"Rr" in Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English ppsx

Rr
RA noun < the RA the Irish Republican Army IRELAND, 2003
raas noun 1 an arse; hence your being JAMAICA, 1994. 2 a contemptible
person. Probable origin in the phrase ‘your arse’, although some
suggest Dutch raas (rage). The early, especially West Indian, sense
was considered extremely offensive, however modern UK black
usage is roughly equivalent to
ARSE or ARSEHOLE. There is a, poss-
ibly disingenuous, belief amongst some Jamaicans that Raas was a
king of Africa
JAMAICA, 2000. 3 nonsense. From West Indian. Black
usage UK, 2000. < the raas used in order to intensify. Synonymous
with ‘the hell’, ‘the fuck’, etc UK, 1994
raasclat noun used as an extreme derogative. Combines RAAS (arse)
and ‘clat’ (West Indian pronunciation of ‘cloth’) to mean ‘a
sanitary towel’
JAMAICA, 1978
raashole noun a contemptible person; used as a general term of
abuse. A cross-cultural variation on
ARSEHOLE, using West Indian
and UK black
RAAS (an arse) UK, 2000
rabbi noun a mentor or protector US, 1970
rabbit noun 1 a woman who has a large number of children.
Collected at a UK prison, August 2002 JAMAICA, 2002. 2 a man who
ejaculates with little stimulation US, 1987. 3 a white person US, 1991.
4 a nervous, timid, cautious person US, 1951. 5 a new member of a
Rastafarian gang
NEW ZEALAND, 1988. 6 a prisoner who is known for
attempting to escape prison US, 1972. 7 a person who regularly
borrows money from an illegal money lender and pays back

promptly US, 1950. 8 on the railways, a side track on a downhill
incline used to divert runaway trains and prevent crashes US, 1946.
9 a poor poker player US, 1967. < go like a rabbit to demonstrate
eagerness during sex UK, 1972. < the rabbit died used for indicat-
ing a state of pregnancy. From the (former) methodology used to
test pregnancy that was introduced in 1949
UK, 1998. < the
rabbit’s hopping
experiencing the bleed period of the menstrual
cycle. A reversal of the phrase
THE RABBIT DIED (pregnant) US, 2001
rabbit verb to run away UK, 1887
rabbit and pork; rabbit noun the act of talking; a conversation.
Rhyming slang for ‘talk’ UK, 1980
rabbit and pork; rabbit verb to talk. Rhyming slang. ‘To rabbit on’
is ‘to talk at length’ UK, 1941
rabbit blood noun a seemingly unstoppable urge to try to escape
from prison US, 1950
rabbit ears noun 1 a v-shaped aerial placed on top of a television set
US, 1967. 2 in a casino Keno game, the two clear plastic tubes
through which the number balls are blown
US, 1993. 3 an athlete or
official who is quick to take offence at teasing US, 1967
rabbiter’s breakfast noun a visit to the toilet and a cigarette NEW
ZEALAND
, 1975
rabbit fever noun the urge to try to escape from prison US, 1962
rabbit food; r abbit’s f ood noun any salad vegetable, especially
lettuce. A generally dismissive term from the carnivorous lobby UK,
1936

rabbit hunt verb in poker, to look through undealt cards after a
hand is completed to see what might have been US, 1967
rabbit hutch noun the crutch or crotch. Rhyming slang UK, 1980
rabbit-killer noun a short and vicious punch to the neck, generally
with the open hand AUSTRALIA, 1941
rabbit -oh; rabbit-o noun a door-to-door seller of slaughtered rabbits.
From the cry ‘rabbit oh!’, used by the vendor to attract attention
AUSTRALIA, 1902
rabbit season noun spring, when prisoners are inclined to try to
escape US, 1967
rabbit’s paw; rabbit verb to talk. Rhyming slang for JAW. The
shortened form is identical in sense to the shortened form of
RABBIT AND PORK UK, 1961
rabbit tracks noun in craps, a six rolled with a pair of threes US, 1985
rabbit tur ds noun Italian sausage. Limited usage, but graphic US, 1996
race noun 1 a single game in an illegal numbers lottery US, 1963. 2 a
single game of Keno
US, 1973. < not in the race not having any
chance of success AUSTRALIA, 1904. < the race the game of roller
derby
US, 1960s and 70s
race verb < race for pink slips (pinks) in drag racing, to compete
for the prize of ownership of the opponent’s car US, 2003. < race
off
to conduct a person away to some other place for the purpose
of seduction
AUSTRALIA, 1965
race bird noun an enthusiastic fan of horse racing US, 1971
race face noun in motor racing, the look of total concentration and
focus seen on drivers just before a race begins US, 1993

racehorse noun 1 an accomplished, sought-after prostitute US, 1972 .
2 a thinly rolled cigarette AUSTRALIA, 1944
racehorse Charlie; racehorse Charley noun heroin; cocaine.
Perhaps from the long-ago brand name White Horse US, 1936
race record noun a recording by a black artist; rock ’n’ roll before
whites discovered rock ’n’ roll
US, 1927
racerhead noun in mountain biking, someone who competes in
races. A mild put-down to describe riders so into competition that
they have lost their perspective on the cosmic absurdity of
mountain biking
US, 1992
racers noun close-fitting nylon swimwear used for competitive
swimming. So-called because they are used in competitive
swimming AUS TRALIA, 2003
races noun < at the races unsuccessful, uncompetitive IRELAND, 2003
racetracker noun in horse racing, a person who makes their living
in some capacity at racetracks US, 1951
racing stripe noun a faecal stain in the underpants US, 1991
racing tackle noun amphetamines or other central nervous system
stimulants UK, 1983
rack noun 1 a woman’s breasts US, 1982. 2 a set of antlers US, 1945.
3 bed US, 1955. 4 a room or apartment US, 1993. 5 a maximum
security prison cell US, 1982. 6 a hotel’s front desk US, 1954. 7 afoil-
wrapped package of amphetamines US, 1997. 8 a packet of five bar-
biturate capsules or other drugs, give or take several US, 1972. 9 a
one-month supply of birth control pills US, 1980. 10 a six-pack (of
beer) US, 1991. 11 a case (24 cans) of beer US, 2000 . < hit the rack
to go to bed; to go to sleep US, 1973. < on the rack available for
prostitution

US, 1977
rack verb 1 to go to sleep US, 1993. 2 to steal US, 1997. 3 to shoplift US,
2001. 4 to perform well US, 1955. 5 to load (a gun) US, 1997. 6 in the
television and film industries, to adjust the camera lens in the
middle of a shot to keep the subject in focus US, 1990 . < rack the
bars
to open or close a prison cell door US, 1992
rack attack noun a nap; sleep US, 1975
racked adjective asleep US, 1075
racked up adjective upset US, 1970
racket noun 1 a criminal enterprise; a swindle or a means of
deception. Any illicit or dubious enterprise may be termed a
‘racket’ by prefixing the area of criminal operation, hence
‘narcotics racket’, ‘loan-shark racket’, etc
UK, 1894. 2 a job, trade or
profession. A jocular reference: ‘What racket are you in?’ or ‘What’s
your racket?’ UK, 1891. 3 a private, police-only party US, 1987. 4 any
rigged carnival game or attraction US, 1960
racket boy noun a member of an organised criminal enterprise US,
1953
racket jacket noun the jacket of a zoot suit US, 1945
racketty coo noun a Jewish person. Rhyming slang for ‘Jew’
AUSTRALIA, 1971
rackety adjective noisy US, 1975
rackey noun a boy who affects a style of dressing reminiscent of a
gangster. Teen slang US, 1955
rack face noun lines on your face left from a blanket, sheet or pillow
US, 1996
rack monster noun a person who spends a great deal of time in
bed

