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At optimum — at its best, ideally.

Back bench — one of the crowd; not a leader (after British members of parliament, who if they don’t hold a specific office sit on what are known as ‘the back benches’ of the House of Commons).

Begging bowl — implement used by panhandlers to collect their successes.

Blighters — characters, chaps, fellows, guys (often a term of contempt).

Boffin — an expert working in (especially military) research.

To boot — as well, also, into the bargain.

Broad church — representing a wide range of views and opinions.

Charity —nonprofit organisation.

Chunter — mutter, grumble, talk volubly.

Commoner — someone without a title.

Development — as well as the usual meanings, in Britain, overseas aid nonprofits are often known as development charities.

Folding money — cash, in notes.

Gingerly — timidly.

The great and the good — those considered (often by themselves) to be important, pre-eminent, worthy; seen at, or involved in, all the ‘best’ events.

High Street — Main Street.

Hostelry — bar, drinking establishment, place of comfort.

Legacy — bequest or estate gift.

Lobbing — throwing.

Miffed — displeased, disappointed, offended.

Not on your nelly — no way José.

On the nod — allowed through, passed without discussion.

One off — one time.

Organisation — organization.

Pashmina — a type of shawl from Nepal made from finest cashmere; it is said that if it can’t be passed through a wedding ring, it’s fake.

Pipped at the post — beaten by a nose.

Proof of the pudding — proof, test, or trial, as in ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating’.

Rabbit — talk excessively or pointlessly, chatter.

Regency — in Tiny Essentials of an Effective Volunteer Board, refers to a style of architecture dating back to the time of the Prince Regent — 1811 to 1820 — who became King George IV.

Remit — terms of reference.

See off — dismiss, ward off, get the better of.

Settle — deal with.

Scheme — program, programme.

Smartly turned out — presentable, well dressed.

Their bit — their part.

Throw in the towel — quit.

To have the floor — to be allowed to speak to those assembled.

Tommy-rot — nonsense.

Waffle — as well as being a type of cake, to talk nonsense, to go on and on pointlessly, verbal rubbish.

Wally — a nitwit, idiot.

Wodge — chunk or wedge.