Dictionary of Unconventional English_18 doc

Rhyming slang, formed from a nurseryrhymeUK , 1992 three-bugnounin horse racing, an inexperienced jockey given aweight allowance of ten poundsUS , 1990 three-cents peoplenouna poor famil

thong feminismnouncontemporary forms of feminismCANADA , 2002

thookverbto spitUK , 2006

thooleramawnnouna contemptible, incompetent personIRELAND ,

1989

Thora Hird; Thoranoun1a third-class university degree Rhyming

slang, based on British stage and screen actress Dame Thora Hird

(1911–2003)UK , 1998.2a turd, hence an act of defecation

Rhyming slang, based on the name of British stage and screen

actress Dame Thora Hird (1911–2003)UK , 2002

thorazine shufflenounthe slow, dragging walk of a patient being

medicated with thorazineUS , 1994

thornnoun1a nail Used by workers in the building trade in

GlasgowUK: SCOTLAND , 1988.2a knifeUS , 1993

thoroughbrednouna drug dealer who sells high quality, pure drugs

US , 1970

those daysnounthe bleed period of a woman’s menstrual cycleUS ,

1954

thounoun1a thousand US , 1867.2a thousandth of an inch UK , 1902

thoughused, after a question or statement, as an intensifier; truly

A colloquial termUK , 1905

thousand milernouna sateen shirt worn by railway workersUS , 1946

thousand percentadverbcompletely The most famous use of the

term in the US came in 1972 when Democratic presidential

nominee Senator George McGovern announced that he was ‘one

thousand percent’ in support of his running mate, Thomas

Eagleton, despite revelations that Eagleton had once received

shock treatment; McGovern dropped Eagleton from the ticket

several days after this endorsementUS , 1963

thousand-yard stare; thousand-metre starenouna lost,

unfocused look, especially as the result of brutal combatUS , 1986

thou shalt not be found out; thou shalt not get found out

propounded as the Eleventh CommandmentUK , 1974

thrapverb(of a male) to masturbateUK , 2001

thrashnoun1a high-spirited partyUK , 1967.2a style of hard rock

music that appeals to disaffected suburban adolescent boys – fast,

relentlessly loud and heavyUS , 1994

thrashverb1to surf aggressively and with skillUS , 1988.2to

skateboard aggressively and with skillUS , 1989.3in drag racing, to

work on a car hurriedly if not frantically in the hours just before a

raceUS , 2003

thrashedadjectivetired, worn-down, exhausted, especially as a result

of excessive indulgence in hedonistic pleasures; dishevelledUS , 1999

thrashernoun1a party where guests bring bottles of alcohol that

are poured into a rubbish bin for all to share Michigan Upper

Peninsula practice and usageUS , 2003.2a person who violently

responds to the pricks of a tattoo needleUS , 1997.3a skilled and

fearless skateboarderUS , 1984

threadersadjectivefed-up; being ready to lose your temper Royal

Navy, especially marine, slang; an abbreviation of ‘threadbare’,

suggesting patience worn thinUK , 1989

threadsnounclothesUS , 1926

threenouna three-dollar bag of heroinUS , 1976.< or threeeither

by exaggeration or understatement, used for emphasis of an

amountUK , 1976

three; three upverbin prison, to share a cell with two other

inmatesUK , 1996

three and a halfnounin Quebec, an apartment with a living room,

kitchen, bedroom and bathroom Similarly, in Quebec, a

‘two-and-a-half’ is an apartment with a living-dining room, bedroom and

bathroom; a ‘four-and a half’ has two bedrooms; and so forth up

to ‘seven-and-a-half’CANADA , 2002

three and fournouna whore Rhyming slangUK , 2003

three-baggernoun1an unattractive girl From the tease that she is

so ugly that you have to put two bags over her head and one over

yoursUS , 1987.2a train pulled by three enginesUS , 1946

three-ballsnouna Jewish person An allusion to the historical

three blind micenounrice Rhyming slang, formed from a nurseryrhymeUK , 1992

three-bugnounin horse racing, an inexperienced jockey given aweight allowance of ten poundsUS , 1990

three-cents peoplenouna poor family When the colonial BritishGuyana dollar was based on the British pound sterling, ‘threecents’ was used to indicate cheapness The term survives as ametaphorical relicGUYANA , 1998

three-Dadjectivesaid of a school that recruits basketball players butdoes not prepare them for life after college It is said that the

college that does not teach players to play defense, does not instill

discipline, and in the end does not award diplomas to many of its

student athletesUS , 1983

three day chopnouna period of partial or absolute withdrawalfrom drugs or a drug-substituteUK , 1996

three days by canoeadjectivea long distanceUS , 1993

three days’ delaynounin Quebec, three days’ noticeCANADA , 2002

three days older than dirtadjectivevery old indeedUS , 1994

three-deckernouna three-storey house Coined and primarily used

by Irish immigrants and then Irish-Americans in BostonUS , 1990

three deucesnounin hot rodding, three two-barrel carburettorsUS , 1992

three-dollar billnoun1used for comparisons of something that israre or oddUS , 1942.2a homosexual From the expression ‘asstrange as a three-dollar bill’US , 1965

three drags and a spitnouna cigarette Gay use; a deliberatereversal of rhyming slangSPIT AND DRAG(a cigarette) therebyavoiding the rhyme onFAGand its derogatory homosexualconnotationsUK , 2002

three Dsnoun 8see:DERRY-DOWN-DERRY

three’d upadjectivein prison, used of three inmates sharing a singlecellUK , 1974

three fatesnounin poker, three queensUS , 1988

three fifty-seven; three fifty-seven Magnumnouna centralnervous system stimulant, the exact nature of which is unknown,sold as amphetamine on the streetUS , 1993

three-fingered salutenounwhen operating a computer, the combination of the characters Ctrl-Alt-Delete used to restart themachineUS , 2004

keyed-three-finger fuck aroundnouna disorganised activity with noapparent purposeUS , 1991

three-for-twonounfifty percent interestUS , 1967

three-hairsnouna Vietnamese woman From the perception of the

US soldier that the pubic hair of Vietnamese women is very sparse

US , 1991

three H enemanounin hospital usage, an aggressive enema –

high, hot and a hell of a lot US , 1980

three-holernicknamean aircraft with three engines, especially theBoeing 727US , 1985

three hots and a cotnounroom and board From the sense ofHOT

as ‘a meal’US , 1930

three-hundred clubnouna notional association of those whoexperience a temperature swing of three hundred degreesfarenheit, usually by rolling naked in the Antarctic night and thenentering a saunaANTARCTICA , 2003

three-legged beavernouna homosexual man Two legs and anerect penis make the three legs, feminised byBEAVER(awoman/vagina)UK , 1981

three-martini lunchnouna leisurely business lunch paid for from

an expense account, often centred around alcoholUS , 1972

three minutesnouna gang punishment in which the offendingmember must fight another gang member for three minutesUS , 2001

three moonnouna three-month prison sentence A multiple of, included here for the singular nature of the plural

three on the treenouna three speed manual transmission with

the gear shift mounted on the steering columnUS , 1993

threepenny bits; thrupennies; threepennies; thrupsnoun1the

female breasts Rhyming slang for, (TIT(S)) , based on a small coin

(3d) that ceased to be legal tender with decimalisation in 1971;

when this slang was coined, you got 80 threepenny bits to the

poundUK , 1961.2an urgent need to defecate; diarrhoea Rhyming

slang forTHE SHITS AUSTRALIA , 1971

three-phase setnounin electric line work, a set of three shovels: a

cup-shaped spoon, a spade and a shovelUS , 1980

three-point c and bnouna painful parachute landing The three

points were the head, heels and buttocks, while the ‘c and b’ was

a ‘crash and burn’US , 1991

three-roundernouna petty criminal, a small operator From the

three-round bouts of junior and novice boxingUK , 1961

threesnoun1the third landing or floor level in a prisonUK , 1978.2in

poker, three cards of the same rank in a handUS , 1967.< all the

threesthirty-three In Bingo, House or Housey-Housey calling, the

formula ‘all the’ announces a double numberUK , 1943

three-sheetverbto wear theatrical makeup in publicUS , 1971

three sheets in the windadjectivevery drunkUK , 1821

three-sixtynouna complete, 360-degree turn; in the UK, especially

while joyridingUS , 1927

three-skinnernouna marijuana- or hashish-filled cigarette

fashioned out of three cigarette papersUK , 2003

threesomenoungroup sex with three participantsUS , 1972

three squaresnounthree square meals a dayUS , 1922

three-time losernouna criminal who has been convicted of a third

serious crime, probably guaranteeing life imprisonmentUS , 1966

three-toed slothnouna slow-thinking, slow-talking, slow-acting

hospital patientUS , 1985

three-toke killernounextremely potent marijuana Derived from

the perception that the marijuana will produce extreme

intoxi-cation after only three inhalationsUS , 1993

three-tonenounof a car, badly repaired after an accident A play on

the advertising of ‘two-tone’ cars (cars painted in two colours)UK ,

1981

three-two-hundred out, one-six-hundred inadjectivecompletely

confused From the standard 6400-mil circular artillery chartUS ,

1968

three up and three downnouna master sergeant in the US Army

From the stripe configurationUS , 1991

three up and two downnouna sergeant first-class or platoon

sergeant in the US Army From the stripe configurationUS , 1991

three-waynounsex involving three people simultaneouslyUS , 1985

three-wayadjective(used of a woman) willing to engage in vaginal,

anal and oral sexUS , 1967

three-way freewaynouna woman who consents to vaginal, anal

and oral sexUS , 2001

three wheel trike; three-wheelernouna lesbian Rhyming slang

forDYKE UK , 2003

thriftverbto live a frugal, if attractive, lifestyleUS , 1997

thrift shopnounany low-limit, low-ante poker gameUS , 1996

Thrilla in Manillanicknamethe heavyweight boxing championship

fight between Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier on 1st October

1975 in Manilla, won by Ali when Frazier’s manager Eddie Futch

threw in the towel before the 15th roundUS , 1998

thrilledadjectivepleased, delightedUK , 1937

thrilled to bitsadjectiveutterly delighted; very pleasedUK , 1964

thrillernouna sensational (adventure) story told as a play, film or

novel; such a form of entertainment A narrow sense of the

general meaningUK , 1889

thrill pillnouna central nervous system stimulant in tablet form A

reduplication that never really caught on; too true for a

throatnoun< have someone by the throatto have someonecompletely under controlAUSTRALIA , 1947

thrombonouna fit of rage From ‘thrombosis’, suggesting a rush ofblood to the headUK , 2002

thronenoun1a toilet seat; a pedestal lavatory (as a place on whichyou sit)UK , 1922.2the most coveted position for a bookmaker atthe trackAUSTRALIA , 1989

throttle artist; throttle jerker; throttle pullernouna trainengineerUS , 1977

throttle jockeynouna combat jet pilotUS , 1956

throttling pitnouna lavatoryAUSTRALIA , 1971

through-the-cardnouna wager that bets on all the races at ameeting Commonly used when gambling on greyhound racingUK , 2001

through-ticketnounin pool, a player who continues to play and tolose money until he has lost his entire bankrollUS , 1993

thrownoun1the cost of an item or action, usually preceded by aspecific amount Probably from the old side shows of the fairUS ,

1898.2an act of vomiting; vomitAUSTRALIA , 1967

throwverb1to disconcert, to confuseUS , 1844.2to deliberately lose acontestUS , 1868.3to break an addictionUS , 1952.< throw a fin; throw the finwhile surfing, to reach the top of a wave andexpose to the air the surfboard’s fin(s)US , 1987.< throw a fittobecome very angry or agitatedUS , 1926.< throw a partyto loseheavily when gamblingUS , 1982.< throw a shapeto make animpression, 1999.< throw a shineto ignore someone Usage byMexican-American youth (Pachucos) in the southwestern USUS ,

1947.< throw a shoeto suffer a tyre blowout or flat tyreUS , 1963.

< throw blowsto fightUS , 1965.< throw flamein trucking, toshow an actual flame or a red glow suggesting a flame on asmokestackUS , 1971.< throw forty fitsto become very angry oragitated An occasional intensification ofTHROW A FIT UK , 1984.

< throw gravelto accelerate briskly from a dirt road shoulderUS ,

1962.< throw handsto fightUS , 2002.< throw it to someone

from a male perspective, to have sexUS , 1969.< throw off attoderide someone or somethingAUSTRALIA , 1812.< throw onefromthe male perspective, to have sexUS , 1954.< throw shadetoproject a defiant attitudeUS , 1995.< throw shapesto boxIRELAND ,

1995.< throw signsto flash hand signals, almost always relatedUS , 2001.< throw teddy out of the pramto throw atantrum; to lose your temper An allusion to childish behaviourUK ,

gang-1998.< throw the bald-headed champto perform oral sex on

a manUS , 1972.< throw the book at someoneto discipline orpenalise someone severely Making maximum use of the rulebookthat inspires the punishmentUS , 1960.< throw the headto loseone’s temperIRELAND , 1995.< throw the knockwurstfrom themale perspective, to have sexUS , 1973.< throw the latchin ahotel, to activate a mechnical device advising hotel employees tocarefully watch activity in a particular roomUS , 1954.< throw the leg overto mount a racehorseAUSTRALIA , 1989.< throw the voice; throw your voiceto vomitAUSTRALIA , 1962.< throw up your setto flash gang hand signalsUS , 1995.< throw waisttothrust with vigour during sexTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003.< throw your weight about; throw your weight aroundto ‘show off’

in an unpleasant, domineering way; to bully peopleUK , 1917

throwawaynounan outer garment quickly discarded by a criminalafter a crime to thwart easy identificationUS , 1987

throw awayverbto abort a foetusTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1939

throwawayadjectiveused of a gun unregistered and not capable ofbeing traced, and thus used to place in the vicinity of someonewhom the police have shot to justify the shootingUS , 1981

throwdownnouna large partyUS , 1996

throw downverb1to threaten someone with a weaponUS , 1972.2tokillUS , 1963.3in basketball, to forcefully drive the ball down throughthe basketUS , 1997.4to dance Sometimes embellished with ‘somehappy feet’ as a direct objectUS , 1983

throw-down gun; throwdownnouna gun that is not registeredand not capable of being traced, and thus placed by the police inthe vicinity of someone whom they have shot to justify the

throw offverbto perform at a skill level below your capabilityUS ,

1965

throw-outnoun1the prize that a carnival game operator arranges

for a player to win to entice more customers to playUS , 1985.2a

trinket thrown by a parader to spectatorsUS , 1951

throw-upnouna large, simple piece of graffiti artUS , 1994

throw upverb1to vomit Abbreviated from the elaborately elegant

‘throw up your accounts’ (C18)UK , 1793.2to create large graffiti

pieces (especially on trains, walls, etc)US , 1994

thrushnoun1a female singerUS , 1940.2an attractive young woman

AUSTRALIA , 1960

thrustnounamyl, butyl or isobutyl nitrite A definite suggestion of

sexual vigour and therefore, probably, derives from brand

marketing as a male sex-aidUK , 1996

thrusternoun1an amphetamine or other central nervous system

stimulantUS , 1969.2a modern surfboard with three finsAUSTRALIA ,

1985

thrutchnouna difficult challengeANTARCTICA , 2003

thudnicknamean F-105 Thunderchief aircraft From the fact that

many were shot down during the Vietnam war A two-seated F-105

was known as a ‘double thud’US , 1965

thugnouna youth gang memberUK , 2003

thugged-outadjectivein hip-hop culture, self-sufficient and

danger-ous From conventional ‘thug’ (a violent person) which has been

adopted by some urban blacks as an honourable term and

con-ditionUS , 2002

th-uh, th-uh, that’s all folksused as a humorous farewell Used

as the sign off on Looney Toon cartoons produced by Warner

Brothers by a stuttering Porky the Pig Repeated with referential

humourUS , 1955

thumbnounmarijuana; a marijuana cigarette Probably because you

suck your thumb for comfort in much the same way as you suck

on a cigaretteUS , 1960.< on the thumbhitchhikingUK , 2004.

