Lumberjacks’ useCANADA, 1984 catty-catnounthe vaginaUS, 1980 catty-cattyadjectivepromiscuousTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003 cat wagonnouna mobile brothelUS, 372 cat-walkverbon a motorcyle or b
Trang 1castlenoun1a house or apartmentUS, 1953.2in cricket, the wicket
that a batsman is defendingUK, 1959
castledadjectivein cricket, bowled out FromCASTLE(a wicket that is
being defended)UK, 2003
castornoun< on the castorpopular, well-regarded Extended from
CASTOR(excellent)AUSTRALIA, 1953
castoradjectiveexcellent; all rightAUSTRALIA, 1944
Castor and Pollux; Caster and Polluxnounthe testicles The
classical twins of the Zodiac provide the source for this rhyming
slang forBOLLOCKS UK , 1992
Castronicknamea neighbourhood in San Francisco, California,
dominated by homosexual men since the early 1970s Castro
Street is the main artery of the neighbourhoodUS, 1987
Castro clonenouna homosexual who conforms to a clean-cut,
fashionable image The Castro is a predominantly gay
neighbourhood in San FranciscoUS, 1986
cast upverbto vomitBARBADOS, 1965
casualnoun1a member of a violent faction of football supporters (A
FIRM), aligned to a football team and identified by a uniform of
casual wear In use since the late 1970s Examples recorded
include Aberdeen Soccer Casuals, Cambridge Casuals, Celtic
Casuals, Darlington Casuals, Fine Young Casuals (Oldham FC),
Suburban Casuals (Southampton)UK, 1989.2a youth fashion from
the late 1970s, based on designer labels In the 1980s a
working-class trend, in the 1990s a positive symbol of urban chic; also
refers to a follower of this fashion style A variant is ‘caj’UK, 1980
casualadjectiveexcellent, fashionable, trendy Youth usageUS, 1963
catnoun1a manUS, 1920.2a black personUS, 1972.3a spiteful,
gossiping woman A back-formation fromCATTY(spiteful, sly)UK,
1950.4the vaginaUK, 1720.5a passive homosexual male; any male
homosexual In prison ‘cats’ are ‘young prisoners who, though
usually heterosexual prior to incarceration, submit to the passive
role in homosexual relations in prison’ But also in prison ‘cat’ is
used to refer to known homosexuals who are often segregated
from other inmates Outside of prison the term is used generally
of homosexual men: perhaps an extension of the meaning as ‘a
woman’ The suggestion that it is a shortening of ‘catamite’ has
no supporting evidenceAUSTRALIA, 1950.6a lion; a tiger; a leopard
Circus usage, usually in the pluralUK, 1953.7in circus and carnival
usage, a trouble-making southern rusticUS, 1981.8a poorly
performing racing greyhoundAUSTRALIA, 1989.9in poker, a
nonstandard hand such as the ‘little cat’, ‘big cat’, etcUS, 1988.
10heroinUS, 1993.11methcathinone US, 1995.12a category UK, 1984.
13a Caterpillar™ tractor or other type of heavy equipmentUS, 1918.
14a catalytic converter, an emissions-control deviceUS, 1993.15a
hydraulic catapult on an aircraft carrier US, 1962.16a catamaran UK,
1984.17a boat of any descriptionUK, 1961 < let the cat out of
the bagto disclose a secretUK, 1760 < on the catstaying away
from home at nightUS, 1965 < on the cat hopin railway slang,
on timeUS, 1946 < put a cat among the pigeons; set the cat
among the pigeonsto stir up troubleUK, 1976 < something
the cat dragged in; something the cat has brought inused
as the epitome of someone who is bedraggledUK, 1928
Catnouna Cadillac carUS, 1945
catverb1to stay away from home overnight, prowling for sin From
the alleycat as a role model for behaviourUS, 1949.2to pursue
someone in the hopes of sexual relationsUS, 1946
Cat Anoun the categorisation of most secure prisons, thus the
cat-egory for highly dangerous prisoners or those considered most
likely to escape ‘Cat B,’ ‘Cat C’, and ‘Cat D’ are also used in
decreasing order of required security These categories have been
in force since 1966UK, 1996
Cat Averb to categorise a prisoner as Cat A ‘Cat B’, ‘Cat C’ and ‘Cat
D’ are also used in decreasing order of required security UK, 1996
catalog mannouna gambling cheat whose superficial knowledge of
cheating is acquired from studying catalogues of cheating devices
A derisive term when used by cheats who carefully hone their
craftUS, 1945
cat and classnouncataloguing and classification Librarians’ useUK,
cat and mousenouna house Rhyming slangUK, 1857
catapultnounin the language of windsurfing, a high-speed exit from the board assisted by high windsUS, 1985
catatonianounin computing, the condition that exists when a computer is in suspended operation, unable to proceedUS, 1981
catatonicadjective(of a computer) caught in an inextricable oper-ation and thus suspended beyond reach or responseUS, 1991
catawampusadjectivecrooked, bentUS, 1851
catbird seatnounan advantageous position Coined or at the very least popularised by humourist James Thurber in 1942US, 1942
catboxnounthe Middle EastUS, 1998
catcallnouna derisive jeerUS, 1839
catchnoun1a person who is considered matrimonially or romantically desirableUK, 1749.2a prostitute who has been recruited to work for a pimpUS, 1973.3in Keno, the number of winning numbers that a player has markedUS, 1972.4a hidden condition or consequenceUS, 1855
catchverb1(used of a pimp) to recruit a prostitute to work for him;
to recruit a woman to work as a prostituteUS, 1972.2(used of a prostitute) to engage a customerUS, 1968.3to play the passive sex-ual role in a homosexsex-ual relationshipUS, 1966.4to take calls or complaints called in to a police station; to be assigned a caseUS,
1958.5in an illegal number gambling lottery, to winUS, 1949.6in gin, to draw a cardUS, 1971 < catch (some) leadto be shotUS,
1970 < catch a bulletto be shotUS, 1992 < catch a buzzto smoke marijuana and become intoxicatedUS, 1997 < catch a crabin rowing, to err in a stroke, disrupting the timing and momentum of the rowingUS, 1949 < catch a dummyin prison,
to refuse to speakUS, 1990 < catch a fishin poker, after making
a small bet with a good hand (the bait), to lure another player into increasing the betUS, 1988 < catch a gladto act with spon-taneous joyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1984 < catch a hitto be scolded
or harshly criticised Marine usage in the Vietnam warUS, 1991.
