slangman 5 Flashcards
black out (to) .
to faint ·
High elevations tend to make me black out; High elevations tend to make me faint. · ALSO: black out n. an interruption in electric power causing the lights to go out · The electricity went off and caused a black out; The electricity went off and caused total darkness
in the black .
financially sound (said of a business) · This year, we’re in the black; This year, we’re financially sound.
· NOTE: Ledger sheets show positive numbers in black ink and negative numbers in red.
little black book
a “secret” little book containing names and phone numbers of important individuals usually for dating ·
How much money will you give me for my little black book?; How much money will you give me for my little book of important names and phone numbers?
“What in blue blazes!?”
exclam. exclamation of surprise and annoyance ·
What in blue blazes is going on here?!
blue adj.
depressed
·I’m feeling sort of blue today; I’m feeling sort of depressed today.
bluegrass n.
a type of country music based on the song and dances of the Southern Appalachians. It is usually played at a fast energetic telllpo.
blues (the)
- melancholy <br></br> 2. depression
songs · I love singing the blues; I love singing melancholy songs. · 2 I’ve got the blues; I’m depressed.
swear up a blue streak (to)
to swear excessively ·
She can really swear up a blue streak!; She can really swear excessively!
talk till one is blue in the face (to)
to talk while being ignored
· I talked to her till I was blue in the face and she still made the same mistake; I talked but she ignored me and still made the same mistake.
gray area
unclear and uncertain gray area unclear and uncertain issue
·I’m having trouble answering you because that’s a gray area; I’m having trouble answering you because that’s an unclear and uncertain issue.
gray matter
intelligence, “brains” ·
I don’t know why he makes such stupid mistakes. I guess he just doesn’t have much gray matter; I don’t know why he makes such stupid mistakes. I guess he just doesn’t have much intelligence.
green adj.
novice
· I wouldn’t hire him if I were you. He’s really green; I wouldn’t hire him if I were you. He’s a real novice.
green around the gills (to look)
to look sick ·
What’s wrong with you today? You look green around the gills; What’s wrong with you today? You look sick. t NOTE: Originally, this expression applied only to fish which, if green around the gills, were considered inedible because of sickness.
green thumb (to have a)
to have a talent for gardening and making plants grow ·
You have so many plants here. You must really have a green thumb; You have so many plants here. You must really have a talent for gardening.
the grass is always greener on the other side
situations always seem better other than where one is ·
I’d like to move to a small town where there are no cars, no pollution and no hassles. But I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side; I’d like to move to a small town where there are no cars, no pollution and no hassles. But I suppose that situations always seem better other than where one is. t NOTE: This expression is also commonly contracted to “the grass is always greener.
in the pink
be healthy ·
You look like you’re in the pink today; You look like you’re healthy today. t NOTE: This expression conjures up an image of someone whose cheeks are rosy and healthy looking from the sun.
pinko n.
(derogatory) a person of liberal or mildly radical socialist political opinions, communist sympathizer.
pinky n.
one’s little finger ·
He always wears a ring on his pinky; He always wears a ring on his little finger.
tickled pink
thrilled ·
When I heard about your new job, I was tickled pink; When I heard about your new job, I was thrilled.
purple heart
purple ribbon with a medal given for someone who sustains an injury while in combat ·
He received a purple heart in World War II; He received a medal for sustaining injuries while in combat.
purple passion
an intense passion ·
I have a purple passion to become an actor; I have an intense passion to become an actor.
in the red
in financial trouble (said of a business) ·
This year, we’re in the red; This year, we’re in financial trouble.
Red n.
(derogatory) communist ·
I think he ‘s a Red; I think he’s a communist. t NOTE: This slang term was used in an American movie title in the mid-1980’s called “Reds” which dealt with communism.
red hot
exceptional ·
That team’s red hot!; That team’s exceptional!
red tape
excessive and seemingly unnecessary procedures ·
I had to go through a lot of” red tape to get a refund; I had to go through a lot of excessive procedures to get a refund.
red-letter day
an important occasion ·
This is a red-letter day in our community; This is an important occasion in our community.
redneck n.
(derogatory) bigot, prejudiced person, originated because rural people are associated with sunburned necks.
· His father is a real redneck: His father is a real bigot. · NOTE: This expression pertains to the rural working class who are said to be intolerant of any race other than white. The term
see red (to)
to be furious ·
When I saw her with my old boyfriend, I saw red!; When I saw her with my old boyfriend, I was furiqus!
white-bread (to be) adj.
to be very traditional, ordinary, and unadventurous in one’s tastes or values ·
She’d never have sex before marriage. She’s very white-bread; She’d never have sex before marriage. She has very traditional values. · NOTE: This adjective suggests someone who is very traditional and unadventurous since white bread was considered the typical bread in the homes of most Americans. Within the past twenty years, bread and more daring using innovative ingredients other than traditional flour and water.
white elephant
a small object of little value that just collects dust in one’s home ·
You wouldn’t believe all the white elephants she has in her house; You wouldn’t believe all the small objects that just collect dust in her house.
white-knuckle
denotes tension, suspense, fear ·
It was a real white-knuckle ride coming here; It was a real frightening ride coming here.
whites of their eyes (to see the)
to see someone at close range
Don’t shoot till you see the whites of their eyes; Don’t shoot till you see them at close range.
yellow adj.
cowardly ·
You’re not going to confront her? What are you, yellow?; You’re not going to confront her? What are you, scared?
