A tasty pun, using ‘virgin’ as ‘non-alcoholic’US, 1993 virgin pienouncherry pieUS, 1952 virgin principlenounthe belief among gamblers that a beginner will have good luckUS, 1993 virgin s
Trang 1vipernoun1a marijuana dealerUS, 1958.2a marijuana user A term
of the 1930s with some lingering use until the 1960sUS, 1938
viper’s weed; viper’s dragnounmarijuana; a marijuana cigarette
US, 1938
VIP massagenouna sexual service offered in some massage
parlours, in which a hand-massage includes masturbation of the
clientUK, 2003
VIP servicesnounsexual intercourse, as distinct from masturbation,
when advertised as a service offered by a prostituteUK, 2003
viral marketingnounword-of-mouth as a deliberate marketing
tacticUS, 2000
virginnoun1a person who has not contracted a sexually transmitted
infectionUS, 1947.2a letter which has not been postmarkedUS, 1977
virginadjectiveused of a green on a par-3 hole, untouched by any
ball of a foursomeUS, 2000
virgin bride; virginnouna ride, especially in the sense an act of
sexual intercourse Rhyming slang, now rareAUSTRALIA, 1902
virgin earsnounused, usually in the first person, for a claim of
innocence in matters sexualUS, 1970
Virgin for short – but not for longapplied to girls named
Virginia Part-catchphrase, part-nickname; often irresistible, always
hilariousUK, 1984
virginianounthe vaginaBAHAMAS, 1982
Virginia vitaminnounany central nervous system stimulantUS, 1977
virginity curtainnouna canvas screen secured to the underside of
a warship’s accommodation to preserve the modesty of those who
go up and down the gangway from those who look up Similar in
purpose and design to aCUNT SCREEN UK , 1969
Virgin Marynouna non-alcoholic version of the Bloody Mary, made
with tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire and/or Tabasco
sauce, celery, salt and black pepper; unadulterated tomato juice A
tasty pun, using ‘virgin’ as ‘non-alcoholic’US, 1993
virgin pienouncherry pieUS, 1952
virgin principlenounthe belief among gamblers that a beginner
will have good luckUS, 1993
virgin statenounthe period when a person has started using an
addictive drug but is not yet fully addictedUS, 1970
virtual Fridaynounthe last day in a working week shortened by a
holiday at the end of the weekUS, 1991
virusnoun1HIV, the human immunodeficiency virusUS, 1992.2in
computing, a program that duplicates itself maliciously when it
finds a host, often with a mechanism that enables it then to
spread to new hostsUS, 1990
visitverb< to visit Aunt Lillianto experience the bleed period of
the menstrual cycleUS, 1968
visitationsnoun< the visitationsthe bleed period of the
menstrual cycleUS, 1999
visit from the cardinalnounthe bleed period of the menstrual
cycle Playing on the colour of a cardinal’s robesUS, 2000
visit from the French ladynounthe bleed period of the menstrual
cycle Euphemism, credited to Stella Tilyard, Aristocrats, 1994 US,
1994
visiting cardnounan act of defecation at the scene of the crime by
the criminalUS, 1945
visitornounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS, 1949
visualsnounhallucinations experienced under the influence of
psychoactive mushrooms or peyoteUS, 1992
vitamin AnounLSD From the common termACID US , 1997
vitamin BnounbeerUS, 1990
vitamin CnouncocaineUS, 1984
vitamin Dnoundextromethorphan (DXM), an active ingredient in
non-prescription cold and cough medication, often abused for
non-medicinal purposesUS, 2003
vitamin DBnounDominion Breweries draught bitterNEW ZEALAND,
vitamin EnounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
An elaboration ofE UK , 1998
vitamin Hnounhaloperidol, a potent tranquillizerUS, 1989
vitamin K; vit Knounketamine hydrochloride, an anaesthetic used
as a hallucinogenUS, 1989
vitamin MnounMotrin™US, 1994
vitamin Nnounnicotine; a cigaretteUS, 2004
vitamin Pnoun1sex ‘P’ is forPUSSY US , 1989.2the game of pokerUS, 1996
vitamin Qnounthe recreational drug methaqualone, best known as Quaalude™US, 1982
vitaminsnoun1drugs in tablet or capsule formUK, 1996.2any central nervous system stimulantUS, 1977
vitamin TnounmarijuanaUS, 1997
vitamin VnounvaliumUS, 1994
vittlesnounfood An American corruption of the C14 ‘victual’US, 1946
vizzonounin prison, a visitUK, 1996
VJ; veejaynouna video jockey, a television presenter of music videos; a visual artist who mixes lights and images in a club environment Initialism, on the model of DJUS, 1982
VOnoun a beautiful woman An abbreviation of ‘visual orgasm’ US, 1997
voce; votch; vochenounthe voice, especially a singing voice; a
singer Theatrical, polari; from Italian voce UK, 1989
vodnounvodkaUS, 1986
voddersnounvodkaUK, 2002
voddie; voddynounvodkaUK, 1988
vodka acidnounLSDUK, 2003
voguenoun1a posture that implies, or is part of, a fashion-styleUS,
2003.2a cigarette PolariUK, 1992.3a wheel rimUS, 2001
vogueverb1to engage in a style competition that values posturing
US, 1995.2to light a cigarette FromVOGUE(a cigarette)UK, 1993
voiceverbto telephoneUS, 1991
volnoun in prison, a volunteer UK, 1996
volcanonounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleCANADA, 2001
Volksnoun a Volkswagen car US, 1964
Volksienouna Volkswagen car, especially the ‘Beetle’SOUTH AFRICA, 1962
volleynounan abusive verbal attackUK, 1996
volleyverbto hit someone Tennis jargon, ‘volley’ (to strike a ball before it bounces) adopted for a less sporting useUK, 1999
volley dollynouna woman attracted to male volleyball playersUS, 1990
volley offverbto engage in an abusive verbal attackUK, 2001
vomverbto vomitCANADA, 1993
vomatoseadjectiveextremely disgustingUS, 1983
vomit cometnoun1any late-night public transport used by drunken passengers From the probable outcome of movement and alcohol
UK, 2003.2the modified KC-135A reduced-gravity aircraft The aircraft flies parabolas in order to investigate the effects of zero gravity; passengers are often sick to their stomachsUS, 1999
vomiting vipernounthe penisUK, 1984
voncenoun1marijuanaUS, 1960.2the butt of a marijuana cigarette
US, 1965
vonkanounthe noseUK, 2002
Von Trappnounexcrement; nonsense, rubbish Rhyming slang for CRAP,formed from the family whose story is told in The Sound of Music UK, 2003
voteverbto propose something that you wantUK, 1814
voyounounin Quebec, a hoodlum, or more specifically a striker
Trang 2here used in English carries the sense of ‘outside the law’CANADA,
2002
VPnoun a sex offender An initialism of ‘vulnerable prisoner’ UK,
1996
VPLa visible panty line, the most heinous of fashion crimes.
