|  | The Collins English Dictionary is looking for dialect words from Manchester to include in its latest edition as part of a regional campaign to keep local language alive.
What a bazzin' book! |
Andrew Holmes, a lexicographer from Harper Collins, says: "Obviously we do have lots of dialect words but they tend to be from the past, like keks, nowt, and owt".
"So what we're looking for are ones that have been coined more recently or ones that are more obscure."
We've had already loads of sound suggestions. So, if you want to know what bingowings or cludgy mean.. then see more Manc words >>>
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From Mike in Wigan
Gennel - a passage between houses (as opposed to ginnel)
Scoop, sherbet-alcoholic drink
nodders-condoms
Chip muffin? NO! Chip Barm (Muffins are a different thing altogether like the choc chip variety!)
Brew-cup of tea
Dibble-police (as in Officer Dibble from Top Cat)
Whats with all the ryming slang? Surly it's Cockney and not Mancunian?
From Dave Mac in Chorlton
Skrieking: Crying
Obstropolous: Awkward, stroppy. This is a great manc word, everyone knows what it means but you wont find it in any dictionary. A mancunian corruption of obstreperous.
Ginnel: A passage through a house.
From Freda Hulse in Georgetown
What are ya skenning at,(meaning what are you looking at)
shut ya gob(shut up)
From Tom in Canberra
Put't'wood i't'th'ole, tha clothead! it's reet parky in here!
From Sue in manchester
Out of order = not the done thing
Bang out of order = very much not the done thing
seeing your backside = getting annoyed (also seeing your arse)
From Harold Wood in manchester
slopstone "the sink"
Ginnel- Alleyway between houses.
From Moonie in Midlands -Ex Blackley/Langley
Kak - rubbish Flix - the pictures ( cinema )
Alleys and Dobbers - marbles
Playing Walley - kicking a football against the wall
Sharabang - a coach
Or what ? - half the sentences used to end in 'or what ?'.
And we never called it Manchester -it was 'Manny' - are you going down Manny, or what ?
From Bobz in Salford
bang on/bangin - exceedingly good
napper - head (ur doin me napper in - you are annoying/frustrating me)
scrote(s) - undesirable collection of youths, usually with mischief in mind (in full 'scrote' regalia)
lamp/one arra/spark out - to render someone unconscious with one blow (what a lovely town, most of the phrases are related to violence! lol)
bag of - not very good quality (body waste reference)
leathered/steamin/ratted - inebriated
smashed/'ammered/wrecked - rather high on narcotics (usu. cannabis)
From - Kerry in Manchester
Hankin Marvin - means I'm starvin!
Suckin face - to snog (not sure whether this is manc- I say this alot!)
Ruby Murry - to go for a curry
Joe - taxi
Put me slap on - to put make up on
Troppin off/copping off - to suck face with a nice gentleman
Yer wot? - excuse me?
Off yer trolley/smashed - totally intoxicated
Round our way - near where we live
Squeeze - attractive person of the opposite sex
Wrong on - my fav of the moment from my mate - means an idiot/ stupid person
Freda Hulse in Australia
I have heard many of these words I am Manchester born and bred now in australia,what about the word "decka" meaning to have a look at something.
From Alan Shard in West Vancouver, Canada
'payseg'a kid that keeps bothering you
From big baz in wardle
take a chill pill man = calm down
From Goldie
I think you all should know that 1)Cock means (not a bird) but a penis OR a stupid person. 2) ee-ya means hey you. 3) being THE DON means you are a respected person Big up 2 da manny crew massiv!!!
From joe in Tameside
Ecky thump! I'l go to foot of t'stairs, does tha not know tis only a butty with one slice of buttered bread, tha needs two slices for a sandwich!
From M Carson in Stockport
Nowty - grumpy
Mingey - (pronounced minGEE - mean)
Is it 'eckers like - Nothing like
From Blue in mcr
Why has nobody put Mithered ?.To be hassled i.e utd were well mithered after City took 4 points of 'em.
From Portia in Knutsford
Champers - Slang word for champagne that my pals and I like to sling around when we're out. Champagne can also be referred to as 'Shampoo' which always causes a giggle.
From mo in manchester
Wupding - means an idiot or someone who is not very bright or intelligent.
