Colloquial expressions, idioms, and slang once common, now archaic…

Here's a few totally indecipheral Brit sayings:
It’s really chucking it down..................................raining hard.
It's a bit parky......Or,,,Brass Monkeys................extremely cold weather.
A bunch of fives.......................................................a punch in the face.
Pants, or that's pants..............................................not very good.
Knackered or totally knackered..........................exhausted. Or with equipment, rendered useless.
Gutted...........................................................................very disappointed.
Skint...............................................................................having no money.
Gobsmacked...............................................................utter astonishment.
Anorak...........................................................................a nerd.
Telling porkies.............................................................telling lies. (Originally cockney rhyming slang. Porkie pies, lies.)
To faff..............................................................................from old English, faffle. Taking your time and not doing much.
To have the hump.......................................................grumpy, or miserable.
Spend a penny.............................................................going to the bathroom, or in Brit speak, the loo.
A sandwich short of a picnic..................................someone who is not very bright. There are many versions of this, some too rude to print.
To pop one's clogs......................................................is a euphemism for dying or death.
Bob's your Uncle.........................................................there you have it.
A pig’s ear.......................................................................to do a bad job.
Getting your knickers in a twist..............................overreacting.
A plonker.........................................................................an idiot.
Arse about face............................................................back to front.
 

Back in the fifties, "with it," meant current fashion. We also expressed approval with the term: "swinging!" When you were leaving somewhere that was popular you, "split the scene." "See you, or see you later," is a revised expression from 1956 when Bill Haley had everyone saying: "See you later, alligator."

In a while, crocodile!
Don't care. Mix 'em up. They will all be passe sooner or later.
 
Have a Captain Cook. (A look)
Ocker, Yobbo. (Someone who likes to sound of his own voice)
Put a Sock in it. (Tell someone to shut up)
Cooee! (A loud cry in the outback to attract attention)
Hit the Frog and Toad. (When it's time to drive home)
She'll be Right Mate. (Everything will be fine).
Dog's Breakfast. (Describes a child's chaotic room).
 
A few from back in the day in Vietnam.

Number One = Good
Number Ten = Bad
Number Ten Thousand = Very Bad

The world. = Out of Vietnam, ie When I get back to the world.
Dinky Dau = Crazy
Beaucoup Dinky Dow = Very crazy
Di Di = leave
Di Di Mau = Leave fast.
Two Digit Midget = Someone with less than 100 days left in their tour.
You souvenier me? = Will you give me that?
 

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