Popularised by Paul Simon in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall US, 1967
VRBnoun vodka and Red Bull™ Initialism for a popular cocktail (Red
Bull is a brand name ‘energy’ drink)UK, 2001
vroomverbto leave noisilyUS, 1967
vrotadjectiverotten; hence, drunk From AfrikaansSOUTH AFRICA, 1910
VSnoun an injection of drugs into a vein Initialism of a ‘vein SHOT’
US, 1938
V-signnouna gesture that is used to insult or otherwise cause
offence, especially when made in conjunction with threatening or
abusive language, e.g ‘fuck off!’ or ‘up yours!’ with which the sign
may be considered synonymous The forefinger and the middle
finger are extended to form a V shape, the palm turned in towards
the gesturer; as an obscene gesture it is confined almost entirely
to the UK There is a legend that French archers, when captured
by the British at the Battle of Agincourt (1415), had their middle
and forefingers – those necessary to draw the bowstring –
chopped off The Welsh bowmen are said to have waggled their
two fingers, taunting the French The earliest written description
of a v-sign as both threat and insult is French: ‘[Pangurge]
stretched out the forefinger, and middle finger or medical of his right hand, holding them asunder as much as he could, and thrusting them towards Thaumast’ (François Rabelais, 1532)
Further derivations abound: 1) Farmer and Henley’s Slang and its Analogues (1890) suggests a representation of cuckold’s horns,
however this is traditionally made with the first and fourth fingers 2) Symbolic of the phallus; the raised middle finger (FLIP THE BIRD) has been known since Roman times and, it is suggested, the v-sign enlarges the penis or doubles the quotient; or disguises the single finger insult 3) The fingers represent themselves inserted in the vagina – though why this should be insulting is not explained 4) Symbolic of female legs or labia spread wide; or represents the tri-angular shape of female pubic hair 5) A corrupted victory sign – however the Churchillian symbol is first recorded in 1941, contrived by a Belgian Lawyer named Victor De Lavelaye Probably more than one of the above, except 5, is the truthUK, 1948
V spotnouna five-dollar noteUS, 1949
Vulcan nerve pinchnounwhen operating a computer, the keyed-combination of the characters Ctrl-Alt-Delete used to restart the machine A figurative application of a fictional technique used in
the television science fiction series, Star Trek US, 2004
vulturenounin trucking, a police plane used for spotting speeders
US, 1971
VWnouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy, identified by VW embossed on the tabletUK, 2002
Trang 3wnouna toilet An abbreviation of the common WCNEW ZEALAND, 1916
Wnoun1a police warrant for search or arrest UK, 1956.2in sports, a
winUS, 1970
wac; wacknoun1phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as
PCP or angel dustUS, 1981.2marijuana mixed with phencyclidine,
the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dustUK, 1998
wackadjectiveinferior, unacceptable, very badUS, 1984
wackedadjective1excitedUS, 1959.2beyond repair ExtendsWACK
(inferior)UK, 1997
wacked outadjectivecrazy, eccentric, madUS, 1968
wacked upadjectivecrazy, odd, irrationalUS, 1947
wackelassnouna cat that is a troublesome, clumsy creatureCANADA,
1999
wacker; wack; whackernounused as a term of address to a man
LiverpudlianUK, 1768
wackeradjectiveworse FromWACK(bad)US, 1999
wackie; wackynouna stereotypical member of the working-class; a
conformist Teen slangUK, 1982
wack job; whack jobnouna person who is mentally illUS, 1979
wacko; whackoadjectivea person who is crazy, eccentric or
mentally imbalancedUS, 1977
wackoidadjectiveodd, eccentricUK, 1999
wackticadjectivevery badUK, 1983
wackyadjectiveodd, eccentric, crazyUS, 1935
wacky baccy; wacky backynounmarijuana FromWACKYas
‘eccentric’ Many variants exist, including ‘whacky baccy/backy’,
‘whackatabachy’, ‘wacky tobaccy/tobacky’ and ‘whacky weed’US,
1975
wacky for khakiadjectiveinfatuated with men in military uniform
US, 1967
wac-wacnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or
angel dustUS, 1995
wadnoun1the semen ejaculated at orgasm From ‘wad’ (a large
quantity)US, 1969.2expectorated sputumUS, 1989.3a rag saturated
with glue or any volatile solvent that is inhaled for the intoxicating
effectUS, 1970.4a sandwich; a bun; a cakeUK, 1919.5a roll of
money; a great deal of moneyUS, 1951
wadverb(of a male) to reach orgasm AfterWAD(semen)UK, 2003
wad cutternouna flat-nosed bulletUS, 1962
waddedadjectivewell-off, rich FromWAD(a great deal of money)UK,
2002
waddynouna club; a hefty piece of wood suitable for a club From
the name of an Australian Aboriginal weapon in the extinct
language Dharug, Sydney regionAUSTRALIA, 1809
wadersnounshoesUS, 1945
wadgenoun 8see:WODGE
wafernoun1a tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as
ecstasy If dance is seen as a new religion, then MDMA is as
important a part of the ritual as the wafer is in conventional
church ritesUK, 2003.2a cigarette paperUK, 1996
wafflenoun1nonsense; incessant or unfocused talkUK, 1900.2in
trucking, a non-skid tyreUS, 1971
Wafflenouna movement in Canada’s New Democratic Party to
change somewhat its left-wing policiesCANADA, 2001
