yourselfNEW ZEALAND , 1959.< bust your humpto work extremelyhardUK , 2001.< bust your nutto experience an orgasmUS , 1964 bustadjectivewithout fundsUS , 1990 bustanoun1a person who infor
Trang 1yourselfNEW ZEALAND , 1959.< bust your humpto work extremely
hardUK , 2001.< bust your nutto experience an orgasmUS , 1964
bustadjectivewithout fundsUS , 1990
bustanoun1a person who informs on anotherUS , 2000.2a social
outcastUS , 1998
bust developernouna singer who performs during a striptease act
US , 1981
bustedadjective1without, or very short of, money; bankrupt, ruined
US , 1837.2uglyUS , 2002
busternoun1pleasure, especially sexual pleasureUS , 1973.
2something that is excellentUS , 1973.3used as a term of address
Lends a self-conscious, old-fashioned toneUS , 1866.4a foolUS , 1995.
5in circus usage, a bad fall An allusion to comic actor Joseph
‘Buster’ KeatonUS , 1981.6a heavy fall from a horseAUSTRALIA , 1878.
7a firecrackerUS , 1952.8a hard roll of bread Trawlermen’s termUK ,
1969.9any of several tools used by burglars or as weaponsUS , 1949.
10in poker, a card that does not improve a handUS , 1961.11a
shoplifterCANADA , 1984.12a strong wind from the south A
shortening ofSOUTHERLY BUSTER AUSTRALIA , 1873.13on a plane, full
powerUS , 1991 8see:BURSTER
bustersnoundice that have had their spots altered to aid cheating
US , 1962
bust handnounin bar dice games, a roll that produces no points for
the playerUS , 1971
bust-headnounpotent whisky or beer, especially if manufactured
illegallyUS , 1857
bus therapynounkeeping a problem prisoner in transit in prison
transport between prisonsUS , 1996
busticateverb1to breakUS , 1916.2to leaveUS , 2002
bus ticketnouna transfer from one prison to anotherUS , 1989
bust inverbin a dice cheating scheme, to introduce altered dice
into a gameUS , 1963
bustle-punchingnounfrottage; an act of unwanted intimacy,
usually in a crowded place, when a man rubs his penis against the
hindquarters of an unsuspecting womanUK , 1977
bustle racknounon a tank, welded pipe framework on the turret
used as a sort of roof rack, storing food, drinks and suppliesUS , 1991
bust offverbto experience orgasm Derives fromBUST YOUR NUT US ,
1996
bust onverb1to criticise someone, to tease someoneUS , 1986.2to
shoot someoneUS , 2001
bust-outnouna bankruptcy forced upon a business by organised
crime, usually a lending enterprise owed money by the head of
the businessUS , 1988
bust outverb1to take over a legitimate business, exploit its credit
to the maximum, and then liquidate all assetsUS , 1962.2in a dice
cheating scheme, to remove altered dice from a game and
reintroduce the legitimate diceUS , 1963
bust-outadjective1in gambling, dishonest or part of a cheating
schemeUS , 1937.2without money, brokeUS , 1965
bust-out jointnouna casino or gambling establishment that cheats
gamblersUS , 1979
bust-out mannounin a dice cheating scheme, the confederate
whose special skill is the switching of tampered dice with the
legitimate diceUS , 1950
bust-out mobnouna group of confederates gambling with altered
diceUS , 1972
bust-upnounan altercation; a serious argument or disagreement
From the earlier sense (an explosion)UK , 1899
busty substancesnounthe female breasts A jocular coinage by
comedian Peter CookUK , 1966
bus’ upverbto wreak havoc Hawaiian youth usageUS , 1981
bus-whargusadjectiveextremely uglyNORFOLK ISLAND , 1992
busyadjective1actively searching for, or engaged in, a sexual liaison
Homosexual usage . (used of a card in poker) producing a
pair or otherwise improving a handUS , 1988.< get busy1to have sexUS , 1989.2to rob someoneUS , 1987
busy; bizzy; busienounpolice; a police officer, originally a detective From earlier ‘busy fellow’ – a suggestion that plain clothes officers are busy while their uniformed colleagues ‘plod’
UK , 1904
busy as a one-armed paper-hanger in a galeadjectiveextremely busy First recorded in the US and New Zealand, but also known in Canada where it may be lengthened by ‘with the itch’, and in Australia and UK with the elaboration ‘with crabs’ or ‘with the crabs’US , 1939
busy beenounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dustUS , 1994
busylickumnouna nosey personBARBADOS , 1965
butnouna halibut Trawlermen’s useUK , 1980
butadverbthough, however Used at the end of a statement This is one feature of Australian English that parents and teachers have long sought to wipe out via the correction of any youth saying it Typically the argument ‘you can’t end a sentence with a preposition/conjunction’ is put forward, but clearly ‘but’ is an adverb here, modifying the verb of the statement (not to mention highlighting the grammatical ignorance of the would-be corrector) Speakers of US and British English are often confused when first meeting this regionalism, and will patiently wait for the continu-ation of the sentence following what they hear as a conjunction –
‘it isn’t coming, but!’ The first undeniable example dates to 1938, and it was common by the 1950s Also heard among Hawaiian youthAUSTRALIA , 1938
butconjunction1used for expressing surprise or recognition of something unexpectedUK , 1846.2used for emphasizing the following word or wordsUK , 1887
butchnoun1the person fulfulling the masculine role in a homosex-ual relationshipUS , 1954.2a very short haircutUS , 1982
butchadjective1overtly masculineUS , 1936.2fulfilling the masculine role in a male or female homosexual relationship Originally applied to male and female homosexuals, but later predominantly
to lesbiansUS , 1941.3heterosexualUS , 1949.4unafraid, unabashed A nuance of the ‘overtly masculine’ sense used in contemporary gay societyUK , 2003
butch broadnounan aggressive lesbian with masculine affectations
US , 1966
butch dikenounan aggressive, mannish lesbianUS , 1969
butchernoun1a beer glass of 170 ml capacity; also, a serving in one of these glasses Used only in the state of South Australia, the
‘butcher’ was originally a long thin glass holding over a pint; the size has gradually diminished over the years Said by some to be
