(UK, idiom) Used as a softening preface to a statement that might be taken as offensive or malicious.
(UK, idiom) Used as a softening preface to a statement that might be taken as offensive or malicious.
I'm not being funny means: Used as a softening preface to a statement that might be taken as offensive or malicious.. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described. 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.
I'm not being funny means: Used as a softening preface to a statement that might be taken as offensive or malicious.. 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.
I'm not being funny means: Used as a softening preface to a statement that might be taken as offensive or malicious.. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described. 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.
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.
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UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.
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Rhetorical opener admitting to doing something slightly embarrassing or out of character. "Not me eating cereal at 11pm" = "yes, I did that."
(UK) Used to express exasperation or incredulity about a given situation or person.
(idiomatic) Polite expression used to soften a contradiction.
Just kidding. Tacked onto the end of a statement to retroactively flag it as a joke, often because the speaker isn't sure the tone landed. Sometimes used dishonestly to soften a comment that was, in fact, meant seriously.
No comments yet — say something.
(slang, informal) Used to politely or indirectly ask someone to stop doing something, conveying a hint of frustration or annoyance depending on the context.