Semantic noise

Definition: Type of disturbance in the transmission of a message that interferes with the interpretation
of message due to ambiguity in words, sentences or symbols used in the transmission of message.

This noise is caused by the sender or the encoder. This type of noise occurs when grammar or technical
language is used that the receiver or the decoder can't understand it clearly. It occurs when the sender
of the message uses a word or phrase that the we don't know the meaning of, or which we use in a
different way than that of speaker. This is usually due to the result that the encoder failed to practice
audience analysis at first. The type of audience is the one that determine the jargon that will be used.

The speaker uses technical, comple, autochthonous or grammatical language and whoever receives it
does not understand the massage.

This occurs when the person who emits the message uses a word ir phrase or meaning or is used in a
different way from the recipient.

Words are grim, have multiple meanings which could have different interpretations and subject is too
tough for the receiver to comprehend this results in wrong elucidation of message.

*the signal is received, but it doesn't get processed at the same way the destination was intended at the
source.

Literal meaning and figurative meaning

Examples of jargons

Examples of Jargon

7th grade8th grade9th gradeMiddle SchoolHigh SchoolCollege

Definition of jargons: This is a type of shorthand between members of particular group of people, these
words are often meaningless or unfamiliar that are outside the certain context. Jargons can also be
referred as a literary term, specific phrases and words used in a particular situation, profession, or
trade. These specialized terms are used to convey hidden meanings accepted and understood in that
field.

Medical jargons example

BP-medical shorthand for blood pressure

Business jargons example

Bang for the buck - A term that means to get the most for your money

Police jargons example

Code Eight - Term that means officer needs help immediately

Military jargons example

AWOL - Absent without leave

Political Jargons example

Getting on a soapbox - Making a speech in public

Internet jarons example

WYSIWYG- What You See Is What You Get

Many words in the English language are a part of common, everyday speech. On the other hand, jargon
is like a type of shorthand between members of a particular group of people, often words that are
meaningless outside of a certain context. Another term that is sometimes used interchangeably with
jargon is "lingo," which isn't exactly the same as slang words. Following are some examples of jargon
that will help illustrate the concept.

Examples of Medical Jargon

The medical field is filled with cryptic jargon, including innumerable scientific terms and medical
abbreviations.

Agonal - Term to signify a major, negative change in a patient's condition

BP - Medical shorthand for blood pressure

FX - Medical jargon meaning bone fracture

JT - A joint

NPO - A patient should not take anything by mouth, from the Latin phrase nil per os (nothing by mouth)

IM - Intramuscular

K - The elemental symbol for potassium

Examples of Business Jargon

The business world is no stranger to lingo, including a range of industry-specific jargon. It won't take
more than a few minutes on Wall Street before you hear at least one of these terms being thrown
around.

Bang for the buck - A term that means to get the most for your money

Due diligence - Putting effort into research before making a business decision

Sweat equity - Getting a stake in the business instead of pay

The 9-to-5 - Business jargon meaning a standard work day

Chief cook and bottle-washer - A person who holds many responsibilities

Examples of Police Jargon

Law enforcement officers and professionals have their own set of police jargon as well.

Suspect - A person whom the police think may have committed a crime

10-4 - Radio jargon meaning Okay or I understand

Code Eight - Term that means officer needs help immediately

Code Eleven - A code that means the individual is at the scene of the crime

FTP - The failure of an individual to pay a fine

Assumed room temperature - An individual has died

Examples of Military Jargon

Among much of the common vocabulary in the military, there is certainly no shortage of shorthand and
military acronyms too. Be all that you can be with this jargon.

TD - Temporary duty

AWOL - Absent without leave

SQDN - A squadron

SAM - Surface-to-Air missile

PCS - A permanent change of station

LES - Leave and earning statement

Examples of Political Jargon

There are lots of examples of political jargon being used by 24-hour news outlets, including terms like
deep state and bipartisan.

Left wing - Political jargon for liberal, progressive viewpoint

Right wing - Jargon meaning a conservative viewpoint

Getting on a soapbox - Making a speech in public

POTUS - President of the United States

SCOTUS - Supreme Court of the United States

Examples of Internet Jargon

You'll find that a lot of the most common shorthand used on the Internet is also very common in casual
text messages.