derived from the German becher (C19 South Australia had a large
German migrant community), but this doesn’t sound remotely like
‘butcher’ Other folk etymologies about butchers requiring a certain type of beer glass aboundAUSTRALIA , 1889.2a surgeonUS ,
1849.3a medical student Used by undergraduates of the University
of SydneyAUSTRALIA , 1984.4a prison dentistUK , 1996.5a prison guard captainUS , 1983.6in a pack of playing cards, a kingUK , 1937
Butcher Brigadenicknamethe 11th Infantry Brigade of the Americal Division, US Army So named after the Brigade’s role in the massacre at My Lai became knownUS , 1991
butcher chartsnounlarge pieces of paper used during a briefing or brainstorming session Named because the paper used is similar
to the paper used by butchers to wrap meatUS , 1986
butcher’s apronnicknamethe ribbon of the United Nations’ medal for active service in Korea From the narrow vertical white stripes and washed-out blue background The nickname was already current in 1954UK , 1954
butcher’s hook; butcher’snouna look Rhyming slangUK , 1936
butcher’s hook; butcher’sadjective< go butcher’s hookto get angry or upsetAUSTRALIA , 1918.sick, ill, unwell Rhyming slang for
CROOK AUSTRALIA , 1967
butcher shopnouna hospital casualty department or operating room
Trang 2butcher’s overallnouna surgeon’s white protective overall Royal
Navy useUK , 1964
butch it upverbto act in an aggressive, manly manner Homosexual
usage, male and femaleUS , 1963
butch kicknounin the usage of pickpockets, a hip pocketUS , 1949
butch numbernouna manly homosexual man desired by others as
a partner in sexUS , 1967
butch outverb(used of a woman) to affect a mannish appearance
US , 1999
butch padnounan apartment or house where lesbians congregate
US , 1973
butch queennouna decidedly masculine male homosexualUS , 1966
butch tradenouna seemingly heterosexual man who consents to
homosexual sex in the male role, receiving orally or giving anally
US , 1970
butchyadjectiveovertly masculine in affectation and mannerismsUS ,
1956
butenounbutazolodin, a pain-killerUK , 1981
but, I digressused as a humorous end to a wandering thought A
catchphrase attrbitued to author Max Shulman in cigarette
advertisements of the 1950sUS , 1961
butlernouncrack cocaineUK , 2003
butler’s revengenounan inaudible fart A public school coinage,
commenting on the dignified restraint of senior male servants; not
an eponymUK , 1984
but mine is worth used as a bragging description of a BMW car
CANADA , 2002
buttnoun1the buttocks, the posterior; used in many senses and
phrases as a replacement for ‘arse’ or ‘ass’UK , 1720.2by extension,
the tail end of anythingUS , 1970.3the tail end of a prison sentence
US , 1949.4a cigaretteUS , 1902
buttverbin tiddlywinks, to knock a wink off a pileUS , 1977
buttadverbveryUS , 1990
butt boardverbto ride a skateboard sitting downUS , 1997
butt boynouna sycophant; a toadyUS , 1950
butt cannounany improvised ashtrayUS , 1968
butt-checkverbin snowboarding, to maintain balance by making
brief contact between buttocks and snowUK , 2002
butt dropnouna backwards fall while snowboardingUS , 1990
butt endnounthe discarded end of a cigarette or marijuana
ciga-retteUK , 2000
buttendskinounthe buttocksNEW ZEALAND , 1998
butternoun1insincerityUS , 1945.2crack cocaineUS , 1998
butter; buttersadjectiveugly, unattractive Perhaps a play onBUTT
UGLY.Current in south LondonUK , 1998
butter-and-egg mannounan unsophisticated free spender Coined
by 1920s nightclub performer Texas Guinan for a shy, middle-aged
man so flattered by her friendliness that he paid the steep cover
charge for every guest in the house and pressed $50 notes on all
the entertainers When he said he was in the dairy business, she
introduced him as ‘the big butter-and-egg man’US , 1924
butter and eggsnounan illegal lottery Most commonly known as a
NUMBERSgameUS , 1973
butterballnoun1a fat person or animalUS , 1941.2an idiotUK , 1981
butterbarnouna second lieutenant in the US Army Vietnam
coinage, from the gold-bar insignia.US , 1973
butterboxadjective(of a man) effeminate From an earlier sense
(fop)UK , 1971
butter boynouna very young police officer After an earlier senses
as ‘novice’ applied to sailors and taxi driversUK , 1977
buttered breadadjectivedead Rhyming slangUK , 1998
buttered bunnouna prostitute, or, less specifically any woman, who
has already had sex with several customers/men; sex with this
butter-fingeredadjectiveprone to dropping thingsUK , 1615
butterfingersnouna clumsy person, prone to dropping things After the adjectiveUK , 1837
butterflies in your stomach; butterfliesnounthe feeling of queasiness that accompanies fear or nervousness The fluttering of butterflies as a metaphor for the unsettled sensations of trepidationUS , 1940
butter flowernounmarijuana From the appearance of cannabis resinUS , 1971
butterflynoun1a person who is romantically fickleUS , 1947.2a note thrown from a train to a repair crewUS , 1946.3in electric line work,
a conductor take-up reelUS , 1980.4in television and film-making, a large screen used to direct or diffuse lightUS , 1987
butterflyverb1to engage in promiscuous sexUS , 1946.2in the gambling game two-up, to toss the coins so that they flutter in the air and appear to be actually spinning The object of butterflying is
to make the coins fall the way the tosser wishes and is consequently illegal in the gameAUSTRALIA , 1949.3to leave someone
US , 1991
butterfly kissnounan intimate caress made by fluttering eyelashes over a partner’s skinUK , 1871
butterfly wheelnounin drag racing, a bifurcated steering wheel shaped like two opposing butterfly wingsUS , 2002
butterheadnouna stupid person, especially a stupid black person
US , 1963
buttering-upnounan act of persuasive flatteryUK , 1819
butter legsnouna promiscuous woman Because, like butter, her legs are ‘easy to spread’AUSTRALIA , 1985
buttermilknounbeerUS , 1977
butter upverbto flatter someone with an intent to persuade them
UK , 1819
