Slang and uncoventional english part 46 docx

Brought into mainstream use by the 1989 film Goodfellas US , 2003 good fewnouna fair numberUS , 1828 good foradjectivehaving sufficient money or credit to pay the speci-fied requirementU

gommed upadjectivedirtyUS , 1982

gommienouna silly personCANADA , 1990

gomtor; gomnounan uncouth person, especially when applied to

an Afrikaner From Afrikaans gomtor (a lout) SOUTH AFRICA , 1970

gonnoun a gondola train carriage US , 1934

gonad alertnoun 8see:NAD ALERT

gondolanounheroinUK , 2003

goneadjective1superlative, profoundly in touch with current trends

Nellie Lutcher’s 1947 recording of ‘He’s a Real Gone Guy’ did as

much as anything to introduce the term into the languageUS , 1946.

2drunk or drug-intoxicatedUS , 1933.3completely destitute and

physically ruined because of crack cocaine addictionUS , 1994.

4infatuatedUS , 1957.5pregnantAUSTRALIA , 1945.6caughtAUSTRALIA ,

1954

goneburgernounanything that is redundant or finishedNEW

ZEALAND , 2000

gone casenouna hopeless causeSINGAPORE , 2002

gonernoun1someone who has died or is unavoidably doomed to

die very soon From ‘gone’ as a euphemism for ‘dead’UK , 1847.

2someone who is doomed to failureUS , 1970.3a person who

excelsUS , 1949

gone to bedadjectivedeadUK , 1992

gone to Gowingsadjectivewell and truly gone From an advertising

campaign for Gowing Bros, a Sydney department store Used as an

intensifier of ‘gone’, especially for slang senses of ‘gone’AUSTRALIA ,

1977

gone to helladjectiveutterly ruinedUK , 1984

gone upadjectivedrunk or drug-intoxicatedUS , 1970

gongnoun1a medal or decorationUK , 1921.2a medalUK , 1945.

3opium; heroinUS , 1936.4marijuanaUS , 1977.5a gunUS , 1995

gong downverbto ring the alarm bell on a police car as a signal to

another motorist to stop Early police cars were fitted with

bell-shaped gongs During the 1930s and 40s the police patrolling in

cars were known as ‘gongers’UK , 1958

goniesnounthe testicles A diminuitive of ‘gonads’US , 1970

gonjnounmarijuanaUK , 2003

gonknoun1a prostitute’s client A contemptuous term used by

prostitutes, deriving, perhaps, from a type of humanoid dollUK ,

1977.2a fool, an idiot Teen slangUK , 2003

gonkverb1to sleepUK , 1987.2to lieUS , 1991

gonna; gunna; gunner; gonnerverbgoing to Slovenly

pronunciationUS , 1913

gonnabenouna wannabe (someone with ambition) who has a

realistic chance of achieving the goalUS , 1988

gonnif; gonif; ganefnouna thief; a crook Yiddish from Hebrew

Depending on the tone, can range from laudatory to disdainfulUK ,

1839

go-no-gonounthe point on a runway where a pilot taking off must

decide whether to abort a take-off or to take offUS , 1963

gonskiadjectivegoneUK , 2000

gonzonouncocaineUK , 1996

gonzoadjectivecrazed; having a bizarre style Although coinage is

credited to US journalist and author Bill Cardoso, close friend and

partner in adventure with the late Hunter S Thompson, the dust

jacket to Cardoso’s collected essays claims only that he is ‘the

writer who inspired Dr Hunter S Thompson to coin the phrase

"Gonzo journalism"’ Thompson first used the term in print and

the term is irrevocably linked with him in the USUS , 1971

gonzoidadjectivecrazed; having a bizarre styleUS , 1979

Gonzo the great; gonzonouna state of drunkenness Rhyming

slang for, ‘a state’, formed on a popular puppet character in

television’s The Muppet Show, from 1976, and subsequent Muppet

goonoun1any semi-liquid or viscous stuff, especially of an unknown originUS , 1903.2a lookIRELAND , 1991 < give with the gooto explain fully Obsolete teen slangCANADA , 1946

goobnoun1a large facial blemishUS , 1976.2methcathinoneUS , 1998

goobernounin the usage of young street racers, anyone who drives

a car with an automatic transmissionUS , 2003

goobynouna gob of spit or phlegmNEW ZEALAND , 1985

goochnounan inept, unaware personUS , 1976

gooch-eyedadjectiveblind in one eyeUS , 1972

goodadverb< come goodof people, to rise to or surpass expec-tations; of things, to work out well or better than expectedUK , 1892.

< have it good; have it so goodto be possessed of (many) advantagesUS , 1946 < make goodin poker, to match another player’s increased betUS , 1967

good andadverbabsolutely, completely, properlyUK , 1885

good and plentynounheroin Playing with a trademarked sweet confection nameUS , 1994

good and properadverbto the greatest degree, completelyUK , 1928

good buddynounused as a term of address A term that enjoyed meteor-like ascendancy in popularity with the citizens’ band radio craze that swept the US in 1976 Still used with jocular ironyUS , 1956

good buttnouna marijuana cigaretteUS , 1960

Good-bye Girlsnicknamethe 2004 US women’s Olympic soccer team An acknowledgement of the fact that many of the team members were playing in their final competitionUK , 2004

good-bye, kidsused as a humorous farewell On the final episode

of the children’s television classic Howdy Doody Show (NBC,

1947–60), these final words were uttered by Clarabell the Clown, who for 14 years had not spoken Repeated with referential humourUS , 1951

good-bye kissnounthe repurchase at a premium of stock by a target company from the company attempting a takeoverUS , 1988

good chutenouna successful ejection of pilot and crew from a downed US aircraftUS , 1990

good copnounin a pair of police, the partner who plays the sym-pathetic, understanding role during an interrogationUS , 1975

good cop, bad copnouna police interrogation method in which one interrogator plays the role of a hardliner, while the other plays the role of a sympathetic friendUS , 1975

goodfellanouna gangster Brought into mainstream use by the

1989 film Goodfellas US , 2003

good fewnouna fair numberUS , 1828

good foradjectivehaving sufficient money or credit to pay the speci-fied requirementUK , 1937

good for you!used as a register of approval of something achieved

or said by the person addressed or spoken ofUK , 1861

good fuck!used for registering surpriseUK , 2002

good funnouna great deal of fun Hawaiian youth usageUS , 1981

good gravy!used as an utterly unprofane exclamationUS , 1971

good grief!used as an all-purpose expression of surprise, anger, disappointment, dismay Given great popularity in the 1960s by

