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English Slang
& a
few Idioms
Note: This is NOT a comprehensive list.
Foreword
| Welcome!
This is a work in progress.
There is too much slang and too many idioms in the English
language to teach all of them here. But, I'll try to teach
as many as I possibly can, which to be honest, isn't very often.
This work has been a last priority with me, because I do not
consider the knowledge of slang and idioms essential to
international communication. However, they are fun to learn,
and may actually be of help to the acquisition of English by
giving learners implicit insight to the workings of the English
language.
Cheers,
Leon
Webmaster
P.S.
Any questions about English slang?
Contact
me.
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Abbreviations Used
Below
[U] = Uncountable
[C] = Countable
Definitions of
Terms
| Slang [U]: the whole collection of
words (not phrases), which constitute colloquialisms which are
generally NOT in the dictionary (or lexicon), but are common in
speech.
Idiom [C]: a single phrase, which generally (but
not always) has two meanings: (1) the literal meaning, and (2) the
figurative meaning.
Literal meaning: the meaning of the individual
words retain their original semantic value. (i.e., sum of
parts = whole)
Figurative meaning: the meaning of the individual
words is naught, and the collection of all the words in the phrase
take on a completely different meaning. (i.e., sum of parts
does NOT equal the whole) |
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Leon's EFL Planet
presents
Slang Words
&
A few Idiomatic Expressions
in alphabetical order
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boo boo
Definition: injury
Sample sentence: Did you get a boo boo?
Linguistic Notes: Used mostly with children (young
children)
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Bruh!
Definition: brother
Samples: Bruh! What are you doing?!
Linguistic Notes: It is usually (but not always)
used when someone is dismayed. Can just be an interjection. |
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buck (dollar)
Original Definition: originally "bucca" =
a male goat; or, "buc" = a male deer
Slang Definition: a dollar bill (North American
slang).
Origin of "buck" as a meaning for a dollar
bill: It comes from "buckskin", which was a common unit of
trade in the "Old West" of North America. It is therefore
a metaphor. While a buckskin may not have been the same value
as a dollar bill, the common ground was that both were basic units
of trade. [source: Online
Etymology Dictionary]
For more info about metaphors, see my figures
of speech page. |
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bum
Definition: (1) a person that does not
work, [chiefly US Slang], (2) buttocks, [chiefly UK slang]
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cool
Original Definition: not too warm, not too cold
Slang Definition: good
Sample sentences: (1) That's cool! I really
like that picture!; (2) That's a cool car! |
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crap
Origin: From Dutch meaning: that which is torn off
and discarded
Slang Definition1: miscellaneous junk;
unwanted stuff
Sample sentence: Dude! You've got some cool crap.
Slang Definition2: feces; dung
Sample sentence: Don't let your dog crap on my lawn.
Slang Definition3: worthless talk;
nonsense
Sample sentence: Don't listen to him. He's talking crap. |
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die for...
Definition: to desire ((sth)) so much that one would
almost be willing to die for it.
Sample sentences: I'd die for tickets to a Bulls
game. I'm dying to see Michael Jordan in person. |
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dumb
Original meaning: mute
Slang meaning: ignorant, foolish
Possible origin: animals are dumb (i.e., mute;
because they
cannot speak), and they are not thought to be very intelligent. |
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epic!
Original meaning: a long narrative poem about a
legendary hero.
Slang meaning: Great, and/or Awesome. |
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fail!
Original meaning: to not receive a passing mark
Slang meaning: a mishap
Sample: That was an epic fail! |
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fluke
Origins: unknown
Definition: an accidental stroke of luck or good
fortune
Sample sentence: His winning the tournament was a
fluke. |
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go
Definition: short for "go to the potty (toilet)"
Sample sentences: (1) I have to go.
(2) Do you have to go #1 or #2? |
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go #1 & go #2
Definitions: #1 = urine, pee pee; #2 =
feces, manure, poo poo, stools, etc.
Sample sentences: Do you have to go #1? No, I
have to go #2.
See "pee pee" and "poo poo" below. |
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gusto
Origin: from Spanish/Latin meaning "taste"
Slang Definition: great enthusiasm & vigorous
enjoyment (see also zest) |
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hag
Original meaning: witch
Slang meaning: usually old, but definitely ugly
woman |
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has-been
Definition: a person who has been popular; an
ex-celebrity
Sample sentence: This is where all the has-beens
hang out. (see "hang out") |
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haves & have-nots
Definitions
haves = people who have a lot of
money/assets
have-nots = people who don't have much
money/assets |
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hokey (adj.)
