SAY WHAT?! British Slang I STILL Don’t Understand! 

Julie, when you were singing brass monkey, you were singing and old Beastie Boys song. Hearing you repeat it brought back old high school concert days. 😅👍🏻

Most of the UK say, "a sandwich short of a picnic" The full phrase is, "it's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". People also say, "it's colder than a witch's t*t" The dog's dangly bits is a more family friendly version of the dog's b*ll*cks. Some older Brits still refer to left-handed people as being "cack handed". Cack comes from the Old English verb for defecating Brits can turn any word into a euphemism or dysphemism for being drunk lol

In response to the "Knickers In A Twist", we in Virgina say "Don't get your drawers (Pronounced DRAWS) in an uproar!

It’s a sandwich short of a picnic. For goodness sake!

I've always thought the Cockney rhyming slang phrases are so fun. Here in America I've heard (and said) many of the ones from this video: raining cats & dogs; spitting (for light rain); hunky dory; bees knees; don't get your knickers in a twist; talking the hind legs off a mule. For bodged job, we have a similar version: botched job. The picnic short of a sandwich one sounds like it should be the other way around (a sandwich short of a picnic)!

please repeat your "Lettuce Soup" recipe-----We made it after you fixed it and it was a hit!!! Unfortunately, I didn't write it down------

•Things went wrong = things went t*Ts up. •There’s the saying colder than a witche’s t*t. •Someone doesn’t have both oars in the water, one crayon short in the box, •Don’t get yer knickers in a knot, don’t get your panties in a bunch •My great aunt would say neato keeno •I say something is the cat’s pajamas •Don’t give a rat’s ass •All hat & no cowboy = all coat & no knickers • three sheets to the wind. •I feel like I been drug backwards thru a knothole, I feel like I been rode hard & put away wet,

Cack-handed reminds of haphazardly

Pear shaped - gone south.

I just love these vlogs . Had so much fun. It’s like playing a game with you lovely people around the world and getting to know a little more about England too. Love it . Thank you Julie and Steven and Claire🇺🇸

The derivation of Brass Monkey is from the saying, "It's cold enough to freeze the ball off a Brass Monkey." A Brass Monkey was a bras triangle frame used on a ship to hold cannon balls. If it got too cold the brass frame would shrink too much to hold the cannon balls and then would fall out of the frame and roll across the deck, hence Freezing the ball off a brass monkey.

"Kick the bucket" "Bees knees" and "lost the plot" are used often in the mid west United States. Really enjoyed learning more phrases!

"Bugger" is considered rude because the archaic variant of the word (buggery) was the term for homosexual intercourse. Therefore, 'bugger off' is a substitute for 'f*** off'.

I’ve heard “a few sandwiches short of a picnic” but not the other way around.

so fun to watch! I'm from Washington State and yes we use Hunky Dory and it's raining Cats and Dogs

Yes in America we do say "Things are hunky dory" although more recently I've heard people say it in a sarcastic way. Bee's Knees is also an old American term from the 20s. As for the term "At Her Majesty's Pleasure" I've always thought that this meant any kind of situation (such as the military) where someone's actions are subject to what the government or the Queen needs.

As much of the American Southern accent is actually directly derived from the Queen’s English, many of these terms are familiar to this southern girl!

My husband is from Dublin and says, or at least knows, most of these. A few seemed American, like "kick the bucket" "bees knees" and "lost the plot." Also, at least here the term "brass monkey" also means cold but is short for "the cold would freeze the balls off a brass monkey." My husband would say, "it's brass monkey weather."

I always thought it was a sandwich short of a picnic.

Cats and dogs, spitting, hunky dory, kicked the bucket, botched job (hear a lot in medicine) are all common in America

I'm of Pa Dutch ancestry. I heard a few of these sayings from my parents. Some are just old, and not exclusively British.

My late grandmother who was Cresswell by birth used a lot of these terms when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s thank you for bringing back wonderful memories I've heard these through the family different terms and I just don't hear them much as I live in the United States thank you so great content

Love the topic today,. Where I grew up in Lincolnshire cack handed meant doing something left handed and I can see how some people would find that it looked clumsy. The differences in the English language between the UK and the USA is certainly a good topic. Best wishes Madeline ( left handed )

Kick the Bucket is used in the U.S.

That was fun! I've heard someone could "talk the ears off a billy goat."

Starvin’ Marvin use to be a convenience store chain in the southern part of the USA. Interesting to think it’s derived from cockney for hungry. Well done, as always.

Have you ever heard one of my favorites, "that's the cat's pajamas!"? It means the same as the "bee's knees." I love cats!

in Southern USA we say "Don't get your panties in a wad" 😂

its a sandwich short of a picnic you got it the wrong way round!

