Questions tagged [slang]
Questions about “Language of a highly colloquial type, considered as below the level of standard educated speech, and consisting either of new words or of current words employed in some special sense.” [OED: 𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈]
1,454
questions
1
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0answers
15 views
“Everything's coming up X”?
I've heard several Americans say "everything's coming up X". Sometimes, it's a person's name, and sometimes, it can be anything.
Example: https://youtu.be/ivW7z3wGAl8?t=175
Everything was ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Is “fleabag” as a derogatory term for an unpleasantly dirty person a Britishism?
I have always heard and used "fleabag" as referring to a shabby hotel/motel room, a dump of a place, so I was kind of surprised to see it also has a separate meaning of a dirty person. This ...
11
votes
2answers
3k views
What does “a shnip” mean?
It is the word used in a play. The paragraph in which it is stated is the following:
Why does everybody sabotage me, Frank? I give work, I pay
well, yes ? They eat what they want, don't they ? I don'...
5
votes
3answers
225 views
How and when did “jug” come to be a slang term for “prison”?
Most of the online dictionaries give this kind of alternate meaning of jug:
Slang. jail; prison.
When I was in grammar school it's what we called detention: "If you talk back to the teacher, ...
5
votes
12answers
4k views
A possibly modern derogatory term for housewife
I need a derogatory term for housewife. I couldn't find any in online dictionaries and I'm not sure I have ever heard of any in any language I'm familiar with.
But I'm thinking there must be something ...
2
votes
0answers
54 views
Is the “Secret Policeman's Ball” an allusion to bribery?
The Secret Policeman's Ball were a series of benefit shows.
However, is the phrase "buying a ticket to the Secret Policeman's Ball" an allusion to paying a bribe?
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Could the origin of “gangway” as an interjection be from Cantonese?
The use of "Gangway!" to tell people to get out of the way seems to be relatively recent (e.g. 100 years) in use.
There is a common equivalent expression in Cantonese, pronounced something ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
in the Chinese bubble
Lily is an international student who is studying in LA. But, she doesn't want to be one who is always in the Chinese bubble.
Do English native speakers use 'bubble' to describe "a group of ...
0
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0answers
21 views
What does an 'ice run' means in Heathers?
There is this scene in Heathers (1988), where Veronica and JD sit in her car discussing a murder they commited the night before. Veronica is upset by being fooled, but Jason reassures her it was all ...
0
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0answers
39 views
Can you use “I digress” after you rant, even if it is an excess rant of the original topic?
Can you use "I digress" after you rant, even if it is an excess rant of the original topic?
Example:
Person 1:
I got banned from league of legends
Person 2:
ok
Person 1:
Evan you're really ...
5
votes
2answers
321 views
Whatās the origin/etymology of āmm-byeā?
As said to end conversations (especially on the phone): mmm-bye.
When and how did this form/usage start?
0
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2answers
76 views
Meaning of “bareback”
I've been watching Guy Maddin's 2007 My Winnipeg and there's a sentence there I have difficulty understanding. The narrator is talking about the coldest month, January, and it goes something like this:...
0
votes
1answer
159 views
On a certain pejorative in contemporary British English
According to the OED https://www.oed.com/viewdictionaryentry/Entry/67623) "faggot" and "fag", used to refer to gay men in a derogatory way are "originally and chiefly North ...
4
votes
2answers
127 views
Historical change in the use of “dude” in 60's US
My understanding of the history of the word "dude" is the following. The word was originally a mocking term around 1890 in the US for a city man who wore overly fancy clothes. In the West, ...
0
votes
2answers
54 views
Verbs and pronouns in action phrases e.g. me: *smiles* [closed]
An action is usually a verb phrase surrounded in asterisks to show that someone is doing something. When an action is written, why is it using the third person verb conjugation even though the subject ...
1
vote
2answers
71 views
How do we order food in English?
