We picked up where Partridge left off, recording the slang and unconventional English of the English-speaking world since World War 2 with the same scholarship and joy in language that c
Trang 2The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang
and Unconventional English
The Concise New Partridge presents, for the first time, all the slang terms from the New Partridge
Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English in a single volume.
With over 60,000 entries from around the English-speaking world, the Concise gives you the
language of beats, hipsters, Teddy Boys, mods and rockers, hippies, pimps, druggies, whores, punks, skinheads, ravers, surfers, Valley girls, dudes, pill-popping truck drivers, hackers, rappers and more.
The Concise New Partridge is a spectacular resource infused with humour and learning – it’s
rude, it’s delightful, and it’s a prize for anyone with a love of language.
Trang 4The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang
and Unconventional English
Tom Dalzell (Senior Editor)
and Terry Victor (Editor)
Trang 8Dr Richard Allsopp, a native of Guyana, is Director of the
Caribbean Lexicography Project and former Reader in
English Language and Linguistics, University of the West
Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados He edited the Dictionary of
Caribbean English Usage.
Dr Dianne Bardsley is Manager of the New Zealand
Dictionary Centre at Victoria University of Wellington Her
PhD involved the compilation and analysis of a rural New
Zealand English lexicon from the years 1842–2002 She
was contributing editor for the New Zealand Oxford
Dictionary and is currently leading several New Zealand
lexicography research projects.
James Lambert has worked primarily in Australian English,
specialising in slang in general and Australian slang in
par-ticular He was assistant editor of The Macquarie Dictionary
of New Words and general editor of The Macquarie Book of Slang and The Macquarie Slang Dictionary.
John Loftus manages the online archive at www.hiberno
english.com He was a senior research assistant on A Dictionary of Hiberno-English.
Lewis Poteet is a leading Canadian authority on slang and
dialect He has written extensively about language in
Canada’s maritime provinces and edited Car & Motorcycle Slang, Hockey Talk, Plane Talk, Car Talk and Cop Talk.
John Williams served as a consulting lexicographer on this
project He has been contributing to general language dictionaries, both monolingual and bilingual, for more than
20 years He is the author of three children’s dictionaries, as well as several articles on the practice of lexicography.
Trang 10Eric Partridge made a deep and enduring contribution to
the study and understanding of slang In the eight editions
of The Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English
published between 1937 and 1984, Partridge recorded and
defined the slang and unconventional English of Great
Britain, and to a lesser extent her dominions, from the
1600s to the 1970s For the years up to 1890, Partridge
was by his own admission quite reliant on Farmer and
Henley’s Slang and its Analogues, which he used as an
‘expansible framework’ When it came to the slang for the
years 1890 to 1945, Partridge was original and brilliant,
especially in his treatment of underworld and military
slang His attitude towards language was scholarly and
fun-loving, scientific and idiosyncratic His body of work,
scholarship and dignity of approach led the way and set
the standard for every other English-language slang
lexicographer of the twentieth century.
Our respect for Partridge has not blinded us to the
features of his work that have drawn criticism over the
years His protocol for alphabetising was quirky His dating
was often problematic His etymologies at times strayed
from the plausible to the fanciful His classification by
register (slang, cant, jocular, vulgar, coarse, high, low, etc.)
was intensely subjective and not particularly useful.
Furthermore, his early decision to exclude American slang
created increasingly difficult problems for him as the years
passed and the influence of American slang grew Lastly,
Partridge grew to lose the ability to relate to the
vocabulary he was recording In 1937, Partridge was a man
of his time, but the same could no longer be said in 1960.
There is a profound relationship between language and
culture, and neither Partridge nor Paul Beale, editor of the
8th edition, seem to have assimilated the cultural changes
that began at the end of World War 2 This left them
without the cultural knowledge needed to understand the
language that they were recording Their lack of cultural
understanding accelerated with time, and this is sadly
reflected in the later entries Beatniks and drug addicts,
and their slang, baffled Partridge and Beale, who lacked
either the personal experience or historical perspective
needed to understand underlying countercultures.
Partridge himself observed, ‘More than almost any
other kind of book, a dictionary constantly needs to be
revised; especially, of course, if it deals with the current
form of a language and therefore has to be kept up to
date’ With The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and
Unconventional English we tried to do just that We picked
up where Partridge left off, recording the slang and
unconventional English of the English-speaking world since
World War 2 with the same scholarship and joy in
language that characterised Partridge’s work We are not,
and cannot be, Partridge: but we can strive to be proud
heirs of Partridge and to speak with a voice that Partridge
would recognise as an echo of his own We have worked
hard to continue the Partridge tradition, observing high
standards of lexicography while producing an accessible
work informed by, and infused with, the humour, mischief
and energy that are endemic to slang This Concise version of the New Partridge contains every entry in New Partridge as well as several hundred new words that have come into the slang lexicon since 2005 The Concise is presented without the hundreds of thousands of citations
in the New Partridge, creating an affordable alternative to our update of Partridge Lastly, we improved dating infor- mation given on hundreds of headwords.
Criteria for inclusion
We use three criteria for including a term or phrase in this dictionary We include (1) slang and unconventional English, (2) used anywhere in the English-speaking world and (3) after 1945.
Rather than focus too intently on a precise definition
of slang or on whether a given entry is slang, jargon or colloquial English, we take full advantage of the wide net cast by Partridge when he chose to record ‘slang and unconventional English’ instead of just slang, which is, after all, without any settled test of purity We have con- sidered for inclusion all unconventional English that has been used with the purpose or effect of either lowering the formality of communication and reducing solemnity and/or identifying status or group and putting oneself in tune with one’s company A term recorded here might be slang, slangy jargon, a colloquialism, an acronym, an initialism, a vulgarism or a catchphrase In all instances,
an entry imparts a message beyond the text and literal meaning This approach is especially useful when dealing with world slang and unconventional English A broader range has permitted inclusion of many Caribbean entries, for instance, which merit inclusion but might not meet a stringent pure-slang-only test Our only real deviation from Partridge’s inclusion criteria is a much diminished body of nicknames The regiment nicknames that populate Partridge’s work no longer fulfil the language function that they did in the United Kingdom of Partridge’s day.
If there was a question as to whether a potential entry fell within the target register, we erred on the side of inclusion We generally chose to include poorly attested words, presenting the entry and our evidence of usage to the reader who is free to determine if a candidate passes probation.
Partridge limited his dictionary to Great Britain and her dominions We elected the broader universe of the English-speaking world Globalisation has affected many facets of life, not the least of which is our language There are words that are uniquely Australian, American or British, but it is impossible to ignore or deny the extent of cross-pollination that exists between cultures as regards slang We were aided in our global gathering by indigenous contributors from Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Ireland and New Zealand We also include pidgin, Creolised English and borrowed foreign terms used
by English-speakers in primarily English-language conversation We include slang and unconventional English
Trang 11heard and used at any time after 1945 We chose the end
of the war in 1945 as our starting point primarily because
it marked the beginning of a series of profound cultural
changes that produced the lexicon of modern and
contemporary slang The cultural transformations since
1945 are mind-boggling Television, computers, drugs,
music, unpopular wars, youth movements, changing racial
sensitivities and attitudes towards sex and sexuality are all
substantial factors that have shaped culture and language.
No term is excluded on the grounds that it might be
considered offensive as a racial, ethnic, religious, sexual or
any kind of slur This dictionary contains many entries and
citations that will, and should, offend To exclude a term
or citation because it is offensive is to deny the fact that
it is used: we are not prescriptivists and this is simply not
our job At the same time, we try to avoid definitions or
editorial comment that might offend.
We were tempted, but finally chose not to include an
appendix of gestures, although many serve the same
function as slang Examples include the impudent middle
finger, Ralph Cramden’s Raccoon greeting and handshake,
the elaborate mimes that signal ‘jerk-off’ or ‘dickhead’,
Johnny Carson’s golf swing, Vic Reeves’ lascivious thigh
rubbing and Arsenio Hall’s finger-tip-touch greeting.
Neither did we include an appendix of computer language
such as emoticons or leet speak, although we have
included throughout several of the more prominent
examples of Internet and text messaging shorthand that
have become known outside the small circle of initial
users.
We tried but in the end decided not to include the
word/word phenomenon (‘Is she your friend friend or
friend friend?’) or the word/word/word construction (‘The
most important three things in real estate are location,
location, location’) We could not include the obvious
pregnant silence that suggests ‘fuck’ (‘What the **** do
you think you’re doing?’) We shied away from the
lexicalised animal noises that often work their way into
informal conversation, such as a cat noise when someone
is behaving nastily We similarly did not include musical
phrases that have become part of our spoken vocabulary,
such as the four-note theme of The Twilight Zone which is
used to imply an uncanny weirdness in any coincidence, or
melodramatic hummed violin music that serves as vocal
commentary on any piteous tale.
Using The Concise New Partridge
We hope that our presentation is self-evident and that it
requires little explanation We use only a few abbreviations
and none of the stylistic conceits near and dear to the
hearts of lexicographers.
Headwords
We use indigenous spelling for headwords This is
especially relevant in the case of the UK arse and US ass.
For Yiddish words, we use Leo Rosten’s spelling, which
favours ‘sh-’ over ‘sch-’ An initialism is shown in upper
case without full stops (for example, BLT), except that
acronyms (pronounced like individual lexical items) are
lower case (for example, snafu).
Including every variant spelling of a headword
seemed neither practical nor helpful to the reader For the
spelling of headwords, we chose the form found in
standard dictionaries or the most common forms, ignoring
uncommon variants as well as common hyphenation variants of compounds and words ending in ‘ie’ or ‘y’ For this reason, citations may show variant spellings not found
headword; for example, burn rubber, lay rubber and peel rubber are all listed as phrases under the headword rubber.
Definition
In dealing with slang from all seven continents, we encountered more than a few culture-specific terms For such terms, we identify the domain or geographic location
of the term’s usage We use conventional English in the definitions, turning to slang only when it is both substantially more economical than the use of convention-
al English and is readily understood by the average reader.
Gloss The voice and tone of The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English is most obvious in the
gloss: the brief explanations that Partridge used for torial comment’ or ‘further elucidation’ Partridge warned against using the gloss to show what clever and learned fellows we are – a warning that we heed to the very limited extent it could apply to us We chose to discontinue Partridge’s classification by register.
‘edi-Country of origin
As is the case with dating, further research will undoubtedly produce a shift in the country of origin for a number of entries We resolutely avoided guesswork and informed opinion.
is spoken before it is written, and this is especially true of unconventional terms The recent proliferation of elec- tronic databases and powerful search engines will undoubtedly permit the antedating of many of the entries Individualised dating research, such as Allen Walker’s hunt for the origin of ‘OK’ or Barry Popik’s exhaustive work on terms such as ‘hot dog’, produces dramatic antedatings:
we could not undertake this level of detailed research for every entry.
Trang 12incorrect or misleading, especially where the sense is
subtle and fleeting, defying paraphrasing, or where kindred
senses are interwoven It is also inevitable that some
quotations are included in a mistaken sense For these
errors, we apologise in advance.
We carry the flame for words that are usually judged
only by the ill-regarded company they keep Just as
Partridge did for the sixteenth century beggars and rakes,
for whores of the eighteenth century, and for the armed
services of the two world wars, we try to do for the slang
users of the last 60 years We embrace the language of
beats, hipsters, Teddy Boys, mods and rockers, hippies, pimps, druggies, whores, punks, skinheads, ravers, surfers, Valley Girls, dudes, pill-popping truck drivers, hackers, rappers and more We have tried to do what Partridge saw
as necessary, which was simply to keep up to date.
Tom Dalzell, Berkeley, California Terry Victor, Caerwent, South Wales
Spring 2005 Re-edited for the Concise edition in the spring of 2007
Trang 14Our debt to Sophie Oliver defies description With good
humour and a saintly tolerance for our so-called wit and
attempts to corrupt, she herded this project through from
a glimmer in the eye to print on the page.
We bow to and thank the following who helped along
the way: Mary Ann Kernan, who was charged with putting
this project together in 1999 and 2000; John Williams,
who must be credited for all that is right about our
lexicography and excused for anything that is not; Robert
Hay and Mike Tarry of Alden for their unending work on
the database and cheerful handling of every problem we
could throw at them; Claire L’Enfant; James Folan for
rescuing us in the content edit phase; Louise Hake for her
cheerful determination in the editing and production
phases; our fine copy editors Sandra Anderson, Howard
Sargeant and Laura Wedgeworth; and Aine Duffy for her
enthusiastically scurrilous vision of the whole project as it
developed.
Finally, we thank Oxford University Press for
providing us with access to the ‘Oxford English Dictionary
Online’, a brilliant online presentation of the Oxford
English Dictionary, one of the leading sources for dating.
Tom Dalzell and Terry Victor
This dictionary would never have seen the light of day
without the time and support given to me by my family –
Cathy most notably, also Jake, Julia, Rosalie and Charlotte.
I thank and owe you big-time, major league and
humongously Who knew it would take so much? In their
own ways, and from a distance, my parents guided.
Audrey, Emily and Reggae started the project with me but
did not stay for the end.
I also thank: my slang mentors Paul Dickson and
Madeline Kripke (and better mentors you could not hope
for); Archie Green, who saved Peter Tamony’s work for
posterity and encouraged me throughout this project;
Jesse Sheidlower, Jonathon Green and Susan Ford, slang
lexicographers, friends and comrades in words; Dr Lisa
Winer for her voluminous and fine work on the slang of
Trinidad and Tobago; Jan Tent for his excellent collection
of Fijian slang; Dr Jerry Zientara, the learned and helpful
librarian at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human
Sexuality in San Francisco, which kindly opened its
incomparable library to me; Tom Miller, Bill Stolz, John
Konzal and Patricia Walker, archivists at the Western
Historical Manuscript Collection, University of Missouri at
Columbia, for their help and insights during my work with
the Peter Tamony archives; the Hon Sir Colville Young for
leading me to Richard Allsopp; Jim Holliday for his help on
the slang of pornography; Jennifer Goldstein for her help
on the slang of sex dancers; Richard Perlman for his
patient and Zen-like technological help; Angela Jacobson,
Elizabeth McInnis and Caitlan Perlman, who helped as
readers; Mr Baldwin, Mr Muir, Mr Lee, Dr Robert Regan and Dr Gordon Kelly for the English and popular culture they taught me.
lexicographers who were generous in their encouragement, advice and assistance: Reinhold Aman, a brave and brilliant pioneer, the late Robert Chapman, Gerald Cohen, Trevor Cralle, Jim Crotty, Connie Eble, Jonathan Lighter, Edward MacNeal, Geoffrey Nunberg, Judi Sanders, Leslie Savan and Oliver Trager.
Our Australian contributor, James Lambert, was given recourse to the various databases of the Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, who publish synchronic dictionaries for the Australian and Asian markets, and for these vast resources
as well as allowing me access to the playground language
of our time I must also thank Gerri Smith for her tolerant understanding that I could not be in two places at once Serendipity brought me to Tom Dalzell and through him I have had the advantage and benefit of all of the influences and providers of expertise that he names above, especially Jonathon Green In addition to those
encouragement of Michael Quinion and David Crystal; and, in matters polari, Paul Baker.
For particular contributions I would like to thank: Flight Lieutenant Andrew Resoli; Lisa and Tim Hale; David Morrison; some of the inmates at HMP High Down in the summer of 2002; Antonio Lillo for his work on rhyming slang; various magazine editors and journalists who addressed so many of my queries of modern usage; and, for a splendid collection of cocaine-related slang, a certain group of musicians (whose management would prefer that they remain anonymous) I also enjoyed the advan- tage of the correspondence that the Partridge and Beale 8th edition still attracts: I am grateful to all who wrote
in, and I look forward to seeing more contributions at
www.partridge-slang.com.
Above all, I must make mention of two people: Eric Partridge, who is my hero, and Tom Dalzell, who is my friend.
Terry Victor
Trang 16OBSERVATIONS ON SLANG AND UNCONVENTIONAL ENGLISH
Some notes on the challenges of lexicography, drawn entirely from the writings
of Eric Partridge (1894–1979)
Partridge wrote widely on matters concerning the English
language He did not, by any means, restrict his interest to
matters slang and unconventional; however, it is his work
in this area that had, and continues to have, the greatest
impact, and on which his reputation is most celebrated.
He wrote more than forty books in his lifetime,
considering such diverse topics as abbreviations, American
tramp and underworld slang, British and American English
since 1900, comic alphabets, English and American
Christian names, Shakespeare’s bawdy, usage and abusage,
and he contributed to many, many more It is so
substantial a body of work that any list short of a full
bib-liography will inevitably do his great achievement a
disservice He was a philologist, etymologist, lexicographer,
essayist and dictionary-maker; he is a legend and an
inspi-ration.
The flavour, and wisdom, of Partridge’s work is
gathered in the quotations that follow, loosely grouped by
subject, and presented under sub-headings that make new
use of a selection of his book and article titles.
Slang Today and Yesterday
From about 1850, slang has been the accepted term
for ‘illegitimate’ colloquial speech: but since then,
especially among the lower classes, ‘lingo’ has been
a synonym, and so also, chiefly among the cultured
and the pretentious, has ‘argot’ Now ‘argot’, being
merely the French for ‘slang’, has no business to be
used thus – it can rightly be applied only to French
slang of French cant: and ‘lingo’ properly means a
simplified language that, like Beach-la-Mar and
Pidgin-English, represents a distortion of (say)
English by coloured peoples speaking English indeed
but adapting it to their own phonetics and grammar.
‘Jargon’ – originally as in Chaucer, used of the
warbling of birds – has long been employed loosely
and synonymously for slang, but it should be
reserved for the technicalities of science, the
pro-fessions and the trades: though, for such
technical-ities, ‘shop’ is an equally good word.1
[S]lang is much rather a spoken than a literary
language It originates, nearly always, in speech.1
Slang is easy enough to use, but very hard to write
about with the facile convincingness that a subject
apparently so simple would, at first sight, seem to
demand But the simplest things are the hardest to
define, certainly the hardest to discuss, for it is
usually at first sight only that their simplicity is what strikes one the most forcibly And slang, after all, is a peculiar kind of vagabond language, always hanging
on the outskirts of legitimate speech, but continually straying or forcing its way into the most respectable company.2
Language in general and every kind of language belongs to everyone who wishes to use it.3
Slang, being the quintessence of colloquial speech, must always be related to convenience rather than scientific laws, grammatical rules and philosophical ideals As it originates, so it flourishes best, in colloquial speech.1
Slang may and often does fill a gap in accepted language.1
Words, Words, Words!