BTW - By the way

CYA - See you around

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

HTH - Hope this helps

MOTD - Message of the day

YMMV - Your mileage may vary

IIRC - If I remember correctly

IANAL - I am not a lawyer

LOL - Laugh out loud

BFF - Best friends forever

TTYL - Talk to you later

Be in the Know

Each of these different types of jargon is used as a shorthand by people in-the-know to make
communicating easier. By learning the jargon for a particular industry, you can develop a deeper
understanding of it

Jargon

Definition of Jargon

Jargon is a literary term that is defined as the use of specific phrases and words in a particular situation,
profession, or trade. These specialized terms are used to convey hidden meanings accepted and
understood in that field. Jargon examples are found in literary and non-literary pieces of writing.

The use of jargon becomes essential in prose or verse or some technical pieces of writing, when the
writer intends to convey something only to the readers who are aware of these terms. Therefore, jargon
was taken in early times as a trade language, or as a language of a specific profession, as it is somewhat
unintelligible for other people who do not belong to that particular profession. In fact, specific terms
were developed to meet the needs of the group of people working within the same field or occupation.

Jargon and Slang

Jargon is sometimes wrongly confused with slang, and people often take it in the same sense but a
difference is always there.

Slang is a type of informal category of language developed within a certain community, and consists of
words or phrases whose literal meanings are different than the actual meanings. Hence, it is not
understood by people outside of that community or circle. Slang is more common in spoken language
than written.
Jargon, on the other hand, is broadly associated with a subject, occupation, or business that makes use
of standard words or phrases, and frequently comprised of abbreviations, such as LOC (loss of
consciousness), or TRO (temporary restraining order). However, unlike slang, its terms are developed
and composed deliberately for the convenience of a specific profession, or section of society. We can
see the difference in the two sentences given below.

Did you hook up with him? (Slang)

Getting on a soapbox (Jargon)

Colloquialism

Colloquialism Definition

In literature, colloquialism is the use of informal words, phrases, or even slang in a piece of writing.
Colloquial expressions tend to sneak in as writers, being part of a society, are influenced by the way
people speak in that society. Naturally, they are bound to add colloquial expressions to their vocabulary.

However, writers use such expressions intentionally too, as it gives their works a sense of realism. For
instance, in a fiction story depicting American society, a greeting “what’s up?” between friends will
seem more real and appropriate than the formal “How are you?” or “How do you do?”

Definition of Colloquialism- this refers to the use of informal words and phrases. Expressions tend to be
influenced by the way peoole speak in the society

Examples of colloquials

Buzz off – go away

Bo bananas, or go nuts – go insane or be very angry

Bamboozle – to deceive
Colloquialism Example 1. The phrase, “Say it ain’t so” uses a popular colloquialism, ain’t (the
contraction of “am not”).

Colloquialism Example 2. “Conniption,” as in “conniption fit,” means a strong emotional reaction.

The word originated as slang about two hundred years ago and has slowly made its way into the
American language.

Colloquialism Example 3. “Crib” is a colloquialism for one’s own space.

Colloquialism Example 4. “What’s the buzz” is a colloquial way of asking what’s new.

Colloquialism Example 5. A “crapshoot,” which originally came from the game of dice, is a risky or
uncertain venture.

Colloquialism Examples in Everyday Life

Colloquial expressions vary from region to region. Below is a list of some colloquialism examples of
American origin:

Bamboozle – to deceive
Bo bananas, or go nuts – go insane or be very angry

Wanna – want to

Gonna – going to

Y’all – you alTo

Be blue – to be sad

Buzz off – go away

Colloquialism

What is Colloquialism?

A colloquialism is a slang or vernacular term that stands out in piece of writing that has consistently
higher diction. Students may recognize the term, which some teachers abbreviate as “coll.” when
grading essays.

Although you should avoid it in formal essay writing, colloquialism is an important way to identify
people’s regional or national heritage. “Schweitzerdeutsch” is the German dialect spoken in parts of
Switzerland, and “Québécois” is the French dialect spoken in Canada. The development of spoken
colloquialisms is one of the main things that sets these dialects apart from the written language.

