Formed on FAGa homosexualUS, 1949.2a prison, especially one with a large homosexual populationUS, 1992 fagged out; faggedadjectiveexhaustedUK, 1785 faggingnounmale homosexual anal-interc
Trang 1factory drivernounin motor racing, a driver officially representing
a car manufacturerUS, 1980
fac-Unicknameduring the Vietnam war, the forward air controller
training facility in Phan Rhang The FAC from ‘forward air
controller’, the U from ‘university’, and the combination from a
sense of mischiefUS, 1942
fadenoun1a departureUS, 1942.2a black person who tries to lose
his identity as a black person and to assume an identity more
pleasing to the dominant white societyUS, 1970.3a white person
US, 1972.4a haircut style in which the sides of the head are closely
cut and the top of the head is not Also heard as a ‘fadie’US, 1989
fadeverb1to leave, to disappearUS, 1899.2to idle; to waste timeUS,
1968.3to match the bet of another gambler; to bet against
another gambler’s successUS, 1890.4to buy part of somethingUS,
2004.5to deal with, to handleUS, 1972 < fade a beefto cause a
complaint or criminal charge to be removedUS, 1976
fadeawaynounin hot rodding, a design feature that blends the
front fender back into the car bodyUS, 1954
fade awayverbto become quietUS, 1947
fadedadjective1drunkUS, 1998.2drug-intoxicatedUS, 1998
fade-outnouna disappearanceUS, 1918
faff about; faff aroundverbto mess about; to waste time on
matters of no importance An apparent euphemism forFUCKbut
originally British dialect faffle with the same sense UK, 1874
fagnoun1a male homosexual Shortened from ‘faggot’US, 1921.2a
cigarette, a cigarette buttUK, 1888.3a despicable, unlikeable person
No allegation of homosexuality is inherent in this usageUS, 1982
8see:FAG PACKET
fag aroundverb(of presumptively heterosexual male friends) to joke
around or engage in horseplayUS, 1997
fag-bagverbto rob a homosexual manUS, 1977
fag-baitnounan effeminate boy or young manUS, 1974
fag banglenouna homosexual man who accompanies a
heterosex-ual woman Derives from the purely decorative effect of the
relationshipUK, 2002
fag factorynoun1a place where homosexuals gather Formed on
FAG(a homosexual)US, 1949.2a prison, especially one with a large
homosexual populationUS, 1992
fagged out; faggedadjectiveexhaustedUK, 1785
faggingnounmale homosexual anal-intercourseUS, 1996
faggishadjectiveeffeminate, blatantly homosexualUS, 1958
faggotnouna male homosexualUS, 1914
Faggot Flatsnicknamea neighbourhood in Los Angeles, south of the
Sunset Strip and north of Santa Monica BoulevardUS, 1969
faggot roadnouna road topped with sapling bundlesCANADA, 1956
faggotrynounmale homosexuality; male homosexual practicesUS,
1970
faggot’s lunch boxnouna jock strap; an athletic supportUS, 1964
faggot’s mollnouna heterosexual woman who seeks and enjoys the
company of homosexual menUS, 1969
faggoty; faggottyadjectiveobviously homosexualUS, 1927
faggyadjectiveeffeminate, blatantly homosexualUS, 1949
fag hagnoun1a female cigarette smoker Teen slang, formed onFAG
(a cigarette) Noted by a Toronto newspaper in 1946, and reported
as ‘obsolescent or obsolete’ in 1959 This sense of the term is long
forgotten in the US but not the UKUS, 1944.2a woman who seeks
and enjoys the company of male homosexuals Formed onFAG(a
homosexual) At times now used with derision, at times with
affectionUS, 1965
fag-haternouna person with a pathological dislike for homosexuals
US, 1979
Faginnoun1a leader of thieves After the character created by
Charles Dickens in Oliver Twist, 1837 US, 1976.2in pool, a person
who backs a player financially in his betsUS, 1990
fag loop
fag magnouna magazine marketed to homosexuals A compound
ofFAG(a homosexual) andMAG(a magazine)UK, 2003
fag mollnouna woman who keeps company with homosexual men
US, 1973
fagolanouna homosexualUS, 1961
fag outverbto go to bedUS, 1968
fag packet; fagnouna jacket Rhyming slangUK, 1992
fag rollernouna criminal who preys on homosexual victimsUS, 1962
fag shownounin the circus or carnival, a performance by female impersonatorsUS, 1980
fag tagnouna loop on the back of a man’s shirtUS, 1980
failure to floatnoundrowning or near drowningUS, 1994
failure to flya tag applied to failed suicides Medical slangUK, 2002
fainits!; fain I!; fains!; fain it!; faynights!; fainites!used to call
a playground truce Schoolchildren’s use, probably from conven-tional ‘feign’ (to pretend) hence ‘to shirk’, ‘to evade’; often used in conjunction with a fingers-crossed gesture, the middle finger twisted over and around the forefinger, in the traditional sign of the cross, hence the call for truce may actually be a plea for sanctuary derived from conventional ‘fen’, corrupted from French
fend (to forbid); note also ‘forfend’ (to protect) as in the phrase
‘Heaven forfend’UK, 1870
fainting fits; faintingsnounthe female breasts Rhyming slangUK, 1972
faintsnounin the illegal production of alcohol, low-proof distillateUS, 1974
fairadjective1(used of a gang fight) without weaponsUS, 1965.
2absolute; totalAUSTRALIA, 1960
fairbankverbin a gambling cheating scheme, to let a victim win at first, increasing his confidence before cheating himUS, 1961
fair bollixnouna fair deal, a just proportion Variation ofFAIR DO’S
IRELAND, 2000
fair bucknounused as a plea for fair treatmentNEW ZEALAND, 1998
fair cownounan annoying person or circumstanceAUSTRALIA, 1904
fair crack of the whipnounfair treatment, equal opportunity To give someone a ‘fair crack of the whip’ is to deal fairly with that personAUSTRALIA, 1929
fair crack of the whip!be fair!AUSTRALIA, 1924
fair dinksadverbhonestlyAUSTRALIA, 1983
fair dinkumadjective1displaying typical Australian characteristics, such as honesty, directness, guts, sense of humour and the like
AUSTRALIA, 1937.2real; actualAUSTRALIA, 1937.3serious; in earnest
AUSTRALIA, 1934.4fair; honest; equitableAUSTRALIA, 1947.5true; genuineAUSTRALIA, 1908
fair dinkumadverb1honestly; really; seriously; in all truth First recorded in 1881 from the dialect of north Lincolnshire as an exclamation equivalent to ‘fair play!’, in which usage it had a brief
life in Australia from 1890 to 1924 (Australian National Dictionary)
AUSTRALIA, 1894.2totally; properly; well and trulyAUSTRALIA, 1918.
