British English is full of everyday expressions that sound perfectly normal to locals but leave Americans either confused, amused, or wildly misinterpreting the situation.
From odd turns of phrase to casual slang, these are the kinds of things you might hear in daily conversation that don’t always translate across the Atlantic.
Here are 15 common phrases that often leave Americans guessing.
I’ll give you a bell
This phrase has nothing to do with literal bells.
In British English, to “give someone a bell” simply means to call them, usually on the phone.
The phrase comes from old rotary phones that used to ring like a bell, and it’s still commonly used in casual conversation.
To Americans, it might sound like you’re about to ring someone’s doorbell.
Examples in sentences:
- “I’ll give you a bell later once I’m home.”
- “Give me a bell tomorrow and we’ll sort it out.”
- “She said she’d give me a bell after work.”
- “If you need anything, just give us a bell.”
- “I forgot to give him a bell last night.”
You alright?
In the UK, “You alright?” is often used as a simple hello, not necessarily a genuine question about someone’s wellbeing.
Americans might take it literally and respond with concern or a full health update, but Brits are usually just being friendly.
It’s the kind of phrase that kicks off a casual conversation without expecting much in return.
Examples in sentences:
- “You alright, mate?”
- “Morning! You alright?”
- “You alright there? Need a hand?”
- “You alright? Not seen you in a while.”
- “Hiya! You alright?”
I’m not being funny…
When a Brit says “I’m not being funny,” it rarely has anything to do with humor.
It’s usually a polite-sounding way to preface something potentially awkward, critical, or downright rude.
Ironically, it often means the exact opposite that what comes next might well be a little cheeky, sarcastic, or controversial.
Examples in sentences:
- “I’m not being funny, but that haircut’s a bit much.”
- “I’m not being funny, love, but you can’t park there.”
- “I’m not being funny, but do you ever clean your kitchen?”
- “I’m not being funny, but he’s always late.”
- “I’m not being funny, but how much did you pay for that?”
I’ll pop round
When someone says they’ll “pop round,” they mean they’ll visit you, usually informally and without much fuss.
The word “pop” makes it sound spontaneous and brief, which it often is.
Americans might expect a phone call or appointment, but in the UK, this kind of casual drop-in is fairly common, especially among friends, neighbours, or family.
Examples in sentences:
- “I’ll pop round later with the book I mentioned.”
- “Pop round anytime! We’re in all day.”
- “She said she might pop round for a cuppa.”
- “I’ll just pop round after work, won’t be long.”
- “If you’re free, I’ll pop round this weekend.”
It’s gone pear-shaped
This classic British phrase is used when a situation has taken a turn for the worse.
No one’s quite sure why “pear-shaped” became the metaphor for failure, but it’s a gentle, often humorous way of saying that things have gone off the rails.
Americans might be baffled by the fruit reference, but Brits use it all the time when plans go sideways.
Examples in sentences:
- “We tried to fix the car, but it’s all gone pear-shaped.”
- “The meeting went pear-shaped after the first five minutes.”
- “It was going well until the printer jammed — then it went pear-shaped.”
- “My dinner plans went completely pear-shaped.”
- “It’s all gone a bit pear-shaped since the boss got back.”
Fancy a cuppa?
This phrase is as British as it gets. “
Fancy” means “do you want,” and “cuppa” is short for “a cup of tea.”
So, when someone says “Fancy a cuppa?”, they’re offering you a brew.
It’s usually as a friendly gesture or a way to start a conversation.
To an outsider, it might sound like slang for something else entirely, but in the UK, it’s the universal signal for comfort and conversation.
Examples in sentences:
- “You look tired, do you fancy a cuppa?”
- “Come in, sit down, fancy a cuppa?”
- “I always fancy a cuppa after work.”
- “We had a good chat over a cuppa.”
- “She never says no to a cuppa.”
He’s a bit of a lad
In British slang, calling someone “a bit of a lad” usually refers to a man who likes to have fun, go out drinking, and generally act in a cheeky or slightly immature way.
It can be affectionate, mocking, or somewhere in between.
To Americans, it might sound like a reference to age or class, but it’s more about behavior than anything else.
Examples in sentences:
- “He’s a bit of a lad on the weekends.”
- “You know what he’s like, a total lad.”
- “Always cracking jokes, proper lad that one.”
- “She rolled her eyes and said, ‘He’s such a lad.’”
- “He used to be a bit of a lad at uni.”
Throwing a wobbly
When someone “throws a wobbly,” they’re having a dramatic reaction, usually anger, frustration, or upset over something relatively minor.
