A STUDY OP SLANG; AND INFORMAL USAGE IN THE NEWSPAPER
by CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL KENWOOD B.A.|University
of British
Columbia,1964
A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE, REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS
in
t h e Department of Linguistics
We a c c e p t to
this
t h e s i s as conforming
the required
standard
THE; UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA May,T969
In p r e s e n t i n g an
this
thesis
in partial
f u l f i l m e n t of the requirements f o r
advanced degree a t the U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h
the
Library
I further for
shall
make i t f r e e l y
agree that
permission
s c h o l a r l y p u r p o s e s may
by
his representatives.
of
this
written
thesis
It i s understood gain
Linguistics
The U n i v e r s i t y o f B r i t i s h V a n c o u v e r 8, Canada
Date
for extensive
May
30,1969
Columbia
shall
that
that
Study.
copying of this
be g r a n t e d b y t h e Head o f my
for financial
I agree
a v a i l a b l e f o r r e f e r e n c e and
permission.
Department of
Columbia,
thesis
Department o r
copying or p u b l i c a t i o n
n o t be a l l o w e d w i t h o u t
my
ABSTRACT
32*** The P E A N U T
VANCOUVER SUN: Mon., Mar. 10, 1969 HERE'S THE W0RLDFAMOUS A5TR0NAI/T TAKIW6 OFF FOR THEM00N„.
ALL SYSTEMS ARE 60 i A-OK'. HOti) CO VOU READ? LOUP AW CLEAR} '
U)E HAVE LIFT OFF.'THERRD
U)£ HAVE A LOT OF \ 'IN" EXPRESSIONS! J
IS &6INNIHG TO MOYE—.
"2P"
S
Yes,we do
have a l o t o f " i n " e x p r e s s i o n s ; t h e y
motive f o r t h i s t h e s i s , w h i c h in
the
discusses
m a j o r V a n c o u v e r n e w s p a p e r s ( The
are,in fact,the
s l a n g and
i n f o r m a l usage
V a n c o u v e r Sun
and
The
Vancouver P r o v i n c e ) . The
c r e a t i o n of these
arose and
t h r o u g h the
eighteenth
be
like
should
be
standardized
lifeless;live Thus, t h e s e
concept of s t a n d a r d i z a t i o n * I n the
centuries lexicographers
e s p e c i a l l y men language
n o n — s t a n d a r d usage g r o u p s i n l a n g u a g e
Dr
a
p u r i f i e d and
11
fixed;"that,in
f o r a l l time.But
to
the
standard to
add It
level
of
s l a n g , i n f o r m a l and v e r s i o n . l t was
d r o p f r o m use
felt
and
life
t h a t any
o f the E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e e x a m i n a t i o n o f how through the
realized
word,a p l a c e n o t
life.
vulgarities the
far,I
study i n the
believe,from
the
discontinuous
v a r i e t y and
remain
today.
effectively
interstandard,
o f mewspapers. realm
o f the
written
s p o k e n word.They r e v e a l
s t o r y o f a community i n a c t i o n and the
relegated
t h a t body o f E n g l i s h c a l l e d
Newspapers o c c u p y a s p e c i a l p l a c e
presenting
not
cease t o i n f i l t r a t e
w o u l d be
daily
areas
hoped t h a t these
with
the
t h e i r e f f o r t s , t h e subother
t w i n e d " s l a n g u a g e " was best
standardization i n
of language.However,they d i d not,and they
much t o the
was
remain
languages branch i n f i n i t e l y i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s .
"cleansed"
would thereby
English
f a c t , i t should
o n l y dead l a n g u a g e s
Renaissance pursuers
- the
grammarians,
Samuel J o h n s o n . p r o p o s e d t h a t the
language i r o n i c a l l y c r e a t e d , t h r o u g h standard
and
seventeenth
interaction,
i n c o n g r u i t y of
ordinary
Newspapers r e f l e c t of s o c i a l
on a r a p i d , d a i l y b a s i s t h e
sub-groups,the
multiplicity
mark o f immediacy i n t r a n s m i s s i o n ,
and t h e p e r m i s s i v e q u a l i t y i n o u r a p p r o a c h t o l a n g u a g e For purposes
today.
o f e x a m i n a t i o n t h e n e w s p a p e r s were a r r a n g e d
c a t e g o r i e s f o l l o w i n g the p a t t e r n i n which
into
the papers are
u s u a l l y presented,Thus,the General category,the E d i t o r i a l section,the
entertainment pages,the
Sports page,the
Comics
and t h e F i n a n c i a l a r e a s . S l a n g and i n f o r m a l samples were c u l l e d and made up lexicon
c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n t h e body o f t h i s
Examination of t h i s
the
thesis.
c o r p u s o f words i n d i c a t e s t h a t
the
newspaper i s v e r y much what M a r s h a l l McLuhan t e r m s a c o n f e s s i o n a l f o r m o r communal m o s a i c . T h r o u g h and i n f o r m a l evidence.lt changes
language i s also
numerous s u b - g r o u p s
their
group
slang
are c l e a r l y i n
clear that t h e i r productive vocabulary
c o n t i n u o u s l y and r a p i d l y , r a r e l y r e m a i n i n g
"fixed"
a s t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y a u t h o r i t a r i a n s w o u l d have
wished.
L i k e t h e a u t h o r i t a r i a n s i n t h e i r age,we i n o u r s a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g a marked i n c r e a s e i n t h e awareness o f l a n g u a g e . We
now
seem t o know enough t o e n j o y o b s e r v i n g how
o f a s u b - c u l t u r e may
e n r i c h the mainstream
observation "slanguage" gains d a i l y
the
language
o f l a n g u a g e and
on s t a n d a r d l a n g u a g e .
Yes,Snoopy.we do have a l o t o f " i n " e x p r e s s i o n s .
by
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract
i i i
Acknowledgement
v
Text:Pure
1
o r S t a n d a r d Language
a) D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c o n c e p t
of standard
b) D e f i n i t i o n
1 1
c) B * e x i c o g r a p h i c a l t r a d i t i o n
2
d) C r e a t i o n o f t h e s u b - n o r m a l a r e a s
4
S l a n g and I n f o r m a l i s m s
5
a) D e f i n i t i o n
5
b) O r i g i n : H u m a n f a c t o r s
5
c) O r i g i n : T e c h n i c a l
7
factors
R a t i onale
10
a) S o u r c e m a t e r i a l s
10
b) C l a s s i f i c a t i o n
11
into categories
c) S e l e c t i o n
1.1
Word C o r p u s
13
ai)Words w i t h g l o s s , c o d i n g , o r i g i n where p o s s i b l e and p e r t i n e n t
13
comment
Summary a n d C o n c l u s i o n s
110
a) N e s p a p e r s a s o r a l
110
b) E v i d e n c e
i n each
tradition category
111
c) Language a s s u b j e c t t o f a s h i o n
113
d) Summary
114
Footnotes
115
B i b l i ography
116>
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT It
i s with sincere
gratitude that
I w i s h t o e x p r e s s my
t h a n k s t o Dr« R o b e r t J© Gfregg.my f a c u l t y a d v i s o r , w i t h out my i n i t i a t i o n occurredoHe
into
the f i e l d
of L i n g u i s t i c s
whom
may n o t have
gave me i n s p i r a t i o n t o b e g i n , e n t h u s i a s m t o p r o c e e d
a n d encouragement a t a l l t i m e s o W i t h o u t h i s g u i d a n c e , f r o m t h e formulation
o f t h e problem
project, this thesis
to the f i n a l
w o u l d n o t have b e e n
accomplishment possible*
of the
1
PURE OR The
STANDARD LANGUAGE
major i n t e n t
of t h i s
t h e s i s i s the examination of slang
i n f o r m a l i s m s as t h e y o c c u r i n t h e medium o f t h e V a n c o u v e r p a p e r s . To
realize
be c a l l e d
f o r the t h e s i s , s t a n d a r d
the motive
or u n d e r l y i n g
language.
To u n d e r s t a n d what i s meant by a s t a n d a r d l a n g u a g e first
go b a c k t o t h e s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y whose
tradition While
initially
n u r t u r e d the
the r e b i r t h
of c l a s s i c a l l i t e r a t u r e
t o development
we
must
Renaissance
concept.
important aspect of the Renaissance,the itself
news-
t h i s i n t e n t most e f f e c t i v e l y , p e r h a p s i t w o u l d
be u s e f u l t o c o n s i d e r what may inspiration
and
s c i e n c e s was
an
era d i d not r e s t r i c t
i n t h e s e a r e a s o n l y . T h i s age
also
promoted
languages,mainly through the formation of l i t e r a r y s o c i e t i e s Academies.Although
A c a d e m i e s were f o r m e d
w i t h i n t h i s p e r i o d I t a l y was
perhaps
everywhere
For
and e x p a n d i n g
e x p l i c a t e the n a t i o n a l
was
language
l a n g u a g e s . l t was
first
were s t i m u l a t e d by
educated
Accademia d e l l a Crusca.however.that
a national
A c a d e m i e s were
arose.A prime
was
1612
i t s b y now
the i d e a of purpose
standardizing
of t h i s
purifying
language.
h i s t o r i c a l l y famous V o c a b o l a r i o d e l l a
s p e e c h . T h i s was
b e g i n n i n g of the l e x i c o g r a p h i c a l adapted and Johnson
Academy
reasoned
p u b l i s h e d t o s t a b i l i z e the I t a l i a n l i t e r a r y language
b a s i s of Tuscan
and
w i t h i n t h e framework o f
l i t e r a r y t a s t e , b o t h o f w h i c h were e x p e c t e d t o a c t as
In
the
classes to s t a b i l i z e
t o c r e a t e a d i c t i o n a r y as w e l l as t o e s t a b l i s h a
a g e n t s upon t h e I t a l i a n
concerns
Crusca.
t h e most p a r t t h e s e i n s t i t u t i o n s
d e s i r e s of r u l e r s the
i n Europe
t h e most famous o f w h i c h , a n d t h e one w h i c h
u s t h e most,was t h e A c c a d e m i a d e l l a
or
t h e s o u r c e and model o f t h e
movement.In I t a l y a l o n e n e a r l y seven h u n d r e d formed,probably
and
perhaps
the f i r s t
more t h a n a c e n t u r y l a t e x .
the
important
t r a d i t i o n w h i c h was
e m b e l l i s h e d f o r the E n g l i s h language
on
Crusca
t o be
by Dr.
Samuel
2
B e f o r e Johnson,however,came t h e Academie
Francaise.also
important i n the evolution o f a lexicographic Italians,who
t o o k i t upon t h e m s e l v e s t o s i f t t h e l a n g u a g e a n d
p u b l i s h the accepted residue the
the labor
During t h i s period it
i n t h e i r Vocabolario
French a l s o produced a d i c t i o n a r y , t h e
represented
not
i d e a l . L i k e the
assembling
o f many a c a d e m i c i a n s f o r many of lexicographic
was w i t h M u l c a s t e r t h a t we n o t e t h e e a r l i e s t
itself
trend.In
request
fact,
f o r some
the seventeenth century the
o f t h e F r e n c h a n d I t a l i a n A c a d e m i e s began t o make
felt
a n d t h e demand f o r an a u t h o r i t a t i v e d i c t i o n a r y became
increasingly insistent.Through etymologists,important the
years.
r e g u l a t i o n , p r e f e r a b l y v i a a d i c t i o n a r y of the
English language.Certainly,in influence
of which
e x p a n s i o n t h e E n g l i s h were
unaware o f t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e c o n t i n e n t a l
form of o f f i c i a l
m e n t i o n e d above,
pressure
eighteenth
t h e endorsement o f a n t i q u a r i a n s ,
men o f l e t t e r s
and the R o y a l S o c i e t y
f o ra dictionary intensified u n t i l
century
the S o c i e t y
improving the E n g l i s h
itself,
i n the e a r l y
e s t a b l i s h e d a committee f o r
language.
Thus,we c a n c l e a r l y u n d e r s t a n d t h a t b y t h e t i m e J o h n s o n b e g a n work on h i s d i c t i o n a r y t h e r e pressure
was a s o l i d b a c k g r o u n d o f s o c i a l
f o rthe English-speaking
lexicographic
ideal
first
world t o r e a l i z e the
introduced
on t h e c o n t i n e n t - a n
ideal
which Johnson l a r g e l y shared and,to a n t i c i p a t e , l a r g e l y r e a l i z e d . I n 1 7 4 6 , t h e n , J o h n s o n began work on h i s d i c t i o n a r y a n d w i t h i n eight years published the
lexicon i t s e l f , a
t h e c o m p l e t e work w h i c h i n c l u d e d Preface,a
Grammar a n d a H i s t o r y o f t h e
language.By t h e time the d i c t i o n a r y reached a c t u a l J o h n s o n was aware t h a t
i t was p r o b a b l y i m p o s s i b l e
language as t h e c o n t i n e n t a l Academies had t r i e d In h i s preface
as w e l l as
production to " f i x " a
t o do.
he s t a t e s :
Those who have been p e r s u a d e d t o t h i n k w e l l o f my d e s i g n , r e q u i r e t h a t i t should f i x our language,and put a stop t o those a l t e r a t i o n s which time and chance have h i t h e r t o been s u f f e r e d t o make i n i t w i t h o u t o p p o s i t i o n . W i t h t h i s consequence I w i l l c o n f e s s t h a t I f l a t t e r e d m y s e l f f o r a w h i l e ; b u t now b e g i n t o f e a r t h a t I have i n d u l g e d expectation which n e i t h e r reason n o r experience can j u s t i f y . When we see men grow o l d and d i e a t a c e r t a i n t i m e one a f t e r a n o t h e r , f r o m c e n t u r y t o c e n t u r y , w e l a u g h at t h e e l i x i r t h a t promises t o p r o l o n g l i f e t o a
3
t h o u s a n d y e a r s ; a n d w i t h e q u a l j u s t i c e may the l e x i c o g r a p h e r be d e r i d e d , w h o b e i n g a b l e t o p r o d u c e no example o f a n a t i o n t h a t has p r e s e r v e d their words and p h r a s e s f r o m m u t a b i l i t y , s h a l l i m a g i n e t h a t h i s d i c t i o n a r y can embalm h i s l a n g u a g e , a n d s e c u r e i t f r o m c o r r u p t i o n and d e c a y , t h a t i t i s i n h i s power t o change s u b l u n a r y n a t u r e , o r c l e a r t h e w o r l d a t once f r o m f o l l y , v a n i t y and a f f e c t a t i o n . W h i l e he
c o u l d understand the
o f l a n g u a g e i t was "fixing"
difficult
t r a n s i t o r y and f o r him
arbitrary qualities
t o deny t h e
concept
of
entirely: I n hope o f g i v i n g l o n g e v i t y t o t h a t w h i c h i t s own n a t u r e f o r b i d s t o be i m m o r t a l , I have d e v o t e d t h i s book..•. 2
In
commenting upon J o h n s o n ' s c o n f l i c t i n g
James S l e d d
concludes
f e e l i n g s on
this
point,
that:
J o h n s o n s e e s t h e s i t u a t i o n as one i n w h i c h r e a s o n i s p i t t e d a g a i n s t the n a t u r a l i n a b i l i t y of man, a t once t h e c r e a t o r o f l a n g u a g e and i t s c o r r u p t e r . - * J o h n s o n saw
an
i d e a l i z e d v i s i o n of language t h a t
s t a b i l i t y , r e g u l a r i t y and
a slow,controlled
c h a n g e . I n d e e d , h i s d i c t i o n a r y was for
so l o n g . I t was
included
a standard
a h i s t o r y of the
lexicon c r i t i c a l l y d e f i n i t i o n s and regarding
e x a c t l y what i t s age a standardizing by
b o t h method and and
some t h r e e
c o n t e n t . l t was
standardizing
quarters
b e g a n t o g i v e way
extensive classified
thoroughly a t l e a s t the
third
w i d e l y a c c e p t e d as a
not
until
d i c t i o n a r y was
of a c e n t u r y
to the
was
demanded
from a u t h o r i t i e s a
approach to language,and u n t i l century
had
d i v i d e d and
i l l u s t r a t e d with quotations
linguistic
e d i t i o n which
l a n g u a g e , a grammar,and an
selected,explained
decade of the n i n e t e e n t h standard
process of
u s a g e * I t w a s , i n f a c t , i n s p i r e d by
prescriptive in
and
included
the
notion
of
into
question,
l a t e r , t h a t Johnson's
authority
demand f o r an
called
very
standard
impartial recording
the
of
words. We
a r e now
teenth
convinced,of course,that
c e n t u r i e s had
the
s e v e n t e e n t h and
a completely mistaken conception
l a n g u a g e . M e n o f l e a r n i n g and come t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e
the
eight-
of
educated c l a s s e s i n general
l a n g u a g e o f t h e i r t i m e had
reached
had an
4
i d e a l p e r f e c t i o n and at
the
and
hands o f t h e
only
lexicographer
u n c h a n g i n g . I t has
of the The
lexicographer important
approach of the the
required a l i t t l e
long
i n order
i s t o r e c o r d and
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o be
not
t h a t the
time(of
concept of the
o f t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e , w h i c h was
a t once an
lexicographical tradition
and
which Johnson
definition,standardization automatically
outside on
the
of t h i s
rather
f r i n g e s of the
categories.In
primary
c o n c e p t and
the
official anything
forced i t to
remain
a p p r o v e d l e x i c o n u n d e r assumed l a b e l s
and
f a l s e words.Today,we c a l l
slang,informalisms,jargon
s u b s t a n d a r d e l e m e n t s have k e p t and t h r o u g h e x t e n d e d use
of
world.
excluded
Johnson's t i m e , t h e y termed such items
corruptions,secret specifically
rigid
and
general
and
argot
or
vulgarities,
them more words.These
do k e e p t h e i r l a b e l s
social
was
standardization
extension
the
select.
philosophical
r e c o g n i t i o n of t h a t t r a d i t i o n i n the E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g By
main d u t y
to c r i t i c a l l y
gleaned from the
educated c l a s s e s of the
purifying
t o become permanent
s i n c e been e v i d e n t
a c t i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ) i s the
continental
p r u n i n g and
until,
a p p r o v a l , t h e y are
elevated
into
the
corpus of
standard
usage.Thus,it i s reasonable to
that
the
existence
of t h e s e
sub-areas of the E n g l i s h language i s
p e r h a p s u l t i m a t e l y due respect
f o r the
sub-areas of
our
efforts
i r o n y i n v o l v e d we
slang
language
to the
and
today.
informalisms
will
say
o f Samuel J o h n s o n . W i t h examine two
- t h a t add
due
of t h e s e m a j o r
so much t o t h e
life
5
SLANG AND
INFORMALISMS
I t has been s t a t e d above t h a t b e c a u s e s t a n d a r d i z a t i o n i n language o f language
proposed
of
and a c c e p t e d , e x t r a l e v e l s
o r v o c a b u l a r y have t h e r e b y been c r e a t e d , G e n e r a l l y
speaking,the a r e what we
was
the v e r y concept
two term
most i m p o r t a n t and
comprehensive
extra
levels
s l a n g and i n f o r m a l i s m s .
S t a n d a r d u s a g e , i t has been n o t e d , i s t h e l e v e l most w i d e l y a c c e p t e d by t h e g e n e r a l p o p u l a c e
of v o c a b u l a r y
and
i s that
level
c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n any number o f s t a n d a r d d i c t i o n a r i e s . S l a n g i n f o r m a l usage,on the o t h e r hand,is t h a t which while used
level
N e i t h e r does i t a p p e a r it
v e r y o f t e n i n the normal
record,as well
not
of good,formal
i s b y i t s v e r y n a t u r e more c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
the w r i t t e n
of vocabulary,
f r e q u e n t l y by t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c , i s
c o n s i d e r e d as f a l l i n g w i t h i n t h e d e f i n i t i o n
and
usage.
dictionary,since
of the spoken than
as o f t e n b e i n g h i g h l y t r a n s i t o r y i n
u s e . F o r t h e most p a r t , s l a n g
enjoys a temporary
popularity
and
q u i c k l y fades from use,but
some i t e m s b e c o m e , t h r o u g h e x t e n d e d
in
as s t a n d a r d u s a g e and
t i m e and
space,accepted
e l e v a t e d from the e x t r a l e v e l
to the primary
S l a n g o r i g i n a t e s from the tendency t o form
small,distinctive
unique It
reasons.In each of these
concepts w i l l
on t h e p a r t
may
be
formed
of language,mostly t o be
l a r g e mass o f may
be
be g r o u p e d
and t h e s e w i l l
groups
culture
s l a n g f o r m a t i o n s t o t h e dominant
portion
groupings are
i n other facets
shaded
shown b e l o w , s l a n g
of s o c i e t y . A n a t u r a l
areas.^
response substantial
they are
active
of l i f e , b o t h
of
group's
culture. may
be
seen a s t h e more p o p u l a r
o f t h e c a n t , j a r g o n and a r g o t , t a k e n f r o m
sub-groups
and
i n the form of s l a n g e x p r e s s i o n s .
t h e s e f a c t o r s b e i n g n e c e s s a r y f o r the t r a n s m i s s i o n of a
Pictorially,as
that
together f o r
require a
o f some s i g n i f i c a n c e and t h a t
members o f t h e p r i n c i p a l
people
s m a l l e r g r o u p i n g s new
i s assumed,of c o u r s e , t h a t t h e s e s o c i a l
enough i n s i z e
thereby
level.
s o c i a l groups.These
work o r p l a y t o g e t h e r o r o t h e r s who any p a r t i c u l a r
o f any
are
use
some o f t h e many
o v e r l a p p i n g i s i n d i c a t e d by
the
5a
6
C h a r l t o n L a i r d draws an a p t a n a l o g y i n h i s book.The M i r a c l e
of
Language: An amoeba i s a f o r m l e s s t h i n g w h i c h t a k e s many s h a p e s . I t moves by t h r u s t i n g an arm,and f l o w i n g i n t o the arm.It m u l t i p l i e s by p u l l i n g i t s e l f i n two,without permanently d i m i n i s h i n g the o r i g i n a l . So w i t h words.A meaning may d e v e l o p on t h e p e r i p h e r y o f t h e b o d y o f meanings a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a word,and s h o r t l y t h i s t e n t a c l e - m e a n i n g h a s grown t o s u c h p r o p o r t i o n s t h a t i t d w a r f s a l l o t h e r m e a n i n g s . . . . A t t h e same t i m e , h o w e v e r , w h i l e one meaning segment i n a word i s g r o w i n g , a n o t h e r m e a n i n g - t e n t a c l e may w i t h e r a w a y . T h i s meaning f a l l s out o f u s e b e c a u s e t h e o b j e c t t h a t i t i m p l i e d i s a l s o o u t o f u s e ; o r b e c a u s e t h e r e were two words f o r t h e o b j e c t , a n d one seemed t o be enough;or b e c a u s e t h e word became v u l g a r , o r became u n p o p u l a r a t t h e expense o f a n o t h e r ; o r f o r any c o m b i n a t i o n o f a l l s o r t s o f o t h e r r e a s o n s . As l o n g as human v o c a b u l a r y r e s t s upon human n a t u r e , w e must c o n t i n u e i g n o r a n t o f many o f t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e r i s e and d e c l i n e o f t h e p o p u l a r i t y o f c e r t a i n words - a t l e a s t u n t i l p s y c h o l o g i s t s have l e a r n e d much more t h a n t h e y know a b o u t why we behave l i k e human b e i n g s . 5 Leonard
B l o o m f i e l d , i n L a n g u a g e . g o e s on t o e x p l o r e some o f t h e s e
psychological
i m p l i c a t i o n s by n o t i n g t h a t
f l u c t u a t i o n i n language
slang; r e p r e s e n t s
t o a g r e a t e x t e n t and
that:
G e n e r a l e f f e c t i v e n e s s , i n t h e shape o f v i o l e n c e or w i t , i s a p o w e r f u l f a c t o r i n f l u c t u a t i o n . l t l e a d s t o t h e sudden r i s e o r f a l l o f s l a n g e x p r e s s i o n s . The r i s e o f s l a n g i s d u e , a p p a r e n t l y , t o t h e i r e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n p r o d u c i n g a response from the h e a r e r . A t f i r s t t h e y owe t h i s t o t h e i r n o v e l t y and apt y e t v i o l e n t t r a n s f e r e n c e o f m e a n i n g ; l a t e r t h e h e a r e r r e s p o n d s b e c a u s e he has h e a r d them i n f a v o r a b l e s i t u a t i o n s and f r o m a t t r a c t i v e p e o p l e . A l l these f a v o r a b l e f a c t o r s d i s a p p e a r from sheer r e p e t i t i o n ; t h e n o v e l t y wears o f f , t h e v i o l e n t metaphor l a p s e s when t h e t r a n s f e r r e d meaning becomes more f a m i l i a r t h a n t h e c e n t r a l meaning; t h e a v e r a g e o f t h e s i t u a t i o n s and s p e a k e r s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e f o r m becomes i n d i f f e r e n t . T h e r e u p o n t h e s l a n g f o r m d i e s out..•.The most p o w e r f u l f o r c e of a l l i n f l u c t u a t i o n works q u i t e o u t s i d e the l i n g u i s t ' s reach:the speakers f a v o r the f o r m s w h i c h he h a s h e a r d f r o m c e r t a i n o t h e r s p e a k e r s w h o , f o r some r e a s o n o f p r e s t i g e , i n f l u e n c e h i s h a b i t s of speech.°
C l e a r l y t h e n , s l a n g , l i k e much e l s e i n l i f e , r e f l e c t s people
who p a r t i c i p a t e
i n i t s use.It
g r o u p s t o w h i c h we b e l o n g
the k i n d of
c l a s s i f i e s us according t o the
and a d d i t i o n a l l y
indicates:
•••our b i o g r a p h i c a l , m e n t a l and p s y c h o l o g i c a l background;*..our social,economic,geographical, national,racial,religious,educational,occupational and g r o u p i n t e r e s t s , m e m b e r s h i p s and p a t r i o t i s m s . 7 T h i s i s so b e c a u s e t h e r e
i s a great
element o f p e r s o n a l
involved i n the use of slang.Standard
choice
usage,on t h e other
hand,
r e p r e s e n t s u s e d e r i v e d f r o m t e a c h i n g a n d h a b i t - more a c a r r y o v e r from the p r e s c r i p t i v e
a p p r o a c h i n l a n g u a g e ; t r a i n i n g we have
r e c e i v e d a l l o u r l i v e s . B e c a u s e we c h o o s e s l a n g words w h i c h we p e r s o n a l l y a t t r a c t i v e a n d i n t r i g u i n g we r e v e a l a g o o d d e a l
find
about
o u r p s y c h o l o g i c a l makeup. W h i l e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e human f a c t o r s w h i c h i n f l u e n c e t h e creation
of slang i s both necessary
important
t o examine t h e l i n g u i s t i c
and v i t a l , i t
i s equally
o r t e c h n i c a l means b y w h i c h
s l a n g words may be f o r m e d . Slang living
i s formed by normal l i n g u i s t i c languages,some o f which w i l l
here.Processes
processes
found
be b r i e f l y e n l a r g e d
in a l l upon
s u c h a s c h a n g e s i n f o r m b y compounding d e r i v a t i o n s ,
portmanteau words,and a b b r e v i a t i o n s t h r o u g h
front-clippings,
b a c k - c l i p p i n g s and a c r o n y m s ; c h a n g e s i n meaning b y g e n e r a l i z a t i o n , c o n c a t e n a t i o n , s p e c i a l i z a t i o n and metaphor;changes i n p r o n u n c i a t i o n ; i n p a r t s o f s p e e c h ; b o r r o w i n g f r o m d i a l e c t s and f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e s ; a s "well a s o n o m a t o p o e t i c , r e d u p l i c a t i v e
and t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l
processes. ( A ) F o r m - c h a n g i n g : a ) I n compounding,two words b e l o n g i n g part
t o any
o f s p e e c h a r e combined t o f o r m one word o r a h y p h e n a t e d
unit(e.g.kickoff,skindiver,crackdown,hotshot,laugh-in) b)ln
l e n g t h e n i n g , s u f f i x e s and s u f f i x words,
p r e f i x e s a n d p r e f i x words a r e a f f i x e d t o r o o t w o r d s ( e . g . r e c l a i m , l u n c h e t e r i a , b o n v o y a g e p a r t y , d e s e n s i t i z e ) . H e r e words a n d word e l e m e n t s a r e a d d e d and have t h e e f f e c t denoting
a circumstance
of changing tense o r
of condition;whereas
words aire j o i n e d t o g e t h e r
on an e q u a l
i n compounding two
b a s i s t o f o r m a new word.
