30 Bizarre English Phrases You Gained’t Consider Exist!

Noun: Kerfuffle has been round for the reason that early 1800s and doubtless got here from both Scottish Gaelic or Celtic Irish, the languages that have been used traditionally in Scotland and Eire.

It means to make a fuss or a trouble, normally when folks have totally different factors of view. 

What’s all of the shouting for? Why are you making such a kerfuffle?

Noun: Hullaballoo has been a part of the English language for the reason that center of the 18th century. It’s a phrase that actually appears like what it means–the loud noises and shouting that folks make after they’re indignant.

Did you hear all that hullaballoo within the workplace immediately?

Noun: Cacophony is one other phrase associated to noise–it’s a mix of horrible sounds. Think about birds screeching, alarm bells ringing and infants screaming… and also you’ve received your self a cacophony!

It’s possible you’ll already know that phrases that finish in cellphone or phony are associated to sound ultimately. Cacophony comes from a Greek phrase made up of kacos (unhealthy) and cellphone (sound). It entered English within the mid-1600s.

My head harm as a result of as quickly as I stepped outdoors, I heard a cacophony of automotive horns, noisy pedestrians and yelling avenue distributors. 

Noun: Ragamuffin comes from the English that was used in the course of the Center Ages.

You’ve in all probability heard the phrase rag, proper? A unclean and scruffy piece of outdated fabric. So it’ll make sense to know {that a} ragamuffin is an individual who wears soiled and scruffy garments—garments which might be identical to rags!

It’s typically used for kids, and you may additionally generally hear it used to explain scruffy-looking animals.

I ship my youngsters to highschool dressed neatly, and so they come house like little ragamuffins!

Noun: Whippersnapper is a bit old school immediately, however it’ll definitely make folks smile when you use it. Say it shortly and also you’ll create a humorous and harsh sound!

The phrase has been a part of the English language for the reason that seventeenth century, and surprisingly, it has nothing to do with whips or snaps.

As a substitute, it’s a mix of two phrases. One referred to a lazy one who had no ambitions. The opposite time period was used for younger individuals who lived on the road and did unhealthy issues, like stealing.

The that means has modified through the years, and immediately it’s used for an adolescent who’s too assured and maybe slightly cheeky. It’s an ideal phrase to make use of for an inquisitive youngster who simply can’t cease questioning and correcting their mother and father. 

I don’t like babysitting my good friend’s little brother as a result of he’s a whippersnapper who retains speaking again to me.  

Noun: Gobbledygook was initially an American English phrase that was created from the meaningless sound that turkeys make. 

Shut your eyes for a second and consider a turkey. What sound does it make? Does it sound one thing like “gobble, gobble, gobble?” That’s precisely the place this phrase got here from!

It was created within the Forties to imply phrases which might be nonsense or don’t have any that means.

Gobbledygook additionally describes when folks use too many technical phrases and so different folks can’t perceive what they’e saying.

The Director was speaking a load of gobbledygook in that assembly. I don’t know what he desires!

Noun: Gibberish means the identical as gobbledygook–nonsense phrases and phrases that sound like English however have little that means.

Gibberish is an older time period, although. It’s been in use for the reason that mid-Sixteenth century. It’s not recognized the place the phrase got here from, however many individuals imagine it was taken from both the same Spanish or Swedish phrase.

They have been so drunk that they have been speaking gibberish. 

Noun: Poppycock has nothing to do with poppies (a kind of flower) or cocks (a male chook and a slang time period for a person’s intimate physique components!)

Have you ever ever listened to someone making an attempt to speak about one thing that they know completely nothing about? You realize that what they’re saying is totally unfaithful, but they insist on persevering with to speak? 

It’s extremely doubtless that they’re speaking poppycock. 

Poppycock really got here from the Dutch phrase pappekak, which is made out of pap (comfortable) and kak (poop!). It’s been a part of English for the reason that 1800s.

What a load of poppycock!

Verb: Discombobulate means to confuse. 

If someone’s speaking a lot of gibberish, gobbledegook and poppycock, they could be making an attempt to discombobulate one other individual. It’s possible you’ll really feel slightly discombobulated by all these unusual phrases!

