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British Popular Saying and Idioms

British Popular Saying and Idioms

International English Test Editorial Team·6 Nov 2023·4 min read

Explore a selection of well-known British popular saying and idioms. We will clarify their meanings you in sounding like a native speaker.

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The frequently used British expressions

Let’s begin with some commonly heard phrases that you might encounter at a pub, which is equivalent to a bar in most other parts of the world.

  • Alright?
  • Morning/Afternoon/Evening
  • What’s up?
  • See ya later
  • Take care
  • Cheerio.
  • See ya
  • Catch ya later
  • Have a good one
  • Take it easy
  • Ta ta

The most common British sayings about the weather

Exploring British culture reveals a penchant for weather-related phrases, which isn’t surprising given the country’s famously unpredictable climate. Below, you’ll find amusing English expressions and sayings that revolve around the weather or incorporate weather-related terms:

  • It’s pissing/chucking it down 
  • Save it for a rainy day 
  • Rain on someone’s parade 
  • Storm in a teacup 
  • Snowed under 
  • To take a rain check
  • To rain on someone’s parade
  • To catch wind
  • To take a shine to
  • To chase rainbows

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9iyAzXPsEzk?feature=oembed

British phrases and idioms about animals

The British have a strong affection for their pets, and they boast a significant history of animal-related activities such as hunting and racing. As a result, you’ll frequently come across expressions that incorporate words related to animals. Let’s delve into them.

  • Barking up the wrong tree 
  • One-horse race 
  • The bee’s knees 
  • Raining cats and dogs 
  • Have kittens. 

  • All dressed up like a dog’s dinner. 

  • A cold fish. 

  • Like a bear with a sore head. 

  • Not give a monkey’s. 


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British idioms about food and drink

Many British expressions feature terminology related to food and beverages. Although you may be familiar with these words from your English lessons, you’ve likely never encountered them arranged in this particular manner!

  • It’s not my cup of tea 
  • Takes the biscuit 
  • The proof’s in the pudding 
  • It’s all gone pear shaped 
  • Cool as a cucumber 

British slang also includes a plethora of words and phrases that revolve around food and beverages. Check out some of our preferred examples below:

  • Brew – Hot drink, such as tea or coffee. 
  • Biscuit – Cookie. “I’ll put the kettle on and get some biscuits.”
  • Brekkie – Breakfast. “Let’s go out for a fry-up brekkie.”
  • Chippy – Fish and chip shop. “On Fridays, we get takeaway from the chippy.”
  • Crisps – Potato chips. “I’m feeling peckish. Anyone fancy some crisps?”
  • Nosh – Food, meal. “This pub has great nosh.”
  • Tea – Not just the drink but also dinner or supper. “I’ll put the tea on at 6.”

https://www.youtube.com/embed/N_h0yX78o10?feature=oembed

Becoming skilled in delivering British idiomatic expressions

At this point, you could be feeling a bit bewildered or overwhelmed. We completely understand. There are numerous amusing British sayings, and it can be challenging to determine when and how to use them.

Nonetheless, if you’re feeling adventurous and wish to apply your newly acquired slang, take into account the following suggestions:

  1. Watch British TV shows and films – If you want to master the delivery of phrases, it’s good to hear them in context first. British media also covers all regional accents and dialects. For instance, Netflix’s Top Boy can teach you modern slang taken from Jamaican patois (e.g., “wagwan”), while the reality TV series Made in Chelsea includes more affluent voices.
  2. Stay up to date with British social media – Thanks to the popularity of Brits on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, there are plenty of ways to get your daily dose of local lingo. As slang is always evolving, this is your best chance at learning the most current words, too.
  3. Engage in real conversations – We cannot stress this enough! The very best way to learn how to use British sayings in context is to talk to native speakers. They can be friends, language partners, or native tutors. Listen to their way of speaking, intonation, and pronunciation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

It means something is not to your taste or not something you enjoy. Despite mentioning tea, it has nothing to do with drinks. You might say a film is not your cup of tea if you found it dull. It sits among British food and drink idioms like "takes the biscuit" and "cool as a cucumber", which also borrow everyday food words to express opinions.
British speakers use a wide range of casual farewells. Common ones include "Cheerio", "See ya", "See ya later", "Catch ya later", "Ta ta", "Take care", "Take it easy" and "Have a good one". These are friendly and relaxed, the kind of phrases you would hear at a pub or among friends rather than in formal writing.
The habit reflects Britain's famously unpredictable climate, so weather words crop up constantly in everyday speech. Phrases such as "it's chucking it down", "snowed under", "save it for a rainy day", "a storm in a teacup" and "to take a rain check" all use weather imagery, though many describe situations or feelings rather than the actual sky.
It means pursuing a mistaken course or blaming the wrong person. The British fondness for pets and a long history of hunting and racing left their language packed with animal expressions. Others include "the bee's knees", "raining cats and dogs", "a one-horse race", "a cold fish" and "like a bear with a sore head".
"Brekkie" is breakfast, often a cooked fry-up. A "chippy" is a fish and chip shop where you grab takeaway. "Nosh" simply means food or a meal. Other handy terms are "brew" for a hot drink, "crisps" for potato chips and "biscuit" for a cookie. Confusingly, "tea" can mean the evening meal as well as the drink.
Hearing phrases in context comes first, so watching British TV and films helps; Top Boy teaches modern slang drawn from Jamaican patois such as "wagwan", while Made in Chelsea features more affluent voices. Following Brits on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram keeps you current as slang evolves. Above all, having real conversations with native speakers builds the right intonation and pronunciation.
International English Test

International English Test Editorial Team

ALTE Associate Member · UK English assessment provider · Est. 2023

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