Where can I find examples of late 1960s / early 70s Liverpool slang?

Question

Cheers, Roblou. I've actually written a play set in Liverpool, at the time of the 1970 Grand National. Just wanted a few bits and pieces of contemporary slang that a local audience might recognise.

Answer 1

Im no Scouser, but here's a list you may find a few usefull tidbits from

ackers - (money/cash)
ale 'ouse - (pub)
ali - (barber/hair dresser)
antwakky - (antique/old fashioned)
are-eh - pronounced "R A" - A complaint of misfortune or unfairness (e.g. "are-eh, that's proper arlarse that!")
arlarse - (mean, unfair or crafty person or act, also 'arl')
auld - (old)
bag'ead - (heroin addict)
bail - (run away)
bang - (Threaten to harm somebody, e.g. 'I'll bang you lad')
beak - (cocaine/(the) judge)
bell end - (idiot [offensive])
beast/beastie - (great/boss)
bevvie/bevvy - (alcoholic drink)
bevvied - (drunk)
bezzy - (best)
biddie - (woman (normally old))
biff - (a poor person/idiot)
bifta/bifter - (cigarette)
big girl's blouse (wimp [male])
bill - (alone/on one's own e.g. 'I'm on my bill')
billy - (a loner)
binnie - (binman)
bizzies - (the police)
blurt - (seman/idiot)
boss - (excellent)
boxer - (coffin maker)
bute - (a smug self righteous know-it-all/snob)
cackhanded - (inept person or left-handed person)
casey - (leather football)
chest - (a muscley person 'He's a chest him')
chief - (thief)
chiefed - (stolen)
class - (really good)
cob on - (sulking / angry as in "He has a cob-on")
come 'ed - (come on, contraction of "come ahead")
cozzy - (costume, usually swimming-)
dead - (really, e.g. 'dead smart')
dipper - (pickpocket)
Dirty Bastard - (a person from Manchester)
divvy - (stupid person)
do in - (to beat someone up/damage something e.g. 'I'll do you in!'/'I did in my back')
duff up - (beat up)
emmy oggie - (empty house)
firebobby - (a fireman)
freemans - (someone else paying for the ale)
fit - (good looking)
gary - (ecstasy [tablet]. Named after Gary Ablett)
geg - (to interrupt or be nosey)
get - (idiot, sometimes preceded with "dozey" or "dopey")
gizza - (shortened form of the words "give me a...")
gizzit - (give it to me, contraction of "give us it")
go 'ed - (shortened form of "go ahead", "go on", or "ok then")
gorra - (got to, have to)
gozzie - (cross eyed)
grock - (Phlegm. Also a large intimidating person)
head - (someone who is physically tough. Also used as a suffix to anything, usually describing characteristics e.g. 'you mad'ead')
ozzie/ozzy - (hospital)
in a bit - (goodbye)
is right - (an expression of support/approval/agreement)
it's all going off - (to describe a physical fight)
jarg - (fake)
jigger - (back alley of a house)
joey - (a person of mental handicapp)
judy - (young woman)
judy scuffer - (a policewoman)
kecks - (underpants or trousers)
knackers - (testicles)
khazi - (toilet)
kidda - (lad, mate)
la - (lad, friend)
latchlifter - (price of half a pint of ale)
laughin' - (good)
'leccy - (electric)
leg it - (run away)
luzz - (throw)
made up - (happy/pleased)
meff - (idiot)
messy - (intoxicated)
nob'ead - (idiot [offensive])
penguin house - (a convent)
plums - (testicles)
pure - (meaning really, or a lot, e.g. 'I was pure embarrassed lerd')
prezzie - (present)
privvy - (the toilet)
properly - (pronouned 'prop'ly'. An intensifier e.g. 'that's properly good')
Scally - (sub grouping of youths, similar to chav, shortened from scallywag meaning 'mischievous youth')
scatty - (dirty/disgusting)
scone 'ead - (idiot)
scran - (food)
scrat end - (Burnt chips)
scuffer - (a policeman)
shady - (dubious, unfair)
sketchy - (dodgy)
skinny - (sly/unfair)
sloobag - (promiscuous person)
smart - (great, brilliant)
soft lad - (idiot - a term of endearment or aggression depending on context)
sound - (good, well, I agree)
sly - (devious, nefarious, sordid e.g 'That's sly that')
spends - (money)
spoon - (To kick a ball badly, to make a mistake)
sweed - (A person's head e.g 'He is getting on my sweed')
tatty'ead - (somebody with an objectionable/scruffy haircut)
tod - (alone/on one's own e.g. 'I'm just on my tod')
trainies/trabs - (sports footwear)
twirlie/twirly - (a female pensioner)
us - (me)
west - (peculiar/unusual/mad)
Wool/Woollyback - (Non-Liverpudlians living in areas surrounding Liverpool)
wrecks (to hurt/cause discomfort e.g. 'That's wreckin' my head')
yews/youse - (plural version of "you")

Answer 2

Beatles, Zeppelin, Skynyrd, Sabbath, Deep Purple, Cash, Uriah Heep, Aerosmith, KISS, Bob Dylan, Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, The Yardbirds, The Band, The Stooges, Doobie Brothers, The Monkees, Styx, Queen, Electric Light Orchestra, Blind Faith, Cream, Derek & The Dominos Eric Clapton, Grateful Dead, David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, Elton John, The Eagles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top, Marvin Gaye, Van Morrison, Meatloaf, Rolling Stones, Steppenwolf, Bob Marley, Santana, Steve Miller Band, Humble Pie, REO Speedwagon, Nazareth, The Kinks, B.B. King, Neil Young, Johnny Winter, Alice Cooper, King Crimson, Sweet, Yes, Grand Funk Railroad, Billy Joel, T. Rex, Steely Dan, Genesis, J. Geils Band, James Brown, Bo Diddley, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Scorpions, Miles Davis, The Guess Who, Slade, Stevie Wonder, Peter Frampton, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Chicago, Foghat, Thin Lizzy. I think that's enough for now. lol

Answer 3

there is a form of slang that was used in liverpool called backslang but i dont think it was used just in the 60s or 70s. if you get in touch with b.b.c. radio merseyside there is a disc jockey with a show on sat afternoons that actually uses backslang unfortunately i cant remember his name. hope this helps.

Answer 4

I guess a good place would be on people's home movies from that era, TV shows or radio recordings may be helpful too. Try a library and see what they have - you might be surprised.

Answer 5

why and what do you need to know im a scouser and was born and bread in liverpool so have all my family right back to the 1900's.
tell me what you need to know and ill try find out for you!!

Answer 6

I have one its called lern yerself SCOUSE or the abzof scouse By Linacre Lane B.Sc.