h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Chavs and Neds (south and north of the border respectively).

Thanks Vestie

I agree that some use 'chav' snobbishly, but it's also quite specific, isn't it - those teens in fake Burberry.

There's all sorts of terms for gypsies as well, but I think there's a distinction between using a word as a snobbish term for a large section of society, and using it as a targeted insult. What do you think?

In my neck of the woods chavs sort of refers to young people who live on council estates. I think the word was in use before the burberry connection.
Wasn't there a backronymn something like Council Housing Adolescent Vandals?


I like guttersnipe.

I heard of Council House and Violent.

Yeah, in that sort of ballpark.

I knew it as CHeltenham AVerage. In reality though, very few words are formed in such a fashion.

Yes, I read that somewhere - supposedly from Cheltenham Ladies College. I can't see them being a major influence on English vernacular.