It’s often used lightheartedly to describe someone being a bit over the top.
Americans might be unfamiliar with the term entirely, but Brits use it to describe anything from a sulk to a full-blown meltdown.
Examples in sentences:
- “He threw a wobbly when his toast got burnt.”
- “No need to throw a wobbly, it’s only a game.”
- “She’s been throwing wobblies all morning.”
- “The boss threw a wobbly over the late report.”
- “He’ll throw a right wobbly if we’re late again.”
I’ve got the hump
Saying “I’ve got the hump” doesn’t mean anything physical — it’s all about mood.
In British English, it’s a way of saying you’re a bit irritated, sulking, or just generally fed up.
Americans might picture a camel, but Brits know it simply means someone’s in a bit of a strop.
Examples in sentences:
- “Don’t mind him — he’s just got the hump today.”
- “She got the hump when we started without her.”
- “I’ve had the hump ever since that meeting.”
- “He always gets the hump when things don’t go his way.”
- “They’ve both got the hump about the cancelled trip.”
That went down like a lead balloon
This phrase paints a vivid picture.
A lead balloon wouldn’t float, and neither did whatever was just said or done.
Brits use it when a joke falls flat, an idea bombs, or a comment is met with silence or disapproval.
Americans might not use the phrase, but the image it conjures is pretty universal.
Examples in sentences:
- “His joke went down like a lead balloon.”
- “The new policy went down like a lead balloon with staff.”
- “My suggestion went down like a lead balloon in the meeting.”
- “She tried to lighten the mood but it went down like a lead balloon.”
- “That comment went down like a lead balloon at dinner.”
Bit of a faff
Calling something “a bit of a faff” is a classic British way to complain that a task is more trouble than it’s worth.
It suggests inconvenience, fuss, or too many unnecessary steps.
Americans might say “a pain” or “a hassle,” but the word “faff” adds a distinctively British sense of mild exasperation.
Examples in sentences:
- “Sorting out that form was a right faff.”
- “Getting the printer to work is always a bit of a faff.”
- “I’d come, but it’s a faff getting across town.”
- “The online booking system is such a faff.”
- “It’s just a bit of a faff to do it that way.”
All over the shop
If someone or something is “all over the shop,” it means there’s a lack of order or focus.
It can describe anything from someone’s thoughts to a messy room or a poorly managed plan.
Americans might say “all over the place,” but “shop” adds a bit of British charm to the image of scattered chaos.
Examples in sentences:
- “His ideas were all over the shop during the meeting.”
- “You should’ve seen the kitchen — it was all over the shop.”
- “My brain’s all over the shop today.”
- “That presentation was all over the shop.”
- “They turned up late and all over the shop — classic.”
That’s me done
This phrase is often used at the end of a job, a meal, or even a long day.
It’s a simple way of saying, “I’ve had enough” or “I’m finished.”
To Americans, it might sound a bit abrupt or final, but in British English, it’s a casual and common sign-off when you’re wrapping something up.
Examples in sentences:
- “That’s me done for the day.”
- “Right, that’s me done — I’m heading off.”
- “That’s me done with this project.”
- “I’ve cleaned the house, and that’s me done.”
- “That’s me done — I couldn’t eat another bite.”
Throw a spanner in the works
This classic British phrase comes from the world of machinery, where a spanner (wrench) falling into the gears would mess everything up.
Figuratively, it’s used when something or someone disrupts plans, slows things down, or creates a complication.
Americans might say “throw a wrench in the works,” but the “spanner” version catches Brits off guard.
Examples in sentences:
- “His resignation really threw a spanner in the works.”
- “The weather threw a spanner in the works for the event.”
- “We were nearly done, then the power cut threw a spanner in the works.”
- “She threw a spanner in the works by changing her mind last minute.”
- “Don’t throw a spanner in the works now — we’re almost there!”
You’ve had a mare
Short for “nightmare,” this phrase is used when someone has messed something up or just had a rough experience.
It’s often said with a bit of humor or sympathy, depending on the situation.
While Americans might say “you blew it” or “what a disaster,” the British version adds a bit of everyday casualness to the drama.
Examples in sentences:
- “Spilled coffee on your laptop? You’ve had a mare.”
- “He had a right mare! When he got to the airport he only went and forgot his passport!”
- “I’ve had a total mare at work today.”
- “She had a mare trying to get the printer to work.”
- “Missed the train and lost my phone. Proper mare.”
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Founder -
@PollyWebster
Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.
Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.
Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.