B

 

Babi-lol
One wanting much attention, a "big baby"

Bach/Fach
Not used to convey "small" as a literal translation of the Welsh word would indicate. As in Welsh usage, "Jim bach or Mair Fach" are used to mean 'Dear Jim', or 'Dear Mair'

back-back
Wenglish for 'reverse', as in advice to a motorist "Back, back a bit then you'll see the turning you're after... "

Back and fore
Wenglish for "back and forth', as in, "He's a real pest - back and fore all the time.'

Back (out the... )
In the back garden or at the rear of the house. This expression lost much of its impact with the advent and popularity of indoor toilets...

Bag of nerves/Bag a nerves
In a sorry state, as in "Since that happened to her, she's been nothing but a bag of nerves."

Bailey
Usually the back yard. "She do sweep 'er bailey reg'lar as clockwork... "

Bald-headed
In a reckless manner; "'E don't stop to think - 'e goes at it bald headed."

Bar
Except, as in "They were all there, bar one."

Bara-bit
Very small piece; "Only a dwt, she is - no bigger than a bara-bit."

Bard
Wenglish for 'ill'; "Dew I was bard mun, I was in 'ospital frages."

Batch
A small round, flattish loaf of bread

Bathers
Wenglish for "swimming trunks" or "swimming costume".

Beanfeast
A fine meal, as in "We had a real beanfeast after the wedding."

Belonging to
Related; "Of course he's belonging to you - his mother and your gran are first cousins."

Belter
A heavy blow or beating "You're asking for a belter if you don't shut up."

Beauties
Pronounced 'bewties', meaning excellant specimens; "Sorry we're sold out of them now, but we 'ad bewties in last week."

Beauty
Pronounced 'bewty'; a fine one in the derogatory sense "You're asking a bewty in 'im - he's hopeless."

Before
In preference to, as in "Give me shopping in Ponty, before there, anytime."

Beholden
Indebted; "I'm not asking for help, I won't be beholden to anyone, then."

Belfago
Loudly; "He was singing real belfago in the bath."

Bell (... on/in every tooth)
Used to describe someone who speak soften - and loudly as in "She's at it again, you can hear her a mile off - she's got a bell on every tooth."

Bellyful
Enough - and more! "I'm giving it up. I've had a real bellyful of this now."

Beyond
Extremely, as in "That kid is cheeky beyond."

Bigger Liar than Tom Pepper
An outrageous teller of untruths

Bit of...
In a small way, as in "He's a bit of a singer/plumber/decorator." or "They've got a bit of a car park behind the shop."

Bitter
Wenglish for 'bit of'; "I gorrw keep it tidy, it's my bitter best like... "

Black as the Ace of Spades
Very dirty

Blacklead
Wenglish for 'pencil'.

Bladder
Wenglish for 'baloon'.

Blemmer/Brammer
Excellent, as in "Them pears I got are real blemmers/brammers." (The 'a' sound in 'brammers' is elongated to sound like 'braahmers'.)

Block
A log of firewood; "Lets have another block on the fire - it's a sharp one tonight."

Bloke/Bloak
Man, as in "He's the bloke from the Prudential."

Boil Tam
Wenglish for 'boiled ham'.

Bomper
Big; "They've had twins - and one of them's a real bomper."

Bopa
Local word for 'Auntie' - whether a blood relation or a "Welsh auntie"

Bosh
The kitchen sink/wash up; "Have a quick swill in the bosh now before you have your tea."

Botch
Mess, or not very well-completed job; "Don't you get 'im to do it - 'e'll only botch it for you."

Bout of
An attack of, as in "Every year about this time, somehow or other I do get a nasty bout of 'flu."

Bracchi's
The name often given to the local, Italian owned, cafe although the name of the proprietor may well be Rabaiotti, or Carpanini, or Berni.

Brack
Defect, wear and tear; "I've had this frock years and there's still not a brack in it."

Brazen
Impudent in behaviour and impervious to local opinion; "There's a way to carry on - brazen's not the word for it." (but of course it is!)

Bread and Butter/Bara Caws
The leaves of the hawthorn tree.

Brewer's Goitre
A beer belly

Brought up under a tub
Raised in a manner leaving much to be desired; "You can't go out in that state - anyone would think you'd been brought up under a tub."

Butty
(a) A friend or workmate; "We've been big butties/big butts since school..." (b) One of a matching pair "I can't find the butty to this show for the life of me... "

Bwci-bo
Ghost or bogey man

Bwgi
Head Louse, as in "When that nurse comes to school she do look for bwgis in ouer 'air."

By
(a) Aside; "You don't have to take it now, I'll put it by for you." (b) "By 'ere", and "By there" and Wenglish forms of 'here' and 'there'; "Come over by 'ere for a minute." and "That's the one youer looking for - over by there."

By you
According to you, as in "What's the time by you?"

Bucked
Cheered up, encouraged "... you should 'ave seen 'im - Oh he was bucked when they told him he could start Monday."