British Slang For Nose (16 Examples!)

On the face of it, your nose seems to have only a single function. It smells things.

While this may be broadly true, smelling things serves a great many functions in your body, more than simply being able to identify smells.

Beyond that, metaphorically speaking, our noses stand in for our sense of instinct, so it’s unsurprising that out of this variety of functions, an equal variety of slang terms has arisen to describe our noses in Britain.

Let’s look at some new, old, common and rare slang terms for nose in Britain.

In This Article

Conk

Starting off with what is undoubtedly one of the most commonly used and understood slang terms for nose in Britain, we have “conk”.

This one is quintessentially British, used throughout the country from the north of Scotland to the south of England.

It’s an older one that some of the younger generations may eschew, but they will definitely understand its meaning nevertheless.

“I’m going to punch him on the conk in a minute,” for example.

This slang term first appears in the written record in 1812, so it no doubt predates that by a few decades at least.

The origin is not entirely clear, although one leading theory posits that it was based on a supposed resemblance between the nose and the conch shell, which is pronounced conk.

It’s not entirely clear, though, and it may instead be onomatopoeic and based on the sound made when someone gets punched in the nose.

Schnozz

Next we have “schnozz,” a common British slang expression for nose also used throughout the country today.

There are many different spellings for this word, and many may simply spell it phonetically as “snoz” or shortened as “schnozz”.

In any case, in spoken English it is a very common slang term that everyone in Britain will understand as referring to the nose. “I’ve got such an itchy schnozz,” for example.

The word itself derives from the Yiddish word shnoitsl, which in turn comes from the German schnauze meaning snout or muzzle.

This, though, relates back to the Middle Engish word snute meaning snout. It started being used in English in this was in the 20th Century, with the first recorded use being in 1942.

Schnozzle

A very similar term for the nose which you may well also hear in Britain is “schnozzle”.

As you can imagine, this one is simply a variation of “schnozz” which is used in virtually the same way. I

t’s a kind of humorous slang term, ultimately deriving from the same root as “schnozz” though also relating to the idea of a “nozzle” that would go on a hose or something similar.

Hooter

Next we have “hooter,” another common British slang phrase used to refer to noses.

This is used throughout Britain by all generations, though a somewhat more regional slang term than others.

In any case, you will be understood wherever you use this term.

It’s another humorous slang phrase which carries a few connotations, so it’s worth being mindful of when and where you use this one.

“I need to blow my hooter, do you have a tissue?” for example.

The term has a variety of meanings and it has changed a lot over the years.

It was originally a reference to sound, such as the hoot of an owl or even just the loud cry of a person.

The slang term for nose was first recorded in 1958, so it may predate this by some time.

It’s not clear exactly how it took on this meaning, though it’s thought to be simply a reference to the fact that you breathe and make noise through your mouth.

Beak

Another common slang term for nose in Britain is “beak”.

There are, for one reason or another, a variety of slang terms for nose in British English which relate to the appendages of birds.

“Beak” is not the most common slang term for nose, perhaps most commonly used in the south of England though you’ll be widely understood wherever you use this term.

“He keeps sticking his beak in where it’s not wanted,” for example.

Naturally this slang phrase arises out of the similarity in shape between a bird’s beak and a human nose.

The word “beak” itself derive from the Old French bec, meaning beak or mouth figuratively.

It’s a very old term in this sense, having been in use since at least the 15th Century.

However, it fell in and out of use, and was picked up again this sense in the middle of the 19th Century.

Bill

Similarly, another slang term for nose in British English is “bill”.

As you can probably guess, the sense is more or less the same and is related to the bill of a bird.

This one is a lot less common than “beak”, but is still more or less inherently understandable as relating to the appendage of a bird.

You might be met with some confusion depending on where you use this, but most will gather from context if not from inherent understanding.

“Your bill is bright red, have you been punched?” for example.

This one is far less well recorded in historical records.

We don’t know when it came to mean nose although it likely wasn’t long after the use of “beak”.

Bill and beak are synonymous and do not refer to different things, although in common usage you might be more likely to refer to a duck’s bill than it’s beak.

Horn

Next we have “horn”, another slang term for nose used in a similar vein to bill or beak.

“Horn” can have a wide variety of meanings in British slang, the other most common one being a telephone.

But it can also refer to the nose depending on where you are.

Again, the relationship is quite clear so most will not have trouble gathering your meaning from context.

“I broke my horn slipping on the ice last week,” for example.

Again, it’s not really clear when this one started being used.

It’s simply a reference to animals that have a horn on the front of their face, most prominently the rhino whose nose and horn seem inseparable.

Indeed, etymologically, the word “rhinoceros” simply means “nose horn” in Greek.

However, on the other hand, some think it rather refers to a horn as in the instrument rather than an appendage, since you blow air through it. Either are certainly possible.

Honker

“Honker” is another common way to refer to the nose in British English.

As you can probably guess, this is another one which would be a less than polite way to refer to the nose of someone you don’t know very well–or anyone for that matter!

Indeed, many simply take honker to refer not just to any nose, but specifically to an overly large nose.

“He’s got an absolute honker on his face but he’s still cute,” for example,

There are many etymological relationships this word might have, though we aren’t completely sure of the one that led to this slang term.

It originally meant “one that honks”, particularly used to refer to geese.

