"Gg" in Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English docx

Gg
G noun 1 one thousand dollars; one thousand pounds; one thousand.
From
GRAND US, 1928. 2 a gram. Used mainly in a drug context UK,
1997. 3 one grain (of a narcotic) US, 1966. 4 a generic manufactured
cigarette
US, 1992. 5 a gang member US, 1990. 6 a close friend US, 1989.
7 a girlfriend US, 1991. 8 a G-string US, 1992
g’ adjective good, especially in g’day, g’night, g’morning UK, 1961
gaar noun the buttocks TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1987
gab noun unimportant conversation UK, 1790
gabacho; gavacho noun a white person. Derogatory border Spanish
used in English conversation by Mexican-Americans US, 1950
gabalash verb (of quilting) to lash the quilt into the frame with big
stitches, so that the precise, tiny stitches of the quilting design
itself may be done. The word may derive from blending the two
words ‘gab’ and ‘lash’, as the quilting sessions are also occasions
for talk CANADA, 1999
gabber noun any central nervous system stimulant US, 1987
gabbleguts noun a talkative person AUSTRALIA, 1966
gabby bench noun a bench favoured by idle talkers BAHAMAS, 1982
gabbyguts noun a talkative person AUSTRALIA, 1969
Gabby Hayes hat noun the field hat worn by US soldiers in
Vietnam. Likened to the narrow brim and low crown of the hat
worn by the US western film star Gabby Hayes US, 1977
gabfest noun a group talk, usually about gossip or trivial matters US,
1897
gabins noun money TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
Gabriel nickname a prisoner who plays the chapel organ UK, 1950
gabs noun trousers made of gabardine (a twill-woven cloth) UK, 1955
gack noun 1 cocaine UK, 1997. 2 a despised person US, 1997

gack verb in poker, to fold holding a hand that would have won had
the player stayed in the game
US, 1996
gack-blowing noun the process of anally ingesting cocaine UK, 2002
gacked adjective cocaine-intoxicated UK, 2003
gack-nag; gak-nag noun a cocaine user UK, 2002
gack scab noun a crusting of damaged mucous membrane that
forms around the nostrils as the result of inhaling cocaine.
Combines GACK (cocaine) with conventional ‘scab’ UK, 1999
gad noun in horse racing, the whip used by jockeys US, 1976
gadabout noun a Lada car. Citizens’ band radio slang UK, 1981
Gadaffi noun the NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes). In
Royal Air Force use; rhyming slang, based on the name of Lybian
leader Colonel Moammar el Gadaffi UK, 2002
gad daigs! used for expressing surprise BAHAMAS, 1982
gadget noun 1 used as a general term for any cheating device used
in a card game US, 1988. 2 in poker, any special rule applied to a
game using wild cards US, 1967. 3 a G-string or similar female article
of clothing US, 1980. 4 aUSAirForcecadetUS, 1944
gadgie noun 1 a man; an idiot or fool UK: SCOTLAND, 1985. 2 an old
man. Urban youth slang UK, 2005
gaff noun 1 a location UK, 1999. 2 a place of residence; home; a shop
or other place of business UK, 1932. 3 a prison cell. A narrower sense
of ‘a place of residence’
UK, 1996. 4 a fair or fairground; a place of
public amusement. Circus usage
UK, 1753. 5 a cheating device US,
1893. 6 a device used to hide the shape of a male transvestite’s
penis US, 1973
gaff verb 1 to fix or rig a device US, 1934. 2 to cheat UK, 1811. 3 to talk

aimlessly and pleasantly TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1994
gaffer noun 1 used as a form of address. A loose variation of ‘gaffer’
as ‘boss’ or ‘old man’, usually showing respect
UK: ENGLAND, 1748.
2 an employer, a boss, a foreman UK, 1659. 3 a senior electrician in a
film unit
US, 1969. 4 on the railways, a track crew supervisor US, 1977.
5 in motorcyle racing, a leader of a racing team US, 1965. 6 in circus
and carnival usage, a manager
US, 1981
gaffle noun in street gambling, a protocol under which the winner
shares his winnings with other players
US, 1997
gaffle verb 1 to steal US, 1900. 2 to arrest; to catch US, 1954. 3 to cheat,
to swindle, to defraud
US, 1998
gaffs noun dice that have been altered for cheating US, 1950
gaff shot noun in pool, an elaborate shot, especially an illegal one
US, 1985
gaffus noun a hypodermic syringe and needle, especially when
improvised US, 1967
gafu noun a colossal mistake. A ‘god almighty fuck-up’ NEW ZEALAND,
1998
gag noun 1 a manner of doing something, a practice US, 1890. 2 in the
television and film industries, a stunt US, 1988. 3 any artifice
employed by a beggar to elicit sympathy US, 1962. 4 an event or
activity contrived to provide amusement or excitement UK, 1996.
5 an indefinite prison sentence US, 1958. 6 a small group of close
friends US, 1994. 7 a quick use of cocaine US, 1997. 8 in craps, a bet
that the shooter will make his even-numbered point in pairs US,

1950
gag verb to panic in the face of a great challenge US, 1988
gaga adjective 1 infatuated, silly UK, 1917. 2 mad, especially as a result
of senility UK, 1920
gag-awful adjective horrible US, 1981
gage noun 1 marijuana. Also variants ‘gayge’ and ‘gages’ US, 1934.
2 alcohol, especially whisky US, 1932. < get a gage up to smoke a
marijuana cigarette UK, 1998
gage butt noun a marijuana fashioned cigarette US, 1938
gaged adjective drug-intoxicated US, 1932
gage out; gauge out verb to become, or be, sleepy as a result of
marijuana intoxication UK, 1996
gagers; gaggers noun methcathinone US, 1998
gagged adjective disgusted US, 1968
gagging adjective desperately craving something, such as a cigarette,
a drink or sex
UK, 1997
gagging for a blagging adjective used of banks, etc, that exhibit
poor security. A combination of GAGGING (desperate for something)
and BLAGGING (a robbery with violence) UK, 2001
gaggle noun a formation of several military aircraft flying the same
mission US, 1942
gaggler noun 1 MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
UK, 2003. 2 amphetamines UK, 2003
gag me!; gag me with a spoon! used for expressing disgust. A
quintessential Valley Girl expression of disgust US, 1982
gagster noun acomedianUK, 1935
Gainesburger noun in the military, canned beef patties. Alluding to
a dog food product. Vietnam war usage US, 1983
Gainesville green noun marijuana grown in or near Gainesville,

Florida US, 1976
gal noun a woman or a girl. This gal is a woman with a chequered
history: ‘Cockney for girl’, 1824, but then the pronunciation
worked its way up the social ladder until, by about 1840, it was
quite upper-class. From around 1850 a ‘gal’ was a ‘servant girl’ or
a ‘harlot’, and from about 1860, a ‘sweetheart’ as used by Albert
Chevalier in My Old Dutch, 1893. The current sense is recorded in
US jazz and jive circles from the 1930s. By the turn of the
millennium, having passed through respectability once again, ‘gal’
was patronising or kitsch, and rarely found without ‘guys’
UK, 1795
galactic adjective great, wonderful, amazing US, 1998
galah noun a fool. From the name of an endemic Australian
cockatoo, commonly kept as a cage bird, and able to be coaxed
into antic behaviour. The name of the bird comes from the
Australian Aboriginal language Yuwaalaraay
AUSTRALIA, 1938
galba noun the penis TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
gal block noun a section of a prison reserved for blatantly homosex-
ual prisoners
US, 1972
gal-boy noun an effeminate young man US, 1987
galf noun a girlfriend. A reduction of ‘galfriend’ US, 1979
Galilee stompers noun in homosexual usage, sandals US, 1987
gall noun effrontery, impudence US, 1882
gallery 13 noun a prison graveyard US, 1982
gallery god noun a theatre-goer who sits in the uppermost balcony
US, 1947
gallon noun a container for liquid, without regard to the precise
volume

FIJI, 1993
gallop verb < gallop the lizard (of a male) to masturbate
AUSTRALIA, 1985
galloper noun aracehorseAUS TRALIA, 1960
galloping adjective worsening UK, 1785
galloping bones noun dice US, 1920
galloping dandruff noun body lice US, 1920
galloping dominoes noun dice US, 1918
galloping horse noun heroin. An elaboration of HORSE (heroin) US,
1959
gallops noun horse racing AUSTRALIA, 1950
gallup noun heroin. Building on the HORSE image UK, 2002
gallus; gallows adjective attractive, wonderful; self-confident, quick-
witted, brave, ostentatious, nonchalant; also used as an intensifier.
A phonetic slurring of ‘gallows’, suggesting ‘fit for the gallows’ and
thus ‘wicked’ – a very early example of ‘bad’ means ‘good’. In the
US from the 1840s to 1940s
UK, 1789
galoot; galloot noun a man, especially if hulking, stupid, boorish,
foolish, clumsy or otherwise objectionable. Possibly from Dutch
gelubt (a eunuch) UK, 1818
gal pal noun 1 a woman’s female friend US, 2001. 2 a female friend of
a male homosexual US, 1977
gal tank noun a holding cell in a jail reserved for homosexual
prisoners US, 1972
galvanise noun sheets of corrugated iron BARBADOS, 1965
galvo noun galvanised iron. Iron corrugated sheets are a common
building material in rural Australia AUSTRALIA, 1945
gam noun 1 the leg. Originally applied to a crippled leg, later to a
woman’s leg UK, 1785. 2 an act of oral sex. Also variant ‘gambo’ UK,

1954
gam verb 1 to pretend IRELAND, 1989. 2 to boast US, 1970. 3 to perform
oral sex UK, 1910
gamahuche noun an act of oral sex. Possibly a combination of Scots
dialect words gam (gum, mouth) and roosh (rush), hence a
‘rushing into the mouth’; more likely from French gamahucher
which shares the same sense
UK, 1865
gambage noun showing off TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1940
Gamble and Procter; gamble noun a doctor. Rhyming slang,
formed on a reversal of the pharmaceutical company Procter and
Gamble UK, 1998
gambler’s bankroll; gambler’s roll noun a bankroll consisting of a
large-denomination note on the outside of a number of small-
denomination notes US, 1986
game noun 1 an athlete’s style and ability US, 1997. 2 aperson’sstyle,
visual and oral
US, 1976. 3 a conventional attitude. A counterculture
concept that refuses to accept non-drop-out society as anything
more than a game with unnecessary rules
UK, 1967. 4 a criminal
activity; crime as a profession
UK, 1739. 5 business AUSTRALIA, 1877.
6 an attempt to con US, 1975. 7 sex appeal US, 1999 . 8 an interest in
the opposite sex
US, 2001. 9 a romantic or sexual relationship
outside your primary relationship. Synonymous with
PLAY AROUND;
also, ‘game’ has strong sexual overtones, as in ON THE GAME
(engaged in prostitution) UK, 1958. < give the game away to

cease doing something; to abandon; to give up AUSTRALIA, 1953.
< on the game to be working as a prostitute UK, 1898. < out of
the game
married, engaged or dating only one person US, 2001.
< run a game to fool, to swindle US, 1940. < the game the
business of prostitution UK, 1898. < the Game the criminal life-
style US, 1976
game verb 1 to deceive, to mislead, to trick US, 1963. 2 to flirt; to woo
US, 1988
game! used for expressing that enough is enough US, 1997
game as a pissant adjective very courageous AUSTRALIA, 1944
game face noun in sports, a serious expression and demeanour
reflecting complete concentration on the competition at hand.
Now used outside of sports, extended to any serious situation US,
1972
gameless adjective unskilled US, 1983
game of nap noun 1 a cap. Rhyming slang, from the card game UK,
1976. 2 an act of defecation. Rhyming slang for CRAP UK, 1992
game over! used for expressing that enough is enough US, 1997
gamer noun 1 a video game or role-playing game enthusiast US, 1977.
2 an athlete who can always be counted on for a gritty, all-out
effort US, 1977. 3 a person engaged in swindles and hustles as a way
of life US, 1975
game refuge noun any institution where traffic violators who are
under pursuit are free from further pursuit once they pass the
gates US, 1962
games and sports; games noun warts. Rhyming slang UK, 2003
gamey eye noun a tendency to flirt IRELAND, 1995
gamma delta iota noun a college student who is not a fraternity or
sorority member; a notional fraternity or sorority comprised of

students who don’t belong to fraternities or sororities. A back-
formation from
GDI (god damn independent) US, 2000
gammon noun one microgram. The unit of measurement for LSD
doses, even in the non-metric US US, 1969
gammon rasher noun a superlative thing. Rhyming slang for
SMASHER UK, 1974
gammy adjective 1 inferior, of low quality. As in ‘gammy gear’
(inferior goods) UK, 1979. 2 lame UK, 1879
gammy chant noun a bad situation IRELAND, 1997
gamoosh noun a fellow, usually not referring to a winner in the zero-
sum game of life US, 1988
gamot noun heroin; morphine UK, 1998
gander noun alookUS, 1914. < cop a gander to look at someone or
something, especially with discretion
US, 1950. < get your gander
up
to become annoyed or angry. A variation, probably by mis-
hearing, of DANDER UK, 2002
Gandhi’s flipflop noun used in similes as an example of extreme
dryness. Mahatma Gandhi, 1869–1948, wore sandals
UK, 1999
gandies noun underwear US, 1970
G and T noun gin and tonic. Initialism UK, 1966
gandy noun in Newfoundland, a pancake CANADA, 1966
gandy dancer noun 1 a railway track worker. Thought to be so called
from the Gandy Manufacturing Company of Chicago, which made
many of the tools used by the section gangs US, 1918. 2 aroad
worker
US, 1976. 3 in trucking, a tractor trailer that weaves back and

forthontheroad
US, 1971
gandy gang noun on the railways, a crew of track workers US, 1977
279 galactic | gandy gang
gang noun 1 a work crew. Still heard on occasion, but largely replaced
with the standard English ‘crew’
US, 1989. 2 a person’s social group.
From earlier conventional senses UK, 1945. 3 a great many US, 1811.
4 marijuana BAHAMAS, 1982
gang verb to engage in serial, consecutive sex, homosexual or het-
erosexual, especially to engage in multiple rape. A shortened form
of
GANGBANG UK, 1972
gangbang noun 1 successive, serial copulation between a single
person and multiple partners
US, 1945. 2 an orgy at which several
couples have sex. 3 a cluster of reporters descending on a public
figure with microphones, cameras, notepads and shouted
questions. Sometimes shortened to ‘bang’ or the variant ‘major
bang’
US, 2001. 4 a social gathering. A humorously ironic use of the
orgiastic sense
UK, 1977. 5 a group of friends talking together on
citizens’ band radio
US, 1977. 6 a television writing session involving
multiple writers
US, 1997. 7 the utilization of a large number of
computer programmers to create a product in a short period of
time
US, 1991. 8 a fight between youth gangs US, 1967

gangbang verb 1 to engage in successive, serial copulation with mul-
tiple partners. Also in figurative use
US, 1949. 2 to be an active part
of a gang; to battle another gang US, 1968
gangbanger noun a youth gang member US, 1969
gangbuster noun a zealous, energetic police official or prosecutor
who targets organised crime US, 1936
gangbusters noun < like gangbusters aggressively, with force US,
1940
gang cheats noun two or more people working as confederates in a
cheating scheme
US, 1988
gange noun marijuana. A shortening of GANJA (marijuana) US, 1971
gang-fuck noun an uncoordinated mess UK, 1995
gang-fuck verb to engage in serial, consecutive sex, homosexual or
hetereosexual US, 1916
gangie noun Serial sex between one person and multiple, partners,
consensual or not NEW ZEALAND, 1971
gangplank noun a bridge US, 1976
gangplank fever noun in the military, a fear of transfer to an
assignment overseas US, 1945
gang-shag noun successive, serial copulation between a single
person and multiple partners US, 1927
gang-splash noun serial sex between one person and multiple
partners, heterosexual or homosexual, consensual or not AUSTRALIA,
1971
gangsta noun a young black member of a (criminal) gang. A
deliberate respelling of ‘gangster’ US, 1998
gangsta adjective good, exciting. Hip-hop US, 2002
gangsta-lette noun a female gang member US, 2001

gangstamuthafucka noun a gangster, especially one who is con-
sidered powerful. An intensification of GANGSTA UK, 1997
gangsta rap; g-rap noun a rap music genre characterised by explicit
sex and violence which, it is claimed, reflects black urban exist-
ence. Combines
GANGSTA or ‘g’ (a black urban anti-hero) with RAP
(a musical style) US, 1992
gangsta rapper noun a rap artist who reflects on the black urban
experience in an explicitly sexual and violent manner. GANGSTA RAP
has been an influential music genre since the late 1980s US, 1990
gangster noun 1 marijuana. Promotes the outlaw self-image enjoyed
by smokers of the illegal substance; possibly playing on GANJA US,
1960. 2 a cigarette US, 1972
gangster bitch noun a female who associates with youth gang
members US, 2001
gangster doors noun any four-door sedan US, 1980
gangster lean noun 1 a style of driving a car in which the driver
leans towards the right side of the car, leaning on an arm rest,
steering with the left hand; by extension, a slouching walk or
posture
US, 1973. 2 a car with hydraulic shock aborbers that are set
to leave the car higher on one side than the other US, 1991
gangster pill noun any barbiturate or other central nervous system
depressant
US, 1994
gangster whitewalls noun showy, flashy, whitewalled tyres US, 1972
gang-up noun serial sex between multiple active participants and a
single passive one
US, 1951
gangy noun a close friend; a fellow member of a clique. Hawaiian

youth usage
US, 1982
ganja noun 1 marijuana, notably from Jamaica. Hindi word for
‘cannabis’, possibly derived from
BHANG and adopted around 1920
by ‘Anglo-Indian drug addicts’, by 1970 the UK Home Office ‘could
ascribe it to West Indians’. Celebrated in song by, among many
others, Clancy Eccles, ‘Ganja Free’, 1972 and Leslie Butler, ‘Ashanti
Ganja Dub’, 1975. With many spelling variations including ‘ganj’,
‘ganjah’, ‘ganjuh’ and ‘ganga’
JAMAICA, 1972. 2 the white
establishment US, 2000
ganja adjective white-skinned US, 2000
gank noun 1 marijuana US, 1989. 2 a substance sold as an illegal drug
that is actually fake US, 1994
gank verb 1 to steal US, 1996. 2 in Internet game-playing, to ‘kill’ a
player, especially unfairly. Also used as a noun
UK, 2003
ganky adjective ugly, repulsive IRELAND, 2004
GAP noun the Great American Public US, 1965
gap verb to watch, to witness a crime US, 1949. < gap it to make a
quick exit SOUTH AFRICA, 2000. < gap your axe to annoy NEW
ZEALAND
, 1998
gape noun a completely relaxed, distended anus. A term used by
anal sex fetishists, especially on the Internet US, 1999
gape verb to idle, to wander US, 1966
gaper noun 1 a dolt. An abbreviation of GAPING ASSHOLE US, 1966. 2 a
novice skier, or a non-skier watching others ski US, 1990. 3 a mirror
US, 1931

gaper-block; gapers’ block noun a traffic problem created by
motorists slowing down to gawk at an accident US, 1961
gaping and flaming adjective (used of a party) wild, rowdy, fun US,
1968
gaping asshole noun a dolt US, 1966
GAPO noun used as an abbreviation of gorilla armpit odour US, 1967
gaposis noun a notional disease involving a gap of any kind US, 1942
gap out verb to daydream and miss something for lack of attention
CANADA, 1993
gapper noun a mirror. Prisoner usage to describe a mirror used to
watch for approaching guards as the prisoners do something
which they ought not to do US, 1934
gappings noun a salary US, 1955
gap up verb to fill capsules with a powdered narcotic US, 1971
gar noun 1 a black person. An abbreiviation of NIGGER US, 1962.
2 marijuana rolled in cigar leaf US, 2001
gar adjective excellent, pleasing US, 1993
garage noun a subset of a criminal organisation US, 1975
garage action noun a legal action for libel (usually against a
newspaper) brought by the police on their own behalf. The
damages awarded are often substantial enough to buy a new
garage for the police officer’s home UK, 1998
garage band noun an amateur rock group with a basic, three-chord
approach to music. From the custom of practising in the garage at
the home of the parents of a band member US, 1977
garage man’s companion noun a truck manufactured by General
Motors Corporation. A back-formation from the initials GMC
US,
1971
garans! certainly. Hawaiian youth usage; shortened from

