AMERICAN SLANG EXRESSIONS

Ace
Definition: To do something very well, particularly an examination (verb); first-rate
(adjective), or an expert (noun).
Example: I'm going to ace this exam - I've been studying all week!
Etymology: In World War I, a pilot who shot down five enemy planes was called an
'ace', which is the powerful one card in a deck of playing cards. 'Ace' can be used as
a verb (to do well) or as an adjective (excellent, best) or as a noun (a nickname for
someone who is good at something, or for a good friend).

Afro
Definition: A bushy haircut of curly hair, as worn by some African-Americans.
Example: Did you see that guy ? His afro must have been two feet high.
Etymology : From 'African'.

Airhead
Definition: Someone who isn't very smart; a stupid person.
Example: I woudn't ask Alaine for the answer -- she's an airhead!
Etymology: If your head is filled with air instead of brains, you probably can't think
very well.
Synonyms: Ditz

All ears
Definition: Listening carefully; keenly attentive.
Example: I was all ears as Svet told me this exciting story.
Etymology: You listen with your ears, so if you are 'all ears' your entire being is
listening to someone speak.

All-nighter
Definition: A study or work session that goes through the night; (usually a last-
minute course of action).
Example: We pulled an all-nighter to finish the report.
Etymology: The term is popular with college students who spend the night before
an exam studying ( or ‘cramming’ ), trying to learn a lot of material in a short period
of time. The term is frequently used in the phrase ‘ pull an all-nighter ‘.

An arm and a leg

Definition: A large amount of money; very expensive or costly.
Example: My new Mercedes cost me an arm and a leg!
Etymology: Some things are so expensive that they are painful to buy, and cost
everything you have.

Ants in your pant

Definition: To be nervous or anxious or jumpy; to be unable to sit still.
Example: Would you please stop tapping your foot?! You must have ants in your
pants!
Etymology: If you had 'ants' (small insects) in your 'pants' (clothing) you would
probably feel like jumping around.
Synonyms: Antsy

Armpit
Definition: An unpleasant or backwards place; an ugly and undesirable city or area.
Example: Some people think Detroit is the armpit of America.
Etymology: Sometimes an 'armpit' (where the arm meets the body) has a strong
and offensive odor.
Synonyms : Dump

At the end of your rope

Definition: To be out of options or alternative courses of action; to be stuck in a bad
situation.
Example: I'm at the end of my rope -- I lost my job, my car died, and I don't have
any money in the bank.
Etymology: A 'rope' is thrown to someone who is in a difficult place, such as deep
water or the edge of a cliff. If there is not enough rope, the person might be in
trouble. So to be 'at the end of your rope' means that there is no more help available,
and the situation is not good.
Synonyms: in a jam, at wit's end
Average Joe
Definition: Someone who is just like everyone else; a normal person.
Example: Mickey is your average Joe -- he likes football and thinks it's a crime to do
any work on weekends.
Etymology : 'Average' means ' in the middle' or 'not extreme', and 'Joe' is a
common male name, So 'average Joe' refers to a man who is not extremely different
from everyone else.
Synonyms : regular guy

Axe
Definition:To eliminate someone from their job; to terminate employment.
Example: My old company axed me after they found out I had been sleeping on the
job.
Synonyms: downsize, get fired, pink slip
Definition: An electric guitar
Example: The legendary Jimi Hendrix used to play his axe behind his back.

Back burner
Definition: Not an urgent priority. To put something on the 'back burner' is to put
something off until later stage.
Example: We worked hard on the project at first, but when a new project came
along, we put it on the back burner.
Etymology: The 'back burner' of a stove is where you put things that are slowly
cooking, and that you can leave alone for a while.

Back on your feet

Definition: To recover, usually from an illness; to feel better after being sick.
Example: Rick has been in the hospital for a week, but he'll be back on his feet in no
time.
Etymology: To be 'on your feet' means that you are standing. So if you are 'back on
your feet', it means that you are standing again, after a period of lying down due to
sickness.
Synonyms: back in the saddle

Back seat driver

Definition: Someone who gives unwanted advice; someone who tries to run things
even though they don't have the power or authority to do so.
Example: Rob is the worst back seat driver I know - he's always telling me what to
do.
Etymology: Sometimes people riding in the back of a car will give advice to the
driver; this is usually more annoying than helpful. This phrase can be used literally (in
a car) or more generally to make fun of someone who is giving unwanted advice.

Back to the drawing board

Definition: To begin again; to repeat a process, often after a major setback.
Example:1) Professor Hoopeldinger had to go back to the drawing board after his
experiment blew up.
2) Our sales plan isn't working, so I guess it's back to the drawing board!
Etymology: If the initial design for a building or aircraft fails, the designer has to go
back to his or her work table and begin again.

Bad mouth
Definition: To say negative things about someone or something.
Example: 1) Lisa bad-mouthed her boss at the water cooler.
2) I wish people would stop bad-mouthing Cleveland. It’s really a very
nice city.
Etymology: “ Bad “ means not good, and ‘ mouth’ refers to the physical act of
speech.

Baked
Definition: Intoxicated, especially after smoking marijuana; in a dazed state,
resulting from drug consumption.
Example: I think Mary Jane was pretty baked last night - her eyes were bright red,
and she sat in front of the television for six hours straight without moving.
Etymology: To 'bake' means to cook in an oven. After using marijuana, one's brain
could be said to be baked - i.e., dried out, hard, lifeless.
Synonyms : Stoned

Ballpark figure
Definition: A good numerical guess; an estimate.
Example: 1) I'd say two hundred dollars, but that's a ballpark figure.
Etymology: This phrase is related to another popular phrase, 'in the ballpark', which
means 'close but not yet there'. The idea is that you can be in the ballpark (a place
where baseball games are played) but not yet in the right seat (the seat you have a
ticket for). The seat is a metaphor for the right idea or place, and the ballpark is a
metaphor for an approximation of that idea or place. A 'ballpark figure' is a number
that is 'in the ballpark' (close to the true number) but not quite in the right seat (the
true number).
Synonyms: Guestimate

Basket case
Definition: Crazy; hopelessly broken down
Example: 1) After his wife left him, Paul was a real basket case.
2) The corporation was such a basket case that the owners had to shut it
down.
Etymology: From World war I lingo, used to describe a soldier so badly wounded
that he had to be carried in a basket.

Behind bars
Definition: In prison or jail; incarcerated.
Example: 1) My brother Charlie tried to rob a bank, but the cops caught him and
now he's behind bars.
2) I can't wait until they catch the killer and put him behind bars.
Etymology: Prison inmates are locked behind metal bars which prevent their
escape.
Synonyms: up the river, in the slammer, under glass

Bender
Definition: An episode of heavy drinking; a period of any kind of unusually intense
behavior.
Example: After losing my job, I was so depressed that I went on a three day bender.
Etymology: Comes from the 19th century sense of the word 'bender', which was
used for anything great or spectacular.

Big house
Definition: Prison, particularly a maximum security federal prison ( or jail )
Example: After he got caught robbing a bank, Ted was sent to the big house for 20
years.
Etymology: A 'house' is where people live, and a prison is quite large 9 or 'big'),
home to hundreds of criminals. This phrase became popular in the early 1900's,
when organized crime and large scale prisons developed in the United States.
Synonyms: up the river, under glass, behind bars

Blow chunks
Definition: To vomit; to be sick.
Example: I feel really sick -- I could blow chunks right here!
Synonyms: puke, spew
Definition: Something that is not good, or a major disappointment.
Example: That movie blew chunks! I can't believe I paid $9 to see it.

Blow off steam

Definition: To release stress or anger.
Example: 1) Rob screams and yells a lot. He should find some other way to blow off
steam.
2) Playing sports after school helps students blow off steam.
Etymology: The idea is that anger and stress can build up inside a person and needs
to be released, like an engine releasing pressurized steam.
Synonyms: Vent

Blow it
Definition: To lose or waste something; to do very poorly or fail miserably.
Example: 1) Don't blow all your money in that one store--there are five more down
the road.
2) You didn't study for your exam, so you blew it.
B. O
Definition: Body odor, usually caused by sweating; an unpleasant smell coming
from the human body.
Example: Man, you've got to do something about your b.o. Do you ever take a
shower?
Etymology: Abbreviation of 'body odor'.

Boozehound

Definition: Someone who drinks a lot of whiskey; a drunk.

Example: Tom is quite a boozehound -- he has half a bottle of Johnnie Walker Red
for lunch !
Etymology: A 'hound' is a hunting dog, and 'booze' is liquor. So a 'boozehound' is
someone who pursues liquor like a dog hunting prey.
Synonyms: Lush

Brewski
Definition: Beer; a bottle or can or glass of beer.
Example: 1) I'm going to the kitchen. Who wants a brewski? 2) Let's go get some
brewskis after work.
Etymology: To make beer, you 'brew' or cook water, malt and hops. No one is sure
when or why the 'ski' ending was added to 'brew'. The ending sounds Russian or
Polish, and somehow makes the word sound kind of fun.

