Britishisms

A dreadful [noun]: Very potentially ruinous, ex. "After hitting an iceberg, the Titanic's Captain was in a dreadful stew."

Never: A symptom of classical denial, ex. "We're about to drown, old boy." "Never!"

Deuce(d): As synonymous with excretion or procreation, ex. "We about struck the deuced thing."

Rotten Luck: An understated tragedy, ex. "And to think I just got over my fear of water to make this cruise." "Oh, that is rotten luck."

Rather: Very much, I agree wholeheartedly, ex. "I daresay, this water is a mite cold." "Rather."

A mite [adjective]: Grave, dire, serious, ex. "Short a rescue boat, lady we appear to be in a mite sticky situation."

A bit odd: Disturbing, disconcerting, ex. "A bit odd, really: can't feel my feet."

Typical: 'God hates us all', ex. "Bloody typical: band's playing off-key now."

I shouldn't want…: Blatant begging, ex. "I shouldn't want to disturb you, old sport, but I seem to be drowning."

Stiff upper lip: Fortitude, tolerance, ex. "Try to drown within one's station, old boy. Stiff upper lip! Yes, all very British, it is."

Oh dear: A vigorous expletive, ex. "Oh dear, I believe that was a shark."

Regards: Salutations, condolences, ex. "If by chance any of you may be so good as to survive, if you could, give my regards to my missus."

Very good of you: Expression of appreciation, ex. "Yes, old chap, it's very good of you to offer your gun's mercy."

A fondest pleasure: Acknowledgement of appreciations, ex. "It would be my fondest pleasure to serve you a kind bullet or two, say."

By the by: An addendum, ex. "By the by, I have six bullets. We are seven."

A cabby: An effort, ex. "Oh, rather typical, that. Perhaps, if it's no trouble at all, we ought stick our heads aside another and have a cabby at it that way."