What means slang word for

One of the developments which must certainly be credited to the nineteenth century is the growth of an objective and scientific attitude towards slang which has become one of the most prominent features of the English language.

Slang is very informal language that consists of words and phrases basically used in speech rather than writing and restricted in a specific region or a particular group of people.

Slang Definition

Slang has been defined by Greenough and Kittredge as

“a peculiar kind of vagabond language, always hanging on the outskirts of legitimate speech, but continually straying or forcing its way into the most respectable company.”

The Oxford English Dictionary defines slang as the

“language of a highly colloquial type, below the level of standard educated speech, and consisting cither of new words or of current words employed in some special sense.”

The following definition given by H. W. Fowler in his Modern English Usage, though inadequate by itself, is complementary to that of the Oxford Dictionary:

“the diction that results from the favourite game among the young and lively of playing with words and renaming things and actions.”

Origin of Slang

Slang has its root in topicality, convenience and elementary human nature. It originates and flourishes best in unconventionality. “Among the impulses which lead to the invention of slang”, Dr. H. Bradley says. “the two most important seem to be the desire to secure increased vivacity and the desire to secure increased sense of intimacy in the use of language.”

The conditions favouring the origin of slang is crowding and excitement As Camden Hotten has said, “Any sudden excitement or peculiar circumstance is quite sufficient to originate and set going a score of slang words.” Slang is as characteristic of the individual as of the clique, the profession, the trade and the class. In the opinion of Greenough and Kittredge the coinage and circulation of slang come from the desire of the individual to distinguish himself by oddity and grotesque humour. Another potent force that makes for slang is the impatience with existing words and phrases- the desire to escape from the restraints imposed by a formal standard. The man in the street considers the expression to dismiss tame and colourless, and so he substitutes “to give one the air”. For the same reason a young woman who fails to keep an engagement with a youngman stands him up. The desire to be novel and striking thus has much to do with the origin of slang. Again the desire to be secret and not to be understood by others around the slang-user has given birth to many slang. Students, very close friends, lovers, members of secret political societies, persons in prisons use slang with this end in view.

Slang is personal in its origin. It is the user who determines the matter and meaning of slang. And slang is devised by persons belonging to the different walks of life by persons of wit and ingenuity, stockbroker, scholar, labourer, lawyer, soldier, sailor, the man in the street, and the man in the car. Whatever the origin of slang, personality and environment are the two most powerful determinants of the nature of slang.

Uses of Slang

Slang, has some good uses. It enriches the language. It invests the abstract with solidity and concreteness, and the remote with nearness and immediacy It terrestrializes the ethereal, and brings down the idealistic to the materialistic level. But the greatest use of slang is in its euphemistic effect. There are many slangy expressions which mitigate the tragedy lightens the inevitability of death and prettifies folly or drunkenness. Among the euphemistic slang may be mentioned “make esay” (to kill), “step into a last bus” (to die), “hop the bags” (to attack the enemy across no man’s land), “in Adam and Eve’s togs” (naked), “excuse my French” (forgive me my strong language) etc.

Slang is sometimes used to amuse a superior and place self on an emotional and mental level with one’s audience. On many occasions a man has recourse to it to make known and even to assert that he belongs or has belonged to a certain school or collages or university, a certain trade or profession, an artistic or intellectual group of social class. In other words, he uses it in order to be in the swim” and establish contact. Slang is also employed to disperse or lessen the solemnity or excessive of gravity of conversation or the pomposity of a piece of writing.

Characteristics of Slang

The most important characteristic of slang is its tendency to rise in the verbal world, and thus to become ennobled. H.T. Buckle has very humorously said, “Many of these (slang) words and phrases are but serving their apprenticeship, and will eventually become the active strength of our language.” The slang of one generation has often become the literary language of the next. Many of the English idioms have come from slang, for “idiom is”, as John Brophy says, “fed by the tested inventions of slang”.

Among the slang phrases that have risen in status are “at fault” (from a dog’s losing the scent), “to start in” (to begin), “on the stocks” (in preparation), to peter out, down to bed rock, it is up to you to be in at the death, below the belt, mass play, knock-out blow etc.

Another distinctive characteristic of slang is its ephemerality. Since novelty is a quality which soon wears off, slang which derives its life from novelty has to be constantly renewed. Like man, its creator, slang comes and goes.

“Vamoose, skiddoo, twenty three and beat it give place to scram! which will certainly be forgotten when a newer expression catches the popular fancy.” (A.C. Baugh).

Also Read:

• Theories of the Origin of Language

The third characteristic of slang is its synonymous abundance, and the ideas and facts which are most fertile in synonyms are money, drinking, drunkenness, the sexual organs and the sexual act. In The Slang Dictionary Hotten lists 130 synonyms for money. He gives drink the next place and intoxication the third place. “But the tabooed words of standard English”, says E. Patridge, “are hardly less productive of slang synonyms: because of the need for euphemism, or of a desire to give them a different appearance and complexion, these taboos result in synonyms more ingenious, and many of them, more picturesque than those for money and drink.”

Slang in relation to legitimate speech

Slang hangs on the outskirts of the legitimate speech and some slang words manage, now and then, to find their way into legitimate speech. Thus we use now naturally, and with entire propriety, many slang words which were regarded as linguistically untouchable by writers of a generation or few generations ago. The expression “what on earth” seems to us an idiomatic expression and certainly will not be objected to in the speech of anyone today. But De Quincey condemned its use and was horrified at hearing it used by a government official. The word “row” in the sense of disturbance or commotion was considered slang in the eighteenth century and Todd (1818) described it as a very low expression, but to-day the word is used in this sense in the works of many reputed authors. So “to parry a thrust”, “o fence” (in an argument)”. “to cross swords with the opposing counsel”. “to bandy words”, “to wrestle with a problem”. “to trip one up” (in a discussion), “lo lose track of a subject”, “to run counter”, “to hit or miss the mark” are now all good English expressions, though most of them were formerly slang, and had passed through the intermediate stage of colloquialism before they gained admission to the legitimate vocabulary.

The once slangy words and expressions like bias (from bowling), fair play, foul play, hazard are all now firmly seated on the shelf of legitimate speech. Can any one now imagine that such indispensable words as “desire” and “salary” were once soldiers’ slang?

Some clipped words which were once slang now occupy a whole niche of legitimate vocabulary – exam for examination, auto for automobile, varsity for university, cab for cabriolet, van for wangward, fence for defence, miss for mistress, mob for mobile vulgus, per for apert, bus for omnibus (which was itself originally a slang term), pad for footpad, piano for pianoforte, kilo for kilogram, zoo for zoological garden, percent for per centum, pros and cons for pros and contras, sweets for sweetmeats, sport for disport etc.

To speak the truth, “there is no real difference in kind”, as Greenough and Kittredge say, “between the processes of slang and those of legitimate speech. Slang is only the rude luxuriance of the uncared for soil, knowing not the hand of the gardener.” The same desire for novelty as is constantly at work in slang is also constantly working in the figurative expressions and new coinages of legitimate speech.

Again like slang artistic literature, apart from the more conveyance of thought, seeks to stimulate the attention of the reader by clever novelty, and even sometimes to shock him into thought by grotesque or startling language. In this way, there come into existence a number of new words, most of which soon die, but some of which are sure to find their place in the general vocabulary. Phrase-composition is as active in slang as in legitimate speech. Thus carouse (shortened from the German gar aus ! ‘quite out‘), hoax (a shortening of hocus pocus), jeopardy (from French jeu parti) were all slang phrases, but are now included in the legitimate vocabulary.

Despite all these similarities between slang and legitimate speech, we cannot adopt all the products of slang without question. All human speech is intended for the cars of others, and as such, must possess a certain dignity and courtesy. Now most slang words have a taint of impropriety about it which makes it offensive. Again the very currency of slang hinges on its allusions to things which are not universally familiar or respectable with the result that slang comes to be regarded as vulgar and vague.

Furthermore, the accepted means of communication in any widespread Language like English has a certain constant and enduring nature. Though the language is ever in flux, yet the endurable and permanent elements far outbalance the changing elements so that in spite of all the changes that affect it, it remains always intelligible through a long period of time. Slang words, on the contrary, are evanescent, living through days, and not through Sears, and falling out of use even while one is speaking them. Hence slang sill-adapted to serve as a medium of intercourse and therefore is unsuitable for adoption into legitimate speech.” (Greenough and Kittredge).

Not only is slang characterized by ephemerality, but also it has no fixed meaning. Slang words are vague and ill defined, and their meanings grow more and more uncertain from day to day. The result is that the use of slang tends to level down all those nice differentiations in meaning, all those distinctions between word and word, which make for linguistic development. In slang everything is “fine” or “immense” or “stunning”, from an appetizing meal to a drama, from a mountain scenery to the cut of a friend’s trouser. Slang has been branded as the idle man’s dialect, and if the sign of cultivation is an enriched vocabulary, the constant employment of vague and uncertain slang for every shade of meaning reduces one’s thought to the ignorant level. When slang becomes definite and clear-cut in signification, it ceases to be slang, and finds it place in the legitimate vocabulary. “In fact, anything that is good in slang is almost sure to be picked up and adopted in legitimate speech.” (Greenough and Kittredge).

Slang Examples

In all languages slang is widely used by the native speaker. Here are a few examples of slang used in different English speaking countries:

21 Most Common British Slang

22 Popular American Slang

11 Very Common Canadian Slang

11 Most Used Aussie Slang

8 Best Gen Z Slang

Gen Z or generation z refers to youth who were born after 1996. Gen Z uses specific slang words while communicating:

Top 5 Best Slang Dictionary

1. Urban Dictionary
2. Unsuck It
3. Wiktionary
4. Online Slang Dictionary
5. Double-Tongued Dictionary

There are good slang and bad slang. Good slang has a real meaning, while bad slang has no meaning, and is simply a succession of sounds. Good slang is often humorous, witty, picturesque. It is also refined in its associations. Now good slang words frequently elevate themselves to the rank of colloquialism, and thus in time gain admission to the legitimate speech, “Hit or miss”, “tooth and nail”, “by hook or crook”, “sink or swim” “rough-and-ready”, “higgledy-piggledy were all slang, but have now passed through the colloquial stage and are recognized idioms.

“Again, an expression that is unquestionable slang may be so apt and necessary in the discussion of a particular subject, and so often quoted by the best writers, that it loses its taint and becomes a part of our common stock of quotation.”

Slang
words are identified and distinguished by contrasting them to
standard literary vocabulary. They are expressive, mostly ironical
words serving to create fresh names for some things that are frequent
topics of discourse. For the most part they sound somewhat vulgar,
cynical and harsh, aiming to show the object of speech in the light
of an off-hand contemptuous ridicule. Vivid examples can be furnished
by various slang words for money,
such
as beans,
brass, dibs, dough, chink, oof, wads; the
slang synonyms for word head
are
attic,
brain-pan, hat peg, nut, upper storey, compare
also various synonyms for the adjective drunk:
boozy, cock-eyed, high, soaked, tight and
many more. Notions that for some reason or other are apt to excite an
emotional reaction attract as a rule many synonyms: there are many
slang words for food, alcohol drinks, stealing and other violations
of the law, for jail, death, madness, drug use, etc.