A colloquialism can have great connotative value, as when President Obama used the slang word
“fiddy,” instead of “fifty,” in a speech to a group in Alabama. His strategy was to connect with the
largely African-American audience by reminding them that, despite his position of power, he was still
one of them.

How Do You Identify Colloquialism in Writing?

In literary works, dialogue is the place where colloquialisms most often crop up. Writers like William
Faulkner, Mark Twain, and Charles Dickens demonstrate the differences among various social classes by
using colloquialisms. By doing so, they impart realism to their works.

If slang occurs in the narrative itself, it generally reflects a writer’s humorous attitude toward a
particular character or situation; unless the work is in first person, the narrative maintains a consistently
higher diction than the dialogue.

Examples of Colloquialism

Colloquialism Example 6. A “bae” (“before anyone else”) is a significant other.

Colloquialism Example 7. In the last century, “moxie” and “grit” were colloquialisms for bravery.
Now we might say someone has “nerves of steel.”

Definition of Slang- this is very informal language or specific words used by a particular group of people.
You'll usually hear slang spoken more often than you'll see it put in writing, though emails and texts
often contain many conversational slang words. Though slang sometimes gets a bad rap for being
inappropriate or incorrect

Cat's pajamas: This term was commonly used by flappers in the 1920s to mean that something was
exciting, new, or excellent. Though it doesn't make much sense, it does use vivid imagery.

"That new phonograph is the cat's pajamas."

Bits and bobs

The term “bits and bobs” refers to a collection of small things, as does its variant, “bits and
pieces”. Examples include, “I’m going into town to do some bits and pieces of shopping” or “she
brought me over some bits and bobs to keep me entertained – magazines, DVDs and suchlike”.

Bromance: This combination of "brother" and "romance" describes an intense friendship between two
straight men.

Frenemy: This combination of "friend" and "enemy" describes a person who is a little bit of both,
perhaps a friend with whom one experiences regular conflict.

An Introduction to English Slang: 30 Wonderful Examples

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Image shows rows of triangular Union Jacks in a market hall.As if there wasn’t already enough to learn
when you’re trying to master the art of speaking English, an informal language all of its own exists
within this tricky tongue.

You should also read…

15 Great English Words You Probably Won’t Have Learned

14 of the Funniest English Synonyms

This is the language of English slang: the words that aren’t usually taught within formal English
courses, but that you’ll hear all around you when you’re conversing with native speakers. You could
think of this as “real life” English, because although it isn’t appropriate in an academic context, it’s
a vital element of everyday communication, without which you may struggle to understand what native
speakers are saying to you. This guide introduces you to some of the most common slang terms you may
come across in the course of informal conversation in the UK.

1. Bee’s knees

This perplexing rhyme is a nonsense phrase that describes something excellent. “It was the bee’s
knees,” you might say in response to being asked how your delicious lunch was. You could also use it to
describe someone who loves themselves: “He thinks he’s the bee’s knees.” This odd expression is
thought to have its origins in 1920s America.

2. Quid and other money-related slang

Image shows a stack of £20 notes.

There are slang terms for larger amounts of money, such as a ‘ton’ for £100 or a ‘grand’ for
£1000.

Our currency is officially known as the “pound sterling”, but many more informal terms exist to
describe money in the UK. “Pounds” is the way you’ll most often hear it referred to as, but
“quid” is an equally common slang word for it – as in “It costs fifty quid”. “Cash”, “dosh”,
“moolah”, “dough” and “wonga” are all slang words for general money, though “cash” is by
far the most common of these. A “fiver” is slang for £5, and a “tenner” is slang for £10. It’s worth
noting that the same principle does not apply to larger sums – so £20 is not referred to as a
“twentier”, for example.

Image is a button that reads, "Browse all EFL and English Culture articles."3. DIY

The abbreviation “DIY” stands for “Do It Yourself”, and it tends to refer to home improvements.
Thus a shop selling items for home improvers (paint, brushes, doors and so on) can be known as a “DIY
shop”. You may hear the abbreviation in certain other contexts, though less frequently: a “DIY meal
planner”, for instance.