8
c ) P o r t m a n t e a u words a r e f o r m e d b y c o m p r e s s i n g two
word e l e m e n t s i n t o
fog=smog)
one
Deviations t h r o u g h b a c k - c l i p p i n g i s done
&)Ab
by c l i p p i n g a s y l l a b l e
word(e.g.motorist+hoteI=motel,smoke*
o r s y l l a b l e s o f f t h e e n d o f a word
(e.g.psych/ology/,photo/graphy/,trig/onometry/) e) F r o n t - c l i p p i n g i s t h e r e v e r s e - c l i p p i n g a syllable
o r s y l l a b l e s from the b e g i n n i n g of a
word(e.g./tele/gram,
/earth/quake,/para/chute) f ) Acronyms a r e made up f r o m t h e i n i t i a l s words o f a p h r a s e w h i c h may be r u n t o g e t h e r t o f o r m , a n d pronounced
be
a s , a new w o r d ( e . g . a w o l - a b s e n t w i t h o u t leave,CARE. -
C o - o p e r a t i v e f o r American important
of the
r e m i t t a n c e s t o Europe,VIP
- very
person)
(B)Meaning
change;Perhaps
the l a r g e s t
s o u r c e o f f r e s h words i s
t h e c h a n g i n g o f meaning o f s t a n d a r d w o r d s . P o r
example,we
a) G e n e r a l i z e t h e meaning o f a word so t h a t i t comes t o r e p r e s e n t s e v e r a l m e a n i n g s ( e . g . h a n d : t o g i v e me a h a n d , a p e r s o n employed o f c a r d s i n a game,to g i v e
assistance-
a s a l a b o r e r — h i r e d hand,the
or pass
meaning i s d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d
mean
something)but
hand
each v a r i a t i o n i n
t o t h e s t a n d a r d word.
b) C o n c a t e n a t i o n a l l o w s an o l d word t o t a k e on a s e r i e s o f new m e a n i n g s , e a c h concept as above,but
related
not d i r e c t l y
of c h i e f
o r prime
t o the basic
i n s t e a d t o a p r e v i o u s new meaning
(e.g. c a r d i n a l : o r i g i n a l l y from L a t i n meaning o f b a s i c
related
a n d F r e n c h meaning h i n g e , t o
i m p o r t a n c e - c a r d i n a l number,to a p e r s o n
importance-a c a r d i n a l
o f t h e Roman C a t h o l i c
church,to the
c o l o r a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e robe o f a c a r d i n a l - y e l l o w , t o t h e b i r d o f this
color)
loses one
c)Specialization
some o f i t s i n c l u s i v e
i s t h e r e v e r s e whereby a word
meanings t o become i d e n t i f i e d w i t h
c o n n o t a t i o n o n l y ( e . g . g a y meaning q u e e r , t h e
e l e c t r o c u t i o n c h a i r , l i q u o r which refers to alcohol
once
meant any l i q u i d
f o r m a t i o n o r e x t e n s i o n o f meaning b y
metaphor o r f i g u r a t i v e u s e ( e . g . a s t u f f e d got pickled)
b u t now
only) d)The
he
c h a i r meaning t h e
shirt,a
closed
book,
9 (C) P r o n u n c i a t i o n changes:He re.new words a r e u s u a l l y f o r m e d b y making
c h a n g e s i n s t r e s s , c o r r u p t i n g an o l d e r w o r d
i n f i x between
the s y l l a b l e s
o r a d d i n g an
o f an o l d e r word(e.g.no s i i i v e l v . h i p .
kee-rect f o r correct.razzamatazz) (D) P a r t s o f s p e e c h : A l t e r i n g t h e u s e o f a word f r o m i t s u s u a l grammatical functional
capacity to a different part shift.Therefore,functional
of speech i s termed
shift
changes o r extends t h e
g r a m m a t i c a l u s e o f w o r d s . A l m o s t any n o u n , v e r b , a d j e c t i v e , a d v e r b o r combination o f these can undergo t h i s
functional
shift(e.g.ditch
a s a noun t o d i t c h a s a v e r b , a a t t a c h - t o s t o m a c h , b r e a k a s a c u t i n something t o break as l u c k ; a l s o crackdown,hotshot) (E) B o r r o w i n g : L o a n s f r o m d i a l e c t s o r f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e s c r e a t e new
words o r word
elements i n E n g l i s h . E n g l i s h usage
necessarily,changes their
c o n n o t a t i o n , p r o n u n c i a t i o n and
(vamoose,cinch,schmo,yen,hooch,pow-wow,-burger f r o m S p a n i s h , s o u t h west S t a t e s A m e r i c a n I n d i a n a n d German
often,but not
all
spelling
b e i n g borrowed
Spanish,Yiddish,Chinese,North
respectively)
(F) Onomatopoetic o r E c h o i c p r o c e s s e s : P l e a s a n t a b a s i s on w h i c h a d d i t i o n a l new
sounds seem t o be
words a r e f o r m e d . I n
a) o n o m a t o p o e i a we
imitate a natural
sound(e.g.
buzz,bow-wow,putt-putt,choo-choo,boo-hoo) b) r e d u p l i c a t i o n f o r m s a new r e p e t i t i o n of a r a d i c a l
word t h r o u g h t h e
e l e m e n t i n an o l d e r w o r d ( e . g . d i n g - d o n g .
hanky-panky,buddy-buddy,yum-yum)8 I n a d d i t i o n , c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e s l a n g l e v e l o f u s a g e may made b y i n d i v i d u a l
coinages,rhyming slang,synthetic
be
s l a n g and
others,but whatever the source: Communication,which i s the v e r y o b j e c t of speech, i s s u c c e s s f u l l y e f f e c t e d o n l y when t h e h e a r e r ' s a u d i t o r y p e r c e p t i o n s are t r a n s l a t e d i n t o the a p p r o p r i a t e a n d i n t e n d e d f l o w o f i m a g e r y and t h o u g h t o r b o t h combined.9
10
RATIONALE As ve have seen a b o v e , v i t h i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f Language,language
Standard
symbolizes the s t r a t i f i c a t i o n of
Because i t h e l p e d s o l i d i f y t h e i r sancttoTifdL c l a s s e s A t h e d i c t i o n a r i e s and
social
society.
position,the
rising
grammars i n r e t u r n f o r t h e
middle
so-called
" c o r r e c t usage" r u l e s . S i n c e t h a t p e r i o d , t h e i d e a of examining labelling speech,has
as a c c e p t a b l e ^ , l a n g u a g e as i t i s a c t u a l l y u s e d g a i n e d g r e a t e r and
primary i n t e n t i o n of t h i s betveen As
g r e a t e r momentum.Thus,it i s t h e
p r e s c r i p t i v e u s a g e and
"observed
n e w s p a p e r s s i n c e , p e r h a p s , t h i s medium c a n be r e a d and a c c e p t e d by t h e l a r g e s t
record - since spoken l e v e l For The
will
o f language
c r o s s - s e c t i o n of today's
and The
on t h e w r i t t e n
the
level.
that
i s by n a t u r e o f t e n
s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t
a r e f o r t h e p e r i o d n o t e d b e l o w and Canada,during
c a n be
element
over the
o f s l a n g and
further into
the
so much
s a m p l i n g p e r i o d as i t i s one
samples f o u n d f e l l e f f o r t was
smaller but e q u a l l y v a l i d words,loan
words and
under
made t o sub-areas so
on.
and p h r a s e s b e l o n g i n g more p r o p e r l y t o a r e a s
o u t s i d e t h o s e o f s l a n g and p l a c e where t h a t p a r t i c u l a r
i n f o r m a l i s m s a r e n o t e d as such a t the item i s under c o n s i d e r a t i o n . I n a l l
o t h e r c a s e s t h e u n i t s a r e t o be c o n s i d e r e d as f a l l i n g w i t h i n definition
must
slang.
i n f o r m a l i s m s no
of neologisms,archaisms,portmanteau Instead,words
a l t h o u g h n o t e v e r y word
of s u b j e c t i v i t y i n choice,whereby
S i n c e t h e m a j o r i t y o f word and p h r a s e c l a s s i f y any
Vancouver,
s a i d t o have been c u l l e d . T h i s i s d u e , n o t
recognize h i s personal involvement with the d e f i n i t i o n s
collected
period.
s h e e r volume o f a r t i c l e s
to the n a t u r a l
samples
transitional
are r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of
i t e m s were s e l e c t e d f r o m b o t h p a p e r s
or phrase
used:
Vancouver P r o v i n c e .
sometimes r e g i o n a l , i t
t o the
!
s o u r c e m a t e r i a l s b o t h t h e major l o c a l n e w s p a p e r s were
V a n c o u v e r Sun
The
and
ah 'observed"
i n f o r m a l i s m s a r e f o u n d m a i n l y on and n o t a l w a y s
daily
social
t h e m a j o r medium i n w h i c h s l a n g
Since the c h a r a c t e r of "slanguage" and
t o use
s a i d t o be most w i d e l y
be p r i n t e d - t h e r e b y c r e a t i n g
s l a n g and
split
usage."
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f " o b s e r v e d u s a g e " I have c h o s e n
i n f o r m a l language
i n current
t h e s i s t o i n d i c a t e the i n c r e a s i n g
groups.Generally,it i s also
and
o f s l a n g and i n f o r m a l i s m s .
the
Extensive
c a t e g o r i z i n g d i d occur,however,within
of
the papers themselves.That
to
i t s specific
source
Finance,General
the subject
i s , e a c h i t e m c o l l e c t e d was c o d e d a s
area:Entertainment,Editorials,Sports,Comics,
A r e a s a n d so o n . T h i s
o r n o t c o n t r i b u t o r s t o and r e a d e r s
was done t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r
o f p a r t i c u l a r news a r e a s
e n f o r c e upon t h e m s e l v e s a g r e a t e r o r l e s s e r d e g r e e o f usage" over developing
i t s own i n f o r m a l t e r m s , a n d w h e t h e r , i n
remarked t h a t as w e l l as b e i n g
all
u n i t s are arranged
Finally,it
was f o u n d
selection sampling
a r e a s * I t should a l s o
c a t e g o r i z e d as t o s u b j e c t
the posing
are they
items
numbering i n t h e thousands.Thus,the
final
represent a further r e s t r i c t e d o f s u c h q u e s t i o n s as:How e s t a b l i s h e d
a r e t h e y i n a c t u a l use?How f r e q u e n t l y do t h e y representative
area
category*
t h a t t h e q u a n t i t y o f word a n d p h r a s e
o f forms p r e s e n t e d through
and i s
f a c t , t h e r e i s any
a l p h a b e t i c a l l y w i t h i n each
accumulated a v a s t corpus
may
"observed
" c o r r e c t usage"whether each a r e a has developed
d e g r e e o f c r o s s o v e r i n f l u e n c e between t o p i c be
areas
appear?How
o f t h e most r e c e n t s l a n g ? I n many
c h o i c e s were made u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e
o f such e x p e r t s
cases
i n the f i e l d
a s H a r o l d W e n t w o r t h , S t u a r t B. F l e x n e r a n d E r i c P a r t r i d g e . F o r the documentation o f the s e l e c t e d items upon t h e D i c t i o n a r y o f A m e r i c a n S l a n g b y The
Shorter Oxford
Dictionary - third
I relied
strongly
Wentworth a n d F l e x n e r ,
English Dictionary.Webster s 1
New I n t e r n a t i o n a l
e d i t i o n , E r i c P a r t r i d g e ' s D i c t i o n a r y of Slang
as w e l l as t h e D i c t i o n a r y o f Underworld L i n g o Frank O'Leary and M o r r i s
Lipsius.
b y Hyman G o 1 d i n ,
12
ABBREVIATIONS
(A)Avis e t a l . D i c t i o n a r y of Canadian adj.
adjective,attributive
adv.
adverb.
Brit.
English).
adjiective.
British,Briton.
c. c i r c a , a b o u t . Cf.
Compare,confer.
Co.
Company.
deriv. dial,
derivative,derived, dialect,-al.
e. g. f o r example, esp. f. F
especially.
from. February.
fig. Fr.
figuratively. French.
Ger.
German.
(GOL)Goldin e t a l . A D i c t i o n a r y o f American J
Underworld
Lingo.
January.
lit.
literally.
M March. n . noun. N.B. N o t e . (OED) The S h o r t e r O x f o r d E n g l i s h D i c t i o n a r y . 3 r d e d . orig.
original,-ly.
P P r o v i n c e newspaper, perh. phr. pi.
perhaps, phrase,
plural,
poss.
possibly,
pp. p a s t
participle,
prob. probably, ref. spec,
reference; specifically.
S Sun n e w s p a p e r usu. vb.
usually verb.
(WF)Wentworth and F l e x n e r . D i c t i o n a r y o f American WYI W o r l d WWII W o r l d 1
Slang.
War I War I I
t o 31 d a t e s o f newspaper
edition. + and;combined w i t h , a d d e d t o . # number.
WORD CORPUS
(i)
GENERAL AREAS
1. A c i d / a s a d / n , P 12
M
LSD(WF) A b b r e v i a t i o n t h r o u g h f r o n t and 2. A i r l i f t
/ e r l x f t / n.
the c a r r y i n g
S 29
airlift day
J
o f goods b y a i r p l a n e
otherwise c u t o f f from P r o b a b l y WW
back-clipping,see#173.595. t r a n s p o r t t o an
accessibility.
I I o r i g i n w i t h the advent
and now
area
used w i t h the
of the
Berlin
same c o n n o t a t i o n f o r modern
"Berlins."
Compound f o r m e d (something)by
by a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l p r o c e s s : t o
air,becomes
to a i r l i f t ( v e r b ) , t h e n
3. A11-Time / o l - t a y m / a d j . S 29 understood
a d e f i n e d category thus f a r i n recorded all-time
o f t h e f o r t i e s he was
within
history, c o n s i d e r e d t o be
the
by a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l p r o c e s s : C h a m p i o n
a l l - t i m e becomes a l l - t i m e A l s o by a n a l o g y t o
champion.
S 17
F
deep s e a d i v e s f o r a p r o f e s s i o n o r who
the sea depths
navigates
i n a submarine or r e s e a r c h g l o b e .
Compound made up Compare m o d e l s : verse-USSR);
of
forms:all-out,all-over,etc.
4. A q u a n a u t / akwenot / n . who
or t h i n g
g r e a t of the b a s k e t b a l l c e n t e r s . "
A compound formed
a man
airlift(noun)
J
t o r e f e r to being the best person
as i n i ' A t t h e end
lift
o f two
bound morphemes:aqua- +
-naut
argonaut,astronaut(stars-USA),cosmonaut(uni-
see
#519.
5. A s s / a s / n , P 6 F a fool;a
s t u p i d or f o o l i s h
C o l l o q u i a l . A meaning 6. Back up
-up
s u f f i x has
o r sAt Ap
statements
/ vb. S 1 F
o r be
silent
f r o m now
a v a r i e t y o f u s e s , r e t a i n s much
s t a n d a r d meaning and to
change.
o r s h u t up / bak Xp
show s u p p o r t f o r y o u r
person.
on.
ofits
i s commonly added t o v e r b s o r nouns
form phrases = t o f i l l
o r be
filled
with
something(beer_ji£.
to
obtain
or c o l l e c t
o r t o come t o g e t h e r f o r a
specific
purpose(write up)• an
agitated
7. B a f f l e g a b the
or confused s t a t e ( e . g . f o u l u p ) .
/ b a f e l g a b / n. P 12 F
ambiguous,verbose t a l k or w r i t i n g o f t e n
done b y
bureaucrats;officialese. O r i g . u s e d b y M.A. in
S m i t h o f t h e U.S. Chamber o f Commerce
1952.
f. baffle(confuse)
+ gab(talk).
C f . G o b b l e d y g o o k #108.
8. Bag / bag / n . S 13 F one's s p e c i a l o r c u r r e n t
interest,obsession,talent,
enthusiasm or l i k i n g ; a s in:"Thats Orig.jazz Cf.
n o t my
bag man." ?
use;now b e a t , s t u d e n t , t e e n a g e and j a z z u s e .
current
use o f " t h i n g "
#506.
9. Band / band / n . P 17 F a group o f r e s e r v a t i o n
Indians recognized
government a s an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
by the f e d e r a l
unit.(A)
A Canadianism. 10. Bandwagon / bandwagdn / n . S 29 J t o jump on t h e bandwagon means t o j o i n t h e m a j o r i t y
or
most p o p u l a r f a c t i o n a f t e r w i t h o l d i n g
or
vote u n t i l
the m a j o r i t y
one's o p i n i o n
or r e l a t i v e p o p u l a r i t y
i s known-
so a s t o be s u r e o f b e i n g w i t h t h e w i n n i n g p a r t y o r candidate.(WF) Orig.
f . bandwagon,meaning:A r a i l r o a d p a y c a r .
11. B e a t o u t / b i y t £ w t / v b . S 30 J t o win something over another person;to a c h i e v e the g o a l or p r i z e before Colloquial -out
since
someone
else.
d890.
s u f f i x word i s common i n s l a n g
f o r m a t i o n s and r e t a i n s
much o f i t s s t a n d a r d meaning:away f r o m o r b e y o n d t h e l i m i t 12. B e e f c a k e / b l y f k e y k
/ n. S 8 F
a m u s c l e b o y j a m u s c l e b o u n d man,spec, a p h o t o g r a p h o f a man wearing l i t t l e
clothing.
Developed by a n a l o g y t o the female
Cheesecake.
1 3 . B e e f e a t e r / b i y f i y t e r / n . S 30 J an E n g l i s h m a n ; a Orig.
s t r o n g muscular
person.
f . guard corps a t the Tover of London(a
corps of
s t r o n g . p o w e r f u l men). Compound. 14 B e e r up / b i y r >Lp / n . S 7 F a situation
o r o c c a s i o n on w h i c h
one d r i n k s a l o t o f b e e r ;
a l s o used as a v e r b . Colloquial. -up
suffix,see
#6
15. B e s t - h e e l e d / b e s t - h i y l d / a d j . S 29 J wealthy;equipped
w i t h much money.
Since d 9 3 0 . C o l l o q u i a l . O r i g . meant armed o r e q u i p p e d w i t h a weapon and by a n a l o g y the
i d e a o f "weapon" was r e p l a c e d b y "money."
Compound. 16. B i k i n i any or
/ b e k i y n i y / n . S 27 J s h o r t , r e v e a l i n g men's o r Women's b a t h i n g
other sports
Since
suit,shorts
clothes.(WF)
c1950.
Orig. f . the B i k i n i
a t o l l where an a t o m i c bomb was
exploded
s c a n t y s w i m s u i t h a s f i g u r a t i v e l y t h e same i m p a c t a s t h e atomic
explosion.
17. B i l l y g o a t e d / b x l i y g o w t a d / v b . S 28 J f o r c e d i n t o d o i n g something "The
o r pushed
into
it;as i n :
MLA was b i l l y g o a t e d i n t o p u s h i n g t h r o u g h a t a x
r e d u c t i o n by the o p p o s i t i o n . " f.
analogy t o the animal
through
' b i l l y g o a t ' who b u t t s h i s way
life.
- e d p p . s u f f i x added t o weak v b . stems;pp. f r e q u e n t l y
used
as an a d j . 18. B i l k i n g / b i l k i n / v b . S 28 J deceiving;cheating;defrauding;failing to pay;eluding.(P) Since
c1750.
19. B l a c k s / b l a k s / n . p l . S 31 J negroes C u r r e n t l y g a i n i n g more p r e s t i g e a s t h e t e r m f o r A f r o Americans
through the recent c i v i l
strife.
20. B l a s t e d / b l a s t a d / v b . S 30 J criticized -ed
publically;damned.(WF)
suffix,see
#17
21. B l u e - n o s e d / bluw-nowzd / a d j . S 17 F h a v i n g s t r o n g l y p u r i t a n i c a l moral
convictions{ultra-
conservative. Orig. i n colonial
t i m e s meaning:an
aristocrat.
22. B o f f i n / b o f i n / n . P 25 F an e x p e r t a t s o m e t h i n g . O r i g . f . v a r t i m e s l a n g u s e d t o mean a bomb expert,or other technical
disposal
expert.(e.g.on radar,etc.)
23. Booby t r a p / buwbiy t r a p / n . S 4 M a practical stupid Since
j o k e j a dangerous
surprise;a trap to catch
people.(P) d850.Colloquial.
P r o b . f . b o o b y ( a F o o l ) + t r a p . I n WW
I I a bomb l e f t
behind
t o c a t c h t h e unwary. -trap
s u f f i x word meaning:a p l a c e where one may be t r a p p e d
or endangered.(e.g.
a tourist
trap)
24. Booked o f f / b u k t o'f / v b . S 30 J signed
o u t o f a s i t u a t i o n b y h a v i n g s i g n e d a book w h i c h
i n d i c a t e s y o u r d e p a r t u r e ; a s i n : " H e booked
o f fsick
from
work." Orig. prob. f . analogy t o p o l i c e prisoner
o r s u s p e c t , s o - c a l l e d because
in a record
t h e y e n t e r h i s name
book.
25. B r a i n w a s h e d / b r e y n w a s t the s t a t e
jargon o f booking a
/ a d j . S 29 J
o f h a v i n g induced an a t t i t u d i n a l
change i n a
p e r s o n , u s u a l l y a c a p t i v e , b y means o f p s y c h o e d u c a t i o n a l methods,sometimes s u p p l e m e n t e d
by drugs and p h y s i c a l
coercion.(WF) T h i s f o r m o f c o n d i t i o n i n g d e v e l o p e d i n t h e USSR b a s e d upon t h e work o f P a v l o v w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n e d r e f l e x e s o f d o g s , - e d s u f f i x , s e e #17.
17
26. B r a s s An
/ bras / n. S 4 F official;influential
people;persons i n authority;
e x e c u t i v e s j a s in:"The t o p brass
are here."
O r i g . m i l i t a r y use;common d u r i n g WWII - f r o m t h e o f f i c e r ' s brass
insignia.
27. B r e a k / bireyk / n . S 29 J luck;opportunity;a Colloquial
stroke
o f f a t e ; e i t h e r good o r b a d .
s i n c e C1925.
A functional shift. Most famous u s a g e i s W.C. F i e l d s to a loved
giving h i s usual
one,"Never g i v e a sucker
advice
an even break!"
28. Breakaway / b r e y k e w e y / a d j . S 27 J p e r t a i n i n g t o an o b j e c t made t o c o l l a p s e e a s i l y a t t h e pull
of a string
Written
or the like.(WF)
b o t h h y p h e n a t e d a n d unhyphenated;more common
thus i n d i c a t i n g a s o l i d 29. B u c k e t
shops /
bXkat
acceptance of t h i s
without
compound.
s o p s / n./'S 4 M
o f f i c e s where i l l e g a l , w o r t h l e s s o r h i g h l y s p e c u l a t i v e are
s o l d by u s i n g m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
Financial 30. Bug
/
bordering
stocks
on s w i n d l i n g .
jargon.
bXg; / v b . S 20 F
concealing
a microphone o r o t h e r
to record a conversation without
recording device
i n order
t h e speaker's knowledge.
Meaning change.Poss. o r i g . from t h e small
recording
device's
resemblance t o a bug o r s m a l l i n s e c t . Other uses o f b u g : i n s e c t ; t o
annoy;an e n t h u s i a s t ; a n y
defect
i n p l a n , e q u i p m e n t , e t c ; a n a 6 u t m o b i l e , e s p . a s m a l l one. 31. B u l l y - b o y
/ b u l i y - b o y / a d j . S 30 J
a male g i v e n aggressive
to forcing
others
into
s i t u a t i o n s through h i s
n a t u r e ; h e n c e a p p l i e d t o methods u s e d t o a t t a i n
e n t r y t o a s i t u a t i o n , e t c ; a s in:"He used b u l l y - b o y
tactics
t o have t h e d i r e c t o r s p a s s h i s r e s o l u t i o n . " Prob. by analogy t o the animal B u l l : a s t r o n g
aggressive
animal. -v. s u f f i x , n o u n f o r m i n g , i n can
this
a l s o be an a d j . f o r m i n g
case forming
suffix.
a nickname;
18 32. Bummer / bAmdr / n . S 24
P
a bad p e r i o d o f t i m e f o r someone;a bad
e x p e r i e n c e ; an
o c c a s i o n when someone i s n o t " w i t h i t . " ( P ) a s were n i g h t - c l u b b i n g l a s t n i g h t , h e was Poss.
a d j . ( a s i n a bum
described -er
on a r e a l
r e l a t e d t o t h e German Bummler:an i d l e r
f r o m bum
n a p . a bum
in:"¥hen or
s t e e r . a bum
tramp;or ride)+ - e r
a person or t h i n g
with;a person or t h i n g ; a person or thing doing or
i t s i m p l y adds l e n g t h t o convey
or
flippant
bXmz
bummer."
below.
s u f f i x , n o u n forming,meaning
33. Bums /
we
a more
associated
something;
slangy,colloquial,
effect.
/
n . p i . S 29
J
a bum
i s g e n e r a l l y any j o b l e s s man
or youth having
or
no
i n c o m e ; a p o o r , p o o r l y d r e s s e d and unkempt f r e q u e n t e r
of
saloons;without professional
or
social
occupation,goal i n
c1880.However,the word has d e g e n e r a t e d . O r i g . a
v a g a b o n d o r hobo,by 1900
had t a k e n on a c o n n o t a t i o n o f
beggar;later,a moneyless,prideless,filthy hopeless and h a b i t u a l #32
ruin Gum
/ vb.
or s p o i l
t a s k ; e s p . by Cf.
S 25
F
a p l a n or the s u c c e s s f u l
completion of a
blundering.(WF)(P)
up.#112
Prob.
f . b o x i n g j a r g o n m e a n i n g , t o c l o s e up
blow-
C1900.
-up
derelict
drunkard.
34. Bung up / hAn A$ to
life,
prestige.(WF)(P)
Common s i n c e
See
little
suffix,see
the eyes w i t h a
#6.
35. b u t t i n / h i t xn / v b . S 7 M to
i n t e r u p t unasked;to
make an unwanted
P o s s . by analogy t o a b i l l y g o a t ' s 36. C a n ' t "he
h a c k i t / k a n t hak c a n ' t hack i t "
a situation Note t h a t
or
i t / vb.
means t h a t he
intrusion.
action.
S 13
F
i s u n a b l e t o cope w i t h
predicament.
i t h e r e has no
antecedent.
A fig.
use
o f h a c k ( c u t . h e w ) m o d e l l e d on t h e
phrase
"He
can't take t t . "
earlier
37. C a r p e t b a g g e r / k a r p e t b a y g a r one
who
/ rt. S 29
J
t r i e s t o make a f a v o r a b l e i m p r e s s i o n
on a s u p e r i o r ;
a brown-noser.(WF)(P) Since -er
d875.A
compound,
suffix,see
#32.
38. C h e s t e r f i e l d / c e ' s t a r f x y l d / n . F 21 a couch;a long a r t i c l e several
of f u r n i t u r e
capable
of s e a t i n g
people.(A)
A f t e r a nineteenth century E a r l A
F
of
Chesterfield.
Canadianism.
39. Chomp / comp / v b . P 24 to
F
bite;chew;eat.
C f . chompers
#40.
O r i g . champ becoming chomp;f. v o w e l m o d e l s : stiimp/stomp. tramp/tromp. 40. Chompers / compdrz / n . teeth,spec,
S 14
F
a set of t e e t h .
O r i g . champ b e c o m i n g chomp + - e r s u f f i x , s e e #32,39. 41. C h o w l i n e / c a w l a y n / n . a line,as t o an
S 19
F
o f s o l d i e r s , s t u d e n t s , e t c . , w a i t i n g t o be
e a t i n g p l a c e o r w a i t i n g t o be
admitted
served(cafeteria style).
(¥F)(P) A compound.Common WWI Orig. poss. where t h e
AND
f . Chinese
Chinese
WWII u s a g e .
r a i l r o a d w o r k e r s i n t h e West
f o r f o o d was
chow:also p o s s . i n f l u e n c e d
by d i al.chow(chew). 42. C i t y - s l i c k e r / s i t i y - s l i k S r / n . a c i t y dweller.spec, regarded -er
disclose Since -up
as a
swindler.(WF)
#32.
43. Clam up / k l a m JLp / v b . to r e f r a i n
J
a shrewd,worldly,stylishly dressed
by r u r a l p e o p l e
suffix,see
S 31
S 3 F
from t a l k i n g
or to stop t a l k i n g ; t o refuse to
information,esp. to the p o l i c e
c1900.
suffix,see
#6.
or
judge.(GOL)
one,
20)
44. C l o t s / k l o t s / n . S 25
F
idiots;imbeciles. O r i g . B r i t i s h WWII s l a n g e s p . i n t h e a l l i t e r a t i v e clueless
phrase:
clot.clumsy clot.
R e l a t e d t o clod,whence
clodhopper,derog. f o r country
d w e l l e r . C f . H i l l b i l l y #127,Rube # 45. Cob / k o b / n . P 28 a corncob
244.
P
pipe.
O r i g . p r o b . f . cob.meaning a f a r m e r o r s m a l l town inhabitant: corncobs .from which
eob p i p e s were made.
Abbreviation through f r o n t - c l i p p i n g : 46. G o l d snap / k o w l d a sudden of
cold
/corn/cob.
snap / n . S 1 F
drop i n the temperature
causing a short
47. C o l l o g r a p h / k o I © g r a f a p r i n t which
of
snap.
/ n . S 30
J
i s t a k e n from a c o l l a g e
surface(e.g. a
whose s u r f a c e i s i n k e d , p a p e r a p p l i e d and impression Neologism 48. Con A r t i s t not
period
weather.
Compound. A f i j g * u s e
one who
local
collage
removed,leaving
an
of the c o l l a g e s u r f a c e . ) and P o r t m a n t e a u
/ kon
compound:coll(age)
a r t i s t / n . S 30
tricks,fools
+
(lith)ograph.
J
o r p e r s u a d e s a n o t h e r t o do
something
i n h i s best interests.(WF)
B a c k - c l i p p i n g f r o m t h e word £ o n ( f i d e n c e ) , h e n c e c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the underworld;hence " He
conned
49. Con £ a m e
me
/ kon
i n t o l e n d i n g him my
a l s o the verb
con:
c a r f o r t h e weekend."
geym / n . S 7 F
a c o n f i d e n c e game,a s w i n d l e ; a n y way unethical
the
o f e a r n i n g e a s y money;
procedure.(WF)
©rig. u n d e r w o r l d
slang
use.
B a c k - c l i p p i n g o f c_on(f i d e n c e ) + game. 50. Con
j o b / kon
j o b / n . S 26
F
a swindle;anything unethical Orig. underworld
slang
or
illegal.
use.
B a c k - c l i p p i n g of c o n ( f i d e n c e ) + - j o b suffix:-.job any a c t i v i t y and from v e r b s .
o f t e n takes the p l a c e
suggests
o f - i n g t o f o r m nouns
51•Conk o u t / k o n k awt / v b , S 30 to break
down and
J
stop running;to t i r e
s u d d e n l y ; t o become
exhausted.(¥F)(P) Colloquial -out
since
C1918.
s u f f i x word,see
52. Cook y o u r goose / kuk to put y o u r s e l f own
#11. y©r
guws / v b . S 1 F
i n an u n p l e a s a n t
a c t i o n s or words;to
O r i g . p o s s . by l i t .
Usu.
s p o i l your
chances
your
f o r anything.
analogy.
53. C o o l i t / kuwl i t / v b . to remain
s i t u a t i o n through
S 8 F
calm,unpreturbed,relaxed;aloof to a
s a i d t o someone who
i s getting
situation.
excited,as in:"Cool
itjJohn." F o r use
of i t without antecedent
54. C o p p e r - o u t e r s t h o s e who plan
or
#36.
/ koper-awt©rz / n. S 7 F
bow
out of a s i t u a t i o n ; p e r s o n s abandonning
a
event.
Cf.
cop-out,#389.
-er
suffix,see
#32.
55. Cops / k o p s / n . p l . P the
see
18
F
police.(GOL)
Poss.
f . the copper
b u t t o n s once u s e d
on p o l i c e
uniforms,
r e i n f o r c e d by t h e I t a l o - A m e r i c a n "coppo."(WF) Underworld
slang.
56. Cough up / k o f .Ap t o p a y , p a y up
/ v b . S 29
or pay
J
o v e r money;to come f o r t h w i t h
present,as a c o n f e s s i o n of g u i l t Since c -up
or
•(WF)(P)
1400.
suffix,see#6.
57. C o v e r / k X v d r / n . S 27 a false true
concealment
s i t u a t i o n may
as in:"He Since
o f one escape
t h i n g by a n o t h e r
shift.
so t h a t
the
d e t e c t i o n o r punishment.(WF)
blew h i s c o v e r . " ( s a i d
61810.
Functional
J
of a spy).
58. Crackdown / krakdawn / n .
S 30
a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h one
J
takes admonitory
a c t i o n a g a i n s t someone;to
or
punitive
censure.(FF)
Compound. -down s u f f i x word,noun f o r m i n g and v e r b
forming,meaning:
a c o n t e s t of stamina,knowledge o r courage,or or plunk
to
put,drop
down.
59. C r i s i s - p r o n e / k r a y s d s - p r o v n / a d j . S 13 more l i a b l e
M
to experience c r i s e s than normal people
are.
Compound. - p r o n e i s now
b e c o m i n g a p r o d u c t i v e word
element.Cf.
accident-prone. 60. C r o s s / k r o s / v b . t o c h e a t ; t o do
S 31
something
Cf. doublecross Underworld
J a g a i n s t someone's w i s h e s . ( W F ) ( G O L )
#74.
s l a n g . A meaning
61. Crumby / k r A m i y / a d j . S 20
change. F
dirty;contemptible;repulsive;disgusting.(WF)(P) Common u s e The
spelling
spelling -y
since
c1840.
crummy i s more common,prob. j u s t a p h o n e t i c
f o r crumby,
suffix,see#31.
62oCrummy / kr-imiy / a d j . S 7 F of poor
quality;unsatisfactory.
From crumby.see #61,a 63. Dead g i v e a w a y / ded
variant.
gxyawey / n . P 8 F
a total,unwitting betrayal Fig.
and
emphatic
use
64. D e a d l i n e / d e d l a y n / n . a be
specific
time
or r e v e l a t i o n
o f something
of dead;Cf. the phrase
"dead c e n t e r "
S 1 F
b y w h i c h an e f f o r t
t o w a r d s a g o a l must
completed.
Compound. O r i g . newspaper j a r g o n . 65. D i c k e r / d i k a r / v b . t o b a r g a i n o r do to
S 18
F
a , d e a l f o r something
haggle.
Poss. - e r s u f f i x here,see
#32.
or w i t h
secret.
someone;
23 6 6 * D i r t / d a r t / n , S 28 J refers to gossip,obscenity or scandal c i r c u l a t e d
about
a person or other entity.(WF) C o l l o q u i a l . F i g , use. 67. D i r t y
audacious
a s t a t e m e n t , e s p . one t h a t i s u n c o m p l i m e n t a r y
remark; but clever.
Colloquial. F. b y d i r t + -y. s u f f i x + c r a c k , -y. s u f f i x , see #31 • F o r c r a c k C f . "wise c r a c k " as w e l l
as d i a l ,
u s e meaning
c o n v e r s a t i o n , g o s s i p , e t c . ( S c o t s and B r i t i s h N o r t h
Country)
68. D i s h / d i ! / n . P 19 F a woman o r g i r l , u s u .
a beautiful
or sexually
attractive
one.(WF) Fig. use,linking
sex and a d i s h o f f o o d w e l l
l a i d out.
69. Doggone i t / dogon i t / a d j . S 30 J dar&c1 i t . A euphemism w h i c h i s c o m p a r a t i v e l y p l e a s a n t a n d s u b s t i t u t e d f o r taboo or u n p l e a s a n t words;in t h i s " God damn Here
it!"
g o l d a r n i s a Deckwort
f o r god damn w h i c h b y
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n becomes damn g o d a n d h a v i n g a of
case;
Deckwort
doggone.
70. Do-gooder / duw-gudar / n . S 26 F a s i n c e r e but s e l f - r i g h t e o u s worker
f o r the welfare of
others.(WF) Compound. The p h r a s e d o - g o o d i s t r e a t e d a s a u n i t t o w h i c h t h e - e r s u f f i x i s added.(see
#32)
71. D o l l a r - s h o p / d o l a r sop / n . S 4 F a bank. F a c e t i o u s o r nonce
usage.
72. D o o d l e d / duwdeid / v b . S 13 F t o d o o d l e means t o draw m e a n i n g l e s s f i g u r e s o r p a t t e r n s a s a nervous gesture or i d l e - e d s u f f i x , s e e #17.
h a b i t w h i l e d o i n g something
else,
7 3 * B o t t l e / d b t a l / n. P 28 P slime;drool;saliva* O r i g * poss* from the d o t t l e i n a pipe* 74. Double c r o s s / dJCblkros / n* S 6 M a b e t r a y a l or c h e a t i n g by one's a s s o c i a t e s , e s p * among; criminals. Orig* underworld s l a n g usage.Cf* 75*Dove / dXv one who
/ n.
