Emotions & Feelings

Expressing happiness, sadness, surprise, and exhaustion

Introduction

The British are often stereotyped as emotionally reserved, but their slang tells a different story. Behind the famous "stiff upper lip" lies a rich vocabulary for expressing feelings—from the warm glow of being "chuffed" to the gut-punch of feeling "gutted."

What makes British emotional vocabulary special is its physicality. These aren't abstract feelings; they're bodily experiences. You're not just tired, you're "knackered"—worked like a horse headed for the knacker's yard. You're not just surprised, you're "gobsmacked"—struck speechless in the mouth.

This chapter explores how the British talk about their inner lives, from euphoria to exhaustion, using words that pack an emotional punch while maintaining that characteristic British understatement.

Themes

All British Slang & Idioms in This Chapter (106)

• Chuffed Very pleased or delighted about something
• Knackered Extremely tired or exhausted
• Gobsmacked Utterly astonished or amazed
• Gutted Extremely disappointed or upset
• Stoked Very excited and enthusiastic
• Wrapped Very pleased or delighted
• Buzzing Feeling excited and full of energy
• Fuming Extremely angry
• Livid Furiously angry
• Spewing Very angry or extremely disappointed
• Blue Sad or depressed
• Pissed Off Annoyed or angry
• Cheesed Off Annoyed or fed up
• Wiped Completely exhausted
• Wrecked Extremely tired or destroyed by exhaustion
• Freaked Out Extremely scared, anxious, or agitated
• Rattled Nervous, unsettled, or shaken
• Bricking It Extremely scared or nervous
• Choked Very disappointed or upset
• Miffed Slightly annoyed or offended
• Aggro Aggression, trouble, or hassle
• Wound Up Tense, stressed, or agitated
• Antsy Restless, fidgety, or impatient
• Narky Bad-tempered or irritable
• Stroppy Bad-tempered and argumentative
• Giddy Excitedly happy, light-headed with joy
• Rapt Completely absorbed or delighted
• Cranky Irritable or bad-tempered
• Ropeable Extremely angry (Australian)
• Mopey Sad and listless, sulking
• Chilling Relaxing, taking it easy
• Hyper Extremely energetic or overexcited
• Wired Extremely alert, energetic, or tense
• Stressy Easily stressed, prone to anxiety
• Petrified Extremely frightened, frozen with fear
• Bummed Disappointed or dejected
• Flat Lacking energy or enthusiasm, emotionally drained
• Ecstatic Overwhelmingly happy, in a state of rapture
• Devastated Completely destroyed emotionally, overwhelmed with grief
• Emotional Feeling intense emotions, near tears
• Raw Emotionally exposed, vulnerable, unprocessed
• Grumpy Bad-tempered, irritable
• Thrilled Extremely pleased or excited
• Anxious Worried, uneasy, or nervously eager
• Miserable Extremely unhappy or uncomfortable
• Elated Extremely happy, on a high
• Seething Intensely angry, boiling with rage
• Bitter Resentful, holding a grudge
• Knackering Exhausting, tiring
• Meh Indifferent, unenthusiastic
• Mortified Extremely embarrassed
• Dreading Anticipating with fear or anxiety
• Peeved Mildly annoyed or irritated
• Fed Up Frustrated, having had enough
• Losing the Plot Going crazy, losing control or understanding
• Frazzled Exhausted and stressed, worn to a frayed edge
• Smitten Deeply in love or infatuated
• Gutted for You Feeling sympathetic disappointment on someone's behalf
• Ticked Off Annoyed or angry (American); told off (British)
• Stressing Worrying excessively, being anxious
• Get Your Knickers in a Twist Become overly upset or agitated about something
• Torn Unable to decide, conflicted
• Touched Emotionally moved, feeling grateful
• Underwhelmed Unimpressed, disappointed by something expected to be impressive
• Beside Yourself Overwhelmed with emotion, unable to control feelings
• Iffy Uncertain, doubtful, or of questionable quality
• over the moon extremely happy
• sick as a parrot extremely disappointed
• On cloud nine Extremely happy, in a state of bliss.
• Hot under the collar Angry, irritated, or embarrassed.
• Beside Oneself Overwhelmed with emotion, unable to control feelings
• Green with Envy Extremely jealous or envious of someone
• At Wit's End Completely frustrated and out of ideas
• Sick to Death Extremely tired of something, utterly fed up
• Jump for Joy To be extremely happy, celebrating with excitement
• Green-Eyed Monster Jealousy personified as a creature
• Bundle of Nerves Extremely anxious, nervous, or stressed
• Crying Shame Something that is very unfortunate or deplorable
• Tickled Pink Extremely pleased or delighted
• Have a Heart Show some compassion or mercy
• Heart Sinks To feel sudden disappointment or dread
• Broken-Hearted Devastated by grief, loss, or romantic rejection
• Chip on One's Shoulder Harboring a grudge or feeling of resentment
• Flying High Extremely happy, successful, or confident
• Heavy Heart Deep sadness or reluctance
• Thrilled to Bits Extremely pleased or excited
• Lose One's Cool To become angry or agitated, losing composure
• Fit to Burst Overwhelmed with emotion, barely able to contain it
• Butterflies in the Stomach Nervous excitement or anticipation
• Blow One's Top To suddenly lose your temper explosively
• In Good Spirits Cheerful, happy, in a positive mood
• Down in the Dumps Feeling sad, depressed, or melancholy
• Scared Stiff Extremely frightened, paralyzed with fear
• Eat One's Heart Out To suffer from longing, envy, or unrequited love
• Mad as a Hatter Completely crazy or insane
• On Tenterhooks In a state of anxious suspense or tension
• Walking on Air Feeling extremely happy, elated
• Seeing Red Extremely angry, enraged
• Lump in One's Throat Feeling emotional, close to tears
• Go Spare To become extremely angry or agitated
• Heart of Gold A very kind and generous nature
• Bored to Tears Extremely bored, tediously uninterested
• Makes One's Blood Boil Something that causes extreme anger
• Keep your chin up Stay positive and optimistic despite difficulties
• Heart in one's mouth Feeling extreme fear or anxiety
• In high spirits Very happy, cheerful, and energetic