4. Telly

Image shows the corner of an old-fashioned television set, against a yellow background.

Some UK TV shows have become such institutions that there are slang terms for them, such as
‘Corrie’ for the soap Coronation Street.

Considering that the television is a comparatively recent invention (at least relative to the history of the
English language), it’s surprising how many slang words we have for it. It’s perhaps most commonly
known as the “telly”, but the abbreviation “TV” is also very common, and so is calling it “the
box” (“is there anything on the box tonight?”). A more unusual slang term for the television is the
“Electronic Fireplace”, which is much older and stems from the fact that the television has replaced
the fire as something to stare at in the evenings. A multitude of words exist to describe the remote
control for a television, too – 57, to be precise. Also television related: if you hear someone refer to
“the Beeb”, they’re referring to the BBC, or British Broadcasting Corporation, the main supplier of
television programmes in this country.

5. Lost the plot

When someone has “lost the plot”, it essentially means that they’ve gone mad, or that they have no
idea what’s going on. It’s something you might say about yourself on those occasions where you feel
as though you’re seeing things (“I thought I’d lost the plot”).

6. Skiving

Image shows a schoolboy walking down an empty street.

En route to school or skiving off?

The word “skiving” means avoiding work or school; someone who’s skipped school or work, or who
has arrived late or left early, is “skiving off”. Someone committing this is a “skiver”. Another word
meaning a similar thing is “bunk off”, as in “to bunk off school/work”. Another expression along
these lines (funny how we have so many for this kind of thing) is “pull a sickie”, which means “to
skive off work/school by pretending to be ill”. In the same vein, but not quite the same, is the word
“dossing”, which means lazing around doing nothing (the implication usually being that you should be
doing something).

7. Not fussed

This means “not bothered” or “I don’t mind”. For example, if someone asked you which seat you
preferred, you would say “I’m not fussed” to indicate that you don’t have a preference.

8. Killing me

This is a phrase not meant to be taken literally: when someone says that something is “killing them”,
it normally means “really hurting”. For example, “my legs are killing me after that run” would
mean that your legs were hurting.
9. Chap

Image shows a man and woman dressed in formal, 1940s-style clothes and holding cups of tea.

Be careful with the word “chap” – it may lead to people picturing you like this.

A “chap” is simply a man, though the word has connotations of niceness – “an affable chap” –
and it’s generally a slang word used by those who might be deemed ‘posh’ or slightly old-
fashioned. A less posh slang word for a man is “bloke”, and so is “guy”. More old-fashioned than
“chap” is “fellow”.

10. Mobile

The word “mobile” refers to the ability to move (“she’s less mobile since the accident”), and to a
decorative object hanging from the ceiling, but it also refers to the mobile phone, so if you hear
someone refer to their “mobile”, that’s what they’re talking about. The equivalent word for
“mobile” in America is “cell”.

11. Bits and bobs

The term “bits and bobs” refers to a collection of small things, as does its variant, “bits and
pieces”. Examples include, “I’m going into town to do some bits and pieces of shopping” or “she
brought me over some bits and bobs to keep me entertained – magazines, DVDs and suchlike”.

12. Gutted

While the word “gutted” literally refers to something that has had its guts removed (a “gutted
fish”, for example) or to the past tense of the verb “to gut” meaning to remove the guts, it’s also a
way to describe feelings of devastation. “I’m absolutely gutted that we lost”, for example.

13. Nicked

Image shows a bike lock around a lamppost, with no bike to be seen.

“Oh no! My bike’s been nicked!”

A number of English slang words are synonymous with “stole”, one of the most common being
“nicked” – “Someone nicked my bike.” Others include “pinched”, “filched” and
“pilfered”.

14. Dodgy

The word “dodgy” has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used, but in its
essence it means “unreliable”. For example, a “dodgy curry” is one that would give you a bad
tummy the next day. A “dodgy connection” in an electric socket would cause anything plugged into it
to malfunction, or be underpowered. A “dodgy character” is an untrustworthy or unreliable person; if
you were walking down the street at night and saw a “dodgy-looking guy” coming towards you,
you’d probably cross the road to avoid him. If a situation looks as though it might take a turn for the
worse, you might describe it as a “dodgy situation”.

