Rhyming slangUK , 1996 totenounin horse racing, a pari-mutuel betting machine.. A play on the commonDEADHEADa Grateful Dead followerUS , 1995 touchingadjectiveused of playing cards adjac
Trang 1TOTused for suggesting that it is time to tell the complete truth.
From the Yiddish for ‘buttocks on the table’US , 1989
totalverbto wreck something beyond repair Originally and chiefly
applied to a carUS , 1954
totaladjectiveutter; out-and-out; complete; used as an all-purpose
intensifierUS , 1999
total bang upnounin prison, a regime under which inmates are
locked in their cells for 24 hours a dayUK , 1996
total blanknounin circus and carnival usage, a dull town where
business is poorUS , 1981
totalled; totalled outadjectivedrunkUS , 1966
totallyadverbcompletely Very close to standard English, but with
the right attitude quite slangyUS , 1982
totally!used as an enthusiastic expression of agreementUS , 1982
total outadjectiveto an extreme; to excess Hawaiian youth usage
US , 1982
total wrecknouna cheque Rhyming slangUK , 1996
totenounin horse racing, a pari-mutuel betting machine An
abbreviation of ‘totalisator’AUSTRALIA , 1890
toteverbto carry a pistolUS , 1998
tote!used for expressing assent An abbreviation ofTOTALLY! US , 2000
to the badof time, lateUK , 2000
to the goodadverbof time, earlyUK , 2000
to the nth degreeadjectiveto an extent beyond any reasonable
measurement Uses ’n’ (a mathematical symbol for an indefinite
number) to create a quasi-scientific sounding approximationUK ,
2001
to the rack!used by pool players for expressing dismay and utter
defeat The player has no choice in this situation but to return his
cue to the rackUS , 1993
tothersidernounin Western Australia, a person from an eastern
stateAUSTRALIA , 1872
totonounthe penisTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1987
toto-edadjectivein a state of drug-induced exhilaration Inspired by
The Wizard of Oz, 1939, in which Judy Garland (1922–69) as
Dorothy, says to her dog: ‘Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas
anymore’UK , 2001
totonolnounfrequent, regular sex as a cure for a woman’s ailments
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003
tottie; totty; totnouna person who is not white, especially a
‘coloured’ person; originally and particularly, one of the Khoikhoi
race Derivies from Hottentot; now considered derogatory and
offensiveSOUTH AFRICA , 1832 8see:TATER
tottitanounthe vaginaUS , 1998
tot-totsnounthe female breastsTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1974
totty; tottie; tottnouna sexually available or desirable young
woman or womenUK , 1890
tottyadjectiveattractive, desirableUK , 2002
tot upverbto amount to; to add up; to calculate Ultimately from
‘total’ An older variant, ‘tot together’, is still familiar UK , 2004
touchnoun1a sum of money obtained at one time, especially by
cadging or theftUS , 1846.2a satisfying result Derives from the
‘something-for-nothing’ sensesUK , 2000.3in pool, finesseUS , 1895.
4a resemblance or evocative quality When combined with a
pluralised proper noun, it is used to suggest characteristics
associ-ated with that noun, as ‘a touch of the Prince Edwards’, ‘a touch
of the Bob Dylans’ or ‘a touch of the Hollywoods’UK , 1388 < put
the touch on someoneto attempt to extract money from
someone with glib or coercive talkUS , 1956
touchverb1to borrow from someoneUS , 1955.2to subject someone
to extortion or briberyUK , 1654.3to finance someoneUK , 1999.4to
have sex with someoneIRELAND , 1984 < I wouldn’t touch it with
yoursused by one male to another as an expression of distaste or
contempt for a female Here ‘it’ is ‘a woman’ and ‘yours’ is ‘a
penis’UK < not touch it with a bargepoleused as an
indication of extreme distaste or contempt In many minor vari-ationsUK , 1984 < touch hometo communicate a feeling; to make senseUS , 1959 < touching cloth; touching cottonhaving
an urgent need to defecateUK , 2002
touch and goadjectiveof uncertain outcome, unsureUK , 1815
touch and tapnouna cap (hat) Rhyming slangUK , 1992
touched; touched in the headadjectivementally impaired; insane
UK , 1893
touched by the moonadjective(slightly) insane An elaboration of
TOUCHED(insane), in the form of rhyming slang onLOON(a madman)UK , 1992
touche eclatverbto conceal something From French, where, if the construction were used, it would mean (very loosely) ‘a brilliant or acclaimed touch’ A contemporary gay usageUK , 2003
touchheadnouna convert to the musical cult of the Grateful Dead after the 1987 release of the song ‘Touch of Grey’ A play on the commonDEADHEAD(a Grateful Dead follower)US , 1995
touchingadjectiveused of playing cards adjacent in rankUS , 1996
touch mannouna criminal who specialises in breaking into safes by manipulating the combinations until they openUS , 1970
touch offverbto light a fire, especially if arsonUS , 1979
touch’olenouna cow’s anusCANADA , 1992
touch-onnounan erectionUK , 2001
touchousadjectiveirritable, easily upsetTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1956
touch the dog’s arsenouncar theft Prison slang for the initialism
TDA (taking and driving away) UK: ENGLAND , 1998
touch upverb1to caress and fondle someone in a sexual manner
UK , 1903.2to steal somethingUS , 1997
touch woodused superstitiously as a precaution against bad luck, spoken to accompany the action of touching wood (often
humorously tapping your own wooden head); or to replace the
need for the action; or by rote, without superstition, as a general way of saying ‘with luck’ After a Christian belief in the benefit of touching the cross, hence the proverbial ‘Touch wood, it’s sure to come good’UK , 1908
touchy-feelyadjectiveoverly sensitive, caring or emotional Originating in psycho-therapy, now generally used dismissively to describe every state between tactile and lecherousUS , 1968
touch you!used for conveying surprise and admirationUS , 1997
toughverbto inject a drug into a vein on the underside of the tongue It is not particularly difficult to guess why this practice is
so namedUS , 1986 < tough it out; toughto bear hardship; to determinedly face up to a difficulty, 2000
tough!‘hard luck!’; unfairUK , 1929
tough; tuffadjectivegood, admirableUS , 1937
tough biccies!used for expressing a profound lack of sympathy for
a bad turn of eventsNEW ZEALAND , 1977
tough cheekoused for expressing a lack of sympathyUS , 1969
tough dartstoo badUS , 1968
toughernounin poker, an increased betUS , 1951
tough guysnounin craps, the proposition bets (bets that a number will be rolled in a pair)US , 1983
toughie; toughynouna tough person or situationUS , 1929
toughiesnounin craps, the proposition bets (bets that a number will be rolled in a pair)US , 1983
tough lovenouna mixture of compassion and strictness designed to affect change in destructive behaviourUS , 1981
tough nut; tough nut to crack; hard nut; hard nut to crack
nounsomeone who is difficult to deal with, especially one with a tendency to violenceUS , 1999
tough shitwho cares?, so what? An unsympathetic variation of
‘tough luck’: ‘tough’ (unfortunate, unpleasant) andSHIT(an abstract form) for ‘luck’US , 1934
tough shitskiused as a humorous embellishment of tough shit, or too bad A mock Slav or Russian suffix
Trang 2tough titty; tough titties; tough titused for conveying a lack of
sympathy with a difficult turn of eventsUS , 1934
toupnouna man’s hairpieceUS , 1985
tour ballnounin pinball, a ball that stays in play for a relatively long
period without scoring many pointsUS , 1977
tour crudnounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, a
bacterial or viral infection that quickly spreads among those
following the band on tourUS , 1994
touristnoun1in relation to a specified subject area, a person who
takes a temporary interestUK , 2002.2a summer worker in
AntarcticaANTARCTICA , 1966
Tourist Annienounthe stereotypical female tourist in Port of Spain,
dressed in what she perceives as traditional island clothingTRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO , 1971
tourist discnounin shuffleboard, a shot that passes through
without hitting a target disc or discsUS , 1967
tourist trapnouna place that attracts and makes unreasonable
profits from touristsUK , 1939
touristyadjectivefull of tourists; designed or developed to appeal to
tourists; characteristic of tourists Often with derogatory
connotationsUK , 1906
tourniquetnounan engagement or wedding ringUS , 1961
tour ratnounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, a fan
who follows the band on tour at all costsUS , 1994
toutnoun1an informer, especially one who works for the IRAUK:
NORTHERN IRELAND , 1979.2in horse racing, someone who sells
gener-ally worthless advice with the promise of inside information
bound to help bettors winUK , 1865.3a horse racing enthusiast who
closely watches workouts and is generally disliked by those on the
inside of the sportAUSTRALIA , 1989.4in a confidence swindle or sales
scheme, an agent who for a commission locates potential victims
US , 1988.5in a whe-whe lottery game, a person who records and
collects bets, takes the bets to the banker and pays off winners
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1996
towverb< I’ll tow that one alongside for a bit before I bring
it aboardamong Nova Scotia fishermen, used for expressing
doubt about the truth or reliability of an idea or projectCANADA ,
1992
towelnoun< chuck in the towel; throw in the towel; toss in
the towelto admit or concede defeat From boxingUK , 1915
towelhead; towel-headnounan Arab; also a Sikh or other
turban-wearer An offensive or derogatory term; from the traditional
headwear of the various races and creedsUS , 1979
towel upverbto beat someone upAUSTRALIA , 1919
tower birdnounin oil drilling, a worker on a derrickUS , 1954
Tower Bridge, towernouna refrigerator Rhyming slang for ‘fridge’
UK , 1992
Tower Hillverbto kill Rhyming slang, formed on an area of London
UK , 1998
towienouna tow-truck driverAUSTRALIA , 1975
townnoun1London Used by Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and
present-day commutersUK , 1837.2city A coy term that harkens
backUS , 1999 < go to townto make the utmost effort; to tackle
something with zest and vigourUK , 1933 < go to town onto
attack excessively either verbally or physicallyIRELAND , 1992 < in
townin horse racing, on major metropolitan tracks The opposite
of the ‘bushes’AUSTRALIA , 1989 < out of townin jail or prisonUS ,
1982
town bikenouna promiscuous female Everybody has, it seems,
‘taken a ride’AUSTRALIA , 1945
town clownnounin carnival usage, a local police officerUS , 1989
town criernouna liar Rhyming slangUK , 1992
town dollarsnounin horse racing, money bet at a betting operation
away from the trackUS , 1951
towner
town hall drapesnounthe foreskin of an uncircumcised penisUK , 2002
townienoun1a townsperson, contrasted with a visiting student or summer visitorUS , 1852.2any member of a subcultural urban adolescent grouping that seems to be defined by a hip-hop dress and jewellery senseUK , 2004
town punchnounan extremely promiscious girl or womanUS , 1975
townsnounthe testicles Rhyming slang on ‘town hall’ forBALL(S);
appears to originate in LiverpoolUK , 2001
towns and citiesnounthe female breasts Rhyming slang for
TITTIE(S), recorded as obsolete by Julian Franklyn, A Dictionary of
Rhyming Slang, 1960, but noted as a variant ofBRISTOL CITYby Ray
Puxley, Cockney Rabbit, 1992 UK , 1960
toxicadjective1of a situation, unhealthy, poisonous Figurative appli-cation of the conventional senseUK , 1998.2amazing, powerfulUS , 1987
Toxic Hellnouna Taco Bell™ restaurant (a Mexican fast-food chain
in the US)US , 1993
toynoun1a can in which opium is stored, whether the can is tin, tinned iron or another metal; a small amount of opiumUS , 1934.
2any object that is used for sexual stimulation during masturbation, foreplay, sexual intercourse or fetish-playUS , 1977.3a desk with an attached bookcaseUK , 1947.4a computer systemUS ,
1991.5an inexperienced or incompetent graffiti artistUS , 1990.6in drag racing, a dragster (a car designed specifically and exclusively for drag racing)US , 1965 8see:TAW
toy boynouna younger male loverUK , 1981
toy dollsnounthe testicles A vaguely assonant euphemismUK: SCOTLAND , 1988
Toyko Rose; tokyonounthe nose Rhyming slang, formed from the name given by the US administration and soldiers in World War 2
to the many female voices that broadcast Japanese propaganda, but especially associated with Iva Ikuko Toguri (b.1916), a Japanese-American, who actually broadcast under the name Orphan Ann
UK , 1992
toy otternounin car repair, a Toyota carUS , 1992
toysnounheroinUK , 2003
TPnoun1a scene in a pornographic film or a photograph depicting
a woman having simultaneous oral, vaginal and anal sex An abbreviation of ‘triple penetration’US , 2000.2a woman with large
breasts and large buttocks A ‘total package’ US , 2000
TR-6nounan amphetamine Possibly from a Triumph TR-6, the legendary sports car manufactured from the late 1960s to the mid-70s, used here as an allegory forSPEED(amphetamine)UK , 1998
tracnounan intractable prisonerAUSTRALIA , 1967
tracknoun1the street or area where prostitutes solicit customersUS ,
1969.2the open road as used by itinerant travellers Commonly in the phrase ‘on the track’AUSTRALIA , 1873.3the course of an event; the course of timeAUSTRALIA , 1945.4an armoured personnel carrier, especially the M-113US , 1971.5a warder who carries contraband for prisoners An earlier variant ‘track-in’ has been recorded from 1939
AUSTRALIA , 1950 < the trackthe Savoy ballroom, New York A major night spot on Lenox Avenue between 140th and 141st Streets in New York from 1927 until the 50sUS , 1946
trackverbto inject drugsUK , 1996
track-bashernouna specialist trainspotter who travels (and so
‘collects’) little-used sections of the rail networkUK , 2003
tracked upadjectivescarred from regular intravenous drug injection
US , 1971
trackernounin the television and film industries, a low-level development executiveUS , 1997
trackie; trackynouna tracksuit Also in the plural form ‘trackies’
AUSTRALIA , 1987
trackie-bottomsnountracksuit trousersUK: SCOTLAND , 1996
trackie daksnountracksuit trousersAUSTRALIA , 2000
track lawyernounin horse racing, someone who constantly resorts
Trang 3track recordnounthe known facts about relevant historyUS , 1951
tracksnounbruises, punctures and sores visible on the skin of an
intravenous drug userUS , 1960 < across the tracks; wrong side
of the tracksthe socially inferior area of town The railway often
separated the better-off part of an American town from the poorer
quarters Duke Ellington’s ‘Across the Tracks Blues’ dates to 1943
US , 1943 < make tracksto leaveUS , 1945
tractionnounin confidence games, an amount of money used to
begin an increasingly larger series of swindlesUS , 1997
traddienouna traditional jazz enthusiastUK , 1983
tradenoun1a man, self-identified as heterosexual, who engages in
active anal homosexual sex or passive oral homosexual sex but will
not reciprocateUS , 1927.2heterosexual or homosexual prostitution;
customers of that prostitution, especially homosexual Originally
‘the trade’UK , 1680
tradeverb< trade numbersto bid for a job based on an
estimated costUS , 1989 < trade paintto be involved in a car
accident with another carUS , 1997
trade queennouna homosexual man who prefers sex with a
seemingly heterosexual man who consents to homosexual sex in
the ‘male’ role, receiving orally or giving anallyUS , 1970
trade-ragenounan outburst of enraged hostility within a business
environmentUK , 2003
tradesnounthe trade journals of the US entertainment industryUS ,
1984
tradesman’s entrance; tradesman’snounthe anus, designated as
an entry suitable for sex In the grand houses of polite society the
tradesman’s entrance is traditionally round the backUK , 2001
trade upverbto escape criminal prosecution or lessen the charges
against you by providing the police with information about other
criminalsUS , 1981
Tradiesnouna tradesmen’s clubAUSTRALIA , 1987
traditional disciplinenouncorporal punishment, especially when
used in a prostitute’s advertising matterUK , 2003
trad jazz; tradnoun traditional jazz UK , 1956
trafverbto fart Back slangAUSTRALIA , 1998
Trafalgar Square; trafalgarnouna chair Rhyming slangUK , 1998
tragicnounan inferior or pathetic person From the adjectiveUK , 2005
tragicadjectiveinferior, pathetic, no good Used, especially in a
sporting context, as an opposite ofMAGIC(excellent) ‘Liverpool are
magic Everton are tragic’ is legendarily ascribed to footballer
Emlyn Hughes (1947–2004)UK , 1984
tragic magicnoun1heroinUS , 1990.2crack cocaine dipped in
phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust
UK , 1998
trailernounin a striptease performance, the preliminary march
across the stage that precedes the removal of any piece of clothing
US , 1981 < pull a trailerto possess large buttocksUS , 1988
trailerverbto pull a dragster onto its carrying trailer after it has
been eliminated from an event A car that has lost is referred to as
‘being trailered’US , 1970
trail hognouna skier who is inconsiderate of other skiers,
monopolising a narrow trailUS , 1963
trail markernounan unappetising piece of food, the identity of
which is uncertainUS , 1991
trail mixnouna recreational drug cocktail of MDMA, the recreational
drug best known as ecstasy, and Viagra™, a branded drug that
enables a male erectionUS , 2003
trailsnoun1cocaineUK , 2003.2while under the influence of LSD or
another hallucinogen, sequences of repeating after-images trailing
a moving objectUS , 1999
trainnoun1cocaineUS , 1993.2heroinUK , 2003.3in prison, drugs To
say ‘the train has arrived’ is to say that illegal drugs have arrived at
the prisonUS , 1982.4a series of wavesUS , 1963.5multiple orgasms
US < pull a train; run a trainto engage in serial sex with
multiple partners, homosexual or heterosexual, usually consensual
US , 1965
trainverb< train Thomas at the Terracotta; train Terrence/Terence at the terracotta(of a male) to urinate
AUSTRALIA , 1971
trainiesnountrainers, sports shoesUK , 2001
training beernounlow alcohol beerCANADA , 1995
training wheelsnouna learner’s driving permitUS , 1976
train smashnoun1fried or tinned tomatoes; tomato sauce Military black humour; an especially unappetising example of visual imageryUK , 1941.2a hastily prepared savoury dish of tomatoes with onions, eggs, sausages, etcAUSTRALIA , 1960
trainspotternounanyone with a pedantic interest in and an obsessive knowledge of a specific topic Genuine trainspotters, of the variety that stand on railway platforms, are the stereotypical arch-hobbyistsUK , 1995
train-surfing; urban surfing; roof-ridingnounriding illegally on the roof of a train (or car, bus, etc) for the thrills A ten-year craze from the early 1980sUS , 1993
train wrecknouna horribly wounded soldier or casualty department patient Used by medical corpsmen in VietnamUS , 1978
tramnoun< wouldn’t know if a tram was up youto be docilely unawareAUSTRALIA , 1972
trammienouna tram driver or conductorAUSTRALIA , 1919
trampnoun1a promiscuous man or womanUS , 1922.2a worker who moves from job to job, city to cityUK , 1808
Trance Canadanicknamethe Trans-Canada highway This nickname
is either a reference to ‘highway hypnosis’ (on boring sections like the 401 from Montreal to Toronto) or to the ‘spellbinding scenery’
on such parts as the Rocky Mountain crossing or the Maritime sectionsCANADA , 2001
tranced out; trancedadjectivein a state of extreme distractionUK , 1997
tranceyadjectiveof trance musicUK , 1998
TranenicknameJohn Coltrane (1926–67) A jazz titanUS , 1985
tranknoun1any central nervous system depressant Variant spelling include ‘trang’ and ‘tranx’US , 1971.2a person who takes the excitement out of something; a killjoy A figurative use of ‘a tranquillizer’US , 1979
trankedadjectivesedated; under the influence of tranquillizersUS , 1991
trannieadjectivetranssexualUS , 1999
trannie; trannynoun1a transvestiteUK , 1984.2a transsexualUS , 1997.
