Questions tagged [slang]
Slang is a type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal.
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questions
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Understanding 2 Trevs
the passage is from Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth. What 2 Trevs stand for?
GINGER. I’m a DJ.
JOHNNY. He’s an unemployed plasterer.
PROFESSOR. I see. Are you pure or applied?
GINGER ( to the PROFESSOR) ....
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0answers
34 views
The meaning of the acronym ITE?
I am reading a novel about North African prisoners of war and in it the writer uses the acronym "Ite" to represent a certain AXIS group of Soldiers. The best I can make out is that its the ...
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1answer
28 views
Understanding “cattle prod times a million”
The text is from Radiant Vermin (play) What is "cattle prod times a million" referring to?
Ollie is planning to ambush and kill some homeless.
Ollie: This is the answer to our prayers. ...
0
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1answer
13 views
kick off - usage
If someone does something suddenly, is it correct to say that he did it "from a kick-off"?
Another situation: if someone gets angry, is it correct to answer "don't kick off"?
Thank ...
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1answer
58 views
What does “ham one's biscuits” mean?
I've come across the phrase in the second episode of the sixth season of the Walking Dead. Here is the context:
Eugene: It hams my biscuits is all.
And going by cubic feet, the biggest building in ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
cordeen or an ox tongue
I'm having a hard time with the slang in the movie Focus. I have just heard the following line:
All eyes on me until I make the mark. And once I fan him, I tug my lapel. Two fingers mean it's a prat ...
0
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1answer
34 views
Can I use word “electric” to say that some person is cool?
urbandictionary says that "electric" is another way of saying "cool", "awesome", etc. But it also says that it can mean "Hitting it on really well with people, as if ...
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1answer
24 views
Roll with “punches”“to get to what's real”
Listening to Van Halen's Jump, I have a problem.
Verse 1 has
I get up and nothing gets me down
You got it tough, I've seen the toughest around
And I know, baby, just how you feel
You gotta roll with ...
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2answers
73 views
Is dropping the word “University” standard in all variants of English?
I came across the following conversation.
Person 1: Which school are you attending?
Person 2: Georgetown
Why do people drop the word "university" here? Is it obvious for native speakers? Won'...
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1answer
122 views
“spoon up” someone's nose
IMO, English songs from 80 to early 00 were golden.
Anyway, I don't know how many time I listened to Billy Joel's songs.
One of his songs Big Shot has this line,
Well, you went uptown
Ridin' in your ...
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2answers
44 views
The verb “bitch” in the transitive sene
I've been having an agony of the use of the verb "bitch" in the transitive verb which was used many times in Aersosmith's songs, but may be it was I didn't give enough attention to it, after ...
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1answer
16 views
Is this the correct way to ask? “within what time should I send the mail”
I will explain the scenario. My manager asked me to send a mail with some documents attached and to send it as soon as possible. Now, I want to know how soon exactly. So should I ask "Within what ...
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2answers
48 views
What does mano-a-mano actually mean?
I know that expression comes from Spanish a it’s literal meaning is hand by hand. However, I often find some other meanings like:
fight; like a man to man; eye to eye.
How common is this phrase in ...
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1answer
53 views
The usage of “toodle pip”
According to the Urban Dictionary:
to toodle pip a dear friend means to say goodbye in a very friendly way.
How common is this expression? Can I use it without any fear to be misunderstood?
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1answer
36 views
understanding house sister
what "esteemed house sister" means in the sentence?
Alice. In my short time as your head of dorm. I and Mia, your esteemed house sister.
The passage's from That Face (Play)
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1answer
36 views
A technique of using similar sounding words, instead of swear words
What is called a technique or method of using similar sounding words, instead of swear words in a sentence? For example:
I'm not going to invite that mother trucker or mother father to the party.
0
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1answer
15 views
Understanding edges past the body
What is "He edges past the body" means in the last paragraph?
The living room. Alice hangs in the open doorway to the bedroom. Billy sits at the table with his
back to her. Screwed papers on ...
1
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1answer
35 views
Meaning of the verb “swing” in “How they swinging that?”