Hey Julie! North Carolina here! This was such a fun video! As far as the phrases I’ve heard or said here are “hunky dory”, but used in a more sarcastic way - example: when having a bad day and someone asks how you are - “oh, just hunky dory!” The knickers in a twist phrase is used (sort of) in the states, but “knickers” is usually switched out with “panties” or “pants,” and “twist” is usually switched out with “wad.” The phrase “bees knees” was popular in the states in the 20s or 50s? When someone says “she could talk the hind legs off a donkey” it’s not far off from what we say here, except it’s usually “mule” instead of “donkey.” I always thought it meant that a person is really good at convincing someone of something or selling anything to anyone. “Kick the bucket” is used here too. All the other ones are so very British, lol! Thank you for sharing parts of your life and estate with us all! Thoroughly enjoy your videos!

being from the Southwest USA in stead of "a sandwich short of a picnic" we would say "a Taco short of a combo meal". I have also heard "their elevator (lift) does not got to the top floor". I have heard the full Brass Monkey phrase some have mentioned in the comments. I have also heard "Kick the Bucket" as well as "don't get you pantties (instead of knickers) in a bunch or wad".

Here in Massachusetts both raining cats and dogs and spitting are often used. Hunky dory is used in the USA. The cold in brass monkey sounds to me more like saying someone is frigid. In the USA the knickers phrase is "Don't get your panties in a bunch." The bees knees was a 1920's American phrase. A** over teakettle is used in USA instead of over t***. USA uses monkey wrench instead of spanner in this phrase. Kick the bucket is an American phrase. Bugger off is kinder than the American F*** off.

Instead of "kick the bucket" I say "pop your clogs". "Pop your clogs" is possibly northern as it was more common for mill workers in the north to wear clogs to work. If you "pop" (a London expression) something, it means that you have visited "uncle", ie been to the pawn shop. If you "pop your clogs" it means that you no longer need them, so have pawned them (maybe to raise money for your approaching funeral). The word "pop" also appears in the nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel", which uses rhyming slang. If you "pop" your "weasel", you pawned your "weasel and stoat", ie your coat.

I’m from Tennessee and have heard a few of these. Definitely heard Don’t get your knickers (although we would say either drawers/breeches) in a twist. Heard Raining Cats and dogs…we also say “it’s a frog strangler out there”. For the cream crackers knackered saying I would either say I’m worn slap out or I’m plumb tired. I really thought spent time at her majesty’s pleasure was a way to say I need to go to the toilet 🚽 😂 because I often say I need to have a meeting in the Oval Office. NGL kinda bummed that it means prison.

I think it’s a sandwich short of a picnic not the other way round!!

Shouldn’t be a sandwich short of a picnic because sandwiches makeup picnics. Picnics don’t make a sandwich?

Haaaah! "Don't lose your blob" is another British slang expression we use in Canada, to tell someone to "relax, it was just a joke."

Actually knew a lot of these (Midwest US). Yes, we use kick the bucket. And spanner is wrench in US, so “throw a wrench in the works.” Pinch Punch/Rabbit, rabbit. I like the English “Chuffed” if I’m spelling it correctly. Ya’ll also use homely (again spelling) on design shows which means something different to us. And bespoke FREQUENTLY. So much so that my sister has made it a drinking game. “Bespoke” table … take a shot. Oh, … reading someone below, yes also specifically knew, “kick the bucket,” “bees knees,” and “lost the plot.” All have been used around here, but not frequently.

A few of those are old American sayings too. I’m 62 and I’ve used a few and heard my parents as I was growing up use some of them. The bees knees, very old.

Yes we use hunky dory in the United States. We also use it's raining cats and dogs as well as using the term spitting to refer to a light mist. We also use don't get your panties in a twist. We also say things have gone pear-shaped. In the US we don't use the term spanner we use the term thrown a wrench in the works or a monkey wrench in the works. Yes we use kick the bucket it means you've died. We say you've botched something up. My mom and grandmother always said I'll give you a ring. They were definitely from the Midwest.

And Yes Americans say Hunky Dory as well.

Yeah we use hunky dory in America too particularly in the American Southand even more specific within the Confederate States of America at least from my experience

That's interesting that you guys use Hank Marvin we use starving Marvin someone says I'm a starving Marvin meaning they're hungry interesting 😂

Sometimes I say sandwich short of a picnic here in the USA

I’ve heard my grandparents say Bees Knees but I think it’s from 1920 or 30s. My mother still says Hunky Dory. So fun! Most of these I’ve never heard of. PS. I live in Nevada (it rarely rains here, like seriously - months without anything) but parents are from the Midwest

The bees knees was used in the States during the 1920's not used now at all. That was fun, although odd for sure!

