Talk Like a Brit

I've been meaning for awhile to do a post on British words and phrases that I've come to love while living here. Some of them I've become accustomed to using, but others I just appreciate upon hearing them, knowing that as much as I wish I had a British accent, there are certain things that would sound a little ridiculous out of the mouth of an American.

So here they are, in no particular order:

1. Cheers - This isn't 'cheers' in the American sense of when you're toasting someone, but as in another way to say thanks. For example: to a bartender when they hand you change, when someone holds the door for you, etc. (Note: can be combined with the friendly term 'mate,' but this is only acceptable if you're actually British.)

2. Brilliant - The wide range of applicability of this word in Britain is what gets me. Basically like their version of awesome--where we ('we' meaning Americans) would say something is awesome, they say brilliant. (e.g., 'That Rolling Stones concert was brilliant!'--on a totally unrelated note, I'm going to be going to a Rolling Stones Concert in Hyde Park this summer. No big deal.)

3. Rubbish - This is basically the exact opposite of 'brilliant.' (e.g., 'The Twilight films are just complete rubbish.')

4. Lost the plot - I really love this phrase and have taken to using it wherever applicable. (e.g., 'We were having a great political discussion at the pub but we lost the plot after a few pints.')

5. Proper - Used slightly differently than back in the States, it is basically interchangeable with the word 'really,' but has a slightly different feel. As in, 'It was his stag night [British version of bachelor party] so of course he was proper drunk.'

6. Posh - Of course Americans use this one as well but it's applied to a lot more situations here. And what's more posh than British people? Particularly applicable to pretty much everything and everyone located in Chelsea, South Kensington, the Hyde Park area, etc. And completely not applicable to...let's say, where I live.

And of course, all of the above sound a lot more charming when said in a British accent which, despite my sincerest hopes, I have yet to develop.