Charles Schultz’s Peanuts comic strip US , 1937

good gutsnouncorrect and pertinent informationAUSTRALIA , 1957

good Hnounheroin An elaboration ofH(heroin), possibly playing

on the conventional exclamation ‘good heavens!’UK , 2002

good handsused in farewellBAHAMAS , 1982

good hitternounin pool, an excellent cue stickUS , 1990

good horsenounheroin A playful elaboration ofHORSE(heroin)UK , 2002

goodienoun1a valuable possessionUK , 2003.2something that is special and goodUS , 1975.3a person on the side of right, especially

in works of fictionUS , 1873.4extra parts or equipment for a car,

1954.5in poker, a card that improves a handUS , 1961.6an ambush

or mechanical ambushUS , 1991

goodie and baddie; goodienounan Irish person Rhyming slang,

forPADDY UK , 1992

goodied upadjective(used of a truck) embellished with lights,

chrome and other accessoriesUS , 1971

goodiesnoun1the vaginaUS , 1959.2the female breastsUS , 1969

good looksnounemployment documents Rhyming slang forBOOKS

UK: SCOTLAND , 1988

good man Fridaynouna pimpUS , 1953

goodness!; goodness me!used as a mild expletive, or register of

shock, surprise, etcUK , 1704

goodness gracious!; goodness gracious me!used as a mild

expletive, or register of shock, surprise, etc In 1960 Peter Sellers,

in the character of an Indian doctor, recorded a successful comedy

duet entitled ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ with Sophia Loren (written

by Herbert Kretzmer); the old exclamation soon had catchphrase

status In 1996, four British-Indian comedians adopted the term as

the ironic title for a radio comedy series, subsequently a television

success Now this term, the earliest recorded usage of which is by

Charles Dickens, is considered by many to be a part of the

stereotypical Indian vocabularyUK , 1840

goodness only knows!used as a mild declaration of ignorance;

used of something beyond your knowledge or experienceUK , 1819

goodness’ sake!; for goodness’ sake!used as a mild register of

exasperation or impatience The earliest use was in reference to

the goodness of GodUK , 1613

Good night Chet Good night David.used as a humorous

exchange of farewells The signature sign-off of television news

anchors Chet Huntley and David Brinkley in the 1960s Repeated

with referential humourUS , 1956

goodnight kissnounan act of urination; urination Rhyming slang

forPISS UK , 1992

good-night nursenouna smoker’s last cigarette of the night before

going to sleepUS , 1996

goodnight, nurseused for indicating the end or the finish of an

activityUK , 2000

good numbers(used in citizens’ band radio transmissions) best

wishes, regardsUS , 1976

good-oh; good-o; goodoh; goodoadjectivevery good; all right;

well; in good healthAUSTRALIA , 1905

good-oh; good-o; goodoh; goodoadverbwell; satisfactorily; all

rightAUSTRALIA , 1920

good-oh!; good-o!; goodoh!; goodo!1terrific!, well done!

AUSTRALIA , 1904.2all right!, okay!AUSTRALIA , 1918

good oilnouncorrect and pertinent informationAUSTRALIA , 1916

good oldadjective1used as an affectionate (occasionally derisive)

modifier of a term of reference or addressUK , 1821.2familiar; used

for expressing commendation or approvalUK , 1898

good old boyverba white male from the southern US who

embraces the values of his region and raceUS , 1961

good on you!1well done!, good for you!AUSTRALIA , 1907.2used as a

farewellUS , 1997

good peoplenouna person who can be trusted and counted onUS ,

1891

good plan!used as a humorous expression of approvalUS , 1981

goodsnoun1the genuine article, the real thing; exactly who or what

is requiredUS , 1899.2positive evidence of guiltUS , 1900.3any drug

US , 1971.4yourself, especially areas of intimate contactUK , 1988.

< the goodsan attractive personUK , 1984

good shakenoun 8see:EVEN SHAKE

good ship venus; good shipnounthe penis Rhyming slangUK , 1992

good show!; jolly good show!used as an expression of delightUK ,

1940

good sort

good stuffnounamong criminals, a respected criminalUK , 2001

good styleadverbexcellentlyUK , 2001

good thingnoun1a lucrative opportunityAUSTRALIA , 1962.2a sucker; someone who is easily trickedUS , 1909.3a horse that is tipped to winAUSTRALIA , 1877.4a good thing Made slang by attitude and tone A signature line of Martha Stewart on her television show

Martha Stewart Living Television, first aired in 1993 Repeated with

referential humourUS , 1993 < like a good thingin an active, pleasing or exciting wayIRELAND , 1996

good thinking!used as a register of approval for an excellent idea

or good suggestion, or ironically in the case of a bad or obvious suggestionUK , 1968

good timenoun1a period of incarceration that does not destroy the prisoner’s spiritUS , 1975.2a reduction of a prison sentence for good behaviour in jailUS , 1952.3time that counts towards a soldier’s military commitmentUS , 1971 < the original good time that was had by allused of a sexually promiscuous woman A twist of the clichéd catchphrase ‘a good time was had

by all’, coined by US film actress Bette Davis, 1908–89 The orig-inal catchphrase is credited to poet Stevie Smith, who acquired it for use as a title from the reportage of parish magazinesUS , 1981

good-time housenounan establishment that sells alcohol illegally, especially by the drinkUS , 1978

good to goadjectiveprepared to start a mission Airborne slang in Vietnam, quickly absorbed into the non-military mainstreamUS , 1966

good to me!used for expressing self-praiseUS , 1972

good woodnouna dependable, trustworthy white prisoner Derived fromPECKERWOOD US , 1989

goody!; goodee!used as an expression of delight Childish; often reduplicated in excitementUK , 1796

goody drawernounany drawer in a bedroom containing contraceptives, lubricants or sex toysUS , 2002

