In finance, a Monkey is British slang for 500 pounds sterling. Brummie - native of Birmingham (colloquial). This has confusing and convoluted origins, from as early as the late 1800s: It seems originally to have been a slang term for a three month prison sentence, based on the following: that 'carpet bag' was cockney rhyming slang for a 'drag', which was generally used to describe a three month sentence; also that in the prison workshops it supposedly took ninety days to produce a certain regulation-size piece of carpet; and there is also a belief that prisoners used to be awarded the luxury of a piece of carpet for their cell after three year's incarceration. Logically 'half a ton' is slang for 50. Minging - foul-smelling, unpleasant, very bad. Also shortened to beesum (from bees and, bees 'n', to beesum). -keys, v. 1. any mammal of two major groupings of Primates, the Old World monkeys or catarrhines, and the New World monkeys or platyrrhines, both characterized by flattened faces, binocular vision, and usu. Even if you never actually get anywhere near the sound of Bow bells, it is handy pub quiz knowledge to have in your locker. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Variations on the same theme are motser, motzer, motza, all from the Yiddish (Jewish European/Hebrew dialect) word 'matzah', the unleavened bread originally shaped like a large flat disk, but now more commonly square (for easier packaging and shipping), eaten at Passover, which suggests earliest origins could have been where Jewish communities connected with English speakers, eg., New York or London (thanks G Kahl). Boob tube - tight-fitting strapless top made of stretchy material. I'm informed however (ack Stuart Taylor, Dec 2006) that Joey was indeed slang for the brass-nickel threepenny bit among children of the Worcester area in the period up to decimalisation in 1971, so as ever, slang is subject to regional variation. chump change = a relatively insiginificant amount of money - a recent expression (seemingly 2000s) originating in the US and now apparently entering UK usage. Less common variations on the same theme: wamba, wanga, or womba. Not used in the singular for in this sense, for example a five pound note would be called a 'jacks'. Monkeys are famously playful and mischievous, and because of this, monkey is a common diminutive (or fond nickname) for impish kids, and monkey business is foolishness or deceitful behavior. Simply derived from the expression 'ready cash'. Cheddar. Bampot - a foolish, unpleasant, or obnoxious person. Boozer - pub, or a person who drinks a lot. A penny-pincher is someone who is unwilling to spend money. From the 19th century sus law (from "suspected person" which gave police the right to stop and search. An example of erroneous language becoming real actual language through common use. The large Australian 'wonga' pigeon is almost certainly unrelated yennep/yenep/yennap/yennop = a penny (1d particularly, although also means a decimal penny, 1p). caser/case = five shillings (5/-), a crown coin. The use of the word 'half' alone to mean 50p seemingly never gaught on, unless anyone can confirm otherwise. handful = five pounds (5), 20th century, derived simply by association to the five digits on a hand. As referenced by Brewer in 1870. Whinge - to complain, thus a whinger is a person who complains, whines. Bung - as a verb meaning to throw as a noun, or a bribe. Money Slang Special Whats the meaning of Fiver, Tenner and Bluey in British Slang? Vibe - atmosphere, feeling. The series was made and aired originally between 1968 and 1980 and developed a lasting cult following, not least due to the very cool appeal of the McGarrett character. Tea: means gossip, a common phrase used in the US is: "Spill the tea". We live in a monkey see, monkey do world.". * /There is [] A Dictionary of American Idioms monkey Dunce - an unintelligent person, so called after the much-ridiculed 13th century Scottish theologian John Duns Scotus. See also 'pair of knickers'. Pint - unit of beer drunk in pubs (0.568 liters). Cheers - very common alternative for "thank you" or drinking toast. Bender: derogatory term for homosexual, like "poof." (Note: You probably shouldn't use it or you'll get slapped, but it's worthy of note for giving Futurama a very different meaning.) The . nevis/neves = seven pounds (7), 20th century backslang, and earlier, 1800s (usually as 'nevis gens') seven shillings (7/-). 125 Australian Slang Words & Phrases. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. Their bonding sessions come as a reminder that we cannot live alone. Brewer also references the Laird of Sillabawby, a 16th century mintmaster, as a possible origin. 21. Doolally - temporarily deranged or feeble-minded. Dodgy - suspicious, of questionable quality (slang). Seymour created the classic 1973 Hovis TV advert featuring the baker's boy delivering bread from a bike on an old cobbled hill in a North England town, to the theme of Dvorak's New World symphony played by a brass band. Chippy (Chippie) - slang for a fish and chip shop. Not actually slang, more an informal and extremely common pre-decimalisation term used as readily as 'two-and-six' in referring to that amount. Tom Mix was a famous cowboy film star from 1910-1940. Cheeky Monkey. Mug off - disrespect, make someone appear stupid. Crash - sleep, lose consciousness, stay at someone's flat as in "Can I crash at yours on Saturday night?". 1. There were twenty Stivers to the East India Co florin or gulden, which was then equal to just over an English old penny (1d). Example in spoken form: In my new job Ill be earning 75 kay a year. We opted not to join the Europe-wide currency and have stubbornly kept our pounds and pence. Grand - a thousand (colloquial) usually referring to money. generalise/generalize = a shilling (1/-), from the mid 1800s, thought to be backslang. A variation of sprat, see below. Doghouse - as in the phrase "to be in the doghouse" - to be in trouble or when someone is upset or angry with you for whatever reason. carpet = three pounds (3) or three hundred pounds (300), or sometimes thirty pounds (30). Prang - a (minor) accident involving a motor vehicle. nicker a pound (1). Filters. Bent - dishonest or derogatory for homosexual. Shank - to stab someone with a knife or bladed instrument (slang). garden/garden gate = eight pounds (8), cockney rhyming slang for eight, naturally extended to eight pounds. Slang words or phrases develop over time. kibosh/kybosh = eighteen pence (i.e., one and six, 1/6, one shilling and sixpence), related to and perhaps derived from the mid-1900s meaning of kibosh for an eighteen month prison sentence. Now that we've covered the official British money terms and even some outdated ones it's time to see how people in the UK talk about money on a day-to-day basis. If you want to read more about cockney rhyming slang and money, read this BBC article. A rare example of money slang from more recent times, even though it draws from the pre-decimal slang, since the term refers to ten shillings (equivalent to 50p) and alludes to the angular shape of the old theepenny bit. Litty again - exciting or wild once more. Check your spam folder if you don't get an email immediately! The ten pound meaning of cock and hen is 20th century rhyming slang. In fact the term was obsolete before 1971 decimalisation when the old ha'penny (d) was removed from the currency in 1969. tickey/ticky/tickie/tiki/tikki/tikkie = ticky or tickey was an old pre-decimal British silver threepenny piece (3d, equating loosely to 1p). greens = money, usually old-style green coloured pound notes, but actully applying to all money or cash-earnings since the slang derives from the cockney rhyming slang: 'greengages' (= wages). Initially London slang, especially for a fifty pound note. Brown bread - dead from Cockney rhyming slang. Tosser - derogatory term for someone you dislike. Vest - (usually) sleeveless, cotton undershirt. . Barmy. It's also been used as a replacement term for money. It's the best sound in the world to somethe cash register completing a sale. "The company fired its accountant because there was some monkey business going on with the accounts. Cock up: Make a mess of something. Bronze (term to describe the one and two pound coins) 4. Less well used slang terms include Lady Godiva for fiver and Ayrton Senna for tenner. Moola - Also spelled moolah, the origin of this word is unknown. And 59 per cent don't understand what . Spondoolicks is possibly from Greek, according to Cassells - from spondulox, a type of shell used for early money. I'm not being funny - softening preface to a statement that could possibly be taken as offensive or malicious. Usually meaning a large amount of spending money held by a person when out enjoying themselves. Jib - to gain entry without paying usually to a football stadium. Example: Are you coming to my birthday bash next Saturday? "No more monkeying around! While this London centric slang is entirely British, it actually stems from 19th century India. Silver threepenny coins were first introduced in the mid-1500s but were not popular nor minted in any serious quantity for general circulation until around 1760, because people preferred the fourpenny groat. People commonly use this emoji to express embarrassment in an amusing way or to emphasize that they made a funny mistake. Lit - Amazing or exciting. Double click on any word for its definition. Tart - (archaic) slang for prostitute or woman of easy virtue. yennaps/yennups = money. two and a kick = half a crown (2/6), from the early 1700s, based on the basic (not cockney) rhyming with 'two and six'. deuce = two pounds, and much earlier (from the 1600s) tuppence (two old pence, 2d), from the French deus and Latin duos meaning two (which also give us the deuce term in tennis, meaning two points needed to win). bunce = money, usually unexpected gain and extra to an agreed or predicted payment, typically not realised by the payer. Lets get serious about the project. Texas slang words and phrases. 