Apart from having a Sunday roast dinner and afternoon tea, British people are also known for their amazing accent! No matter how much effort you put into studying a language, there are still many things in the language that you simply cannot learn within the boundaries of the classroom.
For truly immersing in one’s language, you should get familiar with the set of colloquialisms that play a major part in day-to-day conversations of native speakers. Like it or lump it, the English language consists of a whole lot of weird phrases (Thanks to the native author- William Shakespeare), which in literal translations do not make any sense at all.
Besides in-person conversations, the use of phrases in essay writing gives you plenty of ways to express ideas most poetically or metaphorically. It enhances the readability experience and provides an interesting perspective on your overall arguments. So, if you want to sound like a local while talking to your British friends or want to make your essay interesting, then make sure to use the following ten English phrases!
Not a cup of tea
The Earth orbits around the sun, the force of gravity pushes you down and the Britons’ thirst for tea are some of the facts that are firm and cannot be changed no matter what. If you find any Briton saying that it is not their cup of tea, it surely doesn’t mean that they don’t like the taste of tea but that they do not really like doing any specific thing. And if they are holding a cup of tea while saying this phrase…. Then, do not need to confuse yourself, as that is completely coincidental!
For Example: “I’d rather not go in the library. Reading books aren’t my cup of tea.”
The bee’s knees
If you are wondering if the bees really have knees, then you are not alone! We are still figuring this out! However, this phrase has nothing do to with bees or their knees! If your friends refer to something as being “the bee’s knees”, then they actually mean that the thing is amazing. You can use this phrase while complimenting your friend’s painting or writing skills.
For Example, “Wow! This painting is the bee’s knees!”
Pulling one’s leg
Don’t make a fool of yourself by looking down when someone says they are pulling your leg! You will only look stupid! The phrase means to joke around with someone or to make a fool out of someone. If your British friend accuses you that you’re pulling their leg, it is because they don’t believe what you are saying.
For Example: “I know you are pulling my leg; I can’t hear any sounds from the cupboard!”
Away with the fairies
Going away with the fairies does not mean that you got wings! Fairies do not exist in the real world! If someone said that you are away with the fairies, then it means you are either distracted or not paying concentration to the discussion.
For Example: “I told her to get assignment writing service, but she didn’t respond, looks like she’s away with the fairies!”
Everything but the kitchen sink
When you pack all your worldly possessions at the back of your car while heading to college, bear in mind you would probably not get enough space to fit in your possessions in few inches of the dorm. The baggage includes all the things you probably don’t even require in your dorm, but you still choose to take it, like, who needs a geometry campus box when you are a language major? In this situation, your friends would say you are packing everything but the kitchen sink.
For Example: “Lad! Seems like you have packed everything but the kitchen sink, there’s not even enough space to fit all your things here!”
Raining cats and dogs
As much as every animal lover would love this phrase, it is surely not what you’re thinking! Brits have a really weird way of expressing the intensity of the weather situation. If you heard someone saying that it is raining cats and dogs outside, do not take it literally, as it only means that it’s heavily pouring outside, so you better take your umbrella with you!
For Example: “The thunder is indicating that it is going to rain cats and dogs any time soon!”
Have a butcher’s
This phrase is originated from a rhyming slang, in which butcher’s hook stands for a look (pun intended). Therefore, there is no need to be offended if someone asks you to have a butcher’s as they mean to have a look at something.
For Example: “I drew a painting for you. Come over here and have a butcher’s!”