#60.
S 1 P
advocates
peace*
a d j . d o v i s h ; C f . contrary:Hawk #122* N
Meaning change by analogy t o the b i r d ' s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ( d o c i l i t y ) , a s w e l l as being p a r t of c h r i s t i a n
symbolism*
Both opposing terms are used i n r e f e r r i n g t o a t t i t u d e s towards the U. S. war i n Vietnam. 76. Dovn-and-outers / dawn and
awtarz / n. P 31 J
a tramp,homeless and j o b l e s s . o r l i v i n g i n poverty,and w i l l not probably be able t o improve h i s way - e r suffix,see#32; -out s u f f i x , s e e
who
of l i f e , ( V P )
#11.
77. Draft-dodger / draft-doj©r / n. S 1 F a young male American who
has f l e d the U.S.A. to a v o i d
being i n d u c t e d i n t o the armed s e r v i c e s * Compound* D r a f t + dodge(to evade) + - e r s u f f i x ( s e e #32)* 78.Drag / drag / n,
S 20 F
a p e r s o n , t h i n g or event t h a t i s i n t e l l e c t u a l l y , e m o t i o n a l l y or a e s t h e t i c a l l y b o r i n g , t e d i o u s , t i r i n g or c o l o r l e s s . ( W F ) ( P ) Orig* j a z z use c1946,now common w i t h teenagers.students* From vb*
drag.
79*Drag race / drag r e y s / n* P 24 M a race between two
or more c a r s , u s u . hot r o d s , t o determine
which can a c c e l e r a t e the faster.(WF) Hot r o d use since c1945. Term a p p a r e n t l y comes from the need t o "drag" or s t a y i n low gears as l o n g as p o s s i b l e * 80.Drum up / drAJJfcjp / vb. S 27 J t o t r y t o get people e n t h u s i a s t i c over a product or cause; t o o b t a i n customers
or
F i g * use of drum. -up s u f f i x word,see
#6.
trade.(WF)(P)
81. Expo / ekspow/ n .
S 26
F
Exposition, An
a b b r e v i a t i o n by
The
reference
baek-clipping:expo/sition/
i s to the
E x p o s i t i o n 1967
82. F a i l s a f e / f e y a l s e y f / a d j . S 8 safe from the p o s s i b i l i t y N e o l o g i s m and
S 4
a forgery;a dishonest
Since
C1850.
o f any
mistakes
M
p r a c t i c e , a s i n any
sham,deception) +
84. Farm o u t / f a r m O v t
which i s rented Generalizing
85. F a t
/ vb.
to
S 7
M
acreage
outside
article
fee.
a n a l o g y t o the
orig.
meaning,
o f y o u r own,by r e n t i n g i t .
#11.
f a t k a t / n . p l . P 29
a p e r s o n who
of a c o n t r a c t or
someone f o r a
o f meaning by
suffix,see
cat /
trade,action,
-ment.
t o l e t o u t t o someone,usu. s a i d
-out
safe.
contrivance.(P)
From f a k e ( a
farming
occurring.
proof.
83. Fakement / f e y k m a n t / n .
or
Montreal.
F
portmanteau eompound:fai1(ure) +
C f . model o f b u r g l a r
thing
held at
has
J
f a m e , w e a l t h and
p e r s o n i n modern s o c i a l
luxuries;a well-off
terms.(WF)
Rhyming r e d u p l i c a t i o n . 86. F e d s / f e d z / n .
S 27
persons having national
strong
support
f o r t h e p e o p l e who
form
the
government.
Abbreviation 87. F e d up
F
through b a c k - c l i p p i n g : f e d e r a l i s t s /
/ fedAp
/ adj. S 4
F
bored;sated;disgusted(WF)(P) From B r i t i s h -up
s l a n g , o r i g . a v e r s i o n of the
suffix,see
a i soupe
#6.
88. F e e d b a c k / f i y d b a k / n . information
French j'en
P 20
F
response to i n f o r m a t i o n a l r e a d y given
situation already
or
a
created.
Poirtmanteau compound: f e e d ( i n g ) + back( w a r d s ) , f o r m o d e l C f . p h r a s e , " t o . m a k e a comeback" o r
"kickback."
89. F e e d - f o r w a r d / f i y d - f o r w ® r d / n . S 30
J
p a s t i n f o r m a t i o n b e i n g taken advantage
of,as iniThere i s
n o t enough f e e d - f o r w a r d i n c i t y management Formed b y a n a l o g y t o
feedback,see #
today,"
88,
90. F i n k s / f i n k s / n . p l . S 8 F a contemptible person;an undesirable,unwanted unpleasant
person.
Common s i n c e
d925.Orig.
Yiddish f i n k . l i t ,
a strikebreaker or scab:f. the
finch.
9 1 . F o g e y / f q g i y / n . S 17
F
an o l d e r , c o n s e r v a t i v e , m o r a l t y p e o f p e r s o n ; a Since
or
dullard.(F)
c1780.
-v. s u f f i x , see
#31.
92. F o u l - u p / f a w l - A p / n . S 13
M
a mix-up; a mess,esp. due
to a blunder.
Compound. F o r -up 93. F l o w e r
s u f f i x word,see
c h i l d r e n / f l a w a r c i l d r a n / n . P 24
t h o s e members o f o f f b e a t with the q u a l i t i e s and
#6.
s o c i e t y who
associate
fXniyminiy
/ n©
S 27
of the f l o w e r s .
F
c o u n t e r f e i t money;piaymoney o r s o m e t h i n g real
themselves
of flowers:back to nature,sweet,loving,
s e r e n e . T h u s , l i t . the c h i l d r e n
94. Funnymoney /
M
substituted for
currency.
Rhyming
reduplication.
9 5 . F u z z / f A z / n . P 18 the p o l i c e ; a
F
detective.(WF)
U n d e r w o r l d , h o b o and
carnival
use.(GOL)
O r i g . p o s s . t h r o u g h Damon Runyon,a s y n d i c a t e d newspaper c o l u m n i s t who 96. Gang up
on /
used
ganXp
to u n i t e against
i t in
1946.
on / v b .
S 7 F
someone,as i n a f i g h t
Colloquial. -up
s u f f i x word,see
#6
on means,to t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e o f .
or the
like.(WF)
9 7 . Gas / g a s / n . S 20 F a gas i s a n y t h i n g e x c e p t i o n a l , e x t r e m e l y s a t i s f y i n g o r s u c c e s s f u l , s u c h as a piece
of music,a p e r s o n , a p a r t y o r any
experience.(WF) Since Orig.
c1945. a H a r l e m n e g r o term,nov
i n common u s e i n " c o o l "
circles. 98. G e n e r a t i o n gap / j e n a r e y s d n gap / n . S 29 J lit. but
meaning t h e p e r i o d i n y e a r s between two g e n e r a t i o n s fig*
referring
to the d i f f i c u l t i e s
i n communication o f
t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , e t c . , b e t w e e n two s u c c e s s i v e Fig.
generations*
u s e o f gap.
99. Get a h a n d l e on / g e t Q hands1 o n / vb* S 7 M to
get a grip
on a s i t u a t i o n
or event;to understand
s o m e t h i n g ; t o g r a s p how s o m e t h i n g Fig.
use of handle.
100.Get o f f t h e p o t / g e t o f & p o t to
functions.
quit
fooling
/ vb© S 20 F
around;to s t o p p r o c r a s t i n a t i n g and
become a c t i v e l y engaged Poss. drug a d d i c t
i n the assignment.
jargon.
101 A. G e t o u t f r o m u n d e r / g e t a v t f i S m X n d e r / vb© S 30 J to
extract
o n e s e l f from an embarrassing o r u n p l e a s a n t
situation,enterprise,job
or relationship.
Concatenation of the p r e p o s i t i o n a l
adverbs.
1 0 1 B . G i g g l e Water / g ^ a l w o t ® r / n . S 7 F Champagne o r l i q u o r Fig.
generally.
s p k g . f . how i t a f f e c t s
a person d r i n k i n g i t *
102. Gimmicks / g i m i k s / n* S 3 F a gimmick i s p a r t
o f a p l a n o r adventure t h a t
success o r f a i l u r e ; o n e ' s angle o r sub-motive;a
c a n mean gadget;
subterfuge.(WF) Orig. with circus,carnival
a n d gambler
usage.
103. G i v e - a w a y / g i v - a w e y / n . S 29 J anything that betrays or reveals unwittingly.(WF)(P) Colloquial
since
C1880. C f . # 63.
104. G i v e t h e n o d / g i v %d nod /
v b . S 29 J
to s i g n i f y i n i t i a l l y , w i t h a nod of the head,that i t i s s u i t a b l e t o p r o c e e d upon some c o u r s e o f a c t i o n o r another.(P) P i g . use of nod. 105. G l o b e t r o t t e r s / g l o w b t r o d S r z / n . p i . P 7 F p e r s o n s who t r a v e l
around the world.
P o s s . o r i g . f r o m an a n a l o g y t o t h e H a r l e m
Globetrotters
b a s k e t b a l l team who t r a v e l w o r l d wide t o p l a y . 106. G l u e
s n i f f i n g / gluw s n i f i n / n . S 31 J
the a c t of s n i f f i n g
t h e fumes f r o m a tube o f g l u e when
the g l u e i s emptied
i n t o a bag7in order t o o b t a i n a
momentary m i n d — e x p a n d i n g
sensation.
Neologism. Formed b y a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l p r o c e s s $ t o s n i f f becomes t o g l u e s n i f f , t h e n 107. G o b b l e d y g o o k
glue
glue,
sniffing.
/ g o b l d i y g u w k / n . S 14 F
nonsense;gibberish. Onomatopoetic by a t u r k e y . 108. Go-get
f o r m a t i o n , p e r n , f . g o b b l e . t h e n o i s e made C f
b a f f l e g a b #7.
/ gow-get*/ n . P 14 M
ve r v e ; v i t a l i t y ; a m b i t i o n ; i n s p i r a t i on. Abbreviation through
back-clipping:go-get/ter/.
109. G o o d i e s / g u d i y z / n . p l . P 13 M sweets
or small g i f t s ; a n y adult f o o d s , d r i n k s , c l o t h i n g o r
objects,artistic
or cultural,that
inspire
childish
enthusiasm. Since
d948.
-ie(-y) 110. Grab-bag
s u f f i x , s e e #31. / grab-bag / n . S 4 M
a l u c k y bag;a s i t u a t i o n w h i c h
i s made up o f odds a n d
ends;a mixed bag. Compound.Since
c1900.
111. G r e a t w h i t e hope / g r e y t hwayt howp / n . S 4 F anyone,esp.
a politician,athlete
accomplishments
or entertainer,whose
may b r i n g fame o r r e s p e c t t o h i s n a t i v e
t o w n , c o u n t r y , s c h o o l , e t c . (WF) O r i g . i n p r i z e - f i g h t e r u s e i n ref© to beat negro Jack Johnson.
t o a white boxer a b l e
112. Gum
up
/ g i m ^ p / vb,
to ruin
or s p o i l
t a s k , e s p . by
S 15
F
a p l a n or the s u c c e s s f u l completion of a
blundering.(WF)
C.f, bung up.#34. 113, Gun
f o r h i s j o b / gAn
f o r h i z j o b / vb,
S 30
J
t o be a f t e r a p e r s o n ' s j o b , u s i n g d e v i o u s and o p p o r t u n i s t tactics
i n doing
so.
O r i g . p o s s , f , model o f : g u n f o r someone.meaningspursue w i t h i n t e n t t o murder, 114, G u r u / guwruw / n . P 13
M
a s p i r i t u a l i s t : a m e t a p h y s i c a l i s t ; a teacher of
transcedental
meditation.(WF) From t h e H i n d i , m e a n i n g : v e n e r a b l e
one,spiritual
leader
or
teacher, 115. G u t l e s s n e s s / g X t l a s n d s / n . S 14 t h e q u a l i t y o f h a v i n g no
courage.(P)
From g u t s ( c o u r a g e ) + l e s s + 116. Hand-out / hand-awt / n . S 12 something
F
ness. M
g i v e n f o r f r e e , w i t h o u t any
qualifications.
Compound. 117, Hanky-panky / h e n k i y - p e n k i y / n ,
S 15
F
deception;anything crooked or u n e t h i c a l ; f u n n y business.(F) Colloquial
since c
P o s s , formed Rhyming
on model h o k e y - p o k e y .
reduplication.
118Happening / h a p d n i n g a happening initially their
1840.
i s any
limited
social
/ n . P 14
M
situation
i n which
t o the o f f b e a t
occurrences c a l l e d
something
happens;
segment o f s o c i e t y
and
"happenings>"Now i n g e n e r a l
use. Orig.
i n jazz
119 H a r d - c o r e
slang.
/ h a r d - k o r / a d j . S 28
F
b a s i c ; e s s e n t i a l ; h a v i n g the s o l i d frills
core a f t e r a l l the
have been t a k e n away;as i n : " T h e h a r d - c o r e
o f t h e U.S.A. was
...."
policy
120. H a r d - l i n e / h a r d - l a y n / a d j . S 6 F c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a t o u g h , f i r m p o s i t i o n on a n y s i t u a t i o n ; as in:"He
made a h a r d - l i n e s t a t e m e n t
on t h e Red C h i n a
developments," 121. H a t c h e t - j o b / h a c a t - j o b / n . S 31 J a professional
j o b done b y a h i r e d a s s o c i a t e t o d e s t r o y
t h e r e p u t a t i o n o f o t h e r s f a n u n e t h i c a l a t t a c k made b y a paid
c o l l e a g u e t o a member o f a n o t h e r p o l i t i c a l
party.(WF)
S i n c e c 1925, For
s u f f i x - j o b , s e e #51,
122. Hawk / h a k / n . S 1 F one who a d v o c a t e s war, adj, Cf©
hawkish. dove.#75.for background,
123. H e a d s h r i n k e r s professional
/ h e d s r i g k d r z / n . p l , S 18 F psychologists{psychoanalysts,(WF)
O r i g . a gruesome r e f e r e n c e t o t h e p r a c t i c e headshrinking t r i b e s , s u c h as the J i v a r o
o f S. A m e r i c a n
Indians.
Now f r e q u e n t l y c o n t r a c t e d t o s h r i n k . 124. TO h e c k w i t h / t e h e k w i d / a d j . S 1 F indicates that
t h e s p e a k e r w a n t s t o g i v e up d o i n g
t h i n g ; an e x p r e s s i o n o f h o p e l e s s
some-
abandonment.
A euphemism f o r " t o h e l l w i t h t t ( " h e c k " b e i n g a Deckwort f o r "hell") 125. H e i s t / h a y s t / n . S 11 F a successful holdup,robbery robbery by p r o f e s s i o n a l From " h o i s t " expensive 126. H e l l
o r t h e f t ; u s u . an armed
thieves.(WF)(GOL)
i n underworld
u s e m e a n i n g , t o s t e a l an
item.
t o p a y / h e i t e p e y / n . P 12 M
a severe punishment;a severe p e n a l t y o r bawling Since
d890.
127. H i l l b i l l y
/ h x l b i l i y / n . S 15 F
an u n e d u c a t e d , u n w o r l d l y the
out.(WF)(P)
southern h i l l s
r u s t i c , s u c h a s one who l i v e s i n
o r t h e Ozark r e g i o n .
R e d u p l i c a t i o n and p a r t i a l
rhyming;Cf.
c l o t s #44,rube #244.
128. H i p p i e / h i p i y / n , S 27 J a member o f t h e b e a t g e n e r a t i o n ; i n t h e extreme,one who has
removed h i m s e l f f r o m
and
a l l physical
believing
The
jazz
and i n t e l l e c t u a l
i n and p r o t e c t i n g
nonsocial,amoral Orig.
commercial,material.political reality,intensely
only the true,nonemotional,
i d e n t i t y he has.(WF)
slang
c1929 f o r m "hep" became l a t e r
" h i p " b y a vowel
change
whence came " h i p p i e " , " h i p s t e r , " e t c . -ie(-y)
s u f f i x , s e e #31.
129. H i t c h / h i i c / n . S 7 M a catch;a point Fig. 130.
o f c o n t e n t i o n ; a snag
or d i f f i c u l t y . ( O E D )
f . c1948.
Hoedown / howdawn / n . S 13 F a p a r t y o r dance,esp.
a l i v e l y one.
Compound: hoe + down.in r e f e r e n c e t o t h e t i m e o f c e l e b r a t i o n when a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k ( w i t h
t h e hoe)was
finished. 131.
Hokum / howkdm / n . S 8 M insincerity;nonsense;bunk. C o l l o q u i a l use. Orig. theater use;Cf.
132. H o o t c h
models l i k e
hocuspocus.hokey-pokey
/ huwc / n . S 11 M
liquor,esp. inferior
homemade o r cheap whisky.(WF)
O r i g . a Canadianism,f. people
I n d i a n term hootchinoo.an
o f s o u t h A l a s k a and T l i n g i t
g r i z z l y bear Back-clipping
Indian
t r i b e ' s hutsnuwu,lit.
fort. of hootchinoo.
133. H o t l i n e / h o t l a y n / n . S 19 F a telephone to a radio
station
or important
political
c a n t a c t w h i c h i s k e p t open a t a l l t i m e s f o r q u e s t i o n s a n d d i s c u s s i o n s of an u r g e n t o r c o n t r o v e r s i a l n a t u r e . Compound.
32
1 34.Hotrodder / hotrodar has
one
who
had
i t s engine r e b u i l t
f a s t e r and Since -er
an
/ n.
interest
than the
o r i g i n a l l y the being
car that h
so t h a t t h e original
student
car i s
design.(WF)
use.
S 18
electric
F
c h a i r or witness
uncomfortable
stand
in a
s i t u a t i o n , u s u . i n which
courtone
questioned.
Compound. 136. H o t s h o t / h o t s o H / n. an
S 20
F
important,active,successful person;a s k i l l f u l
who
takes
risks
to
s u c c e e d and
important,self-assured From h o t - s h o t . o n e who with
a
and
person
does s u c c e e d t o become
proud.(WF)(P)
shoots e a g e r l y or s u c c e s s f u l l y
firearm.
Rhyming r e d u p l i c a t i o n . 137. H o v e r c r a f t
/
hjCvarkraft / n . S 24 F
a water v e h i c l e which a c t u a l l y c r u i s e s s l i g h t l y t h e w a t e r on
a self-created a i r
Neologism.Compound by
above
cushion.
analogy with patterns
like:
aircraft,spacecraft,etc. 138. H y d r o f o i l / h a y d r a f o y l
/ n.
S 20
F
a w a t e r v e h i c l e w h i c h c r u i s e s s l i g h t l y above the on
an
air
A compound of word e l e m e n t h y d r o - + Neologism.Cf. hovercraft,see t o be or
/ vb.
S 13
i n hock means t o be
foil.
#137.
F indebted
t o someone m a t e r i a l l y
immaterially.
Orig. 140.In t h e
hock:pawnshop. black / i n
operating From t h e credit Cf.
water
cushion.
1 3 9 . I n h o c k / i n hok
b l a k / n.
a business
S 26
F
at a profit;making
money.
dark or b l a c k c o l o r e d i n k bookkeepers use
side of the
i n the
as
#32.
/ h o t s i y t / n.
room;now any
drives a stock
or m o d i f i e d
more p o w e r f u l
suffix,see
F
i n and
d 9 5 0 , w i d e t e e n a g e and
135. H o t s e a t
is
S 12
ledger.
red,#142.
on
the
33
1 4 1 . I n t h e h o l e / i n &3 in
howl / n . P 12
F
debt.(P)
Since
C1760.
1 4 2 . I n t h e r e d / i n fc© r e d / n .
S 26
F
operating a business at a d e f i c i t j l o s i n g From t h e r e d i n k t h a t b o o k k e e p e r s use side
money.
on t h e
deficit
of the l e d g e r .
Cf. i n the b l a c k , 143.Iron-on / ayern-on
#140. / adj.
S U M
a f f i x e d with a hot iron,usu. patches 8
144. Jack-hammer / j a k - h a m d r / v b . t o f o r c e an i s s u e hammered a b i l l Orig.
30
on p a n t s , e t c .
J
t o c o n c l u s i o n , a s in:"He
through
t h e House
jack-
today."
i n c o n s t r u c t i o n workers j a r g o n .
Functional
shift.
jXrk / n . S 19 F
145. J e r k /
an i n e f f e c t u a l , f o o l i s h Poss.
or unknowingly d u l l
o r i g . w i t h r a i l r o a d use
branch
railway line;orig. by
and
146. J e r r y b u i l t / j e r i y
jerks traine
j e r k w a t e r , t o take
s c o o p i n g i t from bilt
Colloquial Poss.
since
orig.
man.
reinforced
make on s u c h
/ a d j . S 20
a
on w a t e r w h i l e i n
a t t r o u g h between t h e
unsubstantially built;poorly
or
where i t meant a s h o r t
r a i l w a y l i n e . A l s o , j e r k w a t e r stops,prob.
by t h e number o f j o l t s
motion
youth
rails.
F
constructed.(P)
cl880.
f . a c o r r u p t i o n of j u r y . a s i n .jury-mast.leg.etc.
147. J e t l i n e r / j e t l a y a d r / n . S 20
F
an a e r o p l a n e w i t h j e t e n g i n e s . Prob. and
f o r m e d on model o f p a s s e n g e r
relating
to
148. J o h n s / j o n z / n . a toilet.esp. 149. K e t t l e
Poss.
airliner. S 4
F
a public t o i l e t
o f f i s h / k e t S l &v
a predicament
liner.railliner.etc.
f o r males.(WF)
f i s / n. S 7 F
or s i t u a t i o n , e s p . a confused
f. Scottish.kettle
of fish.meaning
a
one.(P) picnic.
1 50.Keyholery
/ k i y h o w l S r i y / n , P 19 H
i n v e s t i g a t i n g ; f i g . , as b y p e e r i n g t h r o u g h k e y h o l e s . C f . r u b b e r c h e c k e r y #242. -ery
suffix,usu.
f o r m i n g nouns f . nouns o r v b s . t o mean:
a p l a c e where s o m e t h i n g
i s served;or a place that i s ass-
ociated with something(dancery);also,the state or condition of t h a t
of,or the q u a l i t i e s
denoted
by the r o o t
or acts
characteristic
word(keyholery).
151 . K i d / k i d / v b . S 29 J t o j o s h a p e r s o n ; t o d e c e i v e ; t o make f u n o f a p e r s o n i n his
presence.
Functional
shift,f.
kid:child.
152. K i d d i e s / k i d i y z / n . p l . P 12 F children. M e a n i n g s h i f t , C f . k i d s #151. -ie
s u f f i x , s e e #31.
153. K i n g p i n / k i n p i n / n . S 29 J the h i g h e s t r a n k i n g person i n a group;the u s u . h a s an u n d e r w o r l d
leader;
connotation.(WFJ(P)
O r i g . p o s s . f . game o f n i n e p i n s . 154. Knock / n o k / v b . S 4 F to f i n d
f a u l t w i t h ; t o give bad p u b l i c i t y
Fig. use,functional 155. L a n d
to.(WF)
shift.
g r a b / l a n d g r a b / n . S 31 J
a sudden a c q u i s i t i o n
of land,usu. near
some a r e a o f
new d e v e l o p m e n t . Compound. i t £p
156. L a r k i t up / l a r k t o have a good
/ vb. S 7 F
time.(F)
By a n a l o g y t o t h e b i r d , for
±Jb , see #36; f o r up, see
157. L e a d - p i p e
#6.
c i n c h / l e d payp s i n e / n . S 12 F
something Colloquial
e a s y ; a n y t h i n g o r anyone c e r t a i n since
secures i t , o r i g .
c1875;f.
of success.
the c i n c h o f a saddle which
of lead-pipe uncertain.
158. L i p p y ins
/ l i p i y / a d j . S 20 F olent;impertinent;talkative•(WF)
From l i p i n f i g .
sense:cheek,insolence,
-y. s u f f i x , s e e #32. 159. L o c k - i n a
/ l o k - i n / n. S 4 M
s i t u a t i o n where a group o f d e m o n s t r a t o r s l o c k
them-
s e l v e s i n s i d e a b u i l d i n g they wish t o occupy as a protest. -in
suffix pattern
a f t e r model o f s i t - i n . s e e #271•
160. L o c o s / lowkowz / n . p l . P 27 F locomotives. Abbreviation 161. L o o k - i n
through
back-clipping:loco/motives/.
/ l u k - i n / n . S 13 F
a brief visit cursory
on a c a s u a l
t e m p o r a r y b a s i s where y o u
a t t e n t i o n t o the a t t r a c t i o n .
M o d e l l e d on p a t t e r n
of s i t - i n . s e e
#271.
162. L o o k s e e / l u k s i y / n . S 4 F a look;a
visual
Colloquial
inspection,whether
since
Poss. o r i g .
cursory
or protracted.
c1925.
i n pidgin English.
163. L o n e r / l o w n a r / n . S 1 F a man who p r e f e r s t o l i v e , w o r k , d r i n k , e t c . , without taking others Both a derogatory ^
by h i m s e l f ,
i n t o h i s confidence.
and a c o m p l i m e n t a r y u s e .
- e d s u f f i x , s e e #32.
164. L o n g h a i r s / l o n h e r z
/ n. S 7 F
i n t e l l e c t u a l s ; p e o p l e who etc.Now a more haircuts with
general
like
serious
books,music,theater
a p p l i c a t i o n t o t h e modern d a y
hippy implications.
l 6 5 « L o o t / l u w t / n . S 27 J money,esp. a l a r g e
sum o f m o n e y ; a l s o a v b .
Common s i n c e d 9 4 5 , u s e d a s j a z z
slang.
From H i n d i l u t . b u t i n f l u e n c e d b y l o o t i e . a irregular
of India,hence a
bandit.
native
166. L o s e y o u r c o o l / l u w z y o r k u v l io
lose
composure;t» l o s e t h a t
t e r i z e d by and
a d i s t a n t and
Functional
reserved
shift;Cf.
Used b y " c o o l " 167. L o s s - l e a d e r attract
s t a t e o f mind
rather
involvement
than e n t h u s i a s t i c
cool
atti-
it.#53.
groups t h a t f l o u r i s h e d i n the
s o l d by
charac-
ideas.
/ l o s - l i y d 9 r /n.
article
P
detachment,disdain f o r emotional
t u d e t o w a r d s p e r s o n s and
an
/ vb.phr. S 1
S 26
mid-1950 s. f
F
a store at l e s s than cost
customers who,it i s hoped,will
so as
a l s o buy
to
other
items a t normal p r i c e s . Compound. 168. L o t
on
the
b a l l / l o t on
t o have a l o t on vitality
and
First
pop.
since
c1935.
the
b o l / n.
b a l l means t o be
ability;to
associated
Prob. derived
f.
S 6
be
F alert
i n t h e know;to be
w i t h bfep and
cool use,student
since
From l o u s e
+ -v, s u f f i x ( s e e #31 )•
d860.
same s h i f t
An
11
an
records. first
/
e l e s d l y / n.
lisergic
Cf.
S 20
acid
o f e a c h word
s t a n d s as
C a p i t o l Recording
F p o t e n t but
non-addictive
are
t a k e n from the
o r i g . Ger.
saure-diaethylamid. #1.
Common s i n c e
a word.
drug.
acronym:initials
l y serg-
letters
trademark of the
acid diethylamide
hallucinogenic An
two
a b b r e v i a t i o n w h i c h now
A c t u a l l y a patterned 171. LSD
o f meaning.
F
acronym where t h e
a c t as
use
inferior.(P)
Colloquial
play
hep.(YF)
F
bad;horrible;worthless;extremely
long
have
baseball.
169. L o u s y / l a w s i y / a d j . S 12
170. LP / e l p i y / n . P
and
d 9 6 2 ; s t u d e n t and
addict
use.
name-
Co
megepoWtan /
172. M e g a p o l i t a n /
a d j . S 13
F
r e f e r r i n g t o a m i l l i o n person p o p u l a t i o n of the p o l i t a n a r e a of a
metro-
city,etc.
P o r t m a n t e a u word f . m e g a ( p r e f i x
denoting,a m i l l i o n
times)
+ (metro)politan. 173. M i c k e y a 13
/ m i k i y / n. oz. b o t t l e
S 8 P
o f l i q u o r , s m a l l enough t o c a r r y i n a
pocket. Prob.
d e r i v a t i o n f . mickeyian
b r e w - f . an I r i s h m a n ' s being with -l74.Milked /
Irishman;a
potato;a potato
reputation for drinking
or always
liquor.
rnilkt
/ vb.
S 28
J
t o m i l k means t o o b t a i n p o s s e s s i o n o f by t r i c k e r y artifice;to
t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f some one
through
and
deceitful
means.(P) By
analogy to m i l k i n g a
cow.
175. M i n d - b l a s t i n g / maynd-blastin( ; / a d j . S 1 P ;
pushing
y o u r mind o r c o n c i o u s l e v e l
the e x t r a - c o n c i o u s l e v e l Prob.
a natural
derivative
anding, which through have l o s t
of
into
experience. f . m i n d - b l o w i n g and
r e p e a t e d use
their descriptive
translated
of experience
and
extended
mind-expapplication
p o w e r ; a l l a r e b a s e d upon
or
from p s y c h e d e l i c ( a n e o l o g i s m ) .
176. M i n d s u d s e d / mayndsAdzd / a d j . S 12 P „ . i, / < ^ i Jiuj / A l l a r e f a c e t i o u s synonyms Ego-scrubbed / lygo-skrAbd / J J ... . , / T - . ^ ,^ > \. i f o r b r a i n w a s h e d , s e e # 2 5 . L i b i d o - r i n s e d ^ / lebaydo-rinset / ' T
177. Mish-mash / mis-ma*s / n . P 14 a hodgepodge;a m i x t u r e a poorly integrated
F
composed o f many i n g r e d i e n t s , e s p .
mixture.
N e a r r h y m i n g r e d u p l i c a t i o n , w i t h vowel Orig. 178. M o c c a s i n
variation.
mash. t e l e g r a p h / mokdsin t e l e g r a f / n.
t h e means by w h i c h i n f o r m a t i o n c i r c u l a t e s (orig.
I n d i a n s wore m o c c a s i n s
i n f o r m a t i o n by
runner).
and
sent
S J
30
amongst I n d i a n s ;
important
179/Mod / m o d / modem;up
a d j . S 19 F t o date;usu. a p p l i e d t o fashions,has
connotation
o f a n E d w a r d i a n o r f a n c y way o f d r e s s i n g . Orig. and
f . mod s t y l e
rockers
f i r s t worn b y t h e mods o f t h e mods
group i n England d u r i n g
t h e 1950's.
180. M o o n s h i p / muwnsip / n . S 8 1 the
v e h i c l e used t o land
on t h e m o o n ( l u n a r m o d u l e ) .
N e o l o g i s m , m o d e l l e d on t h e p a t t e r n 181. The
of a i r s h i p . s p a c e s h i p . e t c .
most / $e mowst / n . S 7 F
the or
best;the
most e x c i t i n g ; t h e most up t o d a t e
person
thing.
Far
o u t , b e a t and c o o l u s e .
182. M u d s l i n g i n g / m A d s l i ^ i n the
a c t of spreading
/ n . S 30 J malicious,derogatory
statements
about another,whether such statements a r e t r u e
o r not.(WF)
Synonym f o r t h e o l d e r m u c k r a k i n g f o r w h i c h C f . Bunyan*s "man w i t h t h e muckrake." Mainly p o l i t i c a l
use since
C1890.
183. M u l t i v e r s i t y / m u l t i y v ^ r s S t i y / a d j . P 14 M a u n i v e r s i t y which has s e v e r a l schools
c o l l e g e s o r separate
which,nevertheless,fall
g e n e r a l l y under the
name o f one i n s t i t u t i o n . Portmanteau word from m u l t i + ( u n i ) v e r s i t v . 184. N i g g e r / n i g a r / n . S 13 F negro;Afro-American.(P) 185. N i t t y - g r i t t y / n i t i y - g r l t i y the
basics
/ n . S 13 F
or e s s e n t i a l s of any
action,etc.;the
hard,unvarnished
situation,predicament, facts.
Rhyming r e d u p l i c a t i o n . 186. N O b i g sweat / no b i g swet / nothing Fig.
S 1 F
t o be c o n c e r n e d a b o u t ; e a s i l y
orig.
accomplished.
f . t h e i d e a o f w o r k i n g h a r d p h y s i c a l l y and
p e r s p i r i n g v e r s u s no sweat.
