Rhyming slang, formed on the name of singer and television presenter Cilla Black b.1943UK , 1992 CIL spinnernounan illegal charge of dynamite to ‘catch’ fish in the water without using h
Trang 1chunk of beef; chunka; chunkernouna chief, a boss Rhyming
slang; probably no longer in useAUSTRALIA , 1942
chunk of changea lot of moneyUS , 2002
chunky; chunks; chunkiesnounhashish From the similarity in
appearance to a block of chocolateUS , 1971
chuntnounan inept, unlikeable personUS , 2004
churchnounLSDUK , 2003 < the churchthe Investigations
Department of HM Customs & ExciseUK , 2001
churchienouna religious proponent of virtueNEW ZEALAND , 1997
church is out1an opportunity has passedUS , 1966.2no hope
remains; there is nothing to be doneUS , 1966
church keynouna can and bottle opener With the advent of
pull-ring (1962), the pop-top (1963), and the stay-on tab can (1974), the
device and term all but disappearedUS , 1951
Church of Englandnounin craps, a bet that the next roll will be 1,
2, 11 or 12 A back-formation fromC AND E, itself the initials of
‘crap-eleven’, the conventional name of the betUS , 1983
church ratnouna self-serving, pious personTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1993
church trampnouna student who changes his church affiliation as
necessary to attend various church social functionsUS , 1963
church wardennouna pipe with a long stem Originally made of
clay but the name refers to the shape not the material In 2003
this type of pipe is enjoying a small revival in fashion as a result of
the films in the Lord of the Rings trilogy UK , 1863
churnverbto schedule unnecessary return visits to a doctor to
increase feesUS , 1991 < churn butterto have sex Vietnam war
usage; slang based on visual imagesUS , 1991
churn outverbto produce a large quantity of something, especially
without too much concern for the finished article’s qualityUK , 1912
chutnouna male homosexual; homosexual practices between men
Possibly fromCHUTE(the rectum),CHUTNEY(sodomy) or as a
vari-ation ofCHUFF(a homosexual male)UK , 1977
chutverbto chew chewing gumAUSTRALIA , 1945
chutenoun1the rectumUS , 1976.2the coin slot on a pinball
machineUS , 1977.3especially in Quebec, a waterfallCANADA , 1947.
4in sailing, a spinnakerUS , 1990.5a parachuteUK , 1920.6in the
usage of youthful model road racers (slot car racers), a straight
portion of trackUS , 1997 < through the chutesmuggled from
VenezuelaTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1987
chutesnouna subway (underground) systemUS , 1950
chutneynounsodomy From a similarity in colour and texture
between conventional ‘chutney’ and faecal matterUK , 1984
chutney farmer; chutney ferretnouna male homosexual
Derogatory FromCHUTNEY(sodomy)UK , 1996
chuttynounchewing gumAUSTRALIA , 1942
chutzpah; chuzpahnoungall, intestinal fortitude, extreme
self-con-fidence One of the best-known Yiddish words in the USUS , 1892
CHVnoun Council House Vermin, i.e people who, it appears, can
only afford to live in council housesIRELAND , 2003
ciacito, babyused as a farewell A catchphrase television sign-off of
Daisy Fuentes, the too-hip host on the MTV cable network in the
1990s Repeated with referential humourUS , 1994
ciao; ciaougoodbye From an Italian greeting and farewell, affected
by English-speakers as a fashionable or ironic farewellUK , 1959
’cid; cid; sidnounLSD An abbreviation ofACID US , 1986
-cide; -icidesuffixthe conventional suffix, that creates the meaning
‘murder’ or ‘murderer’, when used to make a flippant or
nonce-word In June 2003 a quick search of the Internet reveals
‘Bushicide’, ‘Saddamicide’ and ‘Iraqicide’UK , 1866
Cider CitynicknameHereford, Herefordshire; Taunton, Somerset
Both are historic centres of cider-makingUK , 1981
ciderheadnouna cider drinker Combines conventional ‘cider’ with
-HEAD(a habitual user)UK , 1998
cigarnoun1a reprimand, especially at workUS , 1960.2in circus and carnival usage, any complimentUS , 1981
cigar!correct! An extrapolation from ‘Close, but no cigar’US , 1991
cigarettenounan untalented or personality-free roller derby skater The cigarette lagged back in the packet, hence the punning term
US , 1999
cigarette holdernounthe shoulder Rhyming slangUK , 1998
cigarette papernouna packet of heroin or another drugUS , 1936
cigarette pimpnouna pimp whose lack of professional pride leads him to solicit customers for his prostitutesUS , 1972
cigarette rollnouna type of parachute malfunctionUS , 1962
cigarette swag; cigarette paper swagnouna small pack of possessions and necessary items carried by a tramp From the size and shape of the packAUSTRALIA , 1938
cigarette with no namenouna marijuana cigaretteUS , 1980
ciggernouna cigaretteAUSTRALIA , 1922
ciggy; ciggienouna cigaretteUS , 1915
ciggyboo; ciggieboonouna cigaretteUK , 1958
ciggybuttnouna cigaretteUS , 1998
Cilla Black; Cillanounthe back Rhyming slang, formed on the name of singer and television presenter Cilla Black (b.1943)UK , 1992
CIL spinnernounan illegal charge of dynamite to ‘catch’ fish in the water without using hooks or netsCANADA , 1989
cinchnoun1a certaintyUS , 1890.2in horse racing, a horse that is virtually certain to winUS , 1960
cinchersnounbrakesUS , 1942
Cincy; CincinicknameCincinatti, OhioUS , 1899
cinder dicknouna railway detectiveUS , 1925
cinderellanounthe nose Rhyming slang for ‘smeller’UK , 1992
cinderellaadjective1the colour yellow; in snooker, the yellow ball Rhyming slangUK , 1992.2cowardly Rhyming slang forYELLOW UK , 2002
Cinderella libertynouna short release from military duty and from base restrictions Cinderella had to be home by midnight, as do navy and marine troopsUS , 1961
Cinderella teamnouna sports team that wins a tournament or championship that it had little hope of winningUS , 1971
cindersnoun< take to the cinderson the railways, to quit a job
US , 1977
cinder trailnouna railway trackUS , 1962
cinnamon sticknouna penis with faeces stains after anal sexUS , 1979
cipaillenounin Quebec, a deep-dish meat pieCANADA , 1998
cipheringnounarithmeticUS , 1905
circlenounany group of people playing footbagUS , 1997
circleverb< circle a game(of a bookmaker) to limit the amount that may be bet on a given game or race when the bookmaker suspects that the game or race is fixedUS , 1978 < circle the drain1to be near deathUS , 1994.2by extension, said of a project
or enterprise that is nearing collapseUS , 1997
Circle CitynicknameLeeds, West YorkshireUK , 1981
circledadjectivemarriedUS , 1960
circle jerknoun1group male masturbation, sometimes mutual and sometimes simply a shared solitary experienceUS , 1958.2any non-productive, time-wasting exerciseUS , 1973.3a series of exit consoles
on websites that link back on themselves, creating an infinite loop
US , 2004
circle-jerkverbto participate in group male masturbationUS , 1971
Circle Knounthe recreational drug ketamine A punning allusion to
a US national chain of convenience storesUS , 1998
circle worknounthe driving of a car in tight circles to form circular tracks on the groundAUSTRALIA , 1996
circs
Trang 2circuitnouna series of homosexual parties held each year around
the US, with participants flying from city to city for the festivities
US , 1990s
circuit girlnouna travelling prostituteUS , 2002
circuit queennouna male homosexual who follows the circuit from
party to partyUS , 1994
circular filenouna wastebasketUS , 1947
circulationnountrafficCANADA , 2001
circusnoun1sexual behaviour that is public, fetishistic or bothUS , 1878.