15. Chuffed

The word “chuffed” signifies that you’re really pleased about something: “I’m so chuffed at your
news”. It’s also found in the expression “chuffed to bits”, which means the same thing, but even
more so.

16. Chippy

Image shows a portion of chips surrounded by different sauce options.

Chippies also often have wonderfully punning names, such as ‘The Frying Squad’ and ‘The
CodFather.’

The “chippy” is the local fish and chip shop.

17. Blimey

The word “blimey” is an exclamation used when you’re commenting on something remarkable,
such as “Blimey, that’s a big onion.” It has associations with Cockney – an East London dialect –
but it’s widely used beyond the capital.
18. Ace

As well as being the highest card in a suit in a pack of cards, or a move in tennis in which a player scores
a point in one move, “ace” is another word for “excellent”. To this end, someone who is
particularly good at something is referred to as an “ace” – such as a “computer ace” or a “flying
ace”.

19. Veg

Image shows a selection of vegetables on a kitchen counter.

A traditional British dinner consists of “meat and two veg”.

“Veg” is slang for “vegetables”, and you may often see this word on menus, particularly at country
pubs (“roast veg”, “garden veg” and so on). On a similar theme, we Brits have several words for
“potatoes”, the most prevalent of which is “spuds”; others include “tatties” (which is Scottish in
origin), “jackets” (potatoes baked with their skins still on) and “roasties” (roast potatoes).

20. Sarnie and more food-related slang words

The word “sarnie” is slang for “sandwich”, and so is “butty” (as in “bacon butty”). Other
snack-related slang words you might encounter include “a bite to eat” (as in “I’m going to have a
bite to eat” when you’re telling someone you’re going to have lunch), “grub” (the origins of
which are explained here), “bangers and mash” (sausages with mashed potato) and “bickie” (a
biscuit – or “choccie bickie” for a chocolate biscuit).

21. Cuppa

Image shows a floral mug of tea.

Walking into some British homes, you might find yourself greeted not with “hello!” but with
“cuppa?”

The Brits are so famous for their love of tea that it’s not surprising that there are a few alternative
ways of describing it. One of them is “a brew” (as in “Anyone fancy a brew?”), and another is “a
cuppa”. The phrase “builder’s tea” is often used to describe strong, sweet tea with milk, usually
served in a big mug. A “cream tea” refers to scones served with jam and clotted cream as well as a
cup of tea.

22. Miffed

When you’re “miffed”, you’re a bit annoyed or put out about something. You might say, for
example, “I’m so miffed that nobody let me know.”

23. Kip

A “kip” is a short sleep, usually referring to one taken during the day for a brief rest, and also known
as a “nap”. It’s a similar sort of thing to the “siesta” of the Mediterranean, only you can have a
kip or a nap at any time of day.

24. Local rag

Image shows a local newspaper headline, reading ''Smug' swans attack dalmatian.'

A typical local newspaper headline.

This is a marginally disparaging phrase for your town’s local newspaper. The word “rag” technically
refers to a scrap of old cloth, often a dirty one, and these connotations of worthlessness are carried
across to express the generally poor quality of stories typically covered in local newspapers.

25. See ya

The expression “see ya” (literally “see you” – in turn, a shortening of the expression “I’ll be
seeing you”) is often used as an alternative to “bye”.

26. Taking the mickey

When you’re “taking the mickey” or “taking the mick” out of someone, it means you’re taking
liberties with them at their expense, or teasing them. This expression can be used sarcastically; if, for
example, someone was expecting you to do something unreasonable, or go to extraordinary lengths to
do something for them, you might say that they were “taking the mick”.
27. Arm and a leg

Image shows a portrait of Queen Victoria as a young woman.

Queen Victoria showing her wealth.

If something “costs an arm and a leg”, it means it’s extremely expensive. A popular but untrue story
to explain this expression comes from the days when people used to have their portraits painted, and
artists charged more depending on how much of the person was to be depicted; the cheapest was head
and shoulders, and it would get progressively more expensive up to “legs and all”.

