splib noun a black person. Offensive. US, 1964
splice verb to marry someone UK, 1710
spliced adjective married US, 1997
spliff noun 1 a marijuana cigarette JAMAICA, 1936. 2 marijuana. Also
used in the variant ‘splif’
UK, 1967. 3 a cigarette adulterated with
crack cocaine
UK, 2002. 4 a hand-rolled cigarette UK, 1984. < on the
spliff
a state of marijuana intoxication UK, 2001
spliff verb to smoke marijuana and be under its influence UK, 1977
spliffed; spliffed out; spliffed up adjective in a state of intoxi-
cation as a result of smoking marijuana
UK, 1994
spliff up verb to prepare a marijuana cigarette; to smoke marijuana
in cigarette form
UK, 2000
spliff wine noun marijuana wine UK, 2002
spliffy noun a marijuana cigarette UK, 2000
spliffy adjective in a state of gentle intoxication as a result of
smoking marijuana; in a manner that suggests the smoking of
marijuana. Playing on SQUIFFY (drunk) UK, 2001
splifted adjective marijuana-intoxicated; exhilarated US, 1995
splim noun marijuana. A misreading or simple variation of SPLIFF US,
1982
splinky noun the penis. A term apparently coined by the writers of
Mad About You, a US situation comedy (NBC, 1992–99); repeated
with referential humour
US, 1999
splint noun a marijuana cigarette US, 1992
splinters noun adversity US, 1954

split noun 1 the vagina US, 1967. 2 a share of mutual property or
profits
UK, 1889. 3 a tranquillizer or other central nervous system
depressant
US, 1969. 4 a decongestant tablet sold as MDMA, the rec-
reational drug best known as ecstasy
UK, 1996
split verb 1 to leave. Each night, during the 1960s, Philadelphia rock
’n’ roll disc jockey Hy Lit ended his broadcast with the mantra,
‘Nuff said Ted, solid ahead, time to split the scene and leave it
clean’
US, 1956. 2 from a male perspective, to have sex. Probably
more to do with bragging than as a considered threat of violence
UK, 1937. < split a gut to exert yourself to the extreme, especially
laughing
US, 1958. < split on someone to inform on or betray
someone
UK, 1795. < split the breeze to drive fast US, 1976.
< split the differenc e from a male perspective, to have sex. A
punning elaboration of SPLIT UK, 1974. < split the scene to leave
US, 1990. < split the sheets to divorce US, 1976. < split the
whiskers (of a woman) to urinate AUSTRALIA, 1992. < split your
sides
to laugh heartily UK, 1704
split-arse noun a woman. Noted as current in the northeast of
England by Chris Lewis, The Dictionary of Playground Slang, 2003
UK, 1998
split beaver; spread beaver noun the vagina displayed with lips
parted. A familiar cliché of pornography US, 1969
split C-note noun a fifty-dollar note US, 1954

splith noun marijuana prepared and smoked in the fashion of a ciga-
rette. A jocular variation of SPLIFF US, 2000
split knish noun the vagina. A conventional ‘knish’ is a baked or
fried turnover of Russian Jewish origins; ‘split’ describes the nature
of the vagina and exposes the savoury filling
US, 1998
split-tail noun afemaleUS, 1950
split-whisker noun a woman AUSTRALIA, 1945
splivins noun amphetamines US, 1970
splo noun inexpensive, low quality whisky US, 1974
splonk noun in horse race betting, the favourite UK, 1967
splooge noun semen US, 1989
splooge verb to ejaculate US, 1989
splosher noun a drunk UK, 2000
splow noun palms slapped in greeting US, 1976
splurge verb to spend money extravagantly; to recklessly use an
expensive resource
US, 1934
SP man noun a starting price bookmaker AUSTRALIA, 1932
Spock noun used as a term of address for anyone who is coming
across as intellectual or superior. From the intellectual and
superior character on Star Trek US, 1978
spock verb to examine something or someone US, 1991
spod noun a student whose devotion to study excludes all other
interests or society, hence an unpopular student; someone who is
considered too studious; someone obsessed with computers
UK,
1998
spoddy adjective obsessively studious and unstylish UK, 2001
spodiodi noun 1 a mixture of cheap port and whisky. Used (and

drunk) by jazz-lovers and musicians CANADA, 1959. 2 wine US, 1975
spoggie; spoggy noun (chiefly in south Australia) the common
house sparrow, passer domesticus AUSTRALIA, 1975
spoiled water noun any non-alcoholic beverage US, 1962
spoiler noun a team that has no chance of winning a championship
but which takes pride if not pleasure in defeating teams that are
vying for a championship US, 1962
spokadocious; spankadocious adjective attractive; fashionable
BAHAMAS, 1982
spoke adjective spoken. Especially of language, in the construction ‘as
she is spoke’ UK, 1937
spon verb to tell a lie UK, 1999
spondonicles; spondonicals; spongs noun a pair of metal tongs
for lifting a hot cooking utensil off a fire
AUSTRALIA, 2003
spondooli noun money. Variation of SPONDULICS UK, 1997
spondulics; spondulix; sponds; spondos noun money US, 1857
sponge noun 1 a group, notional or real, opposed to the gains of the
civil rights movement. The vocalised abbreviation stood for
‘Society for the Prevention of Negroes Getting Everything’. The
group was more notional than real, but, for example, in 1965 the
Student Council of the University of Virginia was petitioned by an
organisation calling itself SPONGE for status as an independent
organisation eligible to receive Student Council funds
US, 1965. 2 a
boogie boarder, who rides waves on a small foam board. Used in a
disparaging manner by surfers US, 1991
sponge verb 1 to obtain something in a parasitic manner UK, 1673.
2 in horse racing, to insert a sponge into a horse’s nostril just
before a race, impeding its breathing during the race US, 1951

spongelled adjective drunk UK, 2002
sponger noun a person who obtains things in a parasitic manner UK,
1677
sponge-worthy adjective used of a man, so sexually desirable as to
warrant the use of a contraceptive sponge. Coined and popularised
on an episode of Jerry Seinfeld’s television comedy show (‘The
Sponge’) that first aired on 7th December 1995
US, 1995
spongies noun in the usage of youthful model road racers (slot car
racers), smooth, soft tyres US, 1997
sponk noun semen. A variation of SPUNK UK, 2001
spoo noun semen. Variant pronunciation of SPEW (semen), from
SPEW/SPOO (to ejaculate) US, 1989
spoo verb to ejaculate. Variant pronunciation of SPEW (to ejaculate),
from conventional ‘spew’ (to vomit), the suggestion therefore is of
a copious quantity of semen
US, 2005
spoof noun 1 a hoax, a bluff; an act of hoaxing UK, 1889. 2 aparodyUK,
1958. 3 semen. Rhymes with ‘hoof’ AUSTRALIA, 1916
spoof verb 1 to hoax; to fool UK, 1889. 2 to make a parodic version of
something UK, 1927. 3 to ejaculate AUSTRALIA, 1992
spoof adjective parodic; fake; bogus UK, 1884
spoofed adjective used of an electronic message, of a suspect origin
US, 1997
spoofer noun 1 in carnival usage, a large stuffed dog offered as a
game prize US, 1985. 2 a hoaxer; a bluffer UK, 2001
spoofing noun 1 the sending of e-mail that claims to come from
one organisation but in fact comes from another. Known more
611 splib | spoofing
fully as ‘IP spoofing’ US, 1989. 2 the creation of a false website that

looks exactly like a real site. More fully known as ‘web spoofing’.
The attacher can lure an Internet user to the false site, can see
everything that the user is doing, and can modify traffic from the
user to any web server
US, 2004
spoof tube noun a cardboard tube filled with scented cloth that
masks the smell of exhaled marijuana smoke
US, 2003
spoofy adjective spermy AUSTRALIA, 1998
spooge noun 1 semen US, 1987. 2 any viscous matter of unknown
origin
US, 1995. 3 in computing, code or output which cannot be
understood US, 1991
spooge booth noun a private booth in a pornography arcade US, 2001
spook noun 1 a black person. Derogatory and offensive US, 1945. 2 a
ghost
US, 1801. 3 a spy US, 1942. 4 a drug-addict. From the addict’s
ghostly pallor UK, 1958. 5 a psychiatrist US, 1961. 6 in casino blackjack,
a player who can spot the dealer’s down card US, 1991. 7 in drag
racing, a car that crosses the starting line too soon
US, 1960s
spook verb 1 to frighten or startle someone. Also variant ‘spook out’
US, 1935. 2 to drive a car without a destination, merely for the
pleasure of driving and the social aspects of being seen US, 1958.
3 in blackjack, to peak and see the dealer’s down card US, 1985
spooked adjective used of playing cards, marked for cheating US, 1963
spooky adjective 1 in surfing, difficult or unpredictable US, 1963. 2 fine,
good. West Indian and UK black usage, recorded August 2002
UK,
2002

spool of pipe thread noun used as a mythical task assigned to a
newly hired helper US, 1963
spoon noun 1 the amount of a drug needed for a single dose. A
measure of heroin, sufficient for a single injection, approximately
equal to a standard teaspoon
US, 1973. 2 the handle of a hand
grenade. From its curved, spoon-like shape
US, 1977. 3 an army cook
US, 1991. 4 the dip up at the front nose of a surfboard US, 1963. 5 a
dolt NEW ZEALAND, 1982
spoon verb 1 to lie behind someone, your face towards their back US,
1887. 2 to tongue a woman’s vagina and clitoris US, 1971
spoondoolie noun the penis UK, 2001
spooney noun an effeminate male who may or may not be homo-
sexual US, 1978
sport noun used as a term of address, usually male-to-male. In
Australia an everyday usage. In the US, a self-conscious term that
conveys a jocular feeling AUSTRALIA, 1935
sport verb to wear something in order to display it UK, 1778
sport fucking noun sex without any pretence of a relationship,
although with a competitive edge US, 1986
sporting girl noun a prostitute US, 1938
sporting house noun a brothel US, 1894
sporting lady noun a prostitute US, 1972
sporting life noun 1 the business and lifestyle of prostitution and
pimping US, 1973. 2 a wife. Rhyming slang UK, 1992. 3 cocaine. From
Porgy and Bess, in which the character Sportin’ Life sells cocaine.
Retro and rare. The shortened form is ‘sporting’
US, 1978
sportsman noun a pimp. In the mid-C19, the term referred to a

gambler. By mid-C20 it was a somewhat grandiose euphemism for
‘pimp’ US, 1967
sportsman’s paradise noun a bar favoured by pimps US, 1978
sporty adjective excellent BERMUDA, 1985
s’pose; ’spose verb suppose UK, 1852
spot noun 1 a difficult or dangerous position. Usually in phrases: ‘in
aspot’and‘inabitofaspot’UK, 1936. 2 a venue, especially a place
of entertainment UK, 1936. 3 an apartment or house US, 2001. 4 a
place in a programme of entertainment, or an item of
entertainment performed in such a programme
US, 2001. 5 a large
party, a convention or other event that is a promising source for
swindle victims
US, 1977. 6 of food, a portion or meal that should
not be described as extravagant; of abstracts like work, rest and
pleasure, a small amount UK, 1932. 7 a small measure of drink UK, 1885.
8 money US, 1947. 9 a one-hundred-pound note; the sum of £100.
After the introduction of decimal currency in 1966, used for $100
AUSTRALIA, 1945. 10 a prison term, often prefixed with a numeral that
denotes the number of years
US, 1901. 11 any of the large suit
symbols printed on the face of a playing card
US, 1967. 12 in a deck
of playing cards, an ace
US, 1988. 13 in poolroom betting, a
handicap given in a bet-upon game
US, 1967. < put someone to
the spot
to kill someone who has been lured to a rendezvous US,
1948

spot verb 1 to recognise, discover or detect someone or something.
Colloquial
US, 1848. 2 to rain in a few scattered drops. Originally
dialect; ‘spotting with rain’ is a constant and current feature of UK
weather reports
UK, 1849. 3 in trucking, to park a truck US, 1946
spot card noun in a deck of playing cards, any card other than an
ace or face card US, 1967
spot on adverb absolutely accurate, exact; precisely UK, 1920
spot play noun in horse racing, an approach to betting in which the
bettor only bets in situations where the odds seem advantageous
US, 1975
spots noun 1 dice UK, 2000. 2 in circus usage, leopards US, 1981
spotted dick adjective ill. Rhyming slang for ‘sick’, formed on a great
British pudding
UK, 1992
spotter noun 1 a spy hired by an employer to observe and report on
employees’ activities US, 1876. 2 a criminal who finds or identifies a
likely victim for robbery UK, 1937. 3 a look out in a drug-selling oper-
ation
US, 1990. 4 a trainspotter, a planespotter, a bus-spotter or a
similar type of hobbyist. Spotter’s Guides have been published by
Mayflower Books of New York since 1979 US, 2003
spotters noun the eyes US, 1945
spotters and skinners noun childlike, scratchy handwriting
BARBADOS, 1992
spotting it a method of consuming cannabis resin: pieces of hash,
cut to the approximate size of matcheads, are picked up on the
end of a lit cigarette; once the drug is burning the smoke given
off is inhaled by means of a hollow tube, such as the empty body

of a ballpoint pen
UK, 2000
spotty dog; spotty noun a foreigner. Rhyming slang for WOG UK, 1979
spout noun < up the spout 1 in trouble; close to ruin; bankrupt.
From the earlier sense (to pawn) UK, 1829. 2 of a bullet, in the rifle
barrel and ready to fire. Often as ‘one up the spout’ UK, 1931.
3 pregnant. From the earlier sense (ruined) UK, 1937
spout verb to speak. A broadening of conventional sense (1750s), ‘to
declaim’ UK, 1964
spraddle verb to step awkwardly around something or someone. A
blend of ‘sprawl’ and ‘straddle’ BARBADOS, 1965
sprag noun 1 in school, an informer, a tell-tale. Commented on by
the Plain English Campaign in October 2003 UK, 2003. 2 chiefly in
Queensland, the common house sparrow, passer domesticus
AUSTRALIA, 1981
spranksious adjective energetic, playful BARBADOS, 1965
sprassey; spraser; sprazey; sprowsie; sprouse noun sixpence or
6d; a coin of that value. Many variations, ultimately from Shelta
sprazi. Inflation has rendered the conversion from 6d to 2½p
meaningless UK, 1931
spraunc e verb to lie; to tell a trivial lie UK, 1998
sprauncy adjective ostentatious, showy UK, 1980
spray noun an aerosol used when inhaling solvents UK, 1996
spray verb 1 to ejaculate semen onto a sexual partner UK, 2001. 2 to
fart
US, 2002
spray and pray verb in a military engagement, to shoot wildly then
run US, 2003
spread noun 1 an assortment of food laid out on a table or served at
a social event

UK, 1822. 2 in sports betting, the margin of victory
incorporated into a bet
US, 1973. 3 a photograph of a naked woman
exposing her genitals US, 1969. 4 in pool, the first shot of the game
US, 1990
spoof tube | spread 612
spread verb to share information or cards while engaging in a
cheating scheme
US, 1968. < spread a game to start a card game
US, 1977. < spread for someone of a woman, to dispose herself
for sex with someone
UK, 1978. < spread the eagle to escape
from prison or jail
US, 1950. < spread your shot to speak honestly
and directly
US, 1976
spread-bet noun a type of gamble against predicted odds US, 1992
spread-betting noun a form of gambling against a bookmaker’s
predicted result (see citation)
US, 2001
spread-eagle verb to spread and stretch out a person’s arms and
legs UK, 1826
spreadhead noun a devoted follower of the band Widespread Panic.
An evolution of ‘deadhead’ (a follower of the Grateful Dead)
US, 2001
spreading br oads noun an act of playing or cheating at cards,
especially the manipulating of cards in the three-card trick
UK, 1886
spread shot noun a photograph or scene in a pornographic film
showing a woman’s spread vagina US, 1971

spreck up verb (of a male) to orgasm. A possible pun on ‘ejaculate’
based on German sprechen (to speak)
UK, 2002
spree boy noun a person who loves fun but not work BARBADOS, 1965
sprigs noun sparse facial hair BAHAMAS, 1982
spring verb to escape, or effect someone’s escape or release, from
prison or detention
US, 1904
spring buster noun a hole in a road, jarring to the driver when
encountered US, 1962
springbutt noun a person who is eager to please US, 1962
spring chicken noun a youthful, attractive boy as the object of sex-
ual desire of an older homosexual man US, 1979
springer noun 1 any person in the position to get you out of jail,
from a bail bondsman to a lawyer to a judge
US, 1950. 2 in horse
racing, a horse that becomes the betting favourite or nearly the
favourite after betting opens on a race
UK, 1948
springy noun a wetsuit covering the body, neck and limbs to the
elbows and knees AUSTRALIA, 1992
springy thingy noun in drag racing, a car with a light structure and
thus maximum flexibility US, 1965
sprinkle verb to urinate UK, 1992
spritz verb to squirt, especially a mist US, 1917
spritzer noun a fuel injector US, 1992
sprog noun 1 a baby; a child. From obsolete ‘sprag’ (a lively young
fellow) UK, 1706. 2 a recruit. Royal Air Force originally, then Royal
Navy, now police. Probably derives from obsolete ‘sprag’ (1706) ‘a
lively young fellow’ but etymological theories abound: a reversal of

‘frog spawn’ – because it’s so very green; a confusion of ‘cog and
sprocket’ – a metaphor with the recruit just a cog (a sprocket) in a
wheel; a distortion of ‘sprout’; it has also been claimed that a
‘sprog’ is ‘a young gannet’
UK, 1941. 3 semen AUSTRALIA, 1992
sprog verb to parent a child UK, 2000
sprogged adjective pregnant NEW ZEALAND, 1984
sprogie adjective stylish; fashionable BAHAMAS, 1982
spronce verb to show off, especially by your choice of clothes UK, 1991
sproncy; sprauntsy; sprauncy adjective showily dressed; fashionable;
showy
UK, 1957
spruik verb to declaim; to hold forth; to make a speech like a
showman. Exact origin unknown, but no doubt related to the
Germanic, such as Dutch spreken (to speak) or Yiddish shpruch (a
saying, a charm) AUSTRALIA, 1902
spruiker noun a speaker employed to attract a crowd to a venue,
show or demonstration of a product; a barker AUSTRALIA, 1902
sprung adjective addicted US, 1992
sprung on adjective infatuated with US, 1995
SP shop noun an establishment operating starting price bookmaking
AUSTRALIA, 1948
spud noun 1 apotatoNEW ZEALAND, 1845. 2 a trainee UK, 2001. 3 aSCUD
missile. An obvious rhyme that belittles the enemy’s weaponry
US,
1993
spud and onion gang noun a group of wharf workers who load or
unload produce
AUSTRALIA, 1995
spud-bashing noun potato peeling; hence, kitchen fatigues. Military,

combining
SPUD (a potato) with the suffix -BASHING (vigorous
compulsory activity)
UK, 1940
spud cocky noun a potato farmer AUSTRALIA, 1950
spudge verb to poke a fire’s logs, making the fire blaze up CANADA,
1984
spud juice noun a potent homemade alcoholic beverage produced
by fermenting potatoes
US, 1977
spun noun in the television and film industries, a light diffuser made
with synthetic materials. Originally an abbreviation of ‘spun glass’,
the term was retained when the material changed
US, 1990
spun adjective 1 crazy; disoriented US, 1997. 2 very drug-intoxicated US,
1997
. 3 excited, enthusiastic US, 1984
spunk noun 1 mettle, courage. A word forever associated in the US
with actress Mary Tyler Moore; in the initial episode of The Mary
Tyler Moore Show in 1970, Moore’s boss Lou Grant assesses her –
‘You’ve got spunk. I hate spunk!’ UK, 1774. 2 semen UK, 1888. 3 a very
attractive person AUSTRALIA, 1978
spunk verb 1 (of a male) to ejaculate. Also used in the variants
‘spunk off’ and ‘spunk up’ AUSTRALIA, 1974. 2 to spend or waste
money or time. From ‘spunk’ (to ejaculate semen), punning on
‘spend’
UK, 2000
spunk bin noun the vagina UK, 2001
spunkbubble noun 1 used between men as a term of abuse UK, 1984.
2 a sexually attractive person AUSTRALIA, 1992

spunk dust noun used between men as a term of abuse UK, 1984
spunker noun used by adolescent girls as a derisive term for any boy
of similar maturity. Demonstrates a very basic grasp of biology:
only males produce
SPUNK (semen) UK, 1997
spunkette noun a sexually attractive young woman AUSTRALIA, 1994
spunkiness noun good looks AUSTRALIA, 1981
spunkrat noun a sexually attractive person AUSTRALIA, 1987
spunky noun a sexually attractive person AUSTRALIA, 1967
spunky adjective 1 brave; spirited; plucky. From SPUNK (courage) UK,
1786. 2 sexually attractive AUSTRALIA, 1973
spun out adjective crazy UK, 2000
sputnik noun a mixture of marijuana from Pakistan and opium;
marijuana. From ‘sputnik’ (the Russian satellites, first launched in
1957), hence its use here as something else to take you out of this
world
UK, 1998
squab noun a young girl or woman. From the standard sense (a
newly hatched or very young bird)
US, 1948
squab verb to fight US, 1986
squab job noun a sexually attractive girl below the legal age of
consent US, 1964
squack noun a woman; sex with a woman US, 1972
squack verb to ejaculate US, 1993
squad noun a police car. Known conventionally as a ‘squad car’ US,
1965
Squad noun < the Squad the Flying Squad (a unit of the
Metropolitan Police, known as the Flying Squad since 1921)
UK, 1996

squaddie; squaddy noun a soldier, usually ranked private. From a
new recruit’s placement in a squad UK, 1933
square noun 1 a person with a conventional job and lifestyle; an old-
fashioned person
US, 1944. 2 a heterosexual AUSTRALIA, 1960. 3 a filling
meal US, 1882. 4 a factory-manufactured cigarette US, 1958. 5 a one-
dollar note US, 1993. < on the square 1 honest, truthful,
trustworthy. Possibly from Masonic symbolism and jargon UK, 1872.
2 in a faithful monogamous relationship with someone AUSTRALIA, 1944.
613 spread | square
3 being a freemason. From symbolism that is employed in
freemasonry
UK, 1984
square verb to satisfactorily settle matters or resolve a problem, gen-
erally by the use of power and influence, bribery or threat. From
‘square’ (to balance the books)
UK, 1853. < square it away to
settle matters AUSTRALIA, 1985
square adjective 1 old fashioned; decent and honest; conventional US,
1946. 2 heterosexual AUSTRALIA, 1944. 3 in cricket, used to describe
fielding positions along an imaginary line extending to the left and
right of the batsman’s wicket
UK, 1851. < live square to conduct
your life as an honest citizen
AUSTRALIA, 1975
square as a bear adjective extremely conventional. The bear
appears for the rhyming value, nothing else
US, 1957
square away verb to put in order, to tidy away; hence, to learn UK,
1909