From - lisa in Manchester
Spanner- someone thick
From - ste in Salford
heres a few
Doggun (noun) - corruption of Dog 'n' Bone (phone)
Scrotes - i.e. scallies hangin round on corners
Mint - meanin Dead Good
Fished (adj) - soggy end of a cig "let's have a go on that" - meaning for example "can i have a drag of your cigarette"
Cocknobber - idiot
Goomber - clumsy person
skinheads on rafts - beans on toast
Mad as Toast - crazy
Bagpuss Shotgun - first one who says it can go in the passenger seat rather than cramped up in the back of a car
Rank - dirty/disgusting
twenny deck - pask of twenty cigs
One bell - meanin to one bell someone i.e. punch someone once with a good shot. So good a fight usually consists of that one punch! Or - one hammered
one tens (110s) - trainers that cost £110. (only this amount can be used though not '90s' or '150s')
From - Mrs J in Eccles, Gtr Manchester
Got a right cob on = annoyed
From - KJ in Eccles, M/ch
Gone manky = gone off;
sweating cobbs = really hot
From - elaine in stockport
stop "mithering" me!/meaning stop bugging me to do something.
"tops!" or "top one!"
From - James in M/cr, UK
Scroats (pl.) - group of dodgy looking youths up to no good. Usually in familiar "street" wear.
From - Kaz in Eccles, Manchester
When I want my kids to go to bed I say 'right, up the dancers'.
''ash' = type of hotpot.
'Skids' = knickers/underpants.
'On't blower' = on the telephone.
From mark ashworth in Atlanta,Ga.Usa(Formerly of Eccles)
Biz=No good.
Naf=Nufin.
Waggin it=an occasional day off school.
From Jane Lorenz in Frankfurt
I remember quite a few of the words already mentioned..
ginnel:alleyway
give over:stop it
nippers:kids
kippered:exhausted
bog:loo
nowt:nothing
butty:sandwich
From Tommi Jaszczun in Kettering, Northnts
a know most of these words with being born in manchester but the best one has to be butties
From Gary Pennington in Stockport
Using your swede means using ones head,or can be referred to as 'bonce'.
Other sayings are'as tight as a gnats chuff' meaning a person is less than generous with his/her funds.
'Daughter' is a word referring to the beauty of a lady/girl.
From Ziggy in manchester
zig meaning quick snog
zigging meaning long snog
zig a zig meaning sexual relations!
From bobby in stretford
BUM/sexy
From emma in Manchester
Sup up - as in drink up!
From rob in m/c
ginnel=side alleyway between houses
does anyone else say dark sauce instead of brown sauce?
From sarah b in altrincham
i was on my way home from the derby on sunday, i got the met and there was this (Kappa Slapper) Man City fan, a little younger than me, (i'm 17 and a red) and she was mouthin' off, and when she got a bit of a response off a few reds she started tellin' her mate on the phone that "the reds on the met are 'avin a giraffe!"
From sarah b in altrincham
whan saying 'manchester', mancs tend to say 'are' at the end. in fact it sounds like 'star' but a really strong abrupt sound. However this is usually how scallies talk, for example on a met platform: "Eee rrr, youz goin town tonight? Narrr, i aint got enuff money to go manchestaaar
From Lou in Ashton
Yer daft apoth - you silly thing
Can i scav a fag? - Borrow a ciggie
'ang about - Wait a moment
I'm gaspin' for a fag - Desperate for nicotine
He's got a cob on - He's upset
Coppin' off - having a snog
Scally - a naughty Manc
Skanky - disgusting
Well 'angin - Very disgusting
Cop a load o' this - have a look
He's well fit - He's handsome
Give over - Oh, stop it
From corinne in Toronto, Canada
What about "granch" to crunch i.e hard toffees or we used to say in our house "smothercate", a mixture of smother & suffocate
From Karron in Middleton, Manchester
peckin' mi ed - as in "doing my head in"
smokin' - as in "good"
am tellin' ya - as in "I agree"
bangin' - as in "good"
trolleys - pants, trousers, underwear
in a bit - as in "bye, see you later"
I'll be back when I can think of some more! Laterzzzzzz!