It’s been used for the reason that mid-Nineteenth century in North American English, normally in a humorous approach.

What’s the matter? You look slightly discombobulated!

Verb: To flummox an individual means to confuse them so much.

You can even use it as an adjective–when you’re now feeling very discombobulated, then you’re additionally flummoxed!

It got here into the English language in the course of the Nineteenth century. It was taken from dialects utilized in some components of the UK.

I’m flummoxed by this crossword puzzle, it’s insanely troublesome! 

Noun: Curmudgeon may simply be the phrase that you just’re searching for when you’re making an attempt to speak a couple of very bad-tempered and grumpy individual.

Relationship again to at the very least the Sixteenth century, this phrase has been used for a very long time.

I don’t like our English trainer… he’s an actual curmudgeon!

Adjective: Lackadaisical can be excellent for describing that somebody’s lazy and has no enthusiasm or dedication. 

It’s been in use for the reason that 1700s, though the place it got here from isn’t clear.

My sister has no job and is doing nothing to search out one. She is so lackadaisical.

Adjective: Woebegone is one other terrific phrase. Are you able to guess what a woebegone individual seems to be like?

It’s straightforward to interrupt this phrase into two components—woe (excessive unhappiness) and begone (an old school phrase meaning surrounded by one thing).

So, woebegone means “surrounded by unhappiness.” It comes from Center English, English that was used in the course of the Center Ages.

Why do you look so woebegone?

Verb: Lollygag has nothing to do with lollies or gags–it really means to be idle and lazy or to waste time.

It’s commonest within the USA. It’s common to listen to mother and father shout to their youngsters to “cease lollygagging.” Now you’ll know what they’re speaking about!

The phrase has been used for the reason that 1800s. 

He virtually misplaced his part-time job as a result of he saved lollygagging.   

Noun: Frankenfood could be very new when in comparison with all the opposite phrases on the record because it got here into existence within the Nineties.

It’s used informally for genetically modified (GM) meals. GM meals are these which were scientifically altered ultimately and haven’t grown naturally.

Frankenfood is a mixture of the phrases Frankenstein and meals. 

I’m not consuming there! They use Frankenfoods!

Noun: A conundrum is a complicated thriller. It’s a troublesome puzzle or query that isn’t straightforward to resolve… or it might not be solvable in any respect!

The historical past of the phrase is itself a conundrum. It was used for the reason that 1600s and appears like a Latin phrase, however nobody’s actually certain the place it got here from. It’s thought that the phrase was initially an insult for a demanding individual.

Peter is the neatest child in our class, however even he can’t determine this conundrum of a math drawback.

Noun: Shenanigans is a enjoyable phrase to explain actions which might be foolish, annoying or dishonest. 

It’s believed that the phrase was first used in the course of the mid-Nineteenth century in California. It could possibly be that shenanigans was created from the Spanish phrase charranada (to trick) or the Irish sionnachwigham (to play tips). The primary half of sionnachwigham—sionnach—really means fox, which is a really difficult animal certainly.

Tom’s shenanigans at school make it laborious for the scholars to focus on their work.

Noun: A hodgepodge is a jumble or complicated mess of issues that don’t actually make sense collectively. 

It comes from the French hochepot, a tasty conventional stew that mixes collectively every kind of elements, each meat and greens. 

That film was horrible. It was only a hodgepodge of unhealthy appearing and peculiar dialogue.

Adjective: A cantankerous individual isn’t very nice—as a substitute, they’re indignant, cussed and laborious to take care of.

The phrase was recorded getting used for the reason that mid-18th century. It’s believed that at the very least the cantank– half got here from the Center English phrase contek, which suggests disagreement.

Mr. Smith is such a cantankerous outdated man. He at all times yells at everybody to depart him alone.

Noun: A klutz is a careless individual, somebody who journeys on their ft and drops issues.

Used for the reason that late twentieth century, it’s an “Americanized” model of the Jewish Yiddish phrase klots, which suggests “block” or “lump.” The phrase klots is also related to the German klotz, which suggests the identical factor.

Lana is a complete klutz. She tripped whereas carrying the groceries, and now there are greens everywhere in the ground.

