What does biffer mean?
Biffer is an informal verb, used chiefly in British English and also in Australia and New Zealand, meaning to strike or punch someone hard with the fist. It belongs to the same slang family as the noun-and-verb "biff," a long-standing informal word for a blow or a thump. The verb carries a rough-and-ready, physical connotation — the sort of language heard in playground scuffles, pub quarrels, or banter about settling a dispute with fists — and would be out of place in formal speech or writing. Typical usage appears in threats and reported confrontations, as in "he threatened to biffer anyone who laughed at him." Because of its colloquial flavour, writers reaching for a vivid but casual synonym for "punch" may find it useful, though its regional reach is limited and many American readers will be unfamiliar with it.
verbTo strike or punch someone hard with the fist; to hit forcefully.
- To strike or punch someone hard with the fist.
"He threatened to biffer anyone who mocked his team again."
"The two lads squared up, each threatening to biffer the other."
"He said he'd biffer the first person who touched his pint."
In British slang, if you biffer someone you're not texting them — you're thumping them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of biffer
The verb "biffer" is formed from the older informal word "biff," which has been used in English since at least the nineteenth century as both a noun meaning a heavy blow and a verb meaning to deliver one. The origin of "biff" itself is uncertain; it is generally regarded as imitative or expressive in character — echoing the sound of a blunt impact — rather than derived from another language. Adding the agentive-style suffix "-er" produced "biffer" as a colloquial variant, used especially in British, Australian and New Zealand speech.
How biffer is actually used
Informal and colloquial, chiefly British, Australian and New Zealand English. Carries a rough, playground- or pub-brawl connotation rather than serious violence; it is not used in formal writing.
Easily confused with biffer
"Biff" can be both a noun meaning a blow and a verb meaning to hit, while "biffer" is used only as a verb for delivering such a blow.