Bizarre English phrases and what do they mean
Although the mother tongue in both USA and UK is English, it may seem like two different languages when you here the native speakers use it. The spelling differs, the grammar differs, the vocabulary differs. Today we’re going to introduce you to bizarre English phrases in British English which will have most people scratching their heads.
Bite the bullet – to finally do something difficult, that you have been putting off
Red herring – something misleading or distracting from an important issue
Taking the Mickey – making fun of someone or something
Happy as a sand boy – to be extremely happy
It’s brass monkeys – this expression is used to say that it’s cold
Mad as a hatter – to be insane
Have a butchers – this means to have a look at something
By the skin of your teeth – barely, mostly used in situations when someone barely managed to avoid something
Through the eye of the needle – to succeed in an almost impossible task
In the club – to be pregnant
Eat Humble Pie – to admit to be wrong or do something below one’s dignity
Storm in a teacup – an argument or a lot of trouble over nothing important
In donkey’s years – in a very long time
Piss poor – extremely poor
Horses for courses – everyone has different skills and are suited to do different things
Separate the wheat from the chaff – distinction between quality and worthlessness
Go doolally – to go crazy
Bob’s your uncle – used to say everything will be ok or that something is easy
Hopefully this post has cleared things up for you and now when you visit the UK, watch some British series or listen to popular British artist you will not feel like it’s a whole other language!
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