The Best British Idioms and Slang with T and W and Z

Take the biscuit = elvinni a pálmát

If someone has done something highly irritating or surprising in an exasperating fashion, you might say that they’ve “taken the biscuit.”

“Taking the biscuit” is the equivalent of taking the non-existent medal for foolishness or incredulity.

“I could just about deal with the dog barking at 5:30a.m., but the lawnmower at 3 a.m. really takes the biscuit.” – Azt még csak elviselném, hogy hajnali fél 6-kor ugat a kutya, de a fűnyíró hajnali 3-kor viszi el igazán a pálmát.

Take the Mickey = szívatni valakit, szórakozni valakivel

To “take the Mickey” means to take liberties at the expense of others — and can be used in both a light-hearted and an irritated fashion.

“Take the Mickey” is an abbreviation of “taking the Mickey Bliss,” which is Cockney rhyming slang for “take the piss.”

“Hey! Don’t take the Mickey.” – Hé, ne szívass már!

Tickety-boo = rendben van, helyénvaló

Something that is “tickety-boo” is satisfactory and in good order.

This classic British idiom may seem stereotypically twee, however, some sources believe that “tickety-boo” in fact derives from the Hindu phrase “ṭhīk hai, bābū,” meaning “it’s alright, sir.”

“Everything’s tickety-boo.” – Minden tökéletesen rendben van.

Waffle = mellébeszélni

When someone makes a great speech while skirting around a subject or saying little of any value, you might say that they’re talking “waffle,” or that they’re “waffling.”

In the 17th century, to “waff” went to yelp, and quickly evolved to mean to talk foolishly or indecisively.

“I wish he’d stop waffling on.” – Bárcsak abbahagyná a mellébeszélést!

“What a load of waffle!” – Micsoda nagy rakás mellébeszélés!

Wally = inkompetens, béna

Someone silly or incompetent might be described as a wally.

Although its origins are largely debated, the term’s meaning has evolved over the last 50 years alone.

In the 1960s, someone that was unfashionable might be nicknamed a “wally,” according to dictionary.com.

“Don’t put down a leaking mug on top of the newspaper, you wally!” – Ne tedd rá a szivárgó bögrét az újságra, te béna!

Wangle = kibulizni, kiügyeskedni, umbuldázni

If you’ve “wangled” something, you’ve accomplished or attained something through cunning means.

“I wangled some first-class seats by being nice to the cabin crew!” – Kibuliztam pár elsőosztályú helyet a légiutaskísérőknél.

Whinge =nyafogni, nyavalyogni, nyávogni, siránkozni

To “whinge” means to moan, groan, and complain in an irritating or whiney fashion.

“Quit whinging.” – Fejezd be a nyavalygást!

Wind your neck in = a maga dolgával törődni, nem ütni bele az orrát valamibe

If you want to tell someone to not concern themselves with issues that don’t directly affect them, you might tell them to “wind their neck in.”

This classic phrase is another way of telling someone that their opinion is not appreciated in the given scenario.

“Wind your neck in and stop being so nosy!” – Törődj a magad dolgával, nem kell mindenbe belefolynod!

Wind-up merchant = provokatőr, aki élvezi, hogy vitát szíthat, és hogy mindenkiből hülyét csinál

Someone that makes comments just to spark controversy or argument might be labelled a “wind-up merchant.”

The “wind-up merchant” will often claim to be making their comments as a light-hearted jest when the recipients start becoming irritated.

If you’re “winding someone up,” you’re making them tense or irritated in the same way you wind up a Jack-in-the-box before it pops.

“Stop being such a wind-up merchant and be serious for one second!” – Ne provokálj folyton, komolyodj már el egy kicsit!

Zonked = fáradt, kimerült, holtfáradt

Exhausted; tired.

“I was going to go out tonight but when I finished work I was absolutely zonked.” – Úgy volt, hogy elmegyek ma este szórakozni valahová, de munka után már holtfáradt voltam.