< with the thumbin betting, used for indicating that the

current odds will not continue to be offered for long From the

TICK-TACKsignal used by bookmakersUK , 1991

thumbverbto hitchhikeUS , 1932.< thumb your noseto treat

someone or something contemptouslyUS , 1973

thumb busternoun1a knob attached to a car or truck’s steering

wheel to help the driver make turns quickly When the steering

wheel returns to its normal position, the knob can injure the hand

of a driver who is not carefulUS , 1971.2a railway mechanicUS , 1977

thumb-checknouna cursory examination of a long document or

packet of documents US naval aviator usageUS , 1986

thumb jobnouna hitchthiker; the act of hitchhiking Citizens’ band

radio slangUS , 1976

thumb merchantnouna hitchhikerUS , 1976

thumbs downnouna rejection or refusal From the gesture

famously used to signal ‘no mercy’ for gladiators in the arenas of

ancient Rome and HollywoodUK , 1929

thumbsuckernouna long and complex piece of journalism; a writer

of such articlesUS , 2003

thumbs upnounapproval; positive news After the gesture that

spared the life of Roman gladiatorsUK , 1951

thumpnouna fightUS , 1971

thumpverbto defeat someone soundlyUK , 1594

thumpernoun1a hand grenade launcherUS , 1990.2a drummerUS ,

1981.3a piece of rope used by dog handlers to discipline sled dogs

ANTARCTICA , 1982.4in electric line work, an underground fault locator

US , 1980

thumper bumpernounin pinball, a bumper that upon impact with

a ball scores and then propels the ball back into playUS , 1977

thump gunnounan M79 grenade launcher Vietnam war usageUS ,

thundernoun1male sexual prowessTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1989.

2heroinUK , 2002.< do a thunderto defecateIRELAND , 1994

thunderverbto excelUS , 1989

thunderbagsnoununderpantsAUSTRALIA , 1971

thunderbirdsnounthe female breasts From the mammaric andlexicographic symbolism of the science fiction Thunderbirds,especially Thunderbird 2, in cult television supermarionation

puppet-series Thunderbirds by Gerry Anderson, from 1965, and

relaunched in the 1990sUK , 2001

Thunderbirds are goused for denoting or announcing that

something is proceeding A catchphrase from Thunderbirds, a cult

science fiction puppet series, first broadcast on television in 1965

UK , 2001

thunderbowlnouna lavatoryUK , 1982

thunderboxnouna lavatory Originally coined for a ‘portablecommode’UK , 1939

thunderbumpernouna cumulonimbus cloudCANADA , 1995

thunderdomenouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best

known as ecstasy A reference to the film Mad Max: Beyond The

Thunderdome, 1985 UK , 1999

thunderingadjectiveforcible, violent; hence, as an intensifier: great,excessiveUK , 1618

thunderingadverbexcessivelyUK , 1809

thunderinglyadverbviolently, forcibly, powerfully, energetically;greatly; excessivelyUK , 1680

Thunder RoadnounHighway 13, north of Saigon, South Vietnam

So named because of the US Army’s frequentTHUNDER RUNSonHighway 13US , 1971

thunder runnoun1during the Vietnam war, a tactic of having asmall armoured convoy drive at high speeds shooting at bothsides of the road to thwart ambushes by the Viet Cong; in Iraq in

2003, used by soldiers of a death or glory incursion into Baghdad.Possibly originating in the Korean war, 1950–53, where it was usedfiguratively for a final bar crawl before leaving a postingUS , 1983.

2in white-water rafting, the most treacherous rapids or the act ofnegotiating themUS , 2003

thunder thighsnounlarge, heavy thighs, especially on a womanUS , 1977

thunknounin computing, code that supplies an addressUS , 1991

thunkverbused as an alternative past tense of ‘think’ in place of

‘thought’ Intentionally jocular or ruralUK , 1876

TInicknamethe federal correctional institution, Terminal Island,CaliforniaUS , 1981

tianounmarijuana A Spanish aunt such asAUNT MARY(marijuana)

UK , 2003

TIAused as Internet shorthand to mean ‘thanks in advance’ US , 1997

Tibb’s Daynounthe day after Resurrection, Judgment Day etc, i.e a

day that will never come in this lifetime C L Apperson, in English

Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, calls it ‘a day neither before nor

after Christmas’ Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1870)

points out that there never was such a saint as St Tibb, hence theuse of the term as a synonym for ‘never’CANADA , 1999

ticnounphencylidineUS , 1977

TICnounwhen a criminal is on trial, a crime which does not form apart of the case being heard but which the defendant may request

to have taken into account during sentencing A partial acronym

of ‘taken into account’UK , 1996

ticalnounmarijuana A coinage claimed by rap artist Methodman;usage spread with his adoption of ‘tical’ as one of many drug-related aliasesUS , 1998

ticknoun1a moment; a second, a minuteUK , 1879.2credit, deferredpayment Generally in the phrase ‘on tick’ (on credit)UK , 1642.3inspread-betting, a tenthUK , 2001.4in basketball, a shotUS , 1986.5in a

tickverb< tick along nicelyto make satisfactory progress Ireland

IRELAND , 2003

tickadjectivesexually attractiveUK , 1950

ticked offadjectiveangryUS , 1959

tickernoun1a clock, especially a pocket watchUS , 1964.2the heart

Analogised to a clock tickingUS , 1930.3courageAUSTRALIA , 1977

ticketnoun1an ordinary person Used generally in Glasgow and

MODcultureUK , 1985.2an amusing or charming personIRELAND ,

1992.3a follower (not an originator) of Mod fashionUK , 1964.4a

professional licence; a certificate of qualification Originally military

US , 1951.5a warrant or bill of detainerUS , 2002.6an official

misconduct report in prisonUS , 1976.7an order to be locked in

solitary confinementUS , 1965.8in prison, a contract for a killing or

beatingUS , 1974.9in horse racing, a betting receiptUS , 1951.10a

playing card As in the expression ‘I held some good tickets’US ,

1961.11LSD; a dose of LSD Another LSD-as-travel metaphorUS ,

1969.< just the ticket; that’s the ticketexactly what is

requiredUK , 1838

ticket agentnounan LSD dealer Premised on aTRIPmetaphorUS ,

1974

Ticket Bastardnicknamethe Ticketmaster ticket serviceUS , 1994

ticket of leave mannouna paroleeUK , 1998

ticket-punchingnounin the military, nearly automatic promotion

from rank to rank with short periods in combat to justify the

pro-motionUS , 1988

ticketsnounthe female breasts A term from the coarse sector of

the entertainment industry, recognising the selling power of sexUS ,

1977.< have tickets on yourselfto be conceitedAUSTRALIA , 1918

tickety-booadjectivefine, correct, in order, satisfactory Originally

military; a variation of ‘ticket’, as inJUST THE TICKET(correct), with

Hindu tikai babu (it’s all right, sir’) UK , 1939

tick-hunternounan ardent bird-watcher, usually one who is

excit-able From a bird-watcher’s habit of ticking-off observations in a

note bookUK , 1977

tick in cow’s arsenounsomething or someone who is very close to

something or someone elseTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1982

ticking-offnouna reprimandUK , 1984

ticklenoun1a robbery or other profitable criminal enterprise

Probably derives from the image of a poacher ‘tickling a trout’, an

activity for the ‘light-fingered’UK , 1938.2in the sport of polo, a

weak hit on the ballUK , 2003.3a pleasurable sensation caused by

drug useUK , 2000.4a deep v-bottom on a boat; also, especially in

Newfoundland, a narrow strait between mainland and an island

CANADA , 1947

tickleverb1to prime an engine To start the cold engine of a

motorcycle, it is sometimes necessary to prime the carburettor, or

‘tickle the pot’US , 2003.2to administer oral sex to a male

pornographer performer before or between scenes to help him

maintain an erectionUS , 2000.3to robNEW ZEALAND , 1998.< tickle a

bugin computing, to activate a normally inactive malfunctionUS ,

1991.< tickle the peterto steal from a till or cashboxAUSTRALIA ,

1941.< tickle the picklefrom the male perspective, to have sex

US , 1964

ticklebellynounthe queasy feeling experienced when a car crests a

poorly graded hill too fastCANADA , 2002

tickled; tickled to death; tickled pinkadjectivevery pleasedUK , 1907

ticklernoun1an office system that serves to remind of impending

deadlinesUS , 1905.2anything worn on the penis that is designed to

stimulate the vagina or the clitoris during sexUK , 1974

tickle your fancynouna homosexual Rhyming slang,NANCY(BOY),

noted as a post-World War 2 term by Ray Puxley, Cockney Rabbit,

1992, who suggests a corruption of the children’s song ‘Billy Boy’

as a possible sourceUK , 1992

ticklishadjectivedifficult, awkwardUK , 1591

tick offverbto reprimand someoneUK , 1915

tick-tack; tic-tacnoun1a system of hand signalling used by

racecourse bookmakersUK , 1899.2a signal of any kind From race

tick-tack; tic-tacverbto signal betting information by tick-tack

tick-tack mannouna tick-tackerAUSTRALIA , 1939

tick-ticknouna bicycle with three gearsTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003

tick-tocknouna clock A children’s colloquialism, from the tional imitation of the ticking of a clockUK , 1984

conven-tick-tockused to mark the passing of an instant From the ticking

of a clockUK , 1959

tick twentynounten o’clockUS , 1946

tickyadjectiveold-fashioned, out-of-dateUS , 1960

tic-tacnoun1a person who signals betting information by tick-tack

UK , 1990.2a fact Rhyming slang, from the race track signallingsystemUK , 1992.3phencyclidine, the recreational drug known asPCP or angel dustUS , 1994

tid-bitnounan appetising and toothsome womanUS , 1973

tiddie; tiddynounthe female breast A variation ofTITTY UK , 2003

tiddleverbto urinate A children’s colloquialismUK , 1961

tiddled offadjectiveannoyed, cross AfterTIDDLE(to urinate), thus avariation ofPISSED OFF UK , 1977

tiddlernoun1any small fish Originally applied to a sticklebackUK ,

1885.2anything small; a child, a small animal, a small drink, etcUK ,

1927.3any small coin (of size rather than denomination)UK , 1966.

4a player of tiddleywinksUS , 1958

tiddler’s bait; tiddley bait; tiddley; Tilly Batesadjectivelate.Rhyming slangUK , 1960

tiddly; tiddleyadjectivemildly drunkUK , 1905

tiddlywink; tiddly-wink; tiddleywink; tiddly; tidnoun1analcoholic drink Rhyming slangUK , 1859.2a Chinese person.Rhyming slang forCHINK(a Chinese person)UK , 1977

tidemarknouna dirty mark that is left by, and marks the extent of,

a child’s neck-washing regimeUK , 1961

tide’s inadjectiveexperiencing the bleed period of the menstrualcycleUS , 1999

tide’s outadjectiveexperiencing the bleed period of the menstrualcycleUS , 1999

tidyadjective1large, considerable As in the song sung by BoyScouts: ‘The great meat pie was a tidy size, / And it took a week tomake it, / A day to carry it to the shop, / And just a week to bakeit’UK , 1838.2satisfactory; good; decent; correct Widely exampled by

John Edwards, Talk Tidy! (the title is defined in the book as ‘speak

properly!’), 1985UK , 1844.3sexually attractive; sexyUK , 2000

tidy!in South Wales, used as a positive affirmationUK: WALES , 1985

tidy; tidy upverb1to make something orderly, clean, etcUK , 1821.

2to wash the vulva and vaginaTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1978

tidy and neat; tidyverbto eat Rhyming slangUK , 1992

tidy awayverbto clear up for tidiness’ sakeUK , 1867

tidy whitiesnounwhite, boxer-style men’s underpantsUS , 1994

tieverbto inject with a drugUK , 2003.< tie on oneto get verydrunkUS , 1996.< tie the knotto marryUK , 1605.< tie them downon the railways, to apply hand brakesUS , 1946

tie a knot in it!addressed to someone (usually a male) who needs

to urinate but is having to control the urge; also, said to someonewho is whistling tunelesslyUK , 2001

tie and teasenounsexual bondage alternating pleasurable lation and deliberate frustration, especially when advertised as aservice offered by a prostituteUK , 2003

stimu-tie-eyenouna commotion or ruckusCANADA , 1999

tie offverbto restrict the flow of blood in a vein in preparation for

tie-tonguedadjectivesuffering from a speaking disability such as a

lispBARBADOS , 1965

tie-upnounthe rope or cord used to restrict the flow of blood in a

vein in preparation for an injection of drugsUK , 1996

tie upverbto apply an improvised tourniquet, usually on the arm,

preparatory to injecting a drugUS , 1990

tiffnouna petty quarrel; a brief peevish disagreementUK , 1754

tigernoun1a person who is keen for or enthusiastic about

somethingAUSTRALIA , 1896.2a male homosexualUK , 1983.3a wife A

Cockney endearmentUK , 1980.4an outstanding sportsman; a

confi-dent climber; a formidable sporting opponentUK , 1929.< take a

tiger for a walk(used of a food addict) to eat in moderation A

term in twelve-step recovery programmes such as Alcoholics

AnonymousUS , 1998

tiger cagenounan underground, high security jail cellUS , 1992

tiger countrynoun1rough, uncultivated country or terrain

AUSTRALIA , 1945.2any challenging situation From World War 2,

referring to territory patrolled by German Tiger tanksNEW ZEALAND ,

1945.3in hospital operating theatre usage, any part of the body

where surgery is high riskUS , 1994

tiger in the tanknouna linear amplifier for a citizens’ band radio

From the 1960’s Esso advertising slogan ‘Put a tiger in your tank’

US , 1976

tiger ladynouna female Vietnamese civilian building worker at a US

facility during the warUS , 1990

tiger pissnounTiger Paw™ beer A south Vietnamese speciality,

made with formaldehydeUS , 1991

tiger stripenouna scar from intravenous drug injectionsUS , 1958

tiger stripesnouncamouflage worn in the jungleUS , 1971

tiger suitnounjungle camouflage uniforms worn by soldiers in the

South Vietnamese ArmyUS , 1990

tiger sweatnounstrong, illegally manufactured whiskyCANADA , 1999

tiger tanknouna thing of little worth Rhyming slang for,WANK

(rubbish), usually phrased ‘not worth a tiger tank’; from the

advertising slogan ‘put a tiger in your tank’UK , 1980

Tiggerish; tiggerishadjectiveenergetically enthusiastic and cheerful

From the character of Tigger, created by A.A Milne, 1882–1956,

especially as filtered through the Disney animations of Winnie the

Pooh’s adventuresUK , 2003

tightnoun1a close friendBAHAMAS , 1982.2in poker, a hand consisting

of three cards of the same rank and a pair Known conventionally

as a ‘full house’CANADA , 1988.< in a tightin serious troubleUS ,

1984

tightadjective1tipsy; drunkUS , 1830.2lacking generosity, meanUK ,

2000.3aggressive; cruel; unpleasant From the previous sense as

‘mean’, punning on ‘mean’ as ‘cruel’UK , 1999.4hard; severe;

difficultUK , 1764.5of a slot machine, disadvantageous to the

gambler in terms of the frequency of payoutsUS , 1984.6used of a

hard bargainUS , 1828.7of money; hard to come by; in

short-circulationUK , 1846.8used of a player in poker extremely

conservative in play and bettingUS , 1990.9of a contest, close,

evenly matchedUS , 1848.10friendlyUS , 1956.11good; fashionable; in

styleUS , 1998

tight-arsenouna person who is mean with moneyUK , 1999

tight-arsedadjective1mean, close-fisted, ungenerousUK , 1966.

