Rhyming slang forPILES, formed on the actor Valentine Dyall, 1908–85UK , 1998 valetnounin a deck of playing cards, a jack or knaveUS , 1988 vali; vallie; vallynoun Valium™, a branded tra
Trang 1Vnoun1Valium™US , 1984.2sildenafil citrate marketed as Viagra™, an
anti-impotence drug taken recreationally for performance
enhancement, in combination with other chemicals that stimulate
the sexual appetitesUK , 2000.3a V-signUK , 2002.4a visitUS , 2002.5a
five year prison sentence From the Roman numeral for fiveUS ,
1945.6five dollarsUS , 1962.7marijuanaUS , 1979
vadjectivevery Upper-class society origins (perhaps from abbreviation
use in school) into wider middle-class usageUK , 1982
V-8 gangnouna youth gang that uses large American carsNEW
ZEALAND , 1984
V-8snounmen’s shortsUS , 1972
VAnounthe vagina Adopted from the standard abbreviation for the
state of Virginia, punning the phonetic similarityUS , 1998
Vaalie; Valienounan inhabitant of the region formerly known as
Transvaal Often derogatory or patronisingSOUTH AFRICA , 1976
vacnoun a vacation UK , 1709
vacationnountime spent in jail or prisonUS , 1971
vacayanoun1any mechanical or electrical device that produces
sound; a jukebox; a record playerUK , 2002.2a mobile phone From
the earlier, more general sense (a device that produces sound)UK ,
2002
vada; varda; vardi; vardo; vardyverbto see; to look; to observe
PolariUK , 1859
vadavision; vardavisionnouna televisionUK , 2002
VAF!(when first noticing an attractive person) ‘look!’ Polari; an
acronym for ‘VADA absolutely FANTABULOSA!’UK , 2002
vagnoun1a vagrantUS , 1868.2vagrancy; a criminal charge of
vagrancyUS , 1859
vagverbto charge someone with vagrancyUS , 1859
vage; vag; vadge; vajnounthe vaginaUS , 1986
vaggerie; vagary; vagarieverbto go; to leave; to travel Probably
from Italian vagare (to roam) UK , 2002
vagina vandalnouna rapistUS , 1962
valnoun1a tablet of diazepam (trade name Valium™), an
anti-anxiety agentUS , 1986.2valueUK , 2000.3a resident of the San
Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, CaliforniaUS , 1982
valentinenouna very short jail sentenceUS , 1949
Valentinenounin college, a notification of academic deficiencyUS ,
1968
Valentine Dyalls; valentinesnounhaemorrhoids Rhyming slang
forPILES, formed on the actor Valentine Dyall, 1908–85UK , 1998
valetnounin a deck of playing cards, a jack or knaveUS , 1988
vali; vallie; vallynoun Valium™, a branded tranquillizer UK , 1996
valleynounthe antecubital vein at the inside of the elbow, a prime
site for intravenous drug injectionsUS , 1970
Valleynoun< the Valley1the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles
County, CaliforniaUS , 1994.2a low-lying area east of Seventh
Avenue in Harlem, New YorkUS , 1966
valley dollsnounLSDUK , 2003
Valleyitenouna resident of the San Fernando Valley, Los AngelesUS ,
1985
valve jobnounsex in a carUS , 1997
vamooseverb to go; to leave Spanish vamanos (let us go) US , 1834
vampnouna woman that makes it her habit or business to captivate
men by an unscrupulous employment of her sexual charmsUK ,
vampverb1(of a woman) to flirt, and otherwise employ an obvious sexuality to attract a mateUK , 1927.2to smell badTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1973
vampirenouna medical operative who draws off a patient’s or donor’s blood; a member of any National Blood Transfusion collecting team Jocular and affectionate, usuallyUK , 1961.< take
the vampire’s kiss; take the vampiresto tease someone, to pull someone’s leg Rhyming slang forTAKE THE PISS UK , 1998
vannouna brakevan (caboose)US , 1977
Vannicknamethe city of Vancouver, British ColumbiaCANADA , 2002
V and Anickname Victoria and Albert Museum UK , 1937
vandoonounin the Canadian Forces, a member of the Royal 22nd Regiment, the francophone army unitCANADA , 1995
V and Tnoun vodka and tonic UK , 1997
V and Xnounin carnival usage, a five-and-ten cent storeUS , 1981
