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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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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2 answers
940 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 ...
Untapped Soul's user avatar
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867 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?
Untapped Soul's user avatar
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445 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)
user103409's user avatar
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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.
Beqa's user avatar
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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 ...
user103409's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
152 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 ...
Dmytro O'Hope's user avatar
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2 answers
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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 ...
Dmytro O'Hope's user avatar
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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 ...
Dmytro O'Hope's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
868 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. ...
Dmytro O'Hope's user avatar
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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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"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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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” ...
Nina's user avatar
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"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 ...
WorldLover's user avatar
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1 answer
229 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 ...
Nina's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
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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 like ...
Nina's user avatar
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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” (...
Nina's user avatar
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52 votes
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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."...
AIQ's user avatar
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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 ...
user103409's user avatar
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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 ...
Real Dreams's user avatar
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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 ...
user103409's user avatar
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1 answer
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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 ...
user103409's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
808 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 ...
Frankie Mac's user avatar
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1 answer
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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. ...
AIQ's user avatar
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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. ...
user103409's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
25k 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?...
Pluviophile's user avatar
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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 ...
Seulgi So's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
5k 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 ...
Pluviophile's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
892 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 (...
Real Dreams's user avatar
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5 votes
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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 ...
AIQ's user avatar
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1 answer
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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,...
user103409's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
82 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 ...
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1 vote
1 answer
104 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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1 answer
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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. ...
user103409's user avatar
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2 answers
188 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 ...
Void's user avatar
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1 vote
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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 ...
user103409's user avatar
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1 answer
61 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....
user103409's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
113 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....
user103409's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
16k 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 ...
kade99's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
387 views

Is "have a lock on something" same as "having something on lock"?

And from what I understand they're informal; am I right?
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0 votes
1 answer
94 views

Emphasize something with two adverbs

Do you use two adverbs before noun to emphasize something or do you end sentence with three adverbs maybe informal in an informal setting if not formal way? If you do then what is adverb orders? Can ...
Boyep's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
261 views

How to ask people if they are currently going commando

When asking people if they are currently going commando (not wearing underwear), should I say Did you came commando? or Are you on commando? or something else?
Michelle's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
606 views

What does "butt onions" mean in gambling?

Lines from Rounders (1998): Joey Knish : [to Mike, gently grabs his arm and tries to find an empty seat at another table] come here, you don't want to "butt onions" with these guys because they ...
Eddie Kal's user avatar
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"I’m gonna have a nervous breakdown." and "I have a nervous breakdown." - what the difference?

I am reading the book "Diary of a Wimpy kid". The author often uses the word "be gonna". And it looks like this word does not carry a semantic load in many cases. Without it, sentences have the same ...
Andrey Epifantsev's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
183 views

Usage of the expression 'I'm having somebody', probably British slang

When Liam Gallagher says He's having Sid Vicious, what does that mean, does he dig him or not? Liam was answering question What does He think of Sid Vicious - that all the context I have. I've a ...
TRue Timo's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
265 views

A slang term for stealing forcibly

In Russian, there's this slang word which means "to steal something from someone by force" like a business or a cell-phone. "Отжать бизнес" or "Отжать мобилу". The verb is "wring out" - i. e. "to ...
Let's user avatar
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3 answers
4k views

Other ways to say "What's happening?"

Can you suggest similar expressions to "What's happening?" The first that came up to me are: What's going on? What's up? I am learning English, I am in a small country in Europe. I am ...
Nrc's user avatar
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0 votes
3 answers
4k views

number to the number

In "Breaking bad" the recorded answering machine says: Yo, yo, yo, 1, 4, 8, 3 to the 3 to the 6 to the 9 representing the ABQ. What up, beyotch? Leave it at the tone. What does "to the" mean in ...
Bahram's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
69 views

"Bop the fizz" - what's the meaning?

What is the meaning of "bop the fizz" in this sentence? What kind of question is it? "hey who wants to go for lunch?" is a different question from "hey could you bop the fizz for Bigclient?" The ...
musialmi's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
123 views

Slang words which came into English from other languages?

Are there such modern slang words in British or American versions of the English language which came from other foreign languages?
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