
These usages are arranged alphabetically, all having something to
do with the theme of "money." For fuller information about each usage,
see the main list. There are twenty-six files there. Just click
on to the appropriate letter.
ackers: money
Alf a bar
bailiff: debt collector
Ballyand Day: the day before payday
banny-mug: pottery shards as children's money
Bar: a pound note
beer money: unemployment allowance
big penny: threepenny bit
bomb, a: a great expense
bran mash: cash
bunce: extra pay
carryin', to be: to have money
club money: savings club, or National Health Benefit
coppers: money
crust: salary
divi: dividend
Dodger: eight-sided threepenny piece
Dollar: five shillings
dropsy: gratuity
entrance fee(latchlifter): price of a half pint
fades: damaged and therefore cheap apples
fents: leftover textiles, for cheap dresses
giro: money
hansel: a money gift, usually to a child or someone who performs a service
(H)arry Freeman's, some: something for nothing
hite bownus: extra pay, overtime
jockey: extra pay
Joey: threepenny piece
latchlifter: price of a half pint
laying out, the: on payday, putting the money due on top of each collection book
left tit: threepenny bit
meg: halfpenny
mingy: penny-pinching
mopus: small coin
mug, to: to treat
nicker: one pound note
Ocker: a shilling
Og: half-penny
owsa plenty(House of Plenty): National Assistance Board
palm Sunday: gratuity time
pepper-corn rent: very low rent
poverty knock: the effects of being poor
queer street: bankruptcy
readies: money
skinny: broke
skint: broke
snip, a: a good bargain
splosh: money
sponds: money
Sprowser: sixpenny piece
sub: advance on one's wages
Tiddler: silver threepenny piece
tight mare: stingy woman
tip-scrabbler: rummager for coal in ash heaps
tontine: savings club
two meg: one penny
SAYINGS (MONEY, ETC.)
Wooden givyerra fright iffee wuz a ghost
He wouldn't give you last year's wet Echo
Erz owl scatter dthe cash: sarcastic reference to a person's thrift
Wooden givyerra spot iffee 'ad pimples: terminally cheap
Eez got moths inniz wollit
Wooden givyerra galassa worterrin dthe desert
Yiv got more chance o' dthe Queen buyin' yerra bevy
Ee wooden pissonyerrif yer wuz on fire
He wouldn't part with the smoke off his porridge
Ee wouldn't give you the steam off his pee
He wouldn't give a frog a jump
He wouldn't give a lavvy door a bang
He was born with a cramp in his fist
Eez gorriz pockits soan up
She dozen know dthe new munny's out
Rockefelluzin: anything but a big time spender
Put yerrandin yer pockit!
Ain't even gotter shillun fer ther meter: broke
got a well-stuffed mattress: hidin it
got a long stockin' somewhere
I'm, walkin' on ther blackin': I have not a dime, even to put soles on my shoes
it's ther rich what 'as ther pleasures; it's ther poower what gets ther blame
lenusser a meg
thinks wood don't grow on trees: it's as though he doesn't know things cost.
A caution to children: "keep your hand on your hapenny"
E's thah tight, e terns the gas off ter tern the bacon over.
E's thah tight, thah when e just wanted a nap, he cut a sleepin tableh inter quarters
E's thah tight, thah when is little boy was constipated, e tewk im down the deep dark cellar and told im ghost stories.
E's that tight, e goh double glazin purrin is ouse so is kids couldn't hear the ice cream van
"tight as a duck's arse"
Short arms and long pockets
on ther pig's back: doing very well financially
I was trying to cut the bread thinner and thinner: I was trying to make due with less.
Lend us a pound till I get straight: usually a comical request, said bending over from the waist
Lennus arf a bar til Nelson gets iz eye(or arm) back: the borrower is asking for unusually generous terms
Freeman's ale is best: ale tastes better when someone else is buying