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 this t h e s i s as conforming
to the required standard

THE; UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

May,T969
In p r e s e n t i n g this thesis in partial f u l f i l m e n t of the requirements f o r

an advanced degree a t the U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h Columbia, I agree that

the Library shall make i t f r e e l y a v a i l a b l e f o r r e f e r e n c e and Study.

I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis

for s c h o l a r l y p u r p o s e s may be g r a n t e d b y t h e Head o f my Department o r

by his representatives. It i s understood that copying or p u b l i c a t i o n

of this thesis for financial gain shall n o t be a l l o w e d w i t h o u t my

written permission.

Department of Linguistics

The U n i v e r s i t y o f B r i t i s h Columbia
V a n c o u v e r 8, Canada

Date May 30,1969

 ABSTRACT

32*** The VANCOUVER SUN: Mon., Mar. 10, 1969

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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 are,in fact,the

motive f o r t h i s t h e s i s , w h i c h discusses s l a n g and i n f o r m a l usage
in the 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 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 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
arose t h r o u g h the concept of s t a n d a r d i z a t i o n * I n the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries lexicographers and grammarians,
e s p e c i a l l y men like Dr a Samuel J o h n s o n . p r o p o s e d t h a t the English
language should be p u r i f i e d and 11
fixed;"that,in f a c t , i t should
be standardized f o r a l l time.But o n l y dead l a n g u a g e s remain
lifeless;live 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 .
Thus, t h e s e Renaissance pursuers of standardization i n
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 t h e i r e f f o r t s , t h e sub-
standard - the s l a n g , i n f o r m a l and other areas not relegated
to the "cleansed" v e r s i o n . l t was hoped t h a t these vulgarities
would thereby d r o p f r o m use and cease t o i n f i l t r a t e the
standard level of language.However,they d i d not,and they remain
to add much t o the life o f the E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e today.

It was felt t h a t any e x a m i n a t i o n o f how effectively inter-

t w i n e d " s l a n g u a g e " was with t h a t body o f E n g l i s h c a l l e d standard,
w o u l d be best realized through the study o f mewspapers.
Newspapers o c c u p y a s p e c i a l p l a c e i n the realm o f the written
word,a p l a c e n o t far,I believe,from the s p o k e n word.They r e v e a l
the daily s t o r y o f a community i n a c t i o n and interaction,
presenting the discontinuous v a r i e t y and i n c o n g r u i t y of ordinary
life.
Newspapers r e f l e c t on a r a p i d , d a i l y b a s i s t h e multiplicity
of s o c i a l sub-groups,the 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 today.
For purposes 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 into
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 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 the
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 thesis.
Examination of t h i s 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 group
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 their slang
and i n f o r m a l language numerous s u b - g r o u p s are c l e a r l y i n
evidence.lt i s also clear that t h e i r productive vocabulary
changes 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 the language
o f a s u b - c u l t u r e may e n r i c h the mainstream o f l a n g u a g e and by
observation "slanguage" gains d a i l y 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 .
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Abstract i i i
Acknowledgement v
Text:Pure o r S t a n d a r d Language 1
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 1
b) D e f i n i t i o n 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 factors 7
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 into categories 11
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 13
and p e r t i n e n t 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 tradition 110
b) E v i d e n c e i n each 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 whom
my i n i t i a t i o n into the f i e l d of L i n g u i s t i c s may n o t have
occurredoHe 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 to the f i n a l accomplishment of the
project, this thesis w o u l d n o t have b e e n possible*
 1

PURE OR STANDARD LANGUAGE

The major i n t e n t of t h i s t h e s i s i s the examination of slang and

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 news-
p a p e r s . To realize 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 be c a l l e d the motive or u n d e r l y i n g
inspiration f o r the t h e s i s , s t a n d a r d 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 we must
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 Renaissance
tradition initially n u r t u r e d the concept.
While 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 and s c i e n c e s was an
important aspect of the Renaissance,the era d i d not r e s t r i c t
itself t o development 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 or
Academies.Although A c a d e m i e s were f o r m e d everywhere i n Europe
w i t h i n t h i s p e r i o d I t a l y was perhaps 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 A c a d e m i e s were
formed,probably t h e most famous o f w h i c h , a n d t h e one w h i c h concerns
u s t h e most,was t h e A c c a d e m i a d e l l a Crusca.
For 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 were s t i m u l a t e d by the
d e s i r e s of r u l e r s and e x p a n d i n g educated classes to s t a b i l i z e and
e x p l i c a t e the n a t i o n a l l a n g u a g e s . l t was w i t h i n t h e framework o f
the Accademia d e l l a Crusca.however.that the i d e a of standardizing
a national language first arose.A prime purpose of t h i s Academy
was 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 reasoned
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 purifying
a g e n t s upon t h e I t a l i a n language.
In 1612 i t s b y now 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 Crusca
was 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 on the
b a s i s of Tuscan s p e e c h . T h i s was perhaps the f i r s t important
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 t r a d i t i o n w h i c h was t o be
adapted and e m b e l l i s h e d f o r the E n g l i s h language by Dr. Samuel
Johnson more t h a n a c e n t u r y l a t e x .
 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 i d e a l . L i k e the
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 i n t h e i r Vocabolario m e n t i o n e d above,
the French a l s o produced a d i c t i o n a r y , t h e assembling of which
represented the labor o f many a c a d e m i c i a n s f o r many years.
During t h i s period of lexicographic e x p a n s i o n t h e E n g l i s h were
not 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 trend.In fact,
it 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 request f o r some
form of o f f i c i a l 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 the seventeenth century the
influence 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
itself 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 t h e endorsement o f a n t i q u a r i a n s ,
etymologists,important men o f l e t t e r s and the R o y a l S o c i e t y itself,
the pressure f o ra dictionary intensified u n t i l i n the e a r l y
eighteenth century the S o c i e t y e s t a b l i s h e d a committee f o r
improving the E n g l i s h 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 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
pressure f o rthe English-speaking world t o r e a l i z e the
lexicographic ideal first 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 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 as w e l l as
the lexicon i t s e l f , a 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 production
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 to " f i x " a
language as t h e c o n t i n e n t a l Academies had t r i e d t o do.
In h i s preface 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 t r a n s i t o r y and arbitrary qualities

o f l a n g u a g e i t was difficult f o r him t o deny t h e concept of
"fixing" 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 f e e l i n g s on this point,

James S l e d d concludes 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 included

s t a b i l i t y , r e g u l a r i t y and a slow,controlled process of linguistic
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 e x a c t l y what i t s age had demanded
for so l o n g . I t was a standard and a standardizing e d i t i o n which
included a h i s t o r y of the l a n g u a g e , a grammar,and an extensive
lexicon c r i t i c a l l y selected,explained by d i v i d e d and classified
d e f i n i t i o n s and i l l u s t r a t e d with quotations from a u t h o r i t i e s
regarding 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 a thoroughly
prescriptive approach to language,and u n t i l a t l e a s t the third
decade of the n i n e t e e n t h century was w i d e l y a c c e p t e d as a standard
in b o t h method and c o n t e n t . l t was not until the very notion of the
standard and standardizing d i c t i o n a r y was called into question,
some t h r e e quarters of a c e n t u r y l a t e r , t h a t Johnson's authority
b e g a n t o g i v e way to the demand f o r an impartial recording of
words.

We a r e now convinced,of course,that the s e v e n t e e n t h and eight-

teenth c e n t u r i e s had a completely mistaken conception of
l a n g u a g e . M e n o f l e a r n i n g and the educated c l a s s e s i n general had
come t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e i r t i m e had reached an
 4

i d e a l p e r f e c t i o n and only required a l i t t l e p r u n i n g and purifying

at the hands o f t h e lexicographer i n order t o become permanent
and u n c h a n g i n g . I t has long s i n c e been e v i d e n t t h a t the main d u t y
of the lexicographer i s t o r e c o r d and not to c r i t i c a l l y select.
The important c o n t r i b u t i o n t o be gleaned from the philosophical
approach of the educated c l a s s e s of the time(of which Johnson was
the a c t i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ) i s the concept of the standardization
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 extension of the
continental lexicographical tradition and the primary official
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 world.
By definition,standardization automatically excluded anything
outside of t h i s rather rigid c o n c e p t and forced i t to remain
on the f r i n g e s of the 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 or
categories.In Johnson's t i m e , t h e y termed such items vulgarities,
corruptions,secret and f a l s e words.Today,we c a l l them more
specifically slang,informalisms,jargon and argot words.These
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 do k e e p t h e i r l a b e l s until,
t h r o u g h e x t e n d e d use and general social 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 say
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 to the efforts o f Samuel J o h n s o n . W i t h due
respect f o r the i r o n y i n v o l v e d we will examine two of t h e s e m a j o r
sub-areas - slang and informalisms - t h a t add so much t o t h e life
of our language today.
 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 the v e r y concept of

s t a n d a r d i z a t i o n i n language was proposed and a c c e p t e d , e x t r a l e v e l s
o f language 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 two most i m p o r t a n t and comprehensive extra levels
a r e what we term 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 of v o c a b u l a r y
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 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 and
i n f o r m a l usage,on the o t h e r hand,is t h a t level of vocabulary,
which while used 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 not
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 of good,formal usage.
N e i t h e r does i t a p p e a r v e r y o f t e n i n the normal dictionary,since
it 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 of the spoken than
the w r i t t e n record,as well 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 use
in t i m e and space,accepted as s t a n d a r d u s a g e and are thereby
e l e v a t e d from the e x t r a l e v e l to the primary level.
S l a n g o r i g i n a t e s from the tendency o f any l a r g e mass o f people
t o form small,distinctive s o c i a l groups.These may be groups that
work o r p l a y t o g e t h e r o r o t h e r s who may be g r o u p e d together f o r
any p a r t i c u l a r reasons.In each of these s m a l l e r g r o u p i n g s new and
unique concepts w i l l be formed and t h e s e w i l l require a response
on t h e p a r t of language,mostly i n the form of s l a n g e x p r e s s i o n s .
It 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 groupings are substantial
enough i n s i z e t o be o f some s i g n i f i c a n c e and t h a t they are active
members o f t h e p r i n c i p a l culture i n other facets of l i f e , b o t h of
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 group's
s l a n g f o r m a t i o n s t o t h e dominant culture.

Pictorially,as shown b e l o w , s l a n g may be seen a s t h e more p o p u l a r

portion 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 some o f t h e many
sub-groups of s o c i e t y . A n a t u r a l o v e r l a p p i n g i s i n d i c a t e d by the
shaded areas.^
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 slang; r e p r e s e n t s
f l u c t u a t i o n i n language 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 the k i n d of
people who p a r t i c i p a t e i n i t s use.It c l a s s i f i e s us according t o the
g r o u p s t o w h i c h we b e l o n g 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 choice

involved i n the use of slang.Standard 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 find
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 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 and v i t a l , i t i s equally
important t o examine t h e l i n g u i s t i c 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 i s formed by normal l i n g u i s t i c processes found in a l l
living languages,some o f which w i l l be b r i e f l y e n l a r g e d upon
here.Processes 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 t o any
part 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 of changing tense o r
denoting a circumstance of condition;whereas i n compounding two
words aire j o i n e d t o g e t h e r on an e q u a l 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 one word(e.g.motorist+hoteI=motel,smoke*
fog=smog) &)Ab Deviations t h r o u g h b a c k - c l i p p i n g i s done
by c l i p p i n g a s y l l a b l e 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 of the
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 be
pronounced 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 r e m i t t a n c e s t o Europe,VIP - very
important 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 mean assistance-
g i v e me a h a n d , a p e r s o n employed a s a l a b o r e r — h i r e d hand,the hand
o f c a r d s i n a game,to g i v e or pass something)but each v a r i a t i o n i n
meaning i s d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d 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 not d i r e c t l y related t o the basic
concept as above,but related 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 a n d F r e n c h meaning h i n g e , t o
meaning o f b a s i c o r prime 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
of c h i e f 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) c)Specialization i s t h e r e v e r s e whereby a word
loses some o f i t s i n c l u s i v e meanings t o become i d e n t i f i e d w i t h
one 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 c h a i r meaning 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 once meant any l i q u i d b u t now
refers to alcohol only)
d)The 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 shirt,a closed book,
he got pickled)
 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 o r a d d i n g an
i n f i x between the s y l l a b l e s 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 capacity to a different part of speech i s termed
functional shift.Therefore,functional 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 often,but not
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 spelling
(vamoose,cinch,schmo,yen,hooch,pow-wow,-burger all b e i n g borrowed
f r o m S p a n i s h , s o u t h west S t a t e s Spanish,Yiddish,Chinese,North
A m e r i c a n I n d i a n a n d German 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 sounds seem t o be
a b a s i s on w h i c h a d d i t i o n a l new 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 word t h r o u g h t h e
r e p e t i t i o n of a r a d i c a l 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 be
made b y i n d i v i d u a l coinages,rhyming slang,synthetic 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 Standard

Language,language symbolizes the s t r a t i f i c a t i o n of society.
Because i t h e l p e d s o l i d i f y t h e i r social position,the rising middle
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 grammars i n r e t u r n f o r t h e 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 and
labelling 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 i n current
speech,has g a i n e d g r e a t e r and g r e a t e r momentum.Thus,it i s t h e
primary i n t e n t i o n of t h i s 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 split
betveen p r e s c r i p t i v e u s a g e and "observed usage."
As 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 t o use daily
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 s a i d t o be most w i d e l y
r e a d and a c c e p t e d by t h e l a r g e s t c r o s s - s e c t i o n of today's social
groups.Generally,it i s also t h e m a j o r medium i n w h i c h s l a n g and
i n f o r m a l language will be p r i n t e d - t h e r e b y c r e a t i n g ah 'observed"
!