28. Shattered

In English, we have various slang words meaning “extremely tired” or “tired to the point of
exhaustion”. One of the most common is “shattered” (which, technically speaking, refers to
something breaking into lots of tiny pieces, such as shattered glass). Another one is “knackered”, and
another is “done in”, as in “I’m so done in from that run earlier.”

29. Stuffed

This means to be full of food to the point at which you can eat no more. As in, “I don’t think I can
manage dessert, I’m stuffed.” Another similar expression is “fit to burst”, which means the same
thing.

30. Cockney rhyming slang

Image shows the exterior of St Mary-le-Bow.

Being born within earshot of the St Mary-le-Bow bells makes you a cockney.

Finally, no guide to English slang would be complete without some mention of the country’s most
famous niche lingo: Cockney rhyming slang. All regions of the UK have their own dialects, and with
them, their own slang words that only people from that region would understand, but Cockney rhyming
slang is more famous and complicated than most, and it’s popular with tourists. The basis of this slang
is, as the term suggests, that it rhymes: the “dog” is short for “dog and bone”, for example, and it
means the phone (because “bone” rhymes with “phone”). The “apples and pears” is the stairs.
“Trouble” is another word for wife, short for “trouble and strife”. “Plates” are the feet, or
“plates of meat”. It doesn’t make as much sense as many of the other slang terms we’ve included
on this list, and it’s not as widely spoken, but it’s one of many eccentric facets of British culture
worth knowing about.

Slang is very informal language or specific words used by a particular group of people. You'll usually hear
slang spoken more often than you'll see it put in writing, though emails and texts often contain many
conversational slang words. Though slang sometimes gets a bad rap for being inappropriate or incorrect,
it's also highly creative and shows that the English language is constantly evolving over time. Let's dive in
to 30 examples of slang words from the 1920s to today.

Examples of Outdated Slang

Some slang words that were once popular are no longer used. For example:

Cat's pajamas: This term was commonly used by flappers in the 1920s to mean that something was
exciting, new, or excellent. Though it doesn't make much sense, it does use vivid imagery.

"That new phonograph is the cat's pajamas."

Wallflower: This term describes a shy person. It was used for decades in the 20th century to describe a
person - typically a girl - who preferred to stand along the wall instead of participating in a dance.

"You'll have more fun at the dance if you aren't such a wallflower."

Don't have a cow: This term is used to try to calm someone down. It was popularized by the TV show
The Simpsons in the 1980s and 90s, and though you might still hear Bart say it in reruns, it's no longer
very common to hear in conversation.

"Don't have a cow, mom! I didn't eat all the ice cream."

Examples of Evolving Slang

Some slang words change their meaning over time, usually across generations. This keeps the word in
usage but can lead to some miscommunication between older and younger speakers. For example:

Busted: To your grandparents, "busted" probably meant that something was broken. To your parents, it
means getting caught doing something wrong. The latest use? As an adjective to mean "ugly."

"No, I won't go out with your little sister. She's busted."

Ride: Originally a verb for the act of being a passenger in a vehicle, this word also evolved into a noun to
describe a car. Most recently, "my rides" can mean sneakers.

"I got new rides to match my favorite shirt."

Hip: Originally "hip" or "hep" meant someone very fashionable in the first half of the 20th century. It
evolved to mean someone into jazz and beatnik culture in the 1940s and 50s, and changed further still
into "hippie" to describe flower children of the 60s. Today it's changed again to "hipster," meaning a
self-aware, artsy person.

"My hip grandfather plays the sax, but my hipster brother just makes homemade pickles."

Examples of Portmanteau Slang

Some slang terms are created by combining two words into one that has a new meaning. A new word
created by combining portions of two existing words is called a portmanteau, and they are very popular
as a way to give a new name to a celebrity couple. For example, the actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
were known as "Brangelina" when they were married. Other examples of portmanteaus:

Frenemy: This combination of "friend" and "enemy" describes a person who is a little bit of both,
perhaps a friend with whom one experiences regular conflict.

"You'd be a lot happier if you stopped hanging out with your frenemy."

Bromance: This combination of "brother" and "romance" describes an intense friendship between two
straight men.

"I haven't seen Michael since he started hanging out with Jeremy. Their bromance is epic."