187. N O
go / now gow / n . P 7 F t h a t moment i n a n y s i t u a t i o n when t h e o p e r a t i o n i s cancelled.(¥F)(P) Used i n aerospace
j a r g o n when t h e y i n d i c a t e d t h a t a
missile
l a u n c h i n g was c a n c e l l e d .
Rhyming
reduplication.
188. N o r t h p a w / n o r 6 p o * / a d j . P 22 F a right-handed
person.
Formed b y a n a l o g y 189.Oddball
t o southpaw.see #734.
/ odbol / n. P 8 F
an e c c e n t r i c , q u e e r o r odd p e r s o n : a A compound f r o m
odd + b a l l t C f .
nonconformist.(WF)
screwball.
df-^e-kXf / a d j . S 20 F
190.Off-the-cuff /
informally;extemporaneouslyjunrehersed. O r i g . poss. shirt
f . the habit of w r i t i n g b r i e f notes
on t h e
cuffs.
191.Okayed / owkeyd / p p . S 4 F judged
as satisfactory;approved.
From t h e s t a n d a r d
O.K.
192.Ombudsman / omhAdzmdn /n. the
P 21 F
o f f i c i a l who r e c e i v e s a n d d e a l s w i t h
complaints against
of a general or s p e c i f i c nature,usu.
o r g a n i z a t i o n s and b o d i e s
unapproachable 193.One-upmanship /
New Z e a l a n d
of a higher,
English.
wJlin Xpmdnsip / n.
b e i n g one s t e p a h e a d o f y o u r
S 10 F
f e l l o w b e i n g i n any f a c e t
l i f e ; h a v i n g an a d v a n t a g e o v e r y o u r
O r i g . a coinage on t h e campaign
f e l l o w being.
by Stephen P o t t e r .
194.On t h e stump / on cte stXmp /
Orig.
S 24 F
circuit.(P)
f. political
d a y s where a c a n d i d a t e
l i t . used t o
c l i m b up on t r e e stumps t o t a l k t o t h e p e o p l e travelled 195.Operation an
laid
o r d e r , s u c h as governments.
From S w e d i s h , v i a
of
public
a s he
around the country.
cleanup
/
opareys»n kliynvtp
/ n.
P 7 F
o r g a n i z e d p l a n t o c l e a n o r t i d y up a p l a c e , a r e a o r
situation. Modelled
on w a r t i m e e x p r e s s i o n s s u c h a s " o p e r a t i o n o v e r l o a d . "
F o r -up s u f f i x
see #6.
1 9 6 , O r n e r y / o r n a r i y / v b , P 18 F stubborn;difficult;immoveable N o r t h American d i a l ,
on an o p i n i o n . p r i n c i p l e . e t c .
f . ordinary.
197.Outage / a V t a j / n . S 12 F failure;temporary i n t e r r u p t i o n , a s in:"An
electricity
outage." Technical neologism
from
o u t ( t h e power i s o u t . i . e . o f f ) +
198.Out o f whack o r k i l t e r / awt a v hwak o r k i l t a r / v b . S 19 F out of order;not f u n c t i o n i n g p r o p e r l y . Colloquial Kilter or
s i n c e C1899.
i s a variation
of kelter.meaning
good
condition
order.
199.Out o f y o u r mind / awt a v y o r maynd / ecstatic borders
about
S 29 J
something,so e c s t a t i c
that
i t fig.
on i n s a n i t y .
C f . m i n d - b l a s t i n g #175. 200.Over-provocation an
/ o w v a r - p r o v d k e y s S n / n . S 12 M
o v e r a b u n d a n c e o f annoyance o r i r r i t a t i o n .
P r e f i x - o v e r h a s become a p r o d u c t i v e p r e f i x terms a s : o v e r - e a t . o v e r - s l e e p . a n d reaction
giving
such
over-step;Cf.over-
#201.
201.Over-reaction / owvar-riyaksan a response
t o something
/ n . S 13 M
more e n e r g e t i c t h a n
normally
called for. P r e f i x -over.see
#200.
202.Paper t i g e r / peypar
t a y g a r / n . S 27 J
a d e c e p t i v e l y strong,powerful
or i n f l u e n t i a l
person
who
i has
a l l the a c t i o n s of a f o r c e f u l p e r s o n a l i t y but turns
o u t t o be
ineffective.
T h i s p a t t e r n of paper in
+
i s now commonly a p p l i e d
other s i t u a t i o n s to imply ineffectiveness.(e.g.paper
mayor.)
203. P a s s
t h e buck / p a s & 3 bAk /
to pass
onto
vb.
J
someone e l s e a p r o b l e m , a
or a person having a problem Colloquial
S 31
since
responsibility,
requiring
attention.(WF)
c1900.
204. P a y l o a d / p e y l o w d / n . S 6 F any
desired result
the
s o l u t i o n t o a problem
Orig.
f . the l i t .
paydirt
or the
application
to undress,esp.
S 27
h i t ;hence p a v l o a d .
t o do a s t r i p t e a s e
206. P i c t u r e / p x k c O r / n . S 27
on t h e
stage.(P)
of f r u i t ; c o l l o q u i a l
since
c1800.
J
u n d e r s t a n d i n g or view;a p r e s e n t a t i o n
o f a l l t h e e s s e n t i a l f a c t s and t o the
like.
F
analogy to the p e e l i n g
a comprehensive
answer,
i n m i n i n g : t o d i g down u n t i l
o r t h e mother l o d e was
205. P e e l / p i y l / v b . By
s u c h as money,the c o r r e c t
relationships
pertaining
s u b j e c t a t hand. (WF) ( P ) a s i n t h e q u e s t i o n : ' Get 1
the
picture?" Meaning
shift.Colloquial.
207. P i d d l i n g / p i d l i n / a d j . S 31
J
small;trivial;inconsequential. From p i d d l e . c h i l d ' s word foi? u r i n a t e . 208. P i g s / p i g z / n . S 22 the
F
police.
Since c1848,criminal use. 209oPipedream / paypdriym
/ n. S 4
any p l a n , s c h e m e , g o a l
F
i d e a or i d e a l
that
a s t h e dreams o f an opium a d d i c t a f t e r
i s as
unrealistic
smoking an
opium
pipe.(WF) O r i g . w i t h opium s m o k e r s ; c o l l o q u i a l . 210. P l a s t e r / p l a s t e r / v b .
S 1 F
t o abuse someone p h y s i c a l l y . ( W F ) Prob.
orig.
military
f . p l a s t e r , m e a n i n g t o shoot w i t h a gun;in
sense
to s h e l l
heavily.
Colloquial. 211. P l o n k s / p l o n k s / n .
S 22
the doldrums;in a state Onomatopoetic f o r m a t i o n .
F of m i l d d e p r e s s i o n .
the
42
212. PM
/ piyem / n.
S 7
M
Prime M i n i s t e r . an 213. Pop
acronym;the f i r s t c u l t u r e / pop
popular
l e t t e r i n each
k A l c a r / n.
S 20
vord.
P
culture.
Abbreviation
t h r o u g h b a c k - c l i p p i n g : j g o p / u l a r / +• c u l t u r e .
C f . m o d e l s o f pop
music.pop s i n g e r s . p o p
2l4*>Pommy b a s t a r d / p o m i y b a s t a r d
/
fashions.
S 1 M
A u s t r a l i a n s l a n g nickname foi? an E n g l i s h m a n . Cf. north
American
terms:blimey.kipper.brit.
215. P o p p y c o c k / p o p i y k o k / n.
S 30
J
216. P o s t i e s / p o w s t i y z / n . p l . S 7
F
nonsense. A
euphemism.
postmen;mailmen.(P) By
a n a l o g y t o model o f g o a l i e f o r
Abbrviation
through back-clipping:Post/man/ + - i e
For - i e s u f f i x 217. Pound t h e
see
218. P r a n k s t e r s
of a j o b
/ n . p l . P 24
219. P r e - f a b b e d / p r i y - f a b d / a d j . S 26 c u s t o m c u t and
ready to
F
assemble.
A b b r e v i a t i o n : f a b / r i c aft/ed. i s a pp.
o r an
adj. forming
/ p r e k f s i y z / n . p l . P 21
u n i v e r s i t y or business Abbreviation 221. P r o
suffix
for
see
/ prow / n.
suffix. F
presidents.
presidents,
#31• S 29
suffix
often g i v i n g a derogatory
C f . p u n s t e r #227.
-ie
to
jokers.
j o i n e d t o nouns and
220. P r e x i e s
or i n order
F
From p r a n k + - s t e r . s u f f i x , a p r o d u c t i v e
-ed
S 1 F
by.(WF)
/ pra*}kstarz
practical
saydwok / v b .
s t r e e t s i n search
from passers
suffix.
#31.
s i d e w a l k / pawnd &8
t o walk the beg
goalkeeper.etc.
J
a p r o f e s s i o n a l i n any
line
o f work.
Abbreviation:pro/fessional/.
of
agency
connotation.
222, P s y c h e o u t / s a y k awt to lose
control
to understand and
223, P u l l
through
another's
t o c a u s e him
-out
suffix
the
/ vb,
see
S 12
F
fearjto
lose
one's
nerve;
deeper p s y c h o l o g i c a l motivations
to f a l t e r
or lose
control.
#11,
c o r k on / pul4f2fe k o r k
to i n t e n t i o n a l l y
on / vb,
S 29
J
cause s e c r e t i n f o r m a t i o n about a
person
o r s i t u a t i o n t o become g e n e r a l k n o w l e d g e . F i g . , b y analogy
to corks i n b o t t l e s - t o prevent
puloVt / n . S 6 F
224, P u l l o u t /
a departure;a
complete v i t h d r a ^ L from
Compound;colloquial -out
suffix
see
to f i g h t
a situation,(P)
s i n c e C1880,
#11,
225. P u n c h o u t / p i n e awt
a
leakage,
/ vb.
someone and
S 14
F
s u c c e s s f u l l y beat
them u p ; t o
fight.
Orig.
f . an o f f i c e
c a r d a s he
begins
-out
see
suffix
226. P u n c h t h r o u g h to put
or factory;workers punching
a
access Orig.
#11.
/ pAnc © r u w / v b .
S 30
J.
something through w i t h a c o n n o t a t i o n of f o r c e
route to the
an
highway."
f . c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k e r s j a r g o n ; C f . jack-hammer
227. P u n s t e r / p A n s t a r / n . P 29 a p e r s o n who
tells
-ster
see
suffix
228. P u s h on / pus
#144.
M
puns.(WF) #218.
on / v b . P 7
M
t o move on t o o t h e r t o p i c s
or areas f o r a c t i o n ; t o proceed
other points w a i t i n g f o r consideration.
F i g . use 229. P u t
time
o r l e a v e s work,
o r s t r e n g t h , a s i n : " T h e y wanted t o p u n c h t h r o u g h
to
win
of push.
on / p u t
on / n .
S 28
J
a p u r p o s e f u l d e c e p t i o n , o f t e n done i n an a f f e c t e d
manner.
230. P u t
one o v e r on / p u t WJLBL owvar on / v b , S 29 J
to
tease
o r make a f o o l
o f someone;to
misrepresent
s o m e t h i n g t o someone;to c o n v o n c e them t h a t fake
i s real.(VP)'
Orig. 231. P u t
something
jazz,student
and s v i n g e r u s e ; c o l l o q u i a l s i n c e
d956.
on i c e / p u t on a y s / v b . S 3 P
to
postpone
Fig.
(WF)
use.
232. Quack / kwak / n . S 24 F an
u n e t h i c a l person passing
ledgeable
himself
o f f a s a know-
doctor.(P)
C1660.
Since
233. Quake / kweyk / n . P 25 F an
earthquake.
Abbreviation
through
front-clipping:/earth/quake.
234. Ransom r a c k e t / ransara r a k d t / n . S 27 J any
shady o r d i s h o n e s t
here to
spec, r e f e r r i n g
be r e t u r n e d
business
or occupation;a
to the i l l e g a l
holding
swindle;
of a person
f o r a sum o f money.(WF$
Reduplication;alliteration. 235. R a t t i n g on / r a t i n informing Orig.
on / v b . S 6 M
o r s q u e a l i n g on.
the r a t that leaves
a s i n k i n g s h i p i s a symbol o f
treachery. 236. Redeye / redjfcy / n . S 30 J inferior Since
o r raw w h i s k y , s p e c , b o o t l e g w h i s k y ; c h e a p
d 8 2 0 . A l s o used i n Canada(Alberta) t o r e f e r t o beer
laced with 237. R e g u l a r s those Cf.
tomato j u i c e S C a l g a r y redeye','
/ regy©l©rz / n . S 1 F p e r s o n s who f r e q u e n t
a place
on a r e g u l a r b a s i s .
habitues(French).
Functional 238. R i n g
shift.
/ r i n / n . S 29 J
a g r o u p o f p e r s o n s u s u . f o r m e d f o r some i l l e g a l as
liquor.
i n : "The dope r i n g
Vancouver."
i s operating
purpose,
i n t h e e a s t end o f
239. R o c k e t e e r / r o k a t i y r / n. is
a p e r s o n who
S 18
F
a c t i v e l y i n t e r e s t e d i n the science of
r o c k e t s , u s u . a young i n i t i a t e
inthe
science*
S u f f i x - e e r . b y a n a l o g y w i t h model l i k e r a c k e t e e r .
rXfin
240. R o u g h i n g i t /
i t /
doing
something
there
i s an e a s i e r way
n.
S 24
in a difficult
of
manner;it
i s implied
t o do t h e t a s k b u t one
t o t a k e t h i s more d i f f i c u l t F o r use
F
#36.
F
an i l l - m a n n e r e d , u n c o u t h , r o u g h p e r s o n , e s p . Orig.
circus
because
i f burly.(WF)(P)
use;colloquial.
242. Rubber c h e c k e r y / the w r i t i n g
chooses
route.
i t without antecedent,see
241 .Roughneck / r i f f n e k / n . S 13
that
rXber
cekariy /
n.
P 12
F
of checks t h a t are r e t u r n e d t o the
writer
t h e r e i s n o t enough money i n h i s a c c o u n t t o
cover i t s value.(WF)" Orig.
rubber + check + - e r y s u f f i x , a s
F i g . use used
in:thievery.roguery.
of rubber i n reference to the slang e x p r e s s i o n
f o r s u c h c h e c k s : e . g . t h e y a r e s a i d t o "bounce."
Note the American -ery suffix
see
s p e l l i n g : c h e c k f o r cheque, #150.
243. Rubby-dub / r A b i y - d X b /
n.
P 15 M
a bum;a w o r t h l e s s tramp;a down and connotation of a
outer,often with a
drunkard.
Abbrviation f . rub/bing/ alcohol. Reduplication with p a r t i a l -y. s u f f i x
see
244. Rube /ruwb / n.
rhyme,
#31. S 29
J
an u n w o r l d l y , n a i v e . u n s o p h i s t i c a t e d c o u n t r y y o u t h o r
man;
a newcomer;an o u t s i d e r , h e n c e anyone e a s y t o v i c t i m i z e . ( W F ) From Reuben.a t r a d i t i o n a l hillbilly 245.Sawy /
r u r a l name;Cf. c l o t s
#44,
#127.
s a v i y / n.
P 15
M
unde r s t a n d i n g ; k n o w l e d g e ; w o r l d l i n e s s. O r i g . i n p i d g i n E n g l i s h , f . the Portuguese Colloquial
since
d865.
s a v e r . t o know.
246.Saved-off
/ s o d - o f / a d j . S 11
annoyed
F
o r d i s g u s t e d ( w i t h someone o r s o m e t h i n g ) .
Cf. browned-off.cheesed-off.brassed-off.etc. -off or
s u f f i x word w i t h c o n n o t a t i o n o f e n d i n g an
relation;Cf.
finish
off.sign
247.Seepage / s i y p e j f / n . P 27 any
substance t h a t has
action
off.etc.
P
seeped
o r l e a k e d f r o m some
enclosure or c o n t a i n e r . Dial,
and c o l l o q u i a l
From seep = -age
usage.
suffix;Cf.
outage
#197.
2 4 8 . S e l l down t h e r i v e r / s e i dawn cfe r i v e r / v b . S 4 F to betray. Prob.
o r i g . w i t h the slave trade i n the southern S t a t e s
when s l a v e s were t r a n s p o r t e d down t h e r i v e r t o p l a n t a t i o n owners.(Mark 1 w a i n u s e i n H u c k l e b e r r y F i n n ) . 2 4 9 . S e l l o u t / s e i awt / v b . S 29 to
become a t r a i t o r ; t o
beliefs
because
renounce -out
compromise one's i d e a l s
see
or
of f e a r or f o r other reasons;to
one's p r i n c i p l e s
suffix
J
f o r t h e sake
of moetary
gain,
#11.
250.Set-to / set-tuw / n. S 4 M an arguement;an a t t a c k ; a h e a t e d d i s a g r e e m e n t w i t h o r without
violence.(P)
By a n a l o g y w i t h model s i t - i n . s e e
#271*
251.Shacktown / saktawn / n . S 8 F any p a r t shoddy
of a settlement,town or c i t y , t h a t
o r slummy i n a p p e a r a n c e .
O r i g . p r o b . f . t h e shack o r caboose or Cf.
i s run-down
of a f r e i g h t
hobo u s e o f t h e t e r m t o meah a m e e t i n g use
district
train;
place.
o f -town s u f f i x word i n r e f e r e n c e t o a
city
i n words l i k e i C h i n a t o w n . G a s t o w n ( e . g . o l d V a n c o u v e r )
2 5 2 . S h » c k y o / v i » i i y / a d j P 27
F
rundown;dilapidated.(WF) Formed by shack + - y s u f f i x
(see
#31).
253.Shake-up / seyk-Ap / n .
S 30
J
a reorganization of personnel Since -up
o r work methods.(P)
d885;colloquial.
s u f f i x word see
#6.
254.Shamuses / seymdsdx / n . p l . P 19
M
investigators;detectives. From I r i s h g a e l i c : Seamus,meaning James. 2 5 5 . S h a n t y town /
s a n t i y tawn / n. P 27
a town o f s h a c k s ; a group o f dwellings Cf.
F r . c h a n t i e r or I r i s h
/ s'eyp Ap oneself
working
properly.
together;to
s u f f i x wors,see
257.Sharks /
operators
charge a high
organize
i n the
money l e n d i n g
r a t e of i n t e r e s t , t h e exact loan
a gathering haircutting
S 3
amount
who of
borrower.(P)
M
o f h i p p i e s and
longhairs generally for a
spree.
suffix,patterned after
2 5 9 . S h i n n y up
field
sharks.
2 5 8 . S h e a r - i n / s i y r - i n / n.
/ siniy.Xp / vb.
s i t - i n , s e e #27t.
S 7
M
climb.
From s h i n + -y, s u f f i x ( s e e -up
t
begin
M
which i s o f t e n hidden from the F i g . use;also
o n e s e l f and
#6.
sarks / n . p l . S 4
unethical
to
sean t i g h / s a n
S 1 K
/vb
to p u l l
-in
city.(WF)
o l d house).
256. Shape up
-up
makeshift
#251.
S h a n t y f r o m Cdn. (an
s h a c k s and
on t h t o u t s k i r t s o f a
shacktown
F
s u f f i x word,see
260.Ship-shape / s i p - s e y p
#31).
#6. / adj. P
fine;ready for use;in perfect Reduplication with
vowel
O r i g . prob. re s h i p being beginning
of the
season.
25
M
condition.
change. readied
f o r c a s t - o f f or
the
261,Shoo / to
suv / v b ,
chase
S 31
J
avay.
From s h o o ! ( u s e d
vith
imperative
force.)
2 6 2 , S h o o t o f f y o u r mouth / s u v t o f y o r m a w © / #b. to for
F
t a l k , e s p , t o t a l k t o o much and w i t h t o o l i t t l e propriety;to disclose
Grig, H.
S 13
perh.
a
regard
confidence,(P)
f . Dorothy Savers(Murder
Must A d v e r t i s e )
and
Wade ( C o n s t a b l e G u a r d T h y s e l f ) .
2 6 3 . S h o o t - o u t / s u w t - i w t / n, S 20 a gun
F
d u e l ; a l s o a p p l i e d to a heated
arguement
or
discussion, Cf.
#264; - o u t
264. Shoot up /
s u f f i x word,see
suwtA-p / n . S 1
a gun
duel,Cf.#263.
Prob.
orig.
-up
2 6 5 . S h o r t end
of the
the l e a s t instance
stick / sort
d e s i r a b l e l o t ; t h e worst
rectum
i s the
by the
other
one
advantage of
call
or
s h o r t end
as
opposed
of a s t i c k , w h i c h
e t y m o l o g y i s more v u l g a r : f i g . , t h e
end
o f a s t i c k poked up
i n command o f t h e
another's
situation,who
holds
end.
2 6 6 . S h o t s , c a l l the / to
J
of a t r a n s a c t i o n ; a n
l a r g e r q u a n t i t y o r t h e l a r g e end
s h o r t end
S 31
treatment.(WF)
t h e image i s t h a t o f t h e
can be w i e l d e d , t h e
the
%9 s t i k / %
end © v
of being cheated,ignored,taken
Although the
p l a y e r use.
#6.
receiving unfavorable
to
F
f . gambling-dice
s u f f i x word,see
#11.
the
sots,kal
vb.
S 29
J
s h o t s means t o have t h e p r i v i l e g e
of
i n d i c a t i n g what s h o u l d happen o r t a k e p l a c e , a s i n : " H e p a i d for
the gate
Prob. of
orig.
f e e , s o he
should c a l l
the
shots."
d u r i n g p r o h i b i t i o n ( e . g . the n i c k e l
shots
whiskey).
267.Showbiz /
sowbiz / n .
S 8
M
showbusiness. A b b r e v i a t i o n by b a c k - c l i p p i n g : s h o w b u s / i n e s s / s t h e n sequence changed t o p h o n e t i c
-us
s p e l l i n g and p r o n u n c i a t i o n .
268. S h u t up to
/ sjttjLp / vb.
cease
-up
talking
S 1 P
o r making n o i s e o f any
s u f f i x word,see
#6,
2 6 9 . S i d e - e f f e c t / s a y d f i y f e k t / n. a result
o f any
kind.(P)
event
S 11
M
o t h e r t h a n t h e main e f f e c t
or
result. Compound. 270.
Sidestep / saydstep to
/ S 1 P
d e v i a t e from meeting a s i t u a t i o n head on;to
a s i t u a t i o n a l t o g e t h e r , a s i n :"To 271.Sit-in /
s i t - i n /n.
S 28
s i d e s t e p an
issue..."
J
an a c t o f p r o t e s t i n w h i c h d e m o n s t r a t o r s in
ignore
enter or remain
a p l a c e i n a s i t t i n g p o s i t i o n , t o p r o t e s t a g a i n s t some
law,custom or o f f i c i a l publicity for c i v i l T h i s i s an i m p o r t a n t w o r d , w h i c h has
policy
or to g a i n support
rights,pacifism,etc. formation with - i n
become p o p u l a r
the
first
as a
suffix
s i n c e d960,when
r i g h t s p r o t e s t s began t o g a i n n a t i o n a l S i t - i n was
and
civil
attention.
s u c h word t o g a i n c u r r e n c y
and
many o t h e r s have been f o r m e d by a n a l o g y w i t h i t . Now
the use
or
o f - i n has
demonstration
connection with
expanded t o i n c l u d e any p r o t e s t
f o r most a n y t h i n g and n o t s e g r e g a t i o n as was
the
orig.
See
#311,316,317,398,441,487,497,503 and
Cf.
a l s o the term
front p o l i t i c a l 272.Skidroad a
/
street
gambling Orig.
or d i s t r i c t
l o g g e r use
273.Skindiver / who
suits,etc.
f . the
d u r i n g the
and
1930's.
F
the
skid
s k i n d a y v 3 r / n . S 26
businesses
like.(WF)
r o a d i n t h e bush;hobo
and
F
deep s e a d i v e s w i t h o u t
the a i d of rubber
as a p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e
aquanaut
popular
s i n c e c1915.
amateur c o n n o t a t i o n Cf.
S 12
731.
i n r e f . to
i n France
connotation'/
o f a town c o n t a i n i n g cheap
rooms,brothels use
strike
activities
skxdrowd / n.
underworld
a man
sit-in
always i n
#4.
here.
coldjmore
of
wetan
274.Skookum / skuwkem / a d j . S 12 F heavy;large;overwhelming,as A borrowing
i n : "A p r e t t y
f . Chinook j a r g o n wordjCf.
skookum p r i c e .
skookum chuck
( r a p i d s - c h u c k means w a t e r i n t h e j a r g o n ) . 275.Skullduggery
/ s k A l d X g a r i y / n . S 14 F
r a s c a l l y conduct;scheming
or p l o t t i n g .
From s k u l l . a s s o c i a t e d w i t h p i r a t e s whose f l a g , t h e rodger,bears For
a skull
jolly
and c r o s s b o n e s .
s u f f i x - e r y see #150,242.
276.Skyjacker
/ skayoakar
/ n . S 13 F
a p e r s o n who h i j a c k s an a i r p l a n e w h i l e
i t i s en r o u t e
somewhere. N e o l o g i s m ; p o r t m a n t e a u w o r d : s k y ( h i ) i a c k e r . w i t h rhyme o f hi-/sky. 277.Sky-pirates
/ skay-payrats / n . p l . S 3 F
those
p e r s o n s who h i j a c k a i r l i n e r s w h i l e
force
them t o f l y t o a n o t h e r
Neologism.Cf. 278.Skyride
on f l i g h t and
destination.
s k y j a c k e r #276.Again note
rhyme o f s k y / p i -
/ s k a y r a y d / n . S 20 F
a mode o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e g r o u n d , w h i c h carries
one t h r o u g h
Compound.Note 279.Skyscrapers
the a i r .
t h e rhyme:
sky/ri-.
/ s k a y s k r e y p a r z / n . p l . P 30 J
a skyscraper i s a very t a l l that
building;fig.,one
so t a l l
i t s c r a p e s t h e sky.(WF)
Colloquial
s i n c e c1920.
280.Slam-bam-thank-you-maam a p r e t t y rough way o f t h a n k i n g
/ s l a m - b a m - © a ^ - y u w - m a m / S 12 F
t h a n k y o u t o a woman!an a b r u p t , r a p i d someone.
Rhyming f o r m a t i o n . 281.Slide-prone
/ slayd-prown
more l i a b l e substance
/ a d j . S 13 M
t o t h e s l i d i n g down o f r o c k o r o t h e r
t h a n n o r m a l , a s i n : " T h i s a r e a i s more
prone because o f t h e s h a l e mountains." Compound;Cf. a c c i d e n t - p r o n e •
slide-
282.Slog
i t out / s l o g i t awt / vb. S 31 J
t o sueceed i n d o i n g something but n o t w i t h o u t h a r d s h i p s and d i f f i c u l t y . ( P ) F o r use o f i t w i t h o u t antecedent
see
#36.
- o u t s u f f i x see #11. 283*Smear Campaign / s m i y r kampeyn / n. P 29 M a p l a n o r campaign which attempts t o d e s t r o y the good r e p u t a t i o n of another,esp. by making f a l s e o r a c c u s a t i o n s ; t o degrade o r slander.(WF)
exaggerated
From the Y i d d i s h schmear. 284.Smoker / smovkar / n. S 28 J a much debated s u b j e c t w h i c h c o n t i n u e s under d i s c u s s i o n over a l o n g p e r i o d , t h u s smouldering l i k e a f i r e , a s i n ; " T h i s problem o f whether t o r e c o g n i z e Bed China i s a r e a l smoker." Poss. o r i g . i n r a i l r o a d jargon r e f e r r i n g t o a locomotivef . the days of wood and c o a l b u r n i n g l o c o m o t i v e s . 285.Snowmobile / snowmowbiyl / n. S 12 F a v e h i c l e r u n n i n g on s k i - l i k e t r a c k s w h i c h c a r r i e s p e o p l e over the snow. Cf. skidoo. Portmanteau word^snow/auto/mobile;note rhyme;snow/mo-/. 286.S.0.B.'s / es.ow.biyz. /n. P 12 M S.O.B. stands f o r son of a b i t c h . An acronym. 2 8 7 . S p a c e c r a f t / s p e y s k r a f t / n. S 30 J the v e h i c l e used by and c a r r y i n g e x p l o r e r s i n t o o u t e r space i n modern day r e s e a r c h programs. By a n a l o g y t o o t h e r compounds w i t h the - c r a f t f o r m a t i o n . C f . h o v e r c r a f t #137. 288.Spaceship / s p e y s s i p / n. S 3 F a v e h i c l e which c a r r i e s a s t r o n a u t s i n t o o u t e r space on aerospace l a u n c h i n g s . By a n a l o g y t o o t h e r - s h i p f o r m a t i o n s ; C f . moonship
#180.
/ speysvokig. / n . S 6 M
289.Spacewalking
l e a v i n g a s p a c e c r a f t and l i t . f l o a t i n g Fig.
i n outer space.
use of w a l k i n g .
Neologism. 290.Speak g a r b a g e to
talk
/ s p i y k g a r b d j / v b . P 12 M
nonsense.
291 . S p i c e up / s p a y s J t p / v b . S 7 M to
glamorize a person,situation
attractive Fig.
o r o c c a s i o n ; t o make more
and e n t i c i n g . ( P )
f r o m s p i c e + -up s u f f i x w o r d ( s e e # 6 ) .
2 9 2 . S p i l l a g e / s p i l a j / n . P 27 F any
substance which has s p i l l e d
limits
over the boundaries o r
of a container.
From s p i l l + -age s u f f i x , C f .
#197,247.
Neologism. 293.Spivs / spivz / n . p l . S 7 F a s t r e e t vendor b l a c k market
often
selling
stolen
o r ( d u r i n g WWII)
goods.
B r i t i s h wartime
slang.
2 9 4 . S q u a t t e r s / s k w o t a r z / n . S 30 J p e r s o n s who move o n t o l a n d t h e y do n o t own a n d s e t up housekeeping.Der*ogatory. From s q u a t + - e r s u f f i x ( s e e # 3 2 ) . 295.SRO / esarow / sold
P11 F
r i g h t out.
An acronym.Tradesmen's 296.Stacked
jargon.
/ stakt / adj. P 1 F
having a sexually attractive or
or
said
of a
girl
woman.(WF)
297.Standpatism the
body,usu.
/ s t a n d p a t i s m / n . S 13 F
p o l i c y of keeping a f i r m , f i x e d
position,opinion
b e l i e f . (WF,)(P)
Poss. o r i g . also,to formed
sell
f . g a m b l i n g : t o k e e p a good hand o f c a r d s ; f . a stationary position(stand pad),
from vb. p h r . t o s t a n d p a t + - i s m s u f f i x .
298,Sticky
situation /
a difficult
sxeyuweysan / n .
t o t h e game o f
proceed
sticky wicket.in ref,
cricket,
s t i n k e r /n,
a contemptible
must
diplomacy,(P)
o r i g , w i t h the B r i t i c i s m
299,Stinker /
S 1 F
s i t u a t i o n ; a s i t u a t i o n where one
w i t h c a r e and Prob,
stikiy
S 4
F
person,(P)
From s t i n k + - e r s u f f i x ( s e e # 3 2 ) . 300.Stooge /
s t u w j / n,
S 27
J
an u n d e r l i n g , e s p , one who
a c t s as a p u p p e t f o r
s a y i n g and
d o i n g what he d o e s w i t h o u t
he
to.(WF)
i s told
Orig,prob,
f . t h e a t e r and
another,
q u e s t i o n because
stage use;Cf.
fall
guy #546,
s i d e k i c k #673. 30l.Stoolie /
s t u w l x y / n . P 29
a person
J
s e r v i n g as a decoy;an i n f o r m e r ; a
From t h e f a c t t h a t p i g e o n s were o f t e n t i e d a decoy f o r other
stool
pigeon.
to a stool
pigeons.
P o r t m a n t e a u word: s t o o l ( p i g e o n ) + - i e s u f f i x . ( s e e 302.Stromgarm /
#32).
s t r o i i a r m / n, P 1 M
a 2 p e r s o n employed t o c a r r y o u t a c t s o f v i o l e n c e , t o obtain money,information,etc.;a uses p h y s i c a l 303.Sucked-in /
hoodlum o r t h u g
v&o
violence.(WF)
Compound,Since c
1830.
sXkt-in /
d e c e i v e d by f a l s e
vb.
S 7
F
promises.(WF)(P)
From s u c k - i n : t o e n g u l f i n a w h i r l p o o l . 304.Superbowl / suwpdrbowl / n ,
S 15
F
a l a r g e r - t h a n - e v e r — b e f o r e stadium Prefix
for sports.
super- c u r r e n t l y a v e r y productive p a t t e r n .
C f . #305,309. 3 0 5 . S u p e r l i n e r / suwpdrlayndr a passenger prefix
/ n.
S 14
s h i p l a r g e r t h a n any
super-
as
see#304-309.