square-bashing noun military parade drill. From the ‘parade square’
UK, 1943
square bitch noun any woman who is not a prostitute US, 1972
square box noun in court, a witness box UK, 1996
squared adjective craving drugs US, 1958
square dancing ticket noun a dose of LSD on a square of blotting
paper UK, 2003
square-eyed adjective applied contemptuously to someone who
watches ‘too much’ television UK, 1984
square from Delaware noun an exceptionally naive, conventional
person. Delaware exists for the rhyme; it is no more or less square
than any other state. In the 1930s and 40s, there was a cottage
industry in inventing terms along the line of this construction – a
‘clown from Allenton’, a ‘pester from Chester’ and so on. The
‘square from Delaware’ was one of the few that truly worked itself
into speech
US, 1938
square gr ouper noun a brick of compressed marijuana. The name
of a notional fish, alluding to the presence of marijuana smugglers
in south Florida waters US, 1989
squarehead noun 1 a German, especially a German soldier in World
Wars 1 and 2. A derogatory term that has lingered, perhaps,
through films retelling how we won the war
US, 1999. 2 any
Scandanavian. Left from the language of the logging camps of the
early C20 US, 1975. 3 in Quebec, an anglophone US, 1978. 4 a non-
criminal AUSTRALIA, 1890
square Jane noun an exceptionally conventional woman US, 1986
square John noun a decent and law-abiding, if naive, person US, 1934
square joint noun a tobacco cigarette US, 1971

square mackerel noun marijuana. From the shape of packages
smuggled by sea US, 1998
square monicker noun a person’s legal, given name US, 1959
square name noun a person’s legal name, sometimes unknown to
his associates who know him only by a nickname US, 1955
square-off noun something that puts matters right; an apology
AUSTRALIA, 1941
square off verb to settle matters; to make everything right AUSTRALIA,
1950
square pair noun in craps, an eight rolled with a pair of fours US, 1985
squarer noun in circus and carnival usage, a claims adjuster and
mender of legal problems US, 1981
square rigger noun a black person. Rhyming slang for NIGGER.
Offensive UK, 1992
square Sam noun an exceedingly honest, upright, conventional
person US, 1953
square shooter noun a truthful, direct, honourable person US, 1914
square time bob noun crack cocaine UK, 1998
square up verb to return to the path of righteousness after a
sojourn in sin US, 1968
square weed noun tobacco US, 1959
square-wheeled adjective parked. Citizens’ band radio slang UK, 1981
square wife noun in law enforcement, a wife in the literal sense of
the word, as opposed to the sense of work partner
US, 1988
square woman noun a woman who is not a prostitute US, 1967
squarie noun 1 especially in nautical parlance, a young woman
AUSTRALIA, 1917. 2 a non-criminal AUSTRALIA, 1950
squash noun 1 a kiss. Circus and carnival usage US, 1981. 2 the skull or
brain

US, 1985
squash it! forget it! US, 1993
squash rot noun the medical condition suffered by severe stroke
victims
US, 1983
squat noun 1 nothing. A shortened form of DOODLY-SQUAT. Often
found in double negative constructions
US, 1967. 2 an act of
defecation NEW ZEALAND, 2002. 3 a seat; a chair US, 1973
squat verb 1 to execute someone by electrocution in the electric
chair
US, 1950. 2 to assemble to discuss and mediate disagreements
among prisoners US, 1976
squat team noun in prison (especially HMP Holloway), a unit of
prison officers trained to discover drugs and other contraband
UK,
1996
squatter noun a chair US, 1945
squat through verb to lower your stance to a squat to maintain
control of your surfboard while a wave is cresting over you US, 1965
squatum noun in Newfoundland, homemade berry wine CANADA, 1964
squawk noun a complaint, especially a vociferous and indignant one
US, 1909
squawk verb 1 to complain US, 1970. 2 (of an aircraft) to transmit an
identification and location signal. Used among air-traffic
controllers US, 1956
squawk book noun a book in which complaints are registered US,
1955
squawk box noun 1 a low-fidelity public address system US, 1945. 2 a
citizens’ band radio US, 1976. 3 a child hospital patient who persist-

ently cries or complains US, 1994
squaw money noun a two-dollar note CANADA, 1987
squaw pee noun ginger beer CANADA, 1992
squaw piss noun beer with a low alcohol content US, 1968
squaw winter noun the first snowstorm or cold snap, just before
Indian summer
CANADA, 2001
squeak noun 1 a police informer US, 1950. 2 a cheapskate US, 1963
squeak verb to complain UK, 2003
squeaker noun a very close score in any athletic contest. Often used
with irony to describe a large margin of victory US, 1977
squeal noun in police work, a person who reports a crime; the call
reporting the crime UK, 1977
squeal verb 1 to inform on someone; to betray someone US, 1846.
2 from a standstill, to accelerate a car suddenly, squealing the tyres
on the road US, 1951
squealer noun 1 a police informer UK, 1865. 2 in trucking, a device
that records time and speed data, used by company officials to
assure compliance with laws and regulations. Known
conventionally as a ‘tachograph’
US, 1971. 3 a baby, especially an
illegitimate one
UK, 1865
squealers noun bacon US, 1996
squeegee cop noun in Burnaby, British Columbia, a police
undercover officer posing as someone offering to clean
windscreens in stopped traffic in order to catch seat-belt violators
CANADA, 2002
squeegee man noun a street-corner hawker of car windscreen
washing services UK, 2002

squeegie noun a young person who is hopelessly out of touch with
current fashions and trends. Youth usage
US, 1949
squeeze noun 1 a partner in romance. A shortening of MAIN SQUEEZE
(a man’s primary romantic partner) US, 1980. 2 a benefit; an advan-
tage UK, 2000. 3 in prison, a prisoner’s application or request which
is favourably dealt with UK, 1996. 4 a light sentence of imprisonment
square | squeeze 614
UK, 1996. 5 extortion or graft US, 1949. < put the squeeze on
someone
to exert influence on someone US, 1941. < the
squeeze
permission to enter UK, 1996
squeeze verb 1 to recount or tell something US, 1947. 2 in poker, to
surround a player with two confederates whose collusive betting
tactics relieve the middle player of his bankroll and drive him
from the game
US, 1949. 3 while playing cards, to look only at the
very edge of a card US, 1967. < squeeze (her) easy to slow down
a truck US, 1976. < squeeze a lemon; squeeze the lemon to
drive through a traffic light as it changes from yellow to red US,
1993
. < squeeze one out to fart; to defecate; of a male, to
masturbate
UK, 2005. < squeeze the breeze to close a car
window
US, 1991. < squeeze the cheese to fart US, 1993.
< squeeze the lemon to urinate UK, 1984. < squeeze your
head; squeeze
to defecate UK, 1984

squeeze box noun 1 an accordion or concertina. Musicians’ slang UK,
1936. 2 in greyhound racing, the number five starting position (the
yellow box) AUSTRALIA, 1989
squeeze cheese noun a pasteurised processed cheese product,
semi-solid, sold in a plastic bottle. A clever name for a vile thing
US, 1986
squeeze off verb to fire a shot from a gun US, 1956
squeezers noun dice that have been squeezed out of shape in a vice
for use by cheats
US, 1950
squeeze up verb to ejaculate UK, 1974
squeezings noun a gel formed with liquid ethanol and saturated cal-
cium acetate solution; when ignited, the alcohol in the gel burns.
Used as a source of fuel in portable cooking stoves and as a
source of alcohol for truly desperate derelicts who squeeze the gel
through sponges and collect the liquid US, 1980
squib noun 1 acowardAUSTRALIA, 1908. 2 in the television and film
industries, a small explosive charge that simulates being struck by
a bullet
US, 1990. 3 in target shooting, a hand-loaded cartridge that
does not fully detonate US, 1957. 4 a slow racehorse AUSTRALIA, 1915
squib verb 1 to act the coward AUSTRALIA, 1918. 2 to fire a gun to
frighten rather than to wound CANADA, 1999
squid noun 1 a serious, dedicated, diligent student US, 1987. 2 a
despicable, spineless person US, 1974. 3 an inexperienced, unskilled
motorcyclist. Perhaps from the image of flailing arms US, 2002. 4 a
US Navy sailor. From the perspective of the US Marines US, 1991. 5 a
fisherman US, 1978. 6 a Japanese person who is lacking in all social
skills. Hawaiian youth usage; highly insulting US, 1982. 7 one pound
sterling (£1). A play on QUID UK, 1997

squid verb to study hard US, 1981
squidge verb 1 to squeeze; to squelch together so as to make a
sucking noise. Originally Isle of Wight dialect UK: ENGLAND, 1881. 2 in
tiddlywinks, to shoot a wink with an oversized wink US, 1977
squidgy black noun a variety of marijuana UK, 1996
squidjigger noun in Canada, any resident of the Maritime Provinces
CANADA, 1978
squiffed off adjective annoyed; angry US, 1952
squiff out verb to lose consciousness as a result of excessive
consumption of alcohol
US, 1953
squiffy adjective drunk. Probably from SKEW-WHIFF (at the wrong
angle) UK, 1855
squigg noun a prank US, 1988
squiggle noun a tilde (~) on a computer keyboard US, 1991
squiggles noun during the 1991 US war against Iraq, any writing in
the Arabic script US, 1991
squiggly noun a sexually attractive woman BERMUDA, 1985
squillionaire noun a multi-millionaire UK, 1978
squinch-eyed adjective with eyes half closed US, 1946
squinchy adjective very small BAHAMAS, 1982
squint noun 1 a look; a glance. Generally phrased ‘have a squint at’
UK, 1673. 2 in the car sales business, tinted glass US, 1953. 3 aperson
lacking in social skills, fashion or both
US, 1978. < on the squint
on the look-out for something US, 1970
squire noun used as a familiar form of address to a man UK, 1961
squirm seat noun the chair in which witnesses sit in a courtroom
US, 1962
squirrel noun 1 a reckless driver who weaves in and out of traffic US,

1962
. 2 a drug addict who hides drug portions for future use US, 1957
squirrel verb 1 to smoke cocaine, marijuana and phencyclidine, the
recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust. It makes you nuts;
squirrels like nuts
UK, 1999. 2 on the railways, to climb up the side
of a coach
US, 1977
squirrel away verb to hide something; to conceal something for
later use; to store something away. Like the squirrel and his nuts
UK, 1977
squirrel cage noun in electric line work, a pole-mounted steel
bracket used for supporting a conductor
US, 1980
squirrel trap noun the vagina UK, 2001
squirrely adjective 1 completely obsessed with acquiring and
hoarding amphetamine US, 1989. 2 in motorcyle racing, difficult to
control or out of control US, 1973
squirt noun 1 a person who is small in stature, character or both US,
1848. 2 twenty-five cents or twenty-five dollars US, 1951. 3 in the car
sales business, windscreen cleaner US, 1953
squirt verb in pool, to strike the cue ball off centre producing a
course in the opposite direction proportional to the degree to
which the ball is hit off centre
US, 1978. < squirt it into the air
to test an idea by bringing it up before a group and asking for
comments US, 1974
squirt brakes noun hydraulic brakes US, 1965
squirter noun a scene in a pornographic film or photograph
depicting a man ejaculating US, 1995

squirt racing noun drag racing US, 1993
squishy adjective forgetful. Teen slang US, 1951
squit noun an insignificant person. Probably cognate with SQUIRT UK,
1825
squits; the squits noun diarrhoea. A shortening of SQUITTERS UK, 1841
squitters noun diarrhoea. From obsolete dialect squitter (to squirt)
UK, 1664
squiz; squizz noun a brief look; a peek AUSTRALIA, 1913
squiz; squizz verb to have a brief look. From British dialect (Devon)
AUSTRALIA, 1941
squulch verb to crush BARBADOS, 1965
Sri Lanka noun a contemptible individual. Rhyming slang for
WANKER, apparently inspired by the Sri Lankan cricket team UK, 1998
SRO standing room only; completely sold-out US, 1890
SS noun 1 an injection of drugs into the skin, avoiding a vein. An
initialism of ‘skin shot’ US, 1938. 2 the Department of Social Security
(DSS, previously DHSS). An obvious, hard to resist pun on Nazi
stormtroopers UK, 1988
ssss noun an informer. From the hissing sound of a SNAKE (an
informer)
UK, 1996
ssstoned adjective intoxicated with marijuana. Extends STONED to
demonstrate the effects of marijuana
UK, 1999
stab noun 1 a short and sudden type of scratch (a manipulation of a
record to create a musical effect)
UK, 2002. 2 a victim of a knife fight
US, 1985. < have a stab; make a stab at to attempt; to guess US,
1895
stab verb 1 to disparage someone with profanity US, 2001. 2 in pool, to

hit the cue ball with enough backspin so that it stops immediately
after striking the object ball
UK, 1873
stable noun 1 a group of prostitutes working for a single pimp or
madam US, 1937. 2 a group of ‘slaves’ in the control of, or at the
disposal of, a dominatrix; a collection of masochists in the control
of, a sadist US, 1989. 3 by extension, a group of people working for
someone UK, 1942. 4 a house or apartment US, 2000
615 squeeze | stable
stable verb (used of a pimp) to induce a prostitute to join other
prostitutes working for him
US, 1969
stable boy’s favourite noun a controlled throw of dice onto a dirt
surface
US, 1974
stable of lace noun the prostitutes associated with one pimp US, 1976
stable sister noun one prostitute in relation to the other prostitutes
in a pimp’s stable
US, 1972
’stache noun a moustache US, 1989
stack noun 1 in rock music, an assemblage of loudspeakers UK, 1996.
2 in pool, the balls assembled inside the rack before a game US,
1977
. 3 in pool, the clustered pack of balls left at the foot of the
table after the first shot of the game US, 1990. 4 apackageof
marijuana cigarettes
US, 1955. 5 one thousand dollars US, 2002.
6 money US, 1997. 7 in trucking, a smokestack from the truck engine
US, 1971. 8 a large amount of something US, 1870
stack verb 1 to crash a vehicle AUSTRALIA, 1971. 2 to earn a lot of

money
US, 1997. < stack on a blue to begin a fight AUSTRALIA, 1944.
< stack on a turn to kick up a fuss AUSTRALIA, 1971. < stack on
an act
to kick up a fuss AUSTRALIA, 1962
stack away verb to eat or drink heartily AUSTRALIA, 1960
stacked adjective 1 possessing large breasts. Sometimes intensified
with phrases such as ‘stone to the bone’ or rhymed as in ‘stacked
and packed’ (the name of a photographic calendar produced by
former Nixon operative G. Gordon Liddy, featuring nearly naked
women holding guns)
US, 1942. 2 muscular US, 2002. 3 used of prison
sentences, consecutive, not concurrent US, 1998. 4 well-provided;
wealthy UK, 2001
stackhat noun a crash helmet AUSTRALIA, 1985
stack it verb to brag or boast. Prison usage NEW ZEALAND, 1999
stacks noun 1 a large amount US, 1892. 2 a lot of intimate activity with
the opposite sex UK, 1987. 3 in hot rodding, an exhaust system US,
1948
stackup noun a group of waves; a group of surfers on a single wave
US, 1977
stack up verb on the railways, to have a collision US, 1977
staff noun < go to work without a staff (of a female) to
masturbate US, 2001. < meet the staff to have sex. Punning on
‘staff’ (a long stick/weapon/personnel) as ‘penis’ US, 2001
stag noun 1 at a social function, a man without a date US, 1905. 2 a
male at a stag party. A back-formation from ST AG PARTY (a party for
men only) UK, 2003. 3 a pornographic film. An elliptical form of STAG
MOVIE US
, 1966. 4 guard duty. Military UK, 1943. 5 amyl or butyl nitrite.

Possibly derived from a brand marketing the drug as a male sex-
aid UK, 1998. 6 the butt end of a cigarette US, 2002
stag dinner noun a males-only dinner featuring sexual entertain-
ment in the form of pornographic films, dancers and/or prostitutes
US, 1889
stag do; stag night; stag noun a social event for men only. After
STAG PARTY UK, 1965
stage verb 1 to single someone out in front of a crowd US, 2004. 2 in
drag racing, to bring the front wheels of a car to the starting line
preparatory to starting the race
US, 1973
stage door Johnny noun a man waiting outside the stage door for
an actress
US, 1912
stage fright noun a light ale. Rhyming slang UK, 1977
stage mother noun in hospital usage, a mother who coaches their
child in answering questions from a doctor and who has a
preconceived notion of the diagnosis and appropriate treatment
US, 1978
stage name noun a criminal’s alias US, 1950
stage stop noun a truck stop. A jocular comparison to the days of
stage coaches US, 1976
stag fight noun an amateur, extra-legally staged boxing match US, 1955
stag film noun a pornographic film US, 1967
stag flick noun a pornographic film US, 1966
stagged-off pants noun among loggers in British Columbia,
trousers cut off short
CANADA, 1989
stagger soup noun whisky US, 1977
stagger-through; stagger noun an early and rough attempt at

rehearsing an entire piece of work. Theatrical
UK, 1964
stag line noun at a dance, a line of men without dates, waiting to
dance
US, 1934
stag movie noun a pornographic film made for and enjoyed by men
US, 1960
stag party noun a party for men only, usually organised to view
pornography, tell sexual jokes and/or be entertained by strippers or
prostitutes
US, 1856
stain noun a contemptible person. Shortened from WANK-STAIN UK, 1997
staining noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle UK, 1951
stair-dancer noun a thief whose speciality is office buildings with
multiple floors
NEW ZEALAND, 1953
stake noun 1 money needed to finance an enterprise or to contrib-
ute as a share to finance an enterprise US, 1738. 2 in gambling
circles, money US, 1963
stake verb to provide someone with money or other needed
resources
US, 1853
staked out adjective tired of a necessary but tedious task BARBADOS,
1992
stake driver noun on the railways, an engineer in the engineering
department US, 1946
stakehorse noun in pool, a person who financially backs the wagers
of a professional player
US, 1990
stake-out noun an act of covert surveillance on a stationary target

US, 1942
stake out verb to carry out surveillance of a building or other place.
Extends the imagery of a goat tethered to a stake to bait a trap US,
1951
stakey adjective anxious; jumpy; ready to leave US, 1965
stal; stallie noun a stalactite formation and/or stalagmite formation.
A cavers’ and pot-holers’ term UK, 1980
Stalin Hill noun a hill within the punch bowl basin, occuped by
North Korean and Chinese troops during the Korean war. Also
refers to hills in North Vietnam and Prague (the site of a statue of
Stalin from 1955 to 62)
US, 1989
stalk noun 1 the penis, especially when in a state of erection UK, 1961.
2 man’s obvious sexual appetite; courage; impudence. Extended
from the previous sense UK, 1977. 3 a plastic sheath used for medi-
cal examination of the rectum IRELAND, 1994
stalks noun the legs US, 1972
stall noun a pickpocket’s confederate who distracts the victim UK, 1591
stall verb 1 to make excuses; to play for time UK, 1829. 2 in pool, to
intentionally miss a shot or lose a game US, 1967
stallion noun an attractive, sensual woman, especially a tall one US,
1970
stall the ball! stop! IRELAND, 1999
stall the digger! stop! IRELAND, 1997
stall walker noun in horse racing, a nervous jockey who paces
before a race. A term originally for a racehorse pacing in the stall
US, 1953
Stamford Hill cowboy noun an orthodox Jewish resident in the
Stamford Hill/Stoke Newington area of north London. From the
wide-brimmed black hat that is conventionally worn and the

consequent image created by a group with the sun behind them
UK, 2002
stammer and stutter noun butter. Rhyming slang UK, 1937
stamper noun a shoe UK, 1565
stamping ground noun a territory; an area of responsibility UK, 1821
stamp on verb to adulterate an illegal drug UK, 1983
stable | stamp on 616
Stan and Ollie noun an umbrella. Rhyming slang for BROLLY,formed
on the names of film comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy
UK,
1998
stand verb in blackjack, to accept your hand without any further
cards
US, 1980. < stand for to endure or tolerate something US, 1896
stand-about noun a idler. A variation of ‘layabout’, but so literal as
to be almost conventional
INDIA, 2002
stand-at-ease noun cheese. Rhyming slang, originally military,
current during Word War 1 UK, 1979
stand by for a ramming! used as a jocular prediction that trouble
is impending US, 1994
stand from under noun thunder. Rhyming slang UK, 1960
stand on it to accelerate a car to full speed US, 1970
stand on me believe me UK, 1933
stand-over noun intimidation. Used attributively AUSTRALIA, 1956
standover verb to intimidate someone with the threat of violence
AUSTRALIA, 1939
standover man noun a criminal who uses intimidation; a thug
AUSTRALIA, 1939
standover merchant noun a criminal who uses intimidation; a

thug AUSTRALIA, 1944
stand-read noun an act of standing and reading magazines,
newspapers, etc where they are displayed on a vendor’s shelves. A
subtle form of theft UK, 1999
stand-to-attention noun a pension. Rhyming slang, originally
military, probably from the early part of C20 and used exclusively
of a military pension; now in wider use UK, 1961
stand up verb 1 to fail to keep a social appointment or romantic
engagement with someone US, 1902. 2 to refuse to co-operate when
questioned by the police; to withstand pressure to confess US, 1971
stand-up adjective 1 loyal to the end, devoted and dependable.
Perhaps from boxing, where a stand-up fight was one in which the
fighters stood up to each without flinching or evasion. The ulti-
mate praise in the world of organised crime
US, 1971. 2 solid; pure
US, 1973
stand-up adverb describing someone’s play in pool, at your true skill
level, not below it
US, 1993
standy-up adjective used of an on-your-feet position or posture UK,
2002
stang noun prospective goods to be stolen US, 1965
Stang noun a Ford Mustang car US, 1993
stank noun the vagina; sex. Usually said unkindly US, 1980. < get
your stank on
(from a female perspective) to have sex.
Reclaiming ST ANK (the vagina) for women UK, 2002
stanky adjective bad-smelling US, 1980
Stanley noun 1 a Pole or Polish-American. Coined in Chicago US, 1982.
2 an industrial knife with a retractable blade, often used as a

discreet weapon. Although similar tools are manufactured by
many other companies, the Stanley brand provides the generic
identity UK, 1997
stanley knife noun a wife. Rhyming slang, formed from a
proprietary cutting tool that is a generic for such tools
UK, 1998
stanza noun in horse racing, a single race US, 1951
star noun 1 cocaine. Possibly from shortening STARDUST (cocaine) US,
2003. 2 methcathinone UK, 2003. 3 a prisoner serving a first custodial
sentence UK, 1996. 4 an asterisk sign (*) on a computer keyboard US,
1991. 5 man; used as a general form of address. West Indian, hence
UK black. Also spelt ’starr’ JAMAICA, 1995
starch noun semen US, 1967
stardust noun 1 cocaine US, 1967. 2 phencyclidine. Recorded as a
‘current PCP alias’
US, 1977
starfish noun the anus. A visual pun UK, 2001
starfish trooper noun a male homosexual. An allusion to anal sex
based on
STARFISH (the anus), playing on the popular science
fiction image of a starship trooper
NEW ZEALAND, 2002
starfucker noun anyone who seeks to provide free sexual services to
the famous; hence, an ingratiating hanger-on of anyone with
celebrity status
UK, 1970
star gazer noun 1 on the railways, a brakeman who has misread
oncoming signals
US, 1975. 2 in horse racing, a horse that holds its
head too high

UK, 1948
star grade noun in the US military, the rank of general US, 1982
stark bollock naked adjective absolutely naked. An amended
spelling of earlier ‘stark ballock naked’, 1922
UK, 1984
stark bollocky; stark bollocky naked; stark ballocky adjective
totally naked AUSTRALIA, 1972
starkers adjective totally naked NEW ZEALAND, 1923
stark mother naked adjective totally naked AUSTRALIA, 1967
stark staring bonkers adjective utterly mad UK, 2001
starlight hotel noun sleeping in the open air at night NEW ZEALAND,
1998
stars noun LSD. From the design printed on the dose UK, 1998
Starship Enterprise noun a marijuana cigarette. In the cult
televison series Star Trek (1966–69) and sequels, the Starship
Enterprise is a means ‘to boldly go’ exploring space – simply a
ROCKET for the next generation UK, 2001
Starsky and Hutch; starsky noun the crotch. Rhyming slang,
formed from a US television police-action-adventure series,
1976–81
UK, 1998
star’s nap verb to borrow something, especially money. Rhyming
slang for TAP UK, 1961
star-spangled powder noun cocaine UK, 1998
start verb 1 to start your menstrual period US, 2001. 2 to act as if you
want a fight
IRELAND, 1998
starter noun a gambler hired by a casino to gamble and thereby
create interest in a game US, 1977
starter cap noun a condom. To stop anything starting US, 1996

starters noun any lubricant used to facilitate anal sex UK, 2002. < for
starters to begin with UK, 1969
starting juice noun pressurised ether in a spray can, used to spray
in the carburettor to help start a car that is not inclined to start US,
1992
startler noun in typography, an exclamation mark (!) UK, 2003
star up verb (used of a young prisoner, on turning 21) to be
transferred to an adult prison UK, 1996
starver noun a saveloy AUSTRALIA, 1941
starve the crows! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA, 1918
starve the lizards! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA, 1927
starve the mice! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA, 1962
starving Armenians noun used as an example when parents urge
children to finish their dinner. There are endless variations on the
theme
US, 1979
starving days noun the first few, unproductive days of a project. A
logger term that survived the end of mass logging US, 1975
stash noun 1 a hidden supply of drugs, usually marijuana; the hiding
place itself US, 1942. 2 in the illegal production of alcohol, a cache of
alcohol US, 1974. 3 ill-gotten or illicit goods kept in a hidden store
UK, 1914. 4 a person’s hiding place US, 1927. 5 a room, apartment or
house
US, 1946
stash verb 1 to hide something, especially drugs US, 1914. 2 (used of a
prostitute) to retain some of your earnings and not turn them
over to your pimp US, 1989
stash apartment noun an apartment where drugs are hidden US,
1992
stash catcher noun an employee of a drug dealer whose job it is to

retrieve supplies of drugs that are jettisoned in the event of a
police raid US, 1992
stash pad noun the room, apartment or house where someone
hides their drugs
UK, 1983
617 Stan and Ollie | stash pad
stat noun 1 a statistic. Usually used in the plural US, 1961. 2 a statutory
tenant
UK, 1963. 3 methcathinone US, 2003
statch adjective statutory US, 1994
state noun 1 a dirty, ill-kempt or poorly preserved condition UK, 1879.
2 a condition of excitement; agitation; anxiety; a state of
drunkenness
UK, 1837. 3 a state prison US, 1991
State and Perversion nickname in Chicago, the intersection of State
and Division Streets US, 1958
state college noun a state prison US, 1949
state electrician noun the executioner in a state using
electrocution in the electric chair for capital punishment
US, 1982
stateful adjective in a nervous or excited condition, ‘in a state’. Teen
slang
UK, 2003
State of Maine bankroll noun a bankroll made from a real note
folded around paper cut to the shape of currency
US, 1975
state-of-the-monte adjective state of the art, using up-to-date tech-
nology. Formed with the
FULL MONTE (everything) UK, 1999
state-raised adjective said of a prisoner who has spent most of his

life incarcerated US, 1992
States noun < the States in Alaska, all states except Alaska US, 1984
stateside adjective of the US; American US, 1943
state time noun a prison sentence served in a state prison. More
serious than time in
COUNTY, and within the state jurisdiction as
opposed to federal jurisdiction US, 1995
statey noun a state highway trooper US, 1985
static noun harassment; trouble; complications US, 1926
stationery noun free tickets to an athletic or entertainment event
UK, 1952
stations of the cross a police tactic in which a person who has
been arrested is moved from one precinct to another in rapid
succession, making it impossible for him to be located and bailed
out by his friends and family US, 1992
stave noun a drinking session IRELAND, 1984
staving drunk adjective very drunk. This phrase has lasted past the
time when alcohol came only in barrels (although
SWISH still does)
CANADA, 1999
stay verb to reside US, 1973. < stay awake to use amphetamines or
methamphetamine continuously. A vague euphemism US, 1989.
< stay loose to remain calm US, 1959
stay and pray verb in poker, to stay in a hand with a large amount
of money bet, hoping for a particular card to be drawn to improve
your hand US, 1988
stay-awake noun amphetamine sulphate or any other central
nervous system stimulant
US, 1993
stay-behind adjective left to operate in enemy territory. CIA Director

Allen Dulles formed ‘Operation Stay Behind’ shortly after World
War 2, building a wide network of anti-communist guerrillas –
including many former Nazis – who would fight behind the lines
in the event of a Soviet invasion of Europe US, 1982
stayer noun 1 in poker, a hand that warrants staying in the game but
not raising the bet US, 1949. 2 in horse racing, a horse that performs
well in longer distance races US, 1976
stay-home sauce noun food or drink made with ingredients
believed to instil sexual fidelity or attraction
GUYANA, 1992
stay-out noun in prison, a confrontational tactic in which prisoners
refuse to return to their cells US, 1976
stay out of the Koolaid! mind your own business! US, 1995
stay put to remain in place, to stay where you are US, 1843
stay up used as a farewell US, 1998
stay-wag noun a station wagon US, 1991
St Cat’s noun in Montreal, Rue St Catherine CANADA, 2002
STD grab bag noun a person who has had many sexual partners
and is likely, therefore, to be a source of sexually transmitted
disease UK, 2003
steady noun a steady boyfriend or girlfriend US, 1897
steady Eddie noun a reliable, dependable, trustworthy person US, 2003
Steak and Kidney noun Sydney. Rhyming slang AUSTRALIA, 1905
steak and kidney pie noun the eye. Rhyming slang UK, 1960
steak drapes noun the vaginal labia. A play on BEEF CURTAINS UK, 1998
steal noun something cheap or made available at a cheaper cost US,
1944
steal verb in poker, to win a hand with an inferior hand either
through superior bluffing skills or poor estimation by other players
US, 1979. < steal someone blind to rob someone of everything.

An illiterate variation of ‘rob someone blind’
US, 1976. < steal the
ante
in poker, to bet aggressively early in a hand, driving out
other players and leaving a pot consisting mostly of the buy-in
antes
US, 1975. < steal the show in a public display, to outshine
other performers, to gain most applause US, 1928
stealth bomber nickname Stella Artois™ lager. Named after the
nickname of the US Air Force’s B2 Spirit, which is used here to
imply invisible strength and a great power to inflict damage UK, 2002
steam noun 1 alcohol AUSTRALIA, 1941. 2 hashish CANADA, 2002. 3 in sports
betting, a flurry of betting on one side of a bet US, 1991. < not
give the steam off your turds; not give the steam of your
piss
expresses an absolute refusal to give or be generous. The
predominate style is ‘off’, rather than ‘of’. The term employed for
appropriate bodily excretions may be as varied as the user’s
vocabulary: ‘steam off your shit’ is a familiar example
UK, 2000
steam verb in gambling, to bet increasingly larger amounts of
money in a losing effort to recoup recurring losses US, 1985
steam and cream; steam job noun during the Vietnam war, a bath
and sex with a prostitute US, 1969
steamboat noun a cardboard tube or box with a hole for a
marijuana cigarette and a hole for inhaling, used to trap the
smoke US, 1967
steamboats adjective 1 foolish, silly. Probably derives as rhyming
slang from Steamboat Willie, the 1928 animated film that
introduced Mickey Mouse UK, 2000. 2 drunk UK: SCOTLAND, 1996

steame noun a steamed hot dog CANADA, 2001
steamer noun 1 a member of a youth gang taking part in a
steaming attack UK, 1987. 2 in horse racing, a horse that attracts
heavy betting on the morning of a race, at a time before the odds
being offered by bookmakers are reduced UK, 1991. 3 an act of oral
sex performed on a man UK, 2003. 4 a homosexual man, especially
one who seeks passive partners. Ultimately from STEAM TUG (a
MUG) UK, 1958. 5 a prostitute’s client UK, 2002. 6 a gambler who
increases the size of his bets after losing US, 1968. 7 a drinking
session UK: SCOTLAND, 1988. 8 a full wetsuit covering the torso, legs
and arms AUSTRALIA, 1985
steam in verb to engage in an activity, especially fighting, with absol-
ute commitment UK, 1961
steaming noun youth gang activity involving robbing and escaping
en masse UK, 1987
steaming adjective 1 used as an intensifier UK, 1962. 2 drunk UK, 2002
steaming demon noun any large American car UK, 1981
steam packet noun a jacket. Rhyming slang UK, 1857
steampigged adjective drunk UK, 2002
steam-powered adjective obsolete US, 1991
steamroller noun 1 a thick hand-rolled cigarette NEW ZEALAND, 1953. 2 a
bowler hat. Rhyming slang. Glossed as: ‘A dying piece simply
because the headwear of the typical city gent is a thing of the
past’ by Ray Puxley, Cockney Rabbit, 1992
UK, 1992
steam tug; steamer noun a fool; a victim. Rhyming slang for MUG
UK
, 1932
steeazick noun a marijuana cigarette US, 1947
steel noun a pistol. A variation of the more common ‘iron’ US, 1993.

< off the steel not engaged in railway work US, 1977
steel and concrete cure noun the sudden and complete depri-
vation of drugs to a jailed drug addict, who suffers intensely US, 1950
stat | steel and concrete cure 618
steel beach noun the deck of an aircraft carrier or other warship
when used for recreational purposes
US, 1982
steel door noun a hospital-admitting physician who admits only the
sickest patients
US, 1994
steelie noun a ball bearing used in a game of marbles US, 1978
steelies noun steel-toed boots, especially those made by Doc Marten
US, 2000
steel pot noun the US military standard-issue M-1 helmet. Vietnam
war usage
US, 1968
steely noun 1 a steel guitar UK, 1967. 2 in trucking, a brake made with
a magnesium-steel brake shoe in a steel drum US, 1971
steen noun an imaginary large number US, 1900
steep adjective 1 excessively expensive; over-priced US, 1856. 2 sought
by the police; wanted
US, 1995
steer noun < all a steer can do is try said to justify, humbly, an
attempt to do the seemingly impossible CANADA, 1987
steer verb in confidence swindles, to direct the confederate(s) who
will swindle the victim
US, 1889
steerage noun economy class on a commercial airliner US, 2002
steerer noun a person who directs potential customers to an illegal
enterprise

US, 1989
steerman noun 1 a member of a swindling enterprise who identifies
potential victims and directs them into the swindle US, 1993. 2 in
tandem surfing, the person towards the rear of the surfboard
US,
1957
steeze noun a person’s image or style US, 2003
Steffi Graf; Steffi noun 1 a laugh. Rhyming slang, formed from the
name of the German tennis champion (b.1969) UK, 1998. 2 abath.
Rhyming slang, based on the name of the German tennis player
Steffi Graf (b.1969) UK, 1998. 3 half an ounce, especially of drugs.
Rhyming slang UK, 2003
steggies noun steroids UK, 2002
Steinie noun a bottle of Steinlager™ beer NEW ZEALAND, 1998
stella blue noun a variety of marijuana. Possibly named after a 1973
song by the Grateful Dead: ‘It seems like all this life / Was just a
dream / Stella Blue / Stella Blue’ UK, 1995
stellar adjective very good. A conventional adjective rendered slangy
through attitude, pronunciation and application to objects such as
hamburgers
US, 1986
Stella the Steno noun used as a personification of the stereotypical
female office worker US, 1946
stem noun 1 a main street or boulevard, especially one frequented by
tramps, prostitutes, pimps, and their ilk US, 1914. 2 the dominant
culture in a society. An abbreviation of ‘system’ US, 1995. 3 the
penis US, 1972. 4 a railway track US, 1946. 5 a laboratory pipette used
to smoke crack cocaine US, 1992. < on the stem performing or
inclined to perform oral sex on a man US, 1976. < up against the
stem

addicted to smoking marijuana. From ‘stem’ (the non-
smokeable part of the marijuana plant)
UK, 1998
stem verb to beg on the street US, 1958
stemmer noun a beggar US, 1962
stems noun 1 the legs UK, 1860. 2 marijuana. An example of BAD
meaning ‘good’; the non-smokeable part of the plant is here
adopted as a name for the good UK, 2003
stenchel noun molasses, water and ground ginger, to go on porridge
or as a drink in the field
CANADA, 1988
stench trench noun the vagina UK, 1997
stencil noun a thin and long marijuana cigarette US, 1980
stenked adjective drunk UK: SCOTLAND, 1996
steno noun a stenographer US, 1906
stenographer noun in a deck of playing cards, a queen US, 1988
step verb < step on to dilute a powdered drug US, 1971. < step on
the gas; step on it
to hurry; to accelerate; often used as an
imperative. Originally applied just to motor vehicles; the ‘it’ is
the accelerator pedal US, 1920. < step on your dick to commit
a self-damaging act
US, 1980. < step on your meat to engage in
self-defeating conduct
US, 1981. < step up to the plate to rise to
a challenge. From the image of a batter in baseball coming up to
bat
US, 1919
Stephenson’s rocket noun a pocket. Rhyming slang, formed from
the early locomotive UK, 1998

Stepin Fetchit noun an black person who curries favour with whites
through obsequious behaviour. After the stage name of Lincoln
Theodore Monroe Perry (1902–85), a black actor known for his
film portrayal of stereotypical black minstrel characters US, 1940
step off verb to go away US, 1993
stepper noun 1 a prostitute; a promiscuous woman US, 1953. 2 a
gunman
JAMAICA, 2000. < up the steps; up the stairs on trial.
The accused goes up the steps/stairs from the cells into the court
UK, 1931
step to verb to get into a fight US, 1995
step up verb to start a fight US, 2001
stern-wheeler noun the passive participant in anal sex US, 1979
Steve Canyon noun any fighter pilot. Vietnam war usage, alluding to
the name of a comic strip popular in the US in the 1950s and 60s
US, 1968
Steve McQueen’s noun jeans. Rhyming slang UK, 2002
Stevie Wonder noun thunder. Rhyming slang, formed from the
name of the US singer and musician (b.1950)
UK, 1998
stew noun 1 an awkward position; an agitated condition UK, 1806. 2 a
state of alcohol intoxication US, 1965. 3 a drunkard US, 1950.
4 nitroglycerin used to blow open a safe US, 1949. 5 an airline flight
attendant. A shortened form of ‘stewardess’
US, 1969
stew verb < stew in your own juice to endure the consequences
of your actions
UK, 1885
stewards’; steward’s noun an informal investigation of any situ-
ation. Reduced from ‘stewards’ inquiry’ (an authorised investi-

gation by the officials who control horse racing) UK, 1999
Stewart Granger noun danger. Rhyming slang, formed from the
name of the British film actor UK, 1992
stew bum; stewbum noun an alcoholic derelict US, 1902
stewed adjective drunk. Another drunk synonym, first recorded by
Benjamin Franklin US, 1737
stewed prune noun a tune. Rhyming slang UK, 1979
stewie noun an alcoholic US, 1945
St. Gapour noun in Quebec, the alcoholic mixed drink best known
as a Singapore Sling CANADA, 1992
stick noun 1 ability in pool US, 1970. 2 a cigarette. Indian English INDIA,
1979. 3 marijuana UK, 2003. 4 phencyclidine, the recreational drug
known as PCP or angel dust UK, 2001. 5 a truncheon; a riot baton. In
police and prison-service use; narrowing but continuing the sense
as ‘cudgel’, which has been in recorded use since 1377 US, 1929. 6 a
burglar’s pry-bar
UK, 1879. 7 a clarinet. A shortened form of LIQUORICE
STICK US
, 1946. 8 a handgun. Recorded in use August 2002 UK, 1781.
9 a surfboard US, 1964. 10 askateboardUS, 1984. 11 in horse racing,
the whip used by jockeys US, 1976. 12 a pool player US, 1990. 13 the
game of pool US, 1966. 14 a set of rules for a game of pool US, 1990.
15 criticism, especially harsh criticism. A softening of the sense ‘to
beat with a stick’
UK, 1942. 16 violent punishment; a severe
reprimand. Originally ‘the stick’ (a beating with a stick)
UK, 1856.
17 harsh or extreme demands made of a motor engine. Usually as
‘give it (some) stick’; derives from the sense of the ‘cane’, as
‘punishment’ UK, 1978. 18 a manually operated car transmission. A

shortened form of ‘stick shift’ US, 1960. 19 in drag and motor racing,
tyre traction
US, 1980. 20 a prisoner’s personal influence or power US,
1992
. 21 a person of a type described UK, 1784. 22 a fighter pilot US,
1986. 23 a prostitute US, 1972. 24 one thousand dollars. Probably an
evolution of YARD US, 1978. 25 in circus or carnival, a person playing
a game or concession with the house’s money in an attempt to
attract other patrons to play US, 1980 8see: BELLY-STICK. < give it
stick; give it some stick
to enjoy something noisily, and to the
utmost UK, 1984. < give stick; give some stick to energetically
criticise someone; to inflict physical damage on something or
619 steel beach | stick
someone UK, 2000. < had the stick to be ruined or irreparably
broken; to be finished
AUSTRALIA, 1953. < up the stick pregnant
AUSTRALIA, 1941
stick verb 1 to stab someone with a knife US, 1975. 2 to inject a drug
US, 1992. 3 to punch or hit someone US, 2003. 4 (from the male
perspective) to have sex
US, 1972. 5 to tolerate or endure someone
or something UK, 1899. 6 to burden someone UK, 1851. < stick a hit
in snowboarding, to achieve impressive height when jumping US,
1995. < stick beef (used of a male) to have sex BAHAMAS, 1982.
< stick fat to remain loyal. Prison usage NEW ZEALAND, 1997.
< stick in promise land for to threaten someone with a prison
sentence. Prison use UK, 1959. < stick it up to treat someone
unfairly
AUSTRALIA, 1974. < stick like shit to a blanket to adhere

tenaciously UK, 1956. < stick one on someone to hit someone
UK, 1960. < stick to your knitting to limit your efforts to doing
what you know how to do; in the business world, to avoid the
temptation to diversify beyond your company’s expertise US, 1991.
< stick with to persevere with something; to endure; to remain
faithful to someone or something UK, 1882. < stick your neck
out
to take a risk US, 1926
stick < stick your bib in to interfere; to meddle AUSTRALIA, 1952
stickability noun perseverance US, 1888
stick and stone; stick noun a bone. Rhyming slang, generally plural
UK, 1992
stick book noun a pornographic book or magazine AUSTRALIA, 1967
stick bun noun a son. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
sticker noun 1 a knife UK, 1896. 2 a warrant or bill of detainer US, 1976.
3 a prisoner who is remanded in custody pending a court
appearance UK, 1977
stick for verb to charge too much for something UK, 1961
stick hall noun a pool room US, 1958
stick horse noun in horse racing, a horse that runs best with some
encouragement from the jockey and whip US, 1976
stickie nickname a member of the ‘official’ IRA and Sinn Fein
IRELAND, 1972
stick Indian noun a backwoods Indian CANADA, 1956
sticking out adjective good; fashionable UK, 1983
stick-in-the-mud noun someone who resists change UK, 1733
stick it up your arse!; stick it in your ear!; stick it up your
jumper! expressions of contemptuous rejection US, 1960
stick mag noun a pornographic magazine AUSTRALIA, 1992
stickman noun 1 a pickpocket, shoplifter or other petty criminal’s

accomplice who is passed the stolen goods, and also impedes any
pursuit. West Indian slang UK, 1861. 2 a marijuana smoker US, 1966.
3 a sexually active heterosexual male who prides himself on his
skill and prowess
UK, 1975
stick me with a fork – I’m done! used for expressing submission
in the face of a challenge US, 2000
stick of rock noun the penis. Rhyming slang for COCK; a visual pun
on a long pink sweet that is made to be sucked UK, 1992
stick of tea noun marijuana prepared and smoked in the fashion of
a cigarette. Combines STICK (a cigarette) with TEA (marijuana) US,
1940
stick out verb to be conspicuous or obvious. From ‘stick out a mile’.
Originally in conventional use, colloquial or slang since mid-C19
UK, 1638. < stick out like dog’s balls to be obvious; to stand out
prominently AUSTRALIA, 1971
sticks noun 1 the countryside US, 1905. 2 goalposts. Examples include
football (soccer) and Australian Rules football
AUSTRALIA, 1876. 3 skis;
ski poles US, 1963. 4 furniture US, 1956. 5 good quality marijuana UK,
2000
sticks and stones noun the game of pool US, 1990
sticksing noun pickpocketing. West Indian slang UK, 1977
stick sister noun a woman who shares a sexual partner with another
woman AUSTRALIA, 1987
stickspin noun a scene in a pornographic film in which a woman
changes positions without losing her vaginal grip on the man’s
penis
US, 1995
stick up verb to rob someone at gunpoint; to hold up a place