goody-goodynoun1an excessively good person Usually uttered with some degree of derisionUK , 1871.2marijuana From the exclamation of delight.UK , 2003

goody-goodyadjective(of children) too well-behaved; (of adults) hypocritically or sentimentally piousUK , 1871

goody gumdrops; goody goody gumdrops; goody gumdrop

used as an expression of delight; often ironic in later useUK , 1959

goody two-shoesnouna person of excessive virtueUS , 1934

gooeynounin computing, a graphic user interface (GUI) such as one with windows and iconsUS , 1995

gooeyadjective1viscous or semi-viscousUS , 1903.2excessively sentimentalUK , 1935

gooey ballnounany sticky confection made with marijuana or hashishUS , 2001

gooey loueynouna second lieutenant in the US ArmyUS , 1991

goofnoun1an alcoholic beverage Found only in Ontario, this term may have derived fromGOOFBALL(a barbiturate drug)US , 1964.2a barbiturate An abbreviation ofGOOFBALL US , 1944.3a frequent marijuana smokerUS , 1950.4a silly, soft or stupid personUS , 1916.

5a joke, a prankUS , 1958.6a swimSOUTH AFRICA , 2004

goofverb1to botch, to ruinUS , 1952.2to tease, to jokeUS , 1931.3to give yourself away to the policeUK , 1978.4to spoil an injection of a narcotic, during either preparation or applicationUK , 1978.5to smoke marijuanaUS , 1970.6to enter what appears to be a near coma as a result of drug intoxicationUS , 1951

goof aroundverbto pass time enjoyably but unproductivelyUS , 1931

goofballnoun1a barbiturate used for non-medicinal purposesUS ,

1939.2a mixture of heroin and cocaineUS , 1969.3a habitual smoker

of marijuanaSOUTH AFRICA , 2004.4a silly and/or dim-witted person

US , 1944

goof butt; goof-butt; goofy buttnouna marijuana cigarette A combination ofGOOF(a marijuana smoker) andBUTT(a cigarette)

goofed; goofed up; goofed-upadjective1wrongUS , 1952.

2experiencing the effects of drugs, especially barbiturates or

marijuana; drunkUS , 1944

goofernoun1a barbiturate capsule, especially glutethimideUS , 1969.

2someone who toys with recreational drugsUK , 1998.3a person

who regularly uses drugs in pill formUS , 1952.4a homosexual male

prostitute who assumes the active role in sexUS , 1941

goofer dustnouna barbiturateUS , 1954

go offverb1to happen, occurUK , 1804.2of a fight, to happen, to

startUK , 1999.3to vehemently display angerAUSTRALIA , 1979.4to

cease to like something or someoneUK , 1934.5to fall asleepUK , 1887.

6to ejaculateUK , 1866.7to give birthAUSTRALIA , 1971.8to turn out or

pass off in the way indicatedAUSTRALIA , 1867.9to perform brilliantly

AUSTRALIA , 1987.10to behave extravagantly; to go all outAUSTRALIA ,

1995.11to defecateTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1973.12to pass peak

con-dition; to deteriorate in freshnessUK , 1978.13to be raided by

auth-oritiesAUSTRALIA , 1941.14to make a noise An extension of ‘go off’

(to start)UK , 1998.15(of a party or nightclub venue) to be

thoroughly exciting and enjoyableAUSTRALIA , 1993.16(of a prize) to

be awardedAUSTRALIA , 1970.17(of a woman) to engage in sexual

intercourseAUSTRALIA , 1967.18in motor racing, to suffer a

dimin-ution of performance, either because of a handling problem or

driver fatigueUS , 1980.19(of a racehorse whose true abilities have

been kept secret) to be raced to winAUSTRALIA , 1936 < go off on

oneto lose your temperUK , 1997

goofiesnoun1a swimming bath Children’s slangSOUTH AFRICA , 1970.

2LSDUS , 2001

goof-offnouna lazy personUS , 1945

goof offverbto waste time, to idleUS , 1943

goof onverbto joke about, to make fun ofUS , 1956

goof-upnouna blunder, an error of judgementUS , 1956

goofusnoun1a foolUS , 1917.2in circus and carnival usage, an

extremely gullible customer who demonstrates great potential as a

victimUS , 1981

goofynoun1a fool, especially as a form of address Goofy is the

name of the foolish dog in Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse cartoons

UK , 1967.2a skateboarder who skates with the right foot to the

frontUK , 2004

goofyadjectivegawky, clumsy, foolish, eccentricUS , 1919

-goofysuffixmentally imbalanced as a result of the preceding activity

US , 1969

goofy buttnoun 8see:GOOF BUTT

goofy footnouna surfer who surfs with the right foot forward Most

surfers surf with their left foot forwardAUSTRALIA , 1962

goofy footedadjectivein foot-propelled scootering, used of someone

who rides with the left foot behind the right From surfingUK , 2000

goofy’snounLSDUK , 2001

goognounan egg Shortening ofGOOGIE AUSTRALIA , 1941

googannounin pool, someone who plays for funUS , 1990

googienounan egg From GaelicAUSTRALIA , 1903

googleverbto search for something on the Internet by means of a

search engine; to check a person’s credentials by investigating

websites that contain that person’s name A generic use of

Google™ (a leading Internet search engine)US , 2000

google; google hutnounan egg-shaped, fibreglass field hut

ANTARCTICA , 1992

Google bombnounan effort to create a great number of Internet

pages with links to a specific website so that it achieves a position

near the top of a Google search directory for seemingly unrelated

words Google™ is an Internet search engineUS , 2002

Google bombingnounthe deliberate creation of a great number of

Internet pages with links to a specific website with an intent that

the website achieves a position near the top of a Google search

directory for seemingly unrelated words Google™ is an Internet

search engineUS , 2002

google box

googlewhacknounamong Internet users, the result of a search for any webpage that, uniquely, contains a combination of two randomly chosen words and is therefore indexed by the

search-engine Google as ‘1 of 1’ US , 2002

googlewhackverbamong Internet users, to search for any webpage that, uniquely, contains a combination of two randomly chosen

words and is therefore indexed by the search-engine Google as ‘1

of 1’ A back-formation fromGOOGLEWHACKING US , 2002

googlewhackingnounamong Internet users, a popular craze for searching for any webpage that, uniquely, contains a combination

of two randomly chosen words and is therefore indexed by the

search-engine Google as ‘1 of 1’ Coinage is credited to Gary Stock

‘Chief Innovation Officer and Technical Compass’ of a company in Kalamazoo, Michigan, who discovered and named this

‘compelling’ time-wasting activityUS , 2002

googlynounan awkward question A figurative use of the cricketing senseAUSTRALIA , 1942

goo-goo eyesnounromantic glancesUS , 1897

googsnounin circus and carnival usage, eyeglasses A corruption of

‘goggles’US , 1924

goo guardnounon a truck, a mudflapUS , 1971

gooinouna brief sexual liaison Punning on the idea ofFLINGfrom the verbGOOI(to fling)SOUTH AFRICA , 1978

gooiverbto give; to put; to throw, to fling; to drop; etc From Afrikaans for ‘to fling’SOUTH AFRICA , 1946

gooknoun1a Vietnamese person, especially if an enemy of the US;

a person from the Far East, especially a Filipino, Japanese or Korean; any dark-skinned foreigner A derogatory term, too all-encompassing to be directly racist but deeply xenophobic Coined

by the US military; the Korean and Vietnam wars gave the word a worldwide familiarity (if not currency) Etymology is uncertain, but many believe ‘gook’ is Korean for ‘person’US , 1919.2the Vietnamese language; any Asian languageUS , 1981.3an unspecified, unidentified, unpleasant, viscous substance Sometimes spelt

‘guck’US , 1942.4the recreational drug GHBUS , 1996 8see gloss at:

GHB

gookadjectiveVietnameseUS , 1979

gookernounin hot rodding, a car with many cheap accessories but

no performance enhancements that would qualify it as a hot rod

US , 1965

gook sorenounany skin infection suffered by a US soldier in VietnamUS , 1989

Gookvillenouna neighbourhood, hamlet or city occupied by Vietnamese peopleUS , 1967

gook wagonnounin hot rodding, a car with many cheap accessories but no performance enhancements that would qualify

it as a hot rodUS , 1953

goolanouna pianoUS , 1944

goolieadjectiveblackUK , 2002

goolie ogle fakesnounsunglasses A combination ofGOOLIE(black),

OGLE(the eye) andFAKE(a manufactured article)UK , 2002

gooliesnoun the testicles Originally military, from Hindi gooli (a

pellet), in phrases such as ‘Beecham Sahib’s goolis’ for ‘Beechams pills’, and so punning onPILLS(the testicles) Usually in the plural, except in phrases likeDROP A GOOLIE/DROP A BOLLOCK(make a mistake)UK , 1937

gooly; gooleynouna small stone suitable for throwing Probably from an Australian Aboriginal language The usual derivation from

Hindi goli (ball) and ‘bullet’ is at best farfetched AUSTRALIA , 1924

goomnounmethylated spirits used as a drink by alcoholics Probably

an alteration of a word from an Australian Aboriginal language

AUSTRALIA , 1967

goombahnouna loyal male friend; an American An Italian-American usage, sometimes used in a loosely derogatory toneUS , 1954

goomienouna derelict alcoholic who drinks methylated spirits

goonnoun1a unintelligent or slow-witted person From Alice the

Goon, a character in the comic strip Thimble Theatre (1919), via a

large and stupid character known as ‘the goon’ in Elzie Segar’s

comic strip Popeye the Sailor (1935–38), which popularised the

word and introduced it to the UK Originally English dialect gooney

(a simpleton), possibly from Middle English gonen (to gape) and

Old English ganian (to gape, to yawn) UK usage from the 1950s is

influenced by The Goon Show, a surreal BBC radio comedy with a

cast of foolsUS , 1921.2a hired thug A broadening of the original

senseUS , 1938.3a partisan on either side of a labour dispute hired

to perpetrate violenceUS , 1938.4a North Korean soldierUS , 1960.

5cheap wineAUSTRALIA , 2003.6a flagon of cheap wine It has been

suggested that this comes from ‘flagoon’, a jocular pronunciation

of ‘flagon’, but this is not supported by any evidenceAUSTRALIA , 1982.

7phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust

US , 1977.8a gooney-bird (a C-47A Skytrain plane)US , 1937

go on!used as an expression of surprise, incredulity or derisionUK ,

1916

goonbag; goonsacknounthe plastic bladder from inside a

cardboard wine boxAUSTRALIA , 2003

goonboards; goonieboardsnounshort, homemade skisUS , 1963

goon boynouna socially inept, unpopular personUS , 1955

goondanouna hooligan; a street-rough Directly from HindiINDIA ,

1926

goondaismnoun hooliganism Hindi goondah Anglicised with ‘-ism’

INDIA , 1979

goon dustnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP

or angel dustUS , 2001

gooned outadjectiveunder the influence of a drugUS , 1968

goonernouna North Vietnamese soldierUS , 1969

gooney; goonienouna communist Chinese soldier; a North Korean

soldierUS , 1957

gooney birdnoun1a 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 , 1942.2a foolish or dim-witted person

US , 1956

goonie party; goon partynouna backyard party at which

goonbags of different wines are hung on a rotary clothesline which

is then spun so that fate decides what you will drink nextAUSTRALIA ,

2003

goon squadnouna group of prison guards who use force to quash

individual or group rebellionsUS , 1967

goon standnounin the television and film industries, a large stand

for supporting large equipment or devicesUS , 1977

goonyadjectivesilly, doltishUS , 1939

goonylandnounterritory controlled by the North Korean Army

and/or Chinese troops during the Korean warUS , 1957

goopnoun1any sticky, viscid, unpleasant substance the exact

chemical composition of which is unknownUS , 1918.2the

chemi-cal jelly used in incendiary bombsUS , 1944.3liquid resin used in

surfacing surfboardsUS , 1965.4the recreational drug GHBUS , 1999.