2a state of affairs; a noisy and confused institution, place, scene or
assemblageUS , 1899.3a temporary company of people (often moving
from place to place), engaged in the same endeavour, e.g lawn
tennis, motor racing, etc A specialisation ofCIRCUS(an assemblage)
UK , 1958.4a group of aircraft engaged in displays of skilful flying
Military originsUK , 1916.5feigned spasms by a drug addict to
convince a doctor to prescribe a narcoticUS , 1949
circus bees; circus squirrelsnounbody liceUS , 1981
circus cowboynouna youthful, attractive homosexual male
prostitute A matching of the USMIDNIGHT COWBOYwith London
geographyUK , 1987
circus simpleadjectiveobsessed with the circusUS , 1975
circus tentnounan apartment or house where customers pay to
view sexual exhibitionsUS , 1959
cissyadjectiveeffeminate From ‘sister’CANADA , 1915
citizennoun1an ordinary person outside a gang or clubUS , 2000.2a
fellow member of a youth gangUS , 1953.3a prisoner who has
earned the respect of other prisonersUS , 1989
citsnoun< the citsMinneapolis and St Paul, MinnesotaUS , 1966
Citynoun< The CitySan Francisco, California Uniformly used by
northern Californians, who shun’FRISCO US , 1955
-citysuffixa good example of the precedent nounUS , 1930
city blocknounin horse racing, a large margin of victory or a large
leadUS , 1951
city collegenouna jail, especially the New York City jailUK , 1796
city flyernouna small truck used for local deliveriesUS , 1971
city Jakenouna person sophisticated in urban waysUS , 1966
city kittynouna local police officialUS , 1976
city lightnounthe low-intensity setting on headlightsUS , 1950
city mousenounin Antarctica, a member of support personnel who
never leaves McMurdo StationANTARCTICA , 2003
city of the newly-wed and nearly-deadnicknameVictoria, British
ColumbiaCANADA , 1989
city slickernouna smoothly persuasive rogue of a type
stereotypically associated with city life; a sophisticated city-dweller
The second sense is derogatoryUS , 1924
city tittiesnounsmall bumps delineating lanes on motorways and
roadsUS , 1992
city totenouna coat Rhyming slang, formed on the name of a
bookmaking firmUK , 1998
civiliannoun1anyone who is not a member of the group with
which the speaker identifies, especially a motocyle gangUS , 1946.
2a non-regular officerUS , 1947.3in twelve-step recovery
programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous, a person who is not
involved in and does not need to be involved in a recovery
programmeUS , 1998
civil serpentnounused as a humorous synonym for ‘civil servant’
US , 1980
civviesnoun1civilian clothes Military usageUK , 1889.2manufactured
cigarettes Prison slang, remembering the pleasures of being a
CIVVY(a civilian) and a gentle play onCIGGY; CIGGIES UK , 1996
civvynouna member of the general public, not a member of the
uniformed services: military, police, prison, fire, etc Abbreviated
from ‘civilian’UK , 1895
civvyadjectivecivilian Military useUK , 1915
civvy street
CJnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dustUS , 1994
C-jamnouncocaineUS , 1986
c-jamenouncocaineUS , 1968
C-jointnouna place where cocaine is soldUS , 2002
CJ’snouna pair of men’s close-fitting and revealing nylon swimming trunks Standing forCOCK JOCKS AUSTRALIA , 2003
CKnoun1Calvin Klein™ clothing Favoured by members of the Bloods youth gang, to whom the initials also stand for ‘Crip Killer’
US , 2000.2a mixture of cocaine and the recreational drug ketamine
US , 1995.3cocaineUS , 1971.4a man who feels that he has to disparage other men in front of women An abbreviation of
COCK-KNOCKER US , 2002
CK1nouna mixture of nine parts cocaine and one part the rec-reational drug ketamine The brand name of a popular fragrance
by Calvin KleinUK , 2001
clackverbto rattle the dice when switching altered dice in or out of
a game; always inadvertent and usually disastrous to the cheatUS , 1950
clackernoun1the backside; the anus Probably from ‘clacker’ a ratcheted noise-making device, alluding to farting Not a perversion of ‘cloaca’AUSTRALIA , 1960.2a young woman; a group of young women; young women in general MilitaryUK , 1984.3a dollarUS , 1918.4a triggering device for claymore minesUS , 1990
clackersnounthe teeth; false teethUS , 1950
clacker valvenounthe female genitaliaUK , 2003
clagnounexcreta, faeces; rubbishUK , 2003
claggyadjectiveunpleasantly bedaubed with excreta FromCLAG UK , 2003
clag nutnouna small lump of excreta or toilet paper that clings to the anal hair FromCLAG(faeces)UK , 2003
claimverb1to arrest someoneUK , 1970.2to challenge someone to a fightIRELAND , 1989
claimingnouna method of casino cheating, in which a cheat claims that a slot machine malfunctioned and they received no payment
or inadequate payment from a winUS , 1985
Claire Raynersnountrainers (footwear) Based on the name of Claire Rayner, popular agony aunt and novelistUK , 1997
clamnoun1the vaginaUS , 1916.2the anusUS , 1983.3the mouthUS , 1825.
4a dollarUS , 1886.5a betting chip in a poker gameUS , 1988.6in a musical performance, a missed cue or an off-key noteUS , 1955
clam; clam upverbto stop talkingUS , 1916
clambakenouna session in which jazz musicians collectively improvise FromCLAM(a missed note)US , 1937
clam damnouna condom CombinesCLAM(the vagina) with ‘dam’ (a barrier)US , 1990s
clam-diggersnouncalf-length trousers The suggestion is that the trousers are an appropriate length for digging for clams in mud flatsUS , 1947
clam gunnouna shovel or other digging implementUS , 1927
clampverb< clamp it toto have sexUS , 1963
clam patchnounthe passenger seat on a motorcyle Biker (motorcyle) slang, coarsely referencing women asCLAM(the vagina)
US , 2003
clampersnounthe teethUS , 1970
clamp it!be quiet!UK: SCOTLAND , 1988
clampsnounhandcuffsUS , 1949
clamsnounmoneyAUSTRALIA , 1992
clam-shelledadjective< get clam-shelledto be engulfed by a wave while surfingUS , 1991
clam squirtnounvaginal secretionsUS , 1974
Clannoun< the Clana group of performers and friends surrounding Frank Sinatra in the 1950s and 60s Better known as
Trang 3clangernoun1an error, a mistakeUK , 1957.2a cowardAUSTRALIA , 1953.
3in poker, a drawn card that does nothing to improve your hand
Also known as a ‘clang’US , 1996
clangeroonouna memorably bad misjudgement An intensification
ofCLANGER(an error) with the suffix-EROO; mainly theatrical in use
UK , 1957
clangersnountesticlesUK , 1961
clanknounan armoured tankUS , 1982
clankverb1to be nervousUS , 1955.2to reject a romantic overture or
partnerUS , 1959
clank clank!used in response to an Australian’s claim of ancestry
that goes back to the days of the early settlers Echoic of
transported prisoners’ chainsAUSTRALIA , 1968
clanked upadjectiveanxious, nervousUS , 1953
clanksnoun delirium tremens US , 1980
clapnoun gonorrhoea From old French clapoir (a sore caused by
venereal disease); the term was normal register for centuries,
slipping into colloquial or slang in mid-C19UK , 1587
clapverbto kill someoneUS , 2002 < clap beefto have sex with a
womanJAMAICA , 1980 < clap eyes onto see someone or
somethingUK , 1838
clap checkernouna member of the Medical Corps Vietnam war
usage, identifying medics by the least glorious of their dutiesUS ,
1991
clap clinicnouna medical pratice that treats all sexually transmitted
diseaseUS , 1976
clapped-out; clappedadjective1unserviceable as a result of use or
neglectUK , 1946.2(of persons) exhausted, no longer effectiveUK , 1946
clappersnounthe testicles Derives from the clapper of a bell, and is
almost always in the pluralUK , 1959 < like the clappers; like
the clappers of hell; like the clappers of fuckvery fast; very
hard Possibly rhyming slang for ‘clappers of a bell’, ‘hell’UK , 1948
clappyadjectiveinfected with a sexually transmitted infection,
especially gonorrhoeaUS , 1937
clapsnoungonorrhoea Largely black usageUS , 1965
clap shacknouna clinic or hospital ward where sexually transmitted
infections are treatedUS , 1952
clap sticksnounin the television and film industries, the clapboard
used for synchronising sound and pictureUS , 1987
claptrapnoun1nonsense, rubbish From the conventional sense
(language designed to win applause)UK , 1915.2a brothel with a
high incidence of sexually transmitted infectionsUS , 1987
clarabellenountetrahydrocannabinal (THC), the psychoactive
ingredient in marijuanaUS , 1971
Clarencenicknamea cross-eyed person From Clarence, a cross-eyed
lion that out-acted the human cast in BBC television’s Daktari,
1966–69UK: SCOTLAND , 1988
claretnounblood Conventional claret is a fortified Bordeaux red
wine; the visual connection is obviousUK , 1604
Clarissenounused as a term of address among male homosexuals
US , 1965
claritynounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUS ,
1989
Clark Gablenouna table Rhyming slang, formed on the name of
US film actor Clark Gable, 1901–60UK , 1992
Clark Kentadjectivehomosexual Rhyming slang forBENT, formed
from the ‘secret identity’ of SupermanUK , 2003
clartnoun1used as a term of friendly address Most likely from UK
blackBLOODCLAATorPUSSYCLAAT(a contemptible person) into wider
youth usageUK , 2004.2excrement; also as a euphemism for all
senses of ‘shit’ From Scottish and dialect clarty (sticky with dirt;
sticky; dirty) Also used in the pluralUK , 1977
clarynouna clarinetUS , 1942 8see:JULIAN CLARY
classnounelegant style or behaviour, refined taste, a state of
classverbto attend a classUS , 2002
class A’snoun1cocaine, heroin and other drugs that are legally categorised as Class A narcoticsUK , 1999.2in the US Army, the dress uniformUS , 1968
classicadjective1excellentUS , 1964.2handsome, well-dressedUS , 1998
classic sixnouna common layout of an apartment in Manhattan – two bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen and small maid’s roomUS , 2002
class up the assnouna superlative styleUS , 1972
classyadjectiveof superior quality; stylish; havingCLASS UK , 1891
classy chassisnounan attractive female bodyUS , 1955
clatnouna dirty personUK: SCOTLAND , 1985
clatchnounyour personal belongingsANTARCTICA , 1989
clatterverbto smack someone, to hit someone, to beat someone
upUK , 1979
clattersnouna smacking FromCLATTER(to smack)UK , 1979
’clavaed upadjective used when a balaclava helmet is worn UK , 2000
Clavennounsomeone who purports to know everything From the
Cliff Claven character on the television comedy Cheers US , 1991
clawnouna pickpocketUS , 1914
clawverbto pick a glass up from its topUS , 1998 < claw off a lee shoreto face serious difficulties in a task or project Nautical originsUS , 1963
claynoun1a claymore mineUS , 1994.2tetrahydrocannabinal (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuanaUS , 1971.3hashishUS , 1992
clay eaternouna poor rural dwellerUS , 1841
clay pigeonnouna person who is easily victimisedUS , 1972
Clayton’snounany substitute for a desired thingNEW ZEALAND , 2002
Clayton’sadjectivefalse, pretend, faux From the proprietary name of
a substitute alcoholic drink which was widely advertised as ‘the drink you have when you’re not having a drink’AUSTRALIA , 1984
cleanverb1by gambling, fraud or theft, to take all of someone’s money A variant is ‘clean out’UK , 1812.2to remove seeds, stems and foreign matter from marijuana leavesUS , 1967.3to rid yourself
of altered dice, altered cards or any evidence of cheatingUS , 1950.
4in mountain biking, to succeed in negotiating an obstacle or set
of obstacles without accidentUS , 1996 < clean it upto clarify or explain somethingUS , 1942 < clean out the kitchen; clean up the kitchento perform oral sex on a womanUS , 1941 < clean road for monkey to runto labour for someone else’s benefit
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003 < clean someone’s bonesto thrash or defeat someone soundly in a fightUS , 1963 < clean someone’s clock1to severely defeat someone, physically or in a competition
US , 1959.2in trucking, to pass another vehicle, especially another truck, at high speedUS , 1971 < clean the booksto induce a criminal to confess to a series of unsolved crimesUS , 1984.
< clean the cage outto perform oral sex on a womanUK , 2002.
< clean the clockon the railways, to make an emergency stop
An allusion to the air gauge that drops to zero in an emergency stopUS , 1977 < clean the kitchento lick your sex-partner’s anus
UK , 2002 < clean the pipesto ejaculate; to masturbateUS , 1998.
< clean the tablein pool, to shoot all of the remaining balls in one turnUS , 1989 < clean the tube(of a male) to masturbate Using ‘tube’ to mean ‘the penis’US , 2001 < clean up the calendar(used of the police) to extract from a criminal confessions clearing up a number of crimes, regardless of his actual guilt, in exchange for lenient treatment on another crime
US , 1992
cleanadjective1drug-freeUS , 1949.2unarmedUS , 1952.3innocent; free
of suspicion; without a trace of guilt; without a criminal recordUS ,
1925.4not subject to police surveillanceUS , 2003.5(used of an illegal betting operation) unafraid of police intervention because of bribes paid to the policeUS , 1951.6excellent, fashionable, stylishUS ,
1963.7(used of a theatrical performance) completely sold outUS ,
1973.8in circus and carnival usage, without valueUS , 1981.9(of an object ball in pool) directly into the pocket without touching a cushion or another ball
Trang 4cleanadverbcompletely as in ‘He got clean away’ or ‘I clean forget’
UK , 1999
clean and readyadjectiveprepared; dressed nicelyUS , 1980
cleanernoun1in the used car business, a customer who does not
have a car to trade inUS , 1956.2a hired killerUS , 2000.3in circus
and carnival usage, the person who retrieves money from paid
players who have been allowed to win a concession game to drum
up businessUS , 1981
cleanersnoun< take someone to the cleaners1to thrash
someoneUK , 1976.2to thoroughly swindle or rob someoneUS , 1907.
3to forcibly strip someoneUK , 1996
clean freaknouna person who is obsessed with cleanlinessUS , 1967
cleaning crewnounthe members of a criminal enterprise who rid
the crime scene of possible evidence and at times any bodies
resulting from the crimeUS , 1997
cleaning kitnounthe equipment needed to rid a crime scene of
possible evidenceUS , 1997
clean outverbto thrash someoneUS , 1862
clean peelernounto a surfer, a perfect waveUS , 1997
clean sheetsnouna bed or cot Vietnam war usageUS , 1991
cleanskinnoun1a person without a criminal record Originally
applied to an unbranded sheepAUSTRALIA , 1943.2a novice From the
conventional sense (an unbranded stock animal)AUSTRALIA , 1907.3a
person of integrity, especially in a political context From the sense
of ‘a person without a police record’AUSTRALIA , 1942.4in horse
racing, a jockey who has never been disqualified in a race
AUSTRALIA , 1989
cleansleevenouna low-ranking military recriutUS , 1909
clean-the-kitchennouncorned beef hashUS , 1946
clean timenounthe amount of time that has passed since a
prisoner was last in troubleUS , 1989
clean-upnoun1a good alibiUS , 1990.2a wave that breaks seaward of
most surfers, causing them to lose their boards and thus cleaning
up the areaUS , 1964
clean upverbto make a profit, especially a big oneUS , 1831
cleanup teamnounthe members of a criminal enterprise who rid a
crime scene of any possible evidence and at times bodies resulting
from the crimeUS , 1997
clean wheelsnouna motor vehicle to be used in crime that has
never been previously stolen or come under prior police suspicion
in any wayUK , 1977
clean worksnouna new needle and syringe A concept and term
new in the age of AIDSUS , 1993
clearnoun< in the clearwith no evidence against you; therefore,
innocent or apparently soUK , 1934
clearverbto steal somethingUK , 1998 < clear the channelto stop
talkingUS , 1962 < clear your tubesto ejaculate; to masturbate
AUSTRALIA , 1985
clear as mudadjectiveanything but clear; confusedUK , 1842
clearinghousenounan illegal lottery More commonly known as a
NUMBERSgameUS , 1951
Clear Lakenounmethamphetamine purportedly manufactured in
the Clear Lake region of northern CaliforniaUS , 1989
clear lightnouna stage in some LSD experiences in which the user
feels receptive to enlightmentUS , 1971
clearly!I agree!US , 2002
clear offverbto depart Often used as an imperativeUK , 1816
clearskinnounused as a variation of all senses of ‘cleanskin’
AUSTRALIA , 1943
clear-skinnedadjectivewith a light complexionBARBADOS , 1965
clefverbto compose a tune or songUS , 1948
Clemnounin the circus or carnival, a fight with customersUS , 1891
Clement Freudnouna haemorrhoid Rhyming slang, formed from
Freud (b.1924), father ofEMMA FREUDwhose name has a synonymous purposeUK , 2003
clemonounexecutive clemency granted to a convicted prisonerUS , 1960
clennedaknounin Quebec, a child’s taffy cone (a sweet confection)
CANADA , 1998
clerknounin American casinos, an exceptionally skilled dealerUS , 1980
clerks and jerksnounclerical support personnel and officers Vietnam war usage The high degree of cynicism about officers found in enlisted men was even more intense in VietnamUS , 1975
cleveradjective< damned clever these Chinese; dead clever these Chinese; clever chaps these Chinesea catchphrase used as a comment upon an explanation given about some device
or machine, especially if the explanation has not been understood A back-handed tribute to Chinese ingenuityUS , 1955
clever bollocksnouna clever personUK , 2001
clever clogsnouna clever person A variation of ‘clever boots’UK , 1866
clever creepnouna forensic chemist Police useUK , 1971
clever dicknoun1a clever, rather too clever, person Derisive or sarcastic in useUK , 1887.2a brick Rhyming slangUK , 1992
clever Dickienouna bricklayer Rhyming slang for ‘brickie’, extended fromCLEVER DICK(a brick)UK , 1992
clever drawersnouna knowledgable person DisparagingUK , 1966
clevergutsnouna clever person Childish and sarcasticUK , 1959
cleverkinsnouna clever personUK , 1937
cleverlyadverb(used of a racehorse winning a race) easilyUS , 1960
clever Mikenouna bicycle Rhyming slang for ‘bike’UK , 1961
clever sticksnouna clever person A variation on the theme of
‘clever boots’; often used as a juvenile tauntUK , 1946
clevienounthe vaginaUK , 2002
clew upverbto hide, to go into hiding Of naval originsUK , 1962
clicknoun1a gang A corrupted spelling of ‘clique’US , 1879.2a kilometer Also spelt ‘klick’ or ‘klik’ Vietnam war usageUS , 1962
clickverb1to have a successful encounter with a hitherto unknown member of the opposite sexUK , 1937.2to get along instantly and famouslyUK , 1915.3to suddenly understand something; to suddenly make sense in contextUK , 1939.4to perform at the right moment as needed by a friendUS , 1989.5to enjoy an amorous relationshipIRELAND , 2003.6of a woman, to become pregnant (or in Australia, of a cow)UK , 1937.7in the theatre or other forms of entertainment, to be a successUS , 1926.8in horse racing, to win a raceUS , 1951.9to be well acceptedUS , 1982.10to be selected or accepted for a duty or a fate; to be killed A military colloquialism
UK , 1917
clickernoun1crack cocaine mixed with phencyclidine, the rec-reational drug known as PCP or angel dustUS , 1994.2a brickUS ,
1989.3in circus and carnival usage, a free passUS , 1981
clickersnounfalse teethUS , 1950
clicksnounapproval; applauseUS , 1997
clicks and mortar; C&Mnouna business that combines trading from traditonal business premises with Internet-based commerce
A play on ‘bricks and mortar’, a traditional businessUS , 1999
clientisedadjectivehaving come to a point of view that is in sympathy with a client’s or subject’s outlook or situationUK , 2003
Cliffienouna student or alumna of Radcliffe College, Harvard UniversityUS , 1961
C lightnounin the pornography industry, a light used to illuminate the genitals of the performers ‘C’ is inCUNT US , 1991
climaxnoun1amyl nitrite Because of the orgasm-enhancing charac-teristics of the drugUS , 1992.2heroinUK , 1998
climbnoun1cat burglaryUK , 1936.2a marijuana cigarette A climb is necessary if you wish to getHIGH(intoxicated)US , 1946
climbverb< climb the wooden hill; climb the wooden hill to Bedfordshireto go upstairs to bed A combination ofWOODEN
Trang 5climbing trees to get away from itused as a catchphrase reply
to the question ‘getting any (sexual satisfaction)?’AUSTRALIA , 1984
climb intoverbto criticise someone, to launch a verbal attack on
someoneNEW ZEALAND , 1993
climeynouna British social ‘climber’ in the US, especially New York
A contraction of ‘climber’ andLIMEY(a Briton)UK , 1999
clinchnouna prolonged or passionate embraceUS , 1901
clinchverbin bird-watching circles, to identify a rare birdUK , 1977
clingverb< cling to the belt(used of South Vietnamese troops)
to stay close to US troopsUS , 1988
clinicnoun1a poker game characterised by over-analysis of each
handUS , 1988.2a poker game played by doctorsUS , 1988
clinknouna jail; a police station Originally an infamous prison in
Southwark, London, and then by the mid-C19 applied to any jail,
prison or cellUK , 1785
clinkernoun1in the entertainment industry, a failureUS , 1961.2a
small piece of faeces clinging to anal hairsUK , 1904.3a wrong note
in a musical performanceUS , 1937.4a mistakeUS , 1937.5a piece of
broken-up ice on the waterCANADA , 2001
clinkeroonouna jail or prisonUS , 1992
clinkersnoun1handcuffsUS , 1949.2leg irons; foot shacklesUK , 1699
clipnoun1a rate of speed, as in ‘a fair old clip’UK , 1867.2an
occurrence or instanceUS , 1979.3a blowUK , 1830.4a swindle or
other act of dishonest trickeryUS , 1941.5a string of bottles
containing doses of crack cocaineUS , 1992.6a vasectomyUS , 1993.
7in the circus or carnival, a patronUS , 1980
clipverb1to steal something; to swindle someone; to win
something, especially through cheatingUS , 1922.2to kill someone,
especially by gunshotUS , 1928.3to hit someoneUS , 1855 < clip a
steamerto defecateUS , 2003
clip and cleanadverbcompletelyUS , 1975
clip-a-ninesnouna 9 mm ammunition clipUS , 2001
clip girlnounan attractive woman employed in a clip joint to
encourage customers to part with their money on the promise of
(sexual) services to be deliveredUK , 2001
clip joint; clip divenouna bar, gambling house or other business
where customers are routinely cheatedUS , 1932
clip offverb(used of ammunition) to explode because of heat from
a surrounding fireUS , 1990
clipped dicknouna Jewish person DerogatoryUS , 1960
clippernoun1a thiefUS , 1954.2a person who collects film clips,
usually of a single subjectUS , 1978.3a disposable cigarette lighter A
generic from the Clipper™ brandUK , 1996
Clipper Clubnounthe abstract brotherhood of men who have
undergone a vasectomyUS , 1995
clippie; clippynoun1a female conductor on a bus or train From
clipping ticketsUK , 1941.2an employee who checks and clips tickets
at railway stationsAUSTRALIA , 1953
clippingnouna robbery facilitated by posing as a prostitute and
knocking out the clients with sleeping pillsUK , 1977
cliquenouna youth gang A nuance of the conventional senseUK ,
2003
clique upverbto form small groupsUS , 1972
clitnoun1the clitorisUS , 1958.2a despicable person A figurative
application, similar toPRICK UK , 1999
clithoppernouna promiscuous lesbianUS , 1982
clit lit; cliteraturenoungood quality erotica for women Formed
fromCLIT(the clitoris) and ‘lit’ (literature)US , 1999
clitorisnounany popular model of car Motor trade slang Explained
as ‘every cunt has one’ by a car salesmanUK , 1977
clit ringnouna piece of jewellery for a clitoral piercing As body
piercing became more popular through the 1990s this
prosaically-named ornamentation, based on an abbreviation of ‘clitoris’
became a familiar possibility
clit sticknouna small vibrating sex-aid designed for clitoral stimu-lation An abbreviation of ‘clitoris’ combined with the lipstick-sized vibrator’s shapeUK , 2002
clit teasenouna heterosexual woman who socialises with lesbians without revealing that she is heterosexualUS , 2002
clitternoun a slap with the open hand From the Irish cliotar
IRELAND , 2000
clittythe clitorisUK , 1866
clitty clampnouna device that is attached to a clitoris and is designed to cause discomfort or pain in the cause of sexual stimu-lationUK , 1995
clitwobblenouna woman’s desire for sexUK , 1998
cloakverbto send an electronic message in a manner that disguises the true origin of the messageUS , 1997
cloak-and-daggeradjectivevery secret; pertaining to espionageUS , 1944
clobbernounclothes, especially any outfit of good or noticeable
quality Probably Yiddish klbr, but ‘to clobber’ is ‘toCLOUT’ (‘to hit’ and may also be ‘clothing’)UK , 1879
clobberverb1to strike someone forcefullyUS , 1944.2to criticise someone or something harshlyUK , 1956.3in computing, to overwrite a programUS , 1991.4to impose an onerous duty or unwelcome burden on someone Usually before ‘with’; for example, ‘I got clobbered with finishing the weeding’UK , 1984
clobberedadjectivedrunkUS , 1951
clobbering machinenounthe notional machine that creates conformityNEW ZEALAND , 1998
clocknoun1a milometer (odometer)UK , 1967.2a speedometerUK ,
1942.3a taxi meter Often in the enquiry ‘How much is on the clock?’UK , 1930.4an air gauge used with air brakesUS , 1946.5a watch In conventional use from 1559, in slang use since late C19;
noted by the Oxford English Dictionary as obsolete ‘except in
modern slang’UK , 1961.6the faceUK , 1918.7a punch to the face From the verbNEW ZEALAND , 1959.8a look From the verbUK , 2000.
9a one-year prison sentenceAUSTRALIA , 1941.10a prisoner who is at the beginning of their sentenceUS , 1962.11bravery, courageUS , 1950
clockverb1to catch sight of or notice someone or something; to watch someone or somethingUS , 1929.2to watch someone patiently; especially to follow someone with the purpose of discovering the details of a betUK , 1958.3to keep track of a slot machine in an effort to make an educated guess as to when it will pay offUS , 1984.4to keep track of the money involved in a game or
an enterpriseUS , 1977.5to register on the speedometer; to attain a particular speed FromCLOCK(a speedometer)UK , 1892.6to figure something out, to evaluate somethingUS , 1961.7to earn something
US , 1989.8to punch, to strike with the fist Perhaps, originally, ‘to hit in theCLOCK’ (the face)UK , 1932.9to sell drugs on the streetUS ,
1992.10to wind back the mileometer (odometer) of a vehicle to increase its sale valueUS , 1980.11to identify After the senses to see and to watchUK , 2005 < clock into visit your boyfriend or girlfriend only out of a sense of dutyUS , 2004 < clock in the green roomwhile surfing, to take a long ride inside the hollow of
a breaking waveUS , 1991 < clock the actionto understand what
is happening and what is being saidUS , 1962
clock and houseverbto see and remember suspects’ faces, and then follow them to their home FromCLOCK(to see; to watch and follow)UK , 1977
clockernoun1a street drug dealer, especially of crack cocaineUS ,
1992.2a watchman or guard, especially one who punches a time clock while making his roundsUS , 1949.3an onlookerUS , 1976
clockingnouna fraudulent act of turning back a vehicle’s mileometer (odometer) From the verbCLOCK UK , 1974
clock outverbto act in a psychotic mannerUS , 1989
clock punchernounan employee whose working day is measured
by a time-clock A worker must ‘punch in’ and ‘punch out’ at a time-clockUS , 1932
clock watchernoun1an employee who takes care to work only for
as long and as hard as is minimally requiredUK , 1911.2a person
Trang 6clock watchingnounthe act of working no harder, or for no longer,
than is minimally requiredUK , 1942
clockweightsnounthe testicles From the workings of a longcase
clockUK , 2003
clockwork alongverbto go smoothly, ’to go like clockwork’UK , 1990s
clockworksnounthe brainUS , 1947
clockynounsudden waving arm movements of a surfer trying to get
his balanceUS , 1991
clodnouna stupid personUK , 1605
clodbusternouna farmerUS , 1950
cloddynouna prison officerUK , 1996
clodgenounthe vaginaUK , 2001
clodhoppernoun1a person with big feet; big feet or big shoes
Evoking the image of a ploughman with large, coarse bootsUK ,
1836.2a clumsy personUK , 1824.3a police officer Rhyming slang
forCOPPER; sometimes shortened to ‘clod’UK , 1998.4a copper coin,
a penny Rhyming slang for ‘copper’ Sometimes shortened to
‘clod’UK , 1925
clogverbto take a picture with a mobile phone and upload it to a
website A contraction of ‘camera’ and ‘log’US , 2003
clog downadverbof driving, very fast or accelerating Military; from
the sense of putting your foot down on an accelerator pedalUK ,
1984
cloggernouna footballer who has a reputation for fouling when
tackling an opponentUK , 1970
cloggienoun1a clog dancer Popularised in the late 1960s by The
Cloggies, a cartoon strip about a clog dancing team, written and
drawn by Bill TidyUK , 1969.2a Dutch person Derogatory Originally
military usage, from the extensive use of clogs as a symbol of
Netherlands’ folk-culture Also variant ‘clog head’UK , 1987
cloggynounthe Dutch language From the extensive use of clogs as
a symbol of the Netherlands’ folk-cultureUK , 1984
clompverbto walk in a noisy and demonstrative fashionUK , 1829
clonenoun1a highly stylised, fashion-conscious homosexual male
US , 1979.2a personal computer that closely duplicates the functions
and operations of a leading brandUS , 1991.3a car with an identity
that has been fraudulently duplicated from a legitimately
registered vehicleUK , 2005
cloneverb1to reconfigure a stolen mobile phone so that an existing
subscriber is charged for all callsUS , 1994.2to duplicate the detailed
identity of one car onto anotherUK , 2005
clonkverbto hit someoneUK , 1943
clonked; clonked outadjectiveof a mechanical device, not working
A teenagers’ variation ofCONKED;CONKED OUT UK , 1982
closeverb< close the back doorin bombing missions, to
provide rear guard protection for the bombersUS , 1990 < close
the doorin motor racing, to pass another car and then pull
sharply in front of it to minimise its chances of passing youUS , 1965
closeadjectiveskilledUS , 1959
close but no cigar; no cigaradverbincorrect From carnival games
giving cigars as prizesUS , 1986
close callnouna near thing, a narrow escapeUS , 1881
closedadjectivesubject to strict law enforcement; unfriendly to
criminal enterprisesUS , 1969
closed doornouna surf condition where waves are breaking
simul-taneously all along a beach, creating no shoulder to rideUS , 1963
closed for maintenanceadjectivein the bleed period of the
menstrual cycleUS , 2000
closed gamenouna private gambling game, especially poker, usually
for high stakesUS , 1992
close outverb(of waves) to become unsuitable for surfing, either
because of their size or their breaking patternUS , 1991
closernounin a sales team, the individual responsible for the final
closetnouna person who is secretly homosexualUK , 2001 < in the closethidden, not avowed Almost always applied to homosexu-alityUS , 1967 < on the closet(of a prisoner and prison officer) to
be handcuffed together but separated by a long chain that is
intended to reduce embarrassment when using the water closet
UK , 2000 < out of the closetavowed, openUS , 1971
closetadjectivehidden, not admitted Most often but not always, and not first, used in conjunction with homosexualityUS , 1952
close-talkernouna person who speaks to others without respecting the usual cultural protocols on not standing too close to someone you are talking to A term popularised on Jerry Seinfeld’s television programme in an episode called ‘The Raincoat Party’ first aired on 28th April 1994US , 1994
closet casenoun1a person who is secretly homosexualUS , 1969.
2someone to be ashamed of Teen slang, without any suggestion
of the homosexuality later associated with the termUS , 1954.3a potential romantic interest whom you are keeping away from your friendsUS , 1955
closet dykenouna lesbian who conceals her sexual orientationUS , 1967
closetedadjectiveliving with an unrevealed fact, especially homo-sexualityUS , 1992
close to the dooradjectiveabout to be released from prisonUS , 1989
close to the skinadjectivelacking subcutaneous fatUS , 1984
closet queennouna male homosexual who conceals his sexual orientationUS , 1957
close worknounsexual activityUS , 1957
clotnouna doltUK , 1632
clothnoun< down to the cloth(used of a player in a game of poker) almost out of moneyUS , 1982
cloth-earedadjectivedeafUK , 1965
cloth-earsnouna person with a poor sense of hearing; a person affecting deafness; a condition of convenient deafness From the ear-flaps on certain headgearUK , 1912
clothesnoun1in horse racing, a horse blanketUS , 1951.2a plainclothes police officer or divisionUS , 1971
clotheshorsenouna person who pays a great deal of attention to fashions and the clothing they wearUS , 1850
clotheslinenounthe line used to lead a glider plane into the airUS , 1985
clothes-pegnoun1the leg Rhyming slang, usually in pluralUK , 1931.
2an egg Rhyming slangUK , 1961
clothes queennouna homosexual man who is drawn to ostentatious, flamboyant clothingUS , 1963
clotted creamnouna student at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester A jocular representation of a thick and rich eliteUK , 2004
clottyadjectiveslovenly, untidyIRELAND , 2000
cloudnoun1crack cocaine From the thick white smoke produced when smokedUS , 1994.2the intoxication from smoking freebase or crack cocaineUS , 1992
cloudhoppernounan air pilot, especially in the bushCANADA , 1959
cloud ninenoun1a condition of perfect happiness, euphoria Probably derives as a variation ofCLOUD SEVEN; possibly from US weather forecasting terminology which divides clouds into nine types, the highest being number nine; or, less likely, a spiritual possibility: of the ten names for Buddha, the ninth is ‘enlightened
one’ It is probable that the US radio adventure series Johnny
Dollar, 1949–62, popularised the term’s usage US , 1935.2MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy From the blissed-out stateUK , 2003.3crack cocaineUS , 1994
cloud sevennouna condition of perfect happiness, euphoria Derives, possibly, from ‘seventh heaven’ Still current butCLOUD NINEattracts more attentionUS , 1956
cloutnoun1a heavy blow Conventional from about 1400, it has slipped into dialect and colloquial use since the C18UK , 2003.
Trang 7cloutverb1to hit a person with a heavy blow of your hand.