AUSTRALIA, 1843
stick-up adjective engaged in sex TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1974
stickup; stick-up noun 1 an armed hold-up US, 1904. 2 glue used in
solvent abuse. A play on the conventional use of glue
UK, 1996
stick up for verb to champion or defend someone or something UK,
1837
stick-up merchant noun an armed robber AUSTRALIA, 2001
sticky noun an inquisitive look. Short for STICKYBEAK AUSTRALIA, 1974
sticky adjective 1 of a situation, incident, work, etc, unpleasant, very
difficult, dangerous
UK, 1915. 2 in trouble BARBADOS, 1965. 3 of a
website, successful at attracting repeated or extended visits from
Internet users
UK, 2003. 4 in volleyball, said of a ball that is briefly,
and illegally, held US, 1972
stickybeak; sticky-beak noun 1 an overly inqusitive person
AUSTRALIA, 1920. 2 an inquisitive look AUSTRALIA, 1971
stickybeak; sticky-beak verb to pry AUSTRALIA, 1933
sticky book noun a pornographic book or magazine UK, 2000
sticky buns; the stickys noun diarrhoea. Rhyming slang for THE
RUNS UK
, 2003
sticky dog noun in cricket, a rain-soaked pitch which the sun is
drying UK, 1933
sticky end noun < come to a sticky end 1 (of a person) to end
up in prison, or to die an unpleasant (and unnatural) death; (thus,
of an abstract or physical thing) to cease to exist, to be destroyed
UK, 1961. 2 to masturbate. A pleasing pun AUSTRALIA, 1984
sticky end of the stick the least desirable part TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,

1987
sticky finger verb to shoplift US, 1970
sticky-fingered adjective inclined to thievery UK, 1890
sticky fingers noun 1 an inclination to steal US, 1939. 2 a shoplifter US,
1982
sticky-icky noun marijuana US, 2002
sticky toffee noun coffee UK, 1979
sticky wicket noun 1 a tricky or uncertain situation. From the game
of cricket; the ball bounces unpredictably on a pitch that is drying
out
UK, 1882. 2 in croquet, a difficult shot US, 1977
stiff noun 1 acorpseUS, 1859. 2 an ordinary person; a person who
conforms US, 1998. 3 in any endeavour, a disappointing, poor
performer US, 1978. 4 a non-player in a gambling establishment US,
1979. 5 a poor tipper US, 1974. 6 a disagreeable person who is likely to
try to cheat
US, 1882. 7 a tramp; a hobo UK, 1899. 8 in an illegal
betting operation, a person who has agreed to pose as the head of
the operation to protect the actual head in the event of a police
raid and arrest US, 1952. 9 an unskilled pool player US, 1993. 10 in
horse racing, a horse that is favoured to win but is not ridden in
an effort to win US, 1947. 11 in pool, the cue ball left with no easy
shot US, 1993. 12 a worthless cheque US, 1950. 13 in the usage of
telephone swindlers, a payment by cheque
US, 1959. 14 a
clandestine letter; in prison, a letter smuggled into, out of, or
between prisons
UK, 1900. 15 in blackjack, a card with a value of two,
three, four, five or six. Combined with a ten-point card, a card that
leaves the player in limbo

US, 1975. < the stiff money or
correspondence to the benefit of a prisoner passed to a prison
warder by a prisoner’s friend or relative US, 1875
stiff verb 1 to cheat someone; to rob someone; to refuse to pay
someone US, 1950. 2 to extort from someone UK, 1978. 3 to kill
someone UK, 1977. 4 to fail miserably US, 1996. 5 (of a male) to have
sex. Used in both the passive and active forms
UK, 1977
stiff adjective 1 of alcoholic liquor, potent or undiluted UK, 1813.
2 drunk US, 1737. 3 excellent BERMUDA, 1985. 4 frustrated; out of luck.
From earlier sense as ‘broke, penniless’, 1898 (Australian National
Dictionary) AUSTRALIA, 1917
stick | stiff 620
stiff adverb greatly; used to intensify, especially ‘bore’ and ‘scare’.
From ‘stiff’ (dead) hence, here, ‘to death’; always after the verb it
modifies
UK, 1905
stiff! tough luck! AUSTRALIA, 1985
stiff-assed; stiff-arsed adjective used of a person who behaves in a
superior manner and doesn’t mix with others
US, 1937
stiff bikkies! used for expressing a lack of sympathy with a bad
turn of events
NEW ZEALAND, 1992
stiff cheddar! tough luck! AUSTRALIA, 1979
stiff cheese! tough luck! AUSTRALIA, 1979
stiffen the crows! heavens above! AUSTRALIA, 1932
stiffen the wombats! heavens above! AUSTRALIA, 1962
stiff-eye verb to look at someone without establishing eye contact
US, 1964

stiffie noun an erection NEW ZEALAND, 1995
stiff luck noun bad luck AUSTRALIA, 1919
stiff one noun any strong alcoholic drink UK, 1813
stiff shit! tough luck! AUSTRALIA, 1969
stiff-toe gang noun the dead BAHAMAS, 1995
stiff turps noun bad luck AUSTRALIA, 1960
stiff upper lip noun a personal quality characterised as repressed
emotion or quiet courage, and regarded as typically British. In early
use you would ‘carry’ or ‘keep’ a stiff upper lip; later use is mainly
jocular or derisory. Although widely considered a stereotypical
British characteristic, actually of US origin
US, 1815
stiff with adjective closely packed, densely crowded. Hyperbole; orig-
inally (from C17) a conventional use of ‘stiff’ UK, 1907
stiffy noun 1 an erection. Also variants ‘stiffie’ and ‘stiff’. UK, 1980. 2 in
snowboarding, a stiff-legged jumping manoeuvre US, 1995. 3 an
engraved invitation card. Upper-class society use; from the
unbending quality of the card and the (stiff) formality of the
occasion
UK, 1982. 4 a computer disc. From the packaging SOUTH
AFRICA
, 1993
stifle verb to silence yourself. A verb popularised by the Archie
Bunker character on the television series All in the Family US, 1971
still nickname a Falkland Islander UK, 2002
still game noun a card game held on a regular basis with regular
players
US, 1977
stillies noun stiletto shoes UK, 2005
stilt person; stilt people noun a celebrity NEW ZEALAND, 2003

stilts noun the legs US, 1945
stim noun an empty bottle with a refundable deposit UK, 1995
stimey noun ten dollars’ worth of drugs. From the synonymous DIME
BAG
; a contraction of ‘it’s a dimey’ US, 2001
stimp noun the leg UK, 2002
stimp cover noun a nylon stocking. Based on STIMP (the leg) UK, 2002
sting noun 1 any crime that achieves its purpose by fraud or
deception US, 1930. 2 arobberyUS, 1940. 3 a short, sharp chord played
to make or disssolve a sense of suspense US, 1973
sting verb 1 to swindle someone; to cheat, to rob someone UK, 1812.
2 in horse racing, to shock a horse with an electrical device during
araceUS, 1951. < sting between the toes (from a male
perspective) to have sex AUSTRALIA, 1971
stinger noun 1 a pinched nerve US, 1999. 2 the penis US, 1967. 4 ahigh
velocity, hollow-nose, expanding bullet
US, 1981. 4 in poker, a
sequence of five cards. Known conventionally as a ‘straight’ US, 1988.
5 a railway brakesman US, 1977. 6 an improvised heating element
consisting of exposed wires attached to a small metal plate, used
for heating water US, 1989. 7 an illegal vote. Chicago Mayor Richard
Daley was given credit for delivering Chicago and the state of
Illinois to John Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election through
extensive use of ‘stingers’. Subsequent research dispelled most of
these rumours, but Daley enjoyed the power the stories gave him
US, 1982. 8 a radio antenna US, 1976
stingo noun strong, illegally manufactured whisky US, 1999
stingy brim noun a hat with a thin brim US, 1949
stink noun a commotion; a loud complaint UK, 1812. < like stink
desperately hard, extremely fast, very much, etc UK, 1929

stink verb to be aesthetically or morally offensive US, 1934
stink bomb noun in the used car business, a car that won’t sell
because of a lingering, nauseating smell
US, 1992
stinker noun 1 an offensive or despicable person or thing US, 1911. 2 a
corpse that has begun to decompose and, as a result, smell
US, 1996.
3 an onion US, 1962. 4 a cigar. So known because of the offensive
smell the cigar emits
US, 1907. 5 in dominoes, a player who forces
the next player to draw by cutting him off US, 1959. 6 a strongly
worded letter
UK, 1912
stinkeroo noun a complete failure. Coined by Damon Runyon US,
1934
stinker squad noun a police homicide investigative department US,
1981
stink-eye noun a hateful glare. Hawaiian youth usage US, 1981
stink-finger noun 1 the insertion of a finger or fingers into a
woman’s vagina UK, 1903. 2 the middle finger. From the vaginal
odour occasioned by the finger’s predominant use in sexual
foreplay UK, 1984
stink-finger verb to insert a finger or fingers into a woman’s vagina
US, 1992
stinking adjective 1 disgusting, contemptible. In conventional use for
centuries, but now considered vulgar
UK, 1961. 2 drunk, very drunk.
This sense is recorded earlier than
STINKING DRUNK US, 1887
stinking drunk adjective very drunk. A combination of two

adjectives with the same sense UK, 1926
stinkingly adverb excessively UK, 1906
stinking rich; stinking adjective very wealthy. First recorded as
‘stinking’ in 1940; with ‘rich’ in 1945 US, 2003
stinking thinking noun the rationalisation of an addiction as ‘not
that bad’ or as something short of an addiction. Used in twelve-
step recovery programmes such as Alcoholics Anonymous
US, 1998
stinking with money; stinking with it adjective very wealthy. A
variation of
STINKING RICH UK, 1961
stinko noun alcohol, especially wine AUSTRALIA, 1958
stinko adjective exceedingly drunk US, 1927
stinkoed adjective drunk. A variation of STINKO UK, 1997
stinkout noun a prank in which bad-smelling material is put in a
room, making it uninhabitable US, 1967
stink pot noun the vagina US, 1980
stink stiff noun a badly decomposed and smelly corpse US, 1984
stinkum noun any bad-smelling substance US, 1972
stinkweed; stink weed noun marijuana US, 1950
stinky noun 1 a promiscuous woman BERMUDA, 1985. 2 afemale
member of the Royal Air Force. In Royal Air Force use, 2002 UK,
2002. < go stinky to defecate US, 1979
stinky pinky noun 1 a finger enriched with the aroma of vagina US,
1993. 2 a party game based on rhymes. An overworked prostitute is
a ‘sore whore’, excretory humour is ‘shit wit’, etc US, 1949
stipe noun a stipendiary steward at a racecourse AUS TRALIA, 1902
stir noun 1 a prison or jail. Derives from Romany stariben, steripen
thus Welsh gispy star (to be imprisoned), stardo (imprisoned) UK,
1851

. 2 apartyNEW ZEALAND, 1998. 3 teasing AUSTRALIA, 1985. < do stir
to serve time in prison UK, 1994
stir verb 1 to have sex US, 1973. 2 to tease someone AUSTRALIA, 1969.
< stir the porridge (of a man) to have sex with a woman whose
vagina is newly awash with the semen of her previous partner(s),
especially if the final man in the line; to have sex with a woman
who is in a sexual relationship with another man. The appearance
of mixed ejaculate put the coiner in mind of porridge
AUSTRALIA,
1970
. < stir the shit to cause trouble, especially by gossiping or
telling tales
UK, 1984
621 stiff | stir
stir bug noun a prisoner crazed by years of incarceration US, 1950
stir-crazy adjective deranged by incarceration US, 1908
stir-happy adjective adversely affected by imprisonment UK, 1959
Stirling Moss; stirling noun a thing of little or no value. Rhyming
slang for TOSS, formed from the champion racing driver, Stirling
Moss (b.1929) UK, 1992
stirrer noun a teaser; a troublemaker AUSTRALIA, 1966
stirrup noun 1 in trucking, any device that provides help for climbing
up into the cab US, 1971. 2 on the railways, the lowest step on a
freight wagon US, 1946
stir-simple adjective mentally unstable because of incarceration US,
1952
stitch noun a confidence trick, often good-natured rather than
criminal
UK, 1995
stitch and bitch noun the (Canadian) Officer’s Wives Club at an air

base CANADA, 1995
stitch queen noun a male homosexual wardrobe assistant US, 1973
stitch that!; stitch this! said at the moment of physical attack
with a knife or similar weapon, usually as the climax to a
catchphrase threat such as ‘Can your wife do first aid? Stitch that!’
or ‘Are you any good at sewing? Stitch this!’ UK, 1992
stitch-up noun an act that unjustly places criminal, financial or
moral responsibility on someone else
UK, 1984
stitch up verb 1 (of the police) to incriminate someone, especially by
planting false evidence UK, 1977. 2 to deliberately take unfair advan-
tage of someone UK, 1970
stitchy noun in circus and carnival usage, a tailor US, 1981
stivver verb to stagger CANADA, 1953
STL adjective said of a hospital patient who is in a persistent
vegetative state, who is similar to lettuce. US, 1994
St. Louis noun in circus and carnival usage, second helpings of food.
According to Wilmeth, an allusion to the fact that circus
engagements in St. Louis played in two sections US, 1981
St Louis blues; St Louis noun 1 shoes. Rhyming slang, formed
from ‘St Louis Blues’, a song by William Christopher Handy,
published in 1914, and now a jazz classic UK, 1980. 2 news; the
news. Glasgow rhyming slang
UK: SCOTLAND, 1985
St. Louis stop noun a rolling stop at a traffic signal or stop sign US,
1999
St. Martins-le-Grand; St Martin; Martin-le-Grand; martin noun
the hand. Rhyming slang UK, 1857
stoat verb (of a bet) to win UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
stoat down verb to rain very heavily. Formed on Scots stot (to

bounce) UK: SCOTLAND, 1996
stoated adjective drunk UK, 1999
stoater noun something excellent; a particularly good-looking
person, especially a woman UK: SCOTLAND, 1911
stoating adjective excellent. From STOATER (a good thing) UK: SCOTLAND,
1988
stoat-the-baw; stoater noun a paedophile; a child-molester. From
Scots for ‘bounce-the-ball’, possibly an image of a child’s head
being patted as if bouncing a ball UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
stocious; stotious adjective drunk. Of Anglo-Irish origins UK, 1937
stock noun the prizes in a carnival midway game concession US, 1985.
< throw stock to distribute prizes in a carnival game US, 1966
-stock suffix used in combination with an entertainer’s name (or part
thereof) to create a name for a musical festival. The second
syllable of legendary music festival Woodstock, 1969, is taken to
lend quality and scale to a current music event. In August 1992,
the group Madness reformed after eight years, and hosted and
headlined a weekend-long open-air concert called Madstock in
London’s Finsbury Park. Officially titled ‘Big Beach Boutique’,
Normstock is, or was, a one-day festival of dance music hosted on
Brighton beach by DJ Fatboy Slim, real name: Norman Cook.
When the crowds in attendance proved to be greater than the
authorities expected the parallel to Woodstock was drawn UK, 1992
stockbroker’s Tudor; stockbroker Tudor noun faux-Tudor
architecture
UK, 1938
stockholder noun on the railways, any employee who appears to be
more concerned about the company than his fellow workers US,
1977
stockings noun female legs US, 1971

stocking stuffer noun 1 in poker, money bet by a player who has
withdrawn from the hand
US, 1996. 2 cash US, 2003
stocks and bonds a slogan used by prostitutes to advertise
bondage services. A punning euphemism UK, 2001
stocks and shares noun stairs. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
stocky noun a habitual user of cocaine. Recorded as ‘cokehead’ by a
Jamaican inmate in a UK prison
UK, 2002
stogie noun 1 a cigar US, 1873. 2 an extra-large marijuana cigarette.
Derives ultimately from Conestoga, a town in Pennsylvania, and
the name given to a horse-drawn freight wagon originating in that
regionintheC18.Conestoga(thetownandthewagon)
abbreviated to ‘Stogy’; ‘Stogy drivers’, apparently, smoked a coarse
cigar which became known as a ‘stogie’, and by the late C19 a
‘stogie’ was a generic cheap or roughly made cigar
US, 1980. 3 a
cigarette US, 1995
stokaboka adjective extremely enthusiastic US, 1991
stoke verb (from a male perspective) to have sex. Coined for the pun
illustrated in the following citation UK, 2001. < stoke the boiler in
a swindle operated by telephone, to telephone a prospective
victim US, 1988
stoked adjective 1 excited. A major word of the surf lexicon, it was
the title and only word in the lyric of a 1963 Beach Boys song
written by Brian Wilson US, 1963. 2 drug-intoxicated US, 1986. 3 drunk
US, 1964
Stoke-on-Trent adjective homosexual. Rhyming slang for BENT,
formed from the Staffordshire town UK, 1992
stoker noun a wave that excites surfers US, 1977

Stokey noun Stoke Newington, in north London UK: ENGLAND, 1998
Stolly; Stoli; Stoly nickname Stolichnaya™, vodka UK, 1998
stomach noun < stomach thinks your throat has been cut to
be extremely hungry AUSTRALIA, 1950
stomach Steinway noun the accordion US, 1994
stomp verb in computing, to mistakenly overwrite something US, 1991
stomp-down adjective excellent, admirable US, 1968
stomper noun 1 an aggressive, ‘mannish’ lesbian US, 1967. 2 the foot; a
shoe, especially a heavy shoe. Also used in the variant ‘stomp’ US,
1960
stompie noun a cigarette butt, especially one saved for smoking later
SOUTH AFRICA, 1947
stomping noun an attack, especially by kicking UK, 1971
stomp pad noun on a snowboard, the pad between the bindings US,
1993
stomps noun shoes US, 1970
stone noun 1 a diamond or other precious stone SOUTH AFRICA, 1884.
2 an Opel car. Citizens’ band radio slang; pun on ‘opal’ UK, 1981.
3 crack cocaine; a piece of crack cocaine. A recurring rock
metaphor
UK, 1996. 4 a state of drug intoxication US, 1980. 5 a billiard
ball US, 1990. 6 in motorcyle racing, a very slow racer US, 1965. 7 in
the usage of youthful model road racers (slot car racers), a slow car
US, 1997
stone verb 1 to render a drug user intoxicated, especially of
marijuana US, 1952. 2 by extension, to amaze or impress someone
US, 1950
stone adverb completely, utterly UK, 1928
Stone Age noun in computing, the years from 1943 until the mid-
1950s