Van Goghnouna trucker operating with a citizens’ band radio A trucker without a citizens’ band radio is said to be driving ‘without ears’, and hence the artistic allusionUS , 1976
VangroovynounVancouver, British ColumbiaCANADA , 2002
vanillaadjective1white-skinned, Caucasian Originally black usage, now widespreadUS , 1994.2ordinary, simple, basic Derives from the plainest ice-cream varietyUS , 1977.3of sex, conventional; of homo-sexual sex, gentle, traditional, emotionalUS , 1984.4used of pornography, relatively high-brow, designed for couples and first-time viewersUS , 2000
vanilla fudgenouna judge Rhyming slangUK , 2004
Vanity Fairnouna chair Rhyming slang, formed from the title of Thackeray’s novelUK , 1961
Vannanounused as a term of address between homosexual males From Vanna White, of television game show fameUS , 1990
Vanouvernounany vacuum cleaner Rhyming slang forHOOVER UK , 1992
vapverbwhen throwing dice, to snap your fingersBARBADOS , 1965
vap; vapsnounan impulse; a sudden urgeTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1957
vapour locknouna temporary loss of common sense or memory
An allusion to a mechanical problem with the carburettor of an internal combustion engineUS , 1996
vapourwarenounin computing, a program that is announced well before it is completed and releasedUS , 1991
varda d’amournounthe look of love A combination of polari and FrenchUK , 1992
varder; vardanouna look PolariUK , 1996
vardonounin gypsy or traveller use, a trailer, a wagon, a caravanUK , 1934
varicose alleynounthe platform that extends from a stage used by strippers out into the audienceUS , 1945
varicose veinnouna baby; a child Glasgow rhyming slang on
Scottish dialect wean (pronounced ‘wayne’) UK: SCOTLAND , 1996
varknounused as a term of abuse, especially applied to a police
officer A contemptuous term, from Afrikaans vark (pig) SOUTH AFRICA , 1975
varnishnounon the railways, a passenger trainUS , 1946
varnishverb< varnish the cane(from the male perspective) to have sexUS , 1968
vassonounvaselineAUSTRALIA , 1998
VATnoun vodka and tonic Initialism, punning on value added tax;
Trang 2Vatican roulettenounbirth control by the rhythm methodUS , 1979
vato; batonouna guy Border Spanish used in English conversation
by Mexican-AmericansUS , 1950
vato loco; bato loconouna wild guyUS , 1965
vaultnouna hotel baggage checkroomUS , 1954
va va voomnounstyle; a powerful or seductive style Used as a song
title by Cinerama ‘Va Va Voom’, 1998, and as an advertising strap
line for Renault’s Clio™ (2001+)US , 1996
VCnounthe Viet Cong; a member of the Viet CongUS , 1966 8see:
VICTORIA CROSS
V-cardnouna person’s virginityUS , 2001
VCRnoun a vicious campus rumour US , 1966
VD bonnetnouna condom A reference to the prevention of
venereal disease US , 1972
V-Dub; Vee-Dubnouna Volkswagen motor vehicle Shortening of
vee double-u, that is, Volkswagen AUSTRALIA , 1970
veal cutletnounin gambling cheating schemes, a victimUS , 1962
veal of the seanounthe green sea turtleBAHAMAS , 1982
veddyadverbvery A jocular pronunciation, approximating a child’s,
or an American’s (attempting a ‘British’ accent), rendering of ‘very’
UK , 1859
veenounsex involving three people, two of whom are focused on
the pleasure of the thirdUS , 1995
veeblefetzernouna corporate manager Not a term of endearment
US , 1997
vee dubnouna completely depillated female pubis Also as a verb
and, thus, an adjectival participle From a similarity in shape and
finish to the bonnet of a Volkswagen BeetleUS , 2003
veepnouna vice presidentUS , 1949 8see:VIP
vee weenouna Volkswagen motor vehicleUK , 1984
vegnoun vegetables UK , 1898
Vegemite-drillernouna male homosexualAUSTRALIA , 1985
Vegemite valleynounthe anus and rectal passage Use is often
suggestive of homosexual activity Vegemite™ is a dark brown
foodstuffAUSTRALIA , 2003
vegetablenoun1a person who is mentally and physically
incapaci-tated to a degree that renders the comparison with a plant
organism fair if cruelUK , 1921.2a person with an inactive,
undemanding lifestyle A derogatory use arising from the
semi-conventional medical sense aboveUK , 2001
vegetable gardennouna group of neurologically depressed hospital
patientsUS , 1978
vegetationnounrelaxationUS , 1986
vegged outadjectiverelaxed and inactiveUS , 2001
veggienoun1a vegetableUS , 1955.2a vegetarian The variant spelling
‘veggy’ is also usedUK , 1975
vegieadjectiveof school subjects, of the easiest gradeAUSTRALIA , 1992
vegonouna vegetarianAUSTRALIA , 1996
vegoadjectivevegetarianAUSTRALIA , 1988
veg outverbto relax and do nothingUS , 1995
veinsnoun< get veinsin bodybuilding, to achieve definition, or
well-developed and sculpted musclesUS , 1984
velcronouna lesbian Figurative use of Velcro™, from the French
velours croché (hooked velvet), a branded material fastener UK , 2000
velvetnoun1gambling winningsUS , 1974.2a passenger train carriage
US , 1977.< on velvetin good shapeUS , 1997
velvet fognicknamesinger Mel Tormé (1925–99)US , 2000
vendornouna juke boxUS , 1965
vendor’snouna commercial bottled beer, even when obtained from
a bootleggerCANADA , 1999
vengeancenoun< with a vengeanceto a great degree, very
ventverbto express frustrations in larger-than-life dimensions What
an earlier generation would have called ‘let off some steam’US , 1996
vent; vent actnouna ventriloquistUK , 1893.< take it to the vent
to commit suicideUS , 1989
ventilateverbto shoot someone From the image of bullet holes ventilating the bodyUS , 1947.< ventilate the blockin hot rodding and drag racing, to blow a rod out through the engineUS , 1960s
ventilatornouna machine gunUS , 1962
Vera Lynn; Veranoun1gin Rhyming slang, based on the name of singer Vera Lynn (b.1917) known from World War 2 as ‘the forces’ sweetheart’UK , 1952.2a cigarette paper Rhyming slang forSKIN(a cigarette paper)UK , 1992
verandah over the toy shopnouna paunch or beer-bellyAUSTRALIA , 1987
vera vice; victoria vice; verasnounthe police vice squad ACAMP
elaborationUK , 1996
verbal; verbalsnoun1a conversation, a talkUK , 1997.2a verbal statement given to the police, often self-incriminatoryUK , 1963
verbal; verbal upverbto fake a confession of criminal guiltUK , 1979
verbal diarrhoeanoununwarranted verbosityUK , 1823
verballingnounthe act of faking a criminal confessionUK , 1974
verglanounfreezing rain The word is borrowed, modified but
pronounced fairly correctly, from the French verglas, which means
the same thingCANADA , 2002
Veronica Lakenounsteak Rhyming slang, formed from the name
of the US film actress, 1919–73UK , 1992
verrrry in-ter-est-ing; very interesting, but stupidused as a humorous comment on a remark or event; used for humorously
dismissing what has just been said A signature line on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In (NBC, 1968–73), uttered by Arte Johnson while
playing a wacky Nazi soldier Repeated with referential humourUS , 1969
versatileadjectivebisexualUK , 2002
versingpreposition< be versingto compete against A corruption
of the preposition ‘versus’, almost always heard in the progressive formUS , 1984
versioningnouna technique in hip-hop music of blending different periods and styles of recorded musicUS , 2000
vertnoun in skateboarding, an almost vertical ramp UK , 2003
vertical bacon sandwichnounthe vagina From the resemblance
UK , 2002
vertical jockeynounan elevator operatorUS , 1953
veryadjectiveexcellentUS , 1989
veryadverbvery much, absolutelyUK , 2002
very à laadjectiveabsolutely in fashion Generally contemptuous, disparaging or ironic in toneUK , 1984
vestnouna show-offUS , 1965
vestibulesnounthe testiclesUK , 2003
vestigenouna brassiere Recorded as a contemporary gay usageUK , 2003
vest outverbto retire from police service after vesting in the pension plan with 15 years of service New York police slangUS , 1997
vetnoun1an ex-member of the militaryUS , 1848.2a prison doctor
SOUTH AFRICA , 1974