US, 1976
rack off verb to go away. Commonly but not exclusively used in the
imperative. A euphemistic alternative to
PISS OFF and FUCK OFF.
Origin unknown. The Oxford English Dictionary (supplement)
suggests a connection with ‘rack’ meaning ‘of a horse, to move by
alternately raising two legs on one side’, but this seems hardly
creditable due to the rarity of that term in Australia
AUSTRALIA, 1975
rack off hairy legs! go away! An intensive form of the usual RACK
OFF
with the rather feeble insult ‘hairy legs’ tacked on AUSTRALIA, 1988
rack out verb to go to sleep US, 1991
rack up verb 1 to accumulate things; to score points US, 1961. 2 in a
casino or gambling establishment, to have your chips placed in a
chip rack to be cashed in US, 1982. 3 to prepare lines of cocaine UK,
1997. 4 in prison, to return prisoners to their cells US, 1990
racy bopper noun a female fan of motor racing whose attraction to
the sport is a function of her attraction to the race participants US,
1993
rad noun 1 a political radical UK, 1973. 2 a radiator UK, 1935. 3 a radio UK,
1996
rad adjective extreme; intense; exciting; good. An abbreviated ‘radical’
US, 1982
radar noun a petty thief. Someone who will ‘pick up anything’
AUSTRALIA, 1989
radar alley noun any stretch of a motorway heavily patrolled by
radar; especially, Interstate 90 between Cleveland and the New
York state line
US, 1971

radar Charlie noun a poker player with a strong intuitive sense of
other players’ hands US, 1988
RadCan noun Radio Canada, the francophone side of the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation. The ‘Rad’ in RadCan suggests ‘radical’, a
view held by Canadian federalists of Radio Canada (pronounced,
even by anglophone speakers, in the French way, as ‘Raaahdio
Canada’) CANADA, 2002
raddie noun 1 an Italian or Anglo-Italian living in London. From the
raddled-seeming complexion of some Italians compared to that of
a pale Londoner, possibly influenced by REDDY (an Italian).
Originally used of Italian families in Clerkenwell UK, 1938. 2 a politi-
cal radical UK, 1964
radge noun a psychotic; a madman UK, 1995
radge adjective 1 used in order to express approval UK, 2003. 2 mad;
psychotic
UK, 2003. 3 silly. Northen dialect radgy (mad) UK, 1961
radgepot noun a fool. Probably direct from Northern dialect radge
(mad). Natural derivations are ‘radgy’ and ‘radgified’ UK, 1979
radiate verb < radiate a mortgage in Quebec, to cancel a
mortgage CANADA, 2001
radiator whiskey noun strong, homemade whisky US, 1999
radic noun a police officer, especially armed police. Shortened from
‘eradicator’ UK, 1994
radical adjective extreme; outrageous; good. Originally surfer slang,
then migrated into the argot of the San Fernando Valley and then
into mainstream US youth slang
US, 1967
radio noun a prisoner who talks loudly and without paying attention
to who might be listening
US, 1976

Radio Ones noun diarrhoea. Rhyming slang for THE RUNS,formedon
(the verbal out-pourings of the DJs on) BBC Radio One
UK, 1992
radio rental; radio rentals; rentals adjective wonderful, amazing;
insane, crazy. Rhyming slang for
MENTAL; based on Radio Rentals, a
high street shop UK, 1973
radio that!; radio that shit! used in prison as a demand for quiet
US, 1981
’rado noun a Cadillac El Dorado car US, 1980
rad pad noun in skateboarding, a rubber wedge used as a shock pad
that changes the angles at which the axle assembly is mounted US,
1976
rads noun the police UK, 2000
Rafferty’s rules; Rafferty rules noun an entire lack of rules
altogether. From the Irish surname Rafferty, with the implication
that the Irish were unruly. Connection with the Northumberland
dialect word raffety ‘irregular; applied by sinkers to stratified
deposits’, and the Lincolnshire term raffatory ‘refractory’ (see
English Dialect Dictionary), amount to nothing more than hopeful
guesswork
AUSTRALIA, 1918
raffle ticket; raffle noun a mistake. Rhyming slang for RICKET UK,
1992
raft noun a large amount US, 1830
rag noun 1 a sanitary towel US, 1966. 2 the bleed period of the
menstrual cycle
US, 1971. 3 a despicable person US, 1997. 4 a
newspaper, especially a disreputable one UK, 1889. 5 a used car that
is in very poor condition US, 1980 . 6 a well-worn tyre US, 1961. 7 a

banknote; paper money UK, 1817 . 8 in pool, a cushion US, 1985. 9 in
horse racing, an outsider (a horse considered unlikely to win a
race) UK, 1991. 10 in poker, a useless card in the dealt hand or a
drawn card that does not improve the hand
US, 1978. 11 in a
carnival midway game, a small prize in a plastic bag US, 1985. 12 a
railway pointsman US, 1946. < get your rag out to lose your
temper. A combination of
LOSE YOUR RAG and the earlier ‘get your
shirt out’
UK, 1956. < lose your rag to lose your temper UK, 1959.
< on the rag; have the rag on 1 experiencing the bleed period
of the menstrual cycle US, 1974. 2 figuratively, to be distracted and
irritable US, 1963
rag verb to mock, bully, tease or ridicule someone UK, 1808
rag adjective unpleasant, bad NEW ZEALAND, 1998
ragamuffin noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle. A play on
RAG (a sanitary towel) AUSTRALIA, 2001
rag and bone noun 1 a telephone. Rhyming slang UK, 1984. 2 a
lavatory pedestal and receptacle, especially the lavatory seat.
Rhyming slang for
THRONE UK, 1992
rag and boner noun a telephone. Extended from rhyming slang RAG
AND BONE
(telephone) UK, 1984
raga-raga adjective of clothes, worn-out, ragged. A variation on con-
ventional ‘ragged’ JAMAICA, 1943
ragbag noun 1 an odd assortment UK, 1999. 2 an untidily or shabbily
dressed person UK, 1888. 3 in circus and carnival usage, a show that
has fallen on hard times or is fundamentally dishonest US, 1981

rage noun a large wave US, 1991
rage verb 1 to enjoy a party with great enthusiasm US, 1992 . 2 to
dominate someone or something US, 1984
-rage suffix when combined with a subject noun, an outburst of
enraged hostility within or occasioned by that subject area UK, 1998
rager noun 1 a skilled, aggressive surfer or skateboarder US, 1997 . 2 a
large party US, 1990
ragga; ragamuffin; raggamuffin noun a ruffian, usually of West
Indian racial origin. Originally a West Indian and UK black term
with an approving tone; probably derived from the conventional
sense of a ‘raggedy’ (a disreputable person); ultimately from
Ragamoffyn, a demon in the Middle English poem ‘Piers
Plowman’ by William Langland (perhaps 1330–86). The derivation
is likely to be influenced by Jamaican ‘raga-raga’ (ragged) and
‘ragamofi’ (ragged clothes)
UK, 1996
raggagansta; raggagangsta noun a West Indian/UK black gangster.
Compounds RAGGAMUFFIN (a ruffian) with GANGSTA (a gangster) UK,
1997
527 rack et boy | r aggagansta; r aggagangsta
raggastani noun a member of a British Indian (Hindi) urban youth
gang or subculture
UK, 2006
ragged adjective 1 without money US, 1990. 2 tired; unwell AUSTRALIA,
1958
ragged edge noun in hot rodding, drag racing, and motor racing,
the absolute limit of the car’s ability
US, 1965
raggedy adjective ragged; rough; dishevelled US, 1890
raggedy jack noun in Newfoundland, a homemade pile rug CANADA,

1979
raggedy jacket noun in Newfoundland, a harp seal moulting from
the white coat to the bedlamer stage CANADA, 1976
raggin’ adjective dressed in fashionable and expensive clothing US, 1987
raggy-arse adjective of poor quality UK, 2002
rag head noun 1 an Arab person, or a native of any race that wears a
cloth-covering on the head; by extension a native of Muslim
countries. Offensive
US, 1921. 2 in circus and carnival usage, a gypsy
US, 1981
raging adjective very good; very exciting US, 1995
Raging Bull nickname Jake LaMotta (b.1921), a middleweight boxer
who fiercely made his presence felt in the ring in the 1940s and
50s US, 1980
rag ing queer noun a particularly ostentatious or importunate male
homosexual. An intensification of QUEER (a male homosexual) UK,
1984
rag joint noun a carnival concession in a canvas booth US, 1985
ragman’s coat noun on a woman, an untrimmed and naturally
abundant mass of pubic hair
UK, 2002
rag order noun chaotic disorder, a mess. Military UK, 1983
rag store noun a big con swindle in which the lure is the promise of
wealth from stocks traded based on allegedly inside information
US, 1969
rag stuffer noun a parachute rigger US, 1991
ragtime noun the bleed period of a woman’s menstrual cycle. A play
on ON THE RAG (menstruating), after the musical style US, 2001
ragtop noun a convertible car US, 1955
rag town noun a town built in prosperous times, bound to fall into