3a transistor radioUK , 1969.4in a car or truck, a transmissionUS ,
1993.5any surface used for skating or foot-propelled scootering that
is not totally horizontal From ‘transition’UK , 2000
transnoun1a carUS , 1995.2transport BAHAMAS , 1982
transcendverbto smoke marijuanaUS , 1974
transformernoun1a transsexualUS , 1991.2a stuttering type of manipulation of a record to create a musical effect, 2002
transfusionnouna replenishment of cashAUSTRALIA , 1989 < get a transfusionto fill a vehicle with petrol or dieselUS , 1976
transitnoun< in transitexperiencing the effects of LSDUS , 1971
transvesty; transvestienouna transvestiteUS , 1987
transynouna transsexualUS , 1987
trapnoun1the mouthUK , 1776.2a police officer Now only historical
AUSTRALIA , 1812.3a prostitute’s earnings A shortened form ofTRAP
MONEY US , 1973.4an electronic device that records the originating telephone number of all incoming calls A term and practice made obsolete with the advent of the ‘caller ID’ feature on telephones in the late 1990sUS , 1991.5a hiding place for illegal drugsUS , 1967.6a residenceUS , 1957.7a timing light at the finish line of a drag race
US , 1970.8in poker, a deceptive betUS , 1979
trapverb1to have success attracting members of the opposite sex Royal Navy slangUK .2to install an electronic trap on a
Trang 4telephone lineUS , 1996.3to land safely and accurately on an aircraft
carrierUS , 1991
trap doornoun1a scab under which a drug addict injects drugsUS ,
1992.2a computing function that is easily performed but difficult
to perform in the inverse Extremely useful in cryptographyUS , 1991
trapeze artistnouna person engaged in simultaneous anal and oral
sexUS , 1979
trap moneynoun1a prostitute’s gross earningsUS , 1974.2money
containing tear gas and/or dye kept in a bank to be given to bank
robbers An abbreviation of ‘booby-trap money’US , 2004
trap offverbto deceive or manipulate someoneUS , 2002
trappernouna person who can open envelopes and reseal them
without a traceUS , 1982
trappyadjectiveloud and boastful, possibly insulting.TRAPis ‘mouth’,
therefore ‘trappy’ isMOUTHY UK , 1999
trapsnoun1drums and other items of percussion, collectively
Musicians’ slangUS , 1903.2the trapezius muscles connecting the
neck and shoulderUS , 1984.3your usual hauntsAUSTRALIA , 1933
trap smashernounin lobstering, a severe stormUS , 1978
trap two; trap number twonounthe anus From greyhound
racingUK , 1998
trashnoun1contemptible people; a contemptible personUK , 1604.
2military decorations, awards and patchesUS , 1990.3marijuanaUS ,
2001.4heroinUK , 2003.5waves that collapse before they break,
making poor surfing conditionsUS , 1977
trashverb1to destroy somethingUK , 1970.2to criticise or malign
someone or somethingUS , 1975.3to frighten someone Market
traders’ term; directly from RomanyUK , 1979
trashedadjectivevery drunk or drug-intoxicatedUS , 1966
trash handnounin poker, an unplayable handUS , 1992
trash haulernounduring the Vietnam war, a cargo transport pilot
US , 1988
trashingnounlooting from shopsUS , 1975
trash timenouna short jail sentence, especially one spent on a
litter cleaning dutyUS , 1987
traumaticadjectivevery exciting; excellentUS , 1990
travelverb< travel on a tie passto walk along a train trackUS ,
1977
travel agentnounan LSD dealer A euphemism based on aTRIP
metaphorUS , 1966
travellernounalcohol taken in a car on the way to a party or
concertUS , 2004
traveller’s checknounin poker or other gambling, a betting token
that rolls across the table or floor From the insider slang term
CHECK(a gambling token)US , 1996
traveller’s marrownounan erection brought on while travelling,
especially while sleepingUK , 1985
travelling agentnounin a whe-whe lottery game, a person who
collects and records bets, brings the bets and money to the banker
and pays off winnersTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1996
traynouna bunch of vials containing crack cocaineUS , 1994
trayadjectivethree A variation ofTREY UK , 2002
treaclenounused as an endearment Probably, simply, a simile for
‘sweet’; possibly, rhyming slang ‘treacle tart’, for ‘sweetheart’UK ,
2001
treacleverbto flatter someone; to behave in an obsequious manner
UK , 1943
treacle tart; treaclenouna fart Rhyming slangUK , 1998
treadnouna shoeUK , 1959
treadersnounshoesUS , 1970
treadheadnouna member of a combat tank crewUS , 1987
treadlynouna bicycleAUSTRALIA , 1990
treash; treasnouna term of affectionate address A shortening of
‘treasure’
treasurenouna highly valued person Often applied to people who provide a serviceUK , 1810
treasure chestnouna brakevan (caboose)US , 1977
Treasure Coastnounthat portion of Florida between Cape Kennedy and West Palm Beach After the sunken treasure believed to lie off the coastUS , 1965
treasure huntnoun1the search in a gambling establishment or cardroom for someone from whom to borrow moneyUS , 1982.