Slang
has often attracted the attention of lexicographers. The best-known
English slang dictionary is compiled by E. Partridge.

The
subject of slang has caused much controversy for many years. Very
different opinions have been expressed concerning its nature, its
boundaries and the attitude that should be adopted towards it. The
question whether it should be considered a healthful source of
vocabulary development or a manifestation of vocabulary decay has
been often discussed.

It
has been repeatedly stated by many authors that after a slang word
has been used in speech for a certain period of time, people get
accustomed to it and it ceases to produce that shocking effect for
the sake of which it has been originally coined. The most vital among
slang words are then accepted into literary vocabulary. The examples
are bet,
bore, chap, donkey, fun, humbug, mob, odd, pinch, shabby, sham, snob,
trip, also
some words from the American slang: graft,
hitch-hiker, sawbones, etc.

These
words were originally slang words but have now become part of
literary vocabulary. The most prominent place among them is occupied
by words or expressions having no synonyms and serving as expressive
names for some specific notions. The word teenager,
so
very frequent now, is a good example. Also blurb
—
a publisher’s eulogy of a book printed on its jacket or in
advertisements elsewhere, which is originally American slang word.

The
communicative value of these words ensures their stability. But they
are rather the exception. The bulk of slang is formed by shortlived
words. E. Partridge, one of the best known specialists in English

249

slang,
gives as an example a series of vogue words designating a man of
fashion that superseded one another in English slang. They are: blood
(1550-1660),
macaroni
(1760),
buck
(1720-1840),
swell
(1811),
dandy
(1820-1870),
toff
(1851)¹.

It
is convenient to group slang words according to their place in the
vocabulary system, and more precisely, in the semantic system of the
vocabulary. If they denote a new and necessary notion, they may prove
an enrichment of the vocabulary and be accepted into standard
English. If, on the other hand, they make just another addition to a
cluster of synonyms, and have nothing but novelty to back them, they
die out very quickly, constituting the most changeable part of the
vocabulary.

Another
type of classification suggests subdivision according to the sphere
of usage, into general slang and special slang. General slang
includes words that are not specific for any social or professional
group, whereas special slang is peculiar for some such group:
teenager slang, university slang, public school slang, Air Force
slang, football slang, sea slang, and so on. This second group is
heterogeneous. Some authors, A.D. Schweitzer for instance, consider
argot to belong here. It seems, however, more logical to
differentiate slang and argot. The essential difference between them
results from the fact that the first has an expressive function,
whereas the second is primarily concerned with secrecy. Slang words
are clearly motivated, сf. cradle-snatcher
‘an
old man who marries or courts a much younger woman’; belly-robber
‘the
head of a military canteen’; window-shopping
‘feasting
one’s eyes on the goods displaced in the shops, without buying
anything’. Argot words on the contrary do not show their
motivation, сf. rap
‘kill’,
shin
‘knife’,
book
‘a
life sentence’.

Regarding
professional words that are used by representatives of various trades
in oral intercourse, it should be observed that when the word is the
only name for some special notion it belongs not to slang but to
terminology. If, on the other hand, it is a jocular name for
something that can be described in some other way, it is slang.

There
are cases, of course, when words originating as professional slang
later on assume the dignity of special terms or pass on into general
slang. The borderlines are not always sharp and distinct.

For
example, the expression be
on the beam was
first used by pilots about the beam of the radio beacon indicating
the proper course for the aircraft to follow. Then figuratively be
on the beam came
to mean ‘to be right’, whereas be
off the beam came
to mean ‘to be wrong’ or ‘to be at a loss’.

¹
To this list the 20th century words masher
and
teddy-boy
could
be added. There seems to be no new equivalent in today’s English
because such words as mod
and
rocker
(like
beat
and
beatnik)
or
hippy
and
punk
imply
not only, and not so much a certain way of dressing but other tastes
and mental make-up as well. Mods
(admirers
of modern jazz music) and more sportive rockers
were
two groups of English youth inimical to one another. The words are
formed by abbreviation and ellipsis: mod<
modern jazz; rocker < rock’n roll; beat, beatnik < beat
generation’, punk<punk rocker.

250

A
great deal of slang comes from the USA: corny,
cute, fuss-pot, teenager, swell, etc.
It would be, however, erroneous to suppose that slang is always
American in its origin. On the contrary, American slang also contains
elements coming from Great Britain, such as cheerio
‘goodbye’,
right-o
‘yes’
> Gerry
for
‘a German soldier’, and some, though not many, others.

Slang
is a difficult problem and much yet remains to be done in elucidating
it, but a more complete treatment of this layer of vocabulary would
result in an undue swelling of the chapter. Therefore in concluding
the discussion of slang we shall only emphasise that the most
important peculiarities of slang concern not form but content. The
lexical meaning of a slang word contains not only the denotational
component but also an emotive component (most often it expresses
irony) and all the other possible types of connotation — it is
expressive, evaluative and stylistically coloured and is the marked
member of a stylistic opposition.

tions,
the
salesmen of these were stationers
and
what they sold — stationery
(with
the noun suffix -ery
as
in grocery
or
bakery).

