Pub slang and what it means
If you are at a British pub or somebody is talking about a pub, some words might come up that you do not understand. Slang is used a lot in the UK and it can be confusing but a lot of “slang” words have made the dictionary! There are so many British slang words that are used to describe the going ons at pubs and some of these are consisted of the following.
- Watering hole – This is basically just one of many words that means “pub” or local hangout.
- Last call – The bartender or barmaid will say “last call” when the pub is almost closing. This is the last chance for you to order a drink or finish the one that you are currently drinking before closing time.
- Hammered – This word is used to describe someone who is very drunk.
- Your shout – This phrase will be directed towards you when it’s your turn to buy drinks for the rest of the group. Friends often buy in rounds at pubs and your shout is what is
said to remind somebody that it is their turn to put their hands in their pocket. - Dive – Used to describe a pub that is very shoddy or rundown either in terms of decor, vibes, clientele or a mixture of all three. “That pub was a total dive.”
- Knees up – This is used to describe a party or celebration that you could be having at a pub, for example a wedding reception. “Let’s go for a knee up!”
- Cheers – This is used when you are at the pub with friends, you all raise your glass and “cheers” one another. This a basically a way to wish each other a good evening.
In conclusion, whether you are not native to the UK or you just want a reminder of some thoroughly British pub slang words, here you have it. You will not find people who speak like this everywhere, especially if the clientele is primarily younger. It’s nice to be informed of different traditions however and pub slang words are traditions of sort. Next time you are out and about on the pub scene, use some of these words and you are sure to fit right in