'Cheeky monkey' is an expression we use when someone is being mischievous and playful. The expression is interpreted into Australian and New Zealand money slang as deener, again meaning shilling. ", "You know John is not telling the truth about the price of his car. Filters. Ape and monkey are considered offensive terms when they're used to describe a person of color. Up until the late 20th Century, rhyming slang was also common in Australian slang, probably due to the . The term monkey came from soldiers returning from India, where the 500 rupee note had a picture of a monkey on it. Our currency is officially known as pounds sterling. Popularity of this slang word was increased by comedian Harry Enfield. Precise origin unknown. groat = an old silver four-penny coin from around 1300 and in use in similar form until c.1662, although Brewer states in his late 1800s revised edition of his 1870 dictionary of slang that 'the modern groat was introduced in 1835, and withdrawn in 1887', which is somewhat confusing. The tickey slang was in use in 1950s UK (in Birmingham for example, thanks M Bramich), although the slang is more popular in South Africa, from which the British usage seems derived. To make a monkey out of someone means to make someone look silly. Copyright English TrackersDesigned by Niels Loomans. Interestingly also, pre-decimal coins (e.g., shillings, florins, sixpences) were minted in virtually solid silver up until 1920, when they were reduced to a still impressive 50% silver content. brown = a half-penny or ha'penny. Cassells implies an interesting possible combination of the meanings kibosh (18 month sentence), kibosh (meaning ruin or destroy) - both probably derived from Yiddish (Jewish European/Hebrew dialect) words meaning suppress - with the linking of money and hitting something, as in 'a fourpenny one' (from rhyming slang fourpenny bit = hit). lolly = money. In the US a nickel is more commonly a five cent coin. 'More fun than a barrel of monkeys' means to have a lot of fun. Roadman - someone well-acquainted with their local area. Dib was also US slang meaning $1 (one dollar), which presumably extended to more than one when pluralised. son of Dermot. sick squid = six pounds (6), from the late 20th century joke - see squid. I am also informed (thanks K Inglott, March 2007) that bob is now slang for a pound in his part of the world (Bath, South-West England), and has also been used as money slang, presumably for Australian dollars, on the Home and Away TV soap series. The word can actually be traced back to Roman times, when a 'Denarius Grossus' was a 'thick penny' (equivalent). Mug - stupid, gullible or ignorant person. 'Half a job' was half a guinea. From the Hebrew word and Israeli monetary unit 'shekel' derived in Hebrew from the silver coin 'sekel' in turn from the word for weight 'sakal'. Incidentally garden gate is also rhyming slang for magistrate, and the plural garden gates is rhyming slang for rates. From the 16th century, and a popular expression the north of England, e.g., 'where there's muck there's brass' which incidentally alluded to certain trades involving scrap, mess or waste which offered high earnings. What I mean is that this once mighty British Empire that more or less covered a quarter of the world's land surface could not ever have imagined that English would evolve to almost a million words - and almost every single one of them would be . wad = money. bread (bread and honey) = money. Wobbler - angry, irritated as in "throw a wobbler". "Mixing drinks last night was a terrible idea. All our resources are free and mapped to the Australian Curriculum. When you monkey around, or monkey with something, you fool about or fiddle with it. spondulicks/spondoolicks = money. This mostly means a deliciously spicy Mexican taco, but is also slang for money. (British English, slang) if you say that it is brass monkeys or brass monkey weather, you mean that it is very cold weather; get a monkey off your back Goblin mode - describes "unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy" behaviour. Bread (general term for money). If youre in London you may overhear many other terms for money and many of these will come from cockney rhyming slang. jacks = five pounds, from cockney rhyming slang: jack's alive = five. Fuzz - old, derogatory slang for the police. smackers/smackeroos = pounds (or dollars) - in recent times not usually used in referring to a single 1 or a low amount, instead usually a hundred or several hundreds, but probably not several thousands, when grand would be preferred. Have you ever overheard some rather strange terms for money? Before decimalisation, British money was made up of pounds, shillings, and pence as follows: 1 pound = 20 shillings. long-tailed 'un/long-tailed finnip = high value note, from the 1800s and in use to the late 1900s. In earlier times a dollar was slang for an English Crown, five shillings (5/-). Dib was also US slang meaning $1 (one dollar), which presumably extended to more than one when pluralised. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang! Earlier English spelling was bunts or bunse, dating from the late 1700s or early 1800s (Cassells and Partridge). madza poona = half-sovereign, from the mid 1800s, for the same reasons as madza caroon. What does ? Origin unknown, although I received an interesting suggestion (thanks Giles Simmons, March 2007) of a possible connection with Jack Horner's plum in the nursery rhyme. Shrapnel conventionally means artillery shell fragments, so called from the 2nd World War, after the inventor of the original shrapnel shell, Henry Shrapnel, who devised a shell filled with pellets and explosive powder c.1806. The coin was not formally demonetised until 31 August 1971 at the time of decimalisation. Bread - money from Cockney rhyming slang "bread and honey" = money. . Monkey - This originated from the British slang for 500 pounds of sterling. E.g." 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