This slang term most likely arose out of the idea of “honks” meaning something that smells very bad.

This probably came into use around the end of the 19th Century.

Sniffer

When you breathe in through your nose in order to get a smell, you “sniff”–thus, your nose can also be referred to as a “sniffer”.

This one is again not exactly universal, though through the relationship to “sniff” it’s unlikely you won’t be understood if you use it.

It’s more common in England than anywhere else in Britain though again somewhat common throughout.

“I just got the most awful whiff in my sniffer,” for example.

The first recorded use of this term comes from 1858, so it was likely in use well before the middle of the 19th Century.

It’s a very natural term to arise so it may be much older than that.

“Sniff” meaning to draw air through the nose comes from at least the 14th Century, and was imitative in origin.

Smeller

Similarly, you might refer to your nose as a “smeller”.

The sense is more or less exactly the same,

Your nose smells, thus your nose is your “smeller”.

This one is disparate in its use and you certainly won’t hear it everywhere, but yet again is inherently understandable so it’s unlikely you won’t be understood if you use it.

Still, it can be considered somewhat impolite, so be a bit careful with how you use it.

“I’ve got an excellent smeller on my face,” for example.

“Smeller” has had a couple of different senses over the years, originally referring to someone or something that smells.

That is, they smell things, not that they themselves smell bad–a dog, for example, would be a “smeller”.

This use comes from the late 19th Century, and sometime over the course of the 20th Century, it took on the more specific meaning of nose.

Whiffer

Similarly, another common slang term for nose in British English is “whiffer”.

“Whiff” is a common slang phrase in Britain used for smells and smelling, so this is simply a variant on that broader term.

Both “whiff” and “whiffer” are arguably somewhat archaic now, though the words are definitely still common enough to be understood.

“I’ve got a good whiffer for these kinds of things,” for example.

The term is very old, and derives from the 13th Century Middle English weffe, which meant a foul odor.

The modern form came into use in the 16th Century, and it ultimately became “whiffer” meaning nose, rather than smell, in the 19th Century.

Any precision beyond that is difficult to find.

Bugle

Back to the theme of musical instruments, next we have “bugle”, a somewhat dated but still used and understood slang phrase for nose in Britain.

Bugle is mostly used in Cockney slang today, and not a great deal outside of that.

Nonetheless, the broader convention of referring to noses via wind instruments makes this one more broadly understood if not used.

“I’ve got a blocked bugle, I must be coming down with something,” for example.

Bugles are very old instruments, originally made out of the horn of large plow animals like oxen.

Today they are typically made out of brass, but either way they have been in use for a very long time.

This slang phrase could be quite old though written references are scarce.

Either way, it is almost certainly a simple reference to the act of blowing air through your nose.

Nozzle

“Nozzle” is an interesting example because it has come full circle in some ways.

In standard English, a nozzle refers to a small spout as mentioned, the kind of thing you would put on a hose or something similar.

You won’t hear this one used everywhere but it’s very much still in use in many parts of Britain today.

“I’ll just keep my nozzle out of his business this time,” for example.

As I said, this word has come full circle–originally the term was simply a diminutive of the word “nose,” used for other things, originally a candleholder.

This use was attested in the early 15th Century, and meant “small spout” by the 1680s.

By the 19th Century, it had come back around to being slang for nose.

Snot locker

As you can probably guess, this one is primarily used by young kids.

Though it’s certainly not as common today as it once was, this kind of “grossness” was a big part of marketing to kids, particularly young boys.

Out of this arose many slang terms like this, and this one is still somewhat common today.

As you can imagine, you wouldn’t want to use this one in polite conversation.

“That kid has a big snot locker, he always needs a tissue,” for example.

It’s not clear when this one was first used, though we can safely say it was not longer than the last 50 years.

Most tend to think it arose in the 1990s when this kind of “gross” marketing was at its height, but we may never know for sure.

Snout

Next we have “snout,” a common slang phrase used in Britain to refer to someone’s nose.

Again, this one is naturally not very pleasant or polite, so you don’t want to throw this one around with reckless abandon–just use it with your friends.

Given that it is a word with a standard, obviously related meaning that everyone will understand, most will understand what you mean when you use this one in the slang sense.

“Can you keep your snout out of my business?” for example.

The word itself is naturally very old. In English it seems to come from the early 13th Century, meaning specifically the projecting nose of an animal like a dog.

This probably derives from Middle Low German snute, meaning snout.

This modern meaning is fairly recent, though given the close relationship it may have carried this meaning for a very long time in smaller ways.

In and out

Finally we have “in and out,” a common slang phrase for nose used in Cockney rhyming slang.

As you can guess, this one is a lot more regional than the others, and you really won’t hear it outside of the East End of London.

The convention of rhyming words to form a slang term is a big part of Cockney slang, so there’s not a great deal to say about the origin of this phrase beyond the fact that it rhymes.

Of course, there is also the sense of the “In and out” of your breath out of your nose. “Got into a fight last night and got hit on the in and out,” for example.

So, whether you’re simply talking about the appendage on the front of your face or that wider sense of metaphorical instinct which your nose has come to represent, there are plenty of different ways to refer to your nose in British slang.

Some of these, doubtless, are a lot more common and handy than others–but British slang is nothing if not hugely varied.

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.

Was this article helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!