17 Phrases That Only Make Sense to Scousers

Originating from the rhyming slang of ‘bin lid’ – meaning ‘our kid’ – this is a typically Scouse phrase that’s used in day-to-day life.

‘You alright lid?’

G’wed is Scouse slang for ‘go ahead’.

‘G’wed lad’

No, not Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath fame. In Liverpool, ‘Ozzy’ means ‘hospital’.

‘I’m off down the ozzy for me check up’

You’re likely to get called a ‘wool’, or a ‘woolly back’, if you’re from the surrounding areas of Liverpool like the Wirral or St. Helen’s.

‘I wouldn’t trust him la, he’s a wool’

Slang for a cigarette or a joint.

‘Gis a bifter!’

To jib, or jibbing, is Scouse slang for standing someone up or not going somewhere with someone.

‘Me ma wants me to meet her at the Asda but I’m gonna jib her off’

If you’ve just bought some new trainers, In Liverpool they’re likely to be called ‘webs’ or ‘trabs’.

‘Ey la, where did ya get yer new webs from?’

If you ever hear someone from Liverpool describing something as ‘boss’ it means they really like it.

‘The Beatles are boss!’

If something is described as ‘plazzy’ in Liverpool, it means it’s fake, or not true to its word.

‘Don’t listen to them plazzy wools la’

One of the easier ones to decipher; ‘ma’ means mum and ‘da’ means dad.

‘Tell me ma I won’t be home for tea’

For someone’s head to be ‘chocka’ it means they’re feeling stressed out.

‘Give it a rest la me head’s chocka’

Scran is Scouse slang for food.

‘I’m starvin’, got any scran?’

‘Kecks’ are known as pants or trousers in Liverpool.

‘I watched tha new horror film at the pictures last night la, pure browned me kecks’

While going to town might mean going in to the town or city centre in other places, in Liverpool it often means telling someone off.

‘He was going to town on him!’

‘Bevvy’ is short for beverage, often of the alcoholic kind.

‘Can’t wait to go down Goodison and have a few bevvies tonight la’

‘On your bill’ is similar in meaning to ‘on your tod’ – meaning being on your own.

‘Where are ya? I’m on me bill!’

Clobber is Scouse for ‘clothes’.

‘Where did ya get that clobber from lid?’

Ready to put some of these newly-learned phrases to the test? Then be sure to check out a wide array of fantastic tours and excursions in and around Liverpool. See if you can blend in with the locals and be a true scouse whilst taking in the sights and immersing yourself in the culture of the famed city.

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