Rhyming slang, always in the pluralUK, 1859 daitureadjective 8see:DACHA daknoun1marijuanaNEW ZEALAND, 1998.2a C-47A Skytrain plane, also known as a DC-3, most commonly used to transport
Trang 1daisy cutternoun1a 10,000 to 15,000 pound bomb used to clear
jungle and create an instant landing zone in VietnamUS, 1967.2in
cricket, a fast ball bowled in such a way that it barely clears the
surface of the pitchUK, 1863
Daisy Dormeradjectivewarmer, especially of the weather Rhyming
slang, formed on the name of a music hall entertainer; originally
used as a noun in the sense as a ‘bed-warmer’UK, 1960
Daisy Dukesnounvery short and very tight shorts Named after a
character on the unforgettable US television programme Dukes of
Hazzard US, 1993
daisy roots; daisies; daisysnounboots Rhyming slang, always in
the pluralUK, 1859
daitureadjective 8see:DACHA
daknoun1marijuanaNEW ZEALAND, 1998.2a C-47A Skytrain plane, also
known as a DC-3, most commonly used to transport people and
cargo, but also used as a bomber and fighterUS, 1975
dak; dackverbto pull another’s trousers down as a prankAUSTRALIA,
2000
dakhinouna black person Scamto youth street slang (South African
townships)SOUTH AFRICA, 2005
da kineused at any time to mean anything Hawaiian youth usage
Can be used as a noun, pronoun, adjective and suffixUS, 1951
daks; dacksnounshorts or trousers From a proprietary name
AUSTRALIA, 1970
dallackingverbplay acting, foolingIRELAND, 2000
Dallie; Dallynouna Dalmatian, especially an immigrant to New
Zealand from that area or the Balkans in generalNEW ZEALAND, 1940
Dallynouna New Zealander whose heritage is Croatian (Dalmatian)
NEW ZEALAND, 1950
dallyverbin western Canadian rodeos, to loop the lariat around the
saddle hornCANADA, 1987
dallyadjectivegood, kind, nice, sweet Possibly a variation ofDOLLY
(attractive)UK, 2002
damnouna menstrual cup (a device worn internally, used instead of
tampons)US, 2001
Damnickname< the DamAmsterdamUK, 1996
dama blancanouncocaine Spanish for ‘white lady’US, 1976
damagenoun1expense; cost Probably from damages awarded at
law Especially familiar in the (jocular) phrase, ‘what’s the
damage?’ (how much?)UK, 1755.2a problemUS, 1988 < do
damageto cost a lotUS, 1997
damaged goodsnoun1an ex-virginUS, 1916.2a person who is
mentally unstableUK, 2002
damenoun1a woman While the term originally reflected on the
woman involved (an implication of common status), it now
reflects more on the speaker, suggesting a tough or old-fashioned
viewpointUK, 1720.2in a deck of playing cards, a queenUS, 1996
Dame Judi Dench; Dame Judi; Judi Dench; Judinouna stench
Rhyming slang, formed from the name of celebrated actress Dame
Judi Dench (b.1934)UK, 1998
damfinoused as a jocular abbreviation of ‘damned if I know’US,
1882
dammitnounused, for the purposes of comparison, as the
represen-tation of something insignificant Adapted from ‘damn-it’
Examples include ‘soon as dammit’ (exceedingly quick, or almost
immediate); ‘near as dammit’ (very close indeed); etcUK, 1908
damnnounsomething of little or no worth Usually in phrases like
‘not worth a damn’, ‘not care a damn’ and ‘not give a damn’
There is a stongly fought historical argument that this derives
from ‘dam’ (an Indian coin of little value); the Oxford English
Dictionary prefers ‘damn’ (a ‘profane utterance’) as the object of
this etymologyUK, 1760
-damn-infixused as an intensifierUS, 1867
damn’; damnadjectivedamned; used for implying anything from
distaste to hate for whoever or whatever is so described A
shortening of
damn!; damn it!used for registering annoyance or irritationUK, 1589
damn allnounnothingUK, 1922
damn and bastardry!used as a mild oath Modelled on conven-tional ‘damn and blast’UK, 2000
damn and blastnounthe last position in a race Rhyming slangUK, 1992
damn and blastverbto curse, to condemnUK, 2003
damn and blast!used for expressing anger or frustration A common coupling ofDAMN!andBLAST! UK , 1943
damnation alleynounin roulette, the twelve-number column on the left of the layout So named because a dealer may not see a cheat place a late bet in the column, which is sometimes out of the dealer’s line of sightUS, 1979
damnedadjectiveused as an all-purpose intensifier, generally to nega-tive effectUK, 1596 < as be damnedvery, extremelyIRELAND, 1939
damned tootingused for expressing emphatic agreement Folksy
US, 1963
damn-fool; damfooladjectivefoolish, silly From ‘damned fool’ (an absolute fool)UK, 1959
damn skippyabsolutely! without a doubt! An intensive affirmative
US, 1994
damn welladverbcertainly, assuredly, very muchUK, 1934
Damon Hill; damonnouna pill, especially an amphetamine Rhyming slang, formed on the name of the UK’s Formula 1 World Champion (1996) racing driver Damon Hill (b.1960); a discreetly playful reference toSPEED(an amphetamine)UK, 1998
dampadjectiveallowing the importation of alcohol for personal consumption but not for public sale A play on the extremes of
‘wet’ and ‘dry’US, 1991
damp blanketnounin the theatre, a bad reviewUS, 1981
dampernoun1a solitary confinement cell; a cellUS, 1992.2a safe deposit box in a bankUS, 1872.3a bankUS, 1932.4a simple, unleavened, savoury bread traditionally cooked in the ashes of a campfire So named because it ‘dampens’ the appetite Now also applied to a similar style of bread available at bakershopsAUSTRALIA, 1825
damperverbto mute, to quietUS, 1979
dampsnouncentral nervous system depressants A playful allusion
to ‘amps’ as ‘amphetamines’US, 1992
damp squibnouna failure; a dud; a fizzler A ‘damp squib’ is, literally, a ‘wet firework’AUSTRALIA, 1946
Dannoun1a man in charge of a male public convenience From the children’s rhyme, ‘Dan, Dan, dirty old man, / Washed his face
in the lavatory pan’UK, 1954.2a Roman Catholic Glasgow slangUK: SCOTLAND, 1988
dancenouna fight Ice hockey usageCANADA, 1970 < what’s the dance?what’s going on?; what’s going to happen? Used among prisonersUK, 2002
danceverb1of a batsman in a game of cricket, to swiftly advance beyond the crease to meet the pitch of a ballUK, 1995.2(used of a wink in tiddlywinks) to wobble aroundUS, 1977.3to cause a car to bounce up and down by use of hydraulic liftsUS, 1980 < dance assto ignore the needs of othersTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003.
< dance in the rain roomto take a shower in prisonUS, 1989.
< dance on the carpetto be called into a superior’s office for questioning about possible misconduct or poor work performance
US, 1946
danceableadjectiveof music, suitable for dancing to The earliest sense (1860) was of a dancing partner being suitable to dance with
UK, 1937
dance fevernounFentany™, a synthetic narcotic analgesic that is used as a recreational drugUK, 2004
dancehallnoun1in a prison in which death sentences are executed, the execution chamberUS, 1928.2in oil drilling, a large flat-bed truckUS, 1954
dance of deathnouna relationship or marriage between two addicts Used in twelve-step recovery programmes such as
Trang 2dancernoun1a boxer who evades his opponent rather than
engaging himUS, 1949.2a cat burglar; a sneak thiefUK, Since C19
dancersnoun< have it on your dancersto run away A variation
of (have it)ON YOUR TOES UK , 1977
dancingnounin railway slang, the condition of locomotive wheels
slipping on the railUK, 1970
dancing academynounused as a euphemism and legal dodge for
an after-hours homosexual clubUS, 1974
dancing girlsnounin dominoes, the seven tiles with a fiveUS, 1959
Dan Daresnounflared trousers Rhyming slang for, ‘flares’, formed
on Dan Dare, the comic strip ‘pilot of the future’, first seen in The
Eagle in 1950 UK, 1996
D and Dverb1to leave a restaurant without paying your bill An
abbreviation ofDINE AND DASH US , 1997.2to fail to lead; to escape
responsibility Said to stand for (to) ‘delegate and disappear’
CANADA, 1995
D and Dadjective1drunk and disorderly Abbreviated from an
official cause of arrestUK, 1899.2deaf and dumb Usage is both
literal (applied to beggars) and figurative (applied to someone who
knows nothing and will say nothing).US, 1937
dandernoun1anger Possible etymologies: ‘dander’ (dandruff ),
‘dunder’ (ferment), or Romany dander (to bite), dando (bitten) UK,
1831.2a leisurely stroll Also used as a verb In the north of Ireland
it is pronounced ‘donder’IRELAND, 2002 < get your dander upto
become annoyed or angryUS, 1831
Dandiesnoun< the Dandiesthe Dandenong Ranges outside
MelbourneAUSTRALIA, 1981
D and Mnouna serious conversation, generally relating to personal
relationships Standing forDEEP AND MEANINGFUL AUSTRALIA , 1996
dandruffnoun1snowUS, 1976.2cocaineUK, 2001
dandynoun1anything first-rate or excellentUK, 1784.2a grade of ‘D’
US, 1965.3in South Australia, a small container for ice-cream
Origin unknown Perhaps originally a brand nameAUSTRALIA, 1954
D and Znouna demilitarised zoneUS, 1991
dangused as a mild oath or intensifier A euphemised ‘damn’US,
1821
dangeadjectiveextremely good Rhymes with ‘strange’, short for
‘dangerous’CANADA, 2002
dangedadjectiveused as a euphemism for ‘damned’US, 1962
dangernounan aggressive flirtFIJI, 1993
danger is my businessused as a humorous response to a
suggestion that a proposed activity is dangerous The motto of
cartoon secret agent Cool McCool (NBC, 1966–69), used with
referential humourUS, 1966
danger wanknounan act of masturbation with the threat of being
discovered as an added stimulusUK, 2003
danglenounthe penisUS, 1936
dangleverb< dangle the catto drive a Caterpillar truckUS, 1971
dangleberriesnounpieces of dried faecal matter clinging to the
hairs surrounding the anusUK, 1984
dangle fromverbfrom a male perspective, to have sex Heard in
the 1970s: ‘Cor! I could dangle from that!’ UK, 1961
danglernoun1the penisUS, 1971.2a person who has died by
hangingUS, 1987.3a lorry’s trailerUK, 1951.4a freight trainUS, 1977
dangling bitsnounthe external male genitals Variant ofDANGLY BITS
AUSTRALIA, 1979
dangly bitsnounthe external male genitalsAUSTRALIA, 2000
danielnounthe buttocksUS, 1946
Daniel Boone squad; Daniel Boone teamnounUS soldiers who
engaged in cross-border reconnaissance in Cambodia during the
Vietnam warUS, 1991
Danielsnounthe buttocksUS, 1973
Danish pastrynouna transsexual An allusion to Denmark’s
danknouna very potent marijuana In conventional English, ‘dank’ conjures the ‘stinky’STINKWEED(marijuana) smell ofWEED
(marijuana) growing in a damp place; or possibly from the slang adjective ‘dank’ (excellent) Recorded with the use of ‘the’US, 1998
dankadjective1inferior; inefficient; bad; unpleasant Originally recorded as a military term, the semi-conventional usage arrived
on a US campus 40 years later providing the spur for the sense that followsUK, 1984.2excellent; brilliant.BADis ‘good’,WICKEDis
‘excellent’US, 1989
Dan Lenonouna festive event, a jollification, especially a coach trip
to the seaside Rhyming slang for ‘a beano’ (a jollification); formed
on the professional name of Victorian comedian Dan Leno (George Galvin), 1860–1904UK, 1992
Danny La Rueadjectiveblue, applied to any shade whether actual or figurative Rhyming slang, formed on the name of popular ‘comic
in a frock’ Danny La Rue (b.1926)UK, 1992
Danny La Rue; Dannynouna clue Rhyming slang, based on popular ‘comic in a frock’ Danny La Rue (b.1926)UK, 2002
Danny Marrnouna car Rhyming slang, based on an unrecognised sourceUK, 1996
Dan O’Learynouna tour of police duty in which the police officer works every possible minuteUS, 1958
dan upverbto spruce upTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
dapnouna handshake hooking thumbs, used by black US soldiers in VietnamUS, 1972
dapverbto greet another with a ritualistic handshake; to show respect in greetingUS, 1973
dapadjectivewell-dressed, fashionable A shortened ‘dapper’US, 1956
DAPadjective dead-ass perfect Golf usage US, 2000
dap downverbto dress nicelyUS, 1980
dappernouna person dressed in styleUS, 1974
dapperadjectiveperfect, excellent, admirable Possibly punning on the conventional sense of ‘dapper’ (neat and tidy) andTIDY(good, correct) Black usageUK, 2000
dapper Dannounany well-dressed manUS, 1970
dapsnoun1gym shoes, plimsolls, tennis shoes, trainers Originally
‘slippers’, certainly in this general sense since the 1950s, adapting
to succeeding fashionsUK, 1924.2proper respectUS, 1997
Dapto dognounan person of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern background Rhyming slang forWOG Named after the Dapto Dogs,
a greyhound racing track at Dapto, south of SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1983
DARnoun a hard-working student; a damned average raiser US, 1955
darbadjectivein circus usage, excellentUS, 1981
darbiesnoun1a set of handcuffs or fetters; shackles Derives from a C17 moneylender’s bond called Father Darby’s or Derby’s bands
UK, 1665.2fingerprintsUK, 1950
Darbynoun< on your Darbyalone, on your own Rhyming slang, formed onDARBY AND JOAN(the conventional archetype of an elderly married couple or inseparable companions)UK, 1942
Darby and Joannoun1an inseparable couple, with connotations of possible homosexuality Extending the conventional sense of ‘an archetypal elderly married couple’UK, 1975.2a telephone Rhyming slang, formed on the conventional archetype of an elderly married couple or inseparable companions.UK, 1961.3a loan Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 2002
Darby and Joanverbto moan Rhyming slang, formed (perhaps ironically) on the conventional archetype of an elderly married or inseperable coupleUK, 1992
Darby bandsnounthe hands Rhyming slang, from the old (possibly C16) expression ‘Father Darby’s bands’ (a binding agreement between a money lender and a borrower)UK, 1992
darenouna challenge, an act of defiance In conventional use from late C16 to late C19, usage thereafter is colloquialUK, 2002
dargnouna certain fixed amount of work for a given time period
Trang 3darknoun< in the dark(used of a bet in poker) made without
having seen your cardsUS, 1990
darkverbto spoil, especially by behaving aggressivelyUK, 1990s
darkadjective1bad, inferior, unpleasant, nasty; used as an all-purpose
negativeUK, 1997.2unreachable by telephone A condition usually
resulting from a failure to pay your billUS, 2004.3good On theBAD
(good) model, the reverse of sense 1UK, 1998.4evil, 2000.5secret
AUSTRALIA, 1877.6untelevisedUS, 2000
dark and dirtynounrum and coke (Coca-Cola™ or similar) The
drink is made, and the term is formed, of dark rum and a fizzy
accompaniment the colour (some may think) of dirty water Royal
Marines coinageUK, 1979
dark as an abo’s arseholeadjectiveextremely darkAUSTRALIA, 1971
dark brownadjectiveof a voice, low, well-modulated and sexually
attractive Originally of a female voice, then more generalUK, 1946
dark cheatersnounsunglassesUS, 1949
dark daysnouna type of bet in an illegal numbers game lotteryUS,
1957
darkersnounsunglassesTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1987
dark eyesnoundizzinessBARBADOS, 1965
Dark Gablenouna handsome black man Punning on the name
Clark Gable The nickname has been taken by more than one, but
perhaps nobody more prominent than Mohammed Ali who briefly
called himself Dark Gable in 1981US, 1959
dark-greenadjective1excellentUS, 1954.2black Marine humour in
Vietnam – a black marine was said to be ‘dark-green’US, 1991
dark horsenoun1in horse racing, a horse that is deemed a poor
performer but one that might surprise all and winUS, 1951.2a
racehorse that has been trained in secretAUSTRALIA, 1877.3a person
who keeps things about themselves secretAUSTRALIA, 1917.4a
candidate or competitior of whom little is known A figurative use
of racing slangUK, 1865
darkienoun1used as a flattering and affectionate term of address
for an attractive, dark-skinned womanTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1990.2a
piece of excrementAUSTRALIA, 1972 8see also:DARKY
dark meatnouna black person as a sexual objectUS, 1888
dark money; dark timenounextra wages paid for night workUK,
1970
dark o’clocknounnightUK, 1995
darksnoundark glassesBERMUDA, 1985
dark shadownouna tightly-cropped hair cut that stops short of
absolute baldnessUK, 1999
darksidenouna category of rave musicUK, 2002
dark thirtynounlate at nightUS, 1984
dark timenounnightUS, 1976
darktownnouna neighbourhood populated largely by black people
US, 1916
dark ’unnounof dock-workers, a 24-hour shiftAUSTRALIA, 1957
dark-white paintnounused as the object of a prank errand for a
novice painterUS, 1966
darky; darkienoun1a black person Originally used in a
paternalistic, condescending manner, but now mainly to disparage
US, 1775.2an Australian AboriginalAUSTRALIA, 1845.3a Polynesian
personNEW ZEALAND, 1863
Darky Coxnoun a box in a theatre auditorium Rhyming slang, of
unknown derivationUK, 1961
darkytownnouna neighbourhood with a large population of black
peopleUS, 1971
darl; darlsnounused as an address or endearment, darlingUK, 1930
darlingnoun1used both as a general and a theatrically arch form of
addressUK, 1933.2used as a term of address between male
homo-sexualsUS, 1949
darlingadjectivecharming, sweet An affectedly feminine or
Darling Buds of May; Darling Budsadjectivehomosexual Rhyming slang forGAYformed on the title of a 1958 novel by H.E Bates and, especially, from a 1991 BBC television adaptationUK, 1992
darling daughternounwater Rhyming slang One of several terms that have ‘daughter’ as the common (dispensible) elementUK, 1992
darlingsnounthe prostitutes of Darlinghurst and King’s Cross, SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1984
Darling showernouna dust storm Ironic; probably from areas of the outback by the western reaches of the Darling RiverAUSTRALIA, 1945
Darlonickname1Darlington, County DurhamUK, 1984.2Darlinghurst, SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1937
darlsnoundarlingAUSTRALIA, 1967
darn!; darn it!used for registering annoyance, frustration, etc A euphemistic variation ofDAMN! US , 1781
darnationnoundamnation Euphemistic; despite the weakening of
‘damnation’, there is still evidence of useUS, 1798
darnedadjectiveused as an intensifier Euphemistic forDAMNED US , 1807
darned tooting!used as a mock oath affirming that which has just been said Usually used in a self-mocking way, conjuring the image of an older, confused, country bumpkinUS, 1963
darn straight!you are right! Used with irony, playing with the use
of the heavily euphemised ‘darn’US, 1994
Darren Goughnouna cough Rhyming slang, formed on the name
of Yorkshire and England cricketer (b.1970)UK, 1998
dartboardnoun< had more pricks than a second-hand dartboardused of a sexually promiscuous woman Such a woman may be described as ‘a second-hand dartboard’ Currently popular in AustraliaUK, 1982
darunounrum From HindiBARBADOS, 1965
Darwin rignounan adaptation of the typical business suit worn by men in far northern Australia Generally a short-sleeved shirt, and often short trousers A tie is normally included, but a coat is defi-nitely not Named after Darwin, a major city in the tropical north
AUSTRALIA, 1964
Darwin stubbie; Darwin stubbynouna 2.25 litre bottle of beer
An ironic term: aSTUBBIEis one of the smallest bottle sizes The city of Darwin is located in the tropical north and is well known for prodigious beer-drinkingAUSTRALIA, 1972
dashnoun1a dashboardUK, 1902.2an escape from custodyUS, 1952.
< have a dash atto make an attempt, to try The surviving form of ‘do your dash’AUSTRALIA, 1923
dashverbto depart in a hurryUK, 1932
dash!; dash it!; dash it all!used as a general purpose expletive Euphemistic only when deliberately replacingDAMN! but note that SHITis disguised in the extended variationsUK, 1800
dashedadjectivedamned Euphemistic; datedUK, 1881
dash on toverbto chastiseUK, 1979
dash-potnouna device that can be installed in a car engine to prevent the car from stalling when the driver suddenly lifts their foot off the acceleratorUS, 1960
dash up the channelnounfrom the male perspective, sexual intercourse A work-related coinage used by (southern) England coastal fishermanUK, 1961
datnounporkJAMAICA, 2000
datenoun1a person with whom an appointment or romantic engagement is made From the conventional sense that defines the appointmentUS, 1925.2a prostitute’s customerUS, 1961.3a sex-ual liaison between a prostitute and a customer An ironic euphemismUS, 1957.4a prisoner’s expected date of release from prisonUS, 1989.5a foolish or silly person Especially in the phrase
‘soppy date’; later use is generally affectionateUK, 1914.6the anus; the buttocks First recorded in Australia in 1919 as ‘a word signifying contempt’ Possibly a case of rhyming slang reduced to
Trang 4dateverb1(used of a prostitute) to have sex with a customer for pay
US, 1951.2to caress the buttocks FromDATE(the buttocks)
AUSTRALIA, 1984.3to poke in the anus; to gooseAUSTRALIA, 1972
date and plum; datenounthe buttocks, the backside, the anus
Rhyming slang forBUM UK , 1998
date baitnoun1an attractive person of either sex who is
sought-after as a dateUS, 1944.2anything that might serve as an incentive
for a dateUS, 1986
date drillernounthe active participant in anal sexNEW ZEALAND, 1998
date-packernouna male homosexualAUSTRALIA, 1985
date rollnountoilet paperAUSTRALIA, 2003
date with DiPalmaverb(of a male) an act of masturbation
DiPalma alias ‘the hand’US, 2001
daughternoun1a form of address between homosexual men This
CAMPadoption of the feminine form is also reflected in the
cross-gender assignment of pronounsUK, 1992.2a male homosexual in
relation to the man who has introduced him to homosexualityUS,
1949
daunceyadjectivepregnant The ‘Lucy is Enceinte’ episode of the
television comedy I Love Lucy (1950–57), which aired on 8th
December 1952, was the first US television treatment of
pregnancy Lucy avoided the word ‘pregnant’, instead saying that
she was ‘feeling real dauncey’, explaining that it was a word that
her grandmother ‘made up for when you’re not really sick but you
just feel lousy’ The word enjoyed brief popular usageUS, 1952
Dave Clarkadjectivedark Rhyming slang, formed from the name of
UK drummer, leader of the Dave Clark Five (b.1942)UK, 2004
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tichadjectiverich Rhyming
slang, jocularly contrived from a 1960s UK pop groupUK, 2004
David Bowieadjectivewindy Rhyming slang for, ‘blowy’, formed on
the name of singer and musician David Bowie (David Robert
Jones, b.1947)UK, 1992
David Gower; Davidnouna shower Rhyming slang, based on the
name of cricketer and television personality David Gower (b.1957)
UK, 2002
Davina McCallsnounnonsense Rhyming slang forBALLS,formed
from the name of UK television presenter Davina McCall (b.1967)
UK, 2004
davvynouna sofa or couch A corruption of ‘Davenport’US, 1997
Davy Crockettnouna pocket Rhyming slang, formed on the name
of an American folk-hero who lived from 1786–1836; he was not
an inspiration for slang until the actor Fess Parker brought him to
life in 1954 and a succession of Disney-made television adventures
UK, 1961
Davy Jones’s locker; Davy Jones’s; Davy’s lockernoun1the
last resting place of those lost at sea; the sea Davy Jones has been
used as a personification for the ’spirit of the sea’ since 1751, his
locker is mentioned in The Journal of Richard Cresswell, 1774–7;
the etymology, however, is another mystery of the deep Jones
may arise from Jonah (and his biblical adventures at sea), Davy
may have been added by Welsh sailors in honour of St DavidUK,
1777.2a door knocker Rhyming slangUK, 1992
Davy Largenouna barge Rhyming slang, formed on the name of a
docker who later became a Trade Union officialUK, 1961
dawnouna silly, empty person; an obdurate unreasoning person
IRELAND, 1997
dawamesknounmarijuanaUK, 2003
daw-daw; daw-yawadjectiveslow-witted This seems to derive from
a yokelishDOH!Certainly the metropolitan notion of countrysiders
at the time this slipped into usage was through BBC radio’s
‘everyday story of country folk’, The Archers, first broadcast
nationally in 1951; actor Robert Mawdesley certainly introduced
such a meaningless syllable into his portrayal of Walter Gabriel, an
irascible rogue who gave the appearance of being more slow-witted
than he actually wasUK
dawgnoun1a dog A rural, southern ‘dog’US, 1979.2a fellow youth
dawnernounan engagement between a prostitute and customer that lasts all night, until dawnUS, 1987
dawn patrolnounany activity that requires staying up all night or getting up very early Originally a military term, later applied figurativelyUS, 1945
daynoun< not your day; it’s not your day; it just isn’t your dayused for expressing a rueful, philosophical acceptance of a day when everything seems to go wrongUK, 1984
day!good day!, hello! An shortening ofG’DAY UK , 1907
day and nightnoun1a light ale Rhyming slang, first recorded in
1960, and still fairly currentUK, 1960.2light (illumination) Rhyming slangUK, 1992
day-and-night merchantnouna lorry driver who breaks the law by driving more than 11 hours in 24 to undercut other driversUK, 1964
day-for-dayadverbserving a prison sentence without any reduction
in the sentence for good behaviourUS, 1990
dayglo; day-gloadjectiveused of dazzlingly vivid, rebelliously bright, fluorescent colours Day-Glo™ paints were introduced in 1951, the name was soon applied to the wider world of tastelessnessUK, 1962
day jobnouna conventional job, usually used to finance a person’s true interest or passionUS, 1994
daylightnounin horse racing, the non-existent second-place finisher
in a race won by a large margin Used with humourAUSTRALIA, 1989.
< he (she) wouldn’t give you daylight in a dark cornersaid
of a person with a reputation for meanness Glasgow useUK, 1988
daylight in the swamp!used for rousing people from bed A logger termUS, 1936
daylight robberynounan exorbitant priceUK, 1949
daylightsnoun 8see:LIVING DAYLIGHTS
day numbernounin an illegal number gambling lottery, a wager on
a number for a single day’s drawingUS, 1949
day playernounan actor who is called for a single day’s work on a television programme or film setUS, 1988
daysnoun< good old daysthe past, remembered fondly and better than it ever was Evolved from the early C19 ‘good old times’UK, 1986
day’s dawning; days a dawningnounmorning Rhyming slangUK, 1960
days of ragenouna series of violent confrontations between radical members of the Students for Democratic Society and the police in downtown Chicago in the autumn of 1969US, 1970
day to dayadjectiveunencumbered by thoughts of the long term, living one day at a timeUS, 1983
dazzle dustnounface powder Obsolete teen slangCANADA, 1946
DBnoun1a dead body US, 1973.2a socially inept person An abbrevi-ation ofDOUCHE BAG US , 2003
DBIa doctors’ (unofficial) code for classifiying a despicable, offensive or unhygienic person, in a measure indicated by a
suffixed numeral An initialism for dirt bag index’ UK, 2003
DCnouna hamburger with every possible trimming and condiment
US, 1966
DDnoun a person who is deaf and dumb US, 1926
DDadjectiveby extension, said of a criminal who gives up no infor-mation at all if arrestedUS, 1950
D daynounused as a designation for the start of an action Originally applied to military actions, then expanded to general use For example, in a US veteran’s hospital, it is the routine day that Ducolax™ suppositories are given bed-bound patientsUS, 1944
d-dognouna dog trained to detect hidden drugsUS, 1992
DDT!used for disparaging, urging the listener to drop dead twice.
Youth usage; punning on the insecticide now banned but used with great effectiveness to kill mosquitos in the years after World War 2US, 1947
deacon
Trang 5deaconverbto present a job or product in the best possible light,
placing more importance on the first impression than on the
actual qualityUS, 1855
deacon seatnoun1the seats nearest a fireUS, 1975.2in a lumber
camp, the long bench in the bunkhouseUS, 1851
deacon’s nosenounthe flat lobe at the nether end of a chicken
which is like a mammal’s tail, base for the tail-feathers This part
of the chicken or turkey is also known in the US as ‘the pope’s
nose’ and in the UK as ‘the parson’s nose’CANADA, 1967
deadnoun1a corpseBARBADOS, 1971.2in any card game, cards that
have been discardedUS, 1973
deadadjective1absoluteUK, 1894.2used for expressing a very high
degree of troubleUK, 2002.3(of a place) dull, boring; without
interestAUSTRALIA, 1945.4in a bar, used for describing any drink that
has been abandonedUK, 1985.5(of a racehorse) not run on its
merits; ridden to lose deliberatelyAUSTRALIA, 1957.6(used of dice)
weighted to have one face land up more often than the law of
averages would predictUS, 1993.7in bar dice games, no longer wild
If a game is played with ‘aces wild’ (assuming the point value of
any other die), a call of ‘aces dead’ after the first call of a hand
nullifies the ‘wild’ statusUS, 1976.8in pinball, said of a bumper that
scores when hit but does not propel the ball back into playUS, 1977.
9in pool, said of a shot made such that the cue ball stops
completely after striking the object ballUS, 1990 < not be found
dead with; not be seen dead withused to deny the possibility
that you will have anything whatsoever to do with someone or
somethingUK, 1915 < not be seen dead in; not be found
dead inused in expressions of dislike and dismissal for items of
clothing; may also, with slight variation, be applied to a placeUK,
1961
deadadverbvery, absolutely, extremely, completely A general
intensifierUK, 1589
dead airnounsilence Telecommunications usageUS, 1976
dead alivenounin Bingo (also House and Tombola), the number
fiveUK, 1981
dead-aliveadverbextremely slowlyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1971
dead as discoadjectivecompletely dead From the meteoric rise
and fall of the disco fad in the 1970sUS, 1995
dead assnounthe buttocks in seated reposeUS, 1950
dead-assadjectivelacking energyUS, 1958
dead-assadverbabsolutelyUS, 1971
dead babiesnounsemenUS, 1998
dead-bangadjectivebeyond debateUS, 1934
dead-bangadverbabsolutelyUS, 1919
deadbeatnoun1a person who won’t pay his debts, especially one
who does not pay child support after divorce In modern use,
often construed with ‘dad’ or ‘parent’US, 1871.2a destitute person;
a bum or derelictAUSTRALIA, 1892
dead beatadjectiveexhaustedUK, 1821
dead birdnounin horse racing, a certaintyAUSTRALIA, 1889
Dead boardnounan Internet bulletin board system designed by,
and for, fans of the Grateful DeadUS, 1994
dead catnounin circus usage, a lion, tiger, or leopard that is on
display but does not performUS, 1981
dead cat on the linenounused as a representation of something
that is wrong or immoralUS, 1970
dead centrenouna cemetery JocularUK, 1961
dead certnoun a certainty Originally sporting and gambling usage
UK, 1889
dead-certadjectivecertainAUSTRALIA, 1993
dead cinchnouna certainty An intensification ofCINCH(a certainty)
UK, 1927
dead-cinchadjectivecertain From the noun senseUK, 2001
dead dropnounin espionage or a sophisticated criminal venture, a
location where a message can be left by one party and retrieved
dead ducknounan absolute failure, a person or thing with no possi-bility of successUS, 1829
dead endnounin bowls, an end (a stage of play) that has to be replayed when the jack is driven out of boundsUK, 1990
deadersnounmeatJAMAICA, 2000
dead eye dicknouna person who is an excellent shotAUSTRALIA, 1986
deadfallnouna dishonest, disreputable, vice-ridden drinking establishmentUS, 1837
dead finishnounthe endAUSTRALIA, 1881
dead fishnouna gambler who places small bets to prolong the inevitableUS, 1963
deadfootnouna slow vehicleUS, 1976
dead from the neck upadjectivebrainless, stupid, insensitiveUK, 1930
dead gaffnouna premises with no-one inUK, 1956
dead give-awaynouna notable indication, or betrayal, of guilt, or defectUS, 1882
dead handnounin poker, any hand held by a player who has bet all
of his chips or money on the handUS, 1947
deadheadnoun1a person who rides free on a railway, bus or aeroplane, usually because of their employment with the carrier
US, 1841.2a boring personUS, 1907.3a non-playing observer of gamblingUS, 1974.4a person given a ticket or tickets for having performed minor services in a theatrical productionUS, 1973
Deadheadnouna follower of Grateful Dead, a band strongly associ-ated with psychedelic drugs, seen by many to epitomise the hippie ideal Grateful Dead’s choice of name was the result of browsing a dictionary; usually abbreviated to ‘The Dead’; their 30-year career as a live band came to an end in 1995 with the death
of guitarist Jerry GarciaUS, 1972
deadheadverb1to discourage A gardening image of deadheading roses to discourage growthUK, 2001.2to ignoreUK, 2002.3to coast in
a car with a depleted petrol supplyUS, 1976.4(used of an airline or railway employee) to ride as a passenger in available seatingUS, 1854
deadheadadverbwithout cargoUS, 1987
dead heartnounthe arid inland regions of AustraliaAUSTRALIA, 1906
dead horsenountomato sauce Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA, 1966
dead housenouna funeral parlourBARBADOS, 1965
dead-legnoun1a useless personUK, 2003.2a corking of the thigh
AUSTRALIA, 1996
dead letter perfectadjectiveof an actor, absolutely certain of your linesUK, 1952
dead lice < dead lice are falling off; dead lice are dropping offused for describing someone who is very slow-moving or lazy
US, 1960
dead linenounin prison, a line the crossing of which will bring gun fire from guardsUS, 1962
deadlineverbto remove from action for repairs Vietnam war usage
US, 1991
dead lossnoun1a person or thing that is utterly inefficient, or a complete failure, or an absolute waste of time or moneyUK, 1927.
2a boss Rhyming slang, adopting the non-rhyming sense: ‘a person that is utterly inefficient or an absolute waste of money’
UK, 1992
deadlyadjective1excellent Especially common in Australian Aboriginal EnglishUS, 1970.2very boringUS, 1955
deadlyadverbexcessively, extremely, veryUK, 1688
deadly embracenounin computing, the condition resulting when two processes cannot proceed because each is waiting for another
to do somethingUS, 1981
deadly treadlynouna bicycle Rhyming elaboration ofTREADLY, with the suggestion that it is risky to rideAUSTRALIA, 2003
dead mannounan earth anchor for a wire or cableUK, 1840
dead man’s arm
Trang 6dead man’s earsnounstewed dried apricotsNEW ZEALAND, 1992
dead man’s handnounin poker, a hand with a pair of aces and a
pair of eights Although it is the modern belief that this was the
hand held by Wild Bill Hickok when shot to death in 1876 in
Deadwood, Dakota Territory, early uses of the term (which also
sometimes referred to three jacks with two red sevens) make no
mention of Hickok In 1942, Damon Runyon wrote that the hand
with jacks was sometimes called the ‘Montana dead man’s hand’
US, 1888
dead man’s headnouna spherical plum puddingNEW ZEALAND, 1994
dead man’s pull-upsnounan exercise in which a person hangs
with their arms extended from a bar, lifts their chin over the bar,
and then lowers themself to the full arm-extended positionUS, 1996
dead man’s roundsnounammunition held pointed toward the
bearerUS, 1991
dead man’s zone; dead Marine zonenouna demilitarised zone
Back-formation from the initials DMZUS, 1984
dead marinenounan empty bottleAUSTRALIA, 1854
dead meatnoun1used for expressing a very high degree of trouble
Originally applied only in situations where death was certain, but
then softened to include lesser consquencesUS, 1974.2a prostitute
An allusion to the flesh that is sold in a butcher’s shop, as
opposed to that which is freshly givenUK, 1961
dead moneynoun1obviously counterfeit paper moneyUS, 1956.2in
poker, money bet by a player who has withdrawn from a handUS,
1992
deadnernouna blow, a thumpIRELAND, 2003
dead-nutsadverbcompletelyUS, 1887
deadonouna corpseUS, 1919
deado; dead-ohadjectivedeep asleep; unconscious Possibly from
the earlier sense (very drunk), howeverDEADin ‘dead drunk’ serves
as an intensifier, whereas the sense here may be a literal allusion
UK, 1984
dead-onadjectiveaccurateUK, 1889
dead on arrivalnoun1heroin From official jargon for those who
are delivered to hospital too lateUK, 1998.2phencyclidine, the
rec-reational drug known as PCP or angel dust In honour of the
drug’s fatal overdose potentialUS, 1993
dead pannouna complete lack of facial emotionUS, 1927
deadpanadjectivewithout expression; displaying no emotionUS, 1928
dead pigeonnoun1in a criminal enterprise, a double-crosserUS,
1964.2a person who is destined to loseUS, 1919
dead pony gaffnounof circus and fairgrounds, a bad site Used by
travelling showmenUK, 1961
dead presidentsnounUS currency notes of any dollar
denomination; hence, generically, US money From the portraits of
Washington, Lincoln, Hamilton etc., printed on the different value
notesUS, 1944
dead rabbitnounthe penis in a flaccid stateUS, 1964
dead ringnounan exact likenessAUSTRALIA, 1915
dead ringernounan exact likenessUS, 1891
dead roadnounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
UK, 2003
dead set; dead-set; deadsetadjectivecomplete, utterAUSTRALIA, 1965
dead set; dead-set; deadsetadverb1completely, utterly From the
common collocation of ‘dead completely’ and ‘set against/for/on’
(determined (not) to do something or have something happen)
AUSTRALIA, 1947.2really; honestlyAUSTRALIA, 1987
deadshitnouna despicable personAUSTRALIA, 1961
dead skinnounthe white inner peel of an orangeBAHAMAS, 1982
dead slednounin the used car business, a car in extremely poor
conditionUS, 1997
dead soldiernounan empty alcohol bottle or beer canUS, 1899
dead spit an exact likeness
dead-stickverbto land an aircraft without engine functionUS, 1962
dead-stickadjective(used of landing an aircraft) without engine functionUS, 1999
Dead threadsnounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, the layers of clothes worn by a concert-goerUS, 1994
dead timenountime served in jail which does not count towards fulfillment of the prisoner’s sentenceUS, 1973
dead to rightsdenoting an absolute certainty that fully justifies arrest on a criminal charge, as when caught red-handed.DEAD
intensifies ‘to rights’ (fairly, legally)UK, 1859
dead to the worldadjectiveunconscious, deeply and soundly asleep; unaware of any outside stimulus Earlier use may also have connoted ‘drunk’UK, 1899
dead tree formatnounpaper on which computer output is printed
UK, mid-1990s
dead troublenounan extremely difficult situation, deep troubleUK, 1971
dead ’unnoun1unoccupied premises Criminal useUK, 1956.2a racehorse deliberately ridden to loseAUSTRALIA, 1877
deadwoodnoun1an incompetent or otherwise useless personUS,
1887.2a flaccid penis Extended fromWOOD(the erect penis)US,
1995.3unsold tickets for a performanceUS, 1934.4non-playing observers of gamblingUS, 1974.5a person caught outright committing a crimeUS, 1992
dead yardnouna ceremony after burial in the deceased’s yard
JAMAICA, 2003
deaf and dumbnounthe buttocks, the backside, the anus Rhyming slang forBUM UK , 1992
deafienouna deaf person Prominently applied to Dr Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad from 1956 until 1981TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1972
dealnoun1a business transaction, a trade or a bargainUS, 1838.2an underhand or secret transaction; a trade of questionable legality; a mutually beneficial commercial or political arrangement A nuance
of the broader sense, (a trade, a bargain)US, 1881.3a small amount
of marijuana or hashishUK, 1978 < bad deal; raw deal; rough dealill-treatment, exploitative or unfair usage; a swindleUS, 1912.
< fair deal; square dealan honest and equitable usage The
locus classicus of ‘square deal’ is in a speech delivered by US
President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903: ‘We must treat each man
on his worth and merits as a man We must see that each is given
a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less’US, 1876 < new deala new arrangementUS, 1834.
< the deal; the real dealthe very bestUS, 1986
dealverb1to sell drugsUS, 1958.2to supervise the blackjack game in
a casinoUS, 1980 < deal off the topto treat fairly From the gambling scheme of cheating by dealing off the bottom of a deck
US, 1969
dealadverbmuch Derived from the noun sense (a considerable amount)UK, 1756
dealer’s bandnounan elastic band used by a drug dealer to secure
or to facilitate the jetisoning of drugs for saleUS, 1966
dealy; dealienouna thing the correct name of which escapes or is not important to the speakerUS, 1997
deannoun1a sharkAUSTRALIA, 1977.2a skilled and experienced poker playerUS, 1979
deaner; deener; dener; dienernouna shilling Until
decimalisation in 1971; probably from denier (a French coin, the
twelfth part of a sou) After the introduction of decimal currency
in Australia in 1966, it came to mean a ten cent piece, or its value,
a similar coin with about the same comparative value; dying out from the 1980s, now seldom heardUK, 1857
dean of mennouna prison wardenUS, 1949
dear!; oh dear!; dear oh dear!used as a mild register of anxiety, irritation, regret, etc Probably ‘dear God!’ or ‘dear Lord!’UK, 1694
dear dear!used as a mild exclamation or oath; often used to add a mild or ironic emphasis to what is being said By reduplication of
Trang 7dear dyin’ Moses!used as an elaborate, original curse in coastal
Nova ScotiaCANADA, 1999
deargnouna stab or a shot, a sharp punchIRELAND, 2000
dearienoun1used by women as a form of address A less intimate
variation of conventional ‘dear’ (a loved one)UK, 1681.2used as an
affected form of address among male homosexuals Camp
adoption of the previous senseUK, 1962
dearie me!; deary me!used for registering regret An elaboration
ofDEAR ME!that is more sorrowful in toneUK, 1785
Dear Janenouna letter to a girlfriend or wife breaking off the
relationshipUS, 1963
Dear John; Dear John letter; Johnny letternouna letter from a
woman to her husband or boyfriend ending their relationshipUS,
1945
dear me!used as a mild exclamation or oath; often used to add a
mild or ironic emphasisUK, 1773
dear oh dear! 8see:DEAR!
dear old thingnoun 8see:OLD THING
deathnoun1paramethoxyamphetamine or 4-methoxyamphetamine
(PMA), a synthetic hallucinogenAUSTRALIA, 1997.2someone or
something that is exquisitely perfectUS, 1965.3a difficult situation,
such as an exam, a hangover, etcUS, 1987.4in harness racing, the
position just behind and outside the leader Because the horse in
that position has to travel farther than horses on the inside and
does not have the benefit of a lead horse breaking the wind
resist-anceUS, 1997 < at the deathin the finish Figurative sense of a
conventional ‘end’UK, 1962 < like death; like death warmed
upfeeling or appearing extremely unwellUK, 1939 < to death1to
the extreme; superlativeUK, 1998.2frequently and ad nauseum UK,
1937
death adder; death adder mannounan unwelcoming man who
lives a solitary life in the Australian outback From the name given
to several species of venomous snake found in Australia
Historically ‘an outback gossip’ was also known as a ‘death adder’
AUSTRALIA, 1951
death addersnoun< have death adders in your pocketsto be
stingyAUSTRALIA, 1944
death ballnounin cricket, any bowled delivery that takes a wicket
UK, 1996
death benefitnounin poker, money given to a player to complete
a betUS, 1996
death box; fun boxnounin snowboarding and skateboarding, an
improvised hollow platform such as a wooden or plasic box or
barrel, from which to bounce the boardUS, 1995
death cookienounin snowboarding, a rock hidden in snowUS, 1995
death drinkernouna vagrant alcoholicUK, 2000
death dropnounbutyl chloride when taken recreationallyUK, 1984
death metal; deathcorenouna category of heavy metal music
that draws on violent, blasphemous and mysogynistic imageryUK,
1992
death mittennounbags slipped over the hands of murder victims
to preserve evidenceUS, 1992
death on callnounBattery C, 4th Battalion, 77th Infantry of the US
Army A gunship unit with the boast of ‘kill by profession’US, 1990
death on truckersnounthe US Department of Transportation
From the agency’s initials: DOTUS, 1971
death pennouna designated pen with black indelible ink used in
hospitals for filling out death certificatesUS, 1994
death rattlenounin cricket, the noise made when a batsman’s
wicket is hit by the ballUK, 1958
death rimnounany expensive car wheel rim The rim is an
invitation to crime and violence, hence the nameUS, 1995
death rownouna type of bet in an illegal numbers game lotteryUS,
1957
death seatnoun1the front passenger seat of a car or truck From
likely to survive an accidentUS, 1975.2in a trotting race, the pos-ition on the outside of the leader Derives from the difficulty of overtaking from such a positionAUSTRALIA, 1982
death spiralnouna downward spiral of an aeroplane from which recovery is nearly impossible and as a result of which impact with the ground is inevitableUS, 1990
death touristnouna person who travels to a country where euthanasia is legal for the purpose of achieving a medically assisted suicideUS, 2003
death tripnoun1LSD enhanced with botanical drugs from plants such as Deadly Nightshade or JimsonweedUS, 1970.2heroinUK,
2002.3a fascination with deathUS, 1969
death watchnounattendance upon a man condemned to death Hanging was institutionalised in C5 Britain; the death penalty was abolished in the UK in November 1965 – except for the crimes of treason, piracy with violence and arson in Royal DockyardsUK, 1950
death wishnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP
or angel dustUS, 1986
deathynouna death adderAUSTRALIA, 1951
deazingusnouna dingus, or eye dropper used in drug injectingUS, 1973
debnoun1a debutante US, 1920.2a girl associated with a youth gang, either directly as a member or through a boyfriend A lovely if ironic borrowing from ‘debutante’US, 1946.3a depressant, sedative
or tranquillizer tablet From a slovenly pronunciation of ‘deps’ (depressants); also recorded in the pluralUS, 1975.4a tablet or capsule of amphetamine A reversal of the chemical effect in the earlier usage; also noted as a pluralUK, 2003.5a tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUK, 2003
debagverbto remove someone’s trousers, often with humorous intention, always with some degree of force FromBAGS(trousers)
UK, 1914
deballverbto castrateUS, 1961
debaucheramanounan orgy Combines conventional ‘debauch’ with a variation of the suffix- ‘orama’ (indicates largeness)UK, 2000
Debbie Chonnounan overweight soldier From the Korean; Korean war usageUS, 1982
deboneverbto bend a playing card so that it can be identified later
in another player’s handUS, 1968
debriefingnounan after-flight hotel party attended by a flight crew and flight attendantsUS, 2002
debrisnounmarijuana seeds and stems remaining after cleaningUS, 1971
debtheadnouna prisoner who is continually in debt and, therefore, untrustworthy A combination of conventional ‘debt‘ with-HEAD(a person considered as a single attribute)UK, 1996
debtor’s colicnounany feigned illness whereby a man can get into hospital, or remain sick in his cell, in order to avoid meeting his creditorsUK, 1950
debtsnounin prison, a placing (of an inmate) on reportUK, 1996
debugverb1to clear an area of listening devicesUS, 1964.2to rectify faults of electrical, mechanical or operational nature; to remove faulty programming from a computerUK, 1945
debutverb1to subject a boy to his first homosexual experienceUK,
1978.2to acknowledge your homosexualityUS, 1964
decadence; deccadencenounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUK, 1998
decafnoundecaffeinated coffeeUS, 1956
decafadjectivedecaffeinatedUS, 1981
decapitationnounthe assassination of a head of state Media-friendly military jargonUS, 2003
decapitation strikenouna military attack intended to kill (or render impotent) an enemy’s leaderUS, 2003
decayedadjectivedrunkUS, 1966
deceadjectiveexceptionally good, ‘wonderful’ A shortening of
‘decent’, pronounced ‘deece’