What is cab in British slang? It means a taxi or hired car. In the UK cab is used interchangeably with taxi, and you will hear it in everyday talk, such as “I called a cab to get home”.
The word also turns up in set phrases. Asking “Did you catch a cab?” is a common way to check whether someone took a taxi. People talk about a cab fare, hailing a cab, waiting for a cab or getting out of a cab.
How cab is used in everyday speech
Locals say “I’m catching a cab” instead of “I’m taking a taxi”. You might hear someone recommend a good cab firm or ask “Where’s the nearest cab rank?” These phrases are friendly and familiar, and they are common in London, Manchester and smaller towns alike.
In slang, cab can also suggest an informal, quick and easy way to get around, though the core meaning stays the same.
Cab in Canada and Vancouver
Cab is mostly a British slang term, but it also appears in Canadian cities such as Vancouver, where British influence stayed in everyday words. In Vancouver it remains a common word for taxis, so the language is shared across the two places. Vancouver may use it a little less than speakers in the UK. In Canada cabby and taxi are also common.
Where the word comes from
Cab comes from cabriolet, a French name for a lightweight, two-wheeled carriage. In the 17th and 18th centuries horse-drawn carriages were called cabs. The word shortened over time, and in the UK it became slang for a taxicab as motorized taxis spread in cities like London and replaced the carriages.
Useful phrases
If you are talking about a night out or a trip to the train station, you can say “call a cab” or “hail a cab”. After someone gets home late, ask “Did you get a cab?” Another frequent phrase is “jump in a cab”, used when plans change on the spot. Travellers from BC will find cab is the usual word across British cities.