3fairlyAUSTRALIA, 1947
fair do’s; fair duesnounfair and just treatment A plural of ‘do’ as action (deeds), sometimes confused with ‘dues’ (requirements) without substantially altering the senseUK, 1859
fair enoughnouna homosexual Rhyming slang forPUFF(a homo-sexual); probably coined as an elaboration ofFAIRY(a homosexual)
UK, 1992
fair enough!used for expressing agreementUK, 1926
fair fight; fair onenouna fight between members of rival gangs in which weapons or at least lethal weapons are forbiddenUS, 1950
fair fucksnouncredit, meritIRELAND, 1992
fair gonounan act or instance of just treatment; a fair or reasonable opportunityAUSTRALIA, 1904
fair go!1be fair!AUSTRALIA, 1938.2this is true!NEW ZEALAND, 1976
fair go?indeed?
Trang 2fair go, spinner!in the gambling game two-up, used as a call
signifying that the coins are to be tossedAUSTRALIA, 1945
fairiesnoun< away with the fairiesday-dreaming, possibly
drug-intoxicated; mentally deranged; out of this worldIRELAND, 1996
fair play!used for expressing appreciation Probably from the Welsh
chwarae teg, used as an expression of approval by English-speaking
WelshUK, 2001
fair shakenoun 8see:EVEN SHAKE
fair suck of the pineapple!used for registering surprise or
complaint A humorous variation ofFAIR CRACK OF THE WHIP
AUSTRALIA, 1971
fair suck of the sauce bottle!be fair!AUSTRALIA, 1972
fair suck of the sauce sticknounfair treatment, equal opportunity
AUSTRALIA, 1971
fair to middlingadjectiveaverage, especially in reply to an inquiry
about your health or situationUK, 1889
fairynoun1a male homosexualUS, 1895.2an avionics tradesman in
the Royal Air ForceUK, 2002
fairy dustnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP
or angel dustUS, 1993
fairy hawknouna criminal who preys on homosexualsUS, 1988
fairylandnoun1any roadside park So named because of the belief
that homosexuals congregate at roadside parks in search of sexual
partnersUS, 1971.2a colour light multiple aspect gantry (a railway
signal)UK, 1970
fairy loopnouna cloth loop on the back of a man’s shirtUS, 1970
fairy powdernounany powdered drugUS, 1992
fairy story; fairynouna Tory (Conservative); a Tory politician
Rhyming slangUK, 1992
fairy wandnouna cigarette holderUS, 1963
fakenoun1in a magic act, a piece of equipment that has been
altered for use in a trickUS, 1981.2a swindler; a confidence manUK,
1884.3a medicine dropper used by an intravenous drug user to
inject the drug At times embellished as ‘fakus’US, 1973.4an
erectionUK, 2002
fakeverb1to deceiveUK, 1859.2to falsify for the purposes of
deceptionUK, 1851.3to make, to doUK, 2002.4to hit PolariUK, 1933.
5to play music by earUS, 1926 < fake itusually of a woman, to
pretend to experience an orgasm during sexual intercourseUS, 1989.
< fake it till you make itin twelve-step recovery programmes
such as Alcoholics Anonymous, used as a slogan to encourage
recovering addicts to modify their behaviour immediately, with
their emotional recovery to followUS, 1998
fakeadjectiveused in combination with a noun to denote an
artificially constructed article, e.g ‘fake hair’ for a wigUK, 2002
fake bakenouna suntan acquired in an indoor tanning boothUS,
1991
fake booknouna book of chords used by musicians who improvise
off the basic chordsUS, 1970
fakementnoun1personal adornment such as jewellery or makeup
Extends an earlier theatrical sense as ‘face-paint’UK, 2002.2a thing;
used of something the name of which escapes youUK, 2002
fake outverbto bluff, to dupeUS, 1949
fake riah; fashioned riahnouna wig A combination ofFAKEor
‘fashioned’ (made/artificial) andRIAH(the hair)UK, 2002
fakesnounbreast implantsUS, 1997
fakienoun1in foot-propelled scootering, a travelling backwards
manoeuvre, usually performed with only the rear wheel in contact
with the groundUK, 2000.2in skateboarding, a travelling-backwards
manoeuvreUK, 1996
fallnounan arrest and/or conviction In the US often formed as ‘take
a fall’, in the UK ‘get a fall’US, 1893
fallverb1to be arrestedUS, 1873.2of police and shop detectives, to
arriveAUSTRALIA, 1975.3to come; to goUS, 1943.4to become
pregnantUK, 1722 < fall into the bottleto become a drunkard
< fall off a mango treeto be extremely naive
AND TOBAGO, 1991 < fall off the roofto start the bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS, 1973 < fall on the grenadein a social situation, to pay attention to the less attractive of a pair of friends
in the hope that your friend will have success with the more attractive member of the pairUS, 2002
fall aboutverbto laugh immoderatelyUK, 1967
Fallbrook redhairnounmarijuana purportedly grown near Fallbrook, CaliforniaUS, 1992
fall byverbto visitUS, 1965
fall downverbto fail at somethingUS, 1899
fallenatnitenounused as a mock scientific name for a stone
CANADA, 1989
fallen off the back of a lorry; fell off a lorry; off the back of
a lorryadjectivestolen (not necessarily from a vehicle) A pretence
at discretion which advertises a conspiratorial acknowledgment of
an article’s ill-gotten provenance; well known in the latter half of C20UK, 1977
fall forverb1to be greatly attracted by someone or something, to fall in love with someone; in a less positive sense, to be taken in
by someone or somethingUS, 1903.2to become pregnantUK, 1968
fall guynouna person who is set up to be blamed for a crime FromFALL(an arrest/a conviction)US, 1904
fall inverb1to join; to stayUS, 1952.2in horse racing, to barely hold off challengers and win a raceAUSTRALIA, 1989
fall intoverbto acquire by chance or without effortUS, 1946
fall moneynounmoney placed in reserve by a criminal for use if arrestedUS, 1893
fall onverbto become pregnantUK, 1976
fall outverb1to be overcome with emotionUS, 1938.2to lose consciousness due to a drug overdoseUS, 1959
fall partnernouna confederate with whom you have been arrested
US, 1969
fallsnoun< over the fallssaid of a surfer carried over the breaking edge of a waveUS, 1964
fall scratchnounmoney set aside to cover expenses incurred in the event of an arrestUS, 1969
fall togsnounconservative, traditional clothing worn by a seasoned criminal on trial to improve his chances with the jury or judgeUS, 1962
