When you think of the British, a few things come to mind. One might imagine the tea, the buses, the Big Ben, and a few dashing British performers. However, most would see the British royalties. They are icons and symbols throughout the world. They signify the upper class of society. For this article, let us learn more slang terms regarding the upper class or elites.
British Slang For Upper Class (in Alphabetical Order)
A1
Meaning:
- (Adjective) Coming from a British insurance company that rated ships, A1 is the highest classification a ship can get. British people use A1 to say that something is of the highest quality or value.
- Example: My new diamonds are A1. I got them from some significant noble that fought in the war.
Baked Bean
Meaning:
- (Noun) The Cockney rhyming slang for “queen.” The queen is the highest royal of them all. Due to this, the baked bean is also used to describe a person of higher standing.
- Example: You are a baked bean. Never forget your value. Never settle for anything less.
Highborn
Meaning:
- (Adjective) An obsolete or older slang that refers to nobility and royalty. It may be used to describe people of well-to-do backgrounds or lineage.
- Example: You act like a highborn but you are just another fly that circles strong people for power.
Highfalutin
Meaning:
- (Adjective) A derogatory English slang that describes someone or something as pretentious or arrogant, usually in the higher class.
- Example: You do not belong in the upper echelon of the corporate ladder. You are merely a highfalutin mosquito that licks the boot of the boss.
Posh
Meaning:
- (Adjective) An informal slang used by people of British origin to describe something as classy or of higher standing.
- Example: We went to this posh restaurant. The ambiance was nice but the food was not up to standard.
Swish
Meaning:
- (Adjective) An old-fashioned British slang describing something as smart, fashionable, and upper class.
- Example: The suite we got on the cruise was swish. It had all kinds of benefits.
Top-drawer
Meaning:
- (Adjective) Someone or something that is of higher social standing. Comes from the British expression “out of the top drawer.”
- Example: You will never exceed the British royalty in terms of status. They are certified top-drawers.
Toff
Meaning:
- (Adjective) Another derogatory slang that describes the snobbish aristocrats. Coming from the word tuft, it depicts the stereotypical people of higher class.
- Example: Most monarchies started strong but weaker toffs that only valued royalty and elegance started the chaos.
Toffee-Nosed
Meaning:
- (Adjective) A common British slang is said to a person who is pretentiously superior and seeks to be in the highest of classes, despite only being snobbish.
- Example: My classmates are all toffee-nosed. Their parents must not have raised them well.
U
Meaning:
- (Adjective) An older British slang used to define and describe characteristics associated with royalty and the upper class.
- Example: The prince in Cinderella is the very definition of U.
Upper Crust
Meaning:
- (Adjective) Another English slang that refers to the highest of classes. Might have originated from the part of baked bread.
- Example: Never try to be with the upper crust because you will lose track of reality and the important things.
