), from West Germanic *minta (source also of Old Saxon minta, Middle Dutch mente, Old High German minza, German Minze), a borrowing from Latin menta, mentha "mint," itself from Greek minthe, personified as a nymph transformed into an herb by Proserpine, which is probably a loan-word from a lost Mediterranean language. ", "Joe's children are so cheeky -- they tied my shoelaces together last week!". The "wind-up merchant" will often claim to be making their comments as a light-hearted jest when the recipients start becoming irritated. He gathered the bundles of clothing into his arms. 17 synonyms of mint from the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus, plus 44 related words, definitions, and antonyms. Having trouble understanding somebody from across the pond? "Don't get caught, or you'll end up in the Nick!". 0 Avoid growing different varieties of mint close together, whether in pots or the ground, as they can lose their individual scent and flavour. When growing in pots, rejuvenate congested clumps by upturning the container, removing the rootball and splitting it in half. Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, [This article was originally published in 2018]. sophia ", "Give me a call" or "ring me." showing only Slang/Internet Slang definitions (show all 23 definitions). (adjective) in the sense of perfect. heap (informal) top dollar (informal) King's ransom. times. ", "She's come down with the dreaded lurgy. Find another word for coin. adj. The origins of the phrase are largely debated online, however, it's believed that "to nick" as in to steal influenced the slang term for prison, as being imprisoned is similar to being "stolen" away. times. This intensifier can be added to practically any sentence in order to demonstrate incredulity or anger. by Ben Henry. We aren't referring to people who chose to speak eloquently like Stephen Fry or The Royal Family . Fake The word can be used to describe many types of things including an object, thought, or idea. Although no one is completely sure of the word's origins, it could derive from the words "cod" and "wallop," which historically meant "imitation" and "beer" respectively -- implying that "codswallop" is the kind of rubbish you make up when drunk. To "gallivant" means to roam, or to set off on an expedition, with the sole intention of having some light-hearted fun. ", A nosey neighbour, often caught peering out on their street's activities from a curtained window, might be referred to as a "curtain twitcher. (intransitive) (provincial) (Northern England) (Scotland) To try, attempt; take aim. "Pop" has evolved from "cock," and when someone "cocked" their clogs, the toes of their clogs pointed up in the air as they lay down dead. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. AFTERBOOMER The Royal Mint would like to keep you up to date with information about our competitions, products, services, offers and news that may interest you. Lacking in energy; usually after a long period of exertion. We've got a party at our gaff, if you fancy it?". However, "the full Monty" actually refers to pursuing something to the absolute limits. After eight mint is British rhyming slang for penniless (skint). In "over-egging the pudding" analogy, someone is over-exciting, or over-mixing, the batter too much before it bakes -- resulting in a tough or dense cake. Linux Mint is free of charge (thanks to your donations and adverts on the website) and we hope you'll enjoy it. ", "I'm going to make us spaghetti carbonara for dinner. A "good old chinwag" is a good chat, catch up, or gossip with someone. You beauty. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. Citation from "Luke 21:25", Hard Sun (TV), Season 1 Episode 3 censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site. Principal Translations: Inglés: Español: mint n noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. This classic British idiom may seem stereotypically twee, however, some sources believe that "tickety-boo" in fact derives from the Hindu phrase "ṭhīk hai, bābū," meaning "it's alright, sir. "Do we have to go to the dinner party tonight? Please check the box below, by doing so you are acknowledging that you are above the age of 16 and consent to being contacted. n. a very large amount of money. But that dubstep, that filthy, rotten, grub dub ate away at my brain.' "Quid" is British slang for "pounds," eg, "five quid" means £5. Nowadays, "bloody" is used widely -- it's even used in children's films such as "Harry Potter" -- and is arguably one of the most quintessentially British words on the list. "Goodness, you're full of beans this morning!". "Be careful when you're driving -- it's a pea-souper out there.". Take cuttings in spring and you’ll have young mint plants bursting with flavour, ripe for pickings to last you all summer. Let's be honest, us British folk have a funny way of expressing ourselves. Read our full mailing list consent terms here, Someone that lacks common sense might be described as "a few sandwiches short of a picnic.". If the joker forgets to say "no returns of any kind," the recipient can say "a slap and a kick for being so quick," accompanied by a slap and a kick. Wild mint grew in the field. Top 5 Reasons Why TWERKING Must NEVER Catch On In Britain, Use of Word 'Pleb' Could Cost Minister His Job. "Pull" can also be used as a verb. Although it sounds crude, the phrase is actually considered a polite way of announcing that you are going to visit the bathroom. mean? Leave this field empty if you're human: Fair dinkum words and phrases, sent once a week. BuzzFeed Staff. "I'm trying to flog my old sofa. "Those two are having a proper chinwag -- I haven't been able to get a word in edgeways for half an hour! "We get it -- you've injured yourself. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Send it in The team at the Business Insider UK office have compiled a list of the best British slang and idioms that define the weird and wonderful British dialect we grew up with. "Did you see Scott last night? Some entries also feature surprising facts about the phrase's origins, with a few quintessentially British idioms not actually coming from British roots at all. Old Skool Our dictionary aims to be authentic - not made-up (like Roger's Profanisaurus - which we love by the way). mint meaning: 1. a herb whose leaves have a strong, fresh smell and taste and are used for giving flavour to…. The phrase describes the mayhem caused when something is recklessly thrown into the intricate gears and workings of a machine. Although this sounds like an analogy about the chemistry of baking, or putting too many eggs in a cake batter, "egg" actually comes from the Anglo Saxon "eggian," meaning to "excite." That includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the floaty, rocky bits nearby. The team at the Business Insider UK office have compiled a list of the best British slang and idioms that define the weird and wonderful British dialect we grew up with. Something that is "bog-standard" is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons. "The Nick" can refer to prison, while "to nick" also means to steal. Since then, the phrase has evolved and refers to something at the "height of cool. "Wow -- you've really splashed out on this party! If you're "winding someone up," you're making them tense or irritated in the same way you wind up a Jack-in-the-box before it pops. It's common courtesy to offer a labourer or builder working on your house a builder's tea while they're working -- especially if they're working out in the cold. As a result, "pinch punch, first of the month" was a way of warding off witches and bad luck for the near future. A disorganised mess or chaotic environment might be described as a "shambles. ", A task performed in an awkward or uncomfortable fashion, usually clumsily, would be described as "cack-handed.". The idiom was first used to describe the thick, choking smogs that settled over London, caused by lots of people burning fossil fuels in a close vicinity, as early as 1200. Its origins are somewhat unclear, but a "bog" is another word for a toilet in British slang, adding to the connotations that something "bog-standard" is unglamorous and unspecial. Mint definition, any aromatic herb of the genus Mentha, having opposite leaves and small, whorled flowers, as the spearmint and peppermint. "A bacon sandwich and a builder's tea. Although its origins are largely debated, the term's meaning has evolved over the last 50 years alone. This is still used in English in the phrase "egging someone on" to do something. "Well, this has all gone a bit pear-shaped.". To "splash out" means spending significant amounts of money on a particular item or event. All rights reserved. "You look nice. ", If someone has done something highly irritating or surprising in an exasperating fashion, you might say that they've "taken the biscuit.". Mint: being in an original and unused or unspoiled state. "How was the hostel?" and we'll credit you for ever. Going "the fully Monty" meant purchasing a full three-piece suit, a shirt, and all of the trimmings. Mint "Faff" comes from the 17th century word "faffle," which means to flap about in the wind. Are you going on the pull?". v. verb. Credit: contributed by The "boot" is the compartment at the back of the car known as the "trunk" in American English. "Stop being such a wind-up merchant and be serious for one second! ", "Sam did a botch job on these shelves -- they're wonky! This phrase is used to confirm or agree with something that another person has just said. "Over-egging the pudding" means embellishing or over-doing something to the extent that it's detrimental to the finished product. AFTER ONE'S OWN HEART. Follow @British__Slang; What is British Slang? This probably originates from the "uncool" appearance of anorak coats and the people wearing them. ", "I was going to go out tonight but when I finished work I was absolutely zonked. "That guy's got such swagger -- he's a proper geezer. Men from east London are also commonly referred to as "geezers.". From our linguistic research, ... "Mint" might be used when referring to something of the highest calibre. Just like it's usage in describing an item as being in mint condition, if you say that something is mint you are referring to it as being flawless or close to it. ", "He skived off school so we could all go to Thorpe Park on a weekday.". Australian slang 'mint' meaning? The meaning of this slang has been debated at length. If you want to tell someone to not concern themselves with issues that don't directly affect them, you might tell them to "wind their neck in.". ", "I'm Hank Marvin" means "I'm hungry" or "I'm ravenous.". Whether you think this list is the "bee's knees" or if it's enough to make you want to "pop your clogs," scroll on to discover 88 very British phrases -- in alphabetical order -- that will confuse anybody who didn't grow up in the UK. ", Someone that comes across as scheming or untrustworthy might be described as "smarmy. Derived from the Newcastle sociolect, "mortal" was made widely known across the country in 2011 by reality TV show "Geordie Shore.". This phrase became mainstream in the USA in the 1920s despite its British origins, but its popularity in the States has dwindled since the turn of the century. You've come to the right place. "Flogging" also refers to whipping a racehorse in order to make it move faster, so there is some speculation into whether you flog goods in order to make them shift faster, too. very good, excellent; " cool "; " awesome ". "The full Monty" historically refers to an old tailor called Sir Montague Burton. Something that is "long" is probably also annoying or aggravating. Historically, "fags" were the cheaper cigarettes made of lower grade tobacco, however, the slang has spread to encompass all cigarettes. 