fall upverbto go toUS, 1952
false!used for expressing doubt about the truth of the matter just assertedUS, 1989
false alarmnounthe arm Rhyming slang, always used in its full form to avoid confusion with ‘falses’ andFALSIES(breast enhancements)UK, 1992
falsie basketnouncrotch padding worn by males to project the image of a large penisUS, 1957
falsiesnounpads that aggrandise the apparent size of a girl or woman’s breastsUS, 1943
falsitudenouna lieUS, 2001
falsynouna chipped marbleTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
famnoun1the hand English gypsy useUK, 1699.2a family Also recorded in the USAUSTRALIA, 1996
familynouna group of prostitutes and their pimpUS, 1969 < in the family waypregnantUK, 1796
familyadjectivehomosexualUS, 1994
family jewelsnounthe male genitalsUS, 1922
family potnounin poker, a hand in which most of the players are still betting at the end of the handUS, 1990
family reunionnounin trucking, a meeting of several drivers for one company at a truck stopUS, 1971
family-styleadjective(used of parts in a manufacturing plant) stored togetherUS, 1955
famine a lack of availability of an addictive drug
Trang 3famous dimesnouncrack cocaineUS, 1994
Famous Fourthnicknamethe Fourth Army Division, US ArmyUS, 1991
famous last wordsa catchphrase used as an expression of doubt
regarding the certainty of whatever has just been promisedUK, 1948
fannoun1the preliminary touching of a targeted victim by a
pickpocketUS, 1958.2crack cocaineUS, 1993
fanverbto beat; to spankUK, 1785
fanacnounan activity for a serious fanUS, 1978
fananny whackernouna person who cheats at marbles by
encroaching over the shooting lineAUSTRALIA, 1977
fananny whackingnouncheating at marbles by edging your hand
over the shooting lineAUSTRALIA, 1985
fan belt inspectornounan agent of the Federal Bureau of
Investigations A back formation from the initials FBIUS, 1971
fancomnouna convention put on by fansUS, 1976
fancynouna man’s dress shirt with a coloured patternUS, 1986
fancyverb1to desire, to wish for, to wantUK, 1598.2to desire
sexually; to find sexually attractive From the more general sense,
‘to desire’; the sexual shadings were evident by Shakespeare’s
time It slipped into current usage towards the end of C19UK, 1635.
< fancy the muff off; fancy the tits off; fancy the pants
offto find a woman extremely desirable Intensification ofFANCY
(to desire) by specifiyingMUFF(the vagina),TIT(S) (the female
breasts) or ‘pants’ (underwear)UK, 2000 < fancy your chances;
fancy your chanceto presume that your charm or skill will
suffice to achieve successUK, 1962 < fancy yourselfto have too
high an opinion of yourself (probably) Shortened from the
con-ventional ‘fancy yourself as’ or ‘fancy yourself to be something’UK,
1866
fancy!; fancy that!used as an exclamation of surprise Often as an
imperative; however, when spoken disinterestedly, it may be used
to quench another’s excitementUK, 1813
fancy boynounin poker, a draw in the hope of completing a hand
that is extremely unlikelyUS, 1967
fancy Dannounan elegant, conceited manUS, 1943
fancy-DanadjectivepretentiousUS, 1938
fancy mannouna man who lives off the earnings of a prostitute or
several prostitutes; a male loverUK, 1811
fancy pantsnouna dandy; a pretentious, superior, self-important
personUS, 1934
Fancy PantsnicknameAnthony Joseph ‘A.J.’ Hoyt (b.1935), a stock
car racing driver who dominated the sport in the US during the
1950s and 60s Derived from Hoyt’s fastidious dressing habits,
alluding to a Bob Hope film of the eraUS, 1999
fancy womannouna kept mistress; a female lover Often used of a
man’s woman friend to disapprove of an implied immoralityUK,
1812
fandabidozi!wonderful! A catchphrase coined by comedy
double-act The Krankies; it has some (mainly ironic) currency Seen, in
2004, as the slogan on a tee-shirt and the message on a greetings
cardUK, 1978
fan dancernouna sexual dancer or striptease performer who
employs a large fan in her dance Most famously exemplified by
Sally Rand (real name Harriet Helen ‘Hazel’ Gould Beck), who
popularised the style at the 1933 Chicago Century of Progress
World FairUS, 1936
fandangeeadjectiveoverdressed or otherwise assuming an air of
superiorityTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
fanednounthe editor of a single-interest fan magazineUS, 1982
fanficnounfurther stories and adventures for characters in familiar
television programmes and films written for pleasure by fans of
the original, especially widespread on the Internet From ‘fan
fiction’ US, 1998
fan fucknouna heterosexual pornographic film in which male fans
of the female pornography star are selected to have sex with her
fangnoun1a biteAUSTRALIA, 1988.2eatingAUSTRALIA, 1957.3a drive taken at high speed FromFANG(to drive fast)AUSTRALIA, 1970
fangverb1to drive fast Said to be from Juan Fangio, 1911–95, Argentine racing car driver, but since the ‘g’ in Fangio is pronounced as a ‘j’ some question is thrown over this origin
AUSTRALIA, 1969.2to yell furiouslyUS, 1962
fang downverbto eatAUSTRALIA, 1996
fang mannouna man who is a hearty eaterAUSTRALIA, 1982
fangsnounmusical ability An outgrowth of ‘chops’US, 1958 < put the fangs into ask for a loan of moneyAUSTRALIA, 1919
fan keynounthe command key on a Macintosh computer From the symbol on the key, which can be seen to resemble the blades
of a fanUS, 1997
fannernoun1a pickpocket Likely a variant ofFINGER US , 1950.2a fan dancerUS, 1981
fannersin a child’s game, pronounced to ward off another child’s claim to half of something The game, under the name ‘halfies’ or
‘halvers’, is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘very old’
CANADA, 1987
fannynoun1the vagina A popular female name, possibly combined with the vulvic symbolism of a fan-light (a loosely triangular
opening) It is worth noting that John Cleland’s The Memoirs of Fanny Hill features a sexually active heroine; however its
publi-cation in 1749 is about a hundred years before ‘fanny’ came to be used in this senseUK, 1879.2a woman objectified sexually From the previous senseUK, 1997.3the buttocksUS, 1919.4a story, liesUK, 1933