F o t h e r known b e f o r e .
306.Superport /
s u w p s r p o r t / n . S 30
J
a p o r t much l a r g e r and more g r a n d i o s e
than anything
yet
existing* Pr^ix
s u p e r - , see
307*Superpower /
#304-09.
suwparpawar / n*
S 25
P
a c o u n t r y whose e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l and is
g r e a t e r t h a n most o t h e r s i n t h e
Prefix
super-.see
308.Supersavior a person
m i l i t a r y power
world*
#304-09.
/ suwpsrseyvyar /n. w i t h t h e power and
S 8 M
d e s i r e t o save o t h e r
persons
from u n d e s i r a b l e s i t u a t i o n s , p e o p l e , e t c . Prfix
super-.see
309.Supertax /
#304-09.
suwDerta^ks / n .
S 29
J
above t h e n o r m a l t a x l o a d ; e x t r a ; o u t the
current tax s i t u a t i o n i n other
Prefix
of p r o p o r t i o n t o areas.
s u p e r - . s e e # 304-08.
310. S u r f s up /
alrfsXp
/
P
1M
y o u * r e i n t r o u b l e now;now y o u ' r e i n f o r i t , a s i n : " S u r f s up., J o h n . " Expression
type.
From s u r f e r ' s c a l l w h i c h f i g . denotes:"now you have show us what you -up
can
s u f f i x word,see
311.Swim-in /
do." #6.
swim-in / n .
an i n t e n t i o n a l suffix,see
S 22
F
g a t h e r i n g of people
swimming-as a s o c i a l -in
event
or
h i p ; i n r a p p o r t w i t h modern
cool use;Cf. 313. Swipe /
attitudes;satisfying,exciting, person.
phr.
swinging F
one
t h a t c a n be
appropriate another's
o f tswipe
( to
easily
possessions,ideas,
g i r l , e t c . , w i t h o u t asking permission,(WF) F i g . use
esp.
London.
a small object,usu.
concealed;to
otherwise.
c1935-c1942,now g e n e r a l j a z z and
swayp / v b . P 7
to steal
of
F
o r p l e a s i n g t o a modern,hip s w i n g use
f o r the purpose
#271.
312.Swinging / swinin / a d j . S 4
Orig.
to
hit,strike).
314. Take a s t a b a t / t e y k 0 to
stab a t / vb. S 1 F
t r y t o do s o m e t h i n g ; t o t a k e
Fig.
a chance.(WF)(P)
use of stab.
315. T a k e - o f f - a t h o n
/ teyk-of-eeoh
/ n . S 27 F
a c o m p e t i t i o n t o see who c a n l o s e t h e g r e a t e s t number of
pounds i n a d e f i n e d p e r i o d o f t i m e ,
-athon s u f f i x , p o p u l a r pattern denoting
e n d u r a n c e and
l a r g e n e s s i n concept;Cf.(marathon.walkathon.danceathon.) 316. T a l k - i n / t o k - i n / n . S 1 F a meeting,usu. connected p a r t i c i p a n t s gather
with protest,in
which
i n a place f o r the purposes of
h o l d i n g l e n g t h y , d e f i n i t i v e d i s c u s s i o n on one o r more subjects. -in
suffix,see
#271.
3l7Teach-in / t i y c - i n / n. S 3 F a s i t u a t i o n i n which p r o f e s s o r s or teachers outside
of r e g u l a r c l a s s hours t o give
t e a c h i n g guidance perion -in
gather
concetrated
t o d i s c u s s i o n s , u s u . over a l e n g t h y
of time,
suffix,see
318. T e a r - s h e e t
#271.
/ t x y r - s i y t / n . P 21 F
a kleenex;a
handkerchief
u s e d t o wipe away t e a r s .
Compound. 319. T e e n o l o g y / t i y n o i a j i y / n. S 27 F the
study
of teenagers
Formed b y a n a l o g y
or teenage
years.
with:astrology.cardiology.psychology;
the - o l o g y element d e n o t i n g
study o f .
320. T e e n y - b o p p e r s / t i y n i y - b o p 6 r z / n . p l . S 20 F a teeny-bopper i s a s t e r e o t y p e d teenage g i r l roll
e n t h u s i a s t ; a teenage g i r l
insignificant,undesirable
c o n s i d e r e d as
r o c k and annoying,
and a b o r i n g burden.
O r i g . negro use. -er
suffix,see
#32.
321. T e f l o n / t e f l o n / n . P 17 F the
c o a t i n g f o r cookware i n s t r u m e n t s
e l i m i n a t e s the need f o r a grease
and t h e l i k e
which
and i s s t r o n g l y h e a t -
r e s i s t e n t . A t r a d e name. N e o l o g i s m .
56 322. T h i n k - t a n k
/ © i g k - t a n k / n . S 22
F
a group of e x p e r t s i n a p a r t i c u l a r f i e l d undergo c o n c e n t r a t e d thought
and
Compound.Note t h e
o f /-nk/.
repetition
or s i g n of non-confidence;a
field.
F negative
L i t . , t u r n i n g t h e thumb downwards,from t h e Roman emperors c o n c e r n i n g a d e f e a t e d -down s u f f i x word,see
to
discussion i n their
323. Thumbs-down / OAmbz-dawn / a d j . S 27 a vote
assembling
endorsement
signal
of
gladiator,
#58.
324. Togs / t o g z / n . p l . S 29
J
clothing. British
slang;f. l a t i n
325. T o k e n i s m / t o k a n i z m any
toga.
/ n . P 18
F
m i n o r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o a d i s p u t e , e t c . , a s i n : "They
c l a i m e d t h a t our c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o the this
d i s p u t e were j u s t mere
From t o k e n + - i s m
F
Trudeau*application^which
c
t o arouse
M
someone's i n t e r e s t
o r c u r i o s i t y i n some-
t h i n g ; t o become e n t h u s e d , a l e r t O r i g . a d d i c t , j a z z and
328. T w o - b i t
is
alliterative.
327. T u r n - o n / t A x n - o n / S 10
Very
fashions,customs,etc.
s u f f i x ( s e e #31 ) •
Popularized with Trendy also
tokenism."
current trends i n
From t r e n d + - y
of
suffix.
326. T r e n d y / t r e n d i y / a d j . S 11 f o l l o w i n g the
settlement
to,happy,etc.
s t u d e n t use,now g e n e r a l .
common s i n c e c1960. / t u w - b i t / a d j . P 19
F
cheap;inferior;insignificant;small-time;tinhorn.(WF) l i t . , w o r t h 25
c e n t s , e . g . a q u a r t e r o r two
bits
of o l d
c o i n s known a s p i e c e s o f e i g h t . 329. UF0
/ yuw
e f ow / n .
unidentified An
flying
S 7 F object.
acronym.
330. U n c l e Tomism / . A n k d l a n e g r o who any w h i t e
tomizdm / n .
S 24
F.
a c t s i n a s u b s e r v i e n t , s o l i c i t o u s manner t o man.
N e g r o use.From H.B.
Stowe's n o v e l U n c l e
Tom's C a b i n .
Q
331 . U n h o r s e d / ^ n h o r s t / a d j . S 1 F h a v i n g no p o w e r . i n f l u e n c e
or
authority.
Orig.
r e f . t o a r i d e r , s p e c , a s o l d i e r , t h r o w n from h i s
horse
and hence h o r s de
combat.
3 32. Up s w i n g / j t p s w i n g / n . S 30
J
a movement upwards as a g a i n s t d o w n w a r d s , p o s i t i v e a g a i n s t n e g a t i v e , a s i n : "The 333. V a f f l i n g / w o f l i t t / a d j . S 20 vague and m e a n i n g l e s s , a s about
my
as
economy i s on t h e u p s w i n g . " F
i n : " W a f f l i n g statements
involvement with...."
334. W a l k i e - t a l k i e / w d k i y - t o k i y / n .
S 6 F
a p o r t a b l e t e l e p h o n e r u n on b a t t e r i e s , u s e d i n m i l i t a r y manoeuvers,etc. Prob.
orig.
as WWII s l a n g .
R e d u p l i c a t i o n and
rhyming
formation.
335. W a l k - i n / w o k - i n / n . S 1 F an a c t i o n w h e r e b y t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w a l k i n and
occupy
a place. -in
suffix,see
#271.
336. W a l k o u t / wokawt / n . a strike
S 30
J
by u n i o n employees a g a i n s t an
employer.
Technical jargon. -out 337. Wet
s u f f i x word,see
#11.
b e h i n d t h e e a r s / wet
behtfcynd cfe i y r z / n . S 6 F
innocent,inexperienced,uninitiated,unsophisticated.(WF) P r o b . b y a n a l o g y t o new-born a n i m a l s yet
o r human b e i n g s n o t
altogether dry.
338. W h e r e w i t h a l
/ h w e r w i G o l / n . S 30
t h e money w i t h w h i c h t o buy Colloquialuse 339. W h i t e c o l l a r
J
something.(WF)(P)
s i n c e e l 910.
c r o o k s / hwayt k d l e r k r u k s / n . p l . P 1 M
i n f l u e n t i a l , r e s p e c t e d businessmen and p o s i t i o n f o r i l l e g a l By d i r e c t
who
use
t h e i r power
purposes;sophisticated criminal
analogy t o white
collar
workers.
340. W h i t e w a s h i n g
/ waytwosin
/ v b . S 15
P
c o v e r i n g up o r g l o s s i n g o v e r a m i s d e e d ; e s p . politics
t o r e f e r t o an o p i n i o n , r e p o r t
statement i n t e n d e d t o excuse a misdeed
used i n
or p u b l i c o r e x o n e r a t e an
unethical person. By a n a l o g y t o w h i t e w a s h i n g 341. W h i t e y / w a y t i y / n . S 13
P
a white person;the white Now
o r c o v e r i n g up a f e n c e .
race.
t h e most common u r b a n n e g r o
s l a n g word f o r w h i t e
Formed b y w h i t e * - y s u f f i x ( s e e 342. Whizbang / h v i z b a n / a d j . S 28 a n y t h i n g remarkable
man.
#31).
J
or outstanding.(WF)(P)
O r i g . WWII u s e , B r i t i s h army s l a n g , f r o m w h i z z i n g sound o f s h e l l s d u r i n g f l i g h t , f o i l o w e d by an
immediate
explosion-bang! Onomatopoetic f o r m a t i o n . 343. Wide b l u e y o n d e r / wayd bluw y o n d e r / n . S 31
J
i n f i n i t e space;nothingness. P h r . quoted from a p o p u l a r song. 344. Wipe o u t / wayp awt / v b . S 29 O r i g . meant h a v i n g l o s t
J
control
r i d i n g a wave and f a l l i n g
o f one's
surfboard while
i n t o the water.Then
i t was
t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e s p o r t o f s k i i n g , u s e d i n t h e same s e n s e and f i n a l l y has come t o r e f e r g e n e r a l l y t o someone who -out
i s a conformist,dull s u f f i x word,see
o r square.(WF)
#11.
345. W i s e - c r a c k i n g / w a y z - k r a k i n / v b .
S 6 M
making b r i g h t , w i t t y or s a r c a s t i c r e m a r k s or j o k e s , e s p . emphasizing another's Colloquial 346. Wop
/ wop
since
c1920.
/ n. P 18
an I t a l i a n
shortcomings.(WF)(P)
F
or person,usu. male,of I t a l i a n descent.
Derogatory use. Became common d u r i n g t h e 1920's when i t i m p l i e d illiterate
Italian
i m m i g r a n t w o r k i n g a s a day
an
laborer.
347. Worked o v e r / w e r k t
owver / v b .
S 1 F
beaten up,usu. i n order t o g a i n i n f o r m a t i o n or i n retaliation;roughed 348. W o r k - t o - r u l e usu. he
up.
/ w a r k - t a - r u v l / a d j . S 30
a u n i o n employee use
chooses
a g a i n s t h i s employer
done.Resuit
public
d e r a i l s , e t c . as i s
concerned.
/ n . p l . S 10
t h i e f , e s p . one who
freights;a
M
t r a v e l s a s a hobo u s i n g t h e
safeblower.
S a i d t o be f r o m J o h n Y e g g , t r a d i t i o n a l l y t h e s a f e - c r a c k e r t o use
nitroglycerine.
Hobo and u n d e r w o r l d
use,now common.
350. Yo y o /yow
indicate
i s t h e s l o w i n g down o f s e r v i c e t o t h e
by t h e company
349. Teggs / y e y g z any
i n which
t o work s t r i c t l y a s h i s j o b framework
r a t h e r than s k i p p i n g unnecessary usu.
J
yow
/ n . S 14
a s t u p i d , incompetent
first
F
o r u n d e s i r a b l e p e r s o n . (WF)
.From t h e e p l a j r t h i n g known as t h e
yo-yo.
Reduplication. 351. Zany / z e y n i y / n . S 4
F
c r a z y ; i d i o t i c ; u s e d i n j o c u l a r r e f . , r a t h e r than i n disapproval. 352. Zapped / z a p t / v b . S 8 M killed. 353. Z i p p y / z i p i y / a d j . S 4 F peppy;snappy.(WF)(P) Colloquial
since
C1945.
Formed by z i p + -y, s u f f i x ( s e e (ii)
#31).
EDITORIALS
354. A c r o s s t h e b o a r d / d k r o s
b o r d / a d j . p h r . S 29
i n c l u s i v e ; p e r t a i n i n g i n the of
a group,as
i n : " An
same r a t i o
across the board
L a b o r u n i o n and p o l i t i c a l
jargon.
J
t o a l l members raise."
355. B a d
b i n d / b a d baynd / n , S 29
a predicament,as
J
c a u s e d by c o n f l i c t i n g
full
work s c h e d u l e
Note
alliteration*
or the l i k e ; a t i g h t
356. B a d - m o u t h i n g / bad-maw^i^ / vb* s a y i n g bad Cf.
S 15
obligations,an spot;a
over-
jam.
F
or n a s t y things,usu* of another
person*
m u d s l i n g i n g #184,muckraking #584.
Compound. 357. Bagman / bagmen / n . one
vho
kidnap
S 29
J
i s assigned to c o l l e c t
bribe,extortion
or
money.(WF)(GGL)
Underworld
use.
3 5 8 * B a k s h e e s h / b a k s i y g / »• a tip;a
gratuity;a
S 19
F
bribe.
N e a r e a s t e r n and A n g l o - I n d i a n l o a n word p o p u l a r i z e d by the B r i t i s h Cf.
army i n I n d i a and
#390,509.
359*Beautiful person / one who
byuwtafal
Ejfgypt.
p ^ r s a n / n* P 7 F
has t h e c a p a c i t y t o r e l a t e
o p e n l y and
w i t h o t h e r s ; d o e s n o t have a p h y s i c a l
warmly
connotation here.
M e a n i n g change. 360. B e a u t s
/ byuwts / n . p i . S 29
an u n u s u a l l y b e a u t i f u l
J
or remarkable
person,thing or
plan.(WF)(P) o r i g . used
ironically.
A b b r e v i a t i o n by b a c k - c l i p p i n g : b e a u t / y / . 361. B e e f e d up /
biyfdXp
/ a d j . S 15
F
a d d e d s t r e n g t h j i n c r e a s e d power and "The
450
Poss. up
stamina,as i n :
i s a b e e f e d up v e r s i o n o f t h e
orig.
325."
f r o m r u r a l use where i t meant l i t . , " t o
on b e e f by
slaughtering a
cow."
362. B i g g i e s / b i g i y z / n . p l . S 7 M i m p o r t a n t , i n f l u e n t i a l people,events -ie
suffix,see
#31.
or t h i n g s ,
store
362a.Black
power / b l a k pawdr /n«
the i n f l u e n c e
F
o r power o f t h o s e p e o p l e w i t h b l a c k s k i n
coloring,spec* P i g . use
S 15
the
negroes.
of b l a c k .
C f . brown power #369* 363. B l a c k w a s h
/ b l a k w a s / n . S 18
t h e c o v e r i n g up
P
or g l o s s i n g over of a misdeed
b y a member of t h e A f r o - A m e r i c a n
performed
group.
Formed by d i r e c t a n a l o g y t o w h i t e w a s h see #340. 364. Blow t h e g a f f / blow
g a f / v b . S 24
F
t o r e v e a l the t r i c k
o r s e c r e t w h i c h made
run;seem l e g i t i m a t e
or the like.(WF)(P)
Orig. carnival
and p i t c h m a n
G a f f means g i m m i c k ( a
something
use.
concealed device or
365. Bljblra^ottKV..eoo'io/v:blow^yorrkuvl / v b . P 12
stratagem
F
t o become a g i t a t e d , e m o t i o n a l l y u p s e t , t e n s e , e t c . o v e r a s i t u a t i o n r a t h e r than remaining calm,detached unemotional,which Cf.
and
i s cool.
#166.
366. B l u e t a l k / bluw t o k / n . S 29
J
s w e a r i n g ; t a l k i n v o l v i n g a h i g h c o n t e n t o f taboo words. Compound. 367. B o g g l e
/ b o g l / vb
S 31
to h e s i t a t e , s t a l l , b e " HE
J r e l u c t a n t t o do s o m e t h i n g , a s i n :
boggled a t the s i g h t
of her."
368. Boondocks / buwndoks / n . S 3 F an i s o l a t e d f o r e s t , s w a m p , m o u n t a i n uncivilized
or j u n g l e region;
country,wild terrain.(WF)
O r i g . f . WWII u s e ; f . t h e T a g a l o g bundok meaning mountain. 369. Brown power / brawn pawar / n . S 15 the i n f l u e n c e
F
o r power o f t h o s e p e o p l e w i t h brown
skin
c o l o r i n g , e s p . t h e H a w i i a n p e o p l e , a s i n : "Brown power is
on t h e r i s e
P r o b . formed
i n the Hawiian
Islands."
by a n a l o g y t o b l a c k power,# 362a.
370. Brusb.off / b r A s d f / n . S 11
F
the a c t of b r u s h i n g o f f , i g n o r i n g person or
or r e j e c t i n g
a
thing.(WF)(P)
Compound;by a n a l o g y t o a e t o f b r u s h i n g c l o t h e s , e t c . -off
s u f f i x word,see #246.
bXbliy
371. B u b b l y /
/ n. S 7 F
champagne. f i g . , a f t e r the e f f e r v e s c e n c e Cf.
o f champagne.
#101.
372. Bugaboos / lUgebuwz / n . S 29 a nemesis;a
real
J
or imagined o b s t a c l e t h a t
overcome;something
t h a t always
cannot
causes f a i l u r e
be
o r bad
luck.(WF) 373. Bugs y o u /toulgz yuw
/ vb. S 29
J
makes y o u a n g r y , b o t h e r s o r i r r i t a t e s Meaning change;Cf. 374. Bum
d e a l / him d i y l
a d e a l w h i c h has
you.
#30. / n. S 6 M
t u r n e d o u t t o be
inferior,unsatisfactory
o r n o t t o b e / s e r v i n g an i n t e n d e d p u r p o s e . Cf.
#32.
375. Canned / k a n d / v b . S 5 M fired
o r d i s m i s s e d f r o m one's j o b .
Poss.
orig.
f. fig.
a n a l o g y t o music
or t a l k being
canned,
meaning r e c o r d e d ( t h e a t e r and t e l e v i s i o n u s e ) . 376. C a r r y t h e b a l l / k e r i y fc© b o l / v b . S 4 F t o do most o f t h e w o r k ; t o
be r e s p o n s i b l e
s u c c e s s f u l accomplishment
of a s p e c i f i c
Lit.,to
f o r the task.(WF)
c a r r y t h e b a l l ( o r be t h e most r e s p o n s i b l e
member)in a b a l l
team
game.
377. Cheek / c i y k / n, S 1 M impudence;audacity;nerve. Colloquial
since cl830.
378. C h i l l e r s / c i l 0 r z / n . p l . S 3 F s p i n e - t i n g l i n g ; f r i g h t e n i n g , e e r i e movies Fig.
f . a n y t h i n g e x c i t i n g which
t h r o u g h t h e body;hence c h i l l
or the
like.
i s s a i d t o send
+ -er suffix(see
chills
#32).
379. C l a p - t r a p / k l a p - t r a p / n . S 4 F nonsense;lies jexaggerated Rhyming
talk;bull.
reduplication.
380. C l e a n sweep / k l i y n
swiyp / n . S 11 F
the a c t o f a c c o m p l i s h i n g something any
w i t h o u t f a l t e r i n g on
aspect of i t . ( F F )
F i g . u s e o f sweep. 381. Climb-down / klaym-dawn / n . S 10 F abandonment o f a p o s i t i o n , s t a n d , a s s e r t i o n o r b o a s t previously
taken.
Colloquial
since
Fig.
c!880.
u s e o f compound.
382. C l i n c h e r / k l i n c a r / n . S 29 F a deciding factor;the Functional -er
crux of an arguemeht.(FF)
shift,
s u f f i x , s e e #32.
383. Come o f f i t / k i m o f i t / VB. S 3 F to
s t o p d o i n g o r s a y i n g what one i s d o i n g o r s a y i n g , e s p .
because
one's a c t i o n s o r words a r e m e a n i n g l e s s o r
offensive.(WF) Emphatic
u s e ; f o r use o f i t without antecedent,see
#36.
384. Cop-out / kop-awt / v b . S 29 J t o renege
o r withdraw from involvement
plan,task,etc;to
i n some a c t i o n ,
c e a s e t o be a c t i v e l y engaged i n a n
endeavour.(FF) C f . #54. 385. C r a m - c o u r s e / k r a m - k o r s / n . S 19 F a c o u r s e f o r w h i c h one p a c k s
information into
mind,esp. i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r an examination soon.(FF)(P) Compound.Common c o l l e g e
student use.
386. C r a n k / k r a n k / n . P 29 J a nut;an
oddball;crazy;an insane
person.
one's t o be h e l d
387. C r e d i b i l i t y £ a p
/ kredibilitiy
gap
/ n.
room f o r d i s b e l i e f ; a n a r e a i n any or t h e e l i k e which i s unsupported l e a v e s an u n q u a l i f i e d
gap
S 31
J
situation,policy, by f a c t s and
thus
i n i n f o r m a t i o n whose
c r e d i b i l i t y i s t h e r e f o r e open t o q u e s t i o n . C f . g e n e r a t i o n gap 388. C r u d
#98.
t o u c h / k r x d t i c / n. S 27
J
a n y t h i n g i n f e r i o r , w o r t h l e s s , u g l y or anything w i t h these
krXac
389. C r u n c h a r e a /
an a r e a i n any
disgusting;hence
qualities.
e r i y s / n.
S 18
bill,policy,event
P or the
t h e r e a r e i n e v i t a b l y g o i n g t o be
like
where
difficulties,dis-
agreement o r e v e n v i o l e n c e , a s i n : " W i t h i n t h i s c o n t r a c t a s i t s s e t up F i g . use
of
, p a r t 5 i s g o i n g t o be t h e
area."
crunch.
390Cumshaw / kjunso / n . a tip;a
crunch
S 19
F
gratuity.
Cf.3e*> #478,5l7. t
3 9 t . C u r e - a l l / k y u r - o l / n. S 1 something which has f a u l t y areas,usu. "Try t h i s
cure-all
392. Damn a l l / dam little
M
a wide a p p l i c a b i l i t y f o r f i x i n g
a medical
application,as i n :
o f mine f o r t h a t n a s t y
o l / n.
cough."
S 7 F
or n o t h i n g .
Colloquial
s i n c e c1915.
A b o w d l e r i z a t i o n of fuck
all.
393. D i n g - a - l i n g / d i ^ - d - l i ^ / n. a p e r s o n who
a c t s q u e e r l y or s t u p i d l y ; a n i d i o t ; u s u .
jocular
application.
Rhyming
reduplication.
394. D i m - w i t t e d
S 1 M
/ dim-wftdd / a d j . S 4
dumb;dense-headed;dull;stupids F i g . use
of
dim.
F
a
395©Discotheque / d i s k a t e k / n. S 1 F a n i g h t c l u b f o r t e e n a g e r s o r young p e o p l e v h e r e hear
one
can
r o c k m u s i c , d a n c e t o i t and w a t c h t h e p s y c h e d e l i c
gyrations. L o a n w o r d f r o m F r . : a compound made up (phonograph
r e c o r d ) and t h e
of d i s c - f • disque
second element
of
bibli/otheque. 396. Do
a D i e f e n b a k e r / duw t o groan,moan and done b y , u s u .
Q
diyf&nbeykdr / vb.
otherwise i n d i c a t e
implying that
one
S 7 M has
i t i s unjustified
been h a r d and
totally
unwarranted. A
Canadianism.
397. Down t h e d r a i n / dawn cTe d r e y n / a d j . S 29 lost;lost F i g . use
J
through wastefulness or c a r e l e s s n e s s . of
drain.
398„Drop-in / drop-xn
/ n . S 30
J
an o c c a s i o n on w h i c h p e o p l e
casually arrive
p r e d e t e r m i n e d p i a f f e w i t h o u t any a s h o r t w h i l e and
at a
g r e a t f u s s and
stay f o r
s u b s e q u e n t l y l e a v e w i t h an e q u a l
lack
offuss. -in
suffix,see
399. Dumb bunny / dxm a p e r s o n who
#271. b A n i y / n . P 29
J
i s bewildered*confused or
habitually
perplexed,(WF) Colloquial Application
since
c1925.
i s u s u . more i n a f f e c t i o n and
sympathy
than
criticism. 400. D u m b e l l / dJlmbel / n . S 24 a
stupid
F
person.
Orig. attributed
t o c a r t o o n i s t , T A. Dor gan.
401. E a t a h e l p i n g o f crow / i y t e to f i n d t o be
out t h a t you
a r e wrong a b o u t
j u s t l y embarrassed
Crow h e r e b e i n g a b o u t
h e l p i i p v kr6w / v b . S 25
and
admit
the lowest of
something
your
and
mistake.
edibles!
F
402. Egg-he a d / e y g - h e d / n . S 1 M an i n t e l l e c t u a l ; a p e r s o n d e e p l y i n t e r e s t e d i n c u l t u r a l or s c i e n t i f i c Prob.
orig.
affairs.
t h r o u g h p o p u l a r image o f an a c a d e m i c i a n .
Became p o p u l a r d u r i n g t h e p r e s i d e n t i a l Adlai 403. E g g
campaign f o r
Stevenson,when i t h a d a p o l i t i c a l c o n n o t a t i o n .
on my f a c e / e y g on may f e y s / v b . S 6 M
t o have s u f f e r e d a d i s g r a c e , a h u m i l i t y o r embarrassment through 404. E u r o m a r t
one's Own m i s t a k e
or fault,intended
or otherwise.
/ yurowmart / n . S 18 P
European
common m a r k e t .
Portmanteau 405. F a d e - o u t s
word: Euro/pean
/ n . p l . S 18 F
common m a r k / e t / .
/feyd-awts
/
t h o s e p e o p l e who a r e p h y s i c a l l y u n f i t have l i t t l e
o r n o endurance
a
nd lit.
a n d because
of i t
fade out soon
through p h y s i c a l exhaustion, -out
s u f f i x word, see #;11 •
406 Fl!|pdoodling / f l a p d u w d l i y / n. S 3 F 0
talking Since
or a c t i n g n o n s e n s i c a l l y o r f o o l i s h l y ; b a l o n e y .
c1830.
407. F l a s h f i r e
/ flas
f a y e r / n . P 27 F
a sudden f i r e ; a and
0
that
comes w i t h no w a r n i n g , f a s t
sensational.
Prob. Cf
fire
r e i n f o r c e d by the e x p r e s s i o n . f l a s h
i n the pan.
,#408.
408. F l a s h f l o o d / f l a s
fl£d / n . P 27 F
a sudden f l o o d , c o m i n g w i t h o u t Cf. f l a s h
fire
warning.
#407.
409. F l u b u g / f l u w t u g / no S 1 F the v i r u s
or contagious aspect of the f l u that
from person t o person thus i n f e c t i n g Colloquial
since
Abbreviation Bug,in t h i s
large
travels
groups*(WF)
c1840.
o f F l u by back and f r o n t - c l i p p i n g : i n / f l u / e n z a case,means i n s e c t
germ o r v i r u s .
i n g e n e r a l a n d h e r e means
410. F o l k s y / f o w k s i y / a d j . P 27 h a v i n g a down-to—earth to the f o l k s
F
homey q u a l i t y ; h a v i n g an
appeal
o r good common p e o p l e , u n s o p h i s t i c a t e d and
unemtbellished.Slightly derogatory. Formed f r o m f o l k s ( p i . ) + -y
s u f f i x ( s e e #31 ) •
411. F o u l - u p / f a w l - X p / n . S 3 F a mess made o f t h i n g s ; a b l u n d e r ; a mix-up.(WF) Colloquial -up
s i n c e WWII,
s u f f i x word,see
#6.
412. Gaga / g a g a / a d j . S 7 F crazy,silly,irrational;having and
lost
one's
objectivity
perspective.(WF)
From t h e F r e n c h . Reduplication. 413. Gloom / gluwm / v b . t o go a b o u t sad or
414. G l u e - b l o w n is
F
being pessimistic
over something;to
be
downcast;depressed.
Functional
usu.
S 22
shift
f . noun t o v e r b , e x t e n d i n g i t s u s e .
/ gluw-blown / a d j . S 4
F
i n r e f . t o someone's mind o r c o n s c i o u s n e s s w h i c h
fig.
sniffing
blown b e y o n d t h e n o r m a l
b o u n d a r i e s by
o f g l u e fumes f r o m a p a p e r
the
bag.
41 5.Goon / guwn / n . S 4 F a s t r o n g , s t u p i d , u n i m a g i n a t i v e man;used b o t h and
disparagingly
humorously.
Poss.
orig.
f . Goon,the name g i v e n t o a V i r g i n
Island
negro. 416. G r e e n
l i g h t / g r x y n l a y t / n . S 27
J
a p p r o v a l ; p e r m i s s i o n t o p r o c e e d ; a go—ahead From t h e t r a f f i c
sign.
signal.
417. G r i l l e d / g r i l d / v b . S 29
J
questioned,usu. over a long p e r i o d of t i m e , i n a and Fig. -ed
rough m a n n e r ; f o r c e f u l l y i n t e r r o g a t e d . f . the i d e a of cooking over a hot suffix,see
#25.
grill,
rapid
418. Gut
i s s u e / g A t i s y u w / n . S 11 P
the
solid
issue
substance;forceful
a f t e r a l l the f r i l l s
o r meaty c o n t e n t s o f a n y o r ornaments a r e removed.(WF)
D e r i v e d f . g u t s . C f . #115. 419. H a c k s / h a k s / n . p l . P 7 M a hack i s a t a x i c a b . Colloquial. Orig.
f . a horse-drawn hackney coach used f o r p u b l i c
transportation Abbreviation
y e a r s ago.
by b a c k - c l i p p i n g :
hackney
420. Hammer o u t / hamdr » w t / v b . S 27 J to
formulate an i d e a , p o l i c y o r procedure,
-out
s u f f i x , s e e #11.
421. H a n g o v e r / ha^owvar / n . S 10 F the
unpleasant p h y s i o l o g i c a l e f f e c t s occurring
drinking
after
t o o much o f a n a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e •(WF)
Common s i n c e
C1920.
422. H a y w i r e / heywayar / a d j . S 24 F broken;flimsy;po©rly c o n s t r u c t e d or
o r equipped;jumbled
confused.(WF)
O r i g . p r o b . f . f a r m e r , r a n c h e r and l o g g e r o f b a l i n g w i r e t o mend v a r i o u s an
use,f.
implements,thus
the use causing
a s s o c i a t i o n between h a y w i r e a n d d i l a p i d a t e d o r
jumbled 423. H e l l u v a
things.
/ heiav9/ adj. S 7 F
exceptionally
or exceedingly thorough or severe;anything
r e m a r k a b l e , i n s u l t i n g , a u d a c i o u s o r b o l d , a s i n : "One h e l l u v a time." Contraction for
the
of h e l l
o f a s u b s t i t u t i n g sound
equivalents
orthographic.
424. H i d e - w a y / hayd-awey / n . S 3 F a
a retreat;a place and
t o go t o t h a t
i s o u t o f t h e way
known t o no one o r v e r y few b u t y o u r s e l f ,
-away s u f f i x word,see #63. 425. Hogwash / hogwos / n . S 15 F insincere talk or writing;exaggerations;lies,etc. A euphemism;colloquial use.
426.Hog w i l d / hog t o be
wayld / a d j . P 7
M
wildly excited:temporarily irrational
excitement,anger or / howld Xp
4 2 7 * H o l e d up
happiness*
/ vb.
S 22
F
h i d d e n away somewhere,usu. f o r p u r p o s e s o f -up
s u f f i x word,see
pjps
-ie
an
suffix,see
or b r o t h e l s .
