10 Common British English Slang Expressions & Phrases

Do you know these expressions?

  • Oh, that’s thrown a spanner in the works.
  • I’m absolutely knackered!
  • Let’s go out on the pull!
  • You’ve got to be kidding me!
  • Wow, you’re quids in, well done!
  • Don’t get your knickers in a twist, just calm down and look for it!
  • I’m absolutely skint.
  • It was pants!

Now watch the video and check. (Extra task below the video)

Extra task

Look at the situations – what could you say or hear in them? Choose from:

  • Oh, that’s thrown a spanner in the works.
  • I’m absolutely knackered!
  • Let’s go out on the pull!
  • You’ve got to be kidding me!
  • Wow, you’re quids in, well done!
  • Don’t get your knickers in a twist, just calm down and look for it!
  • I’m absolutely skint.
  • It was pants!
  1. When your friend wins some money in a competition, you could say: ……………
  2. When you’re in a hurry but you can’t find your phone, your boyfriend/husband might say: …………… 
  3. When you had a really difficult and tiring day, you might say: ……………
  4. When your friend told you about something really funny that’s happened to them, you could say: ……………
  5. When you’ve been watching a film but you didn’t really like it, you could say: ……………
  6. When someone suggests going to the cinema but you don’t have money, you could say: ……………
  7. When you start to make a cake but after some time you realise that you don’t have enough eggs, you might say: ……………
  8. When your single friend would like to go out with the intention of finding a romantic partner, she might suggest: …………

Reveal answer

1. Wow, you’re quids in, well done!
2. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, just calm down and look for it!
3. I’m absolutely knackered!
4. You’ve got to be kidding me!
5. It was pants!
6. I’m absolutely skint.
7. Oh, that’s thrown a spanner in the works.
8. Let’s go out on the pull!




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