Ginormous: This combination of "gigantic" and "enormous" means something very large.

"You could find a parking space more easily is your car wasn't so ginormous."

Examples of Modern Slang

Slang is changing all the time, but here's a list of modern slang terms:

BAE: A term of endearment, meaning "before anyone else," used between romantic partners that can
also be used between close friends.
"Bae, you're the best."

Basic: A put-down describing someone or something that's very common or a conformist.

"Those women are so basic. They're only drinking pumpkin spice lattes because everyone else is."

Bye Felicia: A fast way to tell someone to go away. This term comes from the 1995 movie Friday.

"I know you're just copying my style. Bye Felicia."

Coin: Another way to refer to money.

"She's about to earn some major coin."

Dying: Something that was so funny, you died laughing.

"OMG. This standup is hilarious. I'm dying."

Epic: If somewhat was "epic," it was highly enjoyable.

"His latest novel was epic."

Extra: If someone's "extra," it means they're way too dramatic.

"Her boyfriend was always putting her down, calling her extra."

Fierce: Usually attributed to Beyonce, "fierce" signifies a strong, independent person.

"I love her to death. She's so fierce!"

GOAT: Current usage is actually a compliment, as this is now an acronym that stands for "greatest of all
time."

"I don't care what you say, because Tom Brady is the goat."

Lit: If something is "lit," it means it's super cool or "on fire."

"Last night's party was lit."

Low key: If someone or something is "low key," it means it's being done under the radar or they don't
want anyone to know.

"I low key love Imagine Dragons, but don't tell anyone!"

On point: Outstanding, perfectly executed.

"Her accessories are on point. She looks great."

Read: To "read" someone means you're calling them out for their bad behavior.
"Wow. Stefon read Amy for filth at last night's dinner."

Salty: Angry or bitter about something.

"Why are you so salty? I said I would share if I win the lottery."

Savage: Someone who "roasts" people nonstop and doesn't care what others will say.

"Jimmy Kimmel's monologue on Donald Trump last night was savage."

Ship: Short for "romantic relationship," sometimes used as a verb.

"Everyone wants to ship Edward and bella, but they say they're just good friends.

The tea: When someone is dishing "the tea," they're gossiping, particularly with the juiciest or most
dramatic gossip.

"Let's call Wendy. She always has the tea."

Thirsty: If someone's "thirsty," it means they're a little too eager or even desperate.

"Look at the way she dressed for their second date. She's way too thirsty."

Throw shade: To "throw shade" means to insult or say something unkind about someone.

"I can't believe he said that. He just threw some serious shade."

Woke: Slang for "awakened," as in being highly aware of social injustices.

"If you're so woke, why didn't you vote?"

YOLO: An acronym for "you only live once," encouraging people to seize the day.

"Of course you should go on that trip to Dublin! YOLO!

Why Do People Use Slang?

Because slang terms are often only understood by people in a certain group, using slang is, above all, a
way to show that you belong. You show that you're one of the crowd by using terms that others don't
understand, and you can connect with like-minded people who understand just what you mean by using
the latest slang terms. For this reason, slang is often a mark of being "cool," or at least in the know
about something. People who are "in" with a group know the slang, and people who aren't don't. Slang
is, therefore, a way to use language to separate yourself from others. The best example of this is the
way each generation of teens uses new slang to separate themselves from their tragically uncool
parents. Over time, slang terms either die out from lack of use as groups move on to new terminology,
or they may become so popular that they are absorbed into the common language. In this case,
everyone understands the terms, and they aren't likely to be considered inappropriate or poor grammar
any longer. This is how language grows and evolves over time, as new words are added to the dictionary
while old ones fall into disuse and disappear.

Picking Up the Lingo

One of the most exciting aspects of the English language is that it's constantly evolving. As each
generation comes of age, it adds new and creative slang to the culture, so you're sure to hear something
new pretty regularly.

Definitiin of Proverbs- A proverb is most often a phrase or saying that gives advice in an obscure way.
The phrase usually has an allegorical type of message behind that when first heard may seem a little
odd. Usually a proverb is very well known because of its popular use in colloquial language.

