Important Words and Phrases, Part Two

• Cottaging: A British gay slang term referring to anonymous sex between men in a public lavatory (a "cottage", "tea-room" or "beat"), or cruising for sexual partners with the intention of having sex elsewhere. The term has its roots in self-contained English toilet blocks resembling small cottages in their appearance.

A bathroom in England that resembles a cottage (cosy, countryside home)

• General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE): An academic qualification awarded in specific subjects taken by students aged 14 to 16 (year 9 to year 11) in secondary school, the equivalent of the United States' high school. Normally, eight to ten subjects are studied, though it is common for more to be studied. Compulsory subjects are English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education, Physical Education, and some form of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and citizenship. An "A-Level" is a GCE Advanced Level, and an "O-Level" is a GCE Ordinary Level. (The "O-Level" no longer exists.)
• Karl famously received his GCSE results from Ricky and Steve thirteen years after he took the test. Although he turned up for and took exams in several subjects, he only registered for History, which is only qualification. He received an E, the last passing grade one can receive before failing.
• The GCSEs have changed significantly since Ricky, Steve, and Karl took them.

 

• Gobbledygook: Jargon or convoluted English that results in it being excessively hard to understand
• Ricky is know for speaking a lot of gobbledygook, especially on the XFM shows
• U.S. Representative Maury Maverick coined this phrase in 1944 as an onomatopoeic imitation of a turkey's gobble.

 

• Hammer and Tongs: A phrase meaning "with great energy and force," often phrased "to go at it with hammer and tongs" (to argue fiercely). The origins of this phrase is from blacksmithing

• Magpie: The European Magpie is a resident breeding bird throughout Europe, which is part of the crow family. (There are other types of magpies, such as the Australian Magpie.)
• Karl had a "pet" magpie, named Maggie, who followed him and sat on his finger. Maggie popped Karl's bike tires, pecked at Karl's head, and flew away for good when Karl took Maggie to his school in Manchester.

A European Magpie in Manchester, England

• Perambulator: A baby carriage

 

•  Trilby: Used as a synonym for a short-brimmed fedora in the UK, but it is distinguished by a very narrow brim that is sharply turned upward

Trilby Hat

Fedora Hat
(Matt Bomer as Neal Caffrey on "White Collar")

More to come, including: (1) Congestion Charge, (2) Having a Go, (3) HMV, (4) Mobile Disco, (5) Snidey--AND MORE! 

Compiled by Jill A Hurley

Some information from Wikipedia and WikiMobile