5a foolUS , 1915

goopernounlung phlegmUS , 1978

goop gobblernouna person who enjoys and/or excels at

performing oral sex on menUS , 1981

go or blowused to describe a situation in car repair or motor

racing where an engine will either perform very well or

self-destructUS , 1992

goorinouna poorly performing racehorse From an early sense of

the word, a corrupted form of the Maori kuri (dog) NEW ZEALAND , 2002

goosenoun1a socially inept, out-of-fashion personUS , 1968.2in

poker, an unskilled player who is a likely victim of a skilled

pro-fessionalUS , 1996.3a shop assistant Especially in shoplifters’ use

AUSTRALIA , 1975.4an act of copulation Rhyming slang for ‘goose

and duck’,FUCK UK , 1893.5in television and film-making, the truck

carrying the cameras and sound equipmentUS , 1990.6a girlfriend,

a woman From an earlier English use Also variant ‘goosie’SOUTH

gooseverb1to jab or poke someone, especially between the buttock cheeksUS , 1906.2by extension, to urge into actionUS , 1934

goose and duck; goosenouna trifle, something of no value Rhyming slang forFUCK UK , 2003

goose and duck; gooseverbto have sex Rhyming slang forFUCK, also used to create euphemistic expletivesIRELAND , 1944

gooseberrynouna person whose presence interferes with the relationship, especially romance, of two other peopleUK , 1837

gooseberry ranchnouna rural brothelUS , 1930

gooseberry tartnoun1the heart Rhyming slangUK , 1937.2a fart Rhyming slangUK , 1998

goosedadjectivedrunkUS , 1979

goosed moosenounin hot rodding and car customizing, a car with

a front that is substantially lower than its rearUS , 1993

goose eggnoun1zero; nothing Originally baseball slangUS , 1866.2a swollen bumpUS , 1953.3an oval cylindrical polystyrene float used

in fishingCANADA , 1999

goose eyenounin the illegal production of alcohol, a perfect for-mation of bubbles on the meniscus of the product, indicating 100 proofUS , 1974

goose flarenouna type of runway flare used in wartime Canada

CANADA , 1984

goose greasenounKY jelly, a lubricantUS , 1985

goose juicenounpowerful sedative medication given to mental patientsUS , 1986

goose’s neck; goose’snouna chequeUK , 1961

Goose Villagenicknamethe Victoriatown area of waterfront MontrealCANADA , 2002

gooseyadjectivejumpy, wary, nervousUS , 1906

goosienounin male homosexual relations, the passive or ‘female’ rôle Prison slangSOUTH AFRICA , 1965

gooternounpenisIRELAND , 1991

go-outnouna surfing sessionUS , 1988

go outverb1to die, especially from a drug overdoseUS , 1997.2to suffer a relapse while participating in a twelve-step recovery programme such as Alcoholics AnonymousUS , 1998

go oververbto paint over another’s graffiti with your artUS , 1997

Gopaul luck not Seepaul luckused for expressing that one man’s good fortune is not another’sTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1990

go pedalnounan accelerator pedalUK , 1994

gophernoun1a person who is easily swindled, who ‘goes for’ the pitchUS , 1959.2a poker player who plays with a high degree of optimism So named because of the player’s willingness to ‘go for’

a draw in almost any situationUS , 1996.3a criminal who tunnels into a business to rob itUS , 1928 8see:GOFER

go-pillnounany amphetamine or other central nervous system stimulantUS , 1957

goppingadjectivedirty Gulf war usageUK , 1991

gornoun 8see:GAWD

goranouna white personINDIA , 1984

Gorbachoff!used as a blessing when someone sneezes Possibly related to ‘gesundheit!’US , 1990

gorbienouna stupid touristCANADA , 1989

gorblimeyadjectivestereotypically (parodically) CockneyUK , 2001

Gorby blots; Gorbachernouna type of blotter LSD popular in the early 1990s The blotters were illustrated with the face of Mikhail Gorbachev, hence the ‘Gorby’US , 1994

Gordon and Gotch; gordonnouna watch Rhyming slang, formed from the name of a long-gone book-dealing company based in Plaistow, east LondonUK , 1960

Gordon Banknounan act of masturbation Rhyming slang, formed from football goalkeeper Gordon Banks (b.1937)

Gordon Bennett!used as a mild expletive Probably an alteration

of ‘gorblimey!’.UK , 1984

gorgenounin circus and carnival usage, foodUS , 1981

gorgeadjectiveused for expressing approbation A shortening of

‘gorgeous’UK , 2003

gorgeousadjectiveused for expressing approbationUS , 1883

gorger; gorgia; gawjonouna non-gypsy, anyone who is not a part

of the travelling community English gypsy useUK , 1900

gorgonnouna ruthless leader or bullyJAMAICA , 2000

goricnoun1a paregoric, an opiate-based medicinal syrupUS , 1982.

2opium; heroin From ‘paregoric’ (a medicine that assuages pain)

US , 1977

gorillanoun1a criminal who relies on brute strength and forceUS ,

1861.2a prisoner who obtains what he wants by forceUS , 1958.3in

the entertainment industry, a technical member of a film crewUS ,

1970.4in the music industry, a very popular bestselling songUS ,

1982.5one thousand dollars Building on ‘monkey’ ($500)AUSTRALIA ,

1989

gorillaverbto manhandle, to beatUS , 1922

gorilla dustnounintimidating bluffingUS , 1986

gorilla-gripverbin skateboarding, to jump holding the ends of the

board with the toesUS , 1976

gorilla pillnouna barbiturate capsule or other central nervous

system depressantUS , 1969

gorilla pimpnouna brutish pimp who relies heavily on violence to

control the prostitutes who work for himUS , 1972

gorilla saladnounthick pubic hairUS , 1981

gorknoun1a patient with severe mental deficiencesUS , 1964.2a fool;

a contemptible personUS , 1970

gorkedadjectivestupefied from anaestheticUS , 1973

gorker; gorknounin baseball, a weakly hit ball that falls for a base

hit A term coined by legendary professional baseball manager Earl

WeaverUS , 1982

gormverbto bungle; to act awkwardlyUS , 1975

gorm!used for expressing surpriseTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1997

gormlessadjectivefoolishNEW ZEALAND , 1952

gorpnoun1a complete social outcastUS , 1976.2a snack of nuts and

dried fruit favoured by hikers From ‘good old raisins and peanuts’

