London Lingo

Well, we've been here almost two months, and you'll be happy to know that I have not begun to affect an English accent. I thought I might, because I've always been something of a language chameleon - everywhere I've lived, I begin to take on the local accent. I blend in like a native, ya'll.
Here I am fascinated by the way people talk. There are many accents here - several different kinds of English ones, plus Irish and Scottish. Of course, as soon as I open my mouth, they can tell I'm no native. People always want to know where in America I am from, and very often people tell me how much they love America and where they've been if they've visited. I haven't met anyone who has been to North Carolina, but many people have said they've been to LA - and I'm guessing they don't mean Lower Alabama.
One of the things I love is the expressions I hear. You really pick those up by watching TV. We don't watch a lot but sometimes we have the TV on, and we get involved in whatever's on. Here are a few expressions we've picked up through television and just talking to people - and their American equivalents:

Brilliant - wonderful, great, fabulous - I had a brilliant time last night.
Cracking - superior - I love to eat there; they have a cracking burger.
Taking a piss - kidding, teasing - Is that true, or are you taking a pis?
Nip - Run out to - I think I'll nip to the store
Jab - Shot - Have you had a flu jab this winter?
Festive period - The Christmas holidays
Holiday - Vacation - Where are you going on holiday?
To let - To rent - They have an apartment to let.
Lettings - real estate listings. Have you seen the lettings at Pearl and Coutts?
Peckish - Hungry for a snack. I had lunch a few hours ago, but I'm feeling peckish.
Nick - Steal - Watch your bag; someone might nick it.
Till - Cash register - Pay at the till.
Queue - Line up. We had to wait in a queue at the box office.
Cinema - movie theater.
Scheme - Plan or program, not negative or devious. Have you signed up for the loyalty scheme at Boots?
Jumper - Sweater
Lorry - Truck
Alight - Get off - Alight here for Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey, etc ... (heard often on the Tube)
Bags of _________. Lots of something. I saw a newspaper story that said "Prince Harry has bags of personality."
Cling film - Saran or plastic wrap.
Bin - trashcan
Rubbish - Trash, but also something bad. I need to learn to cook - I'm just rubbish in the kitchen.
Washing-up liquid - Dishwashing detergent.
Nutter - crazy person - He's a real nutter.
Barking nutter - A really crazy person - He's a barking nutter, that one.
Telly - Television. And they usually don't say "the" in front of it. "Think I'll watch telly tonight."
Dodgy - Suspect, unreliable, questionable. We've had that chicken since Sunday - it may be a bit dodgy by now.
Barmy - Confused, mixed-up. I can't remember; you know, I'm a bit barmy.
Mince - Ground meat. There's beef mince, pork mince and lamb mince.
Brolly - Umbrella
Pram - Baby stroller
Dead - Extremely, very. He's dead handsome. In this area, you have to drive dead slow.
Mac - Raincoat.
Advert - advertisement
Close - cul de sac I live on St. Luke's Close.
Nappy - Diaper

We leave first thing tomorrow for Brussels. We'll tell you all about it when we return!