poverty with the end of prosperous times US, 1954
ragweed noun 1 poor quality marijuana. After botanical genus
Ambrosia the which grows wild across North America US, 1969.
2 poor quality heroin UK, 1998
rag week noun the week of the month when a woman has a
menstrual bleed. Combines RAG (a sanitary towel), as in ‘on the
rag’, with conventional ‘week’ to form a play on university rag
week UK, 2001
rah!; rah rah! used as a cheer, a shouted expression of support or
encouragement. A shortening of ‘hurrah!’ in college sports use. As
‘rah! rah! rah!’ it is the climax of a Maori war cry that has been
adopted by New Zealand rugby teams US, 1870
rah-rah adjective characterised by excessive spirit and enthusiasm,
usually associated with college or high school US, 1914
rahtid; raatid; rhaatid adjective used as an intensifier that implies
anger or strong disapproval. Urban black usage UK, 1994
rail noun 1 a line of cocaine or other powdered drug, laid out for
snorting
US, 1984. 2 any railway employee US, 1946. < on the rail in
American casinos, observing the gambling but not playing US, 1985
rail verb to arrest or detain someone US, 1995
railbird noun 1 in horse racing, an enthusiast who watches morning
workouts, carefully clocking performances US, 1931. 2 in American
casinos, a thief who steals chips from inattentive gamblers
US, 1985.
3 in pool, a spectator US, 1993
raildog noun a backstage technician who works with set rigging on a
catwalk
US, 1991
railfi eld verb a thief who simply grabs shop merchandise and runs

from the shop US, 1960
rail job; rail noun a drag racing car with a chassis made of rail-like
metal bars; a drag racing car regardless of the chassis construction
US, 1963
rail lugger noun in horse racing, a horse that prefers to run near or
next to the inside rail
US, 1947
rail on; rail verb to criticize or reprimand someone US, 1987
railrat noun in the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, a
member of the audience who prefers to see the show from as
close as possible to the band, right on the rail
US, 1994
railroad verb to move your jaw from side to side obsessively and
involuntarily after sustained amphetamine use
US, 1989
railroad bible noun a deck of playing cards US, 1976
railroad dick noun a private guard employed by a railway company
US, 1958
railroad flat noun an apartment consisting of connected long,
narrow rooms US, 1956
railroad tracks noun the bars on a captain’s uniform signifying his
office
US, 1947
railroad weed noun marijuana, especially of inferior quality. From
the weeds that flourish alongside railway lines, not necessarily
WEED (marijuana) US, 1974
rails noun that part of a racecourse where the rails bookmakers are
situated; hence, big-time bookmaking
AUSTRALIA, 1981
rail sandwich noun a surfboard between your legs US, 1978

rails bookmaker; rails bookie noun one of the more prestigious
bookmakers
AUSTRALIA, 1950
railway station noun an ‘allocation’ prison from which prisoners are
forwarded UK, 1999
ráiméis noun foolish, nonsensical, ill-founded talk IRELAND, 2001
rain verb < if it was raining I am extremely unlucky AUSTRALIA,
1965. < rain pups and pussies to rain very hard US, 1990
rain and pour; rain verb to snore. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
rainbow noun 1 a capsule of amobarbital sodium and secobarbital
sodium (trade name Tuinal™), a combination of central nervous
system depressants
US, 1966. 2 in casinos, a bet comprised of differ-
ent colour and different value betting chips US, 1991. 3 in oil drilling,
a very small showing of oil in a hole US, 1954. 4 a soldier who joins
a fighting unit after conflict has ceased. Used in both World Wars;
a rainbow comes after a storm AUSTRALIA, 1919. < go up the
rainbow
to experience sexual ecstasy UK, 1972
rainbow hand noun a poker hand with cards of all four suits US, 1950
rainbow jumper noun in basketball, a high, arcing jump shot US, 1974
rainbow party noun oral sex on one male by several females, all
wearing different colours of lipstick US, 2003
rainbow roll noun a multi-coloured assortment of barbiturate
capsules US, 1973
rainbows noun 1 LSD. Presumably from the pictures printed on the
blotting paper dose UK, 1998 . 2 the recreational drug methaqualone,
best known as Quaaludes™
UK, 1983
rain check noun 1 a request or promise to take up an invitation at a

convenient time; a postponement of any arrangement. From the
ticket given to a spectator at an outdoor event providing for a
refund/admission at a later date, should the event be interrupted
by rain
US, 1930. 2 the reduction of a criminal penalty; parole,
probation US, 1949
raincoat noun a condom. Figurative use of waterproof wear US, 1970
Raincoat Charlie noun a striptease audience member who
masturbates beneath the safety of his raincoat US, 1981
raincoater noun a stereotypical perverted pornography fan US, 2000
raincoat job noun a sexual fetish involving urination on your
partner US, 1993
rain dance noun in computing, an action that is expected to be
taken but will likely produce no results US, 1974
raggastani | rain dance 528
rained out adjective postponed. A term from sports, especially
baseball, but applied more broadly to refer to, for example, a class
on a given day that has been postponed
US, 1995
raining and pouring; raining noun snoring. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
rainmaker noun a member of an enterprise whose job includes
procuring clients or business by the use of charm
US, 1985
rain room noun a shower room US, 1968
Rainy City nickname Manchester, UK UK, 1981
rainy day woman noun marijuana. This seems to have been
inspired by the following lyric: ‘Everybody must get stoned’ by Bob
Dylan, ‘Rainy Day Women #12 & 35’, 1966
US, 1982
raise noun 1 stake money; a monetary profit UK, 2000. 2 parents US,

1972. 3 the arm US, 1973
raise verb 1 (used of a male) to achieve an erection BAHAMAS, 1971. 2 to
identify yourself to a fellow traveller US, 1957. 3 to bail someone out
of jail US, 1973. < raise Cain to make a disturbance; to complain
or quarrel noisily and angrily US, 1930. < raise hell to make a dis-
turbance; to make a din; to cause trouble
US, 1896. < raise sand
to argue loudly, creating a problem US, 1965
raiser noun 1 a lookout who warns confederates of approaching
police
US, 1992. 2 a criminal who specialises in forging increases in
the amount payable to an otherwise legitimate cheque or security
US, 1950
raise up verb 1 to make someone angry US, 2001. 2 to warn someone
US, 1992. 3 to be released from prison US, 1990
raisinhead noun a black person. Offensive US, 1978
raisin jack noun a potent and vile alcoholic beverage brewed by
letting raisins ferment, usually in prison US, 1986
raisin picker noun on the railways, a worker from Fresno, California.
Fresno is regarded as the raisin capital of the US US, 1975
raisin snap noun alcohol made from fermented raisins US, 1988
raize verb to annoy or harass someone US, 1991
rajah noun an erection NEW ZEALAND, 1998
rajamuffin noun a member of a British Indian (Hindi) urban youth
gang or subculture. A play on raggamuffin UK, 2006
Rajputana noun a banana. Rhyming slang, formed from a ship that
berthed in London’s Royal Docks UK, 1998
rake noun 1 an amount of something; a large quantity IRELAND, 1995.
2 acombUS, 1960 . 3 in pool, a device used to support the cue stick
for a hard-to-reach shot US, 1990

rake verb to lower the front end of a car US, 1970 . < rake a game to
charge card players for the privilege of playing US, 1977. < rake the
leaves to drive at the back of a group of trucks travelling on a
motorway together, watching for police from the rear US, 1976
raked adjective drunk US, 1990
rakehell noun an utter scoundrel UK, 1554
rake-in noun the financial results of an enterprise US, 1947
rake in; rake verb to make money, especially in generous quantities
or at an enviable speed UK, 1583
rake-off noun money obtained from a crime or as a bribe US, 1899
Rakkasans nickname the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment.
Distinguished airborne and air assault soldiers in World War 2,
Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. From the Japanese for
‘parachute’, named during the first four years of occupation duty
in Japan US, 1989
rakli noun a girl; a woman. Romany in current English gypsy use UK,
2000
Raleigh bike noun a lesbian. Rhyming slang for DYKE,formedona
product of a well-known bicycle manufacturer UK, 1992
rally verb to go out drinking US, 1974
ralph noun 1 a right turn US, 1968. 2 vomit US, 1975
ralph verb to vomit US, 1966
Ralphed up adjective dressed in a smart casual style. From Ralph
Lauren (b.1939), designer of the Polo™ range of casual clothing
UK,
1997
ram noun amyl or butyl nitrite. Reflecting popular male gay use,
possibly deriving from a brand name
US, 1998
ram verb (from a male perspective) to have sex, perhaps violently.

Mainly derived from ‘ram’ (a male sheep), but the thrusting action
echoes ‘ram’ (to batter with a long pole) UK, 2001
-rama; -erama; -orama suffix used for conveying a superlative qual-
ity or quantity. From Greek orama (a view)
US, 1954
rama-lama noun rock ’n’ roll music. From the doo-wop song ‘Rama
Lama Ding Dong’ recorded by the Edsels in 1959, and somehow
thought to capture the joie de vivre of the music UK, 2001
Rambette noun a female Rambo – reckless, fearless, the warrior
woman
US, 1992
rambler noun a (portable) radio UK, 1996
rambling ROK’s noun ground troops of the Army of South Korea
(the Republic of Korea)
US, 1964
Rambo noun 1 a soldier with too much of a sense of drama and too
little intelligence. After the 1982 film starring Sylvester Stallone as
an invincible if mentally unstable Vietnam veteran US, 1989. 2 an
intolerant prison officer who would rather punish inmates. From
the 1982 film starring Sylvester Stallone as a military man who
uses the most extreme measures to quell his opponents. In use in
UK prisons in 2002
UK, 2002. 3 heroin UK, 1998
Rambo rag noun a handkerchief worn on the head. Worn by
Stallone in the film US, 1991
ramjam adverb absolutely crammed UK, 1879
rammed adjective crammed, stuffed full UK, 1996
rammies noun trousers; pants. Rhyming slang. Shortening of
‘rammy rousers’, rhyming slang for ‘trousers’ AUSTRALIA, 1906
rammy noun a brawl; a noisy argument, a row; a bustling crowd UK:

SCOTLAND
, 1935
rammy verb to take part in crowd violence UK: SCOTLAND, 1996
ramp noun 1 a search of a prisoner or prison cell. Conducted to
search for contraband, though often carried out with much
destruction in order to harass the prisoner
AUSTRALIA, 1919. 2 a public
house bar counter; hence, a public house. From an earlier, more
general, sense as a shop counter
UK, 1935
ramp verb 1 to swindle, to con; to rob, to mug; to make trouble.
Contemporary use is mainly West Indian and UK black UK, 1812. 2 to
pretend. A variation of the sense ‘to swindle, to con’ UK, 2000. 3 to
search a prisoner or a prison cell AUSTRALIA, 1919
ramped adjective drunk US, 1992
ram-raid verb to rob a premises using a vehicle as a battering ram
and driving it through a window or a wall UK, 1987
ram-raid; ram-raiding noun a method of robbery that utilises a
motor vehicle as a battering ram to gain entry, often using the
vehicle to make off with stolen goods
UK, 1991
ramraider noun 1 a criminal involved in ram-raiding UK, 1991. 2 a
powerful amphetamine sulphate UK, 1990s
ramrod noun the penis; the erect penis UK, 1902
Ramsgate Sand; Ramsgate noun the hand. Rhyming slang,
formed on the Kent seaside resort UK, 1992
ram’s pasture noun in oil drilling, non-productive land US, 1954
ram tube noun in a drag racing car, an injector that forces air into a
carburettor US, 1970
ranch noun 1 a house US, 1960. 2 any place where marijuana is sold US,

1945. 3 to a trucker, anywhere you spend the night US, 1976
ranch verb to idle; to spend time doing little US, 1991
Ranch Hand noun a C-123 aircraft equipped with tanks filled with
defoliants used on the Vietnam jungle US, 1969
rancid adjective 1 in poor taste US, 1989. 2 excellent; brilliant AUSTRALIA,
1993
529 rained out | rancid
randan noun a spree of wild, debauched, hedonistic behaviour,
especially if heavy drinking is involved. Usually in the phrase ‘on
the randan’
UK: SCOTL AND, 1985
Randolph Scott; Randolph noun a spot. Rhyming slang, based on
the name of film actor Randolph Scott, 1903–87
UK, 1992
random adjective ordinary if unexpected. A major word of the 1990s
US youth, just a tad to the slang side of conventional English
US,
1968
R and R noun 1 rest and rehabilitation; rest and recovery; rest and
recreation; rest and recuperation; rape and restitution; rape and
ruin; rape and run. Despite disagreement on the ‘R’s’, the
meaning is the same – a brief stint away from combat or regular
duty
US, 1953. 2 rock ’n’ roll UK, 1977. 3 rape and robbery. A cynical
play on the US military ‘r and r’ (rest and recreation)
UK, 1996
randy adjective 1 sexually aroused; feeling lecherous. From Scottish
dialect randy
UK, 1847. 2 homosexual, perhaps seen as a threatening
or predatory characteristic. Public schools use, probably deriving

from the more general sense as ‘lecherous or sexually aroused’
when applied in a single-sex environment UK, 1968
randy Andy nickname Prince Andrew; any man named Andrew UK,
1984
randy comedown noun a desire for sex as the effects of drug use
wear off UK, 2002
rane noun cocaine; heroin UK, 2003
rang noun a person who is acting very oddly. An abbreviation of
‘orangutan’ US, 1966
rangdoodles noun in poker, a temporary increase in the betting
limit after a player has won a hand with an agreed-upon, rare and
excellent hand US, 1967
Ranger’s Bible noun the US Army Ranger handbook, a supplemen-
tal training document for long-range reconnaissance patrols US, 1990
rangood noun wild marijuana. Probably a playful misspelling of
RANGOON UK, 2003
rangoon noun wild marijuana US, 1968
Rangoon noun a prune. Rhyming slang, formed from the Burmese
capital UK, 1992
rank verb 1 to disparage; to insult, especially in a formulaic or ritual
manner US, 1945 . 2 to bungle or ruin something US, 1950
rank adjective unpleasant; stupid; bad-smelling. In the world of bad-is-
good alienated youth, ‘rank’ can be good or bad US, 1955
ranking adjective 1 excellent; admirable. Also shortened to ‘ranks’ UK,
1985. 2 average, mediocre JAMAICA, 2000
rank out verb to offend or disgust someone by doing something
rank US, 1997
ran-tan noun < on the ran-tan on a drinking spree IRELAND, 1977
rap noun 1 a criminal charge US, 1903. 2 blame or responsibility US, 1927 .
3 a prison sentence US, 1927. 4 a clever line of improvised chat,

speech or conversation. Black coinage, adopted and popularised by
hippies US, 1967. 5 a popular music genre in which a rhythmic lyric
is spoken over a musical background US, 2002 . 6 a meandering,
unstructured group discussion
US, 1967. 7 the way in which a person
expresses himself or herself US, 1975. 8 a very small amount US, 1973.
< ride the rap to serve a prison sentence without losing control,
hope or sanity US, 1991
rap verb 1 to talk without an agenda, aimlessly but honestly. Found
before the 1960s, but truly a word of the 60s US, 1929. 2 to criticise
someone US, 1957. 3 to accuse someone falsely or to seek a more
serious sentence for someone than their crime deserves US, 1965.
4 to perform semi-spoken lyrics over a musical background US, 1979
raparazzi noun an elite grouping within hip-hop culture. Extends RAP
(the pre-eminent hip-hop music style) on the model of PAPARAZZI
(photographers who prey on celebrities); the suggestion of preying
remains UK, 2002
rape verb in computing, to destroy a program or data without hope
of recovering it US, 1991
rape tools noun the penis and testicles US, 1962
rapid adjective excellent IRELAND, 2003
rapo; rape-o noun arapistUS, 1972
rap parlor noun a brothel in disguise as a massage parlour in
disguise as a business where you pay to talk to women. For those
entrepreneurs who do not have what it takes to obtain a massage
licence
US, 1982
rap partner noun in a criminal enterprise, a person who will accept
responsibility for a venture gone poorly and serve a jail sentence
US, 1977

rapper noun 1 a performer of rap lyrics US, 1979. 2 the mouth; the
voice
US, 1969. 3 the chief witness for the prosecution in a criminal
trial
US, 1962
rappie noun a partner in crime US, 1981
rap session noun a group discussion, unstructured and uninhibited
US, 1969
rap sheet noun a record of a person’s past arrests and convictions
US, 1960
rapt adjective delighted. Variant of WRAPPED AUSTRALIA, 1963
raptor noun a rap performer who is also an actor US, 1998
Raquel Welch noun a belch. Rhyming slang formed from the name
of the film actress (b.1940) UK, 1992
Raquel Welch verb to belch. Rhyming slang, formed from the
name of the US actress (b.1940) UK, 1971
rare adjective 1 excellent; very enjoyable UK: SCOTLAND, 1985. 2 of
someone, unusual, eccentric. Sometimes ‘wild rare’ is also used
IRELAND, 1992
rare as rocking horse shit adjective extremely rare or scarce
AUSTRALIA, 1944
rare gr oove noun a fashionable style of dance music and its presen-
tation. Coined by pirate radio presenter Norman Jay UK, 1999
raring to go adjective eagerly impatient to get started US, 1935
rark-up noun an argument or rebuke NEW ZEALAND, 1995
rark up verb to rebuke or annoy someone NEW ZEALAND, 1997
ras! used for expressing surprise US, 2004
rash noun < be all over someone like a rash 1 to smother
someone with affection, kisses, etc
AUSTRALIA, 1965. 2 to be easily