Every group or association, from a pair of lovers to a secret society however large, feels, at some time or other, the need to defend itself against outsiders, and therefore creates a slang designed to conceal its thoughts: and the greater the need for secrecy, the more extensive and complete is the slang[.]1
The specialization that characterizes every vocation leads naturally to a specialized vocabulary, to the invention of new words or the re-charging of old words Such special words and phrases become slang only when they are used outside their vocational group and then only if they change their meaning or are applied in other ways […] But, whatever the source, personality and one’s surroundings (social or occupational) are the two co-efficients, the two chief factors, the determining causes of the nature of slang,
as they are of language in general and of style.1
One kind of eyewash, the army’s innumerable ‘states’ and ‘returns’ was known as bumf, short for bum- fodder: the abbreviation was common in English
public schools from before 1900; the full term for toilet-paper dates back to the seventeenth century, when it was coined by Urquhart, the translator
of Rabelais; Urquhart is one of the most prolific originators of the obscenities and vulgarities of our language, and with him rank Shakespeare and Burns.4
Trang 17In English, the ideas most fertile in synonyms are
those of drinking, drunkenness, money, and the
sex-ual organs and act.1
Many slang words, indeed, are drawn from
entertainments), from the joy of life, from a gay
abandon: for this reason it has been wittily called
‘language on a picnic’.1
Common to – indeed, very common in – the
jazzman’s and the Beatnik’s vocabulary is the noun
pad, whence the entirely Beatnik pad me, a cat’s
invitation to a chick to share his room and bed […]
The Beatniks got it from the jazzmen who got it
from the American underworld who got it from the
British underworld (pad, a bed) who got it from
Standard English of the sixteenth–eighteenth
centuries (pad, a bundle of straw to lie on).5
The metaphors and allusions [in slang] are generally
connected with some temporary phase, some
ephemeral vogue, some unimportant incident; if the
origin is not nailed down at the time, it is rarely
recoverable.1
[B]orrowings from foreign languages produce slang;
and every language borrows Borrowings, indeed,
have a way of seeming slangy or of being welcomed
by slang before standard speech takes them into its
sanctum.1
War always produces a rich crop of slang.6
[W]ar (much as we may hate to admit the fact),
because, in all wars, both soldiers and sailors and,
since 1914, airmen and civilians as well, have
imported or adopted or invented hundreds of words,
terms, phrases, this linguistic aspect ranking as, if we
except the unexceptable ‘climate of courage,’ the
only good result of war.7
Human characteristics, such as a love of mystery and
a confidential air (a lazy freemasonry), vanity, the
imp of perversity that lurks in every heart, the
impulse to rebellion, and that irrepressible spirit of
adventure which, when deprived of its proper
outlook in action, perforce contents itself with verbal
audacity (the adventure of speech): these and others
are at the root of slang[.]1
Here, There and Everywhere
When we come to slang and familiar speech
gener-ally, we come to that department of the vocabulary
in which British and American differences are
naturally greater than anywhere else, just as they are
greater in the colloquial language generally than in
the literary.8
American slang is more volatile than English and it
tends, also, to have more synonyms, but a greater
number of those synonyms are butterflies of a day;
English synonyms are used more for variety than
from weariness or a desire to startle American slang
is apt to be more brutal than English[.]1
Canada also has an extensive and picturesque objective slang, but that slang is 80 per cent American, with the remainder rather more English than native-Canadian[…] it is linguistically unfair to condemn it for being so much indebted to its near and ‘pushing’ neighbour[.]1
Australian speech and writing have, from the outset,
unconventionality is linguistic.9The truth is that South African slang, as distinct from indispensable Africanderisms, is not intrinsically
so vivid, humorous, witty, or divinely earthy as Canadian and Australian slang, nor is it nearly so extensive, nor has it, except during the Boer War, succeeded in imposing itself upon English slang, much less upon Standard English[.]1
New Zealand is like South Africa in that its lation is too small to have much influenced the language of the mother country whether in Standard
popu-or in unconventional English.1Usage and Abusage Some of the upstart qualities [of slang] and part of the aesthetic (as opposed to the moral) impropriety spring from the four features present in all slang, whatever the period and whatever the country: the search for novelty; volatility and light-headedness as well as light-heartedness; ephemerality; the sway of fashion In the standard speech and still more in slang we note that the motive behind figurative expressions and all neologisms is the desire to escape from the old accepted phrase: the desire for novelty operates more freely, audaciously, and rapidly
in slang – that is the only difference […O]f the numerous slang words taken up by the masses and the classes, most have only a short life, and that when they die, unhonoured and unsung, they are almost immediately replaced by novelties equally transitory: the word is dead, long live the word! […S]lang, as to the greater part of its vocabulary and especially as to its cuckoo-calling phrases and it’s parrot-sayings, is evanescent; it is the residuum that, racy and expressive, makes the study of slang revel- atory of the pulsing life of the language.1
[S]lang is indicative not only of man’s earthiness but
of his indomitable spirit: it sets him in his proper place: relates a man to his fellows, to his world and the world, and to the universe.10
And slang is employed for one (or two or more) of thirteen reasons:
1 In sheer high spirits; ‘just for the fun of the thing’.
2 As an exercise in wit or humour.
3 To be ‘different’ – to be novel.
4 To be picturesque.
5 To be startling; to startle.
6 To escape from cliché’s and long-windedness.
7 To enrich the language.
8 To give solidity and concreteness to the abstract and the idealistic, and nearness to the
Trang 18distant scene or object.
9 To reduce solemnity, pain, tragedy.
10 To put oneself in tune with one’s company.
11 To induce friendliness or intimacy.
12 To show that one belongs to a certain school,
trade or profession, intellectual set or social
class In short to be in the fashion – or to
prove that someone else isn’t.
13 To be secret – not understood by those around
one.11
But no real stylist, no-one capable of good speaking
or good writing, is likely to be harmed by the
occasional employment of slang; provided that he is
conscious of the fact, he can employ it both
frequently and freely without stultifying his mind,
impoverishing his vocabulary, or vitiating the taste
and the skill that he brings to the using of that
vocabulary Except in formal and dignified writing and
in professional speaking, a vivid and extensive slang is
perhaps preferable to a jejune and meagre vocabulary
of standard English; on the other hand, it will hardly
be denied that, whether in writing or speech, a sound
though restricted vocabulary of standard English is
preferable to an equally small vocabulary of slang,
however vivid may be that slang.1
The Gentle Art of Lexicography
I began early in life: and it is the course of my life
which, allied to a natural propensity to original sin,
has made a lexicographer out of me.12
For most of us, a dictionary is hardly a book to read;
a good dictionary, however, is a book to browse in.
Some dictionaries are so well written that one just
goes on and on To write such a dictionary has
always been my ambition.12
Slang [etymology/lexicography] demands a mind
constantly on the qui vive; an ear constantly keyed to
the nuances of everyday speech, whether among
scholars or professional men or craftsmen or
labourers; a very wide reading of all kinds of books.13
I have read much that is hopelessly inferior,
hopelessly mediocre; and much that, although
interesting, is yet devoid of literary value But ever
since my taste acquired a standard, I have been able
to extract some profit from even the most trashy
book.14
There is far more imagination and enthusiasm in the
making of a good dictionary than in the average
novel.15
Words at War: Words at Peace
For over a century, there have been protests against
the use of slang and controversies on the relation of
slang to the literary language or, as it is now usually
called, Standard English Purists have risen in their
wrath and conservatives in their dignity to defend
the Bastille of linguistic purity against the
revolutionary rabble The very vehemence of the
attack and the very sturdinessof the defence have ensured that only the fittest survive to gain entrance
to the citadel, there establish themselves, and then become conservatives and purists in their turn.16Any term that prevents us from thinking, any term that we employ to spare us from searching for the right word, is a verbal narcotic As though there weren’t too many narcotics already…17
Words are very important things; at the lowest estimate, they are indispensable counters of communication.18
3 ‘The Lexicography of Cant’, American Speech, Volume
26, Issue 2, May 1951: The American Dialect Society, Durham, North Carolina
4 ‘Byways of Soldier Slang’ in A Martial Medley, 1931:
Scholartis Press, London
5 ‘A Square Digs Beatnik’, August 1959 Originally published for private circulation Christmas 1959/New
Year 1960 Collected in A Charm of Words, 1960:
Hamish Hamilton, London
6 ‘Words Get Their Wings’, originally published in
Chamber’s Journal, July-August 1945 Collected in Words at War: Words at Peace, 1948: Frederick Muller,
London
7 ‘Introduction’ in Dictionary of New Words, Mary
Reifer, 1957: Peter Owen, London
8 British and American English Since 1900, co-authored
with John W Clark, 1951: Andrew Dakers, London
9 ‘Australian English’ in A Charm of Words, 1960:
Hamish Hamilton, London
10 Usage & Abusage, 1947: Hamish Hamilton, London
[originally published in the US in 1942]
11 The World of Words, 2nd edition, 1939: Hamish
Hamilton, London [reduced by Eric Partridge from a
fuller consideration in Slang Today and Yesterday,
1933, and based on the work of M Alfredo Niceforo,
14 Journey to the Edge of Morning, ©1946, reprinted
1969: Books for Libraries Press, New York
15 As Corrie Denison, a pseudonymous epigraph to A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Captain
Francis Grose (3rd edition, 1796), edited by Eric Partridge, 1931: Scholartis Press, London
16 Here, There and Everywhere, 1950: Hamish Hamilton,
London
17 ‘Verbal Narcotics’, originally published in Good Housekeeping magazine, June 1949 Collected in From Sanskrit to Brazil, 1952: Hamish Hamilton,
London
18 ‘Words in Vogue: Words of Power’, 1942: collected in
Words at War: Words at Peace, 1948: Frederick Muller,
London
Trang 20Anoun1amphetamineUS , 1967.2LSD An abbreviation ofACID US ,
1977.3in a deck of playing cards, an aceUS , 1988.< get A into G;
get your A into Gto stop idling; to apply yourself to an activity;
to start doing something useful Euphemistic forGET YOUR ARSE IN
GEAR NEW ZEALAND , 2002
Aadjective1reserved for the best; the bestUS , 1945.2analUS , 1997
a2mnouna scene in a pornographic film in which an object or body
part is withdrawn from a rectum and taken into a mouth without
either washing or editing Shorthand for ‘ass-to-mouth’US , 1997
A3anytime, anyplace, anywhere An abbreviation used in text
messagingUK , 2003
AAAnounan amphetamine tablet In the US, the AAA is the national
automobile club, which, like an amphetamine tablet, helps you get
from one place to anotherUS , 1993
A and Anounin the military, a leave for rest and recreation A
jocular abbreviation of ‘ass and alcohol’US , 1966
A and Bnounassault and batteryUS , 1986
aap; arpnouna marijuana cigarette From Afrikaans for ‘monkey’
SOUTH AFRICA , 1946
aardvarknounan F-111 combat aircraft or any aircraft that is
awkward-looking or difficult to fly Vietnam war usageUS , 1963
abnounan abscess, especially as a result of injecting drugsUS , 1952
ABnoun1the Aryan Brotherhood, a white prison gang in the USUS ,
1990.2the bleed period of the menstrual cycle An abbreviation of
‘Annie Brown’NEW ZEALAND , 1996
ABAnouna traveller’s chequeUS , 1985
abbadjectiveabnormalUS , 1991
abba-dabbanounchatter, gossip Undoubtedly originated with the
song ‘The Aba-Daba Honeymoon’, written in 1913 and re-released
with great success by Larry Clinton and His Orchestra in March
1948, in which ‘abba-dabba’ is the chatter of monkeysUS , 1961
abba-dabbaadjectivedark-skinned, especially ArabicUS , 1975
abbedadjectivehaving well-defined abdominal musclesUK , 2002
abbeynouna swindler who impersonates a priestUS , 1950.< on the
abbeyengaged in a swindle involving clergy impersonationUS , 1992
abbottnouna capsule of pentobarbital sodium (trade name
Nembutal™), a central nervous system depressant From the name
of the manufacturerUS , 1971
Abby Singernounin television and film making, the next-to-last
shot of the day Singer was active in US television from the early
1950s until the late 1980s; his name became an eponym when he
was an Assistant Director in the 1950sUS , 1990
ABCnoun1an American-born ChineseUS , 1984.2in poker, the ace,
two and threeUS , 1988
ABCadjective of a piece of chewing gum, already been chewed.
ABC’snoununderwearUS , 1949
ABC-yaused as a farewell Intended as a clever variant of ‘I’ll be
seeing you’US , 2002
abdabs; habdabs; screaming abdabsnouna condition of anxiety,
uneasiness, nervousness; also, but rarely, delirium tremens or a
state of enraged frustration Always following ‘the’, usually nowphrased (to give someone) the screaming abdabsUK , 1946
abdicateverbto vacate a public toilet upon orders of a rousting attendant The royal imagery is derived from the homo-sexual asQUEEN US , 1941
homosexual-Abdulnoun1used as a term of address for any Turkish soldier WorldWar 1 coinageUK , 1925.2any male Arab Gulf war usageUS , 1991
Abenoun1a five-dollar note An abbreviation ofABE LINCOLN US , 1945.
2any Jewish male Also variant ‘Abie’ From the archetypal Jewishname: AbrahamUS , 1914
A beannouna capsule of MDMA, the recreational drug best known
abfabadjective absolutely fabulous Originally the slang of Australian
teenagers From early 1990s in the UK it has been the widely
fam-iliar short-form of popular television situation comedy Absolutely
be unable to do what you are told to doBARBADOS , 1996
Able Dognounthe propeller-driven Douglas AD Skyraider Based onthe letters A and D in phonetic alphabet The Skyraider wasmanufactured between 1946 and 1957; it saw service in Korea andVietnamUS , 1961
able Grablenouna sexually attractive girlUS , 1945
abonounan Australian Aboriginal An abbreviation of ‘aborigine’blended with the ‘-o’ suffix Now a strongly taboo word, formerly
in frequent use by white people, and viewed by them as lessmarked than other terms such as ‘boong’ or ‘coon’ It was evenused in names for products, businesses, etcAUSTRALIA , 1906
aboadjectiveAustralian Aboriginal; of, or pertaining to, AustralianAboriginalsAUSTRALIA , 1911
aboardadverbpresent, part of an enterpriseUS , 1957.< go aboard
of someoneto act vigorously and aggressively, to attack, or scoldvigorouslyCANADA , 1980
A-bomb; atom bombnounmarijuana combined in a cigarette withcocaine, heroin or opium The addition of narcotic enhancements
to a BOMB (a marijuana cigarette) is signified by the ‘A’US , 1969
A-bombedadjectiveunder the influence of amphetaminesUS , 1975
A-bonenouna Model A Ford car, first built in 1927US , 1951
abootprepositionused as a humorous attempt to duplicate aCanadian saying ‘about’US , 1995
abortverbto defecate after being the passive partner in anal sexUS , 1972
abortionnouna misfortune; an ugly person or thingUS , 1943
about-facenouna 180-degree turn executed while driving fastUS , 1965
about it; ’bout itadjectivein favour of somethingUS , 2001
about right correct, adequate
Trang 21above boardadjectiveentirely honest From card playingUK , 1616
above paradjective1in excellent health or spirits Originates from
describing stocks and shares as above face valueUK , 1937.2mildly
drunk By extension from the previous senseUK , 1984
abracadabra, please and thank youused as a humorous
embellishment of ‘please’ A signature line from the Captain
Kangaroo children’s television show (CBS, 1944–84) Repeated
with referential humourUS , 1944
Abraham Lincoln; Abie Lincolnadjectivedisgusting, contemptible
Glasgow rhyming slang forSTINKING UK , 1988
AbrahampsteadnicknameHampstead, an area of north London
with a large Jewish population A combination with the archetypal
Jewish name AbrahamUK , 1981
absnounthe abdominal musclesUS , 1956
absobloodylutelyadverbabsolutely, utterly First recorded as
‘absoballylutely’UK , 1914
absofuckinglutelyadverbabsolutelyUK , 1921
absolutely!used for registering complete agreementUK , 1937
Absolutely, Mr Gallagher Positively, Mr Shean.used for a
humorous assent From the Vaudeville team of Gallagher and
SheanUS , 1922
absotively; absitivelyadverbcertainly A jocular blend of
‘posi-tively’ and ‘absolutely’US , 1926
Abyssinian polonouna game of diceUS , 1962
Abyssinian teanounkhat, a natural stimulant grown in Kenya,
Ethiopia and SomaliaUK , 2004
Acnounan Acura carUS , 2002
AC/DC; AC-DCnounin gay society, a coupleUK , 2002
AC/DC; AC-DCadjectivebisexual A pun on electricity’s AC
(alternating current) and DC (direct current)US , 1960
ACABall coppers are bastards An initialism, a philosophy, a tattoo
UK , 1996
academynouna jail or prisonUS , 1949
Academy Awardnounrecognition of excelling in a fieldUS , 1958
Academy Awardadjective1excellentUS , 1958.2histrionicAUSTRALIA ,
1966
Academy Award winningadjectivehistrionicAUSTRALIA , 1987
Acapulconounmarijuana from southwest Mexico A shortened form
ofACAPULCO GOLD US , 1970
Acapulco goldnoungolden-leafed marijuana from southwest
Mexico A popular, well-known strain of cannabis The song
‘Acapulco Gold’ by the Rainy Daze was released in 1967 and had
just begun its climb on the pop charts when programme directors
figured out what it was about and pulled it off play listsUS , 1965
acca; ackernounan academic whose work serves the marketplace
rather than the intellect; hence a particularly sterile piece of
academic writing An abbreviation punning onOCKER(a coarse
Australian)AUSTRALIA , 1977
acceleratornoun1an amphetamine tabletUS , 1993.2an arsonistUS ,
1992
accessorynouna boyfriend or girlfriendUS , 1992
accibouncenouna minor collision or accidentTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ,
2003
accidentnouna murder that cannot be proved as suchUS , 1964
accidentally on purposeadverbapparently accidental yet
deliberately done, especially with hidden malicious purposeUS , 1887
accommodation arrestnouna pre-arranged, consensual raid of an
illegal gambling operation, designed to give the appearance of
strict enforcement of lawsUS , 1961
according to Hoyleadverbin keeping with established rules and
norms After Edmond Hoyle (1672–1769), who codified the rules
for many gamesUS , 1904
BROWN-NOSE(to behave obsequiously, etc.)UK , 1929
accumulatornouna type of bet where the amount won on oneevent becomes the stake for the next event; a bettor who operates
in such a mannerUK , 1889
acenoun1a very close friendUS , 1932.2used as a form of addressUK ,
1919.3a good and reliable friendUS , 1941.4one dollarUS , 1900.5onehundred dollarsUS , 1974.6one-eighth of an ounce of a drugUS , 1989.
7phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust
US , 1981.8in dice games, a rolled oneUS , 1999.9an important ornotable CB user Citizens’ band radio slangUS , 1976.10a prisonsentence of one yearUS , 1927.11in the theatre, a one-nightengagementUS , 1981.12in pool, the number one ballUS , 1878.13atable for one at a restaurantUS , 1961.14a single rotten fruitUK , 1963.
15in lunch counter usage, a grilled cheese sandwichUS , 1975.
16the grade ‘A’US , 1964.< ace in the holean undisclosedresourceUS , 1908.< ace up your sleevea resource that is yet to
be revealed From the popular belief that card cheats hide cards
up their sleevesUS , 1927.< on your acealone; by yourself
AUSTRALIA , 1904
aceverb1to outsmart someoneUS , 1929.2to work your waysomewhere, to engineer somethingUS , 1929.3to do well in anexaminationUS , 1957.4to kill someoneUS , 1975
aceadjectiveexceptional, expert, excellentUS , 1930
ace boon coon; ace boon poonnouna very close friendUS , 1958
ace boynouna very good male friendBERMUDA , 1985
ace coolnouna very close and trusted friendUS , 1988
ace-deucenoun1a fellow prisoner upon whom you rely withoutquestionUS , 1989.2your best friendBELIZE , 1996
ace-deuceverbin craps, to sustain a heavy lossUS , 1987
ace-deuceadjective1cross-eyedUS , 1955.2riding a racehorse with theright stirrup higher than the leftUS , 1948
ace-deuceadverbon an angle, with one side higher than the other
US , 1948
ace-douchenounin craps, a first roll of three ‘Douche’ is anintentional corruption of ‘deuce’; a come-out roll of three losesUS , 1999
ace high; aces highadjectivethe very best From pokerUS , 1896
ace inverb1to manipulate someone or something into a situation
US , 1971.2to become associated with a group and work your wayinto itUS , 1992
acelerantenounan amphetamine or central nervous system lant Borrowed Spanish used by English-speakersUS , 1992
stimu-ace mannouna youth gang’s top fighterUS , 1953
ace notenouna one-dollar noteUS , 1929
ace of spadesnounthe vulvaUS , 1960
ace onadjectiveskilled atBAHAMAS , 1982
ace outverb1to fool someone; to swindle someoneUS , 1933.2toexclude someoneUS , 1964.3in poker, to win a hand by bluffingwhile holding a relatively low-value handUS , 1983
ace over apexadverbhead over heelsUS , 1960
acesnounin poker, a hand with a pair of acesUS , 1987.< aces in
both placesin craps, a roll of twoUS , 1999
acesadjectiveexcellentUS , 1901
acey-deuceynoun1in backgammon, a variant rule under which thegame is started in positions other than the standard layoutUS , 1944.
2a bisexual A probable elaboration ofAC/DC US , 1980
acey-deuceyverb(used of a jockey) to ride with the inside stirruplower than the outside stirrup A riding style popularised by
Trang 22acey-deucynounin craps, a roll of a one and a twoUS , 1974
acey-deucyadjectivebisexual A probable elaboration of AC/DCUS ,
1972
achievernoun a devoted fan of the film The Big Lebowski In the
film, the rich Lebowski sponsors a programme named the ‘Little
Lebowski Urban Achievers’US , 2004
Achnardnouna taxi driver New York police slang, corrupting
‘Ahmed’ as an allusion to the preponderance of immigrants
among New York’s taxi-driving workforceUS , 1997
acidnoun1LSDUS , 1965.2rumBARBADOS , 1965.3by extension, any
alcoholic beverageTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003.4impudence, heavy
sarcasm Especially in the phrase ‘come the old acid’UK , 1962.
< put the acid on1to pressure someone; to put someone to
the test From ‘acid test’AUSTRALIA , 1906.2to pressure someone
sexuallyAUSTRALIA , 1939
acid freaknouna habitual user of LSDUS , 1966
acid funknouna depression brought on by LSD useUS , 1971
acid headnouna habitual user of LSDUS , 1966
acid housenouna mesmeric dance music genre characterised by
electronic ‘squelching’ sounds An artistic and lexicographic
extension ofHOUSE(MUSIC)US , 1988
acid jazznouna dance music genreUK , 1999
acid mungnounthe sensation while under the influence of LSD of
having an oily faceUS , 1971
acidonounLSDUS , 1971
acid rocknouna genre of rock music Folk etymology claims the
music to be inspired by the altered states of conciousness induced
byACID(the hallucinogenic drug LSD); certainly this was a
commercial style of music being marketed to the mass audience
when high-profile musicians were experimenting with LSDUS , 1966
acid testnounan event organised to maximise the hallucinatory
experiences of LSD Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters organised
acid tests in Palo Alto, Portland (Oregon), Los Angeles and Mexico
in 1966US , 1966
acidyadjectivepsychedelic FromACID(LSD)UK , 1998
acieeed!; aceeed!called out to register a delight in, and
identifi-cation with, club dance music Three ‘e’s seem to be a constant in
the various spellings that attempt to capture the fervour generated
by early acid house cultureUK , 1999
acknoun1a pimpleUS , 1968.2in computer programming, a message
sent from one system or program to another, acknowledging
receipt of a previous messageUK , 1986
ackverb1to acknowledge a letter, etc Clerical usage, originally Civil
ServiceUK , 1984.2in computer programming, to acknowledge
receipt of a messageUK , 1986
ack-acknounanti-aircraft artillery An initialism, using the phonetic
alphabet that was current until 1941 Usage survived the new
alphabet rather than being amended to ‘able able’US , 1926
ack-ackverbto shoot someone or somethingUS , 1947
ackamarackus; ackamarackanounfanciful speech intended to
deceiveUS , 1933
ack emmanounthe morning Military origins, from the phonetic
alphabet: ack (A) current 1904–41, emma (M) 1904–27UK , 1890
acker; akka; ackersnounmoney in any form Originally military
usage for the (Egyptian) piastre, probably from Arabic fakka (small
change)UK , 1937 8see:ACCA
Acker Bilknounmilk Rhyming slang, based on West Country jazz
musician Acker Bilk (b.1929)UK , 1992
ackleverbto fit or function properlyUK , 1961
ack Willy; ack Willieadjectiveabsent without leave In World War 2
military use; signalese for AWOL, the official abbreviation AUSTRALIA ,
1942
acme wringernounthe finger Glasgow rhyming slangUK , 1988
acnenouna rough road-surfaceUS , 1976
acorn
acornsnounthe testiclesUS , 1975
acorn shellnouna condomUK , 1990s
acquireverbto steal something Ironic use of the conventionalsenseUK , 1937
acre; achernounthe backsideAUSTRALIA , 1938
acrosspreposition< across the bridge to Dartmouthmentally ill,institutionalised In the twin cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, NovaScotia, the Nova Scotia Hospital, the institution for the mentallyunstable, is in the latterCANADA , 1999
across the boardnounin horse racing, a bet that a horse will win,place (finish second), or show (finish third)US , 1964
across the ditchnounAustraliaNEW ZEALAND , 1998
across the pavementadverb(of criminal activity) in a street ationUK , 1977
situ-actnounthe disguise and staged personality assumed by an expertcard counter playing blackjack in a casino in the hope of avoidingdetection and ejectionUS , 1991.< get in on the act; be in on
the actto become, or be, involved in another’s activityUS , 1947.
< get into the actto take part If not coined by, popularised aspart of the catchphrase ‘everybody wants to get into the act’ bycomedian Jimmy Durante on the radio in the 1940sUS , 1946.
< get your act together; get it togetherto take control ofyour personal condition; to get your mind and emotions undercontrol; to become organised A variation of ‘pull yourselftogether’US , 1973.< hard act to follow; tough act to follow
something or someone who cannot be easily outdoneUS , 1963.
< put on an actto give an exaggerated performance; to indulge
in histrionicsAUSTRALIA , 1944
actverb< act as ifin twelve-step recovery programmes such asAlcoholics Anonymous, used as a slogan for new participants inthe programmeUS , 1998.< act cuteto behave in an annoyinglyadorable fashionSINGAPORE , 2002.< act the angorato play thefool The angora goat supplies this variation ofACT THE GOAT
AUSTRALIA , 1942.< act the goatto play the foolAUSTRALIA , 1940.
< act the maggotto play the foolIRELAND , 2003.< act your age
not your shoesizeto behave in a manner appropriate to youryears A humorous extension of ‘act your age’US , 1986
act-assnouna show-off; a braggartUS , 1970
acting Jacknoun1a lance sergeant Korean war usageUS , 1917.2asoldier temporarily appointed to higher rank, especially to serve as
a platoon leader in basic trainingUS , 1942
actionnoun1sexual activityUS , 1956.2activity, especially of the kind
to arouse interest or excitement Often in the greetings ‘where’sthe action?’ and ‘what’s the action?’US , 1951.3betting, gambling
US , 1885.4the amount that a gambler is willing to betUS , 1991.5inpool, a game played with wagersUS , 1990.6in pool, spin imparted
on the cue ball to affect the course of the object ball or the cueball after striking the object ballUS , 1913.7a political act, oftenconfrontational or violentUS , 1971.< piece of the action; share
of the actionan involvement in an activity; a share in the profits
of somethingUS , 1957
actionsuffixused for emphasis of the noun to which it is suffixed,without change in meaning For example, ‘I’m ready for someChinese food action’US , 1982
action beavernouna film featuring full nudity and sexual activityshort of intercourseUS , 1974
action factionnouna subset of the political left that advocatedforceful, confrontational tacticsUS , 1968
action playernouna gambler who bets heavily, frequently andflamboyantlyUS , 2003
action roomnoun1a poolhall where betting is commonUS , 1972.2aplace where betting and gambling take placeUS , 1972
active citizensnounfleas, bedbugs or body liceUS , 1949
actornoun1a liar, a bluffer Criminal usageUK , 1950.2a troublemaker
US , 1964
actor-proofadjectivedenoting a part in a play or performance sowell written that no amount of bad acting can ruin itUS , 1973
actor’s Bible Variety magazine
Trang 23actor’s reachnouna seemingly sincere effort to pay for your meal
when eating in a group at a restaurant, masking a secret hope that
someone else will pay Based on the stereotype of the actor as
starving artist, timing his reach for his wallet to produce a demur
from someone else at the table who has already reached for their
wallet to payUS , 1999
actualnounin the Vietnam war, a unit commanderUS , 1991
actuarynounin an illegal betting operation, an oddsmakerUS , 1971
ADnouna drug addict Either a straightforward abbreviation of
‘addict’ or, as has been seriously suggested, an initialism of ‘drug
addict’ reversed to avoid confusion with a District AttorneyUS , 1970
adafookman!used in black criminal society as an all-purpose
protestation of innocence, e.g ‘have I?’, ‘I didn’t!’ A phonetic
slovening of ‘have I fuck, man!’UK , 2002
Ada from Decatur; Ada Ross, the Stable Hossnounin a game
of dice, a roll of eight A homophonic evolution of ‘eighter’US , 1918
Ad Alleynicknamethe advertising industry, especially that located in
New York and commonly known in the US as ‘Madison Avenue’
after the New York street where many advertising agencies had
their officesUS , 1952
Adamnoun1MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
An anagramUS , 1985.2a partner in a criminal enterpriseUK , 1797.
3a homosexual’s first sexual partner From Adam as the biblical
first manUS , 1972.< not know someone from Adamto be
ignorant about an identificationUK , 1784
Adam and Evenouna pill of MDEA and MDMA, the recreational
drugs best known as ecstasy A combination ofADAM(MDMA) and
the obvious partner; noteMADMANandMADWOMANas synonyms
for MDMA and MDEA repectivelyUK , 1996
Adam and Eve; adamverb1to believe Rhyming slang Franklyn
suggests it ante-dates 1914; the Oxford English Dictionary finds the
earliest citation at 1925UK.2to leave, especially in a hurried
mannerUK , 1998
Adam and Eve on a raftnountwo eggs on toast Restaurant slang
US , 1909
Adam Antsnounpants Rhyming slang for UK underwear not US
trousers; formed on Adam Ant, the stage name of singer and actor
Stuart Goddard (b.1954)UK , 2003
adamaticaladjectivenaked Without a conventional fig leafUK , 1961
Adam’s off-oxnouna complete stranger Used in the expression ‘he
wouldn’t know me from Adam’s off-ox’US , 1983
adbusternounin anticorporate activism, the non-specific
description for those involved in cultural subversionCANADA , 1989
adbustingnounin anticorporate activism, the act of subverting
brand advertising, usually by parody or mockeryUS , 2000
addicknounan addict A misspelling that reflects pronunciationUS ,
1997
addictnouna victim of a confidence swindle who repeatedly invests
in the crooked enterprise, hoping that his investment will pay off
US , 1985.< addict waiting to happenin twelve-step recovery
programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous, used for describing
the childhood of addicts of the futureUS , 1998
additoodnouna confrontational manner The English version of
Americanised pronunciation, adopting the US slang sense of
‘attitude’UK , 1990s
addynounan addressUS , 2002
A-decknouna prison cell used for solitary confinementUS , 1984
adgerverbin computing, to make an avoidable mistakeUS , 1991
adidasnouna prison training instructor From the similarity
between the stripes on an instructor’s uniform and the
logo-styling on Adidas™ sports equipmentUK , 1996
adios amoebasused as a humorous farewell The ‘amoebas’ is an
intentional butchering of amigos US , 1988
adios motherfuckerused as a farewell Jocular or defiant;
Adirondack steak; Adirondack goatnoungame, especiallyvenison, killed out of seasonUS , 1954
adjectivaladjectiveused as a euphemistic substitute for anyintensifying adjective that may be considered unsuitableUK , 1910
adjusternouna hammerUS , 1990
adjust the stick!used as a humorous admonition to casinoemployees at a craps table when the players are losingUS , 1983
ad-libverbto date indiscriminatelyUS , 1960
ad mannoun1a prisoner who is friendly or aligned with the prisonadministrationUS , 1976.2a swindler who sells advertising space in anon-existent publication or a publication with whom he has noassociationUS , 1992
Admiral Browningnounin the navy, human excrementUK , 1961
admiral’s matenounin the Royal Navy, a boasting know-all rating
UK , 1962
admiral’s watchnouna good night’s sleepUS , 1949
admiralty brownnountoilet paper Originally Royal Australian NavyusageAUSTRALIA , 1961
admishnounthe admission price of a performanceUS , 1981
a-double-scribblenounused as a euphemism for ‘ass’ in any of itssensesUS , 1996
Adrian Quistadjectivedrunk Rhyming slang forPISSED; formed on
the name of the Australian tennis player, 1913–91AUSTRALIA , 1978
adriftadjective1absent without leave; missing Originally nauticalusageUS , 1841.2confusedUK , 1962
adult babynouna person, often a prostitute’s client, whose sexualneeds are manifested in a desire to be dressed and treated as aninfantUK , 1995
advanceverb< advance the sparkto prepareUS , 1945
advertiseverb1to signal your intentions unwittingly but plainlyUS ,
1931.2to dress or behave in a sexually provocative manner; topluck and pencil the eyebrows Gay use, on the premise that itpays to advertiseUS , 1972.3in poker, to bluff in a manner that isintended to be caught, all in anticipation of a later bluffUS , 1949.
4in gin, to discard in a manner that is designed to lure a desiredcard from an opponentUS , 1971.5to activate the siren and/orflashing lights of a police carUS , 1976
advertisednoun< on the advertisedon the railways, on timeUS , 1975
adzinenouna single-interest fan magazine containing onlyadvertisingUS , 1982
aerated; aeriatedadjectiveexcited, angryUK , 1984
aerialadjectiveused as a modifier for any sexual position where atleast one participant is off the groundUS , 1995
Aesopnounin poker, any player who tells stories while playingUS , 1996
af; affnounan African DerogatorySOUTH AFRICA , 1976
A-factornounthe ‘Antarctic factor’, which explains any and allunexpected and added difficulties encounteredANTARCTICA , 1988
AFAICused as shorthand in Internet discussion groups and text
messages to mean ‘as far as I’m concerned’ US , 2002
AFFnounan attraction to South Asian females An abbreviation of
‘Asian female fetish’US , 1997
affirmativeyes Used with irony, mocking a military responseUS , 1976
affy budnouna type of marijuana that originates in AfghanistanUK , 2004
afgaynouna homosexual See:AGFAY US , 1972
Afghannounany Afghan, Pakistani or other central Asian whoimmigrated to Australia in the C19 to work as camel-drivers indesert regions Formerly generally regarded with suspicion andcontempt by white Australians, which accounts for the fossilisation
of the term in various derogatory phrases; the occupation has long
Trang 24Afghaninounhashish oil from Afghanistan Although Afghanistan is
best known for its heroin, hashish is a second important exportUS ,
1992
Afghani black; Afghani pollennounvarieties of hashish from
AfghanistanUK , 2003
AFKused as shorthand in Internet discussion groups and text
mess-ages to mean ‘away from keyboard’ US , 2002
AfkansastannounAfghan marijuana grown in KansasUS , 2001
afloatadjectivedrunkUS , 1809
AFOnicknamethe Arellano-Felix Organization, a criminal enterprise
that functioned as a transportation subcontractor for the heroin
trade into the USUS , 1998
afoot or ahossbackadjectiveunsure of the direction you are going
to takeUS , 1895
A for effortnounpraise for the work involved, if not for the result
of the work From a trend in US schools to grade children both on
the basis of achievement and on the basis of effort expended
Faint praise as often as notUS , 1948
Africa hotadjectiveextremely hotUS , 1992
Africannoun1a manufactured cigarette (not hand-rolled)AUSTRALIA ,
1959.2a type of marijuana claimed to have been grown in Africa
UK , 2003.3in American casinos, a black betting chip worth $100US ,
1983
African blacknouna potent type of marijuana, presumed to be
from Africa, possibly MoroccoUS , 1970
African bushnounmarijuanaUS , 1979
African dominoesnoundiceUS , 1919
African golfnounthe game of crapsUS , 1919
African grapenouna watermelon Based on the stereotypical
association between rural black people and a love of watermelon
US , 1980
African guff-guffnouna non-existent disease suffered by soldiers
US , 1947
African plumnouna watermelonUS , 1973
African queennouna white homosexual man who finds black men
attractive Punning on the Bogart filmUS , 1979
African saladnounkhat, a natural stimulant grown in Kenya,
Ethiopia and SomaliaUK , 2004
African toothachenounany sexually transmitted infectionUS , 1964
African Woodbinenouna marijuana cigarette Woodbine™ was a
well-known brand of cheaper cigaretteUK , 1975
Afronouna bushy, frizzy hairstyle embraced by black people as a
gesture of resistance in the 1960sUS , 1966
afromobilenouna wicker pedicabUS , 1939
Afro picknouna gap-toothed comb used for an Afro hairstyleUS , 1986
afterbirthnounrhubarbAUSTRALIA , 1943
afterburnernouna linear amplifier for a citizens’ band radioUS , 1976
afterclapsnounconsequencesBELIZE , 1996
after-hoursadjectiveopen after bars and nightclubs close at 2amUS ,
1947
afterlateradverblaterUS , 1997
after-ninenouna black male homosexual who pretends to be
het-erosexual during working hoursSOUTH AFRICA , 2000
afternoonnounthe buttocks, especially large female buttocks
BARBADOS , 1996
afternoon farmernouna lazy and unsuccessful farmerCANADA , 1960
aftersnoun1the dessert course of a meal Originally military usage
UK , 1909.2drinks, or a session of drinking, served in a public house
after licensing hoursUK , 2000.3the after-effects of too much
alcoholIRELAND , 1997.4further fighting after a fight appears to have
endedUK , 1974
after tearsnouna post-funeral celebration Scamto youth street
slang (South African townships)
afterthoughtnounan unplanned pregnancy; the child of anunplanned pregnancyUK , 1914
after you, Claude – no, after you, Cecilused to depict a lack ofaggression or unnecessary good manners A catchphrase regularlydelivered by Jack Train and Horace Percival in the BBC radio
comedy ITMA, 1939–49 Contemporary usage has been widely
applied to sports such as cricket, hockey, football and motor-racing,and also to first-past-the-post electoral systemsUK , 1939
after you with the trough!used in response to someone’sbelching A unsubtle implication that the belcher is a pig who haseaten too much Mainly northern EnglandUK , 1977
agadjectiveangry An abbreviation of ‘aggravated’US , 2000
AGadjective all good US , 1997
agused as an all-purpose intensifier Pronounced like the German
ach Can precede any sentence for various effects, such as the
more neutral, ‘Ag, I don’t know’ Used by some people as a alone expletiveSOUTH AFRICA , 1833
stand-ag; aggnountrouble; problems; a nuisance A further reduction of
AGGRO(aggravation)UK , 1996
again!used for expressing strong approvalANTIGUA AND BARBUDA , 1996
against the lawadjective(used of a woman) extraordinarily beautiful
agatenoun1a marble in the slang sense of sanityUS , 1951.2a smallpenisUS , 1967
agatesnounthe testiclesUS , 1941
A-gaynouna prominent, sought-after homosexual manUS , 1982
agenoun1length of service for an employer; seniorityUS , 1946.2inpoker and other card games, the person to the immediate left ofthe dealerUS , 1963
-agesuffixused as an embellishment without meaning at the end ofnouns The suffix got a second wind with the US television series
Buffy The Vampire Slayer US , 1981
ageableadjectivevery oldTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003
age before beautyused as a mock courtesy when allowingsomeone to precede youUK , 1977
age cardnounproof of legal ageUS , 1968
agentnoun1the operator of a rigged carnival gameUS , 1985.2incasino gambling, a confederate of a cheatUS , 1996
Agent Scullynounoral sex A reference to the name of the female
lead in the X-Files television series, punning on her name and
SKULL(oral sex)US , 2001
agfaynouna homosexual man Pig Latin forFAG US , 1942
aggedadjectiveangry, aggravatedUS , 1998
aggienoun1an aggressive, domineering male From the tional ‘aggressive’US , 1968.2during the Korean war, any youngKoreanUS , 1951.3agoraphobiaUK , 1980.4a farm tool, especially ahoeUS , 1972
conven-aggieadjectiveangry, agitatedUS , 2002
aggie overdrivenounin trucking, coasting in neutral gearUS , 1976
Aggie Weston’s; Aggie’snicknamea hostel for sailors provided bythe charity RSR (Dame Agnes Weston’s Royal Sailors Rests) Co-founded in 1876 by Agnes Weston (1840–1918) to try and savesailors from ‘booze and brothels’ and still trying Grateful sailorsused to call Weston-Super-Mare in the southwest of England
‘Aggie-on-horseback’UK , 1962
aggravationnoun(of police or criminals) an act of harrassment
Trang 25aggressiveadjectiveused as a coded euphemism for ‘dominant’ in
sadomasochistic sexUS , 1986
aggronoun1trouble, strife; problems; a nuisance Abbreviated from
‘aggravation’UK , 1969.2aggressionAUSTRALIA , 1982
aggroadjectiveaggressively angryAUSTRALIA , 1986
aginnernouna person morally opposed to carnivals and the circus
US , 1981
agitateverb< agitate the gravelto leave Teen slangUS , 1958
agitpropnounagitation and propaganda as an unfocused political
tactic; a fashionable genre of theatre arts with a (usually) left-wing
political agenda Adopted from the name given to a department of
the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party
respon-sible for agitation and propaganda on behalf of communist ideals;
a conflation of agitatsiya and propaganda UK , 1934
aglishadjectivenauseated; sick to one’s stomach Used around the
Lunenburg area in Nova Scotia, where many German settlers still
adapt old expressionsCANADA , 1999
-a go-gosuffixall over the place, in a mess; on the go In the
manner ofGO-GO(a disco), hence dancing applied figurativelyUK ,
1986
agoniesnounthe physical and psychological pain suffered when
withdrawing from drug addictionUS , 1992
agonised buttonnounon military uniforms, an anodised
alu-minium (Staybrite) button Anodised (electro-plated) alualu-minium
replaced brass and white metal as the main metal for British
Other Ranks military insignia from about 1950 onwardsUK , 1984
agonynoun< pile on the agony; pile up the agony; put on
the agonyto exaggerate, to show-off Originally theatrical usage
US , 1837
agony aunt; agony auntienouna newspaper or magazine
columnist who advises readers on questions of a personal nature;
hence an adviser or counsellor on intimate problemsUK , 1975
agony columnnouna newspaper or magazine feature of readers’
letters seeking help for personal problems with replies from a
columnist or agony auntUK , 1975
a good craftsman never blames his toolsused for dismissing
an attempt by someone to blame a mistake on a piece of
equipment or something within their controlUS , 1997
agriculturaladjectivein cricket, describes a simple, slogging shot off
a sweeping batUK , 1982
A-headnoun1an amphetamine abuserUS , 1971.2a frequent user of
LSDUS , 1971
ahhh, Rooshanused as a youth-to-youth greeting A short-lived fad
greeting associated with bebop jazzUS , 1949
a-holenoun1the anus A’ as in ASS of ARSEUS , 1942.2by extension,
a despised personUS , 1942
-aholic; -oholic; -holicsuffixan addict of, or addicted to, the
pre-fixed thing or activity Usage may be literal or figurative From
‘alcoholic’ (a person addicted to alcohol); the first widely
recognised extended usage was ‘workaholic’ (1968)US , 1964
ai!; aiii!yes! Popularised in the UK in the late 1990s by Ali G
(comedian Sacha Baron-Cohen)UK , 2002
AIFadjective deaf Rhyming slang, from Australian Imperial Forces
AUSTRALIA , 1973
a-ightused for expressing agreement or affirmationUS , 1995
aimverb< aim Archie at the armitage(of a male) to urinate
Armitage Shanks are manufacturers of toilet furniture AUSTRALIA , 1971
aimienounan amphetamineUK , 2003
ain’t; aintverbreplaces am not, are not, is not, has not, have not A
widely used solecismUK , 1710
ain’t buyin’ it!I don’t believe youUS , 1990
ain’t havin’ it!it is not allowedUS , 1990
ain’t love grand!used for registering the pleasure of being in love
or, ironically, the oppositeUS , 1977
ain’t that a bite!isn’t that too bad! Teen slangUS , 1951
ain’t the beer cold!used for conveying that all is well in theworld Popularised by baseball radio announcer Chuck Thompson,who used the phrase as the title of his autobiography Repeatedwith referential humourUS , 1982
ain’t with thatI do not agree or consentUS , 1990
ain’t you got no couf?where are your manners, dress sense, etc?Military; a pun on ‘uncouth’UK , 1984
AIOnouna college student who does not belong to a fraternityUS , 1968
AIPnounheroin from Afghanistan, Iran and/or PakistanUS , 1982
airnoun1a jump while snowboardingUS , 1996.2in foot-propelledscootering, a jumpUK , 2000.3air support, air power, bombing.Vietnam war usageUS , 1991.4in the pornography industry, anejaculation that cannot be seen leaving the penis and travellingthrough the air In a situation which calls for visual proof of theejaculation, air is not goodUS , 1995.5air brakes on a truck orrailway carriageUS , 1897.6the mood created by a person orpersons There is ‘good air’ and there is ‘bad air’US , 1988.< get
airto be ignoredUK , 2005.< in the air(used of the flank of anarmy) unprotected by natural or man-man obstaclesUS , 1982.
< leave in the airto abandon someone without supportUK ,
1948.< turn the air blue; make the air turn blueto useobscene or blasphemous languageUK , 1890.< up in the air(used
of a pair in a game of poker) formed with help from thecommunal face-up cardsUS , 1992
airverb< air your bellyto vomitUS , 2000
air artistnouna railway engineer skilled at the use of air brakesUS , 1977
airbagnouna person who talks too muchUS , 2004
airbagsnounthe lungsUS , 1945
air ballnoun1in pinball, a ball that is lost out of play withouthaving been flippedUS , 1977.2in pool, a shot in which the cue balldoes not hit any other ballUS , 1993
air banditnouna gambling cheatUS , 1969
air barrelnounin pool, that which backs a bet made withoutmoney to back the bet ABARRELis a betting unit; an ‘air barrel’ isthus an illusory betting unitUS , 1990
air biscuitnouna fartUS , 2001
air-conditionedadjectivesexually frigidUK , 1983
air dancenouncapital punishment by hanging A specific dancename is sometimes substituted for ‘dance’, such as ‘air polka’US , 1982
air-dashverbto travel in an aircraft (a degree of urgency is implied), 2001
airedalenoun1a Wall Street gentleman An extension of the symbol
of the Airedale as an aristocratic dogUS , 1925.2a navy pilotUS , 1942.
3a plane handler on an aircraft carrierUS , 1943
air givernouna railway brakemanUS , 1977
air guitarnounan imagined guitar used to mimic a rock guitarplayerUS , 1982
airheadnoun1a person who is not inclined to think, not equipped
airishadjective1coldUS , 1985.2arrogant, showing offUS , 1943
air jammernouna railway worker who connects airhoses and airsignals on a train
Trang 26Air Jesus; Air Hebrewsnounsandals Alluding to Nike Air Jordan™
sports shoesUS , 1992
air junkienounin the language of hang gliding, a devoted, obsessed
flierUS , 1992
air-kissverbto go through the motions of kissing but deliberately
fail to make contact with the person who would normally be
kissedUK , 1985
airlockverbto speak C I Macafee glosses as ‘from the cut-out in a
diesel engine if air enters the fuel system’ in A Concise Ulster
Dictionary, 1996 UK: NORTHERN IRELAND , 1996
airlockedadjectiveextremely drunkUK: NORTHERN IRELAND , 1996
airmailnoun1rubbish thrown from the upper windows of a
building to the courtyard belowUS , 1952.2objects thrown by
prisoners down onto guards or other prisoners belowUS , 1992
airmailverbto throw rubbish from the upper windows of a building
to the courtyard belowUS , 1968
air monkeynouna railway air-brake repairmanUS , 1946
air offverbto talk loudlyTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1960
airplanenoun1a device used for holding a marijuana cigarette that
has burnt down to the stub An abbreviation of the fuller
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE US , 1970.2marijuanaUK , 1998
airplaneverbto inhale through the nose the smoke of the stub of a
marijuana cigaretteUS , 1970
airplane blonde; aeroplane blondenouna brunette, usually a
woman, with dyed blonde hair Jocular, implying the punchline
‘blonde up top but you know there’s a black box somewhere’UK ,
1999
airplane drivernouna fighter pilot Gulf war usageUS , 1992
airplane rulenounin computing, the belief that simplicity is a
virtueUS , 1991
air ridenouna car with pneumatic shock absorbersUS , 1975
airsnouna pair of Nike Air Jordan™ trainers (sneakers)US , 1990
airs and gracesnounbraces; suspenders Rhyming slang, surviving
earlier senses ‘Epsom Races’ and ‘faces’UK , 1960
air shotnounan act of sexual intercourse that stops short of
orgasm Royal Navy slang, from ‘torpedo drill’UK , 1979
air suckernouna jet aeroplaneUS , 1963
air-to-mudadjective(used of shots fired or bombs dropped) from the
air to the groundUS , 1991
air tragicnounair traffic control In Royal Air Force useUK , 2002
airyadjectivemarijuana-intoxicatedUS , 1949
airy anone As used in Nova Scotia’s South Shore, this expression
is a form of the archaic ‘ne’er a’ or a short form of ‘never a’
CANADA , 1999
airy-fairynouna member of the RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) later
the Fleet Air ArmUK , 1979
airy-fairyadjectivedelicate, fanciful; insubstantial, trivialUK , 1869
aitchnoun1hell A euphemismUS , 1950.2heroinUS , 1945
ai te guachoI’ll see you later ‘Guacho’ prounounced ‘watch-o,’ a
pure invention Border Spanish used in English conversation by
Mexican-AmericansUS , 1950
AJnounan ‘acting jack’, or an acting noncommissioned officerUS ,
1991
ajaxnoun1in hold ’em poker, an ace and a jack as the first two
cards dealt to a particular player Punning on the brand name of a
cleaning agentUS , 1981.2any youth gang member under the age of
16 A borrowing from the slogan for Ajax™ cleaner – ‘comes out
clean’ – and the fact that a juvenile offender will be treated far
less harshly than an adultUS , 1993
ajaxadjective1nearby Possibly derived from ‘adjacent’UK , 2002.
2clean An allusion to the branded cleaning productUS , 2002
AKnoun1a sycophantUS , 1939.2a mean and nasty old man An
abbreviation of the YiddishALTER KOCKER US , 1942.3an AK-47
semi-AKverbto curry favour by obsequious behaviour An abbreviation of
‘ass-kiss’ US , 1939
AK47nouna variety of marijuana From the automatic weapondesigned by Mikhail Kalashnikov, 2002
AKAnoun an alias An acronym of ‘also known as’; from police
jargonUS , 1955.< go AKAto assume an aliasUS , 1983
AK ampnounan amputation at the knee Vietnam war medic usage
US , 1990
akey-okeyadjectivesatisfactoryUS , 1960
aksverbto ask A familiar mispronunciation, especially in black andyouth usageUK , 2005
ALadjective not to be believed An abbreviation of ‘always lying’ US , 1995
ala-ala’snounthe testicles Hawaiian youth usageUS , 1981
Alabama woolnouncottonUS , 1958
a-la-beffnounvaginal intercourse, the woman on hands and kneesand the man entering her from behind An allusion to the mating
of cattle and the French boeuf TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1980
Aladdin’s cavenounthe location of a successful thief’s ill-gotten
gains Metropolitan Police slang After the tale of Aladdin in The
Arabian Nights UK , 1970
alambristanouna Mexican illegally present in the US BorderSpanish used in English conversation by Mexican-Americans; fromthe Spanish for ‘wire’US , 1974
Alamedanounin bar dice games, a roll that produces no points forthe player Alameda is an island city just west of Oakland InAlameda, a worthless hand is called a ‘Milpitas’, alluding to a smalland relatively poor city just north of San JoseUS , 1971
alamoused for registering a strong sexual interest in someone.Derives from the initial letters of ‘lick me out’UK , 2002
Alamo Hiltonnicknamea heavily fortified bunker beneath the KheSanh base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam warUS , 1990
Alan Whickers; Alansnounknickers Rhyming slang, formed fromthe name of reporter, broadcaster and television personality AlanWhicker (b.1925), who first came to prominence in the late 1950s
UK , 2003
Alaska handnounin hold ’em poker, a king and a three as the firsttwo cards dealt to a particular player Built from the synonymous
KING CRAB, which is found in AlaskaUS , 1981
Alaskamonounan American Indian from AlaskaUS , 1963
Alaska strawberriesnounbeansUS , 1991
Alaska timenounused for explaining tardinessUS , 1976
Alaska turkeynounsalmonUS , 1948
Alaska tuxedonouna wool work suitUS , 1965
Albnounan AlbanianUK , 1945
albatrossnoun1a very sick, incurable hospital patient, lingeringnear deathUS , 1985.2a Grumman HU-16 amphibian aircraft, bestknown as a rescue aircraft during the Korean and Vietnam warsUS ,
1991.3cooked chicken Royal Navy use; presumably inspired byColeridge’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’UK , 1995
Alberta Clippernouna cold weather system that blows from theCanadian Rocky Mountains eastward A winter phenomenon, withwind and usually snowCANADA , 1999
Albert County tartan; Albert County dress tartannouna plaidwool shirt, as used by woodsmen Albert County is in theMoncton, New Brunswick, areaCANADA , 1993
albinonounin pool, the white cue ballUS , 1988
albino grassnounsnow fallen on a Vancouver, British Columbia,lawnCANADA , 2002
Alcannicknamethe Alaska-Canada HighwayUS , 1975
Al CaponenounheroinUK , 2002
alchonounan alcoholicUK , 1996
alco; alko
Trang 27alcoholidaynouna holiday or festive period that is spent drinking
alcoholGUYANA , 1975
alcohol rubnouna cocktail partyUS , 1968
aldermannoun1in the circus and carnival, an office worker who
informs on his fellow workersUS , 1981.2a big paunch Referring to
the supposed physique and appetite of local elected officialsUS ,
aled upadjectiveunder the influence of beerUK , 1996
aletanknouna heavy drinker A modern variant of the earlier, now
obsolete ‘alecan’ (a heavy drinker)UK , 2002
a-levelsnounanal sex, especially when advertised as a service
offered by a prostitute A play on the name given to
‘advanced-level’ examinations in the British education systemUK , 2003
Alexandernouna telephone From Alexander Graham Bell,
1847–1922, Scottish-born inventor of the telephoneUK , 1999
Alfnounan ordinary uneducated, unsophisticated Australian male
Counterpart of theROY AUSTRALIA , 1960
alfalfanoun1money Circus and carnival usageUS , 1917.2marijuana
US , 1995
alias mannouna confidence swindlerJAMAICA , 1961
alibinoun1in a rigged carnival game, the reason given by the game
operator to disqualify a legitimate winUS , 1985.2in sports, an
excuse for not performing well In 1914, sports writer Ring Lardner
created the character Alibi Ike, who always had an excuse for not
playing wellUS , 1914.3a weak excuse A watered-down version of
the conventional useUS , 1899
alibi daynounpayday Used in logging camps, suggesting that
loggers suddenly develop illnesses and injuries that prevent them
from working when they have cash in handUS , 1958
alibi gheenouna person who can be counted upon to provide an
alibi for a criminalUS , 1950
alibi Ikenounany criminal who regularly asserts alibis when
questioned about a crimeUS , 1915
Alicenoun1LSD A phonetic pun on the first two letters of LSD,
influenced by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,
1865, and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There,
1871, which were considered inspirational works by the hippy
subculture of the late 1960s The obvious reference, but not a
citation of usage, is Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit’, 1969US ,
1972.2a military backpackUS , 1988.< to have Aliceto experience
the bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1968
AlicenicknameAlice Springs Early use is always preceded by ‘the’
AUSTRALIA , 1901
Alice B Toklas browniesnounchocolate brownies laced with
marijuana or hashish Toklas’ original 1954 recipe, which was for
fudge, not brownies, carried the caution: ‘Should be eaten with
care Two pieces are quite sufficient’US , 1969
alickadoonouna rugby club official or committee member Possibly
from a book by Alec KadooIRELAND , 1997
aliennounin casino gambling, a betting chip from another casino
US , 1983
Alimony Gallerynounex-wives of players at an exhibition game by
celebrity filmmakersCANADA , 2002
A-listnounused for denoting all that is associated with the greatest
contemporary fame and celebrity In conventional media jargon
the A-list is a notional social elite of those who are considered
prestigious enough to add top-value to a guest listUS , 1984
aliveadjective1said of a multiple-race bet in horse racing in which
the first or early legs of the bet have been wonAUSTRALIA , 1989.2in
horse racing, said of a horse subject to heavy bettingUS , 1990
alizenounany alcoholic beverageUS , 2002
alko 8see:ALCO
alky; alkienoun1an alcoholicUS , 1952.2alcohol, especially methylalcoholUS , 1844.3methanol used as fuel for racing carsUS , 1970
alkyedadjectivedrunkUS , 1970
alky tanknouna holding cell in a jail reserved for drunk prisoners
US , 1962
alladverb1very, 1994.2soUS , 1997
all < be allused as a quotative device to report a conversationUS , 1992
all aboutadjective1alert, efficient Mostly Royal Navy useUK , 1946.
