British man asks his American girlfriend to guess the meaning of popular UK slang – but how many phrases do you know?

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  • Rya and Luke have built up a fanbase of more than 152,000 followers on TikTok
  • The couple took to the platform to compare and contrast slang in both cultures
  • It came with surprising results – but how many of the phrases do you know?

A British man has left the internet in stitches after asking his American girlfriend to guess the meaning of popular UK slang.

Rya and Luke have built up a loyal fanbase of more than 152,000 followers on TikTok thanks to their light-hearted couple videos. 

Most recently, the duo took to the platform once again to compare and contrast slang in both cultures – with surprising results.

But how many of the phrases do you know? 

Rya and Luke have built up a loyal fanbase of more than 152,000 followers on TikTok thanks to their light-hearted couple videos

Rya and Luke have built up a loyal fanbase of more than 152,000 followers on TikTok thanks to their light-hearted couple videos 

Most recently, the duo took to the platform once again to compare and contrast slang in both cultures - with surprising results
Most recently, the duo took to the platform once again to compare and contrast slang in both cultures - with surprising results

Most recently, the duo took to the platform once again to compare and contrast slang in both cultures – with surprising results 

In the original clip, which has so far been viewed more than 383,000 times, Luke wasted little time in putting Rya’s knowledge to the test.

His first example was: ‘I’m gonna see a man about a dog.’

Rya initially burst out laughing before replying: ‘That sounds like, “I’m gonna go see a doctor about my illness. I’m gonna talk to someone who knows what they’re talking about.”‘

But she was a little off the mark as Luke explained that it actually meant: ‘I’m going to go to the toilet.’

His girlfriend burst out laughing before questioning the ‘terrible’ phrasing.

She easily guessed that ‘do you fancy a cuppa?’ was asking about making a cup of tea but was stumped at the slang that followed.

‘You are such a CHAV,’ Luke posed as his next question. 

To which, Rya replied: ‘I don’t know how to describe it. Like you have a shaved head and you have saggy pants maybe and you have chains and you’re like a little grunge.

American Rya comedically guessed most of the meanings wrong, so how many can you get correct'

Rya was confused when Luke revealed that the word CHAV was actually an acronym, questioning: ‘It stands for something?’ 

@rya_and_luke

CHAV stands for something…? #american #british #phrases #uk #usa #fyp

♬ original sound – Rya_and_Luke

‘And then girls have the black eyebrows and the concealer on their lips. CHAV check.’

But she was confused when Luke revealed that the word was actually an acronym, questioning: ‘It stands for something?’

He then revealed it stands for ‘Council House And Vulgar’ – adding yet further context by telling Rya that council houses in the UK are the equivalent to the projects in the US.

And, following the widespread interest in the clip, Rya and Luke went on to share several other installments of the series.

They explained how ‘it’s gone a bit pear-shaped’ means ‘it’s gone not how we planned’ as well as revealing that ‘bog roll’ is in fact ‘toilet roll.’

Luke also dished how saying, ‘it’s absolutely choc-o-block,’ means a place is ‘rammed or busy’ – to name just a few.

REVEALED: UK slang meanings
  • I’m gonna see a man about a dog: I’m going to go to the toilet
  • Do you fancy a cuppa?: Do you want a cup of tea?
  • You’re such a CHAV: You are Council House And Vulgar
  • I’ll have a gander: I’ll have a look
  • I’m gobsmacked: I’m absolutely shocked
  • They had Hanky Panky: They made love
  • I’ll haggle with him: I’ll do a deal with him
  • It’s not my cup of tea: It’s not your thing
  • I’m doing stretch in porridge: To spend some time in prison
  • Someone called you a nitwit: You’re a little stupid i****’
  • I’m plastered: You’re hammered
  • That’s so naff: It’s not good. It’s gross
  • Get on your bike: Get out of here
  • Stop spreading porkies: Stop spreading lies
  • Shut your mush: Shut your mouth
  • I’m zonked: I’m high out of my mind
  • Stop pratting around: Stop messing around
  • I’m gonna have a kip: I’m going to have a nap
  • I’m chuffed with that: I’m really happy
  • It’s gone a bit pear-shaped: It’s gone not how we planned
  • There isn’t any bog roll: There isn’t any toilet roll
  • It’s absolutely Choc-O-Block: It’s rammed/busy
  • It’s absolutely minging: It’s smelly/gross
  • Come on, let’s leg it: Let’s run
  • They’ve got the lurgy: You are ill
  • Stap waffling: Stop yapping
  • I’m gonna skive today: I’m gonna miss school
  • I’m absolutely snookered: You don’t know what to do
  • That’s sod’s law: It’s so typical that happened
  • Toodle pip: See you later