What does gobsmacked mean? Why does someone in a British detective show call an informer a grass? British slang and informal expressions can be vivid, funny, or surprisingly indirect. Start with these meanings and examples, then follow the links for conversations from A Way with Words.
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Gobsmacked
Completely astonished or taken aback. This is a forceful, informal way to describe surprise. The gob part means “mouth”; the expression suggests being left speechless.
Example: “When they announced that our little team had won, I was gobsmacked.”
A grass; to grass someone
A grass is an informer; to grass someone is to inform on them. You may encounter the expression in British crime dramas. It carries the speaker’s disapproval of telling on someone.
Example: “He refused to grass on his friends.”
Tickety-boo
All in order, going well, or just dandy. This cheerful expression has an old-fashioned flavor. Its origin is uncertain: a Hindi connection and an extension of “that’s the ticket” have both been suggested.
Example: “The repairs are finished, and everything is tickety-boo.”
Kerfuffle
A disturbance, fuss, or bother. The word comes from Scotland and has also found a home in American English, sometimes in the form kerfluffle.
Example: “There was a kerfuffle over the seating arrangements.”
A corker
Something or someone remarkable or outstanding. Its uses are broader than simple praise: a lively, mildly naughty child can also be called a corker. Context helps you hear the affectionate or admiring tone.
Example: “That was a corker of a match.”
To slag someone off
To insult or denigrate someone. This is informal and disparaging. The related noun slag, when applied to a person, can be a harsh insult; the words are useful to recognize, but call for care in conversation.
Example: “They spent the journey slagging off the new manager.”
More tea, vicar?
A joking, extra-polite response to a burp or another rude noise. The humor imagines an awkward interruption during a genteel visit with a member of the clergy. Outside that context, the same words can simply offer someone tea.
Example: “A loud burp interrupted the conversation. ‘More tea, vicar?’ someone said.”
British English varies by region, generation, and situation. Some expressions here also occur elsewhere, and some sound more old-fashioned than others. These example sentences illustrate meaning; they are not quotations from callers. Listen to the linked discussions for context, tone, and word histories.
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A Way with Words is a public radio show and podcast about language, hosted by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett. Hear listeners’ questions, lively conversations, and the stories behind the words we use.
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