all-American drugnouncocaineUS , 1998
all and everyonenounevery single personTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1973
all a pennyadjectiveinexpensive and plentifulBARBADOS , 1978
All Blacknicknamea member of the New Zealand internationalmen’s rugby teamNEW ZEALAND , 1986
all chiefs and no Indians; too many chiefs and not enough Indiansa situation in which too many people are giving ordersand too few are available to obey; a top-heavy command structure.Military coinage, meaning all officers not other ranks.US , 1972
all-clearnounauthorisation, official approval From the earlier andcontinuing use as a signal that a danger has passedUK , 1936
all coppers are bastards; all coppers are cuntsserves as acatchphrase among certain sections of society From, or possiblythe inspiration for, a chanted jingle: ‘I’ll sing you a song / And itwont take long (or: It’s not very long) / All coppers are bastards.’UK , 1945
all datnouneverything Popularised in the UK in the late 1990s byAli G (comedian Sacha Baron-Cohen)UK , 2003
all dayadjective1in bar dice games involving up to three rolls,taking all three rolls to make the player’s handUS , 1976.2in craps,said of a bet that is in effect until the shooter rolls his point or asevenUS , 1983
all day and nightnouna life prison sentenceUS , 1976
all day from a quarternouna jail sentence of 25 years to lifeUS , 1992
all-day suckernouna large lollipop that takes a long time toconsumeAUSTRALIA , 1939
all down the lineadverbin every way, completely, at everyopportunityUK , 1976
allergicadjectivehaving a dislike for someone or something.Generally jocular usageUK , 1937
alleynoun1a fictional place characterised by the preceding thing oractivityUS , 1954.2in horse racing, a stall in the starting barrier
AUSTRALIA , 1982.3on the railways, the track visible ahead of a train
US , 1975.4a walkway between rows of prison cellsUS , 1992.5aplaying marbleAUSTRALIA , 1934.< make your alley goodtoimprove your situation; to redeem yourself in the eyes of others
AUSTRALIA , 1924.< up your alleyapt to your style or tasteUS , 1924
alley applenoun1a brick or cobblestoneUS , 1927.2horse manure; apiece of faeces; excrementUS , 1960
alley bourbonnounstrong, illegally manufactured whiskyUS , 1999
alley catnoun1a sexually promiscuous person, especially a woman
UK , 1926.2a young person who idles on a street cornerUS , 1945.3aperson who survives on begged or stolen pickingsGUYANA , 1996
alley cleanernouna handgunUS , 1957
alley crapsnouna spontaneous, loosely organised, private game ofcraps, rarely played in an alley
Trang 28alley juicenoundenatured alcohol (ethyl alcohol) to which a
poisonous substance has been added to make it unfit for
consumptionUS , 1992
alley-oopnounin snowboarding, a 360-degree turn in the direction
of the back of the boardCANADA , 1996
alley-scoringnounthe recyling of food, furniture or anything else
left in the rubbishUS , 1997
alley upverbto pay off a debtNEW ZEALAND , 2002
alley-wiseadjectivesophisticated in the ways of the worldUS , 1974
allez-oop!used to accompany the action when lifting a child, or
boosting someone over or onto something Originally used by
circus acrobats A combination of French allez (to go) with a
Franglais version of ‘up’UK , 1931
all fall downused for describing a catastrophe or chaosGRENADA ,
1996
all fart and no shitadjectivesaid of a person who makes empty
promisesUK , 1989
all-firedadjectiveused as an intensifier Perhaps a euphemism for
‘hell-fired’, as areINFERNAL, DAMNED, etcUS , 1845
all gas and gaitersadjectiveused as a derisory description of
bishops and other church dignitaries; pompous nonsense
Originally ‘All is gas and gaiters’, Charles Dickens, Nicholas
Nickleby, 1838–39 Repopularised as a useful catchphrase by the
BBC situation comedy All Gas and Gaiters, 1967–71 UK , 1967
all get-outnouna high degree of somethingUS , 1884
all gong and no dinneradjectiveall talk and no actionUK , 1981
all handsadjectivesexually aggressiveUS , 1963
all het upadjective 8see:HET UP
alligationnounthe charring of burnt woodUS , 1955
alligatornoun1an enthusiastic fan of swing jazzUS , 1936.2any
unpleasant and difficult taskUS , 1990.3a circus performer’s wifeUS ,
1981.4in electric line work, an insulated line tool known formally
as a ‘tie stick’US , 1980.5in television and film making, a clamp
used to attach lightingUS , 1987
alligatorverb(of a painting) to crackUS , 1955
alligatorsee you later Rhyming slang, inspired or influenced by
‘See you later, alligator / In a while, crocodile.’ (Bill Haley & the
Comets, ‘See you later, Alligator’, 1956.)UK , 1960
Alligator AlleynicknameInterstate Highway 75, which connects
Naples and Fort Lauderdale, Florida So named because it crosses
the heart of what had been an impenetrable wilderness, the
Florida Everglades The name is thought to have been coined by
the American Automobile Association in 1966 to express supreme
disdain for what it considered to be an unsafe toll roadUS , 1966
alligator baitnoun1a black personUS , 1901.2bad food, especially
fried liverUS , 1926
alligator bootnouna railwayman’s work-boot damaged by diesel oil
so that the uppers have parted from the sides From the
appearance of the flapping leatherUK , 1970
alligator burnsnouncharrings on burnt wood in the form of scales
that resemble an alligator’s hideUS , 1981
alligator mouthnouna braggart; a verbal bullyUS , 1961
alligator skinsnounpaper moneyUS , 1949
all inadjective1exhausted, tired out A term coined in the Stock
Exchange where it was used to describe a depressed marketUK ,
1903.2said of a poker player who has bet their entire remaining
bankrollUS , 1979
all jam and Jerusalemadjectiveapplied derisively to the Women’s
Institute A catchphrase, probably dating from the 1920s, that
targets the two widely-known details of WI lore: jam-making and
the anthemic use of William Blake’s hymn ‘Jerusalem’UK , 1977
all jokes and no tokesadjectiveused by casino employees to
describe poor tipping by gamblersUS , 1983
all like < be all likeused as a quotative device, combining two
all man jacknouneverybody who is involvedTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1973
all mouthadjectiveboastful; unable to back up words with deeds
AUSTRALIA , 1966.3a person who stays in jail all night after beingarrestedUS , 1992
all-night moneynouna prostitute’s charge for spending the nightwith a customerUS , 1992
all of a doodahadjectivenervous, dithering with excitementUK , 1952
all of a tiswas; all of a tizwas; all of a tizzyadjectivein a state
of panic or excited confusion Probably a Royal Air Force coinage;fromTIZZ; TIZZY(a state of panic), contriving what appears to be anetymology by amending the source-word to ‘tiswas’, a combi-nation of ‘it is’ and ‘was’, suggesting a play on the earliercolloquial phrase ‘not know whether you are coming or going’ (to
be in a state of confusion)UK , 1984
all onadjectiveprepared for violenceNEW ZEALAND , 1999
all on top!that’s untrue! Criminal use, probably from the 1920s or30s; what’s ‘on top’ is in addition to the truthUK , 1984
all-outadjectivevery drunkGUYANA , 1952
all over bar the shoutingadjectivefinished for all intents andpurposesUK , 1842
all over itadjectivein complete controlUS , 2002
all over the place like a madwoman’s knittingadjectiveinchaos, in utter disarray Several variants including ‘all over theplace like a madwoman’s custard / lunch-box / shit’ An elabor-ation of conventional and unconventional senses of ‘all over theplace’AUSTRALIA , 1953
all over the shopadjectiveconfused, in disarray; everywhereUK , 1874
all over you like a rashadjectivemaking determined advances of
an intimate or personal natureUK , 1999
allowverbto be lenient towards someone, to let someone off lightly.Predominantly black usageUK , 2002
all piss and windadjectiveprone to boastingNEW ZEALAND , 2002
all pissed-up and nothing to showadjectiveused of someonewho has spent or, more precisely, drunk all his wages or winnings
A variation, probably from the 1920s, in the manner of ‘all dressed
up and nowhere to go’UK , 1961
all quiet on the Western Frontadjectiveused to describe a ation in which not much is happening From a World War 1communiqué that became a satirical catchphrase; now general-ised, probably influenced by the 1929 novel by Erich MariaRemarque and the 1930 film so titled In the US, the phrasereplaced the Civil War-era ‘all quiet on the Potomac’UK , 2003
situ-all reetadjectivegood; all rightUS , 1946
all rightadjectivein possession of drugsUS , 1971
all rightused as a greeting among prisonersUS , 1992
all right for some!used for registering envy of another’s tages or luckUK , 1969
advan-all rooters and no shootersused at casino craps tables forencouraging a player to take a turn as a shooterUS , 1983
all rootieused as an expression of agreement or satisfaction.Especially popular after Little Richard’s 1955 hit song ‘Tutti Frutti’
US , 1957
all round the optionadverball over the place, everywhereUK , 1957
all show and no goadjectiveused for describing someone whocannot back appearances with actionUS , 2000
all singing all dancingadjectiveconfigured or equipped with all
Trang 29but originally from the advertising matter for Broadway Melody,
1929, the first Hollywood musicalUS , 1929
all starnouna drug user who abuses many different drugsUS , 1992
all systems gonouna state of readiness Often humorous; adopted
from the jargon of space explorationUS , 1974
all thatnounsexual activity A shortening of the conventional,
already partially euphemistic ‘all that sort of thing’UK , 1970
all thatadjectivesuperlative, very goodUS , 1991
all that and a bag of chips!nounused for expressing strong
approvalUS , 1997
all that and then somenouneverythingUS , 1998
all the bestgood bye By ellipsis from conventional ‘all the best of
luck/fortune’, etcUK , 1968
all the better for seeing youused as a ‘witty’ riposte to the
greeting: ‘How are you?’ A catchphraseUK , 1977
all the eighthsnouna seven-eighths point movement in a stock
priceUS , 1988
all the fivesnounfifty-five In Bingo, House or Tombola, the
for-mula ‘all the’ announces a double number Varies numerically,
from ‘all the twos’ (22) to ‘all the eights’ (88) Recorded by Laurie
Atkinson around 1950UK , 1943
all the goadjectivein the height of fashionUK , 1793
all thereadjective1saneUK , 1864.2alert, aware, sharpUK , 1880
all the same khaki pantsused for expressing the sentiment that
there is no difference between the matters in question Khaki
trousers are the regular schoholboy uniform, eliminating personal,
social or class differenceTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1996
all the wayadjectivein the military, destined for leadershipUS , 1982
all the wayadverbto a championshipUS , 1959
all the way liveadjectiveexcellent, superlativeUS , 1982
all the world and his dognouneverybody A humorous variation
ofALL THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE AUSTRALIA , 1984
all the world and his wifenouneverybody Generally with a sense
of hyperboleUK , 1738
all-timeadjectiveexcellentUS , 1964
all-timer’s diseasenounused by surfers humorously to describe a
person’s proclivity to exaggerate when recounting surf conditions
or their accomplishmentsUS , 1991
all tits and teethadjectiveused for describing a woman who makes
the most of a distracting smile and breastsUK , 1967
all to buggeryadjectiveawry, bungled, utterly confused,
unsatisfactory, mixed-upUK , 1984
all to cockadjectiveawry, bungled, utterly confused, unsatisfactory,
mixed-upUK , 1948
all to helladjectiveutterly ruinedUS , 1968
all twoadjectivebothBARBADOS , 1975
all upadjective1(of things) exhausted, fruitless, ruined; (of people)
bankrupt, defeated, doomed to die Especially in the phrase ‘all up
with’UK , 1818.2(of betting) with the winnings of one bet forming
the stake of the nextAUSTRALIA , 1933
allusadverbalwaysUK , 1852
all vanillanounin poker, a spade flushUS , 1948
all wind and piss; all wind and wateradjectiveboastful; not
backing up words with actionUK , 1961
all wool and a yard wideadjectiveexcellent, reliableUS , 1882
alma maternouna prison where a criminal has served time From
Latin for ‘fostering mother’; adopted with obvious irony from its
English school or university use, first recorded in 1718US , 1949
almightyadjectivegreat; impressiveUK , 1824
almond rocknoun1a frock, a dress Rhyming slangUK , 1979.2the
penis Obsolete rhyming slang forCOCK Also shortened to
almond rocks; almonds; rocksnounsocks Rhyming slang, based
on a confection popular from the mid-C19, can be presumedtherefore to be late C19 in origin In the mid-C20 it was popularlyabbreviated to ‘almonds’; later use seems to favour ‘rocks’, i.e
‘cotton rocks’ A specialised military variation arising during WorldWar 1 was ‘army rocks’UK , 1979
Aloha Airlinesnicknamean aviation unit attached to the 25thInfantry Division during the Vietnam warUS , 1991
alone playernouna card cheat who works aloneUS , 1961
Al Pacinonouna cappuccino coffee Rhyming slang, formed fromthe name of the US film actor (b.1940)UK , 2003
alphaadjectiveused for intensifying a personal insult From tional usage indicating a premier exampleUK , 2005
conven-alphabet citynicknamean imprecisely defined area on the lowereast side of Manhattan, near Avenues A, B, C and DUS , 1980
Alphonsenoun1a pimp Rhyming slang forPONCE UK , 1943.2ahomosexual Rhyming slang forPONCE(an effeminate male)UK , 2003
alpine snownouncocaine ingested off a woman’s breastsUK , 2001
alpine sticknounan oversized frankfurterNEW ZEALAND , 1984
Alponounsausage topping for a pizza An allusion to a branded dogfoodUS , 1996
alrightniknouna person who has succeeded in material termsUS , 1968
alrighty!used for expressing agreement or satisfactionAUSTRALIA , 1997
also-rannounanyone not performing very well Originally applied inhorse racing to any horse placed fourth or worse and thus notwinning any money on the raceUS , 1896
altarnouna toiletUS , 1962
alteredadjectivevery drunk A suggestion of a completely alteredstate of perceptionUS , 1991
alter egonouna false identification card that permits a minor to beserved alcoholUS , 1990
alter kocker; alte kakernouna mean and nasty old man Yiddishfor German for ‘old shitter’US , 1968
altogethernoun< the altogethercomplete nudityUK , 1894
alum; alumnnounan alumnus or alumnaUS , 1934
aluminium cookienouna compact disc (CD)UK , 2002
aluminium crownicknamea CF-100 Canuck jet fighter aircraft Theaircraft first flew in 1950, and is also known asLEAD SLEDandTHE
CLUNK CANADA , 1950
aluminumnoun< the aluminumin horse racing, the inside rail
AUSTRALIA , 1989
aluminum overcastnounany very large military aircraftUS , 1961
Alvinnouna naive, easily-cheated person Circus and carnival usage
US , 1949
always late in take off, always late in arrivalnicknametheItalian airline Alitalia Most airlines seem to attract jocularnicknames This is one of the more memorable, 2002
Alzheimer’s avenuenounan area in a hospital or nursing homefrequented by memory-impaired patientsAUSTRALIA , 1987
is not a prostituteUS , 1960
amazer machine; amazernounin trucking, a police radar unitused for measuring vehicle speedUS , 1976
Amazonnouna tall, strong, sexually attractive womanUS , 1954
Amazon Annienicknamea cannon designed to fire atomic shellsUS ,
Trang 30ambassadornouna representative of a drug dealerUS , 1997
ambernounbeer In constructions such as ‘quaff an amber’NEW
ZEALAND , 1959
amber fluidnounbeerAUSTRALIA , 1906
amber gamblernouna motorist who speeds up through a yellow
lightNEW ZEALAND , 1979
ambidextrousadjectivebisexual A pun on the ability to use either
handUS , 1966
ambisextrousadjectivebisexual A pun that puts sex in
‘ambidextrous’US , 1926
Ambitious CitynicknameHamilton, Ontario Hamilton has thrived
through steel and car assembly, benefiting by the Auto Pact
between the US and CanadaCANADA , 1965
ambonoun1an ambulanceAUSTRALIA , 1996.2an ambulance driver
Commonly heard in New ZealandAUSTRALIA , 1998
ambovnoun in prison use, the Association of Members of Boards of
Visitors; a member of the association An initialism UK , 1996
ambulancenouna brakevan (caboose)US , 1977
ambulance chasernouna disreputable solicitor, especially one who
arrives or has an agent arrive at the scene of a disaster to seek
clients from among the victims; in UK usage since the 1990s,
solicitors who advertise on television for ‘no-win no-fee’ clients
From the image of following an ambulance to an accidentUS , 1896
ambush academynounduring the Vietnam war, training in jungle
warfare, especially of the unconventional sortUS , 1991
ambush alleynicknamethe section of Route 19 between An Keh
and the base of the Mang Giang Pass, South Vietnam So named
by truckers after countless Vietcong ambushes, borrowed from the
Korean war (1952) where the term was used for any dangerous
roadUS , 1965
am dramadjective amateur dramatic; hence, exaggerated, unsubtle,
histrionicUK , 1985
amebiateverbto get drunkUS , 1966
amechenouna telephone From actor Don Ameche’s performance
as Alexander Graham Bell in a 1939 filmUS , 1941
amen!used for expressing strong approvalUS , 1934
amen cornernounthe front rows of pews in a church where the
most devout sit, approving the words of the preacher with shouts
of ‘Amen!’US , 1860
Americalleynicknamein Vietnam, the 23rd Infantry Division, which
played a key role in the massacre of Vietnamese civilians at My
Lai The 23rd was formally named the Americal Division The
‘calley’ variant referred to a key participant in My LaiUS , 1991
American Airlinesnounin hold ’em poker, the ace of diamonds
and ace of hearts as the first two cards dealt to a player From the
initials AAUS , 1981
American taxpayernounany violator of routine traffic laws From
the vociferous indignation voiced when stopped by a police officer
US , 1962
American tweezersnounany specialty tool used by a burglarUS ,
1982
American Wakenouna farewell party for those emigrating to
America in the late C19 and early C20IRELAND , 1997
American waynounrelatively peaceful co-existence by rival
organ-ised crime familiesUS , 1992
Amerika; Amerikkkanounthe United States A spelling favoured
by the political counterculture in the late 1960s and early 1970s;
in the second form, ‘kkk’ signifies the white supremacist Ku Klux
Klan Rap artist Ice Cube’s 1990 album ‘AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted’
gave the KKK spelling high-profile exposureUS , 1969
AmerikanadjectiveAmericanUS , 1969
Amerikillnicknamethe 23rd Infantry Division DerogatoryUS , 1991
AMF
amidshipsadverb(used of a blow to the abdomen) across thecentral area of the body From the naval term for the middle of ashipUK , 1937
a mighty roar went up from the crowdused as a humorouscomment on a lack of response to a joke or comment Coined byKeith Olberman on ESPN ‘to describe players or fans who do notseem to be as happy as they should be following a home run,touchdown, or victory’US , 1997
amigonounused as a term of address Spanish for ‘friend’US , 1974
Amish golfnouncroquet An allusion to the perceived joy that theAmish people take in playing croquetUS , 1969
Amityville; ’VillenicknameDetroit, Michigan, US Coinage is
claimed by rap-artist Eminem, after the 1979 film The Amityville
Horror US , 2000
ammonoun1ammunition, actual or figurativeUS , 1911.2cashUS , 2003
ammunitionnoun1a gambler’s bankrollUS , 1983.2a tampon orsanitary towel; tampons or sanitary towelsUK , 1984
amoebanoun1phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP
or angel dustUS , 1994.2a Commodore Amiga™ personal computer
US , 1991
amonianounpneumoniaBAHAMAS , 1982
Amos and Andynounbrandy; shandy Rhyming slang, based on a
US radio comedy that ran from 1928–43UK , 1974
ampnoun1an ampoule (a glass vessel of drugs intended for
hypodermic injection)UK , 1968.2an ampoule of methadone, used
to break a heroin addictionUK , 1985.3amphetamine , 2004.4an
amplifier, especially one for electric instruments US , 1967.5an
amputation; an amputee Medical slang US , 1942
ampedadjective1under the influence of a central nervous systemstimulant, usually amphetamines or methamphetamineUS , 1972.
2ready for anything, very excited, psyched upUS , 1986.3(used of amusic system) equipped with powerful amplifiersUS , 1995.4silent
US , 1993
ampernounan ampersand (&)US , 1991
amphetnounamphetamineUS , 1982
amphoterriblenicknamethe antifungal drug Amphotericin B Anickname based on the drug’s severe side effectsUS , 1994
amp jointnoun marijuana and amphetamine (or possibly another
drug) mixed and rolled for smoking in a cigaretteUK , 1998
Am SamnicknameAmerican SamoaUS , 1982
amscrayverbto leave Pig Latin version of ‘scram’US , 1934
-amundosuffixused as a humorous mechanism to form a slangequivalent Popularised by the Fonz (Henry Winkler) on the US
television programme Happy Days, set in the 1950s, which aired
from 1974 until 1984US , 1992
AMWnouna vacuous female celebrity or hanger-on An abbreviation
of ‘actress, model, whatever’ US , 1988
amy; amienounamyl nitrite; an ampoule of amyl nitriteUS , 1966
amylnounamyl nitrate or butyl nitrate, when taken recreationally or
to enhance sexual arousalUS , 1971
amyl housenouna dance music genreUK , 1996
analnounanal sex A brief search of the Internet reveals anoverwhelming and mainly heterosexual use of ‘anal’ in this sense
US , 2000
anal & oralnounanal sex and oral sex, when advertised as servicesoffered by a prostituteUK , 2003
anal amigonouna male homosexualUK , 2003
anal groundsmannouna homosexual manUK , 1983
analogadjectivein computing, pertaining to the world outside theInternet A figurative extension of a technical termUS , 1997
anchornoun1a brake Originally truck driver usage, and thenwidespreadUK , 1936.2a younger brother or sister A younger sibling
is likely to hold you back or prevent you from going out with your
Trang 314a parachutist who hesitates before jumpingUK , 1943.5a brakevan
(caboose)US , 1977.6a pick-axeUK , 1863
anchorverb1to stay put, to remainUS , 1906.2to waitUS , 1990.3to
the apply the brakes of a car or truckUS , 1946
anchoredadjectivemarriedUS , 1949
anchor icenounice formed along the bottom of bodies of water
This northern phenomenon is also known as ‘ground ice’CANADA ,
1945
anchor mannounin casino blackjack, the gambler immediately to
the dealer’s rightUS , 1985
ancientadjectiveunfashionable, out of styleUS , 2004
ancient Marynounan AM radioUS , 1976
and a halfused for intensifying the preceding nounUK , 1832
and all that1used for intensifyingUS , 1992.2et ceteraUK , 1931
and all that caperet ceteraUK , 1964
and all that jazzand so on FromJAZZ(nonsense)US , 1959
and a merry Christmas to you too!used ironically in response to
a disparagement or an insultUK , 1976
and and andand so on, etcUK , 1984
and away we go!used as a humorous signal that something has
just started A signature line of comedian Jackie GleasonUS , 1954
and coand the rest of them (of people or things with something in
common)UK , 1757
Anderson cartnouna cart made from a cut-down car and pulled by
horses, during the 1930s depression; later, any car that ran out of
petrol or broke downCANADA , 1987
Andes candynouncocaine A near reduplication based on the
cocoa grown in the Andes MountainsUS , 1990
and everythingused for completing a list or a thought If anything
less sincere than synonymous et cetera UK , 1984
and like it!used in anticipation of a grousing reponse to an order
Naval useUK , 1943
and like thatet cetera; and so onUS , 1977
and monkeys might fly out of my buttused as a reflection of
the high unlikelihood of something happeningUS , 1992
androadjectiveandrogynousUS , 1999
androidnouna patient with no normal laboratory valuesUS , 1994
and so it goesused as an ironic affirmation The signature sign-off
of television journalist Linda Ellerbee, with homage to Kurt
Vonnegut’s use of ‘so it goes’ Repeated with referential humour
US , 1992
and thatet cetera; and that sort of thing Also widely used in
AustraliaUK , 1821
and that ain’t hayused for humorous assertion that the topic of
discussion is no small thing Both Abbot and Costello in the film It
Ain’t Hay and Mickey Rooney in Girl Crazy used the phrase in
high-profile ways in 1943 It stayed popular for most of the decade
US , 1943
and that’s the truth!used as a humorous affirmation of what you
have just said A signature line of the Edith Ann character played
by Lily Tomlin on the television comedy programme Rowan and
Martin’s Laugh-In (NBC, 1968–73) Repeated with referential
humourUS , 1968
and that’s the way it is!used as a humorous affirmation The
signature sign-off of television newsman Walter Cronkite, who
ended his nightly newscast thus from 1962 until 1981 Repeated
with referential humour, often imitating the lilt and bass of
Cronkite’s voiceUS , 1962
and then someand more; and much more Probably an
elabor-ation of C18 Scots ‘and some’US , 1908
and there was much rejoicingused as a humorous comment on
a favourable reaction Popularised in the US by Keith Olberman of
ESPN, borrowed from Monty Python and the Holy Grail US , 1975
and will!used for expressing a commitment to do somethingUS ,
Andy Capp’s Commandosnicknamethe Army Catering Corps, theACC A humorous elaboration of the official military abbreviation.Andy Capp is the workshy hero of a long-running cartoon stripUK , 1995
Andy Gumpnounthe surgical removal of the mandible in thetreatment of jaw cancer The post-operative patient looks like theyhave no chin, resembling the comic strip characterUS , 1980
Andy Gump chinnouna receding chinUS , 1970
and you know that!used for expressing approval or praiseUS , 1992
and you too!; and you!used as a sharp rejoinder to an insultUK , 1961
Andy Pandynoun1an effeminate man, heterosexual or ual From a BBC television puppet who first appeared in 1950UK ,
homosex-1983.2a brandy Rhyming slangUK , 2000
Andy Rooneynounin poker, any player, usually short, who isinclined to complain An allusion to the US television journalist’sstatureUS , 1996
ANFOnoun any nuisance of foreign origin Acronym in use during
the 1970s by the British Army in Northern Ireland, borrowing the
initials from Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil, a type of explosive UK , 1984
angelnoun1an outside investor, especially one who backs atheatrical production Theatrical originsUS , 1891.2a male homosex-ual Originally referred to the passive partner, but later to anyhomosexualUS , 1927.3a nurse In the UK Angels was a BBC
television drama series about nurses broadcast 1975–83US , 1991.
4cocaineAUSTRALIA , 1942.5in aviation, a 1000-foot increment ofaltitudeUK , 1943.6in air combat, a misleading image or blind spot
US , 1998
Angelnoun1a member of the Hell’s Angels motorcyle gangUS , 1965
angel cakenounan attractive girlUS , 1962
angel dustnoun1phencyclidine, the recreational drug also known
as PCP Originally a veterinary anaesthetic, it became a popularrecreational drug regarded as a cheaper substitute for other illicitdrugsUS , 1970.2money borrowed informally from a friendUS , 1976
angel facenounan effeminate manUS , 1949
angel foodnouna member of the US Air Force as an object ofhomosexual desireUS , 1988
angel gearnounneutral gear while coasting down a hillNEW ZEALAND , 1989
angel hairnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP
or angel dustUS , 1994
angelina sororitynounthe world of the young homosexual male
US , 1972
angel kissnouna freckleUS , 1972
angel mistnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP
or angel dustUS , 1994
angel pussnounused as an endearing term of addressUS , 1936
Angel’s biblenouna Harley-Davidson motorcyle manualUS , 1992
angels in a skynounLSDUK , 2003
angel’s kissnouna night breeze Korean war usageUS , 1961
angel’s seatnounthe cupola on top of a brakevan (caboose)US , 1946
angel teatnouna whisky with a rich bouquetUS , 1945
angel tracknounan armoured personnel carrier used as an aidstationUS , 1971
angel with a dirty facenouna male homosexual who due tocaution or fear has yet to act upon his desire After the 1938
Warner Brothers film Angels With Dirty Faces US , 1941
AngienouncocaineUS , 1994
angishorenoun 8see:HANGASHORE
anglenouna scheme, especially an illegal oneUS , 1920
angle shooternouna poker player who exploits other players by
Trang 32Anglonoun1a white person The term was brought to the
mainstream by Mexican-Americans in the southwestern USUS , 1943.
2an Anglo-Australian Used as a derogatory term by people from a
Mediterranean or Middle Eastern background, opposing the term
‘wog’AUSTRALIA , 1982
Angloadjectiveof or pertaining to Anglo-AustraliansAUSTRALIA , 1982
Anglo-Bangloadjectiveof Anglo-Indian birthUK , 1984
Angola black; Angolanouna potent marijuana from East AfricaUS ,
1982
angoranounin horse racing, the totalisator Rhyming slang, from
‘tote’ to ‘angora goat’ to ‘angora’AUSTRALIA , 1989
angryadjective(used of a penis) sexually aroused, erectUS , 1970
angry ninenicknameduring the Korean war, an AN/GRC-9 radioUS ,
1994
angryphonenounan anglophone (a native English speaker in
Quebec)CANADA , 2002
animalnoun1a person displaying vulgar manners, attitudes, etc; a
despicable human being; a bruteAUSTRALIA , 1892.2in American
football, an extremely physical playerUS , 1978.3used among
musicians as a nickname for a drummer From the
character/puppet/musician ‘Animal’ (legendarily, based on Keith
Moon, 1946–78, the original drummer with The Who ) who
appeared in The Muppet Show, from 1976, and in subsequent film
and television Muppet projectsUK , 1976.4an aggressive approach to
surfingAUSTRALIA , 1985.5in prison, a sex offender ContemptuousUK ,
1996.6a thing of a given sortUK , 1922.7LSDUS , 1994.8amyl nitrate
UK , 2002.9in the Vietnam war, a gang-rigged set of claymore mines
US , 1983.10a furpieceUS , 1959.< go animalto act wildly, without
inhibitionUS , 1968
animal!used for expressing approvalUK , 2003
animal carnouna brakevan (caboose)US , 1938
animal runnounthe wild behaviour of some military personnel on
shore leaveUK , 1987
Animals of the Armynicknameduring the Vietnam war, used as a
name for the Airborne RangersUS , 1984
animal trainernouna person who engages in sexual activity with
animalsUS , 1978
animal zoonouna rowdy college fraternityUS , 1967
animenouna type of Japanese animation, often adapted to sexual
themesJAPAN , 1991
anklenouna womanUS , 1942
ankleverb1to walk; to travelUS , 1926.2in television and film
making, to disassociate yourself from a projectUS , 1990.< ankle a
showto walk out of a performanceUS , 1973
ankle-biternoun1a petty, narrow-minded bureaucratUS , 1990.2a
child Also ‘knee biter’ Humorous, not particularly kind to children
US , 1963
ankle braceletsnounthe < and > characters on a computer
keyboardUS , 1991
ankledadjectivedrunk A Bristol usageUK , 2002
ankle expressnounwalkingUS , 1919
ankle-slappernouna small waveUS , 1991
ankletsnounleg ironsUS , 1950
Annabel Giles; annabelsnounhaemorrhoids Rhyming slang for
‘piles’, formed from the name of the UK television presenter
(b.1960)UK , 2003
annexverbto stealUS , 1845
Annie from Arkansasnounin craps, an eightUS , 1993
Annie Rooneynounan outburst of bad temperUK , 1988
Annie’s alleynounthe vagina Attested by a police matron at the
San Francisco Women’s Detention Center in April 1949; a woman
prisoner was thought to be concealing $13.00 ‘in Annie’s Alley’US ,
1949
annihilated
annishnounan anniversary issue of a single-interest fan magazine
US , 1982
anointverbto whip someoneUS , 1962
anoraknoun1a studious and obsessive hobbyist widely ised as boring and unfashionable From the stereotypical wardrobe
character-of certain groups character-of hobbyists such as trainspottersUK , 1991.2byextension, a person who is socially inept and therefore unable to
be, or not interested in becoming, part of a peer groupUK , 1999
anorakyadjectivestudious and obsessiveUK , 2001
A N Othernounused in speech as an all-purpose formula for anunknown identity A written convention that has taken on a life ofits ownUK , 2003
another country heard fromused for humorously acknowledgingthat someone who had previously been silent has spoken upUS , 1970
another day, another dollara humorous expression of a day philosophy of lifeUS , 1939
day-by-anotherynounanother, especially another drink of beerAUSTRALIA , 1963
answernouna rap artist’s response to another’s songUS , 1995
answerverbto score soon after an opponent has scoredUS , 1979
answer recordnouna rap song released in response to anothersongUS , 1995
Antarctica monsternounfireANTARCTICA , 1977
Antartic 10nounany moderately good-looking person of the sexthat attracts you The humour lies in the fact that a ‘ten’ inAntarctica would be a ‘five’ anywhere elseANTARCTICA , 1991
antenounthe money required to begin a projectUS , 1895
anteaternoun1in trucking, a short-nosed C-model Mack tractorUS ,
1971.2an uncircumcised penisUS , 1970
antenna platoonnounduring the Vietnam war, a platoon with anunusually large number of radios assigned to itUS , 1989
ante upverbto provide money for a projectUS , 1865
anthemnounin contemporary dance music and club culture of the1980s, 90s and on, any song that fills the dance floor and getsclubbers singing alongUK , 2003
anti-franticadjectivecalm, collectedUS , 1983
antifreezenoun1alcoholUS , 1953.2heroinUS , 1994
anti-proliferation devicenouna condomUK , 1998
antique HPnounan old homosexual man HP is an abbreviation of
HOMEE-PALONE(a man)UK , 2002
antsyadjectiveagitated, anxiousUS , 1950
antwackyadjectiveold-fashioned, especially of clothes Liverpool use;possibly from ‘antiquey’UK , 2002
anus banditnouna predatory male homosexualUS , 1962
anxiousadjectivegoodUS , 1944
anybody in there?do you have any intelligence?AUSTRALIA , 1995
anyhooadverbanyhow A deliberate mispronunciationUS , 1946
any kinenounanything Hawaiian youth usageUS , 1981
any more for any more?does anyone want more food?; alsoused to announce a final opportunity to purchase somethingUK , 1977
any old howadverb1in an untidy or disordered stateUK , 1933.2inany case, anywayUK , 1958
anyone can cooknicknamethe Army Catering Corps, the ACC Ahumorous elaboration of the official military abbreviationUK , 1995
anyone for tennis?used for humorously suggesting an activity.Seen as quintessentially British and enormously witty in its manyvariant formsUS , 1951
anyroadanyway Also used as an adverb Northern dialect, widely
familiar from television programmes such as Coronation Street UK ,
Trang 33anything for a laughserves as a justification for doing something
because you have no choice in the matter Often ruefulUK , 1969
anything for a quiet wifea catchphrase that means exactly what
it says A jocular perversion of the proverbial saying ‘anything for a
quiet life’UK , 1977
any-to-comenounin gambling, a type of conditional bet in which
all or part of a winning is returned on another bet May be
abbreviated as ATCUK , 2001
Anytown USA; Anytownnouna notional American town that
rep-resents the appearance or values of stereotypical small-town
AmericaUK , 1992
anywhereadverbin possession of drugsUS , 1946.< not get
anywhereto fail to reach your goal, to not succeed in achieving
your objectUS , 1932
Anzac biscuit; Anzacnouna popular biscuit made with oats, sugar,
flour and golden syrupAUSTRALIA , 1923
A-OKadjectivecompletely acceptable US Navy Captain Alan G
Shepard was widely credited for introducing the term to the
general public during the first US space flight Shepard later
denied ever having said ‘A-OK’, insisting that he had been spelling
out awkward – ‘AWK’US , 1959
A-one; A-1adjectiveexcellent, first-class Originally of ships, then of
persons and thingsUS , 1846
AOSused for suggesting that there are no good options in a
par-ticular situation An abbreviation of ‘all options suck’ or ‘all
options stink’ US , 2001
a over kadverb knocked upside down An abbreviation of ‘arse over
kite’ NEW ZEALAND , 1998
a over tadverbhead over heels An abbreviation ofARSE OVER TIT UK ,
apartmentnouna prison cellUS , 1949
apartment girlnouna prostitute who works out of her own
apartment or comes to a customer’s apartmentUS , 1992
apartment housenounin bar dice games, a roll from the cup in
which some dice are stacked on top of others, invalidating the roll
US , 1971
APBnounin police work, an all points bulletin, broadcast to all who
are listeningUS , 1957
apcraynounnonsense; rubbish A Pig Latin version ofCRAP US , 1937
apenounin the entertainment industry, a technical member of a
film crewUS , 1970
apeadjectivecrazed, frenzied, demonstrating rage or delight Based
on the behaviour of apes in films – not in real lifeUS , 1955.< go
apeto lose control; to react unrestrainedlyAUSTRALIA , 1988
ape barsnounhigh handlebars on a customised motorcycleUS , 1966
ape drapenouna hair style in which the hair is worn short at the
front and long at the back Most commonly known as a ‘mullet’
US , 1995
ape hangersnounhigh handlebars on a customised motorcyle A
term based on the visual aspect, with the handlebars forcing an
ape-like poseUS , 1965
apeshitadjective< go apeshitto lose control; to go crazyUS , 1951
apethnoun 8see:HA’P’ORTH
ape wagonnouna brakevan (caboose)US , 1977
aphroditenouna nightgown Rhyming slang for ‘nightie’NEW
ZEALAND , 1875
A-pienounapple pieUS , 1967
A-plugnouna plug inserted in the rectum as part of a
sadomasochistic encounter An abbreviation for ‘ass-plug’ US , 1979
apoplecticadjectivebehaving in a violently temperamental manner
apostlesnoun< the apostlesin craps, a roll of twelveUS , 1999
appnounan applicationUK , 1996
appallingadjectiveobjectionable, ugly, etc An example of overusedsociety and middle-class hyperboleUK , 1937
apparatchiknounan office worker in a support roleUS , 1974
appienounan appendectomy patientUS , 1985
applausenouna sexually transmitted infection, especially gonorrhea
An excruciating pun onCLAP US , 1990
applenoun1a person Usually heard with a qualifying adjectivesuch as ‘bad’ or ‘rotten’US , 1887.2the gullible victim of a confi-dence swindleUS , 1992.3a native American Indian who curriesfavour with the white establishment by embracing white culturalvalues A variation on a theme – red on the outside, white on theinsideUS , 1980.4a particular type of MDMA, the recreational drugbest known as ecstasy Sometimes embellished to ‘apple E’ or
‘green apple’UK , 1996.5a capsule of secobarbital sodium (tradename Seconal™), a central nervous system depressantUS , 1980.6aself-propelled barracks barge From the ship’s official designation
as an ‘APL’US , 1971.7the vaginaUS , 1980.8a one-hundred dollarnoteNEW ZEALAND , 1998.9the heart An abbreviation of ‘apple tart’,and by rhyming slang to ‘heart’NEW ZEALAND , 1989.10a citizens’band radio enthusiast of unlimited zealUS , 1976
Applenoun< The AppleNew York CityUS , 1938 8see:BIG APPLE
apple and pipverb1to sip Rhyming slangUK , 1972.2to urinate.Rhyming slang, formed on back-slang ‘sip’/PISS Also used in anoun senseUK , 1960
apple boxnounin the television and film industries, any deviceused to raise an actor or object to the desired heightUS , 1977
apple-catchersnouna type of roomy underpantsAUSTRALIA , 1965
apple core; applenountwenty pounds; in betting, odds of 20–1.Rhyming slang forSCORE UK , 1974
apple fritter; applenounbitter (beer) Rhyming slangUK , 2002
appleheadnouna dull, stupid personUS , 1951
Apple Isle; Apple IslandnounTasmania The island state is notedfor is apple-growing industryAUSTRALIA , 1906
apple jacksnounpieces of crack cocaine From a resemblance to apopular breakfast cerealUS , 1994
apple-knockernoun1a rustic, especially a naive oneUS , 1919.2anoutdoor toilet From the image of apples dropping onto theouthouse roofUS , 1975
apple orchardnouna location where police wait parked, certainthat they will soon witness a driving infractionUS , 1970
apple pie ordernouncomplete and perfect orderUS , 1975
apple pipsnounthe lips Rhyming slangUK , 1960
apple-polishernouna person who shamelessly curries favour fromthose above him Several variant forms are attestedUS , 1927
applesnounthe female breastsUS , 1942
applesadjective1satisfactory, good Possibly rhyming slang for
‘apples and rice’, ‘nice’AUSTRALIA , 1943.2in good shape or condition
NEW ZEALAND , 1998
apples and pears; applesnounstairs Rhyming slangUK , 1857
apple tart; applenouna fart Rhyming slangUK , 2003
apple upverbto become frightenedUS , 1966
apple zverbto undo something A figurative use of the ‘undo lastcommand’ function on an Apple Macintosh™ computerUS , 2003
applicationnoun< take an application(used of a pimp) toprobe the psyche of a woman who is a candidate to come to workfor youUS , 1972
apprenticenounin horse racing, a jockey who has ridden for lessthan a yearUS , 1947
appronoun< on approon approvalUK , 1874
appropriateverbto steal something Ironic military useUS , 1960
appynounan appendectomyUS , 1994
apricots the testicles
Trang 34April foolnoun1a tool Rhyming slang, originally meaning a
burglar’s tool then in more general use as a workman’s toolUK ,
1960.2a weapon such as a handgun, knife, etc Rhyming slang; a
narrower sense of the much earlier ‘tool’UK , 2002.3a stool, usually
a bar stool Rhyming slangUK , 1960
April in Paris; Aprilnounthe backside, the buttocks Rhyming
slang forARIS UK , 1998
April showernouna flower Rhyming slangUK , 1960
April showersnounbeer by Flower & Sons, ‘Flower’s’ Rhyming
slangUK , 1992
apronnoun1a woman or wifeUS , 1970.2the gross daily receipts from
a carnival concessionUS , 1990.< out of the apron(used of
gambling in a casino) using money borrowed from the casinoUS ,
1982
aqua; acquanoun water From and synonymous with Latin aqua via
Italian acqua UK , 2002
aqua bootverbto vomit into the oceanUS , 1991
A-rabnounan Arab Not flattering, but more oafish than derogatory
The slang sense of the word is gained strictly through
pronunciation – a long first ‘A’, two drawn out syllables, and a
light twang with the second In his 1962 rock/novelty record ‘Ahab
the Arab’, Ray Stevens gave a loud public voice to this
pronunciationUS , 1972
Arabnoun1used as a term of mild abuse There is no racist intent
in this term, deriving as it does from ‘street Arab’ an obsolete
term for a homeless childUK: SCOTLAND , 1985.2a doltBERMUDA , 1985.