< catch a horseto urinate A euphemismAUSTRALIA, 1942.
< catch a payto be beaten and robbedUS, 1997 < catch a run
to wet one side of a marijuana cigarette to promote even burning
US, 1997 < catch a stackto rob someone with a lot of cashUS,
1987 < catch a vapsto become suddenly inspiredGRENADA, 1998.
< catch airto become airborne while skateboarding or surfing
US, 1987 < catch assto have a hard timeTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
1956 < catch no ballto fail to understandSINGAPORE, 2002.
< catch on the flipper; catch on the (old) flip-flopto make contact on your return Citizens’ band radio slangUS, 1976.
< catch on the reboundto become emotionally involved with
a person who has just been rejected from another relationship Probably the pun from which the emotional conditionON THE REBOUNDderivesUK, 1864 < catch on the reverse; catch on the reboundto make contact on a return journey Citizens’ band radio slangUS, 1976 < catch someto engage in heavy sexual caressingUS, 1968 < catch squealsto take calls or complaints called into a police stationUS, 1969 < catch the bumpsin a striptease act, to synchronise the dancer’s pelvic thrusts with the drum and cymbal beatUS, 1981 < catch thrillsto engage in an activity that excites or stimulates Hawaiian youth usageUS, 1982.
< catch tricks(used of a drummer in a performance) to create sound effects on sightUS, 1973 < catch wreckto achieve respect for your actionsUS, 1995 < catch your death of cold; catch your deathto catch a very bad cold Dating is obscure; the tra-ditional Yorkshire folk song ‘On Ilkley Moor baht’at’ contains the line ‘Then thee will catch thy death of cold’ which, while the intent may be literal, means no more than ‘[If you go out on] Ilkley Moor without a hat [ ] you will catch a bad cold’UK, 1872.
< catch yourself onto recover your common sense Usually in the imperativeUK, 1984
catch 22nouna self-cancelling dilemma Coined by Joseph Heller
for his 1955 novel Catch 22, which was originally to be titled
‘Catch 18’ – until Mila 18 by Leon Uris was published US, 1977
catch coltnounan illegitimate childUS, 1901
catch drivernounin harness racing, a driver hired on the day of the
Trang 2catchernoun1the passive partner in homosexual sexUS, 1966.2a
peripheral member of an illegal drug enterprise hired to retrieve
drugs hurriedly thrown out of a window to avoid confiscation and
arrestUS, 1989
catcher’s mittnouna dense jungle area with a heavy Viet Cong and
North Vietnamese presence northeast of Phu Loi Based on a
vague resemblance between the area and a catcher’s mitt on a
mapUS, 1990
catch handnouna casual workman who moves from job to job to
get more favourable rates and conditions but has no intention of
staying with any job until its completionUK, 1964
catch itverb1to get it into trouble with an authority, especially to
incur a beating or a severe telling offUK, 1835.2to be killedUS, 1982
catch onverb1to understand; to grasp the meaning or significance
of somethingUS, 1884.2to become popular or fashionableUK, 1887
catch oneverbto drink or use drugs to the point of mild
intoxi-cationUS, 1997
catchyadjectiveattractive, appealing, especially if vulgarly soUK, 1831
catch you laterused as a farewellUS, 1947
Cat CitynicknameCathedral City, California A resort town just south
of Palm Springs in the Coachella ValleyUS, 1981
cat daddynouna male with charm and charismaUS, 2002
caterpillarnounduring the war in Vietnam, a convoy of
non-combat vehicles on a passably secure roadUS, 1991
caterpillarverbin mountain biking, to pedal with a fluctuating,
inefficient cadenceUS, 1992
catever; kerterveradjective bad From Italian cattivo (bad) but via
earlier senses as ‘an odd occurence or person’UK, 2002
cat-eyenounan irregular work shiftUS, 1977
cat eyesnouneyes that are anything other than dark brownUS, 1982
catfacenouna pucker left in a garment after ironingUS, 1952
cat fevernouncatarrhal gastroenteritis, suffered by troops in the
field in VietnamUS, 1945
cat fightnouna no-holds-barred fight between womenAUSTRALIA, 1967
catfishnouna person who speaks too much and thinks too littleUS,
1954
catfish rownouna black neighbourhood in a southern US city For
the setting of his 1935 folk opera Porgy and Bess, George Gershwin
used Catfish Row, a fictionalisation of an alleyway named Cabbage
Row off Church Street in Charleston, South CarolinaUS, 1965
cat got your tongue?‘why aren’t you talking?’; used for mocking
or asking why a temporary speechlessness has struck Elliptical for
‘has the cat got your tongue?’; generally addressed to a child but
equally patronising when asked of an adultUK, 1911
cathverbto insert a catheter into a patient Medical useUK, 1980
cat-haulverbto interrogate someone fiercely From a form of
punishment used with slaves – a cat was forcibly dragged by the
tail down the slave’s bare backUS, 1951
cat headnouna biscuitUS, 1962
Catherine Wheelnounin the youth trend for ‘souped-up’
motor-scootering, a lifting of the front wheel off the ground due to
sudden acceleration performed in conjunction with a flaming trail
Probably from the Catherine Wheel firework as a fiery elaboration
ofWHEELIE UK , 2004
Cathonouna member of the Catholic ChurchAUSTRALIA, 1996
cat holenouna one-time, one-man field latrine dug by the user in
VietnamUS, 1978
Catholicnouna pickpocketUS, 1949
Catholic aspirinnouna tablet of Benzedrine™ (amphetamine
sulphate), a central nervous system stimulant From the cross
scores on the white tabletUS, 1973
cathousenouna brothelUS, 1893
cat in hell’s chancenouna very slim chance or possibility In 1796,
Francis Grose recorded ‘No more chance than a cat in hell without
claws’ Almost always phrased in the negative: ‘not a cat in hell’s chance’ (no chance whatsoever)UK, 1796
cat lappernouna lesbian; someone who enjoys performing oral sex
on womenUS, 1967
cat-lick; cat-lickernouna Roman CatholicUS, 1942
cat-lifenouna prison sentence of two or more consecutive life termsUS, 1992
cat mannouna burglar who relies on stealthUS, 1962
catnipnoun1poor quality, adulterated or entirely fake marijuana
Catmint, the botanical genus nepeta, known in the US as ‘catnip’,