veteranonounan experienced, respected gang member Spanish used by English-speakersUS , 1975
veterinariannouna physician who regards his patients as of animal intelligenceUS , 1978
Vettenouna Corvette carUS , 1994
vexverbto engage someone in an abusive verbal attackUK , 2001
VG very good Abbreviation
Trang 3V girlnouna woman who is attracted to men in military uniformUS ,
1960
Viaggynouna Viagra™ tabletUK , 2002
vibeverbto create and enjoy a good atmosphereUK , 2001
vibe; vibesnounthe atmosphere generated by any event; mood;
nuances intimately related to all senses An abbreviation of
‘vibration’, which has the same meaningUS , 1960
vibed upadjectiveexcited; in the moodUK , 1983
vibe offverbto take inspiration from someone or somethingUK , 1999
vibe outverbto intimidate someoneUK , 1983
vibesnouna vibraphoneUK , 1940
vibeyadjectivefashionably atmospheric; in tune with the zeitgeist
From the 1990s; a positive sense ofVIBE(the atmosphere of an
event)UK , 1999
vibrationsnounthe atmosphere generated by any event; mood;
nuances intimately related to all sensesUS , 1966
vibratornouna motorcyleUS , 1962
vicnoun1a victimUS , 1968.2a sucker or an easy target for crimeUS ,
1969
VicnicknameVictoria, a southern state of AustraliaAUSTRALIA , 1902
Vicar of Braynoun1a tray Rhyming slang, formed from a C18
songUK , 1960.2the number three; three Rhyming slang forTREY
UK , 1960
vicenouna police vice squad Usually used with ‘the’UK , 1966
vice presidentnounin poker, the player with the second best hand
US , 1988
vice versanounreciprocal oral sex between two lesbians The
earliest known lesbian periodical in the US (1947) was named Vice
Versa US , 1963
viceyadjectivesinful; depravedTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1993
viciousadjectivehandsomeUS , 1982
vickverbto steal Probably an evolution from ‘victim’US , 1993
Vickynouna Ford Victoria sedan, first built in the 1930s and then
revived in the 1950sUS , 1965
vicky; vicknouna two-fingered gesture that is used to insult or
otherwise cause offence Glasgow slang; the forefinger and the
middle finger are extended to form a V shape, with the palm
turned in towards the gesturerUK: SCOTLAND , 1985
vicky-verkyvice-versa Used as a song title by Squeeze, 1981UK , 1961
Victor Charlienicknamethe Viet CongUS , 1966
Victorianoun used of a person otherwise described as nouveau
riche After singer and footballer’s wife Victoria Beckham (b.1975);
recorded as a contemporary gay usageUK , 2003
Victoria Cross; VCnounsomething of little or no value Rhyming
slang forTOSS, formed from the highest military honour for valour
UK , 1992
Victoria Monknounsemen Rhyming slang forSPUNK, after the
music hall singer, best remembered for ‘Won’t You Come Home,
Bill Bailey?’, Victoria Monks, 1884–1972UK , 1960
Victory Vnoun1urine; an act of urination Rhyming slang forPEE
orWEE, formed from the Churchillian gesture or Victory V branded
medicinal-confectioneryUK , 1998.2a Triumph car Citizens’ band
radio slang; ‘victory’ as a synonym for ‘triumph’UK , 1981
vidnoun1a video cassette, a video recordingUK , 2000.2a music
videoUS , 1985
video-nastynounan exceptionally unpleasant horror film, available
on videoUK , 1982
vidrionounheroin The Spanish forGLASS(heroin)UK , 2003
Vietnouna Vietnamese personUS , 1966
Vietnam rosenounany sexually transmitted infectionAUSTRALIA , 1988
Viet shits
vignoun1interest owed on an illegal loan A shortened form of
VIGORISH US , 1990.2profit Freely adapted fromVIGORISH(interest on
a loan)UK , 2001
vigorishnounthe interest owed on an illegal loan Yiddish slang
from the Russian vyigrysh (winnings-out-to-pay) US , 1966
vikesnounthe prescription drug Vicodin™US , 1996
Viking queennounin homosexual usage, a muscular, blonde man
US , 1987
villnouna village or town Found in the poetry of the early C18, but not particularly thereafter until the war in VietnamUS , 1976
villagenouna notional community of racecourse bookmakersUK , 1991
