So, if you're 'ready for the knacker's yard,' you're exhausted beyond relief. Something untrue - often made up for dramatic effect.Īlthough no one is completely sure of the word's origins, it could derive from the words 'cod' and 'wallop,' which historically meant 'imitation' and 'beer' respectively - implying that 'codswallop' is the kind of rubbish you make up when drunk.Ĭockney rhyming slang for 'knackered,' if you're 'cream crackered' then you're incredibly tired.Ī 'knacker' was the person that slaughtered worn-out horses in the 19th and 20th centuries for their meat, hoofs, and hide. 'Sam did a botch job on these shelves - they're wonky!' The 'boot' is the compartment at the back of the car known as the 'trunk' in American English.Ī repair job that's been completed in a hurry and will probably fall apart reasonably soon is considered a 'botch job.' 'How was the hostel?' 'Oh, nothing exciting to report. Its origins are somewhat unclear, but a 'bog' is another word for a toilet in British slang, adding to the connotations that something 'bog-standard' is unglamorous and unspecial. Something that is 'bog-standard' is completely ordinary with no frills, embellishments, or add-ons. 'Press down the clutch, put it into gear, then slowly ease off the clutch again.

This phrase is used to describe a process which seems more difficult than it actually is. The very British equivalent to 'Hey presto!' or 'Et voila!'

What does the word mischief mean