Friday Focus: More British Bits & Bobs

Phrases for Everyday British Life

Yesterday, we delved into the subtle dance of the Present Perfect and Past Simple – a truly British grammatical nuance. Today, we're going to take a more conversational turn and sprinkle some truly authentic British flavour into your English.

British people love their expressions, and using them correctly is a sure-fire way to sound more like a native speaker. So, fancy a cuppa (would you like a cup of tea)? Let's crack on (get started)!

Phrases for Everyday British Life

You've already learned that something "not your cup of tea" means it's not to your liking. Here are a few more gems you'll hear all the time:

• Pardon my French!

  • Meaning: An apology for using rude or swear words. We often say this when we've slipped up with a bit of colourful language.

  • Example: "Oh, that's a right bloody nuisance! Pardon my French!" (Yes, 'bloody' is a mild British swear word, often used for emphasis.)

• Bob's your uncle!

  • Meaning: And there you have it! / It's as simple as that! Used when something is easily achieved or completed.

  • Example: "Just turn the key, push the door, and Bob's your uncle! You're in!"

• Keep your chin up!

  • Meaning: Remain cheerful in a difficult situation. A common way to offer encouragement.

  • Example: "I know things are tough, but keep your chin up! It will get better."

• Take the mick / Mickey (out of someone)

  • Meaning: To tease or make fun of someone, usually in a good-natured way.

  • Example: "Don't take the mick out of John's new haircut; he's quite sensitive."

• Storm in a teacup

  • Meaning: A lot of fuss or anger about something unimportant. Very British, as it combines a strong reaction with our national drink!

  • Example: "All that arguing about who left the teacup in the sink was just a storm in a teacup."

British Phrasal Verbs & Collocations

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb (or both) that create a new meaning. They can be tricky, but super useful! Collocations are words that naturally go together.

• To queue up

  • Meaning: To form or stand in a line while waiting for something. We talked about queuing yesterday, but the phrasal verb is key!

  • Example: "Everyone had to queue up for hours to get tickets for the concert."