British Slang For Hurry Up (11 Examples!)

The British are not known for their patience.

They like to get things done and get them done quickly without messing around.

Those on the neighboring European continent are perhaps known for taking things a bit slower, and that must work for them!

Whether you think British people ought to slow down or not, they predictably have a great many different slang terms for saying hurry up—so let’s look at a few of them.

In This Article

Get a wiggle on

First we have “get a wiggle on”.

This is a fairly regional term used a lot more in the north of England than it is anywhere else.

That said, given its relation and similarity to other slang phrases that we will see, most will probably understand what it means.

“I’m tired of waiting, can we get a wiggle on?” for example.

We don’t know when this term originated, although we can see that it was in use to some extent by the middle of the 20^th Century.

It probably doesn’t predate that year by too much.

Get a move on

Following on from that, “get a move on” is by far the more common way of saying “hurry up” in British slang.

The sense is very much the same.

We have been waiting and tarrying for too long in one place, and we need to hurry up.

“Get a move on, we’re going to be late,” for example.

This expression dates back to the late 19^th Century, where at first it just meant to travel with speed. It quickly became an admonition to work more quickly.

Vamos

Next we have vamos—which you might be surprised to see on a list of British slang, given that it’s a Spanish word!

The fact is, though, that this is an example of a foreign language term making its way, unchanged, into British slang.

Of course, everyone knows that it’s Spanish from their high school lessons, but it is used as British slang.

“Come on then, vamos, let’s not keep them waiting,” for example.

Chop-chop

“Chop-chop” is definitely a virtually universally understood slang term for hurry up in just about any English speaking nation.

However, it is definitely uniquely British in origin and character.

While not everyone uses it, everyone understands the meaning.

“Let’s go, chop-chop, we’re going to miss the start,” for example.

This term originated in interactions between English and Chinese people in occupied South China during the Imperial period of Britain’s history.

Make tracks

Next we have “make tracks”, which, again, is widely used in other English-speaking nations but has taken on an individual British character.

It has a couple of senses, as it can just be used as a way of saying “I am leaving”.

However, it can also be used to get people to hurry up.

“Come on, let’s make tracks before it gets dark,” for example.

It means we need to hurry up and leave.

This is another very old idiom, and originally was recorded in a weekly newspaper in 1836.

It likely predates this by some years, then.

Shake a leg

Shake a leg is another very popular way of saying that we need to hurry up.

It might be considered a partner phrase to “break a leg”, in the sense that while that means to do well on stage, this means we need to hurry up with something. “Are you ready yet? Can you shake a leg please!” for example.

We aren’t really sure where this term comes from, although some claim it originated during the American Civil War.

Stretcher-bearers would shake a person’s arm or leg to get their attention.

However, we just aren’t really sure.

Step on it

This one will no doubt be recognizable both in its meaning and in its original sense to most English speakers.

In Britain, this one definitely means to hurry up, usually in the context of driving somewhere.

“We’re going to miss the lights if you don’t step on it,” for example.

The idea of “step on it” references stepping on the gas pedal of a car to speed up.

There are claims it is older than this, though they don’t stand up to much scrutiny.

Scoot

This is a simpler one and perhaps one that is more widely used in other parts of the world than it is in Britain.

Nonetheless, this one is very widely used in Britain to tell someone to hurry up.

“Can you put that down and scoot? We need to head home,” for example.

As early as the 18^th Century, this phrase meant to run, fly, and do something very quickly.

It was probably nautical slang originally, from the old Norse skjota, which meant to shoot.

But we aren’t entirely clear on how this took on its modern meaning.

Right then

It’s a popular stereotype that British people are somewhat repressed and don’t like to express themselves explicitly.

There are many situations where you need to find the right moment to declare that you are going to leave, and so that is where “right then” comes in.

Many British people will understand from childhood that, when their parent says this, it’s time to hurry up and leave. “Right then!” for example.

That’s really all that’s needed to be understood!

Scurry

This one has a more direct literal meaning, in the sense that is a verb that just means to hasten along and move very quickly.

It’s also used to describe the way certain insects, like spiders, move along the floor, scurrying along.

It can be used to tell someone to hurry up and leave. “Go on, scurry, get out of here,” for example.

This meaning originated in the 19^th Century, essentially a reduplication of hurry.

I haven’t got all day

Finally, we have a very common phrase used throughout Britain to indicate you want someone to hurry up.

An impatient customer might use this in a shop to get a clerk to hurry along the sale, or an agitated parent might use this one to get their children to hurry up with what they’re doing.

“Come on, put your shoes on, I haven’t got all day,” for example.

This one was starting to become a popular term in the middle of the 20^th Century, and has since become a staple slang phrase.

There are definitely a great many ways to say hurry up in British slang, then.

Some of these are far more widely used than others, but I would say that most British people are likely to understand the meaning of most of these terms.

Whether you’re getting the whole family out the door for an outing, or you just need to motivate yourself to get up and get ready—try out one of these phrases!

More in British Slang

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.

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