"Rr" in Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English ppsx

From the former methodology used to test pregnancy that was introduced in 1949UK, 1998.< the rabbit’s hoppingexperiencing the bleed period of the menstrual cycle.. Rhyming slang forRICKE

RAnoun< the RAthe Irish Republican ArmyIRELAND, 2003

raasnoun1an arse; hence your beingJAMAICA, 1994.2a contemptible

person Probable origin in the phrase ‘your arse’, although some

suggest Dutch raas (rage) The early, especially West Indian, sense

was considered extremely offensive, however modern UK black

usage is roughly equivalent toARSEorARSEHOLE There is a,

poss-ibly disingenuous, belief amongst some Jamaicans that Raas was a

king of AfricaJAMAICA, 2000.3nonsense From West Indian Black

usageUK, 2000.< the raasused in order to intensify Synonymous

with ‘the hell’, ‘the fuck’, etcUK, 1994

raasclatnounused as an extreme derogative CombinesRAAS(arse)

and ‘clat’ (West Indian pronunciation of ‘cloth’) to mean ‘a

sanitary towel’JAMAICA, 1978

raasholenouna contemptible person; used as a general term of

abuse A cross-cultural variation onARSEHOLE, using West Indian

and UK blackRAAS(an arse)UK, 2000

rabbinouna mentor or protectorUS, 1970

rabbitnoun1a woman who has a large number of children

Collected at a UK prison, August 2002JAMAICA, 2002.2a man who

ejaculates with little stimulationUS, 1987.3a white personUS, 1991.

4a nervous, timid, cautious personUS, 1951.5a new member of a

Rastafarian gangNEW ZEALAND, 1988.6a prisoner who is known for

attempting to escape prisonUS, 1972.7a person who regularly

borrows money from an illegal money lender and pays back

promptlyUS, 1950.8on the railways, a side track on a downhill

incline used to divert runaway trains and prevent crashesUS, 1946.

9a poor poker playerUS, 1967.< go like a rabbitto demonstrate

eagerness during sexUK, 1972.< the rabbit diedused for

indicat-ing a state of pregnancy From the (former) methodology used to

test pregnancy that was introduced in 1949UK, 1998.< the

rabbit’s hoppingexperiencing the bleed period of the menstrual

cycle A reversal of the phraseTHE RABBIT DIED(pregnant)US, 2001

rabbitverbto run awayUK, 1887

rabbit and pork; rabbitnounthe act of talking; a conversation

Rhyming slang for ‘talk’UK, 1980

rabbit and pork; rabbitverbto talk Rhyming slang ‘To rabbit on’

is ‘to talk at length’UK, 1941

rabbit bloodnouna seemingly unstoppable urge to try to escape

from prisonUS, 1950

rabbit earsnoun1a v-shaped aerial placed on top of a television set

US, 1967.2in a casino Keno game, the two clear plastic tubes

through which the number balls are blownUS, 1993.3an athlete or

official who is quick to take offence at teasingUS, 1967

rabbiter’s breakfastnouna visit to the toilet and a cigaretteNEW

ZEALAND, 1975

rabbit fevernounthe urge to try to escape from prisonUS, 1962

rabbit food; rabbit’s foodnounany salad vegetable, especially

lettuce A generally dismissive term from the carnivorous lobbyUK,

1936

rabbit huntverbin poker, to look through undealt cards after a

hand is completed to see what might have beenUS, 1967

rabbit hutchnounthe crutch or crotch Rhyming slangUK, 1980

rabbit-killernouna short and vicious punch to the neck, generally

with the open handAUSTRALIA, 1941

rabbit-oh; rabbit-onouna door-to-door seller of slaughtered rabbits

From the cry ‘rabbit oh!’, used by the vendor to attract attention

AUSTRALIA, 1902

rabbit seasonnounspring, when prisoners are inclined to try to

rabbit’s paw; rabbitverbto talk Rhyming slang forJAW Theshortened form is identical in sense to the shortened form of

RABBIT AND PORK UK, 1961

rabbit tracksnounin craps, a six rolled with a pair of threesUS, 1985

rabbit turdsnounItalian sausage Limited usage, but graphicUS, 1996

racenoun1a single game in an illegal numbers lotteryUS, 1963.2asingle game of KenoUS, 1973.< not in the racenot having anychance of successAUSTRALIA, 1904.< the racethe game of rollerderbyUS, 1960s and 70s

raceverb< race for pink slips (pinks)in drag racing, to competefor the prize of ownership of the opponent’s carUS, 2003.< race

offto conduct a person away to some other place for the purpose

of seductionAUSTRALIA, 1965

race birdnounan enthusiastic fan of horse racingUS, 1971

race facenounin motor racing, the look of total concentration andfocus seen on drivers just before a race beginsUS, 1993

racehorsenoun1an accomplished, sought-after prostituteUS, 1972.

2a thinly rolled cigaretteAUSTRALIA, 1944

racehorse Charlie; racehorse Charleynounheroin; cocaine.Perhaps from the long-ago brand name White HorseUS, 1936

race recordnouna recording by a black artist; rock ’n’ roll beforewhites discovered rock ’n’ rollUS, 1927

racerheadnounin mountain biking, someone who competes inraces A mild put-down to describe riders so into competition thatthey have lost their perspective on the cosmic absurdity ofmountain bikingUS, 1992

racersnounclose-fitting nylon swimwear used for competitiveswimming So-called because they are used in competitiveswimmingAUSTRALIA, 2003

racesnoun< at the racesunsuccessful, uncompetitiveIRELAND, 2003

racetrackernounin horse racing, a person who makes their living

in some capacity at racetracksUS, 1951

racing stripenouna faecal stain in the underpantsUS, 1991

racing tacklenounamphetamines or other central nervous systemstimulantsUK, 1983

racknoun1a woman’s breastsUS, 1982.2a set of antlersUS, 1945.

3bedUS, 1955.4a room or apartmentUS, 1993.5a maximumsecurity prison cellUS, 1982.6a hotel’s front deskUS, 1954.7a foil-wrapped package of amphetaminesUS, 1997.8a packet of five bar-biturate capsules or other drugs, give or take severalUS, 1972.9aone-month supply of birth control pillsUS, 1980.10a six-pack (ofbeer)US, 1991.11a case (24 cans) of beerUS, 2000.< hit the rack

to go to bed; to go to sleepUS, 1973.< on the rackavailable forprostitutionUS, 1977

rackverb1to go to sleepUS, 1993.2to stealUS, 1997.3to shopliftUS,

2001.4to perform wellUS, 1955.5to load (a gun)US, 1997.6in thetelevision and film industries, to adjust the camera lens in themiddle of a shot to keep the subject in focusUS, 1990.< rack the

barsto open or close a prison cell doorUS, 1992

rack attacknouna nap; sleepUS, 1975

rackedadjectiveasleepUS, 1075

racked upadjectiveupsetUS, 1970

racketnoun1a criminal enterprise; a swindle or a means ofdeception Any illicit or dubious enterprise may be termed a

‘racket’ by prefixing the area of criminal operation, hence

‘narcotics racket’, ‘loan-shark racket’, etcUK, 1894.2a job, trade orprofession A jocular reference: ‘What racket are you in?’ or ‘What’syour racket?’UK, 1891.3a private, police-only partyUS, 1987.4any

racket boynouna member of an organised criminal enterpriseUS,

1953

racket jacketnounthe jacket of a zoot suitUS, 1945

racketty coonouna Jewish person Rhyming slang for ‘Jew’

AUSTRALIA, 1971

racketyadjectivenoisyUS, 1975

rackeynouna boy who affects a style of dressing reminiscent of a

gangster Teen slangUS, 1955

rack facenounlines on your face left from a blanket, sheet or pillow

US, 1996

rack monsternouna person who spends a great deal of time in

bedUS, 1976

rack offverbto go away Commonly but not exclusively used in the

imperative A euphemistic alternative toPISS OFFandFUCK OFF

Origin unknown The Oxford English Dictionary (supplement)

suggests a connection with ‘rack’ meaning ‘of a horse, to move by

alternately raising two legs on one side’, but this seems hardly

creditable due to the rarity of that term in AustraliaAUSTRALIA, 1975

rack off hairy legs!go away! An intensive form of the usualRACK

OFFwith the rather feeble insult ‘hairy legs’ tacked onAUSTRALIA, 1988

rack outverbto go to sleepUS, 1991

rack upverb1to accumulate things; to score pointsUS, 1961.2in a

casino or gambling establishment, to have your chips placed in a

chip rack to be cashed inUS, 1982.3to prepare lines of cocaineUK,

1997.4in prison, to return prisoners to their cellsUS, 1990

racy boppernouna female fan of motor racing whose attraction to

the sport is a function of her attraction to the race participantsUS,

radar alleynounany stretch of a motorway heavily patrolled by

radar; especially, Interstate 90 between Cleveland and the New

York state lineUS, 1971

radar Charlienouna poker player with a strong intuitive sense of

other players’ handsUS, 1988

RadCannounRadio Canada, the francophone side of the Canadian

Broadcasting Corporation The ‘Rad’ in RadCan suggests ‘radical’, a

view held by Canadian federalists of Radio Canada (pronounced,

even by anglophone speakers, in the French way, as ‘Raaahdio

Canada’)CANADA, 2002

raddienoun1an Italian or Anglo-Italian living in London From the

raddled-seeming complexion of some Italians compared to that of

a pale Londoner, possibly influenced byREDDY(an Italian)

Originally used of Italian families in ClerkenwellUK, 1938.2a

politi-cal radipoliti-cal UK, 1964

radgenouna psychotic; a madmanUK, 1995

radgeadjective1used in order to express approvalUK, 2003.2mad;

psychoticUK, 2003.3silly Northen dialect radgy (mad) UK, 1961

radgepotnoun a fool Probably direct from Northern dialect radge

(mad) Natural derivations are ‘radgy’ and ‘radgified’UK, 1979

radiateverb< radiate a mortgagein Quebec, to cancel a

mortgageCANADA, 2001

radiator whiskeynounstrong, homemade whiskyUS, 1999

radicnouna police officer, especially armed police Shortened from

‘eradicator’UK, 1994

radicaladjectiveextreme; outrageous; good Originally surfer slang,

then migrated into the argot of the San Fernando Valley and then

into mainstream US youth slangUS, 1967

radionouna prisoner who talks loudly and without paying attention

to who might be listeningUS, 1976

Radio Onesnoundiarrhoea Rhyming slang forTHE RUNS, formed on

radio rental; radio rentals; rentalsadjectivewonderful, amazing;insane, crazy Rhyming slang forMENTAL; based on Radio Rentals, ahigh street shopUK, 1973

radio that!; radio that shit!used in prison as a demand for quiet

US, 1981

’radonouna Cadillac El Dorado carUS, 1980

rad padnounin skateboarding, a rubber wedge used as a shock padthat changes the angles at which the axle assembly is mountedUS, 1976

radsnounthe policeUK, 2000

Rafferty’s rules; Rafferty rulesnounan entire lack of rulesaltogether From the Irish surname Rafferty, with the implicationthat the Irish were unruly Connection with the Northumberland

dialect word raffety ‘irregular; applied by sinkers to stratified deposits’, and the Lincolnshire term raffatory ‘refractory’ (see English Dialect Dictionary), amount to nothing more than hopeful

guessworkAUSTRALIA, 1918

raffle ticket; rafflenouna mistake Rhyming slang forRICKET UK,

1992

raftnouna large amountUS, 1830

ragnoun1a sanitary towelUS, 1966.2the bleed period of themenstrual cycleUS, 1971.3a despicable personUS, 1997.4anewspaper, especially a disreputable oneUK, 1889.5a used car that

is in very poor conditionUS, 1980.6a well-worn tyreUS, 1961.7abanknote; paper moneyUK, 1817.8in pool, a cushionUS, 1985.9inhorse racing, an outsider (a horse considered unlikely to win arace)UK, 1991.10in poker, a useless card in the dealt hand or adrawn card that does not improve the handUS, 1978.11in acarnival midway game, a small prize in a plastic bagUS, 1985.12arailway pointsmanUS, 1946.< get your rag outto lose yourtemper A combination ofLOSE YOUR RAGand the earlier ‘get yourshirt out’UK, 1956.< lose your ragto lose your temperUK, 1959.