record - since s l a n g and 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 the

spoken l e v e l o f language and n o t a l w a y s on t h e w r i t t e n level.
For 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 used:
The V a n c o u v e r Sun and The Vancouver P r o v i n c e .
Since the c h a r a c t e r of "slanguage" i s by n a t u r e o f t e n transitional
and sometimes r e g i o n a l , i t s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t samples collected
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 are r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of Vancouver,
Canada,during that period.
The 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 a l t h o u g h n o t e v e r y word
or phrase c a n be 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 so much
t o the s h e e r volume o f a r t i c l e s over the s a m p l i n g p e r i o d as i t i s
to the n a t u r a l element of s u b j e c t i v i t y i n choice,whereby one must
recognize h i s personal involvement with slang.
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 samples f o u n d f e l l under
the d e f i n i t i o n s o f s l a n g and i n f o r m a l i s m s no e f f o r t was made t o
c l a s s i f y any further into the smaller but e q u a l l y v a l i d sub-areas
of neologisms,archaisms,portmanteau words,loan words and so on.
Instead,words 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 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
p l a c e where t h a t p a r t i c u l a r 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 the
definition o f s l a n g and i n f o r m a l i s m s .
 Extensive c a t e g o r i z i n g d i d occur,however,within the subject areas
of the papers themselves.That 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
to i t s specific source area:Entertainment,Editorials,Sports,Comics,
Finance,General A r e a s a n d so o n . T h i s was done t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r
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 o f p a r t i c u l a r news a r e a s may
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 "observed
usage" over " c o r r e c t usage"whether each a r e a has developed and i s
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 f a c t , t h e r e i s any
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 a r e a s * I t should a l s o
be remarked t h a t as w e l l as b e i n g c a t e g o r i z e d as t o s u b j e c t area
all u n i t s are arranged a l p h a b e t i c a l l y w i t h i n each category*
Finally,it was f o u n d 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 items
accumulated a v a s t corpus numbering i n t h e thousands.Thus,the final
selection o f forms p r e s e n t e d represent a further r e s t r i c t e d
sampling through the posing 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 appear?How
representative are they o f t h e most r e c e n t s l a n g ? I n many cases
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 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 I relied strongly
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 Wentworth a n d F l e x n e r ,
The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary.Webster s 1
New I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Dictionary - third 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 b y Hyman G o 1 d i n ,
Frank O'Leary and M o r r i s Lipsius.
 12

ABBREVIATIONS

(A)Avis e t a l . D i c t i o n a r y of Canadian English).

adj. adjective,attributive adjiective.
adv. adverb.
Brit. British,Briton.
c. c i r c a , a b o u t .
Cf. Compare,confer.
Co. Company.
deriv. derivative,derived,
dial, dialect,-al.
e. g. f o r example,
esp. especially.
f. from.
F February.
fig. figuratively.
Fr. French.
Ger. German.
(GOL)Goldin e t a l . A D i c t i o n a r y o f American Underworld Lingo.
J 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.
S Sun n e w s p a p e r
P P r o v i n c e newspaper,
usu. usually
perh. perhaps,
vb. verb.
phr. phrase,
(WF)Wentworth and F l e x n e r .
pi. plural,
D i c t i o n a r y o f American Slang.
poss. possibly,
WYI W o r l d War I
pp. p a s t participle,
WWII W o r l d War I I
prob. probably,
1 t o 31 d a t e s o f newspaper
ref. reference;
edition.
spec, specifically.
+ 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 back-clipping,see#173.595.
2. A i r l i f t / e r l x f t / n. S 29 J
the c a r r y i n g o f goods b y a i r p l a n e t r a n s p o r t t o an area
otherwise c u t o f f from accessibility.
P r o b a b l y WW I I o r i g i n w i t h the advent of the Berlin
airlift and now used w i t h the same c o n n o t a t i o n f o r modern
day "Berlins."
Compound f o r m e d 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 lift
(something)by air,becomes to a i r l i f t ( v e r b ) , t h e n airlift(noun)
3. A11-Time / o l - t a y m / a d j . S 29 J
understood t o r e f e r to being the best person or t h i n g within
a d e f i n e d category thus f a r i n recorded history,
as i n i ' A t t h e end o f t h e f o r t i e s he was c o n s i d e r e d t o be the
all-time 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 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 of
a l l - t i m e becomes a l l - t i m e champion.
A l s o by a n a l o g y t o forms:all-out,all-over,etc.
4. A q u a n a u t / akwenot / n . S 17 F
a man who 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 navigates
the sea depths i n a submarine or r e s e a r c h g l o b e .
Compound made up o f two bound morphemes:aqua- + -naut
Compare m o d e l s : argonaut,astronaut(stars-USA),cosmonaut(uni-
verse-USSR); 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 person.
C o l l o q u i a l . A meaning change.
6. Back up o r s h u t up / bak Xp o r sAt Ap / vb. S 1 F
show s u p p o r t f o r y o u r statements o r be silent f r o m now on.
-up s u f f i x has a v a r i e t y o f u s e s , r e t a i n s much ofits
s t a n d a r d meaning and i s commonly added t o v e r b s o r nouns
to 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 or confused s t a t e ( e . g . f o u l u p ) .
7. B a f f l e g a b / b a f e l g a b / n. P 12 F
the 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. S m i t h o f t h e U.S. Chamber o f Commerce
in 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 n o t my bag man."
?

Orig.jazz 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 .

Cf. 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 by the f e d e r a l
government a s an a d m i n i s t r a t i v e 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 one's o p i n i o n or
vote u n t i l the m a j o r i t y 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 someone else.
Colloquial since d890.
-out 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 s t r o n g muscular person.
Orig. 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 / b e k i y n i y / n . S 27 J
any 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 suit,shorts
or other sports clothes.(WF)
Since 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 o r pushed into it;as i n :
"The 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 ' b i l l y g o a t ' who b u t t s h i s way
through 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 publically;damned.(WF)
-ed 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 disposal
expert,or other technical expert.(e.g.on radar,etc.)
23. Booby t r a p / buwbiy t r a p / n . S 4 M
a practical j o k e j a dangerous surprise;a trap to catch
stupid people.(P)
Since 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 jargon o f booking a
prisoner o r s u s p e c t , s o - c a l l e d because t h e y e n t e r h i s name
in a record book.
25. B r a i n w a s h e d / b r e y n w a s t / a d j . S 29 J
the s t a t e 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 / bras / n. S 4 F
An 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 stroke o f f a t e ; e i t h e r good o r b a d .
Colloquial 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 giving h i s usual advice
to a loved one,"Never g i v e a sucker 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 or the like.(WF)
Written b o t h h y p h e n a t e d a n d unhyphenated;more common without
thus i n d i c a t i n g a s o l i d acceptance of t h i s compound.
29. B u c k e t shops / bXkat 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 stocks
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 bordering on s w i n d l i n g .
Financial jargon.
30. Bug / bXg; / v b . S 20 F
concealing a microphone o r o t h e r recording device i n order
to record a conversation without 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 to forcing others into s i t u a t i o n s through h i s
aggressive 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 this case forming a nickname;
can a l s o be an a d j . f o r m i n g suffix.
 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 in:"¥hen we
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 on a r e a l bummer."
Poss. r e l a t e d t o t h e German Bummler:an i d l e r or tramp;or
f r o m bum a d j . ( a s i n a bum n a p . a bum s t e e r . a bum ride)+ - e r
described below.
-er s u f f i x , n o u n forming,meaning a person or t h i n g associated
with;a person or t h i n g ; a person or thing doing something;
or i t s i m p l y adds l e n g t h t o convey a more slangy,colloquial,
or flippant effect.
33. Bums / bXmz / 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 little
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 occupation,goal i n life,
or social prestige.(WF)(P)
Common s i n c e 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 derelict
and h a b i t u a l drunkard.
See #32
34. Bung up / hAn A$ / vb. S 25 F
to ruin or s p o i l a p l a n or the s u c c e s s f u l completion of a
t a s k ; e s p . by blundering.(WF)(P)
Cf. Gum 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 the eyes w i t h a
blow- C1900.
-up suffix,see #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 intrusion.
P o s s . by analogy t o a b i l l y g o a t ' s action.
36. C a n ' t h a c k i t / k a n t hak i t / vb. S 13 F
"he c a n ' t hack i t " means t h a t he i s u n a b l e t o cope w i t h
a situation or predicament.
Note t h a t 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 earlier
phrase "He can't take t t . "
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 / rt. S 29 J
one who 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 d875.A compound,
-er 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 F
a couch;a long a r t i c l e of f u r n i t u r e capable of s e a t i n g
several people.(A)
A f t e r a nineteenth century E a r l of Chesterfield.
A Canadianism.
39. Chomp / comp / v b . P 24 F
to 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 . S 14 F
teeth,spec, 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 . S 19 F
a line,as 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 admitted
t o an e a t i n g p l a c e o r w a i t i n g t o be served(cafeteria style).
(¥F)(P)
A compound.Common WWI AND WWII u s a g e .
Orig. poss. f . Chinese r a i l r o a d w o r k e r s i n t h e West
where t h e Chinese 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 . S 31 J
a c i t y dweller.spec, a shrewd,worldly,stylishly dressed one,
regarded by r u r a l p e o p l e as a swindler.(WF)
-er suffix,see #32.
43. Clam up / k l a m JLp / v b . S 3 F
to r e f r a i n from t a l k i n g or to stop t a l k i n g ; t o refuse to
disclose information,esp. to the p o l i c e or judge.(GOL)
Since c1900.
-up suffix,see #6.
 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 phrase:
clueless 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 # 244.
45. Cob / k o b / n . P 28 P
a corncob 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 local
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 : /corn/cob.
46. G o l d snap / k o w l d snap / n . S 1 F
a sudden drop i n the temperature causing a short period
of cold weather.
Compound. A f i j g * u s e of snap.
47. C o l l o g r a p h / k o I © g r a f / n . S 30 J
a p r i n t which i s t a k e n from a c o l l a g e surface(e.g. a collage
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 removed,leaving an
impression of the c o l l a g e s u r f a c e . )
Neologism and P o r t m a n t e a u compound:coll(age) + (lith)ograph.
48. Con A r t i s t / kon a r t i s t / n . S 30 J
one who tricks,fools o r p e r s u a d e s a n o t h e r t o do something
not 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 the
c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the underworld;hence a l s o the verb con:
" He conned me i n t o l e n d i n g him my c a r f o r t h e weekend."
49. Con £ a m e / kon 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 o f e a r n i n g e a s y money;
unethical 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 or illegal.
Orig. underworld slang 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 suggests
any a c t i v i t y and o f t e n takes the p l a c e o f - i n g t o f o r m nouns
from v e r b s .
51•Conk o u t / k o n k awt / v b , S 30 J
to break down and stop running;to t i r e s u d d e n l y ; t o become
exhausted.(¥F)(P)
Colloquial since C1918.
-out s u f f i x word,see #11.
52. Cook y o u r goose / kuk y©r guws / v b . S 1 F
to put y o u r s e l f i n an u n p l e a s a n t s i t u a t i o n through your
own a c t i o n s or words;to s p o i l your chances f o r anything.
O r i g . p o s s . by l i t . analogy.
53. C o o l i t / kuwl i t / v b . S 8 F
to remain calm,unpreturbed,relaxed;aloof to a situation.
Usu. s a i d t o someone who i s getting excited,as in:"Cool
itjJohn."
F o r use of i t without antecedent see #36.
54. C o p p e r - o u t e r s / koper-awt©rz / n. S 7 F
t h o s e who bow out of a s i t u a t i o n ; p e r s o n s abandonning a
plan or event.
Cf. cop-out,#389.
-er suffix,see #32.
55. Cops / k o p s / n . p l . P 18 F
the 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 / v b . S 29 J
t o p a y , p a y up or pay o v e r money;to come f o r t h w i t h or
present,as a c o n f e s s i o n of g u i l t •(WF)(P)
Since c 1400.
-up suffix,see#6.
57. C o v e r / k X v d r / n . S 27 J
a false concealment o f one t h i n g by a n o t h e r so t h a t the
true s i t u a t i o n may escape d e t e c t i o n o r punishment.(WF)
as in:"He blew h i s c o v e r . " ( s a i d of a spy).
Since 61810.
Functional shift.
58. Crackdown / krakdawn / n . S 30 J
a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h one takes admonitory or punitive
a c t i o n a g a i n s t someone;to 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 to put,drop
or plunk 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 M
more l i a b l e 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 . S 31 J
t o c h e a t ; t o do something a g a i n s t someone's w i s h e s . ( W F ) ( G O L )
Cf. doublecross #74.
Underworld s l a n g . A meaning change.
61. Crumby / k r A m i y / a d j . S 20 F
dirty;contemptible;repulsive;disgusting.(WF)(P)
Common u s e since c1840.
The spelling crummy i s more common,prob. j u s t a p h o n e t i c
spelling f o r crumby,
-y suffix,see#31.
62oCrummy / kr-imiy / a d j . S 7 F
of poor quality;unsatisfactory.

From crumby.see #61,a variant.

