Brits share ‘code words’ we use every day and people are frustrated

People in Britain have been revealing certain parts of their everyday language that is almost a secret code that means something completely different if you don’t understand the context.

Language is a fascinating and often confusing subject, as there are ways to speak a language, and there are ways that native speakers and people who live within that language speak it.

For example, there is a whole style used in French called ‘Verlan’ that comes from swapping the syllables of a word around to create new words.

What chance does someone who studied GCSE French have against that?

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However, while the average part-time French speaker might struggle with that, native English speakers are no different.

Over on Reddit, people have been sharing a load of ‘code words’ that are said by people in the UK that seem to mean one thing, but often mean the complete opposite.

You know the sort of thing – we’re talking about calling someone ‘mate’ when you’re angry and a ‘c***’ when they’re your friend.

That’s not specific to the UK, but it’s a good example.

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But, let’s allow the people of Reddit’s ‘Ask A Brit’ sub tell us what they reckon.

One common example was ‘I’ll let you go’, which one user explains actually means ‘I want to leave now’.

See also: ‘I won’t keep you’, ‘I’ll let you get on’, and ‘Better let you go’.

According to one user, that actually means: "I have nothing more to say to you and no longer wish to interact, now f*** off."

Another comment got a bit more specific: "Here in Wales it's ‘now in a minute’, meaning an indeterminate period of time somewhat longer than a minute.”

Other suggestions included ‘interesting idea’ actually meaning ‘what a load of s***’, and ‘I’ll think about it,’ which actually just means ‘no’.

Here’s a couple more classics from the thread...

One said: “I beg your pardon = The f*** did you just say to me, you little s***?”

“'I'll look into that' translates to 'I'm not wasting my time on that s***'”, said another.

“That’s fine [means] – that is really awful,” another commented.

“As a reply to a yes/no question: “’Yeah, no’ = no, ‘No, yeah’ = yes,” read one comment.

Told you it was confusing, didn’t we?

Still, as one person points out in the comments, there’s no greater and more all-encompassing sentence than: “Right, I’ll just put the kettle on.”

If you’re ever stuck, just go with that.

Topics: UK News, Weird

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim