slangman 7 Flashcards
beans about something (not know
not to know anything about something
I don’t know beans about computers; I don’t know anything about computers
cabbage
money.
NOTE: Although no longer in popular usage, this term is occasionally heard in old movies or used in jest.
bowl of cherries (to be a)
to be wonderful
· Life isn’t always a bowl of cherries; Life isn’t always wonderful.
corn n.
melodrama, overemotional drama
What a bunch of corn!; What a bunch of melodrama! ALSO: corny adj. melodramatic · The movie was so corny!; The movie was so melodramatic
cornball
ridiculous
Where did you buy that cornball hat?; Where did you buy that ridiculous hat?
fruit n.
(derogatory) homosexual
I think that guy’s a fruit; I think that guy’s a homosexual. NOTE (I): fruity adj. (derogatory) said of an effeminate homosexual male. NOTE (2): The term “fruit” is extremely derogatory. The accepted term among the homosexual community is “gay.”
fruitcake n.
an insane person
What a fruitcake!; What a lunatic! NOTE: The adjective “nutty,” literally meaning “full of nuts” is commonly used to mean “crazy.” Therefore, don’t be surprised if you hear the popular play-on-words: to be nuttier than a fruitcake; to be extremely crazy.
grapevine (through the)
coming from an unofficial source, often times a rumor
I heard it through the grapevine; I heard it from an unofficial source.
real peach (to be)
terrific, really nice (said of a person but primarily used sarcastically)
She’s a real peach!; She’s really unpleasant!
pickle n.
predicament
I really got myself into a pickle this time; I really got myself into a predicament this time
pumpkin (term of endearment)
sweetheart, honey
Hi, pumpkin; Hi, sweetheart. · NOTE: As a term of endearment, “pumpkin “ is commonly heard pronounced: pung-kin
sprout n.
short, young person
He may be a sprout right now, but give him a few more years; He may be a short person right now, but give him a few more years. · ALSO: to sprout up exp. to grow suddenly.
tomato n. (derogatory)
girl. · NOTE: Although “tomato” is outdated, it is occasionally heard in old movies or used in jest.
small potatoes
unimportant
That’s small potatoes compared to the real problem; That’s unimportant compared to the real problem
wrinkled as a prune (to be) .
to be ver;y wrinkled
He’s wrinkled as a prune; He’s very wrinkled. · ALSO: prune face exp. wrinkled face (which looks like a prune).
bean counter
accountant.
example: My father is a bean counter. He’s always been great at math.
pickled (to be)
to be drunk.
example: I don’t think you should have anything else to drink. You’re already pickled.
beside oneself (to be) <br></br>Synonym 1: at the end of one’s rope (to be) <br></br>2: flipped out (to be) / flipping out (to be) exp.<br></br>3: freaked out (to be) / freaking out (to be) exp.<br></br>4: lose it (to) exp. (Here “it” refers to “one’s composure”).
to be extremely upset (with anger, worry, grief, or any strong emotion).
example: When Anthony found out his car was stolen this morning,<br></br>he was beside himself
airhead,<br></br>bonehead, dimwit, dipstick, dork, dumbbell,<br></br>geek, lamebrain, loser, nitwit, not all there, out to lunch, peabrain, scatterbrain, etc.
imbecile,
have one’s cake and eat it, too (to)
to have it both ways.
example: I want to go on vacation next week,<br></br>but I also want to be in town to meet the new president of our company. I guess I can’t have my cake and eat it, too.
cut the cheese (to)
to pass gas.
example: What stinks? Did someone cut the cheese?
cheesy
said of something cheap-looking and of poor taste.
example: How can Emily wear that dress. It looks so cheesy!