US, 1991
stir bug | Stone Age 622
stonebonker noun in horse racing, a horse sure to win a race.
Popularised by radio race caller Cliff Caller, a fixture in Australia
beginning in the mid-1960s
AUSTRALIA, 1989
stoned adjective 1 intoxicated on a drug, usually marijuana US, 1952.
2 very drunk US, 1952. 3 exhilarated, unrelated to drugs US, 1971
stoned out adjective in a state of drug intoxication. An elaboration of
STONED US, 1952
stoned out of your playpen adjective highly drug-intoxicated UK,
2000
stone ginger adjective absolutely certain. From the name of a horse
that won virtually every race it ran
NEW ZEALAND, 1936
stonehead noun a regular user of marijuana. A combination of
STONED (drug-intoxicated) and HEAD (a user) UK, 2002
stone John noun a jail or prison US, 1962
stone jug noun a gullible fool; an easy dupe. Rhyming slang for
‘mug’ UK, 1998
stone me! used for registering surprise or exasperation. Execution
by stoning was current in biblical times, which lends this innocent
expletive a mildly blasphemous feel; the inspiration, however,
could just as likely be
STONES (testicles). However obscene the orig-
inal intention, from the mid-1950s its popularity (and innocence)
was spread by comedian Tony Hancock (1924–68) and the BBC UK,
1958
stone motherless adjective in horse racing, used for describing a
horse running a distant last AUSTRALIA, 1989

stoner noun a regular or habitual user of marijuana; a drug user US,
1988
stoner moment noun a short interval in which a marijuana user
succumbs to a mental or physical lack of energy or consistency.
After
SENIOR MOMENT UK, 2004
stones noun 1 the testicles UK, 1154. 2 courage. From ‘stones’ as
‘testicles’ and ‘testicles’ as ‘courage’ US, 1990. 3 crack cocaine US, 1994.
4 dominoes US, 1959
stone the crows! verb heavens above! AUSTRALIA, 1927
Stonewall Jackson noun used as a soubriquet for an extremely
frugal person. Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson was a general in the
Confederate Army, killed by ‘friendly fire’ in 1863 US, 1962
stone work noun a jewellery robbery US, 1949
stoney adjective of drugs, capable of causing intoxication. From
STONED (drug-intoxicated). Also known as ‘stoney weed’ UK, 2003
stoney weed noun marijuana. A combination of ST ONEY (capable of
intoxicating) and conventional ‘weed’ or ‘weed’ as marijuana UK,
2003
stonker noun 1 anything impressive in its field UK, 1997. 2 the erect
penis. A personal specialisation of something impressive
UK, 2001
stonker verb 1 to make someone drunk AUSTRALIA, 1947. 2 to bring a
halt to someone or something; to thwart, overcome or stop
something AUSTRALIA, 1964
stonkered adjective 1 drunk AUSTRALIA, 1918. 2 very tired NEW ZEALAND,
1984
stonking adjective 1 excellent, great; used generally to add positive
emphasis to adjectives of size or quality UK, 1980. 2 drunk. After the
previous sense UK, 2002

stonk -on noun the erect penis UK, 2003
stony adjective 1 without money. A shortened form of STONY-BROKE UK,
1886. 2 used of a golf ball, extremely close to the hole, such that
the making of the putt is a foregone conclusion. From the more
conventional but still slangy ‘stone dead’
US, 1985
stony-broke; stone-broke adjective without money UK, 1886
stony lonesome noun prison US, 1993
stooge noun 1 a performer whose role in an entertainment is as the
butt of a leading character’s jokes, or straight man or feed US, 1913.
2 a person in a subservient position UK, 1937. 3 a petty criminal who
confesses falsely to a crime committed by a more powerful villain
and takes the rap for him
UK, 1999
stooge verb to act as someone’s lackey US, 1939
stookie noun a stiffly formal person; a fool; a stupid person. Extends
from
STOOKY (a plastercast) UK: SCOTLAND, 1911
stooky noun a plastercast on a broken arm or leg. From ‘stucco’ (a
type of plaster)
UK: SCOTLAND, 1985
stool noun a police informer. A shortened version of STOOL PIGEON US,
1906
stool verb to inform on US, 1911
stoolie; stooly noun a police informer. A shortened form of STOOL
PIGEON US
, 1924
stool magnet noun a person with bad luck US, 1994
stool pigeon noun a police informer US, 1906
stoop adjective used of work, usually agricultural, requiring the worker

to bend at the waist to work near the ground US, 1953
stooper noun in horse racing, a bettor who examines discarded
tickets on the ground in the hope of finding a winning bet US, 1947
stoosh adjective pretentious JAMAICA, 2003
stooshie; stushie; stushy noun an uproar. Scottish dialect stushie
UK: SCOTLAND, 2000
stop noun sufficient marijuana for a single joint or pipe; hence,
marijuana
SOUTH AFRICA, 1949
stop-and-go noun 1 a traffic signal. Michigan Upper Peninsula Usage
US, 2003. 2 the toe. Rhyming slang. Can be shortened to ‘stop’ UK,
1992
stop and start noun the heart. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
stop-at-a-winner noun in gambling, a conditional bet: an
instruction to the bookmaker to halt a series of bets when a
winning result is recorded UK, 2001
stop gun noun on the railways, a torpedo placed on the track to
warn a train operator of a problem ahead US, 1977
stop it – I like it! used for registering a guilty pleasure, especially
as a pretence that a partner’s caresses are unwanted US, 1970
stop-over noun a short jail sentence, either empirically or in pro-
portion to the crime involved
US, 1962
stopper noun 1 a central nervous system depressant; a barbiturate US,
1977. 2 air or artillery fire used to prevent enemy ground troops
from escaping US, 1990
stoppo driver noun a getaway driver UK, 1996
store noun 1 a betting operation US, 1951. 2 any rigged game or
attraction in a carnival US, 1985. 3 in a big con swindle, the fake
office, poolroom or betting establishment created for the swindle

US, 1940. < your store is open a catchphrase used to advise that
your (trouser) fly is undone CANADA, 1968
store-bought adjective factory-manufactured cigarettes, as opposed
to hand-rolled US, 1969
store choppers noun false teeth US, 1975
store dice noun inexpensive store-bought dice, not milled to casino-
level tolerances US, 1962
store dick noun a department store’s private detective US, 1960
stork bite noun a flat pink birthmark or capillary hemangioma US,
1991
storked adjective pregnant US, 1945
storm verb 1 in hot rodding, to perform very well US, 1965. 2 to attend
a party to which you are not invited TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1969
storm carpenter noun an untrained, unskilled, incompetent
carpenter. The formation of storm-CRAFT is used with other crafts
as well, such as ‘storm mason’
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1831
storm damage noun applied to a person of limited intelligence UK:
SCOTLAND
, 1988
stormer noun 1 any excellent thing UK: SCOTLAND, 1985. 2 an excellent
performance in a sports match (hurling, soccer, Gaelic football)
IRELAND, 1996. 3 a theatrical success UK, 2001. 4 in hot rodding, a fast
car US, 1958
storming adjective excellent; exciting UK, 2003
623 stonebonker | storming
Stormin’ Norman nickname 1 US Army General H. Norman
Schwarzkopf, commander of the anti-Iraq forces in the Persian Gulf
war
US, 1991. 2 Norm Van Brocklin (1926–83), quarterback for the

Los Angeles Rams during their glory days (1949–57) and then for
the Philadelphia Eagles (1958–60) US, 1960
storm-stayed adjective prevented from reaching home by a storm
CANADA, 1989
stoush noun a fight; a brawl; fighting. Possibly a variant of Scottish
dialect stashie (a commotion, disturbance, quarrel) which was
recorded in C19 Aberdeen as ‘stash’ without the ‘-ie’ suffix. During
both World Wars used by servicemen to refer to the war, with a
touch of jocular or ironic bravado
AUSTRALIA, 1893. < deal out a
stoush
to assault with violence AUSTRALIA, 1900
stoush verb to punch, to hit; to struggle, to battle AUSTRALIA, 1893
stove noun a truck or car heater US, 1971
stovebolt noun a Chevrolet or Chevrolet engine US, 1965
stovepipe noun 1 a distended, gaping anus produced by recent anal
intercourse US, 1995. 2 arevolverUS, 1957. 3 a jet aircraft US, 1956.
4 gossip. From the image of railwaymen gathered around a stove
gossiping
US, 1977. 5 a three-part bet in an illegal numbers gambling
lottery, in which the bettor must correctly guess two of the three
digits in the winning number and have the third digit be one of
eight bet on
US, 1949
stove up adjective injured, ill or exhausted US, 1901
stow verb < stow your chant to stop talking US, 1964
STP noun a type of synthetic hallucinogen. Probably coined as an
abbreviation of ‘serotonin triphosphate’ and as an allusion to the
trademark name of an motor oil additive, and later de-abbreviated
to ‘serenity, tranquility and peace’ US, 1967

St Pete noun in shuffleboard, a disc hidden midway on your
opponent’s side of the court US, 1967
str8 adjective straight, in all its senses US, 1993
str8 draw noun a move in an on-line game of hold ’em poker, when
the player gambles on making a straight with the final card. A
variant spelling of a conventional term
UK, 2003
strack; strac adjective professional; neat; clean. Military slang US, 1982
Strad noun a Stradivarius violin UK, 1884
straddle noun in poker, an increased bet made without looking at
your cards US, 1988
straggler noun in horse racing, a winning bet that is not cashed in
immediately after a race but, unlike an out ticket, is cashed in
before the end of the day US, 1982
straight noun 1 a conventional person, blind to the values of a
counter-culture US, 1967. 2 a factory-made cigarette US, 1951. 3 a
house dweller. Used by late-1980s–early 90s counterculture
travellers
UK, 1999. 4 a heterosexual US, 1941. 5 simple vaginal
intercourse US, 1961. 6 unadulterated tobacco UK, 1978. 7 in horse
racing, a bet that a horse will win a race US, 1976
straight adjective 1 heterosexual US, 1941. 2 conventional, not part of
the counterculture US, 1960. 3 not currently drug-intoxicated; no
longer using drugs UK, 1967. 4 under the influence of drugs, or at
least not suffering from withdrawal symptoms US, 1946. 5 correct US,
1996. 6 good, pleasing, acceptable US, 1993. 7 of an utterance,
outspoken, straightforward UK, 1894. 8 honest, honourable, frank UK,
1864. 9 of alcoholic drinks, undiluted US, 1874. 10 without a ‘minus’
or ‘plus’ attached to a grade US, 1968. < go straight to abandon a
criminal lifestyle in favour of honesty UK, 1940

straight! honestly! it’s a fact! UK, 1897
straight and narrow; straight noun an honest, conventional or
virtuous way of life, especially when temptation is resisted. Always
with ‘the’; a shortening of ‘the straight and narrow path’ UK, 1930
straight arrow noun an honest or honourable person. From the
proverbial expression, ‘straight as an arrow’ US, 1969
straight as a monk’s cock adjective very honest UK, 1999
straight as a stiff adjective very honest or honourable. An elabor-
ation of STRAIGHT (honest); punning the final posture of a STIFF (a
dead body) with the impossibility of the dead being anything
other than honest. An interesting comparison with STIFF (to cheat)
UK, 2001
straight as a string adjective used of a racehorse, fully exerting itself
US, 1976
straight date noun conventional vaginal sex with a prostitute US, 1972
straight-down-the-line adjective very honest; used to describe
someone who sticks to the rules. An elaboration of
STRAIGHT UK,
2001
straight down the line adverb honestly UK, 1996
straight edge adjective reflecting a philosophy that promotes
hardcore rock music, abstinence from drugs and abstinence from
promiscuous sex. Probably coined by Ian Mackaye in the self-titled
song ‘Straight Edge’ while Mackaye was the singer of the
Washington D.C. band Minor Threat US, 1983
straighten verb 1 to bribe someone US, 1923. 2 to avenge someone. A
part of TEDDY BOY culture UK, 1959. 3 to produce drug intoxication in
someone US, 1958. < straighten out a curve to enter a curve
driving too fast and leave the road US, 1962
straightener noun a fist fight to settle an argument, to straighten

matters out; a fair fight. A
TEDDY BOY term UK, 1956
straighten out verb 1 to correct someone; to put someone right UK,
1956. 2 (of a drug addict) to cease drug use UK, 2001. 3 to feel the
effects of a drug, relieving any pangs of withdrawal
US, 1966. 4 to
bring someone up to date
US, 1946
straight face noun an facial expression that is hiding amusement or
successfully restraining laughter
UK, 1897
straight-faced adjective displaying a facial expression devoid of
humour UK, 1975
straight flush wannabe noun in poker, a sequenced hand
comprised of all red or all black suits, but not a flush. Impressive
looking, but worth no more than any non-flush straight US, 1996
straight-goer noun a dependable, honest person AUSTRALIA, 1899
straight-leg noun an infantry soldier, unattached to a mechanised or
airborne unit US, 1951
straight moniker noun a person’s legal name US, 1966
straight puda noun the complete, whole truth US, 1968
straights noun straight pool or continuous pocket billiards US, 1984
straight shooter noun a glass or metal device used to smoke crack
cocaine
US, 1995
straight trade noun homosexual sex with a man who considers
himself heterosexual US, 1972
straight trick noun vaginal sex between a prostitute and customer
US, 1972
straight up adjective 1 used of an alcoholic drink or a drug,

undiluted US, 1973. 2 a prison sentence, without reduction for good
behaviourorotherfactorsUS, 1969. 3 pure, unadulterated US, 1995.
4 used of a person, especially a girl, thin US, 1947
straight up! honestly; used for emphasis UK, 1959
straight up and down adverb entirely US, 1999
straight up the platform adverb absolutely, completely, entirely UK,
1999
straight wire noun the whole truth NEW ZEALAND, 1998
strain verb < strain at the leash to demonstrate a great
eagerness. From the characteristic behaviour of a dog
UK, 1910.
< strain the potatoes; strain the spuds; strain your taters
to urinate AUSTRALIA, 1965
strange noun a new and unknown sexual partner US, 1967
strange adjective new, fresh, unknown, especially sexually US, 1957.
< don’t be strange don’t resist; don’t hesitate. A polari
catchphrase, always in the imperative UK, 1967
strangely weird; strangely noun a beard. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
stranger noun 1 used as a form of address emphasising the fact that
the two people have not seen each other for a while US, 1996. 2 in
poker, any card added to a hand by draw US, 1988
Stormin’ Norman | stranger 624
strangers noun in gin, cards in a hand that do not and cannot form
a sequence
US, 1965
strange stuff noun a new and different sex-partner US, 1950
strangle verb 1 to turn something off; to deactivate something US,
1963. 2 to prevent a horse from winning a race. Strictly, and orig-
inally, by pulling back on the reins so strongly that the horse is
almost strangled

AUSTRALIA, 1949. < strangle a darkie to defecate
UK, 1985
strap noun 1 a naughty or lascivious girl IRELAND, 2000. 2 a handgun.
Recorded in UK prison use, August 2002 US, 1991
strap verb 1 to interrogate someone in a severe manner UK, 1996. 2 to
have sex. Also used in the variant ‘strap on’
US, 1971
strap-hanger noun 1 a passenger on public transport who stands
supported by an overhead strap (or other type of grip)
UK, 1905. 2 a
member of the armed forces, stationed well away from combat,
accompanying troops into the field without having a specific role
to play
US, 1986
strap-on noun a dildo that is harnessed to a person’s body UK, 1999
strapped adjective 1 armed, especially with a gun. From STRAP (a
handgun) US, 1993. 2 short of money. Also appears as ‘cash-
strapped’. US, 1857
straps noun suspenders US, 1945
strap up verb to carry a pistol US, 1998
strat noun a cigarette UK, 1996
Strat noun aFender‘Stratocaster’ guitar, first manufactured in 1954
US, 2004
strat verb to deceive someone BARBADOS, 1965
straw noun 1 marijuana; a marijuana cigarette. Playing on GRASS or
HAY US, 1971. 2 ahatUS, 1976
strawb noun a strawberry AUSTRALIA, 1985
strawberries noun LSD bearing a strawberry design UK, 1998
strawberries and cream noun a variety of MDMA, the recreational
drug best known as ecstasy, identified by the pink and white

colours of a pill
UK, 2002
strawberry noun 1 a woman who trades sex for crack cocaine US,
1989. 2 the female nipple. Usually in the plural US, 1982. 3 a tablet of
mescaline. From the colour of the tablet US, 1971. 4 a bruise or
scrape CANADA, 1921
strawberry fields; fields; strawberries noun LSD. Named after
the drug-inspired imagery that is the Beatles song ‘Strawberry
Fields Forever’, 1966. Strawberry Fields is an area of Liverpool US,
1986
strawberry jam noun 1 the corpse of a person who has died with
massive injuries
US, 1987. 2 an unspecified flammable substance US,
1987
strawberry patch noun a brakevan (caboose) seen from the rear at
night. From the red lights US, 1946
strawberry ripple noun a cripple. Rhyming slang, from an ice-
cream variety
UK, 1982
strawberry shortcake noun amphetamine; MDMA, the recreational
drug best known as ecstasy US, 1970
strawberry tablet; strawberry noun a variety of MDMA, the rec-
reational drug best known as ecstasy. From the pink colour of the
tablet
UK, 1996
strawberry tart; strawberry noun the heart. Rhyming slang UK, 1984
straw boss noun an assistant foreman US, 1894
strawboss verb to work as an assistant foreman US, 1977
straw hat noun in the car sales business, a convertible top US, 1953
strawny verb to figure something out CANADA, 1999

straws noun strawberries. Greengrocers’ abbreviation, both spoken
and used in signage UK, 1961
stray noun a solitary enemy soldier. Borrowed from the lexicon of
the cowhand, referring to stray cattle US, 1991
streak noun a thin person. Usually qualified (LONG STREAK OF MISERY;
LONG STREAK OF PISS); in its unqualified form it is more often used
in Australia and New Zealand but not exclusively so AUSTRALIA, 1941.
< put a streak in it to hurry UK, 1968
streak verb 1 to move at great speed UK, 1768. 2 to run naked through
a crowd, especially at public events, either as a protest or out of
exhibitionism. Adapted from the sense ‘to go very fast’ US, 1966
streak of misery noun a tall, thin, morose person AUSTRALIA, 1961
streak of pelican shit noun a tall, thin person AUSTRALIA, 1969
streak of piss noun an inconsequential or weak person. Adapted
from
LONG STREAK OF PISS (a tall, thin person) UK, 2001
streak of rust noun a railway US, 1946
streak of the squeak noun cowardice UK, 2000
streaky weather noun a changing weather situation CANADA, 1990
street noun 1 the essence of modern urban life for the poor, with
suggestions of the underworld or the shadows between the
underworld and the legitimate mainstream US, 1967. 2 in stud poker,
a card. For example, the fifth card dealt is known as ‘fifth street’
US, 1988. < on the street not imprisoned; released from prison US,
1935
street adj ective 1 experienced in or possessing the necessary qualities
for urban survival
US, 1980. 2 having an admired-as-fashionable quality
of being understood by or of urban youth. Abbreviated from
STREETCRED in turn shortened from ‘street-credibility’, but also

informed by STREET (the essence of modern urban life) UK, 2001
street bookie noun a bookmaker who takes bets on the street,
without an established place of business US, 1972
street cat noun a man, especially a young black man, who spends
his life on the edges of crime US, 1976
street cred noun an admired-as-fashionable quality of being
understood by or of urban youth. Abbreviated from ‘street-credi-
bility’ (late 1970s) UK, 1981
street divorce noun a domestic quarrel that ends in one spouse
murdering the other US, 2001
street doctor noun a drug dealer US, 1998
streeter noun a person who spends his time fraternising and
carousing on the street US, 1968
street-legal adjective used of a motor vehicle, in compliance with all
motor vehicle laws
US, 1993
street machine noun a car made for street driving US, 1970
street name noun a nickname by which you are known by
acquaintances US, 1983
street person; street people noun a person living, or spending
most of their time, on the street. A semi-voluntary, semi-political
state that preceded ‘homelessness’ as a label
US, 1968
streets ahead adjective absolutely superior UK, 1898
streets behind adjective greatly inferior. The natural opposite of
STREETS AHEAD UK, 1984
streets better adjective greatly superior. A variation of STREETS AHEAD
UK
, 1917
street-smart adjective familiar with the human condition as played

out in an urban setting US, 1976
street smarts noun an intuitive understanding of human nature as
played out in urban reality US, 1990
street squirrel noun a person who rides a moped or small
motorcyle with an attitude and style befitting a large motorcyle US,
1992
street sweeper noun a taxi driver who solicits customers on the
street US, 2004
streetsy adjective of a manner of speech or vocabulary, having a
contemporary urban quality US, 1997
street tax noun in an illegal drug-selling enterprise, the share of an
individual’s earnings paid to his gang US, 1997
625 strangers | street tax
streetwalker noun 1 a prostitute who seeks customers on the street
UK, 1592. 2 in oil drilling, an operator who does not have an office
US, 1954
street-wise adjective experienced in or possessing the necessary
qualities for urban survival
US, 1981
-strel suffix when combined with a music style, a singer in that style.
From ‘minstrel’. ‘Teen angstrel’ (a teen singer affecting angst) and
‘popstrel’ are noted by Susie Dent, The Language Report, 2003
UK,
2003
strength noun the essential facts; the pertinent details AUSTRALIA, 1908.
< on the strength used to signify agreement, import or
sincerity US, 1995
stress-head noun a person who is habitually stressed; a constant
worrier
AUSTRALIA, 1996

stretch noun 1 a prison sentence; one year’s imprisonment. A prison
sentence of a number of years is given with the number of years
preceding ‘stretch’
US, 1821. 2 a longer-than-normal limousine with
extended seating. From ‘stretch limousine’ US, 1982. 3 the penis UK,
2001. 4 in poker, a hand consisting of a sequence of five cards.
Known conventionally as a ‘straight’ US, 1988. < to do a stretch to
shoplift NEW ZEALAND, 1985
stretch verb 1 to serve time in prison. From STRETCH (a prison
sentence)
US, 2002. 2 to put someone to death by hanging US, 1962
stretched out adjective in trucking, travelling fast US, 1971
stretcher noun 1 a lie UK, 1674. 2 a substance added to a drug for the
simple purpose of diluting it for increased profit when sold US, 1970
stretcher-case noun a person who is exhausted UK, 2002
stretchers noun shoe laces US, 1962
stretches noun years; a very long time. From STRETCH (a year’s
imprisonment)
UK, 2000
strewth!; struth! used as an oath. A shortening of ‘God’s truth!’ UK,
1892
strides noun 1 trousers. Being the tailored articles in which you
‘stride’ UK, 1889. 2 trousers that are reserved for messy jobs,
especially in car customising US, 1960
strike! used as an expression of shock, surprise or astonishment.
Short for STRIKE ME BLIND! or STRIKE A LIGHT! AUSTRALIA, 1915
strike a light! used as an expression of shock, surprise or
astonishment AUSTRALIA, 1922
strike me! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA, 1874
strike me blind!; strike me dumb!; strike me lucky! used for

registering shock, surprise or astonishment. Other variations
include calls on God to strike the speaker ‘bountiful’, ‘vulgar’,
‘ugly’ or ‘pink’. The earliest variation recorded is ‘strike me dumb’
in Vanbrugh’s The Relapse, 1696 and ‘strike me blind!’ appears in
1704; ‘strike me lucky!’ from 1849, was a popular catchphrase in
Australia in the 1930s. Other Australian examples are listed below
UK, 1971
strike me dead; strike me noun bread. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
strike me dead! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA, 1932
strike me fat! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA, 1895
strike me handsome! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA,
1955
strike me pink! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA, 1892
strike me purple! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA, 1915
strike me roan! used for expressing great surprise AUSTRALIA, 1917
strike me up a gum-tree! used for expressing great surprise
AUSTRALIA, 1960
strike-out noun a hospital patient who has died or lapsed into a
neurologically depressed state
US, 1977
Strike U nickname the US Naval Strike Warfare Center, Fallon, Nevada
US, 1991
strillers; strill; strills noun a musical instrument, especially a
piano; a musician. Polari; possibly from Italian strillare (to shriek).
Thus, for a pianist: ‘strill homey’ or ‘strillers omee’ (a piano man),
or ‘strill polone’ (a piano woman)
UK, 1967
Strine noun broad Australian English, specifically that form of
Australian English which appeared in the books of Alastair
Morrison. ‘Strine’ is supposedly how the word ‘Australian’ is said in

the Australian accent. It is not a separate language or dialect, but
rather a jocular celebration of the Australian accent utilising
respelling, shifting word boundaries and much elision to give the
impression that other words are being spoken, e.g. sly drool is
Strine for ‘slide rule’, Emma Chisit for ‘how much is it?’, laze and
gem for ‘ladies and gentlemen’, let stalk Strine for ‘let’s talk
Australian’
AUSTRALIA, 1964
string noun 1 being hoaxed; being kept under control UK, 1958. 2 the
group of prostitutes working for a particular pimp US, 1913
string verb to manipulate a wire into a slot machine to trigger the
free-play mechanism US, 1985
string bean noun a tall, thin person UK, 2003
string beans; strings noun jeans. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
stringer noun 1 in poker, an instalment bet or the person making it
US, 1988 . 2 in poker, a hand of five cards in sequence. Conventionally
known as a ‘straight’ US, 1967. 3 a railway brakeman US, 1977. 4 a
narrow strip of laminated wood on a surfboard US, 1979
stringie noun astringbagAUSTRALIA, 1968
strings noun 1 the female legs US, 1963. 2 spaghetti US, 1956
string up verb to execute someone by hanging UK, 1964
string vest noun a pest, a nuisance. Rhyming slang UK, 1998
strip noun 1 in a striptease show, the portion of the show in which
the dancer removes her last garments US, 1945. 2 a neighbourhood
BAHAMAS, 1982. 3 a thoroughfare in a town or city lined with bars,
nightclubs, off-licences and restaurants
US, 1939. 4 a Benzedrine™-
soaked strip of paper from an inhaler, removed from the inhaler
and ingested as a central nervous system stimulant US, 1951. < the
Strip