Brass Monkey...Oh the 90s...!! No longer available in the United States, which leaves me to wonder if Brass Monkey is a US/GenX thing. I mean, clearly, the millennial film crew missed the fact that you were singing a GenX classic by the Beasty Boys. Loved this episode.

It's also kind of interesting that you guys also use drunk as a skunk I always thought that was an American thing

Bees knees and hunky dory are terms from the roaring 20's in the U.S. The slang in Blighty during the same period included the word "topping".

Bees Knees: That one goes back at least to the 1920s. It phrase associated with the Roaring 1920s.

This is a cute... It would be fun if you guys could do a version of this showing differences in US/British social habits/behaviors. Like in a US/Paris comparison, the French like to do two kisses upon meeting someone, and Americans hug... the French think that hugging is too intimate for most early relationships. Some of my girlfriends would be surprised, if you or I, walked up and hugged their boyfriend when first meeting. Americans think the opposite - we like to hug, and not kiss at first. What are some differences in British versus American social behaviors, that caught you off guard, or made you embarrassed?

Love it she has been there for 20 years and it like she just crossed the pond. Love the channel and the 3 of you together. Maybe because I am Canadian from the east coast I know all of the sayings. Well done and all the best

Hunky dory is something I’ve heard and used since childhood in America.

In the US (from Oregon) I said, growing up, "Don't get your panties in a bundle." Also, the Bees Knees - is trendy to say still ( several friends have bees tattooed on knees).

We use most of those in Australia. Brass monkey weather comes from “it’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey” Never heard the Marvin one though.

In downstate Illinois we say "It's (I'm) cold as a brass monkey's balls."

It's "one sandwich short of a picnic." Sandwich, as in Earl of.

Flatware? Also: American: candy Britain: sweets Australian: lollies

This is very funny particularly Julie’s response to some of the sayings, such as At her majesty’s pleasure.

My Great Grandmother, who was Irish, would say "It's raining cats and dogs, don't step in a poodle". A lot of these sayings are things we say in PA. Maybe we kept a lot of the English slang.... LOL

Her majesty’s pleasure is time in prison. I was 24 hours in police custody or Traffic Cops. Julie you are missing out. I have to find them on RU-vid. We use kick the bucket here. We say he’s done a half ass job. Bodge sounds posh

I learned some "Brit" living in Asia (!), and still prefer "knickers in a twist" to "panties in a wad," and "spanner in the works" to "monkeywrench in the machinery." Much more descriptive. Hunky dory, bee's knees, cat's pajamas or cat's whiskers or cat's meow were slang from the 20s & 30s, so I learned those from my aunt (moreso than from my parents!), but they're all still around, used.

Aloha! Julie & friends! My goodness! Here in the U.S. "Pissed" as you know is slang for very very angry. Pissed in the U.K. is simply 🥴 drunk (lol). The swear words you bleeped out were not bleepable here;(not swear words at all in the U.S.).( lol)😉

"I don't give a monkey's ass" is the say I grew up with in the US.

A "picnic short of a sandwich"? I'm American, but wouldn't you say a "sandwich short of a picnic"? Because the other way makes no sense at all.

Freezing the balls off a brass monkey. The brass monkey is a nautical devise for stacking cannonballs in preparation for battle. When it become cold the cannonballs roll off the brass monkey, therefore, its so cold it could freeze the balls of a brass monkey. I do imagine that a monkey from tropical climes might suffer the same.

Here n the south, I've heard several of those expressions or iterations of them, like "It's colder than a witch's titties in a brass bra" .

Brass Monkey: In Canada we say « « It’s cold enough to freeze the Valls off a brass monkey » or, it’s brass monkey weather.

HM prisons, The Queen is the Head of the Judiciary in the UK (ie Crown Court , QC Queens Council). hence the courts put people in prison on the Queens Behalf from laws the Government make on the Queens behalf. The prisons are payed for through the tax system thus at her majesties pleasure. The Queen is also the Head of the armed forces so all military installations as well as vehicles are called HM...

When the phrase HM pleasure is used it generals means an undefined length of prison term generally life without parole

Yes, American phrase," Kicked the bucket. " I don't use it, but I've heard it.

Dislike works as well as like. Apparently both increase the amount by which your channel is promoted.

Another American synonym for ":kick the bucket" "sell the farm."

Yes we use Hunky Dory and Kick the Bucket in the US. I actually have used about half of these. Maybe it's because my great great grandparents were from the UK and it's carried over from family convos.