2the vagina; a fool; a despicable person Rhyming slang,CUNT.
Can be shortened to ‘treasure’UK , 1998
treatnoun< a treatbeautifully, enjoyably, extremelyUK , 1964 < do a treat; do someone a treatto suit someone admirablyUK , 1904 < do someone a treat; do someone up a treatto thrash someone
An elaboration ofDO(to beat) orDO UP(to beat up), possibly a deliberate pun on ‘do someone a treat’ (to suit someone very well)
UK , 1975
treatverb< treat a Jto add another drug or drugs to a marijuana cigaretteUS , 1982
treat ’n’ streetverbin a hospital’s casualty department, to tend to
a patient’s needs and discharge him or her as swiftly as possible
UK , 2002
treble chancenouna dance Rhyming slangUK , 1992
tree; treesnounmarijuana An exaggeratedBUSH US , 1995 < out of your treedrunk or drug-intoxicatedIRELAND , 1991 < out of your tree; off your treecrazed; mentally derangedUS , 1966 < out yer treedrunkUK , 2002
tree-eaternouna member of the US Special Service Forces Because of the constant survival training the special forces undergoUS , 1993
tree-fuckernouna stereotyped enviromentalist A variant of
TREE-HUGGER UK , 2000
tree-huggernounan environmental activistUS , 1977
tree-huggingadjectiveenvironmentally aware; active in environmen-tal protectionUS , 1999
tree-jumpernouna chronic sex offenderUS , 1992
treesnounbroccoliUS , 1966 < put in the treesto overcharge someoneUS , 1980
treetop level and all engines outadjectivenear deathUS , 1994
tree upverbwhen parachuting, to land and become entangled in a treeUS , 1959
treewarenounbooks, magazines, newspapers, etc, as opposed to all alternate forms of providing such texts Computer hacker slang, deriding the fact that paper is made from pulped woodUS , 1997
Trekkernoun a zealous fan of Star Trek Preferred by the fans over
the term ‘TREKKIE’US , 1978
Trekkienoun a devoted fan of Star Trek, the original science fiction
television programme (which started in 1966) and subsequent films and spin-offsUS , 1978
trekkyadjective in the style of Star Trek, the cult science-fiction
television programme first seen in 1966UK , 2001
trenchesnoun< in the trenchesinvolved in the hard, dirty aspect of an enterpriseUS , 1970
trendynoun1a follower of fashionUK , 1968.2a youth defined by a skateboarders’ particular sense of fashionUK , 2002
trendyadjectivefashionableUK , 1962
tresnounin betting, odds of 3–1 A variation ofTREY UK , 1991
tresadverbvery Directly from the FrenchUK , 2000
trevnicknamea person whose prime characteristic is vanity; a person who wears nothing but designer-label clothes Presumably derives from an unknown but especially well-groomed Trevor Usually derogatoryUK , 2003
treynoun1threeUK , 1859.2a prison sentence of three yearsUS , 1983.
3a threepence Shortening ofTREY BIT AUSTRALIA , 1896.4three dollars’ worth of a drugUS , 1966
trey bit
Trang 5trey eightnouna 38 calibre handgunUS , 1992
treyernounthree years or three dollarsUS , 1950
trial-sizeadjectiveused of a person, very shortUS , 1988
triantelopenounthe Australian tarantula, any of various large
spiders of the genus Isopoda Seems to be a blend of ‘tarantula’
and ‘antelope’AUSTRALIA , 1845
triantiwontigongolope; triantiwontigongnouna mythical insect
or monster; also, a name for something unknown From a poem
for children about a non-existent creature so named by C.J
Dennis in A Book for Kids, 1921 AUSTRALIA , 1965
Tribenicknamethe Cleveland Indians professional baseball team
References to native American Indians in US professional sports
teams (Indians, Braves, Redskins) persist in an era when many
other stereotypes have witheredUS , 1950
tribeadjectivecontemptibly unfashionable Collected on the 17th
June 2005 from teenage girls (who described themselves as
‘townies’) in Swansea, south Wales: ‘You don’t want to go there –
it’s tribe.’UK: WALES , 2005
Tri-Chevynouna Chevrolet car or truck manufactured in 1955, 1956
or 1957US , 1993
tricknoun1a prostitute’s customerUS , 1925.2an act of sex between
a prostitute and customerUS , 1926.3a short-term homosexual
sex-ual partner, not payingUS , 1963.4a casual sexual partnerUS , 1968.5a
prostituteUK , 1999.6any dupeUS , 1865.7a swindle Far less
common in this sense, but not unheardUK , 1865.8on the railways,
a work shiftUS , 1946 < can’t take a trickto be consistently
unsuccessful From card gamesAUSTRALIA , 1944 < do the trickto
achieve your objectUK , 1812
trickverb1to engage in sex with a paying customer, usually in an
expeditious fashionUS , 1960.2to have sex with a short-term
partner, without emotion or money passedUS , 1968
trickadjective1excellentUS , 1988.2in hot rodding and drag racing,
abnormal, unusualUS , 1968
trickactverbto play about mischievouslyIRELAND , 1992
trick babynounthe offspring of a prostitute and an unknown
customer, often of mixed raceUS , 1969
trick bagnoun1a bag used by a prostitute to carry tools of the
trade A search warrant issued by the Sausalito (California) Police
Department in its investigation of a massage parlour/brothel
defines a trick bag as ‘a large woman’s handbag, which will
gener-ally enclose the following items which are used in the practice of
prostitution: clothing, especially a change of undergarments such
as panties, bras, camisoles and negligees, wet wipes, paper tissues,
Vaseline and personal lubricants, bottles of mouth wash, rubbing
alcohol, baby oil, various kinds and numbers of condoms, douches
and other forms of feminine hygiene, and various cosmetics, small
hand towels which are normally used in the practice of
prostitution to wipe the ejaculatory excretions from the bodies of
the prostitute and the customers[.]’US , 2003.2a dilemma with no
clear solutionUS , 1992
trick booknouna prostitute’s list of customersUS , 1972
trick bunknounin prison, a bed used for sexual encountersUS , 1990
trick-cyclistnouna psychiatrist Originally militaryUK , 1930
trick daynounan agreed time when homosexuals in long-term
