A variety of spelling that uses numbers and symbols that approximate the shape of certain letters, using for example 1 and 5 for i and s, used primarily. A cracker is a thin, crisp biscuit which is often eaten with cheese. Urban dictionary and our advertising partners set cookies on your computer to improve our site and the advertisements you see. Slang is very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid and ephemeral than ordinary language random house unabridged dictionary learn 600 slang expressions an idiom is.
British slang is a niche of its own, evolving and transforming and adapting from city to city and from year to year, just as the english language itself has done. Learn these 50 british phrases that americans dont understand. Yes, cnbc published a prime example of one of the internets most. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. I should explain to your lordship what is meant by crackers. The term cracker was also given to the farm hands that would work on the plantations as slave drivers. A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense denotes ostentation. Oftentimes, its not so much the word itself thats awesome but the usage of it so. But it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. British slang is english language slang used and originating in the united kingdom and also.
They would put a short length of twisted twine or string attached to the end of a whip to produce a cracking sound. Frederick law olmsted, a prominent landscape architect from. The term its a cracker came about during the 70s from a tv program called the comedians one them whos. Are you feeling a bit knackered or fagged today, internet, and need something to be gobsmacked by. He was in a right two and eight, having drunk 12 pints of lager in 3 hours. This sentence is not a translation of the original sentence. British slang is a fountain of beautiful words that we dont normally use in america.
Be careful though, using too many british words can make you sound like a wanker. It is also used in the united states to a limited extent. Heres our list of our top 100 favorite british slang words and phrases. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a contemptuous term used to refer to a white person, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. Consider this your brief primer guide to english slang words and phrases.
They seem to think its one of those british slurs that doubles as a term of endearment. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates. The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corncracker poor white farmer. Here are some of the as and bs from the a z list of cockney rhyming slang words.
Crackers definition of crackers by the free dictionary. Cracker slang article about cracker slang by the free. Cracker slang definition of cracker slang by the free. Having trouble understanding somebody from across the pond. Translation for cracker in the free frenchenglish dictionary and many other english translations. Cracker definition for englishlanguage learners from.
Slang is very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid and ephemeral than ordinary language random house unabridged dictionary learn 600 slang expressions. There were crackers in it with the tenderest mottoes that could be got for money. The truth is that cracker and its many synonyms are not considered as strong or offensive as similar negative words for minorities. Hard breadbiscuit sense first attested 1739, though hard wafer sense attested 1440. As it turns out, in the area in which rachel jeantel was raised, the word cracker isnt a racial slur at all, but rather, a proud nod to the regions history, and ones own ancestry. Weve gathered the largest british dictionary on the internet. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four. By 1760 the english, both in colonial america and in great britain were using the word cracker to describe the scotirish settlers in the backcountry of the southern american colonies.
One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging is it. Cracking definition is very impressive or effective. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. Today im going to take a look at words or phrases that will confuse the hell out of. In the british slang senses, toss refers specifically to the masturbate meaning. Top 100 most beautiful british slang words and phrases guide to. There are already sufficient good answers here, but i always like participating in questions like this, knowing i probably wont end up breaking bnbr. David copperfield, by charles dickens trans fatty acids, or trans fats, are commonly found in fried foods, chips, crackers and baked goods.
What is the meaning of the british slang term tosser. There are lots of other words in english that have a similar meaning and level of offensiven. Some words are proper english words, but they are the not the. Sense of computer cracker, crack, cracking, were promoted in the 1980s as an alternative to hacker, by programmers concerned about negative public associations of hack, hacking creative computer coding. Us, slang white person moqueur ptit blanc, ptite blanche nm, nf. In predecimal currency, a bob was slang for a shilling 5 pence, and a two bob bit being a two shilling coin, usually called a florin. Looking for a crazy list of british slang words, insults, expressions and expletives. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of course, that thin, savory snack that cracks when you break it. Because slang is casual language, some of these might not be appropriate for younger learners. Cracker has also been used as a proud or jocular selfdescription in the past. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. Cracker slang synonyms, cracker slang pronunciation, cracker slang translation, english dictionary definition of cracker slang. Jul 01, 20 but it turns out cracker s roots go back even further than the 17th century.
As the majority in the us making up over 82% of the total population, whites can be offended by the term, but given the illustrations above, obviously do not take it too seriously or find it threatening. Definition of cracker written for english language learners from the merriamwebster learners dictionary with audio pronunciations, usage examples, and countnoncount noun labels. A person or thing that cracks things for example, a whip cracker or a nutcracker. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker.
Shakespeares king john 1595 includes the statement. Definition of the slang term cracker with an example. Oct 11, 2019 tosser plural tossers one who tosses or throws something. Thats a slightly older slang term there are examples going back into the 1950s which means exhausted or worn out. A cracker is a xmas festive thing resembling a toilet roll covered with tissue and decorations the cracker has a small explosive which goes off when you pull it the cracker usually holds a paper hat,a token and a joke the joke is usually terrible hence the term a cracker of a joke. Cracker something thats great, like the best bargain for the day being the cracker of the day.
Then rest your zonked peepers on these 71 simple british phrases compiled from slang dictionaries. Top synonyms for cracker other words for cracker are biscuit, cookie and hardtack. A dry, thin, crispy, and usually salty or savory biscuit. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor farmers was cracked corn, not crackers. This, as my good friend cracker assures me, was always a womens swear word. This page may contain content that is offensive or inappropriate for some readers. A dry, thin, crispy baked bread usually salty or savoury, but sometimes sweet, as in the case of graham crackers and animal crackers. My ex had a huge collection of carnivorous plants, they are amazing. While american slang has become nearly universal with the influx of tv shows, films, and other media filling the screens of a significant. Sometime in the past thirty years or so the phrase has become rhyming slang in britain for knackered. The terms tosserwanker dont mean idiot, they mean asshole.
Oct 20, 2011 the term cracker was also given to the farm hands that would work on the plantations as slave drivers. Tosser this term, meaning one who engages in self, erm, stimulation, is a milder version of wker, which perhaps youve noticed this too americans have recently adopted but serially misuse. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. Some are hilarious, some are rude and some are interesting.
In predecimal currency, a bob was slang for a shilling 5 pence, and a two bob. A cream cracker is a savoury dry biscuit, often eaten with cheese. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of course, that thin. Something or someone of notable ability or quality. Tosser is a british slang expression for an obnoxious jerk. Slang is informal language sometimes peculiar to a particular social class or group.
Hes such a plonker, ponce, pillock, tosser, twit, knob, bellend meaning. British slang is english language slang used and originating in the united kingdom and also used to a limited extent in anglophone countries such as the republic of ireland, south africa, australia, canada, and new zealand, especially by british expats. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. Top 100 most beautiful british slang words and phrases. Britain, new zealand, slang, derogatory, vulgar a male who masturbates. Because of the racism he had suffered, bryan never felt comfortable around crackers. Meaning of british slang words astronomy, to me, is the extraordinary study of the planets, moons, comets, and other celestial objects in the solar system. In american slang,what does a cracker mean,and is it. Proper usage and audio pronunciation plus ipa phonetic transcription of the word cracker crumbs. Cracker definition and meaning collins english dictionary.
125 1253 1132 1047 298 1250 987 195 1095 794 51 270 440 1024 1299 708 498 1019 599 1341 133 1491 905 1228 42 1499 792 1387 662 898 1296 173 1067 663 318 191 1113 38 1483 363 820 1258 1224 1105 711 963 789