# British words in code **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 4, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045 "2014-06-04T17:52:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/1 "2014-06-04T17:52:36Z")
Lately, I’ve started to watch this British sitcom called “Doc Martin”. For anyone who doesn’t know it, it’s a lot of fun and kind of warm-hearted too. Ummm … actually, it’s really superb and I’m pretty sure that if you’re an adult, you’ll like it very much. But for anyone who isn’t British, so much of the vocabulary is a real mystery. I know that I could lookup many of these words. In fact, I tried to do that but was disappointed with the results I found. For example, two of the most common words used in this show are “tosser” and “wanker”. They’re both clearly a negative adjectives to describe a person. Before I looked them up, I expected they would be very close to, “asshole” or “idiot”. But, when I looked them up on the site called “The Best of British” (British Slang for Americans), it said they both meant the same thing and that was fairly close to “asshole”. But on the program, I seem to remember someone described masturbation as “wanking” or “giving it a wank”. They also labelled someone who liked to masturbate as a “wanker”. So, I’d very much prefer to ask you all - especially those of you who once lived in Britain. > **[Welcome / Howdy - The Best of British](https://www.effingpot.com)** > > The Best of British - over 1000 british words, expressions and british slang terms that have varied in their usage between the US and the UK. I can’t remember all the words I’d like to ask about. So, I hope it would be OK for me to list a few at a time and hopefully, some other people might also like to ask about some words or phrases and I might be able to get a better picture of things as we go. So, first off, do “wanker” and “tosser” really both mean someone who is a “jerk” or “asshole”? Next, one word that really bugs me is “brilliant”. It seems that today, everything is almost always “brilliant”. But how many things are really brilliant? If it means the same thing as it does in American, then it is surley overused. Next, is a “punter” or maybe I am mis-hearing it. Maybe it’s a “bunter” or a “funter”. The website says it mean something is “cool”. But I just don’t believe it could mean something so silly. It would seem to mean a customer who is over-anxious to buy something. Next, the doctor sometimes asks people to call 999. Is that the equivalent to our 911? Is it fire, ambulance and/or police? Or just limited to one or two of those? Last one for now is a “snog”. Does that really just mean “sexual intercourse”? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/2 "2014-06-04T17:59:46Z")
Back to “tosser” for a sec. Does anyone know the derivation? What is it that was being tossed? Also, I should explain that I meant to title this thread something to do with British Slang. ---
**Author:** ![Batistuta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Batistuta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batistuta)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/3 "2014-06-04T18:09:35Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > So, first off, do “wanker” and “tosser” really both mean someone who is a “jerk” or “asshole”? Yes, pretty much. It’s my number 1 insult when someone cuts me in traffic. > [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Next, one word that really bugs me is “brilliant”. It seems that today, everything is almost always “brilliant”. But how many things are really brilliant? If it means the same thing as it does in American, then it is surley overused At least in my opinion actions and events tend to be ‘brilliant’ rather than things. A goal can be brilliant, as can a film. I wouldn’t think of a car as being brilliant. But yes, the word tends to get overused. > [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Next, is a “punter” or maybe I am mis-hearing it. Maybe it’s a “bunter” or a “funter”. The website says it mean something is “cool”. But I just don’t believe it could mean something so silly. It would seem to mean a customer who is over-anxious to buy something. You mean “punter”. Not that I use it so much myself, but I believe it means “customer”. A waiter will tell another to go help a punter if there’s a customer waiting for help. Not sure if the word carries negative connotations though. > [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Next, the doctor sometimes asks people to call 999. Is that the equivalent to our 911? Is it fire, ambulance and/or police? Or just limited to one or two of those? Yes, it’s the British equivalent to 911 and covers police, ambulance, fire and coastguard. Newer alternatives such as the pan-European 112 or [0118 999 881 999 119 7253](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab8GtuPdrUQ) are becoming increasingly popular though. > [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Last one for now is a “snog”. Does that really just mean “sexual intercourse”? I wouldn’t think so. To have “a snog” is just kissing passionately. If that evolves into actual intercourse, I would call it “a shag”. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/4 "2014-06-04T18:24:31Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > So, first off, do “wanker” and “tosser” really both mean someone who is a “jerk” or “asshole”? Yes. > [@](#): > > Next, one word that really bugs me is “brilliant”. It seems that today, everything is almost always “brilliant”. But how many things are really brilliant? If it means the same thing as it does in American, then it is surley overused. So what? Overusing words is brilliant. [Brilliant!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knYOcaQ-x5o) > [@](#): > > Next, is a “punter” or maybe I am mis-hearing it. Maybe it’s a “bunter” or a “funter”. The website says it mean something is “cool”. But I just don’t believe it could mean something so silly. It would seem to mean a customer who is over-anxious to buy something. Just means a customer, client, or sometimes somebody who is placing a bet with a bookmaker. Or it can be used as a general term to refer to a person, as in “Look at that big punter over there” - in this case usually pejorative, but in the sense of a customer, not at all. It certainly doesn’t mean “cool”. Are you sure you’re not confusing it with “pukka”? ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/5 "2014-06-04T18:25:25Z")
Batistuta, Thanks very much. I could have been very embarassed when using “snog” and “shag” incorrectly. That could have created a problem from which it would have been quite difficult to extricate myself. Colophon, thank you kindly as well. If anyone else would like to use this thread to ask about British words and phrases, please feel free. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/6 "2014-06-04T18:26:33Z")
That’s when you “lie back and think of England.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/7 "2014-06-04T18:45:25Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Back to “tosser” for a sec. > > Does anyone know the derivation? What is it that was being tossed? _Toss_, in this context, means _wank_. They’re synonyms, both meaning _masturbate_. They’re slightly more specific than the general purpose US “asshole”. A tosser or wanker is someone who talks a lot of crap, someone who verbally masturbates, as it were. By the way, I’m Australian, but wanker and tosser are commonly used and generally understood here - I suspect that like most things Americans call “British English” it’s actually more like “non-US English” or, as I prefer to call it, English. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/8 "2014-06-04T18:49:29Z")
> [@Batistuta](#): > > Yes, it’s the British equivalent to 911 and covers police, ambulance, fire and coastguard. Newer alternatives such as the pan-European 112 or [0118 999 881 999 119 7253](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab8GtuPdrUQ) are becoming increasingly popular though. Well, they do have better looking drivers. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/9 "2014-06-04T18:55:46Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Next, the doctor sometimes asks people to call 999. [**Dial 999**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkpwPjakVmc). ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/10 "2014-06-04T18:57:43Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Back to “tosser” for a sec. > > Does anyone know the derivation? What is it that was being tossed? I discovered this back around Easter this year: “Tosser” originally comes from “Tosspot,” which is both someone who drinks a lot (“tosses the pot”) and a character in a British pageant thing called [Pace Egging](http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/history/pace-egging.shtml), which happens around Easter. Nowadays, apparently, masterbaters are called “tossers” because they “toss” their willies around. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/11 "2014-06-04T19:02:41Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I know that I could lookup many of these words. In fact, I tried to do that but was disappointed with the results I found. Try the [**Urban Dictionary**](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tosser). ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/12 "2014-06-04T19:05:04Z")
Over the years “tosser” has moved in meaning. A “toss pot” is a drunkard - tossing back pots of beer. And a tosser a derivation from that. But now, it seems to have merged with wanker. Punter is indeed derived from a customer of a bookmaker. To “take a punt” is to place a bet. So someone who bets is a punter. It then becomes a person who has paid money for something for which the product or service is of unknown quality as “they pays their money and they takes their chances”. So patrons of a film/music/play all become punters. Then it becomes more widely applied. ---
**Author:** ![sidecar\_jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@sidecar\_jon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidecar_jon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/13 "2014-06-04T19:23:55Z")
I should point out to the Doc Martin is very much set in Cornwall (the far south west), where i live (recorded in Port Isaac, about 35 miles away) its use of slang may also be slightly archaic or local. One very local use if “gon Bodmin”… meaning gone mad, Bodmin is where the big mental hospital was. All the slang swear words are also fairly tame by normal everyday language down here too… ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/14 "2014-06-04T19:25:32Z")