63. Dead g i v e a w a y / ded gxyawey / n . P 8 F
a total,unwitting betrayal or r e v e l a t i o n o f something secret.
Fig. and emphatic use of dead;Cf. the phrase "dead c e n t e r "
64. D e a d l i n e / d e d l a y n / n . S 1 F
a specific time 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
be 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 . S 18 F
t o b a r g a i n o r do a , d e a l f o r something or w i t h someone;
to haggle.
Poss. - e r s u f f i x here,see #32.
 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 <Jrack / d a r t i y k r a k / n . P 25 F
a s h o r t , o f t e n humorous c r i t i c i s m ; a n audacious remark;
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 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 case;
" God damn it!"
Here 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 Deckwort
of 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 h a b i t w h i l e d o i n g something else,
- e d s u f f i x , s e e #17.
 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* #60.
75*Dove / dXv / n. S 1 P
one who 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 who
w i l l not probably be able t o improve h i s way of l i f e , ( V P )
- e r suffix,see#32; -out s u f f i x , s e e #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 trade.(WF)(P)
F i g * use of drum.
-up s u f f i x word,see #6.
81. Expo / ekspow/ n . S 26 F
Exposition,
An a b b r e v i a t i o n by baek-clipping:expo/sition/
The reference i s to the E x p o s i t i o n 1967 held at Montreal.
82. F a i l s a f e / f e y a l s e y f / a d j . S 8 F
safe from the p o s s i b i l i t y o f any mistakes occurring.
N e o l o g i s m and portmanteau eompound:fai1(ure) + safe.
C f . model o f b u r g l a r proof.
83. Fakement / f e y k m a n t / n . S 4 M
a forgery;a dishonest p r a c t i c e , a s i n any trade,action,
thing or contrivance.(P)
Since C1850.
From f a k e ( a sham,deception) + -ment.
84. Farm o u t / f a r m O v t / vb. S 7 M
t o l e t o u t t o someone,usu. s a i d of a c o n t r a c t or article
which i s rented to someone f o r a fee.
Generalizing o f meaning by a n a l o g y t o the orig. meaning,
farming acreage outside o f y o u r own,by r e n t i n g i t .
-out suffix,see #11.
85. F a t cat / f a t k a t / n . p l . P 29 J
a p e r s o n who has f a m e , w e a l t h and luxuries;a well-off
p e r s o n i n modern s o c i a l 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 F
persons having strong support f o r t h e p e o p l e who form the
national government.
Abbreviation through b a c k - c l i p p i n g : f e d e r a l i s t s /
87. F e d up / fedAp / adj. S 4 F
bored;sated;disgusted(WF)(P)
From B r i t i s h s l a n g , o r i g . a v e r s i o n of the French j'en a i soupe
-up suffix,see #6.
88. F e e d b a c k / f i y d b a k / n . P 20 F
information response to i n f o r m a t i o n a l r e a d y given or a
situation already 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 today,"
Formed b y a n a l o g y t o feedback,see # 88,
90. F i n k s / f i n k s / n . p l . S 8 F
a contemptible person;an undesirable,unwanted or
unpleasant person.
Common s i n c e d925.Orig. a strikebreaker or scab:f. the
Yiddish f i n k . l i t , 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 dullard.(F)
Since 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 s u f f i x word,see #6.
93. F l o w e r c h i l d r e n / f l a w a r c i l d r a n / n . P 24 M
t h o s e members o f o f f b e a t s o c i e t y who associate themselves
with the q u a l i t i e s of flowers:back to nature,sweet,loving,
and s e r e n e . T h u s , l i t . the c h i l d r e n of the f l o w e r s .
94. Funnymoney / fXniyminiy / n© S 27 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 substituted for
real currency.
Rhyming reduplication.
9 5 . F u z z / f A z / n . P 18 F
the p o l i c e ; a 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 used i t in 1946.
96. Gang up on / ganXp on / v b . S 7 F
to u n i t e against someone,as i n a f i g h t or the like.(WF)
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 .
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 c1945.
Orig. 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. 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
but 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 generations*
Fig. 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 functions.

Fig. use of handle.

100.Get o f f t h e p o t / g e t o f & p o t / vb© S 20 F

to quit fooling 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 i n the assignment.
Poss. drug a d d i c t 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 generally.
Fig. 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 c a n mean
success o r f a i l u r e ; o n e ' s angle o r sub-motive;a 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 glue,
becomes t o g l u e s n i f f , t h e n glue sniffing.
107. G o b b l e d y g o o k / g o b l d i y g u w k / n . S 14 F
nonsense;gibberish.
Onomatopoetic 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
by a t u r k e y . C f b a f f l e g a b #7.
108. Go-get / 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) s u f f i x , s e e #31.
110. Grab-bag / 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 or entertainer,whose
accomplishments 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© t o a white boxer a b l e
to beat negro Jack Johnson.
112. Gum up / g i m ^ p / vb, S 15 F
to ruin or s p o i l a p l a n or the s u c c e s s f u l completion of a
t a s k , e s p . by 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 F
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 + ness.
116. Hand-out / hand-awt / n . S 12 M
something 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 1840.
P o s s , formed on model h o k e y - p o k e y .
Rhyming reduplication.
118Happening / h a p d n i n g / n . P 14 M
a happening i s any situation i n which something happens;
initially limited t o the o f f b e a t segment o f s o c i e t y and
their social occurrences c a l l e d "happenings>"Now i n g e n e r a l
use.
Orig. i n jazz slang.
119 H a r d - c o r e / 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 core a f t e r a l l the
frills have been t a k e n away;as i n : " T h e h a r d - c o r e policy
o f t h e U.S.A. was ...."
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, hawkish.
Cf© dove.#75.for background,
123. H e a d s h r i n k e r s / h e d s r i g k d r z / n . p l , S 18 F
professional 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 o f S. A m e r i c a n
headshrinking t r i b e s , s u c h as the J i v a r o 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 some-
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 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 o r t h e f t ; u s u . an armed
robbery by p r o f e s s i o n a l thieves.(WF)(GOL)
From " h o i s t " i n underworld u s e m e a n i n g , t o s t e a l an
expensive item.
126. H e l l 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 out.(WF)(P)
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 r u s t i c , s u c h a s one who l i v e s i n
the southern h i l l s 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 commercial,material.political
and a l l physical and i n t e l l e c t u a l reality,intensely
believing i n and p r o t e c t i n g only the true,nonemotional,
nonsocial,amoral i d e n t i t y he has.(WF)
Orig. jazz slang
The 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 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 )
Fig. f . c1948.
130. 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. models l i k e hocuspocus.hokey-pokey
132. H o o t c h / huwc / n . S 11 M
liquor,esp. inferior homemade o r cheap whisky.(WF)
O r i g . a Canadianism,f. I n d i a n term hootchinoo.an Indian
people o f s o u t h A l a s k a and T l i n g i t t r i b e ' s hutsnuwu,lit.
g r i z z l y bear fort.
Back-clipping 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 / n. S 12 F
one who has an interest i n and drives a stock car that h as
had i t s engine r e b u i l t or m o d i f i e d so t h a t t h e car i s
f a s t e r and more p o w e r f u l than the original design.(WF)
Since d 9 5 0 , w i d e t e e n a g e and student use.
-er suffix,see #32.
135. H o t s e a t / h o t s i y t / n. S 18 F
o r i g i n a l l y the electric c h a i r or witness stand in a court-
room;now any uncomfortable s i t u a t i o n , u s u . i n which one
is being questioned.
Compound.
136. H o t s h o t / h o t s o H / n. S 20 F
an important,active,successful person;a s k i l l f u l person
who takes risks to s u c c e e d and does s u c c e e d t o become
important,self-assured and proud.(WF)(P)
From h o t - s h o t . o n e who shoots e a g e r l y or s u c c e s s f u l l y
with a 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 above
t h e w a t e r on a self-created a i r cushion.
Neologism.Compound by 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 water
on an air cushion.
A compound of word e l e m e n t h y d r o - + foil.
Neologism.Cf. hovercraft,see #137.
1 3 9 . I n h o c k / i n hok / vb. S 13 F
t o be i n hock means t o be indebted t o someone m a t e r i a l l y
or immaterially.
Orig. hock:pawnshop.
140.In t h e black / i n b l a k / n. S 26 F
operating a business at a profit;making money.
From t h e dark or b l a c k c o l o r e d i n k bookkeepers use on the
credit side of the ledger.
Cf. i n the red,#142.
 33

1 4 1 . I n t h e h o l e / i n &3 howl / n . P 12 F
in 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 money.
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 on t h e deficit
side of the l e d g e r .
Cf. i n the b l a c k , #140.
143.Iron-on / ayern-on / adj. S U M
a f f i x e d with a hot iron,usu. patches on p a n t s , e t c .
144. Jack-hammer / j a k - h a m d r / v b . 8 30 J
t o f o r c e an i s s u e t o c o n c l u s i o n , a s in:"He jack-
hammered a b i l l through t h e House today."
Orig. i n c o n s t r u c t i o n workers j a r g o n .
Functional shift.
145. J e r k / jXrk / n . S 19 F
an i n e f f e c t u a l , f o o l i s h or unknowingly d u l l youth or man.
Poss. o r i g . w i t h r a i l r o a d use where i t meant a s h o r t
branch 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. reinforced
by t h e number o f j o l t s and jerks traine make on s u c h a
railway line;orig. j e r k w a t e r , t o take on w a t e r w h i l e i n
motion by s c o o p i n g i t from a t t r o u g h between t h e rails.
146. J e r r y b u i l t / j e r i y bilt / a d j . S 20 F
unsubstantially built;poorly constructed.(P)
Colloquial since cl880.
Poss. orig. 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. f o r m e d on model o f p a s s e n g e r liner.railliner.etc.
and relating to airliner.
148. J o h n s / j o n z / n . S 4 F
a toilet.esp. a public t o i l e t f o r males.(WF)
149. K e t t l e o f f i s h / k e t S l &v f i s / n. S 7 F
a predicament or s i t u a t i o n , e s p . a confused one.(P)
Poss. f. Scottish.kettle of fish.meaning a 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,or the q u a l i t i e s or acts characteristic
of t h a t denoted by the r o o t 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 leader;
u s u . h a s an u n d e r w o r l d 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 to.(WF)
Fig. use,functional shift.
155. L a n d 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.
156. L a r k i t up / l a r k i t £p / vb. S 7 F
t o have a good 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 #6.
157. L e a d - p i p e c i n c h / l e d payp s i n e / n . S 12 F
something e a s y ; a n y t h i n g o r anyone c e r t a i n of success.
Colloquial since c1875;f. the c i n c h o f a saddle which
secures i t , o r i g . of lead-pipe uncertain.
158. L i p p y / l i p i y / a d j . S 20 F
ins 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 / l o k - i n / n. S 4 M
a 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 through back-clipping:loco/motives/.
161. L o o k - i n / l u k - i n / n . S 13 F
a brief visit 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
cursory 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 inspection,whether cursory or protracted.
Colloquial since c1925.
Poss. o r i g . 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 . , by h i m s e l f ,
without taking others i n t o h i s confidence.
Both a derogatory 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 like serious books,music,theater
etc.Now a more general a p p l i c a t i o n t o t h e modern d a y
haircuts with 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 native
irregular of India,hence a bandit.
166. L o s e y o u r c o o l / l u w z y o r k u v l / vb.phr. S 1 P
io lose composure;t» l o s e t h a t s t a t e o f mind charac-
t e r i z e d by detachment,disdain f o r emotional involvement
and a d i s t a n t and reserved rather than e n t h u s i a s t i c atti-
t u d e t o w a r d s p e r s o n s and ideas.
Functional shift;Cf. cool it.#53.
Used b y " c o o l " groups t h a t f l o u r i s h e d i n the mid-1950 s. f

167. L o s s - l e a d e r / l o s - l i y d 9 r /n. S 26 F
an article s o l d by a store at l e s s than cost so as to
attract customers who,it i s hoped,will a l s o buy 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 b o l / n. S 6 F
t o have a l o t on the b a l l means t o be alert and have
vitality and ability;to be i n t h e know;to be hep.(YF)
First pop. associated w i t h bfep and cool use,student use
since c1935.
Prob. derived f. baseball.
169. L o u s y / l a w s i y / a d j . S 12 F
bad;horrible;worthless;extremely inferior.(P)
Colloquial since d860.
From l o u s e + -v, s u f f i x ( s e e #31 )•
same s h i f t o f meaning.
170. LP / e l p i y / n . P 11 F
long play records.
An acronym where t h e first two letters o f e a c h word
a c t as an a b b r e v i a t i o n w h i c h now s t a n d s as a word.
A c t u a l l y a patterned trademark of the C a p i t o l Recording Co
171. LSD / e l e s d l y / n. S 20 F
lisergic acid diethylamide p o t e n t but non-addictive
hallucinogenic drug.
An acronym:initials are t a k e n from the o r i g . Ger. name-
l y serg- saure-diaethylamid.
Cf. acid #1.
Common s i n c e d 9 6 2 ; s t u d e n t and addict use.
172. M e g a p o l i t a n / megepoWtan / 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 metro-
p o l i t a n a r e a of a 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 / m i k i y / n. S 8 P
a 13 oz. b o t t l e 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 Irishman;a potato;a potato
b r e w - f . an I r i s h m a n ' s reputation for drinking or always
being with liquor.
-l74.Milked / 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 and
artifice;to t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f some one through 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 of experience into