‘guaranteed’
US, 1981
garbage noun 1 anything of poor quality or little or no worth;
nonsense. From the sense as ‘refuse’ UK, 1592. 2 heroin; low quality
heroin US, 1962. 3 farm produce US, 1976. 4 any and all food, usually
low in protein and high in carbohydrate, not in a bodybuilder’s
gang | garbage 280
diet US, 1984. 5 cocktail garnishes US, 1998. 6 in hot rodding, a surfeit
of accessories unrelated to the car’s performance
US, 1960. 7 in
poker, the cards that have been discarded US, 1967
garbage barge noun a tuna fish sandwich US, 1985
garbage down verb to eat quickly US, 1959
garbage dump noun the California State Prison at San Quentin US,
1992
garbage guts noun a glutton AUSTRALIA, 1977
garbage hauler noun a truck driver hauling fruit or vegetables US,
1971
garbage head noun an addict who will use any substance available.
A term used in twelve-step recovery programmes such as
Alcoholics Anonymous
US, 1970
garbage in – garbage out a catchphrase employed as an
admonition to computer users: if you program mistakes into a
computer then an output of rubbish will surely result US, 1976
garbage mouth noun a person who regularly uses profanity US, 1970
garbage rock noun crack cocaine, especially of inferior quality UK,
1998
garbage shot noun in pool, a shot made with luck, not with skill US,
1979

garbage stand noun in circus and carnival usage, a novelty
concession US, 1981
garbage time noun the minutes at the end of an athletic contest
when the outcome is not in doubt and substitute players are used
freely by either or both teams; games at the end of a season when
a team’s record is such that a win or loss will not make a differ-
ence and substitute players are freely used US, 1971
garbage up verb 1 to eat US, 1955. 2 in bodybuilding, to eat food that
is not in your regular diet US, 1984
garbage wagon noun a standard Harley-Davidson motorcyle. The
term came from those who stripped the Harley of all the ‘garbage’
they didn’t want, keeping only the functional necessities US, 1966
garbanzos noun thefemalebreastsUS, 1982
garbo noun 1 a rubbish collector AUSTRALIA, 1953. 2 a rubbish bin
AUSTRALIA, 1987
garbologist noun a rubbish collector AUSTRALIA, 1973
garburator noun a garbage disposal unit mounted in the sink
CANADA, 1998
garden noun 1 a woman’s pubic hair US, 1982. 2 a railway yard US, 1946
Gardena miracle noun in a game of poker, a good hand drawn after
a poor dealt hand. Gardena is a city near Los Angeles where poker
rooms are legal US, 1982
gardener noun 1 a bookmaker who extends his prices beyond his
competitors AUSTRALIA, 1989. 2 in pool, a betting player who wins US,
1990
garden gate noun 1 eight pounds, £8 UK, 1992. 2 a magistrate.
Rhyming slang UK, 1859
garden gate verb to perform oral sex on a woman. Rhyming slang
for PLATE (to engage oral sex) UK, 2002
garden gnome noun a comb. Rhyming slang UK, 1992

garden plant; garden noun an aunt. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
garden punk noun a male homosexual BAHAMAS, 1982
garden tool noun a promiscuous girl or woman. Alluding, of course,
to a ‘hoe’ US, 1990
Gareth Gate verb to masturbate. Rhyming slang, inspired by the
name of pop singer Gareth Gates (b.1984) who came to fame in
2002 UK, 2003
Gareth Hunt noun an unpleasant or despicable person. Rhyming
slang, formed on the name of a well known London-born actor
(1943–2007)
UK, 2003
gargle noun alcoholic drink AUSTRALIA, 1965
gark noun ascratchNEW ZEALAND, 1998
garlo noun a police officer. English gypsy use UK, 2000
garm noun clothing; an item of clothing. An abbreviation of
‘garment’; current in the black community
UK, 1997
garmed up adjective fashionably or smartly dressed UK, 1997
gar-mouth verb to issue threats which cannot and will not be
implemented. In honour of the ‘gar’, a fish of the pike family with
long jaws – a big mouth US, 1984
garms noun clothes. From conventional garments UK, 2006
garn! go on! AUSTRALIA, 1911
garnish noun cash US, 2003
garnot noun heroin UK, 2002
Garrison finish noun in horse racing, a sprinting finish by a horse
that has lagged back until the final moment US, 1890
garrity adjective madly over-excited. Presumably after someone who
exhibited such characteristics; possibly Freddie Garrity (b.1940),
prancing and dancing lead singer of Freddie & The Dreamers, a

1960s pop group from Manchester
UK, 1999
Gary Ablett noun a tablet, especially of MDMA, the recreational drug
best known as ecstasy. Rhyming slang, ironically based on
Australian Rules Football player Gary Ablett whose career was
marred by a controversial involvement with drink and drugs. The
etymology is confused by Liverpool FC player Gary Ablett
AUSTRALIA,
1992
Gary Cooper noun in craps, a roll of 12. From Cooper’s starring role
in the western film High Noon US, 1983
Gary Glitter noun the anus; a lavatory. Rhyming slang for SHITTER.
The original 1980s use for entertainer Gary Glitter (Paul Francis
Gadd b.1944), as inspiration for a rhyming slang term was as
‘bitter’ (beer), however in the mid-90s allegations of under-age sex
changed the public’s perception and Gary Glitter became an
ARSEHOLE or was associated with toilets. In 2006 he was found
guilty in Vietnam of charges concerning under-age sex . Unlike
much rhyming slang this is generally used in full, if only to avoid
confusion with GARY LINEKER (vinegar) UK, 2001
Gary Lineker noun vinegar. Imprecise rhyming slang, based on the
name of Gary Lineker (b.1960), a popular footballer and television
personality. Walkers Crisps, whose advertising he is closely associ-
ated with, introduced a ‘Salt and Lineker’ flavour after this slang
term was in circulation
UK, 1998
Gary Player; Gary noun an ‘all-dayer’ event. Rhyming slang, based
on the name of South African golfer Gary Player (b.1936) UK, 2002
gas noun 1 a pleasing and/or amusing experience or situation. A jazz
term that slipped into mainstream youth slang US, 1953. 2 anabolic

steroids. The term drew national attention in the US on 14th July
1994, when Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan) testified in criminal
proceedings against wrestling promoter Vince McMahon in
Uniondale, New York. Asked if he had heard any slang for steroids,
Bollea/Hogan answered ‘Juice. Gas’
US, 1994. 3 batteries. From the
radio as CAR metaphor US, 2002. 4 money SOUTH AFRICA, 1977. 5 in
pool, momentum or force US, 1993. < cut the gas to stop talking
US, 1951. < take gas to be knocked from a surfboard by a wave;
to fall from a skateboard US, 1963. < take the gas to lose your
composure
US, 1961
gas verb 1 to talk idly; to chatter. The ‘gas’ is hot air US, 1847. 2 to
tease, to joke, to kid
US, 1847. 3 to please, to excite US, 1941. 4 to
inhale glue or any volatile solvent for the intoxicating effect US,
1970. 5 to straighten (hair) with chemicals and heat US, 1953
gasbag noun a very talkative individual, a boaster, a person of too
many words US, 1862
gas-cooker verb to catch out; to put in a difficult position; to trick
or delude. Glasgow rhyming slang for SNOOKER UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
gaseech noun afaceUK, 1992
gas ’em stop noun a petrol station US, 1976
gas factor noun (among Canadian forces personnel) a measure of a
person’s commitment to a project. The initials represent ‘give a
shit’ CANADA, 1995
gas gun noun a large-bore shotgun loaded with tear-gas cannisters
US, 1962
281 garbage barge | gas gun
gas-guzzler noun a motor vehicle that demands immoderate quan-

tities of fuel, either by design or in consequence of a driver’s
excessive demands
US, 1973
gash noun 1 the vagina; sex with a woman; a woman as a sex object
US, 1866. 2 a male homosexual who is sexually passive US, 1950.
3 rubbish, refuse. A British contribution to South Pole slang
ANTARCTICA, 1958. 4 a second helping of food AUSTRALIA, 1943.
5 marijuana US, 1986
gash verb to have sex US, 1989
gash adjective useless, of poor quality UK, 1997
gas-head noun 1 an abuser of industrial solvents for their
psychoactive effects UK, 1996. 2 a person with chemically
straightened hair US, 1968
gash hound noun a man who is obsessed with women US, 1955
gasket noun 1 any improvised seal between the end of a dropper
and the hub of a needle
US, 1970. 2 a doughnut US, 1942
gasket jint; gasket noun a pint, especially of beer. Glasgow rhyming
slang, formed on the local pronunciation of ‘joint’ UK: SCOTLAND,
1988
gasoline! in oil drilling, used as a shouted warning that a boss is
approaching US, 1954
gasoline alley noun in motor racing, the area at the race track
where race teams repair and prepare cars for the race US, 1965
gasp and grunt; grunt noun the vagina; a woman or women
sexually objectified. Rhyming slang for CUNT UK, 1961
gas-passer noun an anaesthetist US, 1961
gasper noun 1 a cigarette. Descriptive of the respiratory effect of
tobacco-smoking. Originally military slang for an inferior cigarette,
popularised in World War 1, in wider usage by 1930 UK, 1914. 2 a

marijuana cigarette. From the earlier sense (cigarette) US, 1984.
3 something that is astonishing US, 1970. 4 in typography, an
exclamation mark (!) UK, 2003
Gaspers nickname the Asper family of Winnipeg, Manitoba, socially,
culturally and politically prominent
CANADA, 2002
gasper stick noun a marijuana cigarette UK, 1998
Gaspe steak noun fried bologna CANADA, 1998
gas pump jock noun in the days before self-service, a petrol station
attendant US, 1986
gas queen noun a male homosexual who patronizes young male
prostitutes working on the street US, 1997
gassed adjective 1 tipsy, drunk. World War 1 military use from the
stupefying effects of gas; then, its origins soon forgotten, just
another synonym for ‘drunk’ US, 1919. 2 describes a drug that is
considered to be terrific or very enjoyable, used especially of
marijuana, US, 1946
gasser noun 1 something wonderful, very exceptional; extraordinarily
successful US, 1944. 2 a cigarette. Partidge suggests ‘perhaps a
slovening of the synonym
GASPER’; a darker etymology reflecting
the cough-inducing and life-shortening properties of tobacco is
also possible AUSTRALIA, 1984. 3 an anaesthetist. Medical slang. Often
teamed with surgeons as ‘gassers and SLASHERS’ UK, 2002. 4 in drag
racing, a car that only uses petrol for fuel US, 1965. 5 in oil drilling, a
well that produces no oil US, 1954
gassy adjective excellent, pleasant, humorous US, 1962
Gastown noun now a section of downtown Vancouver, named after
a Victorian-era saloonkeeper CANADA, 1952
gastro noun gastroenteritis AUSTRALIA, 1975

gat noun 1 a gun, especially a pistol; in the Royal Air Force, a rifle US,
1897. 2 the anus. From Afrikaans (a hole) SOUTH AFRICA, 1968
gat verb to shoot US, 1990
gat-creeper noun a sycophant. From GAT (the anus), and kruiper
(creeper) SOUTH AFRICA, 1985
gate noun 1 a jazz musician; hence a fashionable man. A pun on
‘swinging’ (swing gate, abbreviated from
GATOR US, 1936. 2 used as a
term of address among jazz lovers of the 1930s and 40s
US, 1936.
3 a young person US, 1936. 4 release from prison US, 1966. 5 a vein
into which a drug is injected
US, 1986. 6 the mouth US, 1936
gate verb in private dice games, to stop the dice while rolling, either
as a superstition or to check for cheating
US, 1963
-gate suffix used as an embellishment of a noun or name to suggest
a far-reaching political scandal. From the Watergate scandal that
consumed and ultimately destroyed the Nixon presidency between
1972 (the burglary) and 1974 (the resignation from office)
US, 1973
gate-crash verb to achieve entrance to a place, or an event such as
a party, without proper credentials or an invitation US, 1922
gate-crasher noun a person who achieves entrance to a place, or an
event such as a party, without proper credentials or an invitation
US, 1927
gate-crashing noun the act of achieving entrance to a place, or an
event such as a party, without proper credentials or an invitation
US, 1927
gate fever noun the anxiety suffered by prisoners as they approach

their release date
UK, 1958
gate happy adjective (of prisoners) exuberant or excited at the
approach of a release date UK, 1996
gate jaw noun in trucking, a driver who monopolises conversation
on the citizens’ band radio US, 1976
gatekeeper noun a person who introduces another to a first LSD
experience US, 1967
gate money noun the cash given to a prisoner upon release from
prison US, 1931
gatemouth noun a gossip US, 1944
Gatemouth nickname jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong (1901–1971)
US, 1936
gates noun 1 used as a term of address, male-to-male, usually
collegial US, 1936. 2 marijuana US, 1966. 3 a house BERMUDA, 1985
Gateshead noun < get out at Gateshead during sex, to withdraw
the penis from the vagina just before ejaculation, to practise coitus
interruptus UK, 1970
gates of Rome noun home. Rhyming slang UK, 1960
gate to heaven; jade gate noun the vagina. Notable for what
seems to be the first slang uses of ‘gate’ as ‘vagina’ – not for the
sub-‘Perfumed Garden’-style of metaphorical imagery US, 2001
Gateway to the South noun Balham, a district in South London.
An ironic title, coined in the early 1960s for a satirical ‘travelogue’
‘Balham – Gateway to the South’ written by Frank Muir and
performed by Peter Sellers
UK, 1977
gatey adjective of prisoners, suffering anxiety as the date of release
from prison approaches UK, 1959
gather noun a police officer UK, 1999

gather verb to arrest. Usually as the passive ‘be gathered’ AUSTRALIA,
1975
Gatnick noun London Gatwick airport. A pun on NICK (to steal),
based on the reputation of the baggage handlers UK, 1999
gato noun heroin. Spanish gato (a cat) US, 1980
gator noun 1 an alligator US, 1844. 2 an all-purpose male form of
address. Originally a Negro abbreviation of ‘alligator’; in the 1930s
it was adopted into
JIVE (black/jazz slang) as an equivalent of CAT (a
man); gato is a ‘male cat’ in Spanish. Eventually rock ’n’ roll
spread the word and it died out
US, 1944. 3 a swing jazz enthusiast.
An abbreviation of
ALLIGATOR US, 1944
Gator nickname Ron Guidry (b.1950), one of the best pitchers to ever
play for the New York Yankees (1975–88). Guidry came from
Louisiana, a state with swamps that are home to alligators US, 1978
gator boy; gator girl noun a member of the Seminole Indian tribe
US, 1963
gator grip noun in television and film-making, a clamp used to
attach lights. An abbreviation of ‘alligator grip’, from the
resemblance to an alligator’s jaws US, 1987
gatted adjective drunk UK, 2002
gas-guzzler | gatted 282
gatter noun a drink; alcohol, especially beer. English gypsy use UK,
1841
gattered adjective drunk. Possibly a variation of GUTTERED UK, 2003
gauching adjective used to describe the glazed-eyed, open-mouthed
state of an intoxicated drug taker
UK, 1996

gauge noun a shotgun US, 1993
gavel and wig; gavel verb to probe your eye or your anus in order
to relieve an irritation. Rhyming slang for TWIG UK, 1992
gavvers noun the police. English gypsy and underworld use UK, 2000
gawd; gaw; gor noun god. Phonetic spelling of Cockney
pronunciation, subsequently treated as almost euphemistic UK, 1877
gawd love-a-duck!; cor love-a-duck! used as a mild expression of
shock or surprise. A variation of
LORD LOVE-A-DUCK! UK, 1948
gawjo noun 8see: GORGER
gawk noun in circus and carnival usage, a local who loiters as the
show is assembled or taken down US, 1981
gay noun a homosexual US, 1953
gay adjective 1 homosexual US, 1933. 2 catering to or patronised by
homosexuals US, 1954. 3 bad, stupid, out of style. General pejorative
in juvenile use; a reversal of the politically correct norm much as
‘good’ is
BAD and WICKED is ‘good’ US, 1978
gay 90s noun US Treasury 3.5% bonds issued in 1958, due to return
in 1990 US, 1960
gay and frisky noun whisky. Rhyming slang UK, 1919
gay and hearty noun a party. Rhyming slang AUSTRALIA, 1969
gay as a French horn adjective undoubtedly homosexual UK, 2001
gay-ass adjective extremely out of fashion CANADA, 2002
gay bar noun a bar catering to a homosexual clientele US, 1953
gay bashing noun violent beatings targeted on homosexuals US, 1997
gay boy noun a homosexual male, especially one who is flamboyant
and young
US, 1945
gaycat verb to have a good, carefree time US, 1924

gay chicken noun a young homosexual male US, 1959
gaydar; gadar noun the perceived or real ability of one homosexual
to sense intuitively that another person is homosexual
US, 1982
gayer noun a homosexual. An elaboration of GAY UK, 2003
gay for pay adjective said of a heterosexual man who portrays a
homosexual man in a film or other theatrical performance
US, 1997
gay ghetto noun a section of a city largely inhabited by openly
homosexual men. Probably coined by Martin Levine, who wrote
‘Gay Ghetto’, published in Journal of Homosexuality,Volume4
(1979). Examples include Greenwich Village and Chelsea in New
York, the North Side in Chicago and the Castro in San Francisco.
Unlike all other ghettos, they are affluent
US, 1971
gay gordon noun a traffic warden. Rhyming slang, probably formed
from the Gay Gordons, a traditional Scottish dance
UK, 1992
gaylord noun a homosexual man. An elaboration of GAY via a
somewhat obscure male forename; introduced to the UK, and
possibly coined by, comedian Sacha Baron-Cohen (b.1970) UK, 2001
gayly adverb in a manner that is recognised as obviously homosexual
UK, 2002
gay-marry verb to commit to a lifelong relationship with someone
ofthesamesex
US, 1999
gaymo noun used as an insult by very young children UK, 2004
gayola; gay-ola noun extortion of homosexuals by the police US, 1960
gay plague noun AIDS. This term, with overtones of pious hate and
biblical retribution, spread the misconception that the AIDS

epidemic was exclusively reserved for ‘ungodly’ homosexuals US,
1982
gay radar noun the ability to recognise a homosexual AUSTRALIA, 1994
gay-tastic adjective especially wonderful or fabulous in a way that
appeals to homosexuals US, 2004
gay ’til graduation adjective temporarily or situationally homosexual
or bisexual
US, 1996
Gaza II noun Concordia University, Montreal, formed of Sir George
and Loyola Universities in 1974
CANADA, 2002
gazebbies noun the female breasts. Vietnam war usage US, 1965
gazelle noun < in a gazelle feeling good. Obsolete teen slang
CANADA, 1946
gazillion noun a very large, if indefinite, number US, 1995
gazongas noun the female breasts US, 1978
gazook noun 1 a loud lout US, 1901. 2 aboyUS, 1949
gazookus noun in carnival usage, a genuine article US, 1924
gazoony noun 1 a fellow, especially a low-life US, 1914. 2 a manual
labourer in a carnival US, 1966. 3 the passive participant in anal sex
US, 1918
gazoozie verb to swindle US, 1992
gazump verb 1 to raise the selling-price of a property after agreeing
the terms of sale; hence to outbid an agreed sale. A specialisation
of the sense ‘to swindle’
UK, 1971. 2 to swindle UK, 1928
gazumping noun the act of raising the selling-price of a property
after agreeing the terms of sale; hence, outbidding an agreed sale.
From the verb
GAZUMP UK, 1971

gazunder noun a chamberpot AUSTRALIA, 1981
gazunder verb of a house-owner or a swindler, to reduce the selling
price of a property, especially shortly before exchange of contracts,
with a threat that the sale must go through on the new terms. A
play on GAZUMP UK, 1988
GB noun 1 sex between one person and multiple, sequential
partners. An abbreviation of GANG BANG US, 1972. 2 any barbiturate
or central nervous system depressant. An abbreviation of
GOOFBALL
US
, 1966. 3 goodbye US, 1945
GBH noun 1 the criminal charges of grievous bodily harm and
malicious wounding; the act of causing serious injury. Initialism
UK, 1949. 2 the recreational drug GHB. A jumbling of the letters in
GHB gives an abbreviation for GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM UK, 1996
GBH of the brain noun the activity of studying. From GBH (physical
assault and damage) UK, 1996
GBH of the eardrums noun loud music. From GBH (physical assault
and damage)
UK, 1996
GBH of the earhole; GBH of the ear noun a verbal assault.
Extended from the criminal offence of GBH (grievous bodily harm).
Usually jocular UK, 1984
Gbitnoun a prison sentence to a federal penitentiary US, 1950
g’bye goodbye UK, 1925
G-car noun a federal law enforcement agency car US, 1981
GCM! used as an expression of frustration or wonder. An initialism
of ‘God, Christ, Moses’ SOUTH AFRICA, 1984
g’day; gooday; gidday hello! An extremely common, and now
iconic, Australian greeting AUSTRALIA, 1928

GDI noun a college student who is not a fraternity or sorority
member, a god-damn independent US, 1966
G-dog noun a good friend US, 1998
GE noun the electric chair. Homage to General Electric US, 1990
gear noun 1 marijuana; heroin; drugs in general US, 1954. 2 anything,
especially anything illicit, intentionally undefined AUSTRALIA, 1975.
3 the equipment and paraphernalia associated with drug use,
especially syringes, etc UK, 1996. 4 stolen goods UK, 1956. 5 stuff,
things UK, 1415. 6 clothes AUSTRALIA, 1970. 7 (of a woman) the obvious
physical attributes. Extended from the purely genital sense
US, 1953.
8 a homosexual US, 1972. < get your arse into gear; get your
ass into gear
to stop idling, to apply yourself to an activity, to
start doing something useful US, 1914
gear adjective very good, outstanding. Brought to the world by the
Beatles, dropped from fashionable use in the mid-1960s; revived in
the UK, later C20, and continues in ironic use UK, 1951. < gear for
something
obsessed with, fanatical about something US, 1972
283 gatter | gear
gear bonger; gear banger noun a poor driver, especially one who
crashes the gears
US, 1971
gear-box noun the vagina. A survival and technological updating of
obsolete ‘gear ’(the vagina), used in East Anglia, notably Suffolk
UK,
1972
gear down verb to dress up BARBADOS, 1965
geared adjective available for homosexual relations US, 1935

geared up adjective dressed up. Also used of motorcyclists in full
protective wear
UK, 1979
gear head noun in mountain biking, a bicycle mechanic US, 1992
gear jammer noun a truck driver who has a difficult time shifting
gears, especially one who is constantly clashing the gears as he
shifts
US, 1929
gear-lever noun the penis. Historically ‘gear’ has meant both male
and female genitals so the derivation here is ambiguous.
Remembered by Beale as the term used by UK National
Servicemen (National Service ran from 1946–60)
UK, 1973
gears noun the testicles US, 1952
gedanken adjective in computing, impractical or poorly designed.
From the German for ‘thought’
US, 1983
gedunk noun 1 ice-cream, sweets, potato crisps and other junk food;
the ship store where junk food can be bought. A US Navy term US,
1927. 2 a place where sweets and snacks are sold US, 1956
gedunk truck noun a catering truck US, 1992
gee noun 1 a man, a fellow US, 1907. 2 opium; heroin. Possibly a
respelling of the initial letter of a number of synonyms, or from
Hindi ghee (butter), or playing on the sense as HORSE (heroin) US,
1938. 3 $1,000. From the first letter of GRAND ($1,000) US, 1936. 4 a
piece of praise. Possibly from the verb sense ‘to encourage’ UK, 1998.
5 a market trader’s or circus entertainer’s assistant who is
discreetly positioned in the crowd to incite responses
UK, 1934. 6 a
strong, respected, manipulative prisoner US, 1951. 7 any device used

to secure a needle to an eye dropper as part of an improvised
mechanism to inject drugs US, 1960. 8 the vagina. The term gives
rise to the ‘gee bag’ condom, ‘missed by a gee hair’ (a near miss
or accident) and the expression ‘do ya the gee’ said by a boy to a
girl and meaning ‘do you have sex’ IRELAND, 1991. 9 a horse UK, 1879
gee verb 1 to encourage, to incite. From the commands to a horse:
‘gee up!’ UK, 1932. 2 to inform. From the initial letter of GRASS (to
inform) UK, 1996
gee!; jee! an exclamation used for expressing surprise,
astonishment or shock. Probably a euphemism for ‘Jesus!’; later
use is often ironic US, 1895
geech noun money US, 1968
geechee noun an uneducated, rural black person, especially one who
is not easily understood US, 1905
gee’d up adjective 1 drug-intoxicated. Originally of opium (GEE),
gradually less discriminating US, 1936. 2 excited. Influenced by the
meaning as ‘drug-intoxicated’ but actually from GEE (to encourage)
UK, 1932. 3 dressed in clothing associated with youth gangs US, 1995
geedus noun in circus and carnival usage, money US, 1981
gee -eyed adjective completely drunk IRELAND, 2001
gee-gees noun 1 horse races. Singular ‘gee gee’ is a ‘(race)horse’ and
‘the gee gees’ means ‘horse racing’
UK, 1869. 2 veterinary drugs
IRELAND, 1996
gee head noun a frequent Paregoric user US, 1970
geek noun 1 a carnival freak, usually an alcoholic or drug addict, who
would sit and crawl in his own excrement and occasionally bite
the heads off snakes and chickens. Perhaps from German gucken
(to peep, to look) or synonymous German slang or dialect kefken
US, 1928. 2 a student whose devotion to study excludes all other

interests or society; someone who is considered too studious;
someone obsessed with computers. Pejorative US, 1980. 3 an
offensive, despicable person; a clumsy person; a socially awkward
person
UK, 1876. 4 a prostitute’s customer with fetishistic desires US,
1993
. 5 an awkward skateboarder or a pedestrian who gets in the
way US, 1976. 6 crack cocaine mixed with marijuana UK, 1998. 7 a
look; a peek AUSTRALIA, 1966
geek verb 1 to display severe anxiety when coming off cocaine
intoxication
US, 1993. 2 to act foolishly US, 1998. 3 to look, watch, peer
AUSTRALIA, 1966
geek-a-mo noun a geek US, 1991
geeked adjective 1 in a psychotic state induced by continuous use of
amphetamine or methamphetamine
US, 1989. 2 sexually aroused
while under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant
US, 1989. 3 marijuana-intoxicated US, 2002. 4 jittery, childishly excited
US, 1984
geeked out adjective unordinary; injured US, 2002
geeker noun 1 a user of crack cocaine US, 1990. 2 astarerAUSTRALIA, 1979
geekerati noun an elite grouping of people involved in information
technology
US, 2000
geeker rental noun a car stolen by a crack cocaine addict who then
trades use of the car for drugs
US, 2002
geeking adjective inept; unfashionable; awkward US, 1987
geekish adjective obsessed with computers; socially inept US, 1986

geek out verb to enter a highly technical mode which is too difficult
to explain
US, 1991
geek-o-zoid noun a student whose devotion to study excludes all
other interests or society, hence an unpopular student; someone
who is considered too studious; someone obsessed with
computers. An elaboration of GEEK UK, 2002
geeksploitation noun an act, or general policy, of taking profitable
advantage of the enthusiasm and willingness to work of young
computer programmers; also used of entertainment designed to
appeal to the technologically-obsessed. A combination of GEEK (a
studious-type or IT obsessive) and ‘exploitation’ US, 1996
geekster noun a geek US, 1991
geeky adjective socially inept; overly involved with computers US, 1981
gees noun horse racing UK, 1959
geeser noun a small amount of an illegal drug US, 1952
geet noun a dollar US, 1947
geets noun money US, 1949
geetus noun money US, 1926
gee-up noun 1 an act or instance of stirring AUSTRALIA, 1995. 2 a
swindler’s confederate who leads others to spend their money
AUSTRALIA, 1899
gee up verb 1 to motivate; to encourage AUSTRALIA, 1955. 2 to tease UK,
1983
gee whiz! used for registering shock, surprise, disappointment, or
for emphasis. Elaboration of
GEE! US, 1876
gee willikers! used as a mock oath. There are countless variants US,
1851
geez noun 1 a friend UK, 2003. 2 a look. A variant of GEEK AUSTRALIA, 1981

geeze; geaze verb to inject by hypodermic needle US, 1966
geeze; geaze; greaze noun heroin; an injection of heroin; narcotics
US, 1967
geezer noun 1 a man. Possibly from Basque giza (a man), picked up
by Wellington’s soldiers during the Peninsular War (1808–14);
alternatively it may derive from C15 English dialect guiser (a
mummer). Variant spellings include ‘geyser’ and the abbreviated
‘geez’
UK, 1885. 2 an old person, somewhat infirm. An objectionable
reference to a senior citizen
UK, 1885. 3 a fellow-prisoner UK, 1958. 4 a
man who is easily duped
UK, 1959. 5 a young manual worker who
lives with his parents and spends his disposable income on leisure
and pleasure. Created by a research company as a sociological
label for commercial and marketing purposes; a specialised vari-
ation UK, 2003. 6 an intravenous drug user. Sometimes spelled
‘geazer’ from the variant verb spelling geeze; geaze US, 1967. 7 a
small amount of a drug US, 1971
geezerbird; geezerchick noun a young woman characterised by
her behaviour and positive involvement in activites (drinking,
swearing, sport, etc) stereotypically enjoyed by males. Combines
GEEZER (a man) with a less-than-politically correct term for a ‘young
woman’
UK, 2002
gear bonger; gear banger | geezerbir d; geezerchick 284
geezo noun 1 a hardened prison inmate US, 1951. 2 an armed robbery
US, 2001
geggie; gegg noun the mouth. Glaswegian use UK: SCOTL AND, 1985
gehuncle noun a cripple US, 1954

gel noun 1 a girl. With a hard ‘g’ UK, 1969. 2 dynamite used for
opening a safe
US, 1972. 3 a socially inept person US, 1991
gelly; jelly noun gelignite AUSTRALIA, 1941
gelt; geld noun money. Originally conventional English, then out of
favour, then back as slang. German, Dutch and Yiddish claims on
its origin UK, 1529
gen noun information. Originally military, possibly deriving from the
phrase ‘for the general information of all ranks’
UK, 1940
gen; gen up verb to learn; to inform, to brief. After the noun UK, 1943
gendarme noun a police officer. Adopted directly from the French
gendarme
UK, 1906
gender bender noun a person with an ambiguous or androgynous
sexual identity, or with asexual identity divergent from their bio-
logical sex
UK, 1980
gender mender noun a computer cable with either two male or two
female connectors US, 1991
general noun a railway yardmaster US, 1946
General nickname < The General 1 Frank Sinatra, American singer
(1915–1998) US, 1963. 2 Ireland’s most famous criminal, Martin
Cahill
IRELAND, 1995
General Booth noun a tooth. Rhyming slang, formed from the
name of William Booth, 1829–1912, the founder of the Salvation
Army
UK, 1992
general election noun an erection. Rhyming slang, the source of

many jokes about standing members, even if we only get one
every four or five years UK, 1992
general mess of crap noun a truck manufactured by General
Motors Corporation. A humorous back-formation from the initials
GMC US, 1971
General Smuts; generals noun the testicles. Rhyming slang for
NUTS, formed from the name of a South African statesman,
1870–1950 UK, 1992
General Westhisface nickname US Army General William
Westmoreland. Not particularly kind US, 1977
Generation X; Gen X noun the marketing category that defines
people born between the late 1950s and mid-70s. Originally the
title of a sociological book by Charles Hamblett and Jane
Deverson, 1965; moved beyond jargon when adopted as the name
of a UK punk band in the mid-1970s; in 1991 Douglas Coupland
employed it to describe a new generation; usage is now almost
conventional. Generation Y does not appear to have caught on US,
1965
Generation Xer; Gen-Xer; Xer; X noun in marketing terms,
someone born between the late 1950s and mid-70s, seen as well
educated but without direction US, late 1970s
Generation XL noun a (notional) sociological group of children,
teenagers or young adults who are clinically obese. A play on
GENERATION X and XL, the retail abbreviation for ‘extra large’ UK, 2003
generic adjective stupid, dull, boring US, 1988
geni-ass noun a smart and diligent student. A play on ‘genius’ US, 1968
genius noun 1 a person skilled at performing oral sex. A pun based
on HEAD (oral sex) US, 2002. 2 in computing, an obvious or easily
guessed password US, 1990
genny; jenny noun a generator UK, 1956

gent noun 1 a good man, an honourable man, a man who is
admired. From ‘gentleman’ and charactertistics generously
ascribed to the stereotype UK, 1987. 2 a man with pretentions to
class or status. Used in a derisory context
UK, 1605. 3 money.
Survives as a variant of
GELT (money) but, in fact, derives not from
German gelt but French argent (silver; money); original use was
especially of silver coins UK, 1859. 4 a maggot used as fishing bait
AUSTRALIA, 1998
gentleman jockey noun in horse racing, an amateur jockey,
especially in a steeplechase event
US, 1947
gentleman of leisure noun a pimp US, 1973
gentleman’s call noun in pool, an understanding that a shot need
not be called if it is obvious
US, 1992
gentleman’s fever noun a sexually transmitted infection BAHAMAS,
1982
gentlemen’s relish noun sperm UK, 2002
gents noun a gentlemen’s public convenience US, 1960
Geoff Hurst; geoff noun 1 a first class honours degree. Rhyming
slang, based on the name of Geoff Hurst (b.1941), the only
footballer to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final
UK, 1998.
2 a thirst UK, 1994. 3 urination. Rhyming slang for ‘burst’ UK, 2002
Geoffrey Chaucer noun a saucer. Rhyming slang formed on the
name of the great English poet, who lived from about 1343 to
1400, and who, fittingly, used slang in his rhyme
UK, 1992

geog; geoggers noun geography, especially as a subject of study UK,
1940
geologist noun a physician who considers his patients to be as
intelligent as a rock
US, 1978
George noun 1 a gambler who tips the dealer or places bets in the
dealer’s name US, 1974. 2 in American casinos, a skilled and lucky
gambler US, 1985. 3 used as a term of address for any Pullman
porter
US, 1939. 4 an act of defecation. A euphemism by
personification, but why a George should be so honoured is not
recorded UK, 1959. < call it George to agree that a matter is
settled GUY ANA, 1962
George adjective excellent US, 1930
George and Ringo noun bingo. Rhyming slang, formed from the
names of two of the Beatles, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, and
probably not heard since the Beatles broke up UK, 1992
George and Zippy adjective (of weather) cold, chilly. Rhyming slang
for
NIPPY, based on two of the puppet characters in long-running
Thames television children’s programme Rainbow (from 1972)
UK,
2002
George Bernard Shaw; George Bernard noun a door. Rhyming
slang, formed from the name of the Irish playwright, 1856–1950
UK, 1992
George Blake noun a snake. Rhyming slang, formed from the name
of a notorious British security and intelligence operative who spied
for the KGB from 1944–61 UK, 1992
George Martin noun farting. Rhyming slang, formed from the name

of orchestral arranger and producer Sir George Martin (b.1926) UK,
2003
George Melly noun the belly, a paunch. Rhyming slang, formed
from the name of the jazz singer and surrealist (1937–2007)
whose shape echoes the sense UK, 1992
George Michael; George verb to cycle. Popney rhyming slang,
based on popular singer George Michael (b.1963). Popney was orig-
inally contrived for www.music365.co.uk, an Internet music site;
this is one of several terms that caught on UK, 2001
George Raft noun 1 a draught. Rhyming slang, formed on the name
of US film actor George Raft (1895–1980)
UK, 1979. 2 hard work.
Rhyming slang for
GRAFT UK, 1992
George Smack; George noun heroin US, 1967
George Spelvin noun used in a theatre programme as a fictitious
name for an actor
US, 1908
George the Third noun 1 a bird. Rhyming slang, recorded as an
alternative to RICHARD THE THIRD UK, 1961. 2 a lump of excrement.
Rhyming slang for TURD UK, 1992
George W. noun a person with an inflated sense of self-worth. An
unkind allusion to US President George W. Bush US, 2001
Georgia; Georgie verb to cheat, to swindle; (of a prostitute) to have
sex with a customer without collecting the fee. Especially used in
the context of prostitution US, 1960
Georgia buggy noun a wheelbarrow US, 1918
285 geezo | Georgia buggy
Georgia ham noun a watermelon US, 1971
Georgia homeboy noun the recreational drug GHB. A disguise for

the initials
GHB US, 1993
Georgia night rider noun a trucker who drives at night in the hope
of avoiding police US, 1976
Georgia overdrive noun coasting down a hill with the car or truck
in neutral
US, 1963
Georgia scuffle noun 1 a swindle which fails because the intended
victim is not smart enough to be swindled
US, 1992. 2 in carnival
usage, rough handling of an extremely naive customer in a
swindle US, 1950
Georgie Best noun 1 a pest, especially a drunken pest. Rhyming
slang, reflecting footballer George Best’s fall from grace to
alcoholism
UK, 1992. 2 the female breast. Rhyming slang UK, 2003.
< be my Georgie Best! do as you wish; you are welcome to
have whatever has been asked for. Rhyming slang for ‘be my
guest’, formed on the name of Irish footballer George Best
(1946–2005)
UK, 1977
ger verb get. A slovenly pronunciation that occurs when the following
word commences with a vowel, in uses such as ‘ger along’
UK, 1895
gerbil around verb in car repair, to work at a somewhat frantic pace
in an effort to hide the fact that the problem at hand, or car
repair in general, is too difficult
US, 1992
geriatrick noun an older homosexual man as a one-time sex-partner
UK, 1979

germ noun 1 a German UK, 1915. 2 a despised person US, 1942
Germaine Greer noun a glass of beer. Rhyming slang, formed from
the name of an Australian feminist and academic who has
become a media personality (b.1939) AUSTRALIA, 1987
German noun (used by prisoners) a prison officer. A hangover from
World War 2 when the Germans were the enemy UK, 1996
German band noun the hand. Rhyming slang UK, 1979
Germans noun drug dealers from the Dominican Republic as
perceived by African-American drug dealers competing for the
same market – the enemy
US, 1992
germs noun gentlemen, as a form of address. A jocular slurring,
especially in the pairing ‘Ladeez and Germs’ UK, 2001
Geronimo noun 1 an alcoholic drink mixed with a barbiturate. A
dangerous cross reaction US, 1970. 2 a barbiturate US, 1990
gerook; gerooked adjective drug or alcohol-intoxicated. From
Afrikaans for ‘cured/smoked’ SOUTH AFRICA, 1970
gerrick noun piece of rolled up silver foil used as a filter in
marijuana pipes. The ‘gerrick’ is made by laying out a piece of foil
(usually from a cigarette box), or thin cardboard (usually from the
same box) into a square, rolling it up, bending it into a circle and
wedging it into the bottom of a bottleneck pipe to keep the
marijuana from falling out when the smoke is sucked in
SOUTH
AFRICA
, 2003
gerry nickname an old person. An abbreviation of ‘geriatric’ NEW
ZEALAND
, 1998
gert adjective great. A C14 dialect word that is now widely familiar

beyond its regional use as a result of media exposure UK, 1997
gertcha!; gercha!; gertcher! I don’t believe you!; used for
registering disbelief. An alteration of ‘get away!’; immortalised in
song by Chas and Dave, 1979 UK, 1937
Gertie Gitana; Gertie noun a banana. Rhyming slang, based on
the name of music hall entertainer Gertie Gitana, 1888–1957;
originating in the first decade of C20 with her name replacing the
refrain ‘Have a banana’ in the song ‘Let’s All Go Down the Strand’.
Still in use UK, 1961
gert stonkers noun large female breasts AUSTRALIA, 1988
Gestapo noun 1 the police. Originally used of the military police
during World War 2 in a (presumably) jocular allusion to the
German Secret Police of the Third Reich. Often used with ‘the’
UK,
1941. 2 uniformed personnel (such as bus inspectors) or others
(such as teachers) who enjoy the little power of their authority UK,
1969. 3 the motorcycle officers of the Metropolitan police traffic div-
ision. Police use (especially the Metropolitan Police Drugs Squad);
probably inspired by the jackboots and black breeches uniform
UK,
1999
get verb 1 to understand, to appreciate US, 1892. 2 to worry, to vex, to
annoy
US, 1867. 3 to enthral, to appeal to, to affect emotionally, to
obsess UK, 1913. 4 to obtain sexual intercourse AUSTRALIA, 1970 . < get
above yourself
to become conceited, arrogant UK, 1923. < get
amongst
to perform some task or take part enthusiastically
AUSTRALIA, 1970. < get any; get anything; get enough; get a

little bit
to have sex US, 1947. < get it 1 to be punished,
especially physically
UK, 1851. 2 to be killed US, 1964. 3 to become
infected with a sexually transmitted infection UK, 1937. < getitin
one
to understand immediately UK, 1942. < get it on 1 to have
sex US, 1970. 2 to fight US, 1959. 3 to join battle. US Marines usage in
Vietnam
US, 1991. < getitupto achieve an erection US, 1943.
< get some 1 to have sex US, 1970. 2 to kill enemy soldiers US, 1976.
< get well 2 to make money US, 1995. < get wet to kill someone
using a knife or bayonet US, 1991. < get with to have sex with UK,
1987. < get with the progr am to start to behave in a responsible
manner. A generally figurative application of the recovery
programmes promoted by Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers
Anonymous, etc; usually as an injunction US, 1983. < get your
end away to have sex UK, 1975. < get your leather to have sex
CANADA, 1985. < get your own back to get revenge UK, 1910. < get
your skates on
to hurry up. Often as an imperative. Originally
military
UK, 1895. < get your skin to have sex CANADA, 1999. < get
yours
to get the punishment you deserve US, 1905. < have got
something on someone
to possess evidence against someone
UK, 1928
get!; git! go!; go away! US, 1884
get a black dog up you! go to hell! AUSTRALIA, 1992

get across verb to make yourself (or your subject) understood US,
1913
get a dog up you! go to hell! AUSTRALIA, 1996
get a grip! control yourself! US, 1982
get a life! used to tease someone who is revealing a lack of
grounding in reality or who is too obsessed with something US, 1989
get along! used for registering incredulity. Similar to the later ‘get
away!’ UK, 1984
get along with you! go away! be quiet! UK, 1837
get a roll of stamps and mail it in used as a humorous
comment on a lack of effort. Coined by ESPN’s Keith Olberman to
describe ‘a lackluster effort on the part of a player or team’ US, 1997
get a room! used for discouraging public displays of affection US,
1999
get at verb 1 to attack verbally, to tease UK, 1891. 2 to mean, to imply
a meaning
US, 1899. < get at it to tease someone, to make a fool
of someone UK, 1958
getaway noun the last morning of a military tour of duty US, 1968
get away!; gerraway! don’t talk nonsense!; don’t flatter! In 2002 a
travel company used the slogan ‘Get away’ in a television
advertising campaign, punning on the conventional sense (to
escape, to go on holiday) with an exclamation of disbelief that
such holidays could be so cheap
UK, 1848
getaway day noun in horse racing, the last day of a racing meet US,
1962
get-back noun an act of revenge US, 1984
get bent! used as an exclamation of defiance, roughly along the
lines of ‘go to hell!’ US, 1970

getcha vine noun a thorny vine found in the jungles of Vietnam US,
1990
get down verb 1 to depress UK, 1930. 2 in sports betting, to place a bet
US, 1974. 3 to be a part of, or to relate to, as in ’get down with the
kids’ UK, 1999. < get down to it to begin to work with serious
application, sometimes used of sexual activity US, 1937
get-down time; git-down time noun the time of day or night
when a prostitute starts working US, 1972
get-’em-off noun an exit ramp; a motorway exit US, 1976
Georgia ham | get-’em-off 286
get ’em off!; geremoff! used as a jocular imperative to strip US,
1995
geters noun money US, 1975
get-go; git-go; gitty up noun the very start US, 1966
get-hard adjective sexually arousing to men UK, 2000
get her! 8see: GET YOU!
get-high noun crack cocaine US, 1990
get in; get-in verb of a staged entertainment, to bring in and set up
staging and technical equipment. The reverse (to deconstruct and
entirely remove staging equipment) is ‘get out’. Also used as
nouns.
UK, 1996
get-in Betty noun a crowbar used by burglars US, 1950
get into verb to come to know and like UK, 1968
get-it-on adjective vigorous, energetic in approach US, 1970
get knotted! used for expressing contempt. Usage was frozen in
time and soon considered archaic. Later use is marked with irony
UK, 1958
get lost! used as a contemptuous imperative of dismissal US, 1902
get off verb 1 to form an initial liaison with someone sexually

attractive, especially with a view to greater intimacy
UK, 1925. 2 to
achieve sexual climax
US, 1867. 3 to use a drug; to feel the effects of
a drug
US, 1952. 4 by extension, to take pleasure from something US,
1952
. 5 to crash while riding a motorcyle. Sarcastic and euphemistic
biker (motorcyle) usage US, 2003
get off!; get off it! used as a register of impatience or incredulity
UK, 1969
get-off house noun a place where you can both purchase and inject
heroin US, 1990
get off on verb to greatly enjoy something. After GET OFF (to achieve
sexual climax) UK, 1973
get off the stove, I’m ridin’ the range tonight! used for
expressing enthusiasm about an upcoming date US, 1951
get on verb 1 of people, to agree, to co-exist. Often with a modifying
adverb UK, 1816. 2 to become elderly UK, 1885. 3 to use drugs US, 1952.
4 to have US, 1990
get-out noun 1 an escape, an excuse, an evasion UK, 1899. 2 an
extreme degree of something US, 1838
get out verb (used of a bettor) to recoup earlier losses US, 1951
get out of here! used for expressing disbelief at what has just been
said US, 1994
get out of here, Mary! used for expressing doubt US, 1987
get out of it! used for expressing a lack of belief in what has just
been said UK, 1984
get-over noun success through fraud US, 1997
get over verb to take advantage of someone, making yourself look

good at their expense US, 1981. < cannot get over to be
astounded UK, 1899. < get over on to seduce US, 1987
get over it! used as a suggestion that the hearer move on from the
issue that is dominating the moment US, 1994
get over you! used in order to deflate a person’s excessive sense of
importance
US, 1997
get real verb to face the facts. Often as an imperative US, 1998
get real! used for expressing scorn at that which has just been said
US, 1982
get round verb to circumvent US, 1849
get shagged! used as a general expression of disbelief or contempt
UK, 1997
get stuffed! used as a general expression of disbelief or contempt
UK, 1952
getting any? used as a male-to-male greeting. Instantly jocular due
to the inquiry as to the other’s sex life US, 1958
getting on adjective (of time) late; growing late UK, 1882
get to verb to annoy someone US, 1961
get-up noun 1 an outfit or costume UK, 1847. 2 manufactured evidence
that is intended to incriminate
UK, 1967. 3 a piece of criminal
trickery, an elaborate deceit UK, 1970. 4 the last morning of a jail
sentence or term of military service
US, 1967
get up verb 1 to be released from prison US, 1967. 2 to succeed in
painting your graffiti tag in a public place US, 1994. 3 to win; to
succeed
AUSTRALIA, 1904. 4 to cause a racehorse to win AUSTRALIA, 1969
get-up-and-go noun vigour, energy, drive. Earlier variations from

which this derives are ‘get-up’ and ‘get-up-and-get’
US, 1907
get up off of verb to concede something of importance or value US,
1985
get with the words! verb explain yourself! US, 1965
get you!; get him!; get her! verb 1 (with an emphatic stress on the
pronoun) used to deflate a conceited male ego or to imply an
unmasculine oversensitivity or homosexuality
UK, 1958. 2 used for
expressing disbelief at what has just been said. Homosexual use
US, 1949
get your arse to an anchor! verb sit down! Adapted from nautical
(likely fisherman) usage, this phrase came ashore for general
purposes
CANADA, 1978
get your kit off! verb used as ribald encouragement to undress UK,
1985
GFE; girl friend experience noun a dinner date followed by sex as
a service offered by a prostitute
UK, 2005
G force! used as an expression of enthusiastic assent. From a
Japanese comic strip US, 1987
GFY go fuck yourself. Used when discretion suggests avoiding the
word ‘fuck’ US, 1987
GG noun in transsexual usage, a genuine or genetic girl US, 1987
GH noun General Hospital, a popular television daytime drama US, 1981
Ghan noun an Afghan. In outback Australia this referred to the
numerous immigrants from Afghanistan and nearby regions who
came to work in the desert regions as camel-drivers. Not used to
refer to recent migrants from Afghanistan