fannyverbto talk glibly, especially to talk until a crowd has gathered Recorded in use among market tradersUK, 1949
fanny about; fanny aroundverbto waste time, to idleUK, 1971
Fanny Adams; sweet Fanny Adams; sweet Miss Adams; sweet FA; FA; fannynounnothing at all From the brutal and maniacal murder, on 24th August 1867, of 8-year-old Fanny Adams, at Alton in Hampshire Parts of her body were found over several days in different parts of the rural countryside Upset with the tinned mutton that they were being served, British sailors in
1869 began to refer to the tins as containing the butchered contents of ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’ It evolved into a suggestion of
‘fuck’, or ‘nothing’, and has been used in that sense in the C20UK, 1914
fanny batternounvaginal secretionsUK, 2002
fannyboonounthe vagina Childish elaboration ofFANNY(the vagina)US, 1998
Fanny Cradock; Fanny Craddocknouna haddock Rhyming slang, formed from the name of Fanny Cradock, 1909–94, still remembered as the intimidating (now iconic) presenter of 1950s and 60s television cookery programmes; the second version, as recorded by Ray Puxley in 1992, is a popular misspelling of her nameUK, 1992
fanny fartnounan eruption of trapped air from the vagina, usually during sexual intercourseAUSTRALIA, 1987
fanny farternouna woman who can execute fanny fartsAUSTRALIA, 1987
fanny-flapsnounthe vaginal labiaUK, 2003
Fanny Hillnouna pill, especially ‘the pill’ (a contraceptive) Rhyming
slang, formed from the title of John Cleland’s erotic novel The Memoirs of Fanny Hill, 1749 Presumed to be a 1960s’ coinage as
Cleland’s classic was controversially republished at the same time
as the contraceptive pill was being introducedUK, 1992
Fanny Hillnicknamethe Los Angeles County women’s jailUS, 1981
fanny lipsnoun the vaginal lips; the labium majora or minora A
combination ofFANNY(the vagina; the vulva) and the conventional translation of ‘labium’UK, 2002
fanny merchantnouna glib talkerUK, 1998
fanny on; fannyverbto talk with the intention to persuade or deceiveUK, 1949
fanny pelmet
Trang 4fanny quacknouna gynaecologist A combination ofFANNY(the
vagina) andQUACK(a doctor)UK, 1999
fanny ragnouna sanitary towelAUSTRALIA, 1985
fan onverbto decline an offerUS, 1997
fanoogie; fenugienounduring the Vietnam war, a soldier freshly
arrived in Vietnam A back formation fromFNG(FUCKING NEW GUY)
US, 1991
fantabulosa; fabulosaadjectivewonderful Arch elaborations of
‘fabulous’UK, 1967
fantabulousadjectivevery good A blend of ‘fantastic’ and ‘fabulous’
Contemporary UK gay usageUS, 1958
fantasianoun1a variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best
known as ecstasyUK, 1996.2DMT (dimethyltryptamine), a powerful
but short-lasting hallucinogenUK, 2004
fantasticadjectiveexcellent, almost excellent, very good, merely good
US, 1929
fantastic buynounin poker, a card drawn to make a strong hand in
a heavily bet situationUS, 1988
fantasynounthe recreational drug GHB Coined, no doubt, as an
attractive marketing brand; it also stresses GHB’s relation to
FANTASIA(ECSTASY)US, 1999
fantidilysasticadjectivegreat A teenage invention of the 1960sNEW
ZEALAND, 1998
fanzinenounan inexpensively self-published magazine devoted to
such topics as hobbies, music, film and politics A combination of
‘fantasy’ and ‘magazine’; originally a magazine produced for
science fiction fans but adopted by and produced by fans of any
topic imaginableUS, 1949
FAQnoun frequently asked questions A real-life acquisition from the
Internet, where FAQ files were created as a resource of informative
and regularly updated information; gently punning on ‘fact’
On-screen the acronym is both singular and plural; in speech the
plural is generally indicated by the addition of an ‘s’US, 1989
FARnouna hard and fast ruleUS, 1991
far and nearnounbeer Rhyming slang; glossed as C19, but
remains a familiar term, perhaps because of its neat reversal with
NEAR AND FAR(a bar)UK, 1960
farangnouna foreigner Vietnamese, borrowed by US soldiersUS, 1949
farbulousadjectiveused approvingly of up-to-the-moment followers
of fashion and the trendy clothes they wear; used disapprovingly
of wardrobe items worn by historical re-enactors that post-date the
intended period A blend ofFAR OUTand fabulousUK, 2005
farenouna prostitute’s client Both heterosexual and homosexual
usageUK, 1959
fark‘fuck’, in all its senses The word ‘fuck’ as filtered through the
Australian accentAUSTRALIA, 1971
farmnoun< back to the farmlaid off due to lack of workUS, 1946
farmernounan unsophisticated personUS, 1864 < I could eat a
farmer’s arse through a hedgeused as a declaration of great
hungerUK: SCOTLAND, 1988
Farmer Giles; farmersnounhaemorrhoids Rhyming slang for
‘piles’ Used in Australia and the UKUK, 1955
farmer’s setnounin dominoes, the 6–4 pieceUS, 1964
farmer tannouna suntanned face, neck and lower armsUS, 1996
farm outverbto delegate to anotherUK, 1862
farmyard confettinounnonsense A probable play onBULLSHIT;a
later variation ofCOW(YARD)CONFETTIandFLEMINGTON CONFETTI
AUSTRALIA, 1973
far outadjective1excellent, innovative, creative, daring Originally a
jazz term with an emphasis on ‘experimental’, and then in general
use with a more general meaningUS, 1954.2drug-intoxicatedUS, 1961
farshtinkener; fushtookanahadjectivestinking From German to
Yiddish to American slangUS, 1968
farsightedadjectivesaid of a restaurant waiter or waitress who is
far southnounAntarcticaANTARCTICA, 1881
fartnoun1an anal emission of gases From Chaucer in 1386 through to the present dayUK, 1386.2an unlikeable, even contemptible personUK, 1891.3used as a symbol of contemptUK,
1685 < a fart in a thunderstormsomething of negligible worth
or impactUK, 1989 < a fart in a windstorma fuss made over something unimportant Several variations on, including ‘fart in a whirlwind’ 1963CANADA, 1963 < like a fart in a trancelistless, distracted, indecisiveUK, 1985 < the fartsan attack of flatulence
UK, 1998
fartverbto produce an anal emission of gases, to break windUK, 1250.
