Shabadoo

stolen from socalsvriders who stole from MCN 9/04

Brit-Biker Slang
by Susan Buck and Dave Searle

MOTORCYCLISTS, BEING THE fringe element that we are, might think that the language of our subculture travels the world as easily as the sun sets over the next horizon. Yet for all the universal themes within the biker world, two "English-speaking" cultures as similar as the United States of America and England are still, as wit Oscar Wilde once famously said, "two countries separated by a common language."
So, before you cross the pond, and "drop a clanger," (make an embarrassing linguistic gaffe), "gen up" (get some information) on the jargon. Then, tune up your best British biker accent and try these handy, but by no means comprehensive, translations:

Everyday Conversation
(British to American)
"Ace"-Cool.
"****"-Its usage dates back to Chaucer, but its use is somehow more rude than the American's "***" as in, "He's an ****," or "I can't be arsed" (bothered).
"Barmy"-Nuts.
"Bespoke"-Nothing to do with spokes, but means custom-made.
"Biggie"-Alternately refers to poop or an erection.
"Biscuit"-Cookie.
"Bleeding"-An alternative to the ever-popular "Bloody" (see below), as in "not bleeding likely."
"Bloody"-A swear word of great versatility. Used for emphasis, as in "bloody hell" or "not bloody likely."
"Blooming"-A less profane version of bloody, for those who choose not to swear.
"Blow Me"-Not what you might think, but a short version of "blow me down" as in you're so surprised, you could be knocked down with a feather.
"Bob's your uncle"-A wrap-up phrase used at the end of a lengthy explanation as if to say, "and that's it."
"Bodge"-A quick and dirty job, and therefore a "Bodger" is one who performs such sub-par work.
"Bollocks"-Technically means *********, but also refers to "no good" or "rubbish," as in "he's talking bollocks." However, the phrase "the dog's bollocks" is a superlative, like "the cat's meow" in the US.
"Brew"-Coffee.
"Brill"-Short for "brilliant," which is used in such an offhand fashion that it isn't "brilliant" in the American sense, merely "cool."
"Bum"-A person's rear end, but you can also "bum" (scrounge) around for some thing.
"Braces"-Suspenders.
"Grassed-off'-See "chuffed" below.
"Chuffed"-Similar to the US "pissed off."
"Cobblers"-Another variation of "bollocks."
"Codswollop"-As in a "load of codswallop" similar to baloney or BS.
"Cor"-As in "Cor blimey" a variation of "Gor blimey;" said to be a corruption of the oath "God Blind Me." Also, the phrase "Cor love a duck."
"Cracking"-Means the best (the `g' is silent, of course).
"Crumpet"-Attractive woman.
"Cuppa"-Tea, also "cha."
"Diddle"-To con or rip-off.
"Doddle"-It's a cinch, as in it's a doddle.
"Dodgy"-Something not to be trusted.
"Dog's bollocks"-Great, fantastic.
"Duff'-Junk, trash, useless.
"Fanny"-Important to get right, as Americans consider it a cute term for the female derriere, but to Brits it means the opposite
side of the anatomy.
"***"-Cigarette, or "*** end" (cigarette butt).
"Flyover"-Overpass.
"Full Monty"-Made famous by the movie of the same name, but does not refer to nudity, but simple to "going all out" or "all the way."
"Gobsmacked"-Amazed, as when you smack your gob (mouth) in amazement.
"Goolies"-Another variation of bollocks.
"Gormless"-Clueless, as in "linp's gormless," or a "total gorm."
"Honking"-Throwing up.
"Jolly"-Classic British, it means "very" as in jolly good.
"Hooter"-The horn on your bike or car, or a person's nose.
"Knackered"-Worn out.
"Knock off'-Not to copy something, but to steal it.
"Knock up"-To wake someone up or to make something from available bits and pieces, as in to knock up a play bike.
"Knockers"-Breasts.
"Lorry"-Truck, so of course, the driver is then a "lorry driver."
"Mate"-A friend, as in "me mate."
"Mug"-As in, "Chris' a bit of a mug" meaning gullible.
"Mutt's nuts" or "the Mutt's"-Another variation of dog's bollocks, meaning great.
"Naff'-Uncool or tattered.
"Nick"-To steal.
"Nosh"-Food, as in going out for a good "nosh up."
"Nut"-To head butt, a too common move at soccer riots.
"On yer bike"-A polite way to tell someone to get moving, or to **** off. But there doesn't need to be a bike present.
"Pants"-Crap (the C-word means the same as it does in the US, but is less rude in Britain), as in something is "totally pants."
"Pear shaped"-When something goes "pear shaped" it has gone awry, a disaster.
"Posh"-Fancy, high-class, deluxe.
"Potty"-Not to be found in a toilet, but means crazy or looney.
"Pukka"-Super or super fine. Also, "smashing."
"Quite"-Alone, it means absolutely, as an adjective it means very.
"Randy"-Horny.
"Rodger"-To copulate.
"Rotary"-See roundabout below.
"Roundabout"-Traffic circle. The vehicle already in the roundabout has the right of way. Once mastered, they're fun and make a lot of sense compared to stopping for lights.
"Sad"-Means the same as "naff."
"Sleeping policeman"-A speedbump, typically these are very high in Britain.
"Sod"-Another all-purpose expletive that is less offensive than others. An "old sod" is a bit of a bastard, and to tell someone to "sod off' means get lost.
"Sod's Law"-The British version of Murphy's Law, as in "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong."
"Sorted"-To fix a problem, as in get it sorted.
"SWMBO"-She who must be obeyed.
"Stonking or Stonker"-Huge, as in "a stonking wheelie."
"Suss"-To "suss out" something is to have it figured out, or have it "sussed."
"Tool"-A word for *****.
"******"-One who *****, or ***********.
"Whinge"-Whine about something. Also, whinger; one who whines.
"Wobbler"-To throw a wobbly, is to throw a tantrum.
"Wonky"-Unstable, or shaky.
"Yonks"-Ages, as in, "blimey, I haven't heard from you in yonks."

Machines & Hardware
"Aluminium"-Note the extra "i," but we'd say aluminum.
"Anchors"-Brakes.
"Articulated lorry"-A tractor/trailer truck.
"Banger"-An old car, or a sausage as in "bangers and mash" (mashed potatoes).
"Barrels"-Cylinders in an engine.
"Bomb"-Really fast when referring to performance, as in "it's a bomb" or expensive if you say something "costs a bomb."
"Bonnet"-The hood of a car.
"Blatting"-Riding or driving fast.
"Boot"-The trunk of a car.
"Bone dome"-Helmet.
"Cans"-Mufflers.
"Car park"-Usually an uncovered parking lot.
"Carburettor"-Carburetor.
"Chair"-Sidecar.
"Cheese-head screw"-A head screw.
"Combination"-Motorcycle with sidecar.
"Crash-hat"-Helmet.
"Diversion"-Detour.
"Duralumin"-A high-strength aluminum alloy, usually not specified in the US (the most common grade is 2024).
"Drophead coupe"-A convertible car.
"Estate car"-A station wagon or specially lengthened sedan.
"Ergal"-Term for an aluminum alloy.
"Fender"-A car's bumper. Are you confused yet?
"Fork Yokes"-Triple clamps.
"Gas"-What you cook with or use to heat a house, not gasoline.
"Gudgeon Pin"-Wrist pin on a piston.
"Grub screw"-Allen-head screw.
"Inconel"-Stainless steel.
"Jam sandwich"-A police car (as they are white with bright orange stripes along the sides).
"Juggernaut"-An 18-wheeler, or any large lorry (truck).
"Jumble"-a swap meet, as in an auto jumble or bike jumble.
"Kit"-One's riding gear.
"Monkey"-Sidecar passenger.
"Motorway"-A major road; freeway.
"Mudguard"-A bike's fender.
"Pavement"-Careful, it's not on the road, but the sidewalk.
"Number plate"-A license plate for the road.
"Parrafin"-Kerosene.
"Petrol"-Gasoline, found in petrol station.
"Prang"-Sounds like bent sheet metal, and refers to a dent in same or accident.
"Run-in"-Break-in, as to break in an engine.
"Panniers"-Saddlebags.
"Perspex"-Clear plastic, as in a perspex windscreen.
"Pillion"-Passenger, also "pillion pad" or seat.
"Propstand"-Kick stand. May also be called a "Jiffy stand."
"Saloon"-A saloon car is a sedan, but a saloon may also be a section of a pub.
"Shooting brake"-A station wagon for the rich, usually a woodie.
"Skid lid"-Helmet.
"Spanner"-Wrench.
"Spares"-Spare parts.
"Sparking plugs"-Sparkplugs.
"Stays"-Braces, as in mudguard stays (fender braces).
"Subway"-An underpass or road crossing, not to be confused with the "Underground" trains.
"Swinging arms"-Swingarm.
"Tappets"-Lifters.
"Tarmac"-Road surface.
"Tick-over"-Idle speed.
"Ton"-100 mph, which used to be a big deal on a motorcycle, as in "doing the ton." Nowadays, a "ton-fifty" might be more impressive. A ton is also 100 points in darts.
"Torch"-Flashlight, but the medieval origins survive.
"Visor"-Faceshield.
"Windscreen"-Windshield.
"Wing"-The fender of a car.