#31•
and hXgiy
buggy o p e r a t i o n / h o r s
old-fashioned
Fig.
dancing:
f . honky-tonk; a l s o onomatopoetic
0
429. H o r s e and
F
f e a t u r i n g g a m b l i n g games and
cheap s m a l l town t h e a t e r s Orig.
secrecy.
#6.
428. H o n k i e s / h o n k i y s / n . p l . S 18 cheap s a l o o n s
owing t o
expression
a g a i n s t the
operation
or
opareysan / n.
S24F
business.(WF)
c o n t r a s t i n g the
current motorized
orig.
o l d mode o f
transport
form.
430. H o r s e f e a t h e r s / h o r s reefers / n .
J
S 27
bunk;baloney;nonsense. A euphemism. 431 .How
d o e s t h a t g r a b you? / haw how
do
Orig.
you
like
j a z z and
d a z <5at g r a b yuw? / S 27
t h a t ? whats y o u r r e s p o n s e t o b e a t use,now g e n e r a l
student
J
that? and
popular
use. F i g . use
of
432.Hucksters /
grab.
bXkstarz
a huckster
/ n . p l . S 27
is a retailer
J
o f s m a l l goods i n a
shop o r b o o t h a t a s t a l l ; a p e d l a r ; a From hawks t o hucks;now has
small
hawker.(OED)
a connotation
of a
dishonest
trader. -ster
s u f f i x , s e e #227.
4 3 3 o I d e n t i k i t s / a y d e n t i y k i t s / n. kits
f o r " p u t t i n g on"
or t r a i t s , f o r
S 7
M
your i d e n t i f y i n g
characteristics
c r e a t i n g one's image.
Formed by a n a l o g y t o make-up k i t s w h i c h have t h e connotation
o f a p p l y i n g an
image o t h e r
Portmanteau word: i d e n t i / f y i n g / + Neologism.
kits.
same
than your r e a l
self.
434.Image-vise
/ i m a j - v a y z / a d v . S 29 J
a s f a r a s ( y o u r ) image g o e s ; e . g o r t h e image t h a t
9
t h e image o f a p e r s o n
o t h e r s have o f him,
Neologism, - v i se,an adv. f o r m i n g s u f f i x meaning,in manner,vay o r r e s p e c t ( t h e
equivalent
such and such a
of - l y ; l i k e ) , i s
c u r r e n t l y a v e r y p r o d u c t i v e v o r d g i v i n g terms
such as :
car-vise.liquor-vise.animal-vise.etc.;endless
poss«
applications. 435.In
/ i n / a d j . S 29 J fashionable;popular. Contrary:out;Cf.
in-group.out-group.
436. J a c k p o t / a a k p o t / n . S 24 F success;money;vinnings,as S a r c a s t i c usage 437. K i t
i n : " I h i t the jackpot."
also.
a n d c a b o o d l e / k i t and
k a b u v d a l / n . P 12 F
t h e whole l o t ; e v e r y t h i n g ; t h e
vorks.(P)
Orig. prob. f . the E n g l i s h k i t s a and U.S. b o o d l e : a c r o v d ( i t s e l f vith
set,a c o l l e c t i o n
f . Portuguese
t h e k i t a n d b e i n g s l u r r e d t o ca,hence
retention
of things
cabedal)
caboodle.a
of k i t .
438. K i t e - f l o v n / k a y t - f l o w n / a d j . S 11 F the p a s t form f , t o f l v a k i t e feeler,to it has
meaning,to
a i r an o p i n i o n o r t h e l i k e
out:hence.kit-f1own been t e s t e d
p u t out a
i n order t o t e s t
means t h a t a p o l i c y , o p i n i o n , e t c , ,
a n d i s sound,
439. L a u g h - i n / l a f - x n / n . S 29 J a g a t h e r i n g o r event a t v h i c h the purpose enjoy
oneself.
O r i g . f . the t e l e v i s i o n program -in
i s to laugh or
suffix
Laugh-In.
pattern,see#271•
440. L a y one's c a r d s on t h e t a b l e / l e y wAnz k a r d z on ^ vb.phr. S 4 F to disclose
one's p l a n s . ( P )
From c a r d game o r g a m b l i n g
jargon.
teyD!L /
441 . L i v e - i n / l i v - i n / n . S 25 F gathering a t a place f o r the purposes of l i v i n g i n or
on t h e p r e m i s e s , u s u . t o d e m o n s t r a t e a g a i n s t v s o m e t h i n g ,
a l t h o u g h now c a n be u s e d g e n e r a l l y i o mean " l i v e - i n " a i one's
s u f f i x , s e e #271 o
-in 442. L o s e
own house , e t c .
o u i oh / l u w z a w i on / v b . S 29 J
to
l o s e t h e chance o r o p p o r t u n i t y f o r something;
io
m i s s s o m e t h i n g , a s i n : "She l o s t
io
get the p r i z e . "
o u t on h e r chance
443. Mace / meys / n . P 24 F an a n i i - r i o i gas s i m i l a r i o t e a r g a s w h i c h , t h r o u g h its A
i l l n e s s - p r o d u c i n g e f f e c t s , c a u s e s crowds t o d i s p e r s e .
tradename.
P o s s . f . mace meaning,a
blackjack,a
club.
444. Mags / magz / n . p l . S 17 F magazines. Abbrviaiion through b a c c l i p p i n : r
magazines.
445. M e d i c a r e / m e d i y k e r / n . S 17 F a p r o g r a m , i n t r o d u c e d by t h e government,which
takes
care o f the p e o p l e ' s m e d i c a l expenses f o r a small annual f e e . P o r t m a n t e a u word: m e d i / c a l /
care.
446. Moneybags / mAniybags / n . S 7 F a w e a l t h y person.(WF)(P) Fig.
use;colloquial
since
c1915/
447. M u f f e d / mXft / v b . S I M io
muff means t o f a i l
io
bungle;io
Orig.
i o take advantage
o f an o p p o r t u n i t y ;
fumble.(WF)(P)
f . m u f f . a n e c h o i c word r e p r e s e n t i n g a n i n a r t i c u l a t e
sound.(OED)
448. Mumbo-jumbo / mjCmbow-jAmbow / n . S 19 F meaningless jargon.(P) Rhyming
reduplication.
449. N i t - p i c k i n g / n i t - p i k i y / v b , S 1 F l o o k i n g f o r and f i n d i n g minor errors.(WF) 450. No-no / now-now / n . S 1 M a t h i n g t h a t s h o u l d n o t have been done;abad m i s t a k e . Reduplication formation. 451. No-shows / now-sowz / n . p l . S 3 F a no-show i s a p e r s o n who f a i l s t o c l a i m , u s e o r c n c e l h i s r e s e r v a t i o n f o r t h e a t e r o r the l i k e . ( W F ) a
O r i g . commercial a i r l i n e u s e { c o l l o q u i a l s i n c e c1950. 452. Now g e n e r a t i o n / new genSreysdn / n . S 3 F the young g e n e r a t i o n t h a t is most hep w i t h modern t i m e s . t h e most aware o f modem m u s i c , f a s h i o n s . a r t , dance,etc.
O r i g . w i t h beat o r jazz u s e . Functional s h i f t . 453. Numb-thumbs / nXm-eXaz / n. S 1 M one who i s clumsy w i t h h i s hands;a b u t t e r - f i n g e r s . Rhyming r e d u p l i c a t i o n . 454.Old codger / owld k o j d r / n . S 29 J an o l d man,with a c o n n o t a t i o n o f a " c h a r a c t e r . " C o l l o q u i a l s i n c e c1756. o l d - p r e f i x word w h i c h l o o s e l y means f r i e n d . s u g g e s t s f a m i l i a r i t y , i n t i m a c y o r sympathy. 455.On t h e up and up / on5a X p a n d X p / a d j . S 3 F honest{trustworthy;fair-dealing or fair-minded; l e g i t i m a t e ; o n the l e v e l . ( W F )
456. Opt out / oVfc awt / vb. S 30 J t o choose t o w i t h d r a w from p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n any plan,occasion,job,etc C f . cop-out,#384. -out s u f f i x word,see #11. 4 5 7 . O u t f a l l / a w t f o l / n. S 7 F the waste o r r u n o f f from any a c t i v i t y - o r p r o d u c t i o n , as i n : "The o u t f a l l from t h e s m e l t e r is up t e n p e r c e n t . Formed w i t h o u t - p r e f i x + f a l l .
458. Out
i n t h e weeds / awt i n
in
an i s o l a t e d , b u s h y , u n c i v i l i z e d
Cf. 459. P a r
wiydz / vb. P 7 M region.(WF)
boondocks,#368.
f o r the course / p a r f o r
a b o u t what one c o u l d
kors /
expectja
S 3 F
predictable
average.
From t h e game o f g o l f . Meaning
shift.
460. P a y o l a / p e y o w l d / n . S 29 J graft;blackmail
or extortion
money.(WF)
-ola
s u f f i x of I t a l i a n
o r i g . ; a noun-forming
usu.
only
lengthener giving f l i p p a n t
a decorative
suffix
connotations. 461. P e a c h on / p i y c to
on / v b . S 11 F
inform;to blab;squeal
on o r t e l l
on.(P)
M e a n i n g and f u n c t i o n a l s h i f t ; C f . # 471A. Colloquial
since
c1860.
462. P e a c h y / p i y c i y / a d j .
S 15 F
anything pleasing,excellent
o r admirable;wonderful.(WF)(P)
Frequent i r o n i c use. -y
s u f f i x , s e e #31.
463. P i p - s q u e a k / p i p - s k w i y k / n . S 22 F an
insignificant
Poss. echoic shell 464. P l a y
person or object.(P)
o r i g . f . the noise
of high
v e l o c i t y during
down / p l e y
made b y a s m a l l G e r .
WWII.
dawn / v b . S 29 J
t o u n d e r e m p h a s i z e s o m e t h i n g o r someone;to u n d e r r a t e , -down s u f f i x word,see #63. 465. P l a y
i t cool / pley
i t kuwl / v b . S 31 J
t o remain r e l a x e d , c a l m , a l o o f and u n e m o t i o n a l i n any situation;hip,but Orig. with cool
having a quiet,objective,aloof
jazz players
who were w h i t e
w i t h u n i v e r s i t y t r a i n i n g and a h i g h l y
musicians
sophisticated
knowledge o f m u s i c a l t e c h n i q u e s . A s a r e s u l t , t h e movement h a s been c h a r a c t e r i z e d approach t o l i f e Since
c1948.
i n general.
attitude.
cool
by t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l
466.Play
up
/ p l e y ^ t p / v b . P 24
t o emphasize "He
or glamorize
p l a y e d up
F a n y t h i n g or anyone,as i n :
her housekeeping
t a l e n t s t o the
potential
husband." -up
s u f f i x wors,see
#6.
4 6 7 « P o o h - p o o h / puw-puw / t o pass
S 4
P
s o m e t h i n g o f f as n o n s e n s e ; t o d i s b e l i e v e . ( P )
Reduplication;onomatopoetic 468. P o p p i n g s - o f f / p o p i n s - o f / n . s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h one
formation. S 7
criticizes,complains,brags,rants
o r s t a t e s o p i n i o n s l o u d l y and without
e m o t i o n a l l y , w i t h or
cause.(WF)
Colloquial -off
P
s i n c e c1930.
s u f f i x word,see #246.
469. P o u r b o i r e / puwrbwar / n . a tip;a
S 19
F
gratuity.
C f . cumshaw #390. Orig.
f.
French.
470. Punks / pAttks / n . p l . S 13
F
a punk i s a p e t t y hoodlum;one who t o be
a hoodlum b u t
Poss.
orig.
it
t h i n k s he
wants
l a c k s r e a l toughness or
f. Hindustani v i a B r i t i s h
experience.
army use
where
meant.bread.
471. P u s s y f o o t / p u s i y f u t / v b .
S 18
F
to t r e a d d e l i c a t e l y or s o f t l y
on a s e n s i t i v e
area;
t o be v e r y q u i e t w h i l e moving a b o u t an a r e a o r p l a c e . Analogy 472. P u t up
t o t h e way
a cat
walks.
f o r grabs / put
g r a b z / S 29
t o open s o m e t h i n g f o r b i d s o r o f f e r s f r o m as in:"He d e c i d e d t o put the 473. R a i s e hob
/ r e y z hob
/ v b . P 24
to celebrate w i l d l y t h o r o u g h l y and 474. Red
c o n t r a c t up
everyone, for
grabs."
F
or t o c r i t i c i z e
or
castigate
i n anger.(WF)
power / r e d pawdr / n. S 6
M
t h e power o r i n f l u e n c e t h a t t h e have i n a n y
J
sphere
Formed by a n a l o g y
of
communists("reds")
activity.
t o b l a c k power,see #362a.
C f . brown power #369.
475. B e t h r e s h t h e i r s t r a v / r i y d r e s & e r s t r a w / vb. S 27 J t o go oyer t h e i r t h i n k i n g on a s i t u a t i o n o r t a s k again. Fig.
use h e r e .
476. B i b - t i c k l e r / r i b - t i k l a r / n . S 29 J a joke;something t h a t i s amusing.(WF) S i n c e c 1850 • -er
suffix.see
#32.
477.Schmo / smow / n. S 5 M a f o o l i s h * i d l e person;one
e a s i l y deceived;a naive
person;a goof.(WF) From the Y i d d i s h . sen- suggests d i s l i k e , d i s h o n e s t y . d i s i n t e r e s t . m o c k e r y or i s an attempt t o d e f l a t e pomposity;a v o c a l way
of
s h r u g g i n g one's s h o u l d e r s , 4 7 8 . S c r e w b a l l / s k r u v b ^ l / n. S 7 F an e c c e n t r i c person;one w i t h unusual i d e a s o r b e l i e f s ; a n u t ; a c r a c k p o t ; a goofy p e r s o n , O r i g . prob. f . b a s e b a l l . w h i c h c a l l e d a b a l l t h a t moved i n any unexpected way,a s c r e w b a l l . 479.Scorn / slum / n. P 29 J l o w ; c o n t e m p t i b l e , t r a s h y type of people,(WF) Fig.
use.
480.Shebang / sdba£ / n. S 3 F a c o l l e c t i o n of a l l one's p o s s e s s i o n s ; a c o l l e c t i o n of a n y t h i n g ; a n e n t i r e s e r i e s of a c t i o n s , a s i n : " THe whole shebang." C o l l o q u i a l s i n c e c1870. 4 8 1 . S l a s h / s l a s / n. P 27 F t h e waste o r s t u b b l e m a t e r i a l l e f t over a f t e r a l a n d c l e a r i n g p r o j e c t has been completed;usu.
i t i s burned,
thus.slash-burning. Meaning and f u n c t i o n a l change f . vb. t o s l a s h o r c u t something. 482,Smackdab / smakdab / adv. S 4 F d i r e c t l y ; p r e c i s e l y ; o n the mark,as in:"Smackdab i n the middle of t h i n g s , " Onomatopoetic
formation.
483.Smart-aleck / smart-alak / n. S 7 F a k n o w - i t - a l l ; a wise-guy;a wiseacre.(WF)(P) Orig.
C1870 i n U S A ; C o l l o q u i a l .
484.Smidgeon / s m i j e n a
small
/ n . P 19 M
amount.(WF)
Colloquial
since
c1845.
4 8 5 . S m o k e s c r e e n s / s m o w k s k r i y n z / n . p l . S 25 F > cover-ups or d i v e r t e r s of attention,usu. important
away f r o m t h e
i s s u e w h i c h i s p r e s u m a b l y f a u l t y i n some
respect.Thus,diversionary employed t o f o c u s
tactics(smokescreens)are
the a t t e n t i o n elsewhere.
O r i g . p r o b . by a n a l o g y t o t h e h a z y smoke w h i c h a
fire
creates. 486.Spiel a
/ s p x y l / n . P 19 M
bonspiel.
Abbreviation
through f r o n t - c l i p p i n g :
/bon/spiel.
From t h e German. 487.Snafu-in / snafuw-in / n. S 1 M s i t u a t i o n normal a l l fucked event i n which there
up - i n ; t h u s meaning an
i s a preponderence of bungling.
O r i g . WWII army u s e . An
acronym combined w i t h t h e - i n s u f f i x p a t t e r n ( s e e
#271).
4 8 8 . S n a p p i s h / s n a p i s / a d j . S 22 F nasty;quick
to retort
i n an u n p l e a s a n t
and u n c a l l e d f o r
manner. -
i s h s u f f i x added t o a n a d j . s n a p p y , g i v e s t h e meaning o f rather
o r somewhat.
489.Snappy / s n a p i y / a d j . S 24 P quickly;smartly;neatly,as
i n :"Make i t snappy!"
C o l l o q u i a l use. -y
s u f f i x , s e e #31.
4 9 0 . S n o w b a l l / snowbol / v b . P 20 F t o grow o r i n c r e a s e F i g . , with as
ref•
i t s rolled
rapidly.
t o how a s n o w b a l l b u i l d s up i n s i z e
down a s l o p e
i n wet,clinging
snow.
491 .Snowed under /
snovdjCndar
/ vb, S 24 P
burdened by an excess of work or r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . Fig.
use.
492„Spitters
/ s p i t a r z / n. S 22 F
bad times;bad l u c k , a s i n : "Last year was spitters for
one f u l l
of
me."
Prob. adapted f . the saying," a s p i t i n your eye." -er
suffix,see
#32.
493.Square / skwer / n. S 29
J
a person scorned because he i s not i n the know or esp. not
aware of modern i n t e r e s t s , a c t i v i t i e s , g r o u p s , f a s h i o n s
or f a d s which the speaker c o n s i d e r s v i t a l . O r i g . used by bop and cool groups,now w i d e l y accepted; e v o l u t i o n f . such e x p r e s s i o n s as:square John.square,head.etc. 4 9 4 . S t a r c h y ^ / a s t a r c i y / a d j . S 29
J
s t i f f l a n d unbending i n one's a t t i t u d e s , o p i n i o n s , e t c . fig.,
f . starched white c o l l a r s and c u f f s .
-y s u f f i x , s e e
#31.
495. Stumble bum / stA-mblbXm / n. S 11 F an unemployed,homeless s t r e e t beggar(esp. i f a l c o h o l i c ) who
i s u s u a l l y i n a dazed condition.(WF)
Now
jocular application.
496.Stumping / stXmpin / vb. S 29
J
campaigning f o r a p o l i t i c a l e l e c t i o n . From stump speech m e a n i n g , p o l i t i c a l speech. Since
d850.
497.Suckered-in / s J k S r d - i n / vb. S 13 F d e c e i v e d ; f o o l e d or t r i c k e d by f a l s e promises.(WF) - i n s u f f i x formation,see
#271.
498,Superjet /suwparjet / n. S 10 F a j e t a i r p l a n e much l a r g e r and capable of c a r r y i n g l a r g e r loads than normal j e t a i r p l a n e s e x i s t i n g today. Super-prefix.see #304-09.
499.Supersonic
/
above t h e
suwpdrsonik / a d j . S 1 M sound
barrier.
S u p e r - p r e f i x , s e e #304-09. 5 0 0 . S u p e r t a n k e r / suwpartaaxkar / n .
S 10
F
a t a n k e r l a r g e r t h a n most n o r m a l s h i p s ; o n e
capable
of
c a r r y i n g enormous l o a d s . S u p e r - p r e f i x , s e e #304-09. 501. Taps / t a p s / v b . to
S 27
J
t a p means t o b r o a c h ; t o
Community C h e s t special
draw f r o m , a s i n
t a p s a new
source
s e r v i c e s department o f the
O r i g . prob.
:"The
of funds
government.
f . t a p m e a n i n g , t o open up
or
o f l i q u o r and
502. T h i n g / O i n / n . P 7 what p l e a s e s one "Do
your
Cf.
bag
own
draw o f f t h e l i q u i d
11
penetrate
s o m e t h i n g so as t o e x t r a c t s o m e t h i n g f r o m a cask
i n the
i t , a s i n to
tap
from i t .
M
most;what i s more n a t u r a l t o one,as i n :
thing man." ?
#8.
503. T h i n k - i n / O i n k - i n / n.
S 17
F
a g a t h e r i n g f o r the purposes abilities
of p o o l i n g i n t e l l e c t u a l
to solve or d i s c u s s c e r t a i n
s u b j e c t s or
problems. Cf.
t h i n k - t a n k #322.
-in
suffix,see
#271.
504. Throw t h e book a t / Orow to
buk
penalize,punish,reprimand
a t / vb.
S 4
or c r i t i c i z e
F a
person
severely.(VF)(G0L) O r i g . underworld a criminal 505. Thug / eXg
u s e , f . the
t o e v e r y p e n a l t y i n t h e book o f
/ n.
S 4
sentencing
law.
F
a hoodlum;a s t r o n g man guard
image o f a j u d g e
acting
o r employed as a body
o r t o commit a c t s o f v i o l e n c e o r
intimidation.(WF)
From H i n d i t h a g m e a n i n g , c h e a t o r s w i n d l e r ; a l s o a s s o c i a t e d with professional strangled their
robbers
victims.
and
murderers i n I n d i a
who
79
506. T i e k e y - t a c k e y / t i k i y - t a k i y / a d j . S 17
P
messy;touchy;sensitive;unpleasant. R e d u p l i c a t i o n w i t h vowel 507. T i c k i n g
off /
a telling
tikiij
change.
of / n.
S 3 F
o f f ; a n upbraiding;a reproach;a
From t h e t i c k i n g
o f f of a person's
P a r t l y i n f l u e n c e d by the p h r . -off
reprimanding.
name on a
list.
to t e l l o f f ,
s u f f i x word,see #246,
508. T o s h / t o s / n .
S 4
F
nonsense;rubbish;ridiculous.(P) Poss.f. d i a l , Since
t o s h y meaning,over-dressed
d890.
509. T r i n k g e l d / t r x n k g e l d / n . S 19 a tip;a Cf.
or tawdry.
F
gratuity.
cumshaw #390.
510. T r o u b l e s h o o t e r s / t r X b l persons any
suwtarz / n. S 3 F
employed t o seek o u t a r e a s
of d i f f i c u l t y i n
s i t u a t i o n , w i t h the purpose of d e a l i n g w i t h
any
t r o u b l e s b e f o r e t h e y become s e r i o u s , -er
suffix,see
/Xpetiy
511. U p p i t y
#32. /adj. S 3 F
s n o b b i s h ; a l o o f ; h a v i n g a s u p e r i o r manner;presumptuous.(WF) From u p + - i t y s u f f i x . O r i g . f . the
sense
of having
a l o t of money(cl680).
Colloquial. 512. W a s h - t r a d i n g / v o s quick
s t o c k market
Financial
middle An
F
a n g l o .sax on p r o t e s t a n t , d e s i g n a t i n g t h e c l a s s American*also
general
waspish,adj.
acronym. civil
rights
use.
suffix,seex#488.
514. Where i t s a t / hwer i t s a t / S 4 the p l a c e or time hip
F
manipulation.
S 27
M a i n l y h i p p y and -ish
S 12
jargon.
513. Wasp / wosp / n . white
t r e y d i ^ / n.
t h i n g s are
F
where a l l t h e b e s t , m o s t modern o r
happening.
515. W i s e d up / wayzd Jlp / v b . informed;able
F
t o see t h e p o i n t o f s o m e t h i n g , t o
the
r e a l i t i e s of a
-up
s u f f i x word,see
516. Z i l l i o n
S 13
/ zilyen
situation,(WF) #6,
/ n . E 17
F
an e x c e e d i n g l y l a r g e i n d e t e r m i n a t e N o t e t h e rhyme w i t h t h e
(iii)
realize
number.
models:million.billion.
HEADLINES
517. A l l f i r e d up / o l f a y r d A p
/ vb.
angry
or annoyed;all enthused
to
something.(WF)
do
-up
suffix,see
S 30
o r worked up
A French
J
l o a n word.
a p e r s o n who Lit.
ready
r e f . to clothes,boots,fashions,etc.
519. A s t r o n a u t / a s t r e n o t / n . space
and
#6.
518. A p r e s - s k i / a p r e y - s k i y / a d j . S 29 after-ski,in
J
mans t h e
S 30
J
spaceships
on f l i g h t s t o
outer
or i n t e r s t e l l a r e x p l o r a t i o n s . a n a v i g a t o r of the
stars.
Compound f . word e l e m e n t s a s t r o - ( s t a r ) + - n a u t
(sailor,
navigator). Cf.
aquanaut
#4.
520. A - s u b / ey-sAb / n . atomic
S 31
J
submarine.
P o r t m a n t e a u word: a / t o m i c / - s u b / m a r i n e / . O r i g . WWII u s e . 521. A x e d / a k s t / vb.
S 31
J
severed;cancelled;cut
off;usu. with
some c o n n o t a t i o n
of
force,retaliation,unpleasantness,etc.
By
analogy
t o chopping
522. B e l l y - l a u g h / b e l i y - l a f a deep,loud,long from
the
axe.
/
u n i n h i b i t e d l a u g h - s a i d t o be
belly.(WF)
Colloquial.
w i t h an
coming
523. B i t
o f a b i n d / b i t 3 v 9 baynd / a d j . S 29 J
a predicament,as a tight 524. B i t
caused
by c o n f l i c t i n g
obligations;
s p o t ; a jam.(WF)
o f a c h o k e r / b i t a v a cowk0r / a d j . S 29 J
O r i g . any b i g , s o l i d a r t i c l e
of food which l i t .
choke one when swallowed;now s a r c a s t i c , i n that
any event
sadness
t h e sense
c a u s e s mock c h o k i n g o r h e a r t b r e a k ,
and t h e l i k e . ( W F )
525. Blow one's t o p / blow to lose
would
wAnz t o p / v b . S 7 F
one's t e m p e r ; t o
a tantrum
as a r e s u l t
become v i o l e n t l y a n g r y ; t o have
of uncontrollable
rage.
Colloquial use. C f . t h e p h r . blow one's s t a c k . 526. Blow-up /
blow-Jtp / n . S 31 J
an e x p l o s i o n ; a n u p r o a r ; a q u a r r e l ; a -up
s u f f i x word,see
fight.
#6.
527. B o n a n z a o f b e n e f i t s / b a n a n z a s v b e n e f i t s / n . P 4 F a fortune,or windfall
of b e n e f i t s . ( P )
From t h e S p a n i s h b o n a n z a meaning
prosperity.
528. B o o s t / buwst / v b . S 29 J to increase;advance;etc. 529. B r a i n d r a i n / b r e y n - d r e y n / n . S 29 J the l o s s
of i n t e l l e c t u a l s ( o r
lit.
their brains) to
a n o t h e r p l a c e o r company. Rhyming
reduplication.
530. B r e a k t h r o u g h
/ b r e y k d r u w / n . S 28 J
an i m p o r t a n t o r c r i t i c a l the
success of
Orig. the
a
project
advance t o w a r d
completion or
o r endeavour.
f ; t h e f r q u e n t WWII m i l i t a r y a i m o f b r e a k i n g
enemy's d e f e n s e
through
lines.
Compound. 531 . B r u n c h - t i m e
/ b r A n c - t a y m / n« S 29 J
a combined b r e a k f a s t and l u n c h e o n , u s u . e a t e n mid-way between t h e n o r m a l and
because i t s
times f o r b r e a k f a s t
lunch.
Portmanteau word: b r / e a k f a s t / +/l/unch.
532. B u f f s / W s
/ n . p l . S 30 J
devotees;fans going
who
have a p a s s i o n
for collecting
t o spec, events or a s s o c i a t i n g w i t h
spec,
things, occupational
groups*WF) 533. Bushwhacked / bushwakt / v b . P 13 P attacked
by s u r p r i s e ; f i g * , f .
jumping out from behind Orig* western 534. B u s t /
bXst
t h e i d e a o f someone
bushes i n a s u r p r i s e attack*
jargon.
/adj. S 8 F
broke;penniless. F i g . use. 535«'Cash cache / k a s k a s / n . P 6 F a
secreted
sum
of
cash.
Punning r e d u p l i c a t i o n . 536. Chew o u t / cuw awt / v b . S 5 F t o r e p r i m a n d a p e r s o n s e v e r e l y ; t o bawl O r i g . t o chew o r b i t e in
a frontier
-out
someone's
fight;hence,angry
s u f f i x word,see
out.(WF)
ear,nose,finger,etc. enough t o chew him u p .
#11.
537. Conglom / kongldm / n . P 6 F a
conglomerate.
Abbreviation 538. Cops the
through b a c k - c l i p p i n g : conglom/erate/.
*n c h e e t a h c h a s e / k o p s d n c x y t chasing
o f a wanted man
ceys / n. P 1 F
b y t h e p o l i c e who
also
have a c h e e t a h . Alliteration. 539. Countdown the
/ kawntdawn / n . P 29 J
a c t of counting
at equal
down f r o m a g i v e n number t o z e r o
intervals i n preparation
an e v e n t , a s p a c e s h i p
o r the
f o r the launching
of
like.
Compound o f c o u n t -f-down. -down s u f f i x word,see
#63.
540. Becorama / dekorame / n . S 4 F a long,expensive,spectacular o r s h o w , h a v i n g t o do w i t h
commercial
entertainment
i n t e r i o r d e c o r a t i n g . (WF),
-ama.a r e c e n t n o u n - f o r m i n g s u f f i x ( c 1 9 5 0 ) f . panorama.which r e f e r r e d t o an o c c a s i o n wide s c r e e n
i s used.
i n m o v i e s where
an e x c e p t i o n a l l y
541. Der
t a g / dar t a g / n. P 8 F
the
day...
Ger.
l o a n w o r d j H i t l e r ' s s u p p o r t e r s u s e d rumors o f d e r t a g
( t h e day) a s a means o f t e r r o r i z i n g p o t e n t i a l
victims
of the Nazis. 542. D e v i l - b e a t e r s / d e v a l - b x y t a r z / n . p l . S 12 F those and
persons
who
s e i z e upon some s i n , s c a n d a l o r p r o b l e m
b r i n g i t up o v e r
and o v e r
again i n order t o get
good"mileage" out of i t f o r t h e i r
own p r o f i t o r
a t t e n t i o n . a s i n : "The NDP a r e n o t h i n g b u t a l o t o f d e v i l beaters
over t h i s
Mainly p o l i t i c a l
Commonwealth i s s u e . " use;metaphorical.
543. DMZ / d i y em z e d / n . S 4 F demilitarized An
zone.
acronym.
544. E u r o d o l l a r / y u r o w d o t e r / a d j . S 10 F European d o l l a r
market.
Portmanteau word: Euro/pean/ 545. Eye
dollar.
/ a y / v b . S 31 J
t o e x a m i n e ; t o l o o k a t , a s i n : "He e y e s t h e new B l o c k
42
contract." F i g . use;part 546. F a l l
o f s p e e c h change.
guy / f o i g a y / n . S 6 F
an e a s y v i c t i m ; a l o s e r ; a
scapegoat(¥F)
O r i g . t h e a t e r and s t a g e u s e . C f . stooge
#300.
547. F a l l o u t / f o l a w t / n . S 29 J r a d i o a c t i v e p a r t i c l e s d i s t r i b u t e d b y an a e r i a l explosion,falling Colloquial;now particle -out
from o r f l o a t i n g i n t h e atmosphere.
more g e n e r a l a p p l i c a t i o n
t o other types of
distribution,
s u f f i x word,see #11.
548. F i n d o u r f r e e z e a. b r e e z e to f i n d ...a
nuclear
/ f a y n d awr f r i y z ©
the c o l d weather s p e l l
breeze
from p h r . t o breeze
Rhyming a n d a l l i t e r a t i o n .
b r x y z / S 14 F
easy t o adapt t o . through.
549. F l a c k / f l a k / n .
S 29
J
a p r o f e s s i o n a l p u b l i c i t y man Orig.
or press
t h e a t e r and M a d i s o n a v e .
Metaphorical
agent.
use.
formation.
550. F l a y s / f l e y z / v b .
S 1
F
criticizes;lambastes;rakes
oyer the c o l s ; c a u s e s t o a
s u f f e r p u b l i c a l l y . a s i n : "Dovding f l a y s
government
over...." Fig.
usage.
551. F r e e - w h e e l i n g spending
/ frxy-hwxylin / adj. S 8
F
money l i b e r a l l y : i n d e p e n d e n t ^ u n r e s t r i c t e d . ( ¥ F )
Metaphor,f. c a r s . 552. F r i n g e b e n e f i t s / f r i n j
benefits./ n.pl. P 7
e x t r a a t t r a c t i o n s and or
event
554. G o t t a / god© /vb,
S 29
n.
lightjthe
From t h e t r a f f i c
got
in
J
s i g n t o advance o r
S 31
proceed.
#553.
lightjCf. J
to.
N o t e t h e t e l e s c o p i n g o f t h e two of
job,offer,
employment.