Not
all doublets come in pairs. Examples of groups are: appreciate,
appraise, apprise; astound, astonish, stun; kennel, channel, canal.

The
Latin word discus
is
the origin of a whole group of doublets:

dais<ME
deis < OF deis
< Lat
discus dish < ME dish < OE disc < Lat discus disc/disk <
Lat discus discus (in
sport) < Lat discus

Other
doublets that for the most part justify their names by coming in
pairs show in their various ways the influence of the language or
dialect systems which they passed before entering the English
vocabulary.

Compare
words borrowed in Middle English from Parisian French: chase,
chieftain, chattels, guard, gage with
their doublets of Norman French origin: catch,
captain, cattle, ward, wage.

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Slang is a set of highly informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker’s dialect or language. Slang is often highly regional, specific to a particular territory or subculture. Slang words and expressions can spread outside their original arena, and some may even lose their slang status and become accepted as a standard language. Often, the widespread adoption of a slang term by mainstream culture will cause the subculture it originated in to create a new, less recognized term.

The origins of slang are usually found in the desire of those members of a particular group, or subculture, to communicate freely and intelligibly with each other from their common base of shared experience, interests, attitudes, and identity. This is, however, coupled with the desire to differentiate themselves either from another group, or from the larger society as a whole. Thus, slang involves the unconventional, even the taboo, (to differentiate the speaker from the norms of society) and often hostility and vulgar epithets for authorities or rivals (to differentiate from the «others» who are not members of the same group). Slang, therefore, has both positive and negative aspects. When it facilitates easier and familiar communication among those with a common base it functions to improve harmonious communication; when it draws distinctions, particularly hostile ones, building barriers between groups of people, it enhances the problems in human relationships that have been experienced throughout history.

Definition

According to Bethany K. Dumas and Jonathan Lighter,^[1] an expression should be considered «true slang» if it meets at least two of the following criteria:

• It lowers, if temporarily, «the dignity of formal or serious speech or writing»; in other words, it is likely to be seen in such contexts as a «glaring misuse of register» (where a «register» is a subset of a language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting).
• Its use implies that the user is familiar with whatever is referred to, or with a group of people that are familiar with it and use the term.
• «It is a taboo term in ordinary discourse with people of a higher social status or greater responsibility.»
• It replaces «a well known conventional synonym.» This is done primarily to avoid «the discomfort caused by the conventional item [or by] further elaboration.»

It is important to make a distinction between slang and jargon. Jargon is the technical vocabulary of a particular profession. Similarly to slang, those outside of the profession may not understand the terms or meaning of jargon. Unlike slang, however, jargon is not intended to exclude non-members of the group, and is concerned mainly with the technical peculiarities and specifics of a given field. Additionally, jargon does not fit the definition of slang, as it meets only a single criterion.

Origins of slang

During the Middle Ages, there was very little standardized language. Different dialects and pronunciations often represented one of the first concepts of «slang,» although dialects are specifically not slang. During the sixteenth century, English Criminal Cant evolved. A specific set of language that was created for use by criminals and cheats, English Criminal Cant was not originally considered slang (since it was a specifically developed «language»), but by the eighteenth century it had evolved into slang.

Around the mid-1600s, slang began to appear in popular plays, like that of Richard Brome, and also in poems and songs. By the eighteenth century, English slang was influenced by the cultural differences in America, and slang usage began to expand. Slang was often associated with either criminals or foreigners during this time, and often dealt with human anatomy or taboo topics like sexuality. It was not until the 1920s that society began to adopt a more liberal attitude towards slang. Slang became popular with fiction writers and society at large. The development of English slang was assisted by a number of events, such as the American Civil War and the abolitionist movement.^[2]

Types of Slang

One use of slang is to circumvent social taboos, as mainstream language tends to shy away from evoking certain realities. For this reason, slang vocabularies are particularly rich in certain domains, such as sexuality, violence, crime, and drugs. Argot (French and Spanish for «slang»), also known as cant, is slang used particularly by thieves and other criminals, to prevent outsiders from understanding their conversations.

Slang very often involves the creation of novel meanings for existing words. It is very common for such novel meanings to diverge significantly from the standard meaning. Thus, «cool» and «hot» can both mean «very good or impressive.»

Alternatively, slang can grow out of mere familiarity with the things described. For example, wine connoisseurs may refer to Cabernet Sauvignon as «Cab Sav,» Chardonnay as «Chard» and so on.^[3] Not only does using the abbreviated names for different wines expend less superfluous effort, but it also serves as a shared code among connoisseurs and evokes a sense of the speaker’s familiarity with wine.

Even within a single language community, slang tends to vary widely across social, ethnic, economic, and geographic strata. Slang sometimes grows more and more common until a term can become regarded as mainstream, acceptable language (for example, the Spanish word caballo or the English «movie»). Other times, the terms fall into disuse. Numerous slang terms pass into informal mainstream speech, and sometimes into formal speech, though this may involve a change in meaning or usage.

Cockney rhyming slang

Cockney rhyming slang is a form of English slang which originated in the East End of London, and has been popularized by film, music, and literature. Anthony Burgess used rhyming slang as a part of the fictitious «Nadsat» dialect in his classic book A Clockwork Orange.

Traditional Cockney rhyming slang works by taking two words that are related through a short phrase and using the first word to stand for a word that rhymes with the second. For instance, «boat» means «face» as «boat race» rhymes with face. Similarly, «plates» means «feet» («plates of meat»), and bread means «money» (bread and honey).

