: “I’m tired.”

This is a great one to break out when you’re catching your breath after a serious amount of physical exercise. Nothing could be more British than running for the bus while holding multiple bags of shopping in your hands. Once you’ve made it aboard, sit down next to the little old Granny in the front row, exhale loudly, turn to her, roll your eyes and exclaim, “I’m knackered!”

meaning: “Hey, how are you?”

Sure, Shakespeare was British, but modern-day Brits are decidedly less wordy. Long gone are the days where we would greet each other in the street with a formal “How do you do, Sir?” (while tipping our hats and waving our handkerchiefs in the air). Nowadays, your average Brit under the age of 40 is far more likely to greet their friends or loved ones with a curt “Alright?”

But don’t get your knickers in a twist. This greeting is simply an expeditious, modern version of “Hello!” The greeter is not asking you for an in-depth explanation of your well-being. An authentic “Alright?” can only truly be achieved if the greeter gives a slight nod of the head, while the word itself is to be voiced as a short groan — none of this “top-of-the-morning” chirpiness!

Not sure how to pronounce it yourself? Then listen to the master: Karl Pilkington.

Meaning: goodbye

Don’t take this one literally. Saying “see you later” is not a commitment to meet again, it’s just a casual way to say goodbye.

• “Well, this is it. Tomorrow I board a rocket to Mars, never to return.”
• “Cool. See you later.“

Want to learn more about American English? Then check out this episode of the Chatty con Leche podcast! Dude it’s totally interesting, like, for real.

Meaning: I understand

• “Our appointment is at 4pm.”
• “Got it. I’ll meet you there.”

Meaning: definitely; certainly

• “Can you do me a favor and pick up dinner on the way home?”
• “For sure.”

Meaning: true; honest

• “I started training with a synchronized swimming team.”
• “Are you for real?”
• “Yes, for real, it’s been my dream since childhood.”

OutKast’s song “Ms. Jackson” includes a perfect example of this phrase.