383
U See Appendix I.C.6.
U.D.I. unilateral declaration of independence
UKIP, acronym see comment
Acronym for United Kingdom Independence Party, a political party formed in
1993. Its main mission is to get Britain to withdraw from the European Union.
ulcer, n. canker sore
Open sore on a surface of the body, external or internal. Also a corrupting influence.
Ulsterman a native of Ulster
unbelt, v.t., Slang. Slang. shell out
undercut, n. 1. tenderloin
2. uppercut
1. Butcher’s term. The British use fillet (pronounced fill’-it) for the same cut.
See Appendix II.H.
2. Boxing term.
underdone, adj. raw
Referring to meat, supposedly rare but really insufficiently cooked.
underground, n. subway
Also called the tube. A subway in Britain is an underground pedestrian passage.
underlay, n. carpet pad
under observation patrolled
under offer approx. for sale
For sale, but with a pending offer.
undertaker, n. funeral director
under the doctor under the doctor’s care
under the harrow, Inf. Inf. in distress
unfit, adj. unable to play
Because injured or ill. Used in sports reporting and announcements at the game.
unharbour, v.t. dislodge
A hunting term: to dislodge a deer from shelter.
u

Inf. The upper classes; short for the upper ten thousand, an analogous phrase that
originated in America.
uppish, adj., Inf. Inf. uppity
Putting on airs.
upsides. See get upsides with.
up-stick, v.i. Inf. pack up and go
Inf. This can describe moving one’s entire ménage or simply clearing up after a
picnic. From former nautical slang meaning ‘set a mast.’ See also pull up sticks.
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unit trust
up stumps Inf. pull up stakes
Inf. To clear and leave. One of the many terms derived from cricket. Not to be
confused with stump up. Draw stumps means the same thing: clear out. Stumps
are the three uprights in the ground supporting two small cross-pieces (bails), the
whole structure constituting the wicket (See wicket, 1). To up or draw stumps is to
close the match, an operation that is extended figuratively to the winding up of a
situation or phase.
up the duff Slang. pregnant
up the junction Slang. up the creek
Slang. In a tough spot; in a fix. The creek in the original reference flowed with
human excrement, and those caught upstream were bereft of a paddle.
up the pole 1. Inf. dead drunk
2. Slang. in a fix
3. crazed
1. Slang. In this meaning, the very opposite of the American ‘on the wagon.’
2. Slang. In a predicament.
3. Slang. By anything, not merely drink.
up the spout Slang. in a fix
Slang. Used of any predicament, but, like in trouble in America, often understood

vains I! See fains I!
value. See good value.
value, v.t. appraise
Whence valuer, the usual term for appraiser, who makes his livelihood by estimat-
ing the value of various objects or land.
Value Added Tax. See V.A.T.
value for money your money’s worth
British shoppers who have found a really good bargain will say they got value for
money as a way of expressing their approval. It may often be shortened, as in That
skirt was good value.
valve, n. tube
Radio term.
van, n. 1. closed truck
2. baggage car
1. Large or small. In America usually restricted to big ones. See also pantechnicon.
2. Railroad term.
van, removal. See pantechnicon; removals.
v
h
(the) V & A see comment
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London; almost invariably called V&A. Founded
in the mid-19th century, it is the national museum for the decorative and applied
arts.
variety, n. vaudeville
See also music-hall.
variety turn. See turn.
varnish, n. nail polish
V.A.T. sales or excise tax
(Sometimes pronounced vee-ay-tee, sometimes vat.) Sometimes VA T , abbrevia-
tion of Value Added Tax, which replaced the old purchase tax and the selective

vet, v.t. check
Inf. With particular reference to candidates for a job, but now commonly used
as well in security checking. By a logical extension, vet can mean ‘authenticate,’
referring to a work of art or a holograph, which is certified genuine after being
checked up on. One can also vet a manuscript for accuracy. This term is derived
vet