butter would not melt in someone’s mouthan appearance of innocence Usually contemptuous in the phrase ‘as if butter would not melt in his/her mouth’ occasionally shortened to ‘butter would not melt’UK , 1530
butt flossnouna thong or string bikini with only a slender piece of fabric passing between the cheeks of the buttocksUS , 1991
butt-fuckverb1to copulate anallyUS , 1968.2to light one cigarette with the burning butt of anotherUS , 2001.3since the Vietnam war,
to attack from the rearUS , 1991
buttfuckernouna homosexual maleUS , 1997
butt fuckingnounanal sexUS , 1999
Butt Fucking Nowherenounany remote placeUS , 2002
butt hairnouna parting down the centre of the headUS , 1991
buttheadnouna generally unlikeable, disagreeable, dim-witted personUS , 1973
buttholenoun1the anusUS , 1951.2by extension, a despicable or offensive personUS , 1962
buttienouna walk in the company of a friend Possibly extended from ‘butty/buttie’ (a friend)UK: SCOTLAND , 1988
butt inverbto intrude into another’s business or conversationUS , 1899
buttinski; buttinskya meddler; a person who interferes in the affairs of othersUS , 1902
buttkissnounnothing at all Variation ofBUPKES; BUPKIS US , 1997
butt kitnounan ashtrayUS , 1958
buttleggernouna person who smuggles cigarettes from states with low or no cigarette taxes to states with high cigarette taxesUS , 1976
buttleggingnounthe smuggling of cigarettes from states with low
or no cigarette taxes to states with high taxesUS , 1977
buttloadnouna large amountUS , 1991
buttlyadjectivevery ugly A blend of ‘butt’ and ‘ugly’US , 1989
buttmunch
Trang 3buttonnoun1a police badgeUS , 1929.2by extension, a police officer
US , 1953.3a person who acts as lookoutUS , 1992.4in organised
crime, a person who kills on the orders from above Sometimes
expanded as ‘button man’ or ‘button guy’US , 1966.5a small
quan-tity of an item to be smuggledUS , 1956.6the edible, psychoactive
portion of a peyote cactusUS , 1953.7opiumUK , 1996.8a tablet of
Mandrax™, a branded tranquillizerSOUTH AFRICA , 2002.9the clitoris
UK , 1900.10the chin Boxing jargon, usually in the phrase ‘on the
button’, describing a blow right on the chinUS , 1920.11in poker, a
marker on the table that signifies the dealer; the dealerUK , 2003.
12a Chrysler car equipped with push-button automatic
trans-missionUS , 1968.13in the television industry, a dramatic or funny
climax to a sceneUS , 1990.< not have a buttonto have no
moneyIRELAND , 1992.< on the buttonexactly; precisely Possibly
from boxing jargon, ‘on theBUTTON’ (on the chin)US , 1903
buttonverb< button your lip; button your lips; button your
face; button it; button upto stop talking Often as an
injunction or exclamation Used since 1836; and ‘button it’ first
recorded in 1980US , 1947
button Badjectivevery short of money From the 1920s until the
60s, in a UK telephone box you would press button B to get your
money back, hence this pun on ‘pressed for money’UK , 1961
button-dickedadjectivepossessing a small penisUS , 1994
buttoned upadjective1of a reserved or uncommunicative nature A
figurative imageUK , 1936.2silent, refusing to answer questions In
line with the injunction toBUTTON YOUR LIP UK , 1959.3(of persons)
alert, well-preparedUK , 1967.4(of a plan or a situation) successfully
organised or well-prepared A variant is ‘buttoned’UK , 1940
button-holenoun a button-hole flower; a bouquet UK , 1879
buttonhole makernouna person who has only females as children
US , 1954
button mobnoununiformed police officers, especially in large
numbers when present at a political demonstration or similar
gathering Used by those in whom the police seem interestedUK ,
1977
buttonsnoun1a page (a domestic servant) Survives mainly as
Buttons, a character in the pantomime of Cinderella UK , 1848.2a
messengerUS , 1962
button upverbto close completelyUS , 1941
butt outverbto extricate yourself from the interference in which
you are engaging Generally as an imperativeUS , 1906
butt plantnouna backwards fall while snowboardingUS , 1993
butt platenounused as a friendly if derisive term by the marines to
describe the army infantry, and by the army infantry to describe
the marines In the literal sense, a ‘butt plate’ is the metal or
rubber covering of the end of the stock on a rifleUS , 1991
butt plugnoun1a device that is inserted into the anus during sex,
sometimes to retain an enema and sometimes simply for the
sen-sationUS , 1989.2an offensive, unlikeable personUS , 1993
buttroseadjectivevery badUS , 2002
butt slutnouna male homosexual who takes a passive sexual role
US , 1992
butt tucknouncosmetic surgery reducing and lifting the buttocks
US , 1984
butt-twitcheradjectiverevealing the shape of the wearer’s buttocks
US , 1951
butt uglyadjectivevery uglyUS , 1986
buttwipenoun1toilet paperUS , 1971.2a despicable or offensive
personUS , 1991
buttynoun1a sandwich Also spelt ‘buttie’ Originally used in
northern England, especially Liverpool, as a dialect elision of
‘buttery’; now widespread, especially as ‘jam butty’, ‘chip butty’,
etcUK , 1855.2a non-powered, towed canal boat that is part of a
working pair Also known as a ‘butty boat’UK , 1944.3a friend, a
workmate; also used as a form of address Variants are ‘butt’ and
‘buttie’ Either from mining where ‘butty’ was ‘a middleman’, or
from Romany booty-pal (a fellow workman) or, most probably,
Warwickshire dialect butty (a fellow servant or labourer) Modern
use may be influenced byBUDDY UK , 1859
buttyboynouna friend; a workmate; also used as a form of address
An elaboration ofBUTTY UK: WALES , 2002
butunounheroinUK , 1998
buturakieverbto jump on a person in order to rob them or beat
them up From Fijian buturaka, the equivalent of and perhaps
playing onSTICK/PUT THE BOOT IN Picked up from Fijian sailors on the waterfronts of Sydney and AucklandAUSTRALIA , 1958
but why?used humorously with varying meanings For example, a teacher might ask the class to pass in their homework, whereupon
at least one member of the class will mutter, ‘But why?’US , 1963
buvarenounanything drinkable Originally C19 theatrical slangUK , 2002
buynoun1a purchase of illicit merchandise, especially drugsUS , 1906.