2puritanical; very restrained; self-centredUK , 1990

tight as a crab’s arseadjectivemiserlyUK , 1999

tight as a gnat’s twatadjectivemiserlyUK , 2001

tight-assnouna highly strung, nervous personUS , 1971

tight-assedadjectivehighly strung, nervousUS , 1970

tightenverb< tighten the wigto smoke marijuanaUS , 2001.

< tighten up someone’s gameto educate or coach someone

US , 1972

tightenernoun1any alcoholic drinkUS , 1969.2in horse racing, a race

seen as preparation for the next race

tighter than a camel’s arse in a sand stormadjectivemiserly Anelaboration ofTIGHT(mean)UK , 1999

tighter than bark to a treeadjectivemiserlyCANADA , 1992

tight fight with a short sticknouna difficult job with poorequipment to do itUS , 1954

tight holenounan oil well whose discovery and location have notbeen reportedUS , 1997

tight lacesnouncommerically manufactured cigarettes, especiallywith filtersUS , 1990

tight-rollnouna manufactured cigaretteUS , 1984

tightwadnouna miserly personUS , 1906

tighty-whitiesnounform-fitting men’s jockey shortsUS , 1985

tig ol’ bittiesnounlarge breasts An intentional Spoonerism of ‘bigold titties’US , 2001

tigre; tigre blanco; tigre del nortenounheroin Possibly

‘branded’ types of heroin, from Spanish for ‘tiger’, white ‘tiger’ and

‘northern tiger’UK , 2003

Tijuana 12nouna cigarette made with tobacco and marijuanaUS , 1982

Tijuana Biblenouna pornographic comic bookUS , 1979

Tijuana chromenounsilver spray paint Tijuana is just across theborder from California in the Mexican state of Baja California.Californian youth often took their customised cars to Tijuana,where much of the best and some of the shoddiest customisingwork was doneUS , 1993

Tijuana taxinouna well marked police carUS , 1976

tiknouna potential victim West Indian and UK blackUK , 1996

Tilbury Docks; the Tilburysnounany sexually transmittedinfection Rhyming slang forPOX, formed on a part of the Port ofLondon An earlier, now obsolete sense for this rhyme was ‘socks’

UK , 1992

tilesnoundominoesUS , 1959.< on the tilespartyingNEW ZEALAND , 1984

till-tapverbto steal money from a cash tillUS , 1970

till tappernounin a casino, a person who steals coins or tokensfrom a slot machine being played by someone elseUS , 1999

till tappingnountheft from a cash register when the cashier isdistractedUS , 1964

tillynoun(especially in Queensland and northern New South Wales)

a utility truckAUSTRALIA , 1957

Tillynounused as a personification of the policeUS , 1970

Tilly Batesadjective 8see:TIDDLER’S BAIT

tilly-talliedadjectivedrunk Possibly from obsolete ‘tilly-vally’(nonsense), which is what tends to be spoken when drunkUK , 1999

tiltnoun1especially in the Maritime Provinces, a crude shelter, open

on one side and with its back to the windCANADA , 1958.2in pinball,

a mechanism on the machine that ends a game when the playermoves the machine too forcefullyUS , 1979.< on tiltused of apoker player’s playing, exceptionally poorUS , 1979

Timnouna Roman Catholic Who the original Tim is or was isunknownUK: SCOTLAND , 2000

timbernoun1a toothpickUS , 1948.2in horse racing, a hurdle in asteeplechase raceUS , 1976.3in poker, the cards that have beendiscardedUS , 1951.4in the circus or carnival, a person playing agame or concession with the house’s money in an attempt toattract other patrons to playUS , 1968

timber niggernouna Native American Indian Offensive Used bysporting enthusiasts and those in the tourist industry to describeNative American Indians involved in the fishing/hunting rightsdebateUS , 1993

timber ridernounin horse racing, a jockey in a steeplechase event

US , 1976

timbitnouna rendezvous for coffee and snack proposed by one

refers to the dough that is punched out of a ring doughnut, fried,

and sold as a ‘hole’CANADA , 2000

timenountime in prison; a jail sentenceUK , 1837.< (he) wouldn’t

give you the time of day; too mean to give you the time

of dayapplied to a notoriously mean personUK , 1984.< do time

1to serve a prison sentence, especially in a manner that preserves

the prisoner’s sanityUK , 1865.2to stay after school in detentionUS ,

1954.< for the timein poolroom betting, playing with the loser

paying for the use of the tableUS , 1967.< have no time for

someoneto have no respect for someoneAUSTRALIA , 1911.< in no

time; in less than no timeimmediatelyUK , 1822.< make

time; make time with someoneto have sex with someone; to

make sexual advances towards someoneUS , 1934

time-and-a-halfnounin blackjack, the payout to a player of one

and a half times their bet when the player is dealt a natural 21 A

pun using a term usually applied to an overtime rate of payUS , 1977

time of the monthnounthe bleed period of a woman’s menstrual

cycle Barely euphemisticUK , 1931

time out!used for warning others of approaching policeUS , 2000

timernounfather An abbreviation of ‘old-timer’CANADA , 1993

time-stretchernouna prisoner whose attitude and actions serve to

make the time served by others seem longer than it isUS , 2002

time through the gatenounthe on-the-job experience of a prison

officerUK , 1996

Timmynouna Tristar aircraft In Royal Air Force useUK , 2002

timothynouna brothel A shortening of ‘Timothy Titmouse’,

rhyming slang for ‘house’AUSTRALIA , 1950

timpsnountimpani (kettle-drums); timpanists An abbreviation of

‘timpani’UK , 1934

Timshopnouna Roman Catholic chapelUK: SCOTLAND , 1996

tim tamnouna tampon Abbreviation and reduplicationAUSTRALIA , 2001

tinnoun1a police badgeUS , 1958.2a police officerUS , 1950.3a gunUS ,

1986.4a safeUS , 1970.5one ounce of marijuana Probably from a

pipe tobacco tin as a measured containerUS , 1946.6beer in any

quantity or containerUS , 1980.7in drag racing, a trophy, especially

one awarded without a cash prizeUS , 1965.< does what it says

on the tin; does exactly what it says on the tinused as an

assurance that whatever is so described will be, or behave, as

expected From a catchphrase-slogan for Ronseal™

wood-treatments; first introduced in the early 1990s, the phrase is now

part of the company’s registered trademarking, and widely applied

in the sense recorded hereUK , 2001

tin-arse; tin-bumnouna lucky person Derives, perhaps, from a play

on ‘copper-bottomed’AUSTRALIA , 1953

tin arse; tin arsedadjectiveluckyAUSTRALIA , 1919

Tina Turner; tinanoun1a profitable activity Rhyming slang for,

‘earner’; formed from the popular US singer and actress (b.1938)

UK , 2001.2Rhyming slang forGURNER(a person intoxicated by

MDMA)UK

tin bath; tinnoun1a laugh Rhyming slangUK , 2002.2a scarf

Rhyming slangUK , 1992

tin cannoun1a safe that is easily broken into by criminalsUS , 1949.

2an older ship in disrepairUS , 1970.3a citizens’ band radio set

From one of the most primitive technical means of

communi-cation: two tin cans joined by a piece of stringUS , 1976

tinchyadjectivepetty; smallBAHAMAS , 1982

Tin Citynouna sheet metal barracks in Guam used to house

Vietnamese refugees after the North Vietnamese conquest in 1975

US , 1990

tin collectornouna police officer or prosecutor involved in

investi-gating police misconductUS , 2001

tincturenoun1an alcoholic drink Popularised, if not inspired by the

‘Dear Bill’ letters in Private Eye UK , 1980.2a light drug in liquid

form A jocular euphemismUK , 1968

tin dognouna snowmobileNEW ZEALAND , 1969

t’ingnounthing West Indian and UK black pronunciationUK , 1994

tingnounmoney; a payment, especially in an illegal contextTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1989

ting-a-lingnoun1the penisBAHAMAS , 1982.2a ring (jewellery).Rhyming slangUK , 1992.3in playing cards, a king Rhyming slang

UK , 1992

tin grinnounany person with orthodontiaUS , 1977

tingsnounthe testicles West Indian pronunciation of ‘things’UK , 2000

tingumnouna person or thing the name of which escapes thespeakerBAHAMAS , 1995

tin hatnoun1a fool, an idiot Rhyming slang forPRAT UK , 1998.2onthe railways, a company officialUS , 1977.< put the tin hat on it; put the tin hat on somethingto bring an unfortunatesequence to an unwelcome climax; to finish something offUK , 1919

tinhornnouna cheap and offensive personUS , 1887

tinhornadjectiveshoddy; inconsequential; inferiorUS , 1886

tin Indiannouna Pontiac carUS , 1993

tinkernoun1a member of the travelling community

Conventionally ‘an (itinerant) mender of pots, pans, kettles etc.’,but now more generally appliedIRELAND , 1997.2a child, especially amischievous child Remembered in use in New Zealand in 1904and in Australia in 1910NEW ZEALAND , 1996.3a piece of scrap fromwreckageCANADA , 1983

tinker’s cuss; tinker’s damn; tinker’s tossnounsomething of novalueUK , 1824

tinklenounurine, the act of urinationUS , 1960.< give a tinkletotelephone someone From the ringing bell of original telephones

UK , 1938

tinkleverbto urinate Children’s vocabulary, used coyly by adultsUS , 1960

tinkleboxnouna pianoUS , 1946

tin lidnoun1a Jewish person Rhyming slang forYID UK , 1992.2achild Rhyming slang forKID AUSTRALIA , 1905

tinned dognouncanned meatAUSTRALIA , 1895

tinnie; tinnynouna can of beerAUSTRALIA , 1964

tinnynoun1an imprecise measure of marijuana wrapped in tinfoil,usually enough for about three cigarettesNEW ZEALAND , 1995.2asmall aluminium boatAUSTRALIA , 1979.3a station wagon with a steelbody and no wood trimUS , 1993

tinnyadjectiveluckyAUSTRALIA , 1919

tinny housenouna place where marijuana tinnies are soldNEW ZEALAND , 1999

tin platenoun1a mate Rhyming slangNEW ZEALAND , 1992.2in circusand carnival usage, a law enforcement official in a small townUS , 1981

tin sandwichnouna harmonica; a mouth organ Used as the title

of an album of harmonica music by Tommy Basker, ‘The TinSandwich’, 1994US , 1999

tinsel-teethnoun1any person with orthodontiaUS , 1979.

2orthodontic bracesUS , 1971

Tinsel TownnicknameHollywoodUS , 1939

tins of beans; tinsnounjeans (denim trousers) Rhyming slangUK , 1992

tin soldiernouna prostitute’s client who pays not for conventionalsex, but to act as a prostitute’s ‘slave’ Noted as a ‘voyeur-typemale, usually of middle- or upper-class background’ by David

Powis, The Signs of Crime, 1977 UK , 1977

tin tacknoun1dismissal from employment Rhyming slang forSACK.Recorded in 1932 but believed to be late C19UK , 1932.2a fact.Rhyming slang based onBRASS TACKs, generally pluralUK , 1999

tin tank

tin termitesnounrustUK , 1972

tintsnoun1sunglassesUS , 1972.2tinted car windowsUS , 1980

tinynoun1a childAUSTRALIA , 1961.2a very young member of a youth

gangUS , 1981

tiny gangsternouna young member of a youth gangUS , 1989

tiny mindnoun< out of your tiny mind; out of your tinyyou

are crazy, foolish, madUK , 1970

Tiny Timnouna five-pound note; the sum of £5 Rhyming slang for

FLIM,formed on a character in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol,

1843UK , 1992

Tio Taconouna Mexican-American who curries favour with the

dominant white culture Literally ‘Uncle Taco’, referring to a

Mexican dish made with a fried corn tortillaUS , 1969

tipnoun1a point of view, an aspect or perspective; a concentration

upon an aspectUK , 1994.2special information conveyed by an

expert or insider; a piece of professional advice; private knowledge,

especially in connection with investment or gamblingUK , 1845.

3that which is ‘tipped’ to win; the probable winner in a raceUK ,

1873.4a dirty or chaotically untidy place Especially applied,

apparently, to teenagers’ bedrooms; from a community site where

rubbish is tippedUK , 1983.5a small group with specific economic

functions, such as a drug-selling enterpriseUS , 1995.6a gangUS , 1990.

7a rubber thong sandalCAYMAN ISLANDS , 1985.8a crowd gathered in

front of a carnival game or showUS , 1968.9a steady, repeating

player in a carnival midway gameUS , 1985

tipverb1to convey expert, inside or specialist information, especially

about a profitable investment or a probable winnerUK , 1883.2to

give a gratuityUK , 1706.3to behave foolishly Gulf war usageUS , 1991.

4to reckon that something will occurAUSTRALIA , 1955.5to perform

oral sex A shortening ofTIP THE VELVET(to kiss with the tongue)UK ,

2002.6to become aware of a swindleUS , 1963.< tip itin trucking,

to drive fastUS , 1946.< tip someone the winkto warn someone;

to privately signal to someoneUK , 1676.< tip the brandyto lick,

suck and tongue another’s anus A combination ofTIP(to perform

oral sex) andBRANDY AND RUM(the buttocks)UK , 2002.< tip the

bucket on someoneto denigrate or criticise someoneAUSTRALIA ,

1986.< tip the gasin drag racing, to fill the petrol tankUS , 1968.

< tip the ivyto lick, suck and tongue another’s anusUK , 2002.

< tip the loadto go to confessionAUSTRALIA , 1989.< tip the

velvet1to kiss with the tongue, especially to ‘tongue a woman’

Based on obsolete ‘velvet’ (the tongue)UK , 1699.2to perform oral

sexUK , 2002.3in homosexual sex, to lick, suck and tongue

another’s anusUK , 1997

tip-fiddlenouna military deployment list Back-formation from

TPFDL (time-phased forces deployment list)US , 2003

tip-offnouna warning; an item of private information A variation

ofTIP UK , 1901

tip offverbto give information to someone, especially about an

impending crimeUS , 1891

tippernouna dump truckUS , 1971

tippety-runnouna form of cricket played by children in which the

person batting has to run every time the ball is hit Also with great

variation as ‘tip-and-go’, ‘tip-and-run’, ‘tippety’, ‘tippety-cricket’,

‘tippety-runs’, ‘tippy-cricket’, ‘tippy-go’, ‘tippy-go-run’, ‘tippy-runs’,

‘tipsy and tipsy-runs’ – and that’s ignoring vast spelling variation

AUSTRALIA , 1983

tipplenoun1alcohol; especially a drink of regular choice From the

conventional verbUK , 1581.2by extension, a recreational drug of

choiceUK , 2000

tippy-toeverbto walk on tiptoe Childish variation of conventional

‘tiptoe’UK , 1901

tipsnounin betting, odds of 11–10UK , 1991

tip-slingernouna person who offers racecourse tipsAUSTRALIA , 1915

tipsternounin horse racing, someone who gives his opinions on

various horses and their chances in a raceUS , 1951

tip-toeverbin motor racing, to manoeuvre carefully through or past

an obstruction or dangerous conditionUS , 1980

tip-top

tip upverbto join a gang, especially a prison gangUS , 2000

tip-up townnouna collection of ice fishing shanties on a lake’sfrozen surface The ‘tip-up’ is the small fishing pole used for icefishing Michigan Upper Pensinula usageUS , 2003

tirenounan apron worn by a young girl to keep her dress clean Thisvery old word – Shakespeare often used it – is still in use in NovaScotiaCANADA , 1988

tire billynouna short stick with a weighted head used by truckdrivers to test the air pressure of their tyresUS , 1971

tiredadjectiveboringUK , 1987

tired and emotionaladjectivedrunk A barbed journalisticeuphemism thought to have been coined, or noted in political

use and gleefully adopted, by satirical magazine Private Eye UK , 1981

tire-kicker; tyre-kickernounin the used car business, a customerwho studiously inspects the cars for sale, seemingly at the expense

of ever getting around to buying a car Reported by sales assistants

in a UK electrical goods retail chain in August 2002 as meaning ‘acustomer who spends a long time looking and fails to make apurchase’US , 1997

tish notenounin circus and carnival usage, counterfeit money,especially when used to pay a prostituteUS , 1981

tissuenoun1crack cocaine The variant ‘tisher’ is also usedUK , 1998.