outdoing an opponent AUSTRALIA, 1961
rashie noun an upper garment worn by surfers. Originally worn
under a wetsuit in order to prevent
WETTIE RASH AUS TRALIA, 1996
raspberry noun 1 a disapproving fart-like noise. From out-of-date
rhyming slang, ‘raspberry tart’ for FART UK, 1890. 2 a light grazing of
the skin. Skateboarders’ slang; from the appearance
UK, 1998. 3 a
sore or abcess on an intravenous drug user from repeated
injections in the same spot US, 1973. 4 a male who trades sex for
drugs US, 1995
raspberryland nickname Tasmania. From the crop. Hence, a
Tasmanian is called a ‘raspberrylander’ AUSTRALIA, 1966
raspberry ripple; raspberry noun a disabled individual. Rhyming
slang for ‘cripple’ UK, 1977
raspy adjective 1 excellent US, 1982. 2 bad, unpleasant US, 1977
rass noun the buttocks; hence, used as a term of abuse. From ARSE
JAMAICA
, 1790
rasta box noun a large portable stereo system associated,
stereotypically, with black youth culture US, 1988
Rastafarian noun MDMA, the recreational drug best known as
ecstasy. Specifically used of any tablet of MDMA stamped with a
stylised image of a dreadlocked head
UK, 2004
rasta weed noun marijuana. Marijuana is famously central to
Rastafarian ritual US, 2001
Rastus noun used as a derogatory personification of a black male US,
1949
rat noun 1 a person who informs on or otherwise betrays

compatriots UK, 1902. 2 a despicable person UK, 1594. 3 an enthusiast
of the preceding activity or thing US, 1864. 4 a railway detective US,
1977. 5 a prostitute BARBADOS, 1965. < like a rat up a drainpipe;
likearatupadrain
very swiftly. Often used with ‘up that/her’,
randan | rat 530
in which case it is usually of a woman objectified in a sexual
context
AUSTRALIA, 1971. < like a rat up a rhododendron very
swiftly. A jocular variation of LIKE A RAT UP A DRAIN AUSTRALIA, 1971.
< like a rat up a rope/shoreline with great speed AUSTRALIA,
1945
. < not give a rat’s ass; not give a rat’s arse to not care
at all
US, 1971. < rat’s died up your arse used of an especially
noxious fart
UK, 2001
rat verb 1 to inform. Perhaps from an earlier political sense of
changing political parties
US, 1934. 2 to rob or loot a person or place
AUSTRALIA, 1898
rat adjective disloyal, untrustworthy; US, 1955
rat and mouse noun 1 a house. Rhyming slang; first recorded in
Songs and Slang of the British Soldier: 1914–1918, John Brophy
and Eric Partridge, 3rd edition, 1931. Recorded in the US in 1943
UK, 1931. 2 an informer. Rhyming slang for LOUSE (a despicable
person)
UK, 1961
rat-arsed; ratarsed adjective drunk UK, 1982
ratatouille noun a nightclub that caters to a mix of gay and straight

customers. A culinary allusion UK, 2003
ratbag noun a contemptible person. A ‘ratbag’ can be merely a
person with odd notions, an eccentric, or someone whose ideas or
behaviour verge on the insane AUSTRALIA, 1890
ratbaggery noun behaviour which is eccentric, despicable or
otherwise contemptible AUSTRALIA, 1943
rat belt noun in computing, a self-locking cable tie US, 1991
rat bite noun a skin bruise caused by sucking. Hawaiian youth usage
US, 1982
ratboy noun 1 among a group of drug users, a person who will
sample any drug before the group uses it. An allusion to the rat as
the subject of laboratory experiments US, 1987. 2 a member of a
subcultural urban adolescent grouping defined by a hip-hop dress
and jewellery sense
UK, 2000
rat caper noun a minor crime CANADA, 1976
ratchet noun any weapon US, 2003
ratchet jaw noun a person who talks too much and says too little
US, 1965
ratchet-mouth verb to talk incessantly US, 1981
rat-cunning noun craftiness AUSTRALIA, 1979
rat cunning adjective crafty AUSTRALIA, 1970
rat-drawn adjective used of shoes, pointed US, 1976
rat-eyed adjective drunk UK, 1998
ratfink; rat fink noun 1 a despised person. Combines RA T (someone
unpleasant) and FINK (someone despised, an informer) US, 1964. 2 an
informer. Combines RAT (an informer) and FINK (an informer) US,
1965
rat fuck noun 1 a chaotic military disaster US, 1930. 2 a despicable
person US, 1922. 3 a damn US, 1971. 4 a prank US, 1965

Rat Fuck noun the Reaction Forces of the South Vietnamese Army
US, 1990
ratfuck verb to pull a prank US, 1965
ratfuck operation noun any operation characterised by poor
planning, confusion or chaos. Frequently used in the Vietnam war
US, 1990
rat head noun a person, especially a woman, who conveys a
complete lack of taste and finesse US, 2004
rat hole noun 1 a small, messy, cluttered place UK, 1812. 2 a railway
tunnel US, 1975
rat-hole verb to stash something away, usually secretively US, 1948
rat house noun an insane asylum AUSTRALIA, 1900
rat jacket noun a reputation for being an informer US, 1973
rat-legged adjective drunk. A variation of RAT- ARSED UK, 2002
rat motor noun in hot rodding, a Chevrolet engine, usually 396
cubic inches or larger
US, 2001
rat-on noun an erection NEW ZEALAND, 1995
rat out verb to inform on someone US, 1990
rat pack noun 1 in competition surfing, competitors vying for the
lead
US, 1988. 2 a group of young gang members US, 1951. 3 aration
of food issued to South African soldiers; a package of food
SOUTH
AFRICA
, 1984
rat-pack verb to surround and attack someone US, 1971
rat race noun 1 any hectic and non-productive situation, activity or
lifestyle
US, 1947. 2 the face. Rhyming slang UK, 2003

rat row noun an area in a jail or prison reserved for police informers
who would not be safe in the general population of the facility
US,
1982
rat run noun a narrow way between buildings; a back alley; a side
road, especially if used in a short-cut; a route through back streets
that is used by motorists avoiding heavy traffic
UK, 1977
rats noun combat rations US, 1976
rats! used as an expression of annoyance or dismissal US, 1886
rats and mice; rats noun 1 dice. Rhyming slang UK, 1932. 2 rice.
Rhyming slang
UK, 1992
rat’s coffin noun a meat pie AUSTRALIA, 2003
ratshit noun a despicable person or thing US, 1994. < go to ratshit
to go very wrong UK, 1995
ratshit adjective no good; dreadful AUSTRALIA, 1970
ratted adjective drunk UK, 2002
ratter noun 1 a police informer; a traitor to a cause or enterprise US,
1975. 2 a thief, especially one who steals opal from another’s mine
AUSTRALIA, 1932
rattle noun dice US, 1983. < give a rattle to have sexual intercourse
with a female IRELAND, 2001
rattle verb to agitate or to unnerve someone US, 1887. < rattle
beads
to complain US, 1970. < rattle your cage to annoy or to
aggravate you; to arouse your indignation UK, 1990. < rattle your
dags
to hurry NEW ZEALAND, 1968
rattle and clank; rattle noun a bank. Rhyming slang UK, 1962

rattle and hiss; rattle noun an act of urination; urine. Rhyming
slang for PISS UK, 1998
rattler noun 1 a train UK, 1871. 2 Boston’s underground system, the
Massachusetts Transit Authority US, 1997
rattler-jumping adjective travelling by illegally catching trains
AUSTRALIA, 1969
rattlesnake noun < like a rattlesnake of a woman, describes
vigorous participation in sexual intercourse UK, 2000
rattlesnakes; rattles noun delirium tremens. Rhyming slang for
SHAKES UK, 1992
rattling adjective in an energetic state, possibly as a result of drug
abuse
UK, 2000
rattling adverb used as an intensifier, especially when describing
adventure fiction UK, 1829
rattling-cove noun a taxi. Derived from late C17-C18 usage (a
coachman) UK, 2002
rat trap noun 1 a dilapidated, shoddy building UK, 1838. 2 a fox hole
that accommodated two or three Viet Cong who hid and slept
there during the day US, 1990. 3 a Japanese person. Rhyming slang
for JAP, a pejorative term dating from World War 2 and lingering
among veterans of that conflict (especially prisoners of war). Also
shortened to ‘rat’
UK, 1992
rat turds noun an Oak Leaf Cluster, a military decoration indicating
that the soldier has received another decoration more than once
US, 1990
ratty adjective 1 wretched, miserable, mean; stained, tattered US, 1867.
2 angry, irritated UK, 1909. 3 foolish, odd, eccentric NEW ZEALAND, 1998.
4 crazy AUSTRALIA, 1895