2a purchaseAUSTRALIA , 1987
buyverb1to gamble on a result higher than the bookmaker’s favoured spreadUK , 2001.2to accept a fiction as truthUK , 2000.3in poker, to draw a card or cards after the initial dealUS , 1967.< buy
a homesteadto be thrown from your horseCANADA , 1987.< buy
a potin poker, to win a hand by betting so excessively as to drive all other players from the handUS , 1963.< buy a pupto be the victim of a swindleUK , 1996.< buy a suitto kill someone Referring to funeral attireUS , 1997.< buy an orchardin trucking,
to drive off the road into trees or brushUS , 1971.< buy some new shoesto flee while released from custody on bailUS , 1949.
< buy someone a suitto bribe someoneUS , 1984.< buy the dickto dieUS , 1971.< buy the farmto dieUS , 1958.< buy the rackin horse racing, to bet on every possible combination of winners in a Daily Double betUS , 1947.< buy the ranchto die A primary euphemism used by US soldiers in VietnamUS , 1976
buy-and-bustnouna police operation in which an undercover officer buys an illegal drug and then immediately arrests the seller
US , 2000
buy-downnouna bribe paid to a police officer to release a criminal
or to reduce the severity of the charges against himUS , 2001
buyernouna gambler who bets on a result higher than the bookmaker’s favoured spreadUK , 2001
buy-Inounan East Indian An English adaptation of the Hindi
Niyabingi (merchant) JAMAICA , 1979
buying-and-selling cordnouna rough measure of wood depending
on the bargaining skill of the buyer and seller When you’re buying, it’s more; when you’re selling, it’s lessCANADA , 2001
buy intoverbto involve yourself in something, to believe in something Originally a gambling term, ‘to buy into a game’
AUSTRALIA , 1943
buy itverb1to accept an answer or punch-line; especially in the catchphrase that signals resignation: ‘I’ll buy it’UK , 1937.2to die; to become a casualty World War 1 and 2UK , 1825
buy moneynounthe money used to buy contrabandUS , 1981
buy-upnounin prison, a purchase of groceries, toiletries, etc, made
by prisoners ‘Buy-ups’ are restricted to a certain small amount for each prisoner, often consisting of wages earned for prison work
AUSTRALIA , 1944
BuzbynounBritish Post Office Telephones, subsequently British Telecom, the authority controlling the use of citizens’ band radio
in the UK Citizens’ band radio slang; the name of the cartoon bird created in the late 1970s to market British Post Office Telephones; in turn a play onBUZZ(a telephone call)UK , 1981
buzznoun1a rumour; gossip; newsUK , 1821.2an immediate sen-sation of a drug or alcoholUS , 1849.3a thrilling sensationUS , 1937.
4a telephone callUS , 1930.5a police carUS , 1973.6x-ray therapyUS , 1994
buzzverb1to telephone someone; to summon someone by buzzer
US , 1929.2to call for someoneUS , 1946.3to leave A variant is ‘buzz off’UK , 1914.4to kiss someoneUS , 1945.5to feel pleasurable sen-sations resulting from drug useUK , 1992.6to engage in solvent abuseUK: SCOTLAND , 1985.7to pick pocketsUK , 1812.8to snatch a
Trang 410(used of a computer program or operation) to run without any
sign of progressUS , 1981.11to activate a remote device unlocking a
door From the buzzing sound the device often makesUS , 1997.
12to anger someone; to alienate someone; to annoyUS , 1952.13of
music, to become lively and energeticUK , 1972.< be buzzingto
be happening A criminal contextUS , 1941.< buzz around the
barrelto eat a snackUS , 1960
buzzardnounthe eagle insignia of a full colonel or the Women’s
Army CorpsUS , 1931
buzzard’s roostnoun1the office in a railway yardUS , 1977.2the
highest seats in a cinema balconyUS , 1920
buzz bombnouna person rendered emotionally unstable due to
long incarcerationUS , 1976
buzz boynouna fighter pilotUS , 1944
buzzcocksnounpeople, a general term of address An extention of
COCK(a male-to-male term of address) ‘Get a buzz, cock’, allegedly
the final words of a magazine review for 1970s UK television
drama series Rock Follies, adopted as the name of Manchester
punk band The Buzzcocks In the mid-1990s BBC television
screened a new music panel game that should have been called
Never Mind The Bollocks, after the Sex Pistols’ 1977 album To
avoid causing offence the programme makers substituted
‘Buzzcocks’ for ‘Bollocks’ and the programme’s continuing success
inspired this new, heavily ironic usage which, probably by chance,
echoes the original senseUK , 2001
buzz-crushernounanything or anyone who dampens your sense of
euphoriaUS , 1988
buzz-cutnouna very short haircut; a person with a very short
haircut Perhaps from the sound of the electric clippersUS , 1977
buzzedadjective1drunkUS , 1952.2drug-intoxicated From the
pre-vious senseUS , 1972
buzzed upadjectivedrug-intoxicatedUK , 2000
buzzernoun1a badgeUS , 1914.2a burglar alarmUS , 1949.3a door-bell
US , 1934.4in a hospital casualty department, a defibrillator paddle
US , 1994.5in horse racing, a battery-powered device used illegally by
a jockey to shock a horse during a raceUS , 1942
buzzingadjective1drunkUS , 2003.2manic, hyperactiveUS , 1994
buzzing your tits offadjectivevery drug-intoxicatedUK , 2003
buzz jobnounthe flying of an aircraft low to the ground to impress
or scare those on the groundUS , 1943
buzz ticketnouna dole card required to sign on as unemployed in
order to receive benefit The dole is seen here as money to be
spent on drugs to get a ‘buzz’ (a pleasurable sensation); the whole
puns on ‘bus ticket’UK , 1997
buzztracknounin the television and film industries, a sound track
without modulationsUS , 1960
buzzword; buzz-phrasenouna currently fashionable word or
expression, especially a borrowing from jargon or technology that