the e x t r a - c o n c i o u s l e v e l of experience.
Prob. a natural derivative f . m i n d - b l o w i n g and mind-exp-
anding, which through r e p e a t e d use and extended application
have l o s t their descriptive p o w e r ; a l l a r e b a s e d upon or
translated 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 F
a hodgepodge;a m i x t u r e composed o f many i n g r e d i e n t s , e s p .
a poorly integrated 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 variation.
Orig. mash.
178. M o c c a s i n t e l e g r a p h / mokdsin t e l e g r a f / n. S J 30
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 amongst I n d i a n s ;
(orig. I n d i a n s wore m o c c a s i n s and sent important
i n f o r m a t i o n by runner).
179/Mod / m o d / a d j . S 19 F
modem;up 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. f . mod s t y l e f i r s t worn b y t h e mods o f t h e mods
and rockers 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 of a i r s h i p . s p a c e s h i p . e t c .
181. The most / $e mowst / n . S 7 F
the best;the most e x c i t i n g ; t h e most up t o d a t e person
or 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 / n . S 30 J
the a c t of spreading 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 c o l l e g e s o r separate
schools 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 / n . S 13 F
the basics or e s s e n t i a l s of any situation,predicament,
action,etc.;the hard,unvarnished 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 / S 1 F
nothing t o be c o n c e r n e d a b o u t ; e a s i l y accomplished.
Fig. orig. 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 t o southpaw.see #734.
189.Oddball / 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 nonconformist.(WF)
A compound f r o m odd + b a l l t C f . screwball.
190.Off-the-cuff / df-^e-kXf / a d j . S 20 F
informally;extemporaneouslyjunrehersed.
O r i g . poss. f . the habit of w r i t i n g b r i e f notes on t h e
shirt 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. P 21 F
the 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 public
complaints of a general or s p e c i f i c nature,usu. laid
against o r g a n i z a t i o n s and b o d i e s of a higher,
unapproachable o r d e r , s u c h as governments.
From S w e d i s h , v i a New Z e a l a n d English.
193.One-upmanship / wJlin Xpmdnsip / n. S 10 F
b e i n g one s t e p a h e a d o f y o u r f e l l o w b e i n g i n any f a c e t
of 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 f e l l o w being.
O r i g . a coinage by Stephen P o t t e r .
194.On t h e stump / on cte stXmp / S 24 F
on t h e campaign circuit.(P)
Orig. 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 a s he
travelled around the country.
195.Operation cleanup / opareys»n kliynvtp / n. P 7 F
an 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 on an o p i n i o n . p r i n c i p l e . e t c .
N o r t h American d i a l , 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 s i n c e C1899.
Kilter i s a variation of kelter.meaning good condition
or order.
199.Out o f y o u r mind / awt a v y o r maynd / S 29 J
ecstatic about something,so e c s t a t i c that i t fig.
borders 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 / o w v a r - p r o v d k e y s S n / n . S 12 M
an 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 giving such
terms a s : o v e r - e a t . o v e r - s l e e p . a n d over-step;Cf.over-
reaction #201.
201.Over-reaction / owvar-riyaksan / n . S 13 M
a response t o something 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 + i s now commonly a p p l i e d
in 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 / vb. S 31 J
to pass onto someone e l s e a p r o b l e m , a responsibility,
or a person having a problem requiring attention.(WF)
Colloquial since c1900.
204. P a y l o a d / p e y l o w d / n . S 6 F
any desired result s u c h as money,the c o r r e c t answer,
the s o l u t i o n t o a problem or the like.
Orig. f . the l i t . application i n m i n i n g : t o d i g down u n t i l
paydirt o r t h e mother l o d e was h i t ;hence p a v l o a d .
205. P e e l / p i y l / v b . S 27 F
to undress,esp. t o do a s t r i p t e a s e on t h e stage.(P)
By analogy to the p e e l i n g of f r u i t ; c o l l o q u i a l since c1800.
206. P i c t u r e / p x k c O r / n . S 27 J
a comprehensive 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 relationships pertaining
t o the 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 F
the police.
Since c1848,criminal use.
209oPipedream / paypdriym / n. S 4 F
any p l a n , s c h e m e , g o a l i d e a or i d e a l that i s as unrealistic
a s t h e dreams o f an opium a d d i c t a f t e r 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. 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 the
military 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 F
the doldrums;in a state of m i l d d e p r e s s i o n .
Onomatopoetic f o r m a t i o n .
 42

212. PM / piyem / n. S 7 M
Prime M i n i s t e r .
an acronym;the f i r s t l e t t e r i n each vord.
213. Pop c u l t u r e / pop k A l c a r / n. S 20 P
popular 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 fashions.
2l4*>Pommy b a s t a r d / p o m i y b a s t a r d / 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
nonsense.
A euphemism.
216. P o s t i e s / p o w s t i y z / n . p l . S 7 F
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 goalkeeper.etc.
Abbrviation through back-clipping:Post/man/ + - i e suffix.
For - i e s u f f i x see #31.
217. Pound t h e s i d e w a l k / pawnd &8 saydwok / v b . S 1 F
t o walk the s t r e e t s i n search of a j o b or i n order to
beg from passers by.(WF)
218. P r a n k s t e r s / pra*}kstarz / n . p l . P 24 F
practical jokers.
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 suffix of agency
j o i n e d t o nouns and often g i v i n g a derogatory connotation.
C f . p u n s t e r #227.
219. P r e - f a b b e d / p r i y - f a b d / a d j . S 26 F
c u s t o m c u t and ready to assemble.
A b b r e v i a t i o n : f a b / r i c aft/ed.
-ed i s a pp. o r an adj. forming suffix.
220. P r e x i e s / p r e k f s i y z / n . p l . P 21 F
u n i v e r s i t y or business presidents.
Abbreviation for presidents,
-ie suffix see #31•
221. P r o / prow / n. S 29 J
a p r o f e s s i o n a l i n any line o f work.
Abbreviation:pro/fessional/.
222, P s y c h e o u t / s a y k awt / vb, S 12 F
to lose control through fearjto lose one's nerve;
to understand another's deeper p s y c h o l o g i c a l motivations
and t o c a u s e him to f a l t e r or lose control.
-out suffix see #11,
223, P u l l the c o r k on / pul4f2fe k o r k on / vb, S 29 J
to i n t e n t i o n a l l y 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 leakage,
224, P u l l o u t / puloVt / n . S 6 F
a departure;a complete v i t h d r a ^ L from a situation,(P)
Compound;colloquial s i n c e C1880,
-out suffix see #11,
225. P u n c h o u t / p i n e awt / vb. S 14 F
to f i g h t someone and s u c c e s s f u l l y beat them u p ; t o win
a fight.
Orig. f . an o f f i c e or factory;workers punching a time
c a r d a s he begins o r l e a v e s work,
-out suffix see #11.
226. P u n c h t h r o u g h / pAnc © r u w / v b . S 30 J.
to put something through w i t h a c o n n o t a t i o n of f o r c e
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 an
access route to the highway."
Orig. 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 #144.
227. P u n s t e r / p A n s t a r / n . P 29 M
a p e r s o n who tells puns.(WF)
-ster suffix see #218.
228. P u s h on / pus 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
to other points w a i t i n g f o r consideration.
F i g . use of push.
229. P u t 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 something
fake i s real.(VP)'
Orig. 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.
231. P u t on i c e / p u t on a y s / v b . S 3 P
to postpone (WF)
Fig. use.
232. Quack / kwak / n . S 24 F
an u n e t h i c a l person passing himself o f f a s a know-
ledgeable doctor.(P)
Since C1660.
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 business or occupation;a swindle;
here spec, r e f e r r i n g to the i l l e g a l holding of a person
to be r e t u r n e d 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 on / v b . S 6 M
informing o r s q u e a l i n g on.
Orig. 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 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 liquor.
Since 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 tomato j u i c e S C a l g a r y redeye','
237. R e g u l a r s / regy©l©rz / n . S 1 F
those 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 .
Cf. habitues(French).
Functional shift.
238. R i n g / 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 purpose,
as i n : "The dope r i n g i s operating i n t h e e a s t end o f
Vancouver."
239. R o c k e t e e r / r o k a t i y r / n. S 18 F
a p e r s o n who is 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 .
240. R o u g h i n g i t / rXfin i t / n. S 24 F
doing something in a difficult manner;it i s implied that
there i s an e a s i e r way t o do t h e t a s k b u t one chooses
t o t a k e t h i s more d i f f i c u l t route.
F o r use of i t without antecedent,see #36.
241 .Roughneck / r i f f n e k / n . S 13 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 . i f burly.(WF)(P)
Orig. circus use;colloquial.
242. Rubber c h e c k e r y / rXber cekariy / n. P 12 F
the w r i t i n g of checks t h a t are r e t u r n e d t o the writer
because 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 in:thievery.roguery.
F i g . use of rubber i n reference to the slang e x p r e s s i o n
used 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 s p e l l i n g : c h e c k f o r cheque,
-ery suffix see #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 outer,often with a
connotation of a drunkard.
Abbrviation f . rub/bing/ alcohol.
Reduplication with p a r t i a l rhyme,
-y. s u f f i x see #31.
244. Rube /ruwb / n. 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 r u r a l name;Cf. c l o t s #44,
hillbilly #127.
245.Sawy / 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 s a v e r . t o know.
Colloquial since d865.
246.Saved-off / s o d - o f / a d j . S 11 F
annoyed 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 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 action
or relation;Cf. finish off.sign off.etc.
247.Seepage / s i y p e j f / n . P 27 P
any substance t h a t has 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 usage.
From seep = -age 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 J
to become a t r a i t o r ; t o compromise one's i d e a l s or
beliefs because of f e a r or f o r other reasons;to
renounce one's p r i n c i p l e s f o r t h e sake of moetary gain,
-out suffix see #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 of a settlement,town or c i t y , t h a t i s run-down
shoddy 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 of a f r e i g h t train;
or hobo u s e o f t h e t e r m t o meah a m e e t i n g place.
Cf. use 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
district 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 o r work methods.(P)
Since d885;colloquial.
-up 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 F
a town o f s h a c k s ; a group o f s h a c k s and makeshift
dwellings on t h t o u t s k i r t s o f a city.(WF)
Cf. shacktown #251.
S h a n t y f r o m Cdn. F r . c h a n t i e r or I r i s h sean t i g h / s a n t
(an o l d house).
256. Shape up / s'eyp Ap /vb S 1 K
to p u l l oneself together;to organize o n e s e l f and begin
working properly.
-up s u f f i x wors,see #6.
257.Sharks / sarks / n . p l . S 4 M
unethical operators i n the money l e n d i n g field who
charge a high r a t e of i n t e r e s t , t h e exact amount of
which i s o f t e n hidden from the borrower.(P)
F i g . use;also loan sharks.
2 5 8 . S h e a r - i n / s i y r - i n / n. S 3 M
a gathering o f h i p p i e s and longhairs generally for a
haircutting spree.
-in suffix,patterned after s i t - i n , s e e #27t.
2 5 9 . S h i n n y up / siniy.Xp / vb. S 7 M
to climb.
From s h i n + -y, s u f f i x ( s e e #31).
-up s u f f i x word,see #6.
260.Ship-shape / s i p - s e y p / adj. P 25 M
fine;ready for use;in perfect condition.
Reduplication with vowel change.
O r i g . prob. re s h i p being readied f o r c a s t - o f f or the
beginning of the season.
261,Shoo / suv / v b , S 31 J
to chase 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. S 13 F
to 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 regard
for propriety;to disclose a confidence,(P)
Grig, perh. f . Dorothy Savers(Murder Must A d v e r t i s e ) and
H. 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 F
a gun 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 s u f f i x word,see #11.
264. Shoot up / suwtA-p / n . S 1 F
a gun duel,Cf.#263.
Prob. orig. f . gambling-dice p l a y e r use.
-up s u f f i x word,see #6.
2 6 5 . S h o r t end of the stick / sort end © v %9 s t i k / % S 31 J
the l e a s t d e s i r a b l e l o t ; t h e worst of a t r a n s a c t i o n ; a n
instance of being cheated,ignored,taken advantage of or
receiving unfavorable treatment.(WF)
Although t h e image i s t h a t o f t h e s h o r t end as opposed
to the 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 of a s t i c k , w h i c h
can be w i e l d e d , t h e e t y m o l o g y i s more v u l g a r : f i g . , t h e
s h o r t end i s the end o f a s t i c k poked up another's
rectum by the one i n command o f t h e situation,who holds
the other end.
2 6 6 . S h o t s , c a l l the / sots,kal vb. S 29 J
to call the 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 f e e , s o he should c a l l the shots."
Prob. orig. 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
of 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 -us
sequence changed t o p h o n e t i c 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 / sjttjLp / vb. S 1 P
to cease talking o r making n o i s e o f any kind.(P)
-up 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. S 11 M
a result o f any event 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 / S 1 P
to d e v i a t e from meeting a s i t u a t i o n head on;to ignore
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 s i d e s t e p an issue..."
271.Sit-in / s i t - i n /n. S 28 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 enter or remain
in 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 policy or to g a i n support and
publicity for c i v i l rights,pacifism,etc.
T h i s i s an i m p o r t a n t formation with - i n as a suffix
w o r d , w h i c h has become p o p u l a r s i n c e d960,when civil
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 attention.
S i t - i n was the first 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 o f - i n has expanded t o i n c l u d e any p r o t e s t
or demonstration f o r most a n y t h i n g and n o t always i n
connection with s e g r e g a t i o n as was the orig. connotation'/
See #311,316,317,398,441,487,497,503 and 731.
Cf. a l s o the term sit-in strike i n r e f . to popular
front p o l i t i c a l activities i n France d u r i n g the 1930's.
272.Skidroad / skxdrowd / n. S 12 F
a street or d i s t r i c t o f a town c o n t a i n i n g cheap businesses
gambling rooms,brothels and the like.(WF)
Orig. l o g g e r use f . the skid r o a d i n t h e bush;hobo and
underworld use s i n c e c1915.
273.Skindiver / s k i n d a y v 3 r / n . S 26 F
a man who deep s e a d i v e s w i t h o u t the a i d of rubber wet-
suits,etc. as a p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e coldjmore of an
amateur c o n n o t a t i o n here.
Cf. aquanaut #4.
274.Skookum / skuwkem / a d j . S 12 F
heavy;large;overwhelming,as i n : "A p r e t t y skookum p r i c e .
A borrowing f . Chinook j a r g o n wordjCf. 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 jolly
rodger,bears a skull and c r o s s b o n e s .
For 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 on f l i g h t and
force them t o f l y t o a n o t h e r destination.
Neologism.Cf. s k y j a c k e r #276.Again note rhyme o f s k y / p i -
278.Skyride / 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 the a i r .
Compound.Note t h e rhyme: sky/ri-.
279.Skyscrapers / 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 building;fig.,one so t a l l
that 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 / s l a m - b a m - © a ^ - y u w - m a m / S 12 F
a p r e t t y rough t h a n k y o u t o a woman!an a b r u p t , r a p i d
way o f t h a n k i n g someone.
Rhyming f o r m a t i o n .
281.Slide-prone / slayd-prown / a d j . S 13 M
more l i a b l e 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
substance 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 slide-
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 •
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 exaggerated
a c c u s a t i o n s ; t o degrade o r slander.(WF)
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 locomotive-
f . 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.
289.Spacewalking / speysvokig. / n . S 6 M
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 i n outer space.
Fig. use of w a l k i n g .
Neologism.
290.Speak g a r b a g e / s p i y k g a r b d j / v b . P 12 M
to talk 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 o r o c c a s i o n ; t o make more
attractive and e n t i c i n g . ( P )
Fig. 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 over the boundaries o r
limits 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 often selling stolen o r ( d u r i n g WWII)
b l a c k market 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 / P11 F
sold r i g h t out.
An acronym.Tradesmen's jargon.
296.Stacked / stakt / adj. P 1 F
having a sexually attractive body,usu. said of a girl
or woman.(WF)
297.Standpatism / s t a n d p a t i s m / n . S 13 F
the p o l i c y of keeping a f i r m , f i x e d position,opinion
or b e l i e f . (WF,)(P)
Poss. o r i g . 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 ;
also,to sell f . a stationary position(stand pad),
formed 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 / stikiy sxeyuweysan / n . S 1 F
a difficult s i t u a t i o n ; a s i t u a t i o n where one must proceed
w i t h c a r e and diplomacy,(P)
Prob, o r i g , w i t h the B r i t i c i s m sticky wicket.in ref,
t o t h e game o f cricket,
299,Stinker / s t i n k e r /n, S 4 F
a contemptible 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 another,
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 q u e s t i o n because
he i s told to.(WF)
Orig,prob, f . t h e a t e r and 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 J
a person s e r v i n g as a decoy;an i n f o r m e r ; a stool pigeon.
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 to a stool as
a decoy f o r other 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 #32).
302.Stromgarm / 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 hoodlum o r t h u g v&o
uses p h y s i c a l violence.(WF)
Compound,Since c 1830.
303.Sucked-in / sXkt-in / vb. S 7 F
d e c e i v e d by f a l s e 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 for sports.
Prefix 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 / n. S 14 F
a passenger s h i p l a r g e r t h a n any o t h e r known b e f o r e .
prefix super- see#304-309.
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 #304-09.
307*Superpower / 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 m i l i t a r y power
is g r e a t e r t h a n most o t h e r s i n t h e world*
Prefix super-.see #304-09.
308.Supersavior / suwpsrseyvyar /n. S 8 M
a person w i t h t h e power and 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 #304-09.
309.Supertax / 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 of p r o p o r t i o n t o
the current tax s i t u a t i o n i n other areas.
Prefix 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 to
show us what you can do."
-up s u f f i x word,see #6.
311.Swim-in / swim-in / n . S 22 F
an i n t e n t i o n a l g a t h e r i n g of people f o r the purpose of
swimming-as a s o c i a l event or otherwise.
-in suffix,see #271.
312.Swinging / swinin / a d j . S 4 F
h i p ; i n r a p p o r t w i t h modern attitudes;satisfying,exciting,
o r p l e a s i n g t o a modern,hip person.
Orig. s w i n g use c1935-c1942,now g e n e r a l j a z z and esp.
cool use;Cf. phr. swinging London.
313. Swipe / swayp / v b . P 7 F
to steal a small object,usu. one t h a t c a n be easily
concealed;to appropriate another's possessions,ideas,
g i r l , e t c . , w i t h o u t asking permission,(WF)
F i g . use o f tswipe ( to hit,strike).
314. Take a s t a b a t / t e y k 0 stab a t / vb. S 1 F
to t r y t o do s o m e t h i n g ; t o t a k e a chance.(WF)(P)
Fig. 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 with protest,in which
p a r t i c i p a n t s gather 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 gather
outside of r e g u l a r c l a s s hours t o give concetrated
t e a c h i n g guidance 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
perion of time,
-in suffix,see #271.
318. T e a r - s h e e t / 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 or teenage years.
Formed b y a n a l o g y 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 r o c k and
roll e n t h u s i a s t ; a teenage g i r l c o n s i d e r e d as annoying,
insignificant,undesirable 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 and t h e l i k e which
e l i m i n a t e s the need f o r a grease 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 assembling to
undergo c o n c e n t r a t e d thought and discussion i n their field.
Compound.Note t h e repetition o f /-nk/.
323. Thumbs-down / OAmbz-dawn / a d j . S 27 F
a vote or s i g n of non-confidence;a negative endorsement Q

