I was walking along the South Bank in London the other day with my client and home stay student, Martine when I realised that there were more foreign languages being spoken than the English language! Of course, the summer season has started which means that London will be one of the most visited cities by foreign tourists and learners of English on full immersion courses.
前几天，我同客户还有寄宿学生马丁一起沿着伦敦南岸大学散步时，我们发现说外语的人比说英语的人还要多!当然，暑假来了，这就意味着伦敦将会是众多外国游客和全身心投入英语课程的学习者们会经常拜访的城市之一。
If you are one of these tourists or learners, you are very likely going to hear plenty of British slang spoken in pubs, restaurants, public transport and on the television. So, it would be no bad thing to familiarise yourself with some of these colourful expressions. These expressions are typically British slang and are used in spoken language and informally.
如果你是众多游客或者学习者中的一员，你很有可能在酒店、餐馆、公共交通场所和电视上听到大量的英式俚语。因此，熟悉这些生动的表达对你来说有益无害。这些表达都是很典型的英式俚语，通常用于口语和非正式场合。
1. Au fait – this is an example of a French expression that has become part of the English Language. It means to have good detailed knowledge of something. (This is not slang but a very British English expression.)
Au fait –这本来是法语短语，现在成了英语中的一部分。它的意思是对某事物有非常细致的了解。(它不是俚语却是非常地道的英式表达)
“She is au fait with the company’s rules and regulations.”
她对公司的规章制度熟悉，了然于心。
2. Blinding – if something is blinding, it means that it’s excellent.
Blingding—如果某事物是亮瞎眼的，它的意思就是非常棒、非常出色。
“She makes a blinding roast dinner”
“她做了一顿很棒的美味无比的烧烤晚餐。”
3. Bugger all – if you’ve got bugger all for dinner, it means you have nothing. (This is an impolite expression so use it with caution)
Bugger all –如果你说晚餐吃个屁，那就是说你什么也没有。(这种表达十分不礼貌需慎用)
“I worked 7 hours on that job and I got bugger all thanks for my efforts”.
“我花了七个小时处理那项工作，但我的努力却连个谢谢都没捞到。”
4. Cock Up – This can be used as a verb or a noun and it means to make a serious mistake or a mistake. (It has nothing to do with male parts!)
Cock Up –这个俚语既可用作动词也可用作名词，它的意思是犯了很严重的错误或犯错误。(这个表达跟男性器官毫无关系。)
“You really cocked up this time. What are you going to do?”
“这次真是搞得一团糟，你想干什么?”
5. Donkeys’ years – a long time or ages
Donkeys’ years –很久很久，好多年。
“It was so great to see Sally again. I hadn’t seen her in donkey’s years.”
“非常高兴再次见到萨利，我好多年没有见到她了。”
6. Gobsmacked - “Gob” is mouth is British English and if you smack it, you probably would do it because you are amazed or shocked.
Gobsmacked –“Gob”是嘴巴的意思，是英式英语，如果你用这个表达“smack it”因为你被震惊到了，所以你可能会张大嘴巴。
“I was gobsmacked by how much weight Pete had lost”.
“皮特瘦了这么多，真让我太吃惊了!”
