Rhyming slang for BOOZE UK , 1992 wino timenouna short jail sentenceUS , 1992 winternounany period between carnival seasons, regardless of the actual time of yearUS , 1966 winter blossom
Trang 1wingnutnouna person who is easily angered or flustered As a piece
of hardware, a ‘wingnut’ is easily tightened – the basis for its
application to a personUS , 1990
wingsnoun1any powdered drug, especially cocaine, heroin or
morphine Because wings give you the lift that gets youHIGH US ,
1953.2insignia worn by motorcyle gang members signifying sexual
conquestsUS , 1966 < get your wingsto use heroin for the first
time A nod to aviation terminologyUS , 1989
wing-wangnounthe rectumUS , 1970
wing wipenouna crew member of a military jet aircraft A term
used by the infantryUS , 1990
wingynouna person with one armUS , 1980
wingyadjectivevery loose-fitting, giving the appearance of extreme
thinnessTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003
winknounthe penisUK , 2001
winkernounthe vagina The imagery of an eye that opens and
closesUK , 1970
winkienoun1the vaginaUK , 2001.2a sideways punctuation face
indi-cating laughter, generally formed as ;-)US , 1995
winkingnoun< like winking; like eyes-a-winkingvery quickly
UK , 1827
winklenouna boy’s penis; a small penisUS , 1966 < have on the
winkleto be obsessed by somethingUK , 1969
winkle-tripnouna male striptease act performed for an all-female
audience on a Thames pleasure boatUK , 1980
winky; winkienounthe penis; a small penis; a boy’s penis Usually
juvenile, occasionally derisory; probably a variation ofWINKLE UK ,
1984
winnernouna loser socially Sardonic, cruelUS , 1964
winnersnoundice that have been altered so as to roll numbers
other than seven, useful to the shooter in crapsUS , 1950
winners and losersnountrousers Glasgow rhyming slang on
‘troosers’UK: SCOTLAND , 1985
winny-poppernounthe penis A schoolchildren’s termCANADA , 1968
winonoun1a lowly drunkUS , 1913.2a wine connoisseurNEW ZEALAND ,
1997
win or losenounany and all alcoholic drinks Rhyming slang for
BOOZE UK , 1992
wino timenouna short jail sentenceUS , 1992
winternounany period between carnival seasons, regardless of the
actual time of yearUS , 1966
winter blossomsnounthe older, female, winter residents of a hotel
UK , 1977
winterer; winteroverernouna person who spends the winter in
AntarcticaANTARCTICA , 1958
WinterpegnicknameWinnipeg, ManitobaCANADA , 2002
winter wearnounthe foreskin on an uncircumsised penisUS , 1983
win-winadjectivesaid of a situation in which the parties involved all
feel that they have done wellUS , 1977
wipenouna handkerchiefUS , 1981
wipeverb1to dismiss or reject a person; to wash your hands of
someoneAUSTRALIA , 1941.2in drag racing, to defeat another car
Created by back-formation; when a car is defeated, the name of
the driver is wiped from the list of those competing, so the driver
is ‘wiped’US , 2003 < wipe the clockto set a train’s air brake
valve at the position used for full emergency application An
allusion to the sudden drop of the pressure needle on the air
gauge to zeroUS , 1975 < wipe the floor with; wipe up the
floor with; wipe the earth with; wipe the ground withto
inflict an absolute defeat on someone; to surpass someoneUK , 1896
wipedadjective1infatuatedUK , 2004.2drunkUS , 1968.3exhaustedUS ,
1996
wiped outadjectivevery drug-intoxicatedUS , 1974
wipe-offnoun1a cursory washing of the body using little waterUS ,
. a total wreck; a write-off
wipe offverbto wreck or ruin somethingAUSTRALIA , 1962
wipe-outnouna fall from a surfboard, usually caused by a wave A major word of the surfer’s lexicon; it was the title and one-word lyric of the 1963 ‘surf instrumental’ by the Surfaris that featured a drum solo practised on the school desk of many an early 1960s schoolboyAUSTRALIA , 1962
wipe outverb1to destroy something; to kill or wound someoneUS ,
1968.2to remove someone from their positionUK , 1969
wirenoun1a telegraph message; a telegramUK , 1876.2a report; infor-mation A vestigial term from the era of telegraphyUK , 1925.3news transmitted privatelyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1938.4a bookmaking operationUS , 1981.5a small microphone and transmitting device worn on the person as part of law enforcement interception of oral communicationsUS , 1973.6the penisIRELAND , 1991.7the buttocksTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1968.8in a pickpocketing team, the thief who actually picks the victim’s pocketUK , 1851.9in horse racing, the finish lineUS , 1974.10amphetaminesUK , 2003.11in pool, the score stringUS , 1993 < have your wires crossed; get your wires crossedto be at cross purposes; to be affected by a mutual misunderstandingUK , 2001 < on the wirein pool, having scored or having been awarded a score as part of the
handicapping of a gameUS , 1993
wireverb1to send a telegraph messageUK , 1859.2to use a small microphone or transmitting device to intercept oral communi-cationsUS , 1973.3in skateboarding, to analyse and plan a difficult manoeuvre or trickUS , 1976
wiredadjective1intoxicated on amphetamines or cocaine Also used with ‘up’US , 1966.2tense, anxiousUK , 1979.3well-rehearsedUS , 1995.