It was in the 12th episode of the 3rd season of Breaking Bad. Here is the context:
Hank: How is your old man?
Back teaching?
Walt Jr: No. l don't think either of them are working right now.
Hank: How ...
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2answers
67 views
What does “I am not the kind of dude who rolls” mean?
It's from the 12th episode of the 2nd season of Breaking Bad. Here is the context:
Jesse's girlfiend: He's a high-school teacher. What's he gonna do,
give you a B-minus?
Send you outside to clap the ...
0
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1answer
21 views
Meaning of the verb “front” in context
It's from the sixth episode of the first season of Breaking Bad. The context is one guys took another guy to a drug distributor to sell him drugs. The guy hands him a pack of meth, but the drug dealer ...
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2answers
33 views
What does the slang adjective “sprung” mean?
I have come across it in the sixth episode of the first season of Breaking Bad. The context is two guys come to a drug disributor to sell him drugs. Here it is:
Tuco, what's happening my brother. ...
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0answers
28 views
What does the phrase “be over someone's shit” mean?
Could you tell me what the phrase be over one's shit mean? For example:
The math teacher was over my shit today.
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3answers
373 views
“nuts” and “on one's chin”
So I am enjoying this sketch That One Guy Who Still Says “These Nuts” (from the U.S, only available in some countries),
What does "these nuts on your chin" mean when Vince says from 1:10～?
...
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2answers
90 views
What’s the difference between “scam” and “rip off”?
I was wondering what was the difference between these two terms:
“To rip off”
“To scam”
Which one is better in this sentence? :
“This store rips off their customers”
“This store scams their customers”
...
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1answer
33 views
“seen before” vs “already seen”
Please clarify the exact difference between:
I've seen your hands before
and
I've already seen your hands
Which sounds more natural in everyday English and which sound more common in formal talking or ...
1
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1answer
37 views
Can “whatsoever” replace “at all”?
So I have difficulties to pronounce “at all” in English, and I was wondering if “whatsoever” meant the same thing, and if it could be used in a conversation.
He had no idea whatsoever.
He had no idea ...
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0answers
20 views
Do we say “given” or “given that“?
Which is the formal one?
“Given I’m tired, I won’t be there.”
“Given that I am tired, I won’t be there.”
Can we omit the “that” after “given” or it won’t be formal anymore?
Other examples:
I don’t ...
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0answers
31 views
Which of these sentence is correct given the subject of the sentence?
Which of these sentence is correct?
“I am a person who likes their hair”
(we conjugate with “person” we use “their” as a gender-neutral pronoun or do we put “his?”)
“I am a person who like her hair”
(...
48
votes
2answers
8k views
Is “cops” (= police) a slang/derogatory term?
So, I was with a friend getting Starbucks. While talking to him I used the term "cops" 💬. A customer waiting for their coffee said
"We don't say 'cops' honey, it's disrespectful."...
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2answers
20 views
Understanding been up half the night lying in wait for her
I'm having trouble understanding of this passage from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) What is the meaning of:"been up half the night lying in wait for her"?
UNCLE PAT. She’s been up half the ...
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2answers
37 views
What do you call a person who cares about personal well-being, hygiene and fitness?
In colloquial English, what a person who cares about personal well-being, hygiene and fitness, is called? if there are words which refer to just one or two aspects please mention them too.
(Looking ...
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1answer
21 views
Understanding separate parts of passage from The Ferryman
I'm having trouble understanding of the separate parts of passage from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) What are the meanings of these sentences according to the passages: "spread-eagled round the ...
1
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1answer
54 views
Understanding sentences from The Ferryman
I'm having trouble understanding of this passage from The Ferryman (Jez Butterworth) What are the meanings of these sentences according to the passage: "get a bead on", "I’m a ways past ...
1
vote
2answers
58 views
Is 'haven't a clue' slang? and do people all over the world use it or is it just a British thing, or is it used by a smaller group of people?
Just wondering as I always use it and people often ask me what I'm talking about. So it got me thinking that it might just be a British thing, or maybe even just a thing people from the country ...
1
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1answer
256 views
Is there a male equivalent of “Karen”?