1 the portion of Sunset Boulevard between Crescent Heights
Boulevard and Doheny Drive, Los Angeles, California US, 1951. 2 Las
Vegas Boulevard south of central Las Vegas, Nevada, lined with
neon-signed hotels and casinos US, 1971. 3 a section of Yonge Street,
between Dundas and Bloor, in central Toronto, Ontario. A flashy,
noisy part of town
US, 1987
stripe noun 1 a scar, usually the result of a razor slash. Hence the
adjective ‘striped’ UK, 1958. 2 in the military, a promotion US, 1968
stripe verb to slash someone with a blade. Descriptive of the scar
that is made UK, 1958
stripe me! used as a register of surprise or exasperation UK, 1997
striper noun in prison, an improvised cutting weapon UK, 1996
stripes noun 1 a referee in an athletic contest US, 1997. 2 in pool, the
striped balls numbered 9 to 15 US, 1984. 3 in circus usage, tigers US,
1981
stripes and solids noun in pool, the game of eight-ball US, 1974
striping noun a severe reprimand. From STRIPE (to slash with a blade)
UK, 2000
stripper noun 1 a striptease dancer (usually female), a performer who
undresses creatively for the purpose of entertainment. Gypsy Rose
Lee (Rose Louise Hovick, 1914–70) was, perhaps, the most famous
of all strippers; in Gypsy, the musical biography (1962) by Stephen
Sondheim, she discovers the word ‘ecdysiast’ to give her job
description a veneer of respectability
US, 1981. 2 a pickpocket US, 1950.
3 a car thief who targets newer cars that will be stripped for parts
US, 1962. 4 a playing card that has been altered in a manner that
facilitates its extraction from a full deck US, 1962
stripping hole; stripping pit noun a strip mine US, 1997

strippy noun in prison, a strip search UK, 1996
strips noun in prison, a segregation unit UK, 1996
stroke noun 1 an underhand, immoral or illegal trick UK, 1970. 2 praise
or flattery. Almost always in the plural US, 1964. 3 appetite IRELAND,
2000
stroke verb 1 to flatter someone US, 1979. 2 to masturbate. Also ‘stroke
off’
US, 1986. < stroke it 1 in car racing, to drive with care and
streetwalker | stroke 626
caution US, 1965. 2 to perform badly on purpose US, 1989. < stroke
the lizard
(of a male) to masturbate US, 1971
stroke book noun a magazine or book viewed while masturbating
US, 1967
stroke mag noun a pornographic magazine. The ‘stroke’ thus
inspired is a direct reference to masturbatory technique
UK, 1995
stroke-me-off noun used as a humorous nickname for stroganoff, as
in ‘beef stroganoff’ US, 1985
stroker noun 1 a petty thief IRELAND, 1996. 2 a hospital patient who has
suffered a stroke US, 1961
stroll noun < the stroll the collective activities on a street, mostly
illegal, some involving sauntering as if innocently strolling US, 1946.
< The Stroll Seventh Avenue, New York US, 1946
stroller noun 1 acarUS, 1960. 2 a stone on the surface of the field
CANADA, 1987
stroll on! used for registering disbelief or surprise UK, 1959
strong noun alcohol TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1989. < the strong of the
essential facts; the pertinent details
AUSTRALIA, 1908

strong verb < str ong it to behave in an aggressive manner, or to
take things to an extreme. A variation of COME ON STRONG UK, 1964
strong adjective 1 of a theatrical performance, very sexual US, 1962.
2 well-funded at the moment. Teen slang US, 1958. 3 flush with
money
US, 1954. < be going strong to be prosperous, or enjoying
continuing success, or full of energy and vigour UK, 1898. < come
it strong
to behave with boldness; to overstate something UK, 1837.
< come on strong to behave aggressively or exhibit aggressive
behaviour; to have a success US, 1970. < go strong on to support
or follow a particular course with great energy or investment UK,
1844
strongarm noun 1 a crime involving brute physical violence; a
violent criminal US, 1901. 2 a person who lends physicality and a
capacity for brutal physical force to the moment. Also called
‘strongarm man’ US, 1907
strong-arm verb to rob a place roughly or violently US, 1903
strong as a Mallee bull adjective physically strong AUSTRALIA, 1990
strong-back adjective sexually aggressive; virile TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
2003
strong box noun a prison cell, usually windowless; designed for
disruptive prisoners UK, 1996
strong like moose adjective used humorously with a literal meaning.
A catchphrase of US television in the 1950s and 60s, first from the
Uncle Tenoose character on The Danny Thomas Show and then
from Boris Bandanov of the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show;spoken
with a thick Russian accent US, 1968
strong move to the hole noun a direct approach to seducing a girl.
Application of a basketball term to sexual relations, punning on

HOLE as ‘the basket’ in the basketball term and ‘the vagina’ in this
usage US, 1992
stronk noun male and female sexual secretions. Recorded in the
song ‘The Ballad of Kirriemuir’ in Martin Page’s collection of World
War 2 songs and balads, ‘For Gawdsake Don’t Take Me’, 1976 UK:
SCOTLAND
, 1976
strop noun 1 a display of bad temper. From STROPPY (bad-tempered),
ultimately from ‘obstreperous’
UK, 1970. 2 male masturbation. From
the conventional action. Also variant ‘stropping’ UK, 1992
strop verb < strop the Mulligan (of a male) to masturbate. Also
variant ‘stropping’ AUSTRALIA, 1971
stroppy adjective 1 bad-tempered. Conventional ‘obstreperous’
wrongly abbreviated and understood UK, 1951. 2 stubborn, defiant
NEW ZEALAND, 1984
struck noun a girl’s steady boyfriend US, 1963
struck; struck by; struck with adjective charmed, attracted to or
delighted by someone or something. From an older sense as
‘bewitched’
UK, 1839
structural engineering noun a well-constructed foundation
garment, or garments; also applied to the uplifting effect that a
well-designed and well-fitted brassiere can have on a woman’s
shape
AUSTRALIA, 1984
structure noun the human body JAMAICA, 2000
struddle verb to fool with something you shouldn’t. The word is
from the German strudeln (boil, spout, proceed rashly)
CANADA, 1999

strudel noun the ’at’ sign (@) on a computer keyboard US, 1991
struggle verb 1 to dance US, 1960. 2 to experience a hangover US, 2001
struggle and strain noun a train UK, 1931
struggle and strain verb to train; to exercise. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
struggle and strainer; struggle noun a trainer (shoe). Rhyming
slang, extended from STRUGGLE AND STRAIN (to train) UK, 1992
struggle-and-strife; struggle noun 1 a wife. Rhyming slang UK, 1959.
2 life; a life. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
struggle-buggy noun a broken-down car US, 1946
struggling adjective worn out; neglected US, 2000
strum verb to masturbate. Also variant ’strum off’. From the up and
down stroking action that is strumming a guitar UK, 1999. < strum
heads to fight US, 1990. < strum the banjo (of a woman) to
masturbate. A surreal elaboration of STRUM (to masturbate) UK, 2001
strummed up adjective stimulated by drugs US, 1972
strung out adjective 1 addicted to a drug; in a poor state of physical
and mental health as a result of drug addiction. Used as a
participial adjective US, 1958. 2 obsessed with or overly concerned
about an activity or condition; emotionally disturbed
US, 1973.
3 extended UK, 2001. 4 in love; infatuated US, 1968
strunt verb to sulk CANADA, 1990
strychnine noun in craps, the point and number nine US, 1950
stub verb to kick, particularly a ball, especially in rugby UK, 1947
stubbie; stubby noun a small, squat beer bottle, now 385 ml; the
contents of a stubbie. From the noun use of ‘stubby’ (short and
squat) AUSTRALIA, 1966
stubbie guts noun a game in which frisbees are used to knock over
stubbies AUSTRALIA, 1993
stubbie holder noun an insulating container for keeping a stubbie

of beer cool whilst being held
AUSTRALIA, 1981
stubble jumper noun a prairie farmer CANADA, 1961
stub down verb in the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, to
move to better seats at a concert using ticket stubs for the better
sections smuggled up by friends US, 1994
stube noun a tavern US, 1950
stuck adjective of a player in a game of poker or other gambling
game, losing US, 1974. < get stuck in to initiate or become
vigorously involved in an activity
AUSTRALIA, 1941. < get stuck into
to attack a task or a person vigorously AUSTRALIA, 1941
stuck on adjective infatuated by, or enamoured of, someone US, 1886
stuck-up adjective conceited; pretentious UK, 1829
stud noun 1 a man, especially a manly man UK, 1895. 2 used as a
jocular term of address to a man US, 1999. 3 in homosexual usage, a
person who plays the ‘masculine’ role sexually and emotionally in
a relationship US, 1961. 4 amyl or butyl nitrite. Possibly derived from
a brand marketed as a male sex-aid UK, 1998. 5 loose tobacco US, 2002
stud broad noun a lesbian US, 1968
stud duck noun in oil drilling, an important company official US, 1954
student noun an inexperienced drug user US, 1952
student tobacco noun marijuana. From a perception that those
undergoing higher and further education are drug users UK:
SCOTLAND
, 1996
stud hustler noun a male homosexual prostitute who projects a
tough, masculine image
US, 1963
Studie noun a Studebaker car US, 1950

studio-fuel noun cocaine. Probably coined by cocaine-fuelled
musicians
UK, 2003
627 stro ke book | studio-fuel
studly adjective 1 describes a man who is considered to be above
average in his sexual adventuring
US, 1999. 2 admirable US, 1966.
3 unpleasant; unpopular US, 1960
stud muffin noun a handsome, well-built man US, 1992
stud puppy noun an attractive person. A variation of STUD MUFFIN US,
1989
stud up noun in prison, a prisoner who attempts to abandon homo-
sexual activity and return to his previous state of heterosexual
celibacy US, 1990
study bunny noun a serious and diligent student US, 1987
stuff noun 1 a drug, especially heroin US, 1929. 2 used for any noun
that the user cannot or does not wish to specify UK, 1889.
3 anything at all. Used as a euphemism for FUCK in constructions
such ‘I don’t give a stuff about it’ NEW ZEALAND, 1969. 4 in prison,
anything of value
US, 1967. 5 the female genitals US, 1982. 6 a woman
as a sexual object
US, 1967. 7 the male genitals US, 1966. 8 an
effeminate homosexual man
US, 1976. 9 in pool, spin imparted on
the cue ball to affect the course of the object ball or the cue ball
after striking the object ball
US, 1993
stuff verb 1 used as an emphatic rejection; and euphemistically for
‘fuck’ in all senses

UK, 1955. 2 to have sex from the male point of
view
NEW ZEALAND, 1984. 3 to block the pay chute of a casino slot
machine with the expectation of returning later, unblocking the
chute and retrieving the interim earnings US, 1999. 4 to persuade
someone to buy something that they did not know they wanted
to buy US, 1997. < stuff your face to overeat; to eat greedily; to
eat. An unconventional and over-active digestion would be
required if this simple description of the apparent action was as
accurate as the imagery
US, 1996
stuffed adjective very tired NEW ZEALAND, 2002
stuffed shirt noun a person who is overly formal, aloof, and out of
touch
US, 1913
stuffer noun 1 a male homosexual who plays the active role in anal
sex US, 1949. 2 a parachute rigger US, 1991. 3 in hot rodding, a
supercharger US, 1968
stuffy adjective conservative; very conventional; straitlaced. Derives
from STUFFED SHIRT UK, 1895
stugots; stugats noun the penis. From southern Italian dialect,
adapted/corrupted by Italian-American immigrants
US, 1962
stuk; stukkie noun a woman sexually objectified SOUTH AFRICA, 1946
stulper verb to stumble CANADA, 1999
stum noun any central nervous system depressant US, 1980
stumble biscuit noun a tablet of the recreational drug
methaqualone, best known as Quaaludes™. From the lack of
coordination associated with the drug
US, 1993

stumblebum noun a poor and foolish drunk US, 1932
stumbler noun any barbiturate or central nervous system depressant
US, 1977
stumbles noun a loss of coordination, especially as the result of drug
or alcohol intoxication US, 1971
stumer noun 1 a fool. The spelling ‘stumor’ is also used UK: SCOTLAND,
1985. 2 a forged or bad cheque UK, 1890. 3 a mistake; a blunder; a
mess
UK, 1983
stump noun 1 the leg. Survives mainly in the phrase ’stir your
stumps!’ (start doing something!, get moving!) UK, 1460. 2 the penis.
In a world where size matters, often but not always applied to a
short penis US, 1993. 3 a shoe US, 1973
stump verb to challenge or dare someone CANADA, 1959
stump-broke adjective unconditionally obedient. From the quaint
notion of a mule trained to step forward and then backwards for
sex with a man standing on a stump US, 1967
stumpers noun shoes US, 1971
stump-floater noun heavy rain CANADA, 2002
stumphole whiskey noun strong, homemade whisky US, 1971
stump-jumper noun an infantry soldier US, 1991
stump ranch noun in the Canadian west, a poorly run farm CANADA,
1989
stump up; stump verb to pay UK, 1833
stumpy noun a short person. Often used as a term of address US, 1997
stunned adjective drunk US, 1982
stunned mullet noun used as the epitome of one who is dazed,
stupid, foolish
AUSTRALIA, 1953
stunner noun 1 an exceedingly attractive woman UK, 1848. 2 aperson

or thing of extraordinary excellence
UK, 1855. 3 a pin-up, topless or
soft-porn model. Adapted by the tabloid press from the earlier, and
continuing use, as ‘a good looking woman’. Often combined with
‘Page 3’, in reference to the Sun newspaper’s daily placing of
naked female breasts. The spellings ‘stunna’ and ‘stunnah’ also
exist
UK, 1999
stunning adjective 1 excellent; extremely good looking UK, 1847. 2 in
computing, incomprehensibly stupid
US, 1991
stunt noun in advertising, marketing, etc, an event contrived to
attract attention and gain publicity. Still regarded as colloquial by
those who keep up our standards UK, 1878
stunt verb to wear expensive clothes and jewellery as a display of
conspicuous consumption; to show off US, 2001
stunt cock; stunt dick; stunt noun a male pornography performer
who fills in for another performer who is unable to maintain an
erection or ejaculate when needed
US, 2000
stunt pussy noun a female pornography performer who fills in for
another performer for the purposes of genital filming only US, 2000
stunts noun sex US, 1994
stupe; stoop noun a stupid person. Often, not always, used
affectionately UK, 1762
stupid adjective 1 used to describe a ‘smart’ weapon that fails to
function properly US, 2003. 2 good. The spelling ‘stoopid’ is also
used US, 1989. < get your stupid on to drink to the point of
intoxication US, 2003
stupid adverb extremely US, 1992

stupid badge noun a temporary identification card worn by a
worker who has lost or left his identification at home US, 1955
stupid-baker noun a Studebaker car US, 1992
stupidee noun a stupid or insignificant person TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
1959
stupid labour noun public labour CANADA, 1987
stupidness! used for expressing scorn CAYMAN ISLANDS, 1985
stupid, stupid used as an expression of utter disapproval. From the
cry of ‘stupid, stupid rat creatures!’ in the Bone comic book US, 1997
sturgeon noun a surgeon US, 1994
stutter and stammer; stutter noun a hammer. Rhyming slang UK,
1992
stuvac noun especially in New South Wales, student holidays from
school or university. From ‘student vacation’ AUSTRALIA, 1970
style noun graffiti US, 1997
style verb to conduct or carry yourself in a stylish manner, especially
in an exaggerated, showy way
US, 1972
stylee noun a style, determined by the cultural category that pre-
cedes it. A fashionable elaboration of ‘style’ UK, 1997
stylie noun a white person with dreadlocks US, 1994
stylin’ and profilin’ adjective very fashionable US, 1988
stylo milo adjective very fashionable SINGAPORE, 2002
sub noun 1 a submarine UK, 1917. 2 a subscription UK, 1833. 3 in
publishing, a sub-editor UK, 1859. 4 a sexual submissive, a willing
slave in a sado-masochistic relationship US, 1987. 5 the submissive
performer in a pornographic sex scene US, 2000. 6 in prison, a
subversive
UK, 1996. 7 on an athletic team, a reserve player who may
enter the game as a substitute for a starter UK, 1889. 8 a loan. An

abbreviation of ‘subsistence’, with the loan characterised as a
‘subsistence advance’ AUSTRALIA, 1989. 9 a financial advance,
especially when given against wages or salary UK, 1866. 10 a
studly | sub 628
concealed pocket, used by a casino employee to hide stolen chips
US, 1980
sub verb 1 to give or receive a financial advance UK, 1874. 2 to serve as
a substitute
US, 1853
sub adjective mentally sub -normal UK, 1963
subby noun a subcontractor AUSTRALIA, 1978
sub-deb noun a girl in her mid-teens US, 1917
sublime adjective < from the sublime to the gorblimey; from
the sublime to the ridiculous
from one extreme to another UK,
1984
submarine noun 1 a marijuana cigarette, especially a large one SOUTH
AFRICA
, 1946. 2 a surfboard that is too small for the person using it.
So named because the person forces the board under water US,
1964. 3 in the used car business, a car that has spent time sub-
merged in water
US, 1975. 4 a gambling casino scheme in which a
stolen chip is slipped into the thief’s trousers
US, 1977. 5 an after-
hours drinking session in a Rugby club UK, 1984
submarine verb 1 in tiddlywinks, to shoot a wink under another US,
1977. 2 to ride through tall grass AUSTRALIA, 1951
submarine belt noun in motor racing, a safety belt that clips onto
the buckle of a lap belt and is attached to the chassis under the

driver’s seat US, 1980
submarine races noun used as a euphemism for foreplay in a car at
aremotespotUS, 1967
subway noun in roller derby, contact between skaters who are eli-
gible to score before they reach the back of the pack of blocking
skaters, taking them to the floor of the track
US, 1999
subway dealer noun in a card game, a dealer who cheats by dealing
some cards off the bottom of the deck US, 1962
Subway Sam noun a man who is partial to sex in subway toilets US,
1966
Subway silver noun 8see: MANHATTAN SILVER
subway tickets noun in a card game, cards that did not come off
the top of the deck because of cheating in the dealing
US, 1988
sub-Z nickname a Sub-Zero™ freezer. Collected in Berkeley, California,
in 2000 US, 2000
such a bitter experience never again; such a bloody experi-
ence never again
nickname the former Belgian airline ‘Sabena’.
Most airlines attract jocular mnemonics of their names US, 2002
such-a-much noun an important or self-important person US, 1968
suck noun 1 an act of oral sex US, 1870. 2 a sycophant US, 1977
suck verb 1 to be useless, unpopular, distasteful, of no worth. When
the term came into currency in the US in the 1960s, sexual
connotations made it a vulgar, taboo-ridden term. By the mid-
1990s, all sense of taboo had vanished in the US except for older
speakers for whom the sexual connotation remained inescapable.
In UK English, the term, first used as a noun (1913) expressing
contempt, never enjoyed the sexual implications found in the US.

