Bury Pengting: Learning Slang in Britain’s Youngest Town

by Chris Toumazis, Planner and Natalie Young, Account Director

Bury is officially Britain’s youngest town. So where better to get to grips with the lingo? Safe.

GLOSSARY

Peng

Good looking. Used more generally to describe anything positive.

“That guy is so peng. I’m particularly attracted by his progressive views on animal welfare.”

Pengting

Good looking person. Abbreviation of “peng thing”.

“Mate. Pengting at five o’clock!”

Gassed

When you’re so excited that you can’t hold it in.

“Call the Midwife has been commissioned for three more seasons! I’m so gassed.”

Gassed up

Full of oneself.

“Derek, just because you’re dating a pengting doesn’t give you licence to be so gassed up.”

Wagwan

An informal greeting. Abbreviation of “what’s guanin’?”, itself an abbreviation of “what’s going on?”

“Cordelia! Wagwan?”

Sick

Good.

“Have you read Proust’s ‘In Search of Lost Time’? Oh, you must. It’s sick.”

G

Gangster. Used generally as a term of endearment among friends, or one of passive aggression among enemies.

“Hey, G. Can you hold my Château Petrus while I go to the little boy’s room?”

Buzzing

Energised. Sometimes suggests the use of recreational drugs.

“I’m still buzzing from that wartime poetry reading last night. That last guy was a G.”

Scran

Food. A term that originated in the Royal Navy.

“Favourite scran? I’d have to say raspberry millefeuille.”

Peak

Descriptor of an unfortunate incident.

“You used the Vancouver system instead of Harvard referencing for your essay? Mate, that’s peak.”

Skanking

Dancing. Specifically used to describe the dancing style seen at reggae or ska shows.

“Skank like everybody’s watching, that’s what I say.”

Calm

A descriptor of one’s contentment towards an object or situation.

“That exam was so calm. Sine waves didn’t come up once.”

Sound

Good. Typically used to describe a likeable individual.

“Did you see Jacob Rees-Mogg on Question Time last night? He was well sound.”

Hanging

Disgusting. Specifically used to describe one’s hung-over state.

“I am seriously hanging this morning. That’s the last time I drink Barolo without a starter.”

Bare

To a great extent: chiefly “very” or “many”.

‘“One copy of Bare Bare Bears, please” said Winnie, gingerly.’

West

A descriptor for the strange or bizarre, used for situations, objects or people (typically those who have lost the plot).

“The overuse of dramatic irony in this novel is sending me west.”

Baaaad

Good. Not to be confused with the negative descriptor, “bad”.

“You didn’t like Adam Curtis’ new documentary?! But it was so baaaad!”

Beef

A grudge.

“Did you watch Andrew Marr grill Sadiq Khan last night? That G’s got bare beef.”

Stush

Pretentious.

“Call me a philistine, but I sometimes find the theatre awfully stush.”

Crusty

A descriptor of someone who looks like the haven’t showered or bathed in a long time.

“Jeremy Corbyn: bringing crusty back since 2015.”

Bine

Cigarette. Allegedly an abbreviation of “Woodbine”, a W.D. & H.O. Wills cigarette brand.

“Please put out your bine. I care little for second hand smoke.”

Mint

Good, likeable.

“You know where I stand on this. The Queen is mint, and I’m not afraid to say it.”

Dead

Bad (the bad kind).

“G, this club is dead. Shall we go home and finish our draughts game?”

Motive

Plan.

“The government’s plan for Brexit? Talk about a dead motive.”

Actual

Truly. Abbreviation of “actually”.

“Britain’s refusal to accept their fair share of refugees is actual revolting.”

Safe

Good. Specifically a likeable individual. Sometimes used as a greeting.

‘My mum always told me, “Don’t try to be different. Just be safe. To be safe is different enough.”’

Cinabit

See you soon. Abbreviation of “see you in a bit”.

“Let’s meet under the clock tower at eight. I’ll be wearing tweed, and a pink carnation. CINABIT.”

Cured

Fed up.

“I’m cured of all this Labour infighting.”

Grafting

Obvious (and largely unsuccessful) flirting.

“You actually used the words ‘Netflix and chill’? GRAFTING ALERT.”

Wham

What’s up. Often used to convey care or concern.

“Wham, G? You sounded terrible on the telephone.”

Bruv

Term of endearment for a friend. Abbreviation of “brother”.

“Pass the Nurofen, bruv. The music in that last place was deafening.”

Bait

Obvious or unsubtle.

“Are you blind? Boris Johnson is bait gunning for premiership.”

Long

Descriptor of a boring or effortful task.

“Reading Shakespeare is long. I much prefer Kierkegaard.”

Time

Ages. Abbreviation of “a long time”.

“Oh, Judith, it’s so lovely to have bumped into you. I haven’t seen you in time.”