What it means
Tidy is Welsh approval in one handy word. Someone nails a job, good news lands, or a plan works out, you’ll hear tidy as a cheerful stamp of satisfaction in everyday chat. It means great, sorted, exactly right, and it’s often said with a grin or a nod. You might even hear tidy butt for extra warmth, especially in South Wales.
Usage examples
"Passed my driving test first go, mun. Tidy, butt. Get yourself down the pub, we’re having a couple and celebrating like proper."
"That breakfast was tidy, butt, exactly what I needed after walking up the mountain."
"Got a tidy job lined up after Christmas, decent pay and ten minutes from the house."
Where it comes from
Welsh English semantic broadening of the standard English adjective "tidy" (neat, orderly), which from the early 20th century in the Valleys and Cardiff began to function as an all-purpose stamp of approval. Possibly influenced by the Welsh word "taclus" (neat, satisfactory) which has the same dual life. The Welsh tidy is a thumbs-up word, used for anything from a meal to a colleague who covered a shift.
Other ways to say it
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.