US , 1991

gorsoonnouna young maleIRELAND , 2001

go-seenounin modelling, an visual ‘interview’US , 1969

Gosford dognouna person of Mediterranean background Rhyming

slang forWOG From Gosford, a satellite city of Sydney which has a

greyhound racing trackAUSTRALIA , 1983

goshused in expressions of surprise, frustration A euphemistic

‘God’UK , 1757

gosh-darned; gosh-derned; gosh-dangedadjectiveused as a mild

intensifier A euphemistic replacement for ‘God-damned’US , 1997

go-slownouna deliberate slowing of production by workers as a type

of industrial actionAUSTRALIA , 1917

gospel trueadjectiveentirely trueAUSTRALIA , 1957

gospel truthnounsincerely the truthAUSTRALIA , 1902

gossnoungossipNEW ZEALAND , 1985

gotchanounin computing, a misfeature that generates mistakesUS ,

1991

gotcha!1used as a humorous exclamation of a verbal conquest of

some sort Often used as the gloating afterword when a practical

joke is played On 2nd May 1982, during the Falklands war, the

Argentine ship Belgrano was torpedoed by the Royal Navy as she

sailed away from the exclusion zone At least 386 lives were lost

The Sun newspaper printed the notorious, gloating one-word

headline: ‘GOTCHA’ Also used in triumph when a capture or

.

understanding of what someone has said A slovening of ‘[I] got you’UK , 1966

gotchienoun1a security guard or park keeperIRELAND , 2003.2a schoolboy prank, especially around Niagara Falls, Ontario, in which the victim’s underpants are pulled up between his buttock cheeks

In the US, it is called a ‘wedgie’, but in Canada, a ‘gotchie’, which both comes from ‘gotch’ for ‘underpants’ (with Hungarian and eastern European source words) and is a punCANADA , 2002

gothnouna member of a youth fashion cult, characterised by a dark, sepulchral appearance and stark white and black makeup Inspired

by C19 gothic-romance images of vampires, this dress sense is

allied to a style of rock music also called ‘goth’UK , 1984

GothamnounNew York City Alluding to a mythical village inhabited

by wise foolsUS , 1807

gothoidadjectiverecognisably goth in fashionUK , 1999

go throughverb1to leave hurriedly; to decampAUSTRALIA , 1944.2(of

a man) to have sex with a womanAUSTRALIA , 1967

got it!used for urging another surfer not to catch this wave, which you claim as yoursUS , 1991

go-to-godamnadjectivedamnedUS , 1961

Go to HellnicknameGo Dau Ha, home to a US Naval Advanced Base from 1969 to 71, close to the Cambodian border on the Vam

Co Dong River, South VietnamUS , 1990

go-to-hell ragnouna neckerchief worn by an infantry soldierUS , 1991

go-to-whoanounin horse racing, the entire length of a race

AUSTRALIA , 1971

gotta like that!used for expressing approval, genuine or ironicUS , 1987

got you covered!I understand!US , 1955

gouchnouna period of drug-induced exhaustionUK , 2000

gougeverbto surf expertly and stylishly Applied to a ride on a wave

US , 1990

Gouge and Screw Taxnoun 8see:GRAB AND STEAL TAX

gougernounan aggressive loutIRELAND , 1997

goulashnoun1an illegal cardroom that is open 24 hours a dayUS ,

1974.2in prison, a meat stew of any descriptionUK , 1996.3in electric line work, any insulating compoundUS , 1980

go upverb1to be sentenced to prison; to be sent to prisonUS , 1872.

2while acting, to miss your cue or forget a lineUS , 1973

gourdnounthe headUK , 1829 < bored out of your gourd

extremely bored The rhyme onGOURD(the head) intensifies

‘bored’US , 1999 < out of your gourd1extremely drug-intoxicated SubstitutesGOURD(a head) in synonymous ‘out of your head’US , 1967.2crazyUS , 1963

gourd guardnounin drag racing, a crash helmetUS , 1968

gourmet ghettonounnorth Berkeley, California; any neighbourhood featuring speciality food shops and gourmet restaurants Originally applied to a two-block stretch of Shattuck Avenue between Cedar Street and Rose Street in BerkeleyUS , 1983

govnoun a prison governor UK , 1996

governverbto play the active role in sex, sadomasochistic or notUS , 1985

government artistnounan unemployed person in receipt of state beneifts From a joke, heard in the high unemployment of the 1980s A popular choice of occupation still, if questionnaires are to

be believedUK , 2003

government-inspected meatnoun1a soldier or sailor Homo -sexual usageUS , 1970.2a soldier as the object of a homosexual’s sexual desireUS , 1981

government jewellerynounrestraints worn on prisoners’ bodies to restrict movementCANADA , 1987

government jobnounpoor craftmanshipUS , 1965

government juice

Government Racing Carnouna car of the Gendarmerie Royale du

Canada, the French name for the Mounties Back-formation from

the initials GRCCANADA , 2002

governornoun1an acknowledged expertUK , 1980.2an employer, a

superiorUK , 1802

governor’snouna prison governor’s adjudication or rulingUK , 1996

gov’nornoun 8see:GUV’NOR

gownoun1a drug, especially opiumUS , 1922.2sauceUS , 1967.

3herring roeCANADA , 1998

gowed upadjectivedrunkCANADA , 1977

gowheadnouna drug addictUS , 1935

go-with-the-flowadjectiveeasy going, relaxed After the phrasal verb

‘go with the flow’, 2001

gow jobnounused in the 1940s to describe what in the 50s would

to be called a hot rodUS , 1941

gowsternouna drug addict or heavy drug userUS , 1936

goynouna Gentile YiddishUK , 1841

goyish; goyischeadjectiveGentileUS , 1965

gozohomey birdnounan aircraft that returns you home Royal Air

Force useUK , 2002

gozznoungossipUK , 1983

GPnoun a general principle US , 1944

GPO(in doctors’ shorthand) good for parts only UK , 2003

GR8adjectivein text messaging, great A variant spelling; one of

several constructions in which a syllable pronounced ‘ate’ is

replaced by the homophone ‘eight’UK , 2002

granounappetite; desire The Hiberno-English word for ‘love, liking,

affection’IRELAND , 1995

grabnoun1an arrestUK , 1753.2a person who has been arrestedUS ,

1992 < up for grabsavailable, especially if suddenly or recently

soUS , 1928

grabverb1to capture someone’s imagination and attentionUK , 1966.