AUSTRALIA, 1911
ghana noun marijuana. Possibly a variant spelling of GANJA (Jamaican
marijuana) although current usage doesn’t acknowledge this
etymology nor specify an alternative, such as marijuana from
Ghana
UK, 1989
ghar noun the buttocks. From the Hindi for ‘donkey’ TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO
, 1976
GHB noun a pharmaceutical anaesthetic used as a recreational drug.
Gamma hydroxybutyrate is a foul-tasting liquid, invented in the
1960s by Dr. Henri Laborit, who swore by its powers as an
aphrodisiac. The drug has been marketed as an anaesthetic and a
health supplement, but it is a heightened sense of touch,
sustained erections and longer orgasms that make it popular with
‘up-for-it clubbers’
US, 1990
gheid noun a Paregoric user US, 1971
gherao verb in India and Pakistan, to surround someone and not
allow him or her to go from an office, desk, etc, as a demon-
stration against that person. From Hindi gherna (to surround, to
beseige)
INDIA, 1967
gherkin noun the penis, especially a small penis. A variation of
‘pickle’ (the penis), especially in the phrase
JERK THE GHERKIN (to
masturbate) US, 2002
ghetto noun the anus US, 1973
ghetto adjective inferior, shoddy, bad US, 1995
ghetto- prefix used to qualify an adjective as being in the style of

black culture. Has positive connotations when used by the black
community but can be patronising and derogatory US, 2001
ghetto bird noun a police helicopter, especially one flying at night
with a bright spotlight US, 1993
ghetto blaster; ghetto box noun a large, portable radio and tape
player; a portable music system. Can be considered offensive
because it is culture-specific and stereotypical US, 1981
ghetto bootie noun large buttocks US, 2001
287 get ’em off!; geremoff! | ghetto bootie
ghetto fabulous adjective ostentatious, exemplifying the style of the
black hip-hop community
US, 1996
ghetto lullaby noun inner-city nightime noises – sirens, gunfire,
helicopters, etc
US, 1993
ghetto rags noun clothing typical of the inner-city ghetto US, 1970
ghetto sled noun a large, luxury car US, 1997
ghetto star noun a youth gang leader US, 1993
’Ghini noun a Lamborghini car. A hip-hop abbreviation and
aspiration
US, 1999
ghost noun 1 a faint, secondary duplicate video image in a television
signal, caused by the mixing of the primary signal and a delayed
version of the same signal US, 1942. 2 a blank stop on a casino slot
machine
US, 1993. 3 in poker, a player who frequently absents
himself from the table US, 1996. 4 LSD. Usually used with ‘the’ US,
1967. < do a ghost to leave quickly US, 1995. < when the ghost
walks in oil drilling, pay day US, 1954
ghost verb 1 to transfer a prisoner from one prison to another at

night after the prison has been secured
US, 1982. 2 to vanish US, 1969.
3 to relax, especially while evading duty. Military use US, 1982
ghost battalion noun during the Vietnam war, the First Battalion,
Ninth Marines. So named because of the large number of
casualties suffered at Con Thien and Khe Sanh
US, 1991
ghostbust noun to search in an obsessive and compulsive way for
small particles of crack cocaine
US, 1992
ghosted adjective out of sight UK, 1994
ghost hand noun in poker, a hand or part of a hand that is dealt to
the same player twice in a row
US, 1988
ghost town noun < send to ghost town to transfer a prisoner
without warning UK, 1996
ghost train noun < on the ghost train used of a prisoner who is
being moved without warning from one prison to another
overnight. From GHOST (to transfer overnight) UK, 1996
ghost-walking day noun in circus and carnival usage, payday US, 1981
ghoulie noun the vagina. Something frightening that lurks in the
dark US, 1998
ghoulie adjective ghoulish US, 1993
GI noun 1 an enlisted soldier in the US Army US, 1939. 2 an American
Indian who has abandoned his indigenous culture and language in
favour of mainstream American culture; a government Indian
US,
1963
GI verb 1 to clean thoroughly US, 1944. 2 to strip US, 1968
Gianluca Vialli; gianluca noun cocaine. Rhyming slang for CHARLIE

(cocaine); based on the name of Gianluca Vialli (b.1964), a famous
Italian football player and manager UK, 1998
gib noun a man’s buttocks US, 1986
GIB noun the back seat member of the crew on a fighter aircraft. An
initialism for ‘guy in back’ US, 1967
Gib nickname Gibraltar UK, 1822
GIB adjective skilled in sex. An initialism for ‘good in bed’ US, 1977
gibber noun a small stone used for throwing. From the extinct
Australian Aboriginal language Dharug (Sydney region). Originally,
since 1833, referring to ‘large boulders’, it has undergone a
reduction in size over the decades. As a technical term of geol-
ogists it refers to smallish stones of dark reddish chaceldony that
litter the surface of large areas of the arid inland. Colloquially it is
used of any rock, stone or pebble suitable for throwing
AUSTRALIA,
1902
gibbled adjective (of a machine) broken down CANADA, 1989
gibbs noun the lips US, 1990
gib-gib noun used for mocking another’s laughter. From an
advertisement for Gibbons Chicken Ration
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1994
giblet noun a stupid, foolish or inept person. Playing on a turkey
image
US, 1984
giblets noun 1 the female gentalia UK, 2003. 2 showy chrome
accessories on a motorcyle. Biker (motorcycle) usage
US, 2003
Gibson girl noun an emergency radio used when a military aircraft
is shot down over a body of water
US, 1943

gick noun excrement IRELAND, 1993
gick verb to defecate IRELAND, 1996
giddy noun a tourist, especially on a package holiday. Used by
holiday reps
UK, 1997
giddyap; giddyup noun the beginning; the inception US, 1974
giddy as a kipper adjective dizzy. A ‘giddy kipper’, although not in
this sense, has been a feature of English slang since the late C19
UK, 1999
giddy goat noun in horse racing, the totalisator. Rhyming slang from
‘tote’ AUSTRALIA, 1989
gif noun an aircraft pilot. From the initials of ‘guys inthefront seat’
US, 1945
giffed adjective drunk UK, 2003
giffer noun a pickpocket US, 1949
gift noun in a sex club, used as a coded euphemism for payment for
special services
US, 1997. < the gift the bleed period of the
menstrual cycle US, 2001. < the gift that keeps giving a sexually
transmitted disease US, 1986
gifted adjective experiencing the bleed period of the menstrual cycle
US, 2001
gift of the sun; gift of the sun god noun cocaine UK, 1998
gig noun 1 a musical performance or concert. Originally musicians’
slang for an engagement at a single venue
US, 1926. 2 ajobUS, 1908.
3 apartyUS, 1954. 4 a prison or jail sentence US, 1977. 5 apolice
informer. A clipping of
FIZGIG AUSTRALIA, 1953. 6 a busybody AUSTRALIA,
1944. 7 a person who stands out because they look foolish; a fool

AUSTRALIA, 1943. 8 the vagina US, 1967. 9 alook;apeekAUS TRALIA, 1924.
10 a demerit or other indication of failure US, 1968. 11 in an illegal
number gambling lottery, a bet that a specific three-digit number
will be drawn US, 1846. 12 in harness racing, a sulky US, 1997
gig verb 1 to work; to have a job US, 1939. 2 of a musician or group of
musicians, to play an engagement or a series of engagements UK,
1939. 3 to go out to bars, clubs and/or parties US, 2000. 4 to look or
stare; to take a peek AUSTRALIA, 1959. 5 to tease AUSTRALIA, 1969. 6 in
carnival usage, to win all of a player’s money in a single trans-
action US, 1985
gigging noun teasing AUSTRALIA, 1966
giggle and titter; giggle noun bitter (beer) UK, 1992
giggle band noun the decorative hemmed edge at the top of a
stocking. Get beyond that and you’re laughing
UK, 2001
giggle bin noun an institution for containment and care of the
mentally disturbed UK, 1964
giggle factory noun an insane asylum AUSTRALIA, 1968
giggle house noun an insane asylum AUSTRALIA, 1919
giggle juice noun alcohol US, 1939
giggler noun a scene in a pornographic film involving sex with two
women. From the
GIRL-GIRL designation US, 1987
giggles; good giggles noun marijuana US, 1986
giggle smoke noun marijuana; a marijuana cigarette US, 1952
gigglesoup noun any alcoholic beverage US, 1972
giggle water noun alcohol, especially champagne US, 1926
giggle weed noun marijuana. From the definite effect WEED has on
your sense of humour
US, 1937

giggling academy noun a mental hospital US, 1949
giggly adjective very good. Probably from the euphoric reaction to
marijuana. West Indian and UK black use UK, 2002
giggy; gigi noun the anus and rectum US, 1953
GI gin noun cough syrup US, 1964
gig-lamps; gigs noun spectacles, eye-glasses. From the lights placed
to each side of a ‘gig’ (a light carriage); ‘headlights’ (glasses), a later
coinage, reflects similar inspiration UK, 1853
ghetto fabulous | gig-lamps; gigs 288
GIGO in computing, used as a reminder that output is only as good
as input – (garbage in, garbage out)
US, 1964
gig shot noun in carnival usage, the method used by an operator to
win all of a player’s money in a single transaction
US, 1985
gig wagon noun transportation used by a rock band during a
concert tour
UK, 1985
GI Joe noun a quintessential American soldier. A term fuelled by a
cartoon in the 1940s, a Robert Mitchum movie in 1945 and a line
of toys starting in 1964 US, 1935
gildy adjective fancy, ornate UK, 2002
gilf noun a sexually appealing mature woman. A variation of MILF (a
sexually appealing mother) and
DILF (a sexually appealing father);
an acronym of ‘grandma I’d like to fuck’ US, 2003
gil-gil noun used for mocking another’s laughter TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
1993
gilhooley noun in motor racing on an oval track, a spin US, 1965
gill; gills noun in circus and carnival usage, a customer, especially a

gullible one US, 1981
Gillie Potters noun 1 pig’s trotters. Rhyming slang; formed from the
name of British comedian, an early star of BBC radio, Gillie Potter,
1887–1975 UK, 1980. 2 the feet. Rhyming slang for TROTTERS UK, 1980
gillie suit noun camouflaged uniforms used by the US Army Special
Forces. Gulf war usage US, 1992
Gilligan noun a hapless, socially inept person. From the Gilligan’s
Island television programme, in which Gilligan was a hapless,
socially inept person
US, 1991
Gilligan hitch noun any and every method to bind with a chain or
tie with a rope US, 1919
gillion noun ten to the ninth power; untold millions US, 1991
gilly noun 1 a member of an audience, especially a woman.
Theatrical and circus usage
UK, 1933. 2 a man, especially a gullible
rustic. Market traders and English gypsy use, from the previous
sense as ‘a member of a circus audience’ US, 1882
gilly-galloo noun in circus and carnival usage, an outsider US, 1981
gils! used for expressing pleasant surprise US, 2002
gilt noun money. Derives from German gelt (gold) and conventional
‘gilt’ (silverplate) UK, 1708
GI marbles noun dice. Because of the love for dice games displayed
by American soldiers, especially during World War 2
US, 1950
Gimli glider noun a Boeing 737 which ran out of petrol and glided
to a safe landing in Gimli, Manitoba; later, any car that has run out
of petrol. The incident happened because of a confusion between
metric and English ways of measuring petrol during the fill-up.
One of the pilots had been a glider pilot CANADA, 2000

gimme noun 1 a request or demand for money. From ‘give me’ UK,
2001. 2 an easy victory or accomplishment US, 1986. 3 a pistol US, 1994.
4 in pool, a shot that cannot be missed or a game that cannot be
lost US, 1990
gimme verb used for ‘give me’. A lazy phonetic abbreviation US, 1883
gimme five noun a mutual hand-slapping used as greeting or to sig-
nify mutual respect. From the phrase ‘give me your hand’;
‘gimme’ (give me) ‘five’ (fingers, hence hand)
UK, 1999
gimmel noun in betting, odds of 3–1. Probably coined by a Jewish
bookmaker with a sense of humour, from gimel (the Hebrew letter
which, in Judaic teaching, symbolises a rich man running after a
poor man) which, in turn, derives from Hebrew gemul (the giving
of reward and punishment)
UK, 1991
gimmes noun a selfishly acquisitive characteristic US, 1918
gimmick noun 1 a gadget, an ingenious device or contrivance such
as may be used in crime and magic to deceive or distract, or
commercially, especially in the entertainment industry, to attract
publicity and attention. ‘You Gotta Get a Gimmick’, Stephen
Sondheim, 1959, is a song performed by striptease artistes
demonstrating their ingenious methods of standing out from the
crowd
US, 1926. 2 characteristics such as costume, haircut or
entrance music that collectively make a professional wrestler stand
out as a unique marketable commodity
US, 1993. 3 the actual device
used to rig a carnival game
US, 1968. 4 in poker, a special set of rules
for a game US, 1988

gimmick verb to rig for a result US, 1922
gimmicks noun the equipment needed to inject drugs US, 1967
gimmie noun marijuana and crack cocaine mixed together for
smoking in a cigarette
US, 1994
gimp noun 1 a limp; a cripple US, 1925. 2 an incompetent or weak
person
US, 1924. 3 a sexual submissive who seeks satisfaction in
dehumanising, full fetish clothing and crippling bondage. A
specialisation of the previous senses made very familiar by
Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction, 1993 – the film featured a
masked-creature (taking his pleasure at the hands of a dominatrix)
known only as ‘the gimp’
US, 1993
gimper; gimpster noun a cripple US, 1974
gimp out verb to panic in the face of great challenge US, 1988
gimpy noun a (long-haired) member of the counterculture, a hippy
UK, 1998
gimpy adjective 1 crippled; handicapped US, 1929. 2 inferior US, 1970
gims noun the eyes US, 1945
gin noun 1 a black prostitute US, 1962. 2 an Aboriginal female AUSTRALIA,
1985. 3 cocaine US, 1971. 4 a street fight between youth gangs US, 1993
gin verb 1 (used of a woman) to have sex US, 1976 . 2 to fight US, 1972
gin and Jaguar bird noun a wealthy, usually married, woman from
the upper-class districts surrounding London, especially Surrey,
regarded as a worthwhile target for sexual adventuring. A BIRD (a
woman) who lives in the ‘gin and Jaguar belt’ UK, 1977
ginch noun 1 the vagina US, 2003. 2 a woman; a woman as a sex
object
US, 1936

ginchy adjective 1 fashionable, attractive, pleasing US, 1959. 2 sharp-
witted, clever, shrewd. A variation of the sense as ‘attractive’ UK, 1988
giner noun the vagina US, 2004
gin flat noun an apartment where alcohol is served illegally to a
paying not-so public US, 1951
ging noun a handheld catapult; a slingshot AUSTRALIA, 1903
ginger noun 1 a sandy- or red-haired person; often as a nickname.
Originally (1785) used of a cock with reddish plumage UK, 1885.
2 the backside. From GINGER ALE AUSTRALIA, 1967. 3 a prostitute who
steals from her clients. Also ‘ginger girl’, ‘gingerer’ AUSTRALIA, 1953.
< on the ginger (of prostitutes) working at gingering their clients
AUSTRALIA, 1979
ginger ale; ginger noun 1 jail. Rhyming slang UK, 1992. 2 bail.
Rhyming slang NEW ZEALAND, 1963. 3 the backside. Rhyming slang for
TAIL AUSTRALIA, 1967
ginger beer; ginger noun 1 a homosexual man. Rhyming slang for
QUEER UK, 1959. 2 a member of the Royal Australian Engineers.
Rhyming slang for ‘engineer’ AUSTRALIA, 1941
ginger beer; ginger adjective homosexual. Rhyming slang for QUEER
UK
, 1960
gingering verb (of a prostitute or accomplice) stealing from a client’s
clothing AUSTRALIA, 1944
ginger minger; ginger minge; ginge minge noun a person who
has (it is presumed) naturally ginger pubic hair
UK, 1993
ginger pop noun 1 a police officer. Rhyming slang for COP UK, 1992.
2 ginger beer UK, 1827
gingersnaps noun < (have had) too many gingersnaps last
night

to have had too much alcohol to drink CANADA, 1998
ginger-top noun a redhead. From GINGER UK, 1998
ginhead noun a habitual drinker of gin US, 1927
gin jockey noun a white man who cohabits with an Aboriginal
woman AUSTRALIA, 1955
gink noun 1 a naive rustic; a dolt US, 1906. 2 alook;apeek.Perhapsa
nasalised variant of
GEEK AUSTRALIA, 1945. 3 an unpleasant smell UK:
SCOTLAND
, 1988
gink verb to give off an unpleasant smell UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
289 GIGO | gink
ginky adjective out of style US, 1969
gin mill noun a bar. The term has shed most of its unsavoury
connotations of the past and is now generally jocular
US, 1866
ginned adjective drunk US, 1900
ginny barn noun a prison for females or a section of a prison
reserved for females US, 1967
ginola adjective supremely attractive. A tribute to the good-looking
French footballer David Ginola (b.1967); recorded in use in
contemporary gay society
UK, 2003
ginormous adjective very large. Pronounced ‘jye-normous’ UK, 1962
gin’s piss noun poor quality or weak beer. From ‘gin’ meaning ‘a
female Australian Aboriginal’; from the extinct Australian
Aboriginal language Dharug (Sydney region)
AUSTRALIA, 1972
ginzo noun an Italian-American or Italian. Offensive. Probably a
derivative of

GUINEA US, 1931
Giorgio Armani; giorgio noun a sandwich. Rhyming slang for
‘sarnie’, formed from the name of the Italian fashion designer
(b.1934)
UK, 1998
gip-gip noun used for mocking another’s laughter TRINIDAD AND
TOBAGO
, 1997
gipsy’s ginger noun human excrement found out of doors. From a
characteristic colour of excrement combined with a denigratory
stereotype of gipsy life UK, 1984
gipsy’s kiss; gipsey’s noun an act of urination. Rhyming slang for
PISS UK, 1979
gipsy’s warning; gipsy’s noun 1 a sinister warning, a final warning,
a warning of immediate reprisal. Negative stereotyping UK, 1918.
2 morning. Rhyming slang UK, 1960
giraffe noun a half ounce, especially of drugs. Rhyming slang UK, 2003
girdle noun 1 a waistband. Recorded in use in contemporary gay
society UK, 2003. 2 an over-the-shoulder car seat belt US, 1962. 3 in
motor racing, the main support for the engine US, 1993
girl noun 1 cocaine US, 1953. 2 crack cocaine UK, 2003. 3 heroin US, 1981.
4 a lesbian. A term used by lesbians US, 1995. 5 a homosexual male,
especially an effeminate one US, 1912. 6 (especially in sporting
contexts) an effeminate male AUSTRALIA, 1986. 7 in a deck of playing
cards, a queen US, 1967
girl and boy noun a toy. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
girl-deb noun a girl who spends time with a boy’s youth gang,
whether or not she is a gang member’s girlfriend
US, 1967
girlf noun a girlfriend UK, 2003

Girl Friday noun a young woman who is very useful to have about
the place as an assistant. From Defoe’s tale of Robinson Crusoe
and his Man Friday
US, 1940
girlfriend noun 1 a male homosexual’s lover or friend US, 1965. 2 used
as an affectionate term of address for a friend or acquaintance US,
1997. 3 cocaine. An elaboration of GIRL (cocaine) US, 1979
girl-girl noun a scene in a pornographic film, or an entire
pornographic film, involving two women US, 2000
girl-girl adjective in pornography, involving two women US, 1973
girlie noun a young woman. Patronising and derisive UK, 1860
girlie adjective mildly pornographic, featuring naked women but not
sexual activity. Mainly in use from the mid-1950s
US, 1921
girlie bar noun a drinking place at which ‘hostesses’ are available US,
1971
girlie film noun a film featuring naked women but no sexual activity
US, 1973
girlie magazine noun a commercial publication that features many
pictures of naked women. The sex industry sells ‘girlies’ not
‘women’ CANADA, 1920
girls noun a woman’s breasts. From the television situation comedy
Anything but Love (1989–92), in which the character played by
Jamie Lee Curtis proudly nicknamed her breasts ‘the girls’ US, 2001
girls and boys noun noise. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
girl’s blouse noun an effeminate male AUSTRALIA, 1996
girls in blue noun female police officers AUSTRALIA, 1998
girls’ school noun a reformatory for female juvenile offenders US, 1982
girl’s week noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle US, 2001
girl thing noun 1 a problem or subject best understood by females