4used of a pair in stud poker, dealt in the first two cards of a hand
US , 1981
wired to the moonadjectiveextremely drug-intoxicated An elabor-ation ofWIRED(drug-intoxicated)UK , 1995
wired upadjective1intoxicated on central nervous system depress-antsUS , 1979.2available for homosexual relationsUS , 1961
wire-funouna technique that employs wires and pulleys to create choreographed martial art fights Formed on ‘kung fu’US , 1997
wireheadnouna computer hardware specialistUS , 1991
wire roomnounan illegal betting establishment’s telephone office
US , 1950
wiresnounany central nervous system stimulantUS , 1977
wire storenouna big con based on a supposedly corrupt telegraph official who claims he can delay the reporting of race results to the benefit of the victimUS , 1969
wire to wirenounin horse racing, the entire distance of the race, from start to finishUS , 1951
wiseverbto inform or educate someone; to explain somethingUS ,
1905 < wise up; wise up toto learn, realise or understand somethingUS , 1919
wiseadjective< be wise; be wise to; get wise; get wise toto
be aware of something; to be warned about somethingUS , 1896.
< put wise; put wise toto make someone aware of something;
to warn someone about somethingUS , 1913
-wisesuffixin the manner of, or to do with, a conjoined subjectUS , 1942
wiseacrenouna smart alecUK , 1595
wiseassnounan obnoxious person with delusions of clevernessUS , 1971
wisecracknouna smart, humorous, sometimes cruel remarkUS , 1924
wisecrackverbto make smart, humorous and sometimes cruel remarksUS , 1946
wisecrackernounsomeone who makes smart, humorous and sometimes cruel remarksUS , 1923
wisecrackingadjectivegiven to making smart, humorous and sometimes cruel remarksUS , 1915
wise guynouna recognised member of an organised crime enterprise
Trang 2wise monkeynouna condom Rhyming slang forDUNKY, influenced
perhaps by the usual number of wise monkeys and aPACKET OF
THREE UK , 1992
wisenheimernouna smart alec, a wise guyUK , 1904
wisepussnounan obnoxious person with delusions of cleverness A
variation ofWISEASS US , 1971
wishverbto greet someoneINDIA , 1979
wishbonenounin hot rodding, a triangular suspension control
deviceUS , 1993
wishing booknouna mail-order catalogueUS , 1975
wish-wasnounsomeone who wishes that he were something that
he is notUS , 1991
wishy-washyadjective1weak; uncertainUK , 1703.2in poor condition
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1993
wissnouna urination Glasgow slangUK , 1996
wisteriaadjectiveclingy From the characteristics of the plant; a
contemporary gay usageUK , 2003
witnouna witnessUS , 1999
wit!‘what was just said is not funny!’US , 1986
witchnoun< the witchany powdered drug; cocaine, heroin, etc
US , 1949
witch doctornouna doctor who specialises in internal medicineUS ,
1985
witches’ knickersnounplastic bags caught up in trees or shrubs
IRELAND , 2000
witch hazelnounheroinUS , 1959
witch’s brewnounLSD enhanced with botanical drugs from plants
such as deadly nightshade or jimsonweedUS , 1970
witch’s cacklenounthe male genitals Rhyming slang forWEDDING
TACKLE UK , 2003
with authority!used as a humorous comment on a remark made
or action taken without hesitation and boldly Coined on ESPN’s
Sports Center while narrating footage showing a basketball slam
dunkUS , 1997
with itadjectiveaware of all that is happening; stylish; part of a
subcultureUS , 1945
withoutadjectiveclueless; out of touch; out of styleUS , 1999
wiwinouna French person A Maori approximation of the French
‘oui, oui’ NEW ZEALAND , 1998
wixadjectiveexcellent Urban youth slang Probably a reduction of
WICKED UK , 2005
wizardnoun1an expertly skilled personUK , 1620.2in computing, a
person who has specific and detailed expertiseUS , 1983.3in pinball,
an expert playerUS , 1977
wizardadjectiveexcellent, marvellous Magical origins; mainly used
by the privileged and officer classes until after World War 2, then
widespread Of upper-class society use: ‘[ ] still used, though
almost always in inverted commas’ (Ann Barr and Peter York, The
Official Sloane Ranger Handbook, p.159, 1982) UK , 1922
wizard!used for expressing approvalUK , 1933
wizard’s sleevenouna capacious vagina Coined for humorous
magazine VizUK , 1999
wizznoun 8see:WHIZZ, WHIZZO
wizzard; wizzard of oznounan ounce of marijuana This plays on
the conventional abbreviation ‘oz’ (ounce) and, by association with
the film The Wizard of Oz, 1939, which contains the song
‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’, suggesting where this measure of
marijuana might take you The misspelling ‘wizzard’, if deliberate,
may be punning onWHIZZ(amphetamine)UK , 2001
wizzonounthe weapons officer on a military aircraftUS , 1998
wizzyadjectiveexcellent, exciting, wonderful; used for registering
general approval A variation ofWIZARD UK , 1998
wizzy-wizzy
wobbleverb< wobble the jobto cause trouble among workers
on a unionised worksiteCANADA , 1989
wobble boardnouna simple musical instrument made of a sheet
of stiff material that is wobbled rhythmically Invention of the instrument and its name is credited to Australian artist and entertainer Rolf Harris (b.1930)AUSTRALIA , 1957
wobblernoun1an outburst of temperUK , 1983.2in trucking, a spoke wheelUS , 1971 < throw a wobblerto have a fit of bad temper or angerUS , 2003
wobblesticknouna gear lever on a truck or carUS , 1971
wobblies; wobsnouna powerful and deep vibration of the board while skateboarding fastUS , 1976
wobblynouna fit of angerUK , 1977 < throw a wobblyto have a fit
of bad temper or angerNEW ZEALAND , 1984
Wobblynouna member of the anarchist trade union the International Workers of the WorldUS , 1914
wobblyadjectiveuncertain; undecided; riskyUK , 1884
wobbly egg; wobbly; eggnouna capsule of Temazepam™, a branded tranquillizer; any central nervous system depressant; in the plural it refers to the drug in general From the characteristic nature of gelatine, the original method of manufacturing the capsulesUK , 1996
wobbly holenounin trucking, the neutral gearUS , 1971
wobbly orangenoun a warrant officer in the Royal Air Force A
ludicrous re-use of the initialsUK , 2002
wodge; wadgenouna large amount Originally used of a bulky mass
UK , 1860
wognoun1any person of non-white ethnicity; a native of the Indian subcontinent; an Arab; any (non-British) foreigner, as in ‘the wogs begin at Calais’ Derogatory, patronising Derives possibly from an abbreviation of ‘golliwog’ (a caricature, black-faced, curly-haired doll) but the widest usage is in reference to Asians and not black people Popular, unproven etymology has ‘wog’ as an acronym of
‘Western(ised) [or] Wily Oriental Gentleman’ UK , 1929.2any language that isn’t EnglishAUSTRALIA , 1988.3a germ that causes an illness
AUSTRALIA , 1941
wogadjective1foreignUK , 1956.2of non-Anglo-Celtic originAUSTRALIA , 1944
wogballnounsoccerAUSTRALIA , 1984
wog boxnouna large portable stereo system associated, stereotypically, with black youth cultureUK , 1990
woggyadjective1characteristic of a non-white personAUSTRALIA , 1988.
