 A part of the forthcoming book, The Septic's Companion. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N OP Q R S T U V W Y Z   These are the last three beers people kinder than you bought me. Click on them to see more or buy me one. Feel guilty? Think of the children I might have, and such like. |
och interj Scot a general word of exclamation. Very Scottish. Groundskeep Willie Scottish. Used in a context like: "Och, you're joking me!" off-licence n liquor store. The term comes from the fact that the alcohol can be sold on the condition that it may only be drunk off the premises. offside n the side of a car furthest from the kerb. oi interj pron "oy", as in "boy"hey. General noise used to attract someone's attention. I can't really believe that an American being accosted with "oi" will be sitting there wondering whether that word means "faucet" or "yard", but I wouldn't like to feel this dictionary was too highbrow for complete blithering halfwits to use on holiday. omnibus n 1 old-fashioned bus. This is a quaint word, dating back to the times when buses were open at the rear and had a conductor ready to meet you. An omnibus is essentially one step technologically forward of a tram. 2 concatenated episodes of a week's worth of television or radio series (typically soap operas) often screened at the weekends (also "omnibus edition"). The Latin word "omnibus" means simply "for all", which could explain both of these etymologies. I'm just saying that because I can't be bothered checking either of them. I can't even be bothered checking the Latin - someone just told me it. For all I know it's Latin for pig-fucker. one n I. Rather antiquated and very British. You'd more likely hear your grandmother say: "in my day, one didn't spit in the street" than your local crack dealer say: "since Dave the train got knocked off, one's had to raise one's prices". one-off n something that only happens once. You might use it if you were selling your artwork or attempting to apologise for an affair with your secretary. owt n nothing. Rather northern-English: "Whatcha looking at me for? I didn't do owt!". It's recognised throughout the UK but it's a little unusual to use it.