2(especially in Tasmania) a cigarette paperAUSTRALIA , 1966

tissue odds; tissuenouna betting forecast used by bookmakers.From the flimsy paper originally used for this purposeUK , 1942

tiswas; tizwas; tizz-wozznouna state of excitement or confusion.Originally Royal Air Force use; possibly a blend of ‘it is/it was’ as avariation of ‘not know if you are coming or going’ or a variation of

TIZZ(an emotional state) From 1974–82 Tiswas was a popular

Saturday morning television programme that demonstrated thequalities of excitement and confusionUK , 1960

titnoun1the female breastUS , 1928.2any finger-touch button such

as on an electric bell; thus any button-like or knobbyprotruberance that vaguely resembles a nipple Originally military

UK , 1943.3a police officer’s helmet From the shapeUK , 2002.4afool Often as ‘look a right tit’ or ‘an absolute tit’, and theamusing popular favourite ‘feel a right tit’UK , 1947.5a small raisedbump on a computer keyboard key, most commonly the f and jkeys, to provide orientation for the user’s fingersUS , 1991.< a tit full of Wild Turkeyused for describing an alcoholic’s fondestsexual fantasyUS , 1994.< get titto succeed in the goal oftouching or fondling a girl’s breastsUS , 1974.< on the titenjoyingcharity, or quasi-charity, in the form of undemanding workUS , 1957

titadjectiveundemanding, easyUS , 1990

tit aboutverbto waste time; to play about; to be engaged in trivialactivityUK , 1999

tit and clit chainnouna decorative chain that connects a woman’spierced nipples and clitorisUS , 1996

titanicnounsomeone who performs oral sex on first acquaintance

A jokey reference to ‘going down’ (performing oral sex) first timeout; the RMS Titanic famously sunk on her maiden voyageUK , 2002

titbagnoun1a brassiereUS , 1994.2a fool An elaboration ofTIT(afool)UK , 2001

titchnicknameapplied to a person of small stature or a little child.Derives, via the earlier spelling ‘tich’, from music hall entertainerLittle Tich (diminutive comedian Harry Relph, 1868–1928), whotook as his stage name the nickname he was given as a child fromhis resemblance to Arthur Orton, the man who claimed to be themissing heir to an English baronetcy, Richard TichborneUK , 1934

titchyadjectivesmall, of small stature, insignificant FromTITCH UK , 1950

tit-clampnouna device, designed to cause discomfort or pain forsexual stimulation, that is attached to a breast or nippleUK , 1995

tit-for-tatnoun1a reaction equal and opposite to the actionUK , 1556.

2a hat Rhyming slang Can be shortend to ‘titfer’, ‘titfa’ or ‘tit-for’

UK , 1930.3a trade union traitor Rhyming slang forRAT AUSTRALIA , 2002

tit-fucknounan act of rubbing the penis in the compressed

tit-fuckverbto rub the penis in the compressed cleavage between a

woman’s breastsUS , 1986

tit-hammocknouna brassiereUK , 1961

titheadnounan idiot Elaboration ofTIT(an idiot) on the pattern of

DICKHEAD(an idiot)UK , 1999

titinounthe female breastTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003

tit jointnouna bar or club featuring bare-breasted women servers

US , 1984

tit-kissernouna man sexually obsessed with womenUS , 1977

tit liftnouna procedure in cosmetic surgery to enhance the female

breastUK , 1992

tit magnouna magazine that features pictures of half-naked or

naked women in erotic posesUK , 1976

tit magazinenouna magazine featuring photographs of naked

womenUS , 1972

tit-man; tits-mannouna male with a (declared) primary interest in

a woman’s breasts as a point of attractionUS , 1974

titonouna rand (unit of currency) Teen slang, after South African

Reserve Bank Governor Tito MboweniSOUTH AFRICA , 2003

tit offverbto annoy or to aggravate someoneUK , 1997

tit ringnouna ring that passes through a pierced nippleUS , 1984

tit runnouna walk through a crowd in search of attractive female

breastsUS , 1995

titsnoun1when preceded by a characteristic or adjective, a person

(of either gender) of the type defined by that characteristic or

adjectiveUK , 1997.2heroin Probably fromTITS(exceptionally good)

UK , 2002.< get on someone’s titsto annoy or irritate someone

Used by either genderUK , 1945.< off your titsdrunk or

drug-intoxicatedUK , 2000.< the titsthe best; absolute perfection, mid-C20

titsadjectiveexceptionally goodUS , 1966

tits!used for expressing excitementUS , 1992

tits and ass; tits and arseadjectivesaid of a film, television

programme, or magazine featuring nudityUS , 1965

tits outadverbin an uncompromising fashion, determinedly Office

jargon with a non-gender specific applicationUK , 2005

tits upadjectivedead; out of operation A coarserBELLY-UP, of military

(possibly Royal Air Force) originUK , 1981

tittie twisternouna pinch and twist of the breast, especially the

nippleUS , 1997

tit tipnouna female nippleUS , 1982

tittle-tattleverbto inform on someone A nuance of the

conven-tional sense (to chat, to gossip), perhaps influenced by ‘tell-tale’UK ,

2003

titty; tittienounthe female breastIRELAND , 1922

titty bar; tittie barnouna bar featuring bare-breasted female

servers and/or dancersUS , 1991

titty-deepadjectiveused of a fox hole shallowUS , 1990

titty-fucknounan act of rubbing the penis in the compressed

cleavage between a woman’s breasts Elaboration ofTIT-FUCK US , 1988

titty-fuckverbto rub the penis in the compressed cleavage between

a woman’s breastsUS , 1998

titty hard-onsnounerect nipplesAUSTRALIA , 1996

titty pinkadjectivea bright pink shade of lipstick Thought to

resemble the colour of a nippleUS , 1982

tittytainmentnountelevision programming that exploits sex Used

in the German mediaUS , 1998

tit-wanknounan act of sexual gratification in which the penis is

rubbed between a female partner’s breastsUK , 2002

tit willownouna pillow Rhyming slang; playing on the pillowing

effect of aTIT(the female breast)UK , 1932

tizzverbto frizz something upAUSTRALIA , 1967

tizz; tiz; tizzynouna state of panic or confused excitementUS , 1935

tizzic

tizz upverbto dress upAUSTRALIA , 1977

tizzyadjectiveostentatiously dressedAUSTRALIA , 1953

tizzy upverbto smarten or spruce something upAUSTRALIA , 1960

TJnicknameTijuana, Baja California, Mexico On the California-Mexicoborder, just south of San Diego, CaliforniaUS , 1981

T-Jonesnouna motherUS , 1988

tjorrienoun 8see:CHORRIE

TLnoun a sycophant From the Yiddish tuchus leker (ass licker) US , 1972

TLCnountender, loving careUS , 1973

TMnoun1a commerically rolled cigarette A shortened form of

TAILOR-MADE US , 1976.2transcendental meditationUS , 1979

TMBdoctors’ shorthand applied to an elderly patient An initialism

of ‘too many birthdays’ UK , 2002

TMIused for expressing the sentiment that a conversation has

become too personal, that the speaker is imparting too much

information US , 1997

TMTused to designate the person who will feature in your ate masturbatory fantasiesUK , 2002

immedi-TNTnoun1heroin A play onDYNAMITE(a powerful drug)UK , 1977.

2amyl or butyl nitriteUK , 1998.3a variety of MDMA, the reational drug best known as ecstasy A pun on TNT (the explosivetrinitrotulene), suggesting that the ecstasy experience is explosive

rec-UK , 1999.4fentanyl, a synthetic narcotic analgesic that is used as arecreational drug, 2004

TNXused as Internet discussion group shorthand to mean ‘thanks’

US , 1997

toprepositionat In conventional use from C10 to mid-C19; now inregional and dialect use in the UK, and colloquial use in the US

UK , 1985

toadnoun1an unattractive, older male homosexualUS , 1985.2a very

sick, derelict hospital patient An initialism for a ‘trashy old

alcoholic derelict’ US , 1977.3a black prisonerUS , 1989.4a used carthat is in very poor conditionUS , 1980

TOADused for describing what happens when a surfer catches a bigwave and almost immediately falls from his board An abbreviation

of ‘take off and die’ US , 1988

toadienounthe vaginaUS , 1998

toadskinsnounmoney A play onFROGSKIN CANADA , 1912

toad-stabber; toad-stickernouna knifeUS , 1945

to and fronounsnow Rhyming slangUK , 1992

to-and-fro’ing; to’ing-and-fro’ingnouna constant moving about

UK , 1961

to and fromnounan English person Rhyming slang forPOM

AUSTRALIA , 1946

toastnoun1something that is completely broken or inoperableUS ,

1991.2a forest that has been burnt by a forest fireUS , 1991.3anarrative poemUS , 1976.4an amusing story told as part of a rapperformance Adopted from a West Indian DJ’s ‘toast’ (to perform

a lyric)US , 2000

toastverbto heat a powdered drug such as heroin for injection

CANADA , 1966

toastadjectivedeadUS , 1983

toastedadjective1drunkUS , 1980.2emotionally unstableANTARCTICA , 1997

toasted breadadjectivedead A variation of the familiar rhymingslang ‘brown bread’;UK , 1998

toast racknouna very thin cowNEW ZEALAND , 2002

tobacco juice; tobacco stainnounfaecal stains in the underwear

or on a toilet bowlUS , 1966

tobaccynountobaccoUS , 1935

Tobago lovenouna relationship in which there is little or no display

of affectionTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1993

Tobago sugarnounwood waste left by termitesTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ,

tobernouna field or other site recognised as the temporary home

and responsibility of a circus, fair or market SheltaUK , 1890

Tobermorynouna story Rhyming slang, from the main village on

the Isle of Mull, ScotlandUK , 2001

tober omeenouna toll collector, a rent collector; a landlordUK , 1934

tober showmannouna travelling musicianUK , 2002

Toblerone; toblernounalone; on my own Rhyming slang, formed

from a branded chocolate confection Often as ‘on my tobler’

IRELAND , 2003

to buggeryadverbused to intensify an adjective In phrases like

‘blown to buggery’UK , 2002

tobynoun the road, the highway From Shelta tobar or tober UK , 1958

toby jugnounthe ear Rhyming slang for,LUG UK , 1992

tochis; tuckus; tochasnounthe buttocks YiddishUS , 1934

tochis-over-teakettleadverbhead-over-heelsUS , 1991

tockleynounthe penisAUSTRALIA , 1992

to coin a phraseused as an ironic acknowledgement or apology

for an immediately preceding or ensuing tritenessUS , 1951

toddienouna potatoUK , 1984

toddleverbto go; to leaveUK , 1812

toddynounan alcoholic beverage made with the alcohol of choice,

hot water and sugarUK , 1991

todge omee-palonenounthe passive partner in homosexual anal

sexUK , 2002

todgernounthe penis From the obsolete verb ‘todge’ (to smash to

a pulp), the penis seen as a smashing toolUK , 2001

todger dodgernouna lesbian Literally ‘someone who avoids a

TODGER’ (the penis)UK , 2002

to-donouna social function or party Extending the more general

sense of ‘to-do’ (a fuss) creates this slightly critical variation ofDO

(a party)UK , 2001

Tod Sloan; todnounalone Rhyming slang for ‘alone’ although

usage suggests a rhyme on ‘own’: ‘on your tod’ (on your own)

Tod Sloan (1874–1933) was a US jockey who raced in the UK,

under royal colours, from 1896 In 1901 he was banned by the

English Jockey Club; by 1906 he was ruled off the turf everywhere

Coined originally for his fame, continued ironically with his infamy

when he was truly ‘on his tod’ Still used though the man is

forgottenUK , 1934

toenoun< on the toenervous, anxiousAUSTRALIA , 1989

toe-endernouna kickUK: SCOTLAND , 1985

toefootnouna numbing of the feet in cold water, creating the

sen-sation of having no toes, only a foot Surfing usageUS , 2004

toe-jamnounthe amalgam of dirt and sweat that gathers between

the toes of unwashed feetUS , 1999

toe nails in the radiator; toes on the radiator; toe nails on

the front bumper; toes on the bumperadjectivedescribing a

vehicle being driven at top speed, or the driver of that vehicle

Citizens’ band radio slang; the image of a driver’s foot pressing the

accelerator pedal through the floorUS , 1976

toe-poppernouna small antipersonnel mine powerful enough to

blow off a hand or footUS , 1990

toe-ragnoun1a person who is disliked, usually with good reason

Ultimately from the rags worn on a tramp’s feet, hence a beggar,

and hence this term of contempt which is the only sense that

survivesUK , 1875.2a slut Rhyming slang forSLAG UK , 1992

toesnoun< on your toeson the runUK , 1996

toes overadjectivesaid when a surfer has any number of toes

extended over the front end of the surfboardUS , 1964

toes-upadjectivesleeping Prison usageNEW ZEALAND , 1997

toe ticketnounthe name tag affixed to the toe of a corpse in a

morgueUS , 1962

toe-to-toe a fight

toe touchernouna male homosexual, especially the passive partner

in anal sexUK , 1983

toe upadjectivedrunk A corruption of ‘torn up’US , 2001

toeyadjective1fast, fleet-footedAUSTRALIA , 1971.2restless; uneasy.From an earlier sense of ‘a racehorse keen to run’ (1930)AUSTRALIA ,

1959.3anxious for sexNEW ZEALAND , 1995

toffnoun1a person who is, or appears to be, of a superior socialstatus or well-to-do From ‘tuft’ which, in 1670, was a gold tasselworn by titled undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge, and, by

1755, was university slang for a person of rank and title and hencedown the social scale to ‘swell’ and ‘nob’ In 1865 there was amusic hall song entitled ‘The Shoreditch Toff’ by Arthur LloydUK ,