waffleverb1to vacillate; to take both sides of an issueUK, 1803.2to
talk nonsense; to talk incessantly or in an unfocused way
waffyadjectivecomfortable Hip-hop, urban slang A compound of
‘warm’ and ‘fluffy’ noted in connection with a legal dispute over rap lyrics by BBC News, 6th June 2003 US, 2003
wagnouna social outcast, especially a non-surferUS, 1991
WAGnoun1the female partner of a footballer, especially an England
team player WAGs, the acronym for wives and girlfriends, was
applied to the players’ partners during the 2006 World Cup The collective usage was soon individualisedUK, 2006.2Welsh Assembly Government Initialism UK: WALES, 1999
wagverbto play truantUK, 1848.< wag wienie; wag your wienie
to commit indecent exposure of the male masturbatory varietyUS, 1984
wage slavenounanyone reliant on the income generated by regular employmentUK, 1964
waggleverbin pool, to make practice shots before actually hitting the cue ballUS, 1993
wagonnoun1a woman, especially a pushy one, or one capable of invectiveIRELAND, 2003.2abstention from drug use Extending the previous senseUK, 1997.3an old, worn-out, beat-up carUS, 1959.
< on the wagonabstaining from drinking alcoholUS, 1906
wagon burnernouna native American Indian OffensiveUS, 1995
wagon-chasingadjectiveused of a lawyer, unscrupulous, inclined to solicit business from those in trouble with the lawUS, 1953
wagons ho!used as a humorous signal that a venture is about to begin From cowboy filmsUS, 1994
wagon-spotternouna trainspotter who specialises in ‘collecting’ freight wagonsUK, 2003
wagwon?‘what’s going on?’ Either directly from, or in imitation of, West Indian speechUK, 2003
wahey!used for registering a feeling of exuberanceUK, 2003
wahininouna female surfer From the HawaiianUS, 1963
wailverb1in jazz, to perform with great feelingUS, 1955.2in pinball,
to score a large number of points in a short period of timeUS, 1977.
< wail down the placeto dance with enthusiasm that borders
on vulgarityTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1990
wailernounin drag racing, a very fast carUS, 1970
wailingadjectiveexcitingUS, 1965
Waiouru blondenouna Maori woman Waiouru is a remote North Island military baseNEW ZEALAND, 1997
waistnoun< make waistto make pelvic thrusts and gyrations during sexTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
wait-a-minute vine; wait-a-minute bushnouna heavy, thorny vine found in the jungles of Vietnam When it snagged you, you had to wait a minute to disentangle yourselfUS, 1976
wait and lingernounthe finger Rhyming slang, applied only in an anatomical senseUK, 1992
waiter’s delightnounin poker, a hand consisting of three threes and a pair A ‘three’ is aTREY, the hand is conventionally known as
a ‘full house’, hence ‘treys full’, the waiter punUS, 1988
waiting roomnounin surfing, the area beyond the breakers where surfers wait to catch wavesISRAEL, 1977
wait up!‘wait for me!’US, 1944
wake; wake upverbto become aware of somethingAUSTRALIA, 1910
’wake; wake up’verb< wake your ideas upto concentrate; to use your wits Often as an imperativeUK, 1961.< wouldn’t wake if to be generally unaware of what’s whatAUSTRALIA, 1961
wake and bake; wake-n-bakeverbto smoke marijuana as one of
Trang 4waker-uppernouna heroin addict’s first injection of the morning
US, 1982
wake-upnoun1the day’s first dose of a drug taken by an addictUS,
1954.2any amphetamine or central nervous system stimulantUS,
1972.3a short time remaining on a jail sentence or term of
military service, especially the last morningUS, 1950
wake upverb1to make someone aware; to inform someone
AUSTRALIA, 1859.2to become aware that you are being swindledUS,
1969.3in horse racing, to stimulate a horse illegally by electric
shock or drugsUS, 1947
wake-upadjectiveused of an addictive substance taken upon waking
upUS, 1981
wake-up pillnounan amphetamine or other central nervous system
stimulantUS, 1979
wake youverbto make you aware of somethingUS, 1953
wakey-wakeynouna wake-up call Adapted from the exclamation,
‘wakey, wakey!’UK, 2001
wakey, wakey!‘wake up!’ Probably of military origin; widespread
once adopted as the catchphrase of bandleader Billy Cotton
(1899–1969) in his 1949–68 BBC radio Sunday lunchtime variety
programme, The Billy Cotton Bandshow UK, 1959
wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!used for calling someone from
sleep to breakfast Used with great comic effect by Quentin
Tarantino in Kill Bill Volume 2 (2004) as Bill’s brother Budd
awakens The Bride to bury her aliveUS, 2000
wakey, wakey, hands off snakie!used for humorously waking up
a maleAUSTRALIA, 1985
Waldorf-Astorianounan especially spartan solitary confinement
cellUS, 1976
walknoun1a release from jailUS, 1965.2during the Vietnam war, a
30-day patrol in which contact with the enemy is expectedUS, 1991
walkverb1to win something easilyUK, 1903.2to escape unpunished
US, 1979.3to quit a job or commitmentUS, 1999.4(of objects) to
disappear, presumed borrowed or stolenUK, 1898.5to move a boat
sidewaysUS, 1989.6(used of a military aviator) to suit up for battle
From the vocabulary of fighter pilotsUS, 2001.< walk a cat backto
trace a missile back to its launch site Gulf war usageUS, 1991.