is used to impress rather than inform and is thus rendered
essentially meaninglessUS , 1946
BWnounan obese hospital patient An abbreviation ofBEACHED
WHALE US , 1994
BWnicknamethe Black Warriors prison gangUS , 2000
bwainouna black youth involved in gang culture West Indian
pronunciation of ‘boy’UK , 1994
BWOCnoun a popular and visible college girl; a big woman on
campus US , 1947
BYadjective(of a telphone line) busyUS , 1968
by any means necessary; by whatever means necessaryused
as a slogan by the radical political left of the 1960s to reflect a
belief that the end justifies the means, up to and including violent
actionUS , 1970
by Christchurch!used as an oath A euphemistic avoidance of blasphemy, used in New Zealand (by reference to Christchurch, Canterbury Province) and in the UK (Christchurch, Dorset)UK , 1984
by crikey!used as a euphemism for ‘by christ!’AUSTRALIA , 1901
by cripes!used as a euphemism for ‘by Christ!’AUSTRALIA , 1902
bye-bye; bye-byesnounsleep From an earlier use as a soothing sound used to lull a child to sleep, perhaps from a shortening of
‘lullaby’UK , 1867
bye Felicia!used for inviting someone to leave From the film
Friday US , 2004
bye nowgoodbyeUK , 1967
by George!used as a mild exclamation or oath Derives from St George, the patron saint of EnglandUK , 1598
by George, one of these days I gotta straighten up that closet!used as a humorous commentary on a cluttered mess A
signature line from the comedy Fibber McGree and Moll (radio
1935–1957, television 1959–1960) Repeated with referential humourUS , 1958
by golly!used as a euphemism for ‘by God!’US , 1833
by guess and by goshadjectivewithout planning, relying on serendipityUS , 1914
by gum!used euphemistically for ‘by God’ Northern English usage
UK , 1960
by heck!used as an exclamation of surprise, indignation, etc; also
as a means of stressing what follows Northern English usageUS , 1922
by here; by thereadverbhere; there A south Walian form probably
based on the rhythm or sound of the original Welsh yma (here) and yno (there) UK , 1985
by himself in the boxused as a stock answer to describe a racehorse’s lineage if it is either unknown or none of the asker’s businessAUSTRALIA , 1989
by hokey!used for expressing great surpriseNEW ZEALAND , 2001
by jumbo!used as a substitute for an oathUS , 1959
by mein poker, used for expressing a player’s decision not to betUS , 1988
BYOa request that guests ‘bring your own’ US , 1968
BYOBused in invitations as an instruction to bring your own booze
or bottle US , 1968
BYOGan invitation to bring your own grog to a party NEW ZEALAND , 1976
byplaynouna device on a dishonest carnival game that can be activated to let players winUS , 1950
bysie-byegoodbye An elaboration of ‘bye’UK , 1984
by the centre!; by the left!used as an emphatic register of shock, surprise, etc Adopted, originally by the military, from military drill commandsUK , 1971
by the holy old dynamiting Jesus!used as an extreme oath in Nova ScotiaCANADA , 1988
by the holy old twistused as an oath Many Nova Scotia oaths refer to Christ and go back to the Elizabethan style of sacrilegious, elaborate expressions (e.g the twisted body on the cross echoes
‘sblood’ (God’s blood) and ‘sbody’ (God’s body)CANADA , 1988
by-the-hour hotel; by-the-hour motelnouna motel or hotel used
by prostitutes where it is possible to rent a room in short incrementsUS , 1992
by the lord liftin’ Jesus!one of many elaborate Nova Scotian sacrilegious oathsCANADA , 1988
by the rattly-eyed Jesus!in Nova Scotia, used as an oathCANADA , 1999
Trang 5Cnoun1the Viet Cong; a member of the Viet CongUS , 1966.
2cocaineUS , 1921.3amphetamines Heard as ‘the C’UK , 2003.
4methcathinone Heard as ‘the C’US , 2003.5a woman viewed as a
sexual object An abbreviation ofCUNT US , 1976.6a CBE
(Commander of the Order of the British Empire) Civil servant
usage; suggestive of a casual familiarity with the honourUK , 1961.
7contraceptionUS , 1997.8one hundred dollarsUS , 1839.9in poker,
the third player to the left of the dealerUS , 1988.10the
commission charged by a bookmakerUS , 1960
C-47nouna clothes peg Used by television and film crews, mocking
the formality of the official jargon of their craftUS , 2003
cabnoun< take a cabto dieUS , 2000
caballonoun1heroin Spanish for ‘horse’US , 1970.2a person who
smuggles drugs into a prison Spanish for ‘horse’, which is almost
aMULE US , 1992
cabaretverb1to lie in bed masturbatingUS , 1950.2to use an
addictive drug in a semi-controlled patternUS , 1958
cabbagenoun1moneyUS , 1903.2the vagina Perhaps from the
image of leaves peeling backUS , 1967.3low grade marijuana From
the quality of the leavesNEW ZEALAND , 2002.4a coronary artery
bypass graft A loose pronunciation of the acronym CABG US , 1994
cabbageverb1to become vegetable-likeUK , 2001.2to smoke
marijuana, especially low grade marijuanaNEW ZEALAND , 1998
cabbageadjectivepoor-qualityNEW ZEALAND , 1990
cabbage cutternounon the railways, a freight engineUS , 1977
cabbagedadjective1mentally and physically exhausted Punning on
‘a vegetative state’UK , 1992.2under the influence of MDMA, the
recreational drug best known as ecstasyUK , 1991.3drunkUK , 2002
cabbage-eaternouna German or Russian immigrant OffensiveUS ,
1942
cabbage hatnouna Royal Marine After the uniform green beretUK ,
1979
cabbage outverbto relaxNEW ZEALAND , 2003
cabbage patchnouna remote, insignificant placeUS , 1862
cabbage patchnickname1the state of Victoria, Australia Also
referred to as ‘cabbage garden’ and ‘the cabbage state’ Hence, a
native may be a ‘cabbage patcher’, ‘cabbage gardener’ or ‘cabbage
