Common English Slang and Informal Expressions
This is a list of common English slang terms and informal expressions with their definitions:
- It doesn’t work: It’s unacceptable.
- Keep mum: Keep quiet, do not say anything.
- Lamely: In a way that does not sound very confident or that does not persuade other people.
- Lane: A section of a wide road, that is marked by painted white lines, to keep lines of traffic separate.
- Leaned: To rest on or against something for support.
- Leaped: Jumped a long way.
- Little job: An informal expression used in an admiring way, describing a product.
- Loomed up: To appear as a large shape that is not clear, especially in a frightening or threatening way.
- Lousy: Awful, horrible, poor quality.
- Mean as the devil: An extremely unpleasant person.
- Meaty: Strong, powerful.
- Mocking: Showing that you think somebody/something is ridiculous.
- Mugs: Fools, stupid people.
- Nasty mess: Unpleasant difficult situation.
- Nick: Steal something.
- Nodded: Moved his head up and down to show agreement, understanding, etc.
- Nosy parkers: People who are too interested in what other people say or do.
- Offence: An illegal act or crime.
- Oh, my sainted aunt!: An expression of surprise or frustration, used to emphasize what is being said.
- Open ‘er up: Non-standard form of “Open her up”, meaning “Make the car go faster”.
- Pal: Friend.
- Pickpocket: A thief who steals out of pockets and bags, especially in a crowded area.
- Popped: Past simple. To put something somewhere quickly.
- Prop stand: A piece of wood, metal, etc. used to support something or keep it in position.
- Pull off: To leave the road in order to stop for a short time.
- Purr: When a cat purrs, it makes a low continuous sound in the throat, especially when it is happy or comfortable.
- Queerest: Most strange or unusual.
- Racket: A dishonest activity that is used to make money.
- Rotten: Very bad.
- Rushing: Transport or send somebody/something somewhere with great speed.
- Saddle: A seat on a bicycle or motorcycle.
- Shrugged: To raise your shoulders and then drop them to show that you do not know or care about something.
- Skilled trade: A job for which a person has received a lot of training.
- Smacking his lips: Moving his tongue over his lips, especially before eating something good.
- Smouldering: Filled with a strong emotion that you do not fully express.
- Snapped: Speak or say something in an impatient, usually angry, voice.
- Snorted: Make a loud sound by breathing air out noisily through your nose, especially to show that you are angry or amused.
- Solicitor: A person who is trained to give legal advice and sometimes represents people in court.
- Speeding: The traffic offence of driving faster than the legal limit.
- Spell: A short period of time during which something lasts.
- Strolling: Walking in a slow relaxed way.
- Stubby: Short and thick.
- Stuck: Past simple. Fix something to something else, usually with a sticky substance.
- Stung: Past participle of sting (of an insect or plant) to touch your skin or make a very small hole in it so that you feel a sharp pain.
- Summons: An order to appear in court.
- Sunroof: A part of the roof of a car that you can open to let air and light in.
- Swerved: To change direction suddenly, especially in order to avoid hitting somebody/something.
- That’ll do: That’s enough.
- That’s torn it!: That’s spoiled things!
- Titchy: Small.
- Tore out: Remove something from something else by pulling it roughly or violently.
- Twerp: Fool, idiot.
- Wheelbase: The distance between the front and back wheels of a car or other vehicle.
- Whispering along: Travelling silently and swiftly.
- Whopping: Enormous, very large.