< walk back the catto reconstruct events in order to understand
what went wrongUS, 1997.< walk in tall cornto make a great deal
of moneyUS, 1997.< walk out onto abandon someone or
something Of theatrical originUK, 1937.< walk the dog1while
surfing, to move frontwards and backwards on the surfboard to
affect its speedUS, 1987.2on the railways, to operate a freight train at
such a high speed that the wagons swayUS, 1977.< walk the nose
while surfing, to advance to the front of the boardUS, 1962.< walk
the plankto move forward on a surfboard, increasing the speed of
the rideAUSTRALIA, 1963.< walk the twelve stepsto go to court
CAYMAN ISLANDS, 1985.< walk the walk of the trollopto convey
sexuality while walking Another catchphrase from the ‘Wayne’s
World’ sketch on Saturday Night Live US, 1991.< walk the walk;
walk the walk and talk the talkto be (or behave as if ) totally
familiar with, and a part of, a given circumstanceUK, 2004.< walk
the yardto methodically walk in a prison open spaceUS, 1981.
< walk with your Lucyto inject a drugUS, 1981.< walk your
dogto use the toiletUS, 1968
walkabout; walk-aboutnouna journey on foot taken by an
Aboriginal, especially when withdrawing from white society for a
periodAUSTRALIA, 1910.< go walkabout1(of an aboriginal) to go
on a walkaboutAUSTRALIA, 1927.2(of a person) to go off somewhere
elseAUSTRALIA, 1969.3(of an important person) to make an informal
tour on foot Variants include ‘do a walkabout’UK, 1984
walkawaynoun1a type of theft in which the thief walks away with
a suitcase in a public place, leaving behind his suitcase as an alibi
if apprehendedUS, 1954.2the final step in a confidence swindle, in
which the swindlers walk away with the victim’s moneyUS, 1981
walk-backnounan apartment in the rear of a buildingUS, 1970
walkboardsnouna platform outside a carnival show or attractionUS,
1966
walk-buddynounin prison, a close friend and steady companionUS,
walkernoun1a prisoner who constantly paces in his cellUS, 1984.2a striptease dancer who disrobes while walkingUS, 1981.3in dominoes, the highest piece of its suit that is not a double and has been played
US, 1964
walkersnounthe legsUS, 1992
walkienouna close and dependable friend A term that suggests
‘talkie’, which in turn suggests friendshipUS, 1991
walkiesnouna walk with a small child or a dog A childish or jocular term addressed to, and understood by, that child or dogUS, 1923
walkie-talkienoun1an able-bodied person (from the perspective of
a disabled person)UK, 2003.2a portable two-way radioUS, 1939.3a prisoner who associates with guardsUS, 1992
walk-innouna thief who steals from unlocked hotel roomsUS, 1954
walkingadjectiveused of an order for food at a restaurant, to be taken from the restaurantUS, 1952
walking crabnounin electric line work, a lever liftUS, 1980
walking disaster areanounan especially inept or accident-prone personUK, 1984
walking man’s specialnounin the used car business, a run-down car that is not much to look at but still runs, in a fashionUS, 1993
walking moneynounin gambling, a small amount of money given
by the house or other players to someone who has just lost all of his moneyUS, 1961
walking treenounin a criminal enterprise, a watchman or lookout
US, 1956
walking writernounin an illegal numbers gambling lottery, a person who collects and records betsUS, 1949
walk in the parknounan easy thing to doUK, 1998
walk in the sunnouna combat march without a significant chance
of engaging the enemyUS, 1991
walk of famenounthe walk home or to work after spending the night with a beautiful and popular womanUS, 2001
walk of shamenounthe walk home or to work after spending the night with a date, still wearing yesterday’s clothesUS, 2002
walk-onnounin sports, an athlete who gets chosen for a team having appeared at practice unsolicited and unexpectedUS, 1978
walkovernounin horse racing, a race in which all but one of the entries are withdrawn The lone horse starting the race can win the purse simply by walking the distance of the raceUS, 1965
walk-upnouna brothelUS, 1950
wallnoun< behind the wallimprisonedUS, 1989.< go over the wallto escape from prisonUS, 1934.< go to the wallto lose money in stock investmentsUS, 1988.< off the wallin auction fraud, where non-existent bids are said to come fromUK, 2003.