may be passed off as marijuana to the unsuspecting, or mixed with genuine marijuana as a make-weight; consequently any impotent marijuanaUS, 1962.2a marijuana cigarette An ironic adoption of the previous senseUK, 2003
cat outverbto sneak awayUK, 1983
cat packnouna loosely defined group of wealthy, famous and fashionable peopleUS, 1971
cat pannouna bowl used for washing the vagina FromCAT(the vagina)TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
cat-piss-and-peppernouna noisy, unrestrained argumentBARBADOS, 2003
cat pissernounwindscreen wipersUS, 1992
cat plantnouna facility where crude oil is separated by catalysisUS, 1960
cat racknouna game concession in a carnival in which a player throws balls at stuffed cats on a platform or fenceUS, 1960
catsnoun1trousersUK, 2002.2heavy rain From the older (1738) and more familiar adverb formUK, 1976.3stocks without proven per-formanceUS, 1997
cat’s arsenounanything very good, superlative or exceptional; someone who is considered the best by themselves or othersUK, 1984
cat’s assnoun1an extraordinarily good or extraordinarily bad example of somethingUS, 1967.2a knot or kink in a wire or rope
US, 1942
cat’s barnouna female-only or mixed-sex barNEW ZEALAND, 1953
cat’s breakfastnounan unpleasant mess A variation ofDOG’S
BREAKFAST UK , 1984
cat’s eyesnounin craps, a roll of threeUS, 1945
cat shitnounused as a basis for comparison when describing someone who is meanUS, 1970
cat shotnouna take-off from an aircraft carrier assisted by a catapult Vietnam war usageUS, 1959
cat’s meatnounan easily accomplished taskNEW ZEALAND, 1962
cat’s meow; cat’s miaownounanything very good, superlative or exceptional; someone who is considered the best by themselves or othersUS, 1921
cat’s mothernoun< ‘she’ is the cat’s mother; ‘she’ is a cat’s motheraddressed as a catchphrase reproof to a child who fails to show proper respect by referring to the mother, or any other adult woman, as ‘she’ Occasionally ‘she is ‘the cat’; at other times ‘she’
is ‘the cat’s grandmother.’UK, 1897
cat’s nutnounan extraordinary thing or personUS, 1928
cat’s pajamas; cat’s pyjamasnounanything very good, superlative
or exceptional; someone who is considered the best by themselves
or others Coined by, or inspired by, an illustration by New York Journal sports cartoonist Thomas Aloysius ‘TAD’ Dorgan (1877–1929); in the UK by 1923 but rare by 1939 Still occasion-ally recordedUS, 1922
catspraddleverbto beat someone with the fistsTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1998
cat’s pricknounan elongated ember at the lit end of a cigaretteUK, 2003
cat’s whiskersnounanything very good, superlative or exceptional;
Trang 3A variation ofCAT’S PAJAMAS From the 1960s on, usage is mainly
AustralianUK, 1927
cattienouna mail-order catalogueUK, 1988
cattlenounracehorsesAUSTRALIA, 1989
cattle callnouna mass auditionUS, 1952
cattle dognoun1a Catholic school studentNEW ZEALAND, 1998.2a
catalogue Punning on the similarity of the pronunciation
AUSTRALIA, 1984
cattle trucknoun1any large truck used to transport troops
Vietnam war usageUS, 1968.2in oil drilling, a bus that transports
workers to the oil fieldsUS, 1954.3a driver-operated omnibusUK,
1973
cattle truck; cattleverb‘fuck’, generally in a figurative or expletive
sense Rhyming slangUK, 1961
cattle wagonnouna large car, especially a station wagonUS, 1973
cat tranquillizernounthe recreational drug ketamineCANADA, 2002
cattyadjective1sly, spiteful, mean-spiritedUK, 1886.2nimble and
sure-footed in a cat-like manner Lumberjacks’ useCANADA, 1984
catty-catnounthe vaginaUS, 1980
catty-cattyadjectivepromiscuousTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
cat wagonnouna mobile brothelUS, 372
cat-walkverbon a motorcyle or bicycle, to perform a wheelstand
and then ride forward on the rear wheelUS, 1992
cat walkernouna burglar who steals at nightUK, 1990
cat washnouna quick cleaning of the body using a washcloth but
not a full bath or showerBAHAMAS, 1982
catweednounmarijuanaUK, 1996
cat worknouncriminal employment as a cat-burglarUK, 1956
caught shortadjective1unprepared, especially with regards to bodily
functionsAUSTRALIA, 1964.2embarrassed by an untimely lack of
whatever is requiredUK, 1984
caught using purpleadjectiveapprehended making non-farm use of
tax-free farm petrol To help ease the strain on farm budgets, the
prairie provinces allow farmers to buy petrol for farm equipment
exempt from certain taxes The petrol is dyed purple Police in
rural areas check It also means being caught at some other
tech-nical illegalityCANADA, 1987
Cauliflower Alleynounthe boxing world Journalists’ use
Extending the punningTIN-EAR ALLEY UK , 1961
cauliflower ear; cauliflowernounan ear that has been damaged
and deformed by blows Originally and still used as a boxing term
US, 1896
caulksnoun< put the caulks to someoneto stamp with
studded boots on someone’s face Lumberjacks’ and loggers’ use;
‘caulks’ are the spiked studs on their specialised waterproof boots
CANADA, 1961
caulk upverbto use spiked working boots to stamp on someone
Lumberjacks’ and loggers’ use; ‘caulks’ are the spiked studs on
their specialised waterproof bootsCANADA, 1939
causeverb< cause a vacancyin poker, to win a hand that drives
a player from the gameUS, 1988
’cause; cos; coz; cuzbecause An accepted and conventional term
in C16 that has slipped into dialect and vulgar useUK, 1977
cause itverbto cause trouble to, or damage somethingUK, 1974
cavadjectivecavalier In the pornography industry, an attitude
towards sexually transmitted diseaseUS, 1995
cavaliernounthe uncircumcised penis Probably of Royal Navy
origin, then juvenile; derives as an antonym ofROUNDHEAD(a
circumcised penis)UK, 2002
cavalrynoun< the cavalry are coming; the cavalry are here
help is coming; help is here From the literal military sense,
prob-ably informed in use by film WesternsUK, 1984
Cav and Pagnickname the short operas Cavalleria Rusticana, by
paired as a double bill Cavalleria Rusticana was first performed in
1890, Pagliacci in 1892 UK, 2002
cavenoun1a deep sore at the site of repeated drug injectionsUS,
1973.2the vagina From the conventional meaning (a large hole or crevice)UK, 2001 < keep caveto keep a lookout Extends from
