Last week, I wrapped up a look at some of the slang used by today’s younger generation, the Generation Alpha. Today I’ll take another swing at some slang words and terms that are considerably older . . . and British.

Some of the British terms I’m about to dive into happen to be similar in meaning to terms used by the Alphas. For example, something that’s plain or average in looks or quality would be “bog standard” in Great Britain while called “mid” or “basic” by our newest generation.

“Geezer” is a derogatory term for an older man over here, but across the Atlantic it’s a compliment meaning someone suave or dapper – much like how Generation Alpha would say that guy is “snatched.”

Here, someone who talks too much without getting to the point is said to be “yapping,” while over there our verbose friend would be “waffling.”

Then there are the British terms that many of us are already familiar with regardless of our age. “Bloody,” for instance, which is used the same way we Mainers would use “wicked.” In other words something can be either “bloody good” or “bloody bad.” The word comes from the Dutch word “blute” (bare).

In Brit speak, something that is stupid talk or simply untrue is “poppycock,” which is another word that has Dutch roots, this time from the words “pap” (soft) and “kak” (dung). Kind of a nicer way of calling it BS.

Anyone who remembers the 1958 musical “Merry Andrew” (Merriam-Webster defines the name as “a person who clowns publicly”), in which Danny Kaye happily sings “Everything is Tickety-boo” while riding his bicycle, has probably wondered just where “tickety-boo” came from. It likely comes from the Hindu phrase “thīk hai, bābū,” which means “It’s all right, sir.”

Not so all right in Britain would be the “bird” (young woman) who was “miffed” (upset) that her significant other went on a “bender” (a days-long period of drinking). On a brighter side, something that’s really good is said to be the “bee’s knees,” a term that went out of style here after the Roaring ’20s but is still used over there.

On the other hand, something that’s the bee’s knees can also be “dench,” which the Brits say means “solid” or “cool.” Or does it? As the word’s supposed originator, British rapper Lethal Bizzle, told the Guardian, “The word means anything you want.”

As you’ve probably determined from the previous paragraph, we have now gotten into some of the more esoteric bits of British slang continuing with “wally,” a term that’s awarded to someone who’s incompetent.

Turns out this wally guy is an aspiring plumber who is obviously “dim” (lacking common knowledge) because his sink repair was a “botch job” (jury-rigged). Even though it turned out to be a real “dog’s dinner” (fiasco), he was still “chuffed” (proud) of the work he did.

I recently heard that his long-suffering wife is planning to “flog” (sell quickly and cheaply) all of his tools. Or maybe she’ll just leave them outside, where they’ll get “nicked” (stolen).

Jim Witherell of Lewiston is a writer and lover of words whose work includes “L.L. Bean: The Man and His Company” and “Ed Muskie: Made in Maine.” He can be reached at jlwitherell19@gmail.com.