< on the rag; have the rag on1experiencing the bleed period

of the menstrual cycleUS, 1974.2figuratively, to be distracted andirritableUS, 1963

ragverbto mock, bully, tease or ridicule someoneUK, 1808

ragadjectiveunpleasant, badNEW ZEALAND, 1998

ragamuffinnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle A play on

RAG(a sanitary towel)AUSTRALIA, 2001

rag and bonenoun1a telephone Rhyming slangUK, 1984.2alavatory pedestal and receptacle, especially the lavatory seat.Rhyming slang forTHRONE UK, 1992

rag and bonernouna telephone Extended from rhyming slangRAG AND BONE(telephone)UK, 1984

raga-ragaadjectiveof clothes, worn-out, ragged A variation on ventional ‘ragged’JAMAICA, 1943

con-ragbagnoun1an odd assortmentUK, 1999.2an untidily or shabbilydressed personUK, 1888.3in circus and carnival usage, a show thathas fallen on hard times or is fundamentally dishonestUS, 1981

ragenouna large waveUS, 1991

rageverb1to enjoy a party with great enthusiasmUS, 1992.2todominate someone or somethingUS, 1984

-ragesuffixwhen combined with a subject noun, an outburst ofenraged hostility within or occasioned by that subject areaUK, 1998

ragernoun1a skilled, aggressive surfer or skateboarderUS, 1997.2alarge partyUS, 1990

ragga; ragamuffin; raggamuffinnouna ruffian, usually of WestIndian racial origin Originally a West Indian and UK black termwith an approving tone; probably derived from the conventionalsense of a ‘raggedy’ (a disreputable person); ultimately fromRagamoffyn, a demon in the Middle English poem ‘PiersPlowman’ by William Langland (perhaps 1330–86) The derivation

is likely to be influenced by Jamaican ‘raga-raga’ (ragged) and

‘ragamofi’ (ragged clothes)UK, 1996

raggagansta; raggagangstanouna West Indian/UK black gangster.CompoundsRAGGAMUFFIN(a ruffian) withGANGSTA(a gangster)UK,

raggastaninouna member of a British Indian (Hindi) urban youth

gang or subcultureUK, 2006

raggedadjective1without moneyUS, 1990.2tired; unwellAUSTRALIA,

1958

ragged edgenounin hot rodding, drag racing, and motor racing,

the absolute limit of the car’s abilityUS, 1965

raggedyadjectiveragged; rough; dishevelledUS, 1890

raggedy jacknounin Newfoundland, a homemade pile rugCANADA,

1979

raggedy jacketnounin Newfoundland, a harp seal moulting from

the white coat to the bedlamer stageCANADA, 1976

raggin’adjectivedressed in fashionable and expensive clothingUS, 1987

raggy-arseadjectiveof poor qualityUK, 2002

rag headnoun1an Arab person, or a native of any race that wears a

cloth-covering on the head; by extension a native of Muslim

countries OffensiveUS, 1921.2in circus and carnival usage, a gypsy

US, 1981

ragingadjectivevery good; very excitingUS, 1995

Raging BullnicknameJake LaMotta (b.1921), a middleweight boxer

who fiercely made his presence felt in the ring in the 1940s and

50sUS, 1980

raging queernouna particularly ostentatious or importunate male

homosexual An intensification ofQUEER(a male homosexual)UK,

1984

rag jointnouna carnival concession in a canvas boothUS, 1985

ragman’s coatnounon a woman, an untrimmed and naturally

abundant mass of pubic hairUK, 2002

rag ordernounchaotic disorder, a mess MilitaryUK, 1983

rag storenouna big con swindle in which the lure is the promise of

wealth from stocks traded based on allegedly inside information

US, 1969

rag stuffernouna parachute riggerUS, 1991

ragtimenounthe bleed period of a woman’s menstrual cycle A play

onON THE RAG(menstruating), after the musical styleUS, 2001

ragtopnouna convertible carUS, 1955

rag townnouna town built in prosperous times, bound to fall into

poverty with the end of prosperous timesUS, 1954

ragweednoun1poor quality marijuana After botanical genus

Ambrosia the which grows wild across North America US, 1969.

2poor quality heroinUK, 1998

rag weeknounthe week of the month when a woman has a

menstrual bleed CombinesRAG(a sanitary towel), as in ‘on the

rag’, with conventional ‘week’ to form a play on university rag

weekUK, 2001

rah!; rah rah!used as a cheer, a shouted expression of support or

encouragement A shortening of ‘hurrah!’ in college sports use As

‘rah! rah! rah!’ it is the climax of a Maori war cry that has been

adopted by New Zealand rugby teamsUS, 1870

rah-rahadjectivecharacterised by excessive spirit and enthusiasm,

usually associated with college or high schoolUS, 1914

rahtid; raatid; rhaatidadjectiveused as an intensifier that implies

anger or strong disapproval Urban black usageUK, 1994

railnoun1a line of cocaine or other powdered drug, laid out for

snortingUS, 1984.2any railway employeeUS, 1946.< on the railin

American casinos, observing the gambling but not playingUS, 1985

railverbto arrest or detain someoneUS, 1995

railbirdnoun1in horse racing, an enthusiast who watches morning

workouts, carefully clocking performancesUS, 1931.2in American

casinos, a thief who steals chips from inattentive gamblersUS, 1985.

3in pool, a spectatorUS, 1993

raildognouna backstage technician who works with set rigging on a

catwalkUS, 1991

railfieldverba thief who simply grabs shop merchandise and runs

rail job; railnouna drag racing car with a chassis made of rail-likemetal bars; a drag racing car regardless of the chassis construction

US, 1963

rail luggernounin horse racing, a horse that prefers to run near ornext to the inside railUS, 1947

rail on; railverbto criticize or reprimand someoneUS, 1987

railratnounin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, amember of the audience who prefers to see the show from asclose as possible to the band, right on the railUS, 1994

railroadverbto move your jaw from side to side obsessively andinvoluntarily after sustained amphetamine useUS, 1989

railroad biblenouna deck of playing cardsUS, 1976

railroad dicknouna private guard employed by a railway company

WEED(marijuana)US, 1974

railsnounthat part of a racecourse where the rails bookmakers aresituated; hence, big-time bookmakingAUSTRALIA, 1981

rail sandwichnouna surfboard between your legsUS, 1978

rails bookmaker; rails bookienounone of the more prestigiousbookmakersAUSTRALIA, 1950

railway stationnounan ‘allocation’ prison from which prisoners areforwardedUK, 1999

ráiméisnounfoolish, nonsensical, ill-founded talkIRELAND, 2001

rainverb< if it was raining I am extremely unluckyAUSTRALIA,

1965.< rain pups and pussiesto rain very hardUS, 1990

rain and pour; rainverbto snore Rhyming slangUK, 1992

rainbownoun1a capsule of amobarbital sodium and secobarbitalsodium (trade name Tuinal™), a combination of central nervoussystem depressantsUS, 1966.2in casinos, a bet comprised of differ-ent colour and different value betting chipsUS, 1991.3in oil drilling,

a very small showing of oil in a holeUS, 1954.4a soldier who joins

a fighting unit after conflict has ceased Used in both World Wars;

a rainbow comes after a stormAUSTRALIA, 1919.< go up the

rainbowto experience sexual ecstasyUK, 1972

rainbow handnouna poker hand with cards of all four suitsUS, 1950

rainbow jumpernounin basketball, a high, arcing jump shotUS, 1974

rainbow partynounoral sex on one male by several females, allwearing different colours of lipstickUS, 2003

rainbow rollnouna multi-coloured assortment of barbituratecapsulesUS, 1973

rainbowsnoun1LSD Presumably from the pictures printed on theblotting paper doseUK, 1998.2the recreational drug methaqualone,best known as Quaaludes™UK, 1983

rain checknoun1a request or promise to take up an invitation at aconvenient time; a postponement of any arrangement From theticket given to a spectator at an outdoor event providing for arefund/admission at a later date, should the event be interrupted

by rainUS, 1930.2the reduction of a criminal penalty; parole,probationUS, 1949

raincoatnouna condom Figurative use of waterproof wearUS, 1970

Raincoat Charlienouna striptease audience member whomasturbates beneath the safety of his raincoatUS, 1981

raincoaternouna stereotypical perverted pornography fanUS, 2000

raincoat jobnouna sexual fetish involving urination on yourpartnerUS, 1993

rain dancenounin computing, an action that is expected to be

rained outadjectivepostponed A term from sports, especially

baseball, but applied more broadly to refer to, for example, a class

on a given day that has been postponedUS, 1995

raining and pouring; rainingnounsnoring Rhyming slangUK, 1992

rainmakernouna member of an enterprise whose job includes

procuring clients or business by the use of charmUS, 1985

rain roomnouna shower roomUS, 1968

Rainy CitynicknameManchester, UKUK, 1981

rainy day womannounmarijuana This seems to have been

inspired by the following lyric: ‘Everybody must get stoned’ by Bob

Dylan, ‘Rainy Day Women #12 & 35’, 1966US, 1982

raisenoun1stake money; a monetary profitUK, 2000.2parentsUS,

1972.3the armUS, 1973

raiseverb1(used of a male) to achieve an erectionBAHAMAS, 1971.2to

identify yourself to a fellow travellerUS, 1957.3to bail someone out

of jailUS, 1973.< raise Cainto make a disturbance; to complain

or quarrel noisily and angrilyUS, 1930.< raise hellto make a

dis-turbance; to make a din; to cause troubleUS, 1896.< raise sand

to argue loudly, creating a problemUS, 1965

raisernoun1a lookout who warns confederates of approaching

policeUS, 1992.2a criminal who specialises in forging increases in

the amount payable to an otherwise legitimate cheque or security

US, 1950

raise upverb1to make someone angryUS, 2001.2to warn someone

US, 1992.3to be released from prisonUS, 1990

raisinheadnouna black person OffensiveUS, 1978

raisin jacknouna potent and vile alcoholic beverage brewed by

letting raisins ferment, usually in prisonUS, 1986

raisin pickernounon the railways, a worker from Fresno, California

Fresno is regarded as the raisin capital of the USUS, 1975

raisin snapnounalcohol made from fermented raisinsUS, 1988

raizeverbto annoy or harass someoneUS, 1991

rajahnounan erectionNEW ZEALAND, 1998

rajamuffinnouna member of a British Indian (Hindi) urban youth

gang or subculture A play on raggamuffinUK, 2006

Rajputananouna banana Rhyming slang, formed from a ship that

berthed in London’s Royal DocksUK, 1998

rakenoun1an amount of something; a large quantityIRELAND, 1995.