Examples:

"A monkey in silk is a monkey no less" - (this means that just because someone dresses fancy does not
necessarily mean that they are fancy or of good character.)

"A tree is known by its fruit" - (of Zulu origin - this means that success is shown by the deeds.)

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" - (this means that when you separate from someone that you
love by putting distance between you that you will inevitably love them more and yearn to see them.)

Examples of Proverbs

7th grade8th grade9th gradeMiddle SchoolHigh SchoolCollege

Proverbs surround us everyday. Whether at work, school, church or during a conversation with a friend,
the likelihood of hearing a proverb is high. With the influx of different cultures and traditions in the
United States, it is not uncommon to come in contact with many examples of proverbs.
People who have a strong religious background might look to the Book of Proverbs in the Bible for
examples of proverbs. Others might find comfort in proverbs from different cultures.

Proverbs Throughout the World

African Proverbs

Across the vast continent of Africa, many African nations disseminated proverbs that were meant to
educate and inspire those who used them. Here are a few examples of African proverbs.

"A tree is known by its fruit" - (of Zulu origin - this means that success is shown by the deeds.)

"I have been bitten by a tsetse fly" - (of Tanzanian origin - this means that a person will continuously be
a pest until you pay off a debt.)

"The word of friend makes you cry - the word of an enemy makes you laugh" - (of Algeria, Burkina Faso,
Mali, Mauritania, and Niger - this means that a friend will tell you the truth and sometimes the truth
hurts, whereas an enemy will only lead you down the wrong path by giving you advice that seems good
but is not.)

Asian Proverbs

Some examples of Asian proverbs include the following:

"The old horse in the stable still yearns to run" - (this means that those who are older still have things
they would like to accomplish.)

"A spark can start a fire that burns the entire prairie" - (this means that a small problem can snowball
into a huge problem that can cause major damage.)

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" - (this
means that teaching people is better in the long run because it gives them the skills to provide for
themselves as opposed to you doing things for them.)

American Proverbs

Some examples of American based proverbs include:

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" - (this means that when you separate from someone that you
love by putting distance between you that you will inevitably love them more and yearn to see them.)

"All that glitters is not gold" - (this means that just because something looks good, does not necessarily
mean that it is good.)

"A monkey in silk is a monkey no less" - (this means that just because someone dresses fancy does not
necessarily mean that they are fancy or of good character.)

English Proverbs
Some examples of English proverbs include:

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

It's no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.

See a pin and pick it up, all the day you'll have good luck; see a pin and let it lie, bad luck you'll have all
day.

'Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.

Monday's child is fair of face/Tuesday's child is full of grace,/Wednesday's child is full of woe,/Thursday's
child has far to go,/Friday's child is loving and giving,/Saturday's child works hard for its living/And a
child that's born on the Sabbath day/Is fair and wise and good and gay.

Proverbs from Other Countries

Arabic Proverb: An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.

Finnish proverb: Even a small star shines in the darkness.

Italian Proverb: After the game, the king and pawn go into the same box.

Jewish Proverb: God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.

Russian Proverb: Better to stumble than make a slip of the tongue.

Spanish Proverb: Since we cannot get what we like, let us like what we can get.

What Is a Proverb?

A proverb is most often a phrase or saying that gives advice in an obscure way. The phrase usually has
an allegorical type of message behind that when first heard may seem a little odd. Usually a proverb is
very well known because of its popular use in colloquial language.

Role of Proverbs in Society

Proverbs play many roles in society. The first, possibly, most common role that a proverb plays is to
educate. Most often tossed around as expert advice in conversation, the innate role to educate people
on what might happen if they do something. Think of a proverb as a little tidbit of wisdom that just
about everyone - no matter where they are from - can offer. There is a proverb for just about every
circumstance, and proverbs can be applied to any situation.

Related articles on YourDictionary

Figurative Language
Examples of Clichés

Examples of Morals

More articles

English and American proverbs are almost second nature when delivered. The origins are quite often
little known, yet the expressions are popular. Ethnic proverbs, on the other hand, may be a little deeper
to digest, and require non-natives of the proverb's country of origin, to think about the meaning in order
to better understand how it applies to their lives.