Bike Brand Names
These are often the familiar barnyard tags used in America, after "Beemer" (BMW); "Duck," (Ducati); "Goose," (Moto Guzzi); Hog, (Harley), which share the road with the homegrown Trumpet (Triumph) and various old-time home-built hybrids such as "Triton" (Meriden's Triumph twin in a Norton Featherbed frame), TriBSA (Triumph twin in a BSA frame), "Beezump" (BSA
engine in a Triumph frame), Norvin (Norton Featherbed frame around a Vincent V-twin).
There are too many expired British bike builders to mention, but perhaps the second most mentioned classic, after the Vincent, is the Brough Superior, Lawrence Of Arabia's final ride, which you should know is pronounced "Bruff" or "Gruff Sup" just as our own David Hough's last name is pronounced "Huff." (You're welcome, David.)

Riding (American to British)
Accident-Prang, crash, dropped it bought it, went down, stepped off, high sided, bit the road, went body surfing.
Motorcycle-Ride, scoot, wheels, bike, cycle, tool.
To ride-Go for a burn, burn up, split, shoot off, burn rubber, roll.
To prepare for a ride -Tog-up, rock 'n roll, suit up, mount up, gear up.
Tires-Tyre, rubber, hoop.
Waterproof suit-Oversuit, waterproofs, proofs, coveralls, wetgear, wets, Bellstaffs.

Cockney Rhyming Slang
If you find British slang difficult, you really don't want to know about the famous Cockney rhyming slang, which is indecipherable even to most Brits. A person can rightfully be regarded as Cockney if he or she was born within the sound of Bow bells (the bells of the Bow Church in London's East End). Developed, as the story goes, so that street vendors or petty crooks could
converse but not be effectively overheard, the Cockney slang takes the usual sarcasm and irony to extremes to create a secret language. But because most of the common two-word roots that hide the key rhyming word are unfamiliar to Americans, we'll volunteer an example: Let's say you think your female superior at work is bossy. You might say, "She's a bit Valentino." A biker will immediately think Valentino Rossi, and "bossy" is the obvious rhyming word, but only your mates will understand.

Contributors
Native Brits, Americans who have traveled repeatedly to England, and Brits who have traveled extensively in America have offered kind assistance. They are: Mark Brady (Triumph Motorcycles), Phil Perks (Pro-Street Cycles Ltd.), "Skull" Radley (British expatriot and tattoo artist in NYC), Dr. Marty Sabba (Hypnotherapist), Nick Simon (British expatriot motojournalist in NYC), Mike Sixsmith (Capital Radio Group), David Swift (New Zealander expatriot journalist in UK), and John Warr (Scientist and tinkerer). We thank you all.

marmaladedad

Wow. I'll definitely bookmark this next time I see a post from Luke. Although usually you can decipher his verbage.

mat

wheres luke been anyways haven't seen a post of his since he wrecked.