2a combUS, 1960.3in pool, a device used to support the cue stick

for a hard-to-reach shotUS, 1990

rakeverbto lower the front end of a carUS, 1970.< rake a gameto

charge card players for the privilege of playingUS, 1977.< rake the

leavesto drive at the back of a group of trucks travelling on a

motorway together, watching for police from the rearUS, 1976

rakedadjectivedrunkUS, 1990

rakehellnounan utter scoundrelUK, 1554

rake-innounthe financial results of an enterpriseUS, 1947

rake in; rakeverbto make money, especially in generous quantities

or at an enviable speedUK, 1583

rake-offnounmoney obtained from a crime or as a bribeUS, 1899

Rakkasansnicknamethe 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment

Distinguished airborne and air assault soldiers in World War 2,

Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf From the Japanese for

‘parachute’, named during the first four years of occupation duty

in JapanUS, 1989

raklinouna girl; a woman Romany in current English gypsy useUK,

2000

Raleigh bikenouna lesbian Rhyming slang forDYKE, formed on a

product of a well-known bicycle manufacturerUK, 1992

rallyverbto go out drinkingUS, 1974

ralphnoun1a right turnUS, 1968.2vomitUS, 1975

ralph

Ralphed upadjectivedressed in a smart casual style From RalphLauren (b.1939), designer of the Polo™ range of casual clothingUK, 1997

ramnounamyl or butyl nitrite Reflecting popular male gay use,possibly deriving from a brand nameUS, 1998

ramverb(from a male perspective) to have sex, perhaps violently.Mainly derived from ‘ram’ (a male sheep), but the thrusting actionechoes ‘ram’ (to batter with a long pole)UK, 2001

-rama; -erama; -oramasuffixused for conveying a superlative

qual-ity or quantqual-ity From Greek orama (a view) US, 1954

rama-lamanounrock ’n’ roll music From the doo-wop song ‘RamaLama Ding Dong’ recorded by the Edsels in 1959, and somehow

thought to capture the joie de vivre of the music UK, 2001

Rambettenouna female Rambo – reckless, fearless, the warriorwomanUS, 1992

ramblernouna (portable) radioUK, 1996

rambling ROK’snounground troops of the Army of South Korea(the Republic of Korea)US, 1964

Rambonoun1a soldier with too much of a sense of drama and toolittle intelligence After the 1982 film starring Sylvester Stallone as

an invincible if mentally unstable Vietnam veteranUS, 1989.2anintolerant prison officer who would rather punish inmates Fromthe 1982 film starring Sylvester Stallone as a military man whouses the most extreme measures to quell his opponents In use in

UK prisons in 2002UK, 2002.3heroinUK, 1998

Rambo ragnouna handkerchief worn on the head Worn byStallone in the filmUS, 1991

ramjamadverbabsolutely crammedUK, 1879

rammedadjectivecrammed, stuffed fullUK, 1996

rammiesnountrousers; pants Rhyming slang Shortening of

‘rammy rousers’, rhyming slang for ‘trousers’AUSTRALIA, 1906

rammynouna brawl; a noisy argument, a row; a bustling crowdUK: SCOTLAND, 1935

rammyverbto take part in crowd violenceUK: SCOTLAND, 1996

rampnoun1a search of a prisoner or prison cell Conducted tosearch for contraband, though often carried out with muchdestruction in order to harass the prisonerAUSTRALIA, 1919.2a publichouse bar counter; hence, a public house From an earlier, moregeneral, sense as a shop counterUK, 1935

rampverb1to swindle, to con; to rob, to mug; to make trouble.Contemporary use is mainly West Indian and UK blackUK, 1812.2topretend A variation of the sense ‘to swindle, to con’UK, 2000.3tosearch a prisoner or a prison cellAUSTRALIA, 1919

rampedadjectivedrunkUS, 1992

ram-raidverbto rob a premises using a vehicle as a battering ramand driving it through a window or a wallUK, 1987

ram-raid; ram-raidingnouna method of robbery that utilises amotor vehicle as a battering ram to gain entry, often using thevehicle to make off with stolen goodsUK, 1991

ramraidernoun1a criminal involved in ram-raidingUK, 1991.2apowerful amphetamine sulphateUK, 1990s

ramrodnounthe penis; the erect penisUK, 1902

Ramsgate Sand; Ramsgatenounthe hand Rhyming slang,formed on the Kent seaside resortUK, 1992

ram’s pasturenounin oil drilling, non-productive landUS, 1954

ram tubenounin a drag racing car, an injector that forces air into acarburettorUS, 1970

ranchnoun1a houseUS, 1960.2any place where marijuana is soldUS,

1945.3to a trucker, anywhere you spend the nightUS, 1976

ranchverbto idle; to spend time doing littleUS, 1991

Ranch Handnouna C-123 aircraft equipped with tanks filled withdefoliants used on the Vietnam jungleUS, 1969

rancidadjective1in poor tasteUS, 1989.2excellent; brilliantAUSTRALIA,

randannouna spree of wild, debauched, hedonistic behaviour,

especially if heavy drinking is involved Usually in the phrase ‘on

the randan’UK: SCOTLAND, 1985

Randolph Scott; Randolphnouna spot Rhyming slang, based on

the name of film actor Randolph Scott, 1903–87UK, 1992

randomadjectiveordinary if unexpected A major word of the 1990s

US youth, just a tad to the slang side of conventional EnglishUS,

1968

R and Rnoun1rest and rehabilitation; rest and recovery; rest and

recreation; rest and recuperation; rape and restitution; rape and

ruin; rape and run Despite disagreement on the ‘R’s’, the

meaning is the same – a brief stint away from combat or regular

dutyUS, 1953.2rock ’n’ rollUK, 1977.3rape and robbery A cynical

play on the US military ‘r and r’ (rest and recreation)UK, 1996

randyadjective1sexually aroused; feeling lecherous From Scottish

dialect randy UK, 1847.2homosexual, perhaps seen as a threatening

or predatory characteristic Public schools use, probably deriving

from the more general sense as ‘lecherous or sexually aroused’

when applied in a single-sex environmentUK, 1968

randy AndynicknamePrince Andrew; any man named AndrewUK,

1984

randy comedownnouna desire for sex as the effects of drug use

wear offUK, 2002

ranenouncocaine; heroinUK, 2003

rangnouna person who is acting very oddly An abbreviation of

‘orangutan’US, 1966

rangdoodlesnounin poker, a temporary increase in the betting

limit after a player has won a hand with an agreed-upon, rare and

excellent handUS, 1967

Ranger’s Biblenounthe US Army Ranger handbook, a

supplemen-tal training document for long-range reconnaissance patrolsUS, 1990

rangoodnounwild marijuana Probably a playful misspelling of

RANGOON UK, 2003

rangoonnounwild marijuanaUS, 1968

Rangoonnouna prune Rhyming slang, formed from the Burmese

capitalUK, 1992

rankverb1to disparage; to insult, especially in a formulaic or ritual

mannerUS, 1945.2to bungle or ruin somethingUS, 1950

rankadjectiveunpleasant; stupid; bad-smelling In the world of

bad-is-good alienated youth, ‘rank’ can be bad-is-good or badUS, 1955

rankingadjective1excellent; admirable Also shortened to ‘ranks’UK,

1985.2average, mediocreJAMAICA, 2000

rank outverbto offend or disgust someone by doing something

rankUS, 1997

ran-tannoun< on the ran-tanon a drinking spreeIRELAND, 1977

rapnoun1a criminal chargeUS, 1903.2blame or responsibilityUS, 1927.

3a prison sentenceUS, 1927.4a clever line of improvised chat,

speech or conversation Black coinage, adopted and popularised by

hippiesUS, 1967.5a popular music genre in which a rhythmic lyric

is spoken over a musical backgroundUS, 2002.6a meandering,

unstructured group discussionUS, 1967.7the way in which a person

expresses himself or herselfUS, 1975.8a very small amountUS, 1973.

< ride the rapto serve a prison sentence without losing control,

hope or sanityUS, 1991

rapverb1to talk without an agenda, aimlessly but honestly Found

before the 1960s, but truly a word of the 60sUS, 1929.2to criticise

someoneUS, 1957.3to accuse someone falsely or to seek a more

serious sentence for someone than their crime deservesUS, 1965.

4to perform semi-spoken lyrics over a musical backgroundUS, 1979

raparazzinounan elite grouping within hip-hop culture ExtendsRAP

(the pre-eminent hip-hop music style) on the model ofPAPARAZZI

(photographers who prey on celebrities); the suggestion of preying

rapo; rape-onouna rapistUS, 1972

rap parlornouna brothel in disguise as a massage parlour indisguise as a business where you pay to talk to women For thoseentrepreneurs who do not have what it takes to obtain a massagelicenceUS, 1982

rap partnernounin a criminal enterprise, a person who will acceptresponsibility for a venture gone poorly and serve a jail sentence

US, 1977

rappernoun1a performer of rap lyricsUS, 1979.2the mouth; thevoiceUS, 1969.3the chief witness for the prosecution in a criminaltrialUS, 1962

rappienouna partner in crimeUS, 1981

rap sessionnouna group discussion, unstructured and uninhibited

US, 1969

rap sheetnouna record of a person’s past arrests and convictions

US, 1960

raptadjectivedelighted Variant ofWRAPPED AUSTRALIA, 1963

raptornouna rap performer who is also an actorUS, 1998

Raquel Welchnouna belch Rhyming slang formed from the name

of the film actress (b.1940)UK, 1992

Raquel Welchverbto belch Rhyming slang, formed from thename of the US actress (b.1940)UK, 1971

rareadjective1excellent; very enjoyableUK: SCOTLAND, 1985.2ofsomeone, unusual, eccentric Sometimes ‘wild rare’ is also used

presen-raring to goadjectiveeagerly impatient to get startedUS, 1935

rark-upnounan argument or rebukeNEW ZEALAND, 1995

rark upverbto rebuke or annoy someoneNEW ZEALAND, 1997

ras!used for expressing surpriseUS, 2004

rashnoun< be all over someone like a rash1to smothersomeone with affection, kisses, etcAUSTRALIA, 1965.2to be easilyoutdoing an opponentAUSTRALIA, 1961

rashienounan upper garment worn by surfers Originally wornunder a wetsuit in order to preventWETTIE RASH AUSTRALIA, 1996

raspberrynoun1a disapproving fart-like noise From out-of-daterhyming slang, ‘raspberry tart’ forFART UK, 1890.2a light grazing ofthe skin Skateboarders’ slang; from the appearanceUK, 1998.3asore or abcess on an intravenous drug user from repeatedinjections in the same spotUS, 1973.4a male who trades sex fordrugsUS, 1995

raspberrylandnicknameTasmania From the crop Hence, aTasmanian is called a ‘raspberrylander’AUSTRALIA, 1966

raspberry ripple; raspberrynouna disabled individual Rhymingslang for ‘cripple’UK, 1977

raspyadjective1excellentUS, 1982.2bad, unpleasantUS, 1977

rassnounthe buttocks; hence, used as a term of abuse FromARSE

rasta weednounmarijuana Marijuana is famously central to

Rastafarian ritual US, 2001

Rastusnounused as a derogatory personification of a black maleUS, 1949

ratnoun1a person who informs on or otherwise betrayscompatriotsUK, 1902.2a despicable personUK, 1594.3an enthusiast

of the preceding activity or thingUS, 1864.4a railway detectiveUS,

1977.5a prostituteBARBADOS, 1965.< like a rat up a drainpipe;

like a rat up a drain

in which case it is usually of a woman objectified in a sexual

contextAUSTRALIA, 1971.< like a rat up a rhododendronvery

swiftly A jocular variation ofLIKE A RAT UP A DRAIN AUSTRALIA, 1971.