CAVE!pronounced ‘kay-vee’ (beware!); school slangUK, 1906
caveverbto have sex with someoneUS, 1973
cave!beware! School slang, pronounced ‘kay-vee’, from Latin cavere
(to beware) Still familiar, but mainly from its convenience as a crossword clue to a generation who read a certain sort of children’s fictionUK, 1868
cavemanadjective1obsoleteUS, 1974.2used of any skateboarding manoeuvre performed in an old-fashioned styleUK, 2004
cave tubingnouna floating exploration of underground river and cave systems on an inflated rubber tubeBELIZE, 2003
caviarnoun1human faecal matter in the context of a sexual fetish
A euphemism used in pornographyUK, 2002.2residue in whatever utensils are used for manufacturing crack cocaineUS, 1993.3a mixture of marijuana and crack cocaine prepared for smoking in a cigaretteUS, 1989.4cocaine; crack cocaineUK, 2003
caviar cannounan armoured tank from the former Soviet Union
US, 1952
Cavite all starnounmarijuana, probably from the Philippines Cavite was a US military base and is now an ‘Export Processing Zone’, ninety miles south of ManilaUS, 1977
cav of the cavnicknamethe First Squadron of the Ninth US Cavalry Organised in 1866, the Ninth Cavalry saw action in every war through to VietnamUS, 1991
cavvynouna substitute horse, or personCANADA, 1987
cazhadjective 8see:KAZH
cazooledadjectivedrunkUS, 1968
CBnounused as an abbreviation forCOCKBLOCK US , 1980
CBadjective could be Used in tentative diagnoses, such as ‘could be
lupus’US, 1994
CBC sunshinenounrain after a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation forecast of sunCANADA, 1987
CBTnounin the subculture of consensual sado-masochism, the infliction of discomfort and pain on a male’s genitals An initialism ofC ock (the penis) ‘ball’ (the testicle) and ‘torture’ UK, 2002
CCnoun1Canadian Club™ whisky US, 1971.2cocaine offered as a gift
by a dealerUS, 1989.3a prison segregation unit An abbreviation of
CARDBOARD CITY UK , 1996
CCverbto send someone to a prison segregation unit, or to replace cell furniture with cardboard items FromCARDBOARD CITY(the seg-regation unit)UK, 1996
CCWnounthe criminal charge of carrying a concealed weapon As the US moved to the right, gun enthusiasts have been successful
in enacting legislation in many states that permit – not forbid – carrying concealed weapons, changing the meaning of the
acronym to ‘concealed-carry weapon’ US, 1973
CDnouna condom Scamto youth street slang (South African townships)SOUTH AFRICA, 2005
C-Daynounthe day when new car models were available for civilian purchase after the end of World War 2US, 1944
C-ductnouncocaineUS, 1986
C-dustnouncocaineUS, 1970
cecilnouncocaine A disguise likeCHARLIE, another man’s nameUK, 1996
Cecil B DeMillenounany large job that evolves into a chaotic mess New York police slangUS, 1997
Cecil Gee; cecilnounone thousand pounds The high street designer menswear shop Cecil Gee is used for ‘dressing up’ the commonG(£1,000) Noted in use by television presenter Johnny VaughanUK, 2002
ceech
Trang 4ceefanouna cat A play on ‘c for cat’NEW ZEALAND, 1998
ceiling betnounthe highest bet permitted in a given game or
situ-ationUS, 1988
ceiling chickennounan Air Canada baggage handler with a
particu-lar assignmentCANADA, 1994
ceitfuladjectivedeceitfulGUYANA, 1996
celebnouna celebrityUS, 1916
celebrity-fuckernouna person who seeks out sexual relationships
with famous peopleUS, 1969
celestial dischargenoundeath in a hospitalUS, 1994
cellnouna wireless telephone that is part of a system in which a
geographical area is divided into sections served by a limited-range
transmitter An abbreviation of ‘cell phone’ a term first heard in
the late 1980s as an abbreviation of ‘cellular’US, 1997
cellverbto occupy a prison cellUS, 1901
cell 99nouna prison morgueUS, 1949
cellarnounin a sports league, the last place in team standingsUS, 1950
cellar dealernouna card cheat who deals from the bottom of a
deckUS, 1988
cellar flap; cellarverbto borrow something Rhyming slang forTAP
(to borrow)UK, 1960
cell blocknoun1a condom A clever play on words: ‘cell’ (a basic
life-form) representing spermatazoa, combined with ‘block’ (a
bar-rier); the whole ironically suggesting imprisonment (of the penis)
UK, 1998.2a school classroom Teen slangUS, 1958
cellie; cellynoun1in jail or prison, a cellmateUS, 1966.2a cellular
telephoneUS, 1999
cell-shockedadjectivederanged from life in prison An obvious,
although sharp, play on ‘shell-shocked’US, 1990
cell spinnouna surprise search of a cell by prison authorities From
SPIN(to search)UK, 1996
cell tasknounin prison, a pin-up A focus on location and
inspi-ration for a prisoner’sTASK(masturbation)UK, 1996
cell warriornouna prisoner whose actions outside his cell do not
match his aggressive words uttered in the safety of his cellUS, 2001
cement armnounan intravenous drug user’s arm that is toughened
with scar tissue over the veinsUS, 1973
cementedadjectivevery drunkUK, 1983
cementheadnouna stupid personUS, 1949
cement mixernoun1a dancer who rotates her pelvis in a
simu-lation of sexual intercourseUS, 1951.2a dance, a ball A beatnik
term not recorded until 1984UK, 1984.3a loud car or truckUS, 1914
cement overcoatnounhardened cement in which a murder victim
is concealedUS, 1969
cement overshoesnounconcrete poured around a person’s feet,
used to weigh them down when their body is disposed of in a
body of waterUS, 1962
census officenounin prison, the office where incoming and
outgoing mail is checkedUK, 1996
centnouna dollarUS, 1957 < like a cent worth of shaved ice
humiliated, belittledTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1987
centerfieldnoun1in craps, a field bet on the nineUS, 1985.2in
blackjack played in casinos, the seat directly across from the dealer
US, 1985
centrenounin the gambling game two-up, the bets placed with the
person spinning the coinsAUSTRALIA, 1911
Centrenoun< the Centrethe central parts of the Australian
mainlandAUSTRALIA, 1899
centurionnouna cricketer who scores 100 runsBARBADOS, 1886
centurynoun1a $100 noteUS, 1859.2one hundred pounds (£100)
UK, 1861.3one hundred yardsUS, 1989.4one hundred milesUS, 1956.
