Wonder what a "butty" is (and why you'd put Branston® Pickle Relish on it?). Or why the Brits are "barmy" about
Chutneys?
Never fear, the Crosse & Blackwell glossary is here.
You'll find enlightening British terms for common
cooking ingredients, smashing ideas for entertaining
and authentic expressions to drop into your
conversations at the next dinner party.
Quick as you can say "Bob's Your Uncle," you'll be
having a blinding time.
British Expressions
Barmy – mad or crazy about something. "I'm barmy about prawns with Crosse and Blackwell Shrimp Sauce."
Blinding – fantastic! "That nosh-up was blinding!"
Bob's Your Uncle – a common phrase meaning "that's it!" "No sooner said than done."
Brill – brilliant. Used for either great ideas, or scrummy dishes.
Cheerio – goodbye! "Cheerio, luv. Thanks for having us."
Do – a fancy party. "Darling, come to my do this Friday evening."
Fancy – to desire something. "I'd fancy some Crosse & Blackwell Orange Marmalade on toast
this morning."
Him Indoors – the husband/partner. "It's time for Him Indoors to start the barbie."
Jolly – very. "I say, that Chutney Appetizer recipe is jolly good!''
Loo – the lavatory. Also known as the W.C. (the water closet). "The loo is on your left, down
the hallway!"
Luvvy Jubberly – all's well. Try it the next time someone asks, "How was your day?"
Marvy – marvelous. As in anything Crosse and Blackwell.
Naff – cheap and nasty. Never use naff ingredients and expect gourmet results.
Peckish – feeling hungry, the urge to nibble. Pass a platter of scrummy appetizers and ask
"Anyone feeling peckish?"
Taking the biscuit – outdoes everything else and cannot be bettered. It can also mean when
behavior has gone out of bounds, like when your spouse swipes the last piece of Crosse and
Blackwell Plum Pudding.
Tickety-boo – going well with no problems. You could whisper to your husband, "Honey, our little
dinner party is tickety-boo!"
Scoff – used both as a noun and a verb, food and to eat food. An excellent word to describe the
eating behaviors of most adolescents and some relatives. "John, it took me hours to prepare that
dinner. Don't just scoff it down!"
Scrummy – particularly good. "Mmm…that is scrummy!"
She Who Must Be Obeyed – the wife/partner. "I'd better check with She Who Must Be
Obeyed before I commit."
Smashing – terrific. "These biscuits are simply smashing!"
Waffle – talk on and on about nothing. Don't invite wafflers to dinner parties unless the food is
superb enough to compensate.
Wicked – trendy for excellent or cool; extend the syllables for best effect. Wick-ed!
Yob – an uncouth person. "I hope my children don't behave like yobs when Mum visits."
