Questions tagged [slang]
Slang is a type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal.
338
questions
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1answer
11 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
55 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
41 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
30 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
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1answer
18 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
70 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
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1answer
68 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
43 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
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1answer
13 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
39 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 ...
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1answer
50 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?
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1answer
35 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
31 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
13 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
33 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
55 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
20 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
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2answers
31 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
19 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
179 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
64 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
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1answer
31 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
24 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.
āHe had no idea whatsoever.ā
āHe had no ...
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1answer
53 views
When you got Latino(Mexican) cluttered words, what should I do? [closed]
Since the U.S comedy central started the new sketches such as this, I started watching happily. (Viewable to only limited countries)
Now, from the first scene there are many slangs/Latino/Mexican(...
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0answers
15 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
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0answers
30 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
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" š¬. A customer waiting for their coffee said
"We don't say 'cops' honey, it's disrespectful."...
0
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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. Sheās been up half the ...
0
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2answers
33 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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vote
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
vote
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", "Iām a ways past ...
0
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1answer
22 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
vote
1answer
236 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.
...
0
votes
2answers
35 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 grandfatherās place
down in Fermanagh there, and help with the harvest. ...
1
vote
2answers
47 views
What is the difference between āI got stuckā , āI was stuckā, āI'm stuck"?
What is the difference caused by using āI got stuckā, āI get stuckā, āI was stuckā, āI'm stuck"?
Could anyone please advise which is more natural and when should one use over the other with sentences?...
0
votes
1answer
43 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
154 views
What is the difference between āyepā and āyeahā?
What is the difference caused by using āyepā instead of āyeahā?
Is it used because āyepā sounds better and not straight like āyeahā? In some situations, it feels like "yes" is better to use than no ...
-3
votes
1answer
57 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 (...
0
votes
0answers
10 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
244 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
votes
1answer
23 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: Thatās right,...
2
votes
1answer
52 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,
āOh you know I was hot! I was thinking about calling him at the ...
1
vote
1answer
49 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
23 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
67 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
vote
1answer
79 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
votes
1answer
42 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 donāt know. I have travelled where no man has travelled. I wonder
how far I can go....
0
votes
2answers
50 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....
2
votes
1answer
539 views
Your item has shipped or has been shipped?
To my knowledge, as the verb ship is a synonym of send, the correct form should be
Your item has been shipped.
However on many online stores I see:
Your item has shipped.
Is this correct? To ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
Is “have a lock on something” same as “having something on lock”?
And from what I understand they're informal; am I right?