< like a rat up a rope/shorelinewith great speedAUSTRALIA,

1945.< not give a rat’s ass; not give a rat’s arseto not care

at allUS, 1971.< rat’s died up your arseused of an especially

noxious fartUK, 2001

ratverb1to inform Perhaps from an earlier political sense of

changing political partiesUS, 1934.2to rob or loot a person or place

AUSTRALIA, 1898

ratadjectivedisloyal, untrustworthy;US, 1955

rat and mousenoun1a house Rhyming slang; first recorded in

Songs and Slang of the British Soldier: 1914–1918, John Brophy

and Eric Partridge, 3rd edition, 1931 Recorded in the US in 1943

UK, 1931.2an informer Rhyming slang forLOUSE(a despicable

person)UK, 1961

rat-arsed; ratarsedadjectivedrunkUK, 1982

ratatouillenouna nightclub that caters to a mix of gay and straight

customers A culinary allusionUK, 2003

ratbagnouna contemptible person A ‘ratbag’ can be merely a

person with odd notions, an eccentric, or someone whose ideas or

behaviour verge on the insaneAUSTRALIA, 1890

ratbaggerynounbehaviour which is eccentric, despicable or

otherwise contemptibleAUSTRALIA, 1943

rat beltnounin computing, a self-locking cable tieUS, 1991

rat bitenouna skin bruise caused by sucking Hawaiian youth usage

US, 1982

ratboynoun1among a group of drug users, a person who will

sample any drug before the group uses it An allusion to the rat as

the subject of laboratory experimentsUS, 1987.2a member of a

subcultural urban adolescent grouping defined by a hip-hop dress

and jewellery senseUK, 2000

rat capernouna minor crimeCANADA, 1976

ratchetnounany weaponUS, 2003

ratchet jawnouna person who talks too much and says too little

US, 1965

ratchet-mouthverbto talk incessantlyUS, 1981

rat-cunningnouncraftinessAUSTRALIA, 1979

rat cunningadjectivecraftyAUSTRALIA, 1970

rat-drawnadjectiveused of shoes, pointedUS, 1976

rat-eyedadjectivedrunkUK, 1998

ratfink; rat finknoun1a despised person CombinesRAT(someone

unpleasant) andFINK(someone despised, an informer)US, 1964.2an

informer CombinesRAT(an informer) andFINK(an informer)US,

1965

rat fucknoun1a chaotic military disasterUS, 1930.2a despicable

personUS, 1922.3a damnUS, 1971.4a prankUS, 1965

Rat Fucknounthe Reaction Forces of the South Vietnamese Army

US, 1990

ratfuckverbto pull a prankUS, 1965

ratfuck operationnounany operation characterised by poor

planning, confusion or chaos Frequently used in the Vietnam war

US, 1990

rat headnouna person, especially a woman, who conveys a

complete lack of taste and finesseUS, 2004

rat holenoun1a small, messy, cluttered placeUK, 1812.2a railway

tunnelUS, 1975

rat-holeverbto stash something away, usually secretivelyUS, 1948

rat housenounan insane asylumAUSTRALIA, 1900

rat jacketnouna reputation for being an informerUS, 1973

rat-leggedadjectivedrunk A variation ofRAT-ARSED UK, 2002

rat motornounin hot rodding, a Chevrolet engine, usually 396

cubic inches or largerUS, 2001

rat-on an erection

rat outverbto inform on someoneUS, 1990

rat packnoun1in competition surfing, competitors vying for theleadUS, 1988.2a group of young gang membersUS, 1951.3a ration

of food issued to South African soldiers; a package of foodSOUTH AFRICA, 1984

rat-packverbto surround and attack someoneUS, 1971

rat racenoun1any hectic and non-productive situation, activity orlifestyleUS, 1947.2the face Rhyming slangUK, 2003

rat rownounan area in a jail or prison reserved for police informerswho would not be safe in the general population of the facilityUS, 1982

rat runnouna narrow way between buildings; a back alley; a sideroad, especially if used in a short-cut; a route through back streetsthat is used by motorists avoiding heavy trafficUK, 1977

ratsnouncombat rationsUS, 1976

rats!used as an expression of annoyance or dismissalUS, 1886

rats and mice; ratsnoun1dice Rhyming slangUK, 1932.2rice.Rhyming slangUK, 1992

rat’s coffinnouna meat pieAUSTRALIA, 2003

ratshitnouna despicable person or thingUS, 1994.< go to ratshit

to go very wrongUK, 1995

ratshitadjectiveno good; dreadfulAUSTRALIA, 1970

rattedadjectivedrunkUK, 2002

ratternoun1a police informer; a traitor to a cause or enterpriseUS,

1975.2a thief, especially one who steals opal from another’s mine

AUSTRALIA, 1932

rattlenoundiceUS, 1983.< give a rattleto have sexual intercoursewith a femaleIRELAND, 2001

rattleverbto agitate or to unnerve someoneUS, 1887.< rattle

beadsto complainUS, 1970.< rattle your cageto annoy or toaggravate you; to arouse your indignationUK, 1990.< rattle your

dagsto hurryNEW ZEALAND, 1968

rattle and clank; rattlenouna bank Rhyming slangUK, 1962

rattle and hiss; rattlenounan act of urination; urine Rhymingslang forPISS UK, 1998

rattlernoun1a trainUK, 1871.2Boston’s underground system, theMassachusetts Transit AuthorityUS, 1997

rattler-jumpingadjectivetravelling by illegally catching trains

forJAP, a pejorative term dating from World War 2 and lingeringamong veterans of that conflict (especially prisoners of war) Alsoshortened to ‘rat’UK, 1992

rat turdsnounan Oak Leaf Cluster, a military decoration indicatingthat the soldier has received another decoration more than once

US, 1990

rattyadjective1wretched, miserable, mean; stained, tatteredUS, 1867.

2angry, irritatedUK, 1909.3foolish, odd, eccentricNEW ZEALAND, 1998.

unpleasant, contemptible; dirtyUS, 1939.3used of music, abrasive,

aggressiveUS, 1982

ravagedadjectivedrunkUK, 2002

ravenoun1a party; a bottle party; a party open to the public, often

announced and sited clandestinely, featuring drugs, music and

sensory overload Variant of ‘rave up’ First used of wild parties in

the late 1950s, then byMOD(s) in the 60s; revived in the 80s for

parties on such a scale that both UK culture and law were

signifi-cantly changedUK, 1992.2an enthusiastic reviewUS, 1926.3the

object of a passionate liking or crazeUK, 1959

raveverb1to express an enthusiasm for somethingUK, 1704.2to

enjoy the music and other sensations of a raveUS, 1995.3to persist

in discussing something that does not interest anyone else

involved in the discussionUS, 1981

rave drugnounany chemical or ‘designer’ drug associated with

dance and club cultureUK, 2003

rave energynounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as

ecstasy The rave culture was fuelled by MDMAUK, 2003

ravenadjectivegluttonous; greedyGRENADA, 1996

ravernoun1a dedicated hedonist, party-goer, sexual adventurer or

drug taker Extended from the sense as a ‘passionate enthusiast’

Defined as ‘a young woman who is enthusiastically promiscuous

or merely of a passionate (but not promiscuous) natureUK, 1968.

2someone who goes to a raveUK, 2000.3a homosexual maleUK,

1996

rave-upnouna social gathering Used ironically of a mild, as

opposed to wild, party, by people old enough to remember the

rave-ups of the 1960sUK, 1984

raveyadjectivecharacteristic of ravingUK, 2000

ravingadjectiveused as an intensifier; complete, excellent, utmost,

etcUK, 1959

Ravi Shankarnouna wanker Rhyming slang, formed from the

name of the celebrated Indian musician (b.1920)UK, 2003

rawnouncrack cocaineUS, 1994.< in the rawnakedUS, 1934

rawadjective1exciting; excellentUS, 1987.2nakedUS, 1931.3undiluted

US, 1974.4unembalmedUS, 1987

raw fusionnounheroinUK, 2002

rawhidenounheroinUK, 2002

rawhideverbto drive those under your supervision to work very

hardUS, 1962

raw-jawverbto ignore someone; to bless someone with silenceUS,

1992

raw meatnouna new recruit in the US ArmyUS, 1948

raw prawnnouna raw dealAUSTRALIA, 1957

raymondyes, affirmative Citizens’ band radio French vraiment

(truly, indeed)UK, 1981

raysnounradiologyUS, 1994.< bag some rays; catch some rays;

cop some raysto sunbatheUS, 1963

razedadjectivedrug-intoxicatedUK, 1998

razoonoun1the smallest amount of money Only ever used in

negative contexts, generally ‘to not have a razoo,’ but also ‘not

worth a razoo,’ ‘not get a razoo’, etc Contextually referring to a

low value brass coin, the origin of this term remains a mystery

despite many guesses over the years Needless to say no such coin

ever existed Also commonly a ‘brass razoo’, and formerly spelt

‘rahzoo’ or ‘razzoo’ though only rarelyAUSTRALIA, 1919.2harassment

US, 1949

razorverbto slash something with a razorUK: SCOTLAND, 1999

razorbacknouna worker on a circus train; any circus worker other

than a performer Circus historian and linguist Joe McKennon

suggested that the term may have derived from the common

work command of ‘Raise ‘er back, let ‘er go’ when placing circus

equipment on train wagonsUS, 1904

razor blade; razornouna black person Rhyming slangUK, 1970

razored muscular and sculpted

razor edgesnoundice that are true to an extremely minutetolerance, approximately 1/1000th of a inchUS, 1950

razoringnounan attack on someone with a razor FromRAZOR(toslash with a razor)UK, 1996

razznouna telling-off; a harangue An Eton school termUK, 1967.

< on the razz; on the razzlea period of drinking, partying andother self-indulgent pleasures Derives from a shortening of ‘razzle-dazzle’ (excitement) ‘Razzle’ (a good time) is first recorded in 1908

UK, 1915.< the razza beatingIRELAND, 1962

razzverbto heckle; to show contempt; to jeer Short forRASPBERRY, aderisive soundUS, 1919

razzberrynouna jeering, derisory, farting noise ExtendsRAZZ(tojeer) back to a variation of its source:RASPBERRY US, 1922

razzlednoundrunk Derives fromON THE RAZZLE, (having a goodtime, partying)UK, 2002

razzle-dazzlenoun1confusion; chaos; bewildermentUS, 1889.

2sexual intercourseUK, 1973.3in circus and carnival usage, aprostituteUS, 1981

razzmatazznoun1old-fashioned, sentimental jazz The term wasoriginally used, before use of the word ‘jazz’, to describe an earlyjazz-like musicUS, 1936.2a showy outward appearanceUK, 1958.

3extreme pleasureUS, 1953

razzyadjectivetattered; unkemptBARBADOS, 1965

RBnounan enthusiastic sportsman whose character is formed bythe aggressive pursuit of masculinity and frequently demonstrated

by his boorish behaviour and drunken socialising An abbreviation

ofRUGGER BUGGER SOUTH AFRICA, 1991

RCadjectiveRoman CatholicUK, 1762

RCHnouna tiny notional unit of measure An abbreviation ofRED CUNT HAIR, perceived as a smaller unit even than a simpleCUNT

reachverbto be prepared to fightUS, 2004.< reach out and touch

someoneto telephone From a 1982 American Telephone andTelegraph advertising sloganUS, 1989

reach-aroundnounmanual stimulation of the passive partner’sgenitals by the male penetrating from behindUS, 1987

readverb1in poker, to try to discern an opponent’s handUS, 1979.

2in sports, to anticipate an opponent’s movementUS, 1984.3intranssexual usage, to detect a person’s genetic sexUS, 1987.< read

(someone) the riot actto give someone a very stern lecture orreprimand From a law enacted by George I limiting the activities

of groups of 12 or moreUK, 1906.< read a shirtto look for signs

of body liceUS, 1981.< read between the linessaid when threefingers are raised in an insolent gesture The index finger is theone ‘between the lines’; this is, therefore, a catchphrased elabor-ation of a familiar insulting gesture Reported by a variety ofmothers in Cardiff and Bristol during April 2005 and generallycredited to 8-year-old childrenUK, 2005.< read the riot acttoinstruct a prisoner who is about to be released on the legalrestrictions concerning firearms From the sense ‘to give someone

a very stern lecture or reprimand’UK, 1996.< you wouldn’t read

about ityou wouldn’t believe such bad luck!AUSTRALIA, 1950

readableadjectiveused of a casino blackjack gambler, sloppy indealing or generous with body language, in either event revealing

to players the strength of his handUS, 1991

read and writenouna fight Rhyming slang, never used in ashortened formUK, 1857

readernoun1a book; a magazine; a newspaper From the early C18usage as a ‘pocket-book’ which moved into the current senseduring the mid-C19UK, 1996.2a ‘Wanted’ poster or handbillUS, 1926.