So I was wondering how we order food in English. Letās say I want a tea, is this sentence okay? :
āHi, Iād like a takeout tea please.ā
Or do native speakers say it differently? (I want to sound like a ...
18
votes
7answers
3k views
Social Network Accounts Owned by the Same Person
Say, there's a person who has registered more than one account on the same social network and writes from these accounts pretending they belong to different people. How would you name such accounts?
...
1
vote
0answers
20 views
What's it means “yes validate just the what” [closed]
I asked my mentor
"Do I need to validate the filed if it's type is requiredļ¼ā
And he answered
"Yes validate just the what"
What's that meansļ¼ It it means yes I should validate itļ¼ Or ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
Whatās a matter-of-fact tone?
I was wondering if a matter-of-fact tone was the same as a straightforward tone, and if these terms all mean āsimpleā or āwithout emotionsā. (I am not a native speaker for that matter).
If I speak or ...
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Is the use of the singular ātheyā formal English or not?
so I have to write an academic essay for school, and I was wondering if the use of the singular āthey/them/theirā would be accepted.
Which of these would be āformalā and āacceptedā by teachers.
A) ...
0
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0answers
32 views
Checking one's closet for somebody
I don't understand the following comment found on YouTube Bobby Jarzombek:
Before Portnoy goes to bed, he checks his closet for Bobby Jarzombek.
I cannot find any definition of this expression.
Is ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
Elegant way to say - I'm just curious
On the website we have two account types. One is car expert account and another is just a basic account. Website purpose is to have professionals share their experience with non professionals.
...
1
vote
3answers
56 views
Phrase or idiom for lots of unnecessary actions
I am looking for a short phrase or idiom which means "a lot of unnecessary and hard actions".
The whole phrase would be something like:
No more tons of unnecessary actions, create it in one minute or ...
0
votes
0answers
63 views
Is 'bologna' acceptable for 'baloney' in the sense of nonsense?
A recent NYTimes article about the state of antitrust cases against Google had the line:
Most of this is bologna and distracts us from the only question that
matters
Which seems like an over-...
1
vote
3answers
243 views
Whatās the origin of the use of the word āhardā to mean unequivocal?
For example, in āhard noā or āhard passā
5
votes
4answers
927 views
Can the word, āwhammyā be used for good news?
I found the following headline in todayās (May 11) New York Times:
āTriple whammy of good news led by Coronavirus Hopes catapult
Dow more than 900 points.ā
I was under impression that the usage of ...
1
vote
3answers
150 views
What do you call a word that follows a punchline or a practical joke and is used to emphasize it?
Popular culture often has people use a specific kind of word to capitalize on a joke they've just told, or a prank they've pulled on someone.
Examples of such exclamations would include hey-oh that ...
0
votes
1answer
138 views
What does “neato burrito” mean? [closed]
What does "neato burrito" mean?
Where is it coming from and when is the right time to use it?
1
vote
2answers
164 views
Word/slang for person who cries easily watching movies
I'd like to know from native speakers what would they call or what slang would they use for a person who cries easily watching even the silliest of movies (meaning very little drama). For example, ...
1
vote
0answers
43 views
A slang-phrase for “dreamed for him”
Is there an informal way of saying "I've been informed my child was accepted at the school I always dreamed for him"?
1
vote
0answers
37 views
Recommended TV shows/ books to improve oral english( slangs, popular internet phrases, etc)
I want to learn some popular words/slangs that people nowadays say. What are some recommended books/ TV shows for me to watch? Sometimes it's hard to understand people's humors and catch the points.
0
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0answers
27 views
What does āstocks of things, recent stuffā mean?
My friend has a problem with the phrase in the title. Weāre both non-natives of English and despite my advanced level Iāve never seen such a phrase. It was said by a bilingual child while telling ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
āIāll get right on itā [duplicate]
What does it mean to say ( Iāll get right on it) if someone in a really terrible situation and being offered a help and he replied ( I āll get right on it )
0
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0answers
55 views
Is it correct to say āSkypingā in a sentence
Is it correct to say to my boss ā I will be Skyping with you from thereā
0
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0answers
78 views
Is it common to say 'not that urgent'
Is it correct to say ānot that urgentā to someone who is offering urgent appointment thinking that there is something urgent?