The origins of rhyming slang are disputed. It remains a matter of speculation as to whether rhyming slang evolved as a linguistic accident or whether it was developed intentionally to confuse non-locals. If deliberate, it might have simply been used to maintain a sense of community, or in the marketplace for vendors to talk amongst themselves without customers knowing what they were saying, or by criminals (similar to thieves’ cant) to confuse the police.

The proliferation of rhyming slang has meant many of its traditional expressions have passed into common language, and the creation of new ones (often ironically) is no longer restricted to Cockneys. Some substitutions have become relatively widespread in Britain, such as «have a butcher’s» (which means to have a look, from «butcher’s hook»), and these are often now used without awareness of their origins. Many English speakers are unaware that the term «use your loaf» is derived from «loaf of bread» meaning head. The extent of the use of rhyming slang is often exaggerated; only a very few phrases are in everyday use. Many examples are only used by people who are discussing rhyming slang, or by people who are being ironic or are making up a term on the spot for a joke, often at the expense of the tourist. In addition, since the original purpose was to encode or disguise speech from the comprehension of bystanders, terms that become too well-known still have a tendency to lose actual currency fairly quickly, putting whatever usage the slang enjoys into a constant flux.

Below are just a few of the most common examples of Cockney rhyming slang.

• Apples = apples and pears = stairs
• Barnet = Barnet Fair = hair
• Brass = Brass Flute = Prostitute
• Dog = dog and bone = telephone
• Jam = Jam jar = Car
• China = China plate = mate
• Frog = frog and toad = road
• Rosie = Rosie Lee = tea

Internet slang

The Internet has created an entire subculture of users, who have developed an extensive library of slang. Many internet slang terms originated with the purpose of saving keystrokes, and often appear in lower case. For example, «you» becomes «u» and «are» becomes «r.» Web forums are often credited with helping popularize and spread forms of internet slang. Online gaming is often responsible for the development and popularization of internet slang.

Within the Internet community, there are numerous subcultures with their own specific set of slang. Leet speak originated with hackers, and later became popular with the online gaming community. Leet (sometimes written as 1337 or l33t) uses various combinations of alphanumerics to replace letters of words. «E» is commonly replaced by «3,» and «S» by «5.» Leet commonly has its own sets of colloquialisms and jokes, and exists in a number of languages in addition to English, such as Greek, Russian, and Chinese. Excessive use of leet is often used to ridicule or satirize new members of an internet community, who are often referred to as n00bs (newbies or newcomers).

One of the most popular types of internet slang is the use of acronyms. For example, well-known acronyms include «LOL,» which stands for «laughing out loud.» «IMHO» for «in my humble opinion,» and «TTYL» meaning «talk to you later.» Instant messaging and texting over mobile phones have popularized a large amount of acronyms and abbreviations, as they are both quicker and easier to type than the full version. Numbers are sometimes incorporated into internet and text messaging slang. «L8r» uses the phonetic sound of «eight» to create the word «later.» Similarly, «h8» means «hate.»

«Emoticons» (smileys) are another popular form of internet slang. Emoticons are a form of ASCII art in which a short sequence of typed characters are used to resemble a facial expression and convey an emotion. They are viewed sideways, where a clockwise rotation of ninety degrees would orient them vertically. The most basic emoticon is :), where the colon represents the eyes and the parenthesis the mouth, forming a rough approximation of a «happy face.» Other common emoticons or «smileys» are «sad face»  and «shocked» 8-O. A great many variants of emoticons exist, such as 8D, =), =D, =>), >=D,:p, |=[, >8), >XD, and so forth. There is another variation of «smileys» resembling a wink by combining a semicolon and a parenthesis, such as ;), ;] or ;}. The differing use of parentheses can give the emoticon a slightly different slant; for example ;} can represent an evil or otherwise malicious wink.

The other major style of emoticon, which does not require the viewer to tilt their head, evolved in East Asia. In the basic smiling manga emoticon, ^_^, the carets representing the eyes, and the underscore a mouth. Notably, this «smiley» has a straight mouth and smiling eyes, suggesting a cultural difference in reading emotions.^[4] Other popular east Asian emoticons use Japanese characters.

Slang in popular culture

Many subcultures have numerous slang phrases unique to that specific subculture. Prison inmates have their own slang, as do musicians. Slang often originates within a group as a way to communicate without including outsiders, and thus is often found within groups of teenagers. The use of slang not only gives a group the ability to exclude outsiders, but serves as a means of bonding the group together through a shared vocabulary. Each culture generally has its own set of slang vocabulary, which can vary from region to region. In a large city, slang can even vary substantially from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Slang is often used in film and fiction. The proper use of slang can add a sense of realism to a work of fiction, as well as evoke a specific time period or point in history. Conversely, improper or forced use of slang can be the subject of ridicule. For example, teachers or other authority figures who attempt to use teenage slang are often made fun of by the teenagers they are trying to connect with.

It is important to note that while slang is often employed in creative works, it is rarely acceptable in formal and scholarly works. The use of slang in a formal or scholarly setting can instantly discredit the value of what a person has to say. (The major exception to this is, obviously, formal and scholarly studies on slang itself.)