relationships may have sex outside the relationshipUS , 1964
trick dress; trick suitnouna dress that a prostitute can remove
easilyUS , 1963
trick flicknouna pornographic film, usually homosexualUS , 1970
trick housenouna house or apartment where prostitutes take their
customers for sexUS , 1972
Trickidadiannouna Trinidadian A term that can be used with
admiration or as disparagementTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1982
trick namenouna prostitute’s business aliasUS , 1991
trick offverbto perform oral sex on a manUS , 1997
trick outverbto decorate something, or dress somebody, elaborately
trick padnounan apartment or room which a prostitute uses only for sex with customersUS , 1970
trick pantsnounpants that are easily removed, favoured by prostitutesUS , 1967
trick rignouna sexually attractive bodyUS , 1997
trick roomnouna room where a prostitute takes customersUS , 1969
tricksnoun< on the tricksworking as a prostituteUS , 1961
trick seatnounthe passenger seat on a motorcyleUS , 1984
tricksternouna prostituteUS , 1976
trick towelnouna towel or wash rag used to clean up after sexUS , 1970
Trick Wileynounused as a generic term for any gullible victim of a swindleUS , 1965
trickyadjectiveneeding careful handling or cautious action; difficult; riskyUK , 1887
tricky Dicknounthe penisUS , 1984
Tricky Dick; Tricky DickienicknameRichard Nixon President of the US from 1969 until 1974, not known for his honesty or fair playUS , 1970
triconnounin poker, a hand with three cards of the same rankUS , 1967
triernouna racehorse genuinely being run to winAUSTRALIA , 1915
trifeadjectivepossessing low or no moral characterUS , 2002
trifectanounin US horse racing, a bet on the first three in the correct orderUS , 1991
triffadjectivegreat, marvellous, superlative A shortening ofTRIFFIC UK , 1982
trifficadjectivegreat, marvellous, superlative – often used with heavy irony A slovening of ‘terrific’ (genuinely great)UK , 1984
triggernoun1in a shooting, the shooterUS , 1980.2any prison guard carrying a gunUS , 1992
trigger-happyadjectivetoo eager to shoot a gunUS , 1945
trigger timenountime spent in combatUS , 1987
trikenouna three-wheeled motorcycle such as the Harley-Davidson Servi-Car Biker (motorcyle) usage, referring to a child’s tricycleUS , 2003
trilby hat; trilbynouna fool Rhyming slang forPRAT UK , 1992
trillverb1to idle with friends, especially with drugs and/or alcohol enlightening the idlingUS , 2004.2to stroll, to strut; to leave Also
‘trilly’ The heroine of Du Maurier’s 1894 novel Trilby was noted
for her beautiful feet; Trilbys came to mean ‘feet’, and then ‘to stroll’US , 1945
trillernounan attractive young woman West Indian patois variation
of ‘thriller’, recorded by a Jamaican inmate in a UK prison, August
2002JAMAICA , 2002
trimnoun1the vagina; a woman as a sex object; sex with a woman
US , 1949.2in the television and film industries, sections of scene cut by an editorUS , 1990
trimverb1to cheat, defraud or swindle someoneUK , 1600.2to have sex with a womanUS , 1972
trimmernoun1an outstanding person or thingAUSTRALIA , 1878.2in cricket, ‘a fast ball of exceptional quality, especially one that narrowly misses the stumps’UK , 1959
trimsnounplaying cards altered for cheating by slightly trimming off the edges of certain cardsUS , 1979
TriniadjectiveTrinidadianTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1973
Trini by boatnouna long-standing immigrant in TrinidadTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1987
Trinidad time; Trini timenounused for expressing an expected and accepted lack of punctualityTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1990
trinitynouna style of three-storey terraced house consisting of three rooms stacked verticallyUS , 1996
trio
Trang 6tripnoun1a hallucinatory drug experience Uncertainty surrounds
the first slang usage of the term US slang lexicographer Peter
Tamony argued in American Speech (Summer 1981) that the term
was first used in a slang sense by Jack Gelber in The Connection, a
1957 play dealing with heroin addicts Tamony privately conceded
that the usage was not ‘a smoking gun’, and in retrospect it
appears more figurative than slang The Oxford English Dictionary
points to Norman Mailer’s 1959 Advertisements for Myself, in
which Mailer wrote of taking mescaline and of ‘a long and private
trip’, but there is no evidence that Mailer’s use reflected a
colloquial understanding and was not simply literary metaphor
Similarly, in a 1963 article about LSD in Playboy, Allan Harrington
used the term ‘trip’, but again the context suggests metaphor, not
slang The slang sense of the word is indelibly associated with Ken
Kesey and his LSD-taking Merry Pranksters In 1964, Ken Kesey
bought a soon-to-be-famous International Harvester school bus in
the name of Intrepid Trips, Inc., suggesting an already current, if
private, slang sense In September 1999, Kesey wrote about his
recollection of the first use of the term: ‘I think it came from our
bus trip in 1964, when Cassady said “This trip is a trip”’US , 1966.
2any profound experienceUS , 1966.3a state of mind Used in an
extremely vague and amorphous way, usually suggesting
something profoundUS , 1966.4interestUS , 1967.5a personal or
sex-ual experience, especially if non-conventionalUS , 1971.6a dose of
LSD, usually in the form of a blotting paper tab Derived from the
sense as ‘a hallucinogenic experience’ that follows ingestionUK ,
2000.7a prison sentenceUS , 1952
tripverb1to experience a drug-induced hallucinogenic euphoria
Also ‘trip out’US , 1966.2to engage in flights of fancy, especially
while in prisonUS , 1967.3to get angry, to lose control because of
angerUS , 1990s.4to insultUS , 1995
tripenoun1utter nonsense; anything worthless or of poor quality,
rubbish Derives from ‘tripe’ as a source of inferior foodUK , 1676.