US, 1992. 2 the various hygiene steps taken by a female pornography
performer before a sex scene. Also called ‘girl stuff’
US, 1995
girly-girl noun 1 a stereotypically feminine female US, 1991. 2 afemale
friend
US, 1997. 3 a tampon US, 1999
giro noun 1 a fraud perpetrated on the social security system
whereby a Giro cheque benefits payment is signed and cashed by
someone other than, but with the connivance of, the intended
payee who then reports the cheque as lost and waits for a dupli-
cate payment
UK, 1996. 2 a social security/benefits cheque. An
abbreviation of ‘Giro cheque’
UK, 1981
GI’s; GI shits noun diarrhoea US, 1944
GI shower noun a military hazing or punishment in which a group
of soldiers forcibly clean a dirty peer with wire brushes US, 1956
gism pot noun the vagina UK, 2001
git; get noun an objectionable individual; an idiot. ‘Get’ was conven-
tional English from the C14 to C18, meaning ‘a child’, ‘one of his
get’ (one of his begetting); hence a useful synonym for
BASTARD.
Usuage is now mainly in northwest England. ‘Git’ is a
mispronunciation UK, 1940
gitbox noun a guitar US, 1937
gite noun a bed and breakfast. In Quebec, even anglophones know
and use ‘gite’, but it is often accompanied by ‘bed and breakfast’
so tourists from the US are not confused: Le Gite Park Ave., Bed
and Breakfast. Au Gite Olympique is located on a major street in
Montreal CANADA, 2002

git-faced adjective having an objectionable countenance UK, 2000
git-fiddle noun a guitar. A decidedly rural term US, 1935
Gitmo nickname the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba US, 1959
G-Ivan noun a Russian enlisted soldier US, 1946
give noun inside information UK, 1980
give verb 1 to tell a secret. Mainly imperative UK, 1956. 2 to consent to
have sex
US, 1935. 3 to have sex with a woman UK, 1970. < give a
fuck
to care, to be concerned. Often in the negative US, 2001.
< give good X; give great X to be notable for the noun that
follows. On the original model of GIVE HEAD (to perform oral sex)
US, 1971. < give her tarpaper to work very hard. Used in
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula US, 2003. < give it 1 to behave in the
manner of whatever noun or adjective follows UK, 1999. 2 either by
speech or action, to make your attitude to someone or something
obvious
UK, 1996. < give it all that to brag, to show off UK, 1977.
< give it away to engage in sex without pay; to engage in sex
promiscuously US, 1945. < give it some to put a great deal of
effort into something. Possibly abbreviated from ‘give it some
wellie’ UK, 2001. < give it the nifty fifty (used of a male) to
masturbate US, 1983. < give it the off to go, to leave UK, 1997.
< give it to to copulate with US, 1992. < give it up to applaud.
Often as an imperative to an audience US, 1990. < give Jack his
jacket
to give credit where credit is due BARBADOS, 1975. < give
laugh for pea soup
to bring gossip or interesting news when
you visit, hoping for a meal in exchange JAMAICA, 1977. < give

leather
to thrust forcefully while having sex TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
2003. < give me a break; gimme a break used as an expression
of dismay at that which has just been said. Ubiquitous in the
1990s
US, 1993. < give skin to slap hands in greeting US, 1964.
< give someone hell to deal with someone in a harsh or severe
manner UK, 1851. < give someone one to have sex with
someone UK, 1974. < give someone the reds to anger. Teen
slang US, 1951. < give someone their hat to release from prison
US, 1976. < give the office to signal or give information UK, 1804.
< give the skins to have sex with someone US, 1990. < give two
fucks
to care, to be concerned. An elaboration of GIVE A FUCK,and
usually in the negative US, 1974. < give up as a bad job to
abandon something that has no prospect of success UK, 1862.
< give what for to beat, to thrash, to scold. Derives, apparently,
from an exchange in which a person threatened with punishment
ginky | give 290
asked ‘What for?’ and received the formulaic answer ‘I’ll give you
what for’
UK, 1873. < give wings to inject someone else with
heroin or to teach them to inject themselves US, 1968. < give
your right ball/testicle for
to give everything for AUSTRALIA, 1988
give-and-get noun a bet. Rhyming slang UK, 1998
give-and-take noun a cake. Rhyming slang. UK, 1960
give-a-shit lobe noun the frontal lobe of the brain. If shot in the
frontal lobe, the patient rarely cares about anything
US, 1990

give-away noun a revelation or betrayal, either deliberate or
inadvertent
US, 1882
give away verb to cease doing something; to give up AUSTRALIA, 1944
give over! stop it! UK, 1984
giz noun the vagina US, 1975
giz! give me; give us. A slurring of ‘give us’, where ‘us’ is often used
for ‘me’
UK, 1999
gizmo verb to outfit with a device US, 1977
gizmo; gismo noun a gadget, device or contraption, the exact name
of which is forgotten by, or unimportant to, the speaker US, 1942
gizz verb to gaze UK, 1975
gizza; gissa used for making a demand. Phonetic compound of
‘give us [me] a’. ‘Gizza job’ became a catchphrase in the mass-
unemployment circumstances of the early 1980s
UK, 1982
gizzard noun 250 or 300 dollars. An allusion to a ‘monkey’ ($500),
with the gizzard being the guts of the monkey AUSTRALIA, 1989
gizzit noun a looted item. Short for ‘give us it’; used by the military
in the 1982 Falklands war UK, 1982
gizzuts noun guts, courage US, 1993
GJ noun grand jury US, 1997
G-joint noun 1 a federal penitentiary US, 1992. 2 a crooked carnival
game. ‘G’ is for ‘gaffed’ (rigged) US, 1946
GLA noun a car theft; grand larceny automobile US, 1973
glacines noun heroin. Possibly a misspelling of ‘glassine’, a material
used to make bags in which the drug may be supplied UK, 1998
glacio noun a glaciologist UK, 1985
glad noun a gladiolus; a cut gladiolus flower AUSTRALIA, 1968

glad bag noun 1 a body bag, used to cover corpses. Coined in
Vietnam; still in use in the Gulf war and after US, 1983. 2 acondom
UK, 1998
gladdy; gladdie noun a gladiolus; a cut gladiolus flower AUSTRALIA,
1947
glad eye noun a come-hither look US, 1903
glad hand noun 1 a welcome, rousing if not always sincere US, 1873.
2 on the railways, the metal air hose coupling between carriages.
The interlocking connectors vaguely resemble hands clasped in a
handshake US, 1975
glad-hand verb to greet with profuse, if insincere, enthusiasm. Often
found in the context of politicians US, 1895
glad-handing adjective insincere and false US, 1992
gladiator school noun a violent prison US, 1981
glad lad noun an attractive male US, 1945
glad-on noun an erection. A happy variation of HARD-ON (an erection)
UK, 2001
glad plaid noun a bright plaid pattern. Mexican-American youth
(Pachuco) usage in the American southwest US, 1947
glad rag noun a piece of cloth saturated with glue or an industrial
solvent, used for recreational inhaling US, 1971
glad rags noun your best clothes US, 1899
glad stuff noun any hard drug; cocaine, heroin, morphine, opium
US, 1953
glad we could get together used as a humorous farewell. A
catchphrase television sign-off by John Cameron Swayze on NBC
in the 1950s. Repeated with referential humour
US, 1949
glaiket adjective foolish; having a foolish appearance. From an earlier
sense as ‘inattentive to duty’

UK, 1985
glam noun glamour US, 1937
glam adjective 1 glamorous UK, 1964. 2 flamboyant, especially in dress
and appearance
US, 1993
glam; glam up verb to dress more smartly UK, 1937
glamazon noun a beautiful, well-muscled woman. A compound of
‘glamour’ and ‘Amazon’
, 2001
glammed-up adjective dressed or presented in a glamorous manner
UK, 1924
glamottle noun a 13 ounce bottle of Budweiser™ beer. Budweiser
advertised that it was a ‘glass that holds more than a bottle’,
which is corrupted here
US, 1948
glamour noun a sexually attractive female AUSTRALIA, 1983
glamour boy noun aUSAirForceflierUS, 1946
Glamour-don’t noun a huge fashion mistake. From a fashion ‘do’s
and don’ts’ column in Glamour Magazine CANADA, 1993
glamour groovie noun a fashion-conscious person US, 1947
glamour-puss noun a sexually attractive person, especially one who
has enhanced a natural beauty with artificial glamour
US, 1941
G-land noun Grajagan, Indonesia. A surfing destination US, 1991
glare glasses; glares noun sunglasses INDIA, 1979
glark verb to decipher a meaning from context US, 1991
Glasgow grin; Glesga grin noun a slash or slash-scar on the face
UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
Glasgow kiss; Glesga kiss noun a head butt to your opponent’s
face

UK, 1988
Glasgow nod; Glesga nod noun a head butt to your opponent’s
face UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
Glasgow Ranger; glasgow noun a stranger. Rhyming slang, formed
from Glasgow Rangers football club; recorded as an underworld
term UK, 1992
glass noun 1 amphetamine powder; methamphetamine powder UK,
1998. 2 heroin UK, 2003. 3 a hypodermic syringe US, 1942. 4 a shop
window
US, 1973. 5 a five ounce glass of beer AUSTRALIA, 1972 . 6 a
smooth water surface
US, 1979. 7 a diamond US, 1918. 8 in drag racing
and hot rodding, fibreglass, used to reduce weight US, 1968 8see:
GLASS OF WATER
glass verb 1 to attack someone’s face using a glass or bottle as a
weapon UK, 1936. 2 in hot rodding, to repair a car body with lead
compound, or fibreglass
US, 1960
glassbottle noun pieces of broken glass set into the top of a wall
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1920
glass ceiling noun a notional barrier to personal advancement,
especially in the employment prospects of a woman, a disabled
person or anyone from an ethnic minority. ‘You can’t see it but
you know it’s there’ – or ‘the sky’s the limit’
US, 1984
glass chandelier noun homosexual; a homosexual. Rhyming slang
for
QUEER UK, 2003
glass cheque noun a bottle with a deposit on it UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
glass chin noun a window built in the area immediately below and

slightly behind the nose of a bomber US, 1988
glass dick noun a pipe used to smoke crack cocaine US, 1995
glass diet noun an addiction to crack cocaine US, 1997
glass gun noun a hypodermic syringe and needle US, 1949
glass house noun 1 a guard room, detention barracks or military
prison. From the glass-roofed North Camp military prison in
Aldershot UK, 1931. 2 in prison, a detention cell or cells UK, 1996. 3 in
surfing, a smooth ride inside the hollow of a wave US, 1987
Glass House nickname the Parker Center police headquarters in Los
Angeles
US, 1963
glassie noun a clear glass marble AUSTRALIA, 1934
glass itch noun irritation of the skin by fibreglass dust. Surfing usage
US, 1978
291 give-and-get | glass itch
glass jaw noun a weak jaw in the context of boxing or fighting US,
1955
glass of beer noun the ear. Rhyming slang UK, 1961
glass of plonk noun the nose. Rhyming slang for CONK UK, 1992
glass of water; glass noun a quarter of an ounce (seven grams) of
cocaine. Rhyming slang for QUARTER UK, 2002
glass pack noun in hot rodding, a muffler that has been stuffed
with fibreglass, increasing the roar of the engine US, 1960
glass work noun in poker, the use of a small mirror or other
refective surface to cheat
US, 1968
glassy adjective (used of an ocean condition) smooth, not choppy US,
1963
Glasto noun the Glastonbury Festival; to a lesser extent, the town of
Glastonbury. The festival began in 1970 when it was known as The

Glastonbury Fayre. The earliest references to the event as ‘Glasto’
seem to be late 1990s UK, 2003
glaze verb to daydream NEW ZEALAND, 1998
glazed adjective drunk US, 1972
glazey doughnut noun the residue of vaginal secretions ringing a
cunnilinguist’s mouth UK, 2002
gleam verb < gleam the tube (of a female) to masturbate US, 2001
gleamer noun any reflective surface used by the dealer for cheating
in a card game US, 1969
gleaming adjective excellent US, 1997
gleek noun in poker, three of a kind US, 1967
gleesome threesome noun group sex with three participants
AUSTRALIA, 1971
Glen Hoddle; Glen noun an objective achieved with ease; in sport,
and easy win or simple victory. Rhyming slang for ‘doddle’, based
on the name of footballer and former England coach Glen Hoddle
UK, 2002
glide time noun a flexible work schedule NEW ZEALAND, 1977
glim noun 1 a light UK, 1676. 2 the eye UK, 1789. 3 a railway lantern US,
1946
glim verb to see US, 1912
glimmer noun 1 a light UK, 1566. 2 any reflective surface used by a
dealer to cheat in a game of cards
US, 1962
Glimmer Man nickname a man appointed by the Gas Company
during World War 2 to inspect homes for any contravention of the
rationing of gas IRELAND, 1968
glimmers noun the eyes or eyeglasses UK, 1814
glimmer twins nickname Mick Jagger and Keith Richard of The
Rolling Stones. A self-given nickname, apparently – according to

Keith Richard – in response to the question ‘Who ARE you?
What’s it all about? Come on, give us a clue. Just give us a
glimmer’
UK, 1968
glimp verb to peer, to peep. Military; an abbreviation of ‘glimpse’ (to
see briefly)
UK, 1987
gliss around verb to make small talk US, 1947
glitch noun a malfunction. From the Yiddish for ‘slip’ US, 1962
glitching noun a temporary or intermittent loss of control (of a
radio-controlled aircraft) when interference from another signal
occurs UK, 1979
glitter noun salt US, 1981
glitter fairy noun a style-conscious, effeminate homosexual man.
Usually derogatory
US, 1978
glittergal noun in circus and carnival usage, a female performer US,
1960
glitter gulch noun downtown Las Vegas, Nevada US, 1953
glitz noun superficial glamour, especially as applied in show-business
US, 1977
glitzy adjective ostentatious, gaudy, especially with a sense of tawdry
show-business glamour; often applied to something that glitters US,
1966
GLM noun (in doctors’ shorthand) good looking mum. Medical slang
UK, 2003
glo noun crack cocaine US, 1994
glob noun expectorated sputum US, 1989
globber noun an expectoration US, 1988
globes noun thefemalebreastsUS, 1889

globetrotter noun a heroin addict who contacts many heroin
dealers in search of the best heroin
US, 1970
globule noun acontemptiblepersonUK, 1988
glom verb 1 to steal, to snatch, to grab. Scots dialect glam, glaum, (to
clutch or grasp)
US, 1897. 2 to attach to, to seize upon, to grab hold
of for oneself US, 1972. 3 to eat hastily US, 1990
gloom note noun in college, a notification of academic deficiency
US, 1968
glop verb 1 to drink noisily; to drink quickly; to slurp. Derives from
‘glop’ (a viscous liquid), or from a mispronunciation of ‘gulp’ UK,
1987. 2 to pour or apply with gusto US, 1992
glophead noun a habitual drunk. Combines GLOP (to drink) with
-HEAD (a user) UK, 1987
glopper noun someone who is unfashionably dressed. Used among
foot-propelled scooter-riders
UK, 2000
Gloria Gaynors noun trainers. Rhyming slang, formed from the
name of soul singer Gloria Gaynor (b.1949). UK, 1998
Gloria Soames noun glorious homes AUSTRALIA, 1965
glory noun on the railways, an accidental death US, 1946. < get the
glory
while in prison, to become religious – a state of being that
may well outlast the prison sentence
UK, 1950
glory be noun tea (the beverage or the meal). Rhyming slang UK, 1998
glory be! used as an expression of delight or astonishment.
Shortened from ‘Glory be to God!’ but often having to do without
God in spirit as well as word UK, 1893

glory card noun a licence from the Federal Communications
Commission to operate a citizens’ band radio US, 1976
glory fit noun an exhibition of religious emotional frenzy CANADA, 1946
glory hole noun 1 a hole between private video booths in a
pornography arcade or between stalls in a public toilets, designed
for anonymous sex between men
US, 1949. 2 any unpleasant place
or situation NEW ZEALAND, 1951. 3 any room or cupboard where
oddments are stored UK, 1984. 4 the officer’s sleeping quarters on a
navy ship US, 1889. 5 a clear spot in an otherwise cloudy sky through
which a fighter aircraft can reach its target US, 1991
glory hour noun the hour between noon and 1 pm on Sundays, the
only hour of the day when drinking is permitted in pubs
FALKLAND
ISLANDS (MALVINAS)
, 1982
glory seeds noun seeds of the morning glory plant, eaten for their
psychoactive properties US, 1992
glory wagon noun a brakevan (caboose) US, 1977
gloss noun a shine US, 1969
glossy noun 1 a photograph US, 1931. 2 a ‘glossy’ magazine US, 1945
glove noun a condom. Leading to the safe-sex slogan ‘No glove, no
love’ US, 1958
glove verb to examine a prisoner’s rectum for contraband US, 1972
gloves noun < the gloves are off; take the gloves off used for
expressing a commitment to action without compromise, com-
passion or hesitation UK, 2001
glovework noun in cricket, a wicketkeeper’s skill or performance UK,
1996
glow noun a pleasant, warming sense of intoxication US, 1942

glub noun a slob or lazy person NEW ZEALAND, 2002
glub out verb to idle; to relax completely NEW ZEALAND, 2002
glue noun 1 semen UK, 1998. 2 the residue produced during heroin
manufacture US, 1992. 3 in computing, any interface protocol US,
1991. 4 a police detective US, 1950. < do glue to sniff glue for the
psychoactive effect UK, 1996
glass jaw | glue 292
glued adjective drunk US, 1957
glued up adjective intoxicated as a result of solvent abuse, especially
glue-sniffing
UK, 2001
glue gun noun a weapon which fires a hardening resin to paralyse
the human target UK, 2001
gluehead noun a person who inhales glue or any volatile solvent for
the intoxicating effect
US, 1970
gluepot noun 1 the vagina. Rhyming slang for TWAT,combined,
perhaps, with allusive imagery
UK, 1992. 2 a racehorse that performs
very, very poorly US, 1924. 3 in cricket, a wicket with a ‘sticky’ surface
(caused by the sun drying wet turf) UK, 1985
gluer noun a person who sniffs model glue for the psychoactive
effect US, 1982
gluey noun a person who inhales glue or any volatile solvent for the
intoxicating effect US, 1967
glug noun a swallow, a mouthful, a swig of a drink. Echoic US, 1971
glutes; gloots noun the gluteus maximus muscles (the three large
muscles in the buttocks) US, 1984
g-ma noun grandmother US, 1997
GMFU; GMBU noun a situation of organisational choas. Initialism of

‘grand military fuck up’ or ‘grand military balls up’; probably since
World War 2 UK, 1982
GMOF noun a grossly obese hospital patient. A ‘great mass of flesh’
US, 1989
GMT noun time to clean out the refrigerator. Back-formation from
the Greenwich standard, abbreviating here ‘green meat time’
CANADA, 2002
gnarlatious adjective extremely impressive US, 1991
gnarly adjective 1 treacherous, challenging. Originally surfer slang
applied to waves and surf conditions, and then broadened to an
all-purpose adjective US, 1977. 2 bad, disgusting US, 1978. 3 excellent.
An absolute reversal of the original sense, used amongst foot-
propelled scooter-riders US, 1982
gnashers noun the teeth NEW ZEALAND, 1984
gnat bites noun small female breasts UK, 1980
gnat-brain noun an idiot UK, 2002
gnat’s noun something very small. A reduction of, or a suggestion of,
many terms including: ‘gnat’s arse, ‘gnat’s chuff’ and ‘gnat’s
whiskers’; in such uses as ‘within a gnat’s’ and ‘tight as a gnat’s
arse’, etc UK, 2001
gnat’s blood noun tea purchased from a railway canteen or
refreshment bar UK, 1970
gnat’s eyelash noun a very small distance. The variant bodyparts
are seemingly infinite, with ‘eyelash’ as the earliest recorded US,
1937
gnat’s piss noun a weak beverage such as tea or beer UK, 1984
gnawing noun kissing NEW ZEALAND, 1998
gnawing-the-nana noun oral sex on a man AUSTRALIA, 1971
gnome noun a socially inept outcast US, 1959
G-note noun a $1000 note US, 1930

go noun 1 a turn at something; an attempt UK, 1825. 2 an opportunity
AUSTRALIA, 1965. 3 a fair chance. Commonly used in the phrase ‘give
someone a go’ AUSTRALIA, 1937. 4 an attack AUSTRALIA, 1965. 5 alook
AUSTRALIA, 1930. 6 a preference AUSTRALIA, 1977. 7 approval, agreement
US, 1878. 8 high-spirits, vigour, energy, as a human characteristic.
Originally, and still, applied to horses UK, 1825. 9 used of a busy
period or energetic activity UK, 1965. 10 a fight, especially a prize-
fight; an argument US, 1890. 11 an event AUSTRALIA, 1979. 12 adrag
race event US, 1954. 13 amphetamines. From the ‘get up and go’
nature of the drug’s effects UK, 2003. 14 MDMA, the recreational
drug best known as ecstasy UK, 2003. 15 a goanna. ‘Goanna’ is the
Gyuana Indian name for ‘lizard’, attached here to the monitor
lizard
AUSTRALIA, 1904. < from the word go from the very start.
Derived from the starting of a race US, 1838. < have a go at to
criticise. From the sense ‘to attack’ UK, 1977. < make a go of it to
make a success of something US, 1877
go verb 1 when reporting a conversation, to say. A thoroughly
annoying quotative device found as early as 1942, favoured by
teenagers in the 1970s and 80s
US, 1942. 2 to take on the
mannerisms and customs of a place or group of people
US, 1917.
3 to find acceptable, to wish for, to enjoy. Especially, and usually,
when applied to food or drink
UK, 1953. 4 to urinate; to defecate.
Probably a shortening of ‘go to the toilet’, now a euphemism
UK,
1926
. 5 to attack physically; to fight AUSTRALIA, 1924. 6 to race US, 1965.