Punt is originally from cards and meant a person who plays against the bank at faro, baccarat, etc. Punter had the same meaning. > [@](#): > > punter, n.1 > > a. Cards. A person who plays against the bank at baccarat, faro, etc. > > 1706 Phillips’s New World of Words (ed. 6) , Punter, a Term us’d at the Game of Cards call’d Basset. > 1719 J. D. Breval Mac-Dermot vi. 42 (note) The Cards given to the Punter’s at the game of Pharoah. A century later it had developed the sense of someone who bets on the horses, a gambler > [@](#): > > b. gen. A person who bets or gambles, esp. on horses; a gambler. > > 1860 R. Nicholson Autobiogr. ix. 69 No 14, Park Place, St James’s Street, was an elegant gambling-house, frequented by the highest class of ‘punters’. > 1865 Bell’s Life in London 3 June 5/5 The unfortunate ‘punters’. In the 20th century it developed a whole bunch of other meanings > [@](#): > > c. slang. The victim of a swindler or confidence trickster. > > 1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack xv. 187 But when the grafter decides that it is time for him to get the punter’s money, he leans casually against the stall. > > d. colloq. A customer, a client; (sometimes) spec. a prostitute’s client > > 1965 Sunday Times 24 Oct. (Colour Suppl.) 66/3 There is plenty of irrational judgement about…but like all free-market operators, the traders have to concentrate it on people—on each other and on the ‘punters’ (dealer buyers). > 1968 D. Braithwaite Fairground Archit. iii. 60 Described by veteran showmen as ‘a good oncer’—that is, a ride the punters would normally go on once—and once only. > > e. colloq. A spectator, a member of an audience. > > 1976 A. Nickolds & S. Hey ‘Foul’ Bk. Football i. 5 Glasgow Rangers won the Cup Winners Cup in Barcelona, but the punters who came onto the pitch to celebrate afterwards lost heavily to Franco’s police. > 1977 Record Mirror 7 May 17/2 The punters were well pleased. Some people even…said they preferred my sound, as far as I was concerned I played crap that night. > > 1. slang. An accomplice or assistant in any of various kinds of crime or scam (see quots.). Also: a member of a criminal gang. > > 1891 Answers 4 Apr. 338/1 Having filled the premises with pictures,…the auctioneer engages the assistance of what are known in the business as ‘punters’. The ‘punter’…is the auctioneer’s confederate, and it is his duty…to make sham bids. > 1891 Answers 4 Apr. 338/3 In addition to bidding, a ‘punter’ will often assist the auctioneer in cajoling the public. > 1941 S. J. Baker N.Z. Slang vi. 52 We have also acquired [this century] some underworld slang of our own:…punter, an assistant of a pickpocket who diverts the victim’s attention while robbery is committed. > > 1. Sc. colloq. Simply: a person. Sometimes depreciative. > > 1975 Sunday Times 23 Feb. (Colour Suppl.) 25/2 There’s nuthin’ but deid punters walkin’ up and doon, wi’ their beds under their airms. > 1976 Sunday Mail (Glasgow) 28 Nov. 12 (caption) Ya eejit! Ah’m talkin’ aboot thae punters inra Housa Lords…yir upper-crust So, a versatile little word. (All info from OED) ---
**Author:** ![VeronicaVanity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/74df32/32.png) [@VeronicaVanity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VeronicaVanity)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/15 "2014-06-04T19:49:08Z")
Calling someone a wanker and tosser yes means there a jerk Snog means a passionate kiss usually with tongues A punter means a customer and is usually slang as well for a prostitute using it for her/his customers Yes 999 is your 911 Lastly brilliant means what it has always meant ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/16 "2014-06-04T19:59:27Z")
I haven’t watched a lot of Doc Marten but given the curmudgeonly nature of the main character is it possible that he is using the word brilliant sarcastically? ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/17 "2014-06-04T20:37:09Z")
I first read “punter” (as customer) on the UK technology site “[The Register](http://www.theregister.co.uk/)” well over a decade ago - it’s usage clearly meant just a customer for hardware or software (if perhaps a bit over-eager for, say, the then-latest video games); no gambling implied. Wanker and Tosser as common lingo I picked up from Weebl and Bob, of course - the implications were definitely that (Weebl, mostly) was once again being an idiot and a jerk. Didn’t the sarcastic usage of “Brilliant” arrive on American Airwaves big-time with the Guinness Commericals with the “paper-cutout animation” brewmaster brothers? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/18 "2014-06-04T20:52:15Z")
Tossers and wankers are, I think, less effectual and less actually malicious than jerks or assholes (or arseholes). They are basically just useless, annoying people. Tosser has meant wanker (i.e., masturbator) to me at least since the 1960s. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/19 "2014-06-04T20:52:34Z")
> [@bryanmaguire](#): > > I haven’t watched a lot of Doc Marten but given the curmudgeonly nature of the main character is it possible that he is using the word brilliant sarcastically? Indeed, he does. Similar is the use of the word “awesome” by the younger set in the US. It can be used as a positive, or sarcastically as a negative, it’s a general purpose word! In that respect, awesome is brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045/20 "2014-06-04T21:12:37Z")
Yes, there’s a world of difference between: “Brilliant! :)” and “Brilliant! :smack:” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-words-in-code/690045.md?page=2)