Origin: from the word hokum (a combination of
hocus pocus + bunkum); hocus pocus is used in
incantations in magic tricks; bunkum is nonsensical talk. [source]
Slang Definition: seemingly untrue |
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hot1
Definition: very sexy; very attractive in a sensual
way
Sample sentences: (1) She's hot!; (2) There's
a steamy, hot scene in the movie. |
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hot2
Definition: really popular
Sample sentences: (1) That is a hot item on the
market. (2) That music group is hot. (3) That's a hot
song. |
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hot3
Definition: stolen
Sample sentences: (1) Why is that TV so
cheap? It is hot? Is that why you are selling it so cheaply?
[At a Pawn Shop] "I don't accept any 'hot' goods." |
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"Jane Doe"
and "John Doe"
Definition: Jane Doe is a woman and John Doe is a
man; both with no name. It is
usually used for a corpse with no identification. |
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jerk
Definition: A "jerk" is a
bad person, i.e. a person who has treated another individual badly.
Origin: There must be a connection
between the real meaning of jerk and the slang meaning of jerk. I
think if someone jerks another person (physically) it would hurt (a
little), and if someone jerks another person (emotionally) it would hurt
(a lot). That's why we call such a person a "jerk." [I'm guessing this is a kind of
metonymy.]
AND/Or it comes from the idiom: to jerk sb around,
which means: to treat somebody badly.
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jock
Original Definition: jockey (a person who rides a
horse in a horse race)
Slang Definition: any athlete |
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john
Definition: toilet bowl; toilet; WC; restroom;
lavatory
Sample sentences: (1) I have to go to the
john. I'll back right back. (2) Who's in the john? I
have to go!
Origin: The man who invented the commode (the flush
toilet bowl) was named John Craps. Possible this slang word comes
from the man's given name. But, it is only a possibility. I'm
not sure about the origin of this slang word. |
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killer (adj)
Definition: something that is "to die for"
(see slang entry ...die for); something that is extremely coveted
Sample sentence: Dude! Those are killer shoes. |
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long johns
Definition: long, thermal underwear.
Sample sentence: It's cold out. Be sure to put
your long johns on. |
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mean
Original Meaning: average, common; low-class, base
Slang Meaning: unkind
Linguistic Note: this isn't slang anymore, because I
see that this meaning has been added to Merriam-Webster's Unabridged
online dictionary as definition number 7. But, I'll leave it here,
because if you are not using an up-to-date dictionary, it won't be in
there. It has been in extremely wide use as long as I have been
alive, and I was wondering when they'd get around to putting it in the
lexicons. Well, I guess they've finally done it. |
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pee pee & poo poo
Definitions: pee pee = toddler slang for
urine; poo poo = toddler slang for |
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to photo bomb
Meaning: to jump into somebody else's photo just as they
take the shot.
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pumpkin
Definition: a metaphorical term of
endearment to a cute little kid (toddler)
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scum
Original Definition: the yucky film on the top of a
liquid, such as on top of bath water after taking a bath.
Slang definition: the lowest level of human, e.g.
criminals |
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suck
Definition: to be terrible
Sample sentences: (1) That sucks! (2) You suck
at it! (i.e., You suck at doing something).
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yuck! (intj.)
/ yucky (adj.)
Definition of "Yuck!": interjection to
express disgust; "Disgusting!"
Definition of "yucky": adjective to
describe distaste; not delicious |
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yum! (intj.)
/ yummy (adj.)
Definition of "Yum!": interjection to
express gusto or zest (deliciousness)
Definition of "yummy": adjective to
describe taste; very delicious |
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zest (n.)
/ zesty (adj.)
Origin: from French word zeste
meaning orange peel used to ad flavor in
food [source]
Slang Definition #1: excellent tastiness;
deliciousness
Slang Definition #2: keen enjoyment |
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zillion
Definition: an imaginary number which cannot be
counted; uncountable number
(see also: Leon's English Numbers
Page for highest/largest named number in English) |
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| Lastly... |
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Morbid Idioms
Expressions that mean "dead":
1. pushing daisies
2. 6-feet under
3. ground hogs are bringing one's mail
4. food for worms
Expressions that mean "die":
1. kick the bucket
2. croak
3. buy the farm
4. cross to the other side
Expressions for death:
1. the next life
2. life after life
3. the final curtain
4. game over
Expression for dying:
1. Being visited by the grim reaper.
Here is a picture if the Grim Reaper: (the
personification of death), the harvester of souls.
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