slangman 1 Flashcards
animal n.
one who is extremely aggressive sexually ·
Be careful. He’s an animal!; Be careful. He’s extremely aggressive sexually!
antsy
restless ·
He’s always so antsy; He
ape shit over something or someone (to go)
to go crazy with excitement for something or someone ·
He went ape shit over the new car his father gave him; He went crazy with excitement over the new car his father gave him. · NOTE: This is a vulgar, yet popular, equivalent of: ape for something or someone (to go)
ass. (vulgar)
- fool ·2. buttocks
What an ass!; What a fool! · 2· Move your ass!; Hurry!
jackass (vulgar)
fool ·
Don’t be such a jackass!; Don’t be such an fool!
batty
crazy ·
You’re batty!; You’re crazy!
beaver n.
(vulgar) vagina
mind one’s own bee’s wax (to)
to mind one’s own business ·
Mind your own bee’s wax!; Mind your own business!
“A little bird told me”
“An unnamed source told me.” · VARIATION: “A little birdie told me”
bird n.
woman or girl (British) ·
Do you know that bird?; Do you know that girl?
for the birds (to be)
said of anything inferior or of an absurd situation ·
This car is for the birds!; This car doesn’t work!
give/flip someone the bird (to)
to give someone an obscene gesture with the middle finger
· I waved to her from my car and she gave/flipped me the bird!; I waved to her from my car and she gave me an obscene gesture! jailbird n. prisoner
buck n.
(extremely popular) dollar ·
Can you lend me five bucks?; Can you lend me five dollars?
buck up (to) .
to cheer up
Buck up! Things are getting better!; Cheer up! Things are getting better
as snug as a bug in a rug
extremely comfortable ·
“Were you comfortable in your new bed last night?” “I was as snug as a bug in a rug”; “Were you comfortable in your new bed last night?” “I was extremely comfortable.”
bug n. virus, cold ·
My sister can’t come to your party
cause she caught a bug; My sister can’t come to your party because she caught a cold.
bug (to)
to annoy
Stop bugging me!; Stop annoying me!
work out all the bugs (to)
to remedy all the problems ·
My new invention is almost ready. I just need a few more hours to work out all the bugs; My invention is almost ready. I just need a few more hours to remedy all the problems.
buffalo (to)
to trick ·
He buffaloed me!; He tricked me!
bull-headed
stubborn ·
Sometimes you can be so bull-headed!; Sometimes you can be so stubborn!
dumb bunny
stupid person
· What a dumb bunny!; What a stupid person!
ski bunny
woman or girl who wears the latest fashion when going skiing.
butterflies (to have)
to be nervous and jittery ·
I always get butteiflies when I speak in front of large groups; I always get nervous when I speak in front of large groups.
cat call
a whistle targeted toward a pretty woman or girl indicating excitement about her beauty ·
You should hear the cat calls she gets whenever she walks down the street!; You should hear the whistles she gets whenever she walks down the street!
pussy cat
- term of endearment such as “honey, sweetheart, darling, etc. · 2. gentle person · He’s such a pussy cat; He’s such a gentle person.
scaredy cat (to be a)
to be a coward ·
He’s such a scaredy cat; He’s such a coward. · VARIATION: to be a scaredy pants
something the cat dragged in
said of a person who just enters a room ·
Look what the cat dragged in; Look who just walked in. · NOTE: This expression is commonly used in two ways: 1. when referring to an unpopular person · When this is the case, the expression would not be said loudly enough for the targeted person to hear · 2. upon the entrance of someone who is well-liked · When this is the case, the expression would be said directly to the person, signifying affection and friendly teasing
chicken out (to)
to lose one’s courage ·
He chickened out at the last minute; He lost his courage at the last minute.
chicken shit (vulgar yet popular) ·
- coward ·<br></br>2. petty, small
She’s such a chicken shit; She’s such a coward. · 2 · My boss paid me chicken shit wages; My boss paid me small wages.
hen-pecked
said of a man who lets himself be completely dominated by his wife ·
He’s been hen-pecked for the past 25 years; He’s been dominated by his wife for the past 25 years.
Spring chicken
youthful ·
He jogs ten miles a day and he’s no spring chicken!; He jogs ten miles a day and he’s not very youthful! · NOTE: Although the phrase “He’s not a spring chi~ken” is certainly correct, a more common construction is “He’s no spring chicken.” This form is an extremely popular contraction of “not a” and used for greater emphasis, i.e.: She’s not a beauty = She’s no beauty! I He’s not a gentleman= He’s no gentleman! etc.
clam up (to)
to keep quiet ·
When I asked him if he saw who stole it, he clammed up; When I asked him if he saw who stole it, he kept quiet.
cow (to have a)
to get extremely upset ·
When I told my mother that I wouldn’t be home until midnight, she had a cow!; When I told my mother that I wouldn’t be home until midnight, she got extremely upset! t NOTE: This expression gained new popularity in the late 1980’s due to a popular television show in which the son was known for using this expression. As of the beginning of the 1990’s, it is common to see bumper stickers with the expression, Don’t have a cow, man!; a common phrase used in this show meaning, “Don’t get so upset, pal!” t NOTE: Interestingly enough, in South Africa the expression is “to have a puppy.