L i t . , t u r n i n g t h e thumb downwards,from t h e signal of

Roman emperors c o n c e r n i n g a d e f e a t e d gladiator,
-down s u f f i x word,see #58.
324. Togs / t o g z / n . p l . S 29 J
clothing.
British slang;f. l a t i n toga.
325. T o k e n i s m / t o k a n i z m / n . P 18 F
any 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 settlement of
this d i s p u t e were j u s t mere tokenism."
From t o k e n + - i s m suffix.
326. T r e n d y / t r e n d i y / a d j . S 11 F
f o l l o w i n g the current trends i n fashions,customs,etc.
From t r e n d + - y s u f f i x ( s e e #31 ) •
Popularized with Trendy c
Trudeau*application^which is
also alliterative.
327. T u r n - o n / t A x n - o n / S 10 M
t o arouse 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 to,happy,etc.
O r i g . a d d i c t , j a z z and s t u d e n t use,now g e n e r a l .
Very common s i n c e c1960.
328. T w o - b i t / 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 . S 7 F
unidentified flying object.
An acronym.
330. U n c l e Tomism / . A n k d l tomizdm / n . S 24 F.
a n e g r o who 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
any w h i t e 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 .
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 as
a g a i n s t n e g a t i v e , a s i n : "The economy i s on t h e u p s w i n g . "

333. V a f f l i n g / w o f l i t t / a d j . S 20 F
vague and m e a n i n g l e s s , a s i n : " W a f f l i n g statements
about my 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 . S 30 J
a strike by u n i o n employees a g a i n s t an employer.
Technical jargon.
-out s u f f i x word,see #11.
337. Wet 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 o r human b e i n g s n o t
yet 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 J
t h e money w i t h w h i c h t o buy something.(WF)(P)
Colloquialuse s i n c e e l 910.
339. W h i t e c o l l a r 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 who use t h e i r power
and p o s i t i o n f o r i l l e g a l purposes;sophisticated criminal
By d i r e c t 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 . used i n
politics t o r e f e r t o an o p i n i o n , r e p o r t or p u b l i c
statement i n t e n d e d t o excuse a misdeed 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 o r c o v e r i n g up a f e n c e .
341. W h i t e y / w a y t i y / n . S 13 P
a white person;the white race.
Now 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 man.
Formed b y w h i t e * - y s u f f i x ( s e e #31).
342. Whizbang / h v i z b a n / a d j . S 28 J
a n y t h i n g remarkable 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 J
O r i g . meant h a v i n g l o s t control o f one's surfboard while
r i d i n g a wave and f a l l i n g 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 i s a conformist,dull o r square.(WF)
-out s u f f i x word,see #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 shortcomings.(WF)(P)
Colloquial since c1920.
346. Wop / wop / n. P 18 F
an I t a l i a n 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 an
illiterate Italian i m m i g r a n t w o r k i n g a s a day 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 up.
348. W o r k - t o - r u l e / w a r k - t a - r u v l / a d j . S 30 J
usu. a u n i o n employee use a g a i n s t h i s employer i n which
he chooses t o work s t r i c t l y a s h i s j o b framework indicate
r a t h e r than s k i p p i n g unnecessary d e r a i l s , e t c . as i s
usu. done.Resuit 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
public by t h e company concerned.
349. Teggs / y e y g z / n . p l . S 10 M
any t h i e f , e s p . one who t r a v e l s a s a hobo u s i n g t h e
freights;a 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 first
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 yow / n . S 14 F
a s t u p i d , incompetent 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 #31).

(ii) 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 J
i n c l u s i v e ; p e r t a i n i n g i n the same r a t i o t o a l l members
of a group,as i n : " An across the board raise."
L a b o r u n i o n and p o l i t i c a l jargon.
355. B a d b i n d / b a d baynd / n , S 29 J
a predicament,as c a u s e d by c o n f l i c t i n g obligations,an over-
full work s c h e d u l e or the l i k e ; a t i g h t spot;a jam.
Note alliteration*
356. B a d - m o u t h i n g / bad-maw^i^ / vb* S 15 F
s a y i n g bad or n a s t y things,usu* of another person*
Cf. m u d s l i n g i n g #184,muckraking #584.
Compound.
357. Bagman / bagmen / n . S 29 J
one vho i s assigned to c o l l e c t bribe,extortion or
kidnap money.(WF)(GGL)
Underworld use.
3 5 8 * B a k s h e e s h / b a k s i y g / »• S 19 F
a tip;a gratuity;a 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 army i n I n d i a and Ejfgypt.
Cf. #390,509.
359*Beautiful person / byuwtafal p ^ r s a n / n* P 7 F
one who 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 warmly
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 connotation here.
M e a n i n g change.
360. B e a u t s / byuwts / n . p i . S 29 J
an u n u s u a l l y b e a u t i f u l 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 stamina,as i n :
"The 450 i s a b e e f e d up v e r s i o n o f t h e 325."
Poss. orig. f r o m r u r a l use where i t meant l i t . , " t o store
up 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 or t h i n g s ,
-ie suffix,see #31.
362a.Black power / b l a k pawdr /n« S 15 F
the i n f l u e n c e 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* the negroes.
P i g . use 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 P
t h e c o v e r i n g up or g l o s s i n g over of a misdeed performed
b y a member of t h e A f r o - A m e r i c a n 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 something
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 use.
G a f f means g i m m i c k ( a concealed device or stratagem
365. Bljblra^ottKV..eoo'io/v:blow^yorrkuvl / v b . P 12 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 and
unemotional,which i s cool.
Cf. #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 J
to h e s i t a t e , s t a l l , b e 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 :
" HE 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 or j u n g l e region;
uncivilized 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 F
the i n f l u e n c e 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 i n the Hawiian Islands."
P r o b . formed 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 or r e j e c t i n g a
person or 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.
371. B u b b l y / bXbliy / 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 o f champagne.
Cf. #101.
372. Bugaboos / lUgebuwz / n . S 29 J
a nemesis;a real or imagined o b s t a c l e t h a t cannot be
overcome;something t h a t always causes f a i l u r e 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 you.
Meaning change;Cf. #30.
374. Bum d e a l / him d i y l / n. S 6 M
a d e a l w h i c h has 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 f o r the
s u c c e s s f u l accomplishment of a s p e c i f i c task.(WF)
Lit.,to 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 team
member)in a b a l l 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 or the like.
Fig. f . a n y t h i n g e x c i t i n g which i s s a i d t o send chills
t h r o u g h t h e body;hence c h i l l + -er suffix(see #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 talk;bull.
Rhyming 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 w i t h o u t f a l t e r i n g on
any 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 c!880.
Fig. 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 crux of an arguemeht.(FF)
Functional shift,
-er 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 i n some a c t i o n ,
plan,task,etc;to 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 one's
mind,esp. i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r an examination t o be h e l d
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.
387. C r e d i b i l i t y £ a p / kredibilitiy gap / n. S 31 J
room f o r d i s b e l i e f ; a n a r e a i n any situation,policy,
or t h e e l i k e which i s unsupported by f a c t s and thus
l e a v e s an u n q u a l i f i e d gap 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 #98.
388. C r u d 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 disgusting;hence
anything w i t h these qualities.
389. C r u n c h a r e a / krXac e r i y s / n. S 18 P
an a r e a i n any bill,policy,event or the like where
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 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 , p a r t 5 i s g o i n g t o be t h e crunch area."
F i g . use of crunch.
390Cumshaw / kjunso / n . S 19 F
a tip;a 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 M
something which has a wide a p p l i c a b i l i t y f o r f i x i n g
f a u l t y areas,usu. a medical application,as i n :
"Try t h i s cure-all o f mine f o r t h a t n a s t y cough."
392. Damn a l l / dam o l / n. S 7 F
little 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. S 1 M
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 . a
jocular application.
Rhyming reduplication.
394. D i m - w i t t e d / dim-wftdd / a d j . S 4 F
dumb;dense-headed;dull;stupids
F i g . use of dim.
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 one can
hear 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 of d i s c - f • disque
(phonograph r e c o r d ) and t h e second element of
bibli/otheque.
396. Do a D i e f e n b a k e r / duw Q diyf&nbeykdr / vb. S 7 M
t o groan,moan and otherwise i n d i c a t e one has been h a r d
done b y , u s u . implying that i t i s unjustified 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 J
lost;lost through wastefulness or c a r e l e s s n e s s .
F i g . use 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 at a
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 g r e a t f u s s and stay f o r
a s h o r t w h i l e and 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 #271.
399. Dumb bunny / dxm b A n i y / n . P 29 J
a p e r s o n who i s bewildered*confused or habitually
perplexed,(WF)
Colloquial since c1925.
Application 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 F
a stupid 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 h e l p i i p v kr6w / v b . S 25 F
to f i n d out t h a t you a r e wrong a b o u t something and
t o be j u s t l y embarrassed and admit your mistake.
Crow h e r e b e i n g a b o u t the lowest of edibles!
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 affairs.
Prob. orig. 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 campaign f o r
Adlai 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 .
403. E g g 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 one's Own m i s t a k e or fault,intended or otherwise.
404. E u r o m a r t / yurowmart / n . S 18 P
European common m a r k e t .

Portmanteau word: Euro/pean common m a r k / e t / .