< the walla maximum security prisonUS, 2002.< up the wall
crazy; crazed by circumstances; angryUK, 1951
wallverbto lean against the wall at a party or other social gathering
US, 1997
wallabynoun< on the wallabywandering around Originally
‘Tramping the outback in search of work (as though following the
track made by wallabies)’, G.A Wilkes, A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms, 1978 AUSTRALIA, 1861
Wallace and Gromit; wallaceverbto vomit Rhyming slang, based
on Oscar-winning (1990) animated charactersUK, 1998
Wallace Beery; wallacenounin a betting shop, a dispute over the sum due Rhyming slang for ‘query’, formed from the name of the US film actor (1885–1949)UK, 1998
wallah; wallanoun1a man identified by relation to the activity, occupation or philosophy to which it is properly affixed Adopted
directly by Anglo-Indians, hence military, from Hindu wálá (‘a
person connected in some way with the thing expressed in the first
word’, George Clifford Whitworth, An Anglo-Indian Dictionary, 1885)
INDIA, 1785.2in the television and film industries, indistinguishable background voicesUS, 1990
wallbangernouna person whose impairment with central nervous system depressants has produced a marked lack of coordination
Trang 5walletnoun1a person who finances a (criminal) projectUK, 2003.2a
generous personUS, 1997
wallet lanenounthe passing lane of a motorway Trucker use, with
a reference to a ‘wallet’ because of the likelihood of having to pay
a ticket if caught using the passing laneUS, 1977
walleyedadjectivedrunkUS, 1992
wallflower weeknounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS,
1954
wallienounin skateboarding, any jumping manoeuvre performed
from a wall A combination of ‘wall’ andOLLY;OLLIE(a jumping
manoeuvre)UK, 2004 8see:WALLY
walliesnounnothing, zeroUK, 2000
wallin’nounthe act or habit of sitting or standing against a wall at a
party Teen slangUK, 2003
wall jobnounsex with one of the participants standing against a
wallUS, 2001
wallopnoun1a heavy blowUK, 1823.2an attempt, a go A pun on
BASH(a try)UK, 2001.3the strength to deliver a heavy blow Boxing
slangUK, 1914.4beerUK, 1933
wallopverb1to hit someoneUK, 1825.2to get the better of
someone A figurative application of the previous senseUK, 1865.
3to danceUK, 1992
wallopedadjectivedrunk or drug-intoxicatedUK, 2002
wallopernoun1the penisUK: SCOTLAND, 2002.2a male who
masturbates to excessNEW ZEALAND, 1998.3a police officerAUSTRALIA,
1945.4a dancer, especially a professional dancer Theatrical slangUK,
1937
wallopiesnounlarge female breastsUS, 1975
wallopingnouna beating, a thrashing; a win by a more than
convincing marginUK, 1871
wallopingadjectivelarge, greatUK, 1847
wallopsnounchoreography FromWALLOP(to dance)UK, 1992
wallpapernoun1a background pattern or photograph for a
computer display screenUS, 1991.2counterfeit moneyUS, 1949.3a
postcard acknowledging receipt of a citizens’ band or ham radio
messageUS, 1976
wall-stretchernounan imaginary tool for which a building trades
apprentice may be sent to fetchUK, 1961
wall ticketnounin Keno, a big win Casinos often post large
winning tickets on the wall of the Keno lounge as an enticement
to bettorsUS, 1987
wall timenounthe time as shown on wall clocks, as contrasted with
GMT or another common time used on computersANTARCTICA, 1991
wall-to-walladjectiveabundant; appearing everywhere From
wall-to-wall carpets that cover the entire floorUK, 1967
wall-to-wallernouna pornographic film shot in one day on a very
low budgetUS, 2000
Wally < call it Wallyto agree that a matter is settledGUYANA, 1962
wally; wallie; wollynoun1an unfashionable individual; someone
who is innocent, or foolish; a fool Possibly originates in the name
Wally, however Scottish dialect wally-draigle (a feeble, ill-grown
person) may well have had an influenceUK, 1969.2in CID slang, a
uniformed police officer, especially a constable; more generally, a
trainee or an incompetent police officer ‘Woolly’ is also recorded
by the Oxford English Dictionary in 1965 UK, 1970
wallyo; wal-yonouna young man, usually an Italian-AmericanUS,
1975
Wally Pippnounany athlete who misses a game and is thereafter
replaced by a better player On 1st June, 1925, the New York
Yankees first baseman Wally Pipp did not play because he was sick;
his place was taken by Lou Gehrig, who played for the next 2130
gamesUS, 1967
walnut storage diseasenounany unspecified mental problem A
play onNUTTY(crazy)US, 1983
walnut whip; walnutnoun1sleep Rhyming slang forKIP, formed
on a chocolate confectionUK, 1998.2a vasectomy Rhyming slang
Walter Mittynoun1a person who poses as a heroic ex-soldier From Walter Mitty, the title character of James Thurber’s short
story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1939) and successful film of
the same title starring Danny Kaye (1947)AUSTRALIA, 2002.2the female breast Rhyming slang forTITTY The short form ‘walter’ can also be usedUK, 2003
Waltsnoun14 Int (an undercover intelligence unit of the British Army) Abbreviated from Walter Mitty, the name of a character, created in 1941 by James Thurber, who has become a cultural reference for a person who leads a dual existenceUK, 1995
waltznounintense warfare, be it a fire fight or hand-to-hand combat
US, 1991
waltzverbto move in a nonchalant mannerUS, 1887.< waltz matildato travel as a swagman From ‘Matilda’ (a swag) and
‘waltz’ (to lead in a waltz), here punning on the female name Now of course obsolete, except in the well-known Australian song Most singers are entirely unaware of the literal meaning of the phraseAUSTRALIA, 1893
waltz offverbto leave in a nonchalant or cavalier mannerUS, 1989