16
votes
5answers
4k views
Why does “blue blazes” specify the color blue, and what is the origin of this expression as an intensifier/euphemism?
A recent question posted on English Language & Usage (What does "blazes" mean in "Stay the blazes home!") asks where "blazes" originated as an intensifier. In attempting to ...
3
votes
1answer
6k views
What does “blazes” mean in “Stay the blazes home!”
Canada Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil's war cry against COVID-19, "Stay the blazes home", trending #1 in Twitter Canada today (April 4, 2020). See news article coverage.
What does "blazes" here ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the origin of “stir” meaning “prison”?
In these days of self-isolation the composite "stir-crazy" has come to the fore. Several instances of people saying they or others are "going stir-crazy" have been heard.
According to the OED it is ...
0
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0answers
33 views
Connotation origin/usage: “self care” along the lines of “Treat yo self” and “#selfcare”
How has the idea of "taking care of yourself, for yourself (your own pleasure), and no other reason" Ć la the phrases/terms "self care" and "#selfcare" and "treat yo self" developed over time?
"self ...
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Word choice: Gent, Gent's or Gents? [duplicate]
I'm going to name my new business, I got an idea from another company called "ZZZ Men Supply" and come up with "XXX Gentlemen Supply" for my business. Since the word Gentlemen slightly longer I want ...
0
votes
0answers
59 views
Slang etymology of “up” and “down” in phrasal verbs [duplicate]
In this, "to be" is the base verb, conjugated in the first, singular, present tense "am". The verb is then put in a contraction with first, singular, pronoun "I" to create "I'm". This contraction is ...
3
votes
2answers
140 views
Origin and evolution of the term “deep state” in political discourse
In the April 2020 issue of The Atlantic, George Packer offers this interesting but brief discussion of the term deep state in his article "The President Is Winning His War on American ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
“tops” meaning “props” or “kudos”
I recently heard "tops" used in a way similar to "kudos" and "props".
Kid 1: Hey Palet, tops on your strategy man.
Kid 2: What strategy?
Kid 1: You know, start off with ...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
Is there a language technique that categories inverse meanings?
After being asked if I want a receipt at the markets, I notice I can alternate between
- I'm good
- I'm fine
- I'm okay
All of these by literal meaning, vaguely motions a "positive" response, ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
What does the sentence āwear your sleeve on your heartā mean?
āThere are difficulties and the possibility of heartbreak. There always are in high school. You wear your sleeve on your heart. There are parents.ā
Is it same like the sentence of āwear your heart on ...
1
vote
1answer
176 views
what are some synonyms for alcohol tolerance?
I've searched for some slangy synonyms of alcohol tolerance but couldn't really find any. For example: he has high (synonym of alcohol tolerance).
0
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0answers
92 views
When people say “think tall thoughts”
During small talk I heard someone say,
Think tall thoughts. That might help.
when another person was complaining about being short-heighted.
I checked online information, but I still need some ...
4
votes
1answer
164 views
Looking for synonymous expressions for - to throw someone away like a used toothpick
In my native (Georgian) language we have this colloquial saying - throw someone away like an eaten apple, meaning-to get rid of someone after having taken advantage of him/her in a dishonest way. I ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
what is the story behind the word 'Sky' meaning 'the most amazing girl you can ever meet'? [closed]
I researched this question on this site. I saw the word sky used in a way I never heard if. I searched on google and saw these definitions on The Urban dictioney (https://www.urbandictionary.com/...
0
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0answers
68 views
What kind of accent is this one (possibly from Kentucky)?
Is this one of regional accent in the USA or simply a defect in speech?
If it's a regional accent, is it a typical Kentucky accent?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oKlERHhPt0&t=490s