stater’AUSTRALIA , 1882.2Kingston prison in PortsmouthUK , 1996
Cabbagetownnicknamea mixed residential and business area near
downtown in Toronto This term was likely derived from the days
when poor people lived downtown and presumably could only
afford to eat cabbageCANADA , 1958
cabby; cabbieverbto drive a motor vehicle; to be driven Army use
UK , 1974
cabellonouncocaine, 2003
cabeznoun intelligence From the Spanish cabeza (head) TRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO , 1956
cab freightnounan attractive woman passenger in a truckUS , 1961
cabin carnouna brakevan (caboose)US , 1977
cabin stabbingnoun(from a male perspective) an act of
conven-tional sexual intercourse As in the title of the 1990 song ‘Cabin
Stabbing’ by Super Cat (William Maraugh)JAMAICA , 2001
cab jointnouna brothel whose customers are spotted and
transported by taxi driversUS , 1930
cabledadjective(of a vehicle) equipped with a winchUS , 2004
cábógnounan ignorant male; a rustic clodhopperIRELAND , 2004
caboodlenounall of somethingUS , 1848
caboosenoun1the buttocksUS , 1919.2the final participant in serial
1970.3the youngest child in a familyUS , 1969.4a jailUS , 1865.5a small house or shackTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1956.6a cooking shed
CAYMAN ISLANDS , 1985
caboose bouncenouna train consisting of nothing more than an engine and a brakevan (caboose)US , 1929
cabouchenoun 8see:BAROUCHE
cabronnouna guy, especially a brutish or dim-witted one Border Spanish used in English conversation by Mexican-AmericansUS , 1974
cab savnouncabernet sauvignon wineAUSTRALIA , 1990
ca-canoun1excrement Probably from Spanish children’s speech; used by non-Spanish speakers Sometimes seen spelt as ‘kaka’ or other such variationsUS , 1952.2nonsenseUS , 1980.3marijuana, especially if poor quality, adulterated or fakeUS , 1969.4heroin, especially low quality heroinUS , 1986.5drugs, not necessarily heroin
US , 1995
caca-holenounthe anusTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003
cack; cak; kacknoun1excrementAUSTRALIA , 1972.2rubbish, nonsenseUK , 1997.3someone or something extremely funny
AUSTRALIA , 1989
cack; cak; kackverb1to fall asleepUS , 1959.2to defecate Like many other words for bodily functions, ‘cack’ was part of everyday con-ventional speech for many years before slipping into impolite usage in the late C19UK , 1436.< cack itto be very nervous or worried; to feel thoroughly frightened A variation ofSHIT IT UK , 2002.
< cack your dacks1to lose control of your bowelsAUSTRALIA ,
1992.2to become scaredAUSTRALIA , 1992.< cack yourself1to be terrified Literally ‘to shit yourself’; used figuratively (most of the time), often as an exaggerationUK , 2000.2to laugh uncontrollably A variant is ‘cack yourself laughing’AUSTRALIA , 1987
cack; kackadjectivecontemptible, unpleasant, inferior Variant spellings abound – ‘cak’, ‘kak’, etcUK , 1996
cackersarnienounthe condition that exists when someone pulls your trousers or underpants forcefully upward, forming a wedge between buttock cheeks; the act of putting someone in that pos-ition Mainly used by schoolboys FromCACK(excrement, faeces) andSARNIE(sandwich)UK , 2003
cack-handedadjectiveleft-handed; clumsyUK , 1854
cackiesnountrousers, especially khakisUS , 1990
cackleverb1to chatter; to talk inconsequentiallyUK , 1530.2to confess and/or to inform on othersUS , 1949.3as part of a controlled roll of dice, to give them the appearance and sound of being shaken while actually preventing their turningUS , 1963
cackle cratenounin trucking, a truck hauling chickensUS , 1946
cackle factorynouna mental hospitalUS , 1950
cackynoun1a yellowish-brown colour From the adjective sense (shitty), giving a joke at the expense of ‘khaki’UK , 1984.2human excrement ChildishUK , 1961
cackyadjective1covered with excrement; hence filthy, malodorous
UK , 1937.2in the language of striptease, overtly if not excessively sexualUS , 1981
cactonoun the moth Cactoblastis cactorum, a successful biological
control of introduced prickly pearAUSTRALIA , 1941
cactusnounin hospital usage, a severely burnt patientUS , 1994.< in the cactusin trouble, especially with one personNEW ZEALAND ,
1953.< out in the cactusin a very remote areaNEW ZEALAND , 1963
cactusadjectiveruined, wreckedAUSTRALIA , 1945
cactus juicenountequila; mescalUS , 1971
cadnoun1an ill-bred, ill-mannered loutUK , 1827.2a Cadillac carUS ,
Trang 6withCANexpanded toCADILLAC US , 2001.5a railway conductorUS ,
1977
cadaver cadetnouna necrophileUS , 1987
cadburynouna person who gets drunk on very little alcohol
Referring to the advertising slogan of Cadbury Dairy Milk
chocolate, which has ‘a glass and a half of full cream milk’
AUSTRALIA , 1996
caddie shacknounany small building where gold caddies
congregate and wait for workUS , 1953
caddyadjectivesharp, stylish, fashionableUS , 1984
Caddy; Caddienouna Cadillac carUS , 1929
caddy blackjacknouna private game of blackjackUS , 1981
caddy-old-punchnounan improvised, brown-paper kiteGUYANA , 1996
cadetnoun1a pimpUS , 1904.2a new drug userUS , 1949
cadgeverbto beg; to wheedle something from someoneUS , 1812
cadgernouna beggar; a scroungerUK , 1851
cadie; caddy; caddienouna hat; originally a bush name for a
slouch hat English gypsy useAUSTRALIA , 1898
cadillacnoun1cocaineUS , 1953.2one ounce of a powdered drugUS ,
1950.3phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel
dustUS , 1994.4a cup of coffee with cream and sugarUS , 1989.5a
note-and-string based method of communication in prisonUS , 2000.
6the maximum amount which may be spent at a prison canteen
US , 1989.7in the language of the homeless, a shopping cartUS , 1997.
