Haway The Boro

When other people say where they come from it's usually met with a pleasant "that's nice," or even a vague "isn't that near...?". I, on the other hand, mention where I come from and it's met with anarchy, fair game for all and sundry to ridicule: "Arrghhh you horrible smoggie, get back where you come from." And to make matters even worse, Channel 4 southerners Phil and Kirstie had the audacity to name it Worst Place to Live 2007.

To combat the negative publicity surrounding the town, Middlesbrough Council - with our world-renowned mayor Ray Mallon at the helm - has recently launched the Love Middlesbrough campaign. It aims to help people see 'The Boro' in a different light and attract visitors to its wealth of shops and attractions, which now of course includes the ever-impressive mima (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art.)

So, over the last couple of days I have got friends and family to help me put together a 'guide' to Boro lingo that could be of help if you ever do decide to venture into our glorious town. There is one vital word missing of course, which, if you manage to annoy someone sufficiently, you may just be able to trigger. But without risking my job I think I'll leave that one to the imagination...

* Please can my fellow 'Smoggies' help me build the Boro Dictionary by adding words and phrases in the comment boxes below. I'll add them as soon as they are suggested.

A:

Aggy Bo/Aggy Boo/Aggy Bo Bo - Ha ha, the joke is on you. This phrase is often accompanied with a flutter of one's fingers across his or her chin.

B:

Bag 'ed - Drug addict

Baltic - Extremely cold/freezing. The origin of this word is presumably the Baltic Sea.

"God, it's baltic out there like."

Beast - A particularly difficult challenge

"What a total beast that was."

Black'n - An all day drinking session

"I'm going on a black'n'."

(The) Bongo - A renowned Boro nightclub located 'Over the Border'

"You'll never guess who ended up in The Bongo."

Buzzin' - Very happy

C:

Canny - Someone with an amenable personality. To be a canny lad/lass or even 'canny as' is the ultimate Boro accolade.

Class - Very impressive

D:

Defos - Definitely

"Are you defos going there tomorrow?"

Devoed - Devastated

"I'm propper devoed me like."

Doyle - Idiot

E:

Eeeeeee - An expression of shock, surprise or delight

"Eeee, well I never."

Eee-yah - Here here, can I please have your attention?

F:

Fumin' - Very angry

G:

Get - Its origins are presumably in 'git'

"Come here you little get."

Goosed - Very tired or inebriated

H:

Haway - Please do hurry up. It can also have a meaning similar to the phrase "come off it."

I:

I'm not having that like - You are pulling my leg, I simply won't believe it.

J:

K:

Keggy - Black eye

Kick off - To get angry

Kick clean off - To get very angry

Knack - To hurt. You can knack someone or you can, yourself, be knacked.

Knocked clean out - To punch someone and render them unconscious

"I knocked him clean out."

Knocked spark out - A variation of the above

L:

Laffin' - Not bothered

"Ahh laffin'."

Lemon top: Delightful ice cream cone with a tangy lemon top. Mainly found at popular seaside resort Redcar.

Ledge - A hero

"What a total ledge."

M:

Mafting - hot

Mallon: Directly elected mayor Ray Mallon, former police officer known for his zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour.

"Ere, if you don't pack that in I'll tell Mallon."

Mam - Mum

Mint - Very good

"It's proper mint that like."

Minted - Lots of money

Molly - Love bite

N:

Nick off - to play truant

Nithered - Feeling the cold

"I'm totally nithered."

Nowt - Nothing

Now then, now then - Hi everyone. How are you all?

N'tha - Said at the end of a sentence to emphasise its meaning

O:

Our - Used to signify a family member or belonging

"Our mam is coming round in a bit."

Our Lad/Our Lass - My boyfriend or husband/girlfriend or wife

Our 'ouse - My house

Over the Border - An area of Middlesbrough that good boys and girls should never venture

Ow: Excuse me

"Ow, who you calling a doyle?"

'Ows about - How about

P:

Paraletic - very drunk

Parmo - A celebrated Middlesbrough delicacy consisting of flattened, deep fried chicken, smothered in a layer of béchamel sauce and melted cheddar cheese.

People's Republic of Teesside: Middlesbrough's full title, used on official documents.

Pint touch - A pint of lager topped with lemonade

Proppa - Very much, a lot

Proppa dodge - Very unsportsmanlike

Q:

Quality - Very good

"It's proppa quality that."

R:

Righto - Okay

Ripped Off - I can clearly see you are annoyed. It can be prefixed with 'Arrgggghhhhhh' to increase its intensity.

NB Children have also been known to accompany this phrase with a 'ripping' action.

Rippage - A clever abbreviation of the above

S:

Scunner - A person with limited means or limited morals

"What a total scunner."

Scunnerish - The actions of a 'scunner'

"'Ow scunnerish is tha'?"

Shockin' - Out of order

Shot 'em out - Throw them out

Sly Off - To sneak off with a friend

"She proper slyed off with Laura last night."

Snidey - Sly

"Did you hear her snidey remark?"

Sparko - An abbreviation of being 'knocked spark out'

"He was proppa sparko."

Spot on - just right

Swear down - The ultimate testament that one is telling the truth

"I swear down on me mam's life."

Swear to God - I promise

T:

Tan - To catch a lift on someone's bike

Tarzy - A rope hanging over a beck or such like. Youngsters swing from them.

U:

V:

W:

Wadded - Someone who has a lot of money

"He's proper wadded him like."

Wouldn't Dare - Said in reference to something you wouldn't dream of doing

"Eeeeee, I wouldn't dare me like."

X:

Y:

Young'un - brother/sister

Yerjokinarnyer?: I do not believe that to be true.

Youse - You people

"Youse had better pack that in like."

Z: