Rhyming slang, influenced by the pink elephants that only drunks can seeUK , 1859 elephant trackernouna railway detectiveUS , 1968 elephant tranquillizer; elephantnounphencyclidine, the
Trang 1Elnounan elevated railway Chicago, New York and Philadelphia are
major cities with an ElUS , 1906.< the Elthe boys’ reformatory at
Elmire, New YorkUS , 1950
ElainenounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy A
personification of the drug by elaboration ofE(MDMA)UK , 2003
elbownoun1a dismissal or rejectionUK , 1971.2a pound (0.45kg) of
marijuana A phoentic rendition of the abbreviation ‘lb’ (pound)
US , 1997.3in electric line work, an underground cable terminator
US , 1980.< on the elbowfreeloading, on the scrounge Playing,
perhaps, withON THE EARHOLE UK , 1977
elbow-bendingnounimmoderate consumption of alcoholUS , 1934
elbow-bendingadjectivedrinking to excessUS , 2002
elbow cakenounin the Gaspe region of Canada, a hot biscuit
CANADA , 1998
elbow greasenounhard manual labour; effortUK , 1672
elbow-liftingnoundrinking, especially as part of a drinking session
UK , 1961
elbow listnouna list, often notional, of despised things or persons
UK , 1983
elbow-titverbto graze or strike an unknown female’s breast with
your elbowUS , 1974
El CidnounLSD A punning play on the first letter of LSD and the
second syllable of ‘acid’ (LSD), giving the name of a legendary
Spanish heroUK , 2003
El D; LDnoun1a Cadillac El Dorado carUS , 1970.2Eldorado™
fortified wineUK: SCOTLAND , 1985
elderberrynounan older homosexual manUK , 1979
elder daysnounin computing, the years before 1980 A conscious
borrowing from TolkienUS , 1991
el diablitonouna mix of cocaine, heroin, marijuana and
phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust
The Spanish ‘little devil’ offers a more elaborate recipe thanEL
DIABLO US , 1998
el diablonoun a mix of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana Spanish el
diablo (the devil) UK , 1998
El Dognouna Cadillac El Dorado carUS , 1975
electricadjective1used as a superlative; marvellous, strange, sudden
UK , 1977.2augmented with LSDUS , 1967
electric bookmakernouna bookmaker who is regularly shocked by
the results of the events bet onAUSTRALIA , 1989
electric curenounexecution by electrocutionUS , 1950
electriciannouna person who provokes or accelerates a
confrontationUS , 1998
electric puhanoun marijuana, especially New Zealand-grown Puha
is the Maori name for ‘wild sowthistle’NEW ZEALAND , 1989
electricsnouna vehicle’s electric circuitryUK , 1946
electric soupnoun1a mixture of metholated spirits and cheap red
wineUK: SCOTLAND , 1985.2Eldorado™, a fortified wine sold in
ScotlandUK: SCOTLAND , 1983
Electric Strawberrynicknamethe 25th Infantry Division, US Army
The Division’s insignia is a green taro leaf in a red circle,
suggesting a strawberryUS , 1991
electro-prefixwhen applied to a musical style, involving
synthesizers As well as the examples listed as headwords, the
following styles have been recorded: baroque’,
‘electro-boogie’, ‘electro-bossa’, ‘electro-death’, ‘electro-dup’, ‘electro-funk’,
‘electro-goth’ and ‘electro-noir’UK , 2003
Electroluxnouna person gifted at performing oral sex on men
From the branded vacuum cleaner and its advertising boast –
‘Nothing sucks like an Electrolux’UK , 2001
electrosnounelectrical equipment employed for sexual stimulation,
especially when advertised by a prostituteUK , 2003
elefnouneleven; in betting, odds of 11–1 A shortening and
slovening of ‘eleven’
elef a viernounin betting, odds of 11–4 A phonetic slurring of
ELEF(11) and ‘four’UK , 1991
elegantadjective1(used of a homosexual male) polished, effeteUS ,
1949.2in computing, simple yet extremely efficientUS , 1990
elegant sufficiencynounused as an indication that enough has been had to eat A jocular mocking of genteel mannners which has, perhaps, become a clichéUK , 1984
elephantnoun1heroinUK , 1996.2marijuanaUK , 2003.3a high-ranking Naval officer US naval aviator usageUS , 1986
Elephant and Castlenoun1arsehole, in anatomic and figurative senses Rhyming slang, based on an area of south LondonUK , 2002.
2a parcel Rhyming slangUK , 1959
elephant bagnounin the usage of forest fire fighters, a large canvas bag used for dropping cargo from aeroplanesUS , 1959
elephant bucksnouna large amount of moneyAUSTRALIA , 1994
elephant earnounin electric line work, a high-strength strain insulatorUS , 1980
elephant gunnoun1any powerful rifleUS , 1918.2an M79 grenade launcher Vietnam war usage It is a single-shot, break-open, breech-loading, shoulder-fired weaponUS , 1964.3a surfboard designed for big-wave conditionsUS , 1963
elephant intestinesnounthe cotton tubes used by the Viet Cong
to carry rice in the fieldUS , 1990
elephant juicenounthe drug etorphine, a synthetic morphine 1,000 times more potent than morphineAUSTRALIA , 1989
elephant motornounthe Chrysler Hemi engine Huge displacement and powerUS , 1993
elephant pillnounthe large orange anti-malaria chloroquine-primequine pill taken once a week by US troops in VietnamUS , 1980
Elephants’ Graveyardnicknamethe Boston Naval District headquartersUS , 1971
elephant snotnounin car repair, gasket sealant, usually referring to Permatex™ sealant, a tradmarked productUS , 1992
elephant’s trunk; elephant trunknouna drunk Rhyming slang
US , 1977
elephant’s trunk; elephant trunk; elephant’s; elephants
adjectivedrunk Rhyming slang, influenced by the pink elephants that only drunks can seeUK , 1859
elephant trackernouna railway detectiveUS , 1968
elephant tranquillizer; elephantnounphencyclidine, the rec-reational drug known as PCP or angel dustUS , 2004
elevatornoun1in trucking, a hydraulic lift on the back of a trailer
US , 1971.2a false cut of a deck of playing cardsUS , 1991
elevator jockeynounan elevator (lift) operatorUS , 1951
elevennoun1a stunningly gorgeous woman who swallows semen after oral sex An elaboration of the ‘perfectTEN’AUSTRALIA , 1985.2in
a deck of playing cards, a jack or knaveUS , 1996
eleven bang-bangnounan infantry soldier 11-B was the numerical MOS code assigned to an infantry soldierUS , 1980
eleven bravonounan infantry soldierUS , 1991
eleven bushnounan infantry soldierUS , 1970
eleven-foot polenounan imagined device for touching someone whom another would not touch with a ten-foot poleUS , 1975
eleven from heavennouna roll of eleven in a craps gameUS , 1957
elevensesnounmid-morning refreshments; a mid-morning break from work, generally for refreshments but also used as an opportunity for cigarette smoking Originally Kent dialect, extended from ‘eleven o’clock’; late C19 workmen also had ‘fourses’UK , 1887
eleventh commandmentnounany rule which is seen as a mandatory guideline on a par with the Ten Commandments A term probably coined by Ronald Reagan and applied to his adage that no Republican (except him) should disparage another Republican Eventually applied, often jocularly, to many different situations For example: the mythical commandment but very real
Trang 2eleventh gearnounin trucking, neutral, used for conserving fuel
when coasting down a hillUS , 1971
elfnouna technical market analystUS , 1986
el fabuloso!used for expressing strong approvalNEW ZEALAND , 1998
el foldonounan utter, relentless collapseUS , 1943
ElinicknameYale University; a Yale student; a Yale sports teamUS , 1879
Eli Lillynounmorphine From the drug manufacturer’s nameUS , 1955
eliminateverbto kill a person Originally jocular, but no longerUK ,
1937
eliteadjectivein the world of Internet discussion groups, offering the
illegalUS , 1997
Elizabeth Reginanounthe vagina Rhyming slang, formed from
Queen ElizabethUK , 2003
Elizabeth’s cornernoungossipAUSTRALIA , 1989
elk rivernounin poker, a hand with three tensUS , 1968
Elkynouna Chevrolet El Camino pickup truck, manufactured from
1959 until 1987US , 1993
-ellasuffixused to feminise a noun and thus create a derogative
senseUS , 1979
elle momonounmarijuana laced with phencyclidine, the
rec-reational drug known as PCP or angel dust The etymology is
uncertain; it looks French, sounds Spanish and is possibly a play
on American ‘mom’UK , 2001
ellienounan elephant sealANTARCTICA , 1990
Ellis DaynounLSD Almost a homophoneUK , 2003
Elly and Castlenicknamethe Elephant and Castle district of south
LondonUK , 1976
Elmernounin circus and carnival usage, an unsophiscticated, gullible
localUS , 1926
El Productonounoil TexanUS , 1980s
El Roponounany cheap cigar Mock SpanishUS , 1960
Elsie Tannernoun1a spanner Rhyming slang, formed from the
name of a character in the television soap opera Coronation Street,
played, from 1960 to 84, by actress Pat Phoenix, 1923–86UK , 1992.
2a single instance or example of something Glasgow rhyming
slang for ‘wanner’UK: SCOTLAND , 1988
El Smoggo; El StinkonicknameEl Paso, Texas A tribute to the city’s
air qualityUS , 1970
el teenouna lieutenant From the abbreviation ‘Lt’US , 1978
eltonnouna toilet A play onJOHN(a toilet) and musician Elton John
(b.1947)UK , 1977
Elton John; eltonnoundeception; an act intended to trick or
deceive; a tale intended to deceive Rhyming slang for ‘con’,
formed from the name of popular musician Sir Elton John
(Reginald Kenneth Dwight) (b.1947)UK , 1998
elvisnounLSDUK , 2003
Elvisnouna poker player who is nearly broke but manages to stay in
a game far longer than one would predict Like Elvis Presley, the
poker player refuses to dieUS , 1996
emagnouna game Back slangUK , 1873
E-mannouna police officer assigned to the Emergency Service Unit
New York police slangUS , 1997
embalmedadjectivevery drunkUS , 1934
embalmed beefnouncanned beef A term most strongly associated
with profiteers during the Spanish–American war; mostly
histori-cal useUS , 1898
embalming fluidnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known
as PCP or angel dustUS , 1992
embroiderynounthe punctures and sores visible on an intravenous
drug user’s bodyUS , 1973
embuggerverbto hinder, to hamper MilitaryUK , 1995
embuggerancenounany unforeseen hazard that complicates a
embynounin carnival usage, a gullible playerUS , 1985
EM clubnounan enlisted men’s clubUS , 1977
Emenounthe Mexican Mafia, a Mexican-American prison gang From the Spanish pronunciation of the letter ‘M’US , 1990
emeffingadjectiveused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucking’US , 1958
emergency gunnounan improvised method to puncture the skin and inject a drugUS , 1973
emergency handoutnounin prison, the consequent act of separ-ating an imprisoned mother from her baby when, for disciplinary reasons, the parent is removed from the mother and baby unit – the baby is therefore handed out into local authority careUK , 1996
Emma Chisit?how much is it? The most famous and well-remembered piece ofSTRINE The story goes that a visiting English writer, Monica Dickens, was autographing copies of her latest book
in Sydney and a woman handed her a copy and asked in her best Australian accent ‘How much is it?’ Monica Dickens took the book and wrote: ‘To Emma Chisit’ and signed her autograph belowAUSTRALIA , 1965
Emma Freudnouna haemorrhoid Rhyming slang, formed from the name of journalist Emma Freud (b.1961), daughter of SirCLEMENT FREUD, whose name serves a synonymous purposeUK , 1997
Emma Gnouna machine gun A formation built on the initials MG
US , 1949
Emma Jessenounan emergency brakeUS , 1971
Emmerdale Farm; emmerdalenounthe arm Rhyming slang, formed from the title of a UK soap opera, broadcast since 1972,
later changing its name to Emmerdale UK , 1998
emmetnoun a holiday-maker or tourist in Cornwall Derisive Emmet
is a dialect word for ‘ant’; in Cornwall the holiday-makers obviously swarm and get everywhereUK , 1978
emptyheadnounan idiotUK , 2001
empty nestnouna home in which the children have all grown and gone awayUS , 1973
empty suitnouna person of no substanceUS , 1980
emu; emu bobbernouna person who picks up tickets at a racecourse in the hope of finding an unclaimed win From the emu, a large, flightless Australian bird related to the ostrich, with long legs and a long neck, that bends to pick things off the ground
AUSTRALIA , 1966
emu-bobverbto pick things up off the ground, such as litter or kindlingAUSTRALIA , 1926
emu bob; emu parade; emu patrol; emu stalk; emu walknoun
a patrol by a group of people over a certain area of ground for the purpose of searching or cleaning the areaAUSTRALIA , 1941
enchiladanoun< the whole enchiladaall of something Popularised in the US during the Watergate scandal of 1972–1974
US , 1966
endnoun1the area where you are born, or where you live and/or are well-knownUK , 2005.2the best; an extremeUK , 1938.3a share or portionUS , 1887.4the penisUS , 1957.5moneyUS , 1960.< the end
something or someone that tests you to the end of your enduranceUK , 1938
endonoun1in mountain biking, an accident in which the cyclist is thrown over the handlebars; the course the cyclist follows in such
an accident; a mountain biking trick in which the front brake is sharply applied thus forcing the back wheel to come up off the groundUS , 1996.2in motor racing, an end-over-end flipUS , 1976.3a backwards fall off a surfboardUS , 1988.4in the television and film industry, any stunt in which a vehicle goes through the air end-over-endUS , 2003.5marijuanaUS , 1997
end ofenough said, no more End of story UK , 2001
end of discussionused as a humorous, if stock, indication that there is nothing more to be said on the subject at handUS , 1987
end of storyused as a way to indicate that all that needs to be told has been told, all that needs to be said has been said Often
Trang 3end of the linenounthe absolute end, the finish of somethingUS ,
1948
end of the roadnounthe finish of somethingUK , 1954
end of watchnoundeathUS , 1983
endsnoun1money An abbreviation ofDIVIDENDS(money)US , 1997.
2cash in handUS , 2001.3a rich customer of a prostituteUS , 1987.
4the hair Possibly by back-formation from ‘split-ends’ Recorded
in use in contemporary gay societyUK , 2003
endsvillenoun1the endUS , 1962.2the bestUS , 1957.3the worstUS ,
2003
Enenickname1the Northern Structure prison gang Spanish for the
letter ‘N’ used by English speakers in the American southwestUS ,
1995.2a member of the Nuestra Familia prison gangUS , 1950
enema queennouna male homosexual with an enema fetishUS ,
1969
Enema Sue; Enema ZoonicknameNew Mexico State University A
cheerful play on the initials NMSUUS , 1970
energizernounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP
or angel dustUS , 1986
energy powdernounamphetamineUK , 1996
enforcernouna criminal who uses violence or intimidation to
enforce the will of a criminal gangUS , 1929
en fuego!used as a humorous observation that somebody is
performing very well Coined and popularised by ESPN’s Dan
Patrick; probably the most widely used of the ESPN-spawned
catchphrasesUS , 1997
Engelbert Humperdinck; englebertnouna drink Rhyming slang,
formed from the name of singer Engelbert Humperdinck (Gerry
Dorsey) (b.1936) who came to popular fame in the mid-1960sUK ,
1998
enginenoun< on the engine(used of a racehorse) well in front in
a raceUS , 1994
engineernounthe first active participant in serial sex with a single
passive partner From ‘toPULL A TRAIN’ (to engage in serial sex)US ,
1975
engine roomnoun1the forward pack on a rugby union teamNEW
ZEALAND , 1998.2the rhythm section of a bandTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ,
1990.3the mid-boat rowers in an eight-person racing shellUS , 1949
Englandnoun< go to Englandto have a baby in secretTRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO , 1960
Englishnounin pool, spin imparted on the cue ball to affect the
course of the object ball or the cue ball after striking the object
ballUS , 1869
English-Channel eyesnounbloodshot eyes from exposure to
ciga-rette and/or marijuana smoke From photographs of swimmers
staggering out of the water having crossed the Channel, their eyes
bloodshotUS , 1979
English methodnounthe rubbing of the penis between the thighs
of another boy or man until reaching orgasm More commonly
known in the US as the ‘Princeton Rub’US , 1987
English muffinsnounin homosexual usage, a boy’s buttocksUS , 1987
English returnnoundead silence after what was supposed to be a
funny jokeUS , 1951
English vicenounflagellationUS , 1956
eninnounnine; in betting, odds of 9–1 BackslangUK , 1859
enin to roufnounin betting, odds of 9–4 A combination ofENIN
(nine) andROUF(four) when, if used alone, each word signifies
more than the number itselfUK , 1991
enit?don’t you know? One of the very few Native American
expressions used in a slangy sense by English-speaking Native
AmericansUS , 1988
enjoy!used as a benedicition by restaurant waiters, and then
mimicked in other contextsUS , 1995
enjoy the trip?; enjoy your trip?a catchphrase readily delivered
‘did you enjoy the trip?’, sometimes elaborated ‘send a postcard next time!’UK , 1974
enlisted swinenounan enlisted soldierUS , 1986
Enochnouna coloured immigrant child By ironic transference from Enoch Powell, 1912–98, a noted opponent of immigration into the UK Recorded as being used by white primary-school children, but the example was surely set by a parentUK , 1979
Enoch Powell; enochnoun1a towel Rhyming slang, formed from the name of British scholar and politician, Enoch Powell 1912–98
UK , 1992.2a trowel Rhyming slangUK , 1992
enoughpronoun< can never get enoughto be sexually insatiable
UK , 1974.< have had enoughto be tipsy, drunk A not entirely honest form of words – the implied sense is ‘to have had more than enough’UK , 1937
enthuseverbto be enthusiastic, or create enthusiasm in othersUS , 1827
entjie; endjienouna cigarette, especially the stub of a cigarette that may be saved for later; a marijuana cigarette Formed on Afrikaans
end (end), ‘entjie’ is pronounced ‘ayn-chee’ SOUTH AFRICA , 1946
entreprenerdnouna computer- or Internet-business entrepreneur A play onNERD UK , 2003
entrynoun< up your entryappropriate to your taste or requirementsUK , 1980
envelopenoun1a condomUS , 1964.2an aeroplane’s performance limitsUS , 1990
EnzednounNew ZealandAUSTRALIA , 1915
Enzeddernouna New ZealanderAUSTRALIA , 1933
EOTadjectivedeadUS , 1998
epnounan episode A broadcasting abbreviation in wider currency
US , 1915
EPAnicknameEast Palo Alto, San Mateo County, California A black ghetto surrounded by Silicon Valley wealthUS , 2000
epicadjectiveexcellent, outstandingUS , 1983
epidoddlenounepidural anaesthesiaUS , 1994
eppie scoppienouna tantrumUK , 1995
eppisnounnothingUS , 1966
epponounan attack, an outburstIRELAND , 2003
eppynouna display of temperUK , 1988
EppynicknameBrian Epstein (1934–67), manager of the BeatlesUK , 2001
eppyadjectiveepilepticUK , 1988
epsilonnouna very small amountUS , 1983
EPTnicknameEl Paso, TexasUS , 1974
EQ; EQsnounan equalizer, the device which controls the tonal qual-ity of domestic and professional sound-reproduction equipment
UK , 2002
equalizer; equalisernouna gun or any object that can be used in
a fight Not without ironyUS , 1899
equatornounthe waistUS , 1948
equippedadjective1stylish and fashionableUS , 1972.2armed, equipped with a weaponUK , 1996
-er; -erssuffixused to create a slangy variation of a conventional, generally abridged, word By this process, the word ‘indigestion’ becomes, in its simplest form, ‘indigesters’; ‘football’ becomes
FOOTERand ‘rugby football’ becomes ‘rugger’ Now known as the
‘Oxford -er(s)’, it began at Rugby school in 1875 (Oxford English Dictionary), but this origin has been disputed and claimed for
Harrow School Usage migrated via Oxford University into general (upper-)middle-class slang, and Royal Navy ServiceUK , 1875
eradication squad; ’radication squadnouna unit of armed policeUK , 1994
-eratisuffixwhen added to a type or cultural interest, creates a
Trang 4model of ‘literati’; better-known uses include ‘liggerati’
(hangers-on), ‘niggerati’ (successful members of black society)UK , 1990
erdie; erdynounan unimaginative, conventional person From
German erde (earth, the Earth, the ground) UK , 1974
’ere; heresaid when passing a marijuana cigaretteUS , 2001
erecstasynouna recreational drug cocktail of MDMA, the
rec-reational drug best known as ecstasy, and Viagra™ (a branded drug
that enables a male erection) A conflation of ‘cause’ and ‘effect’
IRELAND , 2003
erectornouna semi-erect penisUK , 1999
-ereemosuffixused as a meaningless appendage Jocular, maybe just
for funUK , 1997
-er -ersuffixa doer (of the verb) Jocular repetitious use of the agent
suffix ‘-er’ Normally only one ‘er’ is used for a compound verb,
thus ‘wash up’ becomes ‘washer-up’ Then, added to both parts of
the compound, ‘washer-upper’ And sometimes, for comic effect,
with a third ‘-er’ added to the new compound as a whole,
‘washer-upperer’ This last especially used by childrenAUSTRALIA , 1964
erienoun< on the erieengaged in eavesdroppingUS , 1950
E-ringadjectivehigh-ranking Military usage Refers to the ‘E-ring’ of
the Pentagon where high-ranking officers workUS , 1986
-erinosuffixused as a suffix to create humorous variants understood
from their baseUS , 1890s
erk!used for expressing disgustAUSTRALIA , 1981
erk; irknouna contemptible person From a military use as ‘a
serviceman of low rank’UK , 1959
erkyadjectivemildly disgusting; unpleasant FromERK! (an expression
of mild disgust) The suggestion that it derives from ‘disparateerk’
(a naval rating) is mere clutching at strawsAUSTRALIA , 1959
ernienouna fool, especially one who does not concentrate
Snowboarders’ slangUS , 1995
-eroosuffixused as a meaningless embellishment; also used to
intensifyUS , 1931
-erooni; -eroonysuffixused as a decorative intensifierUS , 1966
Eros and Cupidadjectivestupid Rhyming slangUK , 1998
erpverbto vomitUS , 1968
errienounan aeroplaneUK: SCOTLAND , 1988
Errol Flynnnounthe chin, in senses anatomic and figurative
Rhyming slang, formed from the name of the swashbuckling film
actor, 1909–59UK , 1961
Erroll Flynnsnounspectacles Rhyming slang forBINS UK , 1992
Ervinenouna police officerUS , 1992
esclopnouna police officer Back slang, however the ‘c’ is not
pronounced, and the ‘e’ is generally omitted, thus, ‘slop’UK , 1851
escort servicenouna prostitution business operating
euphemistically under the guise of providing an escort, not a
prostituteUS , 1982
esenounused as a term of address to a young male; an aware,
street-wise young man Border Spanish used in English
conversation by Mexican-AmericansUS , 1950
eskimonoun1in oil drilling, a worker from Alaska or MontanaUS ,
1954.2a Jewish personUS , 1989
Eskimo ice creamnouna mixture of tallow, berries and fishCANADA ,
1962
Eskimo Nell; eskimonouna bell (a telephone call) Rhyming slang,
formed from the heroine of a famously bawdy balladUK , 1998
Eskimo pienounthe vagina of a frigid womanUS , 1977
Eskimo rollnouna manoeuvre used by surfers to pass through a
wave coming at them by rolling under their surfboardUS , 1977
Eskimo saladnounmoss from a caribou stomach, prized as food by
EskimosCANADA , 1948
Eskimo sistersnounwomen who have at some point had sex with
the same man Used as the title of a 2002 play by Laline PaullUS ,
eskynouna portable cooler for food and drink in the form of an insulated oblong box with a flat lid Proprietary name; from
‘eskimo’ with a ‘-y’ suffix A quintessential item of Australian
suburban lifeAUSTRALIA , 1953
Eskynounan EskimoUS , 1978
Esky lidnouna small bodyboard used for surfing Used derisively
AUSTRALIA , 1996
Esky liddernouna bodyboarderAUSTRALIA , 1996
esnortiarnouncocaine Of Spanish originUK , 2003
esongnounthe nose Back slangUK , 2002
esra; esrar; esarnounmarijuana A Turkish word now in wider usageUS , 1982
esrochnouna horse Back slangUK , 1859
essencenounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
US , 1998
essenceadjectivebeauty, especially when ascribed to a womenUK , 1987
essence of magic mushroomsnoun psilocybin or psilocin, usually
in powder or capsule formUK , 1999
Essex girlnounused as a stereotype for jokes, an Essex girl is brash, vulgar, trashy, sexually available, deeply unintelligent and, allegedly, from Essex Derogatory Essex girl jokes such as: ‘Q: What do you call an Essex girl with two brain cells? A: Pregnant’ have been in circulation since the 1980sUK , 2001
establishmentnounthe dominant power in any societyUK , 1955
estholenounan enthusiastic supporter of the est human growth movement An appropriate play on ‘asshole’US , 1997
estuffanounheroin From border Spanish for ‘stuff’ (a drug, especially heroin)US , 1984
ETnounin drag racing, the elapsed time of a particular quarter mile sprintUS , 1963 8see:E AND T
e-tardnouna person whose life has been adversely effected by excessive use of MDMAUS , 2001
etch-a-sketchverbto manually stimulate both of a sex-partner’s nipples A similar action is required to operate an Etch-a-Sketch™,
a children’s toy drawing machineNEW ZEALAND , 2002
etchedadjectivedrunkUK , 2002
E Teamnounin the language of hang gliding, expert fliers from Lake Elsinore, CaliforniaUS , 1992
eternal carenounin hospital, intensive care Medical slang, darkly humorousUK , 2002
ethanolicnouna drunkardUS , 1978
Ethiopian paradisenounin a racially segregated cinema, the balconyUS , 1900
Ethy meatnouna black woman as a sex object An abbreviation of
‘Ethiopian’, a racial rather than national labelUS , 1987
E-toolnounan entrenching tool with an extendable telescopic handle and folding bladeUS , 1976
e-typenouna person with a professional or recreational interest in
electronics UK , 2003
Euan Blair; EuannounLeicester Square Rhyming slang, recalling
an incident in July 2000 when Prime Minister Blair’s 16-year-old son Euan was found ‘drunk and incapable’ in Leicester SquareUK , 2002
euanedadjectivevery drunk Pronounced ‘you-and’ From 6th July 2000: Prime Minister Blair’s 16-year-old son was arrested for being
‘drunk and incapable’UK , 2002
euchreverbto ruin or destroyUS , 1853
eucy; eucy oilnouneucalyptus oilAUSTRALIA , 1977
euphorianouna combination of mescaline, crystal methadrine and MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUK , 2003
Europe < go Europeto vomit
Trang 5Eurotrashnounrich foreigners living in the US Taki Theodora
-copulos popularised the term in society columns written for Vanity
Fair and the Spectator US , 1987
evanouna pill marked with E on one side and A on the obverse,
sold as MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy,
actually containing a mixture of MDMA and amphetamineUK , 2002
evacnounan evacuationUS , 1954
evacverbto evacuateUS , 1944
EvenounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy A play
onADAM, itself almost an anagram of MDMAUS , 1985
evening breeze; sweet evening breezenouncheese Rhyming
slangUK , 1992
evening glassnouncalm surf conditions in the evening after the
afternoon wind has diminishedUS , 1978
Evening Newsnouna bruise, especially a love-bite Rhyming slang,
formed from the title of a London evening newspaper that ceased
publication in 1980UK , 1992
even shake; fair shake; good shakenouna fair dealUS , 1830
even steven; even stephen; even stevens; even stephens
adjectiveeven, equal ‘Steven’ adds nothing but the rhymeUS , 1866
everaftersnounconsequencesUK , 2002
everclearnouncocaineUK , 2002
ever hear more!; ever see more!used as an expression of
surpriseTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003
everlastin joob-joobnouna fool, an idiot; a contemptible person
Glasgow rhyming slang forTUBE, formed on an
improbable-sounding sweetUK: SCOTLAND , 1988
ever-lovingadjectiveused as an intensifierUS , 1919
ever suchadjectiveused to describe a great or fine exampleUK , 1803
Everton toffee; evertonnouncoffee Rhyming slangUK , 1857
every crab from the busheveryoneCAYMAN ISLANDS , 1985
every home should have onea catchphrase generally applied to
common objects, babies and non-material things Thought to
have been an advertising slogan in the 1920sUK , 1974
every man and his dogeveryoneAUSTRALIA , 1979
every man jacknounabsolutely everyoneUK , 1828
Every Minute Sucksnounwork with an Emergency Medical Service
unit New York police slang; back-formation from the initials EMS
US , 1997
everything-but girlnouna woman who will engage in any and all
sexual activity short of intercourseUS , 2002
everything in the garden’s lovely!a catchphrase used to
exclaim: all is well, all goes wellUK , 1910
everything is everythingused for conveying that all is well when
asked how things are goingUS , 1968
everything’s drawingeverything’s going well, thank you! Nautical
origins, suggesting that all sails are set and there is a following
breezeUS , 1963
everything that opens and shutsnouneverything possible
AUSTRALIA , 1960
every which wayadverbin every manner or directionUS , 1824
every which way butin every manner or direction except the
correct one A specific refinement ofEVERY WHICH WAY UK , 1984
eve teasingnounan act of a male outraging the modesty of a
female in a public place by indecent speech or actual and
unwanted physical contactINDIA , 1979
evilnoun1a look of contempt or strong dislikeUK , 2005.2a man with
a body piercing through his penis New Zealand prison slangNEW
ZEALAND , 2000
eviladjective1mean-spirited, inconsiderateUS , 1939.2excellentUK ,
1999.3in computing, not designed for the speaker’s purposeUS ,
1991
evo the evening
Ev’o’lene, the Nevada Queennounin craps, the number eleven
US , 1985
exnoun1a former lover or spouse The prefix ‘ex-’, like those so-named, stands aloneUS , 1929.2exercise, gamesUK , 1947.3in target shooting, a bullseye From the notion, perhaps, that ‘X marks the spot’US , 1957.4a car’s acceleratorTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1971
ex!; exie!used for expressing enthusiastic approval Contractions of
EXCELLENT!used by Glasgow schoolchildrenUK: SCOTLAND , 1996
exactanounin horse racing, a bet on first and second placeUS , 1991
exacto!exactly Mock Spanish.US , 1991
exactsnounmundane, easily obtained facts about a person, gathered by an investigatorUS , 1997
excellentadjectiveimpressive, amazing Conventional English turned slang by the young Stress is on the first syllable, which follows something close to a glottal stop; the ‘l’ is lazyUS , 1982
excellent!used for expressing enthusiastic approvalUS , 1989
excellent behaviour!used for registering approvalUK , 2000
excess leggagenouna more than usual display of a person’s legs
UK , 2004
Exchange & Martnouna prostitute Rhyming slang forTART; formed from the title of a weekly publication (published every Thursday since 1868) devoted to advertisements from people wishing to buy, sell or barter the widest range of goods or services
UK , 1992
excitementnounsexual intercourse; the penisIRELAND , 1997
ex-connoun an ex-convict, a former prisoner Also recorded in the UK
US , 1906
excruciateverbto aggravate, to irritate, to angerUK , 1997
excuse me?regarding a statement just made, used as an expression of disbelief, either of the content of the statement or of the fact the statement has been made at allUK , 2003
excuse-me; ’scuse-me; bo-excuse-me; ooscuse-menounan edu-cated, middle-class person Township slang; contemptuousSOUTH AFRICA , 1963
excuuuuuse me!used as a humorous admission of error Made wildly popular by comedien Steve Martin during frequent
appearances on NBC’s Saturday Night Live in the 1970s and 1980s.
Repeated with referential humourUS , 1977
execnoun1a corporate executiveUK , 1896.2an executive military officerUS , 1898
executive servicesnounsexual intercourse, as distinct from masturbation, when advertised as a service offered by a prostitute
UK , 2003
exerciseverb< exercise the ferret(from a male perspective) to have sexAUSTRALIA , 1971.< exercise the one-eyed trouser snake(of a male) to urinate Based onONE-EYED TROUSER SNAKE
(the penis)UK , 2000
exesnoun1expenses, out-of-pocket costs Also known as ‘ex’s’, ‘exs’ and ‘x’s’UK , 1864.2six; in betting, odds of 6–1 Backslang Also variant ‘exis’UK , 1951
exes and a halfnounin betting, odds of 13–2 In bookmaker slang
EXESis 6–1, here the addition of ‘a half’ increases the odds to 6½–1 or 13–2UK , 1991
exes to ferenounin betting, odds of 6–4 A combination ofEXES
(six) with a corruption of ‘four’UK , 1937
exes to roufnounin betting, odds of 6–4 A combination ofEXES
(six) andROUF(four)UK , 1991
exfilnoun exfiltration (the act of withdrawing troops or spies from a
dangerous position) MilitaryUK , 1995
ex-govieadjectivein the Australian Captial Territory, descriptive of a dwelling, formerly owned by a government department but now privately ownedAUSTRALIA , 1988
exiticitynounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
UK , 2003
exoverbto equip an off-road vehicle with an external safety cage From ‘exoskeleton’
Trang 6exoadjectiveexcellentAUSTRALIA , 1990
expatnoun an expatriate, a person from the UK living overseas US ,
1961
expectverb< expect a floodto wear trousers that are too short
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1993
expediteverb< expedite into eternityto dieUS , 1994
expendableadjectivedescribes casualties of war whose loss is
antici-pated and considered acceptable as the price of success A military
and political term borrowed from accountingUK , 1942
expensive care unitnouna hospital’s intensive care unitUS , 1989
expensive scarenounin hospital, intensive care Medical slangUK ,
2002
experiencenounan experience of using LSD or mescalineUK , 1978
explorers’ clubnouna group of LSD users Another ‘LSD-as-travel’
metaphorUS , 1967
expressionsnounprofanityBARBADOS , 1965
exsqueeze me!excuse me!US , 1953
extranoun1in the coded language of the massage parlour, sexUS ,
1996.2in the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, an extra
ticket for that day’s concertUS , 1994
extraadjectiveof behaviour, unnecessary or extremeUK , 2005
extraadverbveryNEW ZEALAND , 2002
extractverb< extract the michaelto make fun of someone; to
pull someone’s leg; to jeer, to deride A ‘humorous’ variation of
TAKE THE MICKY, probably on the model of the synonymousEXTRACT
THE URINE UK , 1984.< extract the urineto make fun of someone;
to pull someone’s leg; to jeer, to deride A ‘humorous’
euphemistic variation ofTAKE THE PISS UK , 1948
extra-curricular activitiesnounadulterous sexual play, especially
sexual intercourseUK , 1984
eyenoun1desire, an appetiteUS , 1934.2a person who is not a part of
the criminal underworld but who reports what he sees to those
who areUS , 1964.3a private detectiveUS , 1930.4a hand-held mirror
used by a prisoner to see what is happening down their cellblock
US , 1992.5an automatic timing light on a drag racing trackUS , 1970.
6a railway track signalUS , 1946.7the anusUS , 1990.< I will in my
eyeused for registering refusalIRELAND , 1993.< my eye!; all my
eye!; my eye and Betty Martin!used for registering disbelief
UK , 1842.< the Eye1a metal detectorUS , 1967.2the US Federal
Bureau of Investigation From ‘FBI’ to ‘eye’US , 1997
eyeballnoun1a meeting between two shortwave radio operators
who have only known each other over the radioUS , 1976.2a visual
observationUS , 1951.3the identification of a criminal by a witness
to the crimeUS , 1992.4a favoured child or petTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ,
1986.5a truck or car headlightUS , 1977
eyeballverb1to see, to stare, to identify in a police line-upUS , 1901.
2to stare aggressively AfterEYEBALL TO EYEBALL(descriptive of an
aggressive confrontation)US , 1996
eyeball palacenouna homosexuals’ bar where there is a lot of
looking and not much touchingUS , 1964
eyeball queennouna male homosexual who looks but does not
touchUS , 1964
eyeballsnoun< to the eyeballsto the maximum of capacity,
absolutely full, totallyUK , 1933
eyeballs, come back here!used by a clever boy for expressing
approval of a passing girlUS , 1955
eyeball-to-eyeballadjectiveon the verge of a hostile confrontation
A variation of conventional ‘face-to-face’US , 1953
eyeball-to-eyeballadverbin direct, face-to-face confrontationUS , 1953
eyeball vannouna police van equipped for surveillanceUS , 1988
eye blacknounmascaraUK , 1952
eye bleedernounpowerful, green marijuanaUS , 1997
eye candynounan extremely attractive person, regardless of their character or intellect, regardless of their sex, regardless of their sex-ual orientationUS , 1984
eye doctornounthe active participant in anal sex FromEYE(the anus)US , 1949
eye! eye!; eye-eye!look out!; also used as a warning that a prisoner
is under surveillance; or as an injunction to be vigilantUK , 1950
eye fiddlenoun an ugly person From the Irish aghaidh fidil (a
face-mask made from coloured paper)IRELAND , 2000
eye-fuckverbto look at with unmasked sexual intentionsUS , 1916
eyefulnouna good look at somethingUK , 1899
eye-gameverbto exchange flirtatious looksTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003
eyeglassesnounused as a warning by an orchestra conductor to the musicians that a particularly difficult passage is coming upUS , 1973
eye in the skynoun1surveillance stations or cameras in casinos concealed above two-way mirrors on the ceilingUS , 1961.2a police helicopterUS , 1992
eye jobnouncosmetic surgery around the eyesUS , 1996
eyelashnounan act of urination Rhyming slang forSLASH
(urination)UK , 2000
eye-openernoun1a strong drink, especially early in the morningUS ,
1817.2a drug addict’s first injection of the dayUS , 1959.3any drug that acts as a central nervous system stimulantBAHAMAS , 1982.4the active participant in anal sexUS , 1949
eyesnoun< keep your eyes peeled; keep your eyes skinned
to be extra-observant ‘Keep your eyes skinned’ predated ‘peeled’
by 20 yearsUS , 1833.< the eyesin craps, a roll of two An abbrevi-ation ofSNAKE EYES US , 1999
eye’s frontnouna contemptible fool Rhyming slang forCUNT, formed from the military command ‘Eyes front!’UK , 1974
eyes like cod’s bollocksnounprotuberant eyesUK , 1961
eyes like piss-holes in the snownoundeeply sunken or squinting eyes (whether naturally, or as a result of illness, or – most commonly – as a symptom of a hangover)UK , 1970
eyes of blueadjectivetrue Rhyming slangUK , 1992
Eyetaliannounan Italian or, an Italian-AmericanAUSTRALIA , 1900
EyetalianadjectiveItalian A spelling that follows pronunciationUK , 1962
Eyetienoun1an Italian or Italian-American Originally army use in World War 1US , 1919.2the Italian language Derogatory, if not intentionally soUK , 1925
EyetieadjectiveItalianUK , 1925
Eyetoenoun1an ItalianAUSTRALIA , 1941.2the Italian language
AUSTRALIA , 1957
eye troublenoun1a tendency to stare Prison usageNEW ZEALAND ,
1999.2extreme fatigueUS , 1971
eye upverbto look something or someone over, especially to appraise someone as sexually desirableUS , 1957
eyewashnoun1nonsenseUK , 1930.2intentionally deceptive words or actionsUS , 1917.3tear gasUS , 1992
ey up; ey-upused as a greeting; used as a means of directing attention to something A northern English dialect phrase in wide useUK , 1977
E-Zadjectiveeasy Phonetic American spellingUS , 1996
e-zinenouna low-budget, self-published magazine made available over the Internet A combination of ‘e-’ (a prefix, denoting elec-tronic) andZINE(aFANZINE, a magazine for and by fans)US , 1998
Trang 7Fnoun1oral sex An abbreviation ofFRENCHused in personal
advertisingUS , 1987.2in poker, the sixth player to the left of the
dealerUS , 1988
Fadjectivein the written shorthand of the Internet and texting, in a
homosexual context, feminine Short forFEMME UK , 2004
F 8see:EFF
F2Fface-to-face, in Internet or texting shorthandUK , 1996
F-40; Lilly F-40; fortynounan orange-coloured 100 mg capsule of
secobarbital sodium (trade name Seconal™), a central nervous
system depressantUS , 1977
fabadjectivevery good, excellent; used for registering general
approval or agreement A shortening ofFABULOUS(very good, etc.);
hugely popular usage in the 1960s, in part thanks to The Beatles
Subsequently in and out of vogue, surviving between times as
irony The cult science fiction television programme Thunderbirds
(1964–66) used ‘F A B.’ as an acknowledgement but otherwise
meaningless catchphrase; the 1999 UK re-run coincided with a
vogue revivalUS , 1957
fabboadjective fabulous; excellent From ‘fabulous’ AUSTRALIA , 2003
fabeadjectivevery good, excellent An affected elaboration ofFAB UK ,
1967
fabeladjectivevery good, excellent, lovely An elaboration ofFAB UK ,
2002
fabooadjective fabulous US , 1999
fabricnounclothing in generalUS , 1972
fabuliciousadjectivegood and good tasting Usually used to describe
a sexually appealing manUS , 1997
fabulousadjectiveused as a clichéd term of praiseUS , 1997
facenoun1makeupUK , 1946.2pride, self-esteem, confidence,
repu-tation, standingUK , 1876.3a known criminalUS , 1944.4in racecourse
gambling, a bettor who is believed to have useful information
regarding the likely outcome of a race A bookmakers’ usageUK ,
2001.5a leading member of the Mod youth fashion movementUK ,
1964.6in professional wrestling, a wrestler who is designed by the
promoters to be seen by the audience as the hero Short for
BABYFACE US , 1990.7a professional pool player who is well known
and recognised, making it impossible for him to make a living
betting with unsuspecting amateursUS , 1990.8a stranger; any
personUS , 1946.9used as a term of addressUK , 1891.10oral sexUS ,
1968.11in betting, odds of 5–2 From theTICK-TACKsignal used by
bookmakersUK , 1991.12a clock or watchUS , 1959.< between the
face and eyeswhere a blow or shocking news hitsUS , 1975.
< feed your face; stuff your faceto eat, especially to eat
hungrily or in an ill-mannered wayUK , 1939.< in your face
adversarial, confrontationalUS , 1976.< off your facedrunk or
drug-intoxicated Variation ofOFF YOUR HEAD UK , 2001.< your face
(and) my arsea catchphrase response to a smoker’s request,
‘Have you got a match?’UK , 1984
faceverbto humiliateUS , 1983.< face the breezein horse racing,
to be in the position immediately behind and outside the leader
US , 1997
face!used as the stinging finale to a deliberate insult Youth slang
US , 1979
face-achenounused, generally, as a disparaging form of address
Harsher when used behind someone’s backUK , 1937
face as long as a wet Sundaynounused for describing an
expression of depression or sadnessCANADA , 1984
face bubblenounin motorcyling, a plastic shield attached to the
facedadjective1drunkUS , 1968.2under the influence of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUS , 1998.3embarrassed, humiliated Youth slangUS , 1993
face-fartverbto burpNEW ZEALAND , 1982
face-fuckingnounoral sex, from an active perspectiveUS , 1996
face fungusnounwhiskers, men’s facial hairUK , 1907
face jobnouncosmetic surgery designed to alter your appearance
US , 1982
face lacenounwhiskersUS , 1927
faceliftnounin the used car business, the procedure of turning back the miles on the mileometer (odometer)US , 1997
face like a bag of arsesnounan ugly face A variation ofFACE LIKE
A BAG OF SPANNERS UK , 2003
face like a bag of spannersnouna hard and rough face, mostly used when describing a woman Recorded as used by a man describing his mother-in-lawUK , 1975
face like a bulldognounan ugly face, mostly applied to a girl or woman Embellishments abound, such as ‘face like a bulldog chewing a wasp’ or ‘face like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle’UK , 2003
face like a dyin’ calfnouna morose, sorrowful lookCANADA , 1988
face like a leper licking piss off a thistlenounan ugly face, mostly applied to a girl or womanUK , 2003
face like a slapped arsenouna very miserable-looking countenanceUK , 1999
face-offnounan ejaculation of semen onto a lover’s faceUS , 2003
face-plantnouna face-first fall; in snowboarding, a face-first fall into the snowUS , 1984
faces and spacesnounjoint consideration of equipment and personnel for the field and non-field positions Military usageUS , 1986
face-shotnounan air-to-air guided missileUS , 1991
face timenountime spent in a meeting or conversation with an important or influential person; time spent on televisionUS , 1991
face trainnounserial oral sex, from the point of view of the providerUS , 2001
facetyadjectiverude, arrogantJAMAICA , 1943
face-up massagenounan erotic massageCANADA , 2002
face-wellynouna gas mask Conventional ‘face’ combined with
‘welly’ (a protective rubber boot) Royal Air Force useUK , 2002
faceyadjectiveindicating criminal qualities FromFACE(a known criminal)UK , 2000
fachivanounheroinUK , 2003
facialnoun1ejaculation onto a person’s face Depictions of the act
in pornographic films and photographs promise great pleasure to the recipientUS , 1993.2in rugby, an aggressive rubbing of the face
of a tackled opponentNEW ZEALAND , 1998
fackingadjectiveused as an intensifier A variant spelling of ‘fucking’ based on London Cockney pronunciationUK , 2001
factoidnouna fact, especially when superfluously or gratuitously givenUK , 2003
factornounin horse racing, a horse who is contending for the lead
in a raceUS , 1960
factorynoun1a police stationUK , 1891.2the equipment needed to inject drugsUS , 1971.< the factorythe theatre Jocular usage by