# \[UK\] Slang question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641 "2004-06-10T14:38:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/1 "2004-06-10T14:38:59Z")
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3788395.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3788395.stm) From the above article, bolding mine: > [@](#): > > A hard drive containing sensitive information on one of Europe’s largest financial services groups has been purchased on an internet auction site for just a **fiver**. I was always under the impression that the term “fiver”, referring to a five pound note, was slang. Is it now considered “proper” so to speak, or is it a mistake by the journalist? When did “fiver” cease being slang? ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/2 "2004-06-10T14:51:24Z")
It _is_ slang, but it’s in such common use that I wouldn’t have raised my eyebrows. Now, if he’d said ‘purchased for a _Lady Godiva_’, that’d be a different story. ---
**Author:** ![Kymodoce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8797f3/32.png) [@Kymodoce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kymodoce)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/3 "2004-06-10T14:54:13Z")
Not to mention for a Pony (£25) or a Monkey (£500)… ---
**Author:** ![Kymodoce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8797f3/32.png) [@Kymodoce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kymodoce)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/4 "2004-06-10T14:55:27Z")
Xerxes…666 posts _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/5 "2004-06-10T15:02:14Z")
😉 ---
**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 10, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/6 "2004-06-10T15:40:48Z")
The term _fiver_ in this sort of context just means five pounds; not specifically a five pound note, in the same way that _quid_ means one pound; the amount, not explicitly the coin itself. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/7 "2004-06-10T15:45:02Z")
Is this also true in the US and Australia/New Zealand of £5? I have seen that the term appears to be in common useage but is it similarly applied to the value rather than the actual banknote. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/8 "2004-06-10T15:46:11Z")
> [@Myglaren](#): > > Is this also true in the US and Australia/New Zealand of £5? > > I have seen that the term appears to be in common useage but is it similarly applied to the value rather than the actual banknote. Should have been $5, of course! ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/9 "2004-06-10T15:56:59Z")
I agree with what has already been said. In addition to that I’d WAG that the journo used “a fiver” rather than five pounds to emphasise the cheapness. It has got that market stall “three for a fiver” kind of feel to it. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/10 "2004-06-10T16:10:51Z")
A fiver, by way of its informality, _sounds_ cheaper than Five Pounds. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/11 "2004-06-10T17:14:18Z")
yes, I agree witih others: “fiver” does have a rather un-BBC ring to it, but I suspect it was used to give that “bargain from a dubious market stall” idea. Mind you, I’d like to buy _any_ hard disk for a fiver!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/12 "2004-06-11T02:55:38Z")
A $5 note in the US is a _fin,_ but that’s not heard much anymore. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/13 "2004-06-11T07:34:38Z")
> [@+MDI](#): > > I was always under the impression that the term “fiver”, referring to a five pound note, was slang. Is it now considered “proper” so to speak, or is it a mistake by the journalist? When did “fiver” cease being slang? A more pertinent question is: wherever did you get the idea that a journalist wouldn’t use slang? Do **COR! WOTTA SCORCHER!** , **UP YOURS, DELORES** and **GOTCHA!** mean nothing to you? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/14 "2004-06-11T07:44:13Z")
> [@Myglaren](#): > > Is this also true in the US and Australia/New Zealand of £5? > > I have seen that the term appears to be in common useage but is it similarly applied to the value rather than the actual banknote. I’ve never heard the term “fiver” used to describe the five dollar note here in Australia. We don’t really have any currency-related terms akin to those in the UK, or indeed the USA (dimes, nickels). We just use mundane terms like five dollar note, twenty cent piece etc. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/15 "2004-06-11T09:59:05Z")
A yard is $100 (got that from a pawn-shop employee, gotta be authentic) and “1 large” is $1000. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/16 "2004-06-11T09:59:15Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > I’ve never heard the term “fiver” used to describe the five dollar note here in Australia. We don’t really have any currency-related terms akin to those in the UK, or indeed the USA (dimes, nickels). We just use mundane terms like five dollar note, twenty cent piece etc. You need to get out more, **Cunctator**. A twenty cent piece will always be two bob to me and I was born after 1970. See also; tenner, lobster, pineapple. I’m sure there are others. I’ve been trying to spread ‘pavarotti’ as slang for a tenner but I’m not having any luck. My grandfather used to call a five cent piece a zac, but even I wouldn’t go that far. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/17 "2004-06-14T01:01:55Z")
> [@cabdude](#): > > You need to get out more, **Cunctator**. A twenty cent piece will always be two bob to me and I was born after 1970. See also; tenner, lobster, pineapple. I’m sure there are others. I’ve been trying to spread ‘pavarotti’ as slang for a tenner but I’m not having any luck. > > My grandfather used to call a five cent piece a zac, but even I wouldn’t go that far. \*\*cabdude \*\* - I think I get out a reasonable bit 🙂 But apart from the term “two bob”, which I remember my grandmother, who’s been dead for over twenty years, occasionally using, I’ve never heard any of those other terms you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/18 "2004-06-14T04:26:02Z")
If you said “fiver” in the US to mean a five dollar bill I think your meaning would be perfectly clear, but I don’t think anybody really says that. “Fin” is archaic. “A five” for the bill or “five bucks” for five dollars of any form would probably be current usage. “Large” means any number of thousands, not just one - “twenty large” or “twelve large” or whatever is common in Mafia movies. Ditto “grand”, but that has a much less underworldly connotation. A “sawbuck” is a hundred, and many bills may be referenced by the portrait on them (“Have you met my friend Mr. Jackson?” is a stereotypically cheesy way to duke somebody a 20 in order to get, say, a good table at a restaurant.) My dad and other people of his generation say “two bits” for a quarter (25 cents, to those from elsewhere) which I’ve never understood. Is a “bit” then 12 and a half cents? Doubtful. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/19 "2004-06-14T04:45:07Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > …A “sawbuck” is a hundred,… A sawbuck is actually a $10. And a double saw would be a twenty. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641/20 "2004-06-14T12:31:23Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > My dad and other people of his generation say “two bits” for a quarter (25 cents, to those from elsewhere) which I’ve never understood. Is a “bit” then 12 and a half cents? Doubtful. I think the ‘two bits’ thing is very old indeed. Someone may well contradict me here but a spanish dollar, a common form of currency in the US during colonial times, would be broken into eight bits, hence ‘pieces of eight.’ Two bits was a quarter or 25 cents. [US mint](http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/mint_history/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=Dollars) [Origin of Dollar Sign](http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifrdllrsgnntsbymr.shtml) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-slang-question/249641.md?page=2)