If anything, there was long an upper-class air to the term thanks in
part to the ‘Yah boo, sucks to you’ catchphrase associated with
Billy Bunter, a fat upper-crust schoolboy created by author Frank
Richards
US, 1965. 2 to perform oral sex US, 1881. 3 to consume
alcoholic drinks
AUSTRALIA, 1960. 4 in pool, to hit the cue ball with
backspin that appears to draw or suck the cue ball backwards after
it strikes the object ball US, 1990. < it sucks to be you used for
expressing a trace of commiseration in a situation that might call
for a bit more US, 1993. < suck ass; suck arse to behave
subserviently. A variation of KISS ARSE/ASS US, 1956. < suck butt to
curry favour US, 1997. < suck cock to perform oral sex on a man
US, 1941. < suck diesel to make rapid progress; to move rapidly,
especially in a motor vehicle
IRELAND, 1997. < suck face to kiss,
especially in a prolonged fashion. Hawaiian youth usage US, 1982.
< suck milk to be knocked off your surfboard and then be
thrashed by a wave US, 1991. < suck out loud to be very bad US,
1994. < suck salt to experience difficulties TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
1966. < suck suds to drink beer US, 1947. < suck the arse out of
a durry to smoke a hand-rolled cigarette to the very end NEW
ZEALAND
, 1998. < suck the big one to be terrible US, 1999. < suck
to the bulls
to act friendly with police US, 1992. < suck tubes to
smoke marijuana
US, 1998. < suck weight to drink large amounts
of liquids in a short period in order to gain weight to qualify for a
sporting event

US, 2001. < suck wind to fail; to lose out. Hawaiian
youth usage
US, 1972. < suck your flavour; suck your flava to
copy your style
US, 1993
sucka noun a fool; a dupe. Misspelling of SUCKER (a gullible individ-
ual) US, 2000
suck-ass noun a sycophant who curries favour in a self-demeaning
fashion
US, 1980
suck-ass adjective subservient; sycophantic; obsequious US, 1985
suck back verb to drink something US, 1980
sucked up adjective 1 weak; undeveloped physically US, 2001. 2 angry
US, 1989
suckee-suckee noun oral sex performed on a man. From the patois
of Vietnamese prostitutes during the war, embraced by soldiers
US,
1987
sucker noun 1 a gullible individual US, 1838. 2 a fellow. Neutral but
informal
US, 1980. 3 someone who is unable to resist a stated
temptation or addiction; an enthusiast US, 1957. 4 a thing US, 1987.
5 in caving and pot-holing, a caver who uses another’s equipment
while the owner is otherwise engaged. Examples of use include
‘chair-sucker’, ‘rope-sucker’, ‘stove-sucker’, etc US, 2004. 6 the
buttocks NEW ZEALAND, 1999
sucker verb to deceive or trick someone US, 1939
sucker life noun conventional life, with a conventional job and con-
ventional lifestyle US, 1977
sucker pocket noun the hip pocket, an easy pocket to pick US, 1982

sucker-punch verb to hit someone without warning, especially in
the face US, 1947
sucker weed noun faked, adulterated or poor quality marijuana.
WEED (marijuana) that can be sold to a SUCKER (someone gullible)
US, 1980
sucker wild adjective completely unrestrained and uninhibited US,
1969
suck gas to breath nitrous oxide for pleasure US, late 1960s
suck-happy adjective obsessed with oral sex AUSTRALIA, 1975
suckhole noun 1 a sycophant; a flatterer; a toady; an unpleasant
person AUSTRALIA, 1943. 2 a hole between private video booths in a
pornography arcade or between stalls in a public toilet, designed
for anonymous oral sex between men US, 1987
suckhole verb to behave in an ingratiatingly sycophantic manner
CANADA, 1961
suck-holer noun a sycophant NEW ZEALAND, 1998
Suckie nickname Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
suckie fuckie verb to perform oral sex on a man followed by sexual
intercourse. Vietnam war usage US, 1973
sucking noun an act of oral sex UK, 1869
sucking wind adjective in firefighter usage, said of extremely smoky
conditions US, 1954
suck job noun an act of oral sex US, 1969
suck -off noun an act of oral sex US, 1995
suck off verb to perform oral sex on either a man or woman,
especially to the point of orgasm UK, 1909
suckout noun in surfing, a wave that is breaking fast in front of itself,
creating a tunnel or tube US, 1977
suck out verb 1 to speed past a parked police car, drawing it into a
chase US, 1962. 2 in poker, to win in the face of every known con-

vention and probability
US, 1996
suck points noun imaginary credits earned by obsequious
ingratiation
US, 1994
suck-up noun a sycophant US, 2001
suck up verb to seek favour through obsequious behaviour UK, 1860
suck wind! leave me alone! Hawaiian youth usage US, 1981
sucky noun a hollow wave AUSTRALIA, 1985
629 sub | sucky
sucky adjective awful US, 1984
sucky face noun kissing US, 2000
sucrose noun money US, 1951
sudden death noun in sports, games and recreations, as diverse as
league football and television quiz shows, a period of extra time
during which the first to score or achieve a specified target wins.
Originally ‘a single toss of the dice’
UK, 1834
suds noun 1 beer US, 1904. 2 a large amount of money US, 1945
suds artist noun a habitual beer drinker AUSTRALIA, 1972
sue verb < sue the ass off someone; sue someone’s arse off
to take a legal action against somebody in pursuit of punitive
damages
US, 2002
suede noun a black person US, 1973
suedehead; suede noun a member of a late 1960s youth fashion
and gang movement, characterised by a close-cropped scalp and
smart utilitarian wear, associated with football hooliganism, racist
violence and neo-Nazism. This lexicographic development
matches exactly the

SKINHEAD fashion’s further growth; ‘suede’ is
the velvety surface of leather and thus describes the soft nap on a
previously shaven head UK, 1982
sufferation noun hard times TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
sufferin’ sheepdip! used for expressing disapproval. A signature
line of the Colonel Sherman Potter on M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972–83).
Repeated with referential humour
US, 1983
sug noun used as an affectionate term of address. A shortened form
of SUGAR US, 1947
sugar noun 1 used as a term of endearment. A distinct southern
ring. Variation include ‘sugar-pie’, ‘sugar-babe’, ‘sugar-baby’, etc US,
1930. 2 diabetes US, 1968. 3 a type of snow suitable for skiing UK, 1968.
4 heroin; powdered heroin adulterated with sugar. From the
appearance US, 1977. 5 cocaine. A white powder UK, 1998. 6 sand US,
1977. 7 money US, 1951 8see: SUGAR LUMP
sugar! used an all-purpose euphemism for ‘shit’, especially as an
exclamation. Pronunciation often hesitates over the ‘sh’ before
committing itself to ‘shit’ or ‘sugar’, possibly from a combination
of ‘shit’ and BUGGER!, RECORDED IN 1901 AS ‘I’ll be sugared!’ UK, 1995
sugar and honey; sugar noun money. Rhyming slang UK, 1859
sugar and spice noun ice, especially as served with a drink.
Rhyming slang UK, 1992
sugar and spice; sugar adjective nice. Rhyming slang; not especially
sarcastic in use UK, 1992
sugarbeeter noun a resident of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
Michigan Upper Peninsula usage US, 2003
sugar block noun crack cocaine UK, 1998
sugar candy noun brandy. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
sugar candy adjective useful, generally in a negative context.

Rhyming slang for ‘handy’ UK, 1992
sugar cube noun LSD. From the method of ingesting a dose of the
drug dripped onto a sugar cube US, 1967
sugar daddy noun an older man who supports or helps support a
young lover. With occasional playful variants UK, 1926
sugar dish noun the vagina. A variation of C19 obsolete ‘sugar basin’
(the vagina)
US, 1998
sugar down verb to dilute powder narcotics, especially with
powdered milk sugar (lactose)
US, 1970
sugarhead noun strong, homemade whisky US, 1999
sugar hill noun a brothel US, 1987
sugaring-off noun in Canadian maple syrup making, the process of
boiling the maple sap down to syrup or sugar CANADA, 1995
sugar lips noun a smooth talker AUSTRALIA, 1989
sugar lump; sugar noun LSD. Probably from ‘sugar cubes’ which are
sometimes used as a medium for taking the drug UK, 1973
sugar pimp noun a pimp who controls his prostitutes through
charm and attention US, 1972
sugar report noun during war, a letter from home, especially from a
girlfriend
US, 1991
sugar shack noun a small hut built for boiling down maple sap to
make maple syrup
CANADA, 1998
sugar stick noun the penis. Rhyming slang for PRICK UK, 1992
sugar tit noun any cherished object or habit US, 1971
sugar up verb to curry favour US, 1964
sugar weed noun marijuana which has been adulterated and

bulked-out with sugar water or honey
US, 1969
suicide alley noun in shuffleboard, a quarter of the opponent’s side
of the court
US, 1967
suicide axle noun in hot rodding and drag racing, a special axle
assembly that allows a lower front end
US, 1965
suicide blonde noun a girl or woman who has dyed her hair blonde
at home. From the pun: ‘dyed by her own hand’
US, 1962
suicide box noun in trucking, a sleeper added to a conventional cab.
So named because of the danger presented to anyone sleeping in
the box should the truck jackknife US, 1971
suicide club noun a mythical group of jockeys who ride in
steeplechase races US, 1951
suicide clutch noun a foot-operated clutch on a motorcyle. If your
foot slips off when stopped, it engaged the clutch
US, 1966
suicide door noun on a car, a door that hinges at the back and
opens towards the rear
US, 1993
suicide jockey noun 1 the driver of a vehicle hauling dangerous
cargo
US, 1976. 2 a dangerous driver UK, 1981
suicide king noun in a deck of cards, the king of hearts. It appears
that he is plunging a knife into his head US, 1988
suicide season noun the few months leading up to the wet season
in Australia’s tropical north AUSTRALIA, 1975
suicide seat noun the front, passenger seat in a car US, 1992

suicide stew noun a combination of central nervous system depress-
ants and alcohol US, 1966
suit noun 1 an executive; a person of authority but no creativity. The
term usually suggests a them-against-us mentality, with ‘them’
being the executives who wear suits; pejorative US, 1979. 2 in prison,
an official non-uniformed visitor UK, 1996
suitcase noun the rectum US, 1992
suitcase verb to conceal drugs inside a condom or balloon inside a
body orifice US, 1987
suitcase farmer noun a farmer who also works in the town CANADA,
1959
suitcase pimp; suitcase noun a boyfriend, agent or other male
who accompanies a female pornography performer to the set. Not
flattering
US, 1995
suited and booted adjective well-dressed UK, 1998
suit up verb to place a condom on a penis US, 2000
sulker noun in horse racing, a moody horse US, 1951
sulphate; sulph noun amphetamine sulphate UK, 1996
Sumatran red noun a variety of marijuana UK, 1996
sumbitch; sombitch noun a son of a bitch. A southern corruption
US, 1972
summat noun something. A phonetic slovening UK, 1984
Summerland Donkey Cock noun a variety of marijuana from
British Columbia CANADA, 2002
summer sausage noun the female partner of a boy in a summer
romance at camp
CANADA, 1997
SUMO shut upandmove on. An acronym from the world of office
jargon UK, 2005

sun noun < the sun shines out of someone’s arse said of a
person who is considered perfect UK, 2000. < the sun’s drawing
her backstays; the sun’s got her backstays down
lines in
the sky coming down from the sun, predicting rain or bad weather
CANADA, 1968
sucky | sun 630
sunbathers noun in poker, a pair of queens dealt face-up US, 1988
sunbeam noun a piece of cutlery or crockery that was not used
during a meal and thus needs no washing up
AUSTRALIA, 1981
sun belt noun the southern states in the US US, 1969
sunburnt adjective used for describing playing cards that have been
left in the sun to discolour slightly to aid a cheat in identifying
them in another player’s hand
US, 1988
Sunday noun a surprise blow from the blind side US, 1967
Sunday verb to hit someone from their blind side US, 1993
Sunday best noun 1 your smartest clothes. Such clothes were orig-
inally reserved for Sunday wear
UK, 1846. 2 a vest. Rhyming slang,
with a fine sense of irony
UK, 1992
Sunday-go-to-meeting adjective used of clothes, suitable for
wearing to church. Intentionally rural US, 1831
Sunday morn noun an erection (of the penis). Rhyming slang for
HORN UK, 1992
Sunday popper noun an occasional user of an addictive drug US, 1966
Sunday punch noun a blow from a person’s blind side US, 1968
Sunday run noun in circus and carnival usage, a long trip between

engagements US, 1981
Sunday school show; Sunday school noun a circus or carnival
with no crooked games and no performances with sexual content
US, 1980
Sunday science lecture noun any presentation made with a captive
audience ANTARCTICA, 1997
Sunday suit noun no clothes at all US, 1976
sundowner noun 1 an itinerant traveller. So-called from their habit of
arriving at a country property just on sundown so that they can
ask for sustenance without being given any manual labour
AUSTRALIA, 1868. 2 a senile patient who is quiet during the day but
becomes agitated at dark US, 1983. 3 any alcoholic drink enjoyed at
the end of the day. Recorded in India, Singapore, the East Indies
and Australia; also in south and east Africa
UK, 1938. 4 a VF-111
combat aircraft. The plane was first deployed in 1942 in the Pacific
with the mission of shooting down Japanese ‘Suns’. Deployed in
Korea and Vietnam US, 1990
sun gonna shine noun a type of bet in an illegal numbers game
lottery US, 1957
sun gun noun in the television and film industries, a portable,
intense light US, 1990
sunker noun in Newfoundland, a rock or reef just underwater CANADA,
1962
sun kink noun an expansion of railway track caused by hot weather
conditions US, 1975
sunner noun a thief who snatches a chain from the wearer’s neck.
Recorded by a Jamaican inmate of a UK prison, August 2002 UK,
2002
sunnies noun sunglasses AUSTRALIA, 1981

sunny side up adjective of eggs, fried, with the yolk on top US, 1901
sun parlour noun a brakevan (caboose) cupola US, 1977
sunrise noun a Toyota car. Citizens’ band radio slang; plays on
SUNSET (a Datsun car); also of Japanese manufacture, and Japan’s
identity is ‘the land of the rising sun’ UK, 1981
sunset noun a Datsun car. A weakly derogative play on Sunny, a late-
1960s Datsun brand
UK, 1981
sunshine noun 1 used as a form of address, often patronising with
an underlying note of disapproval or threat UK, 1972. 2 LSD US, 1971
Sunshine Coast noun 1 Vancouver, British Columbia CANADA, 1965.
2 Brisbane, Australia AUSTRALIA, 1999
sunspots noun in computing, the purported reason for an
unanticipated error US, 1991
suntans noun a summer-weight tan military uniform US, 1937
sup noun supper US, 1969
s’up? used as a greeting. A very slurred ‘what’s up?’ US, 1981
super noun 1 a superintendent, especially of an apartment building
AUSTRALIA, 1857. 2 a supernumerary UK, 1838. 3 high-octane or top-
grade petrol UK, 1967. 4 in carnival usage, a handsome watch
displayed as a prize
US, 1981
super adjective excellent UK, 1895
super- adjective in combination with a person, animal or thing, well
above the usual standard of its type. Under the influence of
Nietzsche’s philosophical concept, expanded by George Bernard
Shaw’s play Man and Superman, 1903, and made most familiar by
Superman,aUScomicstripsuperhero first seen in 1938
UK, 2003
super adverb very. Adds a melodramatic, gushing flavour to the

intensification
US, 1968
superbissimo adjective excellent; superb. A decorative elaboration of
‘superb’ formed, loosely, with an Italian suffix UK, 2003
superblush noun in poker, a sequence of cards in a red suit – dia-
monds or hearts US, 1996
super C noun ketamine hydrochloride, an anaesthetic used as a
hallucinogen US, 1994
supercalifragilisticexpialidocious used in various contexts with
various meanings by children fascinated with the size of the word.
Popularised, but apparently not coined, in the 1964 film Mary
Poppins. The term did not appear in the book, and so some credit
must be given to Robert B. Sherman, who wrote the lyrics of the
song. According to The Straight Dope (6th August 2002),
songwriters Barney Young and Gloria Parker brought a copyright
infringement suit, claiming that they had written a song with a
variant spelling of the term in 1949. In the 1960s, the term
replaced ‘antidisestablishmentarianism’ in US youth ‘longest word’
contests
US, 1964
super chicken noun in trucking, a truck owned by Yellow Freight
Systems US, 1976
super citral noun an especially narcotic variety of marijuana UK, 2003
super dope noun marijuana with formaldehyde added US, 1982
superduper; super noun a hydrogen bomb US, 1951
super-duper adjective exceptionally good. Childish, or intentionally
evocative of childishness US, 1940
superfly noun 1 a drug dealer. From the film Superfly, 1972 US, 1973.
2 a curly hairstyle popular with black men and women in the mid-
1970s US, 1975

superfly adjective extremely fashionable, attractive, and appealing US,
1974
supergrass noun 1 an informer who gives the police substantial
amounts of information, or who informs on a major crime or
terrorist operation. Bertie Smalls, a notorious or legendary
(depending on your point of view) small-time robber turned police
informer became, in 1973, the original ‘supergrass’
UK, 1978. 2 good
quality marijuana; phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as
PCP or angel dust; a combination of the two US, 1977
super hopper noun a Citroen car. Citizens’ band radio slang UK, 1981
super joint noun phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP
or angel dust
US, 1982
super Ketama noun a superior grade of hashish from the Ketama
region of Morocco UK, 2003
super kools noun phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP
or angel dust. Because the addition of PCP makes Kools™, a brand
name cigarette and hence any cigarette, ‘superior’ US, 1997
superman noun 1 a variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best
known as ecstasy, identified by the embossed Superman shield-
shaped ‘S’ motif
UK, 2002. 2 a variety of LSD identified by a cartoon
graphic of the comic book and film superhero
UK, 1996
Super Mario noun a variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best
known as ecstasy, identified by the embossed Super Mario™ motif
UK, 2002
Supermax noun the Penitentiary Administrative Maximum facility
(the highest security prison in US) US, 1994

super pot noun marijuana which has been soused in alcohol then
dried US, 1967
631 sunbathers | super pot
Super Scooper noun a water bomber, with a huge scoop for filling
at speed from a lake or waterway, to dump on fires
CANADA, 1994
superskunk noun an extremely potent marijuana UK, 1999
superslab noun a major road. Citizens’ band radio slang, elaboration
of
SLAB US, 1976
super-snooper noun a special inspector employed by the former
Department of Health & Social Services to uncover fraudulent
claims UK, 1983
super-snoopy noun a helicopter with a camera that has the capa-
bility to take close-up pictures from a kilometre’s distance
UK, 1980
superstud noun a man with superior sexual prowess, or one reputed
to be so lucky. Enhancement of
STUD UK, 1997
supersweet adjective excellent US, 2002
Super T noun Tennants Super™, a super strength lager UK, 1997
super Thai noun an ‘everyday’ variety of marijuana UK, 2003
superweed noun marijuana, especially if of extra strength UK, 1996
super -yankee noun a multiple bet, gambling on 5 different horses in
a specific combination of 26 win stakes or 52 each-way. Also
known as a
CANADIAN UK, 2001
supes noun a superior; a respectful form of address. Black usage UK,
2000
supon noun cornmeal mush CANADA, 1955

supremo adjective excellent; extreme US, 1979
sure adjective < be sure and take care, don’t fail to do something
UK, 1892
sure as Christmas certain UK, 1959
sure as eggs is eggs absolutely certain, without a doubt. Early
usage recorded as ‘as sure as eggs be eggs’ this idiom is now so
familiar that even the shortening to ‘sure as eggs’ is understood
UK, 1699
sure as God made little apples; sure as God made little
green apples very certain. The earliest form is ‘little apples’; the
second form appears to derive from the song by Bobby Russell,
‘Little Green Apples’, 1968, in which it is likely that ‘green’ is
added for the scansion of the lyric UK, 1874
sure as shit and taxes very certain US, 1957
surefire; sure shot adjective certain to succeed or prevail US, 1901
Sure. I knew you could. used as a sarcastic expression of great
doubt. A borrowing from the children’s television programme Mr
Rogers
US, 1981
sure off verb in an illegal numbers gambling lottery, to insure
numbers that are the object of heavy betting US, 1949
sure pops noun dice that have been heavily weighted and are likely
to produce the desired results US, 1950
sure thing certainly. From the conventional sense (a certainty) US,
1896
sure-thing man noun in carnival usage, a confederate who is hired
to play and win a game in order to generate business US, 1981
surf verb < surf the crimson tide to experience the bleed period
of the menstrual cycle US, 1995
surface verb 1 to wake up; to get up; to get up and start the business

of the day. Probably of Naval origins, from a submarine surfacing
UK, 1963. 2 to come out of hiding; to leave a surreptitious existence
and become more public
US, 1971
surfboard Suzie noun a stereotypical woman who spends time at
the beach admiring male surfers US, 1990
surf bum noun a surfing enthusiast who haunts popular beaches UK,
1958
surf bunny noun a woman who spends a great deal of time at the
beach, associating with surfers and/or surfing US, 1980
surf dog noun an avid, veteran surfer US, 1991
surfie noun a surfer AUSTRALIA, 1962
surfie chick noun a young woman companion of a surfer AUSTRALIA,
1979
surfing knobs; surfing bumps noun calcium deposits near the
knees and feet caused by extended contact with a hard surfboard
US, 1964
surf nazi noun a zealous, devoted surfer US, 1988
surf-o adjective obsessed with surfing US, 1991
surf rat noun a beginner surfer US, 1990
surf safari noun a trip in search of good surfing conditions US, 1964
surf’s down used for expressing dismay at poor surf conditions US,
1977
surf silks noun silk or nylon swimming trunks worn under a wetsuit
US, 1977
surge noun surgical spirit as an alcoholic drink UK, 2000
surgical truss noun a bus. Rhyming slang UK, 1998
surprise party noun in poker, a hand that should not win, that is
not expected by its holder to win, but that wins
US, 1996

surprise! surprise! with heavy irony or sarcasm, used as an
expression of disappointment, or resignation that the expected
worst has happened
UK, 1964
Surrey Docks noun syphilis; hence any sexually transmitted
infection. Rhyming slang for POX, formed on a famous south-of-
the-river location
UK, 1974
sus; suss noun 1 suspicion UK, 1936. 2 an arrest on suspicion; a person
being arrested for loitering with suspicion
UK, 1977
sus; suss adjective suspicious; suspect UK, 1958
Susie College noun a stereotypical female college student US, 1970
suspense noun the time allotted to complete an action US, 1986
suspicion verb to suspect someone US, 1834
suss noun common sense UK, 1977
suss verb to suspect, or discover the truth about, someone or
something. A shortened form of ‘suspect’ UK, 1953
sussed adjective 1 having knowledge about something; well informed
UK, 1984. 2 arrested as a suspected person loitering UK, 1977
sussies noun suspenders UK, 1995
susso noun 1 government sustenance provided during the depression
of the 1930s AUSTRALIA, 1941. 2 a person receiving government
sustenance AUSTRALIA, 1947
suss out; suss; suss on verb to work out, discover, find, ascertain or
understand something. Extended from various senses of SUS and
SUSS UK, 1962
sussy adjective suspicious, in both active and passive senses UK, 1965
suzie noun a Suzuki motorcycle (manufactured since 1936 but only
popular in the UK from about 1960) UK, 1979