405. F a d e - o u t s / n . p l . S 18 F /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 a n d because of i t
have l i t t l e o r n o endurance a nd lit. 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 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 .
Since 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 fire that comes w i t h no w a r n i n g , f a s t
and sensational.
Prob. 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.
Cf 0 ,#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 warning.
Cf. f l a s h fire #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 travels
from person t o person thus i n f e c t i n g large groups*(WF)
Colloquial since c1840.
Abbreviation 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
Bug,in t h i s case,means i n s e c t i n g e n e r a l a n d h e r e means
germ o r v i r u s .
410. F o l k s y / f o w k s i y / a d j . P 27 F
h a v i n g a down-to—earth homey q u a l i t y ; h a v i n g an appeal
to the f o l k s 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 s i n c e WWII,
-up 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 lost one's objectivity
and perspective.(WF)
From t h e F r e n c h .
Reduplication.
413. Gloom / gluwm / v b . S 22 F
t o go a b o u t being pessimistic over something;to be
sad or downcast;depressed.
Functional shift f . noun t o v e r b , e x t e n d i n g i t s u s e .
414. G l u e - b l o w n / gluw-blown / a d j . S 4 F
usu. 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
is fig. 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 the
sniffing o f g l u e fumes f r o m a p a p e r 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 disparagingly
and 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 sign.
From t h e t r a f f i c 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 rapid
and 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 .
Fig. f . the i d e a of cooking over a hot grill,
-ed suffix,see #25.
418. Gut i s s u e / g A t i s y u w / n . S 11 P
the solid substance;forceful o r meaty c o n t e n t s o f a n y
issue a f t e r a l l the f r i l l s 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 y e a r s ago.
Abbreviation 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 after
drinking 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 o r equipped;jumbled
or 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 use,f. the use
o f b a l i n g w i r e t o mend v a r i o u s implements,thus causing
an 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 things.
423. H e l l u v a / 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 of h e l l o f a s u b s t i t u t i n g sound equivalents
for the orthographic.
424. H i d e - w a y / hayd-awey / n . S 3 F
a

a retreat;a place t o go t o t h a t i s o u t o f t h e way

and 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 wayld / a d j . P 7 M
t o be wildly excited:temporarily irrational owing t o
excitement,anger or happiness*
4 2 7 * H o l e d up / howld Xp / 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 secrecy.
-up s u f f i x word,see #6.
428. H o n k i e s / h o n k i y s / n . p l . S 18 F
cheap s a l o o n s f e a t u r i n g g a m b l i n g games and dancing:
cheap s m a l l town t h e a t e r s or b r o t h e l s .
Orig. pjps 0 f . honky-tonk; a l s o onomatopoetic orig.
-ie suffix,see #31•
429. H o r s e and buggy o p e r a t i o n / h o r s and hXgiy opareysan / n. S24F
an old-fashioned operation or business.(WF)
Fig. expression c o n t r a s t i n g the o l d mode o f transport
a g a i n s t the current motorized form.
430. H o r s e f e a t h e r s / h o r s reefers / n . S 27 J
bunk;baloney;nonsense.
A euphemism.
431 .How d o e s t h a t g r a b you? / haw d a z <5at g r a b yuw? / S 27 J
how do you like t h a t ? whats y o u r r e s p o n s e t o that?
Orig. j a z z and b e a t use,now g e n e r a l student and popular
use.
F i g . use of grab.
432.Hucksters / bXkstarz / n . p l . S 27 J
a huckster is a retailer o f s m a l l goods i n a small
shop o r b o o t h a t a s t a l l ; a p e d l a r ; a hawker.(OED)
From hawks t o hucks;now has 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. S 7 M
kits f o r " p u t t i n g on" your i d e n t i f y i n g characteristics
or t r a i t s , f o r 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 same
connotation o f a p p l y i n g an image o t h e r than your r e a l self.
Portmanteau word: i d e n t i / f y i n g / + kits.
Neologism.
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 9 t h e image o f a p e r s o n
o r t h e image t h a t 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 such and such a
manner,vay o r r e s p e c t ( t h e equivalent 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 i n : " I h i t the jackpot."
S a r c a s t i c usage also.
437. K i t 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 set,a c o l l e c t i o n of things
and U.S. b o o d l e : a c r o v d ( i t s e l f f . Portuguese cabedal)
vith 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 caboodle.a
retention 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 meaning,to p u t out a
feeler,to a i r an o p i n i o n o r t h e l i k e i n order t o t e s t
it out:hence.kit-f1own means t h a t a p o l i c y , o p i n i o n , e t c , ,
has been t e s t e d 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 i s to laugh or
enjoy oneself.
O r i g . f . the t e l e v i s i o n program Laugh-In.
-in suffix 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 ^ teyD!L /
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.
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 own house , e t c .
-in s u f f i x , s e e #271 o
442. L o s e 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 o u t on h e r chance
io get the p r i z e . "
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 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 .
A 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 i o take advantage o f an o p p o r t u n i t y ;
io bungle;io fumble.(WF)(P)
Orig. 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 a

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 )
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 wiydz / vb. P 7 M
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 region.(WF)
Cf. boondocks,#368.
459. P a r f o r the course / p a r f o r kors / S 3 F
a b o u t what one c o u l d expectja 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 suffix
usu. only a decorative lengthener giving f l i p p a n t
connotations.
461. P e a c h on / p i y c on / v b . S 11 F
to 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 person or object.(P)
Poss. echoic o r i g . f . the noise made b y a s m a l l G e r .
shell of high v e l o c i t y during WWII.
464. P l a y down / p l e y 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 having a quiet,objective,aloof attitude.
Orig. with cool jazz players who were w h i t e musicians
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 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 cool
movement h a s been c h a r a c t e r i z e d by t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l
approach t o l i f e i n general.
Since c1948.
466.Play up / p l e y ^ t p / v b . P 24 F
t o emphasize or glamorize a n y t h i n g or anyone,as i n :
"He p l a y e d up 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 / S 4 P
t o pass 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 formation.
468. P o p p i n g s - o f f / p o p i n s - o f / n . S 7 P
s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h one 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 e m o t i o n a l l y , w i t h or
without cause.(WF)
Colloquial s i n c e c1930.
-off s u f f i x word,see #246.
469. P o u r b o i r e / puwrbwar / n . S 19 F
a tip;a 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 h i n k s he wants
t o be a hoodlum b u t l a c k s r e a l toughness or experience.
Poss. orig. f. Hindustani v i a B r i t i s h army use where
it 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 t o t h e way a cat walks.
472. P u t up f o r grabs / put g r a b z / S 29 J
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 everyone,
as in:"He d e c i d e d t o put the c o n t r a c t up for grabs."
473. R a i s e hob / r e y z hob / v b . P 24 F
to celebrate w i l d l y or t o c r i t i c i z e or castigate
t h o r o u g h l y and i n anger.(WF)
474. Red 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 communists("reds")
have i n a n y sphere of activity.
Formed by a n a l o g y 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 / n . P 19 M
a small 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. away f r o m t h e
important 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 tactics(smokescreens)are
employed t o f o c u s 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 / s p x y l / n . P 19 M
a 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 up - i n ; t h u s meaning an
event i n which there 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 rapidly.
F i g . , with ref• 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
as i t s rolled 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 one f u l l of
spitters for 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 / suwpdrsonik / a d j . S 1 M
above t h e 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 . S 27 J
to t a p means t o b r o a c h ; t o draw f r o m , a s i n :"The
Community C h e s t t a p s a new source of funds i n the
special s e r v i c e s department o f the government. 11

O r i g . prob. f . t a p m e a n i n g , t o open up or 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 i t , a s i n to tap
a cask o f l i q u o r and draw o f f t h e l i q u i d from i t .
502. T h i n g / O i n / n . P 7 M
what p l e a s e s one most;what i s more n a t u r a l t o one,as i n :
"Do your own thing man."
?

Cf. bag #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 of p o o l i n g i n t e l l e c t u a l
abilities 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 buk a t / vb. S 4 F
to penalize,punish,reprimand or c r i t i c i z e a person
severely.(VF)(G0L)
O r i g . underworld u s e , f . the image o f a j u d g e sentencing
a criminal t o e v e r y p e n a l t y i n t h e book o f law.
505. Thug / eXg / n. S 4 F
a hoodlum;a s t r o n g man acting o r employed as a body
guard 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 robbers and murderers i n I n d i a who
strangled their victims.
 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 change.
507. T i c k i n g off / tikiij of / n. S 3 F
a telling o f f ; a n upbraiding;a reproach;a reprimanding.
From t h e t i c k i n g o f f of a person's name on a list.
P a r t l y i n f l u e n c e d by the p h r . to t e l l o f f ,
-off 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 , t o s h y meaning,over-dressed or tawdry.
Since d890.
509. T r i n k g e l d / t r x n k g e l d / n . S 19 F
a tip;a gratuity.
Cf. cumshaw #390.
510. T r o u b l e s h o o t e r s / t r X b l suwtarz / n. S 3 F
persons 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
any 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 #32.
511. U p p i t y /Xpetiy /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 t r e y d i ^ / n. S 12 F
quick s t o c k market manipulation.
Financial jargon.
513. Wasp / wosp / n . S 27 F
white 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 general
middle c l a s s American*also waspish,adj.
An acronym.
M a i n l y h i p p y and civil rights use.
-ish suffix,seex#488.
514. Where i t s a t / hwer i t s a t / S 4 F
the p l a c e or time where a l l t h e b e s t , m o s t modern o r
hip t h i n g s are happening.
 515. W i s e d up / wayzd Jlp / v b . S 13 F
informed;able t o see t h e p o i n t o f s o m e t h i n g , t o realize
the r e a l i t i e s of a situation,(WF)
-up s u f f i x word,see #6,
516. Z i l l i o n / zilyen / 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 number.
N o t e t h e rhyme w i t h t h e models:million.billion.

