Slang is a type of language that consists of words, and phrases, that are regarded as very informal.
5
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1answer
528 views
What does 'mothercanuckers' mean?
First of all, sorry if it is offensive (I think it somewhat is).
I was going through http://bleacherreport.com/articles/424590-the-funniest-promos-and-moments-in-wwe-history#page/20
The Rock ...
5
votes
3answers
509 views
Why do you suck at XYZ?
How bad is the usage of the word suck in English? Is this "bad boy" language or commonly used?
5
votes
1answer
5k views
Does “way too long” mean “a lot too long” or “slightly too long”? [closed]
Does way too long mean a lot too long, or slightly too long?
Does way too stand for a huge or small measure?
5
votes
5answers
339 views
Is “denormalized” a word?
I use it all the time since I work with databases, but every time I write it somewhere with spell check I get the squiggly line below it. I've seen other people spell it with an "s" instead of a "z" ...
4
votes
1answer
90 views
Origin of “not for quids” phrase
At various times I've supposed the informal Australian phrase “not for quids” (which apparently is analogous to “not at any price”) derives from quid, which refers to sovereigns, or guineas. At ...
4
votes
4answers
4k views
What's a word that can mean both “good” and “bad”? [closed]
I've recently read about a word that was defined both as "shockingly good" and "shockingly bad", but I can't seem to recall the word. Does anyone know what it is? As far as I can recall, it was a ...
4
votes
2answers
4k views
How to spell “the youzhe” as in the abbreviation of “the usual”
The usual is a common reply to what will you order? or what are you up to?. It is often abbreviated, in Canada, to the first syllable of usual, as in the youzhe. How would you spell this abbreviation? ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
Where did the phrase “shut up” as an expression of disbelief or amazement originate?
I recently heard shut up used according to this definition in Urban dictionary.
shut·up (shuht-up)
--interjection
1. An expression of disbelief.
2. Amazement; astonishment.
I've only ...
3
votes
2answers
334 views
Indirect, quoted speech: He's all
What does it mean, when someone is alluding to quoted speech, and says to be all something? Is this just slang?
For example:
"I'm all.. I don't think I'm gonna go".
"And he's all.. I think you
...
3
votes
2answers
220 views
Clarifying the usage of “hella”
The word hella has spread from the Southern California dialect to the point where most varieties of American English speaker (such as me in the Midwest) know that it exists and hear it used. I always ...
3
votes
2answers
869 views
Is “could've” or “should've” standard English?
As the title says — is "could've" or "should've" standard English or is it slang and should correctly be spelled "could have" and "should have"?
2
votes
2answers
6k views
Origin of “s--t eating grin”
What is the origin of the phrase shit eating grin? How did it come to mean showing smugness or self-satisfaction of an individual's actions?
2
votes
2answers
217 views
Is 'learn' the new 'teach'?
With seemingly increasing frequency I come across a phrase using 'learn' when I think it should be 'teach'.
The classic example is 'that will learn them!', as in "Shoot all criminals - that will ...
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vote
0answers
232 views
What is the origin of using the letters 'ZZZ' to symbolize a person sleeping? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How did the letter Z become to be associated with sleeping/snoring?
In old cartoons and even now in other such media, often the letters 'zzz' are used to indicate that a ...
1
vote
4answers
756 views
Is the phrase “move over” an official English idiom? And if so, is it only in American English?
Is the phrase "move over" an official English idiom known worldwide? I would like to know:
Is it an official English idiom (not slang or colloquial)?
Is it known outside of the US (e.g. in the UK, ...
1
vote
1answer
325 views
On being golden
Saying that [someone] is golden means that person is in a desirable situation that will likely lead to some sort of success.
I am trying to find out the origin of this phrase. So far, I have found ...
0
votes
2answers
260 views
What do you call the main telephone number?
I understand that someone's work phone might have an extension. What do you call the main number of that office, which would normally be answered by an operator or a computer voice system?
Would it ...
0
votes
2answers
708 views
How about 'play cute' or 'play adorable'?
I wonder if 'play cute' or 'play adorable' is frequently used to stand for 'act cute/adorable' in spoken language. It seems easier to google out 'act cute/adorable' instead of 'play cute/adorable'.
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votes
2answers
791 views
Using exclamation points as part of a brand name [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to handle a name that includes an exclamation point (or other punctuation)?
I am editing a text about a product whose name contains an exclamation point as the final ...
-2
votes
3answers
3k views
What are some slang terms for “newspaper”? [closed]
I'm looking for some slang terms for a newspaper, whether they are archaic terms that nobody has used in the past 70 years or modern, obscure terms.
-5
votes
3answers
482 views
“Grizzly status”
In a Youtube video I was watching yesterday I heard some young kid shouting "grizzly status!" over and over again. According to urban dictionary, it applies to extremely extraordinary achievements ...