wampernouna sandal made with pieces of tyre and tied with thatch stringCAYMAN ISLANDS, 1985
wampumnounmoney An imitation of Native American Indian languageUS, 1950
wampyadjectivecrazyNEW ZEALAND, 1950
wandnoun1the penis The magic stick that you wave in your hand
UK, 2001.2in pool, a player’s cue stickUS, 1993
wandering hands brigadenouna male’s hands exploring a female’s bodyNEW ZEALAND, 1984
wandwavernouna male exhibitionistUS, 1980
wang; whangnounthe penisUS, 1935
wangbarnounan electric guitar’s tremolo armUS, 1980
wangernoun 8see:WHANGER
wanglenouna swindle; a convenient arrangement The successful outcome of the verbWANGLE UK , 1915
wangleverbto arrange something to suit yourself; to contrive or obtain something with sly cunning; to manipulate something Widely used, especially in the military, as ‘wangle a job’, ‘wangling leave (of absence)’, etcUK, 1888
wang-wangnounthe penisUS, 1980
wanknoun1an act of masturbation; hence, an act of self-indulgence An earlier spelling ‘whank’ has given way to ‘wank’UK,
1948.2a waste of timeUK, 1998.3a fool; a despicable personUK, 2002.
4nonsense; rubbish As in the expression ‘that’s a load of old wank’ and the exclamation (current in the armed services, especially army, 1960–70s) ‘wank! wank!’ (pronounced almost as if quacked) greeting any announcement or declaration considered to
be rubbishUK, 1979
wankverb1to masturbate The Scots dialect word whank (to beat)
was the usual spelling until the 1970s Also used with ‘off’UK, 1950.
2to party with zeal and a lack of inhibitionCANADA, 1993
wankadjectiveof poor quality; pathetic; self-indulgentUK, 2002
wank about; wank aroundverbto waste timeUK, 2001
wank-banknouna personal collection of inspirational erotic images Formed onWANK(an act of masturbation)UK, 2003
wanked-outadjectivedrained of lifeUK, 2000
wankernoun1a masturbator The earlier spelling ‘whanker’ has given way to ‘wanker’UK, 1978.2a despicable person; an all-purpose form of abuse From the sense as ‘a masturbator’; some
commentators suggest late C19 dialect wanker (a simpleton) UK, 1972
wankeredadjectivedrunk or drug-intoxicated, 2001
wanker’s doomnounthe mythological disease that is the inevitable result of excessive masturbationUS, 1977
wanker tanknouna large 4WD vehicle that never gets used for off-road driving
Trang 6wanking-spannernounthe hand A masturbatory tool that loosens
nutsUK, 1961
wank magnouna pornographic magazine CombinesWANK(to
masturbate) withMAG(a magazine)UK, 1998
wank-offadjectiveself-indulgent A figurative application for ‘an act
of masturbation’UK, 2000
wank-pit; wanking-pitnouna man’s (unshared) bed Military slang,
formed onWANK(masturbation)UK, 1961
wank shaftnoun1the vaginaUK, 2001.2the penis; also used as a
term of abuse Formed on the wordWANK(masturbation)UK, 2003
wank socknounan item of (men’s) footwear used to contain the
penis during masturbationUK, 2003
wankstanounsomeone, especially a white person, who postures as
a gangsta rapper A derisory play onWANKER(a despised person)US,
2002
wank-stainnouna contemptible personUK, 1997
wank tanksnounthe testicles Celebrating the testicles as no more
than a source of semen for masturbationUK, 2002
wank tradenounthe pornography industryUS, 1997
wankwarenounsoftware on compact disc intended for sexual
stimulationCANADA, 1995
wankyadjective1of poor quality; pathetic Original printer’s use
cognisant withWONKY; survives into a modern use which presumes
WANKas the inspirationUK, 1890.2pretentiousAUSTRALIA, 1979
wannabenounsomeone who wants to be and pretends to be that
which he is not Deemed potentially offensive by Multicultural
Management Program Fellows, Dictionary of Cautionary Words and
Phrases, 1989 US, 1980
wanna-bet shirtnounin a rowing competition, a team’s shirt
which is the object of a wager between competing teams, where
the winner claims the opposing team’s shirts which are worn as a
badge of victoryUS, 2001
WannonicknameWandsworth PrisonUK, 2004
wan singer, wan song 8see:ONE SINGER, ONE SONG
wantnouna notification that a person is wanted by the policeUS, 1958
wantverb< want into wish to enter; to desire to be a part of
something Originally a colloquial term in Scotland, Northern
Ireland and the USUK, 1836.< want outto wish to exit; to desire
a complete change of circumstancesUK: SCOTLAND, 1870
wappyadjectiveidealistic, sentimental Perhaps as a blend ofWET
(weak, lacking in effectiveness) andSOPPY(foolishly sentimental,
naive)UK, 1959
warnoun< go to warto fightUS, 2002
war and strifenouna wife Rhyming slang; a less-used variation of
TROUBLE AND STRIFE UK , 1931
warbnouna decrepit, unclean or otherwise disgusting person
Perhaps from ‘warble’ (a type of maggot)AUSTRALIA, 1933
warbyadjectivedecrepit; unkempt; filthy; disgustingAUSTRALIA, 1923
warchalkverbto chalk icons on walls, etc, to indicate an area where
a wireless Internet connection may be made for free Derived as a
back-formation fromWARCHALKING UK , 2002
warchalkernouna computer user who chalks icons on walls, etc, to
indicate to other computer users an area where a wireless Internet
connection may be made for freeUK, 2002
warchalkingnounthe practice of chalking icons on walls, etc, to
indicate an area where a wireless Internet connection may be
made for free Coined in June 2002 by Matt Jones, a
London-based ‘information architect’, as a play on ‘wardialing’ (a
computer-directed assault by telephone) ‘Warchalking’ is based
on the system of symbols used by UK tramps and beggars, first
recorded in 1849, and developed by US hobos during the
Depression The three basic symbols are
privacy] node)