Conventional from early C14, by late C19 had slipped into dialect
and colloquial useUK , 2000.2to rob or steal somethingUK , 1708.3to
fail to bet a debtAUSTRALIA , 1989.4to arrest someoneUS , 1992
clouternouna thief who steals from parked carsUS , 1993
cloutingnounthe palming of cardsAUSTRALIA , 1953
clovernounmoneyUS , 1951
clownnoun1a fool, an incompetent personUS , 1898.2in carnival
usage, a local police officerUS , 1929.3a railway pointsman or yard
brakemanUS , 1946
clown alleynounon a circus lot, the area of tents where performers,
especially clowns, dress and liveUS , 1956
clown bookienouna bookmaker who operates in carnivalsAUSTRALIA ,
1989
clown wagonnouna brakevan (caboose)US , 1931
clubnoun1in pool, a heavier-than-usual cue stickUS , 1990.2in
trucking, a dilapidated trailerUS , 1971 < in the clubpregnant A
shortening ofIN THE PUDDING CLUB UK , 1890 < put someone in
the clubto make someone pregnantUK , 1943
clubverbto spend an evening in a nightclub or several nightclubs
US , 1964
clubbernouna patron of nightclubsUS , 2003
clubbers’ coldnouna runny nose, as a side-effect of drug useUK ,
1999
clubbienoun a beach lifeguard An abbreviation of ‘life-saving club’
AUSTRALIA , 1977
club-crawlverbto move as a group of friends from one nightclub to
anotherUS , 1994
Club Fednouna minimum-security, well-equipped federal prison
housing white-collar criminals, especially the federal prison camp
in Lompoc, California A punning reference to Club Med, a group
of holiday resortsUS , 1985
club-fightverbto engage in youth gang warfareUS , 1949
club-hopverbto move from one nightclub to another, especially
with a group of friendsUS , 1997
clubhouse lawyernounan athlete who is quick to criticise his
team’s management when presented with an audience of fellow
playersUS , 1937
club kidnouna fashionable, attractive young person paid to attend a
nightclub in the hope of attracting othersUS , 1995
clublandnounan area of London bounded by and mainly
comprising St James’s Street and Pall Mall; subsequently, with the
coming of nightclubs and club culture, any area where a number
of clubs are to be foundUK , 1885
club sandwichnounsex involving three people at once Surviving in
the shortened form of a simple ‘sandwich’US , 1970
club widownouna woman whose husband’s pursuits at a country
club or other club often leave her at home aloneUS , 1928
clubzinenouna single-interest fan magazine published by a fan club
US , 1982
clucknoun1a gullible foolUS , 1906.2a crack cocaine userUS , 1994.
3counterfeit moneyUS , 1949
cluckverbto withraw from any drug Perhaps this derives from a
confused attempt at the sound of aCOLD TURKEY(the withdrawal
period and its symptoms)UK , 1996
cluck and gruntnounham and eggsUS , 1972
cluckernoun1in the urban drug culture, someone who brings
buyers to sellersUS , 2002.2a foolUS , 1945.3the two halves of a
scallop shell still closed after the scallop has died of natural causes
CANADA , 1955
cluckheadnouna crack cocaine addictUS , 1995
cluckinessnounthe state of wanting to be pregnantAUSTRALIA , 1985
cluckingadjectiveshowing an addict’s hunger for drugs, especially
crack cocaine
cluckyadjective1(of a hen) to be sitting on an egg or eggs This term was in use in the US in the 1940s, but persists in Canadian country areasCANADA , 1916.2(of a woman) showing signs of pregnancy or of an intense desire for children Extended from the conventional use referring to a broody hen Originally and especially used of women, but now also of menAUSTRALIA , 1941
cludgie; cludgenouna (public) lavatory Scottish dialect, now in wider useUK , 1985
cluenoun< have no clue; not have a clue; haven’t a clueto
be ignorant As in the title of a BBC Radio 4 programme, I’m
Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue, on air since 1981 UK , 1948
clue; clue inverbto inform someone, to update someoneUK , 1948
clued upadjectivewell-informedUK , 1970
cluelessadjectiveunaware, especially of fashion, music and other social trendsUK , 1943
clue upverbto brief someone, to inform someoneUK , 1984
clueynouna well-informed personAUSTRALIA , 1968
clueyadjectivewise; in the knowAUSTRALIA , 1967
clumpnoun1a person whose main talent is hitting other peopleUK ,
2000.2a heavy blow with the handUK , 1889
clumpverbto hit someone heavily, to thump someoneUK , 1999
clumpingadjectiveused as an occasional variant of ‘thumping’ (large)UK , 1984
clumsome; clumbsomenounin electric line work, a worker who is not a journeyman lineman but who claims some climbing experi-ence From the worker’s claim that while not a journeyman, he has ‘clumb some’US , 1942
clumsy as a cub-bear handling his prickadjectivevery clumsy indeedCANADA , 1984
clunknoun1an ill-bred or ill-mannered person; a foolUS , 1929.2a manAUSTRALIA , 1948
clunknickname< the clunka CF-100 Canuck jet fighter aircraft The aircraft first flew in 1950, and is also known asALUMINIUM CROWandLEAD SLED CANADA , 1994
clunk!; ker-lunk!used for approximating the sound of a hard object hitting another As in Jimmy Saville’s catchphrase ‘Clunk click every trip’, in public information films of the 1970s, in which
‘clunk’ represents a car door closing and ‘click’ a seatbelt slotting homeUK , 1823
clunkernoun1an old, beat-up car The original military usage in the 1940s applied to any old vehicle or machine By the 1960s, applied almost exclusively to a carUS , 1942.2an inferior itemUS , 1971
clunkheadnouna doltUS , 1952
clunkyadjectiveawkward, clumsy, inelegantUS , 1968
clusterfucknoun1group sex, heterosexual or homosexualUS , 1966.
2a disorganised, chaotic situationUS , 1969
clusterscrewnounchaos; monumental lack of organisationUS , 1976
clutchnoun1a despised personUS , 1961.2in poker, a hand that is certain to winUS , 1967
clutchverb< clutch the gummyto be caught and blamed for something An elaboration ofHOLD THE BAG US , 1960
clutchadjective1serving as a replacement Korean war usageUS , 1957.
2unkindUS , 1991
clutchedadjectivescared, anxiousUS , 1952
Clydenoun1a misfit; an outcastUS , 1950.2during the Vietnam war, a Viet Cong or North Vietnamese regularUS , 1966.3used to refer to any object the name of which you cannot remember or do not knowUS , 1992 < as deep and dirty as the Clydeused of someone who is devious, dishonest, secretive or untrustworthy Glasgow use, formed on the name of its riverUK: SCOTLAND , 1985
C-mannouna sexually successful male student An abbreviation of
‘cunt-man’ orCOCKSMAN US , 1968
c’mon1used to solicit a reasonable or common-sense response Also used in the long form ‘come on’UK , 2002.2used imperatively