Villagenoun< the VillageGreenwich Village, New York, a small neighbourhood below 14th Street and west of Broadway, haven to BohemiansUS , 1952
villageadjectiveunsophisticated, out of touch with trendsUS , 2002
village bikenoun1a promiscuous woman As with theTOWN BIKE,
‘everyone has ridden her’UK , 1995.2a lesbian Rhyming slang for
DYKE UK , 2003
village pumpnouna girl who is free and easy sexuallyCANADA , 1992
village ramnouna sexually aggressive maleTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1964
villainnouna professional criminal; someone with a criminal record
UK , 1945
Villenoun< the VillePentonville prison, London UK , 1903
-villesuffixused for making or emphasising an adjective; used in combination with a characteristic to describe a place or a con-dition Modern usage began with the US beats and travelled back
to the UK By the mid-1970s the US form was presumed obsolete having been replaced by ‘-city’ It survives in the UK without obvious ironyUS , 1891
Vincentnicknamethe Viet Cong; a member of the Viet CongUS , 1965
Vincent Price; vincentnounice Rhyming slang, formed from the
US actor, 1911–93, particularly famed for his roles in horror films
UK , 1992
Vincent Van Gogh; vincentnouna cough Rhyming slang, based
on the predominant UK pronunciation of impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh (1853–90)UK , 2002
vinenoun1a men’s suit; clothingUS , 1932.2the penisUS , 1972
vine downverbto dress upUS , 1969
vinegar stroke; vinegarnounthe final penile thrust culminating in ejaculation when copulating or masturbating Alluding to the facial expression of the male Also, in the plural, ‘the final thrusts pre-ceding ejaculation’ UK comedian Phill Jupitus, who uses this term
to describe the closing moments of his act, explains: ‘Just before a bloke comes he looks like you’ve popped a teaspoon of vinegar into his mouth’AUSTRALIA , 1961
viney bonesnounrubber bands Used by motorcyclists Douglas Dunford, of the Beaulieu Motor Museum, gives the following etymology: ‘Originated with the famous [motorcycle] trials rider Hugh Viney of the ‘30s who used to cut up old inner-tubes and supply his mates with bands to fix their riding numbers.’UK , 1984
Vinnies; St Vinniesnicknamea St Vincent de Paul charity store
AUSTRALIA , 1970
vinonoun1wine, especially cheap wine From Spanish and Italian
vino (wine) AUSTRALIA , 1919.2a drinker of doctored cheap wineUK , 1966
vinylnounused generically for musical recordings produced on such materialUK , 1976
violetnoun< come up smelling of violetsto emerge unscathed from a difficult or troublesome situation, used especially of someone who is consistently and remarkably lucky Probably somewhat dated by the time it was recorded The form survives as
‘come up smelling of roses’UK , 1981
violin casesnounlarge, heavy shoesUS , 1946
vip; veep a very important person
Trang 4vipernoun1a marijuana dealerUS , 1958.2a marijuana user A term
of the 1930s with some lingering use until the 1960sUS , 1938
viper’s weed; viper’s dragnounmarijuana; a marijuana cigarette
US , 1938
VIP massagenouna sexual service offered in some massage
parlours, in which a hand-massage includes masturbation of the
clientUK , 2003
VIP servicesnounsexual intercourse, as distinct from masturbation,
when advertised as a service offered by a prostituteUK , 2003
viral marketingnounword-of-mouth as a deliberate marketing
tacticUS , 2000
virginnoun1a person who has not contracted a sexually transmitted
infectionUS , 1947.2a letter which has not been postmarkedUS , 1977
virginadjectiveused of a green on a par-3 hole, untouched by any
ball of a foursomeUS , 2000
virgin bride; virginnouna ride, especially in the sense an act of
sexual intercourse Rhyming slang, now rareAUSTRALIA , 1902
virgin earsnounused, usually in the first person, for a claim of
innocence in matters sexualUS , 1970
Virgin for short – but not for longapplied to girls named
Virginia Part-catchphrase, part-nickname; often irresistible, always