3a counterfeit driving licenceUS, 1985.4a prescription for anarcotic . a marked card

readersnoun1reading spectaclesUK, 1961.2special tinted eye glasses

used for reading marked cardsUS, 1985

readies; reddiesnouncash money A variation, not a plural, of

READY, in turn an abbreviation of ‘ready money’UK, 1937

read my lipspay attention to what I am saying, for it is the

bedrock truth A pop phrase embraced in a show of bravado by

George Bush when he was running for president of the US in

1988: ‘Read my lips – no new taxes’ and then the gist of endless

ridicule when, two years later, he advocated a new tax Actor Tim

Curry named an album that he recorded in 1978 Read My Lips,

later explaining to William Safire that he took the phrase to mean

‘Listen and listen very hard, because I want you to hear what I’ve

got to say’US, 1988

readyadjectivecompetentUS, 1946

ready; reddynouncash money An abbreviation of ‘ready money’

UK, 1639

ready eyenouna police trap FromREADY-EYED(well informed or

betrayed to the police)UK, 1996

ready-eyeverb(of police) to operate an official surveillanceUK, 2000

ready-eyedadjective1used by criminals of a planned crime that has

been betrayed and is therefore a police trapUK, 1975.2in police

use, well informed, knowing the detailed truth of a situationUK,

1977

ready for Doctor Jesusadjectiveabout to dieUS, 1966

ready, Freddieused for signalling readinessUS, 1952

ready-madenouna commercially manufactured cigaretteUS, 1952

ready rocks; redi rocksnouna form of cocaine prepared for

smokingUS, 1989

ready-rollsnouncommercially manufactured cigarettesUS, 1951

ready-to-runnounin the usage of youthful model road racers (slot

car racers), a shop-bought car that has not been modified or

enhancedUS, 1997

ready whipnouna non-commissioned officer fresh out of training

From the pressurised sweet topping advertised as instant whipped

creamUS, 1991

realnounthe truthUS, 1972.< on the real1genuine Black usage

UK, 2000.2seriouslyUS, 1993

realadjectivehomosexualUS, 1997

realadverbreally, truly; hence, used as an intensifier, greatly The

Oxford English Dictionary offers both Scottish and US origins, but

the earliest slang sense is from English writer R.H FroudeUK, 1827

real bikininounsomething that is excellent Teen slangUS, 1955

real bushnouna white woman Used by US troops in Vietnam

jaded by their experiences with Vietnamese prostitutesUS, 1991

real casenouna serious medical emergencyUS, 1994

real dealnoun1an authentic item or person; the plain truthUS,

1991.2a youth gang member who is fully committed to the gang

US, 1995

Real DealnicknameEvander Holyfield (b.1962), three times world

heavyweight champion boxerUS, 1992

real estatenounin war, territory to be taken, held, abandoned or

lostUS, 1982

reality checknounin computing, a simple test of a computer’s or

program’s operating abilityUS, 1991

real liveadjectivegenuine, actual Jocular; often used of an

inanimate articleUK, 1887

really!used for expressing emphatic agreementUS, 1973

Really Canadian Modest Policenounthe Royal Canadian

Mounted Police A back-formation from the initials RCMPCANADA,

2002

Real McCoynouna variety of marijuanaCANADA, 2002

real McCoy; McCoynounthe genuine articleUS, 1883

real thingnoun< the real thingthe genuine article Figurative

real worldnounthe non-pornographic entertainment industry; theworld outside the pornography industryUS, 1995

reamverb1to have anal intercourseUS, 1942.2to cheat someone.Figurative from the more literal sense of poking something upone’s rectum Also variant ‘rim’US, 1933.3to scold or punishsomeone From the sense of ‘ream’ as widening a hole ‘Reamout’ is also usedUS, 1950

reamadjectiveexcellent An intensification of the C19 sense as ‘good,genuine, honest’UK, 2002

ream jobnoun1anal sexUS, 1995.2a difficult situationUS, 1968

rearnounthe buttocks EuphemisticUK, 1796.< get your rear in

gearto get goingUS, 1972

rear admiralnouna proctologistUS, 1973

rear-area hawknounan officer stationed away from the field ofbattle who has strong, bellicose opinions about what should bedone in battle Vietnam war usageUS, 1989

rear-area pussynouna support personnel safely away from combat.Occasionally abbreviated to RAPUS, 1991

rear-echelon commandonouna soldier assigned to duty safelyaway from combatUS, 1947

rear-echelon motherfuckernouna member of the armed forcesserving behind lines well away from combat Often abbreviated toREMFUS, 1976

rear-end loadernouna prisoner who hides items in their rectum

AUSTRALIA, 2001

rear exitnouna retreat or flight from dangerUS, 1957

rear-gunner; rear seat gunnernouna male homosexual Amasculine image that employs weaponry in a metaphor for analintercourseUK, 2000

rearrangeverb< rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic;

rearrange the deck chairsto focus on petty matters whileignoring major problems From the image of the folly of worryingabout the arrangement of deck chairs on the Titanic as the shipsankUS, 1972

reat pleatnounfashionable trousers Usage by Mexican-Americanyouth (Pachucos) in the southwestern USUS, 1947

rebnounany poor, rural, white southernerUS, 1978

rebbishadjectivepoor, white and racist From the shortenedREBor

JOHNNY REB, harkening to Confederate soldiersUS, 1945

rebellious henchmannounthe penisUK, 2003

rebel trapnounin pool, the largest regulation-size table In the US,the large tables were unknown in the south, giving rise to thisterm in the northUS, 1990

reboundnoun1a person with whom you have a romantic ship in close proximity to the unhappy ending of a prior relation-shipUS, 1997.2in trucking, a return tripUS, 1976.< on the

relation-reboundemotionally vulnerable following rejection by a loved-one

UK, 1864

recnoun1a recreation ground (a municipal park)UK, 1931.2in prison,

a recommendation given by the judge on sentencingUK, 1998

recapnouna recapitulationUS, 1926

recapverbto recapitulateUK, 1950

recce; reccynouna reconnaissance Originally military; wider usagetends toward vaguer and more figurative shadings of the senseUK, 1941

recceverbto go on a reconnaissance; to look around OriginallymilitaryUK, 1943

receiptnounin professional wrestling, an arguably unacceptablemanoeuvre that is acceptable in the context of justifiable revenge

US, 2002

reckverbto consider; to think A shortening ofRECKON UK, 1997

reckonverbto esteem someone or something as worthwhileUK, 1964

recognizeverbto pay attentionUS, 2001

reconnoun reconnaisance Often used in an adjectival sense US, 1918

recon

recon by firenounin a military situation, random gunfire designed

to ascertain the presence of the enemy by return fireUS, 1971

recordnoun< change the record!; put another record on!

used to demand a change of style, subject or substance in what is

being saidUK, 1966

recovery roomnouna golf course’s barUS, 2000

rec roomnouna recreational room A mandatory feature of

suburban 1960s life in the US, where the family gathered to watch

television, play table tennis, set up model trains, etcUS, 1962

rectum rocketnouna fast-moving vehicleUK, 1981

recyclenounLSDUK, 1998

recycleverb< recyle the dicein bar dice games, to roll again

after a roll that produces no points for the playerUS, 1971

rednoun1any central nervous system depressant, especially a

capsule of Seconal™ or another barbiturateUS, 1979.2marijuana A

generic term for golden-red marijuana, clippingPANAMA REDetcUS,

1982.3morphineUS, 1945.4blood Professional wrestling usageUS,

2002.5in a deck of playing cards, any heart or diamond A flush of

hearts or diamonds is referred to as ‘all red’US, 1988.6in American

casinos, a five-dollar betting chipUS, 1982.7a pennyUS, 1950.8a

liberal; a socialist; a Marxist; a Marxist-Leninist; a Maoist; a

Trotskyite; a communist; an anarchistUK, 1848.< in the redin

debt From the use of red ink to show debt in account ledgersUK,

1926

redadjective1made of gold, golden In conventional use from C14,

slipped into slang during C17 Also in occasional use as a nounUK,

1981.2of a mixed (black and white) racial heritageUS, 1969.3

drug-intoxicated From the reddening of the smoker’s eyes JAMAICA, 1998

red and bluenouna capsule of amobarbital sodium and

secobarbital sodium (trade name Tuinal™), a combination of

central nervous system depressantsUS, 1969

red assnounangerUS, 1975

red-assverbto annoy or tease someoneUS, 1994

red-assedadjectivevery angryUS, 1962

redbacknounin western Canada, a Hereford cow or steerCANADA,

1962

red badge of couragenouna notional badge awarded to someone

who performs oral sex on a woman who is experiencing the bleed

period of the menstrual cycleUS, 1994

red ballnoun1a fast freight trainUS, 1946.2a trail, path or road used

by the Viet Cong or North Vietnamese during the Vietnam warUS,

1991

red band; red-bandnouna prisoner with privileges; a trustyUK, 1950

red biddynouncheap red wine; also a drink of cheap red wine and

methylated spiritsUK, 1928

red bikenounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleAUSTRALIA, 2002

red birdnoun1a capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name

Seconal™), a central nervous system depressantUS, 1953.2the

AH-1G Cobra helicopter Used purely as a gunship in the Vietnam war

from 1971 until the end of the conflictUS, 1991

red blanketnounthe corpse of a person who died with massive

injuriesUS, 1987

red boardnounin horse racing, the official sign announcing that a

race’s results standUS, 1947

red boxnounan ambulanceUS, 1976

red breadnounpayment for donating bloodUS, 1971

red budnounmarijuanaUK, 2003

Red BullnicknameBlack Label™ beer Scamto youth street slang

(South African townships)SOUTH AFRICA, 2005

red bulletnicknamea capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name

Seconal™), a central nervous system depressantUS, 1977

red buttonnouna foremanUS, 1955

red cannouna can of Melbourne Bitter™ beerAUSTRALIA, 2003

red capnouna member of the military police From the red-topped

television drama series such as: Red Cap (ABC, 1964–66) and Red Cap (BBC, 2001–03) UK, 1931

red capsnouncrack cocaineUK, 1998

red centnounthe lowest value denomination, hence the least

amount possible A copper cent, thus ‘red’ US, 1839

Red Centrenounthe central desert regions of the AustralianmainlandAUSTRALIA, 1935

red chamber clubnounthe Senate in the Canadian Parliament.The source of the term is that the senate (the ‘Red Chamber’) hasred carpets, leather chairbottoms and desk blottersCANADA, 1963

red chenkenouna light-skinned person; an unlikeable person

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, 1996

red chickennounheroin, especially Chinese heroinUS, 1969

red crossnounmarijuanaUK, 2003

red cunt hairnouna very small unit of measure Sterling Johnson,

in English as a Second F*cking Language, 1995, notes: ‘The term

originated with the master carpenters of Cape Cod and is nowuniversally used’US, 1968

reddersnounharness racers Rhyming slang, from ‘red hots’ to

‘trots’AUSTRALIA, 1989

red devilnoun1a capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade nameSeconal™), a central nervous system depressantUS, 1959.2a type ofamphetamine tabletUK, 1997.3heroinUK, 2003.4a woman’smenstrual periodUS, 1954

red diaper babynouna person who was raised by Communistparents who instilled Communist beliefs and valuesUS, 1970

red dirt marijuana; red dirtnoununcultivated marijuanaUS, 1960

red dollnouna capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade nameSeconal™), a central nervous system depressantUS, 1977

red dollarsnounUS military scrip in VietnamUS, 1965

red dopenounwild cannabis that has been sprayed with a brightred herbicide The colour plusDOPE(marijuana)US, 2001

red dotnoun< the red dotthe bleed period of the menstrualcycleUS, 2001

red dot specialnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS, 2001

red dragonnouna variety of LSDUK, 1996

reddynounan Italian May derive fromRADDIE(an Italian living inLondon), or take root in Italian red wineUK, 1961 8see:READY

red-eyenoun1a long, aggressive stareUS, 1985.2an overnightaeroplane flight, arriving at its destination early in the morningUS,

1968.3potent, impure homemade alcohol, especially whiskyUS, 1819.