< fart the Star-spangled Bannerto do everything that is required and more An ironic claim to super-capability, usually made in addition to a list of everything ordinarily requiredUS, 1998.
< fart through silkto live a life of luxury and easeUS, 1927
fart aboutverbto waste time foolishlyUK, 1900
fart alongverbto dawdleUK, 1998
fart aroundverbto waste timeUS, 1931
fart arsenouna fool, a useless person ContemptuousUK, 2000
fart-arseverbto spend time unproductively; to idleAUSTRALIA, 1971
fart-arse aboutverbto waste time very foolishly An intensification
ofFART ABOUT UK , 1984
fart blossomnouna despicable personUS, 1938
fartbreathnouna despicable personUS, 1974
fart-catchernouna male homosexualUK, 1967
farternoun1a person who fartsUK, 1580.2the anusAUSTRALIA, 1992
fart-facenouna despicable personUS, 1938
fartheadnouna despicable personUS, 1962
fartholenouna despicable person or thingUS, 1972
fart hooknouna worthless, useless personUS, 1973
fartingadjectivetrifling, contemptible, insubstantialUK, 2001
farting spellnoun1a moment, a pauseUK, 1998.2a loss of temper From the previous sense (a moment) via ‘to have a moment’ (to experience a short-lived change of equanimity)UK, 1998
fart-knockernoun1a despicable personUS, 1952.2an incompetent blunderer Used with humour and often affectionUS, 1952
fartleberriesnoun1haemorrhoids From an image of faecal remnants that cling to anal hair Royal Navy slangUK, 1989.2small pieces of faeces clinging to anal hairs Also variant ‘fart-o-berries’
UK, 1785
fartsnoun< the fartsan attack of flatulenceUK, 1998
fart sacknoun1a bedUS, 1992.2a sleeping bagUS, 1943
fartsuckernouna despicable personUK, 1891
fartyadjectiveflatulence-inducingUK, 1975
fascinomanouna medical case that is unusual and thus interesting
US, 1994
fascist; fascisticadjectivedescriptive of a computer program with security walls or usage policies that the speaker finds excessiveUS, 1991
fascistsnounthe police Used by late 1980s–early 90s counterculture travellersUK, 1999
fashadjectivefashionableAUSTRALIA, 1988
fa’sheezy 8see:FO’SHEEZY
fash hagnoun a follower of fashion Modelled onFAG HAG (a woman who seeks the company of gay men)UK, 2003
fashion casualtynounsomeone in the thrall of clothes-designers’ more ridiculous excesses A variation ofFASHION VICTIM UK , 1999
fashionistanounsomeone who dictates, or is in the vanguard of, trendinessUK, 2001
fashion victimnounsomeone in the thrall of fashion designers’ more ridiculous excesses; often applied, loosely, to someone who
is conspicuously expensively dressedUK, 1984
fash mag a fashion magazine
Trang 5fash packnouna loose categorisation of pre-eminent people in the
fashion industry Modelled onRAT PACKand subsequent gangs, real
and imaginedUK, 2002
fastadjectiveoverly concerned with the affairs of othersTRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO, 2003 < as fast as lightning over Cubavery fastCAYMAN
ISLANDS, 1985 < faster than the mill-tails of hellmoving very,
very fastCANADA, 1999 < get fastin a criminal enterprise, to cheat
a partner out of money or goodsUS, 1987 < so fast he’s goin’
like greased lightnin’ thru a gooseberry bushused for
indi-cating great speed Note the alliteration goin’, greased,
gooseberry which is often characteristic of Nova Scotia slang
CANADA, 1988
fastadverbin gambling, betting large amounts without fear of loss
US, 1974
fast and out of placeadjectiveemphatically over-concerned with
the affairs of othersTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
fast birdnounin Vietnam, a high-speed attack jet aircraftUS, 1991
fast bucknounmoney that is easily earned, especially if done so
illicitlyUS, 1949
fast burnernouna person who is advancing quickly through the
ranks US Air Force usageUS, 1986
fast-countverbto shortchangeUS, 1949
fastened upadjectiveimprisonedUK, 2000
fast innoun1MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
UK, 2003.2amphetaminesUK, 2003
fast lanenouna lifestyle showing no regard for the futureUS, 1976
fast-mouthadjectivefond of talkingTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
fast movernounin Vietnam, a jet aircraftUS, 1972
fast onenouna trick intended to deceive or defraud, usually in the
phrase ‘pull a fast one’US, 1923
fast pillnounin horse racing, a stimulant given to a horseUS, 1947
fast sheet setupnounan apartment or motel that caters to
prostitutes and their customersUS, 1969
fast shufflenouna swindle; a deceptive actUS, 1930
fast stuff; fast; go-fastnounamphetamines, speedUK, 1996
fast-talking Charlienouna Jewish person, or someone who is
thought to be JewishUS, 1980
fast timenoundaylight saving timeCANADA, 1953
fatnoun1an erectionAUSTRALIA, 1941.2a fattened cow or bull ready
for marketAUSTRALIA, 1888.3used as a euphemism in place of ‘fuck’
BERMUDA, 1985
fatadjective1goodUS, 1951.2wealthyUK, 1699.3(used of a fuel
mixture) too rich Biker (motorcyle) usageUS, 2001.4(used of a part
in a dramatic production) demanding, challenging, rewardingUS,
1973.5when said of a military unit, over-staffed Vietnam war usage
US, 1977.6(ironically) slim; little Especially in the phrases ‘fat
chance’ and ‘fat hopes’AUSTRALIA, 1938.7out of fashion,
old-fashionedUK, 1980
fat Albert; Bertnicknameany exceptionally large aircraft, especially
a Boeing 737, a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy or a Lockheed C-130
Hercules The Boeing 737 was first manufactured in 1967: The
Lockheed C-130 was delivered into service in 1970 The first
Lockheed C-5A was delivered in late 1969US, 1994
fat and widenouna bride Rhyming slang, from a playground
vari-ation of ‘Here Comes the Bride’UK, 1992
Fat Arse Brigadenouncollectively, the older women who support
the People’s National Movement party in TrinidadTRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO, 1977
fat-arsedadjectivebroad-bottomed; hence, wealthyUK, 1937