2in the theatre, electrical lines dangling from overhead fixturesUK ,
1952.3a tripod Used by travelling salesmen and itinerant swindlers
to support a suitcase full of merchandiseUS , 1981
trip grassnounmarijuana enhanced with amphetamineUS , 1982
triplenounsex involving three peopleUS , 1988
triple crownnounoral, vaginal and anal sex in the same sessionUS ,
2004
triple C’snoundextromethorphan (DXM), an active ingredient in
non-prescription cold and cough medication, often abused for
non-medicinal purposesUS , 2003
triple jet acenouna fighter pilot who shoots down three aircraft in
a single dayUS , 1964
triple mnounmutual manual masturbationUS , 1985
triple-nickelsnounthe 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, US Army
The US Army’s first all-black parachute infantry test platoon,
company and battalionUS , 1991
tripletsnounin poker, three of a kindUS , 1963
triple Wnouna woman as the provider of good sex The W’s are
‘warm’, ‘wet’ and ‘womb’US , 1970
triple Xnoun1a tablet of MDBA that also contains the analogues
MDA and MDEAUK , 1996.2someone who abstains from sex,
alcohol and drugs Reminiscent of the slang term for a
decaffeinated espresso drink made with non-fat milk – why
bother?US , 1996
trip outverb1to undergo an hallucinogenic experience as a result
of drug-intoxicationUS , 1967.2to upset someone; to confuse
someone; to disturb someoneUS , 1960s.3to amaze someone; to
enlighten someoneUS , 1968.4to become involved in something in
a focused and intense mannerUS , 1966
tripped outadjectivehallucinogen-intoxicatedUS , 1973
trippernoun1a person using LSD or another hallucinogenic drug
US , 1999.2LSD FromTRIP(a period of LSD intoxication)UK , 1998.3a
train passengerUS , 1977
tripple-dippernouna veteran of World War 2, Korea and Vietnam
trippyadjective1hallucinatoryUK , 2001.2of psychedelic design From
TRIP(an LSD experience) and the psychedelic imagery inspired by such drug usageUS , 1993.3excellentUS , 1988.4extremely committed
to the hippie life, especially the drug aspects of itUS , 1968
tripsnoun1LSDUS , 1969.2in poker, a hand with three cards of the same rank An abbreviation of ‘triplets’US , 1997.3dice with intentionally rounded edges used for cheatingUS , 1974
trisaurusnouna Boeing 727 aircraft From its three jet engines; the plane was produced from the late 1960s to 1984UK , 1994
trisexual; trysexualadjectivewilling to try anything sexually; open
to any sexual experience Borrowing from ‘bisexual’, punning ‘tri’ with ‘try’US , 1988
trissnouna male homosexualAUSTRALIA , 1953
trissyadjectivehomosexualAUSTRALIA , 1982
triumphantadjectiveexcellentUS , 1991
trivetnounin poker, a three-dollar betUS , 1996
trivialadjectivein computing, too simple to bother explainingUS , 1997
trixienouna multiple bet, gambling on three horses in four combined betsUK , 1991
trizznouna prostitute’s customerUS , 1973
trognoun1a stuffy, old-fashioned person From ‘troglodyte’ (an ancient cave-dweller)UK , 1965.2a slow, careful, trundling driver Probably extends from the previous senseUK , 1972.3a visiting surferAUSTRALIA , 1977
trogverbto walk; to depart; to drive without urgency MilitaryUK , 1995
troglodytenouna computer enthusiast who has abandoned all contact with life outside his computerUS , 1991
trog offverbto go, especially if it means making an effortUK , 2004
trog upverbto dress and equip yourself for caving and pot-holing Probably derives from ‘troglodyte’UK , 2004
trojannouna condom, Trojan™ brand or otherwiseUS , 1997
Trojannounan AT-28 aircraft, used as a ground-attack aircraft and then a fighter bomber in the Vietnam warUS , 1985
Trojan horsenoun1in computing, an intentionally destructive program disguised and sent in benevolent formUS , 1991.2in poker,
an unexpectedly strong hand held by another player whose betting has successfully masked its strengthUS , 1996
trollnoun1a resident of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan Because they live below the Mackinac Bridge that connects the peninsulas Upper Peninsula usageUS , 2003.2a message posted on an Internet discussion group with the hope of attracting vitriolic responseUS , 1997
trollverb(of a homosexual man) to walk the streets in search of sex-ual adventure; (of a homosexsex-ual man) to walk, to wander Familiarity of usage has resulted in the original, conventional sense being re-derived, here from the specifically sexual senseUK , 1967
trolleynouna line used by prisoners to exchange notesUS , 1950.
< off your trolley1mentally disordered; crazed A ‘trolley’ is an electric powered tram that runs on rails, hence ‘to be off your trolley’ is to not follow an ordered courseUK , 1896.2drunkUK , 2000
trolley and tram; trolleynounham Rhyming slangUK , 1992
trolley and trucknounan act of sexual intercouse Rhyming slang forFUCK UK , 1992
trolleyed; trolliedadjectivedrunk or drug-intoxicated Derives from
‘OFF YOUR TROLLET’.UK , 1996
trolley jockeynouna tram operatorUS , 1954
trolley mannouna man engaged in the racing of horses and ponies
in trotting matchesUK , 2000
trolley offverbto go away; to leaveUK , 1974
trollies; trolleys; trollysnoununderpants; trousers Originally dialect, adopted by the Royal Navy and from there into more general use; it is interesting to note that polari speakers claim the word for gay society, probably from its relationship withTROLL(to
Trang 7trombonenoun1a telephone Rhyming slang; generally used as ‘the
old trombone’UK , 1961.2in the television and film industries, a
hanger that can be extended from a wall to support lightingUS ,
1977
tromboneverb1in the sport of clayshooting, to slide the hand back
along the barrel of the gun whilst swinging upwards to aim and
fire Imitative of the sliding-action when involved in playing a
tromboneUK , 1983.2to lick the anus of a male partner while
caressing his erect penis The actions involved mimic the playing
of a tromboneUK , 2001
tromp and stompnouna marching drillUS , 1957
troopnoun1a single soldier; used as a term of address to a soldier
US , 1986.2crack cocaineUK , 1998
troopernouna person who is the ultimately stalwart good sportUS ,
1951
troopie-groupienoun1a girl who freely offers her sexual availability
to soldiers MilitaryUK , 2001.2a war correspondent, or like-minded
civilian, who is enthusiastically supportive of the military From
GROUPIE(a follower)UK , 1982
troopsnouncollectively, the mechanics in a car repair shopUS , 1992
trophyadjectiveused of a wife or girlfriend, young and beautiful to
an extent that would not be expected with the manUS , 1998
trophy fuckverbto have sex with a famous person because of that
person’s celebrity, 2001
tropicaladjective1extremely eccentric or mildly insaneUS , 1946.2of
goods, stolen Synonym ofHOT AUSTRALIA , 1950
tropical fish; tropienounan act of urination Rhyming slang for
PISH(a Scottish variation ofPISS)UK , 2002
Tropic Lightningnicknamethe 25th Infantry Division, US ArmyUS ,
1979
troppoadjective1insane, mad, crazy Of military origins; an
abbrevi-ation of ‘tropical’ or ‘tropics’ as a reference to mental or nervous
instability caused by war service in the tropicsAUSTRALIA , 1941.
