British television has done more than entertain global audiences—it’s introduced millions of viewers to British slang, regional accents, and cultural expressions they’d never otherwise encounter. From the Birmingham streets of Peaky Blinders to the time-traveling adventures of Doctor Who, these shows have become unofficial English lessons. Here’s a guide to the British slang you’ve heard on screen.
Peaky Blinders: Birmingham Slang
Set in 1920s Birmingham, Peaky Blinders has introduced global audiences to both historical and Brummie slang:
Key Terms
- Peaky Blinders – The gang name, allegedly from razor blades sewn into flat caps
- By order of the Peaky Blinders – The gang’s threatening catchphrase
- Bostin’ – Excellent, brilliant (Brummie)
- Bab – Term of endearment (Brummie)
- Our kid – Brother or close friend
- Scran – Food
- Copper – Police officer
- Peelers – Police (from Robert Peel)
- Garrison – The Shelby family pub
- Rum – Strange, peculiar
Romani/Traveler Influence
The show features Romani words from the Shelby family’s heritage:
- Chavvy – Child
- Cushti – Good (also used in Cockney)
- Mush – Man
- Diklo – Scarf
Doctor Who: British Eccentricity
Doctor Who has spread British expressions through space and time:
Common Phrases
- Fantastic! – The Ninth Doctor’s catchphrase
- Brilliant! – Used by multiple Doctors
- Allons-y! – The Tenth Doctor’s “Let’s go!” (French, but British context)
- Geronimo! – The Eleventh Doctor’s exclamation
- Blimey! – Expression of surprise
- Crikey! – Expression of astonishment
- Rubbish – Nonsense or poor quality
British References
- TARDIS – Time And Relative Dimension In Space (bigger on the inside)
- Sonic screwdriver – The Doctor’s tool
- Companions – The Doctor’s traveling friends
- Regeneration – The Time Lord ability to transform
Downton Abbey: Upper-Class English
Downton Abbey introduced viewers to Edwardian and 1920s upper-class speech:
Formal Language
- “One” – Used instead of “I” or “you” (“One doesn’t do that”)
- “Rather” – Quite, somewhat (“Rather good”)
- “Frightfully” – Very (“Frightfully sorry”)
- “Awfully” – Very (“Awfully kind”)
- “Capital!” – Excellent
Servant Terminology
- Valet – Personal male servant
- Lady’s maid – Personal female servant
- Butler – Head of male household staff
- Housekeeper – Head of female household staff
- “In service” – Working as a servant
- “Below stairs” – The servants’ area
The Office (UK): Workplace Slang
Ricky Gervais’s comedy introduced cringe and British workplace culture:
Key Phrases
- “What’s occurring?” – What’s happening? (Actually from Gavin & Stacey)
- “Alright?” – General greeting
- “Mate” – Friend or colleague
- Redundancy – Being laid off
- “Having a laugh” – Joking around
- “Taking the mick/mickey” – Making fun of someone
- “Wind-up” – A joke or prank
Only Fools and Horses: Cockney Classic
This beloved sitcom spread Cockney slang across Britain:
Del Boy’s Vocabulary
- “Lovely jubbly!” – Expression of delight (became nationally popular)
- “Cushty!” – Great, fine
- “Plonker” – Idiot
- “Dipstick” – Idiot
- “Mange tout” – Del’s pretentious French (meaning “eat everything”)
- “Bonnet de douche” – Shower cap (used to sound sophisticated)
- “This time next year, we’ll be millionaires” – Del’s eternal optimism
Sherlock: Modern London
The BBC’s modern Sherlock features contemporary British slang:
- “Brilliant” – Sherlock’s frequent exclamation
- “Obviously” – Sherlock’s dismissive response
- “Bit not good” – Understated criticism
- Flatmate – Roommate (British term)
- “The game is on” – Modern take on “afoot”
Line of Duty: Police Procedural Language
This crime drama has popularised police terminology:
- “AC-12” – Anti-Corruption Unit
- “Bent copper” – Corrupt police officer
- “H” – The mysterious corrupt officer
- “OCG” – Organized Crime Group
- “UCO” – Undercover Officer
- “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” – Superintendent Hastings’ catchphrase
- “Now we’re sucking diesel” – We’re making progress (Irish expression)
- “Mother of God” – Expression of shock
Gavin & Stacey: Welsh and Essex
This comedy mixed Welsh and Essex dialects:
Nessa’s Welsh Phrases
- “What’s occurring?” – What’s happening?
- “Oh, I knows” – I know
- “Tidy” – Good, neat (Welsh slang)
Essex Slang
- “Lush” – Lovely, attractive
- “Mint” – Excellent
- “Bangin'” – Excellent
Top Boy: London Street Slang
This gritty drama showcases Multicultural London English:
- Mandem – Group of male friends
- Ting – Thing, or a girl/guy
- Bare – Very, lots
- Peng – Attractive
- Ends – Neighborhood
- Yard – Home
- Food – Drugs
- On road – Involved in street life
- Trap – Drug dealing location
The Crown: Royal and Political Language
Netflix’s royal drama features formal British English:
- “One” – The royal “we” or “I”
- “Ma’am” – How to address the Queen (rhymes with “jam”)
- “Your Majesty” – First address to the monarch
- Equerry – Royal assistant
- Lady-in-waiting – Female attendant
- “Rather” – Somewhat (upper-class usage)
Broadchurch: West Country
This crime drama features Dorset dialect:
- “Alright me babber?” – How are you? (West Country)
- “Gurt lush” – Really lovely
- “Proper job” – Well done
Impact on Global English
British TV has influenced global vocabulary by:
- Introducing regional British accents to international audiences
- Making British slang trendy in other countries
- Teaching the rhythm and patterns of British speech
- Demonstrating class distinctions in language
- Spreading British idioms and expressions
Conclusion
British television serves as an informal language course for millions of viewers worldwide. Whether it’s the Birmingham grit of Peaky Blinders, the time-traveling wit of Doctor Who, or the street slang of Top Boy, these shows don’t just entertain—they educate.
The global popularity of British TV means that expressions once confined to specific regions or social groups are now recognized internationally. When someone in Tokyo says “brilliant!” or a viewer in Brazil recognizes “lovely jubbly,” they’re demonstrating the power of television to spread language across cultures.
So next time you binge a British show, pay attention to the language. You might just pick up some new vocabulary. And that, as Del Boy would say, is cushty.
