SLANG

Definition:

The police

Example:

1) Peter was afraid the fuzz would catch him after he robbed the little old lady.

Etymology:

No one is sure where this word comes from. It's usually used in a negative way, and implies that the police are an annoyance.

Synonyms:

Cops

 

Definition:

Close to death; a person who is or appears to be nearly dead.

Example:

1) Ma says Pa has one foot in the grave, so we probably should start planning his funeral.

2) Benron Corp. has had one foot in the grave ever since the accounting scandal came to light.

Etymology :

This phrase dates back to the 1600s, and its meaning is fairly straightforward. Your 'grave' is where you are buried when you die, and if you have'one foot' already in the grave, then you must be very close to the end of your life.

Definition:	To be irrational and wild; to lose control.
Example:	1) I knew Joe would go bananas when he found out he's not getting a raise this year.
Etymology:	When apes are given a bunch of bananas, they eat them with tremendous enthusiasm, as though they've lost their minds.
Synonyms:	go crazy, bonkers
Definition:	To be wildly enthusiastic.
Example:	1) Alaine went bananas over the new shoes from Manolo Blahnik. I think she bought five pairs!

 

Definition:

To carry a gun

Example:

1) Be careful when you're out late at night -- you never know who might be packing heat.

2) You never had to tell Dirty Harry to pack heat -- he was always carring a .44 Magnum.

Etymology: "Heater" is slang for gun, and "pack" means 'a container' or 'to fold up' or 'to put away'. So when you "pack heat" you become a container for a gun - or put a gun on your body, in your clothes.

Definition:

To lose control and act violently; to be filled with rage and fury; to break under pressure and harm others.

Example:

1) Tom looks awfully upset. I hope he doesn't go postal and kill us all!

Etymology:

In the last few years, a number of mail carriers in the United States have gone crazy and shot some of their fellow employees. (In the U.S., a mail carrier is called a 'mailman' or 'postman', and the mail service is called the 'post office'. The word 'post' has a number of meanings, and can be used as a noun referring to a delivery of mail, and as a verb referring to mailing a letter.) Synonyms: go nuts

Definition:

Someone who has died or is going to die soon; something that has failed or is ruined.

Example:

1) Yoyodyne.com is a goner -- it hasn't made any money in over three years.  2) Paul is going to try to swim across the Pacific Ocean. Man, he's a goner.

Etymology :

'Gone' (the past participle of 'go') refers to someone who has left or is dead. When someone has died, you might say that they are 'gone.'

Definition:	Marijuana; a plant that is smoked (illegally, in many countries).
Example:	1) A lot of hippies love to smoke grass.
Etymology:	pot

Definition:

Marijuana; weed

Example:

1) Let's buy some pot and smoke it in my room.

Synonyms :

grass Definition : Total amount bet on a poker hand; a gambling term Example : 1) The pot is up to $100. Do you wan to call or drop ?

 

Definition:	A detective or private investigator.
Example:	1) Captain Harris assigned two gumshoes to the case. 2) Gumshoes come in all kinds, ranging from the experienced sleuth to the novice bungler.
Etymology:	Refers to the rubber sole on the shoes of many police officers. The phrase is frequently heard in the movies, especially in older film noir detective films from the 1940s.

 

Definition:

Intoxicated, especially after smoking marijuana; in a dazed state, resulting from drug consumption.

Example:

1) I think Mary Jane was pretty baked last night - her eyes were bright red, and she sat in front of the television for six hours straight without moving. Etymology: To 'bake' means to cook in an oven. After using marijuana, one's brain could be said to be baked - i.e., dried out, hard, lifeless. Synonyms : stoned

Definition:

In prison or jail; incarcerated.

Example:

1) My brother Charlie tried to rob a bank, but the cops caught him and now he's behind bars.

2) I can't wait until they catch the killer and put him behind bars.

Etymology: Prison inmates are locked behind metal bars which prevent their escape. Synonyms: up the river, in the slammer, under glass

Definition:

Prison, particularly a maximum security federal prison ( or jail )

Example:

1) After he got caught robbing a bank, Ted was sent to the big house for 20 years.

Etymology:

A 'house' is where people live, and a prison is quite large 9 or 'big'), home to hundreds of criminals. This phrase became popular in the early 1900's, when organized crime and large scale prisons developed in the United States.

Synonyms:

up the river, under glass, behind bars

Definition:

To kill or murder; to assassinate.

Example:

1) Igor got bumped off last week. The police have no clue who did it.