Half of these are normal sayings in the American South, or very similar that mean the same thing--i.e."Don't get your panties in a wad"

We do say Hunky Dory in the US. It is a bit dated but common here. And "knickers in a twist" is similar to "Don't get your panties in a twist" or "Don't get your panties in a bunch", which I have heard in the US - a bit dated phrase but I have heard it. "Bees Knees" was popular in the US back in the 1920s/1930s - not used in the US for a long time. "Kick the Bucket" is used in the US - again it is more older generation like 1950s/1960s. I have heard "Ass over teakettle" before - again older generation. But I bet it is related to "Arse over Tits". "Brass Monkey. That funky monkey." is from Beastie Boys song.

They said so many of these in the USA as well or something like it. A few French fries short of a happy meal. Similar to a sandwich short of a picnic

From what I've heard; about a hundred or so years ago Meccano came in two sized boxes; Box Standard and Box Deluxe. Because we English like to play with words Box Standard became Bog Standard and Box Deluxe became Dog's Bollocks. How true this is I can't say but I don't think there is a definitive derivation of these words.

I would say "ass over tea kettle" for fall over. 🇺🇸

At 'Her Majesty's Pleasure' derives from the fact that the reigning monarch is the formal/nominal head of crime prosecution in the UK, hence 'The Crown Prosecution Service' ~ the criminal is punished on behalf of the monarch (whose laws have been breached). I like the phrase: 'three sheets to the wind' (being drunk) ~ be interesting to find out the origin of that one...maybe sailors having too much rum, and losing control of the sails?

Hank Marvin= Starvin Marvin Pinch Punch First of the Month is kind of like punch bug no punch back

Use Hunky Dory all the time. In fact, we use a lot of the sayings you are giving.

Its actually a "sandwich short of a picnic" A tinnie short of a 6 pack"

I love your video but you should know bugger is actually a shortened term of buggery or sodomy but as we often do on the island this is reduced to a gentle and mild swear

Some of these are old (20s,30s, slang from America, too) Knew a lot of them from Midwest. Nebraska/ Iowa

I just love these! Ok. So I thought of one I had to look up (it was on doc Martin) we are like chalk and cheese…that was interesting.. shouldn’t it be a sandwich short of a picnic though? Here we say, the light is on but nobody is home, or not the sharpest tool in the shed. We used hunky dory in the late 80s. Is it back? Panties in a bunch…throwing a monkey wrench into it, I don’t give a monkey’s butt, kick the bucket, therefore a bucket list. Plastic surgery may be a botched job, also we may give ‘em a jingle. Lol. Love it. Ps. I did get the HM prison wrong. I thought it was a reference to having spent too much time in the bathroom (on the throne) 🙊

Is “a sandwich short of a picnic” a separate phrase or did you guys mix things up?! I think “a picnic short of a sandwich” sounds extra crazy…I like it. Fun video! Also, I recognize most of these but not all of them…in America, we say “don’t get your panties in a bunch/twist” instead of knickers.

With an Irish mom and a Dutch dad I have plenty of idioms under my belt. Add to that teaching French and being a Francophile I’m au courant as we say. Love it language, never mind which , is interesting!

I loved this fun episode!

What’s for tea? That’s a question that your grandmother might ask!

WE do use hunky dory in America :)

Actually we do use it here in America hunky-dory yeah we do I use it all the time actually and I’m not even British lol

Its a 'Sandwich short of a picnic' not a 'picnic short of a sandwich'.

Do you know where the saying it's raining cat's and dog's come from? It's from the time when the pet's were no pet's and heavy rain drove them down the streets. I really appreciate your channel. Regards from Iceland 🇮🇸 Ps. I'm a Kentucky- Icelandic

GORDON BENNETT. !! Diddly Squat !!Chuck's Away !! Tiddly Pips !!

A lot of the sayings are things that I heard around the country like the Bees Knees. But I am a little bit older than the people in the video.

The way I’ve heard in the US it’s ‘throw a wrench in the gears.”

On the saying a 'sandwich short of a picnic', for my generation the saying 'not the full shilling' would have been more commonly used.

I’m from Texas, and we use hunky dory. We also have spitting rain and kick the bucket. We have similar expressions to “a sandwich short of a picnic,” but ours are “not the sharpest tool in the shed,” or “a few beads off plumb,” or “a few fries short of a Happy Meal.” We don’t use bugger at all, but I was aware of what it meant.. If we screw up, we’ve “screwed the pooch.” Bees knees is still used, but it goes back a century in the U.S. …I think to the flapper era. The whole cockney rhyming thing just flies right over my head. The UK phrases were a wash with me. Some I knew, some I knew in slightly different forms, and for some I had no clue.

Nice, Learned some new phrases 🤗😅 Hank Marvin 😂😂😂