7 to become (of a political constituency, as in ‘to go Tory’) US, 1937.
8 in a casino, to earn in tips US, 1980. 9 to weigh US, 1999. 10 of a
telephone, to ring UK, 2000. < go all the way to have sexual
intercourse
US, 1924. < go Alzheimers to forget. Public awareness
of Alzheimer’s confuses the disease with the premature senile
dementia it causes UK, 2000. < go bent 1 to become dishonest.
From BENT (crooked) UK, 2002. 2 (of a police witness) to retract a
statement or renege on an undertaking. The implication is that
the witness is behaving in a criminal manner, BENT UK, 1970. < go
big, go fat
to achieve substantial height or distance in snow-
boarding US, 1995. < go both ways to be willing to play both the
active and passive role in homosexual sex US, 1972. < go down
the rabbit hole
to use drugs. An allusion to Lewis Carroll and
Alice in Wonderland CANADA, 1993. < go for a burton 1 to to be
killed in an air crash. Military slang of uncertain etymology UK, 1941.
2 to be destroyed or ruined, to be forgotten UK, 1957. < go great
guns to do very well, to prosper UK, 1913. < go off like a two-
bob rocket
to lose your temper in a very unsubtle way UK:
SCOTLAND
, 1996. < go on to talk at length UK, 1822. < go over
jackass hill
to be a teenager CANADA, 1992. < go over the wall
1 to secretly depart from anywhere you are duty-bound to be.
Applies to escape from prison and the wider world US, 1933 . 2 to go
to prison
UK, 1917. < go some 1 to fight US, 1968. 2 to go well, to

proceed with notable vigour US, 1911. < go south 1 to deteriorate;
to break US, 2000. 2 in a gambling cheating scheme, to take dice or
money off the gaming table US, 1997. < go through the card to
cover everything that is available in a given circumstance.
Originally a horse racing term
UK, 1978. < go to bat to stand trial.
A baseball metaphor
US, 1965. < go to ground to go into hiding
US, 1990. < go to higher game to launch a legitimate business
after a period in an underworld enterprise US, 1972. < go to New
Norfolk
to be crazy. A reference to the asylum located in New
Norfolk AUSTRALIA, 1988. < go to the wall to exert yourself at all
costs without regard to the consequences US, 1976. < go up fool’s
hill
to be a teenager CANADA, 1999. < go upside someone’s head
to hit someone on the head US, 1959. < go west to be spoiled or
ruined; to die
UK, 1925. < go west on someone to fail, to let
someone down
CANADA, 1999. < go with the flow to acquiesce US,
1977. < not go much on to not like much AUSTRALIA, 1932
go! used for expressing approval and encouraging further effort US,
1957
go-ahead adjective progressive; anxious to succeed US, 1840
go ahead, make my day used to summon defiance. From the
film character Dirty Harry played by Clint Eastwood. US President
Ronald Reagan used the line in a speech to the American Business
Conference in March 1985: ‘I have only one thing to say to the tax
increasers. Go ahead – make my day!’. He liked the line so much

that he repeated it in a speech at his 83rd birthday in 1994
US, 1983
go-ahead man noun in horse racing, a person working with
someone selling ‘inside’ information on the horses and races
US,
1962
go-aheads noun thong sandals US, 1962
goalie noun 1 a goal-keeper. In football and ice hockey; first recorded
in the modern spelling in 1957 – as ‘goalee’, known since 1921
UK, 1957. 2 the clitoris US, 1972
goanna noun a piano. Rhyming slang for ‘pianna’, a variant
pronunciation AUSTRALIA, 1918
goat noun 1 a person responsible for a failure or loss, especially a
player in an atheltic contest. A short form of ‘scapegoat’ US, 1894.
2 in horse racing, a poor-performing racehorse AUSTRALIA, 1941 . 3 a
fool. Often, and originally, in the phrase ‘act the goat’
UK, 1879. 4 in
motor racing, a Dodge car
US, 1965. 5 in hot rodding, an old car US,
1948. 6 an engine used in a railway yard US, 1946. 7 agoateeUS, 1956.
293 glued | goat
< get someone’s goat to succeed in making someone lose
their temper
US, 1904
goat boater noun a surfer who uses a surfboard/canoe hybrid craft.
Mainly derogatory
UK: WALES, 2002
goat fuck noun a colossal, confused mess US, 1971
goat hair noun illegally manufactured alcoholic drink US, 1970
goat head noun in electric line work, an angle-iron punch US, 1980

goat heaven noun bliss BARBADOS, 1965
goat knee noun a callus, especially one on the head from carrying
heavy loads BARBADOS, 1965
goat land noun in oil drilling, non-productive land US, 1954
goat locker noun in the US Navy, the kitchen and dining hall
reserved for officers US, 1990
goat mouth; goat bite noun a curse; bad luck TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
1827
goat pasture noun any worthless land sold as part of a confidence
swindle US, 1985
goat rope noun a rumour. Gulf war usage US, 1991
goat screw noun a disorganised, confusing situation US, 1988
goat track noun a rough, winding hill road NEW ZEALAND, 2002
go away verb to be sent to jail or prison US, 1990
go-away gear noun a truck’s highest gear US, 1971
gob noun 1 the mouth. Originally Scots and northern English dialect
UK, 1550. 2 a slimey lump or clot, especially of spittle. In convention-
al use until early C19 UK, 1964
gob verb 1 to spit UK, 1872. 2 to eat UK, 1999
go back on verb to break a promise or a trust UK, 1859
gobble noun an act of oral sex UK, 1984
gobble verb 1 to perform oral sex on a man US, 1966. 2 to talk US, 1947.
3 in drag racing, to achieve very high speeds US, 1965. < gobble
the goop
to perform oral sex on a man US, 1918
gobble alley noun the upper balcony in a cinema favoured by
homosexuals US, 1966
gobble down verb in computing, to obtain US, 1983
gobbledygook noun dense, pompous, and unintelligible jargon US,
1944

gobble hole noun in pinball, a hole near the centre of the playing
field which takes a ball from play while scoring a large number of
points US, 1979
gobble off verb to perform oral sex on a man. A more complete
elaboration of GOBBLE UK, 2003
gobbler noun a hospital patient with petty complaints US, 1980
gobbling irons noun a knife, fork and spoon. A trawlermen’s term
UK, 1969
gobbling rods noun a knife, fork and spoon. Gulf war usage UK, 1991
gobbo adjective stupid UK, 2002
gobby noun a small lump of dried nasal mucus UK, 2000
gobby; gobbie adjective loquacious, too talkative; impudent UK, 1993
gobdaw noun 1 an ordinary fool IRELAND, 1989. 2 a dolt, a gullible
person IRELAND, 2003
go between noun acowgateCANADA, 1987
gobgrabbing noun in prison, the practice of trying to grab and steal
drugs concealed in someone’s gob (the mouth) UK, 1996
goblet of jam noun marijuana. From the direct translation from
Arabic m’juni akbar (a hashish-based confection) US, 1969
gob off verb to talk loudly or too much UK, 1995
gobs noun 1 a great deal of. In the C16, a ‘gob’ or ‘gubbe’ referred
specifically to a ‘great deal of money’ or a ‘large mouthful of fatty
meat’. By World War 2, the term had acquired this broader
meaning, as evidenced by the title of Johnny Viney’s 1943
wartime humorous novel Sailors are Gobs of Fun, Hattie US, 1839 .
2 in a hospital, gynaecology. Rhymed on the model of OBS
(obstetrics) UK, 2002
gobshite noun a fool; an unpleasant person. Combines GOB (the
mouth) and
SHITE (rubbish), hence ‘someone who talks rubbish’:

the subsequent, more abusive sense depends on the phonetic
ugliness of the word
IRELAND, 1961
gobsmack noun a shock that renders you speechless. A back-form-
ation from the verb UK, 2001
gobsmacked adjective being speechless or lost for words as the
result of amazement or shock. Adopted from northern dialect;
silence is the suggested result of a ‘smack’ (hit) in the
GOB
(mouth) UK, 1971
gobsmacking adjective shocking UK, 1996
gobsmackingly adverb surprisingly NEW ZEALAND, 2003
gobstopper noun 1 a large ball-shaped sweet that reveals layers of
colour as sucking diminishes its size. Combines
GOB (the mouth)
with the effect of a large sweet
UK, 1928. 2 the penis. Rhyming slang
for
CHOPPER rejoicing in puns of size and sweetness UK, 1992
gobstoppers noun the testicles. From GOBSTOPPER (a ball-shaped
sweet) UK, 2002
gobstruck adjective very surprised. From GOB (the mouth) and
‘struck’ (hit)
UK, 1988
go button noun a car’s accelerator US, 1993
go-by noun a passing by US, 1949
goby noun a middleman in a criminal enterprise. From ‘go-between’
UK, 1970
go-by-the-wall noun a cornerboy IRELAND, 1989
God Almighty noun a woman’s nightdress, a ‘nightie’. Rhyming

slang UK, 1998
God-awful adjective terrible, dreadful. ‘God’ as the intensifier of all
that is bad US, 1897
God bless you noun used as a mnemonic device in snooker for
remembering the correct spotting of ball colours – green, brown,
yellow
US, 1993
God-botherer; God-pesterer noun an immoderately religious indi-
vidual UK, 1937
God Calls Me God noun a GCMG (Grand Commander of St Michael
and St George). A pun elaborated on the initials; used by civil
servants demonstrating a jocular familiarity with the honour
UK,
1961
God damn noun jam (the preserve). Rhyming slang UK, 1992
-goddamn- infix used as an intensifier US, 1968
godfather noun in horse racing, someone who provides financial
assistance to a financially failing operation AUSTRALIA, 1989
God forbid; Gawd forbid; Gawd fer bid noun 1 a child. Rhyming
slang for
KID UK, 1909. 2 a Jewish person. Rhyming slang for YID UK,
1960
Godfrey noun used in oaths in place of ‘God’ US, 1959
God hates a coward in poker, used for luring a reluctant bettor to
bet
US, 1951
godhead adjective excellent at playing Internet games. Possibly an
elaboration of ‘good’ UK, 2003
godiva noun 8see: LAD Y GODIVA
God love her noun a mother. Rhyming slang UK, 1974

go down verb 1 to happen US, 1946. 2 to be arrested and/or
imprisoned
UK, 1906. 3 while working as a police officer in a patrol
car, to park and sleep US, 1973
go-down man noun in an illegal betting operation, the employee
designated to identify himself as the operator in the event of a
police raid, accepting risk in place of the actual operator US, 1951
go down on; go down; go down south verb to perform oral sex
US, 1914
go downtown verb to have sex. Coined for US television comedy
Seinfeld, 1993–98 US, 2003
goat boater | go downtown 294
God save the Queens noun green vegetables, especially cabbage.
Rhyming slang for ‘greens’
UK, 1992
God’s flesh noun 1 psilocybin, a hallucinogenic mushroom US, 1970.
2 LSD UK, 2003
God’s gift to women; God’s gift noun of a man, a great lover. A
familiar idiom, also used in other contexts as ‘God’s gift to
something or someone’; generally heavily ironic US, 1927
God’s honest truth noun the absolute truth UK, 1959
God shop noun achurchUS, 1965
God-size adjective very, very large US, 1968
God slot noun a regular position in a television or radio broadcast
schedule given over to religious programmes
UK, 1972
God’s medicine; God’s own medicine noun morphine; opium US,
1925
God squad noun 1 church authorities; evangelical enthusiasts US,
1965. 2 the US military Chaplains Corps US, 1965

God’s waiting room noun a nursing home; a rest home US, 1989
goer noun 1 a proposition that seems a likely success AUSTRALIA, 1974.
2 an enthusiastic participant in sexual activity UK, 1984. 3 in hot
rodding, a fast car US, 1954. 4 a person with get-up-and-go AUSTRALIA,
1983. 5 a horse being honestly ridden to win AUSTRALIA, 1966
go-fast noun any amphetamine or other central nervous system
stimulant
US, 1993
go-faster noun any amphetamine or other central nervous system
stimulant US, 1986
gofer verb to act as an assistant and errand-runner. From the noun
UK, 2001
gofer; gopher; go-for noun 1 a low-level assistant who typically runs
petty errands. He or she goes for this and goes for that US, 1930. 2 in
the military, a special team assigned with the task of bypassing
normal channels to acquire needed supplies US, 1990
goffer noun 1 a cold drink of mineral water or lemonade. Derives
from drinks manufacturer Goffe & Sons Ltd AUSTRALIA, 1945. 2 a wave
washing inboard UK, 1987. 3 a punch, a blow UK, 1886. 4 a salute
AUSTRALIA, 2003
go for verb 1 to attack with words (spoken or written) or with physi-
cal force UK, 1880. 2 to pay for US, 1975
go for it! used as a general exhortation US, 1978
go forth and multiply! go away! Genesis 1:28 provides this archly
euphemistic variation of ‘fuck off!’. US, 1985
go for the gusto! used as an exhortation to take risks and live life
fully. From a slogan for Schlitz beer; often used ironically US, 1988
gog noun a person from North Wales. From Welsh gogledd (north) UK:
WALES
, 2002

go-getter noun a very active, enterprising person US, 1910
gogga noun 1 something frightening, monstrous or unwanted,
especially in a political or business context. From the sense as ‘an
insect’ SOUTH AFRICA, 1934. 2 any insect. A generic term, from
Khoikhoi xo-xon via Afrikaans SOUTH AFRICA, 1905. 3 a germ, a disease
SOUTH AFRICA, 1963
goggatjie; gogga noun used as a term of endearment. From
Afrikaans for ‘little insect’
SOUTH AFRICA, 1972
goggle verb < goggle the horizon used by motorcylists to mean a
number of things, most commonly to keep an eye out US, 2003
goggle box noun a television. Conventional ‘goggle’ (to stare) elabor-
ates viewers’ response to the box (television) UK, 1959
goggler noun a male homosexual US, 1970
goggles noun spectacles. From the conventional sense (spectacles for
eye-protection) UK, 1871
Gogland nickname North Wales. From Welsh gogledd (north) UK:
WALES
, 2002
go-go noun a discotheque; a venue for erotic-dance performance US,
1965
go-go adjective associated with a discotheque. A very big word for a
very few years UK, 1964
go-go bird noun a CH-47 transport helicopter fitted with window-
mounted machine guns and used as a gunship. Not a successful
experiment
US, 1991
go-go boy noun an attractive, usually homosexual, young man who
is a paid dancer at a nightclub or bar
US, 1971

go-go dancer noun a paid dancer at a nightclub US, 1967
go-go dancing noun dancing for pay at a nightclub in a cage or
platform above the patrons
US, 1993
go-go juice; go juice noun petrol; diesel US, 1976 8see: GO-JUICE
go home used as a humorous farewell. A catchphrase television
sign-off on The Tracey Ullman Show (Fox, 1987–90). Repeated with
referential humour
US, 1987
gohong noun during the Korean war, food or chow. From the Korean
word for ‘rice’ applied by American soldiers to food in general US,
1951
goie noun a central nervous system stimulant such as Dexedrine™ or
Benzedrine™ US, 1960
go-in noun afightAUSTRALIA, 1900
going! used for encouraging another’s action. Hawaiian youth usage
US, 1982
going home gear noun a truck’s highest gear US, 1971
going-over noun 1 a beating; a verbal assault US, 1942. 2 a detailed
inspection, a search
US, 1919
goings-on noun behaviour or proceedings. Usually with a pejorative
implication UK, 1775
goitre noun a large quantity of banknotes, usually folded into a
trouser pocket. From the unsightly bulge UK, 1977
go-juice noun alcohol (liquor) US, 1968
go jump in the creek go away!, be off with you! AUSTRALIA, 1947
GOK God only knows. An informal medical acronym UK, 2003
gold noun 1 money US, 1940. 2 used generically for jewellery, especially
goods that are traded illicitly UK, 2000. 3 a type of bet in an illegal

lottery US, 1957. 4 potent marijuana. Often combined with a place
name for the formation of place plus colour US, 1968. 5 in drag
racing and hot rodding, a trophy or prize
US, 1968
golda noun a Jewish homosexual. Gay slang, formed on the name
Golda and originating among Cape coloureds SOUTH AFRICA, 2000
Goldberg noun used as a stereotype of a Jewish merchant US, 1965
goldbrick noun a person who shuns work or duty US, 1918
goldbrick verb to avoid a work detail US, 1918
goldbricker noun a swindler US, 1902
goldbug noun a person who buys and hoards gold US, 1981
gold buttons noun a conductor on a train US, 1977
Gold Coast nickname 1 a high-rise, high-rent district on Lakeshore
Drive bordering Lake Michigan in northern Chicago, Illinois US, 1950.
2 an area in Harlem, New York, where police bribes are common
and lucrative
US, 1972. 3 the Atlantic coast of South Florida US, 1983.
4 a stretch along the east coast of Queensland, Australia, noted for
extraordinarily good surfing AUSTRALIA, 1991
gold-digger noun someone who pursues another romantically
because of their wealth. Used to characterize women as predators
of men
US, 1916
gold-digging adjective engaged in the romantic pursuit of a wealthy
lover US, 1994
gold dust noun 1 cocaine. Extends DUST (playing on the expense) US,
1962. 2 heroin UK, 1996
Gold Dust Twins nickname 1 Timothy Leary and Dick Alpert, LSD
pioneers US, 1971. 2 Byron Nelson and Jug McSpaden, who
dominated professional golf in the US during the 1940s US, 1998

golden noun marijuana. From the colour of the leaf UK, 2003
golden adjective successful, excellent, charmed US, 1958
golden arm noun in craps, a player with a long streak of good luck
rolling the dice US, 1993
golden BB the bullet or anti-aircraft round that hits you US, 1969
295 God save the Queens | golden BB
golden bollocks nickname a lucky man UK, 1984
golden boy noun 1 a favoured male AUSTRALIA, 1967. 2 in homosexual
usage, a handsome young man at his sexual prime
US, 1981
golden brown noun heroin. An elaboration of BROWN (heroin) UK, 1981
golden bullet noun the bullet or anti-aircraft round that hits your
combat plane US, 1991
golden chair! used to reserve your seat as you briefly leave the
room
US, 1996
golden crescent noun an area in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan
where heroin is produced US, 1992
golden doughnut noun the vagina AUSTRALIA, 1972
golden dragon noun LSD UK, 1998
golden flow noun the urine test given to US soldiers upon their
return to the US from Vietnam
US, 1971
golden ghetto verb a large, comfortable US Army divisional base
camp in South Vietnam. A term used with derision by the
marines US, 1990
golden girl noun 1 a favoured woman AUSTRALIA, 1992. 2 high quality
cocaine US, 1980. 3 heroin US, 1994
Golden Girls nickname the women’s track team from the Bahamas
at the 2000 Olympics

US, 2004
golden glow noun a luminous daub used by card cheats to mark
cards US, 1988
golden leaf noun 1 marijuana of excellent quality. Possibly
descriptive of the plant’s appearance, as well as the value placed
upon it
US, 1925. 2 a marijuana cigarette UK, 2003
golden mile noun the area west of McGill in central Montreal,
characterized by large stone mansions CANADA, 2002
golden ointment noun a large win in betting; money AUSTRALIA, 1989
golden oldie noun 1 a song from the past that is still popular,
especially a rock and roll song from the 1950s or 60s US, 1966. 2 by
extension, anything that can be categorised in a nostalgic context.
After the old songs a radio DJ announces US, 1980
golden shower noun a shared act of urine fetishism; the act of
urination by one person on another for sexual gratification
US, 1943.
< couldn’t organise a urine sample in a golden shower
used of an inefficient person or organisation. A later variation of
‘ PISS-UP IN A BREWERY’ and ‘ COCK-UP IN A BROTHEL’ UK, 2005
golden shower queen noun a male homosexual who derives sexual
pleasure from being urinated on US, 1964
golden spike noun a hypodermic needle US, 1955
golden T nickname in New York, Fifth Avenue from 47th Street north
to 57th Street, and 57th Street between Madison and Sixth
Avenues
US, 1989
golden time; golden hours noun in the entertainment industry,
time worked at a premium overtime rate US, 1970
golden triangle noun an area in Burma, Laos and Thailand where

heroin is produced
US, 1992
goldfinger noun synthetic heroin US, 1992
goldfish noun a strain of marijuana, also known as ‘orange bud’ UK,
2001
goldfish verb to mouth words, to talk without being heard. Imitative
of a goldfish
US, 2002
goldfish bowl noun a jail’s interrogation room US, 1962
goldfishing noun the behaviour of visitors being shown around a
prison. From the similarity to a naturally wide-eyed, open-
mouthed goldfish
UK, 1996
gold fronts; fronts noun ornamental dental work US, 1994
Goldie Hawn noun a prawn. Rhyming slang, formed from the name
of the US movie actress (b.1945) UK, 1998
Goldilocks noun a sexually transmitted infection. Rhyming slang for
POX, caught from a fairytale heroine – ‘Who’s been sleeping in my
bed?’ UK, 1998
gold mine noun an establishment that sells alcohol illegally, by the
drink
US, 1978
gold nuggets noun in dominoes, the 5–5 piece US, 1959
gold ring noun (of playing cards) a king. Rhyming slang, also used of
monarchy
UK, 1992
gold room noun a room in the Pentagon where the Joint Chiefs and
Staff meet with the Operations Deputies
US, 1986
gold rush noun 1 the frantic searching for jewellery or coins that

follows a shift in the slope of a beach, exposing lost articles US,
1986
. 2 in hold ’em poker, a hand consisting of a four and a nine.
An allusion to the California gold rush of 1849 US, 1996
gold seal noun good quality marijuana UK, 1996
gold star noun marijuana UK, 1998
gold-star lesbian noun a lesbian who has never had sex with a man
and intends that she never will
UK, 2004
Goldstein noun a Jewish person US, 1980
gold watch noun Scotch whisky. Rhyming slang, always given full
measure UK, 1992
golfball noun 1 crack cocaine; a large piece of crack cocaine US, 1994.
2 any central nervous system depressant UK, 1998. 3 a changeable
sphere with 88 different characters used on IBM Selectric
typewriters US, 1991
golfballs noun 1 dice US, 1962. 2 LSD UK, 2003
golfballs and bullets noun a US Army c-rations meal of meatballs
and beans
US, 1991
Golf Course nickname Camp Radcliff, base camp for the Fourth
Infantry Division near An Khe, South Vietnam. From its large
helicopter airfield with low-cut grass
US, 1966
goliath noun a multiple bet, gambling on eight horses, combining
247 bets in a specific pattern UK, 1991
gollies noun < the gollies dog racing. From rhyming slang; for
GOLLIWOG (a dog) UK, 1992
golliwog noun 1 a dog, especially a greyhound. Rhyming slang, may
be abbreviated to ‘gollie’