raunch noun in the usage of youthful model road racers (slot car
racers), a slow car US, 1997
rau n chy adjective 1 sexually provocative, risqué; used as a
euphemism for pornographic
US, 1967. 2 inept, poorly done;
531 rat | raunchy
unpleasant, contemptible; dirty US, 1939. 3 used of music, abrasive,
aggressive
US, 1982
ravaged adjective drunk UK, 2002
rave noun 1 a party; a bottle party; a party open to the public, often
announced and sited clandestinely, featuring drugs, music and
sensory overload. Variant of ‘rave up’. First used of wild parties in
the late 1950s, then by MOD(s) in the 60s; revived in the 80s for
parties on such a scale that both UK culture and law were signifi-
cantly changed
UK, 1992. 2 an enthusiastic review US, 1926. 3 the
object of a passionate liking or craze
UK, 1959
rave verb 1 to express an enthusiasm for something UK, 1704. 2 to
enjoy the music and other sensations of a rave US, 1995 . 3 to persist
in discussing something that does not interest anyone else
involved in the discussion US, 1981
rave drug noun any chemical or ‘designer’ drug associated with
dance and club culture
UK, 2003
rave energy noun MDMA, the recreational drug best known as
ecstasy. The rave culture was fuelled by MDMA
UK, 2003
raven adjective gluttonous; greedy GRENADA, 1996

raver noun 1 a dedicated hedonist, party-goer, sexual adventurer or
drug taker. Extended from the sense as a ‘passionate enthusiast’.
Defined as ‘a young woman who is enthusiastically promiscuous
or merely of a passionate (but not promiscuous) nature
UK, 1968.
2 someone who goes to a rave UK, 2000. 3 a homosexual male UK,
1996
rave-up noun a social gathering. Used ironically of a mild, as
opposed to wild, party, by people old enough to remember the
rave-ups of the 1960s
UK, 1984
ravey adjective characteristic of raving UK, 2000
raving adjective used as an intensifier; complete, excellent, utmost,
etc
UK, 1959
Ravi Shankar noun a wanker. Rhyming slang, formed from the
name of the celebrated Indian musician (b.1920) UK, 2003
raw noun crack cocaine US, 1994. < in the raw naked US, 1934
raw adjective 1 exciting; excellent US, 1987. 2 naked US, 1931. 3 undiluted
US, 1974. 4 unembalmed US, 1987
raw fusion noun heroin UK, 2002
rawhide noun heroin UK, 2002
rawhide verb to drive those under your supervision to work very
hard US, 1962
raw-jaw verb to ignore someone; to bless someone with silence US,
1992
raw meat noun a new recruit in the US Army US, 1948
raw prawn noun a raw deal AUSTRALIA, 1957
raymond yes, affirmative. Citizens’ band radio French vraiment
(truly, indeed) UK, 1981

rays noun radiology US, 1994 . < bag some rays; catch some rays;
cop some rays
to sunbathe US, 1963
razed adjective drug-intoxicated UK, 1998
razoo noun 1 the smallest amount of money. Only ever used in
negative contexts, generally ‘to not have a razoo,’ but also ‘not
worth a razoo,’ ‘not get a razoo’, etc. Contextually referring to a
low value brass coin, the origin of this term remains a mystery
despite many guesses over the years. Needless to say no such coin
ever existed. Also commonly a ‘brass razoo’, and formerly spelt
‘rahzoo’ or ‘razzoo’ though only rarely
AUSTRALIA, 1919. 2 harassment
US, 1949
razor verb to slash something with a razor UK: SCOTLAND, 1999
razorback noun a worker on a circus train; any circus worker other
than a performer. Circus historian and linguist Joe McKennon
suggested that the term may have derived from the common
work command of ‘Raise ‘er back, let ‘er go’ when placing circus
equipment on train wagons US, 1904
razor blade; razor noun a black person. Rhyming slang UK, 1970
razored adjective muscular and sculpted US, 1984
razor edges noun dice that are true to an extremely minute
tolerance, approximately 1/1000th of a inch
US, 1950
razoring noun an attack on someone with a razor. From RAZOR (to
slash with a razor)
UK, 1996
razz noun a telling-off; a harangue. An Eton school term UK, 1967.
< on the razz; on the razzle a period of drinking, partying and
other self-indulgent pleasures. Derives from a shortening of ‘razzle-

dazzle’ (excitement). ‘Razzle’ (a good time) is first recorded in 1908
UK, 1915. < the razz abeatingIRELAND, 1962
razz verb to heckle; to show contempt; to jeer. Short for RASPBERRY ,a
derisive sound
US, 1919
razzberry noun a jeering, derisory, farting noise. Extends RAZZ (to
jeer) back to a variation of its source:
RASPBERRY US, 1922
razzled noun drunk. Derives from ON THE RAZZLE, (having a good
time, partying)
UK, 2002
razzle-dazzle noun 1 confusion; chaos; bewilderment US, 1889.
2 sexual intercourse UK, 1973. 3 in circus and carnival usage, a
prostitute US, 1981
razzmatazz noun 1 old-fashioned, sentimental jazz. The term was
originally used, before use of the word ‘jazz’, to describe an early
jazz-like music US, 1936. 2 a showy outward appearance UK, 1958.
3 extreme pleasure US, 1953
razzy adjective tattered; unkempt BARBADOS, 1965
RB noun an enthusiastic sportsman whose character is formed by
the aggressive pursuit of masculinity and frequently demonstrated
by his boorish behaviour and drunken socialising. An abbreviation
of
RUGGER BUGGER SOUTH AFRICA, 1991
RC adjective Roman Catholic UK, 1762
RCH noun a tiny notional unit of measure. An abbreviation of RED
CUNT HAIR
, perceived as a smaller unit even than a simple CUNT
HAIR US
, 1968

RCMP noun in Canada, a Roman Catholic Member of Parliament
CANADA, 1985
RD noun a red-coloured capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name
Seconal™), a central nervous system depressant. An initialised RED
DEVIL US
, 1977
reach verb to be prepared to fight US, 2004. < reach out and touch
someone
to telephone. From a 1982 American Telephone and
Telegraph advertising slogan US, 1989
reach-around noun manual stimulation of the passive partner’s
genitals by the male penetrating from behind US, 1987
read verb 1 in poker, to try to discern an opponent’s hand US, 1979.
2 in sports, to anticipate an opponent’s movement US, 1984. 3 in
transsexual usage, to detect a person’s genetic sex US, 1987. < read
(someone) the riot act
to give someone a very stern lecture or
reprimand. From a law enacted by George I limiting the activities
of groups of 12 or more
UK, 1906. < read a shirt to look for signs
of body lice US, 1981. < read between the lines said when three
fingers are raised in an insolent gesture. The index finger is the
one ‘between the lines’; this is, therefore, a catchphrased elabor-
ation of a familiar insulting gesture. Reported by a variety of
mothers in Cardiff and Bristol during April 2005 and generally
credited to 8-year-old children
UK, 2005. < read the riot act to
instruct a prisoner who is about to be released on the legal
restrictions concerning firearms. From the sense ‘to give someone
a very stern lecture or reprimand’ UK, 1996. < you wouldn’t read

about it
you wouldn’t believe such bad luck! AUSTRALIA, 1950
readable adjective used of a casino blackjack gambler, sloppy in
dealing or generous with body language, in either event revealing
to players the strength of his hand
US, 1991
read and write noun a fight. Rhyming slang, never used in a
shortened form
UK, 1857
reader noun 1 a book; a magazine; a newspaper. From the early C18
usage as a ‘pocket-book’ which moved into the current sense
during the mid-C19 UK, 1996. 2 a ‘Wanted’ poster or handbill US, 1926.
3 a counterfeit driving licence US, 1985. 4 a prescription for a
narcotic US, 1950. 5 a marked card US, 1894
ravaged | reader 532
readers noun 1 reading spectacles UK, 1961. 2 special tinted eye glasses
used for reading marked cards
US, 1985
readies; reddies noun cash money. A variation, not a plural, of
READY, in turn an abbreviation of ‘ready money’ UK, 1937
read my lips pay attention to what I am saying, for it is the
bedrock truth. A pop phrase embraced in a show of bravado by
George Bush when he was running for president of the US in
1988: ‘Read my lips – no new taxes’ and then the gist of endless
ridicule when, two years later, he advocated a new tax. Actor Tim
Curry named an album that he recorded in 1978 Read My Lips,
later explaining to William Safire that he took the phrase to mean
‘Listen and listen very hard, because I want you to hear what I’ve
got to say’
US, 1988

ready adjective competent US, 1946
ready; reddy noun cash money. An abbreviation of ‘ready money’
UK, 1639
ready eye noun a police trap. From READY-EYED (well informed or
betrayed to the police)
UK, 1996
ready-eye verb (of police) to operate an official surveillance UK, 2000
ready-eyed adjective 1 used by criminals of a planned crime that has
been betrayed and is therefore a police trap
UK, 1975. 2 in police
use, well informed, knowing the detailed truth of a situation UK,
1977
ready for Doctor Jesus adjective about to die US, 1966
ready, Freddie used for signalling readiness US, 1952
ready-made noun a commercially manufactured cigarette US, 1952
ready rocks; redi rocks noun a form of cocaine prepared for
smoking
US, 1989
ready-rolls noun commercially manufactured cigarettes US, 1951
ready-to-run noun in the usage of youthful model road racers (slot
car racers), a shop-bought car that has not been modified or
enhanced
US, 1997
ready whip noun a non-commissioned officer fresh out of training.
From the pressurised sweet topping advertised as instant whipped
cream US, 1991
real noun the truth US, 1972. < on the real 1 genuine. Black usage
UK, 2000. 2 seriously US, 1993
real adjective homosexual US, 1997
real adverb really, truly; hence, used as an intensifier, greatly. The