5in motor racing, 100 miles per hourUS, 1965
centuryverbto save one hundred dollarsUS, 1970
century note
’ceptexceptUK, 1851
cerealnounmarijuana, especially when smoked in a bowl, 1999
certnoun1a certaintyUK, 1889.2a horse that is considered to be a
certain winner; a likely winner in any contest UK, 1889
certifiableadjectivementally deranged Carried over from an earlier legal requirement to certify a person as insaneUK, 1939
cessnounmarijuana, possibly of inferior qualityUS, 1995
cess!; ciss!used as an expression of contempt or disgust, also used
for registering disappointment Directly from Afrikaans sies.
Variants include ‘sis!’, ‘sies!’ and ‘siss!’SOUTH AFRICA, 1862
cestnounmarijuanaUK, 2003
CFAnounsomeone not originating from a particular place in the
Maritime Provinces An acronym for ‘come from away’, well
known to Newfoundlanders and other coastal peopleCANADA, 2002
CFBadjective very clear indeed An abbreviation of ‘clear as a fucking bell’ Vietnam war usage US, 1980
CFDnoun a chilled 12-ounce can of beer An abbreviation of ‘cold frothy dog’ US, 2002
CFMadjectivesexually suggestive An abbreviation ofCOME-FUCK-ME US , 1989
C-Hnouna cheating scheme in poker involving two players; if one player signals that he is holding a good hand, his confederate raises the bet An abbreviation of ‘crooked-honest’US, 1988
chaadjectivefashionable, trendy, stylishUS, 1992
chabobsnounthe female breastsUS, 1962
chachnounthe vagina; a despised womanUS, 2003
cha-chaverbto have sexUS, 1980
chaff banditnouna racehorse that does not win enough to pay its wayAUSTRALIA, 1989
chaffynouna fellow prisonerUK, 1996
chainnouna bus or van used to transport prisonersUS, 1984 < off the chainexcellentUS, 2001 < pull someone’s chain1to tease someone; to mislead someoneUS, 1962.2to control someone’s actions against their will; to treat someone with contempt The image of a dog on a leash Variants are ‘jerk someone’s chain’ and
‘yank someone’s chain’US, 1962
Chainnoun< The Chainthe Aleutian IslandsUS, 1886
chain-drinkverbto drink one beverage after another, barely pausing between drinksUS, 1976
chain gangnoun1a railway crew assembled from the first available workersUS, 1946.2the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London After the chains of officeUK, 1976
chain itverbto chain smokeUK, 2001
chains and canesnounrestraint and corporal punishment when advertised as services offered by a prostituteUK, 2003
chain-sawverbto exhange positions with someone; to take over; to cut inUK, 2003
chain-smokeverbto smoke cigarettes continuously and addictively
UK, 1934
chainsucknounin mountain biking, a condition that occurs when the bicycle chain doubles back on itself and gets jammed between the frame and the chain ringsUS, 1996
chairnoun1the electric chair; the death penaltyUS, 1895.2a motorcycle sidecarUK, 1984
chairbackernounan unordained, self-taught preacherUS, 1955
chairborneadjectivein the miliary, assigned to a rear-echelon support job A pun on ‘airborne’, applied to ‘chairborne commandos’, ‘chairborne generals’, the ‘chairborne infantry’,
‘chairborne rangers’, etcUS, 1943
chairman of the boardnounthe most important person of a set
of people Probably extended from its use as a nickname for Frank
Sinatra, 1915–98 us , 2002
Chairman of the Boardnicknameactor and entertainer, Frank Sinatra, 1915–1998 Coined in tribute to his rôle as founder of
Trang 5chairwarmernounan idler, a loaferUS, 1960
chale!no! never! Border Spanish used in English conversation by
Mexican-AmericansUS, 1950
chalewanouna marijuana pipe, usually made from coconut shell
and tubing, used ritually by RastasJAMAICA, 2001
Chalfont St Giles; chalfontsnounhaemorrhoids Rhyming slang
for ‘piles’, formed from the name of a village in Buckinghamshire
UK, 1980
chalicenouna pipe for smoking marijuana A word with wider
religious significance adopted into ritual by Rastafarians and hence
into more general use Celebrated in the song ‘chalice to chalice’
by Tappa Zukie, 1996JAMAICA, 1990
chalknoun1a white person Not flatteringUS, 1945.
2methamphetamine or amphetamineUS, 1966.3crack cocaine
From the appearanceUK, 2003.4a potent homemade ‘wine’ made
from yeast, sugar, water, and rice or fruitUS, 2001.5low quality beer
US, 1949.6in sports betting, the contestant or team favoured to win
US, 1991.7chocolate syrupUS, 1946 < by a long chalkby much;
by a great degree In the later C20 the predominant usage
becomes ‘not by a long chalk’ with the meaning as ‘grossly
inferior’UK, 1859
chalkverb1to prepare cocaine for inhalation The image of white
chalk linesUK, 1997.2to chemically lighten the colour of cocaine
for buyers who believe that the white colour reflects purityUS, 1989.