2of non-Anglo-Celtic backgroundAUSTRALIA , 1968
wojusadjectiveinferior; of poor qualityIRELAND , 2004
woke-upadjectiveinformed; up-to-dateUS , 1968
wolfnoun1a sexually aggressive manUS , 1945.2in prison, an aggressive, predatory homosexualUS , 1952.3in homosexual anal sex, the active participantUS , 1940.4a prison sentence of 15 years
US , 1990s
wolfverbto act in a sexually aggressive mannerUS , 1974
wolf baitnounan attractive young womanUS , 1960
Wolfhoundsnounthe 27th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Division Formed in 1901, named by the White Russians in World War 1, distinguished fighters in World War 2, Korea and VietnamUS , 1968
wolf in the packnouna traffic police car in the midst of other cars
US , 1962
wolf packnouna group of friends who play poker at cardrooms, taking advantage of unskilled strangersUS , 1996
wolf-packverb1to engage in criminal gang activityUS , 1982.2to congregate with other teenagers around their cars at shopping centre carparks, drinking beer and idlingUS , 1989
wolf ticketnouna threat or other act of intimidation used to coerce
US , 1974
wolf whistlenouna distinctive whistle (generally, a sharply terminated rising note, followed by one that rises briefly before
Trang 3sexually attractive person AfterWOLF(a sexually aggressive man),
and generally, but not exclusively, in the vocabulary of menUS , 1952
wolf-whistleverbto whistle in a distinctive declaration of
appreci-ation for a sexually attractive person From the nounUS , 1955
wollie; woolahnouncrack cocaine added to a marijuana cigarette
or cigarUS , 1989
wollynoun 8see:WALLY
wollybacknounanyone living in a rural areaIRELAND , 1995
wolvernounthe penis Rhyming slang, formed from Midlands’ town
Wolverhampton as an elaboration of ‘hampton’, the shortened
form ofHAMPTON WICK(PRICK)UK , 1967
woman in the sunnounheroin Collected in private
correspondence with certain musiciansUK , 2001
wombnounthe rectumUS , 1983
wombatnoun1a dull, uninteresting or stupid person From the
name of a stocky native nocturnal marsupialAUSTRALIA , 1905.2in
computing, a waste of money, brains and time US , 1991
wombat-headedadjectivestupid; fat-headed First used by the
bushranger Ned Kelly in his famous ‘Jerilderie Letter’ in 1879
AUSTRALIA , 1971
womb broomnounthe penisUS , 1973
womb dusternounthe penisUS , 1977
womblenoun1in prison, an inmate detailed as a litter collector
After the children’s characters created by Elizabeth Beresford, and
in a BBC television series launched in 1973UK , 2003.2a foolUK , 1986
wombleverb to pick up litter From the raison d’être of children’s
television characters in The Wombles, who collected litter in the
70s from 1973, and again from 1998UK , 1996
womb sweepernounthe penisUS , 1978
womb-tremblernounsomething that causes great excitementUK ,
2001
women and children off the street!in shuffleboard, used as a
humorous commentary on a hard shooterUS , 1967
womp; whompverbto beat someoneUS , 1964
wonder starnounmethcathinoneUK , 1998
wonder vegnounany mushroom with a hallucinogenic effectUK ,
1996
wonder wandnounthe penis An elaboration ofWAND(the penis)
US , 2001
wongverbin casino blackjack, to play several hands at a table where
the count of cards played favours the player, and then to move on
to another table Named after Stanford Wong, a blackjack expert
US , 1991
wonganoun1money From Romany wanger or wonger, defined by
George Borrow in Romano Lavo-Lil, 1907, as ‘Coal Also a term for
money; probably because Coal in the cant [criminal] language
sig-nifies money’ Romany ‘wongar-camming miser’ is literally ‘one
who loves coal’ (Now obsolete ‘coal’, also ‘cole’, meant ‘money’
from the mid-C17, and all but faded away by C20) Variants
include ‘wong’ and ‘wonger’UK , 1953.2marijuanaUK , 1985
wonknouna student who studies harder than contemporaries
con-sider necessary; a political professional who is studious and
therefore well informed DerogatoryUS , 1962
wonkey; wonkyadjectivebrokenUS , 2001
wonk outverbto study excessivelyUS , 1987
wonkyadjective1unbalanced; out-of-true Variation of obsolete sense
of ‘wanky’ (inferior, damaged)UK , 1919.2unsound or unreliableUK ,
1925.3intellectual; out of touch with realityUS , 1970
won’t do itselfused before tackling any task as an expression of
resigned determination A very clichéd truism if not a catchphrase
UK , 1999
woonounsexual foreplayNEW ZEALAND , 1998
woodnoun1the fully erect penisUS , 1991.2the penisTRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO , 1950.3in a casino or other gambling establishment, a
DEADWOOD US , 1950 < have the wood on someoneto have an advantage over someoneAUSTRALIA , 1949 < on the wood1in horse racing, racing along the railUS , 1994.2in hot rodding and motor racing, throttled to the maximumUS , 1993
Woodbine; woodie; woody; woodnounany cheap cigarette From branded ‘Wild Woodbine’™ cigarettes, manufactured by WD & HO Wills and among the cheapest to be hadUK , 1916
wood burnernounan attractive female A suggestion that the woman consumesWOODin the ‘erect’ sense of the wordUS , 1990
woodenverbto beat someone with a club of some sortAUSTRALIA , 1905
woodenadjectivein poker, said of a hand that is unplayableUS , 1951
wooden aspronouna blow to the head with a police batonNEW ZEALAND , 1980