Oxford English Dictionary offers both Scottish and US origins, but
the earliest slang sense is from English writer R.H. Froude UK, 1827
real bikini noun something that is excellent. Teen slang US, 1955
real bush noun a white woman. Used by US troops in Vietnam
jaded by their experiences with Vietnamese prostitutes US, 1991
real case noun a serious medical emergency US, 1994
real deal noun 1 an authentic item or person; the plain truth US,
1991. 2 a youth gang member who is fully committed to the gang
US, 1995
Real Deal nickname Evander Holyfield (b.1962), three times world
heavyweight champion boxer US, 1992
real estate noun in war, territory to be taken, held, abandoned or
lost US, 1982
reality check noun in computing, a simple test of a computer’s or
program’s operating ability US, 1991
real live adjective genuine, actual. Jocular; often used of an
inanimate article
UK, 1887
really! used for expressing emphatic agreement US, 1973
Really Canadian Modest Police noun the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police. A back-formation from the initials RCMP CANADA,
2002
Real McCoy noun a variety of marijuana CANADA, 2002
real McCoy; McCoy noun the genuine article US, 1883
real thing noun < the real thing the genuine article. Figurative
slang from the conventional sense UK, 1939
real world noun the non-pornographic entertainment industry; the
world outside the pornography industry
US, 1995
ream verb 1 to have anal intercourse US, 1942. 2 to cheat someone.

Figurative from the more literal sense of poking something up
one’s rectum. Also variant ‘rim’
US, 1933. 3 to scold or punish
someone. From the sense of ‘ream’ as widening a hole. ‘Ream
out’ is also used US, 1950
ream adjective excellent. An intensification of the C19 sense as ‘good,
genuine, honest’
UK, 2002
ream job noun 1 anal sex US, 1995. 2 a difficult situation US, 1968
rear noun the buttocks. Euphemistic UK, 1796. < get your rear in
gear to get going US, 1972
rear admiral noun a proctologist US, 1973
rear-area hawk noun an officer stationed away from the field of
battle who has strong, bellicose opinions about what should be
done in battle. Vietnam war usage
US, 1989
rear-area pussy noun a support personnel safely away from combat.
Occasionally abbreviated to RAP US, 1991
rear-echelon commando noun a soldier assigned to duty safely
away from combat US, 1947
rear-echelon motherfucker noun a member of the armed forces
serving behind lines well away from combat. Often abbreviated to
REMF
US, 1976
rear-end loader noun a prisoner who hides items in their rectum
AUSTRALIA, 2001
rear exit noun a retreat or flight from danger US, 1957
rear-gunner; rear seat gunner noun a male homosexual. A
masculine image that employs weaponry in a metaphor for anal
intercourse UK, 2000

rearrange verb < rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic;
rearrange the deck chairs
to focus on petty matters while
ignoring major problems. From the image of the folly of worrying
about the arrangement of deck chairs on the Titanic as the ship
sank US, 1972
reat pleat noun fashionable trousers. Usage by Mexican-American
youth (Pachucos) in the southwestern US US, 1947
reb noun any poor, rural, white southerner US, 1978
rebbish adjective poor, white and racist. From the shortened REB or
JOHNNY REB, harkening to Confederate soldiers US, 1945
rebellious henchman noun the penis UK, 2003
rebel trap noun in pool, the largest regulation-size table. In the US,
the large tables were unknown in the south, giving rise to this
term in the north US, 1990
rebound noun 1 a person with whom you have a romantic relation-
ship in close proximity to the unhappy ending of a prior relation-
ship US, 1997. 2 in trucking, a return trip US, 1976. < on the
rebound
emotionally vulnerable following rejection by a loved-one
UK, 1864
rec noun 1 a recreation ground (a municipal park) UK, 1931. 2 in prison,
a recommendation given by the judge on sentencing UK, 1998
recap noun a recapitulation US, 1926
recap verb to recapitulate UK, 1950
recce; reccy noun a reconnaissance. Originally military; wider usage
tends toward vaguer and more figurative shadings of the sense UK,
1941
recce verb to go on a reconnaissance; to look around. Originally
military UK, 1943

receipt noun in professional wrestling, an arguably unacceptable
manoeuvre that is acceptable in the context of justifiable revenge
US, 2002
reck verb to consider; to think. A shortening of RECKON UK, 1997
reckon verb to esteem someone or something as worthwhile UK, 1964
recognize verb to pay attention US, 2001
recon noun reconnaisance. Often used in an adjectival sense US, 1918
recon verb to reconnoitre. Shortened for military purposes US, 1966
533 readers | recon
recon by fire noun in a military situation, random gunfire designed
to ascertain the presence of the enemy by return fire
US, 1971
record noun < change the record!; put another record on!
used to demand a change of style, subject or substance in what is
being said
UK, 1966
recovery room noun a golf course’s bar US, 2000
rec room noun a recreational room. A mandatory feature of
suburban 1960s life in the US, where the family gathered to watch
television, play table tennis, set up model trains, etc
US, 1962
rectum rocket noun a fast-moving vehicle UK, 1981
recycle noun LSD UK, 1998
recycle verb < recyle the dice in bar dice games, to roll again
after a roll that produces no points for the player
US, 1971
red noun 1 any central nervous system depressant, especially a
capsule of Seconal™ or another barbiturate
US, 1979. 2 marijuana. A
generic term for golden-red marijuana, clipping PANAMA RED etc US,

1982
. 3 morphine US, 1945. 4 blood. Professional wrestling usage US,
2002
. 5 in a deck of playing cards, any heart or diamond. A flush of
hearts or diamonds is referred to as ‘all red’ US, 1988. 6 in American
casinos, a five-dollar betting chip US, 1982. 7 a penny US, 1950. 8 a
liberal; a socialist; a Marxist; a Marxist-Leninist; a Maoist; a
Trotskyite; a communist; an anarchist UK, 1848. < in the red in
debt. From the use of red ink to show debt in account ledgers UK,
1926
red adjective 1 made of gold, golden. In conventional use from C14,
slipped into slang during C17. Also in occasional use as a noun UK,
1981. 2 of a mixed (black and white) racial heritage US, 1969. 3 drug-
intoxicated. From the reddening of the smoker’s eyes
JAMAICA, 1998
red and blue noun a capsule of amobarbital sodium and
secobarbital sodium (trade name Tuinal™), a combination of
central nervous system depressants
US, 1969
red ass noun anger US, 1975
red-ass verb to annoy or tease someone US, 1994
red-assed adjective very angry US, 1962
redback noun in western Canada, a Hereford cow or steer CANADA,
1962
red badge of courage noun a notional badge awarded to someone
who performs oral sex on a woman who is experiencing the bleed
period of the menstrual cycle US, 1994
red ball noun 1 a fast freight train US, 1946. 2 a trail, path or road used
by the Viet Cong or North Vietnamese during the Vietnam war US,
1991

red band; red-band noun a prisoner with privileges; a trusty UK, 1950
red biddy noun cheap red wine; also a drink of cheap red wine and
methylated spirits UK, 1928
red bike noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle AUSTRALIA, 2002
red bird noun 1 a capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name
Seconal™), a central nervous system depressant US, 1953. 2 the AH-
1G Cobra helicopter. Used purely as a gunship in the Vietnam war
from 1971 until the end of the conflict US, 1991
red blanket noun the corpse of a person who died with massive
injuries US, 1987
red board noun in horse racing, the official sign announcing that a
race’s results stand
US, 1947
red box noun an ambulance US, 1976
red bread noun payment for donating blood US, 1971
red bud noun marijuana UK, 2003
Red Bull nickname Black Label™ beer. Scamto youth street slang
(South African townships) SOUTH AFRICA, 2005
red bullet nickname a capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name
Seconal™), a central nervous system depressant
US, 1977
red button noun aforemanUS, 1955
red can noun a can of Melbourne Bitter™ beer AUSTRALIA, 2003
red cap noun a member of the military police. From the red-topped
cap that forms part of the uniform. Generally familiar from
television drama series such as: Red Cap (ABC, 1964–66) and Red
Cap (BBC, 2001–03)
UK, 1931
red caps noun crack cocaine UK, 1998
red cent noun the lowest value denomination, hence the least