2to impressUS , 1970.3to arrestUK , 1753.4in horse racing, to win a

race with a long shotUS , 1951 < grab a dabto engage in

male-on-male rapeUS , 1990 < grab airto apply a truck’s brakesUS , 1971.

< grab sackto muster courageUS , 1999 < grab the appleto

seize tightly on the saddle horn while riding a bucking animal

CANADA , 1987

grab-a-grannyadjectiveused to describe an event where you can

meet mature womenUK , 1987

grabalishusadjectivegreedyBAHAMAS , 1995

grab all, lose allused for expressing the dangers of greedTRINIDAD

AND TOBAGO , 2003

grab and snatchnounthe Goods and Services Tax (GST)NEW

ZEALAND , 1998

Grab and Steal Tax; Gouge and Screw Taxnounthe Canadian

Goods and Services Tax A back-formation on the initials GST

CANADA , 2001

grab-assnounhorseplayUS , 1947

grab-assverbto engage in physical horseplayUS , 1953

grab bagnoun1a loose assortment of anything From a lucky dip

offered at US fairsUS , 1879.2a pooled mix of different types of pills

contributed by several people and then consumed randomlyUS ,

1970.3the theft of a suitcase or briefcase accomplished by placing

a look-alike bag near the bag to be stolen and then picking up and

leaving with the bag to be stolen; the suitcase or briefcase stolen

in such a theftUS , 1977.4a lunch box or lunch bagUS , 1954.5a bag

of equipment prepared for grabbing in the event of an emergency

UK , 2004

grabbernoun1the handUK , 1859.2a surfer who ignores surfing

etiquette and catches rides on waves ‘owned’ by other surfersUS ,

1991.3a story that captures the imaginationUS , 1966.4a shame; a

pityUS , 1977.5a railway conductorUS , 1931

grabble

grabbyadjective1attention-grabbingUK , 1998.2greedy, grasping, selfishUK , 1953

grab-ironnouna handle on the side of a goods wagonUS , 1975

grab jointnounan eating concession in a circus or carnivalUS , 1904

gradnoun1an amphetamine tablet or other central nervous stimu-lantUS , 1977.2an ex-convictUS , 1950.3a graduate US , 1871

gradenoun< make the gradeto achieve a required standardUS , 1908

grade-grubbernouna student whose only goal is to get good grades

US , 1966

graduatenounan ex-convictUS , 1949

graduateverb1to complete a prison sentence A construction built

on the jocular ‘college’ as ‘jail’US , 1945.2to be cured of a sexually transmitted infectionUS , 1949.3to begin using more powerful drugs, or to stop taking drugs completelyUS , 1992.4(used of a racehorse) to win a race for the first timeUS , 1976

grad wrecksnounthe Graduate Records Examinations The standardised testing given to undergraduate students seeking admission to graduate school in the USUS , 1966

grafnoun1graffitiUS , 1997.2a paragraphUS , 1991

graffernouna graffiti artist who produces complete works, not just a stylised signatureUS , 1993

graf-headnouna graffiti artistUK , 1998

graftnoun1personal and financial advantage as the result of dishonest or unethical business or political practice, especially bribery and patronage; corporate corruption in generalUS , 1901.

2any kind of work, especially hard workUK , 1859

graftverb1to work hardUK , 1859.2to labour at criminal enterprises

UK , 1859

grafternoun1a hard workerAUSTRALIA , 1891.2among market traders,

a market traderUK , 1979.3a thief, a crook, a swindlerUS , 1866.4a criminal who identifies opportunities for other thievesUK , 1978

graf-writeverbto write or draw in the style of graffitiUS , 2000

graf-writingnoun the act of graffiti-ing US , 2001

grainnouna heavy drinkerUS , 1963

grain and drain trainnounsolitary confinementUS , 1982

grainsnounsemen; spermTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003

grammienouna tape deck, especially one mounted in the dashboard of a truck or carUS , 1976

grammynounone gram (of a drug)US , 1992

gramp; gramps; grampanouna grandfather; also used as an address for an old man A slurring ofGRANDPA UK , 1898

grannouna grandmother, especially as a form of address Childish or affectionate shorteningUK , 1863

grandnouna unit of 1,000, usually applied to US dollars or the pound sterlingUS , 1915

grand bagnounin homosexual usage, a large scrotumUS , 1981

grand canyonnounin homosexual usage, a loose anus and rectum

US , 1981

grand chargenounan empty threat or boastTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1973

grand dadnouna grandfatherUK , 1819

grand duchessnouna heterosexual woman who enjoys the company of homosexual menUS , 1970

grandfather clocknounthe penis Rhyming slang forCOCK, often paired withPOLISH AND GLOSS(to masturbate)UK , 1992

grand fromagenounthe most important person in a given organis-ation or enterprise A cod-French variorganis-ation ofBIG CHEESE UK , 2005

grandmanoun1the bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1929.

2an older homosexual manUS , 1964.3the lowest gear in a truck,

or car The lowest gear is the slowest gear, hence the reference to grandmotherUS , 1941

