HABERDASHERY
NOTIONS.
HAGGIS
Traditional Scottish fare made from ground organ meats (see OFFAL) and oatmeal (see OATMEAL). On ceremonial occasions such as BURNS NIGHT, the haggis will be “piped in” by a piper in full Highland dress.
HAIR CLIP or HAIR GRIP
BOBBIE PIN. Often abbreviated to clip or grip.
HAIR OF THE DOG
Alcoholic drink taken to cure a hangover. Often it’s identical to the type that caused it.
HALF
Watch out for expressions like “I wouldn’t half like a drink, right now”. Presumably not half wanting something implies totally wanting it. It is usually pronounced with a long “a”, ie “hahf”. Colloquially it is also a half pint of beer, as in “I’ll just have a half”. (See PINT, SWIFT HALF)
HALF COLONEL
LIGHT or LIEUTENANT COLONEL
HALF MAST
HALF STAFF. How a flag is flown as a sign of mourning.
HALVE
The verb form of HALF is HALVE, pronounced “hahv”, as in “This sandwich is so big, I’ll halve it then we can each have a piece”.
HANG ABOUT (Slang)
JUST A MINUTE.
HANSARD
The official record of parliamentary proceedings.
HARK
LISTEN TO, as in “Hark at you”, or “Hark who’s talking”.
HASH [SIGN]
POUND SIGN (#). (See POUND [STERLING])
HEAD [MASTER][MISTRESS]
PRINCIPAL.
HEATH ROBINSON
A Heath Robinson contraption, like a RUBE GOLDBERG one is an absurdly complex piece of machinery for doing a pretty simple task.
HESSIAN
BURLAP.
HIRE CAR
RENTAL CAR.
HP or HIRE PURCHASE
DEFERRED PAYMENT. Known colloquially as the NEVER-NEVER.
HM
HER (or HIS) MAJESTY. This term refers exclusively to the monarch. (See also HRH)
HOCK
Any German white wine.
HOCKEY
FIELD HOCKEY. Ice hockey is always referred to in full.
HOKEY-COKEY (Party dance)
HOKEY-POKEY. Britons do not use the term “hokey” to refer to something corny or trite.
HOLIDAY
The equivalent of a legal or federal holiday is referred to in the UK as a BANK HOLIDAY. Don’t confuse this with “going on holiday” which means going on VACATION. School vacations are also referred to as holidays. Children are said to be on holiday from school in the summer or at Christmas or Easter.
HOME COUNTIES
The area surrounding London, traditionally the counties of Essex, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey, but often including Hertfordshire and Sussex. The correct pronunciation of Hertfordshire is “hart’-fud-sheer”.
HOME STRAIGHT
STRETCH or HOME STRETCH. (See STRAIGHT)
HOMELY
In the UK the word homely is more like the US word HOMEY. It conjures up images of warmth, pleasantness and “the girl next door”.
HOOD (Car)
TOP, as in rag top. (See BONNET)
HOOKER
If your next-door neighbor tells you he’s a HOOKER at the weekends, don’t worry! That’s the position he plays in the local rugby team.
HOOTER (Car)
HORN. Also slang expression for the NOSE, especially a large one. (See CONK)
HOOVER
Like Kleenex in the US, HOOVER is a brand name that has become a household word. In the UK it has become synonymous with VACUUM [CLEANER]. You get out the HOOVER in order to HOOVER the carpet. The term VAC is used, too, as in “I must vac the carpet before the guests get here”.
HORLICKS
A proprietary brand of MALTED MILK.
HORS D’OEUVRES
APPETIZER. In good restaurants the first course is referred to as HORS D’OEUVRES. Sometimes it’s the APPETISER but quite commonly nowadays it’s just plain STARTERS.
HOT FLUSHES
HOT FLASHES.
HRH
HIS (or HER) ROYAL HIGHNESS. Term of address reserved for a Prince or Princess. (See also HM)
HUNDREDS & THOUSANDS
SPRINKLES or JIMMIES used to decorate cakes or ice-cream.
HUNDREDWEIGHT
One hundred and twelve pounds or one twentieth of a ton. (See TON)
HUTCH
Not a piece of furniture, but a cage for rabbits.
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