wooden catnouna Morris Traveller car Citizens’ band radio slang;
OLD CATis a Morris Minor; this ‘cat’ is amended for the wooden bars in the model’s designUK , 1981
woodenernouna sentence of imprisonment for 30 days Rhyming slang,WOODEN SPOONforMOON(a month’s imprisonment)UK , 1950
wooden hill; little wooden hillnounthe stairs Nursery use, especially in the phraseCLIMB THE WOODEN HILL TO BEDFORDSHIRE(to
go upstairs to bed)UK , 1961
wooden horsesnouna carouselBARBADOS , 1965
wooden Indiannouna poker player who does not talk or display emotionUS , 1996
wooden legnounan egg Rhyming slangUK , 1998
wooden overcoatnouna coffin A bleakly cynical euphemism, since 1903 Later variations are ‘wooden kimono’, 1926 and
‘wooden suit’, 1968UK , 1903
wooden planknounan American, especially an American in the
UK Rhyming slang forYANK UK , 1992
wooden spoonnoun1a notional trophy awarded to an individual or
a team placed last in a competition From an actual wooden spoon that was customarily presented to the lowest on the Mathematical Tripos list at Cambridge UniversityUK , 1858.2a month’s imprisonment Rhyming slang forMOON UK , 1998
wooden-spoonernounin a sporting competition, an individual or team that comes last FromWOODEN SPOON UK , 1954
wooden-spoonistnounin a competition, an individual or team that comes last FromWOODEN SPOON UK , 1927
woodentopnoun1a uniformed police officer After the children’s
television puppet show The Woodentops (1955–58) The variant
‘woody’ is also usedUK , 1982.2a fool; also attributed as an adjective After the sense ‘a police officer’UK , 1983
Wood familynounused as a humorous description of empty seats
in a theatreUK , 1952
woodfootnounnumbing of the foot in cold water Surfing usageUS , 2004
woodienoun1a Wills Woodbine™ cigaretteUK , 1931.2a wooden powerboat, especially one built between the 1920s and 60sUS , 2001
woodingnounamong vagrant alcoholics, a task of collecting firewoodUK , 1966
woodpeckernouna machinegunAUSTRALIA , 1898
woodpilenoun1a xylophoneUS , 1945.2the area in a prison yard where white prisoners exercise Formed fromPECKERWOOD(a white person) andIRON PILE(weightlifting equipment)US , 1989
woodpile cousinnounan actual, if distant, blood relativeUS , 1975
wood rashnounany injury, especially grazing, sustained when riding
a skateboard on a wooden ramp A combination of location and appearance; ironically modestUS , 2001
woodsnounthe vulva; a woman’s pubic hair Usually used with ‘the’
US , 1968
woods Frenchnouna limited ability in FrenchCANADA , 1980
woodshed to rehearse, especially in private
Trang 4woodsmannouna male pornography performer who can be
counted upon to maintain an erection as long as needed and to
ejaculate more or less on demandUS , 1995
woodsternouna male pornography performer whose erections can
be counted onUS , 2000
woodsynouna party held in the countryUS , 1967
woodworknoun< come out of the woodwork; crawl out of
the woodwork; creep out of the woodwork(of someone or
something unpleasant) to appear; to arrive on the scene; to
emerge Usage is often with humorous intent but the allusion is
to insects normally found in the woodwork – woodworm,
deathwatch beetle, cockroach, etcUK , 1973
woody; woodienoun1an erection US pornographer Joey Silvera is
given credit for coining this term, which did not stay within the
confines of pornography for longUS , 1985.2a car with wood or
synthetic wood paneling on its bodyUS , 1962 8see:WOODBINE
woody pillnouna genuine or a generic Viagra™ tablet Based on
WOODY(an erection)UK , 2002
Woody Woodpeckernouna tablet of MDMA, the recreational drug
best known as ecstasy, embossed with a representation of the
popular animation characterUK , 1999
woofverb1to vomitUS , 1978.2to eat very quickly Possibly from
‘wolf down’UK , 1943.3to threaten or intimidate someone; to
engage someone in ritualistic, quasi-friendly insultingUS , 1967
woof!used as a shout of approval, especially as a male declaration
of appreciation for a sexually desirable female Originated by
television talk show host Arsenio Hall in 1989; the barking is
accompanied by a pumped raised hand, fist clenchedUS , 1992
woofernounan unattractive woman or man A variation ofDOG UK ,
1995
woofternouna homosexual man A variation ofPOOFTER(a male
homosexual)UK , 1977
woofterishadjectiveineffecutalNEW ZEALAND , 1993
wooknouna quintessential rural hippie From the Wookie character
in the George Lucas Star Wars films US , 2004
woolnoun1pubic hair; by extension, sexUS , 1972.2used derogatively
of someone who is not from the city; a stereotypical
country-dweller; aYOKEL FromWOOLLY BACK UK , 2001
woola; woolas; wooly; woolnouncrack cocaine or phencyclidine
sprinkled over marijuana which is then smoked in a cigarette; a
hollowed-out cigar filled with marijuana and phencyclidineUS , 1995
woolahnoun 8see:WOLLIE
woolienouna female’s pubic hairNEW ZEALAND , 1994
wooliesnounwinter clothingUS , 1945
Wooliesnicknamehigh street shop FW Woolworth’s, later
Woolworth’sAUSTRALIA , 1944
woolliesnounmarijuana and crack cocaine mixture; marijuana and
phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust
UK , 1998
Woolloomooloo Yanknounan Australian who puts on an American
accentAUSTRALIA , 1945
woollynoun1a black person Variants include ‘wooley head’US , 1969.