grandma’s peepers

grandpanouna grandfather; also used as an affectionate form of

address to an old man Abbreviation of ‘grandpapa’UK , 1848

grandpappynoungrandfatherUS , 1952

grandpa’s dozennouna twelve-pack of inexpensive beerUS , 1994

grandstandnouna large handicap weight for a racehorseAUSTRALIA ,

1966

grandstandverbto perform in a flashy manner, with an eye towards

audience perception rather than the level of performanceUS , 1900

granfernouna grandfather A slurring of ‘grandfather’UK , 1959

granite bouldernounthe shoulder Rhyming slangUK , 1992

grannie grunt; old grannienounan annoying person Rhyming

slang forCUNT(an idiot)UK , 1992

granniesnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1929

grannie’s wrinkles; granniesnounwinkles (seafood) Rhyming

slang.UK , 1992

grannynoun1grandmotherUK , 1698.2an old woman Extended from

the previous senseUK , 1699.3the bleed period of the menstrual

cycleUS , 1929.4a bungled knot; anything that has been bungledUS ,

1975.5the quality of pride Derives from the idiomatic phrase

‘teach your grandmother to suck eggs’, in which ‘granny’ (an

abbreviation of grandmother) represents anyone wiser than youUK ,

1851.6an apple of the Granny Smith varietyAUSTRALIA , 1944

granny-dumpingnounthe convenient removal of elderly relatives

from family responsibility to permanent hospital or nursing-home

careUK , 1987

granny farmnouna care home or estate for elderly residents From

‘granny’ (generic old woman) An ironic coinage reflecting UK

society’s apparent treatment of the elderly as so much livestock to

be managed by othersUK , 1988

granny gearnoun1tranquillizers and anti-depressants, such as

Valium™, Prozac™ and Rohypnol™ Drugs intended forGRANNY(an

old woman), or intended to slow you down which is a stereotypical

characteristic of a grandmotherUK , 2005.2a car, truck, or bicycle’s

lowest gear; in a four-wheel drive automobile, the lowest gear

combined with the lowest range in the transfer caseUS , 1993

granny jazzernounused as a euphemism for ‘motherfucker’US , 1977

granny pantiesnounlarge, cotton underpantsUS , 1991

granny ragnouna red flag used for indicating an oversized load on

a truckUS , 1971

granny’s here for a visitexperiencing the bleed period of the

menstrual cycleUS , 1968

granolanouna throw-back to the hippie counterculture of the 1960s

US , 1982

Grantnouna fifty-dollar note From the engraving of Ulysses S

Grant, a distinguished general and less-than-distinguished

president, on the noteUS , 1961

grapenoun1wine Often used in the pluralUS , 1898.2gossip A

shortening ofGRAPEVINE(the source of gossip)US , 1864.3in the

language of car salesmen, a promising potential customer Like the

grape, the customer is ‘ripe for picking’US , 1975.4a member of a

flight deck refuelling crewUS , 1986

grapefruit leaguenounin baseball, a notional league of the teams

that conduct spring training in FloridaUS , 1929

grapefruitsnounlarge female breastsUS , 1964

grape parfaitnounLSD From the purple hue of the drugUS , 1977

grapernounin oil drilling, a sycophantic workerUS , 1954

grapesnoun1the testiclesUS , 1985.2the female breastsUS , 1980.

3haemorrhoidsNEW ZEALAND , 1998.4a percent sign (%) on a

computer keyboardUS , 1991

grapes of wrathnounwineUS , 1947

grapevinenoun1a network of rumour or gossip; the mysterious

source of rumoursUS , 1862.2a line, especially a washing line

Rhyming slang, often shortened to ‘grape’UK , 1992

graph

grapplernouna wrestler More of a fan word than an insider’s word, but heardUS , 1990

grassnoun1an informer Rhyming slang based on ‘grasshopper’,

COPPER(a policeman)UK , 1932.2marijuana The term of choice during the 1960s and 70sUS , 1943.3hair, especially a crew cut

AUSTRALIA , 1919.4a woman’s pubic hairUS , 1964 < have more grass than Kew Gardensused of a person who is known as a regular police informerUK , 1984 < out to grassretired from work; hence no longer in use An image of old horses put out to grass

UK , 1969

grassverb1to inform; to betray FromGRASS(an informer) Also variant ‘grass up’UK , 1936.2to engage in sexual intimacyCANADA ,

1999.3to defeat; to beatUS , 2002

grassbacknouna promiscuous girlUS , 1969

grass bottlenounpieces of broken bottle glassTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003

grass castlenouna large dwelling owned by someone believed to have made their fortune dealing in marijuanaAUSTRALIA , 2003

grass coltnounan illegitimate childCANADA , 1990

grassed upadjectivein lobstering, covered with slimeUS , 1978

grassernounan informerUK , 1957

grass fightnouna hard-fought argument or fightAUSTRALIA , 1986

grass-fighternouna tough and willing brawlerAUSTRALIA , 1951

grassheadnouna habitual marijuana smokerUS , 1958

grasshoppernoun1a touristAUSTRALIA , 1955.2a customer who inspects one line of goods after another without buying anything

UK , 1979.3a type of clutch on a motorcyleUS , 1998.4a police officer; a police informer Rhyming slang forCOPPER(policeman) Rarely heard, but familiar asGRASS(an informer)UK , 1992.

5marijuanaUK , 2003.6in electric line work, an open-link cutoutUS , 1980

Grasshoppernounused as a humorous form of address to someone being instructed in cod-philosophical truths From the US

television series Kung-Fu, 1972–75 UK , 1994

grass in the parknounan informer Rhyming slang forNARK, and a development ofGRASS(informer)UK , 1961

grass palacenouna house bought with profits from the commercial cultivation of marijuanaAUSTRALIA , 2002

grass sandwichnouna child born of a sexual union in the outdoorsCANADA , 1999

grass stainsnoungreen discoloration on the fingers of a person who has been handling marijuanaUS , 2001

grass-widownouna wife who is temporarily apart from her husband Originally, mainly Anglo-Indian in useUK , 1846

grass-widowernouna husband who is temporarily apart from his wifeUS , 1862

grassy ass!thank you An intentionally butchered gracias US , 1990

gratanounmarijuanaUK , 1998

Grauniadnoun< the Grauniadthe Guardian newspaper An

anagram, coined in the mid- to late 1970s by satirical magazine

Private Eye Despite the improvement in spell-check technology

the nickname remains widely popularUK , 1979

gravaliciousadjectivegreedy, avariciousJAMAICA , 1979

gravenouna work shift at night, usually starting at or after midnight

An abbreviation ofGRAVEYARD SHIFT US , 1980

gravediggernoun1in the dice game crown and anchor, a spade Of naval originUK , 1961.2in circus usage, a hyenaUS , 1981

gravedodgernounan old personUK , 1996

gravelnoun1an air-delivered mine introduced by the US in Vietnam Formally known as an XM42 mine dispensing systemUS ,

1980.2crack cocaineUS , 1994

gravel agitatornounan infantry soldierUS , 1898

gravel and gritnounfaeces Rhyming slang forSHIT UK , 2003

gravel cruncher