High Fidelity,

by Nick Hornby (1995)

Terms and Images

p.4: news agent = news stand
Off-license = convenience store/liquor store/betting shop

p.5: swingboat = playground ride

p.6: Lemsips = cold remedy (like a tea)

p.7: snog = make out (kissing, etc.)

p.8: fag = cigarette
scrubber = a slut
Nationwide = evening news program

p.10: quid = one pound (money)

p.14: shagged = had sex

p.19: spot-on = absolutely correct

p.20: course = a school program (undergrad)

p.22: anorak = hooded coat

p.29: wanker = masturbator

p.36: flat = apartment
row = fight

p.45: coach = bus

p.46: knickers = underwear

p.47: duvet = comforter
Brookside omnibus = evening soap opera; complete collection

p.55: knackered = broken, out of luck

p.59: tatty = ripped-up
bitter = type of beer

p.60: buzzy = hopping/popular
pint = a serving of drink in a pub (beer or cider)
handbills = flyers/advertisements

p.62: Sarah Green, Going Live = Like Saved by the Bell

berk = undesirable person (Cockney)

p.73: daft = silly/crazy

p.81: roll-ups = hand-rolled cigarettes
dog-ends = left-over cigarettes ends

p.90: Thatcher = former Prime Minister of England (extremely conservative)

p.96: Peter Greenaway film = art film director

p.97: rubbishes = bad-mouths/humiliates

p.102: the 29 = bus route

p. 103: Mia Farrow = 1960s actress (blonde)

(with Frank Sinatra)

last revised 4/06