8the US Army M-1 tankUS , 1991.9a large surfboard used for
big-wave conditionsUS , 1965
Cadillac bunknouna single prison bed in a setting where most
beds are two-tiered bunk bedsUS , 1989
cadillac expressnounthe drug methcathinoneUS , 1998
Cadillac pushernouna person whose job it is to push carts with
garments through the streetsUS , 2002
café au laitnouna person of mixed race with skin the shade of
milky coffeeUK , 1961
caffnouna caféUK , 1931
caffufflenounchaos, confusionBARBADOS , 1975
caffuffleverbto confuse someone or somethingBARBADOS , 1965
cagenoun1an elevatorUS , 1938.2a brakevan (caboose)US , 1931.3an
abandoned houseUS , 2000.4a car Bikes (motorcycle) usageUS , 1981.
5the bodyUS , 1973
caged lionnounin horse racing, a racehorse battling back from
apparent defeat to win a raceAUSTRALIA , 1989
cage girlnouna ticket seller in a theatreUS , 1952
cageyadjectivewary, non-commital, cautiousUS , 1893
caggie; kaggienouna cagoule or kagool (a weatherproof
outer-garment)UK , 1984
cahoo-holenouna pothole in the roadCANADA , 1992
cahootsnoun< in cahoots withconspiring or planning with
someoneUS , 1829
Cain and Abel; Cainnouna table Rhyming slang, based on the
sons of Adam and Eve who are remembered as the first murderer
and his victim; recorded by Ducange Anglicus in 1857UK , 1857
caine; canenouncocaine, crack cocaineUS , 1983
Caisse Popnounin Quebec, a kind of cooperative bank The term is
shortened from Caisse Populaire or ‘popular bank’, a French term
universally used by anglophonesCANADA , 2001
caknoun 8see:CACK
cakenoun1a beautiful girl or young womanUS , 1941.2the female
breastUS , 1957.3the vaginaUS , 1967.4breadTRISTAN DA CUNHA , 2000.
5a meal provided as compensation in addition to wagesUS , 1973.
6money; a good deal of money Extends, perhaps, fromBREAD
(money) but ‘cake’ has traditionally been associated with wealth
‘Qu’il mangent de la brioche’ – ‘Let them eat cake’, attributed to
Queen Marie-Antoinette (1755–93) on being told that her people
had no breadUS , 1965.7marijuana resinUK , 2001.8a round disc of
crack cocaine . a rural person Derogatory .
< get your caketo date your girlfriendUS , 2001.< off your cakeconfused, drug-intoxicated The latter meaning gained dates from the late C20 and the distinction between the two senses may
be blurredUK , 2000
cakeadjective1easyUS , 1968.2homosexual Clipped fromFRUITCAKE
(a homosexual man)UK , 2001
cake boynounan attractive, usually younger homosexual maleUS , 1995
cake-cuttingnounshort-changingUS , 1993
cakedadjective1to be wealthy, monied FromCAKE(money) Variants include ‘caked out’, ‘caked up’ and ‘cakeholed’UK , 1940s.
2drug-intoxicatedUS , 1994
cake-eaternoun1an effeminate young man, who may or may not
be homosexual An important word of the flapper era, but seldom heard thereafterUS , 1916.2a person who enjoys performing oral sex on womenUS , 1967
cakeheadnounan idiot, a foolUK , 1998
cake holenoun1the vaginaUK , 2001.2the mouth Also heard as
‘cake ‘ole’UK , 1943
cake-oadjectiveall right, correct, safe, suitable, what is required, comfortable Back slang forOK UK , 2001
cakesnoun1the buttocks, especially female buttocksUS , 1993.2crack cocaineUK , 2003
cake tinnicknamethe Wellington, New Zealand, sports stadiumNEW ZEALAND , 2001
cakewalknounan easy or overwhelming success Originally a boxing term for an easy victory, then expanded to general useUS , 1897
cakeyadjectivefoolish, daftUK: SCOTLAND , 1985
calabash cutnouna haircut in which the hair is cut on a line equidistant from the top of the head A ‘calabash’ is a squash, and the suggestion is that a hollowed out squash shell was used to guide the scissorsTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1990
calaboosenouna jail, especially a local one From the Spanish
calabazo (dungeon) US , 1792
calamity howlernouna person who predicts disasterUS , 1892
Calamity Janenounin a deck of playing cards, the queen of spades Martha Jane ‘Calamity Jane’ Canary (1852–1903) was a legendary figure in the settling of the western USUS , 1988
calbonounheroin Probably from a confusion ofCABALLO(heroin)UK , 2003
calc outverbto calculate somethingUS , 1999
calculatornoun1in horse racing, a parimutuel clerk who calculates oddsUS , 1976.2in poker, a player skilled at assessing the hands of other playersUS , 1988
Calcuttanoun1butter Rhyming slangUK , 1998.2a Calcutta sweep
AUSTRALIA , 1950
Calcutta sweeps; Calcutta sweepnouna type of sweepstake in which contestants’ names are auctioned offAUSTRALIA , 1914
calechenounin Quebec, a one-horse, two-wheeled carriageCANADA , 1963
calendarnouna prison sentence of one yearUS , 1926
calendar days; calendar timenounthe bleed period of a woman’s menstrual cycleUS , 1954
calfnoun1a young teenage girlUS , 1959.2a Cadillac carUS , 1980 8see:
COW’S CALF.< have a calfto become emotionally overwrought;
to lose control A variation born ofHAVE A COW US , 1999
calf-licknouna limp quiff, or a tuft of hair on someone’s forehead which will not lie smoothly Northern dialect in wider useUK , 1954
calf slobbernounmeringueUS , 1960
calf’s tailnounthe cord attached to a railway whistleUS , 1946
Calgary Redeyenouna drink made of tomato juice and beer
CANADA , 1987
Calinoun1CaliforniaUS , 1930.2MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy, originating in California A shortening of
Trang 7calibrateverbto correct someone’s information or opinion Derives
from making minor adjustments to high-tech weaponryUS , 2003
calico clucknouna female railway workerUS , 1975
Cali dreamersnouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best
known as ecstasy The whole plays on the song ‘California
Dreamin’ by The Mamas and Papas, 1966UK , 1999
CalifasnicknameCalifornia Border Spanish used in English
conversation by Mexican-AmericansUS , 1974
California bankrollnouna single large-denomination note wrapped
around small-denomination note, giving the impression of a great
deal of moneyUS , 1980
California biblenouna deck of playing cardsUS , 1960