553. Go-ahead / gow-ahed / green
b e n e f i t s added t o any
i n o r d e r t o make i t more a p p e a l i n g ; u s u .
connection with
the
M
the
final
words and
the weakening
vowel t o a schwa,together w i t h
r e d u c t i o n of the
intervocalic
double
555. Gunnappers / gAnnaparz / n . p l . P 4 those persons
who
steal
guns;to
the
/ t / to a
/d/.
F s e i z e and
take
away
guns. Formed by a n a l o g y -er
suffix,see
to
kidnappers,
#32.
556. Hardware / hardwer / n . P 2
F
weapons,guns,etc. Orig. implied r i f l e s b o u g h t i n hardware
and k n i v e s w h i c h c o u l d
stores.
557. H a s s l e / h a s d l / n . P 18
F
a:disagreement,dispute,quarrel or
fight.(WF)
be
or arguement;a s t r u g g l e
558. Hedge / he 3 / v b . to
be
P
indecisive
Functional
5 F or act
shift,
559. H i j a c k e r / h a y j a k a r one
vho
/ n,
suffix,see
one
S 27
i n c r e a s e the
wages o r
who
hijacks a
J
S 29
J
h i t means t o a r r i v e death t o l l
hits
at or reach;to
500."
o r "A
identification
attain,as i n :
storm h i t s
Vancouver."
usage.
562.ID c a r d s / ay d i y k a r d z / n .
S 30
J
cards.
a b b r e v i a t i o n by
563. K i c k b a c k
raise
prices.
Meaning c h a n g e ; f i g .
An
/ kikbak
back—clipping:id/entification/
/ n.
S 29
manager o r b u y e r by a s e l l e r i n o r d e r t o or g a i n
-off
increase
use.
564. K i c k o f f / k l k o f / n . beginning
From t h e
S 30
J
of anything,as
football
a m e e t i n g , c a m p a i g n o r game.
term,
s u f f i x word,see #246.
565. K i d n a p p i n g
/ k i d n a p i ^ / vb.
s e i z i n g people
S 27
J
f o r the purposes of e x t o r t i o n .
Formed f r o m k i d ( c h i l d ) + n a p ( p r o b . f . nab) 566. L a t c h to 567. L a t e
agent,
favors.(WF)
Orig. underworld
the
cards.
J
money r e t u r n e d u n e t h i c a l l y t o a f i r m , p u r c h a s i n g sales
or
truck,plane,etc.
amount o f s o m e t h i n g . ( W F ) ; t o
561. H i t s / h i t s / v b . "The
h o l d s up
#32.
560. H i k e / hayk / vb
to
J
o f goods b e i n g t r a n s p o r t e d i n q u a n t i t y ,
often i l l i c i t l y ; a s
to
S 28
f o r c e s , c o e r c e s o r s t e a l s ; o n e who
robs,esp, -er
indecisively,(WF)
on t o / l a c on tuw get
ahold
of. s o m e t h i n g o r
flashes / leyt
news i t e m s
/ vb.
S 27
+ -ing.
J
someone.
f l a s a z / n . p i . S 30
J
of i n t e r e s t , a s i n : " L a t e f l a s h e s from
pentagon r e p o r t . . . . "
the
568. L a u n d r o m a t / l o n d r O m a t / n . S 8 F a p u b l i c w a s h i n g p l a c e f o r c l o t h e s ; a washouse c o n t a i n i n g c o i n - o p e r a t e d w a s h e r s and d r y e r s . Portmanteau Also,by
word;laund/ry//aut/omat/ic/.
analogy
with
o t h e r -omat w o r d s : d r i n k o m a t . e t c.
569. L i n e up / l a y n i p / v b . S 27 J to arrange
for;to
organize
s o m e t h i n g o r someone,as i n :
"He
l i n e d up a d e a l w i t h U n i t e d
-up
s u f f i x , s e e #6.
Steel*"
570. L0wdown / lodawn / a d j . S 30 J unfair;unethical;degraded;vile;low.(WF)(P) Colloquial
s i n c e c1900,
-down s u f f i x word,see #63. 571. M a x i / m a k s i y / a d j . P 7 F maximum. A b b r e v i a t i o n b y b a c k - c l i p p i n g : maxi/mum/. Formed b y a n a l o g y
t o mini,see
#573.
572. M i c r o / maykrow / a d j . P 7 F microscopic. A b b r e v i a t i o n by b a c k - c l i p p i n g : m i c r o / s c o p i c / . 573. M i n i / m i n i y / a d j . P 7 F minimum. A b b r v i a t i o n b y b a c k - c l i p p i n g : ^ m i n i /mum/. 574. M i n i - m i n i s / m i n i y - m i n i y z extra
/ n . p i . P 18 F
short dresses which are a l r e a d y v e r y
short.
Reduplication. 575. Move i n on / muwv i n on / v b . S 29 J to take
over;to push o u t , e i t h e r w i t h
or without
violence. 576. M u c k r a k e r / mAkreykSr / n . S 12 F one in
who s e a r c h e s order t o r u i n
Colloquialjprob. Cf. mudslinging
o u t and b r o a d c a s t s another's
reputation.
c o i n e d by Teddy #182.
scandals,esp.
Roosevelt.
577.Nab / nab to
S 27
/ vb.
c a t c h or s e i z e
"The
i n arrest;to
p o l i c e nabbed the
Colloquial
assent
or
seize
suspect."
S 28
J
approval(P)
okayed
#191. S 3 F
579.One-two p u n c h / wAn-tuw pAnc / n. two
suddenly,as i n :
C1685.
since
578.Okay / ow k e y /
Cf.
J
blows i n r a p i d
succession.(P)
From b o x i n g j a r g o n . Fig.
use
after 580.Ouster
t o mean two
the
s e t b a c k s i n any
other.
/ awstSr
S 31
/ n.
a rejection;a forceful e x p e c t an shape -er
J purge
o f someone,as i n : " J o n e s
o u s t e r from h i s j o b as
chairman
i f he
can
doesn't
up."
suffix,see
#32.
58l.Outdraw / awtdro / vb. to
plan,etc.,one
S 29
J
g a i n s u p e r i o r i t y i n a t t r a c t i n g numbers o f p e o p l e
o r t h i n g s , as i n : " T h i s year's PNE
will
o u t draw
last
year's." o u t - p r f i x word,see #457. 5 8 2 . O v e r b o u g h t / owvdrbot / v b . purchased
S 29
J
more t h a n n e c e s s a r y o f a n y t h i n g .
5 8 3 . O v e r - t h e - c o u n t e r / m a r - ^ & - k a w n t a r / a d j . S 29 J s t o c k market term a highly
r e f . t o cheap,unregistered stock of
speculative character.
Orig. prob,
f . produce
cheaper
and
o f more d o u b t f u l q u a l i t y t h a n t h o s e
special
order.
584.Paper l e a d e r / p e y p 0 r a false
sold
o v e r t h e c o u n t e r w h i c h were
l i y d a r / n . P 12
leader;superficial
boss;not
on
F the
l e a d e r b u t a p p e a r i n g t o be
so.
Formed by a n a l o g y t o p a p e r
tiger.#202.
true,effective
585. P e r m a - p l a t e s / p a r m a - p l e y t s / n . P 1 M l i c e n c e p l a t e s which
s t a y p e r m a n e n t l y on t h e c a r , a d d i n g
only a small year-tag Portmanteau
s t i c k e r t o the p l a t e
w o r d : perma/nent/
586. P o l l u t i m a t u m / p a l u w t i m e y t a m an u l t i m a t u m handed i n the
each y e a r .
plates.
/ n . S 19
F
down on t h e t o p i c
of p o l l u t i o n
atmosphere.
Portmanteau
word: p o l l u / t i o n /
587. P o t / p o t / n . S 29
/ul/timatum.
J
marijuana. Orig. Cf. 588. Pop
j a z z use,now g e n e r a l
LSD
s t u d e n t and b e a t u s e .
#171.
a r t / pop
a r t / n. S 30
J
popular a r t . A b b r e v i a t i o n by b a c k - c l i p p i n g : p o p / u l a r / a r t . Cf.
#213.
589. P s s t / p s t / n . S 14
F
an a t t e n t i o n g e t t i n g
sound meaning e x c u s e me,hey,
come h e r e , e t c . Onomatopoetic 590. P u n c h l i n e
/
formation.
pXnc' l a y n / n . S 3 F
the
last
its
meaning and
Lit.
line,sentence
or p a r t
of a joke t h a t
gives
humor.(YF)
t h e l i n e w h i c h p a c k s t h e punch;now u s e d i n a w i d e
number o f s i t u a t i o n s , n o t a l l j o k e s . 591. P u s h e r s / p u s a r z / n . p l . S 6 F t h a t p a r t y , g r o u p or o r g a n i z a t i o n which
s e l l s drugs t o
users f o r a profit.(P) -er 59laPut
suffix,see
something
to Fig
postpone
on i c e / p u t semGin on a y s / v b . S 6 F o r p r o c r a s t i n a t e an
event,plan,etc.
usage.
592. P u t s o m e t h i n g to
#32.
on t h e l i n e
/ p u t sdmOin on
risk
job,reputation,money or the l i k e
i n order to
b a c k up
o r show s e r i o u s s u p p o r t f o r y o u r
contentions,etc.
89
593. Q u i z / k w i z / n . a
S 29
J
short examination,or
Colloquial
C1860,
since
594. Q u i z z e d / k w i z d / p p . t o be
Fig.
J
F
usage.
circle
S 27
J
about;to e n c i r c l e
597. Road jam / rowd jjfcm / n . P 7 a crowd o r c o l l e c t i o n
the
Since 598. R o o k i e
something M
a l l traffic
c1900 w i t h t h e / r u k i y / n.
causing delays,confusion
buggies.
S 30
J i s inexperienced;
recruit.
Usu. -ie
used
up
i n r e f . t o p o l i c e m e n , a t h l e t e s o r army
suffix,see
599.See-saw / and
#31•
sly-so / a d j . S 1
F
analogy to c h i l d r e n ' s
600.Shysters
/
change. see-saw i n a
s a y s t d r z / n . p l . S 30
s h y s t e r i s a c r o o k e d , c o n n i v i n g , s m a l l - t i m e money or lawyer;one
who
how
conducts
business.(WF)(P)
hw
Since
d880.
-ster
suffix,see
in
playground.
J
lender
a
stock
today."
A l l i t e r a t i o n w i t h vowel By
recruits,
d o w n ; f l u c t u a t i n g , a s i n : "See-^aw p r i c e s h i t t h e
market
601.Ski
sheer
like.(WF)(P)
a b e g i n n e r ; a n a p p r e n t i c e ; o n e who
a
o r someone.
o f c a r s on t h e r o a d , t h e
number o f w h i c h s t a l l s
a
examined.
or r e p r i m a n d s ; b l a m e s ; c r i t i c i z e s . ( W F )
596. R i n g / r i t t / v b .
and
be
.
r a p s / v b . P 18
rebukes
to
S 29
questionned l e n g t h i l y ; t o
Colloquial 595. Raps /
set of q u e s t i o n s .
bum
/
his
i s not very p a r t i c u l a r
on
#218.
s k i y bAra / n . P 17
s k i e n t h u s i a s t who
F
changes h i s j o b l o c a t i o n
o r d e r t o be n e a r t h e
s k i slopes.
frequently
602,Slams / s l a m z / vb
S 1 P
c r i t i c i z e s ; s e v e r e l y reprimands;accuses,as slams Cf.
t h e government o v e r Commonwealth
fiasco."
r a p s #595.
Fig.
use.
603.Smash /
smas / n. S 31
J
a popular successja hit;usu or
i n :"Berger
the
applied to a
t
play,movie
like.
Loanword from B r i t i s h
slang.
604. Smash-up / smaS-Jlp / n . S 8 F an a c c i d e n t ; a c r a s h , a s i n an a u t o m o b i l e
c r a s h where
both
c a r s a r e smashed o r h e a v i l y damaged. -up
s u f f i x word,see
#6.
605.Sneak p r e v i e w / s n i y k p r i y v y u w / n . S 31 a preview else
and
o f an e v e n t , s h o w , p l a y on t h e q u i e t , s o no
J
or the l i k e , b e f o r e
one knows a b o u t
anyone
i t ; some
connotation of e x c l u s i v e n e s s . 6 0 6 . S o f t - p e d a l / s o f t - p e d d l / n . S 28 de-emphasization
J
o f an o p i n i o n o r i d e a t h a t w i l l
evoke
an u n f a v o r a b l e r e s p o n s e . ( W F ) O r i g . f« t h e s o f t p e d a l on a p i a n o . 6 0 7 . S p a c e b a l l / s p e y s b o l / n . S 11
F
a game o f b a s e b a l l p l a y e d i n o u t e r s p a c e . Portmanteau Note the
word: space
/base/ball.
rhyme:space-/base-/-ball.
608. Spy j a c k / spayja^t / n. S 8 F a hijacker,usu.
o f a plane,who i s t h o u g h t t o be a
spy
g e t t i n g h i s way
t o a f o r e i g n power w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n
gathered. Portmanteau Cf.
word: spy
/hi/jack/er/.
#276.
609.Squeeze /
s k w l y z / n . S 29
J
extortion;graft. Functional
shift.
6 1 0 . S t i f f / s t i f / a d j . S 27
J
t o u g h ; u n b e n d i n g ; a l l o w i n g no liquor
laws."
exceptions,as i n : " S t i f f
611oSuperblock
/ suvpSrbloTc / n . S 27
an a p a r t m e n t in
J
b l o c k or a b l o c k i n a c i t y , w h i c h i s l a r g e r
f a c t and i n c o n c e p t t h a n any
Super- p r e f i x , s e e
other.
#304-09.
6 1 2 . S u p e r - c o n s u m e r s / suwp9r-konsyuwm©rz / n . P 18 consumers o f a w i d e v a r i e t y o f g o o d s , w i t h
F
the
e m p h a s i s on w i d e . S u p e r - p r e f i x , s e e #304-09. 6 l 3 y T a b / t a b / n. S 29 a bill;an
J
amount o f money owed on an u n p a i d
C o l l o q u i a l ; C f . p h r . t o p i c k up
bill.(YF)
the t a b .
614. Take a powder / t e y k a pawder / v b . P 2 P to
d e p a r t ; t o r u n away.(VP)
From t h e e a r l i e r . t a k e
a run-out
615. Take o f f / t e y k o f / v b . S 30 to
powder.
J
leave or depart r a t h e r h a s t i l y ,
-off
s u f f i x word,see #246.
6 1 6 © T a k e s tumble / t e y k s x t i m b a i / v b . p h r . falls or
the
S 3 F
r a p i d l y i n v a l u e ; u s u . s a i d of s t o c k s , r e a l e s t a t e like.(P)
From t h e l i t . s e n s e Financial
of f a l l
t o the
ground.
jargon.
617. T e l l y / t e l i y / n. P 8 F television. A b b r e v i a t i o n by b a c k - c l i p p i n g : t e l / e v i s i o n / . 4 - - l y . Orig. B r i t i s h slang. 618. T i e - i n / t a y - i n / n . S 27
J
a connection,a relationship.(WF) -in
suffix,see
619. T i z z y / tiziy
/ n.
a f i t or p e r i o d
#271. S 4 F of nervousness,anxiety or c o n f u s i o n .
Dialectal. 620. T r a n s p l a n t s / t r a n s p l a n t s / n . S 27 t r a n s f e r s o f human o r g a n s
from
J
one p e r s o n t o
By a n a l o g y t o t h e g a r d e n i n g p r o c e s s .
another.
621. Tvo-gun /
tuw-gSn
/ a d j . S 29
J
s a i d o f a town w i t h few a n d s m a l l
defenses,usu.
d e n o t i n g i n f e r i o r i t y and impotency. 622. UFO / yuw e f ow / n . P 7 F unidentified flying An
objects.
acronym.
623. ¥ h i p p i n g - b o y / h w i p i n - b o y / n. S 29 J a person
i n any group o r o r g a n i z a t i o n g e n e r a l l y used
a s t h e one t o t a k e
the brunt
a t t h e group from w i t h o u t
o f any c r i t i c i s m
aimed
or w i t h i n .
Mainly p o l i t i c a l use. 624. ¥ i n d - d r i n k e r / w i n d - d r x t i k 9 r / n , S 4 F one
who i s a l w a y s b e h i n d t h e o t h e r s i n c o m p e t i t i o n s
or the l i k e . L i t . , o n e who d r i n k s t h e w i n d o f a n o t h e r him-er
sports use. suffix,see
#32.
625©Wiped o u t / vaypt-Qwt / vb. S t
F
eradicated;obliterated;cleaned -out Cf.
i n front of
out of a l l p o s s e s s i o n s .
s u f f i x word,see #1t. #344.
6 2 6 . W i t c h h u n t / wiVhAnt / n . S 15 F a s e e k i n g out o f wrong-doers,usu. i n p o l i t i c s . ( W F ) 6 2 7 * W r i t e - u p / w r a y t - A p / n . S 31 J a w r i t t e n account w r i t t e n review -up
or a r t i c l e , a s
i n a newspaper,esp. a
of a product,celebrity.entertainment,etc
s u f f i x word,see
#6.
62:8.Zap / z a p / v b . P 27 F to defeat
decisively.(WF)
( i v ) ENTERTAINMENT.SOCIAL a n d WOMEN'S 629.Backroom b u t c h e r / bakruwm b u c d r / n . S 27 J an
illegal,untrained
By
gruesome a n a l o g y
abortionist., to a butcher
c u t t i n g meat.
630. Bang-up / b a ^ - i p / a d j . S 27 J excellent;first-rate;exciting,etc.(said o r t h i n g s ) . (VP) (.F) Since -up
of people
^
C1810.
s u f f i x word,see #6. / behaynd & a e y t b o l yVfcS 31
631. B e h i n d t h e e i g h t b a l l t o be i n t r o u b l e Orig.
or i n a d i f f i c u l t
f . a popular pocket b i l l i a r d s
l o s e s i f the no. 8 b a l l
j
situation.(VF) game i n w h i c h one
i s h i t into a pocket.
632. B l o c k b u s t e r / b l o k h A s t e r / n . S 5 F a difficult
situation
or problem.
From t h e name g i v e n t o t h e l a r g e s t h i g h - e x p l o s i v e bombs d r o p p e d o f WWII.One
by t h e Western a l l i e s
towards
the end
s u c h bomb was c a p a b l e o f d e m o l i s h i n g a
c i t y block. 633. Boob-tube / buwb-tyuwb / n . S 14 F television. T h i s term i m p l i e s t h a t watching Rhyming
o n l y i d i o t s waste
time
television. reduplication.
C f . #660. 634. B r a i n t e a s e r / b r e y n t i y z a r / n . S 27 J some c h o r e o r j o b t h a t t e a s e s t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l or s t i m u l a t e s -er
powers
them,
s u f f i x , s e e #32.
635. B r o a d / b r o d / n . S 27 J a girl;a
woman.
By
o r f r o m t h e c h e s t a r e a o f a f e m a l e where t h e y a r e b r o a d
in
measurement.
636. Camp / kamp / a d j . P 24 F Orig.,having
spec. r e f . t o p i c t u r e s which
everyday objects,now From a p i c t u r e Campbell's first
portray
common
g e n e r a l l y t o a n y t h i n g so made u p .
b y t h e Pop a r t i s t ~ A n d y W a r h o l , o n w h i c h
soup c a n a p p e a r s
four l e t t e r s
i n s u c h a way t h a t
o f t h e name C a m p b e l l ' s
a
only the
are v i s i b l e .
94
637<»Childrenese / c i l d i e n i y z / n . P 24 P childrens talk:children's
vocabulary.(¥F)
-ese,noun-forming s u f f i x denoting the vocabulary peculiar Cf.
t o an o c c u p a t i o n , i n d i v i d u a l , e t c .
journalese,,officialese.
638,Chipper / c i p a r / a d j .
S 31 J
well;fit;lively.(P) Colloquial
s i n c e C1880.
6 3 9 o C l i n c h e r / H i n t e r / n . S 27 J the
conclusive statement,event,fact
o r arguement.(P)
From v b . p h r . t o c l i n c h a b a r g a i n . a d e a l . e t c . —er
s u f f i x , s e e #32.
Colloquial
since
d804.
640. Combo / kombow / n . S 5 F a combination
of people
or instruments
making up a
s m a l l j a z z band.(WF) A b b r e v i a t i o n by b a c k - c l i p p i n g : c o m b / i n a t i o n / +
-o s u f f i x ,
t
giving Pop
t h e word a f a m i l i a r , s l a n g y
connotation.
a n d c o o l u s e s i n c e c1945.
641. Come-on / kAm-on / n . S 19 M an i n v i t a t i o n ; t h e into
a situation
a c t of e n t i c i n g i n w h i c h he w i l l
someone t o e n t e r be v i c t i m i z e d , u s u .
financially.(WF) Orig.
f.
t h e a t e r a n d r a d i o u s e ; c o o l u s e s i n c e c1950.
642. C r e e p i e s / k r i y p i z / n . S 3 F shellfish
o f any k i n d .
From t h e i d e a t h a t t h e y c r a w l
o r creep
a
l o n g the
bottom o f the s e a . -ie 643. F l u b /
s u f f i x , s e e #31.
flXb
/ vb. P 1 F
to bungle;to
b l u n d e r ; t o make a m i s t a k e , e s p .
embarrassing
o n e ; t o make a f a u x pas.(WF)
644. F o o t — s t o m p i n g
an
/ fut-stdmpin / adv. S 4 F
enough t o make one stamp one's f o o t , u s u . i n e x c i t e m e n t , a s i n a dance
or approval,as
i n : "Foot-stomping
Compound;Note t h e a l t e r n a t i o n C f . #39.
stamp/stomp.
good."
645oGet w i t h i t / g e t w i 6
i t / vb.phr. S 3 F
t o g e t on t h e b a l l ; t o
g e t g o i n g ; t o g e t busy.(WF)
Cf, current phr. with i t i n expression l i k e with
"He's
not
it."
646. Goof o f f / guwf o f / v b . P 1 F t o make a m i s t a k e , b l u n d e r
or faux pas;(VF);to i d l e
away
t i m e ; t o dodge work. -off
s u f f i x word,see #246.
647. G o o f / guwf / n . S 15 a person that From d i a l , Since
M
is silly,soft
or stupid.(P)
g o o f . g o f f meaning,a
fool.
C1920.
648. G r a s s / g r a s / n . P
18
F
marijuana. C f . p o t #587 and
similar
a d d i c t s , o r i g . as p a r t Now
s u b s t i t u t e words u s e d by
of a s e c r e t in-group
drug
language.
w i d e l y known and u s e d e s p . by s t u d e n t s , h i p p i e s , e t c .
649. G u f f a w s / g e f o z / n. p i . S 27
J
loud,derisive laughter. Onomatopoetic f o r m a t i o n . 650. H a l f - b a k e d / h a f - b e y k t / a d j . S 7 lacking
F
in intelligence;silly;half-witted;also
with
connotation of a l a c k i n g i n c u l t u r e . ( P ) a s i n ; " T h a t was
a half-baked idea."
Orig. poss. f . B r i t i s h proverb(Cornwall)"He
i s only
h a l f - b a k e d ; p u t i n w i t h t h e b r e a d and t a k e n o u t w i t h the
cakes."
651. Hangups / h a ^ i p s / n . p l . P 19
F
mental b l o c k s ; s p e c i a l enthusiasms or i n t e r e s t s , o r t h a t a person i s obsessed -up 652.
s u f f i x word,see
fig.,
by.
#6.
Hard edge / h a r d e j / a d j . S 31 J clearly
s e p a r a t e d , a s i n h a r d edge p a i n t i n g , m e a n i n g
canvas w i t h c l e a n , c l e a r s e p a r a t i o n s of N e o l o g i s m ; t e c h n i c a l jargon of
artists.
a
colors,areas,etc.
653»Hard-r©ck a
/ h a r d - r o k / n . S 20
t o u g h guy;a
M
s n e e r y , u n e m o t i o n a l man
who
has
little
concern f o r others* ^
Fig*
use o f r o c k .
654.Heart-tugging / h a r t - t i g i n / adj*
S 3 F
sad;e m o t i o n a l l y up s e t t i n g ; h e a r t - b r e a k i n g . Fig.,
t o tug the s t r i n g s
o f one's
heart.
655*Hydro / haydrow / n© P 24 F the
electricity
or
and gas
company;hence,electricity
gas.(A)
A
fianadianismthvdro-electric
power:Niagara
Falls
p r o v i d e s h y d r o f o r many f a c t o r i e s ; h e n c e , a company o r commission, p r o d u c i n g o r d i s t r i b u t i n g e l e c t r i c i t y a s a utility. From G r e e k h y d r o meaning 656*Hydroplane a
/ h a y d r a p l e y n / n*
S 1 F
s p e c i a l t y p e o f b o a t t h a t moves so f a s t
water i t almost Portmanteau
compound o f word e l e m e n t s : h y d r o and or
satisfaction.(WF)
6 5 8 * K i c k t h e h a b i t / k i k he h a b i t / v b * p h r . P 12 drop or stop the h a b i t
bad o r w o r t h l e s s ; t o f o r c e Orig*
drug a d d i c t
659. L o u s e up / l a w s X p to Fig. —up
/air/plane
F
thrill,excitement
to
over the
flies.
6 5 7 * K i c k / k i k / n . P 18 a
water*
of doing
F
something,presumably
oneself to stop.
jargon* / vb* S 17
M
s p o i l , r u i n , b o t c h o r mess up
something.(WF)
f . l o u s e a s a word o f a b u s e ; C f . s u f f i x word,see
#169.
#6.
660. M a g i c t u b e / magik tuwb / n . S 27 J television. Fig*,magic
i n the sense t h a t
i t brings other parts
of the
w o r l d and e v e n o u t e r space t o o u r homes. C f . b o o b t u b e #633 f o r a n e g a t i v e
attitude.
661. Markdowns / markdawnz / n . p l . S 15 F a r t i c l e s i n a s t o r e t h a t have
been marked down i n p r i c e .
T r a d e j a r g o n , -down s u f f i x word,see
#63.
6 6 2 • M i n i m a l a r t / m i n i m a l a r t / n . S 31 J a r t w h i c h u s e s t h e minimum o f components t o e x p r e s s its
message*
Artists
jargon*
663. Mock-up / mok-Ap / n . S 27 J a m o d e l ; a mock v e r s i o n
of a real
purposes of study,display,etc. mock-up o f t h e new B l o c k 42 -up
thing,usu*
f o r the
a s i n : "He u n v e i l e d t h e
center."
s u f f i x word,see #6.
664. N e e d l e / n f y d a l / v b . S 31 J to
irritate;annoy.(P)
Pig.
665. N.G.
use o f needle*
/ en j i y / a d j *
no
good .
An
acronym.
S 27 J
666. N i f t y - l o o k i n g / h x f t i y - l u k i i i / a d j . P 19 P s t y l i sh;smart;attractive;etc. Common s i n c e
c1930.
667. P u r c h a l e a s e / p d r c a l i y s / n© S 20 F leasing it
something w i t h the i n t e n t i o n of p u r c h a s i n g
i n the end;the p l a n
t o do t h i s - s p e c . , a c a r .
P o r t m a n t e a u word: p u r c h a / s e / 668. Q u i c k i e s
/ k w i k i y z / n . p l . S 27 J
anything -ie
lease.
done o r made q u i c k l y . ( W F )
s u f f i x , s e e #31.
669.S.A. / e s e y / n. S 27 J sex An
appeal. acronym.
670.Scratch / skrac
/ n . P 24 M
money;available lit.
cash.(WF)
t h a t w h i c h h a s t o be s c r a t c h e d
scratches Since 671 . S c r a t c h y
for,like a
f o r food.
c1915. c l a t t e r / s k r a c i y k l a t B r / n . P 21 F
a rasping voice;chatter
i n an i r r i t a t i n g v o i c e .
chicken
672.Shot down i n f l a m e s / s o t dawn i n f l e y m z / p p . a d j o
S 5 F
beaten i n an arguement.(P) Orig. airforce
s l a n g from
WYI.
6 7 3 . S i d e k i c k / saydkik / n. S 5 M a close
companion;a mate.
Prom t h e a t e r a n d s t a g e u s e ; C f . s t o o g e #300 a n d f a l l
guy
#546. Canadianism
since
c1915.
6 7 4 . S l a s h e d t o / s l a s f c tuw / v b . S 5 F cut
down t o ; r e d u c e d t o ( a s i n p r i c e s
of a r t i c l e s i n a
store.) Trade
jargon;fig. use.
675.Sopwith-skimmer / sopwiO - s k i m S r / n . S 31 J ' a snow s k i d o o ( h u m o r o u s
application).
Prob. a f t e r Snoopy's(Peanuts
comic
strip)airplane,
w h i c h was i t s e l f named a f t e r t h e S o p w i t h a i r p l a n e Cf.
i n WWII.
snowmobile #285.
676.Soulmate / sowlmeyt / n . S 30 J a companion,lover
o r p a r t n e r who i s a t t u n e d t o y o u r
soul
as y o u a r e t o h i s o r h e r s . C o o l and j a z z u s e . S o u l - . a d j . prefix,now u s u . p e r t a i n s t o N e g r o e s
or things
b a s i c a l l y N e g r o ; s i n c e c1962 i t h a s a l s o expanded t o indicate
authentic
sensibility,emotional
sincerity,
honesty,etc.,esp. as r e l a t i n g
t o c o o l and b e a t p e o p l e .
Cf.
brother.etc.
soul food.soul musicYsoul
677.Sound o f f / sawnd o f / v b . P 12 M to
t a l k , e s p . t o complain or expostulate a t length;
to
list
one's c o m p l a i n t s o r o p i n i o n s v e r b a l l y . ( W F )
O r i g . army u s e . -off
s u f f i x word,see #246.
678.Spin-off / spxn-of / n. S 6 F an e x t r a i d e a o r t h i n g r e s u l t i n g
from a major
idea or
thing(as a by-product);as i n : " l o u r idea f o r the p r o d u c t i o n waste i s a s p i n - o f f market -off
orientation."
s u f f i x word,see #246.
Business
jargon.
f r o m o u r main p r o d u c t
679.Stag; / s t a g / a d j . P 12 M a
s i t u a t i o n o r e v e n t meant o n l y
companions.(VP)as
in:stag
f o r men w i t h o u t
female
party.
Fig. use. 680.Store
t e e t h / s t o r t i y O / n© S 31 J
false
t e e t h ; n o t n a t u r a l but bought,as i n a s t o r e .
Prob.
by analogy t o store
application),and
clothes.store
bought(general
so on©
6 8 1 . S t a i g h t m a n / s t r e y t m a n / n . S 27 J a c o m e d i a n ' s a c c o m p l i c e who a c t s a s h i s f o i l j a
stooge.
T h e a t e r and stage u s e . Cf.
s t o o g e # 3 0 0 , f a l l guy #546 a n d s i d e k i c k #673.
6 8 2 . S t u f f / s t A f / n . S 30 J i m p l i e s v a g u e n e s s i n t h e s p e a k e r ' s mind o r i g n o r a n c e of t h e p r e c i s e for
term
or name{generally
anything through
Colloquial
since
used
a s t h e name
l a z i n e s s t o u s e t h e p r o p e r name,etc.
C1860.
6 8 3 . S t u n g / stA» / v b . S 8 F cheated,esp.
by a
merchant;overcharged.(VF)(P)
F i g . use of stung. 6 8 4 . S u p e r m a r k e t / suwpdrmarket / n© S 27 J a large and
s e l f - s e r v i c e store
often household
Super685.Swingles
prefix,see
s e l l i n g groceries,produce
articles.
#304-09©
/ swingelz, / n . S 30 J
swinging
single people.
Portmanteau word:swing/ing/
/sing/les.
Neologism. 686.Tatty / t a t i y / a d j . S 8 F worn { t h r e a d b a r e , unkempt a n d d i r t y , a s i n : "'Tatty Cf.
British
dial©
clothes."
t a t meaning,tangle.
6 8 7 © T e l e t h o n / t e i a O o n / n . S 27 J a long,continuous s o c i a l the
t r a n s a c t i o n c a r r i e d out by
telephone.
P o r t m a n t e a u word: t e l e / p h o n e / /mara/ thon.
688. T e x t b o o k y / t e k s t b u k i y / a d j . P 8 P resembling a textbook;having as a t e x t b o o k ; d e r o g a t o r y
t h e same a p p r o a c h
and s t y l e
application,
-y. s u f f i x , see #31 o 689. Tops / t o p s / a d j . S 27 J the b e s t of a n y t h i n g , e i t h e r people highest;vonderful,as
or t h i n g s ; r a t e d
i n : "She's t o p s ! "
690. Tube / tyuwb / a , S 27 J television. From t e l e v i s i o n
tube.
G f . #633 a n d #660. 691. U p t i g h t /
Aptayt / adj.