Till the cows come home!”
“For a long time!”
“In a while crocodile” <br></br>see ya later alligator
“See you soon.”
dog n.
- ugly person ·<br></br>2. man (in general) ·<br></br>3. failure<br></br>4.. feet
She’s a real dog; She’s really ugly. · 2 You clever dog!; You clever person! · 3 · The new movie is a dog; The new movie is a failure. · 4 · My dogs are aching!; My feet are aching! · Occasionally you will hear the play-on-words My dogs are barking!; My feet are aching! t NOTE: The difference between 1. and 2. depends on the context.
dog do(o)
dog excrement ·
Look out! You almost stepped in dog do(o); Be careful! You almost stepped in dog excrement.
doghouse (in the)
in trouble with someone ·
I’m really in the doghouse now. I forgot my wife’s birthday; I’m really in trouble now. I forgot my wife’s birthday. t NOTE: This expression was created because it was said that when a husband would get in trouble with his wife. he was made to spend the night in the doghouse. This expression is now used figuratively between any two people, not necessary just husband and wife.
dog-tired
exhausted
· I’m going to bed. I’m dog-tired; I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted.
hound (to)
to pester
·I have to keep hounding him ifl want him to get things done; I have to keep pestering him if I want him to get things done.
sly dog
cunning and shrewd individual·
You sly dog!; You cunning person!
dead duck
certain to get into trouble or reprimanded ·
If you stay here, you’re a dead duck; If you stay here, you’re certain to get into trouble.
sitting duck
vulnerable to attack ·
You’re a sitting duck if you stand outside during a tornado; You’re vulnerable to attack if you stand outside during a tornado.
“That’s a different kettle of fish” “
That’s a different story.”
“This is a fine kettle of fish!”
“This is a terrible situation!”
make nsh eyes at someone (to)
to look at someone With desire ·
That guy is making fish eyes at you; That guy is looking at you with desire.
fox n.
a sexy person ·
She’s a real fox; She’s a real cute person.
foxy adj.
sexy ·
What a foxy mama!; What a sexy young woman!
sly as a fox (to be)
to be extremely cunning.
have a memory like an elephant (to)
to have an excellent memory ·
She has a memory like an elephant; She has an excellent memory. · NOTE: This expression· refers to the common belief that elephants never forget.
white elephant
an insignificant object which serves no real purpose other than to catch dust in someone’s home ·
Did you see the gift she gave me? What should I do with this white elephant?; Did you see the gift she gave me? What should I do with this object?
have a frog in one’s throat (to)
to have a temporarily raspy voice due to something caught in one’s throat ·
You sound like you have a frog in your throat; You sound like you have something caught in your throat.
get someone’s goat (to)
to annoy someone ·
He really gets my goat; He really annoys me. old goat exp. a lecherous old man.
goose someone (to)
to pinch someone on the buttocks ·
I was standing in the bus during rush hour and I suddenly got goosed!; I was standing in the bus during rush hour and I suddenly got pinched on my buttocks! · He goosed her in public!; He pinched her buttocks in public!
receive/get goose egg (to)
to receive/get nothing ·
You know what I got for my birthday? Goose egg; You know what I got for my birthday? Nothing. t NOTE: This is due to the fact that a goose egg is shaped like a giant zero.
silly goose
(used affectionately) fool·
You’re such a silly goose; You’re such a fool.
wild goose chase
a pointless search ·
How can we possibly find what the boss asked us for? I think we’re on a wild goose chase; How can we possibly find what the boss asked us for? I think we’re on a pointless search.
hog n.
- an overeater ·<br></br>2. a greedy person
Have you ever eaten with him? He’s such a hog!; Have you ever eaten with him? He’s such an overeater! · 2 · I can’t believe he took all of it. He’s such a hog!; I can’t believe he took all of it. He’s so greedy!
hog heaven (to be in)
to be in euphoria ·
This swimming pool is perfect on a hot day. I’m in hog heaven!; This swimming pool is perfect on a hOt day. I’m in ecstasy!
hog something (to)
to take over something ·
She always hogs all the space in our bedroom; She always takes over all the space in our bedroom.
hogwash n
nonsense
That’s a bunch of hogwash; That’s a lot of nonsense.
hoggish adj.
greedy ·
Don’t be so hoggish and share with your brother; Don’t be so greedy and share with your brother.
road hog
a driver who dominates the road ·
You ‘II never be able to pass that driver. He’s such a road hog; You’ll never be able to pass that driver. He’s dominating the road.
horse of a different color (a)
a different issue ·
That’s a horse of a different color; That’s another issue.
horse’s ass (vulgar)
fool·
He’s such a horse’s ass; He’s such a fool.
“Horse shit!” (vulgar) <br></br>“Horsefeathers!”