3a street peddler selling fruit or vegetables Originates from
BaltimoreUS , 1935
Arab lovernouna driver who obeys the fifty-five miles an hour
speed limit A term coined during the Arab oil embargo of the
early 1970sUS , 1976
arbitraryadjectiveinsignificant, unimportant Nowhere near as
popular as its conventional cousinRANDOM US , 1986
arcverbin computing, to archive somethingUS , 1997
arc aroundverbto engage in enthusiastic and energetic, if
meaningless and aimless, activity US naval aviator usageUS , 1986
ARC girlnouna female representative of the American Red Cross
Vietnam war usageUS , 1968
Archbishnounan ArchbishopUK , 1994
Archienoun1the notional cause of confusion As in ‘Archie buck
them up’ or ‘Archie fuck them up’; from the late 1960s Jamaican
hit record ‘Archie Buck Them Up’ by Lord CreatorTRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO , 2003.2a young and untrained farm handNEW ZEALAND , 1946
architectnounin poker, a player who bets heavily So called because
his betting builds the pool of betsUS , 1988
arcticadjective1coldUS , 1989.2in poker, said of a very poor hand or
series of very poor handsUS , 1996
Arctic explorernouna user of heroin and/or cocaineUS , 1959
arena ratnoun1a young person who hangs around a skating arena
CANADA , 1957.2a woman who invites sexual relations with
pro-fessional wrestlersUS , 1990
are you for real?used for humorously questioning a person’s
sincerityUS , 1949
are you kidding?you must be joking!; are you serious? Derisive,
ironic and more of an exclamation than a question.US , 1984
are you looking at me?used as a belligerent challenge to a
strangerUS , 1994
are you ready to throw down?used as a call soliciting a response
(’yes, we are’) at a partyUS , 2002
are you stupid or French?used for expressing a dim opinion of
someone’s intellectual firepowerCANADA , 2002
arfnounhalf Written as it’s saidUK , 1854
argnounin computing, an argumentUS , 1981
Argentinanoun< do an Argentinato go missing presumed dead
Argienounan Argentinian This abbreviation is not recorded untilthe Anglo-Argentine conflict for the Falklands/Malvinas in 1982UK , 1982
argle-barglenounthe sound made by seabirds This Nova Scotiaexpression seems to imitate the sound it describesCANADA , 1988
argueverb< argue the tossto argue over something alreadydecidedUK , 1925
argy-bargynounan argument, quarrelling Also sometimes known as
‘argle-bargle’UK , 1887
argy-bargyverbto argue From the nounUK , 1888
AriesnounheroinUS , 1994
arisnoun1the backside, the buttocks; the anus Rhyming slangfromARISTOTLE–BOTTLE–BOTTLE AND GLASS–ARSE Also variants
‘arris’ and ‘harris’UK , 1979.2a bottle Also variant form ‘aras’
AUSTRALIA , 1966
ari-stock-ratnouna Canadian person of mixed Indian and Frenchancestry The pride behind the insult in ‘aristocrat’ has beenjustified by the honouring of Louis Riel, who led a Metis rebellionduring the settling of the Canadian WestCANADA , 1962
Aristotlenouna bottle Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA , 1897
Aristotle’s lanternnouna sea urchinCANADA , 1990
Arizonanounbuttermilk Because a waitress thinks any mandrinking buttermiIk ought to be in Arizona for his healthUS , 1946
Arizona stopnouna rolling stop at a traffic signal or stop signUS , 1962
Arizona Territorynounan area southwest of Da Nang, SouthVietnam, with imprecise boundaries and a strong VietcongpresenceUS , 1991
arjinounmarijuanaUS , 2001
arknouna dance hallUS , 1953
Arkansas credit cardnouna hose used to syphon petrol fromanother carUS , 1976
Arkansas fire extinguishernouna chamberpotUS , 1958
Arkansas flushnounin poker, a worthless hand consisting of fourcards in one suit and a fifth in anotherUS , 1950
Arkansas gravel; Arkansas pavementnounsmall trees used as amakeshift bridge over a mud holeUS , 1954
Arkansas toad stabbernouna sharp knifeUS , 1994
Arkansas toothpicknouna hunting knifeUS , 1836
Arkansas traveler; Arkansas specialnounany unimportantrailway lineUS , 1950
Arkansas wedding cakenouncornbreadUS , 1958
Arky; Arkienouna resident of Arkansas; an unsophisticated rusticfrom the south central US Often used with contemptUS , 1927
armnoun1a police officerUS , 1956.2the penisUS , 1972.< off the
armin food and beverage servers’ argot, served without a trayUS ,
1950.< on the armwithout chargeUS , 1926.< put the arm on
to pressurise with criminal intent, to extort, to blackmail, tothreaten; to arrestUS , 1943.< under the armno good, inferior;loathsomeUK , 1958.< up the armin betting, odds of 11–8 FromtheTICK-TACKsignal used by bookmakersUK , 1991
arm and a legnoun1a high costUK , 1956.2a prison sentence of five
to ten yearsUS , 1991
arm candynoun1someone good-looking enough for you to beseen out withUS , 1992.2recreational drugs that are injected intothe armUK , 2002
armchairadjectiveremoved from the action; said of an observer whoacts as if he is a participantUS , 1955
armchair generalnouna person whose opinions are entirelyunsupported by experienceUS , 1960
armchair ridenounin horse racing, an easy victoryUS , 1976
Armenian chromenounaluminium paintUS , 1961
arm holenounthe armpitBAHAMAS , 1982
armo
Trang 35armornouna female’s figureUS , 1997.< in the armor(used of
beer) in a canUS , 1967
armpiecenounan attractive woman chosen as a social companion
for the impression she makes on othersUS , 1983
armpitnoun1a highly undesirable town or placeUS , 1968.2an
obnoxious, unfriendly personUS , 1968
armpit of the world; armpit of the universenounthe worst
placeUS , 1968
armsnoun< get your arms aroundto grasp the meaning ofUS ,
1989
armshousenouna gang fight Urban youth slang, probably from a
use of firearms in such conflictsUK , 2005
arm-stretchernouna heavy suitcaseUS , 1992
armstrongadjectivedone by hand, necessitating arm strength rather
than mechanical leverageCANADA , 1963
armstrong methodnounthe technique of using hand and arm
strength to get a job doneCANADA , 1987
arm trophynouna stunning and sexually appealing companion,
valued for the prestige attached to their presenceUS , 1994
armynouna large bankroll Alluding to the green of currency and
military uniformsUS , 1990
army banjonouna shovel or other entrenching toolUS , 1991
army bratnouna person who grew up the child of a career
member of the armyUS , 1931
army crapsnouna game of craps in which the shooter serves as the
bankerUS , 1984
Army Criminal Corpsnicknamethe Army Catering Corps, the ACC
An elaboration of the official military abbreviationUS , 1995
army gamenounany game of chance played in an aggressive
and/or dishonest fashionUS , 1890
army marblesnoundice From the view that soldiers are fond of
dice gamesUS , 1963
army oddsnounin a dice game, the true odds, not approximate
odds often used in street gamesUS , 1962
Army Peace Corpsnounthe US Army Special Forces Highly trained
killers, so an ironic termUS , 1990
army rollnouna controlled roll of the dice by a skilled cheat in a
game of crapsUS , 1963
army tanknounan American serviceman Rhyming slang forYANK.
Recorded among Australian prisoners-of-war in the Far East
AUSTRALIA , 1945
arnoldnounporkJAMAICA , 1988
aroha jobnouna job done out of friendship without charge or at
reduced rates From the Maori word for ‘love’NEW ZEALAND , 1985
aromanounamyl nitrite or butyl nitriteUS , 1980
aroma of mannounan ampoule of amyl nitrite Originally a brand
name; later used genericallyUS , 1992
-aroosuffixused as a festive if meaningless embellishment of a noun
US , 1941
-aroonisuffixused as a meaningless embellishment of a word A
highly affected style of speaking invented and marketed with
limited success by jazz musician Slim GaillardUS , 1946
around the worldnoun1the oral stimulation of all parts of a
partner’s bodyUS , 1951.2in Keno, a bet made on the numbers
found in the eight corners of a Keno ticket – 1, 10, 31, 40, 41, 50,
71 and 80US , 1969
arrest-me-rednouna bright red colour of paint on a car, bound to
attract the attention and interest of law enforcementUS , 1992
arrownounan amphetamine tabletUS , 1993.< bust an arrow;
blow an arrowin a carnival or small circus, to become lost when
travelling from one town to another In the past, advance men
would paste arrows along the roadside to show the way to the next
stop; if you missed an arrow, you got lostUS , 1973.< like an
arrowin poker, said of a sequence of five cards conventionally
arrowverbto assign a task to someoneSINGAPORE , 2002
arrow of desirenounthe penis A poetic image drawn from WilliamBlake’s ‘Jerusalem’, 1808UK , 2003
’Arry’s gatorsThank you A play on Japanese arrigato (thank you)
AUSTRALIA , 1958
arsenoun1the posterior, the buttocks In conventional usage fromOld English until early C18, at which time it was deemed impolitelanguage and began a celebrated existence in slang, rarelyappearing in print with all four letters in place It was not until
1860 that the AmericanASSappeared The spelling in Australia is
‘arse’, but pronounced with a long ‘a’ and no ‘r’ Since the 1980sthere has been some encroachment of the American ‘ass’, butthis is still strongly associated with the USUK , c1000.2the base, thebottom; the tail end; the seat of a pair of trousersAUSTRALIA , 1945.
3yourself; your body or personUK , 1979.4a fool; a despicablepersonAUSTRALIA , 1944.5boldness, gall, gumption, impudence;hence, luck as a result of thisAUSTRALIA , 1958.6dismissal, especiallyfrom a job; rejection Generally with verbs ‘give’ and ‘get’AUSTRALIA ,
1955.< ask me arseused when refusing to cooperate or whenwithholding information Other variations used are: ‘ask me bollix’,
‘ask me sack’, ‘ask me left one’ (’Me’ is a common English pronunciation for ‘my’.)IRELAND , 1991.< get off your
Hiberno-arse; get off your assto start doing something Often in theimperativeUK , 1979.< get your arse in gearto start making aneffortUK , 2000.< make an arse ofto make a mess of something;
to botch somethingUK: SCOTLAND , 1996.< not know your arse
from a hole in the groundto be completely ignorant (of agiven subject)UK , 1982.< not know your arse from your elbow
to be ignorantUK , 1930.< on your arsein dire straits, especiallyfinancialUS , 1917.< out on your arseejected, evicted, expelled Avariation of ‘out on your ear’UK , 1998.< put on the arse bittoindignantly tell someone what you think of him or herAUSTRALIA ,
1975.< take it up the arseto submit to a more powerful force
UK , 2000.< the arse drops out of; the arse falls out of(of afinancial venture) to fail dismallyAUSTRALIA , 1969.< up someone’s
arsevery close behind, in close proximityUK , 1997.< up your
own arsevery self-involvedUK , 2000.< you couldn’t find your
arse with both handsyou are stupidUK , 1999.< your arse is
nippin buttonsyou are nervous, you are full of trepidationUK: SCOTLAND , 1988.< your arse offto a great degree; vigorously.Used to intensify verb meanings, thus ‘to work your arse off’means ‘to work hard’; very common with the verb ‘work’ and theverb ‘fuck’ and its synonymsUK , 1972
arseverb1to make a mess of something, to botch somethingUK: SCOTLAND , 1996.2to eat something greedily, to consume somethingquicklyUK: SCOTLAND , 1996.3of a vehicle, to reverseUK , 1959
arseadjectiveinferior, shoddy, valueless, unpleasant, disliked forwhatever reasonUK , 2002
arse aboutadjectiveback to frontAUSTRALIA , 1979
arse about; arse aroundverbto idle, to fool aboutUK , 1664
arse about faceadjectiveback to frontUK , 1984
arse allnounnothing, nothing at all On the model ofFUCK ALL
(nothing)UK , 2002
arse bandidonouna male homosexual, especially the active partner
in anal sex DerogatoryUK , 2001
arse biscuitnouna fart A variation ofAIR BISCUIT UK , 2003
arse cleavage; arsehole cleavagenounthe cleft between thebuttocks when partially displayed above a slipped-down trouserwaistbandUK , 2002
arse crawlernouna sycophant Often reduced toCRAWLER UK , 1937
arse cressnounthe hair surrounding the anusUK , 2002
arsedadjectivebothered; worried Popularised since the mid-1990s
by television situation comedy The Royle Family UK , 1999
-arsed; -arsesuffixused to intensify a characteristicUK , 2000
arse end; a-endnoun1the back or tail endAUSTRALIA , 1955.2theend, the final partUK , 1942
arse-firstadverbback-to-frontAUSTRALIA , 1962
arsefuck
Trang 36arse fuckernouna male who takes the active role in anal sex
AUSTRALIA , 1996
arse grapesnounhaemorrhoidsUK , 1997
arseholenoun1the anus Literally the hole in theARSE(buttocks,
posterior); use ranges from the anatomically correct e.g ‘itchy
arsehole’ to the barely feasible or figurative suggestions associated
with ‘stick it up your arsehole’UK , 1400.2by extension, a despised
person Widely used in the UK and Australia, it is a stronger term
thanASSHOLE, the US equivalent from which it derivesUK , 1977.
3courage, nerveUK , 2001.< get the arsehole with someone;
have the arsehole with someoneto become, or be, annoyed
with someoneUK , 2002
arseholeverb1to dismiss someone, especially from employment;
to reject someoneAUSTRALIA , 1950.2to go, to leaveUK , 1982
arsehole crawlernouna sycophant An extension ofARSE CRAWLER,
often reduced toCRAWLER UK , 1961
arsehole creepernouna sycophant A variation ofARSEHOLE CRAWLER
UK , 1984
arseholedadjectivevery drunkUK , 1984
arsehole luckyadjectiveextremely luckyUK , 1999
arsehole mouthnountightly pursed lipsUK , 2005
arseholesnoun< give someone arseholesto attack someone
with vigourNEW ZEALAND , 1968
arseholes!used as a general exclamation of rejection, frustration or
criticism Occasionally extended as ‘arseholes to you!’UK , 1937
arsehole streetnounan unpleasant place to be; serious trouble
You can be ‘in’ or ‘up’ arsehole streetUK , 1984
arse-holingadjectiveused as an intensifierUK , 1966
arse in a slingnouna state of defeat or depression Usually phrased
‘have (get) your arse in a sling’ or ‘your arse is in a sling’ From
the obsolete ‘eye in a sling’UK , 1967
arse-lickverbto behave in a sycophantic mannerUK , 1968
arse-lickernouna sycophantUK , 1938
arse-licking; ass-lickingadjectiveobsequiousUK , 1912
arse like a wizard’s sleevenounan unusually loose rectum and
anusUK , 2002
arse lucknounvery bad luck indeedSINGAPORE , 2002
Arsenalnoun< Arsenal are playing at home; Arsenal are at
homethe bleed period of the menstrual cycle A euphemism
based on the colour of blood Arsenal, a London football team,
play in red shirts; as other teams also play in red this is probably
also a pun on arse ‘n’ all (the genitals)UK , 2000
arsenessnounannoying stupidityTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1979
arsenutnouna small, hardened lump of excrement that clings to
the hair around the anusUK , 2003
arse over bollocksadverbhead over heels A variation ofARSE OVER
TIT UK , 1998
arse over headadverbhead over heelsAUSTRALIA , 1962
arse over titadverbhead over heelsUK , 1922
arse over turtleadverbhead over heelsAUSTRALIA , 1955
arse papernounany person or thing of limited useNEW ZEALAND , 1998
arse-polishingnounany office job In military useUK , 1949
arsetronautnouna male homosexual An allusion to anal sexNEW
ZEALAND , 2002
arse upverbto bungle something, to make a mess of something
First recorded in adjectival or adverbial form as ‘arse up with care’
in 1937UK , 1937
arse-upadjectivedead, finished, out of operationUK , 2001
arse-upadverbupside downAUSTRALIA , 1994
arse upwardsadverbback to front; upside downUK , 1984
arsewaysadverbincorrectly done, wrongly positionedIRELAND , 1992
arsewise
arseyadjective1lucky FromTIN ARSE AUSTRALIA , 1950.2moody Alsovariant ‘arsy’UK , 1997
arsey booadjectivechaotic, unorganisedNEW ZEALAND , 1988
arsy-varsy; arsy-versyadverbback-to-front; upside-down; perversely
UK , 1539
arsy-versyadjectivehomosexual FromARSY-VARSY(perversely) playing
onARSE(the bottom) as a stereotypical object of homosexual
attraction The Sunday Times, 22nd August 1976, published a letter
that preferred the use ofGAYto ‘arsy-versy’UK , 1976
Artful Dodgernounthe penis Rhyming slang forTODGER, formed
from a light-fingered character in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist UK , 2003
Artful DodgernicknameRoger Staubach (b 1942), a dominantquarterback at the college and professional levels in the 1960s and70s A two-for-one nickname, rhyming ‘Dodger’ with ‘Roger’ andalluding to the Dickens characterUS , 1963
Arthurnounarthritis Used by North Sea trawlermenUK , 1974
Arthur Ashe; Arthurnouncash Rhyming slang, based on thename of tennis champion Arthur Ashe, 1943–93UK , 1992
Arthur Blissnounan act of urination Rhyming slang forPISS,
formed from classical composer Sir Arthur Bliss, 1891–1975UK , 2003
Arthur Duffynoun< take it on the Arthur Duffyto leavequickly A sprinter, in 1902 Duffy was the first to run the 100-yard
dash in 9.6 seconds; he later wrote a sports column for the Boston
Post US , 1905
Arthur Fowlernouna fart Rhyming slang forGROWLER; Arthur
Fowler was a character who appeared in BBC television soap opera
EastEnders UK , 2003
Arthur Lowe; Arthurnounno Glasgow rhyming slang, formedfrom the name of the English actor, 1915–82, who is fondly
remembered for Dad’s Army, 1968–77 UK: SCOTLAND , 1988
articnounan articulated lorryUK , 1951
artichokenounLSD From the code name for the drug devised bythe Central Intelligence Agency during its early experimentationwith the drugUS , 2001
articlenouna person, usually of a type denoted Jocular, derogatory
4the equipment needed to inject a drugUS , 1915.5strict discipline;
a greater powerUS , 1954.6baked beans, or any food producingflatulenceUS , 1916
artillery earsnounpartial deafness caused by exposure to the loudnoise of the artilleryUS , 1982
artishnounan issue of a single-interest fan magazine containingmostly illustrationsUS , 1982
artistnoun1a person who is proficient at the activity that precedes
AUSTRALIA , 1889.2a person who is devoted to, or especially proficient
in, a reprehensible activityUS , 1890
artist for the governmentnouna person who drawsunemployment insurance paymentsCANADA , 1993
artsnoun< the artsmartial artsBERMUDA , 1985
artsyadjectiveartistic in a pretentious, vulgar wayUK , 1955
artsy-craftsyadjectivepretentiously artistic but not notably useful orcomfortableUK , 1902
artsy-fartsyadjectiveexcessively artyUS , 1964
artynounartilleryUS , 1864
arty-fartyadjectivepretentious, artificially culturalUS , 1967
arty rollernouna collar Rhyming slangAUSTRALIA , 1945
arva; harvanounsexual intercourse Derives from Romanycharva
Trang 37Arvinnounany South Vietnamese soldier The South Vietnamese
Army was known as the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Viet Nam);
it took one vowel and very little imagination to get to ArvinUS , 1966
ARVN attitudenouncowardice Not particularly kind to the South
Vietnamese Army (ARVN)US , 1991
arvonounafternoon From the first syllable of ‘afternoon’ (with
voicing of the ‘f’) and-o suffix Extremely common colloquially,
usually in the phrase ‘this arvo’, giving rise to the common
reanalysis ‘the sarvo’ Other forms, rare in print, are ‘afto’, the
simple ‘arve’ and also ‘aftie’ and ‘arvie’AUSTRALIA , 1927
asas can beAUSTRALIA , 1996
as all get outas can beAUSTRALIA , 1964
asap; ASAP1as soon as possible Originally military; either spoken
as an acronym spelt out and stressed or vocalised as ‘a-sap’ in the
US, ‘assap’ in the UKUS , 1955.2as slowly as possible Facetious,
bitter variant on ‘as soon as possible’CANADA , 2002
asbestos pantsnounin poker, used for describing what a player on
a very good streak of luck needsUS , 1988
A-sexnounsex experienced while under the influence of
amphet-amineUS , 1975
ashnounmarijuana The dropped ‘h’ of the London accent causes a
punning variant onHASH UK , 1990s
ashverbto drop cigarette ashAUSTRALIA , 1930
ashcannoun1a depth chargeUS , 1918.2a small, powerful, cylindrical
firecrackerUS , 1970.3in the television and film industries, an arc
light roughly shaped like a rubbish binUS , 1942
Ashcan Citynicknameduring the Korean war, a US Army processing
centre eight miles from Inchon From ASCOM (Army Service
Command) to ‘Ascom City’ to ‘Ashcan City’ US , 1994
ash cashnouna fee paid to doctors for signing a cremation form
Medical slangUK , 2001
as he has to beadverbused as an intensifier Follows an adjective,
such as ‘fine as he has to be’US , 1997
ashesnounmarijuanaUS , 1977.< get your ashes hauledto be
brought to ejaculationUS , 1906
ashtraynounthe desert Gulf war usageUS , 1991
Asian mollnouna prostitute with an Asian customer baseUS , 1982
Asian two-stepnounany highly venomous snake encountered in
the jungles of Southeast Asia From the belief that the venom will
kill the victim within two steps of the biteUS , 1966
AsiaticadjectivederangedUS , 1955
Asia WestnicknameRichmond, a town in British ColumbiaCANADA ,
2002
as if!used as a humorous expression of extreme scepticismUS , 1981
asknoun1a request Generally in the collocation ‘big ask’AUSTRALIA ,
1994.2the asking price for a racehorse A horse with a ‘big ask’ is
deemed by the speaker to be over-pricedAUSTRALIA , 1989
askverb< ask for six and go airborneto request the rotation
travel allowance of six cents a mile in order to fly homeUS , 1991.
< ask the questionto ask someone to have sexGUYANA , 1996.
< ask what you have to sellto invite sexBARBADOS , 1996
ask yourself!be reasonable!AUSTRALIA , 1942
as like as notadverb 8see:LIKE AS NOT
as my pappy would say used as a humorous introduction or
segue A signature line from Maverick, an early and popular
television Western (ABC, 1957–62) Repeated with referential
humourUS , 1957
asparagusnoun1a boy’s penis From the language of child
pornographyUS , 2003.2in horse racing, a bettor who arrives at the
track with an armful of racing forms From the observation that
the bettor ‘has more tips than a tin of asparagus’AUSTRALIA , 1989
aspendicitisnouna notional medical condition of a symptomatic
need to spend money A humorous diagnosis, playing on ‘spend’
and ‘appendicitis’ The earliest use is as the title of a 1961 jazz
asphalt eaternouna drag racer who performs wellUS , 1964
asphalt junglenouna large city The title of a 1949 book by W R.Burnett as well as an ABC television series starring Jack Warden in
1961US , 1920
asphalt pilotnouna truck driverUS , 1976
aspirin smokenouna cigarette adulterated with crushed aspirin,providing a drug-like effectUS , 1992
aspronoun 8see:ASS PRO
assnoun1the buttocks, the posteriorUS , 1853.2the vaginaUK , 1684.
