Slangora

have a pop at

(UK, slang, transitive) To attack or start a fight with something or someone.

ˈhæv ə ˈpɑp ˈæt156 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
1 definition
Community

Definitions

#1·Apr 27, 2026

(UK, slang, transitive) To attack or start a fight with something or someone.

I called this guy gay, and then he had a pop at me.
For parents

Have a pop at means: To attack or start a fight with something or someone.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. It has drug-related associations; worth a calm conversation about which side of the topic your teen is on. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

have a pop at means: To attack or start a fight with something or someone.. Register: very informal, often derogatory or vulgar. Avoid in formal, business, academic, or polite writing. Even in casual speech the word can offend and is best left out of a learner's active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: drugs
Was this helpful?

Comments

For specific readers

Have a pop at means: To attack or start a fight with something or someone.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. It has drug-related associations; worth a calm conversation about which side of the topic your teen is on. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "have a pop at".

Add definition

🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "have a pop at" (H)

Browse all slang words starting with H.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related