Do you know what the following mean? Have you heard them being used before?

Try and guess what they mean before scrolling down for the answers below. Note: these are colloquial phrases, not proper academic ones so please don’t use them in your essays! 

1. Quid

2. You alright?

3. Take the mick/take the mickey/take the piss

4. Bear with me

5. Fit

6. Rubbish

7. Trainers

8. Gutted

9. Knackered

10. Having a laugh?

Quid

Answer: Pounds (currency).

Example: “This ice cream cost me 5 quid”.

You alright?

Answer: How are you?

When friends or acquaintances ask you this, they are not asking if you are feeling ill, or if you are

recovering from an illness. They would be expecting a general and brief response to your current state

of mind.

Example: “You alright? How are things going?”

Take the mick/Take the mickey/Take the piss

Answer: Joke around, make fun of.

Example: “Are you taking the mick? Or are you being serious?”

Bear with me

Answer: Please hold on.

Example: “Let me check my records, bear with me!”

Fit

Answer: good looking.

Example: “that actor is fit!”

Rubbish

Answer: really bad.

When ‘rubbish’ is used as an adjective, it does not mean litter or actual waste. It means that something

is really bad.

Example: “That movie was rubbish! I slept through most of it”

Trainers

Answer: sneakers/sports shoes

Example: “Remember to bring your trainers for basketball training later”

Gutted

Answer: Sad, a shame

Example: “I’m gutted you can’t come to my party later”

Knackered

Answer: Exhausted, really tired.

Example: “I’m absolutely knackered today because I didn’t sleep at all last night”

(Are you) having a laugh?

Answer: Are you joking?

Example: “Is he having a laugh right now? He can’t be serious!”

So, how many did you get correct?

Written by Clara Ho, Operations Manager