Is there a male equivalent of "Karen"?
I have heard a few (e.g., Frank, Bob, Ken), but they don't seem to have the wide currency that "Karen" does. Perhaps they do and I am not aware of it.
...
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2answers
36 views
Understanding “Herberts”
This passage is from The Ferryman (jez Butterworth) What "Herberts" means?
MAGENNIS. When I was a kid we used to go out to my grandfather’s place
down in Fermanagh there, and help with the harvest. ...
1
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2answers
52 views
What is the difference between “I got stuck” , “I was stuck”, “I'm stuck"?
What is the difference caused by using “I got stuck”, “I get stuck”, “I was stuck”, “I'm stuck"?
Could anyone please advise which is more natural and when should one use over the other with sentences?...
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1answer
45 views
What's the meaning of the “moon” in this context
The situation is like this. A girl named Letitia was about to buy a
house with atrium, but she found a naked divinity statue of Hecate, a
goddess of the moon (it could be guessed because there was ...
2
votes
2answers
195 views
What is the difference between “yep” and “yeah”?
What is the difference caused by using “yep” instead of ”yeah”?
Is it used because “yep” sounds better and not straight like “yeah”? In some situations, it feels like "yes" is better to use than no ...
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votes
1answer
111 views
Other alternative for “does that make sense”?
What are other alternatives for "Does that make sense"? I personally think this phrase is natural, not rude nor respectful.
Are any other alternatives for when you try to sound more serious/angry (...
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0answers
11 views
which verb is commen and which one is formal to use “move, displace, relocate, shift, etc.”
If one wants to leave a place permanently (house, working place, office) and go to another place, which verb can we use "(move, displace, relocate, shift, etc.) (to/ from)"?
I mean "(move to/ from), (...
3
votes
4answers
437 views
The F-word: Is there a polite but equally emphatic and concise alternative to this specific meaning?
Is there a polite but equally emphatic and concise alternative to "Fuck 'em" or "Fuck it"?
I am asking if there is an acceptable alternative to the F-word when it is used particularly to dismiss ...
0
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1answer
29 views
Understanding word in the college is 1987
The Passage is from Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem. what is this line: "Word in the college is 1987 is going to be worse." means? Also, who is Maureen Pringle?
PROFESSOR: A DJ, eh?
GINGER: That’s right,...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Verb “D'd one up”
Now reading this article, I encountered a verb(probably slang) I quite don't understand.
Gary Payton, the former NBA player says,
“Oh you know I was hot! I was thinking about calling him at the ...
1
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1answer
53 views
What does it mean when someone say “I prefer to use the old Saxon word wo-wo-word”?
Earlier today I asked a question on Stack Exchange Economics asking about the benefits of a certain scheme.
A user replied as follows
Instead of the word "benefit" I prefer to use the old Saxon ...
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1answer
24 views
Understanding My beauty was never in danger
The passage's from The Ferryman (play). What is the meaning of "My beauty was never in danger" in the passage, Also
is "Dunn's Ground" is a farming slang or something?
MICHAEL. Here, Aunt Cait. ...
2
votes
2answers
70 views
Does 'nick' mean 'idiot' in British English?
I was watching 'On The Buses' (British comedy) and I came across the word 'nick' being used to mean something along the lines of 'idiot'. I've never heard nick being used to mean 'idiot'.
One of the ...
1
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1answer
86 views
What do draft and swine mean?
the passage's from Frankenstein play. it's a part of the opening song. What do draft and swine mean?
Come gather ye
feast on our Empire's riches
New heaven on Earth
shall to all ages rise
Those ...
0
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1answer
43 views
What does “if the children breed with the children” mean?
It's from a play based on Mary Shelley's novel.
What does "if the children breed with the children" mean?
Victor: I don’t know. I have travelled where no man has travelled. I wonder
how far I can go....
0
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2answers
53 views
What does Meat for the dogs mean?
What does Meat for the dogs mean?
it's from a play called Frankenstein
Victor: I shall need a steady supply of internal organs.
Ewan: Very good, sir.
Rab: Organs!
Ewan: Quiet, Rab. Meat for the dogs....