P 18 P
c o n v e n t i o n a l ; s e t i n one•s w a y s ; s q u a r e ; t e n s e ; h u n g - u p ; upset
and f r u s t r a t e d
over
something.
Mainly student use. 692. V o c a l d o m / v o k d l d a m / n . P 24 M the realm
o f speech;wherever the v o i c e i s heard,
-dom s u f f i x , n o u n - f o r m i n g means f i g . , t h e
realm
or e r a
or time o f . 693. Z e s t y / z e s t i y / a d j . S 27 J vitality;animation;energy;etc.,said -y
of people
or food,
s u f f i x , see #31 •
694. Z i n g /
/ n . P 27 P
vitality;zest;animation. w .
. . ( v ) SPORTS
695. B a n k r o l l / b a n k r c j l / v b . S 19 P t o s u b s i d i z e , s u p p o r t or pay f o r an e v e n t , e t c . Punctional
shift.
696. B l a d e s / b l e y d z / n . p l . S 28 J ice
skates.
Synecdoche. 697. B l i t z e d / b l i t s t
/ v b . S 30 J
t o have f o r c e d one's way t h r o u g h
rapidly.
Prom b l i t z / k r i e g / m e a n i n g . l i g h t n i n g ( w a r ) . a devastating,overpowering
attack.Now used
massive, i n E n g l i s h a s vb.
698. B l o w e r / b l o w a r a
/ n. S 4 M
telephone.
Orig. prob. 699. B l u b b e r - b o y
f . bJLower,meaning a t a l k a t i v e
person.
/ b U b a r - b o y / n. S 4 F
a f a t man. From b l u b b e r . t h e 700. B u d d i e s
f a t of a whale(a
gross animal).
/ b A d i y z / n . p l . S 31 J
close
friends;pals;companions.
701. Champ /gamp/ n . S 4 F champion. A b b r e v i a t i o n by
back-clipping:champ/ion/.
702. C l o b b e r e d / k l o b e r d / v b . S 31 J beaten 703. C o a s t w i s e for
thoroughly. / kowstwayz / S 4 F
t h e c o a s t ; a s f a r as the c o s t goes,as i n : "Speaking a
c o a s t w i s e , t h e V a n c o u v e r Canucks w i l l (the
Coast here
-wise
host Portland...."
i m p l y i n g t h e B.C. c o a s t . )
s u f f i x word,see #434.
704. D o l l o p / d o l a p / n . S 28 F a lump;a sum; t h e l o t ; a p o r t i o n D i a l . poss.
of something.(P)
f . N o r w e g i a n d o l p meaning,a
lump.
705. Donnybrook / d o n i y b r u k / n . S 29 J a loud noisy
arguement,fight,brawl,riot,etc.(WF)
From Donnybrook f a i r , h e l d a n n u a l l y i n t h e R e p u b l i c o f I r e l a n d . T h e 1855 f a i r was s u p p r e s s e d 706. D o u b i e h e a d e r / d A b l h e d a r two
because of w i l d
D
r
a
w
^
/ n. S 1 F
games p l a y e d on t h e same day,one i m m e d i a t e l y
a f t e r the
other. 707. Dumb-dumb /
dXm-dAm
/ n. P 4 M
a very stupid or foolish Dumb i n t h e s e n s e
person.
of stupid
shows t h e i n f l u e n c e
of Ger.
dumm(stupid) a n d o f s i m i l a r words i n o t h e r G e r . l a n g u a g e s . Rhyming
reduplication.
708. Dumped / dAmpt / v b . S 27 J to
be t h o r o u g h l y b e a t e n , a s
i n a s p o r t o r game;won
h a n d i l y o v e r ; l e f t way b e h i n d
i n points.
709. F a c e o f f / feyso*f / n . S 27 a s i t u a t i o n i n which to
face
their
J
two
members o f a team s t a n d f a c e
t o h i t the b a l l ( b a s k e t b a l l ) or puck(hockey)to
respective
teams,when i t s t o be t h e d e c i d i n g
point
i n t h e game, -off
s u f f i x word,see #246,
710. F l o o r m a n s h i p / f l o r m a n s x p / n,
S 13
P
a b i l i t y w h i l e on t h e f l o o r p l a y i n g i n a b a s k e t b a l l Prob,
formed
Stephen
by a n a l o g y t o - s h i p p a t t e r n o r i g i n a t e d
made smart and
secure a favorable
712. Hoop / huwp / n ,
S 13
and t h r o u g h w h i c h a
/
vb,phr, S 27
s e t - u p when i t s t i m e t o w i n , ( P ) c1880.
F
i n b a s k e t b a l l , t h e metal /key
s k i d z f o r wxn
s u c c e s s f u l p r e p a r a t i o n s i n advance
Orig, naval colloquialism
713. K.0.
by
Potter,(e,g,brinkmanship,one—upmanship,)
711 . G r e a s e d t h e s k i d s f o r w i n / g r i y s t which
game,
circle
the b a l l
from which
t h e n e t hangs
i s thrown t o s c o r e .
ow / n . S 1 F
knockout.
Boxing jargon. An acronym:knock out,now u s e d a s a word. 714. K o o k s / kuwks / a d j . S 30
J
crazy;nutty;stupid people. Poss. f .
cuckoo.
715. L a u g h i t up / l a f i t Ap to
/vb.phr.
P 7 M
take events l a u g h i n g l y , w i t h a nonchalant
For
use
of i t without antecedent,see
-up
s u f f i x word,see
#36.
#6.
716. M e a t - g r i n d e r / m i y t - g r a y n d e r / n . S 22 tough,rough
attitude.
F
a c t i o n , a s i n : " T h a t game was
a real
meat-
grinder." By a n a l o g y t o t h e a c t i o n o f a m e a t - g r i n d e r . 717. Mooch / muwc / v b . S 30 to
beg
J
food,money o r t h e l i k e ; t o
amount w i t h o u t i n t e n d i n g t o r e p a y
borrow,esp. it.(WF)
a small
P
7 1 8 . O l d - h a t / o w l d - h a t / a d j . S 28 J well-known;routine;easy.(P) o l d - p r e f i x word,see
#454.
719.Oodles / uwdalz / n. S 4 M many;great
quantities,as in:"Oodles
o f money."
720.Oomph / uwmf / n . S 30 J sex
appeal;power;excitement;enthusiasm.(WP)
. Onomatopoetic 721.Out
formation.
o f one's h a i r / a v t a v
to
keep
wAnz; h e r / v b . p h r . S 29 J
o u t o f one's h a i r means t o s t o p a n n o y i n g
irritating
or
h i m ; t o k e e p o u t o f h i s way.(VP)
722. Bee-wee / p x y - w i y / n . S 4 F usu.
said
baseball Rhyming 723. P r a t f a l l
o f s p o r t s p l a y e d b y young b o y s , a s league."
reduplication. / pratfol
/ n . P 14 F
a defeat;a p i t f a l l ; f i g . , f r o m From 724. P u l l to
in:"Pee-wee
falling
on t h e b a c k s i d e .
e a r l i e r p r a t ( b u t t o c k s ) and f a l l .
f o r / p u l f o r / v b . S 29 J r o o t f o r ; t o hope f o r t h e b e s t f o r ; t o
725. P u s h - o v e r / pus-owvar
support.
/ n . S 27 F
a n y p e r s o n , g r o u p o r team e a s i l y d e f e a t e d i n a 726.Scattergat
/ skatargat /n. S 4 M
shotguns;the From 727.Shaded
contest.(VF)
type
o f gun t h a t s c a t t e r s
s c a t t e r and g a t ( g u n ) . a n
shot
pellets.
a b b r e v i a t i o n f o r G a t l i n g gun.
/ s e y d d / v b . S 27 J
won(a game)by a v e r y s m a l l m a r g i n . ( P ) 728.Shamateur
/ samabar
/ n . S 10 F
a p h o n e y a m a t e u r ; a p e r s o n who r e t a i n s amateur plays professional P o r t m a n t e a u word:
status but
o r a c c e p t s money. sh/am/amateur.
7 2 9 . S h o c k e r / s o k a r / n . S 31 J an e v e n t , r e s u l t o r circumstance -er
s u f f i x , s e e #32.
that r e a l l y
s u r p r i s e s one.
730,Shutout /
sAtawt / n,
S 29
a game i n w h i c h one scoring,as i n : -out
team i s c o m p l e t e l y e x c l u d e d
I t was
11
s u f f i x word,see
731*Socked-in /
J
a complete
from
shutout*"
#11*
s d k t - f n / vb*
S 4
F
kept
i n or s t a t i o n a r y ; s t o p p e d from p r o c e e d i n g w i t h p l a n s ,
usu.
because of f o u l weather or the l i k e .
From WWII a i r f o r c e
(.WF)
s l a n g i n r e f . t o an a i r f i r e l d
unusable
because of f o g . -in
suffix,see
#271.
732*Southpaw / sawOpo / n .
S 13
F
a left-handed person. Orig.
f . b a s e b a l l or boxing
handed p l a y e r o r Cf.
northpaw
j a r g o n where i t meant a
left-
boxer.
#188.
733*Subbed f o r / sAbd f o r / vb.
S 19
F
substituted for. A b b r e v i a t i o n by -ed
back-clipping:sub/stituted/.
an a d j . f o r m i n g
suffix.
734*Trimmed / t r i m d / vb* in
S 27
games,means b e a t
easily.
7 3 5 * T r i v i e r a / t r i v i y e r e / n* the
realm
J
S 11
of t r i v i a ; t h e
M
spot or a r e a g i v e n over t o
the
d i s c u s s i o n of minor t h i n g s . Formed by a n a l o g y
t o model
Riviera.
Portmanteau word: t r i y / i a / + 736*Under t h e deals
t a b l e d e a l s / XnABr ^ © t e y b e l d i y i z / n . p l . P 12
o r a r r a n g e m e n t s made s e c r e t l y and
r e g a r d i n g the beat
soundly
S 26
or
or
thoroughly*
-up
concluding,completing series
of
illegally,
F
738*Wrap-up / wrap-.AP / a d j . S 28 the
often
outcome o f a game,a p l a y e r ' s m o v e s , e t c .
737*Whomp / hwomp / v b , to
/riv/iera.
events.
s u f f i x word,see
#6*
F
or f i n i s h i n g u n i t
i n any
event
F
(vi)
COMICS
739. B o b b l e s / b o b a l z / v b . t o b o b b l e means t o 740. Bow
out
/ baw
awt
to leave;to
S 20
F
f u m b l e ; t o mess u p ; t o
/ vb.
S 12
ruin(something)•
F
b r e a k o f f a s i t u a t i o n o r r e l a t i o n s h i p by
departing, -out
s u f f i x word,see
741. Buck / h£k a
/ n.
M
dollar.
P o s s . f . the 742. Cop
S 11
#11.
/ kop/
a n i m a l buck;wide c o l l o q u i a l use
vb.
S 28
the
d850.
F
to win;to carry o f f catch "Cop
since
or
capture(a
p r i z e ) as i n :
money John." 7
C f . #54,55,384. 743. C r e e p / k r i y p / n. a p e r s o n who
S 11
gives
objectionable
M
one
the
" c r e e p s " ; a n odd,loathsome
person.(WF)
744. C r u i s e r s / k r u w z a r z / n . p l . S 5
M
taxicabs,which cruise theestreets Meaning -er
suffix,see
Abbreviation
S 22
by
F
a pretty girl
car,etc.)
back-clipping:
746. D o l l / d o l / n . P 17
o r woman,esp. one
d i r e c t analogy to toy
747. Don*t h a n d me
that;don't
with elaborate
/ f i o r d / vb.
active
S 1.8
falls
on
the
simply
graces
the
contribution,(WF)
doll. tell
me
/
S 22
F
such l i e s ; d o n ' t t r y
stories. F
shocked or s u r p r i s e d ( t o the t a i n t s and
who
t h a t / downt hand miy Sot
d o n ' t g i v e me me
demo/nstrator/.
F
s c e n e r a t h e r t h a n make an
748. F l o o r e d
fares.
#32.
a demonstrator model(of a
t o con
of
change,
7 4 5 » D e m o / demow / n.
By
i n search
p o i n t where one
floor).(WF)
almost
or
106
749. F l u n k e r o o / f U n k a r u v a bad
failure.
-eroo
suffix orig.
hyperbole 750. Go
/ n . S 15
F
f . the S p a n i s h - e r o and
indicates
i n English.
jJLmp i n c f e l e y k /
jump i n t h e l a k e / gov
S 3
M
an e x p r e s s i o n meaning:go t o h e l l ; t a k e o f f . A euphemism. 751. Go n u t s / gov t o go
nXts / v b . p h r . S 7 M
c r a z y ; t o go
o u t o f o n e ' s mind due
t o an
intolerable
situation. From t h e " t a l k i e s " 752. G r o o v y / g r u w i y
cl929.
/ a d j . S 12
F
e x c e l l e n t ; s a t i s f y i n g ; i n keeping v i t h O r i g . c1935 s v i n g use cool
and
f a r - o u t use
one's
by m u s i c i a n s and
desires.
devotees.Some
s i n c e c1955.
From i n t h e g r o o v e . v h e n a p h o n o g r a p h p l a y s i t s n e e d l e is
i n t h e groove
In the
of the r e c o r d .
groove.prepositional phr. gives:
Groovy a d j . . a groove 753.Idiot
n.,
and
t o groove
c a r d . / i d i y e t k a r d / n . S 20
a prompter card.usu. used to t e l l
t h e m.c.
a s i f he v a s
an
i n enttertainment(TV
F child.(P)
From t h e young o f a g o a t . C f .
#152.
someone / l e v e l v i 8 sAjnvcvn / v b .
t o be h o n e s t v i t h i t up
S 5
someone;to g i v e t h e f a c t s t o
/ l i v i t Xp
/ S 17
-up
a t any p a r t i c u l a r s u f f i x vord,see
to
t o the
time, p l e y f o r / vb.
one's charms t o i m p r e s s
shov a r o m a n t i c
someone.(P)
#6.
757. Make a p l a y f o r / meyk 6 t o use
F
F
t o have a good t i m e ; t o r e a l l y e n j o y l i v i n g up hilt
,etc.)
idiot.
a c h i l d , e s p . a young
756. L i v e
F
v h a t t o s a y n e x t ; h e n c e , t r e a t i n g him
754. K i d / k i d / n. S 17
755. L e v e l v i t h
vb.
interest
S 30
J
one
of the
opposite
sex;
i n one
of the
opposite
sex.(VF)
758.Out / a w t / a d j . S 7 M unconscious.(P) Meaning 759. P u s s y c a t
change. / pusiykaVt / n . S 1 M
a g i r l ; a n endearing 760. R a t
name f o r a g i r l f r i e n d .
on / r a t oh / v b . S 27 F
to
i n f o r m on;to t e l l on.
C f . # 764,235. 7 6 1 . S h a r p y / s a r p i y / n . S 11 M a person -y
self-consciously alert;a
shrewd,alert
person.(WF)
suffix,see#31.
762.Smashing / s m a s i n / a d j . S 22 P good;great;marvel1ous;excellent. Prom B r i t i s h
slang.
C f . a smash h i t . t h e U.S. v e r s i o n , a b a c k - c l i p p e d f o r m . 763.Sock i t t o me / s o k i t tuw m i y / S 1 P deliver to
i t t o me;give i t t o me w i t h z e s t , a s i n : " S o c k i t
me b a b y ! " r e q u e s t e d
o f any g o o d , e x c i t i n g o r i m p r e s s i v e
thing. Prom s o c k meaning,a h a r d
blow w i t h t h e f i s t ; h e n c e , f i g . u s e .
7 6 4 . S q u e a l on / s k w i y l on / v b . S 25 P to
inform
on;to t e l l
s e c r e t t h i n g s about
someone.(P)
C f . #760. 7 6 5 . S t o k e up / s t o k A p / v b . S 26 F to
e a t ; n o u r i s h o n e s e l f ; f i l l up on f o o d .
From s t o k i n g a n e n g i n e . -up
s u f f i x word,see #6.
766.Sudden c a s e a
o f the smarts /
sudden r e a l i z a t i o n
person;a
aV & e smarts /
S 22 F
o f t h e t r u t h about a s i t u a t i o n o r
w i s i n g up t o s o m e t h i n g .
767. T h i r d d e g r e e / prolonged
sXdan k e y s
eard d i y g r l y / n . S 27 F
q u e s t i o n i n g and/or rough h a n d l i n g o f a p e r s o n
as by t h e p o l i c e , i n
order t o obtain information or force
a confession of guilt.(WF) 768. T h i s one's on y o u / Sis
wAnz o n yuw /
S 11 M
t h i s i s your t r e a t ; t h i s o r d e r ( o f drinks,food,etc.) you w i l l p a y f o r ; i t s y o u r t u r n t o p a y .
769. T i p o f f / t i p o f / v b . to
S 28
F
give p r i v a t e informationabout;to
information to Colloquial -off
supply
inside
someone.(P) C1890.
since
s u f f i x w o r d , s e e #246.
770. T o p s i d e
/
on t o p
topsayd
/ n.
S 19
F
of;above.
t o p - p r e f i x word m e a n s , i n command o f o r i n c o n t r o l .
(vii)
FINANCE
771. B e a r i s h / b e r i s / a d j . P tending
t o f a v o r low
a fall•fi
n
a
n
Orig. phr. being "to
ial
was
sell
the
of
stocks;speculation for
jargon.
prob. " s e l l
the
b e a r skin',' s u c h
j o b b e r s . i n r e f . t o the
bear's s k i n before
a bear,to
sell
one
what one
has
product
of
/ n.
S 20
one's i n t e l l e c t
bargainers proverb:
caught the
does n o t
s u f f i x , s e e #773;an a d j . f o r m i n g
772. B r a i n c h i l d / b r e y n c a y l d any
F
values
called bear-skin
Hence,sell -ish
c
14
bear."
possess.(P)
suffix
meaning,like.
F or imagination,as
a plan,
invention,work of a r t or t h e e l i k e . Colloquial. 773. B u l l i s h / b u l i s / a d j . S 18 tending
to favor high values
stocks;a a rise
and
p r i c e s of
corporate
s t r o n g market t r e n d ; p o s i t i v e s p e c u l a t i o n f o r
i n prices.(P)
Financial
jargon.
P r o b . f o r m e d by -ish
F
bull.a
suffix,see
774. C a t c h / k a c
/ n,
strong
#771. S 14
F
a problem;a d i f f i c u l t y ; a otherwise Functional
good p l a n
Colloquial
flaw
or the
part
of
or easy task t h a t causes
shift.
775. D e a d b e a t s / d e d b x y t s / n . worthless
beast.
S 31
J
i d l e r s , e s p , i f spongers. s i n c e C1875.
an difficulty.
776. F r e e z e / f r i y z / n . S 5 F a holding fast
or remaining
s t a t i o n a r y ; remaining a t
one
l e v e l . a s i n : "They p u t a f r e e z e o n p r i c e s . " Colloquial
s i n c e C1880.
777. P e p p y / p e p i y / a d j . S 14
F
energetic;spirited.(P) -y 778.Soft
s u f f i x , see #31 • market / s o f t markat / n. S 3 F
weak;unreliable Financial 779. T a k e o v e r
market w i t h p r i c e s p o o r
and
o r s t o c k market j a r g o n .
/ teykowvar / n. S 5 F
the t a k i n g of c o n t r o l or i n s u c c e s s i o n t o
of something
by t r a n s f e r
another.
780. Up-powered / Xp-paword / n. S 1 2 F beefed-up;increased Prob.
fluctuating.
i n power.
f o r m e d by a n a l o g y t o model up-tempo.
from
CONCLUSIONS AND
SUMMARY
The concept of pure o r s t a n d a r d language
i s by d e f i n i t i o n based
upon a p r e s c r i p t i v e approach d e r i v i n g i t s potency l a r g e l y from t h e w r i t t e n t r a d i t i o n * T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h i s s t a n d a r d i z i n g concept s i m u l t a n e o u s l y c r e a t e d t h e non-standard,the
slang,and a s s i g n e d i t
c h i e f l y t o vocaldom. Newspapers,of c o u r s e , a r e p r e - e m i n e n t l y u s e r s o f t h e w r i t t e n word,but t h e y a r e , I b e l i e v e , o c c u p a n t s of a s p e c i a l p l a c e i n the r e a l m of the w r i t t e n word - a p l a c e n o t f a r from the spoken word* T h e i r p r e d e c e s s o r , t h e book,while a l s o t h e w r i t t e n word,was and i s , w i t h regard to l e x i c o n , c h i e f l y e x c l u s i v e rather than i n c l u s i v e * That i s , a s M a r s h a l l McLuhan p o i n t s o u t , t h e book i s a p r i v a t e 1 0
c o n f e s s i o n a l form t h a t p r o v i d e s a p o i n t o f view f o r the author
and
r e a d e r a l i k e . T h e newspaper,on the o t h e r h a n d , i s a group c o n f e s s i o n a l form t h a t promotes communal p a r t i c i p a t i o n * M c L u h a n terms t h e p r e s s a communal mosaic o f f e r i n g c o r p o r a t e images o f s o c i e t y i n a c t i o n i n which the r e a d e r becomes v e r y i n v o l v e d i n t h e making of meanings f o r t h e c o r p o r a t e image.The format r e v e a l s the i n s i d e s t o r y o f a community i n a c t i o n and
interaction,presenting
t h e d i s c o n t i n u o u s v a r i e t y and i n c o n g r u i t y of o r d i n a r y l i f e . A l l i s u n i f i e d by a d a t e l i n e . l t i s , i n contemporary terms,a hot medium. W h i l e the approach of t h e newspaper has always been l a r g e l y t h i s w a y , i t s a p p e a l i s complementary t o t h e r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t phenomenon of t e l e v i s i o n , w h o s e low v i s u a l o r i e n t a t i o n and h i g h involvement are apparent.Next
t o the t e l e v i s i o n , t h e newspaper i s t
t h e f a s t e s t g a t h e r e r and d i s s e m i n a t o r of news and as such i s , ...not merely a r e p e t i t i o n of o c c u r r e n c e s and r e p o r t s but a d i r e c t cause of events.11 I t i s t h r o u g h the medium o f the newspaper t h a t our e x p e r i e n c e i s t r a n s l a t e d i n t o a new medium whereby ve r e c e i v e a p l a y b a c k of e a r l i e r awareness. The news i s a near a p p r o x i m a t i o n t o the g r a p e v i n e . . . • h a v i n g an i n t e n s e l y g r a p h i c and base c h a r a c t e r .
12
With t h i s
i n mind,it
seems r e a s o n a b l e t o
papers are,in fact,bordering d i s s e m i n a t i o n , b a s e d as We
a l s o know t h a t
c l o s e l y upon t h e
t h e y are
upon t h e
slang,in great
slang
poetry
i s therefore
format.It
an
oral tradition
immediate
p a r t , i s also
b a s e d upon immediate e x p e r i e n c e and termed i t , " t h e
s t a t e t h a t d a i l y news-
ingredient
experience.
characteristically
i s p e r h a p s , a s S.
of everyday l i f e . "
We
that
news media
newspaper i s t a k i n g
s u b - g r o u p i n g s t h a t make up
and
d i r e c t t r a n s p o s i t i o n making them i n t o McLuhan's newspaper
m o s a i c on Por as
this
a daily
e a r l i e r , w i t h i n the
more c l o s e l y t h e Initial
l e x i c o n above i n o r d e r
evidence f o r slang
observation
c a r r i e d o u t ( s e e page
p r o v e s the
i n each
contention
an
" i n " jargon.This
r e a s o n s f o r the particular of the still
public at large remains f u l l y
social
of
t h a t the
intelligible
stratification
B u s i n e s s and g r o u p and
usage at
original
p o p u l a r i t y of
a large
a
segment
built
has
g r o u p ' s members. a conscious
i n t o i t , w h e r e b y i f you
example,you must use
the
on.There i s a d i s t i n c t
social
are
"in"
element in
the
jargon
Sports,
pressure,both
imposed.
W h i l e e a c h g r o u p o r c a t e g o r y does have i t s own there
i s i n e v i t a b l y a good d e a l
these
s p e e c h c o m m u n i t i e s . T h i s has
vast
slang
" i n " y o u r s e l f . S i m i l a r l y f o r people i n
so
self
until
only to that
sub-group usage a p p a r e n t l y
considered
examine
comprehend t h e m , e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t i t
entertainment business,for t o be
to
attempt
of the
s l a n g . E v e n when t h e
group's s l a n g terms i n c r e a s e s
Much o f t h i s of
evolution
s u p p o r t s one
eleven)
area.
found i n each category i n d i c a t e s at l e a s t a b a s i c developing
society
basis.
r e a s o n c a t e g o r i z a t i o n was
explained
mosaic of everyday
the
social by
the
I . Hayakawa
must r e c o g n i z e
e s s e n t i a l to the
i s a l s o important because the
of
m o b i l i t y of
of c r o s s o v e r occurred,of
s o c i e t y a t l a r g e and
peculiar
influence
between
course,because of
through the
intermingling
o f i n d i v i d u a l g r o u p m e m b e r s . O v e r l a p p i n g t e r m s t e n d t o be w i t h a wide f i e l d c r a c k d o w n . g u t s and
of a p p l i c a t i o n , s u c h bum.
as
slang
those
bag.bandwagon.blasted.
the
The
major f a c t o r s i n f l u e n c i n g the
choice
of the
d i v i s i o n s examined were b r e v i t y and
of the
very
of
spatial
i t s being
a s p e c i a l q u a l i t y of
eye-catching the
l i m i t a t i o n s of the
appeal
slang
items i n
any
impact:brevity,because
newspaper f o r m a t as w e l l
as
slang;impact,because of i t s
so n e c e s s a r y i n t h e
crowded j u x t a p o s i t i o n s
of
newspaper.
Thus,in Headlines,brevity we
of
must be
able
to
attention.Other and
but
needs t o stand In S p o r t s , a the
impact are
s c a n them q u i c k l y and
devices
purposeful
and
are
of c r u c i a l
importance-
t h e y must "grab**
o f t e n u s e d , s u c h as
i n t e r e s t i n g confusion,but
our
rhyme,alliteration
c h i e f l y the
headline
out. dramatic
f r e n z y i n the
q u a l i t y i n usage i s i m p o r t a n t , r e l a t i n g
game o r
to
contest.
F i n a n c i a l usage,while not
d r a m a t i c , d o e s l e a n d i s t i n c t i v e l y more
t o w a r d s a d e f i n i t e " i n " j a r g o n w h i c h i s much l e s s g e n e r a l l y
or
w i d e l y known. Quite slang
s u r p r i s i n g l y , E d i t o r i a l s p r o v e t o have a h i g h
and
character
informal and
u s a g e and
are
often
o f an
content
of
overall colloquial
tone.
E n t e r t a i n m e n t and
s o c i a l pages are
e s p e c i a l l y laden
w i t h more
unusual terminology,due perhaps to t h e i r broad coverage of a l l the
p u r e and
the
segment o f l i f e
this
applied arts.Generally t h a t has
speaking,these areas
wide t o l e r a n c e s
i s naturally reflected in their
Comics c o n t a i n
a basic
and
quite
f o r the
represent
unusual,and
slang.
consistent
level
of
slang,
perhaps because i t i s such a h i g h l y p a r t i c i p a t i o n a l form expression,leaving Of
wide l i m i t s
a d d i t i o n a l importance
i s the
for individual interpretation. fact
that
syndicated,thus w i d e l y read,and t h e r e f o r e
comic
comic
by
strip
Caricatures Schultz
language i n f o l l o w i n g the characters,as and
so
i s a prime
well
as
example)
often
by
of
experiences
s i t u a t i o n responses
character
o n . ( e . g . t h e comic
s t r i p s are
themselves a source
s l a n g . T h r o u g h p s y c h o l o g i c a l p a r t i c i p a t i o n one laughter
of
language
s t r i p P e a n u t s by
of
through
Charles
The
most p r o d u c t i v e d i v i s i o n comes,of c o u r s e , f r o m
areas vhere Like true
are
a n y t h i n g e l s e d e v i s e d and u s e d
by human b e i n g s ,
s u b j e c t t o t h e whims o f f a s h i o n . T h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y
o f s l a n g and
i n f o r m a l usage,where f o r m a t i o n p a t t e r n s a r e
c l e a r l y discernable.Compound f o r m a t i o n s , f o r example,are extremely
p r e v a l e n t means o f f o r m i n g new
s i n c e a b o u t 1960 and
when c i v i l
the f i r s t
word t o g a i n
many o t h e r s have s i n c e been f o r m e d by a n a l o g y
have a l s o f o l l o w e d t h e
A r e c e n t and
and
others. s u f f i x , f o r m i n g such
prankster.
i n c r e a s i n g l y frequent productive p r e f i x i s
thus.superbowl.superport from
t h e model o f
As w e l l as t h e
and
superblock.al1 deriving
ultimately
r e l a t i v e p o p u l a r i t y o f compound f o r m a t i o n s
in
t r e n d worth n o t i n g i s t h a t s l a n g i s
g e n e r a l l y r e c e p t i v e t o m o n o s y l l a b i c words more t h a n is
super-;
superman.
s l a n g usage,an important not
it.Hence,
same p a t t e r n f o r m a t i o n g i v i n g :psfch|-out.
r e c e n t l y become a n o t a b l y p o p u l a r
terms as:punster
to
currency
swim-in t o name some.Other p r e p o s i t i o n s
come-on.freak-out.camp-up and - s t e r has
popular
r i g h t s p r o t e s t s began t o g a i n
a t t e n t i o n . S i t - i n was
b e - i n . l a u g h - i n . l o v e - i n and
an
words.Productive
f o r m a t i o n s w i t h - i n as a s u f f i x word have become v e r y national
general
t h e r e i s t h e g r e a t e s t o v e r l a p between sub-group u s a g e .
almost
languages
the
o n l y because of the f a c t o r
of c o n c i s e n e s s but
polysyllabic,
a l s o because i t
t h a t v e r y b r e v i t y t h a t makes i t e f f e c t i v e . A d d i t i o n a l l y , w o r d s
beginning with a f r i c a t i v e popular
o r e x p l o s i v e were by f a r t h e most
i n a l l divisions.Thus,words
h gave c o n s i s t e n t l y h i g h e r c o u n t s F i n a l l y , v i v i d metaphor was of
slang,perhaps
old In
due
S i m i l a r l y today,our regarding
the
cork
characteristic
t o base new
formations
o f t h i s t h e s i s i t was
noted
a marked i n c r e a s e i n t h e a w a r e n e s s o f age
seems t o have a d i s t i n c t i v e
c e n t u r y l e x i c o g r a p h e r s and language.
a frequent
on
on).
language.However,whereas t h e
approach,todays
a l l others.
f o u n d t o be
the i n t r o d u c t o r y paragraphs saw
than
t o slang's tendency
content(e.g.to p u l l
the Renaissance
b e g i n n i n g w i t h p , b . c . f , _ s , and
seventeenth
grammarians a d o p t e d
an
that
language.
consciousness and
eighteenth
authoritarian
movement i n d i c a t e s a g e n e r a l p e r m i s s i v e n e s s
in
114
Nov v e seem t o know enough t o e n j o y p e r c e i v i n g how t h e
language
o f a s u b - c u l t u r e may e n r i c h t h e m a i n s t r e a m o f l a n g u a g e , I n it
i s important
to realize
t h a t news m e d i a - t i e d t o w o r l d s y n d i c a t i o n
a s t h e y are-now h e l p t o d i s s e m i n a t e t h e s e immediately.The
sub-culture variants
a d o p t i o n o f s l a n g and i n f o r m a l usage i n the
newspapers s t u d i e d r e f l e c t s
the m u l t i p l i c i t y of s o c i a l
sub-groups,
t h e mark o f immediacy i n t r a n s m i s s i o n a n d t h e p e r m i s s i v e in
our approach
t o language
t h e f a r more i n c l u s i v e phenomenon
i s another
characteristic
n a m e l y , t h e d o u b t t h a t a n y one t h i n g another,Many s o c i o l o g i s t s
quality
today.
Perhaps t h i s p e r m i s s i v e n e s s i n language
is
particular,
i s in itself
seem t o a s s e r t
aspect of
o f o u r age; better
t h a t what men
than ought t o do
m e r e l y what t h e y c a n be shown t h a t t h e y do d o ; t h e n , f e a s i b l y ,
by extension,what or write.Thereby
men do s a y o r w r i t e i s what t h e y s h o u l d s a y " o b s e r v e d u s a g e " g a i n s d a i l y on s t a n d a r d u s a g e .
FOOTNOTES
1 James S l e d d and Wilma E b b i t t . D i c t i o n a r i e s and ( C h i c a g o : S c o t t , F o r e s m a n and C o ,1962Lp.28.
That D i c t i o n a r y
s
2
S l e d d and
Ebbitt,p.30.
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