3to observe something or someoneUS, 1959.4to ban a gambler
from a table, game or casinoUS, 1950.5to steal somethingUS, 2001
chalk and talknounteaching; those methods of teaching which are
currently considered old-fashioned Slightly contemptuous
AUSTRALIA, 1942
chalk-eaternounin horse racing, a bettor who consistently bets on
favourites From the old custom of a bookmaker chalking odds on
a blackboardUS, 1951
chalked upadjectiveunder the influence of cocaineUS, 1955
chalkernouna very fat personUS, 1990
chalker and talkernouna teacher Later use is slightly
contemptuousAUSTRALIA, 1942
Chalk Farm; chalknounthe arm Rhyming slang, formed on the
name of an area of north LondonUK, 1857
chalk handnounin poker, a hand that is almost certain to winUS,
1988
chalk horsenounin horse racing, the favourite in a raceUS, 1951
chalkienouna school teacher From the use of chalk on a
blackboardAUSTRALIA, 1945
chalk it upverbto claim or give someone the credit for something
UK, 1923
chalk it up!used for drawing attention to a triumph or
extraordi-nary happening, often accompanied by a gesture of chalking a
figure 1 on a wallUK, 1923
chalk mannounthe police employee who chalks the outline of a
corpse where it has fallen before the body is removedUS, 1992
chalk peoplenounpeople who live far from the oceanUS, 1991
chaloupenouna wide, heavy, large American car French used by
the English-speaking in QuebecCANADA, 1992
chambermaidnouna railway machinist working in a roundhouse
US, 1946
chamber of commercenoun1a toilet A pun on ‘chamber pot’US,
1960.2a brothelUS, 1949
chamber pipenouna type of pipe used to smoke marijuanaUS, 1992
champnoun1a drug addict who does not inform on others when
questioned by the policeUS, 1960.2a champion US, 1868.3used
between contemporary, unrelated males as a familiar form of
addressUK, 2001
champagnenoun1human urine in the context of a sexual fetishUS,
1987.2a well-paying customer of a prostituteUS, 1992
champagne blonde
champagne Charlienouna man who enjoys a luxurious, if somewhat dissipated, lifestyle After a music hall song about a noted drinker of champagneUK, 1868
champagne chinsnounfolds of flesh creating the image of more than one double chin as a result of the good lifeUK, 1997
champagne drugnouncocaineUS, 1998
champagne housenounwealthy clubbers Champagne, generally prefixed with a sense of derision or criticism (asCHAMPAGNE SOCIALISM), combines withHOUSE(MUSIC) (the umbrella-genre for contemporary club music)UK, 1999
champagne socialismnouna belief in socialist ideals apparently contradicted by an expensively indulgent lifestyle Critical and derisiveUK, 1987
champagne socialistnouna person attached to socialist politics who enjoys a luxurious lifestyleUK, 1987
champagne tapnouna bloodless sample from a lumbar puncture, traditionally rewarded by a bottle of champagne from the consult-antUK, 2002
champagne tastes and mauby pocketsnounsomething said to
be possessed by those who do not have the money to live the life-style that they affectBARBADOS, 1976
champagne tricknouna wealthy, big-spending customer of a prostituteUS, 1973
champersnoun champagne The original word is abridged and the
suffix ‘-ers’ is added; this process of amendment, credited to students at Oxford University, is discussed by Partridge and Beale
in the appendix to the 8th edition of the Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English and called ‘Oxford -er(s)’ UK, 1955
championnouna completely inept and unlucky personSINGAPORE, 2002
championadjectiveexcellent Mainly, or stereotypically from the north of EnglandUK, 1937
championadverbexcellently Mainly, or stereotypically from the north of EnglandUK, 1937
chanceverb< chance your armto take unnecessary risksUK, 1966
chance ’emverbwhile surfing, to decide to ride a big waveUS, 1991
chancernounan opportunist, especially one who takes risks in
pursuit of criminal gain; someone who takes or creates chances
UK, 1884
chance would be a fine thing!; chance is a fine thing!‘I wish
I had that opportunity!’ or ‘You wouldn’t know what to do if you got the opportunity!’ or ‘that is very unlikely!’ Each variant has all meaningsUK, 1912
chancre mechanicnouna military medic, especially one assigned
to diagnose and treat sexually transmitted infectionsUS, 1944
chandeliernoun1where non-existent bids in a fraudulent auction are said to come fromUK, 2003.2a homosexual Rhyming slang for
QUEER Shortened to ‘shandy’UK, 1998
chandelier signnouna dramatic reaction to being touched in a painful area It is said that the patient ‘hits the ceiling’ or ‘hits the chandelier’US, 1994
chanelnouncocaine A slightly forced formation, playing on the name of designer Coco ChanelUS, 1976
changnouncocaineUK, 2002
changenoun1moneyUS, 1972.2an approximation or a fractionUS,
1975 < the changethe menopause Elliptical forCHANGE OF LIFE
UK, 1934
changeverb< change addressto leaveTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003.
< change tuneto retreatUS, 1991 < change waterto engage
in an unproductive activity From lobstermen, who refer to the hauling and baiting of an empty trap as ‘changing water’US, 1975.
< change your luck(used of a white person) to have sex with a black person; to have sex with a person of the sex with whom one would not ordinarily have sexUS, 1916 < change your tuneto alter your professed opinion or manner of speechUK, 1578
change artistnouna swindler who gives customers too little
Trang 6change machinenouna prostitute who charges very little for sexUS,
1963
change of lifenounthe menopauseUK, 1834
change of lucknoun(used of a white person) sex with a black
personUS, 1916
change raisernouna swindler who tricks cashiers into giving him
too much changeUS, 1960
changesnoundifficultiesUS, 1973
changiesnounchanging roomsUK, 2001
chanknouna chancre; any sexually transmitted infectionUS, 1960
chankverbto eat loudly and rudelyUS, 1844
channelnouna vein, especially a prominent vein suitable for drug
injectionUS, 1994
channelverbin car customising, to lower the body of the carUS, 1965
Channel BorenicknameUK television Channel 4UK, 1999
channel fevernouna strong desire by someone at sea to be back
on landUK, 1929
channel fleetnouna street Rhyming slangIRELAND, 1960
channel-surfverbto browse distractedly through a variety of
television programmes, switching from channel to channelUS, 1994
channel swimmernouna heroin user Punning on ‘channel’ as ‘a
vein’US, 1959
chantverbto singUK, About 1386
chantoosienounin Montreal, a female nightclub singer The word is
adapted from French chanteuse (a woman who sings) CANADA, 2002
chapnoun1a man, a fellowUK, 1704.2a young fellow who wouldn’t
yet know about the ways of the worldIRELAND, 1992.3a juvenile
offender or detention centre inmate who is top of the pecking
orderUK, 1978
chapeladjectivebeing part of a chapel’s congregationUK, 1946
chapel hat pegsnounused for comparisons with things that are
exaggeratedly conspicuous or obvious when not normally soUK,
1984
chapessnouna girl; a woman A jocular extension ofCHAP(a man)
UK, 2003
chapopotenounheroinUK, 2003
chappedadjective1depressedUS, 1990.2irritated, angryUS, 1966
chapped offadjectivevery angryUS, 1963
chappie; chappynouna man, a fellow Originally (1820s) a
diminutive forCHAP(a man), meaning ‘a little fellow’; in the
current sense and as a form of address by 1880s Current usage
however is often ironic, probably affected by Chappie™, a branded
dog foodUK, 1882
chapsnoun< the chaps(of men) a grouping of peers; usUK, 1978
chapstick lesbiannouna lesbian who is athletic or has a notable
interest in sports Formed on the model ofLIPSTICK LESBIAN UK , 2004
chapter and versenouncomplete detail; detailed knowledgeUS, 1956
chapter heraldnouna Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang member A
play on ‘herald angels’ combined with the fact that Hell’s Angels
are grouped into ‘chapters’UK, 1984
char; cha; chahnoun tea From Chinese – Mandarin ch’a (tea)
used conventionally from C17UK, 1919
characternoun1a man; a fellow; a personUK, 1931.2a person with
an underworld lifestyleUS, 1958.3a chilled 12-ounce bottle of beer
US, 2002
charas; churusnounhashish from IndiaINDIA, 1957
charcoaladjective(used of skin colouring) grey-brownBAHAMAS, 1982
chardienounchardonnayAUSTRALIA, 2003
chargenoun1an intoxicated sensation, emotional or narcoticUK,
1950.2intense excitementUS, 1960.3marijuana From an earlier
sense meaning ‘drugs in general’; it contains a charge – produces
aKICK US , 1941.4an injection of a drugUS, 1925.5an alcoholic drink
. prison contraband secreted in a prisoner’s rectum
NEW ZEALAND, 1997.7a person arrested and held in chargeUK, 1970.
