Britishisms

Here a few British sayings that I could recall from our first few months.  You may know a few or could teach us more. 

Bauble:  A stocking cap that has a pom pom on top.  For example, Sierra came home saying, "Logan has a hat with a bauble on it.  I thought they said bubble, but Ms. Preston says it is a bauble."

Loads:  Any time you would say "a lot" just replace it with the word "loads".   For instance, I have loads of chores to do around the house.  There were loads of people out on Boxing Day.

Takeaway:  It's not "to go" or "take out"  here, but instead it's takeaway.  Whenever I get my coffee, they ask if it is for drink in or takeaway.  Our neighbor brought us a bunch of takeaway menus when we first moved here.

Fiver:  Slang for money in this case a five pound note.  Tenner is a ten pound note.  Quid is a single British pound.  Overheard a girl at store where we were looking at the same sale rack tell her friend, "I could do that for a fiver." (referring to a dress she was looking at).

Queue: A line that you wait in.  Instead of lining up, people will say everyone is queuing by the door. Before Sierra's nativity show, a parent warned me that everyone was already queuing outside the cafeteria door.

Bookings:  You don't make reservations here.  That is when you feel anxious (i.e. have reservations about something).  Here if you want to reserve a table you call and make a booking.  Around Christmas, there were lots of signs that read "Now Taking Christmas Bookings"

Diary:  If you call a vendor here to book an appointment, they will have to check their diary not their calendar. The carpet cleaner told me he had to check his diary. Then responded, "Ok Mrs. Steele,  I have got you down in our diary."  I always think that seems a little personal.  You writing me down in your diary.  It takes my mind a minute to realize they mean calendar.

Cheeky Little Monkey:  A phrase used almost like "You handsome devil, you"  Most of the time, it is a term of endearment to little children.  Both boys have been called cheeky little monkeys.

Nan: the most common name for your grandmother.  Sierra came home telling me how Katelyn was going to visit her Nan.  Sierra: "She doesn't say Nana like we do."

Petrol:  Most of you know this is gasoline.  Just thought you would find it funny that Desmond argued down his teacher when he was pretending to drive a car on the playground.  The teacher asked him if he was going to get petrol, and the argument ensued.  He refused to call gas by any other name.

Fab:  Use any time you would say great.   That is a fab outfit, meal, game, etc.

Knickers: Another name for underpants.  We got a book by a British author called "Aliens Love Underpants"  and it referred to Mum's frilly knickers.  The kids couldn't get over it. Picture them saying "Knickers" to one another followed by giggling *pause waiting to see who was brave enough to say it again* Knickers * giggling * repeat all the steps above.

Sorted:  You say this when you solved a problem or figured something out.  A shortened version of sorted it out.  A forum around Christmas regarding a lot of the shopping deals would usual have at least one comment like, "Thanks for the post, Christmas present for my missus sorted."

Courgettes: The word for zucchini.  I thought it was in fact a different vegetable but learned later they just call it a different name.

Smart: This is typically when you are looking well-dressed.  "Don't you look smart today!"

Zed:  Poor Sierra.  They don't say Z they say Zed for the last letter of the alphabet.  This is in addition to the pronunciation of words and the new handwriting she has to learn while she tries to learn to read in a foreign country.

Bless:  If I had just made the comment above, most mothers would have responded "Bless"  Short for the very Southern "Bless her heart."

Brilliant: Most common way I have heard people use this is a way to respond to a question. "Would you be able to get the form back to me next week?  (When I nod affirmatively) Brilliant!  It's almost like the British version of cool.  I have heard it shortened to brill once or twice.   Here's an example from Urban Dictionary which gets the dialect a little better than I can:
I's brilliant in't it?
Right, yah, bloody brilliant. 
Wha' is? Oh, yah, right, brilliant. 

Favorite overheard conversation: 

I am in a card store in the Christmas card section on Boxing Day.  I over hear a mother talking to her older daughter about who to buy cards for next Christmas. All cards are 1/2 off.

Mother:  "Should I get Molly and "What's his name?"  a card for next year?"

Daughter: "It's James.  I don't know."

Mother: "I know!  She changes boyfriends like the bloody weather.  Ok it's sorted."