# Charlie

/ˈtʃɑɹɫi/ (US) · /tʃˈɑːli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/charlie
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. phonetic code for 'C'

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the standard word used to represent the letter 'C' when speaking over a radio or phone.

For teachers: the international radiotelephony spelling alphabet code word for the letter 'C'.

- The pilot confirmed the coordinates as Alpha Bravo Charlie.
- To avoid confusion during the storm, the dispatcher spelled out the vessel's name using the phonetic alphabet, starting with 'Charlie'.

### 2. a fool

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

a person who acts in a silly or stupid way.

For teachers: a foolish or silly person; often used in the phrase 'a right charlie'.

- I felt like a bit of a charlie when I realized I was wearing two different shoes.
- He made a right charlie of himself by arguing with the referee over a decision that was clearly correct on the replay.

### 3. cocaine

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a slang name for the illegal drug cocaine.

For teachers: a slang term for cocaine, derived from the initial letter 'C'.

- The police found a small bag of charlie in the suspect's car.
- The documentary explored the devastating impact that the trade in charlie has had on local communities over the last decade.

### 4. the enemy

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang

a term used by soldiers to refer to the enemy, especially during the Vietnam War.

For teachers: a slang term for the Vietcong, derived from 'Victor Charlie' in the phonetic alphabet; by extension, any opposing military force.

- The soldiers were warned that Charlie might be hiding in the dense jungle ahead.
- Veterans often recounted the psychological toll of fighting an elusive enemy they referred to simply as Charlie.

## Examples

- He was arrested for carrying a small bag of Charlie.
- The club was shut down after the police found evidence of Charlie being sold in the bathrooms.
- In the gritty underworld of the novel, the protagonist's downfall is accelerated by his growing dependence on Charlie, which eventually drains his finances and alienates his few remaining allies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.