8a Charge Nurse, the nurse in charge of a ward, especially if male Often after ‘the’UK, 1961
chargeverbto go surfingUS, 1991 < charge it to the rain and let the dust settle itto pay for something on credit without fully expecting to pay the chargeUS, 1946
charge accountnouna person who can be counted upon to post bail if you are arrestedUS, 1976
charged; charged upadjectivedrug-intoxicatedUS, 1942
charge ’em!used as an exortation to action Hawaiian youth usage
US, 1982
chargernouna bullet-shaped container for anal concealment and storage of drugsUK, 1996
charge upadjectiveexcited; drunkTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
charideenouncharity seen as a self-serving, publicity-seeking enterprise Comedians Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse captured this heavily ironic mid-Atlantic pronunciation for the comic caricatures Smashie and NiceyUK, 2001
Charingnouna horse Rhyming slang, from Charing Cross (consid -ered by traffic-planners to be the absolute centre of London); the rhyme-word was pronounced ‘crorse’ in C19 CockneyUK, 1857
chariotnoun1a car Ironic, jocularUS, 1935.2a brakevan (caboose)US, 1945
charity dame; charity mollnounan amateur prostitute, or one undercutting the going-rateAUSTRALIA, 1953
charity fucknounsexual intercourse engaged in by one partner as
an act of generosityUS, 1978
charity girlnounan amateur prostitute or promiscuous womanUS, 1916
charity hopnounin baseball, the last long hop taken by a ground ball, making it simple to fieldUS, 1967
charity stuffnouna woman who, while promiscuous, does not prostitute herselfUS, 1950
Charlesnoun1cocaine More familiarly known asCHARLIE(cocaine)
UK, 1997.2a Viet Cong; the Viet CongUS, 1966.3a female’s underwearUS, 1968
Charles Dancenouna chance Rhyming slang, formed on the name of the British actor born in 1946UK, 1998
Charleynoun1the penisUS, 1969.2heroin, 2002 8see: CHARLIE and variants
charley horsenouna muscle crampUS, 1888
Charley Paddocknounused as a personification of a hacksawUS, 1949
charley pricenouna large rat An allusison to Sir Charles Price, member of the Houses of Assembly of Jamaica for St Mary, 1756–61, and three times speaker, who introduced a large species
of rat to Jamaica to kill cane ratsJAMAICA, 2002
charleysnounthe testiclesUS, 1964
Charley’s deadbetween schoolgirls, used as a warning that a slip
or petticoat can be seen below the hem of a skirtUK, 1974
Charley Wheelernouna girl Rhyming slang forSHEILA(a girl)
AUSTRALIA, 1945
Charlieverbin the circus or carnival, to dump posters or advertising leaflets that have not been distributed or postedUS, 1980
charlieadjective1ostentatious but lacking in quality Upper-class; possibly even an attempt at rhyming slang, ‘charlie horse’ (coarse)
UK, 1982.2scared, afraid Probably a shortening of rhyming slang
CHARLIE HOWARD(a coward)UK, 1958
Charlie; charlienoun1cocaine The phonetic alphabet has ‘Charlie’ for ‘C’ in use from around the same time that ‘charlie’ for
‘cocaine’ first appears Also spelt ‘charley’US, 1935.2crack cocaine
UK, 2000.3a member of the Viet CongUS, 1965.4the Viet CongUS,
1966.5a fool Often as ‘a right charlie’ or ‘a proper charlie’ Possibly a reduction ofCHARLIE HUNT(aCUNT) somewhat softened,
or simply a jocular nomination, perhaps referring to a professional
.
Trang 7or white men in generalUS, 1928.7a woman Short forCHARLIE
WHEELER(a woman)AUSTRALIA, 1942.8a female prostituteAUSTRALIA,
1950.9the bleed period of the menstrual cycleAUSTRALIA, 2002.10a
glass or bottle of Carlsberg™ lager Used by the British Army in
Germany in the 1950s and 1960s Noted by Beale, 1974UK, 1974.