(iii) HEADLINES

517. A l l f i r e d up / o l f a y r d A p / vb. S 30 J
angry or annoyed;all enthused o r worked up and ready
to do something.(WF)
-up suffix,see #6.
518. A p r e s - s k i / a p r e y - s k i y / a d j . S 29 J
after-ski,in r e f . to clothes,boots,fashions,etc.
A French l o a n word.
519. A s t r o n a u t / a s t r e n o t / n . S 30 J
a p e r s o n who mans t h e spaceships on f l i g h t s t o outer
space 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 .
Lit. 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 . S 31 J
atomic 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 w i t h an axe.
522. B e l l y - l a u g h / b e l i y - l a f /
a deep,loud,long u n i n h i b i t e d l a u g h - s a i d t o be coming
from the belly.(WF)
Colloquial.
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 caused by c o n f l i c t i n g obligations;
a tight s p o t ; a jam.(WF)
524. B i t 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 . would
choke one when swallowed;now s a r c a s t i c , i n t h e sense
that any event 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 ,
sadness and t h e l i k e . ( W F )
525. Blow one's t o p / blow wAnz t o p / v b . S 7 F
to lose one's t e m p e r ; t o become v i o l e n t l y a n g r y ; t o have
a tantrum as a r e s u l t 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 fight.
-up s u f f i x word,see #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 advance t o w a r d completion or
the success of a project o r endeavour.
Orig. 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 through
the enemy's d e f e n s e 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 . because i t s
e a t e n mid-way between t h e n o r m a l times f o r b r e a k f a s t
and 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 who have a p a s s i o n for collecting things,
going t o spec, events or a s s o c i a t i n g w i t h spec, 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 . t h e i d e a o f someone
jumping out from behind bushes i n a s u r p r i s e attack*
Orig* western jargon.
534. B u s t / bXst /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 out.(WF)
O r i g . t o chew o r b i t e someone's ear,nose,finger,etc.
in a frontier fight;hence,angry enough t o chew him u p .
-out s u f f i x word,see #11.
537. Conglom / kongldm / n . P 6 F
a conglomerate.
Abbreviation through b a c k - c l i p p i n g : conglom/erate/.
538. Cops *n c h e e t a h c h a s e / k o p s d n c x y t ceys / n. P 1 F
the chasing o f a wanted man 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 / kawntdawn / n . P 29 J
the a c t of counting down f r o m a g i v e n number t o z e r o
at equal intervals i n preparation f o r the launching of
an e v e n t , a s p a c e s h i p o r the 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 commercial entertainment
o r s h o w , h a v i n g t o do w i t h 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 i n m o v i e s where an e x c e p t i o n a l l y
wide s c r e e n i s used.
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 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
and 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 Commonwealth i s s u e . "
Mainly p o l i t i c a l use;metaphorical.
543. DMZ / d i y em z e d / n . S 4 F
demilitarized zone.
An 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/ dollar.
545. Eye / 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 o f s p e e c h change.
546. F a l l 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 nuclear
explosion,falling from o r f l o a t i n g i n t h e atmosphere.
Colloquial;now more g e n e r a l a p p l i c a t i o n t o other types of
particle distribution,
-out 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 / f a y n d awr f r i y z © b r x y z / S 14 F
to f i n d the c o l d weather s p e l l easy t o adapt t o .
...a breeze from p h r . t o breeze through.
Rhyming a n d a l l i t e r a t i o n .
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 or press agent.
Orig. t h e a t e r and M a d i s o n a v e . use.
Metaphorical 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 / frxy-hwxylin / adj. S 8 F
spending 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 M
e x t r a a t t r a c t i o n s and b e n e f i t s added t o any job,offer,
or event 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 . in
connection with employment.
553. Go-ahead / gow-ahed / n. S 29 J
the green lightjthe s i g n t o advance o r proceed.
From t h e t r a f f i c lightjCf. #553.
554. G o t t a / god© /vb, S 31 J
got 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 words and the weakening
of the final vowel t o a schwa,together w i t h the
r e d u c t i o n of the intervocalic double / t / to a /d/.
555. Gunnappers / gAnnaparz / n . p l . P 4 F
those persons who steal guns;to s e i z e and take away
guns.
Formed by a n a l o g y to kidnappers,
-er suffix,see #32.
556. Hardware / hardwer / n . P 2 F
weapons,guns,etc.
Orig. implied r i f l e s and k n i v e s w h i c h c o u l d be
b o u g h t i n hardware stores.
557. H a s s l e / h a s d l / n . P 18 F
a:disagreement,dispute,quarrel or arguement;a s t r u g g l e
or fight.(WF)
558. Hedge / he 3 / v b . P 5 F
to be indecisive or act indecisively,(WF)
Functional shift,
559. H i j a c k e r / h a y j a k a r / n, S 28 J
one vho 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 h o l d s up or
robs,esp, 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 one who hijacks a truck,plane,etc.
-er suffix,see #32.
560. H i k e / hayk / vb S 27 J
to i n c r e a s e the amount o f s o m e t h i n g . ( W F ) ; t o raise
wages o r prices.
561. H i t s / h i t s / v b . S 29 J
to h i t means t o a r r i v e at or reach;to attain,as i n :
"The death t o l l hits 500." o r "A storm h i t s Vancouver."
Meaning c h a n g e ; f i g . usage.
562.ID c a r d s / ay d i y k a r d z / n . S 30 J
identification cards.
An a b b r e v i a t i o n by back—clipping:id/entification/ cards.
563. K i c k b a c k / kikbak / n. S 29 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 agent,
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 increase
sales or g a i n favors.(WF)
Orig. underworld use.
564. K i c k o f f / k l k o f / n . S 30 J
the beginning of anything,as a m e e t i n g , c a m p a i g n o r game.
From t h e football term,
-off 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 27 J
s e i z i n g people 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) + -ing.
566. L a t c h on t o / l a c on tuw / vb. S 27 J
to get ahold of. s o m e t h i n g o r someone.
567. L a t e flashes / leyt f l a s a z / n . p i . S 30 J
news i t e m s 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 the
pentagon r e p o r t . . . . "
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 word;laund/ry//aut/omat/ic/.
Also,by 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 Steel*"
-up s u f f i x , s e e #6.
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 / n . p i . P 18 F
extra 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 who s e a r c h e s o u t and b r o a d c a s t s scandals,esp.
in order t o r u i n another's reputation.
Colloquialjprob. c o i n e d by Teddy Roosevelt.
Cf. mudslinging #182.
577.Nab / nab / vb. S 27 J
to c a t c h or s e i z e i n arrest;to seize suddenly,as i n :
"The p o l i c e nabbed the suspect."
Colloquial since C1685.
578.Okay / ow k e y / S 28 J
assent or approval(P)
Cf. okayed #191.
579.One-two p u n c h / wAn-tuw pAnc / n. S 3 F
two 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 t o mean two s e t b a c k s i n any plan,etc.,one
after the other.
580.Ouster / awstSr / n. S 31 J
a rejection;a forceful purge o f someone,as i n : " J o n e s can
e x p e c t an o u s t e r from h i s j o b as chairman i f he doesn't
shape up."
-er suffix,see #32.
58l.Outdraw / awtdro / vb. S 29 J
to 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 . S 29 J
purchased 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 r e f . t o cheap,unregistered stock of
a highly speculative character.
Orig. prob, f . produce sold o v e r t h e c o u n t e r w h i c h were
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 on
special order.
584.Paper l e a d e r / p e y p 0 r l i y d a r / n . P 12 F
a false leader;superficial boss;not the true,effective
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.
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 s t i c k e r t o the p l a t e each y e a r .
Portmanteau w o r d : perma/nent/ plates.
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 / n . S 19 F
an u l t i m a t u m handed down on t h e t o p i c of p o l l u t i o n
i n the atmosphere.
Portmanteau word: p o l l u / t i o n / /ul/timatum.
587. P o t / p o t / n . S 29 J
marijuana.
Orig. j a z z use,now g e n e r a l s t u d e n t and b e a t u s e .
Cf. LSD #171.
588. Pop 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 formation.
590. P u n c h l i n e / pXnc' l a y n / n . S 3 F
the last line,sentence or p a r t of a joke t h a t gives
its meaning and humor.(YF)
Lit. 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 suffix,see #32.
59laPut something on i c e / p u t semGin on a y s / v b . S 6 F
to postpone o r p r o c r a s t i n a t e an event,plan,etc.
Fig usage.
592. P u t s o m e t h i n g on t h e l i n e / p u t sdmOin on <fe l a y n / v b . S 6 F
to 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 . S 29 J
a short examination,or set of q u e s t i o n s .
Colloquial since C1860,
594. Q u i z z e d / k w i z d / p p . S 29 J
t o be questionned l e n g t h i l y ; t o be examined.
Colloquial .
595. Raps / r a p s / v b . P 18 F
rebukes 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 )
Fig. usage.
596. R i n g / r i t t / v b . S 27 J
to circle about;to e n c i r c l e something o r someone.
597. Road jam / rowd jjfcm / n . P 7 M
a crowd o r c o l l e c t i o n o f c a r s on t h e r o a d , t h e sheer
number o f w h i c h s t a l l s a l l traffic causing delays,confusion
and the like.(WF)(P)
Since c1900 w i t h t h e buggies.
598. R o o k i e / r u k i y / n. S 30 J
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 i s inexperienced;
a recruit.
Usu. used 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 recruits,
-ie suffix,see #31•
599.See-saw / sly-so / a d j . S 1 F
up and 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 stock
market today."
A l l i t e r a t i o n w i t h vowel change.
By analogy to c h i l d r e n ' s see-saw i n a playground.
600.Shysters / s a y s t d r z / n . p l . S 30 J
a 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
lender or lawyer;one who i s not very p a r t i c u l a r on
how hw conducts his business.(WF)(P)
Since d880.
-ster suffix,see #218.
601.Ski bum / s k i y bAra / n . P 17 F
a s k i e n t h u s i a s t who changes h i s j o b l o c a t i o n frequently
in o r d e r t o be n e a r t h e s k i slopes.
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 i n :"Berger
slams t h e government o v e r Commonwealth fiasco."
Cf. r a p s #595.
Fig. use.
603.Smash / smas / n. S 31 J
a popular successja hit;usu t applied to a play,movie
or the 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 J
a preview o f an e v e n t , s h o w , p l a y or the l i k e , b e f o r e anyone
else and on t h e q u i e t , s o no one knows a b o u t 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 J
de-emphasization 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 word: space /base/ball.
Note the 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 word: spy /hi/jack/er/.
Cf. #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 exceptions,as i n : " S t i f f
liquor laws."
611oSuperblock / suvpSrbloTc / n . S 27 J
an a p a r t m e n t 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
in f a c t and i n c o n c e p t t h a n any other.
Super- p r e f i x , s e e #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 F
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 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 J
a bill;an amount o f money owed on an u n p a i d bill.(YF)
C o l l o q u i a l ; C f . p h r . t o p i c k up 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 powder.
615. Take o f f / t e y k o f / v b . S 30 J
to 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 . S 3 F
falls 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
or the like.(P)
From t h e l i t . s e n s e of f a l l t o the ground.
Financial 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 #271.
619. T i z z y / tiziy / n. S 4 F
a f i t or p e r i o d 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 J
t r a n s f e r s o f human o r g a n s from one p e r s o n t o another.
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 .
 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 objects.
An 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 o f any c r i t i c i s m aimed
a t t h e group from w i t h o u t 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 i n front of
him- sports use.
-er suffix,see #32.
625©Wiped o u t / vaypt-Qwt / vb. S t F
eradicated;obliterated;cleaned out of a l l p o s s e s s i o n s .
-out s u f f i x word,see #1t.
Cf. #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 or a r t i c l e , a s i n a newspaper,esp. a
w r i t t e n review of a product,celebrity.entertainment,etc
-up 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 abortionist.,
By gruesome a n a l o g y 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 of people
o r t h i n g s ) . (VP) (.F) ^
Since C1810.
-up s u f f i x word,see #6.
631. B e h i n d t h e e i g h t b a l l / behaynd & a e y t b o l yVfcS 31 j
t o be i n t r o u b l e or i n a d i f f i c u l t situation.(VF)
Orig. f . a popular pocket b i l l i a r d s game i n w h i c h one
l o s e s i f the no. 8 b a l l 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 by t h e Western a l l i e s towards the end
o f WWII.One 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 o n l y i d i o t s waste time
watching television.
Rhyming 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 powers
or s t i m u l a t e s them,
-er 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 portray common
everyday objects,now g e n e r a l l y t o a n y t h i n g so made u p .
From a p i c t u r e 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 a
Campbell's soup c a n a p p e a r s i n s u c h a way t h a t only the
first four l e t t e r s o f t h e name C a m p b e l l ' s 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 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 .
Cf. 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 / +
t -o s u f f i x ,
giving t h e word a f a m i l i a r , s l a n g y connotation.
Pop 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 a c t of e n t i c i n g someone t o e n t e r
into a situation i n w h i c h he w i l l 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 s u f f i x , s e e #31.
643. F l u b / 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 . an
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 / 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 good."
Compound;Note t h e a l t e r n a t i o n stamp/stomp.
C f . #39.
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 "He's not
with 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 M
a person that is silly,soft or stupid.(P)
From d i a l , g o o f . g o f f meaning,a fool.
Since C1920.
648. G r a s s / g r a s / n . P 18 F
marijuana.
C f . p o t #587 and similar s u b s t i t u t e words u s e d by drug
a d d i c t s , o r i g . as p a r t of a s e c r e t in-group language.
Now 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 F
lacking 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 fig.,
t h a t a person i s obsessed by.
-up s u f f i x word,see #6.
652. 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 a
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 colors,areas,etc.
N e o l o g i s m ; t e c h n i c a l jargon of artists.
653»Hard-r©ck / h a r d - r o k / n . S 20 M
a t o u g h guy;a 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 and gas company;hence,electricity
or 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 water*
656*Hydroplane / h a y d r a p l e y n / n* S 1 F
a 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 over the
water i t almost flies.
Portmanteau compound o f word e l e m e n t s : h y d r o and /air/plane
6 5 7 * K i c k / k i k / n . P 18 F
a thrill,excitement 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 F
to drop or stop the h a b i t of doing something,presumably
bad o r w o r t h l e s s ; t o f o r c e oneself to stop.
Orig* drug a d d i c t jargon*
659. L o u s e up / l a w s X p / vb* S 17 M
to s p o i l , r u i n , b o t c h o r mess up something.(WF)
Fig. f . l o u s e a s a word o f a b u s e ; C f . #169.
—up s u f f i x word,see #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 thing,usu* f o r the
purposes of study,display,etc. a s i n : "He u n v e i l e d t h e
mock-up o f t h e new B l o c k 42 center."
-up 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. use o f needle*

665. N.G. / en j i y / a d j * S 27 J
no good .
An acronym.
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 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
it 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 / lease.
668. Q u i c k i e s / k w i k i y z / n . p l . S 27 J
anything done o r made q u i c k l y . ( W F )
-ie s u f f i x , s e e #31.
669.S.A. / e s e y / n. S 27 J
sex appeal.
An acronym.
670.Scratch / skrac / n . P 24 M
money;available cash.(WF)
lit. t h a t w h i c h h a s t o be s c r a t c h e d for,like a chicken
scratches f o r food.
Since c1915.
671 . S c r a t c h y 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 .
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 i n WWII.
Cf. 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. soul food.soul musicYsoul brother.etc.
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 f r o m o u r main p r o d u c t
market orientation."
-off s u f f i x word,see #246.
Business jargon.
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 f o r men w i t h o u t female
companions.(VP)as in:stag 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 clothes.store bought(general
application),and 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 term or name{generally used a s t h e name
for anything through l a z i n e s s t o u s e t h e p r o p e r name,etc.
Colloquial since 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 s e l f - s e r v i c e store s e l l i n g groceries,produce
and often household articles.
Super- prefix,see #304-09©
685.Swingles / 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 clothes."
Cf. British dial© 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 t r a n s a c t i o n c a r r i e d out by
the 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 t h e same a p p r o a c h and s t y l e
as a t e x t b o o k ; d e r o g a t o r y 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 or t h i n g s ; r a t e d
highest;vonderful,as 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 of people or food,
-y 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 massive,
devastating,overpowering attack.Now used 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 / n. S 4 M
a telephone.
Orig. prob. f . bJLower,meaning a t a l k a t i v e person.
699. B l u b b e r - b o y / 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 f a t of a whale(a gross animal).
700. B u d d i e s / 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 thoroughly.
703. C o a s t w i s e / kowstwayz / S 4 F
for 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 host Portland...."

(the Coast here i m p l y i n g t h e B.C. c o a s t . )
-wise 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 of something.(P)
D i a l . poss. 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 because of w i l d D r a w ^

706. D o u b i e h e a d e r / d A b l h e d a r / n. S 1 F
two 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 person.
Dumb i n t h e s e n s e 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 J
a s i t u a t i o n i n which two members o f a team s t a n d f a c e
to face t o h i t the b a l l ( b a s k e t b a l l ) or puck(hockey)to
their 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 game,
Prob, formed 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 by
Stephen 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 s k i d z f o r wxn / vb,phr,
made smart and 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 S 27 P
which secure a favorable s e t - u p when i t s t i m e t o w i n , ( P )
Orig, naval colloquialism c1880.
712. Hoop / huwp / n , S 13 F
i n b a s k e t b a l l , t h e metal circle from which t h e n e t hangs
and t h r o u g h w h i c h the b a l l i s thrown t o s c o r e .
713. K.0. /key ow / n . S 1 F
a 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 /vb.phr. P 7 M
to take events l a u g h i n g l y , w i t h a nonchalant attitude.
For use of i t without antecedent,see #36.
-up s u f f i x word,see #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 F
tough,rough 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 J
to beg food,money o r t h e l i k e ; t o borrow,esp. a small
amount w i t h o u t i n t e n d i n g t o r e p a y it.(WF)
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 formation.
721.Out o f one's h a i r / a v t a v wAnz; h e r / v b . p h r . S 29 J
to keep 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 or
irritating 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 o f s p o r t s p l a y e d b y young b o y s , a s in:"Pee-wee
baseball league."
Rhyming reduplication.
723. P r a t f a l l / pratfol / n . P 14 F
a defeat;a p i t f a l l ; f i g . , f r o m falling on t h e b a c k s i d e .
From e a r l i e r p r a t ( b u t t o c k s ) and f a l l .
724. P u l l f o r / p u l f o r / v b . S 29 J
to 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 support.
725. P u s h - o v e r / pus-owvar / 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 contest.(VF)
726.Scattergat / skatargat /n. S 4 M
shotguns;the type o f gun t h a t s c a t t e r s shot pellets.
From s c a t t e r and g a t ( g u n ) . a n a b b r e v i a t i o n f o r G a t l i n g gun.
727.Shaded / 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 status but
plays professional o r a c c e p t s money.
P o r t m a n t e a u word: 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 that r e a l l y s u r p r i s e s one.
-er s u f f i x , s e e #32.
730,Shutout / sAtawt / n, S 29 J
a game i n w h i c h one team i s c o m p l e t e l y e x c l u d e d from
scoring,as i n : 11
I t was a complete shutout*"
-out s u f f i x word,see #11*
731*Socked-in / 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 . (.WF)
From WWII a i r f o r c e 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 j a r g o n where i t meant a left-
handed p l a y e r o r boxer.
Cf. northpaw #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 back-clipping:sub/stituted/.
-ed an a d j . f o r m i n g suffix.
734*Trimmed / t r i m d / vb* S 27 J
in 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* S 11 M
the realm of t r i v i a ; t h e 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 / + /riv/iera.
736*Under t h e 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 F
deals o r a r r a n g e m e n t s made s e c r e t l y and often illegally,
r e g a r d i n g the 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 , S 26 F
to beat soundly or thoroughly*
738*Wrap-up / wrap-.AP / a d j . S 28 F
the concluding,completing or f i n i s h i n g u n i t i n any event
or series of events.
-up s u f f i x word,see #6*
(vi) COMICS