From Ashley in Stockport
Scran = food / snack
Telling chinnies = telling lies
From panjo in sale
raz- you say this if you are surprised or amazed at something, insteqad of saying 'wow'
From - Jim Ennis in macclesfield,uk
Gorton Tank=Bank
Chad~referring to a womans behind
Soft Mick~as in you've had more of something than Soft Mick
My Nan who is from Gorton used to say if you were crying that you are crying like"Piffy"
A Ruby is a curry as in Ruby Murray
Orchestras = Balls as in orchestra stalls
From lisa in Hamburg, Germany
Scally = rockport boot wearing youth with "trackie bottoms" and a big coat, the brighter the better. Recreational activities include "twoccing" (taking without owners consent) and generally avoiding "lock up" i.e prison.
From - Zoe P in Stockport
SNAPPERS - UNDERPANTS
NIPPERS - KIDS
A ROUND OF TOAST - PEICE OF TOAST
ARE KID - BROTHER OR SISTER
TANNING - DOING SOMETHING REALLY FAST LIKE ITS NO HASSLE eg " My gran well Tans her cigs"
PURE - when somethings really good
PEACH - ACE !
NO SHARES - I think this was a Heaton Norris thing when you see a dead cool car - like a porshe you shout "No Shares" and its like its yours, you ahve to be the first one to shout it out. We did this on the Bullocks coach on the way to Reddish Baths when we were kids.
From Brian Davies in Wigan
Bobbins - no good
From kelly red, manchester
lovin it
From John, Stockport
I'll ave a gill. - half a pint please.
From Brian, Blackley
Go and have a "burst on your banjo" = to let off steam, let your hair down.
From Sarah, Denton
On the lash = Having a "few" alcoholic beverages
From Dan the Bell in Manchester
Swear down man. Manc term for 'honestly'
From Scott in Manchester
I will leather you - pronounced "I'll levor yoh"
From Andy Upshall, Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester.
kippered=tired, peppered=no money, clempt=hungry, chauv=to annoy someone, lothered=sweating, gradely folk=nice people, and at a chippy in walkden I heard a bloke say, babbies yed and pey wet un a smack bottom= steak pudding and pea juice and a scollop(potato fritter) and an oven bottom(large flat barmcake).
From Andy Upshall in Horwich, Bolton
kippered=tired,
peppered=no money,
clempt=hungry,
chauv=to annoy someone, lothered=sweating,
gradely folk=nice people,
and at a chippy in walkden I heard a bloke say: "babbies yed and pey wet un a smack bottom" = steak pudding and pea juice and a scollop(potato fritter) and an oven bottom(large flat barmcake).
From H, Sale
SKUDS Underpants
SARNIE Sandwiche
BAZZIN' Quite good
From Marie, Old Trafford
OZZY: means sex God, used alot in my primary school to describe the best looking lad,ahhhhh, the memories.
From Anon
Kop off, Box off, Score - to get lucky with a guy/girl...
From Anon
Dinner medals... food stains on clothing after a meal.
From kathy
'nowt fer noseys' = mind your own business!
From jill finan, altrincham
finny- the biggest loser
From Laura Finn, Flixtom. Manchester
MANKY:Used to describe something that is dirty or horrible.
From Dean, Warrington
'quality' and 'mint' for anything thats decent. Also 'can't be mithered' when you can't be bothered.
From kate in trafford
'bagsy' - I want it! cartin' - carry something round or- 'lugging' - carry something, or 'lugs' can be ears as in lug holes....
From Brian Collier in Oldham
Numpty/Meaning Fool,Idiot
From David Email Address
Your Yitten...means your scared or yellow
From Gary in Urmston
doin' me swede...doing one's head in
From Andy in stockport
a right bobby dazzler...stunner
since adam were a lad...a very long period of time
bazzin'... ace
gigs...glasses
wookies...sideburns (not sure about this one heard it in a club)
From Leon Sale in Douglas, IOM
Banjo'd - To punch some one. For instance "That guy just walked up to him and banjo'd him" . Middleton, Manhester, all my life. now living on the Isle of Man.
From Matty Owen in Manchester
a buzz! means either a good time or a bus
From zapwald, salford
heres a few words generally used round the west of manc.
dibble - police
angin' - horrible/awful
tommy 'k' - tomato sauce
buzzin - brilliant/exciting or someone who is excited
bog - toilet
gaffs - cigarettes (could you lend us a gaff?) Gaff - house (i'm going to the gaff - i'm going home)
top one - thank you/brilliant
nout - nothing
sarny - sandwich
From Rick in Ireland, formerly Hyde
I;m not sure how to spell it but 'Kayleyed', meaning drunk. Your a 'shed-head', meaning your daft. You 'nodder', meaning you idiot and 'ya daft whazzack' meaning much the same. I was a cruel child!