UK, 1992. 2 fog. Rhyming slang, often
reduced to ‘golly’
UK, 1998
golliwoggy; golly adjective foggy UK, 1998
gollop verb to eat hurriedly and with great gusto. A variation of con-
ventional ‘gulp’ UK, 1937
golly noun 1 a black person. A shortening of ‘golliwog’ UK, 1976. 2 any
person of non-white ethnicity; a native of the Indian subcontinent;
an Arab;. A play on WOG via ‘golliwog’ (a negroid doll) UK, 1967. 3 a
gob of phlegm or mucus AUSTRALIA, 1938. 4 a half gallon jar of beer
NEW ZEALAND, 1999
golly verb to expectorate AUSTRALIA, 1978
golly! used for registering surprise, shock, etc. Euphemistic variation
on ‘God’, which evokes a childish innocence UK, 1775
gollyer noun a gob of spittle IRELAND, 1966
golly gee, Buffalo Bob used for expressing mock astonishment US,
1969
golpe noun heroin. From Spanish golpe (a blow, a shot) US, 1980
gom noun a foolish, awkward person; a simpleton; an idiot IRELAND,
1996
GOM noun morphine; opium. An initialism of GOD’S OWN MEDICINE
UK
, 1996
goma; guma noun heroin. Possibly an elaboration of GOM US, 1967
gomer noun 1 a US Marine, especially a clumsy trainee. Terminology
used with affectionate derision by the US Army during the
Vietnam war. From the television show Gomer Pyle, which is not a
completely flattering image of the marines
US, 1984. 2 arepulsive,
non-compliant hospital patient. From the plea – ‘get out of my

emergency room!’ US, 1993
go-minh money noun compensation payment to Vietnamese
civilians by the US military for accidental losses resulting from
military actions. From the Vietnamese for ‘extract yourself from a
predicament’ US, 1990
golden bollocks | go-minh money 296
gommed up adjective dirty US, 1982
gommie noun a silly person CANADA, 1990
gomtor; gom noun an uncouth person, especially when applied to
an Afrikaner. From Afrikaans gomtor (a lout) SOUTH AFRICA, 1970
gon noun a gondola train carriage US, 1934
gonad alert noun 8see: NAD ALERT
gondola noun heroin UK, 2003
gone adjective 1 superlative, profoundly in touch with current trends.
Nellie Lutcher’s 1947 recording of ‘He’s a Real Gone Guy’ did as
much as anything to introduce the term into the language
US, 1946.
2 drunk or drug-intoxicated US, 1933. 3 completely destitute and
physically ruined because of crack cocaine addiction
US, 1994.
4 infatuated US, 1957. 5 pregnant AUSTRALIA, 1945. 6 caught AUSTRALIA,
1954
goneburger noun anything that is redundant or finished NEW
ZEALAND
, 2000
gone case noun a hopeless cause SINGAPORE, 2002
goner noun 1 someone who has died or is unavoidably doomed to
die very soon. From ‘gone’ as a euphemism for ‘dead’ UK, 1847.
2 someone who is doomed to failure US, 1970. 3 a person who
excels US, 1949

gone to bed adjective dead UK, 1992
gone to Gowings adjective well and truly gone. From an advertising
campaign for Gowing Bros, a Sydney department store. Used as an
intensifier of ‘gone’, especially for slang senses of ‘gone’
AUSTRALIA,
1977
gone to hell adjective utterly ruined UK, 1984
gone up adjective drunk or drug-intoxicated US, 1970
gong noun 1 a medal or decoration UK, 1921. 2 a medal UK, 1945 .
3 opium; heroin US, 1936. 4 marijuana US, 1977. 5 a gun US, 1995
gong down verb to ring the alarm bell on a police car as a signal to
another motorist to stop. Early police cars were fitted with bell-
shaped gongs. During the 1930s and 40s the police patrolling in
cars were known as ‘gongers’ UK, 1958
gonies noun the testicles. A diminuitive of ‘gonads’ US, 1970
gonj noun marijuana UK, 2003
gonk noun 1 a prostitute’s client. A contemptuous term used by
prostitutes, deriving, perhaps, from a type of humanoid doll UK,
1977. 2 a fool, an idiot. Teen slang UK, 2003
gonk verb 1 to sleep UK, 1987. 2 to lie US, 1991
gonna; gunna; gunner; gonner verb going to. Slovenly
pronunciation US, 1913
gonnabe noun a wannabe (someone with ambition) who has a
realistic chance of achieving the goal US, 1988
gonnif; gonif; ganef noun a thief; a crook. Yiddish from Hebrew.
Depending on the tone, can range from laudatory to disdainful UK,
1839
go-no-go noun the point on a runway where a pilot taking off must
decide whether to abort a take-off or to take off
US, 1963

gonski adjective gone UK, 2000
gonzo noun cocaine UK, 1996
gonzo adjective crazed; having a bizarre style. Although coinage is
credited to US journalist and author Bill Cardoso, close friend and
partner in adventure with the late Hunter S. Thompson, the dust
jacket to Cardoso’s collected essays claims only that he is ‘the
writer who inspired Dr. Hunter S. Thompson to coin the phrase
"Gonzo journalism"’. Thompson first used the term in print and
the term is irrevocably linked with him in the US
US, 1971
gonzoid adjective crazed; having a bizarre style US, 1979
Gonzo the great; gonzo noun a state of drunkenness. Rhyming
slang for, ‘a state’, formed on a popular puppet character in
television’s The Muppet Show, from 1976, and subsequent Muppet
films UK, 1998
goo noun 1 any semi-liquid or viscous stuff, especially of an unknown
origin
US, 1903. 2 alookIRELAND, 1991. < give with the goo to
explain fully. Obsolete teen slang CANADA, 1946
goob noun 1 a large facial blemish US, 1976. 2 methcathinone US, 1998
goober noun in the usage of young street racers, anyone who drives
a car with an automatic transmission
US, 2003
gooby noun a gob of spit or phlegm NEW ZEALAND, 1985
gooch noun an inept, unaware person US, 1976
gooch-eyed adjective blind in one eye US, 1972
good adverb < come good of people, to rise to or surpass expec-
tations; of things, to work out well or better than expected
UK, 1892.
< have it good; have it so good to be possessed of (many)

advantages
US, 1946. < make good in poker, to match another
player’s increased bet
US, 1967
good and adverb absolutely, completely, properly UK, 1885
good and plenty noun heroin. Playing with a trademarked sweet
confection name
US, 1994
good and proper adverb to the greatest degree, completely UK, 1928
good buddy noun used as a term of address. A term that enjoyed
meteor-like ascendancy in popularity with the citizens’ band radio
craze that swept the US in 1976. Still used with jocular irony US,
1956
good butt noun a marijuana cigarette US, 1960
Good-bye Girls nickname the 2004 US women’s Olympic soccer
team. An acknowledgement of the fact that many of the team
members were playing in their final competition
UK, 2004
good-bye, kids used as a humorous farewell. On the final episode
of the children’s television classic Howdy Doody Show (NBC,
1947–60), these final words were uttered by Clarabell the Clown,
who for 14 years had not spoken. Repeated with referential
humour US, 1951
good-bye kiss noun the repurchase at a premium of stock by a
target company from the company attempting a takeover US, 1988
good chute noun a successful ejection of pilot and crew from a
downed US aircraft
US, 1990
good cop noun in a pair of police, the partner who plays the sym-
pathetic, understanding role during an interrogation US, 1975

good cop, bad cop noun a police interrogation method in which
one interrogator plays the role of a hardliner, while the other plays
the role of a sympathetic friend US, 1975
goodfella noun a gangster. Brought into mainstream use by the
1989 film Goodfellas US, 2003
good few noun a fair number US, 1828
good for adjective having sufficient money or credit to pay the speci-
fied requirement UK, 1937
good for you! used as a register of approval of something achieved
or said by the person addressed or spoken of
UK, 1861
good fuck! used for registering surprise UK, 2002
good fun noun a great deal of fun. Hawaiian youth usage US, 1981
good gravy! used as an utterly unprofane exclamation US, 1971
good grief! used as an all-purpose expression of surprise, anger,
disappointment, dismay. Given great popularity in the 1960s by
Charles Schultz’s Peanuts comic strip
US, 1937
good guts noun correct and pertinent information AUSTRALIA, 1957
good H noun heroin. An elaboration of H (heroin), possibly playing
on the conventional exclamation ‘good heavens!’ UK, 2002
good hands used in farewell BAHAMAS, 1982
good hitter noun in pool, an excellent cue stick US, 1990
good horse noun heroin. A playful elaboration of HORSE (heroin) UK,
2002
goodie noun 1 a valuable possession UK, 2003. 2 something that is
special and good US, 1975. 3 a person on the side of right, especially
in works of fiction
US, 1873. 4 extra parts or equipment for a car,
enhancing its performance and/or embellishing its appearance

US,
297 gommed up | goodie
1954. 5 in poker, a card that improves a hand US, 1961. 6 an ambush
or mechanical ambush
US, 1991
goodie and baddie; goodie noun an Irish person. Rhyming slang,
for
PADDY UK, 1992
goodied up adjective (used of a truck) embellished with lights,
chrome and other accessories
US, 1971
goodies noun 1 the vagina US, 1959. 2 the female breasts US, 1969
good looks noun employment documents. Rhyming slang for BOOKS
UK: SCOTLAND
, 1988
good man Friday noun a pimp US, 1953
goodness!; goodness me! used as a mild expletive, or register of
shock, surprise, etc UK, 1704
goodness gracious!; goodness gracious me! used as a mild
expletive, or register of shock, surprise, etc. In 1960 Peter Sellers,
in the character of an Indian doctor, recorded a successful comedy
duet entitled ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ with Sophia Loren (written
by Herbert Kretzmer); the old exclamation soon had catchphrase
status. In 1996, four British-Indian comedians adopted the term as
the ironic title for a radio comedy series, subsequently a television
success. Now this term, the earliest recorded usage of which is by
Charles Dickens, is considered by many to be a part of the
stereotypical Indian vocabulary
UK, 1840
goodness only knows! used as a mild declaration of ignorance;

used of something beyond your knowledge or experience
UK, 1819
goodness’ sake!; for goodness’ sake! used as a mild register of
exasperation or impatience. The earliest use was in reference to
the goodness of God UK, 1613
Good night Chet. Good night David. used as a humorous
exchange of farewells. The signature sign-off of television news
anchors Chet Huntley and David Brinkley in the 1960s. Repeated
with referential humour US, 1956
goodnight kiss noun an act of urination; urination. Rhyming slang
for
PISS UK, 1992
good-night nurse noun a smoker’s last cigarette of the night before
going to sleep US, 1996
goodnight, nurse used for indicating the end or the finish of an
activity
UK, 2000
good numbers (used in citizens’ band radio transmissions) best
wishes, regards US, 1976
good-oh; good-o; goodoh; goodo adjective very good; all right;
well; in good health AUSTRALIA, 1905
good-oh; good-o; goodoh; goodo adverb well; satisfactorily; all
right AUSTRALIA, 1920
good-oh!; good-o!; goodoh!; goodo! 1 terrific!, well done!
AUSTRALIA, 1904. 2 all right!, okay! AUSTRALIA, 1918
good oil noun correct and pertinent information AUSTRALIA, 1916
good old adjective 1 used as an affectionate (occasionally derisive)
modifier of a term of reference or address UK, 1821. 2 familiar; used
for expressing commendation or approval UK, 1898
good old boy verb a white male from the southern US who

embraces the values of his region and race US, 1961
good on you! 1 well done!, good for you! AUSTRALIA, 1907. 2 used as a
farewell US, 1997
good people noun a person who can be trusted and counted on US,
1891
good plan! used as a humorous expression of approval US, 1981
goods noun 1 the genuine article, the real thing; exactly who or what
is required
US, 1899. 2 positive evidence of guilt US, 1900. 3 any drug
US, 1971. 4 yourself, especially areas of intimate contact UK, 1988.
< the goods an attractive person UK, 1984
good shake noun 8see: EVEN SHAKE
good ship venus; good ship noun the penis. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
good show!; jolly good show! used as an expression of delight UK,
1940
good sort noun a sexually attractive woman AUSTRALIA, 1944
good stuff noun among criminals, a respected criminal UK, 2001
good style adverb excellently UK, 2001
good thing noun 1 a lucrative opportunity AUSTRALIA, 1962. 2 a sucker;
someone who is easily tricked
US, 1909. 3 a horse that is tipped to
win
AUSTRALIA, 1877. 4 a good thing. Made slang by attitude and
tone. A signature line of Martha Stewart on her television show
Martha Stewar t Living Television, first aired in 1993. Repeated with
referential humour
US, 1993. < like a good thing in an active,
pleasing or exciting way IRELAND, 1996
good thinking! used as a register of approval for an excellent idea
or good suggestion, or ironically in the case of a bad or obvious

suggestion UK, 1968
good time noun 1 a period of incarceration that does not destroy
the prisoner’s spirit
US, 1975. 2 a reduction of a prison sentence for
good behaviour in jail US, 1952. 3 time that counts towards a
soldier’s military commitment
US, 1971. < the original good
time that was had by all
used of a sexually promiscuous
woman. A twist of the clichéd catchphrase ‘a good time was had
by all’, coined by US film actress Bette Davis, 1908–89. The orig-
inal catchphrase is credited to poet Stevie Smith, who acquired it
for use as a title from the reportage of parish magazines US, 1981
good-time house noun an establishment that sells alcohol illegally,
especially by the drink US, 1978
good to go adjective prepared to start a mission. Airborne slang in
Vietnam, quickly absorbed into the non-military mainstream
US,
1966
good to me! used for expressing self-praise US, 1972
good wood noun a dependable, trustworthy white prisoner. Derived
from PECKERWOOD US, 1989
goody!; goodee! used as an expression of delight. Childish; often
reduplicated in excitement UK, 1796
goody drawer noun any drawer in a bedroom containing
contraceptives, lubricants or sex toys US, 2002
goody-goody noun 1 an excessively good person. Usually uttered
with some degree of derision UK, 1871. 2 marijuana. From the
exclamation of delight. UK, 2003
goody-goody adjective (of children) too well-behaved; (of adults)

hypocritically or sentimentally pious
UK, 1871
goody gumdrops; goody goody gumdrops; goody gumdrop
used as an expression of delight; often ironic in later use UK, 1959
goody two-shoes noun a person of excessive virtue US, 1934
gooey noun in computing, a graphic user interface (GUI) such as one
with windows and icons
US, 1995
gooey adjective 1 viscous or semi-viscous US, 1903. 2 excessively
sentimental UK, 1935
gooey ball noun any sticky confection made with marijuana or
hashish US, 2001
gooey louey noun a second lieutenant in the US Army US, 1991
goof noun 1 an alcoholic beverage. Found only in Ontario, this term
may have derived from GOOFBALL (a barbiturate drug) US, 1964. 2 a
barbiturate. An abbreviation of GOOFBALL US, 1944 . 3 a frequent
marijuana smoker US, 1950. 4 a silly, soft or stupid person US, 1916.
5 ajoke,aprankUS, 1958. 6 aswimSOUTH AFRICA, 2004
goof verb 1 to botch, to ruin US, 1952. 2 to tease, to joke US, 1931. 3 to
give yourself away to the police UK, 1978. 4 to spoil an injection of a
narcotic, during either preparation or application
UK, 1978. 5 to
smoke marijuana
US, 1970. 6 to enter what appears to be a near
coma as a result of drug intoxication US, 1951
goof around verb to pass time enjoyably but unproductively US, 1931
goofball noun 1 a barbiturate used for non-medicinal purposes US,
1939. 2 a mixture of heroin and cocaine US, 1969. 3 ahabitualsmoker
of marijuana
SOUTH AFRICA, 2004. 4 a silly and/or dim-witted person

US, 1944
goof butt; goof-butt; goofy butt noun a marijuana cigarette. A
combination of GOOF (a marijuana smoker) and BUTT (a cigarette)
US, 1938
goodie and baddie; goodie | goof butt; goof-butt; goofy butt 298
goofed; goofed up; goofed-up adjective 1 wrong US, 1952.
2 experiencing the effects of drugs, especially barbiturates or
marijuana; drunk US, 1944
goofer noun 1 a barbiturate capsule, especially glutethimide US, 1969.
2 someone who toys with recreational drugs UK, 1998. 3 aperson
who regularly uses drugs in pill form
US, 1952. 4 a homosexual male
prostitute who assumes the active role in sex
US, 1941
goofer dust noun a barbiturate US, 1954
go off verb 1 to happen, occur UK, 1804. 2 of a fight, to happen, to
start
UK, 1999. 3 to vehemently display anger AUSTRALIA, 1979 . 4 to
cease to like something or someone UK, 1934. 5 to fall asleep UK, 1887.
6 to ejaculate UK, 1866. 7 to give birth AUSTRALIA, 1971. 8 to turn out or
pass off in the way indicated
AUSTRALIA, 1867. 9 to perform brilliantly
AUSTRALIA, 1987. 10 to behave extravagantly; to go all out AUSTRALIA,
1995. 11 to defecate TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1973. 12 to pass peak con-
dition; to deteriorate in freshness UK, 1978. 13 to be raided by auth-
orities AUSTRALIA, 1941. 14 to make a noise. An extension of ‘go off’
(to start) UK, 1998. 15 (of a party or nightclub venue) to be
thoroughly exciting and enjoyable
AUSTRALIA, 1993. 16 (of a prize) to
be awarded

AUSTRALIA, 1970. 17 (of a woman) to engage in sexual
intercourse AUSTRALIA, 1967. 18 in motor racing, to suffer a dimin-
ution of performance, either because of a handling problem or
driver fatigue US, 1980. 19 (of a racehorse whose true abilities have
been kept secret) to be raced to win AUSTRALIA, 1936. < go off on
one to lose your temper UK, 1997
goofies noun 1 a swimming bath. Children’s slang SOUTH AFRICA, 1970.
2 LSD US, 2001
goof-off noun a lazy person US, 1945
goof off verb to waste time, to idle US, 1943
goof on verb to joke about, to make fun of US, 1956
goof-up noun a blunder, an error of judgement US, 1956
goofus noun 1 afoolUS, 1917. 2 in circus and carnival usage, an
extremely gullible customer who demonstrates great potential as a
victim US, 1981
goofy noun 1 a fool, especially as a form of address. Goofy is the
name of the foolish dog in Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse cartoons
UK, 1967. 2 a skateboarder who skates with the right foot to the
front UK, 2004
goofy adjective gawky, clumsy, foolish, eccentric US, 1919
-goofy suffix mentally imbalanced as a result of the preceding activity
US, 1969
goofy butt noun 8see: GOOF BUT T
goofy foot noun a surfer who surfs with the right foot forward. Most
surfers surf with their left foot forward AUSTRALIA, 1962
goofy footed adjective in foot-propelled scootering, used of someone
who rides with the left foot behind the right. From surfing UK, 2000
goofy’s noun LSD UK, 2001
goog noun an egg. Shortening of GOOGIE AUSTRALIA, 1941
googan noun in pool, someone who plays for fun US, 1990

googie noun an egg. From Gaelic AUSTRALIA, 1903
google verb to search for something on the Internet by means of a
search engine; to check a person’s credentials by investigating
websites that contain that person’s name. A generic use of
Google™ (a leading Internet search engine) US, 2000
google; google hut noun an egg-shaped, fibreglass field hut
ANTARCTICA, 1992
Google bomb noun an effort to create a great number of Internet
pages with links to a specific website so that it achieves a position
near the top of a Google search directory for seemingly unrelated
words. Google™ is an Internet search engine
US, 2002
Google bombing noun the deliberate creation of a great number of
Internet pages with links to a specific website with an intent that
the website achieves a position near the top of a Google search
directory for seemingly unrelated words. Google™ is an Internet
search engine
US, 2002
google box noun television NEW ZEALAND, 1984
googlewhack noun among Internet users, the result of a search for
any webpage that, uniquely, contains a combination of two
randomly chosen words and is therefore indexed by the search-
engine Google as ‘1 of 1’ US, 2002
googlewhack verb among Internet users, to search for any webpage
that, uniquely, contains a combination of two randomly chosen
words and is therefore indexed by the search-engine Google as ‘1
of 1’. A back-formation from
GOOGLEWHACKING US, 2002
googlewhacking noun among Internet users, a popular craze for
searching for any webpage that, uniquely, contains a combination

of two randomly chosen words and is therefore indexed by the
search-engine Google as ‘1 of 1’. Coinage is credited to Gary Stock
‘Chief Innovation Officer and Technical Compass’ of a company in
Kalamazoo, Michigan, who discovered and named this
‘compelling’ time-wasting activity
US, 2002
googly noun an awkward question. A figurative use of the cricketing
sense
AUSTRALIA, 1942
goo-goo eyes noun romantic glances US, 1897
googs noun in circus and carnival usage, eyeglasses. A corruption of
‘goggles’ US, 1924
goo guard noun on a truck, a mudflap US, 1971
gooi noun a brief sexual liaison. Punning on the idea of FLING from
the verb GOOI (to fling) SOUTH AFRICA, 1978
gooi verb to give; to put; to throw, to fling; to drop; etc. From
Afrikaans for ‘to fling’
SOUTH AFRICA, 1946
gook noun 1 a Vietnamese person, especially if an enemy of the US;
a person from the Far East, especially a Filipino, Japanese or
Korean; any dark-skinned foreigner. A derogatory term, too all-
encompassing to be directly racist but deeply xenophobic. Coined
by the US military; the Korean and Vietnam wars gave the word a
worldwide familiarity (if not currency). Etymology is uncertain, but
many believe ‘gook’ is Korean for ‘person’ US, 1919. 2 the
Vietnamese language; any Asian language
US, 1981. 3 an unspecified,
unidentified, unpleasant, viscous substance. Sometimes spelt
‘guck’ US, 1942. 4 the recreational drug GHB US, 1996 8see gloss at:
GHB

gook adjective Vietnamese US, 1979
gooker noun in hot rodding, a car with many cheap accessories but
no performance enhancements that would qualify it as a hot rod
US, 1965
gook sore noun any skin infection suffered by a US soldier in
Vietnam
US, 1989
Gookville noun a neighbourhood, hamlet or city occupied by
Vietnamese people US, 1967
gook wagon noun in hot rodding, a car with many cheap
accessories but no performance enhancements that would qualify
it as a hot rod
US, 1953
goola noun a piano US, 1944
goolie adjective black UK, 2002
goolie ogle fakes noun sunglasses. A combination of GOOLIE (black),
OGLE (the eye) and FAKE (a manufactured article) UK, 2002
goolies noun the testicles. Originally military, from Hindi gooli (a
pellet), in phrases such as ‘Beecham Sahib’s goolis’ for ‘Beechams
pills’, and so punning on PILLS (the testicles). Usually in the plural,
except in phrases like DROP A GOOLIE/DROP A BOLLOCK (make a
mistake) UK, 1937
gooly; gooley noun a small stone suitable for throwing. Probably
from an Australian Aboriginal language. The usual derivation from
Hindi goli (ball) and ‘bullet’ is at best farfetched AUSTRALIA, 1924
goom noun methylated spirits used as a drink by alcoholics. Probably
an alteration of a word from an Australian Aboriginal language
AUSTRALIA, 1967
goombah noun a loyal male friend; an Italian-American. An Italian-
American usage, sometimes used in a loosely derogatory tone US,

