Questions tagged [slang]
Slang is a type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal.
356
questions
-1
votes
1answer
34 views
What does "take it easy and riff? mean?
I came across the phrase in the 7th episode of the 4th season of Rick and Morty. Here is the context:
Morty: You know, Rick, I'm sure you want to jump into another crazy adventure, but can we just ...
2
votes
2answers
102 views
Expression “My Scrotum” [closed]
You know, for example, when you upload at a site a music you think good(not for the purpose of learning English but just for its own fun sake there is no such site at SE unfortunately, PLEASE ...
-1
votes
1answer
20 views
“Sedgefield Yellow” and “Mallowflier”
the text is from a play called The River. characters are talking about fishing. What are "Black Bomber", "Sedgefield Yellow" and "Mallowflier" referring to? are the same ...
0
votes
2answers
55 views
People say “Wazzup?” Is it proper? [closed]
People usually say this as Wazzup? But I think it is not proper. Would it be better to replace it with What's up? Why or why not?
1
vote
1answer
50 views
What does “legit LOL” mean? [closed]
The context (in a chat):
- Person1 says something
- Person2 responds with an animated GIF
- Person3 says "legit LOL to Person2's reaction!"
What does "legit LOL" mean?
Does ...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
Meaning of “bummed to hear she thought so poorly of it”?
Kindly forgive me when I left once SE in a radical manner.
My question is, I uploaded a music at a site.
It was Cyndi Lauper's Goonies r Good Enough.
And I got a reply saying,
Love this song, and was ...
-1
votes
2answers
66 views
Do the British use words like “batso” or “nutso”?
Today I encountered the word "batso" and I understood from context it meant "crazy". It interested me because it sounds like an Italian word "pazzo" which means "...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
What does “sump'n'll” mean?
This sentence is cited from "Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad"
"Every day is a new deal. Keep workin' and maybe sump'n'll turn up"
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Which country is the slang “moola” used?
There is a slang for money called moola. Where do they commonly use it?
I have rarely heard American or British people using this word. And in which situations could we use it?
0
votes
1answer
35 views
When to use No and Nope [duplicate]
As per what I understand Nope is an informal way of expressing the same what no does.
Is it appropriate to use Nope in official mails, or is it suggested to use in like whatsapp chat etc.
Also why the ...
-1
votes
1answer
36 views
Understanding “Boss the stone” and other phrases
The Passage is from Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth. Ginger is a DJ and he never had the chance to work as a DJ and he is high at the moment. According to these lines, what's these phrases means: "...
3
votes
2answers
872 views
What does “beast at (something)” mean?
Under this Youtube video there is a comment.
When you returned to a game you haven't played in years and discover you're still beast at it.
What does beast at it mean? I looked it up in the ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
How to say I need to smoke cigarette too much just because you have not smoked for a long time in AmE
I was writing a short story about an American in which the guy who has quit smoking, feels a strong craving for smoking after a couple of days that he has given up smoking. I wonder what is the casual ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Is bitch in “Bitch please” a verb or a noun?
Is "bitch" in "Bitch please" expression a verb or a noun?
Is it calling the listener a bitch as in "bitch, please" or is it some kind of provocation as in "bitch (...
6
votes
5answers
218 views
What's the meaning of “to beat the bleach out of the chickās skin”?
I told her to organize some boys to beat the bleach out of the chickās
skin, but she was quoting scripture, saying God will fight her
battles.
I searched online dictionaries for bleach but the ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
Understanding 2 Trevs
the passage is from Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth. What 2 Trevs stand for?
GINGER. Iām a DJ.
JOHNNY. Heās an unemployed plasterer.
PROFESSOR. I see. Are you pure or applied?
GINGER ( to the PROFESSOR) ....
0
votes
0answers
38 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Understanding ācattle prod times a millionā
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
votes
1answer
15 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
111 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
134 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
43 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
35 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
79 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'...
0
votes
1answer
262 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
“be cool with something”
I'd like to know if it would be completely natural to use "cool with" here?
Young man: You mind if I play some rap music?
Older man: Not at all.
As the music comes on, the older man starts ...
0
votes
2answers
48 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
58 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
99 views
What does mano-a-mano actually mean?
I know that expression comes from Spanish a itās 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
83 views
The usage of ātoodle pipā
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?
0
votes
1answer
39 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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vote
1answer
43 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
votes
1answer
17 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
vote
1answer
42 views
Meaning of the verb “swing” in āHow they swinging that?ā
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
104 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
votes
1answer
23 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
51 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. ...
0
votes
0answers
100 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.
0
votes
3answers
1k views
“nuts” and “on one's chin”
So I am enjoying this sketch That One Guy Who Still Says āThese Nutsā (from the U.S, only available in some countries),
What does "these nuts on your chin" mean when Vince says from 1:10ļ½?
...
0
votes
2answers
196 views
Whatās the difference between āscamā and ārip offā?
I was wondering what was the difference between these two terms:
āTo rip offā
āTo scamā
Which one is better in this sentence? :
āThis store rips off their customersā
āThis store scams their customersā
...
0
votes
1answer
53 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
vote
1answer
47 views
Can āwhatsoeverā replace āat allā?
So I have difficulties to pronounce āat allā in English, and I was wondering if āwhatsoeverā meant the same thing, and if it could be used in a conversation.
He had no idea whatsoever.
He had no idea ...
1
vote
0answers
72 views
Do we say āgivenā or āgiven thatā?
Which is the formal one?
āGiven Iām tired, I wonāt be there.ā
āGiven that I am tired, I wonāt be there.ā
Can we omit the āthatā after āgivenā or it wonāt be formal anymore?
Other examples:
I donāt ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
Which of these sentence is correct given the subject of the sentence?
Which of these sentence is correct?
āI am a person who likes their hairā
(we conjugate with āpersonā we use ātheirā as a gender-neutral pronoun or do we put āhis?ā)
āI am a person who like her hairā
(...
48
votes
2answers
9k 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" š¬. A customer waiting for their coffee said
"We don't say 'cops' honey, it's disrespectful."...
0
votes
2answers
21 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. Sheās been up half the ...
0
votes
2answers
232 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
24 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
vote
1answer
63 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", "Iām a ways past ...
1
vote
2answers
108 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 ...