Bump off
Definition: To kill or murder; to assassinate.
Example: Igor got bumped off last week. The police have no clue who did it.
Etymology: This phrase comes from 1920s American gangster slang. When you
'bump' something, you give it a little push. 'Off' means 'not on'. So if you 'bump'
someone 'off', you push him toward the end of his life.
Synonyms: rub out

Burnt out
Definition: Extremely tired; lacking energy; worn out from working too much.
Example: I was completely burned out after working on a big project for three
weeks straight.
Etymology: When you are 'burned out' you have no more fuel to burn. You are
without energy, like a candle that has consumed all of its wax.
Synonyms: wiped out, worn out, pooped

Bust digits
Definition: To get someone's telephone number.
Example: I need a date for tomorrow night, so I'm going to try to bust some digits
tonight.
Etymology: This is African-American slang. 'Digits' are numbers, and 'bust' means
'break open'. So the phrase suggests that you're getting some numbers from a
source that has to be opened up.

Butts
Definition: Cigarettes, or the remains of cigarettes.
Example: 1) Hey, do you have any butts ?
2) Look at this mess! There are broken dishes, newspapers and butts all
over the floor.
Etymology : A 'butt' is the end or rear of something. In this slang word, the end of
the cigarette refers both the end of the cigarette and to the whole cigarette.

Buy the farm

Definition: To die.
Example: Lance bought the farm when he drove his motorcycle straight into a brick
wall.
Etymology: Sometimes, when a person dies, the life insurance payment is large
enough for the surviving family members to pay off the mortgage on a piece of
property - or to 'buy the farm'.

Catch some z's

Definition: To get some sleep; to nap
Example: I think I'll stay home tonight and catch some z's.
Etymology : In cartoons, characters who are sleeping are depicted with "Z's" over
their heads. When pronounced, the letter 'Z' sounds like the sound of snoring.
Synonyms : get some winks

Chic
Definition: Stylish, elegant, fashionable.
Example: She looked so chic in her long silk dress.
Etymology: From the French word 'chic', which means the same thing.

Chick
Definition: A young woman, particularly an attractive young woman.
Example: I like Holly -- she's a cool chick!
Etymology: A 'chick' is literally a young chicken or any baby bird. The use of 'chick'
to refer to a young woman comes from 1920s African-American slang.

Chicken
Definition: A coward; someone who is not daring or willing to take risks; a person
with little self-confidence.
Example: Don't be a chicken--go introduce yourself to the professor.
Synonyms: Yellow

Chow
Definition: Food, a meal (noun); to eat (verb).
Example: 1) I'm starving! Let's get some chow. 2) Dinner is served. Let's chow!
Etymology: This word dates back to the 1800s, and may come from the Chinese-
American phrase 'chow-chow', which refers to a mixture of foods.
Synonyms: grub, eats

Cold feet
Definition: Loss of courage; fear.
Example: 1) Lisa wanted to jump off the high diving board, but she got cold feet
once she got up there.
2) The investors got cold feet and called the deal off.
Etymology: If your 'feet' are 'cold', you can't walk or move forward very well - you
are frozen in one place.

Couch potato
Definition: Someone who spends most of his/her time sitting on the couch, watching
TV.
Example: My roommate is such a couch potato - last weekend he watched television
for 14 hours straight!

Crash
Definition: To fail or stop functioning
Example: My computer crashed just when I was going to print my paper!
Definition: To collapse from exhaustion or fatigue; to get rest.
Example: 1) I finally crashed after working 8 hours straight. 2) Is it all right if I
crash at your house tonight?

Creep
Definition: A weird or disturbing person; an annoying person
Example: 1) Some creep was bothering me last night at the party.
2) I hate it when my little brother follows us around. He's such a creep!
Etymology: To collapse from exhaustion or fatigue; to get rest.
Synonyms: Jerk

Crib
Definition: Home or place of residence.
Example: I've got a great stereo system back at my crib.
Etymology: A 'crib' is a bed for a baby. This phrase compares the comfort and
security of a baby's bed to one's apartment or house.
Synonyms: Pad
Croak
Definition: To die
Example: 1) Old man Douglas croaked last week. 2) After grandpa croaked, I
inherited his pickup truck.
Etymology: 'Croak' refers to the sound that some animals make when they die.

Cut a deal
Definition: To make an agreement; to form a contract.
Example: We cut a deal with Sony and now we handle all of their accounts in Jersey
City.
Etymology: This phrase goes back to ancient practice of killing an animal and slicing
it up to mark the beginning of a new agreement.