hilariousUK , 1984
virginianounthe vaginaBAHAMAS , 1982
Virginia vitaminnounany central nervous system stimulantUS , 1977
virginity curtainnouna canvas screen secured to the underside of
a warship’s accommodation to preserve the modesty of those who
go up and down the gangway from those who look up Similar in
purpose and design to aCUNT SCREEN UK , 1969
Virgin Marynouna non-alcoholic version of the Bloody Mary, made
with tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire and/or Tabasco
sauce, celery, salt and black pepper; unadulterated tomato juice A
tasty pun, using ‘virgin’ as ‘non-alcoholic’US , 1993
virgin pienouncherry pieUS , 1952
virgin principlenounthe belief among gamblers that a beginner
will have good luckUS , 1993
virgin statenounthe period when a person has started using an
addictive drug but is not yet fully addictedUS , 1970
virtual Fridaynounthe last day in a working week shortened by a
holiday at the end of the weekUS , 1991
virusnoun1HIV, the human immunodeficiency virusUS , 1992.2in
computing, a program that duplicates itself maliciously when it
finds a host, often with a mechanism that enables it then to
spread to new hostsUS , 1990
visitverb< to visit Aunt Lillianto experience the bleed period of
the menstrual cycleUS , 1968
visitationsnoun< the visitationsthe bleed period of the
menstrual cycleUS , 1999
visit from the cardinalnounthe bleed period of the menstrual
cycle Playing on the colour of a cardinal’s robesUS , 2000
visit from the French ladynounthe bleed period of the menstrual
cycle Euphemism, credited to Stella Tilyard, Aristocrats, 1994 US ,
1994
visiting cardnounan act of defecation at the scene of the crime by
the criminalUS , 1945
visitornounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1949
visualsnounhallucinations experienced under the influence of
psychoactive mushrooms or peyoteUS , 1992
vitamin AnounLSD From the common termACID US , 1997
vitamin BnounbeerUS , 1990
vitamin CnouncocaineUS , 1984
vitamin Dnoundextromethorphan (DXM), an active ingredient in
non-prescription cold and cough medication, often abused for
non-medicinal purposesUS , 2003
vitamin DBnounDominion Breweries draught bitterNEW ZEALAND ,
vitamin EnounMDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
An elaboration ofE UK , 1998
vitamin Hnounhaloperidol, a potent tranquillizerUS , 1989
vitamin K; vit Knounketamine hydrochloride, an anaesthetic used
as a hallucinogenUS , 1989
vitamin MnounMotrin™US , 1994
vitamin Nnounnicotine; a cigaretteUS , 2004
vitamin Pnoun1sex ‘P’ is forPUSSY US , 1989.2the game of pokerUS , 1996
vitamin Qnounthe recreational drug methaqualone, best known as Quaalude™US , 1982
vitaminsnoun1drugs in tablet or capsule formUK , 1996.2any central nervous system stimulantUS , 1977
vitamin TnounmarijuanaUS , 1997
vitamin VnounvaliumUS , 1994
vittlesnounfood An American corruption of the C14 ‘victual’US , 1946
vizzonounin prison, a visitUK , 1996
VJ; veejaynouna video jockey, a television presenter of music videos; a visual artist who mixes lights and images in a club environment Initialism, on the model of DJUS , 1982
VOnoun a beautiful woman An abbreviation of ‘visual orgasm’ US , 1997
voce; votch; vochenounthe voice, especially a singing voice; a
singer Theatrical, polari; from Italian voce UK , 1989
vodnounvodkaUS , 1986
voddersnounvodkaUK , 2002
voddie; voddynounvodkaUK , 1988
vodka acidnounLSDUK , 2003
voguenoun1a posture that implies, or is part of, a fashion-styleUS ,
2003.2a cigarette PolariUK , 1992.3a wheel rimUS , 2001
vogueverb1to engage in a style competition that values posturing
US , 1995.2to light a cigarette FromVOGUE(a cigarette)UK , 1993
voiceverbto telephoneUS , 1991
volnoun in prison, a volunteer UK , 1996
volcanonounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleCANADA , 2001
Volksnoun a Volkswagen car US , 1964
Volksienouna Volkswagen car, especially the ‘Beetle’SOUTH AFRICA , 1962
volleynounan abusive verbal attackUK , 1996