California blackjacknounin blackjack, an ace and a nine, which
produce a score of 20, not 21US , 1982
California blanketsnounnewspaper used as beddingUS , 1926
California C-notenouna ten-dollar noteUS , 1983
California coffeenouninexpensive wineUS , 1976
California cornflakesnouncocaineUS , 1976
California Crybaby Divisionnicknamein the Korean war, the 40th
California National Guard DivisionUS , 1989
California ecstasynounMDMA, the recreational drug best known
as ecstasy, originating in California, 1999
California girlnouna variety of marijuanaUS , 2002
Californiannouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best
known as ecstasyUK , 1996
Californian northern lightsnouna hybrid marijuana grown in
California The northern lights (aurora borealis), a luminous
atmos-pheric display, is a metaphor for potent effects and a romantic
simile for the plant’s appearanceUS , 1999
California pimpingnounworking as a pimp in a relaxed,
low-press-ure styleUS , 1972
California quailnouna tablet of the recreational drug
methaqualone, the recreational drug best known as Quaaludes™
US , 1997
California sunrisenoun1a variety of MDMA, the recreational drug
best known as ecstasy; a blend of amphetamine and caffeine
marketed as MDMAUK , 1996.2LSD A variation ofCALIFORNIA
SUNSHINE UK , 1998
California sunshinenounLSDUS , 1977
California tiltnouna car with the bonnet (hood) sloping downward
to a front end that is lower than the rear endUS , 1976
California tiresnountyres with little remaining treadUS , 1971
California turnaroundnounany powerful central nervous system
stimulant So potent that a trucker who takes one can drive to
California and backUS , 1976
Californicatornouna Californian, especially one who has moved to
Oregon or Washington stateUS , 1978
calipersnoundice that are true to an extremely minute tolerance,
approximately 1/1000th of a inchUS , 1950
Cali red beardnouna distinctive marijuana grown in CaliforniaUS ,
1999
callnoun1an opinion; a predictionUS , 1999.2the initial flooding of
sensations after injecting heroinUS , 1973
callverb< call Earlto vomitUS , 1968.< call for a cab(of a
jockey) to make jerky arm movements as he battles to remain in
the saddleUK , 1961.< call for Herbto vomit An echoic play on
the sounds produced by a sudden expulsion of vomitAUSTRALIA ,
1984.< call for Hughieto vomit Onomatopoeic play on Hughie
as the involunatary sounds of vomiting A joke current in the
1970s described getting drunk on green crème de menthe and
calling for television personality Hughie Green (1920–97)UK , 1974.
< call for the butterto have completed a task or arrived at
your destination Fishing skippers who claimed the ability to
locate fish by the taste of the bottom mud would smear butter on
a lead weight, lower it to the bottom, and then taste the mud
brought to the surface on the buttered lead .< call hogs
to snoreUS , 1973.< call it onto challenge another gang to a gang fightUS , 1955.< call Ralphto vomitUS , 1983.< call someone full-mouthto address your elder without using an honorific Mr or MrsGUYANA , 1995.< call someone rawto address your elder without using an honorific Mr or MrsANGUILLA , 1995.< call the shotsto be in a position of power; to direct the actions of others
US , 1967
callabonouna collaborationUS , 2002
callalloonouna confused set of circumstances; a mix-up From the name of a popular stewTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003
call booknouna list, formal or highly informal, kept by a pool hustler, of locations where money can be made playing poolUS , 1990
call boynoun1a male prostitute whose clients book his services by telephoneUS , 1942.2a boy or young man who called railway workers to workUS , 1898
calleynounmarijuana FromKALIandCOLLIE JAMAICA , 1975
call girlnouna prostitute who makes bookings with customers by telephoneUS , 1922
call housenouna brothel from which prostitutes are procured by telephoneUS , 1913
callibogusnounan alcoholic drink of spruce beer, rum or whisky, and molassesCANADA , 1995
calling cardnoun1a fingerprintUS , 1949.2needle marks on a drug user’s armUS , 1971.3during the Vietnam war, a printed card identifying the unit, left on the bodies of dead enemy soldiersUS , 1990
calling stationnounin poker, an unskilled player who calls bets prematurelyUS , 1979
call itverbwhile working as a prostitute, to state the price expected for the service requestedUK , 1987
Call Me Godnouna CMG (Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George) A pun elaborated on the initials; used by civil servants demonstrating a jocular familiarity with the honourUK , 1961
call moneynouna demand for payment of a debtUS , 1989
call of the great outdoorsnouna need to defecate or urinate An elaboration of ‘a call of nature’ which is the conventional euphemismUK , 1965
call outverbto challenge someone to a fightUS , 1980
call that George!used for expressing finality or completion
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1983
call-upnounin prison, a summons to a governor’s officeUK , 2001
Callynickname 8see:CARLY
cally doshnounmoneyUK , 1988
calmernouna barbiturate or other central nervous system depress-antUK , 1999
Calumet fevernoun(among Ottawa valley lumbermen) fear of riding logs down the slide at Calumet, QuebecCANADA , 1964
Calvin Kleinnoun1wine Rhyming slang, formed on the name of American fashion designer Calvin Klein (b.1942) Sometimes shortened to ‘Calvin’UK , 1998.2a fine Rhyming slang, formed on the name of fashion designer Calvin Klein (b.1942)UK , 1998
Calvin Klein specialnouna mixture of cocaine and the rec-reational drug ketamine A back formation from the initialsUS , 1995
Calvinsnounblue jeans or underwear designed by Calvin KleinUS , 1982
camnoun1camouflage MilitaryUK , 1995.2a camera, 2003
Camberwell carrotnounan exceptionally long and fat marijuana cigaretteUK , 1987
CamboadjectiveCambodianUS , 1976
Cambodian rednounmarijuana from Cambodia Named after its reddish hueUS , 1973
Cambodia tripnouna highly potent strain of marijuana from Cambodia