11a dollarUS, 1924.12in poker, the third player to the left of the
dealerUS, 1988 < go to see Uncle Charlieto use cocaine,
especially to go to a lavatory for discreet ingestion of the drugUK,
2001
charlie bendernouna prolonged session of cocaine abuse A new
influence,CHARLIE(cocaine), for a traditionalBENDER(a drinking
session)UK, 1997
Charlie birdnounduring the Vietnam war, a helicopter used by a
tactical commanderUS, 1974
Charlie boynounan effeminate man PatronisingUS, 1896
Charlie Brownnouna citizens’ band radio set The name of a
much-loved cartoon character, created in 1950 by Charles M
Schulz, disguises a conventional initialismUK, 1981
Charlie Chaplinnouna chaplain, especially a prison chaplain After
the famous comedy actorSOUTH AFRICA, 1974
Charlie Chaseverbin horse racing, to finish second Rhyming
slang, from ‘Charlie Chase’ (to place)AUSTRALIA, 1989
Charlie Chester; charlienoun a paedophile, a child molester; often
used as a nickname for a headmaster Rhyming slang, used by
schoolchildren, formed, for no reason other than a convenient
rhyme, from the name of the comedian and broadcaster, 1914–96
UK, 2003
Charlie Clore; Charlienoun1twenty pounds (£20) Rhyming slang
forSCORE Formed, no doubt with irony, on the name of British
financier Charles Clore (1904–79), a 1960s symbol of great wealth
UK, 1998.2a floor, the floor Rhyming slang, as above, but without
any ironyUK, 1998
charlie cocainenouncocaineUK, 1997
Charlie Congnounthe Viet Cong; a Viet CongUS, 1970
Charlie Cookenouna look Rhyming slang, formed on the name of
Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Charlie Cooke (b.1942) who was
especially well-known from the mid-1960s to the late 70sUK, 1998
charlied; charleyed; charlied up; charleyed-upadjective
cocaine-intoxicatedUK, 1999
Charlie Drakenoun1a brake Rhyming slang, formed on the name
of British comedian and recording artist Charlie Drake (1925–
2006); in the late 1950s and early 60s he was one the UK’s most
famous entertainers The plural, unusually, is Charlie DrakesUK,
1998.2a break Rhyming slang, formed as aboveUK, 1998
Charlie Howardnouna coward Rhyming slangUK, 1936
Charlie Hunt; Charlienoun1the vagina Rhyming slang forCUNT
Also variant spelling ‘Charley Hunt’, shortened to ‘Charley’UK, 1961.
2a fool Rhyming slang forCUNT UK , 1961
Charlie is my darlingused as a catchphrase by cocaine-users
From an old Scottish folk-song celebrating Bonnie Prince Charlie,
1720–88, playing onCHARLIE(cocaine)UK, 2002
Charlie Noblenounan exhaust stack or chimney Originally
nautical, referring to a ship’s smokestackUS, 1940
Charlie Potatoesnounan important manUK, 2000
Charlie Pridenouna ride in or on something Rhyming slang,
formed on the US country and western musician (b.1938)UK, 2003
Charlie ratsnounUS Army c-rations A combination of the phonetic
alphabet and an abbreviation of ‘rations’US, 1982
Charlie Ridgenouna ridge in the mountainous region west of Da
Nang at the base of Ba Na Mountain; during the Vietnam war, also
used as a jocular, generic term for any piece of landscape in
VietnamUS, 1980
Charlie rocketsnouna marine contraption in Korea, a small cart
with 144 tubes that fire 42-pound projectiles over a range of
approximately 5,200 yardsUS, 1957
Charlie Ronce; Charley Roncenouna ponce (a man who lives off
Variants are ‘Joe Ronce’ and ‘Johnnie Ronce’ Rhyming slang, frequently reduced to ‘Charlie’ but never ‘Joe’ or ‘Johnnie’UK, 1977
charliesnounthe female breasts Always in plural; of uncertain deri-vationUK, 1909
Charlie’s Angelsnounpolice women From the cult television series about three female detectives that commenced broadcasting
in 1976 and is first recorded in this sense in the same yearUS, 1976
Charlie Sheardnouna beard Rhyming slangUK, 1980
Charlie Smirke; Charley Smirkenouna fool Rhyming slang for
BERK, formed from a British champion jockey of the 1930s–50sUK, 2003
Charlie Tomnoun a communist terrorist Military slang, based on
early phonetic alphabetUK, 2001
Charlie Wheelernouna woman Rhyming slang forSHEILA, after Charles Wheeler, the Australian artist of nudesAUSTRALIA, 1953
charlie willynouna real or imagined state of sexual arousal as a result of cocaine usage CombinesCHARLIE(cocaine) withWILLY(the penis), 1999
charmverbto talk to someoneUS, 1989
Charmin’nouna timid prisoner From the advertising slogan for Charmin’™ toilet paper – ‘Please don’t squeeze the Charmin’’US, 1976
charming!used for expressing disapproval An ironic variation of the conventional sense, signalled with heavy emphasis on the first syllableUK, 1956
charmsnounthe parts of a woman’s body that are imagined in a sexual context or revealed for titillating effectUK, 1937
charm schoolnounany leadership training course Originally applied
to officer training in the militaryUS, 1971
charperverbto search for something, to seek somethingUK, 2002
charperer; charpering omee; charpering ominouna police officer FromCHARPER(to seek) andOMEE(a man)UK, 1893
charpering carseynouna police station FromCHARPERER(a policeman) andCARSEY(originally, a house)UK, 1893
charranouna person of Indian descent living in Durban A term that is acceptable in Hindu-to-Hindu conversation, but not for outsidersSOUTH AFRICA, 1970
ChartocracynicknameCanada, in which the Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives courts wide powersCANADA, 2002
charvernoun1a woman, especially when objectified sexually; an act
of heterosexual intercourse with a woman A consequent usage of the verbCHARVER(to have sex)UK, 1979.2any member of a subcultural urban adolescent group that wears hip-hop dress and jewellery (and acts older than their years)UK, 1996.3a female member of the sub-cultural urban youth grouping loosely ident-ified asCHAV A narrowing of the previous non-gender-specific senseUK, 2005
charver; charvaverb to have sex From Romany charvo (to
interfere with)UK, 1962
charvering donnanouna prostitute A combination ofCHARVER(to have sex) and ‘donna’ (a woman)UK, 2002
Chasnoun1cocaine A conventional diminutive ofCHARLIE(cocaine)
UK, 1999.2a Viet Cong; the Viet Cong Also spelt ‘chaz’ One of not
a few variants ofCHARLIE US , 1991
Chas and Daveverbto shave Rhyming slang, formed (perhaps ironically) on the names of two bearded Cockney musicians, Charles (Chas) Hodges and Dave Peacock, who have been known
as a double-act since 1975 Also used as a nounUK, 1992
chasenounin horse racing, a steeplechase raceUS, 1976
chaseverb1to vigorously pursue a person responsible for some matter and who can achieve a specific result, such as the com-pletion of a piece of work or the provision of urgently needed documents A variant is ‘chase up’UK, 1958.2in poker, to play against an opponent’s superior handUS, 1963.3to smoke any drug
An abbreviation and broadening of the meaning ofCHASE THE DRAGON(to smoke heroin)UK, 1998 < chase the bagto engage yourself in a near constant search for drugs to buy .