4fermented catsup A prison concoctionUS, 1976.5on the railways,

a stop signalUS, 1946.6in pinball, an activated special scoringdevice, usually lit in redUS, 1977.7a flashing red light on top of apolice carUS, 1976.8the anusUS, 1966

Redfernnoun< get off at Redfernto practise coitus interruptus.Redfern is the railway station immediately prior to Central Station,the principal station in SydneyAUSTRALIA, 1956

red flagnoun1an obvious indication that all is not wellUS, 1968.

2when injecting a drug into a vein, the practice of drawing blood

up into the syringe to verify the finding of a vein and to controlthe pace of the injectionUS, 1987.3a show of menstrual blood onouter clothing; hence, the bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS,

2001.< be flying the red flagto be in the bleed period of themenstrual cycleUK, 2000

red flag daynounany day during the bleed period of a woman’smenstrual cycleUK, 2000

red flag weeknounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle Alsoused in ScotlandCANADA, 2000

red goddessnouna firefighting vehicle that is generally used fortraining but made available (for operation by the military) whenregular firefighters and their fire-engines are out of serviceUK, 2002

red gunyonnounsmashed marijuana seeds or gum hashish smoked

in a pipeUS, 1973

red head a match

redheaded aunt from Red Banknounthe bleed period of the

menstrual cycleUS, 1999

redheaded friendnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS,

1999

Red Heartnicknamethe central desert regions of the Australian

mainlandAUSTRALIA, 1931

red hotnoun1a variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known

as ecstasyUK, 1996.2a frankfurterUS, 1950

red hotadjectiveextremely unfairAUSTRALIA, 1896

red hotsnoun1diarrhoea Rhyming slang forTROTS UK, 1992.

2trotting races Rhyming slang forTROTS AUSTRALIA, 1966

red Ibonouna light-skinned person of mixed black and white

heritageJAMAICA, 1996

red Lebnounhashish with a reddish colour produced in the

LebanonUK, 2002

red-legnouna poor white personBARBADOS, 1892

red-legsnounthe artillery From the red stripes on the trousers of

Union artillerymen during the US Civil WarUS, 1971

red letternouna letter that is smuggled out of prisonUK, 1996

red letter daynounthe day each cycle that the menstrual bleed

commences A neat pun on the colour of blood and the date in a

calendarUS, 2001

red lightnounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle As in ‘red

light – stop – there will be no sex’US, 1954

red-lightverb(used of a police car) to activate flashing lights and

pull a vehicle off the roadUS, 1976

red-lightadjectivepertaining to prostitutionUS, 1900

red lillynouna capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name

Seconal™); any central nervous system depressant From the

colour of the capsule and the name of the manufacturerUS, 1977

red linenounin the used car business, the minimum which a

dealer will accept for a carUS, 1975

red lipsnouna type of LSD Possibly from an image printed on the

drugUK, 2003

Red Marynounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS, 1980

Red Mikenouna woman-haterCANADA, 1946

red MitsubishinounPMA (paramethoxyamphetamine) or PMMA

(paramethoxymethylamphetamine) when taken as a recreational

drugUK, 2000

rednecknouna country-dweller, especially one whose views are

con-sidered bigoted by ‘sophisticated’ citizens Generally derogatoryUS,

1830

redneck radionouncitizens’ band radioUS, 1977

Red Nednouncheap red wineAUSTRALIA, 1941

rednernoun< take a rednerto be embarrassedIRELAND, 1996

red niggernouna native American IndianUS, 1998

red onenoun1in carnival usage, a profitable engagementUS, 1973.

2a very short distance A euphemized abbreviation ofRED CUNT

HAIR US, 1980

red onionnounon the railways, an eating establishmentUS, 1977

red-outnouna flood of the colour red in your vision just before you

pass out from lack of oxygenUS, 1990

red-penny mannouna procurer of prostitutes, a pimpAUSTRALIA, 1975

red phosphorusnounsmokeable metamphetamine From a process

in the synthesis of the drugUK, 2003

red pillnoun< take the red pillto go all-out for the active

option From a choice between reality and euphoria offered in the

film The Matrix (1999) UK, 2005

red pussy hairnouna very short distance Slightly less offensive

thanRED CUNT HAIR US, 1987

red-raggernouna CommunistAUSTRALIA, 1916

‘dumb’ and ‘murder’ spelt backwardsUK, 2001.2a mixture ofheroin, barbital, strychnine and caffeine Also known asRED ROCK OPIUMfrom which this may be formed by elision; it is interesting

to note with regard to the dangerous nature of this cocktail that

‘red rum’ is ‘murder’ backwardsUK, 2002

red rushnounamyl nitriteUK, 1996

redsnoun1the bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS, 1999.2asense of angerUS, 1951

red sails in the sunsetthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle

red shirtnoun1a troublemakerUS, 1967.2a volunteer firefighterUS,

1954.3a college athlete who, because he did not play in hisfreshman year, may matriculate and play at the varsity level for afifth yearUS, 1950.4in roller derby, a skater who engages in rough,

‘bad guy’ tacticsUS, 1999.5a professional wrestler who is regularlyscripted to lose matches to advance the careers of other wrestlers

US, 2002

redskinnounin a deck of playing cards, any face cardUS, 1967

red snappernounin blackjack, a dealt hand of two red cards thatadd up to 21US, 1996

Red Sox are in townexperiencing the bleed period of themenstrual cycle The colour of blood signals this euphemisticadoption of the Boston baseball teamUS, 2001

red squadnouna police unit that engages in systematic gation and record-keeping about leftist political and social actionorganisations unrelated to criminal conductUS, 1970

investi-red steernouna bushfireAUSTRALIA, 1936

red stuffnoungoldUK, 1956

reds under the bednounthe communist presence lurking inWestern societyUK, 1972

red tapenounexcessive formality; bureaucratic obstacles Originally

a literal term, referring to the red-coloured tape used in securinglegal documents; later used figurativelyUK, 1837

red tidenoun1hordes of communists seen as ready to overwhelmwestern civilisationUS, 1991.2the bleed period of the menstrualcycleUS, 1999

red-topnouna tabloid newspaper at the more populist end of thereadership From the red masthead characteristic of such papers

UK, 1997

reducernounin gin, any card drawn or held for the sole purpose ofreducing the number of points in unmatched cards in a handUS, 1965

red up; rid upverbto clear and clean a table after eatingCANADA, 1998

red wedgenounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycle Combines

‘red’, for the colour of blood, with a pun on conventional ‘wedge’(something that fills a gap) and ‘wedgie’ (a trick with underpants)suggesting underwear; the whole being a play on Red Wedge (a1980s alliance of musicians and actors with the UK Labour party)

UK, 2001

red week

red, white and bluenouna shoe Rhyming slangUK, 1972

red wingsnounsexual intercourse or oral sex with a woman who is

experiencing the bleed period of the menstrual cycle From

motorcycle gang cultureUS, 1971

reebnounbeer Back slang, noted as current in the UK due to its use

in the US, possibly reinvigorated by The Simpsons television

cartoonUK, 1859

reebsnounmarijuanaUS, 1988

reedsnounlong shorts, favoured by surfersUS, 1985

reefnouna marijuana cigaretteUS, 1958

reefverb1to fondle another person’s genitals Probably from the

earlier sense ‘to pick a pocket’UK, 1962.2to remove something

from someone’s pocketUS, 1949

reefdoggernouna marijuana cigaretteUS, 1982

reefernoun1a marijuana cigarette Almost certainly from the

Spanish word meaning ‘to twist’ Still used, with a nostalgic air to

itUS, 1931.2marijuanaUS, 1931.3a refrigerator; a refrigerated railway

wagonUS, 1914.4a pickpocketUS, 1949

reefer madnessnouna unusually great appetite or determined

devotion to the use of marijuana An ironic adoption of the title

of a 1936 film that famously exposed the immoral excesses of

marijuana addictsAUSTRALIA, 1996

reefer roomnounin a morgue, a refrigerated room where bodies

are storedUS, 1997

reegienouna police officer in the Regional Crime SquadUK, 2002

reekernouna bad-smelling hospital casualty department patientUS,

1978

reek-hoadjectivedrunkUK, 2002

reeksticknouna conventional tobacco cigarette laced with cocaine

UK, 2003

reelverb< reel someone into triumph over gullibility, especially

regarding a piece of trivial teasing Often accompanied by the

action of reeling in a fish; sometimes the action may replace the

wordsUK, 1999

reeling and rockingnouna stocking Rhyming slang, inspired by

the fashions of the rock ’n’ roll era; usually seen in pairsUK, 1992

reelsadjectivewithout money Rhyming slang, from ‘reels of cotton’

to ‘rotten’ (without money)AUSTRALIA, 1989

reels of cottonadjectiverotten Rhyming slangUK, 1979

reet; reatadjectivegood, pleasingUS, 1934

reeveverbto cheatCANADA, 1999

refnoun in a sporting contest, a referee UK, 1899?

refverb in a sporting context, to referee UK, 1929?

reffonouna migrant to Australia who is a refugee from their home

countryAUSTRALIA, 1941

refuseniknouna non-conformist Adopted without a full

understanding from the name given in 1970s to Jews in the Soviet

Union who were refused permission to emigrate to IsraelUK, 2002

regnoun1a regular customer or guestUK, 2001.2marijuana of

average quality An abbreviation of ‘regular’ The variant ‘regs’ also

existsUS, 1973

regalenouna festive occasion The term is adopted from French,

where it has a similar meaningCANADA, 1947

reggaematicadjectivein or of a reggae styleUK, 1992

regginnouna black person The offensiveNIGGERspelt backwardsUS,

1981

Reg Grundies; grundies; grunds; reginalds; reggiesnoun

underwear Rhyming slang, playing onUNDIES, formed from the

name Reg Grundy, an Australian televison producerAUSTRALIA, 1984

Regimentnoun< the Regimentthe SAS (22 Special Air Service

regiment)UK, 1995

regmaker; reggienouna drink, pick-me-up or medication taken to

relieve (or ‘cure’) a hangover A compound of Afrikaans reg (right)

and English ‘-maker’

rego; reggonounvehicle registrationAUSTRALIA, 1967

regreenverbwhile working in the office of the US Department ofDefense, to receive an update briefing on affairs in the armyUS, 1986

regroupverbto recover from a surprise or a setbackUS, 1966

regsnoun regulations Military in origin UK, 1996

regularnoun1a prisoner who serves his sentence with dignity andstrengthUS, 1974.2a skateboarder who skates with the left foot tothe frontUK, 2004

regularadjective1complete; absolute; thoroughUK, 1821.2kind;decent; honestUS, 1946

regular Pnouncrack cocaineUK, 1998

regularsnouncommon black antsBARBADOS, 1965

rehabnoun rehabilitation (a medical regime for the cure of alcohol

and drug addiction); also, the clinic or hospital environment where

rehabilitation takes place Both senses may serve concurrently UK, 1961

rehashverbin the circus or carnival, to resell ticket stubs to patronsand pocket the fundsUS, 1980

rehitchverbto re-enlist; to re-marryUS, 1953

reindeer dustnounany powdered drug; cocaine; heroin A play on

relay spotnouna room with a telephone used to relay calls placingbets in a bookmaking operationUS, 1973

releasenounin the coded language of massage parlours,ejaculation A 2002 Incident Report from the Sausalito (California)Police Department describes the activities at a local massageparlour as follows: ‘Every massage ends with some type of

"release" (orgasm) The release is accomplished by the employeemasturbating the client to an orgasm’US, 2002

releaseverb< release a chocolate hostageto defecateUK, 2002.

