GAFFER
Foreman of a work crew. Colloquially an older, respected person. Perhaps derived from the word “Godfather”.
GAOL
JAIL. The American spelling is also be used.
GARDEN
YARD. To a Briton a garden is not just an area in which you grow vegetables -- that would be a VEGETABLE GARDEN. Similarly an area for growing flowers would be a FLOWER GARDEN. The whole grounds surrounding the house are referred to as the garden. Urban row-house dwellers might refer to their YARD or BACKYARD, meaning the concrete area outside the back door. (See TERRACE)
GEE-GEE
Child’s term for HORSE. You may also hear somebody talk of going to the gee-gees, or mentioning that he or she won some money on the gee-gees. They are referring to horse racing.
GEORDIE (Slang)
Native of the Northeast of England, specifically Newcastle
GET KNOTTED or GET STUFFED (Slang)
GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY. Or words to that effect!
GINGER (Hair)
Light red, or sandy haired. Dark red hair is known as AUBURN.
GIRO
Credit transfer form for moving a sum of money from one bank account to another.
GIT (Slang)
IDIOTIC or FOOLISH PERSON.
GIVE IT A WHIRL
TRY OUT.
GMT
The British Isles (see BRITAIN/BRITON) measure only some 500 to 600 miles across, and lie within one time zone. The standard time within this zone is known as Greenwich Mean Time or GMT. (See BST)
GOB (Slang)
MOUTH. Also means SPIT.
GOBSTOPPER (Candy)
JAWBREAKER.
GODS
In the UK, THE GODS refers to the uppermost gallery in a theatre.
GOLLY or GOLLIWOG
Black-faced doll.
GOODS TRAIN
FREIGHT TRAIN.
GOODS VAN
BOX CAR.
GOOLIES (Slang)
BALLS or TESTICLES.
GOOSE PIMPLES
GOOSE BUMPS.
GOOSEGOG (Slang)
Colloquial term for a gooseberry.
GORDON BENNETT!
Exclamation that is thought by some to be a euphemism for GOR BLIMEY, or GOD BLIND ME, and by others to be derived from the shocking behavior of the legendary American eccentric tycoon, James Gordon Bennett. (See [GOR] BLIMEY)
GO TO THE DOGS
GO TO RUIN or GO DOWNHILL.
GRAFT
HARD WORK. For somebody to be described as a grafter is quite a compliment. It does not mean somebody who takes a bribe.
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
This is not grade school, but was equivalent to a MIDDLE SCHOOL and HIGH SCHOOL combined, to which a select group of students was sent to study, with a leaning towards the more academic subjects.
GRASP THE NETTLE
See [STINGING] NETTLE.
GRASS (Person) (Slang)
POLICE INFORMER. (See also SNOUT)
GREEN (Bacon)
UNSMOKED bacon.
GREEN FINGERS
GREEN THUMB.
GRILL
BROIL or the BROILER itself.
GRIP (Hair)
See HAIR CLIP.
GROUND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR. The floor above the ground floor is called the first floor, the next is the second floor, and so on.
GUARD (Railroad)
BRAKEMAN or CONDUCTOR.
GUARD’S VAN
CABOOSE.
[GIRL] GUIDE
GIRL SCOUT.
GUY
A stuffed, scarecrow-like figure that is burned on November the 5th, or BONFIRE NIGHT, to commemorate the attempt by Guy Fawkes and fellow conspirators to blow up The Houses of Parliament in 1605. There is a short verse that children chant;
Please to remember the Fifth of November,
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.
We know no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
During the period leading up to Bonfire Night, or GUY FAWKES NIGHT, children parade their guys around the streets asking for a “Penny for the guy”. They are of course looking for much more than a penny nowadays, and their haul is traditionally used to buy fireworks. Another name for the occasion is therefore FIREWORKS NIGHT.
GYM SHOES
See PLIMSOLLS.
GYP (Slang)
PAIN or DISCOMFORT. As in “My feet aren’t half giving me gyp”.
Click below to return to
the BritSpeak home page