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Ayto, John. The Oxford Dictionary of Rhyming Slang. Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN 978-0198607519
• Cohen, Gerald L. and Barry Popik (eds.) Studies in Slang. Part VI. Peter Lang Publishing, 1999. ISBN 978-0820443775
• Croft, William. Explaining Language Change: An Evolutionary Approach. Pearson ESL, 2001. ISBN 978-0582356771
• Franklyn, Julian. A Dictionary of Rhyming Slang. London: Routledge, 1992. ISBN 978-0415046022
• Green, Jonathon. Cassell’s Rhyming Slang. London: Cassell, 2000. ISBN 978-0304355136
• Lillo, Antonio. «Bees, Nelsons and Sterling Denominations: A Brief Look at Cockney Slang and Coinage.» Journal of English Linguistics 28(2) (2000): 145-172.
• Lillo, Antonio. «From Alsatian Dog to Wooden Shoe: Linguistic Xenophobia in Rhyming Slang.» English Studies 82 (4)(2001): 336-348.
• Lillo, Antonio. «A Wee Keek at Scottish Rhyming Slang.» Scottish Language 23 (2004): 93-115.
• __________. «Exploring Rhyming Slang in Ireland.» English World-Wide 25(2) (2004): 273-285.

Slang Words! Slang words are defined as the words and phrases used informally in any language. Following is a list of 100 English slang words that are commonly used today. Most of them are American slang words and phrases.

Slang Words | Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV9ewwMyceA

Slang Words | Slang Dictionary

List of  100 English slang words and phrases with their meanings and examples:

• Eye-popping – fantastic, astonishing

The New York Times had an eye-popping article this morning.

• Chicken –  a coward

You’re a chicken, Tom!

• Con – Swindle

He tried to con me out of $20.

• Couch potato – people who watching T.V all day

You are such a couch potato on weekends.

• Ball – a good time

We had a ball at the party last night.

• Bazillion – uncountable number/ a very big number

We gets a bazillion followers everyday on Facebook fan page.

• Croak – to die

She married a millionaire just about to croak.

• Neat – excellent

Your house is always so neat – how do you manage it with three children?

• Nuts – crazy, mad

She’s beautiful. I’m nuts about her.

• Big guns – powerful, influenced people

Jed wanted to impress a Harvard professor and some other big guns.

• Dynamite – great, awesome

That teenager singer is really dynamite!

• Earful – scolding / reprimanding

I bet Sue gave you an earful when you got home.

• Bitch – complain/ gossip about something

Whenever the girls get together, they always find something to bitch about.

• Bonkers – mad/ insane

The man must be bonkers to take such a risk.

• Break – chance/ opportunity

Never give a sucker an even break.

• Bummed – sad or disappointed

I was really bummed out that there were no tickets left.

• Cheesy – cheap, outdated

We went to some cheesy bar in Baltimore.

• Cruising – going at a high speed

We fly at a cruising speed of 500 mph.

• Cushy – comfortably easy

It’s a cushy life for the rich.

• Deck – hit some on the face

Do that again and I’ll deck you.

• Deep pockets – having a lot of money

They’re looking for someone with deep pockets to pay for the research.

• Dinosaur – something or someone is very old

The Health Service has become a dinosaur. It needs radical reform if it is to survive.

• Airhead – a foolish/ dumb person

Boy, that salesman was the biggest airhead I’ve ever seen.

• Eyeball – look at, look over.

Challenge him, eyeball him, intimidate him.

• Fender-bender – a minor accident/collision between two vehicles

Another time I missed a date because I got into a fender-bender on the way there.

• Idiot box – the television

Phil has been staring at the idiot box all afternoon.

• Icky – unpleasant or annoying

What is this icky old stuff?

• Jam – trouble

How are we going to get ourselves out of this jam?

Slang dictionary | Infographic  

• Hang out -spend time together in a place frequently

We often used to hang out in supermarkets.

• All-nighter – study all night

I pulled an all-nighter last night.

• Ditch – leave, abandon something

Let’s ditch school today.

• Flicks – films/ movies

What’s on at the flicks this week?

• Freebie – something that is free

All the journalists were given a freebie lunch.

• Gig – work, job

I had got totally pissed and had to do a gig that night.

• Guts – courage or boldness

Barbara hasn’t got the guts to leave her mother.

• Go bananas – go crazy

Love is making you go bananas!

• Goof off – Wasting time, not doing anything in particular

He’s been goofing off at school.

• Grand – thousand dollars

He lives in a grand house.

• Heave – vomit

The smell of the fish made me/my stomach heave.

• Hot – attractive

You look so hot in that dress!

• Hustle – leave hurriedly

I love the hustle and bustle of the marketplace.

• Glitch – defect or problem

This minor glitch has turned into a big problem for the airline.

• Jock – someone who plays a sport

She is a jock from a family of jocks, articulate only in that special, odd way that coaches are articulate.

• John – toilet

I need to meet John, r-i-g-h-t n-o-w!

• Junkie – a drug addict

His son was a junkie, the kid OD’d a year ago.

• Grub – food

Get yourself some grub and come and sit down.

• Loli – young female with a childlike appearance

This might sound weird, but I am a loli lover!

• Peanuts – very little money

He gets paid peanuts for doing that job.

• Rocking – great, awesome

He had a rocking performance!

• Shades – sunglasses

She was dressed in muted shades of blue.

• Sucks – awful or unacceptable

Life sucks, but worth fighting for.

• Meltdown – the completely breaking down

The stock market crash might lead to financial meltdown.

• Mickey mouse – something that does not make sense

It’s only a Mickey Mouse job.

• Oddball – weird, unusual person

The new boss is a bit of an oddball.

• Pissed off – extremely annoyed

I’m pissed off with the way they’ve treated me.

• Quarterback – lead or initiative

The Carolina Panthers were playing with a backup quarterback.