volleyverbto hit someone Tennis jargon, ‘volley’ (to strike a ball before it bounces) adopted for a less sporting useUK , 1999
volley dollynouna woman attracted to male volleyball playersUS , 1990
volley offverbto engage in an abusive verbal attackUK , 2001
vomverbto vomitCANADA , 1993
vomatoseadjectiveextremely disgustingUS , 1983
vomit cometnoun1any late-night public transport used by drunken passengers From the probable outcome of movement and alcohol
UK , 2003.2the modified KC-135A reduced-gravity aircraft The aircraft flies parabolas in order to investigate the effects of zero gravity; passengers are often sick to their stomachsUS , 1999
vomiting vipernounthe penisUK , 1984
voncenoun1marijuanaUS , 1960.2the butt of a marijuana cigarette
US , 1965
vonkanounthe noseUK , 2002
Von Trappnounexcrement; nonsense, rubbish Rhyming slang for CRAP,formed from the family whose story is told in The Sound of Music UK , 2003
voteverbto propose something that you wantUK , 1814
voyounounin Quebec, a hoodlum, or more specifically a striker
Trang 5here used in English carries the sense of ‘outside the law’CANADA ,
2002
VPnoun a sex offender An initialism of ‘vulnerable prisoner’ UK ,
1996
VPLa visible panty line, the most heinous of fashion crimes.
Popularised by Paul Simon in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall US , 1967
VRBnoun vodka and Red Bull™ Initialism for a popular cocktail (Red
Bull is a brand name ‘energy’ drink)UK , 2001
vroomverbto leave noisilyUS , 1967
vrotadjectiverotten; hence, drunk From AfrikaansSOUTH AFRICA , 1910
VSnoun an injection of drugs into a vein Initialism of a ‘vein SHOT’
US , 1938
V-signnouna gesture that is used to insult or otherwise cause
offence, especially when made in conjunction with threatening or
abusive language, e.g ‘fuck off!’ or ‘up yours!’ with which the sign
may be considered synonymous The forefinger and the middle
finger are extended to form a V shape, the palm turned in towards
the gesturer; as an obscene gesture it is confined almost entirely
to the UK There is a legend that French archers, when captured
by the British at the Battle of Agincourt (1415), had their middle
and forefingers – those necessary to draw the bowstring –
chopped off The Welsh bowmen are said to have waggled their
two fingers, taunting the French The earliest written description
of a v-sign as both threat and insult is French: ‘[Pangurge]
stretched out the forefinger, and middle finger or medical of his right hand, holding them asunder as much as he could, and thrusting them towards Thaumast’ (François Rabelais, 1532)
Further derivations abound: 1) Farmer and Henley’s Slang and its Analogues (1890) suggests a representation of cuckold’s horns,
however this is traditionally made with the first and fourth fingers 2) Symbolic of the phallus; the raised middle finger (FLIP THE BIRD) has been known since Roman times and, it is suggested, the v-sign enlarges the penis or doubles the quotient; or disguises the single finger insult 3) The fingers represent themselves inserted in the vagina – though why this should be insulting is not explained 4) Symbolic of female legs or labia spread wide; or represents the tri-angular shape of female pubic hair 5) A corrupted victory sign – however the Churchillian symbol is first recorded in 1941, contrived by a Belgian Lawyer named Victor De Lavelaye Probably more than one of the above, except 5, is the truthUK , 1948
V spotnouna five-dollar noteUS , 1949
Vulcan nerve pinchnounwhen operating a computer, the keyed-combination of the characters Ctrl-Alt-Delete used to restart the machine A figurative application of a fictional technique used in
the television science fiction series, Star Trek US , 2004
vulturenounin trucking, a police plane used for spotting speeders
US , 1971
VWnouna variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy, identified by VW embossed on the tabletUK , 2002