fat assnouna fat personUS, 1931
fat-assadjectiveof impressive dimensionsUS, 1993
fatbackadjectivelacking sophistication, rusticUS, 1934
fat bagsnouncrack cocaine UK, 1998
fat bastard an overweight person
fat boy boxnouna box with enough packaged food to last several days in the wildernessUS, 2000
Fatboy Slim; Fatboynouna gym Popney rhyming slang, based on the stage name of musician and DJ Norman Cook (b.1963)
Popney was contrived for www.music365.co.uk, an Internet music
siteUK, 2001
fat catnoun1a wealthy, powerful, prominent individualUS, 1925.2an overpaid company director A specifically British usage of the more general US termUK, 1971
fatchanoun the face Polari, from Italian faccia UK, 2002
fatchaverbto shave, to apply cosmetics From the noun sense as
‘the face’UK, 2002
fat chancenounno chance at allUS, 1908
fat citynounsuccess, wealthUS, 1964
Fat Citynickname1Ottawa, Ontario, Canada’s capital city The name derives from the huge largess of taxpayer funds the city gets for museums, the Tulip Festival, the winter canal skating season, and
so forthCANADA, 2001.2the headquarters of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam, located in SaigonUS, 1991
fat devilnouna good-looking womanUS, 1978
fat farmnouna facility where people go to lose weight through a regime of exercise and proper dietUS, 1969
fat grrrlsnouna young, radical faction of the ‘fat acceptance movement’US, 1995
fat gutsnounnuts (the fruit) Rhyming slang, possibly deriving from
an effect of over-indulgenceUK, 1992
fatheadnoun1a foolUS, 1842.2a black person’s hair style in which the hair stands out from the headTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
fatheradjectiveexcellentBARBADOS, 1965
fatherfuckingadjectiveused as a variant of ‘motherfucking’US, 1963
father’s daynounthe day each month when fathers appear in court to make child support paymentsUS, 1973
Father-Son-Holy Ghost housenouna style of three-storey terraced house consisting of three rooms stacked verticallyUS, 1970
father’s t’other endnouna room built on the end of the house The odd word ‘t’other’ is a shortened form of ‘the other’ much used in southwestern Nova ScotiaCANADA, 1999
father timenoun1a criminal judge who is inclined to give long sentencesUS, 1950.2a prison wardenUS, 1949
fatiguenounteasing; good-natured insultsTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1904
fat jabbanoun 8see:JABBA
fat lipnouna fist blow to the mouthUS, 1944
fat lotnoun(ironically) little or noneUK, 1892
fatmouthverbto insult, to taunt, to tease, to trade barbsUS, 1962
fat-mouthedadjectiveloud-mouthedUS, 1952
fat onenoun1a substantial marijuana cigaretteUK, 1996.2a generous line of powdered cocaine, 2002
fat pantsnounwide-legged trousersTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1999
fat pappynouna large marijuana cigaretteUS, 1999
Fat Pillnoun(among Canadian forces personnel) a sweet snack
CANADA, 1995
fat pocketsnounwealthUS, 1997
fat ratnounthe US Army’s five-quart collapsible water bladderUS, 1990
fat-ratadjectiveeasy, privilegedUS, 1983
fatsnounfatigues, the military work uniformUS, 1990
fatsonounan obese person; used as a common nickname or rude term of address for an obese personUS, 1933
fat stuffnouna fat personUS, 1926
fat talknounexcessive boastingTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
fatten
Trang 6fattynoun1a fat person, often as an offensive name-calling,
sometimes as a nicknameUK, 1797.2an extra-large marijuana
ciga-rette Also variant ‘fattie’US, 1969
fattyadjectiveused of a pornographic categorisation that displays
obese performersUK, 2002
fat zero; big fat zeronounnothing at all, noneUK, 1976
faubourg; fauxbourgnounin Quebec, a suburb or a part of a city
keeping the old name; a large indoor shopping complex From the
French for ‘false town’, this term is in use in Montreal to
desig-nate the area known as the Faubourg de Melasse (where ships
loaded molasses) and the Faubourg, a complex of shops and
boutiques in the centre of townCANADA, 1967
faucet nosenounthe condition experienced by surfers who have
water forced up their nose while being pummelled by a waveUS,
1991
faunch; fawnchverbto complain vociferouslyUS, 1911
faustyadjectiveunpleasant, distasteful High school usageUS, 1961
faux-hawknouna hairstyle in which a central section (running from
front to back) is grown longer/higher than the hair on the rest of
the head Pronounced ‘fohawk’; this is a play on the ‘mohawk’
haircut (which this style approximates) and ‘faux’ (fake, artificial)
Footballer and style-icon David Beckham sported the style in the
summer of 2002US, 1996
fauxmosexualnouna homosexual who behaves in the manner of a
conventional heterosexual A compound of ‘faux’ (fake) and
‘homosexual’; as an aural pun only the first consonant is changed
UK, 2003
favnounin horse racing, the horse with the shortest odds to win a
race An abbreviation of ‘favourite’US, 1960
fave; favadjective favourite A term with a definite teen magazine
flavourUS, 1921
fave ravenouna notably favourite person or thing, especially with
relation to the creative artsUS, 1967
favourite; favouritesadjectiveexcellentUK, 1943
fawmynoun a ring English gypsy use, from earlier fawny UK, 2000
fawntynouna car in a poor state of repair In Glasgow this is a
humorous ‘brand name’UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
faxnounfactsUK, 1837
faynouna white CaucasianUS, 1927
fayadjective1homosexualUS, 1928.2white, CaucasianUS, 1927
Fayette-NamnicknameFayetteville, North Carolina, home of Fort
Bragg and the US Special ForcesUS, 1987
faygelehnouna male homosexual Yiddish, literally ‘little bird’US,
1968
fazeverbto surprise, to disconcertUS, 1830
fazoolnounone dollarUS, 1979
f beep beep k‘fuck’ in any useINDIA, 2002
FBInoun1fat, black and ignorant Used in ritualistic insults US, 1971.
