What it means
A very British way to say something was excellent, seriously good, or properly impressive. You can use it for a match, a meal, a night out, a bit of work, even how someone looks. It often comes out as a quick shout of approval too. Sounds a bit old-school now, but that’s part of its charm and people still get it straight away.
Usage examples
"He had a blinding game at five-a-side, bagged two goals and an assist, and still had the cheek to say he was rusty."
"That curry last night was absolutely blinding, I've been thinking about it all day."
"She did a blinding job presenting the report, even the finance lot were impressed."
"That little chippy by the station is blinding, proper no-frills and every bit slaps."
"You looked blinding last night, mate, whole outfit was doing the business."
Where it comes from
It comes from the ordinary adjective blinding, meaning dazzlingly bright. In British slang, that literal punch got turned into praise in the mid 1900s. If something was blinding, it hit so hard it felt almost dazzling. It cropped up a lot in working-class chat, football talk, and pub banter.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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