Suzie Wong; suzie noun 1 a song UK, 1998. 2 an unpleasant smell.
Rhyming slang for PONG,formedfromthefilmThe World of Suzie
Wong, 1960 UK, 1998
Suzy Robincrotch; Suzy Rottencr otch; Suzy noun during the
Vietnam war, the generic girlfriend back home US, 1991
Suzy Sorority noun a stereotypical sorority member who looks,
dresses, talks and lives the part US, 1974
swa noun southwest Asia US, 1998
swab noun arollofmoneyUS, 1965
swab verb < swab the deck to perform oral sex on a woman US,
1964
swabbie; swabby noun asailorUS, 1944
swab jockey noun a marine US, 1958
swacked adjective drunk or drug-intoxicated US, 1945
swag noun 1 stolen goods; loot; bounty. Derives from the earlier
sense ‘a shop’ hence the contents seen as the object of theft; orig-
inally, especially linens and clothes rather than precious metals
and stones
UK, 1794. 2 contraband. Used both as an adjective and a
noun US, 1951. 3 free merchandise or tickets to concerts handed out
by music recording companies US, 1997. 4 the possessions of an
itinerant traveller rolled up in a blanket and carried from place
Super Scooper | swag 632
to place. The ‘swag’ and the ‘swagman/swaggie’ are Australian
cultural icons
AUSTRALIA, 1841. 5 a person’s possessions when
travelling light. Metaphoric use of the swagman’s swag AUSTRALIA,
1987
. 6 abedrollAUSTRALIA, 1865. 7 clothes. The best known meaning
of ‘swag’ (stolen property) originally referred especially to linens

and clothes. Here the sense narrows to the type of goods with no
suggestion of theft
UK, 1999. 8 money US, 1976. 9 a large amount of
something
AUSTRALIA, 1882. 10 inferior quality marijuana. It seems
unlikely that this usage should derive from the C19, now obsolete
adjective ‘swag’ (worthless) but stranger etymologies have
happened US, 2001. < on the swag carrying a swag and travelling
as an itinerant
AUSTRALIA, 1982
SWAG noun a joking and derogatory prediction or estimate. A
‘scientific wild-assed guess‘
CANADA, 1995
swag verb 1 to move articles in a hurried manner. Extends from the
sense ‘to hustle’
UK, 1956. 2 to hustle or hurry someone UK, 1958
swag adjective 1 stolen US, 1979. 2 inferior UK, 2004
swag bag noun a bag for loot or special contraband US, 1974
swaggie noun a swagman AUSTRALIA, 1891
swagman noun an itinerant man looking for work; a tramp AUSTRALIA,
1859
swag off verb to lock a prisoner’s possessions away UK, 1996
SW AK; SWALK; SWANK written on an envelope, or at the foot of
a lover’s letter, as lovers’ code for ’sealed with akiss’. Embellish-
ments included a ‘loving’ kiss and a ‘nice’ kiss. Widely known, and
well used by servicemen, then a nearly mandatory sign-off line in
any American teenage love letter of the 1950s and 60s, now a part
of the coded vocabulary of texting
UK, 1925
swallow noun a drink of alcohol UK, 1822

swallow verb 1 to easily accept something as true UK, 1594. 2 to
accept something that has happened without complaint or
acknowledgement. A shortening of ‘swallow your pride’ UK, 2000.
< swallow a dictionary to be loquacious or sesquipedalian; to
habitually use long or erudite words
AUSTRALIA, 1957. < swallow a
gun
to commit suicide by gunshot to the mouth US, 1981.
< swallow spit to stop talking; to be quiet US, 1993. < swallow
the olive
to lose your composure and concentration US, 1961
swallow and sigh noun a collar and tie. Rhyming slang UK, 1938
swallower noun a person who swallows semen during oral sex
AUSTRALIA, 1987
swally noun a drink; a drinking session. Glasgow slang from ‘swallow’
UK: SCOTLAND, 1985
swami noun a poker player with the annoying habit of coaching
other players US, 1996
swamp verb to drink an alcoholic beverage after eating UK, 1983
swamp-donkey noun a particularly unattractive woman UK, 1998
swamped adjective drunk US, 1945
swamper noun 1 a labourer who loads or unloads cargo US, 1981.
2 rubber boots worn during mud season. Michigan Upper
Peninsula usage
US, 2003
swamp rat noun any person living near or coming from near the
great swamps of the southern US US, 1978
swampy noun a rural New Englander who is thoroughly and
steadfastly rural. An abbreviation of SW AMP YANKEE US, 1963
swamp Yankee noun a rural New Englander who is thoroughly and

steadfastly rural US, 1939
swan verb < swan about; swan around; swan off to move idly
or with no apparent purpose (although pleasure is often
presumed). The imagery of swans gliding on water; originally
military, of armoured vehicles (perhaps sliding over mud) UK, 1942
swan dive noun to pretend to be injured or fouled while playing a
team sport CANADA, 2002
Swanee river noun the liver. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
swank noun a drink of sweetened water BARBADOS, 1965
swank and wank verb to preen in a self-satisfied manner. A neat,
rhyming combination of ‘swank’ (to behave in a pretentious
manner) and
WANK (to masturbate) UK, 2002
swanky adjective showy; conceited; pretentious; pretentiously grand.
First recorded as Wiltshire dialect
UK, 1842
Swan Lake; swan noun a cake. Rhyming slang, formed from the
ballet by Tchaikovsky
UK, 1992
swannie noun a bush shirt. From the branded Swanndri™ shirt NEW
ZEALAND
, 1998
swanson noun acowardUS, 2004
swap verb < swap cans (used of a male homosexual couple) to
take turns as the active participant in anal sex US, 1965. < swap
lies and swat flies
to engage in prolonged, aimless conversation
US, 1962. < swap slop to kiss US, 1947. < swap spit to kiss long
and hard US, 1952
swap out verb to exchange roles in homosexual sex after one

partner achieves satisfaction US, 2002
swapper noun a married person who engages in spouse swapping at
sex parties US, 1967
swarming noun a gathering swiftly formed as the result of a
snowball-effect proliferation of instant text message communi-
cation
UK, 2003
swash noun foaming water after a wave breaks on shore US, 1963
swass noun sweaty buttocks. A contraction of ‘sweaty’ and ‘ass’
CANADA, 2003
swatch noun a quick look UK: SCOTLAND, 1911
swatty-blouse noun an effeminate intellectual N EW ZEALAND, 1995
swave and blaze adjective suave and blasé. An intentional
mispronunciation, meant to be humorous US, 1967
swear verb < swear and cuss a bus. Rhyming slang UK, 1938.
< swear by to have a great confidence in something UK, 1815
sweat noun a worry or difficulty. Usually used in the negative, most
often as ‘no sweat!’ US, 1979
sweat verb 1 to coerce someone through intense pressure, usually
not involving physical force US, 1947. 2 to admire or desire someone
or something US, 1999. 3 to disclose that a pool player is in fact a
skilled betting professional US, 1990. 4 to gamble nervously and
cautiously US, 1991. < sweat blood 1 to make an unsparing effort
UK, 1911. 2 to be very afraid UK, 1924. < sweat bullets to experience
a high degree of nervous tension, usually sweating profusely US,
1977. < sweat cobs to perspire heavily UK, 1978. < sweat it to
worry UK, 1998. < sweat like a glassblower’s arse to perspire
heavily UK, 2003. < sweat on to wait with nervous expectation UK,
1917. < sweat the brass in horse racing, to race a horse day after
day, without giving it a rest period US, 1951. < sweat your guts

out
to labour extremely hard; to make the utmost effort UK, 1890
sweatback noun an illegal immigrant to the US who is working. A
WETBACK who is working, and thus sweating US, 1962
sweat box noun 1 a police interview room UK, 1971. 2 the waiting area
outside the room in which a parole hearing is to take place US, 1962.
3 a vehicle for transporting prisoners in small individual cubicles
UK, 1996. 4 in trucking, a sleeping compartment behind the seat US,
1971
sweat chovey noun a gymnasium or weights room. A combination
of ‘chovey’ (an otherwise obsolete term for a shop) with a product
of working-out
UK, 2002
sweater noun 1 a casino employee or executive who cheats
gamblers US, 1977. 2 in a casino or other gambling establishment, a
person who observes but does not participate in a game US, 1968.
3 a person who worries US, 1966
sweater meat noun thefemalebreastsUS, 2004
sweater puppies noun the female breasts US, 1995
sweater queen noun a neatly and nicely dressed homosexual male
US, 1997
sweat room noun a small room in a police station where suspects
are interrogated or ‘sweated’
UK, 1974
633 SWAG | sweat room
Sweatshop noun < the Sweatshop the Apollo Theatre, New York
US, 1949
sweaty sock; sweaty noun a Scot. Rhyming slang for JOCK (a Scot);
derogatory, both in its own imagery and as demonstrated in the
usage by football supporters to taunt rivals. Certainly in use in the

Newcastle-upon-Tyne area in 1990
UK, 2002
swede noun 1 the head; hence, the hair on the head. From the
shape of the vegetable
UK, 1999. 2 a potentially naive provincial
police officer investigating complaints in London. A nuance used
by the Metropolitan Police
UK, 1999
swede-basher; swede noun a person from the countryside; an
unsophisticated type. Derives from the root vegetable UK, 1943
swedeland noun the countryside as seen from the town. Derogatory.
From
SWEDE-BASHER (a person from the countryside; an
unsophisticated type) UK, 1967
swedey noun < the swedey the provincial police of ‘Operation
Countryman’ drafted to London, from 1978 to the early 1980s to
investigate alleged corruption in the Metropolitan Police, particu-
larly in the Flying Squad. Derisive; formed on
SWEDE (a provincial
police officer), punning on THE SWEENEY (the Flying Squad) UK, 1980
swedge verb to fight UK: SCOTLAND, 1999
Swedish adjective sexually permissive. From the Swedish attitude to
pornography UK, 2000
Swedish fiddle noun among loggers, a cross-cut saw. The reference
to Sweden likely alludes to the ‘Swedish saw’
CANADA, 1942
Swedish headache noun an aching in the testicles from sexual
activity that does not culminate in ejaculation US, 1932
Swedish massage noun ejaculation achieved with the man’s penis
between the woman’s breasts UK, 1973

sweedie noun a friend, an acquaintance; recognised as a form of
address with shallow sincerity. An ironic mid-Atlantic approxi-
mation of SWEETIE; identified and popularised in BBC television
comedy Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2001) UK, 2002
Sweeney noun < on your Sweeney on your own IRELAND, 1996.
< the Sweeney the Flying Squad, Metropolitan Police branch C1
(1921–48), subsequently C8; a member of the Flying Squad.
Rhyming slang formed from ‘Sweeney Todd’ for ‘Flying Squad’.
Sweeney Todd was the legendary ‘Demon Barber of Fleet Street’.
Brought to widespread popular attention by television police
drama series The Sweeney, originally broadcast from 1974–78,
which gave the impression that all police work was about guns
and fast cars
UK, 1938
sweep noun 1 in combat, a search and destroy mission or a
concerted search through an area US, 1977. 2 a concerted effort to
find someone or something illegal US, 1974
sweep verb to systematically search for surveillance devices US, 1985.
< sweep the leaves to drive at the back of a group of trucks
travelling together, watching for police from the rear US, 1976
sweeper noun 1 in mountain biking, a tree limb overhanging the
trail at approximately face height US, 1992. 2 an expert hired to
search for and locate surveillance devices US, 1985
sweet noun 1 an effeminate male homosexual US, 1990. 2 an amphet-
amine tablet US, 1994
sweet adjective 1 all right UK, 1890. 2 excellent; in style; admirable US,
1982. 3 amenable. A shift in the earlier (C18–19) sense as ‘gullible,
unsuspicious’ UK, 1999. 4 when combined in phrases meaning
nothing, absolute UK, 1958. 5 homosexual US, 1972. 6 drunk BARBADOS,
1965

sweet! used to express approval UK, 2003
sweet-arse adjective used for describing someone or something with
approval. A variation of
SWEET UK, 1998
sweet as adjective satisfying and easy, especially of a crime. A
shortening of the familiar
SWEET AS A NUT UK, 2001
sweet as a nut adjective satisfying and easy, especially of a crime UK,
1937
sweet BA noun nothing whatsoever. A euphemistic variation of
SWEET BUGGER ALL UK, 1958
sweet bugger all noun absolutely nothing at all. A sarcastic or
emphatic variation of
BUGGER ALL UK, 1918
sweet chat noun flattery TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1977
sweet cop noun an easy job AUSTRALIA, 1918
sweet count noun in dominoes, a good hand US, 1997
sweet daddy noun a pimp US, 1957
sweet deedee noun in horse racing, a combination wager
conventionally known as the ‘daily double’
US, 1968
sweet dreams noun heroin UK, 1998
sweet dying Jesus an affectionate exclamatory oath CANADA, 1985
sweeten verb 1 in poker, to increase the amount bet US, 1963. 2 in the
television and film industries, to make subtle improvements in the
soundtrack US, 1990
sweetened air noun candy floss US, 1981
sweetener noun 1 a bribe UK, 1996. 2 cash US, 2003
Sweet evening breeze noun 8see: EVENING BREEZE
sweet Fanny Adams; sweet FA noun 8see: FANNY ADAMS

sweet fuck all noun absolutely nothing at all. A sarcastic or
emphatic variation of FUCK ALL UK, 1969
sweethead noun a marijuana user US, 1997
sweetheart noun 1 used as an endearment or what is intended to
be an endearing form of address. Often patronising UK, 1290. 2 used
as a menacing form of address. An ironic variation of the genuine
endearment
UK, 1977
sweetheart adjective used of a trade union overly sympathetic to, if
not controlled by, management US, 1959
sweet Heaven! used as a mild expletive, or register of shock,
surprise, etc UK, 2002
sweetie noun 1 a sweetheart US, 1925. 2 used as a wheedling,
patronising form of address US, 1971. 3 an effeminate man, usually
an effeminate homosexual. A pejorative, adopted by gays as an
ironic endearment US, 1972. 4 a sweet (an individual chocolate- or
sugar-based item of confectionary). From ‘sweetmeat’, but now
considered a childish extension of ‘sweet’; generally heard in the
plural
UK, 1860. 5 tablets for medication or recreation. From the
sense as ‘confectionary’
UK, 2000. 6 the drug Preludin™, a stimulant
that suppresses the appetite US, 1970. 7 an amphetamine or MDMA
tablet UK, 1994
sweetie-pie noun a sweetheart; a dear friend; a CAMP form of
address. An extension of all variants of SWEETIE as an endearment.
In 1947 the animated cartoon Tweety Pie won an Oscar UK, 1928
sweet Jesus noun morphine; heroin US, 1967
sweet Jesus! used as a mild expletive, or register of shock, surprise,
etc UK, 2002

sweet leaf noun marijuana US, 2001
sweet limburger! used for expressing disapproval. A signature line
of Colonel Sherman Potter on M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972–83). Repeated
with referential humour US, 1983
sweet Lucy noun 1 muscatel wine US, 1973. 2 any cheap wine US, 1997.
3 a solution of hashish and wine US, 1948. 4 marijuana US, 1969
sweet mack noun a pimp who controls his prostitutes through
charm and attention US, 1972
sweetman noun a man who is supported by his lover; a pimp
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1939
sweet Miss Adams noun 8see: FANNY ADAMS
sweet name noun any affectionate nickname TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
1971
sweetness noun used as an endearment UK, 1992
sweet on infatuated by someone or something UK, 1740
sweet shit in a bucket! used for registering anger, frustration or
despair US, 1970
sweet spot noun in surfing, the forward position on the surfboard
that maximises speed and the back position that maximises the
ability to manoeuver AUSTRALIA, 2003
Sweatshop | sweet spot 634
sweet stuff noun powdered drugs; cocaine, heroin or morphine US,
1936
sweet-talk verb to flatter someone, to convince someone through
kind words
US, 1936
sweet thing noun an attractive young woman US, 1971
sweet tooth noun an addiction to morphine US, 1961
swell noun a well-dressed, fashionable man UK, 1786
swell adjective good; attractive; stylish. A key piece of slang for more

than a century, eventually displaced by
COOL UK, 1812
swellbow noun a swollen elbow. Skateboarders’ and scooter-riders’
slang; an elision of ‘swell’ and ‘elbow’
UK, 1998
swell pipes noun in circus and carnival usage, a good singing voice
US, 1981
swell-up noun crack cocaine UK, 1998
swerve noun 1 a deception, practical joke or false report US, 1997.
2 intoxication US, 2001. < get your swerve on to drink to the
point of intoxication
US, 1998
swerve verb 1 to avoid someone or something. From the conven-
tional sense (to change direction abruptly); probably a shortening
of
BODY-SWERVE UK: SCOTLAND, 1985. 2 to make a late change in your
plans. Teen slang UK, 2003
swerve past verb to visit a place briefly; to go out of your way UK,
1999
swift adjective 1 good, clever US, 1970. 2 of police, corrupt UK, 1977
swiftie noun 1 a deceitful trick; a con AUSTRALIA, 1945. 2 an alcoholic
drink quickly drunk, a ‘swift drink’. The spelling ‘swifty’ is also
used
UK, 2001
swifting noun in the police, an action of making a quick arrest when
it may not be clear that all elements of the offence can be proved.
From ‘swift ’un’ (a quick, possibly unfair arrest) UK, 1999
swig noun an act of drinking deeply, especially of intoxicating liquor
UK, 1621
swig verb to drink, especially deeply, and especially of intoxicating

liquor. From SWIG (a drink) UK, 1654
swill noun a drink UK, 2001
swill cup noun a combination of leftover alcoholic beverages US, 2003
swiller noun a public house UK, 2001
swim noun < in the swim active socially, up to date with trends
and fashions
UK, 1869
swim verb 1 to parade ostentatiously. A variation of SWAN (to move
with no purpose) UK, 1952. 2 to move through a stadium or
auditorium, experiencing a concert from different perspectives
US,
1994
swimmer noun 1 a car that has been driven or fallen into a body of
water
US, 1962. 2 in horse racing, a horse that peforms very well on
wet track conditions AUSTRALIA, 1989
swimmers noun a swimming costume AUSTRALIA, 1967
swimmies noun swimwear; a swimming costume UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
swindle sheet noun 1 a record of reimbursable business expenses
that is completed by a travelling sales representative or business
executive. An implicit suggestion that these records are not always
entirely honest US, 1949. 2 in trucking, a trucker’s daily log book US,
1971
swine noun 1 an unpleasant person, especially a coarse or degraded
person; a sensualist
UK, 1842. 2 apoliceofficer;thepoliceUS, 1997.
3 a prison guard US, 1976. 4 a difficult or awkward thing. From the
sense as ‘an unpleasant person’
UK, 1933. 5 leather, especially leather
car upholstery

US, 2002
swing noun 1 a bag (or similar receptacle) that is used to transfer
contraband items between prison cells by being attached to a
length of string (or similar) and swung from one cell window to
another. Also called a ‘swinger’
UK, 1996. 2 a punch delivered with a
wide sweep of the arm, especially in the phrase: take a swing at UK,
1910. 3 an employee’s rest period in a shift system; a pattern of
working that incorporates such rest periods; hence, time off work
US, 1917. 4 aconsensualorgyUS, 1969
swing verb 1 to enjoy frequent casual sex with different partners UK,
1964
. 2 to have fun, especially in a currently fashionable or
unconventional activity; hence, to be fashionable US, 1957. 3 to
accomplish something, especially something that is difficult
UK,
1933
. 4 to be executed by hanging. Hanging has been the principal
form of execution in the British Isles since the C5; the death
penalty was abolished in the UK in 1965 (except for crimes of
treason, piracy with violence and arson in the Royal Dockyards)
UK,
1542. 5 to play jazz with feeling and a basic understanding of the
medium US, 1933. 6 to cheat or swindle someone US, 1952. 7 to steal
something. Casino usage US, 1980. 8 in high-low poker, to declare for
both high and low
US, 1979. < swing both ways to be bisexual UK,
1972. < swing it 1 to malinger; to shirk responsibility; to evade
duty. Variation of SWING THE LEAD UK, 1959. 2 to achieve something
by trickery or influence UK, 1959. < swing the lead to malinger;

to shirk responsibility; to evade duty. Popular etymology holds this
to be the ‘sounding-lead’ with which the depth of water is
measured; in practice ‘heaving the lead’ is a skilled task. The term
certainly has naval origins
UK, 1917
swing by verb to visit briefly; to go out of your way UK, 2001
swingdom noun a culture of casual sexual interaction US, 1997
swinger noun 1 a person who freely enjoys life’s pleasures US, 1959.
2 someone who engages in spouse or partner swapping US, 1964. 3 a
person who has died by hanging US, 1987. 4 a prisoner who has
attempted suicide by hanging UK, 1996. 5 in trucking, a large load US,
1971
swing gang noun in the television and film industries, the crew that
prepares and dismantles the set
US, 1990
swinging noun consensual swapping of sexual partners as a
deliberate activity UK, 1976
swinging adjective 1 lively and alert and progressive; uninhibited;
fashionable UK, 1967. 2 of a court case, adjourned until a later date
AUSTRALIA, 1975
swinging dick noun an ordinary fellow. Sometimes euphemised
(barely) as ‘swinging Richard’ US, 1966
swingle noun an unmarried person in search of a sexual partner US,
1968
swing oil noun to a golfer, beer or alcohol US, 2000
swing-out noun a fight between youth gangs US, 1972
swings and roundabouts the rough and the smooth; used of a
fluctuating situation where the average outcome remains constant
whatever action is taken. A reduction of the proverb ‘what you
lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts’ UK, 1983

swing shift noun a work schedule that begins late in the afternoon
and continues until the middle of the night, traditionally from 4
pm until midnight US, 1943
swipe noun 1 a heavy blow delivered with a swinging motion (may
be applied to a bat addressing a ball, or a hand hitting flesh) UK,
1807. 2 an instance of adverse criticism. Extended from the pre-
vious sense
UK, 1932. 3 an objectionable person UK, 1929. 4 the penis
US, 1969. 5 potent, homemade pineapple-based alcohol. Hawaiian
usage US, 1982. 6 to drink great amounts of kava, a tranquillity-
inducing herbal beverage FIJI, 1997
swipe verb 1 to hit someone. From an earlier sense, ‘to swing the
arms in a circular motion’
UK, 1851. 2 to steal something US, 1889.
3 to take something, but not necessarily to steal it UK, 1947
swipe me! a euphemistic cry of surprise, replacing ‘fuck me!’. A
slight variant of the obsolete and hence euphemistic ‘swive’ (to
have sex) UK, 1955
swipes noun 1 in horse racing, a groom US, 1947. 2 beer. Originally
(1786) ‘a small beer’
UK, 1805
swish noun 1 a homosexual male, especially of the dramatically
effeminate type
US, 1941. 2 weak alcohol made by letting water
stand in old screech barrels CANADA, 2001
swish verb 1 (of a homosexual male) to behave in a flamboyant,
camp or effeminate manner
US, 1960. 2 (among drug users) to
distribute drugs, especially hallucinogenic drugs
NEW ZEALAND, 1982

swish adjective 1 fashionable; elegant. Colloquial, from Devonshire
dialect UK, 1879. 2 blatantly homosexual. Also variant ‘swishy’ US, 1941
635 sweet stuff | swish