739. B o b b l e s / b o b a l z / v b . S 20 F
t o b o b b l e means t o f u m b l e ; t o mess u p ; t o ruin(something)•
740. Bow out / baw awt / vb. S 12 F
to leave;to 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 #11.
741. Buck / h£k / n. S 11 M
a dollar.
P o s s . f . the a n i m a l buck;wide c o l l o q u i a l use since d850.
742. Cop / kop/ vb. S 28 F
to win;to carry o f f catch or capture(a p r i z e ) as i n :
"Cop the money John."7

C f . #54,55,384.
743. C r e e p / k r i y p / n. S 11 M
a p e r s o n who gives one the " c r e e p s " ; a n odd,loathsome or
objectionable 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 i n search of fares.
Meaning change,
-er suffix,see #32.
7 4 5 » D e m o / demow / n. S 22 F
a demonstrator model(of a car,etc.)
Abbreviation by back-clipping: demo/nstrator/.
746. D o l l / d o l / n . P 17 F
a pretty girl o r woman,esp. one who simply graces the
s c e n e r a t h e r t h a n make an active contribution,(WF)
By d i r e c t analogy to toy doll.
747. Don*t h a n d me t h a t / downt hand miy Sot / S 22 F
d o n ' t g i v e me that;don't tell me such l i e s ; d o n ' t t r y
t o con me with elaborate stories.
748. F l o o r e d / f i o r d / vb. S 1.8 F
shocked or s u r p r i s e d ( t o the p o i n t where one almost
t a i n t s and falls on the floor).(WF)
 106

749. F l u n k e r o o / f U n k a r u v / n . S 15 F
a bad failure.
-eroo suffix orig. f . the S p a n i s h - e r o and indicates
hyperbole i n English.
750. Go jump i n t h e l a k e / gov jJLmp i n c f e l e y k / 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 nXts / v b . p h r . S 7 M
t o go 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 " cl929.
752. G r o o v y / g r u w i y / 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 one's desires.
O r i g . c1935 s v i n g use by m u s i c i a n s and devotees.Some
cool and f a r - o u t use 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 of the r e c o r d .
In the groove.prepositional phr. gives:
Groovy a d j . . a groove n., and t o groove vb.
753.Idiot c a r d . / i d i y e t k a r d / n . S 20 F
a prompter card.usu. used i n enttertainment(TV ,etc.)
to t e l l t h e m.c. 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
a s i f he v a s an idiot.
754. K i d / k i d / n. S 17 F
a c h i l d , e s p . a young child.(P)
From t h e young o f a g o a t . C f . #152.
755. L e v e l v i t h someone / l e v e l v i 8 sAjnvcvn / v b . S 5 F
t o be h o n e s t v i t h someone;to g i v e t h e f a c t s t o someone.(P)
756. L i v e i t up / l i v i t Xp / S 17 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 t o the
hilt a t any p a r t i c u l a r time,
-up s u f f i x vord,see #6.
757. Make a p l a y f o r / meyk 6 p l e y f o r / vb. S 30 J
t o use one's charms t o i m p r e s s one of the opposite sex;
to shov a r o m a n t i c interest i n one of the opposite sex.(VF)
758.Out / a w t / a d j . S 7 M
unconscious.(P)
Meaning change.
759. P u s s y c a t / pusiykaVt / n . S 1 M
a g i r l ; a n endearing name f o r a g i r l f r i e n d .
760. R a t 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 self-consciously alert;a shrewd,alert person.(WF)
-y 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 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
to 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 o f the smarts / sXdan k e y s aV & e smarts / S 22 F
a sudden r e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e t r u t h about a s i t u a t i o n o r
person;a 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 / eard d i y g r l y / n . S 27 F
prolonged 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 . S 28 F
to give p r i v a t e informationabout;to supply inside
information to someone.(P)
Colloquial since C1890.
-off s u f f i x w o r d , s e e #246.
770. T o p s i d e / topsayd / n. S 19 F
on t o p 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 14 F
tending t o f a v o r low values of stocks;speculation for

a fall•fi n a n c ial jargon.

Orig. phr. was prob. " s e l l the b e a r skin',' s u c h bargainers
being called bear-skin j o b b e r s . i n r e f . t o the proverb:
"to sell the bear's s k i n before one has caught the bear."
Hence,sell a bear,to sell what one does n o t possess.(P)
-ish s u f f i x , s e e #773;an a d j . f o r m i n g suffix meaning,like.
772. B r a i n c h i l d / b r e y n c a y l d / n. S 20 F
any product of one's i n t e l l e c t 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 F
tending to favor high values and p r i c e s of corporate
stocks;a 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
a rise i n prices.(P)
Financial jargon.
P r o b . f o r m e d by bull.a strong beast.
-ish suffix,see #771.
774. C a t c h / k a c / n, S 14 F
a problem;a d i f f i c u l t y ; a flaw or the part of an
otherwise good p l a n or easy task t h a t causes difficulty.
Functional shift.
775. D e a d b e a t s / d e d b x y t s / n . S 31 J
worthless i d l e r s , e s p , i f spongers.
Colloquial s i n c e C1875.
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 s u f f i x , see #31 •
778.Soft market / s o f t markat / n. S 3 F
weak;unreliable market w i t h p r i c e s p o o r and fluctuating.
Financial o r s t o c k market j a r g o n .
779. T a k e o v e r / teykowvar / n. S 5 F
the t a k i n g of c o n t r o l of something by t r a n s f e r from
or i n s u c c e s s i o n t o another.
780. Up-powered / Xp-paword / n. S 1 2 F
beefed-up;increased i n power.
Prob. f o r m e d by a n a l o g y t o model up-tempo.
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.
12
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 .
 With t h i s i n mind,it seems r e a s o n a b l e t o s t a t e t h a t d a i l y news-
papers are,in fact,bordering c l o s e l y upon t h e oral tradition of
d i s s e m i n a t i o n , b a s e d as t h e y are upon t h e immediate experience.
We a l s o know t h a t slang,in great p a r t , i s also characteristically
b a s e d upon immediate e x p e r i e n c e and i s p e r h a p s , a s S. I . Hayakawa
termed i t , " t h e poetry of everyday l i f e . " We must r e c o g n i z e that
slang i s therefore an ingredient e s s e n t i a l to the news media
format.It i s a l s o important because the newspaper i s t a k i n g the
social s u b - g r o u p i n g s t h a t make up the mosaic of everyday society
and by 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 a daily basis.
Por this r e a s o n c a t e g o r i z a t i o n was c a r r i e d o u t ( s e e page eleven)
as explained e a r l i e r , w i t h i n the l e x i c o n above i n o r d e r to examine
more c l o s e l y t h e evidence f o r slang i n each area.
Initial observation p r o v e s the contention t h a t the slang usage
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 attempt at
developing an " i n " jargon.This s u p p o r t s one of the original
r e a s o n s f o r the evolution of s l a n g . E v e n when t h e p o p u l a r i t y of a
particular group's s l a n g terms i n c r e a s e s until a large segment
of the public at large 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
still remains f u l l y intelligible only to that g r o u p ' s members.
Much o f t h i s sub-group usage a p p a r e n t l y has a conscious element
of social stratification built i n t o i t , w h e r e b y i f you are in the
entertainment business,for example,you must use the "in" jargon
t o be considered " 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 Sports,
B u s i n e s s and so on.There i s a d i s t i n c t social pressure,both
g r o u p and self 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 peculiar slang
there i s i n e v i t a b l y a good d e a l of c r o s s o v e r influence between
these s p e e c h c o m m u n i t i e s . T h i s has occurred,of course,because of the
vast m o b i l i t y of s o c i e t y a t l a r g e and 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 those
w i t h a wide f i e l d of a p p l i c a t i o n , s u c h as bag.bandwagon.blasted.
c r a c k d o w n . g u t s and bum.
 The major f a c t o r s i n f l u e n c i n g the choice of slang items i n any
of the d i v i s i o n s examined were b r e v i t y and impact:brevity,because
of the very spatial l i m i t a t i o n s of the newspaper f o r m a t as w e l l as
of i t s being a s p e c i a l q u a l i t y of slang;impact,because of i t s
eye-catching appeal 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
the newspaper.
Thus,in Headlines,brevity and impact are of c r u c i a l importance-
we must be able to s c a n them q u i c k l y and t h e y must "grab** our
attention.Other devices are o f t e n u s e d , s u c h as rhyme,alliteration
and purposeful but i n t e r e s t i n g confusion,but c h i e f l y the headline
needs t o stand out.
In S p o r t s , a dramatic 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 to
the f r e n z y i n the game o r 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 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 content of
slang and informal u s a g e and are often o f an overall colloquial
character and 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 applied arts.Generally speaking,these areas represent
the segment o f l i f e t h a t has wide t o l e r a n c e s f o r the unusual,and
this i s naturally reflected in their slang.
Comics c o n t a i n a basic and quite 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 of
expression,leaving wide l i m i t s for individual interpretation.
Of a d d i t i o n a l importance i s the fact that comic s t r i p s are often
syndicated,thus w i d e l y read,and t h e r e f o r e themselves a source of
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 experiences
laughter by language i n f o l l o w i n g the s i t u a t i o n responses of
comic strip characters,as well as character by language through
Caricatures and so o n . ( e . g . t h e comic s t r i p P e a n u t s by Charles
Schultz i s a prime example)
 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 the general
areas vhere 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 .
Like almost 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 ,
languages are 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
true 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 an
extremely p r e v a l e n t means o f f o r m i n g new 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 popular
s i n c e a b o u t 1960 when c i v i l r i g h t s p r o t e s t s began t o g a i n
national a t t e n t i o n . S i t - i n was the f i r s t word t o g a i n currency
and 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 to it.Hence,
b e - i n . l a u g h - i n . l o v e - i n and swim-in t o name some.Other p r e p o s i t i o n s
have a l s o f o l l o w e d t h e 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.
come-on.freak-out.camp-up and others.
- s t e r has r e c e n t l y become a n o t a b l y p o p u l a r s u f f i x , f o r m i n g such
terms as:punster and prankster.
A r e c e n t and i n c r e a s i n g l y frequent productive p r e f i x i s super-;
thus.superbowl.superport and superblock.al1 deriving ultimately
from t h e model o f superman.
As w e l l as t h e 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
s l a n g usage,an important 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 polysyllabic,
not 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 a l s o because i t
is 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 o r e x p l o s i v e were by f a r t h e most
popular i n a l l divisions.Thus,words b e g i n n i n g w i t h p , b . c . f , _ s , and
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 than a l l others.
F i n a l l y , v i v i d metaphor was f o u n d t o be a frequent characteristic
of slang,perhaps due t o slang's tendency t o base new formations on
old content(e.g.to p u l l the cork on).
In the i n t r o d u c t o r y paragraphs o f t h i s t h e s i s i t was noted that
the Renaissance saw 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 language.
S i m i l a r l y today,our age seems t o have a d i s t i n c t i v e consciousness
regarding language.However,whereas t h e seventeenth and eighteenth
c e n t u r y l e x i c o g r a p h e r s and grammarians a d o p t e d an authoritarian
approach,todays 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
language.
 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 particular,
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 sub-culture variants
immediately.The 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 quality
in our approach t o language today.
Perhaps t h i s p e r m i s s i v e n e s s i n language i s another aspect of
t h e f a r more i n c l u s i v e phenomenon characteristic o f o u r age;
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 i s in itself better than
another,Many s o c i o l o g i s t s seem t o a s s e r t t h a t what men ought t o do
is 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 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
or write.Thereby " 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 That D i c t i o n a r y

( 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.
s

2 S l e d d and Ebbitt,p.30.
3 James S l e d d and G. K o l b . D r . J o h n s o n ' s D i c t i o n a r y ( C h i c a g o :
U n i v e r s i t y of Chicago Press,1955),p.36.
4 H a r o l d Wentworth and S t u a r t B e r g F l e x n e r , P r e f a c e , D i c t i o n a r y
, , M

of A m e r i c a n Slang(New York:Thomas Y. C r o w e l l Co.,1967),p.vii.

5 C h a r l t o n L a i r d . T h e M i r a c l e o f Language(Greenwich.Corau.:
Fawcett P u b l i c a t i o n s Inc.,1963),p.68.
6 Leonard Bloomfield.Language(New York:Holt,Rinehart and Winston,
1961),pp.402-403.
7 Wentworth and Flexner,p.xi.
8 T h i s o u t l i n e of the l i n g u i s t i c p r o c e s s e s i n v o l v e d i n the
c r e a t i o n o f s l a n g r e l i e s h e a v i l y upon Wentworth and F l e x n e r , p . 5 9 6 .
9 Edward S a p i r . L a n g u a g e ( N e w Y o r k : H a r c o u r t , B r a c e and World Inc.,
1949),p.18.
10 M a r s h a l l M c L u h a n . U n d e r s t a n d i n g M e d i a: T h e E x t e n s i o n s of Man
(New Y o r k : S i g n e t B o o k s , 1 9 6 4 ) , p . 1 8 3 .
11 McLuhan,p.190.
12 McLuhan,p.189.
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