Noun: A claptrap is kind of like gibberish or poppycock—a bunch of talks that has no sense or reality to it.

The phrase was used as early because the 1700s. Again then, claptrap was a time period utilized in theater to explain the occasion of getting the viewers to clap for an act or trick. 

Don’t take heed to Kate’s claptrap. She at all times brags about how a lot work she does, however she’s by no means completed any task!

Noun: A fuddy-duddy is somebody who’s old school and conventional, a lot in order that they damage another person’s enjoyable. 

The phrase was used ranging from the late Nineteenth century, and the truth that it rhymes might be to make it sound extra teasing and insulting. 

These days, it’s not quite common to name somebody a fuddy-duddy, however it’s nonetheless a enjoyable phrase to make use of.

Cease being such a fuddy-duddy, Mother! That is what’s common now, so I’m carrying this costume even when you hate it.

Verb: Skedaddle means to depart shortly, normally since you’re making an attempt to run away from one thing.

It was a slang phrase that was utilized by troopers in the course of the American Civil Struggle (1861-1865). Again then, saying that somebody skedaddled in all probability steered that they have been being a coward. 

It’s doable that skedaddle got here from an outdated British phrase scaddle (nervous, to run off in worry).

Uh oh, the boss is coming over right here and he or she seems to be indignant. We should always skedaddle!

Verb: Bamboozle doesn’t have something to do with the bamboo plant. It means to trick or mislead somebody!

It first got here into use across the early 1700s. One common idea about its origin is that it could possibly be from the Scottish phrase bombaze (to confuse). 

These door-to-door salesmen at all times attempt to bamboozle me into shopping for one thing ineffective!

Adjective: First utilized by the British navy within the early twentieth century, bonkers initially meant to be barely drunk or dizzy. Now, it simply means loopy or wild, whether or not in an excellent or unhealthy approach.

It’s believed that bonkers got here from the prevailing phrase bonk (to hit on the top), since getting bonked on the top may positively result in some unusual habits.

Tim goes to go completely bonkers when he finds out his favourite baseball group misplaced immediately’s sport.

Noun: A brouhaha is a giant, loud fuss over one thing, and normally not for an excellent cause!

The phrase comes instantly from the outdated French brouhaha, which was utilized in Sixteenth-century theater as a sound impact for demon characters. Attempt saying it, loudly and slowly—it does sound a bit scary. 

There was a giant brouhaha after the city’s hottest ice cream store immediately shut down.

Noun: A nincompoop simply means a dumb individual–it doesn’t actually have something to do with bathroom actions, as a result of.

This phrase has a really unclear historical past. It’s positively outdated, because it was used for the reason that 1600s. One idea in regards to the nincom– half is that it could be from the French phrase nicodème, which may confer with a silly individual.

I can’t imagine I fell for that rip-off. I’m an entire nincompoop.

Adjective: To be gobsmacked is to be so shocked that your mouth drops and you may’t converse.

It’s really two phrases in a single: gob means mouth in British and Scottish slang, and smack means to hit. It gained common use across the mid-1900s. 

She was gobsmacked when she received the lottery.

Verb: Guffaw means to snicker loudly. It’s related to the Scottish phrase gawf, a laughing sound impact.

It really works, too, as a result of it sounds hilarious—strive laughing by saying gawf many times, and you can in all probability make another person guffaw from how foolish it sounds.

Nancy’s joke was horrible, however John guffawed as if it have been the funniest factor he’d ever heard.

Verb: To flabbergast means to shock or shock, and flabbergasted (adjective) is analogous in that means to gobsmacked. 

It was talked about in {a magazine} from 1772 as a preferred slang phrase, however how the phrase was created is unknown. Some assume it’s a phrase from an English dialect, whereas others assume that it could possibly be a mixture of the phrases flabby (to be comfortable or limp) and aghast (to be shocked).

The physician was flabbergasted when his affected person mentioned she walked on a damaged ankle for 2 months.

Whereas these are all nice examples of bizarre English phrases, they aren’t the one ones on the market. To search out weirder phrases, you possibly can expose your self to native English and naturally come throughout a few of these funky phrases. 

Attempt studying books, watching motion pictures or listening to music in English—all of those are nice methods to select up new vocabulary.