1954
goomie noun a derelict alcoholic who drinks methylated spirits
AUSTRALIA, 1973
299 goofed; goofed up; goofed-up | goomie
goon noun 1 a unintelligent or slow-witted person. From Alice the
Goon, a character in the comic strip Thimble Theatre (1919), via a
large and stupid character known as ‘the goon’ in Elzie Segar’s
comic strip Popeye the Sailor (1935–38), which popularised the
word and introduced it to the UK. Originally English dialect gooney
(a simpleton), possibly from Middle English gonen (to gape) and
Old English ganian (to gape, to yawn). UK usage from the 1950s is
influenced by The Goon Show, a surreal BBC radio comedy with a
cast of fools
US, 1921. 2 a hired thug. A broadening of the original
sense US, 1938. 3 a partisan on either side of a labour dispute hired
to perpetrate violence US, 1938. 4 a North Korean soldier US, 1960.
5 cheap wine AUSTRALIA, 2003. 6 a flagon of cheap wine. It has been
suggested that this comes from ‘flagoon’, a jocular pronunciation
of ‘flagon’, but this is not supported by any evidence AUSTRALIA, 1982.
7 phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP or angel dust
US, 1977. 8 a gooney-bird (a C-47A Skytrain plane) US, 1937
go on! used as an expression of surprise, incredulity or derision UK,
1916
goonbag; goonsack noun the plastic bladder from inside a
cardboard wine box AUSTRALIA, 2003
goonboards; goonieboards noun short, homemade skis US, 1963
goon boy noun a socially inept, unpopular person US, 1955
goonda noun a hooligan; a street-rough. Directly from Hindi INDIA,
1926
goondaism noun hooliganism. Hindi goondah Anglicised with ‘-ism’

INDIA, 1979
goon dust noun phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as PCP
or angel dust US, 2001
gooned out adjective under the influence of a drug US, 1968
gooner noun a North Vietnamese soldier US, 1969
gooney; goonie noun a communist Chinese soldier; a North Korean
soldier US, 1957
gooney bird noun 1 a C-47A Skytrain plane, also known as a DC-3,
most commonly used to transport people and cargo, but also used
as a bomber and fighter US, 1942. 2 a foolish or dim-witted person
US, 1956
goonie party; goon party noun a backyard party at which
goonbags of different wines are hung on a rotary clothesline which
is then spun so that fate decides what you will drink next
AUSTRALIA,
2003
goon squad noun a group of prison guards who use force to quash
individual or group rebellions US, 1967
goon stand noun in the television and film industries, a large stand
for supporting large equipment or devices US, 1977
goony adjective silly, doltish US, 1939
goonyland noun territory controlled by the North Korean Army
and/or Chinese troops during the Korean war US, 1957
goop noun 1 any sticky, viscid, unpleasant substance the exact
chemical composition of which is unknown
US, 1918. 2 the chemi-
cal jelly used in incendiary bombs US, 1944. 3 liquid resin used in
surfacing surfboards US, 1965. 4 the recreational drug GHB US, 1999.
5 afoolUS, 1915
gooper noun lung phlegm US, 1978

goop gobbler noun a person who enjoys and/or excels at
performing oral sex on men
US, 1981
go or blow used to describe a situation in car repair or motor
racing where an engine will either perform very well or self-
destruct
US, 1992
goori noun a poorly performing racehorse. From an early sense of
the word, a corrupted form of the Maori kuri (dog)
NEW ZEALAND, 2002
goose noun 1 a socially inept, out-of-fashion person US, 1968. 2 in
poker, an unskilled player who is a likely victim of a skilled pro-
fessional US, 1996. 3 a shop assistant. Especially in shoplifters’ use
AUSTRALIA, 1975. 4 an act of copulation. Rhyming slang for ‘goose
and duck’,
FUCK UK, 1893. 5 in television and film-making, the truck
carrying the cameras and sound equipment
US, 1990. 6 a girlfriend,
a woman. From an earlier English use. Also variant ‘goosie’ SOUTH
AFRICA
, 1974
goose verb 1 to jab or poke someone, especially between the
buttock cheeks
US, 1906. 2 by extension, to urge into action US, 1934
goose and duck; goose noun a trifle, something of no value.
Rhyming slang for
FUCK UK, 2003
goose and duck; goose verb to have sex. Rhyming slang for FUCK,
also used to create euphemistic expletives
IRELAND, 1944

gooseberry noun a person whose presence interferes with the
relationship, especially romance, of two other people UK, 1837
gooseberry ranch noun a rural brothel US, 1930
gooseberry tart noun 1 the heart. Rhyming slang UK, 1937. 2 afart.
Rhyming slang
UK, 1998
goosed adjective drunk US, 1979
goosed moose noun in hot rodding and car customizing, a car with
a front that is substantially lower than its rear
US, 1993
goose egg noun 1 zero; nothing. Originally baseball slang US, 1866. 2 a
swollen bump
US, 1953. 3 an oval cylindrical polystyrene float used
in fishing CANADA, 1999
goose eye noun in the illegal production of alcohol, a perfect for-
mation of bubbles on the meniscus of the product, indicating 100
proof
US, 1974
goose flare noun a type of runway flare used in wartime Canada
CANADA, 1984
goose grease noun KY jelly, a lubricant US, 1985
goose juice noun powerful sedative medication given to mental
patients US, 1986
goose’s neck; goose’s noun a cheque UK, 1961
Goose Village nickname the Victoriatown area of waterfront
Montreal
CANADA, 2002
goosey adjective jumpy, wary, nervous US, 1906
goosie noun in male homosexual relations, the passive or ‘female’
rôle. Prison slang SOUTH AFRICA, 1965

gooter noun penis IRELAND, 1991
go-out noun a surfing session US, 1988
go out verb 1 to die, especially from a drug overdose US, 1997. 2 to
suffer a relapse while participating in a twelve-step recovery
programme such as Alcoholics Anonymous
US, 1998
go over verb to paint over another’s graffiti with your art US, 1997
Gopaul luck not Seepaul luck used for expressing that one man’s
good fortune is not another’s TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1990
go pedal noun an accelerator pedal UK, 1994
gopher noun 1 a person who is easily swindled, who ‘goes for’ the
pitch US, 1959. 2 a poker player who plays with a high degree of
optimism. So named because of the player’s willingness to ‘go for’
a draw in almost any situation
US, 1996. 3 a criminal who tunnels
into a business to rob it US, 1928 8see: GOFER
go-pill noun any amphetamine or other central nervous system
stimulant US, 1957
gopping adjective dirty. Gulf war usage UK, 1991
gor noun 8see: GAWD
gora noun a white person INDIA, 1984
Gorbachoff! used as a blessing when someone sneezes. Possibly
related to ‘gesundheit!’
US, 1990
gorbie noun a stupid tourist CANADA, 1989
gorblimey adjective stereotypically (parodically) Cockney UK, 2001
Gorby blots; Gorbacher noun a type of blotter LSD popular in the
early 1990s. The blotters were illustrated with the face of Mikhail
Gorbachev, hence the ‘Gorby’ US, 1994
Gordon and Gotch; gordon noun a watch. Rhyming slang, formed

from the name of a long-gone book-dealing company based in
Plaistow, east London UK, 1960
Gordon Bank noun an act of masturbation. Rhyming slang, formed
from football goalkeeper Gordon Banks (b.1937)
UK, 2003
goon | Gordon Bank 300
Gordon Bennett! used as a mild expletive. Probably an alteration
of ‘gorblimey!’.
UK, 1984
gorge noun in circus and carnival usage, food US, 1981
gorge adjective used for expressing approbation. A shortening of
‘gorgeous’ UK, 2003
gorgeous adjective used for expressing approbation US, 1883
gorger; gorgia; gawjo noun a non-gypsy, anyone who is not a part
of the travelling community. English gypsy use UK, 1900
gorgon noun a ruthless leader or bully JAMAICA, 2000
goric noun 1 a paregoric, an opiate-based medicinal syrup US, 1982.
2 opium; heroin. From ‘paregoric’ (a medicine that assuages pain)
US, 1977
gorilla noun 1 a criminal who relies on brute strength and force US,
1861
. 2 a prisoner who obtains what he wants by force US, 1958. 3 in
the entertainment industry, a technical member of a film crew US,
1970. 4 in the music industry, a very popular bestselling song US,
1982
. 5 one thousand dollars. Building on ‘monkey’ ($500) AUSTRALIA,
1989
gorilla verb to manhandle, to beat US, 1922
gorilla dust noun intimidating bluffing US, 1986
gorilla-grip verb in skateboarding, to jump holding the ends of the

board with the toes
US, 1976
gorilla pill noun a barbiturate capsule or other central nervous
system depressant US, 1969
gorilla pimp noun a brutish pimp who relies heavily on violence to
control the prostitutes who work for him US, 1972
gorilla salad noun thick pubic hair US, 1981
gork noun 1 a patient with severe mental deficiences US, 1964. 2 afool;
acontemptiblepersonUS, 1970
gorked adjective stupefied from anaesthetic US, 1973
gorker; gork noun in baseball, a weakly hit ball that falls for a base
hit. A term coined by legendary professional baseball manager Earl
Weaver US, 1982
gorm verb to bungle; to act awkwardly US, 1975
gorm! used for expressing surprise TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1997
gormless adjective foolish NEW ZEALAND, 1952
gorp noun 1 a complete social outcast US, 1976. 2 a snack of nuts and
dried fruit favoured by hikers. From ‘good old raisins and peanuts’
US, 1991
gorsoon noun a young male IRELAND, 2001
go-see noun in modelling, an visual ‘interview’ US, 1969
Gosfor d dog noun a person of Mediterranean background. Rhyming
slang for WOG. From Gosford, a satellite city of Sydney which has a
greyhound racing track AUSTRALIA, 1983
gosh used in expressions of surprise, frustration. A euphemistic
‘God’ UK, 1757
gosh-darned; gosh-derned; gosh-danged adjective used as a mild
intensifier. A euphemistic replacement for ‘God-damned’ US, 1997
go-slow noun a deliberate slowing of production by workers as a type
of industrial action

AUSTRALIA, 1917
gospel true adjective entirely true AUSTRALIA, 1957
gospel truth noun sincerely the truth AUSTRALIA, 1902
goss noun gossip NEW ZEALAND, 1985
gotcha noun in computing, a misfeature that generates mistakes US,
1991
gotcha! 1 used as a humorous exclamation of a verbal conquest of
some sort. Often used as the gloating afterword when a practical
joke is played. On 2nd May 1982, during the Falklands war, the
Argentine ship Belgrano was torpedoed by the Royal Navy as she
sailed away from the exclusion zone. At least 386 lives were lost.
The Sun newspaper printed the notorious, gloating one-word
headline: ‘GOTCHA’. Also used in triumph when a capture or
victory has been achieved
UK, 1932. 2 used for registering an
understanding of what someone has said. A slovening of ‘[I] got
you’
UK, 1966
gotchie noun 1 a security guard or park keeper IRELAND, 2003. 2 a
schoolboy prank, especially around Niagara Falls, Ontario, in which
the victim’s underpants are pulled up between his buttock cheeks.
In the US, it is called a ‘wedgie’, but in Canada, a ‘gotchie’, which
both comes from ‘gotch’ for ‘underpants’ (with Hungarian and
eastern European source words) and is a pun CANADA, 2002
goth noun a member of a youth fashion cult, characterised by a dark,
sepulchral appearance and stark white and black makeup. Inspired
by C19 gothic-romance images of vampires, this dress sense is
allied to a style of rock music also called ‘goth’
UK, 1984
Gotham noun New York City. Alluding to a mythical village inhabited

by wise fools
US, 1807
gothoid adjective recognisably goth in fashion UK, 1999
go through verb 1 to leave hurriedly; to decamp AUSTRALIA, 1944. 2 (of
a man) to have sex with a woman AUSTRALIA, 1967
got it! used for urging another surfer not to catch this wave, which
you claim as yours US, 1991
go-to-godamn adjective damned US, 1961
Go to Hell nickname Go Dau Ha, home to a US Naval Advanced
Base from 1969 to 71, close to the Cambodian border on the Vam
Co Dong River, South Vietnam US, 1990
go-to-hell rag noun a neckerchief worn by an infantry soldier US, 1991
go-to-whoa noun in horse racing, the entire length of a race
AUSTRALIA, 1971
gotta like that! used for expressing approval, genuine or ironic US,
1987
got you covered! I understand! US, 1955
gouch noun a period of drug-induced exhaustion UK, 2000
gouge verb to surf expertly and stylishly. Applied to a ride on a wave
US, 1990
Gouge and Screw Tax noun 8see: GRAB AND STEAL TAX
gouger noun an aggressive lout IRELAND, 1997
goulash noun 1 an illegal cardroom that is open 24 hours a day US,
1974. 2 in prison, a meat stew of any description UK, 1996. 3 in
electric line work, any insulating compound US, 1980
go up verb 1 to be sentenced to prison; to be sent to prison US, 1872.
2 while acting, to miss your cue or forget a line US, 1973
gourd noun the head UK, 1829. < bored out of your gourd
extremely bored. The rhyme on GOURD (the head) intensifies
‘bored’ US, 1999. < out of your gour d 1 extremely drug-

intoxicated. Substitutes GOURD (a head) in synonymous ‘out of
your head’
US, 1967. 2 crazy US, 1963
gourd guard noun in drag racing, a crash helmet US, 1968
gourmet ghetto noun north Berkeley, California; any
neighbourhood featuring speciality food shops and gourmet
restaurants. Originally applied to a two-block stretch of Shattuck
Avenue between Cedar Street and Rose Street in Berkeley
US, 1983
gov noun a prison governor UK, 1996
govern verb to play the active role in sex, sadomasochistic or not US,
1985
government artist noun an unemployed person in receipt of state
beneifts. From a joke, heard in the high unemployment of the
1980s. A popular choice of occupation still, if questionnaires are to
be believed UK, 2003
government-inspected meat noun 1 a soldier or sailor. Homo-
sexual usage US, 1970. 2 a soldier as the object of a homosexual’s
sexual desire US, 1981
government jewellery noun restraints worn on prisoners’ bodies to
restrict movement CANADA, 1987
government job noun poor craftmanship US, 1965
government juice noun water US, 2003
301 Gordon Bennett! | government juice
Government Racing Car noun a car of the Gendarmerie Royale du
Canada, the French name for the Mounties. Back-formation from
the initials GRC
CANADA, 2002
governor noun 1 an acknowledged expert UK, 1980. 2 an employer, a
superior

UK, 1802
governor’s noun a prison governor’s adjudication or ruling UK, 1996
gov’nor noun 8see: GUV’NOR
gow noun 1 a drug, especially opium US, 1922. 2 sauce US, 1967.
3 herring roe CANADA, 1998
gowed up adjective drunk CANADA, 1977
gowhead noun a drug addict US, 1935
go-with-the-flow adjective easy going, relaxed. After the phrasal verb
‘go with the flow’
, 2001
gow job noun used in the 1940s to describe what in the 50s would
to be called a hot rod
US, 1941
gowster noun a drug addict or heavy drug user US, 1936
goy noun a Gentile. Yiddish UK, 1841
goyish; goyische adjective Gentile US, 1965
gozohomey bird noun an aircraft that returns you home. Royal Air
Force use UK, 2002
gozz noun gossip UK, 1983
GP noun a general principle US, 1944
GPO (in doctors’ shorthand) good for parts only UK, 2003
GR8 adjective in text messaging, great. A variant spelling; one of
several constructions in which a syllable pronounced ‘ate’ is
replaced by the homophone ‘eight’ UK, 2002
gra noun appetite; desire. The Hiberno-English word for ‘love, liking,
affection’ IRELAND, 1995
grab noun 1 an arrest UK, 1753. 2 a person who has been arrested US,
1992. < up for grabs available, especially if suddenly or recently
so US, 1928
grab verb 1 to capture someone’s imagination and attention UK, 1966.

2 to impress US, 1970. 3 to arrest UK, 1753. 4 in horse racing, to win a
race with a long shot US, 1951. < grab a dab to engage in male-
on-male rape US, 1990. < grab air to apply a truck’s brakes US, 1971.
< grab sack to muster courage US, 1999. < grab the apple to
seize tightly on the saddle horn while riding a bucking animal
CANADA, 1987
grab-a-granny adjective used to describe an event where you can
meet mature women UK, 1987
grabalishus adjective greedy BAHAMAS, 1995
grab all, lose all used for expressing the dangers of greed TRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO
, 2003
grab and snatch noun the Goods and Services Tax (GST) NEW
ZEALAND
, 1998
Grab and Steal Tax; Gouge and Screw Tax noun the Canadian
Goods and Services Tax. A back-formation on the initials GST
CANADA, 2001
grab-ass noun horseplay US, 1947
grab-ass verb to engage in physical horseplay US, 1953
grab bag noun 1 a loose assortment of anything. From a lucky dip
offered at US fairs US, 1879. 2 a pooled mix of different types of pills
contributed by several people and then consumed randomly
US,
1970. 3 the theft of a suitcase or briefcase accomplished by placing
a look-alike bag near the bag to be stolen and then picking up and
leaving with the bag to be stolen; the suitcase or briefcase stolen
in such a theft US, 1977. 4 a lunch box or lunch bag US, 1954. 5 abag
of equipment prepared for grabbing in the event of an emergency
UK, 2004

grabber noun 1 the hand UK, 1859. 2 a surfer who ignores surfing
etiquette and catches rides on waves ‘owned’ by other surfers
US,
1991
. 3 a story that captures the imagination US, 1966. 4 a shame; a
pity US, 1977. 5 a railway conductor US, 1931
grabble verb to grab violently UK, 1781
grabby adjective 1 attention-grabbing UK, 1998. 2 greedy, grasping,
selfish
UK, 1953
grab-iron noun a handle on the side of a goods wagon US, 1975
grab joint noun an eating concession in a circus or carnival US, 1904
grad noun 1 an amphetamine tablet or other central nervous stimu-
lant US, 1977. 2 an ex-convict US, 1950. 3 a graduate US, 1871
grade noun < make the grade to achieve a required standard US,
1908
grade-grubber noun a student whose only goal is to get good grades
US, 1966
graduate noun an ex-convict US, 1949
graduate verb 1 to complete a prison sentence. A construction built
on the jocular ‘college’ as ‘jail’ US, 1945. 2 to be cured of a sexually
transmitted infection
US, 1949. 3 to begin using more powerful
drugs, or to stop taking drugs completely US, 1992. 4 (used of a
racehorse) to win a race for the first time
US, 1976
grad wrecks noun the Graduate Records Examinations. The
standardised testing given to undergraduate students seeking
admission to graduate school in the US
US, 1966

graf noun 1 graffiti US, 1997. 2 a paragraph US, 1991
graffer noun a graffiti artist who produces complete works, not just a
stylised signature US, 1993
graf-head noun a graffiti artist UK, 1998
graft noun 1 personal and financial advantage as the result of
dishonest or unethical business or political practice, especially
bribery and patronage; corporate corruption in general US, 1901.
2 any kind of work, especially hard work UK, 1859
graft verb 1 to work hard UK, 1859. 2 to labour at criminal enterprises
UK, 1859
grafter noun 1 a hard worker AUSTRALIA, 1891. 2 among market traders,
a market trader UK, 1979. 3 a thief, a crook, a swindler US, 1866. 4 a
criminal who identifies opportunities for other thieves UK, 1978
graf-write verb to write or draw in the style of graffiti US, 2000
graf-writing noun the act of graffiti-ing US, 2001
grain noun a heavy drinker US, 1963
grain and drain train noun solitary confinement US, 1982
grains noun semen; sperm TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
grammie noun a tape deck, especially one mounted in the
dashboard of a truck or car
US, 1976
grammy noun one gram (of a drug) US, 1992
gramp; gramps; grampa noun a grandfather; also used as an
address for an old man. A slurring of
GRANDPA UK, 1898
gran noun a grandmother, especially as a form of address. Childish or
affectionate shortening UK, 1863
grand noun a unit of 1,000, usually applied to US dollars or the
pound sterling
US, 1915

grand bag noun in homosexual usage, a large scrotum US, 1981
grand canyon noun in homosexual usage, a loose anus and rectum
US, 1981
grand charge noun an empty threat or boast TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO,
1973
grand dad noun a grandfather UK, 1819
grand duchess noun a heterosexual woman who enjoys the
company of homosexual men US, 1970
grandfather clock noun the penis. Rhyming slang for COCK,often
paired with POLISH AND GLOSS (to masturbate) UK, 1992
grand fr omage noun the most important person in a given organis-
ation or enterprise. A cod-French variation of BIG CHEESE UK, 2005
grandma noun 1 the bleed period of the menstrual cycle US, 1929.
2 an older homosexual man US, 1964. 3 the lowest gear in a truck,
or car. The lowest gear is the slowest gear, hence the reference to
grandmother US, 1941
grandma’s peepers noun in dominoes, the 1–1 piece US, 1959
Government Racing Car | grandma’s peepers 302