1851.2a completely reliable and dependable personAUSTRALIA , 1989

toffeenoun1nonsense or flatteryUK , 1967.2(a stick of ) gelignite.From its appearanceUK , 1964.< not for toffeeof a person’sability to do something, not at all, by no means, not in anycircumstancesUK , 1914

toffee-nosenouna snob; a supercilious individual A play onTOFF(awell-to-do person) as the sort of person who would look downtheir nose at a lesser individualUK , 1964

toffee-nosedadjectivesupercilious, snobbishUK , 1925

toffee wrapper; toffeenounthe head Rhyming slang forNAPPER

UK , 1998

toff omeenouna wealthy older male homosexual lover; a ual sugar daddy After the obsolete sense as ‘a very well-to-dogentleman’UK , 2002

homosex-tognouna men’s suitCANADA , 1965

togverbto dress Conventional English reincarnated as slang in blackvernacularUS , 1946

togetheradjectivehaving your life, career or emotions under control;self-assuredUS , 1969.< get it togetherto take control of your per-sonal condition; to get your mind and emotions under control; tobecome organisedUS , 1975

togged outadjectivedressedUK , 1793

togged upadjectivedressed up, usually for a special occasion From

TOGS(clothes)UK , 1793

toggle jockeynounin the US Air Force, a co-pilotUS , 1946

togsnoun1clothing Conventional English starting in the late C18,resurrected as slang in the C20UK , 1779.2especially on the easternmainland, a swimming costumeAUSTRALIA , 1918

toiletnoun1an inferior venueUK , 2002.2in the used car business, aused car with serious hygiene issuesUS , 1992.3a person as a sexobjectUS , 1980.4fat buttocksBAHAMAS , 1982.5a casino An insidertermUS , 1980.< in the toilet1lost, wastedUS , 1987.2in serioustroubleUS , 2001

toilet-bowladjectivehaving an inferior location or very low statusUS , 1995

toilet-bowl womannouna prostitute who operates on Main Street

in downtown Los Angeles Another name for a ‘comfort lady’US , 2000

toilet mouthnouna person who employs a vocabulary that is sidered foul or obsceneUS , 1976

con-toilet queennouna homosexual male who loiters around publictoilets in search of sex-partnersUS , 1967

toilet roll; toiletnoununemployment benefit Rhyming slang for

THE DOLE UK , 1992

toilet seatnounin electric line work, an insulator retainerUS , 1980

toilet-seat flyingnounshort run commercial flying, with lots ofstopsCANADA , 1996

toilet servicesnounin a prostitute’s advertising, the act ofurination, or defecation, by one person on another for fetishisticgratificationUK , 2003

toilet snipenouna thief who robs homosexuals at public toilets,often after posing as a homosexual himselfUK , 1983

toilet talk speech that is considered obscenely offensive

Toiling Tillienounused as a personification of the stereotypical

female office workerUS , 1955

to’ing-and-fro’ingnoun 8see:TO-AND-FRO’ING

tokenoun1an inhalation of marijuana smokeUS , 1962.2marijuana

UK , 2001.3a dose of a drugUS , 1994.4cocaineUK , 2003.5in casino

gambling, a gratuity either in the form of betting chips or in the

form of a bet made in the name of the dealer An abbreviation of

‘token of gratitude’US , 1981

tokeverb1to inhale smoke from a tobacco cigarette, a marijuana

cigarette, a crack cocaine pipe or other drugUS , 1952.2to sniff up

and inhale cocaineUK , 2001.3to tip someone Almost exclusively

casino usageUS , 1983

toke pipenouna short-stemmed pipe used for smoking marijuana

US , 1982

tokernoun1a marijuana smokerUS , 1973.2in a casino, a tipper

Because tips in casinos are most often in the form of gambling

tokens or ‘tokes’US , 1974

toke upverbto smoke marijuanaUS , 1959

to kill foradjectiveextremely desirableUK , 2001

Tokyo toughiesnouninexpensive tennis shoesUS , 1991

tol’ableused as a response to the query of how you are A

youth-slurred ‘tolerable’US , 1981

toley; tolynounexcrement, especially a turd From Scottish dialect

toalie or tolie (a small cake) UK: SCOTLAND , 1967

tollernouna carved wooden duck decoyCANADA , 1946

tolleynountoluene, a paint solvent inhaled by the truly desperate

abuserUS , 1997

tolly mugnouna tooth mug or glassUK , 1947

tomnoun1a prostitute Thus a police unit that targets prostitution

may be dubbed ‘tom squad’ or ‘tom patrol’UK , 1948.2a resident of

Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal, the power elite of CanadaCANADA ,

1979.3in a casino, a poor tipperUS , 1993.4moneySOUTH AFRICA , 1975.

5a British private soldier A shortening ofTOMMY UK , 1995

Tomnouna black person who curries favour with white people by

obsequious and servile behaviour A shortened form ofUNCLE TOM

Tomadjectiveshoddy, inferiorUS , 1989

Tom and Dick; Tom, Harry and Dick; Harry, Tom and Dick;

Tom Harryadjectivesick Rhyming slangUK , 1954

tomatonounan attractive woman, especially a young oneUS , 1929

tomato cannouna mediocre boxerUS , 1955

tomato puree; tomatonouna jury Rhyming slangUK , 1998

tomato saucenouna racehorse Rhyming slangUK , 1992

tombowler; tombolanouna large marble; a highly prized marble

AUSTRALIA , 1977

Tombsnicknamethe Manhattan Detention Complex or city jail

Named when built in the mid-C19 because it was modelled on an

Egyptian-style mausoleum The present facility bears no

resemblance to the original structure but still carries the sobriquet

US , 1840

tombstone dispositionnouna surly, graceless, fearless characterUS ,

1970

tom catnoun1a sewing machine needle converted to use for

injecting drugsUS , 1949.2a mat Rhyming slangUK , 1961

tom-cat; tomcatverbto pursue women for the purpose of fleeting

sexual encountersUS , 1927

Tom Cruisenounalcohol Rhyming slang forBOOZE, formed on the

name of the US film actor (b.1962)UK , 1998

Tom, Dick and Harrilalnounused as the Trinidadian version of the

Tom, Dick and Harrynounany man – by random example FromC16, obsolete variations abound, not the least of which isShakespeare’s ‘Tom, Dick and Francis’; ‘Tom Dick and Harry’ is notrecorded until 1865UK , 1865

Tom Dooleysnounthe testicles Rhyming slang forGOOLIES(thetesticles), formed from a folk song character who, fittingly, washungUK , 1992

Tom Finneyadjectiveskinny Rhyming slang, formed from the name

of Preston and England footballer, Tom Finney (b.1922)UK , 1998

tomfoolery; tomnounjewellery Rhyming slang The abbreviatedform is first recorded in 1955UK , 1931

tommingnounprostitutionUK , 2002

Tom Mix; tomnounan injection of a drug Rhyming slang forFIX,formed on the name of US film actor Tom Mix, 1880–1940UK , 1978

tommynounthe penisBAHAMAS , 1982

Tommynouna British private soldier The name Tommy Atkins wasused as a specimen signature on official formsUK , 1884

Tommy Doddnoun1God Rhyming slangUK , 1960.2a gun Rhymingslang forROD US , 1944

Tommy Doddadjectiveodd Rhyming slangUK , 1992

Tommy Doddsnounbetting odds Rhyming slang, extended from

TOMMY DODD(odd) used from the mid-C19 in relation to cointossingUK , 1960

Tommy Farrnouna (drinks) bar Rhyming slang formed on thename of the Welsh champion boxer, 1914–86UK , 1992

Tommy Gunsnoundiarrhoea Rhyming slang forTHE RUNS UK , 1998

Tommy Rollocks; rollocks; rollicksnounthe testicles; nonsense,especially as an exclamation Rhyming slang forBOLLOCKS UK , 1961

tommyrotnounnonsenseUK , 1884

tommy squeakernouna fartUK , 2003

Tommy Trindernouna window Rhyming slang, formed from thename of the popular Cockney comedian, 1909–89UK , 1998

Tommy Tripe; tommyverbto look at someone or something.Rhyming slang forPIPE UK , 1992

Tommy Trotternouna lump of nasal mucus Glasgow rhymingslang forSNOTTER UK: SCOTLAND , 1988

Tommy Tuckernoun1the penis, especially when erect Possiblyrhyming slang for ‘fucker’UK , 1966.2a spirited person Rhymingslang forFUCKER, formed from a nursery rhyme character.Normally said without maliceUK , 1998.3a gullible individual.Rhyming slang forSUCKER UK , 1998

tomonouna subterranean stream From the Maori term for ‘cave’

NEW ZEALAND , 1972

tomorrownoun< like there was no tomorrow; as if there was no tomorrowwith desperate vigour, urgentlyUK , 1980

tomorrow; tomverbto borrow Rhyming slangUK , 1992

tomorrow next daynounamong Nova Scotians of German descent,the indefinite futureCANADA , 1999

tomsnouna fit of annoyance Short forTOM TITS AUSTRALIA , 1960

Tom Sawyernouna lawyer Rhyming slang, formed from MarkTwain’s eponymous heroUK , 1961

Tom Tanknounan act of male masturbation Rhyming slang for

WANK(an act of masturbation)UK , 2003

Tom TerrificnicknameTom Seaver (b.1944), a pitcher who almostsingle-handedly carried the New York Mets from last place in 1967

to the World Series champions in 1969 From a television cartoonshow popular in the late 1950s and early 60sUS , 1969

Tom Thumbnounrum Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA , 1905

tom tit; tomnounan act of defecation Rhyming slang forSHIT UK , 1943

tom tits; tomsnoun1diarrhoea Rhyming slang forTHE SHITS

AUSTRALIA , 1943.2a fit of annoyance Rhyming slang forSHITS

Tom Tugnouna bug Rhyming slangUK , 1998

tonnoun1a large amount Often in the pluralUK , 1770.2in any

miscellaneous context, one hundredUK , 1962.3one hundred miles

per hourUK , 1954.4one hundred pounds sterlingUK , 1946.5one

hundred Australian dollarsAUSTRALIA , 1989

tonverb< ton itto drive at 100 miles per hourUK , 2000

tonenounrude or disparaging talkTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1957

tone on tonenouna car with the same colour interior and exterior

US , 1997

toneyadjective 8see:TONY

tongsnounheroin Possibly in reference to the Chinese ‘tongs’

(criminal organisations) responsible in part for the import and

dis-tribution of the drugUK , 2002

tonguenoun1the clitorisTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003.2an attorneyUS ,

1962.< get tonguein the categorisation of sexual activity by

teenage boys, to kiss with tongue contactUS , 1986

tongue jobnounoral sex on a womanUK , 1984

tongue-pashverbto kiss with open mouthsAUSTRALIA , 2000

tongue-troopernouna Quebec inspector of signs, commissioned to

enforce Bill 101, the language law making French primary in the

province Mordecai Richler is widely credited with having invented

this popular nickname for the ‘language police’ in his controversial

New Yorker essay ‘Oh Canada! Oh Quebec!’ (1992)CANADA , 2000

tongue washnounoral sex, especially on a womanUS , 1981

tonguey; tonguienouna tongue-kissAUSTRALIA , 1995

tonknoun1a homosexual male From ‘tonka bean’, rhyming slang

forQUEEN NEW ZEALAND , 1946.2the penisAUSTRALIA , 1972

tonkverb1to have sex Euphemistic forFUCK UK , 1974.2in sport, to

defeat someone resoundingly Noted as ‘imitative of a powerful

blow having reached its target’ by Susie Dent, The Language

Report, 2003 UK , 1997

tonkingnouna humiliating beating FromTONK UK , 1999

tonkingadjectiveused as an intensifierUK , 1974

tonkynounthe genitals, male or femaleBAHAMAS , 1982

tonkyadjective fashionable A possible blend of French ton (style) and

SWANKY(showy)NEW ZEALAND , 1998

Tonky; tonkienoun a member of the Batonka tribe; an

unsophisticated person or thing; someone who has ‘gone native’

DerogatoryZIMBABWE , 2000

tonsil hockeynounpassionate kissingUS , 1986

tonsil juicenounsalivaUS , 1946

tonsil paintnounwhiskyUS , 1977

tonsil testnouna film or theatre auditionUK , 1952

tonsil-ticklingnounintensive kissing Slang for those who don’t let

it get too seriousUK , 1990s

tontoadjective crazy, silly, foolish, eccentric From Spanish tonto

(stupid)US , 1973

ton-upnouna speed of 100 miles per hour, especially with reference

to motorcyclesUK , 1961

ton-up boynouna motorcyclist who has driven at 100 miles per

hour; generically, a member of a motorcycle gang FromTON(100)

UK , 1983

tony; toneyadjectiveup-market, sophisticated, stylish; snobbish,

swanky Conventionally meaning ‘style’ Also used in Australia and

New Zealand since 1900US , 2001

Tony Bennnounten Rhyming slang, formed from the name of

popular socialist politician Tony Benn (b.1925)UK , 1998

Tony Bennernounten pounds Rhyming slang forTENNER, extended

on the name of Tony Benn (b.1925), a popular socialist politician

UK , 1998

Tony Blair; tonynounhair Rhyming slang, based on prime

minister Tony Blair (b.1953), probably inspired by the new hairstyle

he adopted (with widespread media attention) in 1996UK , 1998

Tony Blairs

Tony Hatchnouna match Rhyming slang, formed from the name

of the British tunesmith (b.1939)UK , 1998

tony’snoundice that have been marked to have two identical faces

US , 1950

toodlembuck; toodle-em-buck; doodle-em-bucknounany ofvarious gambling games played by children utilising a spinningdevice with the names of horses in a race written on it From a

‘toodle/doodle’ frequentative formation expressive of spinning,

‘em’ (them) and ‘buck’ (a gambling marker)AUSTRALIA , 1924

toodle-oogoodbye Cute In the US, quite affected in a British sort

of wayUK , 1907

toodle-pip; tootle-pipgoodbye Very dated; contemporary usage isgenerally ironic, denoting a certain type of foolish upper-classspeakerUK , 1907

toodlesgoodbye Affected; an American corruption ofTOODLE-OO,perceived in the US as quaintly and quintessentially British Asignature line of the Francine ‘Gidget’ Lawrence character played

by Sally Fields on Gidget (ABC, 1965–66) Repeated with referential

humourUS , 1966

toody-hooused as a greetingUS , 1983

too fooladjectivelacking common senseCAYMAN ISLANDS , 1985

tooie; tuie; tooey; toolie; toolenouna capsule of amobarbitalsodium and secobarbital sodium (trade name Tuinal™), a combi-nation of central nervous system depressantsUS , 1966

toolnoun1the penis Conventional English at first – found in

Shakespeare’s Henry VIII – and then rediscovered in the C20 as

handy slangUK , 1553.2an objectionable idiot, a foolUK , 2001.3adiligent studentUS , 1965.4a weapon, generally a gun or a knifeUK ,

1942.5a skilled pickpocketUS , 1950.6in pool, a player’s cue stickUS ,

1993.7a surfboardUS , 1987

toolverb1to drive, to go, to travel, usually in a carefree manner.Originally of horse-drawn transports, applied in the C20 to motorvehicles, boats and aircraftUS , 1948.2to wander aimlessly; to donothing in particular The variant ‘tool around’ is also usedUS , 1932.

3to have sexUS , 1993.4to slash a person with a razorUK , 1959.5towork hardUS , 1997

toolboxnoun1the male genitalsUS , 1964.2the vaginaUS , 1967

tool checknounan inspection by a military doctor or medic ofmale recruits for signs of sexually transmitted diseaseUS , 1967

tooled upadjective1in possession of a weapon FromTOOL(a gun

or knife); popularised in such 1970s television crime dramas as

The Sweeney UK , 1959.2carrying cocaine A self-important adoption

of an earlier gangster clichéUK , 2001.3in possession of breaking implementsUK , 1959

house-toolernouna show-offUS , 1965

tooley birdnounin oil drilling, a loud squeak caused by poorlylubricated equipmentUS , 1954

toolienoun1in oil drilling, a driller’s helperUS , 1954.2a man who, in

a quest for sex, joins a group of young people during theSchoolies Week holidayAUSTRALIA , 2003

tooliesnouna pair of men’s close-fitting and revealing nylonswimming trunks FromTOOL(the penis)AUSTRALIA , 2003 8see:

TULES

toolionouna social outcastUS , 1997

toolsnoun1the syringe and other equipment used to prepare andinject drugsUS , 1966.2the jewellery, cars, clothing and materialflourishes that support a pimp’s imageUS , 1972.3a racecoursebookmaker’s equipmentUK , 2001

tools of the tradenounany objects used in sado-masochisticactivities, especially when advertised by a prostituteUK , 2003

tool upverb(of a man) to ready yourself for sexual intercourse, byerecting the penisUK , 1984

too muchadjectivegreat, wonderful, excellentUS , 1969

too much!used as a humorous commentary, suggesting thatsomeone has gone too farUS , 1963

too much perspective; too much fucking perspectiveused for

A catchphrase from Spinal Tap, used with humour and referentially US ,

1984

toonienouna two-dollar coin An alternative to ‘doubloonie’, both

nicknames derived from theLOONY CANADA , 1987

toonkinsnounused as an endearing term of address to a child

BARBADOS , 1965

too rightyes indeed!, absolutely!AUSTRALIA , 1919

tooroogoodbye Variant of ‘too-ra-loo’AUSTRALIA , 1927

too seriousadjectivevery goodUS , 1980

tootnoun1a dose of a drug, especially cocaine to be snortedUS ,

1971.2an inhalation of marijuana smokeUK , 2004.3cocaine; heroin

UK , 1977.4butyl nitriteUS , 1984.5a drinking spreeUS , 1891.6the

toilet Rhymes with ‘foot’ Perhaps a euphemistic alteration of

‘toilet’ The suggestion in the Australian National Dictionary that it

derives from British dialect tut (a small seat or hassock), recorded

in C19, fails to impress as it doesn’t take into account the fact that

the dialect word was pronounced to rhyme with ‘putt’AUSTRALIA ,

1965.7a prostituteUS , 2001 8see:WHISTLE AND TOOT

tootverb1to inhale a powdered drug, such as cocaineUS , 1975.2to

inhale crack cocaine vapoursUK , 1996.3to fartUS , 1978

toot; tutenicknamein Canadian military aviation, the Tutor

one-engine jet trainerCANADA , 1995

tooternouna (improvised) tube for inhaling cocaine into the nose

US , 1981

toothbrush daynounafter a guilty verdict, the day when sentencing

is announcedUS , 1985

toothingnounanonymous casual sexual activity with any partner

arranged over Bluetooth™ radio technology enabled mobile

phonesUK , 2004

toothless gibbonnounthe vagina A visual pun, evocative of, if not

inspired by, The Goodies ‘Funky Gibbon’, 1970UK , 1999

toothpicknoun1a thinly rolled marijuana cigarette Collected

during an extensive survey of New Zealand prison slang,

1996–2000NEW ZEALAND , 2000.2a long, thin, old-fashioned

surfboardAUSTRALIA , 1985.3a railway tieUS , 1977.4a pool cue stick

that is lighter than averageUS , 1990.5a sharp knifeUS , 1945

tooth-to-tail rationounthe ratio of combat troops (tooth) to

rear-echelon support personnel (tail)US , 1991

tootieadjectivehomosexualUS , 1999

tootingadverbcompletely, absolutely Usually further intensified with

a preceding adverbUS , 1932

Tooting Becnoun1food; a little to eat Rhyming slang forPECK

formed from an area of south LondonUK , 1937.2a kiss Rhyming

slang for ‘peck’UK , 1992

tootle; tootle around; tootle along; tootle offverbto go; to

wander; to travelUK , 1959

too trueused as a stressed affirmativeUK , 1969

tootsnounused as an affectionate term of address, usually to a girl

or womanUS , 1936

tootsienoun1a woman, a girlfriend; often used as a form of

address, either humourous or affectionateUS , 1895.2a child’s foot;

a woman’s foot A baby-talk coinage; playful or affectionate usage

US , 1999.3a capsule of secobarbital sodium and amobarbital

sodium (trade name Tuinal™), a combination of central nervous

system depressants Also variant ‘tootie’US , 1977

tootsie rollnoundistilled and concentrated heroinUS , 1987

tootsie tradenouna sexual coupling of two effeminate homosexual

menUK , 2002

toovnouncigarettes, tobacco English gypsy useUK , 2000

too wet to plowadjectiveexperiencing the bleed period of the

menstrual cycleUS , 1999

topnoun1the dominant partner in a homosexual or

sado-masochistic relationshipUS , 1961.2a maximum prison sentenceUS ,

1968.3a first sergeant Variants include ‘topper’ and ‘tap kick’US ,

1991.< be on topto be discovered in a criminal enterprise; to be

that is normally meant by ‘on top’UK , 1970.< over the topsaid

of a score in pinball when the score exceeds the capacity of thescoring device and thus returns to zeroUS , 1977.< the top1thebeginning of something, often in the phrase ‘from the top’UK ,

1976.2the northern parts of AustraliaAUSTRALIA , 1951

topverb1to execute someone especially by hanging or beheading;hence, to kill someoneUK , 1718.2to take the dominant, controllingrole in a sado-masochistic relationshipUS , 1997.< top from the bottom; top from below(of a sexual submissive in a sado-masochistic relationship), to take, or attempt to take, the domi-nant, controlling roleUK , 1996.< top the hills and pop the pills

used as a stock description of a trucker’s workUS , 1976.< top yourselfto commit suicide A specific variant ofTOP(to killdeliberately)UK , 1718

topadjectivegreat; excellentUS , 1935

top banananounthe headliner in a vaudeville show; by figurativeextension, the leading figure in any enterpriseUS , 1953

top bitchnounin a group of prostitutes working for a pimp, thelatest addition to the groupUS , 1967

top bollocks; top ballocksnounthe female breastsUK , 1961

top brass; brassnounhigh-ranking police officers Adopted frommilitary usage, preceded by ‘big brass’ and ‘high brass’UK , 1949

top dognoun1a very important personUK , 1900.2in poker, thehighest pair in a handUS , 1996

top dogadjectiveof a person, importantUK , 1998

top dollarnouna high price or the best price; or rate of payUS , 1994

top dollaradjectivefirst-rate, genuineUK , 2001

top-draweradjectivewell-bred, high-class, the bestUK , 1920

top dresser drawernounthe uppermost berth in a brakevan(caboose)US , 1946

topedverbdrunk From the conventional, if rarely used, verb ‘tope’

UK , 2003

Top End; top endnounthe northern parts of the Northern Territory

AUSTRALIA , 1933

Top Endernouna person from the Top EndAUSTRALIA , 1941

top-flightadjectivefirst rateUS , 1939

top gunnoun1crack cocaineUS , 1994.2one hundred pounds Rhyming slang forTON, formed from the title of a 1986 filmUK , 1998

top hatnoun1the vagina Rhyming slang forPRAT UK , 1998.2a fool.Rhyming slang forPRAT UK , 1998.3in the television and filmindustries, a device used to enable shooting very low anglesUK , 1960

top hatsnounerect nipplesUS , 1997

top-holeadjectiveexcellent Arch and dated but still used withoutironyUK , 1908

toplessnounin the used car business, a convertibleUS , 1992

top magnouna fast-talking criminal Possibly an elaboration onearlier sense of ‘mag’ (a chatterer)AUSTRALIA , 1975

top mannounin a homosexual couple, the partner who plays theactive role during sexUS , 1941

top notchnouna gang member with high standing within the gang

JAMAICA , 1989

top-notchadjectiveof the best quality Figurative use of a ‘top notch’representing the highest point achievableUK , 1984

top-notchernounan outstanding personAUSTRALIA , 1947

toponouncrack cocaineUK , 2003

top-offnouna police informerAUSTRALIA , 1940

top-off merchantnouna police informerAUSTRALIA , 1944

top of the headnounin betting, odds of 9–4 From theTICK-TACK

signal used by bookmakersUK , 1991

top of the popsnounthe police Rhyming slang forCOPS, formed

on the title of UK television’s longest-running popular music show(BBC television, 1964–2006)UK , 2005

top of the shopadjectiveexcellent An elaboration ofTOP(excellent)

top of the worldnouna feeling of elation, good health or

prosperityUS , 1920

top onenounthe best of timesUK , 1999

toppernoun1a remark or action that serves as the coup de grace of

a conversation or series of eventsUS , 1939.2a criminal who

rep-resents the interests of a cheque forgerUK , 1956.3in circus and

carnival usage, a featured actUS , 1981

toppingadjectiveexcellentUK , 1822

topping shednounin prison, a place of executionUK , 1950

topsnoundice that have been marked to have two identical facesUS ,

1962

topsadjectivetopmost in quality, the bestUS , 1935

topsadverbat the mostUS , 1987

tops and bottomsnoun1in poker, a hand consisting of a pair of

aces (the highest card) and a pair of twos (the lowest card)US , 1951.

2a roll of trimmed paper ‘topped’ and ‘bottomed’ with a genuine

banknote to give the impression of a weighty roll of moneyUK ,

1959.3a combination of Taluin™, a painkiller, and the

antihistamine Pyribenzamine™, abused for non-medicinal

purposesUS , 1989

top-shelfadjectiveexcellent or the bestUS , 1892

top sticknounthe best regular player in a pool hallUS , 1990

topsynouna chamber potBARBADOS , 1965

topsy-turvyadjective1disordered, in a chaotic state, very untidyUK ,

1528.2upside down; in reverse orderUK , 1530

top tottynounan especially desirable or sexually available woman or

womenUK , 2001

top ’unsnouna woman’s breastsUK , 1958

top whack; top wacknounthe most expensive price Derives from

WHACK(a share of money)UK , 1974

top willow!in cricket, used for registering enthusiastic approval of a

batman’s performance A cricket bat is traditionally made of

willow Displayed on a placard at the England v West Indies 2nd

Test, Edgbaston, 31st July 2004UK , 2004

toque; tuquenouna knitted cap made from woolCANADA , 1871

torchnoun1an arsonistUS , 1938.2an act of arsonUS , 1981.3a

ciga-rette lighterUS , 1972.4a handgunUS , 1962.5marijuana; a marijuana

cigarette A conical shape holding fire at the flared endUS , 1977.6a

love song or balladUS , 1948

torchverbto light a fire, especially an arson fireUS , 1931

torchedadjectivedrunkUS , 1990

torch jobnounan enema containing a heat-inducing agent such as

Vicks Vaporub™, Ben-Gay™, Heet™, or Tabasco™ sauceUS , 1972

torch upnounto smoke marijuana; to light up a jointUS , 1955

tore downadjectivevery disoriented, usually because of drug

intoxi-cationUK , 1983

toreeonnouna variety of marijuanaUK , 1980

tore upadjectivedistressedUS , 1960

tornado baitnouna mobile home or trailer, especially in a tornado

zoneUS , 1992

torn upadjectivehurt; upsetUS , 1968

Toronto the Goodnicknamethe city of Toronto, considered with

reference to its longtime (into the 1980s) strict rectitude in law

and custom Also nicknamed Hogtown, Toronto continues to carry

both terms though money and a cosmopolitan and international

flavour have replaced slaughterhouses and the former moral

stiffnessCANADA , 2001

torpeckernouna torpedoUS , 1948

torpedonoun1a hired gunman or killerUS , 1929.2the penisUS , 2003.

3a marijuana cigaretteSOUTH AFRICA , 1946.4a marijuana and crack

cocaine cigaretteUS , 1994.5in trucking, a large, bullet-shaped light

on a cabUS , 1971

torpedo juicenounany improvised liquor on board a submarineUS ,

1948

torpedos

torquedadjectiveangered, annoyedUS , 1968

tortoise headnounthe erect penisUK , 2001

torture chambernouna jail or prison where illegal drugs are notavailableUS , 1982

Torvill and Deannouna homosexual Rhyming slang forQUEEN,formed from ice-dancing champions and Olympic gold medalwinners 1984, Jayne Torvill and Christopher DeanUK , 2003

Toryglentaladjectiveinsane, crazy Glasgow rhyming slang for

‘mental’, contrived on the Toryglen area of GlasgowUK: SCOTLAND , 1988

toshnoun1nonsense A compound of synonyms ‘bosh’ and ‘trash’

UK , 1892.2used as a form of male address Possibly Scottish inorigin In 1990, car manufacturer Toshiba created a new slogan

‘Ullo Tosh! Gotta Toshiba?’ based on the song ‘Ullo John! GottaNew Motor?’, Alexei Sayle, 1983UK , 1954.3a bath School slangUK , 1881

tosheroon; tusheroon; ’roonnounin pre-decimalisation currency,

a half-crown coin; two shillings and sixpenceUK , 1859

toshingverbpainting and decoratingUK , 1998

tosh upverbto make something look as good as new Car dealers’termUK , 1983

tossnoun1nonsense, especially if self-indulgentUK , 1990.2something

of little or no valueUK , 1994.3an act of masturbationUK , 1785.4asearch of a person or placeUS , 1973.5an armed robberyUS , 1950.

< not give a toss; not care a tossto not care one way oranother; to reject Two suggested etymologies prevail, either ‘tonot care enough to toss a coin’ or ‘to toss (masturbate) yourself’;

on balance, probably ‘to toss a coin’ as it takes a deal less effortand therefore the rejection is greaterUK , 2001

tossverb1(of a male) to masturbate Often used with ‘off’UK , 1879.

2to get the better of someone; to overcome someone orsomethingAUSTRALIA , 1949.3to search a room, apartment, house,office or person without regard to the condition in which thepremises or person are leftUS , 1939.4to rob a placeUS , 1950.5togulp a drink down, 1992.< toss a grindto eatUS , 1992.< toss chowto eat quickly and voraciouslyUS , 1993.< toss it instopdoing somethingAUSTRALIA , 1954.< toss it to someoneto havesex with a womanUS , 1964.< toss saladto engage in oral stimu-lation of the anusUS , 2001.< toss the boardsto play three cardmolly, a street swindle in which the object is to identify a givencard among three cards that are quickly moved aroundUS , 1972.

< toss the tigerto vomit A visual allusion to multi-colouredvomitNEW ZEALAND , 1960.< toss your cookiesto vomit Children’svocabularyUS , 1941.< toss your lolliesto vomitNEW ZEALAND , 1998

tossbagnouna contemptible individualUK , 1977

tossed saladnounany of several sexual practices involving oral-analstimulationUS , 1997

tossernoun1someone who is considered worthless or despicable Asynonym ofWANKER UK , 1977.2nothing at all; something of verylittle value From the meaning as ‘a penny’ (a coin of little value)

UK: SCOTLAND , 1988.3a penny From the low value coin used ingames of pitch-and-toss Still current in Northen IrelandUK , 1934

tossilyadverbself-indulgently, hence pretentiously FromTOSS(tomasturbate)UK , 2000

tossle; tosselnounthe penis Variant of ‘tassle’ (something thatdangles)AUSTRALIA , 1945

tosspotnouna fool; a generally abusive term for a person; inAustralia, used as an affectionate form of address Derives orig-inally (C16) from the conventional sense as ‘drunkard’ The moreabusive sense combines ‘fool’ andTOSSER, a synonym forWANKER

(a despicable person)UK , 1983

toss-upnoun1an even chance; anything dependant on chance.From the tossing of a coinUK , 1809.2a person who will trade sexfor crack cocaineUS , 1989.3a promiscuous femaleUS , 1995

toss-upsnouncrack cocaine From ‘toss-up’ (a person who trades sexfor crack)UK , 2003

tossyadjectivepatheticUK , 2001

tot to collect rubbish

TOTused for suggesting that it is time to tell the complete truth.

From the Yiddish for ‘buttocks on the table’US , 1989

totalverbto wreck something beyond repair Originally and chiefly

applied to a carUS , 1954

totaladjectiveutter; out-and-out; complete; used as an all-purpose

intensifierUS , 1999

total bang upnounin prison, a regime under which inmates are

locked in their cells for 24 hours a dayUK , 1996

total blanknounin circus and carnival usage, a dull town where

business is poorUS , 1981

totalled; totalled outadjectivedrunkUS , 1966

totallyadverbcompletely Very close to standard English, but with

the right attitude quite slangyUS , 1982

totally!used as an enthusiastic expression of agreementUS , 1982

total outadjectiveto an extreme; to excess Hawaiian youth usage

US , 1982

total wrecknouna cheque Rhyming slangUK , 1996

totenounin horse racing, a pari-mutuel betting machine An

abbreviation of ‘totalisator’AUSTRALIA , 1890

toteverbto carry a pistolUS , 1998

tote!used for expressing assent An abbreviation ofTOTALLY! US , 2000

to the badof time, lateUK , 2000

to the goodadverbof time, earlyUK , 2000

to the nth degreeadjectiveto an extent beyond any reasonable

measurement Uses ’n’ (a mathematical symbol for an indefinite

number) to create a quasi-scientific sounding approximationUK ,

2001

to the rack!used by pool players for expressing dismay and utter

defeat The player has no choice in this situation but to return his

cue to the rackUS , 1993

tothersidernounin Western Australia, a person from an eastern

stateAUSTRALIA , 1872

totonounthe penisTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1987

toto-edadjectivein a state of drug-induced exhilaration Inspired by

The Wizard of Oz, 1939, in which Judy Garland (1922–69) as

Dorothy, says to her dog: ‘Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas

anymore’UK , 2001

totonolnounfrequent, regular sex as a cure for a woman’s ailments

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003

tottie; totty; totnouna person who is not white, especially a

‘coloured’ person; originally and particularly, one of the Khoikhoi

race Derivies from Hottentot; now considered derogatory and

offensiveSOUTH AFRICA , 1832 8see:TATER

tottitanounthe vaginaUS , 1998

tot-totsnounthe female breastsTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1974

totty; tottie; tottnouna sexually available or desirable young

woman or womenUK , 1890

tottyadjectiveattractive, desirableUK , 2002

tot upverbto amount to; to add up; to calculate Ultimately from

‘total’ An older variant, ‘tot together’, is still familiar UK , 2004

touchnoun1a sum of money obtained at one time, especially by

cadging or theftUS , 1846.2a satisfying result Derives from the

‘something-for-nothing’ sensesUK , 2000.3in pool, finesseUS , 1895.

