guv

[guhv]

noun

Chiefly British Informal.

1. term of address used to a man, especially by a younger man, boy, employee, or social inferior.

2. governor.

guv

/ ɡʌv, ˈɡʌvnə /

noun

1. an informal name for governor

Word History and Origins

Origin of guv¹

First recorded in 1850–55; by shortening and respelling

Example Sentences

"As a kid, I was used to watching these wonderful black-and-white films with my nana - 'Cor blimey, guv’na, let’s push through the war'," Graham joked, adopting an exaggerated Cockney accent.

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This government is trying to stave that off for as long as possible by shouting from the rooftops: “It’s not us, guv!”

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Lord Arbuthnot continues: "Since the government owned the Post Office, I had assumed they would be in a position to sort it out - but they were saying ‘no, not me guv’."

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And you look at all those innocent people strolling around the world looking so healthy and fit and happy and you think: 'You don't know guv, what's coming down the road.'

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The prime minister, who only arrived in parliament in 2015, really cannot do the "don't blame me guv routine" anymore, they argue.

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