3sex; a person as a sexual objectUS , 1910.4the self; a personUS ,
1945.5a fool From the level of intelligence stereotypically credited
to the animalUK , 1578.< ass on firesaid of a person who iseither angry or rushedUS , 1983.< bring ass to kick assto havethe courage needed to fight someoneUS , 1990.< bust your ass
to hurry, to exert yourself; to work extermely hardUS , 1941.< case
of the assanger; frustration Vietnam war usageUS , 1968.< eat
someone’s ass outto berate someoneUS , 1996.< in assintroubleTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1980.< take it in the assto take thepassive role in anal intercourseUS , 1983.< up your ass!; up your
arse!an expression of contempt, rejection or derisionUS , 1956.
< your ass is grassused for conveying the state of being ingreat troubleUS , 1956.< your ass offgreatly intensifies the effortmade in doing somethingUS , 1946
assverbto engage in prostitutionUS , 1991
assadjectiveterrible, badUS , 1992
-ass; -assedsuffixused as an intensifier for the preceding adjective
or adverbUS , 1903
ass-and-trashnounduring the Vietnam war, people and cargo to betransported by aeroplaneUS , 1983
ass-assverbto humiliate yourselfUS , 2002
ass backwardsadverbin reverse orderUS , 1942
ass bandit; arse bandit; asshole banditnouna male ual, especially the active partner in anal sex Usually derogatory;combinesASSwith ‘bandit’ – or ‘brigand’, conventionally a gener-ally romantic image of a villain who will take what he wantsUS , 1968
homosex-ass bitenounharsh criticismUS , 1973
ass-blowverbto lick, suck and tongue another’s anusUS , 1941
ass bucketnouna despised personUS , 1953
ass burglarnounthe active partner in anal sex; more generally, amale homosexualUS , 1979
ass cachenouna supply of drugs hidden in the rectumUS , 1992
ass chewingnouna harsh reprimand or scoldUS , 1954
ass cuntnounthe anus Analogised to a vaginaUS , 1974
assed outadjectivein severe troubleUS , 1993
ass endnounthe least desirable part of anythingUS , 1947
ass endsnounthe differentials of a truck tractorUS , 1961
ass Englishnounthe body movements and incantations of a diceshooter who believes that he can control the roll of the diceUS , 1950
assetsnounthe genitals, especially the male genitalsUK , 1998
ass fucknoun1anal sexUS , 1940.2a despicable personUS , 2001
ass-fuckverbto engage in anal sex, especially in the active roleUS , 1940
ass fuckernounthe active partner in anal sexUS , 1979
ass fuckingnounanal sexUS , 1970
ass gasketnouna disposable paper toilet seat coverUS , 1994
ass hammernouna motorcyleUS , 1975
assholenoun1the anusUS , 1935.2a fool; a person held in contempt
US , 1933.3in logging and power line work, a kink in a cableUS , 1959.
< from asshole to appetiteall over, in all partsUS , 1964.
< your asshole’s sucking windyou are talking nonsenseUS , 1961
asshole banditnoun 8see:ASS BANDIT
asshole buddy
Trang 38asshole nakedadjectivecompletely nakedUS , 1969
asshole of creationnouna remote, desolate placeUS , 1964
asshole of the world; arsehole of the worldnounthe most
despised place, area or location Other embellishments include
‘arsehole of the universe’ or ‘of the nation’US , 1949
assholesnoun< assholes and elbowssaid of a chaotic situation
US , 1987
asshole to belly buttonadjectivesaid of people pressed close
together, one behind the otherUS , 1973
ass houndnouna man who obsessively engages in the pursuit of
women for sexUS , 1952
assifiedadjective1foolishBARBADOS , 1965.2pompousGUYANA , 1996
ass in a slingin deep troubleUS , 1990
ass-in-the-grass testnouna rough approximation of the percentage
of troops actually in combat at a given moment Used in the
Vietnam warUS , 1990
assishnessnounpure stupidityTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003
ass kickersnounheavy work shoes or bootsUS , 1996
ass-kissverbto behave in an ingratiatingly sycophantic mannerUS ,
1961
ass-kisser; arse-kissernouna sycophant CombinesARSE/ASS(the
buttocks) with conventional ‘kisser’ As a demonstration of
subservience the image is much older than the term; it can be
seen in C16 woodcuts of devil-worshippers lifting the goat’s tail to
plant their kissesUS , 1766
ass-kissingnounsycophantic or ingratiating behaviourUS , 1942
ass-kissingadjectivesycophanticUS , 1942
ass-lickingadjective 8see:ARSE-LICKING
ass man; arse mannouna man who considers that the (suggestive)
appearance of a woman’s posterior provides the supreme initial
sexual attractionUS , 1972
ass munchnouna person who is easily despisedUS , 1996
assmunchernouna despised personUS , 2003
as soon asadverbas soon as possible A shortening of the
conven-tional phraseUK , 2000
ass outverbto make a fool of yourselfCANADA , 2002
ass-outadverbextremelyUS , 1995
ass over tea kettle; ass over tea cupsadverbhead over heelsUS ,
1948
ass peddlernouna male prostituteUS , 1979
ass pro; asspro; aspronouna male homosexual prostitute A
com-bination ofASSand ‘pro(stitute)’, but note Aspro™ the branded
analgesicAUSTRALIA , 1955
ass queennouna homosexual man who is particularly attracted to
other men’s buttocksUS , 1978
ass rippernouna difficult course or testUS , 1968
ass’s gallopnouna brief period of timeIRELAND , 2003
ass timenountime wasted sitting aroundUS , 1994
assumeverb< assume the angle; assume the positionto
kneel for punishment doled out as part of a hazing ritualUS , 1940
asswipe; arsewipenoun1toilet paperUS , 1958.2by extension, a
despicable or offensive personUS , 1952
A-statenicknameArkansasUS , 2002
asterisksnounused as an all-purpose euphemism for any
poten-tially offensive noun, singular or plural From the publishers’
con-vention of replacing offensive words or parts of words with an * for
each missing letterUK , 2003
as the feller saysused for introducing a statement which the
speaker does not necessarily acceptUS , 1975
as the skua fliesin a straight line Antarctica’s adaptation of the
common ‘as the crow flies’, using instead the South Pole’s
predatory gull as the bird in question
Astor’s pet horsenounused in comparisons with a person,especially a woman, who is over-dressedUS , 1950
astronautnounthe buttocks or anusUS , 2003
astro turfnounmarijuanaUK , 2003
as you doas you do (but perhaps shouldn’t) A conversationalinterjection used to make a comic admission of some oddbehaviourAUSTRALIA , 1996
as you wereused for the retraction of a preceding statement Fromthe military drill commandUK , 1864
atarinouncrack cocaineUS , 1993
A-Teamnounthe basic functional unit of the US Special Forces inVietnam, consisting of 10 to 12 trained commandosUS , 1990
ate outadjective(of trousers) worn, baggy, saggyUS , 2002
ate upadjective1in the US Air Force, dedicated to serviceUS , 1998.
2in the US Army, confused, dimUS , 1998
Atheniannounin homosexual usage, an anal sex enthusiastUS , 1987
-athonsuffixused to create a word suggesting the root word activitycarried on for a long period of time From ‘marathon’US , 1934
at itadjective1engaged in criminal activityUK , 1970.2engaged in ual intercourseAUSTRALIA , 1972
sex-ATLnicknameAtlanta, GeorgiaUS , 2002
ATMnouna generous person From the most common US name
for a bank’s automatic teller machine US , 1997
a toda madre!excellent! Border Spanish used in Englishconversation by Mexican-AmericansUS , 1974
atom bombnoun 8see:A-BOMB
atom-bombonouna cheap but very potent wine A play on thepower of the atom bomb, intensifyingBOMBO(a fortified wine)
AUSTRALIA , 1953
atomicnouna cigar-sized marijuana cigaretteUS , 1953
atomicadjective(of a drug) very-powerfulUS , 1971
A-townnicknameAtlanta, GeorgiaUS , 1995
atshitshinounmarijuana disguised by using a variant of ‘secretlanguage’ Pig LatinSOUTH AFRICA , 1977
attaboynounpraise, especially from a bossUS , 1970
attacknoun< attack of the slowsin horse racing, an imaginaryillness that plagues a horse midway through a raceUS , 1951
attagirl!used for encouraging a femaleUS , 1924
attentionnoun< jump to attention; spring to attentiontoachieve an erection From military drill, in use after World War 2
UK , 1984
atticnouna drug addict A phonetic corruptionUS , 1992
attic handnounin oil drilling, the worker who handles the drill pipe
atto-prefixused as a diminishing intensifier Literally meaning ‘ten
to the power of negative eighteen’US , 1997
au contraireadverbto the contrary French used by those whospeak no French; adds a camp toneUS , 1955
auction galenounan equinoctial gale ‘Auction’ echoes the sound
of ‘equinoctial’CANADA , 1999
Audinoun< to be audito leaveUS , 1992
Audi 5000adjectivealready goneUS , 1998
Audi 5000!
Trang 39Audienicknamethe voice that announced the time on telephone
time servicesUS , 1955
auger inverbto crash an aeroplaneUS , 1957
augustusnouna male homosexual A roundabout allusion to anal
intercourse; Augustus Gloop is a character in Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl, filmed as Willie Wonka and the
Chocolate Factory, 1971 At the climax of the story Augustus is
sucked up a chocolate pipeUK , 2002
auld lang synenounmutual, simultaneous oral sex between two
people Rhyming slang for69formed from the song that people
enjoy once a year.UK , 2003
auld wannoun 8see:OUL ONE
au natureladjectivenaked French used by those who speak no
French; informal, jocular, affectedUS , 1967
auntnounthe manager of a brothelUK , 1606
Aunt Bettienounan overly cautious personUS , 1945
Aunt Ellanounan umbrella Rhyming slangUK , 1960
Aunt Emmanoun1used as a personification of a matronly auntUS ,
1947.2in croquet, a cautious, conservative, dull playerUS , 1977
Aunt Fannynicknamethe Federal Communications CommissionUS ,
1976
Aunt Flonounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1954
Aunt Flo from Red Rivernounthe bleed period of the menstrual
cycleCANADA , 2001
Aunt Haggie’s childrennounany stupid, lazy, despised people
BERMUDA , 1985
Aunt HazelnounmarijuanaUS , 2001
auntienoun1an older, effeminate male homosexual A tad cruel, if
not derogatoryUS , 1930.2a disoriented unlambed ewe that thinks
she has lambed and steals the lamb of anotherNEW ZEALAND , 1999.
3the bleed period of the menstrual cycle Also variant ‘aunty’
NORFOLK ISLAND , 1992
Auntie; Auntynicknamethe British Broadcasting CorporationUK , 1962
Auntie Enanouna cleaner Rhyming slangUK , 1992
Auntie Lilyadjectivesilly Rhyming slangUK , 1945
auntie mannoun1a man who is completely dominated by his wife
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 2003.2an effeminate man, especially a
homo-sexualGUYANA , 1996
Auntie Nellie; Aunty Nellynounthe belly Rhyming slang;
sometimes shortened to ‘aunty’UK , 1961
Auntie WickynicknameQueen VictoriaBAHAMAS , 1982
Aunt Jane’s roomnounan outdoor toiletUS , 1939
Aunt Jemimanouna black woman who seeks approval from white
people by obsequious behaviour Ironically, singer/actor Ethel
Ernestine Harper, who portrayed Aunt Jemima in pancake
commercials from 1948 until 1966, was by all accounts anything
but the stereotypical subservient black womanUS , 1966
Aunt Julianouncommunist propaganda Possibly from a code word
passed to Communist stevedores on waterfronts to indicate the
shipment of communist printed material is aboard ship’US , 1953
Aunt Maggienoun< out Aunt Maggie’s window(used of a
homerun) out of the ballparkUS , 1962
Aunt Marynounmarijuana.MARYis a familiar pun on ‘marijuana’
US , 1959
Aunt Nellnounthe ear Usually as a pluralUK , 2002
Aunt Nellverbto listen Often an imperativeUK , 1992
Aunt Nelly fakenounan earring A combination ofAUNT NELL(the
ear) and ‘fake’ (an artificial thing); usually as a pluralUK , 1997
Aunt NoranouncocaineUS , 1994
Aunt Rubynounthe bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 2002
Aunt Thomasinanoun1a black woman who curries favour with
white people by obsequious behaviour An echo of the much
more commonly heardUNCLE TOM US , 1963.2a woman who does
Aunt Tillie; Aunt Tillynoun1used as the personification of a fussyold maidUS , 1960.2the bleed period of the menstrual cycleUS , 1999
Aunt Tomnouna woman who does not support the goals offeminism An attempt to link semantically the struggle of womenwith the struggle of black slaves by borrowing from the well-known
UNCLE TOM US , 1968
Aunty Nellynoun 8see:AUNTIE AND VARIANTS
aurora borealisnounphencyclidine, the recreational drug known asPCP or angel dustUS , 1977
Aussienoun1Australia From Australia and ‘-ie’ suffix Pronounced
‘ozzie’, not ‘ossie’, the common mistake made by northAmericans Generally used positively with a sense of national pride
in all meaningsAUSTRALIA , 1915.2an Australian Originally used ofAustralian soldiers in World War 1AUSTRALIA , 1918.3AustralianEnglishAUSTRALIA , 1945.4the Australian dollarAUSTRALIA , 1956
AussieadjectiveAustralianAUSTRALIA , 1915
Aussie haka; Australian hakanouna gesture showing that youhave no money to pay for the next round of drinks at a pubNEW ZEALAND , 1998
Aussie kissnounoral-genital stimulation Described as ‘similar to aFrench Kiss, but given down under’UK , 2002
Aussie steaknounmuttonUS , 1947
Australianounan ounce of marijuana or other drug Punning theabbreviation ‘oz’ (ounce) with the familiar diminutive ‘Oz’(Australia)UK , 2003
Australiannoun1Australian English Jocularly seen as a separatelanguage from British English, or other varieties of English
AUSTRALIA , 1902.2a practitioner of mouth-to-anus sex From asomewhat forced ‘down under’ jokeUS , 1979
Australian daysnounnight-workUK , 1970
Australian salutenouna hand-movement brushing flies away fromthe faceAUSTRALIA , 1972
Australian yonounin craps, a roll of three A roll of three is rarely agood thing, and is usually best face-down; if a three is face-down,
an eleven is face-up Eleven is ‘yo’, with the three thus under the yo’US , 1999
‘down-Austrian Oaknickname 8see:OAK
autoadjectiveautomatic A colloquial abbreviationUS , 1995
autocutienounan attractive but incompetent television presenter Acompound of ‘autocue’ andCUTIE(an attractive young woman)UK , 2003
auto-getemnounautomatic weapons fire Broken down – matic fire gets ‘em’US , 1972
‘auto-automagicallyadverbin computing, in an automatic but nation-defying complicated fashionUS , 1981
expla-automatic tongue-wipernouna sycophant or toadyUS , 1977
automatonnounin poker, a player who bets and plays in anextremely predictable mannerUS , 1996
autumn leavesnounin horse racing, a steeplechase jockey who hassuffered a series of falls A shameless punAUSTRALIA , 1989
AvnicknameTelegraph Avenue, Berkeley, CaliforniaUS , 1966
Ava Gardneradjectiveavant-gardeUK , 1983
Avenuenoun< the Avenue1Fifth Avenue in New York In gayuse Fifth Avenue was, in the 1940s and 50s, favoured by homo-sexual prostitutesUS , 1940s to 50s.2Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley,CalfiorniaUS , 1966
averageadjectivemediocre; not the best; just plain dreadful
AUSTRALIA , 1981
avgasnounjet fuelUS , 1990
aviatornounin trucking, a driver who drives very fastUS , 1971
awakeadjectivesexually arousedUS , 1985
awake toaware of a secret plan, trick, deception or the like; aware
of a person’s deceitful character or hidden agenda Now generally
Trang 40a wake-upadjectivealert; knowing; wise to There is some confusion
about whether this idiom should be construed nominally with ‘a’
being the article and ‘wake-up’ being a noun, meaning ‘an alert
person, a person who knows what’s what’, or adjectivally as
defined here The earliest evidence (from 1916) supports the noun
theory, but since the 1940s it has become impossible to definitely
determine the part of speech in print as it is found spelt variously
as ‘a wake-up’, ‘a wakeup’, ‘awake up’ and ‘awake-up’ The fact
that the plural form ‘wake-ups’ is only attested by a solitary
citation from 1943 suggests that it is now conceived of as an
adjectival phrase however it may be speltAUSTRALIA , 1916
a wake-up toaware of a secret plan, trick, deception or the like;
aware of a person’s deceitful character or hidden agendaAUSTRALIA ,
1944
awayadjective1in prison EuphemisticUK , 1909.2overseasBARBADOS ,
1965.3crazyUK: SCOTLAND , 1988.4in bar dice games, counting for
nothing A call of ‘aces away’ would mean that rolls of one have
no point valueUS , 1976
away laughingadjectivein a good position, especially when
embarking on a new ventureNEW ZEALAND , 1965
awesomeadjectivegreat, excellent An informal variation of the
con-ventional senseUS , 1975
awfuck diseasenounthe sense of dread that you feel the morning
after doing something that you, upon reflection, wished you had
not done Used in jokes more than in real life, with the punch-line
a variation on ‘Aw fuck, why did I do that?’US , 2001
awfuladverbveryUK , 1818
awkward squadnouncollectively, people who do not, or will not,
conform; a notional grouping of people who are ‘difficult’UK , 1796
AWOL; awoladjective missing Military coinage, from ‘ absent
without leave’; now widely applied, both as initialism or acronym,
to most circumstances where permission for absence would be
requiredUK , 1920
AWOL bagnounin the Korea and Vietnam wars, an overnight bag
US , 1956
ax; axenoun1a musical instrument, especially an electric guitar
Originally used in jazz circles for any instrument, particularly a
saxophone or trumpet, instruments on which ‘chops’ (musical
figures) are played; surely ‘axe’ was coined as a pun The word
itself suggests a chopper, a tool that you can carry over your
shoulder – to many jazz and, subsequently, rock musicians, their
instrument is exactly thatUS , 1955.2any sharp-edged weaponUS ,
1950.3a knife used or intended for use as a weaponUS , 1972.
4dismissal from employment Usually heard in the phrases ‘getthe axe’ or ‘give the axe’US , 1883.5in a gambling operation, thehouse’s cut of the betsUS , 1974.6the lip of a waveUS , 1991.< get
the axein surfing, to be knocked off your board by a waveUS , 1957
axe godnouna popular electric-guitar player who inspires worship with his musical technique Based onAXE(a guitar) Thegraffito ‘Clapton is God’, deifying the popular guitarist Eric Clapton(b.1945), was widespread in the late 1960sUK , 1999
hero-axe handlenounan imprecise unit of measurement, especiallywhen applied to the breadth of a man’s shoulders or woman’sbuttocksUS , 1947
axe handle partynouna riot or brawlUS , 110
axe heronouna popular electric-guitar player who inspires worship with his musical technique Based onAXE(a guitar)UK , 1996
hero-axe mannoun1an electric guitarist; rarely, any musician Based on
AXE(a guitar or any instrument)UK , 1976.2a person who decideswhen a company will discharge an employeeTRINIDAD AND TOBAGO , 1975
axe-woundnounthe vaginaUK , 2003
axle greasenoun1money Probably because ‘it makes the wheels goround’AUSTRALIA , 1943.2any particularly thick and sticky hairpomade Known and used in the UK, US and AustraliaAUSTRALIA , 1943
aye, doogie ayeused for expressing disbelief in whatever you havejust been told An elaboration of ‘aye’ (yes) spoken with ironyheavy enough to mean ‘no’ Several variations including: ‘ayeHawkeye’, ‘aye, hooch-aye’; ‘aye, Popeye’ and ‘aye, that eye’UK: SCOTLAND , 1988
ayemernoun(from television) a morning show This term is thought
to have been imported into Canada, from the US Variety
magazineCANADA , 2002
’ay is for ’orses; hay is for horsesused as a disdainful rejoinderwhen someone says ’eh?’ or ’hey!’ This, the oldest of allcatchphrases, is recorded in Swift’s ‘Polite Conversations’, 1738UK , 1738
ayoused as a greetingUS , 1995
Ayrton Sennanouna ten pound note Rhyming slang for ‘tenner’;formed from Brazilian Formula-One racing driver Ayrton Senna daSilva, 1963–1994UK , 2004
Aztec hop; Aztec revenge; Aztec two-stepnoundiarrhoeasuffered by tourists in MexicoUS , 1953
azznounthe buttocks A variation ofASS US , 2002