2in CID slang, a uniformed police officerUK , 1965
woolly backnoun1a stereotype of the unsophisticated
country-dweller An allusion to the intelligence and appearance of sheepUK ,
1981.2a Welsh personUS , 2003
woollyback breakernouna citizens’ band radio user from North
Wales Citizens’ band radio slangBREAKER(a citizens’ band user)
with an allusion to sheepUK , 1981
woolly mittennouna kitten Rhyming slangUK , 1998
woolly nosenouna railway fettlerAUSTRALIA , 1969
woolly-pullynouna military-issue heavy jumper A customised
woollen pullover UK , 1984
woolly vest a pest Rhyming slang
woolly woofter; woollynouna male homosexual Rhyming slang withPOOFTER AUSTRALIA , 1988
Woolwich and Greenwichnounspinach Rhyming slang, formed from two London locations for crossing over the ThamesUK , 1992
Woolwich Ferrynounsherry Rhyming slang, formed from a transport across the ThamesUK , 1992
Woolworthnounin hold ’em poker, a five and a ten as the first two cards dealt to a player Woolworth’s was the most famous five and dime store in the USUS , 1981
Woolworth’s finestnounin shuffleboard, a tenUS , 1967
wooly bearnounin caving and pot-holing, a fibre-pile undersuitUS , 1997
wooly blunt; woolly bluntnouna marijuana and crack cocaine cigaretteUK , 2003
woopnoun 8see:WHOOP
Woop Woopnounan imaginary remote placeAUSTRALIA , 1918
wooshed upadjectivehaving been whisked to a froth (as of a milkshake); figuratively of anything having been subjected to random inflation (see citation)UK , 1999
wooternounthe penisUS , 1981
wooznounmarijuana FromWOOZY(intoxicated)UK , 2003
woozinessnouna fuddled state, muzziness; often used to describe a morning-after-the-night-before feelingUS , 1977
woozyadjectiveunsteady; dizzy; disoriented; intoxicated with drugs
or drink Anglicised by Conan Doyle in 1917US , 1897
wopnounan Italian immigrant or Italian-AmericanUS , 1914 < up the wop1pregnantNEW ZEALAND , 1981.2broken; unsoundNEW ZEALAND , 2001
wopadjectiveItalianUS , 1961
wopcackernouna superlative example of somethingAUSTRALIA , 1941
wop-jawedadjectivein circus and carnival usage, amazed by an act
or demonstrationUS , 1981
wop-wopsnounremote back countryNEW ZEALAND , 1984
wordnoun< get a word in edgewaysto contribute to a conversation Generally in a negative formUK , 1984 < put the word on someoneto proposition someoneAUSTRALIA , 1975.
< take the wordin the illegal production of alcohol, to warn someone about a pending law enforcement raidUS , 1974 < the word1gossip, rumoursUS , 1961.2an orderUS , 1962
wordverbto speak to someoneAUSTRALIA , 1905
word!used for expressing assentUS , 1987
word in your shell-likenouna brief and discreet (one-sided) conversation variation of ‘word in your ear’; ‘shell-like’, which does not appear outside of this phrase until later, derives from a similarity of shape between the ear and some (delicate, pink) shellsUK , 1985
wordsnouna quarrel (of violent words not actions) A refinement of
a sense that has served since 1462UK , 1862
word upverbto speak to someone in a flattering mannerAUSTRALIA , 1985
word up1used for expressing agreementUS , 1986.2used as a greeting Used in the hip-hop communityUS , 2003
worknoun1the betting slips in an illegal lottery or gambling oper-ationUS , 1972.2cheating in gambling, especially in craps The statement ‘There’s work down’ means that altered dice or cards are in playUS , 1950.3dice or cards that have been altered for the purpose of cheatingUS , 1963.4crack cocaineUS , 1989.5sexUS , 1959.
< do the work on someoneto kill someoneUS , 1994 < have your work cut out; have your work cut out for you; have all your work cut outto have enough, or all you can manage, to
do – anything more would be too much From an earlier sense (to have your work prepared for you)UK , 1856
workverb1to cheat at gamblingUS , 1963.2to have sex with someoneUS , 1957.3to sell drugsUS , 1993.4to dilute a powdered drugUS , 1989 < to get workedto be knocked from your surfboard and pummelled by the ocean < work a
Trang 5ginger(of a prostitute) to rob a client FromGINGER AUSTRALIA , 1953.
< work for Standard Oilto drive a truck that burns excessive
amounts of fuel or oilUS , 1971 < work like a charmto achieve a
purpose with absolute ease From the idea of a magic charm
influencing the actionUK , 1882 < work like a niggerto work
very hard Praise and contempt in equal partsUS , 1836 < work
the cuts(used of a prostitute) to solicit customers on the streets
US , 1987 < work the glory rodeto affect religious conversion
while in prison in the hope of receiving an early paroleUS , 1976.
