Idiom
have a butcher's
Meanings
to take a look at something; to have a quick look
Definition
In British English, “have a butcher's” means to take a quick look at something.
“Have a butcher's” is an informal British idiom meaning to look at something, often briefly or casually. It is commonly used when someone offers to show something or asks permission to look. It comes from rhyming slang where “butcher’s hook” rhymes with “look.”
Examples
- Have a butcher's at this message and tell me what you think.
- Can I have a butcher's at your new bike?
- Come over and have a butcher's at the new sofa.
- Have a butcher's at the timetable and see which train is fastest.
Common mistake
Learners often use this idiom in formal writing, but it is very informal and mainly used in British conversational English.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (verb phrase)s
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something you were responsible for.
- have a chinwag To have a chinwag means to have a relaxed, friendly chat with someone.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of what you have done or a difficult situation.