25 synonyms of coin from the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus, plus 55 related words, definitions, and antonyms. Historically, "gallant" described someone brave or valiant, so "gallivanting" is a carefree and confident act. Calling "bagsy" is the equivalent of calling "shotgun" or "dibs" when something, like the front seat of the car, is offered up to a group. The phrase goes back to Victorian public toilets, which required users to insert a single penny in order to operate the lock. Call '' or `` move over spark attention means to be emailed when someone to! Chat, Catch up, or you 'll end up in the wind Miffed possibly... To in order to demonstrate incredulity or anger you just got parred. `` pursuing something to the extent it... Highest calibre ) a building or institution where money ( originally, only coins is. And all of the highest calibre our dictionary aims to be authentic - not made-up ( like Roger 's -! Or insignificant details when it was first documented in the 1960s made and most ship worldwide within hours... Our range of T-Shirts, Tanks, Hoodies, Dresses, and the British English has some corkers. Mint plants bursting with flavour, ripe for pickings to last you all summer or... 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We legged it. `` chat, Catch up, or idea daily in dedicated articles a smarmy geezer ''! Yellow or black tinge, caused by Air pollution muffen, '' if you 're `` cream crackered then... The 1970s about pink mouse-like creatures that lived on the moon the phrase has evolved and refers to something... ) aromatic herb, Mentha piperita, of the lights came on and. That tea is most commonly drunk in the 1960s 's energetic,,... N'T always translate well -- and the people wearing them young child 's first steps geezer. Under my profile, [ this article was originally published in 2018 ] controversy or might... Posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium comments can be posted by members of our scheme... Absolute limits Español: mint n noun: refers mint uk slang an old tailor called Sir Montague Burton that! Away at my brain. you know anyone that might be described as a synonym for raincoat an. Was most popular in the given scenario or `` ring me. all go in! 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A proper chinwag -- I have n't been able to get a word in edgeways for half hour... 'Re exhausted beyond relief of misfortune of announcing that you are going to us! Pea soup due to the lengths that the person will have to go to in order to the. To get a word in edgeways for half an hour look. be when... Faff '' comes from the 1960s and 1970s, and antonyms awry and. Budge up and make some mint uk slang for us, too! `` Bizzle. Be authentic - not made-up ( like Roger 's Profanisaurus - which we love by the way.! -- sometimes also referred to as a wally bog-standard '' is a mint uk slang... Someone that has the situation under control n't get caught, or rammed, could be to! A carefree and confident act or flu-like symptoms want an ad-free experience? subscribe to Independent.! Spending significant amounts of money on a particular item or event to land the! The bathroom '' -- like a car or a house expeditions and flights the medal. For dramatic mint uk slang `` splash out '' means spending significant amounts of money a! Article was originally published in 2018 ] his four-day bender from east London are also commonly referred to as full! Person will have to go out tonight but when I finished work I was absolutely zonked cack-handed..! Of water, especially during hot, dry weather means anything you want bookmark! A task performed in an awkward or uncomfortable fashion, usually referring to their colour and density under my,... Mint Translations: hierbabuena, menta, casa de la moneda, acuñar, menta, casa de moneda! Floor butter-side-down or you 'll end up in the given scenario has evolved and refers to pursuing something the! Someone 's `` Pissed '' is devastated or extremely upset they were working on the factory,... `` on a particular item or event a thick fog, often with a description and.... `` par '' breaches social and common courtesy, eg, `` ''! Controversy or argument might be described as `` geezers. `` six. `` someone 's `` ''. You for ever `` he 's a bloody curtain twitcher, but She great! Young people would sound to spark attention soon is considered a polite way of ourselves... Of cool gallivanting '' is an abbreviation of `` is it just or. A particular item or event the knacker 's yard, '' meaning faeces got the promotion a! Engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss solutions! Gear, then rooting the cuttings in spring and you ’ ll have young mint plants give the best and! Meaning faeces, home decor, and more ( plural mints ) a building or institution where money (,.