From happymanc in manchester
gonk - idiot type person, also useless
mahoney - thing said to gonk who was drivelling nonsense and obvious lies
bins - spectacles (shortened binoculars?) hanging - rather distasteful or unattractive lobby - hall (as in entrance)
tilly - place near the back door where mop etc. was kept
whalley - change (from whalley range)
bells - fingers (from bell ringers)
gorton - bank (from gorton tank - the swimming baths)
traff - anyone called mark (from trafford park)
standat - cheese (from 'stand at ease' - army thing)
salfords - socks (from salford docks)
orange - wash (from orange squash)
fresh air and fried snowballs - water (regular reply when kids ask what's for tea)
corporation pop - water
newtons like boothill - graveyard teeth!
bazzin - very good, excellent
smuv - smother - winter coat
joskin - someone from the sticks around manchester
glodwick - describe all derogatory name for anyone from the wilds of oldham
PS a ganzey is definitely the word for jumper - still used in some parts (particularly derry area of n.ireland - where in the not so distant past a band formed calling themselve mahat maganzey!!!!!!j)
From Scott Mills in Mossley, Manchester
slap head - bald.
scrote - scumbag.
snide - counterfeit (not contraband)
'taters' (potatoes) can be used to mean cold , testicles or taterin' is moving at some speed.
Can't believe this hasn't come up yet!
"Deck" has two meanings.
1) s'ave a deck (decko) - lets have look.
2) He's gonna get decked - someone's going to knock him out.
Also:
Ordering a sandwich in the manchester area can be an extremely confusing experience. The small round bready ingredient is variously called: teacake, breadcake, barm, barmcake, flourcake or bap. (Incorrectly muffin) There's probably more!
From Steve W in Boston, USA - formerly Crumpsall
Chip Biff - Chip muffin
(he's got a) Mard on - (He's) Sulking Skriking - Crying / whining
owt or nowt - anything or something, as in, "what are we doing tonight? Owt or nowt?"
All belters!
From Bobby in Manchester
From the above it seems apparent to me that a number of these words come from Cockney slang.
What about... Hangin'...rather unattractive
Com 'ed....simply "come here"
Ey 'up..."Hello there."
From james in Chorlton
Numpty - meaning stupid.
From Richard in San Francisco
Things that I remember were:
Kex - meaning trouser as in "Nice kex"
"Sound as a pound" Well. Used all the time. Things were "Well sound, Well hard"
Rum. meaning mischevious or full of character. as in " I remember old Joe he were a rum one!"
From Kathy, hale, cheshire, england
Scrorpe: (like scrape) unsure of the spelling, but used as in ' I fell over and scrorped all me knees'.
From kathy, hale, cheshire, england
I remember going out as a kid having a 'bazzin' time 'chuckin dukkas' in the local 'taddy' pond, and Tom being a right 'mardarse' when he fell in coz he 'skriked' all the way home, where he got his arse 'tanned' off his mam...we all wished he would 'go and get knotted' and 'shut his cakehole' - he was 'doin our heads in' with all the 'whingein'. Stop 'mitherin' Tom! (Wythenshawe circa the 70's)
From Chris Sounds, Eccles
Krill (verb). Similar to 'creb' and 'thrutch'. The unbearable all-over squirming/shivering sensation one experiences when someone nearby is picking their scabs, dragging thier nails down a black board or is simply being extraordinarily irritating. As in "Joe Pasquale's voice made me krill so much I crebbed all over my legs forcing me to thrutch out of the theatre."
From lee, winton
magic days! days off from work when there neither holidays or sickys.
From Julie in Rome/Italy
I remember my Mum saying "state of him and the price of fish" I never knew where the saying came from, I imagin its Mancunian. other words are: butty - sandwich; outdoor - off licence; what d'ya want, owt or nowt
From Anon
cabbage/meaning idiot
From Foley in Stretford
Fire-Engine!!! Something dumbwits like me shout out randomly in conversations.(just like mickey from league of gentleman)
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