Cut and dry

Definition: Something which is very obvious and clear; not requiring further
explanation.
Example: Stop asking me questions--the instructions are cut and dry.

Da bomb
Definition: Excellent, the best.
Example: Michael Jordan was da bomb -- he was the greatest basketball player ever!
Etymology: 'Da bomb' is African-American slang that became popular in the 1990s.
'Da' is an informal way to say 'the', and 'bomb' refers to something very powerful and
explosive.
Synonyms: Phat

Dicey
Definition: Risky, dangerous
Example: Getting into a fight with Tim is very dicey -- he is a black belt in karate.

Dinasour
Definition: Very old; out of date; obsolete.
Example: 1) That cell phone you're using is a real dinosaur. When did you get it,
1983?
Etymology: A 'dinosaur' is an ancient animal that no longer exists. As slang, it refers
to anything that is outdated and no longer desirable.

Dis
Definition: To insult someone (verb), or the insult itself (noun).
Example: 1) Did you hear that? That guy dissed you! 2) Don't let me hear another
dis out of your mouth, young man!
Etymology: 'Dis' is African-American slang, and comes from the word DISrespect.

Ditch
Definition: To leave an unwanted person, place or thing behind; to get rid of
something or someone.
Example: 1) Terry ditched his girlfriend so he could go hang out with his friends.
2) When are you going to ditch that ugly old hat?
Etymology: A 'ditch' is a hole in the ground. The informal meaning of the word
comes from the idea that you can hide or get rid of something in a ditch.
Doormat
Definition: A weak individual who is regularly abused by others.
Example: 1) Ned will never get anywhere until he stops being such a doormat.
2) I wish people would stop treating my brother like a doormat.
Etymology: A 'doormat' is where people wipe their feet before entering a house, so
someone who is called a 'doormat' is someone who gets 'stepped on' or abused by
other people.

Downer
Definition: Something or someone that is depressing; anything that makes one sad.
Example: 1) Matt was a real downer last night -- all he could talk about were his
problems.
2) It was a real downer to hear that all those kids got killed in the school
bus accident.
Etymology: When you are filled with positive emotions and happy thoughts, you are
'up'. When you are sad and depressed, you are 'down'.

Drag queen
Definition: A homosexual man who dresses like a woman.
Example: The drag queens on the subway are wearing gold dresses !

Dressed to kill
Definition: Wearing fashionable clothing; dressed in one's most stylish and
sophisticated apparel.
Example: 1) Holly is really dressed to kill -- everyone in the room is looking at her!
2) Tina was dressed to kill for her date on Saturday night.

Dump
Definition: An ugly or run-down place; a disgusting place to live
Example: My apartment is such a dump. I really should move.
Etymology : A 'dump' is where you bring your garbage and refuse. So if you live in a
dump, it's so ugly that it could be a place to deposit garbage.
Synonyms : Armpit

Eats
Definition: Food, particularly simple, inexpensive food.
Example: I'm hungry. Let's get some eats !
Etymology: You eat food. This slang term turns a verb into a noun.
Synonyms: Grub

Egghead
Definition: An overly intellectual person; someone who thinks too much.
Example: Charles can't order lunch without using an algebraic formula -- what an
egghead!
Etymology: Presumably, someone who thinks a lot must have a big brain, and their
head must be large enough to hold their brain. A large head might be shaped
something like a giant egg.
Synonyms: Nerd

Excess baggage
Definition: A person or thing that gets in the way; a burden that you are stuck with.
Example: Ed wants to leave his wife and kids - he feels like they are just excess
baggage.
Etymology: When you fly on a plane, there are limits on how much luggage (or how
many suitcases or bags) you can bring with you. Anything over the limit is called
'excess baggage' (or extra bags) and cannot be put on the plane.
Synonyms: fifth wheel

Fat cat
Definition: A person who has great wealth and power; a tycoon.
Example: 1) Many of the city's fat cats eat at that steak restaurant on First Avenue.
2) Those fat cats in Washington are going to keep pressuring Congress to
pass the tax bill.
Etymology: This term comes from the 1920s, when it was used to describe wealthy
contributors to American political parties.
Synonyms: big shot

Feed the meter

Definition: To put money in a parking meter; to pay for additional parking time.
Example: 1) I've got to run and feed the meter -- I don't want to get a parking ticket!
2) When you park on the street, you have to feed the meter all day long.
Etymology: This phrase compares a parking meter to an animal which must be 'fed'
with a steady diet of coins.