Etymology:

This phrase comes from 1920s American gangster slang. When you 'bump' something, you give it a little push. 'Off' means 'not on'. So if you 'bump' someone 'off', you push him toward the end of his life.

Synonyms:

rub out

Definition:

To die.

Example:

1) Lance bought the farm when he drove his motorcycle straight into a brick wall.

Etymology:

Sometimes, when a person dies, the life insurance payment is large enough for the surviving family members to pay off the mortgage on a piece of property - or to 'buy the farm'.

Definition:	A criminal or gangster.
Example:	1) The streets are a lot safer now that the police have cracked down on those hoodlums.
Etymology:	The origins of this word are unknown - any ideas ?.

 

Definition:

An informant; one who discloses secret or vital information.

Example:

1) The police would never have found him if a stool pigeon hadn't revealed his hiding place.

Etymology:

Gangsters in New York started using this phrase in the 1920s. Earlier, in the 1800s, hunters would attach a pigeon ( a kind of bird ) to a stool ( or stand ) to act as a decoy, so that other birds would come close and could then be killed. The 'stool pigeon' was used to deceive other birds. Among criminals, the 'stool pigeon' is the one who is actually working for the police, deceiving the other criminals. Synonyms: snitch

Definition:	Very secret
Example:	1) The operation was so hush-hush that even the commanding officer didn't know all of the details. 2) Let's keep that information hush-hush, OK ?
Etymology	'Hush' means 'quiet'. So something that is 'hush-hush' should not be discussed or exposed in public. This phrase dates back to World War I, when it referred to military secrets.
Definition:		An animal that has been run over and killed by a car; any disgusting substance that is on the ground.
Example:		1) Maura's pet turtle escaped last week and I'm afraid it's probably street pizza by now. 2) That poor little dog -- now he's just street pizza.
Etymology:		'Pizza' is a popular food that is flat and has lots of red tomato sauce, and 'street' means road or highway. This phrase is a comical reference to unpleasant organic materials that are found on roads and sidewalks.
Synonyms:		road kill

  

Definition:	Home or place of residence.
Example:	1) I've got a great stereo system back at my crib.
Etymology:	A 'crib' is a bed for a baby. This phrase compares the comfort and security of a baby's bed to one's apartment or house.
Synonyms:	pad

   

Definition:

To die

Example:

1) Old man Douglas croaked last week.

2) After grandpa croaked, I inherited his pickup truck.

Etymology:

'Croak' refers to the sound that some animals make when they die.

Definition:	To make an agreement; to form a contract.
Example:	1) We cut a deal with Sony and now we handle all of their accounts in Jersey City.
Etymology:	This phrase goes back to ancient practice of killing an animal and slicing it up to mark the beginning of a new agreement.

 

Definition:

To impose a severe penalty on someone; to give the maximum penalty for a crime.

Example:

1) His crime was so cruel and inhumane that they threw the book at him.

2) The judge told my lawyer that he is going to throw the book at me unless I beg the court for mercy.

Etymology :

'The book' is the entire collection of laws and penalties. If a judge were to 'throw' or hurl the whole book of laws at someone, it would probably hurt quite a bit.

Definition:

In trouble; the object of anger or scorn.

Example:

1) Tom was in the doghouse after he was late for dinner with his wife's parents.

2) My report at work was late and now I'm in the doghouse with my boss

Etymology:

A 'doghouse' is a small hut or house for a pet dog to sleep in. When you are 'in the doghouse,' you are not literally outside in the doghouse. Rather, the phrase means that someone is angry with you, and thinks you should be punished (by being treated like a bad dog).

Definition:

In jail; behind the locked doors of a prison

Example:

1) Tomas spent a few years in the slammer for robbing a grocery store.

Etymology:

The phrase refers to the closing of a door. When a door is 'slammed' it means that it was closed with great force.

Synonyms:

behind bars, up the river, under glass

Definition:

Risky, dangerous

Example:

1. Getting into a fight with Tim is very dicey -- he is a black belt in karate.

Definition:

Difficult; hard to deal with; controversial

Example:

1) The editor thought the story about the president's girlfriend was too hot to handle, so he refused to print it.

2) The line drive was too hot to handle, and the Phillies scored on the play.

Etymology:

'Too hot to handle' comes from baseball, referring to a ball hit so hard that it can't be caught. In this phrase, 'hot' means 'lively' or 'powerful', and 'handle' means 'take care of' or 'pick up'. The phrase is now used to describe any situation that is hard to deal with or problematic.