< work the holeto rob drunks sleeping on underground
platforms or in the carriagesUS , 1953 < work the kerb(of a
prostitute) to ply for trade from passing motoristsUK , 2002 < work
the nutsto operate a shell game in a circus midway or carnival
US , 1980 < work the other side of the streetto be on
opposing sides of a bipolar situation; to make a living as a
criminalUS , 1982 < work your bollocks offto work very hardUK ,
2002 < work your ticketto obtain a discharge from
employment on the grounds of physical injury or ill health;
orig-inally military but in the prevailing compensation culture applied
to any employment situation where benefits of discharge are
con-siderable, and thus fraudulent endeavour is often impliedUK , 1899
workaroundnounin computing, a temporary fix of a problemUS ,
1991
workernoun1a professional wrestler who puts on a good
perform-anceUS , 1999.2a member of a drug-selling enterprise who sells
drugs on the streetUS , 1995.3a gambling cheatUS , 1962.4in the
circus or carnival, a large blown-up balloon shown by the
concession selling packages of balloonsUS , 1980
workienouna workerUK , 2002
workingadjectivein craps, said of a bet that will be in effect on the
next rollUS , 1981
working boynouna male prostituteUS , 1987
working classnouna glass Rhyming slangUK , 1992
working classesnounspectacles, glasses Rhyming slangUK , 1992
working endnounthe dangerous end of a tool or weaponUS , 1992
working fiftynouna large piece of crack cocaine bought at a
wholesale priceUS , 1990
working girlnouna prostituteUS , 1968
working johnnounan honest, hard-working manUS , 1957
workingman’s weednounmarijuana An allusion to the 1970
album ‘Workingman’s Dead’ by the Grateful Dead, a band well
known for the use of recreational drugsUK , 2000
working-overnouna beating-up, a thrashingUK , 1984
working partsnounthe genitalsUK , 1995
working stiffnouna hard-working labourerUS , 1966
work is the curse of the drinking classesa catchphrase that
reverses a popular cliché Attributed to Oscar WildeUK , 1946
work outverbto masturbateUS , 2002
work oververbto beat someone up; to thrash someone (both
physically and figuratively)UK , 1927
worksnounthe equipment used to prepare and inject drugsUS , 1934.
< get on someone’s worksto annoy someoneAUSTRALIA , 1956.
< in the worksalready in progress, due to happenCANADA , 1973.
< the worksthe complete treatmentUS , 1899
worksadjectivein motor racing, supported by the car manufacturer
US , 1965
works for me!used for expressing agreement A signature line of
Los Angeles Police Department Detective Sergeant Rick Hunter on
the television police drama Hunter (NBC, 1984–91) Repeated with
referential humourUS , 1991
worldnoun< the worldduring the war in Vietnam, back home,
the US, life outside the militaryUS , 1970
world of shitnouna very dangerous situationUS , 1984
worldsnouncommerically manufactured cigarettesUS , 1990
wormnoun1a computer program that maliciously duplicates itself
systemUS , 1990.2a coiled condenser used in the illegal production
of alcoholUS , 1974.3a facial blemishBARBADOS , 1965.4phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dustUS , 1981.5an inexperienced oil field workerUS , 1984 < wet down the wormto perfom oral sex on a manUS , 2001
worm and snail; wormnoun a fingernail Rhyming slang UK , 1992
worm dirtnounchewing tobacco An obvious visual comparisonUS , 2001
wormsnoun< are you keeping it for the worms?; are you saving it for the worms?said, probably in frustration, to a female rejecting sexual advances or to one who is presumed to be
a virgin ‘It’ being a state of virginity, ‘the worms’ signifying death
US , 1977
WormtownnicknameWorcester, MassachusettsUS , 1997
wormyadjectivenervous or anxious, especially when manifested in the stomachNORFOLK ISLAND , 1992
worra laff!what a laugh! A phonetic slovening, probably of Liverpool originUK , 1999
worryverb1to steal somethingCAYMAN ISLANDS , 1985.2(said of a jockey in horse racing) to ride a horseUS , 1951
worse for wearadjective1somewhat drunkUK , 1984.2hung overUS , 1979
worse luck!more’s the pity!UK , 1861
worthadjective< not worth two cents to jingle on a tombstoneof a person, without any redeeming qualitiesCANADA ,
1988 < worth a few bob; worth a bob or twoof people, fairly wealthy; of things, fairly valuable FromBOB(a shilling, now equiv-alent to 5p but not of equal value)UK , 1981
wossfacenouna person whose name is unknown, forgotten, to be avoided, or hardly worth mentioning A slurring ofWHAT’S-HIS-FACE
UK , 2001
wossienoun 8see:WUSSIE
wotpronounwhatUK , 1829
wotcher; watcha; what yerused as a greeting Elision of the C16 greeting ‘what cheer’ Stereotypically Cockney but in wider use The earliest recorded use is ‘"Wot cher!" all the neighbours cried, /
"Who’re yer goin’ to meet, Bill? Have you bought the street, Bill?"’ (Albert Chevalier, ‘Wot Cher!’ or ‘Knocked ‘em in the Old Kent Road’, 1891)UK , 1953
wot no ?used humorously for registering an absence or a shortage A misspelling of ‘what’ provides this endlessly variable graffiti catchphrase, presented in a speech-bubble, or as a caption
