'Flabbergasted' among top 20 classic British phrases the public wants to revive

Classic British phrases like flabbergasted, chuffed, and gobsmacked are among the time-honoured words the public would love to see make a regular comeback, according to a new poll.

The research of 2,000 adults revealed a wave of nostalgia for lingo such as bamboozled, codswallop, and kerfuffle, which are now rarely or never used. In fact, only 6% of those polled admitted to regularly using the word ‘balderdash’ (meaning nonsense), yet 81% believe there are wonderful words that deserve to be dusted off.

Tesco Mobile, which commissioned the research, partnered with Tom Daley and Gyles Brandreth to release the ‘Essential Words of the Year, to support the brand’s Essentials pay-as-you-go tariff.

Olympic diver and broadcaster Tom Daley, who notably reacted to Kate Garraway’s use of flamboyant language on the Celebrity Traitors, said: "There is real power when using new, or sometimes time-old phrases.

“They’re a great way to make conversations more interesting, especially with so many of us communicating through texts or calls. I love to chat and feel really inspired to broaden my word repertoire.” 

The study found a strong appetite for reintroducing the lost lingo, with 42% of respondents reckoning the words could make a comeback if they were given a modern twist, such as abbreviating codswallop to simply talking ‘cods’. 

A third also felt adapting words in this way would help bridge the generational gap in communication.

Despite their playful and often flamboyant nature, 62% of those polled agreed that these older words are clearer than their modern-day counterparts.

The vast majority of respondents (73%), rising to 81% for 25-to-34-year-olds, agreed that reviving these phrases would make conversations more interesting.

Writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth added: “We should celebrate these lost phrases and keep them alive”