Chrimbo means: Christmas, especially with regard to its more secular and commercial aspects.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Chrimbo
(British, slang) Christmas, especially with regard to its more secular and commercial aspects.
Etymology timeline
Born ~1928 · no dated citations yetDefinitions
(British, slang) Christmas, especially with regard to its more secular and commercial aspects.
The thing is, The Montrose is cracker on a Thursday night, never mind that the Chrimbo lunacy season has kicked off good and proper.
Chrimbo means: Christmas, especially with regard to its more secular and commercial aspects.. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Chrimbo means: Christmas, especially with regard to its more secular and commercial aspects.. Register: very informal, slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.
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Semantically related
- 75%
(British, humorous) Christmas.
- 72%
A playful, slightly irreverent British nickname for Christmas. Calling it Crimble instantly signals a relaxed, self-aware attitude toward the holiday — it pokes gentle fun at all the seasonal fuss while still embracing the festive spirit. It's particularly popular in humorous writing, tabloid headlines, and among people who love Christmas but can't quite bring themselves to say the word with a straight face. Think tinsel, terrible jumpers, and an absurd amount of food — that's Crimble energy.
- 64%
(dated) The period around Christmas; the Christmas season, Christmastime; specifically, Christmas itself.
- 60%
(US, informal, retail, and, marketing) The winter season starting around Thanksgiving (typically Black Friday) and ending at or about New Year's Eve.
- 59%
(derogatory, slang) A Christian.