Why Are British People So Hard to Understand? 10 Essential British English Phrases You Need to Know!
Have you ever spoken to a British person and thought to yourself, What on earth are they going on about? You’ve been studying English for years, you know all the grammar, and you have a solid vocabulary, yet when you’re faced with a Brit, you feel completely lost.
Don’t worry—you’re not alone! British people have a few quirks when it comes to communication:
We don’t always say what we mean.
We can be a bit indirect and vague.
We’re overly polite to the point of confusion.
And we love using idiomatic language that doesn’t translate directly!
All of this can make British English a challenge for English learners. But don’t panic! In this post, I’ll walk you through some essential British English phrases that will help you understand Brits better—and even start using them yourself.
1. Do You Fancy…?
This phrase means Would you like to…? or Do you want…? but it’s much more common in British English than in other varieties.
✅ Examples:
Do you fancy a cup of tea?
Do you fancy going for a walk?
Do you fancy meeting up next weekend?
This phrase is great for making casual suggestions or inviting someone to do something.
2. Are You Winding Me Up?
If someone asks you this, they’re not talking about clocks! To wind someone up means to joke with them or try to annoy them on purpose.
✅ Examples:
“We have to work this Sunday.”
“Are you winding me up?!”“I won £1,000 on the lottery!”
“Are you winding me up? Are you serious?”
It’s used when something sounds unbelievable or when you suspect someone is joking.
3. I Better Make a Move
Rather than saying I’m going now (which might sound abrupt), Brits often say I better make a move. It’s a polite way to end a conversation or leave a place.
✅ Examples:
“It’s getting late—I better make a move.”
“I better get going, I’ve got an early morning tomorrow.”
4. I Could Do With…
This phrase means I need or I want something. It’s often used when talking about things that would be nice to have.
✅ Examples:
“I could do with a coffee.”
“I could do with a holiday.”
“I could do with a bigger house.”
It’s a way of expressing a desire without sounding too direct.
5. That’s a Bit Dodgy
Dodgy means suspicious, unsafe, or not quite right.
✅ Examples:
“This chicken smells a bit dodgy.” (It might be off!)
“I don’t trust that guy, he seems a bit dodgy.”
“My Wi-Fi is a bit dodgy—it keeps going on and off.”
6. Bits and Bobs
Instead of listing every small thing they need, Brits often say bits and bobs, which just means various small things.
✅ Examples:
“I need to go to the shop to pick up some bits and bobs.”
“I’m doing some bits and bobs around the house today.”
7. Have a Nose Around
This means to look around or even be a little nosy.
✅ Examples:
“I’m going to have a nose around that new shop in town.”
“I had a quick nose around his desk to see if I could find the report.”
8. That’s a Bit of a Faff
A faff is something that is annoying, time-consuming, or inconvenient.
✅ Examples:
“Organising the work Christmas party is a bit of a faff.” 🎉
“Trying to find parking in London is such a faff!” 🚗
9. I Can’t Be Bothered / I Can’t Be Arsed
If you can’t be bothered, it means you don’t feel like doing something because it’s too much effort. I can’t be arsed is a slang version of this phrase.
✅ Examples:
“I was going to go to the gym, but I can’t be bothered.”
“I can’t be arsed to cook tonight—let’s order takeaway.”
Be careful! This phrase can sound rude if used in the wrong situation.
10. “It’s All Gone Pear-Shaped”
If something goes pear-shaped, it means it has gone badly wrong!
✅ Examples:
“I planned the perfect holiday, but then my flight got cancelled, and my hotel lost my booking—it’s all gone pear-shaped!”
“The meeting went pear-shaped when the projector stopped working.”
British English is full of these little quirks that can make it tricky to understand, but once you start using these phrases, you’ll sound more natural and confident when speaking with Brits.
📥 FREE PDF Download: Want to keep these phrases handy? Download a free PDF with all the phrases from this post