wardennoun1a parentUS, 1968.2a spouse Usually a spouse of the female persuasion as perceived by the spouse of the male persuasionUS, 1976.3a school principalUS, 1954.4a teacher Teen slangUS, 1951.5on the railways, the supervisor of a track crewUS, 1977
war departmentnounsomeone’s wife or girlfriendUS, 1984
war dialernouna computer program that dials a given range of telephone connections in order to hack into computer or telecommunications systemsUS, 1989
warehousedadjectiveused of a prisoner who is neither educated nor trained during a period of imprisonment but simply contained
UK, 1996
wareznounpirated computer software offered over the Internet
A deliberate respelling of ‘wares’UK, 2003
warheadnounin cricket, a fast bowlerUK, 1996
warlordnouna high-level member of a political organisationUS, 1991
warmnounan act of warming; an act of becoming warm Colloquial
UK, 1768
warmadjectivegoodUK, 1996
warm for someone’s formadjectivesexually attracted to someone
US, 1964
warm fuzziesnounthe feeling when praised by a superiorUS, 1986
warm onenouna bulletUS, 1998
warmupnouna loose-fitting, athletic warmup suitUS, 1999
warm upverbto refill a cup of coffeeUS, 1996
warn’tverbwas not; were notUS, 1970
warpnouna bent card used by a card cheat to identify the value of the cardUS, 1996
war paintnounmakeup, cosmetics Originally theatricalUS, 1869
warpedadjective1pervertedUS, 1993.2drug-intoxicatedUS, 1979.
3drunkUK, 2002
warp onenouna high speed Figurative US naval aviator usageUS, 1986
warp sevenadverbvery quicklyUS, 1992
warriornouna fearless, violent member of a youth gangUS, 1995
warrior boldnouna coldUK, 1961
warsnoun< have been in the warsto show signs of injury especially the trivial wounds that afflict childrenUK, 1850
warthognouna US Air Force attack plane formally known as an A-10 Thunderbolt Gulf war usageUS, 1991
warts and allwith all blemishes or imperfections unconcealedUK, 1930
war wagonnouna vehicle carrying weapons on a motorcyle gang outing when trouble is expectedUS, 1992
Warwick Farm; warwicknounthe arm Rhyming slang, after the name of a racecourse in SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1944
war zonenounan area in Washington D.C infamous for drug sales and other crimeUS, 1984
washnoun1crack cocaine A shortened form of ‘readywash’ To
manufacture crack cocaine, hydrachloride is washed in a solution
of baking soda and waterUK, 1996.2the effect of a drugUS, 1974.3a large number of things or peopleBARBADOS, 1965.< the wash
theft of money in public lavatories while the owner is washingUK, 1977
washverb1to killUS, 1941.2to purge or expunge somethingUS, 1983.
3to give money obtained illegally the appearance of legitimacy through accounting and banking schemesUS, 1997.4to shuffle a deck of cardsUS, 1965.5to receive favourable considerationUS, 1986.
6to be credibleUK, 1849.< not a child in the house washed
nothing done, no progress madeIRELAND, 1996.< wash mouthto criticise someone or something without concern for the consequencesTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1986.< wash your facewhen selling a lot by auction, to break evenUK, 2004.< wash your mouth out; wash out your mouth
Trang 7filthy language or dirty words Often as an imperative, and
occasionally elaborated with ‘soap’, or ‘soap and water’UK, 1961
wash awayverbto kill someoneUS, 1941
washboardnounin mountain biking, an area of hard, rippled earth
US, 1996
washboardadjectiveof an abdomen, trim, muscular, defined From
the appearance – solid and rippledUS, 1992
washdownnounbeer Especially in the context of drinking after a
session of drinking the tranquillizing herbal beverage kavaFIJI, 1991
washed-upadjectiveno longer successful, finishedUS, 1923
washernoun< put a washer onto urinate A Lancashire termUK,
1967
washer-dryernouna douche bag and towelUS, 1980
wash-foot-and-comenouna noisy, rowdy partyANTIGUA AND BARBUDA,
1998
washicongsnountrainers, sneakersTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1992
washing machinenoun1in computing, an obsolete large hard disk
found in a large floor cabinetUS, 1991.2a wave as it breaks over
and thrashes a surferUS, 1991
Washingtonnouna one-dollar note From the portrait of George
Washington on the noteUS, 1959
Washington Monumentnounin poker, a hand with three fives A
rather esoteric allusion to the fact that the Washington Monument
is 555 feet highUS, 1988
washoutnoun1a failure (a thing or a person); a disappointment; a
cancellationUK, 1902.2in motorcyle racing, the condition that
occurs when the front wheel begins to slide in soft dirt; also used
in mountain bikingUS, 1973
wash outverb1to fail and expel someone from a course or training
US, 1970.2in motor racing, to suffer a loss or decrease in steering
responsivenessUS, 1980.3in mountain-biking, to lose front-wheel
tractionUS, 1996.4to process cocaine into crack cocaineUK, 1996
wash-potnounsomething or someone easily obtainedTRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO, 1971
wash rocknouncrack cocaine Combines two separate terms for
CRACK UK , 1997
wash-upnouna post-event analytical discussion Originally Royal
Navy, then the wider military, and from there into corporate and
political jargonUK, 1965
wash upverbin heterosexual intercourse, to enter the vagina from
behindUK, 2001
washwoman’s gignounin an illegal numbers gambling lottery, a
bet on 4, 11 and 44US, 1949
washyadjectiveused of a racehorse sweating, especially with anxiety
US, 1976
wasp; wapnoun1a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant The term is
applied to whites without particular regard to the religious
com-ponentUS, 1957.2a white Appalachian southern Protestant US, 1981.