4a resemblance or evocative quality When combined with a

pluralised proper noun, it is used to suggest characteristics

associ-ated with that noun, as ‘a touch of the Prince Edwards’, ‘a touch

of the Bob Dylans’ or ‘a touch of the Hollywoods’UK , 1388.< put

the touch on someoneto attempt to extract money from

someone with glib or coercive talkUS , 1956

touchverb1to borrow from someoneUS , 1955.2to subject someone

to extortion or briberyUK , 1654.3to finance someoneUK , 1999.4to

have sex with someoneIRELAND , 1984.< I wouldn’t touch it with

yoursused by one male to another as an expression of distaste or

contempt for a female Here ‘it’ is ‘a woman’ and ‘yours’ is ‘a

penis’UK .< not touch it with a bargepoleused as an

indication of extreme distaste or contempt In many minor ationsUK , 1984.< touch hometo communicate a feeling; tomake senseUS , 1959.< touching cloth; touching cottonhaving

vari-an urgent need to defecateUK , 2002

touch and goadjectiveof uncertain outcome, unsureUK , 1815

touch and tapnouna cap (hat) Rhyming slangUK , 1992

touched; touched in the headadjectivementally impaired; insane

UK , 1893

touched by the moonadjective(slightly) insane An elaboration of

TOUCHED(insane), in the form of rhyming slang onLOON(amadman)UK , 1992

touche eclatverbto conceal something From French, where, if theconstruction were used, it would mean (very loosely) ‘a brilliant oracclaimed touch’ A contemporary gay usageUK , 2003

touchheadnouna convert to the musical cult of the Grateful Deadafter the 1987 release of the song ‘Touch of Grey’ A play on thecommonDEADHEAD(a Grateful Dead follower)US , 1995

touchingadjectiveused of playing cards adjacent in rankUS , 1996

touch mannouna criminal who specialises in breaking into safes bymanipulating the combinations until they openUS , 1970

touch offverbto light a fire, especially if arsonUS , 1979

touch’olenouna cow’s anusCANADA , 1992

touch-onnounan erectionUK , 2001

touchousadjectiveirritable, easily upsetTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1956

touch the dog’s arsenouncar theft Prison slang for the initialism

TDA (taking and driving away) UK: ENGLAND , 1998

touch upverb1to caress and fondle someone in a sexual manner

UK , 1903.2to steal somethingUS , 1997

touch woodused superstitiously as a precaution against bad luck,spoken to accompany the action of touching wood (often

humorously tapping your own wooden head); or to replace the

need for the action; or by rote, without superstition, as a generalway of saying ‘with luck’ After a Christian belief in the benefit oftouching the cross, hence the proverbial ‘Touch wood, it’s sure tocome good’UK , 1908

touchy-feelyadjectiveoverly sensitive, caring or emotional.Originating in psycho-therapy, now generally used dismissively todescribe every state between tactile and lecherousUS , 1968

touch you!used for conveying surprise and admirationUS , 1997

toughverbto inject a drug into a vein on the underside of thetongue It is not particularly difficult to guess why this practice is

so namedUS , 1986.< tough it out; toughto bear hardship; todeterminedly face up to a difficulty, 2000

tough!‘hard luck!’; unfairUK , 1929

tough; tuffadjectivegood, admirableUS , 1937

tough biccies!used for expressing a profound lack of sympathy for

a bad turn of eventsNEW ZEALAND , 1977

tough cheekoused for expressing a lack of sympathyUS , 1969

tough dartstoo badUS , 1968

toughernounin poker, an increased betUS , 1951

tough guysnounin craps, the proposition bets (bets that a numberwill be rolled in a pair)US , 1983

toughie; toughynouna tough person or situationUS , 1929

toughiesnounin craps, the proposition bets (bets that a numberwill be rolled in a pair)US , 1983

tough lovenouna mixture of compassion and strictness designed toaffect change in destructive behaviourUS , 1981

tough nut; tough nut to crack; hard nut; hard nut to crack

nounsomeone who is difficult to deal with, especially one with atendency to violenceUS , 1999

tough shitwho cares?, so what? An unsympathetic variation of

‘tough luck’: ‘tough’ (unfortunate, unpleasant) andSHIT(an abstractform) for ‘luck’US , 1934

tough shitskiused as a humorous embellishment of tough shit, ortoo bad A mock Slav or Russian suffix

tough titty; tough titties; tough titused for conveying a lack of

sympathy with a difficult turn of eventsUS , 1934

toupnouna man’s hairpieceUS , 1985

tour ballnounin pinball, a ball that stays in play for a relatively long

period without scoring many pointsUS , 1977

tour crudnounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, a

bacterial or viral infection that quickly spreads among those

following the band on tourUS , 1994

touristnoun1in relation to a specified subject area, a person who

takes a temporary interestUK , 2002.2a summer worker in

AntarcticaANTARCTICA , 1966

Tourist Annienounthe stereotypical female tourist in Port of Spain,

dressed in what she perceives as traditional island clothingTRINIDAD

AND TOBAGO , 1971

tourist discnounin shuffleboard, a shot that passes through

without hitting a target disc or discsUS , 1967

tourist trapnouna place that attracts and makes unreasonable

profits from touristsUK , 1939

touristyadjectivefull of tourists; designed or developed to appeal to

tourists; characteristic of tourists Often with derogatory

connotationsUK , 1906

tourniquetnounan engagement or wedding ringUS , 1961

tour ratnounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, a fan

who follows the band on tour at all costsUS , 1994

toutnoun1an informer, especially one who works for the IRAUK:

NORTHERN IRELAND , 1979.2in horse racing, someone who sells

gener-ally worthless advice with the promise of inside information

bound to help bettors winUK , 1865.3a horse racing enthusiast who

closely watches workouts and is generally disliked by those on the

inside of the sportAUSTRALIA , 1989.4in a confidence swindle or sales

scheme, an agent who for a commission locates potential victims

US , 1988.5in a whe-whe lottery game, a person who records and

collects bets, takes the bets to the banker and pays off winners

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1996

towverb< I’ll tow that one alongside for a bit before I bring

it aboardamong Nova Scotia fishermen, used for expressing

doubt about the truth or reliability of an idea or projectCANADA ,

1992

towelnoun< chuck in the towel; throw in the towel; toss in

the towelto admit or concede defeat From boxingUK , 1915

towelhead; towel-headnounan Arab; also a Sikh or other

turban-wearer An offensive or derogatory term; from the traditional

headwear of the various races and creedsUS , 1979

towel upverbto beat someone upAUSTRALIA , 1919

tower birdnounin oil drilling, a worker on a derrickUS , 1954

Tower Bridge, towernouna refrigerator Rhyming slang for ‘fridge’

UK , 1992

Tower Hillverbto kill Rhyming slang, formed on an area of London

UK , 1998

towienouna tow-truck driverAUSTRALIA , 1975

townnoun1London Used by Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and

present-day commutersUK , 1837.2city A coy term that harkens

backUS , 1999.< go to townto make the utmost effort; to tackle

something with zest and vigourUK , 1933.< go to town onto

attack excessively either verbally or physicallyIRELAND , 1992.< in

townin horse racing, on major metropolitan tracks The opposite

of the ‘bushes’AUSTRALIA , 1989.< out of townin jail or prisonUS ,

1982

town bikenouna promiscuous female Everybody has, it seems,

‘taken a ride’AUSTRALIA , 1945

town clownnounin carnival usage, a local police officerUS , 1989

town criernouna liar Rhyming slangUK , 1992

town dollarsnounin horse racing, money bet at a betting operation

away from the trackUS , 1951

town punchnounan extremely promiscious girl or womanUS , 1975

townsnounthe testicles Rhyming slang on ‘town hall’ forBALL(S);appears to originate in LiverpoolUK , 2001

towns and citiesnounthe female breasts Rhyming slang for

TITTIE(S), recorded as obsolete by Julian Franklyn, A Dictionary of

Rhyming Slang, 1960, but noted as a variant ofBRISTOL CITYby Ray

Puxley, Cockney Rabbit, 1992 UK , 1960

toxicadjective1of a situation, unhealthy, poisonous Figurative cation of the conventional senseUK , 1998.2amazing, powerfulUS , 1987

appli-Toxic Hellnouna Taco Bell™ restaurant (a Mexican fast-food chain

1991.5an inexperienced or incompetent graffiti artistUS , 1990.6indrag racing, a dragster (a car designed specifically and exclusivelyfor drag racing)US , 1965 8see:TAW

toy boynouna younger male loverUK , 1981

toy dollsnounthe testicles A vaguely assonant euphemismUK: SCOTLAND , 1988

Toyko Rose; tokyonounthe nose Rhyming slang, formed from thename given by the US administration and soldiers in World War 2

to the many female voices that broadcast Japanese propaganda,but especially associated with Iva Ikuko Toguri (b.1916), a Japanese-American, who actually broadcast under the name Orphan Ann

UK , 1992

toy otternounin car repair, a Toyota carUS , 1992

toysnounheroinUK , 2003

TPnoun1a scene in a pornographic film or a photograph depicting

a woman having simultaneous oral, vaginal and anal sex Anabbreviation of ‘triple penetration’US , 2000.2a woman with large

breasts and large buttocks A ‘total package’ US , 2000

TR-6nounan amphetamine Possibly from a Triumph TR-6, thelegendary sports car manufactured from the late 1960s to the mid-70s, used here as an allegory forSPEED(amphetamine)UK , 1998

tracnounan intractable prisonerAUSTRALIA , 1967

tracknoun1the street or area where prostitutes solicit customersUS ,

1969.2the open road as used by itinerant travellers Commonly inthe phrase ‘on the track’AUSTRALIA , 1873.3the course of an event;the course of timeAUSTRALIA , 1945.4an armoured personnel carrier,especially the M-113US , 1971.5a warder who carries contraband forprisoners An earlier variant ‘track-in’ has been recorded from 1939

AUSTRALIA , 1950.< the trackthe Savoy ballroom, New York Amajor night spot on Lenox Avenue between 140th and 141stStreets in New York from 1927 until the 50sUS , 1946

trackverbto inject drugsUK , 1996

track-bashernouna specialist trainspotter who travels (and so

‘collects’) little-used sections of the rail networkUK , 2003

tracked upadjectivescarred from regular intravenous drug injection

trackie-bottomsnountracksuit trousersUK: SCOTLAND , 1996

trackie daksnountracksuit trousersAUSTRALIA , 2000

track lawyernounin horse racing, someone who constantly resorts

track recordnounthe known facts about relevant historyUS , 1951

tracksnounbruises, punctures and sores visible on the skin of an

intravenous drug userUS , 1960.< across the tracks; wrong side

of the tracksthe socially inferior area of town The railway often

separated the better-off part of an American town from the poorer

quarters Duke Ellington’s ‘Across the Tracks Blues’ dates to 1943

US , 1943.< make tracksto leaveUS , 1945

tractionnounin confidence games, an amount of money used to

begin an increasingly larger series of swindlesUS , 1997

traddienouna traditional jazz enthusiastUK , 1983

tradenoun1a man, self-identified as heterosexual, who engages in

active anal homosexual sex or passive oral homosexual sex but will

not reciprocateUS , 1927.2heterosexual or homosexual prostitution;

customers of that prostitution, especially homosexual Originally

‘the trade’UK , 1680

tradeverb< trade numbersto bid for a job based on an

estimated costUS , 1989.< trade paintto be involved in a car

accident with another carUS , 1997

trade queennouna homosexual man who prefers sex with a

seemingly heterosexual man who consents to homosexual sex in

the ‘male’ role, receiving orally or giving anallyUS , 1970

trade-ragenounan outburst of enraged hostility within a business

environmentUK , 2003

tradesnounthe trade journals of the US entertainment industryUS ,

1984

tradesman’s entrance; tradesman’snounthe anus, designated as

an entry suitable for sex In the grand houses of polite society the

tradesman’s entrance is traditionally round the backUK , 2001

trade upverbto escape criminal prosecution or lessen the charges

against you by providing the police with information about other

criminalsUS , 1981

Tradiesnouna tradesmen’s clubAUSTRALIA , 1987

traditional disciplinenouncorporal punishment, especially when

used in a prostitute’s advertising matterUK , 2003

trad jazz; tradnoun traditional jazz UK , 1956

trafverbto fart Back slangAUSTRALIA , 1998

Trafalgar Square; trafalgarnouna chair Rhyming slangUK , 1998

tragicnounan inferior or pathetic person From the adjectiveUK , 2005

tragicadjectiveinferior, pathetic, no good Used, especially in a

sporting context, as an opposite ofMAGIC(excellent) ‘Liverpool are

magic Everton are tragic’ is legendarily ascribed to footballer

Emlyn Hughes (1947–2004)UK , 1984

tragic magicnoun1heroinUS , 1990.2crack cocaine dipped in

phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust

UK , 1998

trailernounin a striptease performance, the preliminary march

across the stage that precedes the removal of any piece of clothing

US , 1981.< pull a trailerto possess large buttocksUS , 1988

trailerverbto pull a dragster onto its carrying trailer after it has

been eliminated from an event A car that has lost is referred to as

‘being trailered’US , 1970

trail hognouna skier who is inconsiderate of other skiers,

monopolising a narrow trailUS , 1963

trail markernounan unappetising piece of food, the identity of

which is uncertainUS , 1991

trail mixnouna recreational drug cocktail of MDMA, the recreational

drug best known as ecstasy, and Viagra™, a branded drug that

enables a male erectionUS , 2003

trailsnoun1cocaineUK , 2003.2while under the influence of LSD or

another hallucinogen, sequences of repeating after-images trailing

a moving objectUS , 1999

trainnoun1cocaineUS , 1993.2heroinUK , 2003.3in prison, drugs To

say ‘the train has arrived’ is to say that illegal drugs have arrived at

the prisonUS , 1982.4a series of wavesUS , 1963.5multiple orgasms

US .< pull a train; run a trainto engage in serial sex with

multiple partners, homosexual or heterosexual, usually consensual

US , 1965

trainverb< train Thomas at the Terracotta; train Terrence/Terence at the terracotta(of a male) to urinate

AUSTRALIA , 1971

trainiesnountrainers, sports shoesUK , 2001

training beernounlow alcohol beerCANADA , 1995

training wheelsnouna learner’s driving permitUS , 1976

train smashnoun1fried or tinned tomatoes; tomato sauce Militaryblack humour; an especially unappetising example of visualimageryUK , 1941.2a hastily prepared savoury dish of tomatoes withonions, eggs, sausages, etcAUSTRALIA , 1960

trainspotternounanyone with a pedantic interest in and anobsessive knowledge of a specific topic Genuine trainspotters, ofthe variety that stand on railway platforms, are the stereotypicalarch-hobbyistsUK , 1995

train-surfing; urban surfing; roof-ridingnounriding illegally onthe roof of a train (or car, bus, etc) for the thrills A ten-year crazefrom the early 1980sUS , 1993

train wrecknouna horribly wounded soldier or casualty departmentpatient Used by medical corpsmen in VietnamUS , 1978

tramnoun< wouldn’t know if a tram was up youto be docilelyunawareAUSTRALIA , 1972

trammienouna tram driver or conductorAUSTRALIA , 1919

trampnoun1a promiscuous man or womanUS , 1922.2a worker whomoves from job to job, city to cityUK , 1808

Trance Canadanicknamethe Trans-Canada highway This nickname

is either a reference to ‘highway hypnosis’ (on boring sections likethe 401 from Montreal to Toronto) or to the ‘spellbinding scenery’

on such parts as the Rocky Mountain crossing or the MaritimesectionsCANADA , 2001

tranced out; trancedadjectivein a state of extreme distractionUK , 1997

tranceyadjectiveof trance musicUK , 1998

TranenicknameJohn Coltrane (1926–67) A jazz titanUS , 1985

tranknoun1any central nervous system depressant Variant spellinginclude ‘trang’ and ‘tranx’US , 1971.2a person who takes theexcitement out of something; a killjoy A figurative use of ‘atranquillizer’US , 1979

trankedadjectivesedated; under the influence of tranquillizersUS , 1991

trannieadjectivetranssexualUS , 1999

trannie; trannynoun1a transvestiteUK , 1984.2a transsexualUS , 1997.