“Nonsense!”
hung like a horse
said of a man who is sexually well-endowed ·
He’s hung like a horse!; He’s well-endowed!
on one’s high horse
pretentious ·
Get off your high horse!; Stop acting so pretentious!
in two shakes of a lamb’s tail
immediately ·
I’ll be there in two shakes of a lamb’s tail; I’ II be there immediately
monkey suit
tuxedo ·
I hate going to weddings and wearing a monkey suit; I hate going to weddings and wearing a tuxedo.
monkey’s uncle (to be a)
expression of astonishment ·
I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! He built that car all by himself!
more fun than a barrel of monkeys
extraordinarily fun ·
We had more fun on vacation than a barrel of monkeys; We had extraordinary fun on vacation.
throw a monkey wrench into something (to)
to stop the process of something ·
We were about to begin construction on the building but the contractor threw a monkey wrench into the project; We were about to begin construction on the building but the contractor stopped the process.
meek as a mouse
extremely gentle and harmless ·
Don’t be afraid of him. He’s as meek as a mouse; Don’t be afraid of him. He’s extremely gentle and harmless
mousy
- shy and reserved <br></br> 2. drab and grayish·
She’s sort of mousy; She’s rather shy and reserved · 2 · Her hair is mousy brown; Her hair is grayish-brown.
pigheaded
stubborn ·
You’ r.e always so pigheaded!; You’re always so stubborn!
pigeon n.
- one who is easily swindled<br></br> 2. informant
Mark is so gullible. What a pigeon!; Mark is so gullible. He’s so easily swindled! · 2 · The gangster committed murder when he discovered his partner was a pigeon for the police; The gangster committed murder when he discovered his partner was an informant for the police.
pigeonhole (to)
to assign someone a certain responsibility indefinitely
Don’t pigeonhole me! There are a lot of other things I can do besides just answer phones!; Don’t categorize me! There are a lot of other things I can do besides just answer phones!
stool pigeon
(especially common among children) an informant ·
You told her what happened?! You’re a stool pigeon!; You told her what happened?! You’re an informant!
rabbit ears
antenna ·
The picture on the television isn’t very sharp. I think we need to buy some new rabbit ears; The picture on the television isn’t very sharp. I think we need to buy a new antenna.
rat fink
a contemptible person ·
You ratfink!; You contemptible person! · NOTE: This expression was especially popular in the 1960’s but is still occasional] y heard in jest.
rat (to) v.
to report someone to the authorities ·
I can’t believe that my best .friend ratted on me!; I can’t believe that my best friend reported me!
rat race
daily work routine ·
Well, I suppose it’s time to go back into the rat race; Well, I suppose it’s time to go back to my daily work routine.
drunk as a skunk
extremely intoxicated ·
He’s drunk as a skunk!: He· s really intoxicated!
If it’d been a snake, it would’ve bitten you”
said of anything which is in plain sight ·
What do you mean you couldn ‘t find it:’ if it’d been a snake. it would’ve ·bitten you!; What do you mean you couldn’t find it? It was in plain sight!
snake eyes
said of a pair of dice each displaying one dot ·
Every time I rolled, I got snake eyes; Every time I threw the dice, they displayed one dot each. · NOTE: The expression “to roll” is commonly used in gambling to mean “to throw dice.”
sheepish adj.
- embarrassed · <br></br>2. meek, timid
Ever since I scolded her, she’s been acting very sheepish with me; Ever since I scolded her, she’s been acting very embarrassed with me · 2 · She’s nice but rather sheepish; She’s nice but rather timid.
squirrelly adj.
untrustworthy, suspicious ·
I’d never go into business with him. He seems squirrelly to me; I’d never go into business with him. He seems suspicious to me
quit cold turkey (to)
to relinquish a bad habit instantly ·
He quit smoking cold turkey; He quit smoking instantly.
talk turkey (to)
to talk frankly ·
Okay. Let’s talk turkey; Okay. Let’s talk frankly.
turkey.
1 idiot, fool ·<br></br>2. failure
What a turkey!; What a jerk! · NOTE: The use of the adjective “jive” with the noun “turkey” is especially common among African-Americans: You jil’e turkey!; You fool! · 2 · The movie was a real turke_v!: The movie was a real failure!
whale
fat person
She’s a whale!; She’s fat!
whale of a (a)
an extraordinary ·
He told us a whale of a story; He told us an extraordinary story.
whale on someone (to)
to beat someone ·
Did you see her whale on her son in the market?; Did you see her beat her son in the market?
wolf n.
a sexually aggressive person ·
Be careful. He’s a real wolf!; Be careful. He’s a real sexually aggressive person.
wolf down something (to)
to eat something in a hurry ·
Stop wolfing down your food!; Stop eating so fast!
worm
a contemptible person ·
You like him? He’s such a worm!; You like him? He’s such a contemptible person!
worm out of a situation (to)
to default on an obligation ·
He promised he’d help me but he wormed out of it at the last minute; He promised he’d help me but he defaulted on his obligation at the last minute.
worm something out of someone (to)
to coax someone into giving someone something ·
I wasn’t planning on telling her what happened last night but she wormed it out of me; I wasn’t planning on telling her what happened last night but she coaxed me into giving her information.
