The English We Speak
25 December, 2012
Chuffed
Kaz: (Very happy) Hello, I'm Kaz.
Yang Li: And I'm Yang Li. Hey Kaz, you're looking very happy today, what's up 
what's happened?
Kaz:
Well Li, you know that singing competition I went in for?
Yang Li: Oh yes, the singing competition, what about it?
Kaz: Ah (with pride) I came first.
Yang Li: You did? Congratulations! You came first in the singing competition! Wow!
No wonder you're so happy.
Kaz:
I certainly am Li. I'm feeling really chuffed.
Yang Li: Feeling really chuffed?
Kaz:
Yes, I'm feeling really chuffed  I'm feeling really pleased with myself.
Yang Li: 'Chuffed'  so 'feeling chuffed', means feeling pleased with yourself?
Kaz:
That's right.
Yang Li: So, for example, when I passed my driving test  many years ago  I felt
chuffed with myself.
Kaz: I'm sure you did Li  I'm sure you were really chuffed with yourself.
Yang Li: OK. So, 'to feel' or 'to be' chuffed about something means to be pleased
with life  to be pleased with achieving something. 'Chuffed' - I like the
sound of it. Let's listen to some more examples:
Examples
I say Alice. I'm feeling rather chuffed with my exam results. I got a distinction!
Congratulations! You've been promoted. You must be feeling well chuffed!
She's lost four kilos, she must be very chuffed.
Yang Li: Kaz, in those examples, I noticed that you can say 'rather chuffed' and
'well chuffed' what's the difference?
Kaz: Well spotted Li. I'd say that 'rather chuffed' is quite formal and perhaps
even a little old fashioned.
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Yang Li: And 'well chuffed'?
Kaz: 'Well chuffed' is much more informal and more colloquial.
Yang Li: Which one would you prefer then?
Kaz:
I think I prefer 'rather chuffed'.
Yang Li: Well, I think we can be rather chuffed with ourselves today.
Kaz:
How so Li?
Yang Li: We've successfully completed another programme.
Both: Bye!
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