387
from the practice of sending animals, especially race horses, to a veterinarian
surgeon before purchase.
vice-chancellor, n. president
A university term denoting the active head of the institution. The vice- is used
because in Britain the chancellor is an honorary officer, always a prominent per-
son, sometimes even royalty.
view, v.t. inspect
In connection with selecting a residence. See order to view.
viewpoint, n. lookout point
A special British meaning in addition to point of view, as in America. See look-
out.
village, n. approx. small town
Village in Britain is more a description of a way of life than a label applied to
a particular political subdivision. The usual demographic distinction between
village and town in Britain is based simply on population, and the break comes
somewhere around 3,000.
village shop, n. see comment
The local store in a small rural community. A dying institution, as car ownership
increases and more rural dwellers shop at supermarkets.
vinaigrette, n. see comment
A small box, usually silver, with a fretwork inner lid; frequently Georgian, more
often Victorian; now greatly prized by collectors. They originally contained vin-

wage restraint wage control
Especially as exercised by workers making modest demands on their employer.
See also pay policy; social contract.
wage-snatch, n., Inf. payroll holdup
wages sheet payroll
wage stop, n. see comment
The policy of not allowing a person to receive more money from unemployment
insurance than he would earn if he were working. Also used as a transitive verb,
wage-stop, signifying the application of this policy.
waggon, wagon, n. car
Railroad term, especially goods-waggon, meaning ‘freight car.’ A waggon shed is a
car barn. The American spelling with one g is gaining precedence.
wag it Slang. play hookey
Synonymous with play truant. Also, play wag or play the wag.
waistcoat, n. vest
Waistcoat is rare in America, and when used is more often pronounced weskit
than wastecote. In Britain, it should be pronounced as spelled or with the first t
silent, and the preferred American pronunciation is considered at least colloquial,
or even vulgar, though it was considered correct not many decades ago. Waistcoat
w
h
is used in Britain the way hat is used in America in expressions like to wear sev-
eral waistcoats or wear more than one waistcoat, i.e., to act in a number of different
capacities. In America, one is said to wear several hats to indicate activity in dif-
ferent capacities. For British meaning of vest, see vest; singlet.
wait for it! interj. 1. Slang. take it easy!; hold your horses!
2. Slang. get this!; mind you!
1. Slang. Extended from its use in the army by sergeants teaching new recruits
the drill (“Present—wait for it—arms”). Do not begin until you hear my order.
2. Slang. Further extended to mean ‘wait till you hear this,’ and used on the

Literally, a masturbator. See wank.
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wait for it!
want, v.t. 1. take; require
2. need; lack
1. Example: It wants a bit of courage to sail the Atlantic alone.
2. Example: All the wheels want is a drop of oil; that picture wants to be hung higher; that
child wants a good spanking. In this connection a special use is found in archaic expres-
sions of time: It wants ten minutes to twelve meaning ‘it is ten minutes to twelve.’ The
British tend to avoid want in the sense of ‘desire’ or ‘wish,’ for reasons of politeness.
Where an American would say, I want this changed, or Do you want a memo? a Briton
would usually say, I would like this changed, or, Would you like to have a memo? To Brit-
ons, I want may sound imperious, and Do you want? is considered less polite than
Would you like? or Do you wish? A British usage sometimes heard in America is want
in the negative, for shouldn’t, as in, You don’t want to oil this machine too often. This
usage means that ‘it is not the best (or the right) way to treat it.’
warder, n. prison guard
Wardour Street approx. movie business
Inf. A street in London that is the center of the film industry and used figuratively
to refer that business, the way Americans use Hollywood. The films themselves
are shot elsewhere. Wardour Street used to be noted for its antique and imitation-
antique shops, especially the latter, giving rise to the term Wardour Street English,
meaning ‘sham-antique diction,’ the type common in inferior historical novels.
This type of language is also called gadzookery or tushery.
wardship, n. custody
Of minor children, in divorce matters.
warned off banned
A euphemism applied to owners, trainers, jockeys, or bettors (punters in Britain)
who break the rules of racing and are prohibited from attending races. The ban-