to a drawing of Chad, or Mr Chad looking over a wall, this used to highlight or protest about another World War 2 shortage The for-mula has lingered in speech but Chad slowly faded from viewUK , 1945
wotsitnounan unnamed thing Reduction of the phrase ‘what is it?’, usually seen asWHATSIT; this variation is possibly inspired by
Golden Wonder’s Wotsits™, a popular cheesy flavour snackUK , 1997
wotsit in a socknounthe penis A specific variation ofWHATSIT(an unspecified object)UK , 2005
wouldn’t it?used for expressing exasperation Elliptical for such phrases as ‘wouldn’t it make you sick’, though mostly euphemistically so for such phrases containing profanity, such as
‘wouldn’t it give you the shits’ or ‘wouldn’t it root you’AUSTRALIA , 1940
wouldn’t it rip you?used for expressing exasperationAUSTRALIA , 1941
wouldn’t it root you?used for expressing exasperation Also
WOULDN’T IT RIP/ ROTATE YOU?both of which are presumably euphemisms for the ‘root’ form, even though the earliest recorded form is ‘rip’ (1941, Australian National Dictionary) Also, ‘wouldn’t
it root your boot’AUSTRALIA , 1945
wouldn’t it rotate you?used for expressing exasperation Euphemistic forWOULDN’T IT ROOT YOU AUSTRALIA , 1944
wouldn’t it rot your socks?used for expressing exasperation
Trang 6wouldn’t say noused for registering acceptance of something,
sometimes as a suggestion that something would be accepted if it
were offeredUK , 1939
wouldn’t work in an iron lungto be extremely lazyAUSTRALIA , 1971
would you believe ?used for humorously probing for a
statement that can be believed The signature line of spy Maxwell
Smart, played by Don Adams, on the television comedy Get Smart
(1965–70) Adams had used the line earlier on The Bill Dana
Show (NBC, 1963–65) Repeated with referential humour US , 1965
wounded soldiernouna bottle or can of beer that has been partly
consumed Playing onDEAD SOLDIERas ‘an empty bottle’US , 1991
wound upadjectiveangry, annoyed The image is of a clock’s
mainspring wound too tight and ready to lose controlUK , 2001
wownoun1a thing of wonder; a sensational success From the
exclamation ‘wow!’US , 1920.2an exclamation mark (!)US , 1983
Wownicknamethe psychiatric hospital in Auckland The hospital is
near the Whau RiverNEW ZEALAND , 1998
wowsernouna spoilsport of the worst kind; a moral crusader; a
prude Claimed by John Norton, editor of the Sydney Truth
(1891–1916) as his own coinage and an acronym from the phrase
‘we only want social evils remedied’, a supposed catchcry of ‘the
wowsers’ This story has sadly never been corroborated, and its
derivation must be sought elsewhere The Australian National
Dictionary suggests British dialect wow (to howl or bark as a dog,
to complain), which seems to fit well, but one correspondent to
the Truth in 1910, after denying the word as Norton’s invention,
goes on to say ‘a false sense of public decency forbids the
publi-cation of the derivation and true meaning’, which suggests some
profane originAUSTRALIA , 1900
wowserishadjectiveprudish; puritanicalAUSTRALIA , 1906
wowserismnounthe characteristic behaviour of aWOWSER;
prudishnessAUSTRALIA , 1904
wowseristicadjectiveprudish; puritanicalAUSTRALIA , 1907
wozwas A deliberate misspelling, especially in graffitiUK , 1984
wozanouna person who used to be successful or well known From
‘was a’UK , 2001
wozzedadjectiveexhaustedNEW ZEALAND , 1998
wrapnoun1a small paper-wrapping containing powdered drugsUK ,
1996.2a wrapped roll of coinsUS , 1977.3the end of a session
Originally from the entertainment industry, extended to general
situationsUS , 1972.4praise; a compliment or commendation
Variants include ‘wrap-up’, ‘rap’ and ‘rap-up’AUSTRALIA , 1939
wrap; wrap upnoun< wrap yourself aroundto eat or consume
somethingAUSTRALIA , 1965
wrap; wrap upverbto roll a marijuana cigaretteUK , 1999 < wrap
round; wrap aroundto crash a vehicle into an immovable
objectUK , 1950
wrap-headnouna follower of the Pocomania Afro-Christian religion
JAMAICA , 1987
wrapped; wrapped upadjectivepleased; overjoyed; enamoured
AUSTRALIA , 1963
wrappernoun1a motor vehicle Citizens’ band radio’ slangUS , 1976.
2an unmarked police vehicle Originally citizens’ band radio slang
Variants include ‘plain wrapper’ and ‘plain wrap’US , 1976 < in the
wrapper1drunkUS , 1985.2in bedUS , 1997
wrapsnouncigarette rolling papersUS , 1994 < under wrapskept in
secretUK , 1939
wrap-upnouna female sex-partner who, by a vague yet firm
understanding, is regularly availableUK , 1970
wrap upverb1to cease talking; to stop making a noise Usually in
the imperative, often as a two word exclamationUK , 1958.2to
complete the final days of a prison sentenceUS , 1976
wreckverb< wreck my headto agitate me to an extreme degree
IRELAND , 2003
wrecked very drunk or drug-intoxicated
wrecking crewnoun1theatre insiders who watch a show’s early performances and spread negative comments about the showUS ,
1973.2crack cocaineUK , 1998.3on the railways, a relief crewUS , 1946
wrennouna womanUS , 1920
wrenchnounin drag and motor racing, a mechanicUS , 1980
wrenchverb1to goUS , 2002.2to disrupt or upset someoneUS , 1976.