< release the houndsto defecateUS, 2003

relieversnounshoesUS, 1962

re-lightnouna cigarette butt retrieved and smokedUS, 1996

religious issuenounin computing, a topic that is bound to launch

an endless debate which cannot be resolvedUS, 1991

rellienoun a relation, a relative AUSTRALIA, 1981

rello; relonoun a relative AUSTRALIA, 1987

reloadverbto give the victim of a confidence trick or fraudulentgambling game a false sense of confidence, then cheat the by-nowwilling victim of all he or she possessesUK, 1977

relsnoun relatives AUSTRALIA, 1991

Rembrandtnounin poker, a hand of face cardsUS, 1988

remfnouna soldier assigned to a combat support role Acronym of a

‘rear-echelon motherfucker’ US, 1982

Remington warriornouna rear support troop Named after theRemington typewriter, the ‘warrior’s weapon’US, 1990

remishnounremission (of a prison sentence)UK, 1958

remodelverbin car repair, to damage a vehicle or part severelyUS, 1992

remouldnouna sex-change operationUK, 2002

Ren and Stimpynounthe female breasts Ren and Stimpy areshamelessly gross cartoon characters created by John Kricfalusi,first seen in 1991UK, 2001

Ren Cennicknamethe Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan Anexpensive, bold and risky attempt to revive the dying Detroitcentral district in the 1970sUS, 2003

rendered drunk

renkadjectiveimpudent; offhand; rude; yobbish Variation of ‘rank’

(offensive)JAMAICA, 1994

Renonounin bar dice games, two dice that add up to sevenUS, 1976

renobnouna person who acts foolishlyUS, 2001

rentnoun1a youthful, attractive homosexual male prostituteUK, 1967.

2road tax Motor trade slangUK, 2004.< up me for the rent!

used to register pleasurable astonishmentAUSTRALIA, 1971

renta-prefix hired, rented In commercial usage often used to create

a company name, for instance: ‘Rentacar’ (examples found in

Australia, Ireland, Spain, UK, US) and ‘Rentavan’ (examples found

in Australia, Ireland, Mexico, UK) Both ‘rentacar’ and ‘rentavan’ are

also used informally of a hired vehicle Other use is often

derogatory: ‘rentacrowd’ (a hired clique), ‘rentamob’ (a crowd

assembled at political demonstration) and ‘rentamouth’ (a speaker

for hire)US, 1921

rent-a-copnouna private security guard A tad disparagingUS, 1968

rent-a-gobnouna citizens’ band radio user who chats on a channel

reserved for making contact; a person who talks too much and to

little effectUK, 1981

rental unitsnounparents FromPARENTAL UNITS, a neat pun

describing parental worth from a youth perspectiveUS, 1996

Rent-a-SvendnicknameCanadian politician Svend Robinson, the first

openly gay, New Democratic member of Parliament The

controversial Svend Robinson has drawn criticism for his espousal

of unpopular causes, such as the Palestinian side in the

Arab–Israeli war and gay rightsCANADA, 2002

rent-a-tilenoundancing very closely, barely moving your feet

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1993

rent boynouna young male prostituteUK, 1969

renternouna homosexual male prostituteUK, 1893

rent partynouna party thrown for the purpose of collecting

donations from friends to pay your rentUS, 1925

rentsnoun parents Teen slang that cuts parents down to size US, 1968

renzosnounLorenzo™ decorative wheel rimsUS, 1993

reonoun1a reinforcementAUSTRALIA, 1931.2a difficult surfing

manoeuvre on the breaking lip of a wave An abbreviation of

‘re-entry’US, 1988

repnoun1reputation US, 1705.2a repetition, or complete cycle of an

exerciseUS, 1984.3a repertory theatre or theatre company; a

repertoireUS, 1925.4in prison, a written representation UK, 2002.5a

representative, often a travelling salesman UK, 1896.6a repellent UK,

1995

repverb1to represent someone; to give someone a reputation UK,

2002.2to work as a representative of a company UK, 1938

Repatnoun1the Repatriation Commission which gave assistance to

ex-service personnel returning to civilian lifeAUSTRALIA, 1920.2a

hospital for repatriated service personnel AUSTRALIA, 1968

repeaternounin horse racing, a horse that won the last race it

enteredUS, 1974

reponoun repossession US, 1971

repo depotnounthe Replacement Detachment of any large military

force or installationUS, 1968

repo mannounan agent of a finance company who repossesses, by

an assortment of techniques, cars which have not been paid for

From ‘repossess’ US, 1984

repple-depplenouna replacement depot where soldiers arriving in

Vietnam were assigned to units and soldiers leaving Vietnam were

processed for homecomingUS, 1945

reppoc; reppocknouna police officer Back slang forCOPPER UK, 1996

representverb1to serve as a pimp for a prostituteUS, 1991.2to

project a positive image and attitudeUS, 1997

reptilenouna railway pointsmanUS, 1977

Republic of Malinouncocaine Rhyming slang forCHARLIE(cocaine)

UK, 2003

re-rub

resnoun1a resident physician in a hospitalUS, 1994.2a dormitory orresidence at a university or collegeCANADA, 2001.3the oily residue

in a pipe after crack cocaine has been smokedUS, 1992

resembleverbto resent Usually in the jocular ‘I resemble thatremark’UK, 1984

resinnouncannabis resinUK, 1996

respec; respect; respeck; rispeckused for registering approval ofsomeone’s action or attitude An abbreviation in all variantspellings of ‘respect due’; occasionally ironic Originally WestIndian and UK blackUK, 1994

respect dueused for registering approval of someone’s action orattitude Originally West Indian and UK blackUK, 1998

ressienouna resident DJUK, 2001

restnoun< give it a restto stop talking, especially to stop talkingabout a specific topic Often as an imperativeUK, 1984

restverb< rest your mouthto stop talkingBAHAMAS, 1982.< rest

your neckto stop talkingUS, 1989

rest curenounin the car sales business, sending a car into the shopwhile the customer waits and then returning it, claiming that workwhich has not been done has been doneUS, 1953

restingadjectiveof an actor, unemployed Originally positivethinking, now archUK, 1999

rest in peacenouncrack cocaine Imagery of death.UK, 2003

restroomnouna brakevan (caboose)US, 1977

resultnoun1the winning score in a sporting contest; a victory inany sport Conventionally ‘result’ means ‘outcome’, hence a ‘goodresult’; this usage clips and implies the positive adjective,exclusively acquiring the result for victors and so denying losersany achievementUK, 1981.2a satisfying or appropriate outcome; anachievementUK, 1973.3a successful or profitable robberyUK, 1998.

4an arrest or a criminal convictionUK, 2004

retnouna cigaretteUS, 1971

retail actionnounrecreational shoppingUS, 1997

retail therapynounshopping when considered as an empoweringleisure activityUS, 1986

retardnouna slow, dim-witted person From ‘mentally retarded’, butnot necessarily indicative of actual mental retardationUS, 1970

retardedadjective1stupid, foolishUS, 2003.2drunkUS, 2003.3inQuebec, delayed, lateCANADA, 2001

retardonouna mentally challenged personUS, 1981

retreadnoun1in the military: a short-service officer on a secondcommission; a retired officer recalled to service; a retired officerre-employed as a civilian in an administrative post; an officer whohas been promoted from the ranks; an aviator returned to flyingduties after a period of ground service The origin is in the newlife given to a tyre by the application of a new tread; there is also apun on ‘retired/re-tyred’ The earliest use is for a World War 1veteran recalled to serve in World War 2AUSTRALIA, 1943.2a recentlydivorced personUS, 1985

retreadverbin the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, to tapeover a tape that has been recorded onceUS, 1994

retrievernouna prisoner who intimidates other prison inmates forthe purpose of ‘retrieving’ drugs that those inmates are suspected

rettenouna cigaretteUS, 1997

reunion in my bureaunounin Quebec, a meeting in my office.Both ‘reunion’ and ‘bureau’ are used in their French sense inEnglish in Montreal

re-upverbto replenish a stack of something; to re-supply something;

to sign or enlist Originally a military slang term for

re-enlistingUS, 1906

revverbto leave, to goUS, 1952

RevCannounRevenue Canada, the federal tax collection agency

CANADA, 2002

revenge of the cradle; revenge of the nurserynounQuebec’s

high birthrate, perceived as being in retaliation for the loss of the

province to England by FranceCANADA, 1964

revenoo; revenuer; revenooernouna federal law enforcement

official Used by those in the illegal production of alcoholUS, 1974

Reverend Ronald Knox; the Reverend; the Right Reverend

nounsyphilis; hence any sexually transmitted infection Rhyming

slang forPOX, formed from the Catholic priest and detective

storywriter, 1888–1957UK, 1980

reverseadjective< reverse gearsto vomitUS, 1989

reverse cowgirlnouna sexual position in which the woman

straddles the prone man, facing his feetUS, 1991

reverse onouna position for mutual, simultaneous oral sex

between two people, or the act itself, especially when advertised as

a service offered by a prostituteUK, 2003

rev-headnouna motor vehicle enthusiastAUSTRALIA, 1987

revolt of the admiralsnouna highly public clash between the US

Navy and the US Air Force in 1949 over basing of the country’s

strategic airpowerUS, 1949

rev up and fuck offgo away and don’t annoy me; don’t annoy

meIRELAND, 1991

rewindnounin trucking, a return tripUS, 1977

rexnouna (small) quantity of moneyIRELAND, 1989

Rexall rangernounsomeone who wears cowboy clothes but has

never worked on a ranch Rexall is a chain drugstore, giving a

touch of specificity to the more commonDRUGSTORE COWBOY US,

1970

reznouna Native American Indian reservationUS, 1998

RFverbto play a prank An abbreviation ofRATFUCK US, 1965

RFBnoun room, food and beverage – the basic components of a

complimentary pass at a casino or hotelUS, 1996

RGnounin homosexual usage, a biological female A fellow

homo-sexual is aGIRL, while a woman is a ‘real girl’, or RGUS, 1971

rhinenounheroin Probably by abbrevation of a particular

pronunciationUK, 1998

rhinonoun1moneyUK, 1688.2a large and powerful waveUS, 1991

rhino chasernouna large surfboard made for big-wave conditions

US, 1987

RHIPrank has its privileges US, 1968

Rhodeynouna white Zimbabwean Derogatory A reference to

Rhodesia, the country which became Zimbabwe in 1980SOUTH

AFRICA, 2000

rhody; rhodienouna rhododendronUK, 1851

rhubarbnoun1nonsense From its use by actors as an

‘unintelligible murmur’UK, 1963.2said repeatedly by muttering

actors to give the impression of background conversations; hence,

spoken nonsense Theatre slangUK, 1934.3a fight; an uproar; a riot

US, 1943.4an advance of wages, a loan; as ‘rhubarbs’: a

membership subscription Rhyming slang, pronounced ‘roobub’,

forSUB(a subscription)UK, 1929

rhubarb and custardnouna variety of MDMA, the recreational

drug best known as ecstasy From the red and yellow colour of the

pill; the syllable ‘barb’ is possibly an indication that the tablet

contains barbiturateUK, 1996

rhubarb pill; rhubarbnouna bill (for payment) Rhyming slang,

based on a homeopathic remedy for constipation; noted by Julian

Franklyn, A Dictionary of Rhyming Slang,1960, who suspected (or

rhubarbsnoun1suburbs Rhyming slang, pronounced ‘roobubs’,formed on an elision of ‘suburbs’UK, 1960.2a variety of LSDUK, 1996

rhyme offverb to recite; to talk From Scottish dialect rame (to talk

nonsense; to reiterate)UK: SCOTLAND, 2000

rhythmnounan amphetamine tabletUS, 1993

rhythm and blues; rhythmsnounshoes Rhyming slangUK, 1998

rhythm methodnouna method of cheating while playing a slotmachine by controlling the spins of the inner-wheels Playing onthe name of the least successful method of birth controlUS, 1977

riahnounthe hair Polari back slangUK, 1967

riah zhoosher; riah shushernouna hairdresser A combination of

ZHOOSH(to tidy) withRIAH(the hair)UK, 2002

riah-zshumpahnouna hairdresserUK, 1992

ribnoun1a wife or girlfriend From the Biblical creation tale, withEve springing from Adam’s ribUK, 1589.2Rohypnol™

(flunitrazepam), popularly known as the ‘date-rape drug’US, 1995.

3MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasyUK, 2003

ribverb1to make fun of someoneUS, 1930.2to insult someone in asemi-formal quasi-friendly competition A variation of ‘rib’ (totease)US, 2000

ribbon and curlnouna girl Rhyming slangUK, 1992

ribbon clerknouna poker player who withdraws from a hand at anysign of serious bettingUS, 1988

ribena on toastadjectiveawful; tasteless; in bad taste Possibly aliteral translation of a bad taste; coinage is credited to balletmaster David KerrUK, 1992

ribtappernouna heavy-duty bootUK: SCOTLAND, 1988

Ricannouna Puerto RicanUS, 1975

ricenouneffort Royal Marine slangUK, 1989

rice-and-peas boongynounlarge buttocks, especially those of awomanBAHAMAS, 1998

rice-and-ringverbto get marriedUS, 1947

rice-a-roninounin necrophile usage, a badly decomposed corpse Acomparison to the branded soft-boiled rice productUS, 1987

rice banditnouna Japanese person OffensiveAUSTRALIA, 1995

rice bellynounthe protruding stomach of a childGUYANA, 1996

rice-burnernouna Japanese car or motorcyleUK, 1979

rice eyenouna Japanese person Hawaiian youth usage, especially

in the taunt ‘No lie, rice eye’US, 1982

rice machinenouna car manufactured in Japan or by a JapanesemanufacturerUS, 1993

ricemannouna Chinese person OffensiveUS, 1945

rice paddy Hattienounany rural Chinese prostituteUS, 1949

rice queennouna gay man attracted to men of South Asian origin

US, 1972

ricernouna person from South Asia OffensiveUS, 1980

rice rocketnouna motorcyle made by a Japanese manufacturer.OffensiveUS, 1993

Richardnoun1any police official, especially a detective AnembellishedDICK US, 1950.2the penis An extension ofDICK(thepenis), which is the short form of the first name RichardUK, 2001.

< had the Richardto be ruined or irreparably broken; to be

finished In the Australian National Dictionary it is claimed that

this is from British rhyming slang ‘Richard the Third’ (the bird),from theatrical slang ‘to get the bird’ (to get a bad reception onstage), but there is little semantic overlap to warrant this expla-nation Rather if something has ‘had the dick’ then it is ‘fucked’,and therein lies the metaphor Richard here is merely euphemisticforDICK(the penis) Supporting this explanation are the othervariantsHAD THE STICK,HAD THE RODand of courseHAD THE DICK

Richard Burtonnouna curtain Theatrical rhyming slang, formed

from the name of the Welsh actor, 1925–84UK, 1992

Richard the Third; Richardnoun1a young woman; a sweetheart

Rhyming slang forBIRD UK, 1950.2a bird Rhyming slang; originally

recorded in Songs and Slang of the British Soldier, John Brophy

and Eric Partridge, 1930 In theatrical use asTHE BIRD(a farting

noise masquerading as criticism)UK, 1979.3a piece of excrement

Rhyming slang forTURD UK, 1961

Richard Toddnouna portion of fried cod Rhyming slang formed

on the name of the British actor (b.1919)UK, 1992

Richibucto goosenouna salted shad Named after a town in Nova

ScotiaCANADA, 1939

rich man’s drugnouncocaine Because of its high cost Although

the phrase sounds a bit literary, it was used by those without any

particular literary backgroundUS, 1972

ricknoun1a mistake Probably a shortening ofRICKET(a mistake)UK,

1991.2an accomplice who pretends to be a client in order to

encourage trade, originally used of a cheapjack or showman, later

of a less than scrupulous bookmakerUK, 1898

rickadjectivefake; spurious From the nounUK, 1967

rick; ricverbto make a mistake FromRICK(a mistake)UK, 1996

ricketnouna mistakeUK, 1958.< drop a ricketto make a mistake

UK, 1998

rickety-rawadjectiveattractive, fashionableUS, 1987

Rick Steinnouna fine Rhyming slang, formed from the name of

the UK television chef (b.1947)UK, 2004

Rick Witternouna shitter (in all senses) Rhyming slang, formed

from the lead singer of Shed SevenUK, 2003

Ricky Martin; Rickynouna side-parting Popney rhyming slang,

from popular singer Ricky Martin (b.1971) Popney was contrived

for www.music365.co.uk, an Internet music site UK, 2001

Ricky Racernouna fanatic mountain bike enthusiast who rarely if

ever ridesUS, 1997

ricky-ticky; ricky-tickadjectiveused of a jazz rhythm, old-fashioned,

even, boringUS, 1952

ridverb< rid a fitto get rid of an outfit of clothesUS, 1994

riddleverbin Newfoundland, to weave up-and-down rods between

rails to make a fenceCANADA, 1966

riddle-me-reenounurine; an act of urination Rhyming slang for

PEEorWEE; always used in full to avoid confusion with other slang,

such asJIMMY RIDDLEorPIDDLE UK, 1992

riddle me this, Batmananswer this question From the Batman

television series (1966–68) and one of its arch-villains, The Riddler

US, 1993

riddynoun(as a result of embarrassment) a red face Glasgow slang

UK: SCOTLAND, 1985

ridenoun1a carUS, 1930.2a person who you are counting on to

drive you somewhereUS, 2001.3a sexually desirable person From

RIDE(to have sex)UK, 2002.4an act of sexual intercourseUK, 1937.5a

companion, especially a companion who is a fellow gang member

US, 1981.6a criminal enterpriseUS, 1995.7a style of jazz music with

an easy-going rhythmUS, 1930.< get a ridein circus and carnival

usage, to receive unfavourable publicityUS, 1981

rideverb1to have sex Usually from the female perspectiveUS, 1994.

2(used of a lesbian) to straddle your prone partner, rubbing your

genitals togetherUS, 1967.3to engage in sycophantic flatteryUS, 1988.

4to irritate or worry someoneUS, 1918.5to play jazz with an

easy-moving rhythmUS, 1929.< let it ride1in gambling, to continue

a bet from one play to another, increasing the bet with winnings

US, 1980.2to tolerate something; to take no action about

somethingUK, 1921.< ride a beefto accept a charge for a crime

that you did not commitUS, 1967.< ride a string; ride in a

g-stringto drive a BMW car Scamto youth street slang (South

African townships)SOUTH AFRICA, 2005.< ride a ponyto cheat on a

test in college or schoolUS, 1959.< ride bitchto sit in the middle

of the front seat in a pickup truck, between the driver and another

passengerUS, 1992.< ride dirtyto drive under the influence of

alcoholUS, 2001.< ride ghostto drive at night without headlights

US, 1995.< ride itto endure or cope with imprisonmentUK, 1996.

< ride it a treatin horse racing, to ride a skilled and intelligentraceAUSTRALIA, 1989.< ride old smokeyto be executed byelectrocutionUS, 1950.< ride rubberto ride in a carUS, 1981.

< ride Santa’s sleighto use cocaine A phrase that combines

SNOWas ‘cocaine’ with ‘flying’ as ‘intoxication’UK, 2001.< ride

shotgun1to act as a security or military escort From the timewhen stage coaches carrying valuables were protected by a mancarrying a shotgun who sat on top of the coach alongside thedriverUK, 1979.2to be prepared for any eventuality in businessUS,

1974.3to travel in the passenger seatUS, 1921.4to oversee andcontrol someone with a firm handUS, 1972.< ride the broomtothreaten someone; to predict harmUS, 1990.< ride the bubbles

in hot rodding and drag racing, to rise slightly off the ground as aresult of aerodynamicsUS, 1965.< ride the busto defecateUS,

1990.< ride the cardto ride a winner on every race at a racemeetingAUSTRALIA, 1984.< ride the circuitto move someonewho has been arrested from stationhouse to stationhouse, makinghis timely release difficultUS, 1949.< ride the cotton pony; ride

the cotton horseto experience the bleed period of themenstrual cycle This ‘cotton pony’ is a ‘sanitary towel’US, 1954.

< ride the grub lineto travel and survive by scrounging foodwherever it can be foundCANADA, 1987.< ride the Hershey

Highwayto engage in anal sexUS, 1989.< ride the lightningto

be put to death by electrocutionUS, 1935.< ride the pineto sit

on the sidelines of an athletic contest as a substitute playerUS,

1938.< ride the pipeto pilot a jet after engine failure Koreanwar usageUS, 1991.< ride the red tideto experience the bleedperiod of the menstrual cycleUS, 1999.< ride the short busto

be mentally deficient From the literally short bus that special cation students use in the USUS, 1995.< ride the showingtotour an area evaluating billboards for potential advertising useUS,

edu-1980.< ride the sick bookto feign illness; to malingerUS, 1968.

< ride the silver steedto participate in bismuth subcarbonateand neoarsphenamine therapy for syphilisUS, 1981.< ride the

splintersto sit on the sidelines of an athletic contest as asubstitute player The ‘splinters’ are an allusion to the benchwhich the substitute ‘warms’ or ‘rides’US, 1949.< ride the

turtlesto drive on the raised reflective road markers that eate motorway lanesUS, 1997.< ride the white horseto experi-ence euphoria after using heroinUS, 1955.< ride the wiretotravel by tramUS, 1970

delin-ride alongverbin poker, to remain in a game without bettingbecause you have bet your entire bankroll on the handUS, 1967

ride and a rashernounsexual intercourse followed by breakfast

IRELAND, 1999

ride man; ride jock; ride monkeynounthe operator of a carnivalamusement rideUS, 1985

ride outnouna group motor-scooter excursionUK, 2001

ride outverbto depart Used by London teenagers in the late 1950s

UK, 1958

ridernoun1a visible, aggressive member of a gangUS, 2001.2apolice officerUS, 2003.35 kg of heroin supplied free with a 100 kgshipment of cocaineUK, 2002.4a cheater From the phraseRIDE A PONY(to cheat on a test)US, 1959.5in trucking, a flat tyre on a set

of dual tyresUS, 1971

ridgeadjectiveall right; okay Probably a figurative use of nowobsolete ‘ridge’ (gold) Now superseded byRIDGY DIDGE AUSTRALIA,

ridgy didge; ridgy-didgeadjectiveall right; okayAUSTRALIA, 1953

ridiculousadjectiveexcellentUS, 1959

riding Saint George; the dragon on Saint Georgenounsexual sex with the woman straddling the man, her head upright