2used for describing people of East Indian origin An initialism for
‘fat-belly Indian’, ‘fat-bottom Indian’, ‘fine-boned Indian’, or any
number of similar constructionsTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003.3an
informer UK black prison slangUK, 2002.4a Filipino An
abbrevi-ation of ‘full-blooded Ilocano’ Ilocano is a dialect spoken in the
Philippines; among Hawaiian youth, the term applies to any
Filipino, no matter what dialect, if any, they speakUS, 1982
F bombnounthe word ‘fuck’, especially when used in a setting
where such profanity is not expectedUS, 1988
FDAMnoun an occasion for ostentatious dress For ‘First Day at (the)
Marina’ CANADA, 1995
fearnoun< put the fear of God intoto terrifyUK, 1905
fearin twelve-step recovery programmes such as Alcoholics
Anonymous, used as an acronym for an addict’s choices – fuck
everything and run, or face everything and recover US, 1998
fearful
fearfullyadverbvery, greatly Dated but still familiar, especially in the works of P G WodehouseUK, 1835
Feargal Sharkeynouna black person Rhyming slang forDARKY,
formed from the name of a (white) Irish singer born in 1958UK, 1998
feastyadjectiveexcellent Teen slangUS, 1958
featherverb1in hot rodding, to operate the accelerator in a controlled, light mannerUS, 1965.2in horse racing, a light jockeyUS,
1951.3in pool, to only barely glance the object ball with the cue ballUS, 1990
feather and flipnouna bed; sleep Rhyming slang forKIP UK , 1934
featherbedverbto create work rules that require employment of workers who have no real tasks or not enough real tasks to justify their payUS, 1921
featherfootnouna racing car driver who uses a light touch on the throttle during turns to control the engine speed preciselyUS, 1993
feather haulernouna trucker with a light load, especially one of dry freightUS, 1971
featherheadnouna superficial, silly and/or dim-witted personUS, 1868
feather merchantnoun1a civilian employee of the military; a civilianUS, 1941.2a timid, conservative poker playerUS, 1996
feather pluckernoun1a sharp practitioner Rhyming slang for
‘cleverFUCKER’UK, 1964.2an objectionable person Rhyming slang forFUCKER, generally used only in a jocular or affectionate wayUK, 1961
feathersnoun1a bedUS, 1899.2body hair, especially fine hair or pubic hairUS, 1966.3sleepUS, 1977.4in darts and Bingo (also House and Tombola), the number thirty-three Also variant ‘fevvers’UK,
1977 < make the feathers flyto cause uproar, to disturb the status quoUS, 1825
featherwoodnouna white woman Formed with the more commonPECKERWOODin mindUS, 1989
featurenoun1an act of sexual intercourseAUSTRALIA, 1972.2in carnival usage, the rigged game that a particular operator operates bestUS, 1985
featureverb1to have sex Popularised by the Barry McKenzie cartoon stripAUSTRALIA, 1965.2to take note of, to pay attention to
US, 1958.3to approve ofUS, 1952.4to give an appearance; to look likeBARBADOS, 1965
feature creaturenouna computer programmer who enjoys adding features to programsUS, 1991
featured dancernouna sex club performer whose appearance at the club is advertised and who travels from club to clubUS, 2000
-featuressuffixused, when combined with an appropriate (generally genital) noun, as an unflattering nickname In 1909 it was sufficient to call someone ‘features’ Contemporary examples, found during a cursory search of the Internet on 8th October
2003, include ‘bollock-features’, ‘cunt-features’, ‘prick-features’, and
‘twat-features’UK, 2003
fecal freaknouna person who derives sexual pleasure from eating the faeces of othersUS, 1971
feckverb1to stealIRELAND, 1989.2‘fuck’, in all senses and derivatives
Scarcely euphemistic; widely popularised by Father Ted, a Channel
4 situation comedy, 1995–98IRELAND, 1989
feckedadjectivedrunk A variation ofFUCKED IRELAND , 2002
fednoun1an agent of the federal governmentUS, 1916.2a police officerAUSTRALIA, 1966.3a member of the Royal Air Force police Adopted from the sense ‘a member of the FBI’UK, 2002
federaladjectiveexcellentUS, 2004
federal courtnouna floor manager in a casino or cardroomUS, 1996
federalesnounthe federal government From the SpanishUS, 2000
federationnouna noisy, tumultuous gathering An allusion to the attempt in 1876 by John Pope-Hennessy to create a Confederation
Trang 7fed exnouna person who has served time in a federal prison.
Punning on the name of an express delivery businessUS, 1997
fedlercarp!used as a non-profane oath Used by spacecraft pilots,
especially Lt Starbuck, on the US television series Battlestar
Galactica (ABC, 1978–80), and briefly in popular speech US, 1979
fed upadjectivebored, disgusted, tired of something, miserableUK,
1900
feenouncoffeeUS, 1966
feebnoun1a person who is feeble, in spirit, mind or bodyUS, 1911.
2an agent of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the FBI
US, 1985
fee-beenounin craps, a five Almost certainly a corruption of the
more commonPHOEBE US , 1968
feebienounan agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)US,
1942
feednoun1a meal, especially an excellent and lavish oneUK, 1808.