Definition:	To be under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD.
Example:	1) The sky looks red ? Dude, are you tripping ?
Etymology:	In the 1960s, many people used mind-altering drugs, and some people referred to their drug experiences as 'trips' ( or journeys ). Today the word is usually used in jest, to describe a foolish statement. When someone says something stupid or silly, you might say to them 'You must be tripping'.

 

Definition:

The U.S. government; a patriotic figure who symbolizes the United States.

Example:

1) July 4th is Independence Day in the United States. Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam!

2) No matter how much money I make in a year, Uncle Sam always gets a big chunk of it.

Etymology:

During the War of 1812 between the United States and England, a man named Samuel Wilson provided supplies to the American troops. Wilson was known as 'Uncle Sam', and he stamped his supplies with 'US', which stood for both 'United States' and 'Uncle Sam'. Since then, 'Uncle Sam' has been a symbol for the country, especially in times of war.

Definition:

To insult someone (verb), or the insult itself (noun).

Example:

1) Did you hear that? That guy dissed you!

2) Don't let me hear another dis out of your mouth, young man!

Etymology:

'Dis' is African-American slang, and comes from the word DISrespect.

Definition:	Hopeless or futile; something that cannot be repaired or salvaged.
Example:	1) The local football team decided to move to another city, so our proposal for a new stadium was DOA. 2) The victim was rushed to the emergency room, where doctors pronounced him DOA.
Etymology:	DOA comes from the first letters of the phrase 'dead on arrival', which is used in hospitals to describe dead people who are brought to the emergency room. As slang, the term can be used to describe anything that is no longer possible.

 

Definition:

A hidden advantage; some form of trickery lying in wait.

Example:

1) Be careful doing business with Tom -- he's always got something up his sleeve.

Etymology:

This is one of many slang phrases derived from gambling. When a card player has 'an ace up his sleeve' he is hiding an extra card ( usually a powerful one like an ace ) in his shirt sleeve, waiting to use it to win a hand. Now the phrase refers to any kind of hidden strength or advantage.

Definition:	A weak individual who is regularly abused by others.
Example:	1) Ned will never get anywhere until he stops being such a doormat. 2) I wish people would stop treating my brother like a doormat.
Etymology:	A 'doormat' is where people wipe their feet before entering a house, so someone who is called a 'doormat' is someone who gets 'stepped on' or abused by other people.

 

Definition:	To beat decisively; to give a severe beating; to rough someone up.
Example:	1) Don't mess with the bouncer unless you want him to kick your ass.

 

Definition:	Very Important Person; a phrase used to describe powerful people in business, politics, sports, and entertainment.
Example:	1) The cameras started flashing as soon as the VIPs arrived. 2) This is a VIP parking zone. I'm afraid you'll have to move your car.
Etymology:	Comes from the first letters of 'Very Important Person'. Pronounced 'vee eye pee'.
Synonyms:	big shot

 

Definition:

To be in a delicate situation; to be on the edge of danger or ruin.

Example:

1) Ever since I smashed their car, I've been walking on eggshells with my parents.

2) We're walking on eggshells with our landlord -- she told us that if we have one more loud party, she's going to kick us out of our apartment.

Etymology:

An 'eggshell' is the thin, white outer coating of an egg. The shell is very thin and breaks easily. So if you are 'walking on eggshells' you are in a situation where you could break something ( or get in trouble or ruin everything ) very easily.

Synonyms:

walking on thin ice

Definition:

To fail to pay a debt; to fail to do something you promise to do.

Example:

1) I won the pool game, but the guy I was playing welched on the bet.

Etymology:

Although the origins of this word are unknown, it might be an old slur against people from Wales in Great Britain, implying that people from that region ( the Welsh ) don't pay their debts.

Definition:	Crazy; mentally unbalanced.
Example:	1) I realized Peter was a little bit kooky when I saw him running naked down the street.
Etymology:	Derived from the word 'cuckoo', an old English word for 'crazy', possibly referring to the strange cry of the cuckoo bird.
Synonyms:	zany, nutty

 

Definition:

One who is shot at with a gun is said to 'eat lead'; as an exclamation, the phrase is directed toward the intended target.

Example:

1) "Eat lead!" yelled the bank robber as he fired his gun at the police outside.

Etymology:

A bullet is made of lead so when a gun is fired at someone, the intended target might be 'eating lead' -- that is, bringing the bullet inside their body.