3a traffic warden From the yellow band on the uniform hat and
sleeves (no doubt influenced by a characteristic intent to ‘sting’ a
harmless motorist)UK, 1966
waspishnessnounthe state of being distinctly white, Anglo-Saxon
and ProtestantUS, 1957
wassock; wazzock; wazzucknouna fool; an annoying or stupid
individualUK, 1983
wassup?; whas up?; wassuuup?used as a greeting A slurred
‘what’s up?’ with dozens of variant spellings Wildly popular pop
speak in the US (and, to a degree, UK) in 2000 in response to a
series of television advertisements for Budweiser™ beerUS, 1990
wassyadjectiveostentatious, especially in a sexually provocative way
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1987
wasteverb1to kill someoneUS, 1964.2to smoke marijuanaUS, 1967.
3(used of a jockey in horse racing) to lose weightAUSTRALIA, 1989.
< waste babies(of a male) to masturbateUS, 2001.< waste
groceries
wastebasketnounin pool, a pocket that seems receptive to balls droppingUS, 1993
waste-casenouna drunkardUS, 1987
wastedadjective1drunk or drug-intoxicatedUS, 1964.2absolutely exhausted From earlier uses as ‘intoxicated’UK, 1995
Waste Islandnicknamethe West Island of Montreal Likely nicknamed with this derogatory term by teenagers, the West Island area of the city is heavily residential and suburban, meaning that under-age citizens have to be transported around by their parents
or use the bus, and by contrast with central Montreal, it is boring
CANADA, 2002
wasternouna lazy, unambitious personIRELAND, 1991
waste-timeadjectivedull, boring, uninteresting Hawaiian youth usageUS, 1972
wastoidnouna worthless, dim-witted person; a person whose drug
or alcohol use is ruining their lifeUS, 1985
wastrynounrubbish (trash)JAMAICA, 2003
watchverb< watch your lip; watch your mouth; watch your trapto talk politely; to mind your manners; to not speak out of turn Often exclamatoryUK, 1997.< watch your stepto be careful; to be cautious in a current or planned activity Often as a warningUK, 1959
Watcha 8see:WOTCHER
watch and chain; watchnounthe brain Rhyming slangUK, 1992
watchienouna watchmanUK: SCOTLAND, 1996
watch itverbused as a (sometimes threatening) warning to be careful Always imperative, often exclamatoryUK, 1916
watch queennoun1a homosexual man who derives sexual pleasure from watching other men having sexUS, 1970.2a lookout during anonymous homosexual sex in public placesUS, 1975
watch this spaceused as an announcement that further developments may be expected Originally, and still, used of space
in a newspaper, etcUK, 1917
watch worksnounthe brain Teen slang, reported by a Toronto newspaper in 1946, although reportedly ‘obsolescent or obsolete’
by 1959CANADA, 1946
waternoun1methamphetamine or another central nervous system stimulantUS, 1989.2phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dustUS, 1989.3semenTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1983 8see:
WATERCRESS, WATER HEN.< go in the waterto lose an athletic contest or other competition intentionallyUS, 1955.< go to water
to be overcome with fear; to fail to maintain a resolveAUSTRALIA,
1950.< in the water; out in the waterin debtUS, 1992.< over the waterNorthern Ireland A British armed services’ view of the worldUK, 1995
waterverb< water her garden(of a man) to have sex with a womanJAMAICA, 1998.< water the gardento change the bottles
of intravenous fluid that feed a neurologically depressed hospital patientUS, 1978.< water the horsesto urinateAUSTRALIA, 1971.
< water the vegetablesto administer intravenous fluids to a hospital’s neurologically depressed patientsUS, 1985
water blacknounmascara Because water is needed for application
UK, 1952
waterbombernounan aircraft for fighting fires Most of the world’s waterbombers are made by Canadair in Montreal, and are known
in Europe as ‘le Canadair’ and ‘le pelican’CANADA, 1965
8FIREBOMBER
water boxnounin drag racing, the area where cars heat and clean their tyres before a raceUS, 1997
waterboynouna truck with a water tank used to spray water or other liquids on the groundUS, 1971
water burnernouna cook The form ‘water scorcher’ has been recorded as early as 1916AUSTRALIA, 1982
watercooler momentnouna televisual moment that is expected to get people talking the next day The discussions about such a moment are envisaged to happen when office workers meet at a