• Beemer – a BMW car

He’s got a new beemer, what a rich man!

• Quick buck – Easy getting money

I need to make a quick buck without much effort.

• K – A thousand of a currency

It costs 10k.

• Kick back – relax

Kick back, make yourself at home.

• Raw – new and inexperienced

Raw meat must be kept separate from cooked meat.

• Razz – annoy

The pupils are razzing the teacher.

• Umpteen – incalculable

We’ve been there umpteen times and she still can’t remember the way.

• Whiz – Be talented at something

Apparently, he is a whiz at thank – you notes!

• Wimp – a cowardly person

Don’t be such a wimp.

• Up – Feeling cheerful or in good spirits

She feels up and down all day.

• UwU – a reaction to something cute

Bf: I love you bae  Gf: Aww Ily UwU

• Vibes – atmosphere or feelings

I have good vibes about this contract.

• Wheels – a car

I’ve got a new wheels on my birthday.

Slang Words | Image

Slang dictionary | Image 1

Slang dictionary | Image 2

Slang dictionary | Image 3

• I’ve managed to book the best seats at the theatre for us, this weekend!
• Wicked! Thank you. I’m really excited!

What do you think ‘wicked’ means?  No, it doesn’t mean ‘evil’ or ‘bad’.
Believe it or not, ‘wicked’ is actually a slang term that means ‘Brilliant!’ or ‘Awesome!’

Slang is a type of jargon that originates from various small groups of people. They tend to come about from conversation, and people naturally use words that have a meaning for them, then over time, these words alter and become slang.

It is probably one of the hardest aspects of the English language to learn, because there are so many variations in each small town, let alone in different English-speaking countries!

People use slang to sound less formal. Slang is mainly used because it relaxes the mouth, and allows people to speak in a more comfortable way. It is a lot easier to use slang than ‘perfect English’, which is probably why it’s so common!

This blog post will show you some of the most popular slang terms, but this doesn’t cover all of them! There are just too many! Hopefully the list below will cover some of the most common ones that you might hear!

1. UNREAL
Something that is unbelievably cool or brilliant

• I love this party, it’s just unreal!

2. PROPS
This means respect, recognition

• I know he failed the test, but you’ve got to give him props for trying.

3. KUDOS
Another word for respect, recognition

• Kudos for organising this party. It’s brilliant!

4. BOTTOM LINE
The main point

• The bottom line is we just don’t have enough money to make it work.

5. DISS
When a person disrespects someone else

• Stop dissing her behind her back. Show some respect!

6. DIG
To really like something

• Hey, I dig your new style. Where did you buy that T-shirt?

7. BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
This is a well-used phrase in the UK. It is added to the end of sentences, and means something like and that’s it!

• How did you make this cake? It’s delicious!
• Well, I just mixed in the batter thoroughly, poured it into a cake pan, baked it for 30 minutes and Bob’s your uncle!

8. BUDGE UP
When you ask someone to move and make space for you

•  I want to sit down too, could you budge up a little please?

9. ACE
This has two meanings, something that is awesome, really cool. Or to achieve something with perfection, really easily 

• Ace! I just got a promotion at work!
• Robert aced his physics exam!

10. ALL RIGHT?
This means ‘hello, how are you?’

• All right?
• Good thanks, you all right?

11. FULL OF BEANS
This means to have loads of energy

• All the children were full of beans at the party today. I couldn’t get any of them to sit still!

12. BLATANT
Something that is really obvious

• She’s blatantly very annoyed, everyone can see it apart from you.

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13. PEAR SHAPED
This means something has become a disaster

• I was trying to organise a surprise birthday party for her, but it’s all gone pear-shaped!

14. PIECE OF CAKE
When someone is boasting or they think something is extremely easy to do, they would use this

• What did you think of the exam? I thought it was really difficult.
• No, it was a piece of cake!

15. BLIMEY
This is an exclamation of surprise

• Blimey, look at all this mess here! I’d only left the house for an hour, and look what you’ve done!

16. BOTCH
There are two ways of using this expression ‘to botch something up’ or ‘to do a botch job’. They both mean that the work done was not of a high standard, or was clumsy workmanship

• The builder did a terrible job on the roof. He just botched it up, and it still leaks every time it rains!

17. CHEERS
Used when drinking with friends to salute or make a toast (raise your glasses and clink them together)

• Cheers everyone! Happy birthday to John!

18. SMASHING
This means something is terrific, brilliant

• I had a smashing time on holiday, it was so much fun!

19. SOD’S LAW
This is another name for Murphy’s Law – whatever can go wrong, will go wrong

• I wore my pretty new dress, because it was a sunny day, but as soon as I stepped out of the house, it started raining, and I got completely soaked!
• Sod’s Law!

20. CHIN WAG
This means having a nice, long chat with someone. You can probably tell why!

• I saw Mary after such a long time yesterday! We had a lovely chin wag together, like the good old days.

21. CHUFFED
Used when someone is really pleased about something

• My mum bought me a fantastic car when I passed my driving test. I was chuffed to bits!

22. CRAM
This means to study hard in a very short period of time

• I was so busy with my family before the exam, that I only had three days to cram in all the revision work!

23. NICE ONE
Can be used when someone does something particularly impressive

• I published my first book last year, and I’ve already started working on the sequel!
• Nice one! You’re doing really well.

24. CRIKEY
An exclamation of surprise

• I went shopping today! (comes in with lots of bags)
• Crikey! Have you spent all of our savings??!!