2the chords played by a jazz band during a soloUS, 1970.3a
comedian’s foilUK, 1952
feedverb1in pinball, to put a coin into the machineUS, 1977.
2when gambling on a slot-machine, fruit machine or one-armed
bandit, to put a coin or coins into the machine’s slotUS, 1996.3in
a jazz band, to play a chord background for a soloistUS, 1961.
< feed riceto speak plainlyUK, 1989 < feed the monkeyto
sustain a drug addictionUS, 1970 < feed the poniesto bet on
horse racingUS, 1997 < feed the ponyto manually stimulate the
vagina Possibly related to Smack the Pony, a television
comedy-sketch programme mainly written and performed by women, first
broadcast in 1999UK, 2002 < feed the wardento defecateUS,
1996 < feed with a long spoonto be very careful in dealing
with someoneTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003 < feed your faceto eat
US, 1968 < feed your headto use psychoactive drugs A phrase
immortalized by Jefferson Airplane in the 1967 song ‘White
Rabbit’, with Grace Slick’s commanding vocal of ‘Remember, what
the dormouse said/ Feed your head, feed your head’US, 1970
feed bagnouna container of drugsUS, 1992
feedernoun1a comedian’s foilUK, 1952.2a hypodermic needle and
syringeUS, 1959
feeding time at the zoonouna period of great disorder and
disruptionAUSTRALIA, 1944
feelverb1to understandUS, 2002.2to agree withUS, 2004.3to approve
of or enjoyUS, 2003.4to fight with someone Literally, ‘to feel the
blows of an opponent’UK, 2000 < feel itto feel good, to enjoy
somethingUS, 2001 < feel no painto be drunkUS, 1955
feelernoun1a fingerUK, 1831.2in poker, a small bet made for the
purpose of assessing how other players are likely to bet on the
handUS, 1967.3a citizens’ band radio antenna on a truckUS, 1976
feel fine; feelnounnine, especially nine pounds (£9) Rhyming
slangUK, 1992
feelingnounmarijuanaUK, 2003
feeling finenounmutual, simultaneous oral sex between two
people Rhyming slang for69 UK , 2003
feel upverbto fondle someone sexuallyUS, 1930
feely; feele; feelier; fellia; feely-ominouna young man, a boy
Polari, originally with the more general sense as ‘children’; from
Italian figlie (children) A distinction is sometimes made whereby
‘feele’ is defined as a ‘child’ and ‘feely omi’ as ‘a young man
(sometimes specifically an underaged young man)’UK, 1859
feenverbto look at nude picturesUS, 1976
feepnounthe electronic alert sound made by a computer terminal
US, 1981
feetnoun< get your feet muddyto get into trouble, especially
with the criminal lawUK, 1977 < have two left feetto be
clumsy when moving, especially when dancingUK, 1915
feet and yards; feetnounplaying cards Rhyming slang; always
pluralUK, 1992
feh!used as a declaration of disapproval or disgust Yiddish,
although the Yiddish etymology is not at all clear
feistyadjectiveaggressive, spirited, livelyUS, 1896
felchverbto suck semen from another’s anus and rectumUS, 1972
felcher squelchernouna condom intended for anal intercourseUK, 1998
Felix the catnouna type of LSD Presumably identified by an image of the cartoon hero created by Otto Messmer in 1919UK, 2003
fella; page 3 fellanounan attractive male model; applied in a wider derogatory context to imply that a handsome exterior masks
a deeply unintelligent personality Derives from the use of topless
models on page 3 of UK tabloid newspaper, the Sun UK, 2003
fellah; fella; fellernoun1a male animalUK, 1978.2a man An affected or lazy pronunciation of ‘fellow’ ‘Feller’ since 1825;
‘fellah’, originally associated with affected and aristocratic speech, since 1825; ‘fella’ (and variations) since 1934UK, 1931
fellowshipnouna group activity involving a shared vice Word play with the conventional, religious usageUS, 1986
fellow travellernoun1a person who sympathises with a cause without being a full-blown member of the cause Originally applied only to communist sympathisers; translated from the RussianUS, 1936.2a fleaUK, 1966
felonynouna girl under the legal age of consentUS, 2004
felony shoesnounexpensive training shoes Favoured by urban youth, often involved in, and more often associated with, crime
US, 1978
felony sneakersnounexpensive trainers favoured by urban youth
US, 1979
female unitnouna girlfriend A cheap imitation of ‘parental unit’
US, 1984
femalianounthose parts of the female body that have a sexual res-onanceUS, 1996
femdomnoun a female sexual dominant, a dominatrix; female
domination as a sexual subcultureUS, 1989
fem gremnounan unskilled female surfer An abbreviation of
‘femaleGREMMIE’US, 1995
feminazinouna feminist A popular term with, and probably coined
by, US radio entertainer Rush Limbaugh who uses the term in order to marginalise any feminist as a hardline, uncompromising man-haterUS, 1989
femmeadjective1blatantly effeminateUS, 1963.2femaleUK, 2003
femme; femnoun1a young womanUS, 1871.2in a homosexual relationship, the person who plays the passive, ‘feminine’ roleUS, 1934
femme lookernounin circus and carnival usage, an attractive femaleUS, 1981
femme queennounan overtly effeminate male homosexualUS, 1963
femmiadjectivefeministUK, 2000
femmoadjectivefeministAUSTRALIA, 1993
fencenouna person who trades in stolen goodsUK, 1698 < go over the fenceto escape from prisonUK, 1996 < sit on the fenceto
be impartial, neutral or waiting to see who winsUK, 1887 < take the fence(used of a bookmaker) to fail to pay off a winning bet
US, 1947
fenceverb1to purchase, receive and/or store stolen goodsUK, 1610.
2to cheat in a testUS, 1955
fencedadjectiveirritated, angryUS, 1982
fence hangernounin motor racing, a spectator, usually female, who
is more interested in the participants in the race than in the race itselfUS, 1980
fence paintingnouna scene in a pornographic film or a photo-graph of oral sex performed on a woman in a fashion designed to maximize the camera angle, not the woman’s pleasureUS, 1995
fence parolenouna prison escapeUS, 1990
fence ridernounin motor racing, a driver who moves through the