3a transistor radioUK , 1969.4in a car or truck, a transmissionUS ,

1993.5any surface used for skating or foot-propelled scootering that

is not totally horizontal From ‘transition’UK , 2000

transnoun1a carUS , 1995.2transport BAHAMAS , 1982

transcendverbto smoke marijuanaUS , 1974

transformernoun1a transsexualUS , 1991.2a stuttering type ofmanipulation of a record to create a musical effect, 2002

transfusionnouna replenishment of cashAUSTRALIA , 1989.< get a transfusionto fill a vehicle with petrol or dieselUS , 1976

transitnoun< in transitexperiencing the effects of LSDUS , 1971

transvesty; transvestienouna transvestiteUS , 1987

transynouna transsexualUS , 1987

trapnoun1the mouthUK , 1776.2a police officer Now only historical

AUSTRALIA , 1812.3a prostitute’s earnings A shortened form ofTRAP

MONEY US , 1973.4an electronic device that records the originatingtelephone number of all incoming calls A term and practice madeobsolete with the advent of the ‘caller ID’ feature on telephones inthe late 1990sUS , 1991.5a hiding place for illegal drugsUS , 1967.6aresidenceUS , 1957.7a timing light at the finish line of a drag race

US , 1970.8in poker, a deceptive betUS , 1979

trapverb1to have success attracting members of the opposite sex.Royal Navy slangUK .2to install an electronic trap on a

telephone lineUS , 1996.3to land safely and accurately on an aircraft

carrierUS , 1991

trap doornoun1a scab under which a drug addict injects drugsUS ,

1992.2a computing function that is easily performed but difficult

to perform in the inverse Extremely useful in cryptographyUS , 1991

trapeze artistnouna person engaged in simultaneous anal and oral

sexUS , 1979

trap moneynoun1a prostitute’s gross earningsUS , 1974.2money

containing tear gas and/or dye kept in a bank to be given to bank

robbers An abbreviation of ‘booby-trap money’US , 2004

trap offverbto deceive or manipulate someoneUS , 2002

trappernouna person who can open envelopes and reseal them

without a traceUS , 1982

trappyadjectiveloud and boastful, possibly insulting.TRAPis ‘mouth’,

therefore ‘trappy’ isMOUTHY UK , 1999

trapsnoun1drums and other items of percussion, collectively

Musicians’ slangUS , 1903.2the trapezius muscles connecting the

neck and shoulderUS , 1984.3your usual hauntsAUSTRALIA , 1933

trap smashernounin lobstering, a severe stormUS , 1978

trap two; trap number twonounthe anus From greyhound

racingUK , 1998

trashnoun1contemptible people; a contemptible personUK , 1604.

2military decorations, awards and patchesUS , 1990.3marijuanaUS ,

2001.4heroinUK , 2003.5waves that collapse before they break,

making poor surfing conditionsUS , 1977

trashverb1to destroy somethingUK , 1970.2to criticise or malign

someone or somethingUS , 1975.3to frighten someone Market

traders’ term; directly from RomanyUK , 1979

trashedadjectivevery drunk or drug-intoxicatedUS , 1966

trash handnounin poker, an unplayable handUS , 1992

trash haulernounduring the Vietnam war, a cargo transport pilot

US , 1988

trashingnounlooting from shopsUS , 1975

trash timenouna short jail sentence, especially one spent on a

litter cleaning dutyUS , 1987

traumaticadjectivevery exciting; excellentUS , 1990

travelverb< travel on a tie passto walk along a train trackUS ,

traveller’s checknounin poker or other gambling, a betting token

that rolls across the table or floor From the insider slang term

CHECK(a gambling token)US , 1996

traveller’s marrownounan erection brought on while travelling,

especially while sleepingUK , 1985

travelling agentnounin a whe-whe lottery game, a person who

collects and records bets, brings the bets and money to the banker

and pays off winnersTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1996

traynouna bunch of vials containing crack cocaineUS , 1994

trayadjectivethree A variation ofTREY UK , 2002

treaclenounused as an endearment Probably, simply, a simile for

‘sweet’; possibly, rhyming slang ‘treacle tart’, for ‘sweetheart’UK ,

2001

treacleverbto flatter someone; to behave in an obsequious manner

UK , 1943

treacle tart; treaclenouna fart Rhyming slangUK , 1998

treadnouna shoeUK , 1959

treadersnounshoesUS , 1970

treadheadnouna member of a combat tank crewUS , 1987

treadlynouna bicycleAUSTRALIA , 1990

treash; treasnouna term of affectionate address A shortening of

‘treasure’

treasurenouna highly valued person Often applied to people whoprovide a serviceUK , 1810

treasure chestnouna brakevan (caboose)US , 1977

Treasure Coastnounthat portion of Florida between Cape Kennedyand West Palm Beach After the sunken treasure believed to lie offthe coastUS , 1965

treasure huntnoun1the search in a gambling establishment orcardroom for someone from whom to borrow moneyUS , 1982.

2the vagina; a fool; a despicable person Rhyming slang,CUNT.Can be shortened to ‘treasure’UK , 1998

treatnoun< a treatbeautifully, enjoyably, extremelyUK , 1964.< do a treat; do someone a treatto suit someone admirablyUK , 1904.< do someone a treat; do someone up a treatto thrash someone

An elaboration ofDO(to beat) orDO UP(to beat up), possibly adeliberate pun on ‘do someone a treat’ (to suit someone very well)

UK , 1975

treatverb< treat a Jto add another drug or drugs to a marijuanacigaretteUS , 1982

treat ’n’ streetverbin a hospital’s casualty department, to tend to

a patient’s needs and discharge him or her as swiftly as possible

UK , 2002

treble chancenouna dance Rhyming slangUK , 1992

tree; treesnounmarijuana An exaggeratedBUSH US , 1995.< out of your treedrunk or drug-intoxicatedIRELAND , 1991.< out of your tree; off your treecrazed; mentally derangedUS , 1966.< out yer treedrunkUK , 2002

tree-eaternouna member of the US Special Service Forces.Because of the constant survival training the special forcesundergoUS , 1993

tree-fuckernouna stereotyped enviromentalist A variant of

TREE-HUGGER UK , 2000

tree-huggernounan environmental activistUS , 1977

tree-huggingadjectiveenvironmentally aware; active in tal protectionUS , 1999

environmen-tree-jumpernouna chronic sex offenderUS , 1992

treesnounbroccoliUS , 1966.< put in the treesto overchargesomeoneUS , 1980

treetop level and all engines outadjectivenear deathUS , 1994

tree upverbwhen parachuting, to land and become entangled in atreeUS , 1959

treewarenounbooks, magazines, newspapers, etc, as opposed to allalternate forms of providing such texts Computer hacker slang,deriding the fact that paper is made from pulped woodUS , 1997

Trekkernoun a zealous fan of Star Trek Preferred by the fans over

the term ‘TREKKIE’US , 1978

Trekkienoun a devoted fan of Star Trek, the original science fiction

television programme (which started in 1966) and subsequentfilms and spin-offsUS , 1978

trekkyadjective in the style of Star Trek, the cult science-fiction

television programme first seen in 1966UK , 2001

trenchesnoun< in the trenchesinvolved in the hard, dirtyaspect of an enterpriseUS , 1970

trendynoun1a follower of fashionUK , 1968.2a youth defined by askateboarders’ particular sense of fashionUK , 2002

trendyadjectivefashionableUK , 1962

tresnounin betting, odds of 3–1 A variation ofTREY UK , 1991

tresadverbvery Directly from the FrenchUK , 2000

trevnicknamea person whose prime characteristic is vanity; a personwho wears nothing but designer-label clothes Presumably derivesfrom an unknown but especially well-groomed Trevor UsuallyderogatoryUK , 2003

treynoun1threeUK , 1859.2a prison sentence of three yearsUS , 1983.

3a threepence Shortening ofTREY BIT AUSTRALIA , 1896.4threedollars’ worth of a drugUS , 1966

trey bit

trey eightnouna 38 calibre handgunUS , 1992

treyernounthree years or three dollarsUS , 1950

trial-sizeadjectiveused of a person, very shortUS , 1988

triantelopenounthe Australian tarantula, any of various large

spiders of the genus Isopoda Seems to be a blend of ‘tarantula’

and ‘antelope’AUSTRALIA , 1845

triantiwontigongolope; triantiwontigongnouna mythical insect

or monster; also, a name for something unknown From a poem

for children about a non-existent creature so named by C.J

Dennis in A Book for Kids, 1921 AUSTRALIA , 1965

Tribenicknamethe Cleveland Indians professional baseball team

References to native American Indians in US professional sports

teams (Indians, Braves, Redskins) persist in an era when many

other stereotypes have witheredUS , 1950

tribeadjectivecontemptibly unfashionable Collected on the 17th

June 2005 from teenage girls (who described themselves as

‘townies’) in Swansea, south Wales: ‘You don’t want to go there –

it’s tribe.’UK: WALES , 2005

Tri-Chevynouna Chevrolet car or truck manufactured in 1955, 1956

or 1957US , 1993

tricknoun1a prostitute’s customerUS , 1925.2an act of sex between

a prostitute and customerUS , 1926.3a short-term homosexual

sex-ual partner, not payingUS , 1963.4a casual sexual partnerUS , 1968.5a

prostituteUK , 1999.6any dupeUS , 1865.7a swindle Far less

common in this sense, but not unheardUK , 1865.8on the railways,

a work shiftUS , 1946.< can’t take a trickto be consistently

unsuccessful From card gamesAUSTRALIA , 1944.< do the trickto

achieve your objectUK , 1812

trickverb1to engage in sex with a paying customer, usually in an

expeditious fashionUS , 1960.2to have sex with a short-term

partner, without emotion or money passedUS , 1968

trickadjective1excellentUS , 1988.2in hot rodding and drag racing,

abnormal, unusualUS , 1968

trickactverbto play about mischievouslyIRELAND , 1992

trick babynounthe offspring of a prostitute and an unknown

customer, often of mixed raceUS , 1969

trick bagnoun1a bag used by a prostitute to carry tools of the

trade A search warrant issued by the Sausalito (California) Police

Department in its investigation of a massage parlour/brothel

defines a trick bag as ‘a large woman’s handbag, which will

gener-ally enclose the following items which are used in the practice of

prostitution: clothing, especially a change of undergarments such

as panties, bras, camisoles and negligees, wet wipes, paper tissues,

Vaseline and personal lubricants, bottles of mouth wash, rubbing

alcohol, baby oil, various kinds and numbers of condoms, douches

and other forms of feminine hygiene, and various cosmetics, small

hand towels which are normally used in the practice of

prostitution to wipe the ejaculatory excretions from the bodies of

the prostitute and the customers[.]’US , 2003.2a dilemma with no

clear solutionUS , 1992

trick booknouna prostitute’s list of customersUS , 1972

trick bunknounin prison, a bed used for sexual encountersUS , 1990

trick-cyclistnouna psychiatrist Originally militaryUK , 1930

trick daynounan agreed time when homosexuals in long-term

relationships may have sex outside the relationshipUS , 1964

trick dress; trick suitnouna dress that a prostitute can remove

easilyUS , 1963

trick flicknouna pornographic film, usually homosexualUS , 1970

trick housenouna house or apartment where prostitutes take their

customers for sexUS , 1972

Trickidadiannouna Trinidadian A term that can be used with

admiration or as disparagementTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1982

trick namenouna prostitute’s business aliasUS , 1991

trick offverbto perform oral sex on a manUS , 1997

trick outverbto decorate something, or dress somebody, elaborately

trick padnounan apartment or room which a prostitute uses onlyfor sex with customersUS , 1970

trick pantsnounpants that are easily removed, favoured byprostitutesUS , 1967

trick rignouna sexually attractive bodyUS , 1997

trick roomnouna room where a prostitute takes customersUS , 1969

tricksnoun< on the tricksworking as a prostituteUS , 1961

trick seatnounthe passenger seat on a motorcyleUS , 1984

tricksternouna prostituteUS , 1976

trick towelnouna towel or wash rag used to clean up after sexUS , 1970

Trick Wileynounused as a generic term for any gullible victim of aswindleUS , 1965

trickyadjectiveneeding careful handling or cautious action; difficult;riskyUK , 1887

tricky Dicknounthe penisUS , 1984

Tricky Dick; Tricky DickienicknameRichard Nixon President ofthe US from 1969 until 1974, not known for his honesty or fairplayUS , 1970

triconnounin poker, a hand with three cards of the same rankUS , 1967

triernouna racehorse genuinely being run to winAUSTRALIA , 1915

trifeadjectivepossessing low or no moral characterUS , 2002

trifectanounin US horse racing, a bet on the first three in thecorrect orderUS , 1991

triffadjectivegreat, marvellous, superlative A shortening ofTRIFFIC UK , 1982

trifficadjectivegreat, marvellous, superlative – often used withheavy irony A slovening of ‘terrific’ (genuinely great)UK , 1984

triggernoun1in a shooting, the shooterUS , 1980.2any prison guardcarrying a gunUS , 1992

trigger-happyadjectivetoo eager to shoot a gunUS , 1945

trigger timenountime spent in combatUS , 1987

trikenouna three-wheeled motorcycle such as the Harley-DavidsonServi-Car Biker (motorcyle) usage, referring to a child’s tricycleUS , 2003

trilby hat; trilbynouna fool Rhyming slang forPRAT UK , 1992

trillverb1to idle with friends, especially with drugs and/or alcoholenlightening the idlingUS , 2004.2to stroll, to strut; to leave Also

‘trilly’ The heroine of Du Maurier’s 1894 novel Trilby was noted

for her beautiful feet; Trilbys came to mean ‘feet’, and then ‘tostroll’US , 1945

trillernounan attractive young woman West Indian patois variation

of ‘thriller’, recorded by a Jamaican inmate in a UK prison, August

2002JAMAICA , 2002

trimnoun1the vagina; a woman as a sex object; sex with a woman

US , 1949.2in the television and film industries, sections of scenecut by an editorUS , 1990

trimverb1to cheat, defraud or swindle someoneUK , 1600.2to havesex with a womanUS , 1972

trimmernoun1an outstanding person or thingAUSTRALIA , 1878.2incricket, ‘a fast ball of exceptional quality, especially one thatnarrowly misses the stumps’UK , 1959

trimsnounplaying cards altered for cheating by slightly trimming offthe edges of certain cardsUS , 1979

TriniadjectiveTrinidadianTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1973

Trini by boatnouna long-standing immigrant in TrinidadTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1987

Trinidad time; Trini timenounused for expressing an expectedand accepted lack of punctualityTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1990

trinitynouna style of three-storey terraced house consisting of threerooms stacked verticallyUS , 1996

trio