3in motor racing and hot rodding, to perform mechanical work
on a car, whether it literally involves using a wrench or notUS , 2004
wrench artistnouna railway mechanicUS , 1977
wrenchernouna car enthusiast with considerable mechanical ability
US , 2003
wrestle; rassleverbto play a game of bar diceUS , 1971
wretchverbto vomitUS , 1966
wrigglenoun< get a wriggle onto hurry A variation ofGET A
WIGGLE ON AUSTRALIA , 1971
wriggle outverbto avoid a responsibility or dutyUK , 1848
wrigglyadjectiveout of the ordinary; suspiciously differentUK , 1995
wringverb< wring out your muleto urinateUS , 1974 < wring out your sockto urinateUS , 1988 < wring the rattlesnaketo urinateAUSTRALIA , 1971
wringernouna bankruptcy petitionUS , 1954
wrinklenouna clever device, trick or methodUK , 1817
wrinklenecknounin horse racing, a seasoned and experienced horse handlerUS , 1951
wrinkle roomnouna bar frequented by older homosexual menUS , 1985
wrinklynounan old person A reference to the wrinkled skin of advanced years Partridge qualified the definition: ‘as applied to anyone over the venerable age of thirty’UK , 1972
wristnoun1a contemptible person FromWRIST JOB(an act of masturbation) – or similar term – hence, this is synonymous withWANKER UK , 1998.2in betting, odds of 5–4 From theTICK-TACK
signal used by bookmakersUK , 1991
wristersnounin lobstering, knitted gloves with no fingersUS , 1978
wrist jobnoun1an act of masturbation Used as a song title by Humble Pie in 1969UK , 1969.2used as an all-purpose form of abuse; a substitute form of wankerUK , 2000
wristyadjectivehaving the characteristics of a masturbator; hence, inferior or unpleasant FromWRIST(a contemptible person)UK , 2000
writeverb1to write a prescription for a narcotic which will not be used for medicinal purposesUS , 1953.2to create graffiti artUS , 1997.
< write numbersto take bets on an illegal policy game (numbers lottery)US , 1975
write-offnounany motor vehicle damaged beyond economic repair; any thing (physical or abstract) or person considered to be beyond saving Originally Royal Air Force slang for ‘a wrecked aircraft’, now thought of as the language of insuranceUK , 1918
write offverbto destroy something; to damage something beyond repair, generally a vehicle From the conventional use ‘to write off the value or the investment’UK , 1991
writernoun1a graffiti artistUS , 1997.2in a casino, employee who accepts and records bets on KenoUS , 1972 8see:SHEET WRITER
wrongnounin craps, a bet against the shooterUS , 1974
wrongadjectiveknown to inform the policeUS , 1953
wronglenounin craps, someone who bets against the shooterUS , 1974
wrong numbernounan untrustworthy personUS , 1972
wrong-onouna bad personUS , 1970
wrong side ofnounused of an age that is greater than a stated numberUK , 1663
wrong timenouna woman’s menstrual periodUS , 1954
wrong ’unnoun1a lawbreaker; someone on the wrong side of the law . a police informer English gypsy use .
Trang 73in prison, a sex offender or convicted paedophile; an informer
UK , 1996
wrong-way Englishnounin pool, spin imparted on the cue ball
such that the angle of refraction off a cushion is different, if not
opposite, from what would be expectedUS , 1993
WSnouna sado-masochist encounter involving enemas or urination
An abbreviation forWATERSPORTS US , 1979
WTFused in computer message shorthand to mean ‘what the
fuck?’ or ‘who the fuck?’ US , 1991
WUCIWUGwhat you see is what you get Quasi-initialism used for
text messagingUK , 2001
wudja?‘would you?’ Apparently coined by television production
company Brighter Pictures but rapidly gained wider useUK , 2002
wuffo; whuffonounin the language of hang gliding and
parachuting, anyone other than a fellow expert Purportedly
derived from the question, ‘Wuffo they do that?’US , 1978
wumpersnouna rubber-soled sandal, especially one made from a
car tyreBAHAMAS , 1982
wunchnouna group of bankers Collective noun A jokey
Spoonerism of ‘bunch of wankers’UK , 2002
wunzeeverbto urinate An evolution of the children’s vocabulary of
NUMBER ONEandNUMBER TWO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003
wurleynouna hut Originally an Aboriginal dwellingAUSTRALIA , 1839
wurzelnouna person from the countryside Derogatory; most
prob-ably from the television series Wurzel Gummidge, 1979–81, based
on the stories about the ‘scarecrow of Scatterbrook’ created by
Barbara Euphan ToddUK , 2000
wussnouna weak, timid person A blend ofWIMPandPUSSY, both
meaning ‘a weak and timid person’US , 1982
wussie; wussy; wossienouna weak, timid, passive personUS , 1982
wuss outverbto back down; to fail to do as promisedUS , 1977
wussyadjectiveweak, timid, passiveUS , 1995
wuwoonouna mixture of marijuana and cocaine; marijuana Possibly adapted from a celebratory reaction to the drugs’ effects
UK , 2001
wuzzynoun a female A corruption of the French oiseau, orBIRD(a young woman)UK , 1983
Wyaminenouna Benzedrine™ inhaler The Wyamine™ inhaler was manufactured by Wyeth Laboratories; it became a generic name for any inhaler with Benzedrine-infused cotton strips, valued by amphetamine usersUS , 1967
Wyattnicknamesometimes applied to a person who burps loudly and for comic effect From rhyming slangWYATT EARP(a burp)UK , 1992
Wyatt Earpnoun1the penis Rhyming slang forCURP(the penis), formed on the name of the legendary US lawman (1848–1929), possibly informed by the film-myth of Wyatt Earp as a heroic shootistUK , 1980.2a belch Rhyming slang forBURP,based on the name of hero of countless films, Wyatt EarpUK , 1992
wymannoun 8see:BILL WYMAN
Wynona Ryder; wynonanouncider Rhyming slang, based on the name of the popular film actress (b.1971)UK , 2002
wyssa; whizzer; wyzzanouna personal message sent or received
in the Antarctic or sub-Antarctic Derives from the Australian Antarctic Division telex code for ‘with all my/our love darling’
AUSTRALIA , 1959
Wythenshawe white mannouna black man with the manners and standards of contemporary white society Wythenshawe is a suburb of ManchesterUK , 2002