American Slang, 4th Edition: The Complete Dictionary of Modern Colloquialisms―1,500+ Words and Phrases - Softcover

Kipfer, Barbara Ann

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0061179477 ISBN 13: 9780061179471

Publisher: Collins Reference, 2008

Synopsis

With 1,500 new words and phrases, this abridged edition of the Dictionary of American Slang is the most buzzworthy, banging collection of colloquial American English—no joke

This fully updated and abridged fourth edition of American Slang contains more than 1,500 new terms representing the variety and vigor of American slang, from "yada yada yada" to "yo momma." There's no better resource for those who are curious about language, fascinated by counterculture, or just completely confused when other people talk.

Like previous editions, this edition features pronunciation guides, word origins, examples of appropriate usage as well as a helpful highlighting system that lets you know which terms should be used with caution, and never in polite company. Both an important archive of the way America is really talking and a lot of fun to read, American Slang will prove to be an invaluable companion in keeping up with the dauntingly jargon-filled, quickly evolving language of today.

About this title

About the Authors

Barbara Ann Kipfer, Ph.D., is a lexicographer who has authored or compiled more than forty books, including the Dictionary of American Slang (with Robert L. Chapman), The Order of Things, Writer's Digest Flip Dictionary, and the bestselling 14,000 Things to Be Happy About. She received her doctorate in linguistics from England's University of Exeter.

Dr. Robert L. Chapman, the founding editor of the Dictionary of American Slang, was a professor of English at Drew University.

From the Back Cover

With 1,500 new words and phrases, this abridged edition of the Dictionary of American Slang is the most buzzworthy, banging collection of colloquial American English—no joke

This fully updated and abridged fourth edition of American Slang contains more than 1,500 new terms representing the variety and vigor of American slang, from "yada yada yada" to "yo momma." There's no better resource for those who are curious about language, fascinated by counterculture, or just completely confused when other people talk.

Like previous editions, this edition features pronunciation guides, word origins, examples of appropriate usage as well as a helpful highlighting system that lets you know which terms should be used with caution, and never in polite company. Both an important archive of the way America is really talking and a lot of fun to read, American Slang will prove to be an invaluable companion in keeping up with the dauntingly jargon-filled, quickly evolving language of today.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

American Slang 4e

By Barbara Ann Kipfer

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Copyright © 2008 Barbara Ann Kipfer
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9780061179471

Chapter One

A

A n 1 Amphetamine 2 LSD; ACID (Narcotics)

AA (pronounced as separate letters) modifier : an AA barrage n An antiaircraft weapon, or antiaircraft fire; ACK-ACK, FLAK (WWI)

abandominiums n Abandoned apartments or houses where addicts use drugs : Abandominiums blighted the former middle-class neighborhood

abbreviated piece of nothing n A worthless or insignificant person or thing : Her unemployed neighbor is an abbreviated piece of nothing

abc gum n Gum that has already been chewed : There's abc gum under the desk

abdabs (or habdabs or screaming abdabs or screaming habdabs) n Anxiety or nervous tension : Starting any new project gives her the abdabs (1945+)

Abe's cabe (or abe) n phr A five-dollar bill [Jive talk 1930s+ & rock and roll 1950s+; fr Lincoln's portrait on the bill, perhaps a shortening and repronouncing of ??cabbage']

A-bomb n 1 An atomic bomb 2 A car especially modified for quick acceleration and speed; hot rod (Hot rodders) 3 A combination of drugs, typically marijuana or hashish plus opium (Narcotics)

abortion n Something of very poor quality; a messy failure; Disaster : That show is a real abortion

about that See sorry about that

about town See man-about-town

above one's head See in over one's head

abso-bloody-lutely modifier Absolutely : He absobloody-lutely wanted to see her again

absotively (posilutely) modifier Absolutely : I absotively posilutely want to watch the basketball games

academy See laughing academy

Acapulco gold n phr Marijuana of high quality grown near Acapulco, Mexico, and having leaves with a golden hue (Narcotics)

accident n A person born from an unplanned pregnancy; an unplanned pregnancy : At 50, this third one was an accident (1900+)

accidentally on purpose adv phr As if by accident, but really by intention : She missed the meeting accidentally on purpose

accommodation collar n phr An arrest made to fulfill a quota, usu in response to pressure for strong police action against crime (Police)

Continues...

Excerpted from American Slang 4eby Barbara Ann Kipfer Copyright © 2008 by Barbara Ann Kipfer. Excerpted by permission.
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Edition details

• Publisher: Collins Reference
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0061179477
• ISBN 13: 9780061179471
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 576