2sunburnt, suffering from too much exposure to the sun and
windAUSTRALIA , 1991.3especially in Queensland, of a building
designed for tropical weatherAUSTRALIA , 2003
trotnoun1a period of time considered in terms of how you fared
during itAUSTRALIA , 1911.2a line-by-line translation of a work in a
foreign languageUS , 1891 < on the trot1in successionUK , 1956.
2engaged in evading discovery or capture by the policeUK , 2000
Trotnoun a Trotskyist; thus Trotskyite; hence used of or applied to
anyone or anything associated with political views from the
extreme leftUK , 1962
trotsnoun1diarrhoea Used with ‘the’US , 1904.2a horse race
meeting for trotting and pacing; such meetings collectively
AUSTRALIA , 1890
trotternoun1a deserter from the military; an escaped prisoner;
anyone on the run from the police Originally militaryUK , 1950.
2porkUS , 1976
trottersnounthe feetUK , 1775
trounountrousers; pantsUS , 1968
troublenouna type of bet in an illegal numbers game lotteryUS , 1957
trouble and fussnounbus Rhyming slangUK , 1992
trouble and strife; troublenoun1a wife Rhyming slangUK , 1908.
2life Rhyming slangUK , 1998
troubledadjectivedrunkUK , 2002
troughnoun1a place where you (regularly) eat or drinkUK , 2001.2a
bar, especially at a horse racetrackAUSTRALIA , 1989
troughverbto eat Armed services’ slang; adapted from conventional
‘trough’ (a receptacle for feeding domestic animals)UK , 1987
trouncernounan attractive girlUK: NORTHERN IRELAND , 1996
trousedadjectivedrunkUS , 1997
trousernouna man or men objectified sexually Probably derived in
trouserverbto pocket something; to earn money Extended from a
‘trouser pocket’UK , 1892
trouser coughnouna fartUK , 1978
trouseredadjectivedrunkUK , 2002
trousersnoun< with your trousers downbeing taken by surprise; in a state of unreadiness Generally prefaced with the verb ‘catch/caught’UK , 1966
trousers and skirtsadjectivebisexualUK , 1981
trouser snakenounthe penisUS , 1976
trouser troutnounthe penisUK , 1998
troutnounan unattractive (older or old) womanUK , 1897 8see:
THAMES TROUT < all about troutalert, watchfulUK , 1962
trout poutnoununnaturally inflated lips as a result of collagen implants An unfortunate similarity to the freshwater fishUK , 2003
truckverbto stroll; to strideUS , 1938
truck drivernoun1an aggressive, ‘mannish’ lesbianUS , 1967.2in prison, a prisoner or guard who delivers messagesUS , 1976.3an amphetamine or other central nervous system stimulantUS , 1967
trucker’s powdernounamphetamine A variation onTRUCK DRIVER
(amphetamines), this plays onSPEEDand the need to stay awake
UK , 2001
truckienouna truck driverAUSTRALIA , 1919
truck stop Annienouna prostitute working at a truck stopUS , 1977
truck stop cowboynouna person who looks the part of a trucker, plays the part of a trucker, but is not a truckerUS , 1976
Trudeau acrenouna hectare As the Canadian French measure of land is in the hectare (a metric unit equivalent to 2.471 acres), and the English is in the acre unit, 1970s anti-Trudeau feeling took parodic form here as much as in opposition to the Prime Minister’s promotion of bilingualism and biculturalism nationwide
CANADA , 1987
trueadverbespecially in Aboriginal English, is it true?, really?
AUSTRALIA , 1959
true bull; true boolnouna tested and proven leader Hawaiian youth usageUS , 1982
true lovenouna type of bet in an illegal numbers game lotteryUS , 1957
True NorthnounCanada ‘The True North, strong and free’ is a line from the Canadian national anthem In its patriotic connotation, this expression suggests pride and strength, but it may also suggest the extreme cold, snow and ice which Canadians endure
CANADA , 2001
true’s God!used for affirming the truth of what has been saidFIJI , 1976
true that!; true dat!used for expressing strong agreementUS , 1998
true-trueadjectiveauthenticBAHAMAS , 1982
true virgins make dull companythe air navigation system: True heading plus/minus Variation gives you Magnetic heading plus/minus Deviation gives you Compass heading The reverse mnemonic is ‘Can Dead Men Vote Twice?’CANADA , 1995
truggynounan off-road vehicle that combines features of a truck and a tubular buggy Collected by John Thompson of Hendersonville, North Carolina, 2004US , 2004
Trujillo’s revengenoundiarrhoea Homage to Dominican dictator Rafael TrujilloUS , 1982
trullnouna prostitute, a concubine, a loose-moralled woman A gen-erally obsolete conventional English termUK , 1519
Truman’s follynounthe Korean war Another Republican party coiningUS , 1968
trummusnounthe buttocks, the posteriorUK , 2002
trumpnouna fart From the sound of a trumpetUK , 1903
trumpverbto fart From C15; from the sound of a trumpetUK , 1425
trumpetnoun1a telephoneUK , 1977.2a stethoscopeTRINIDAD AND
.