Brits and Americans dress the same, eat at the same chain restaurants, pass music back and forth across the Atlantic, and our national leaders are practically conjoined twins. But the second the Brits open their mouths, all bets are off. So don’t dream of visiting the UK, dating a Brit, or truly understanding what Jude Law is saying without this handy, hilarious, and informative guide to Britspeak. With the cheekiness of Austin Powers and the tidbit quotient of Schott’s Miscellany, screenwriter Jonathan Bernstein’s collection of Cockney rhyming slang, insults culled from British television shows of yore, and regional and “high British” favorites provides hours of educational, enlightening, even life saving hilarity. And if it doesn’t accomplish that, at least you’ll be aware that when a British citizen describes you as a “wally,” a “herbert,” a “spanner,” or a “bampot,” he’s not showering you with compliments. Knickers in a Twist is as indispensable as a London city guide, as spot-on funny as an episode of The Office, and as edifying as Born to Kvetch and Eats, Shoots and Leaves.
Knickers in a Twist
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Fans of Bernstein's Guardian column in the UK will be well-acquainted with his trenchant wit - on brilliant display here, too, as he tackles a potentially unwieldy subject. Where most dictionaries of this type are poorly written and dry as dust, "Knickers" handles both the well-known (e.g. the title) and the obscure (too many examples to list) linguistic peculiarities of the Queen's English with style. A must for Anglophiles and a rare treat for the casual reader and/or traveler.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very well compiled and concise collection of British slang and colloquial expressions that seemingly date back two hundred years. However a good fifty percent are more common to the last forty years and probably another thirty percent are the last fifteen to a close ten. While this tome might be devoid of the more obscure statements like: "Jimmy Hill", no one's going to notice or fault the compilers for it.
This is a good writers reference for anyone on the island or across the pond. Anyone interested in seeking other quality slang reference books can look here:
1. The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary
2. The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms
3. Urban Dictionary: Street Slang Defined
4. Depraved and Insulting English
5. The Highly Selective Dictionary For The Extraordinarily Literate
6. The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions
7. How Not To Say What You Mean: A Dictionary of Euphemisms
Got that, Gaffer? Cheers, me old son!
This is a good writers reference for anyone on the island or across the pond. Anyone interested in seeking other quality slang reference books can look here:
1. The Unabridged Devil's Dictionary
2. The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms
3. Urban Dictionary: Street Slang Defined
4. Depraved and Insulting English
5. The Highly Selective Dictionary For The Extraordinarily Literate
6. The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions
7. How Not To Say What You Mean: A Dictionary of Euphemisms
Got that, Gaffer? Cheers, me old son!
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Sam
Format:Paperback
I am completely, and utterly in love with England, every single aspect of it is lovely. I was surprised that a book on British Slang was out, I went out and bought it the very next day. As soon as I got home I stuffed it into my bag for school the next day. During one class when I had finished my work earlier I decided to open this book up, what a horrible decision! This book was absolutely hilarious! Which was bad since the rest of the class was finishing a test, and I had to leave the room to get rid of my laughter.
Now I use these terms all over the school that leaves other students stare at me with bewilderment. It's great to know terms that others are not familiar with.
Now I use these terms all over the school that leaves other students stare at me with bewilderment. It's great to know terms that others are not familiar with.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Too Funny!
Loved this little book! Funny but so true! Made me miss England!
Great to have if it is your first visit to the UK!
Great to have if it is your first visit to the UK!
Published 14 days ago by D. Jenkins
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very nice to have
I have to say this book has most of the slang, I was a little disappointed when reading the book from beginning to end to know that they didn't have some of the slang. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Dreamofangel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great buy
I bought this for my daughter for a birthday present and she absolutely loves it. It came in great condition. Fun find.
Published 19 days ago by Deborah Adams
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny, but sparse
As a freelance copy editor, I bought this as a reference book. It's funny, but sparse for a reference book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Susan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesing
Bought this book because my boyfriend and I started watching Ramsey's Nightmare Kitchen on Netflix and wanted to know what exactly phrases like "gone pear shaped" meant and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kara
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very funny
This book also had a lot of positive reviews. We sat for an hour reading specific slang... Hopefully the daughter can stay out of trouble!
Published 4 months ago by sharon roesch
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Knickers" a must for every Brit.
What more can I say except that I have been having a "ball" reviewing all
the expressions and definitions I learned as a child from my wonderful
English... Read more
the expressions and definitions I learned as a child from my wonderful
English... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Althea Corey
2.0 out of 5 stars
Bad Book
Totally stupid the way the book is laid out. Impossible to find any specific references unless willing to read the entire book , which will quickly bore you. Read more
Published 4 months ago by RUSTY LEE LINDSEY
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is a bloody great book.
I'm an American from Rhode Island. I know a really hot girl from the UK, so I needed this book to be able to properly communicate with her (lol)
Published 5 months ago by Bose Sucks
1.0 out of 5 stars
Book written in a weekend while pissed
This was one of the biggest disappointments in my reading life. I love British TV and humour, so have gone all out on books about social history and culture. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Kathleen Calaway
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 7
books:
See all 7 books this book cites
- Northern Ireland by Joseph Thompson on page 124
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess on page 101
- Enter the Saint (Classic Thrillers) by Leslie Charteris on page 63
- Puss in Boots: Play (Acting Edition) by Conrad Carter on page 175
- Strictly Come Dancing: The Official Behind-the-Scenes Guide to the Hit TV Series by Bruce Forsyth on page 16
See all 7 books this book cites