25. DEAR
Something that is expensive 

• I avoid going shopping into the town centre nowadays, everything is so dear!

26. FAFF
This is when someone procrastinates, or wastes time wondering around

• Come on we have to go now. Stop faffing around, we’re going to be late!

Check your Grammar ››

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27. DO
Another word for a party

• Are you going to Lizzie’s birthday do next week? 

28. FLOG
To sell something

• I managed to flog my car for a really good price!

29. FORTNIGHT
Two weeks. This comes from an abbreviation of ‘fourteen nights’

• I’ve been really ill for the past fortnight, and still haven’t recovered.

30. GOBSMACKED
This means amazed (your gob is your mouth, and if you smack your gob, it would be out of amazement!)

• I can’t believe I passed that exam! I thought I was going to fail, I’m completely gobsmacked!

31. SPLASH OUT
When you spend far too much money                                

• I wanted to give Sarah a special treat for her birthday, so I splashed out on a very romantic weekend away.

32. GRUB / NOSH
Both these words mean food                                                                                          

• I’m going to get some grub for myself from the local takeaway. Do you want anything?

33. BEE’S KNEES
Something or someone fabulous, spectacular

• You should see my new sound-system, it’s the bee’s knees!
• I don’t like Harvey very much, he thinks he’s the bee’s knees!

34. GUTTED
When someone is really upset or disappointed

• I’m so gutted I failed my driving test, again!

35. PEANUTS
When something is cheap, financially low

• I hate my job. I have to work such long hours, and I get paid peanuts.
• You should buy your clothes on-line. You can find some great designs for peanuts! 

36. HAGGLE
To argue over, and try to negotiate the price of something you want to buy

• The last time I went shopping with my mum, she was haggling for something that was already really cheap!
• I managed to haggle the price of this shirt down by 25%!

37. JOLLY
You might hear people use this in all sorts of ways, but basically it means ‘very’. So “jolly good” would mean ‘very good’

• Don’t worry, I will pay you back before the end of this month.
• I should jolly well think so!

38. THROW A SPANNER IN THE WORKS
This is an expression that means to wreck something

• I managed to keep the surprise a secret, right up until the day before my sister’s birthday, then he threw a spanner in the works by telling her!

39. KIP
A short sleep, forty winks, a nap, a power nap, or a snooze.

• Why don’t you try and have a kip before everyone gets here? You won’t have time to rest later.

40. WIND UP
This has a couple of meanings. If something you do is a ‘wind up’ it means you are making fun of someone – you could be called a wind-up merchant if you do this.

However, if you are ‘wound up’ it means you are annoyed.

• John really is a wind-up merchant, but the girl he was picking on was so gullible!
• I was just winding her up for fun, but she took offence to it and got really angry!

41. MATE
This means friend, chum, pal, or buddy.

• I’m going to the cinema with my mates tonight.

42. NOT MY CUP OF TEA
This is a common saying which means that something is not to your liking.

• I don’t really like this sort of music. It’s just not my cup of tea.

43. PORKIES
This means telling lies. It comes from cockney rhyming slang. Short for ‘porky pies’, meaning ‘pork pies’, which rhymes with lies!

• Don’t listen to her, she’s telling porkies!

44. ROW
This means an argument (rhymes with ‘cow’)

• My brother had a huge row with his girlfriend yesterday. He’s really upset!

45. DONKEY’S YEARS
If someone says ‘I haven’t seen you in donkey’s years’, it means they haven’t seen you for a very long time!

• Hi Sarah! What a surprise to see you here. I haven’t seen you in donkey’s years! How have you been?

46. EASY PEASY
A childish term for something very easy

• I could make that for you, if you like? It’s easy peasy!

47. SORTED
When someone asks you about a problem you have already fixed, you could say this.

You can also say “get it sorted”, when you are telling someone to get on with something they have to do.

• What’s happening about that roof leak then?
• Oh that’s sorted now. I found a really good builder to do the job.

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 48. STROP
If someone is sulking or being particularly miserable, you would say they are ‘being stroppy’, or ‘throwing a strop’

• Janet would you please cheer up? It’s your birthday, don’t be so stroppy!

49. CHEERIO
This is a friendly way of saying goodbye

• Right, I have to go now, see you soon. Cheerio!

50. WANGLE
This is used to say some people have all the luck

• I can’t believe he managed to wangle an upgrade on their airline seats, AND the honeymoon suite in their hotel!

51. BLINDING
If something is a blinding success, it means it was awesome, brilliant

• They had a blinding party after their wedding ceremony. Everyone had such a great time!

52. WONKY
If something is shaky or unstable, you might say it is wonky.

• I can’t eat my dinner at this table. It’s wonky and won’t stop wobbling!

53. ZONKED
If someone is zonked or ‘zonked out’ it means they are totally knackered, or exhausted

• He had a lot of fun at his birthday party earlier, but he’s completely zonked out now!

54. DODGY
If someone or something is a bit dodgy, it is not to be trusted.

• I saw a few dodgy-looking people standing around along that quiet street near our house, so just to be on the safe side, I notified the police.
• This food looks a bit dodgy, it might have passed its expiry date. I don’t think we should eat it.

55. LEG IT
This is a way of saying ‘run’ or ‘run for it’

• I went out on Halloween night, and someone jumped out from behind a bush to scare me. I was so frightened, that I just legged it all the way back home!

So there you go. Now you have a long list of slang words that you can familiarise yourself with, and try to remember! If you’re going to England or another English-speaking country, you might feel a bit more prepared to make conversation, if you’ve gone through this list!