amount possible. A copper cent, thus ‘red’
US, 1839
Red Centre noun the central desert regions of the Australian
mainland
AUSTRALIA, 1935
red chamber club noun the Senate in the Canadian Parliament.
The source of the term is that the senate (the ‘Red Chamber’) has
red carpets, leather chairbottoms and desk blotters CANADA, 1963
red chenke noun a light-skinned person; an unlikeable person
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, 1996
red chicken noun heroin, especially Chinese heroin US, 1969
red cross noun marijuana UK, 2003
red cunt hair noun a very small unit of measure. Sterling Johnson,
in English as a Second F*cking Language, 1995, notes: ‘The term
originated with the master carpenters of Cape Cod and is now
universally used’
US, 1968
redders noun harness racers. Rhyming slang, from ‘red hots’ to
‘trots’
AUSTRALIA, 1989
red devil noun 1 a capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name
Seconal™), a central nervous system depressant US, 1959. 2 a type of
amphetamine tablet UK, 1997. 3 heroin UK, 2003. 4 a woman’s
menstrual period US, 1954
red diaper baby noun a person who was raised by Communist
parents who instilled Communist beliefs and values US, 1970
red dirt marijuana; red dirt noun uncultivated marijuana US, 1960
red doll noun a capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name
Seconal™), a central nervous system depressant US, 1977
red dollars noun US military scrip in Vietnam US, 1965

red dope noun wild cannabis that has been sprayed with a bright
red herbicide. The colour plus DOPE (marijuana) US, 2001
red dot noun < the red dot the bleed period of the menstrual
cycle US, 2001
red dot special noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle US,
2001
red dragon noun a variety of LSD UK, 1996
reddy noun an Italian. May derive from RADDIE (an Italian living in
London), or take root in Italian red wine UK, 1961 8see: READY
red-eye noun 1 a long, aggressive stare US, 1985. 2 an overnight
aeroplane flight, arriving at its destination early in the morning US,
1968. 3 potent, impure homemade alcohol, especially whisky US, 1819.
4 fermented catsup. A prison concoction US, 1976. 5 on the railways,
a stop signal US, 1946 . 6 in pinball, an activated special scoring
device, usually lit in red US, 1977. 7 a flashing red light on top of a
police car
US, 1976. 8 the anus US, 1966
Redfern noun < get off at Redfern to practise coitus interruptus.
Redfern is the railway station immediately prior to Central Station,
the principal station in Sydney
AUSTRALIA, 1956
red flag noun 1 an obvious indication that all is not well US, 1968.
2 when injecting a drug into a vein, the practice of drawing blood
up into the syringe to verify the finding of a vein and to control
the pace of the injection
US, 1987. 3 a show of menstrual blood on
outer clothing; hence, the bleed period of the menstrual cycle
US,
2001. < be flying the red flag to be in the bleed period of the
menstrual cycle UK, 2000

red flag day noun any day during the bleed period of a woman’s
menstrual cycle
UK, 2000
red flag week noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle. Also
used in Scotland CANADA, 2000
red goddess noun a firefighting vehicle that is generally used for
training but made available (for operation by the military) when
regular firefighters and their fire-engines are out of service UK, 2002
red gunyon noun smashed marijuana seeds or gum hashish smoked
in a pipe US, 1973
red head noun a match US, 1981
reco n by fire | red head 534
redheaded aunt from Red Bank noun the bleed period of the
menstrual cycle
US, 1999
redheaded friend noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle US,
1999
Red Heart nickname the central desert regions of the Australian
mainland
AUSTRALIA, 1931
red hot noun 1 a variety of MDMA, the recreational drug best known
as ecstasy
UK, 1996. 2 a frankfurter US, 1950
red hot adjective extremely unfair AUSTRALIA, 1896
red hots noun 1 diarrhoea. Rhyming slang for TROTS UK, 1992.
2 trotting races. Rhyming slang for TROTS AUSTRALIA, 1966
red Ibo noun a light-skinned person of mixed black and white
heritage
JAMAICA, 1996
red Leb noun hashish with a reddish colour produced in the

Lebanon
UK, 2002
red-leg noun a poor white person BARBADOS, 1892
red-legs noun the artillery. From the red stripes on the trousers of
Union artillerymen during the US Civil War
US, 1971
red letter noun a letter that is smuggled out of prison UK, 1996
red letter day noun the day each cycle that the menstrual bleed
commences. A neat pun on the colour of blood and the date in a
calendar
US, 2001
red light noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle. As in ‘red
light – stop – there will be no sex’ US, 1954
red-light verb (used of a police car) to activate flashing lights and
pull a vehicle off the road US, 1976
red-light adjective pertaining to prostitution US, 1900
red lilly noun a capsule of secobarbital sodium (trade name
Seconal™); any central nervous system depressant. From the
colour of the capsule and the name of the manufacturer
US, 1977
red line noun in the used car business, the minimum which a
dealer will accept for a car US, 1975
red lips noun a type of LSD. Possibly from an image printed on the
drug UK, 2003
Red Mary noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle US, 1980
Red Mike noun a woman-hater CANADA, 1946
red Mitsubishi noun PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine) or PMMA
(paramethoxymethylamphetamine) when taken as a recreational
drug UK, 2000
redneck noun a country-dweller, especially one whose views are con-

sidered bigoted by ‘sophisticated’ citizens. Generally derogatory US,
1830
redneck radio noun citizens’ band radio US, 1977
Red Ned noun cheap red wine AUSTRALIA, 1941
redner noun < take a redner to be embarrassed IRELAND, 1996
red nigger noun a native American Indian US, 1998
red one noun 1 in carnival usage, a profitable engagement US, 1973.
2 a very short distance. A euphemized abbreviation of RED CUNT
HAIR US
, 1980
red onion noun on the railways, an eating establishment US, 1977
red-out noun a flood of the colour red in your vision just before you
pass out from lack of oxygen US, 1990
red-penny man noun a procurer of prostitutes, a pimp AUSTRALIA, 1975
red phosphorus noun smokeable metamphetamine. From a process
in the synthesis of the drug UK, 2003
red pill noun < take the red pill to go all-out for the active
option. From a choice between reality and euphoria offered in the
film The Matrix (1999) UK, 2005
red pussy hair noun a very short distance. Slightly less offensive
than
RED CUNT HAIR US, 1987
red-ragger noun aCommunistAUSTRALIA, 1916
red-ragging adjective Communist AUSTRALIA, 1938
red rattler noun a type of passenger train with dark red carriages
that became noisy when travelling at speed
AUSTRALIA, 1981
red river noun the bleed period of a woman’s menstrual cycle US,
1954
red rock noun granulated heroin originating in China; heroin gener-

ally
US, 1969
red rock opium noun a mixture of heroin, barbital, strychnine and
caffeine
UK, 2002
red rum noun 1 a variety of heroin. An allusion to the qualities of
the legendary racehorse (steeplechaser Red Rum won the UK
Grand National a record three times). Also rhyming slang for
‘dumb’ and ‘murder’ spelt backwards
UK, 2001. 2 a mixture of
heroin, barbital, strychnine and caffeine. Also known as
RED ROCK
OPIUM
from which this may be formed by elision; it is interesting
to note with regard to the dangerous nature of this cocktail that
‘red rum’ is ‘murder’ backwards
UK, 2002
red rush noun amyl nitrite UK, 1996
reds noun 1 the bleed period of the menstrual cycle US, 1999. 2 a
sense of anger
US, 1951
red sails in the sunset the bleed period of the menstrual cycle
AUSTRALIA, 1968
red seal noun a variety of cannabis resin. Branded with a red seal UK,
1996
Red Sea pedestrian noun a Jewish person. Offensive, intended as
jocular; from the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14: 21–22) UK,
1979
red shirt noun 1 a troublemaker US, 1967. 2 a volunteer firefighter US,
1954. 3 a college athlete who, because he did not play in his

freshman year, may matriculate and play at the varsity level for a
fifth year US, 1950. 4 in roller derby, a skater who engages in rough,
‘bad guy’ tactics US, 1999. 5 a professional wrestler who is regularly
scripted to lose matches to advance the careers of other wrestlers
US, 2002
redskin noun in a deck of playing cards, any face card US, 1967
red snapper noun in blackjack, a dealt hand of two red cards that
add up to 21 US, 1996
Red Sox are in town experiencing the bleed period of the
menstrual cycle. The colour of blood signals this euphemistic
adoption of the Boston baseball team US, 2001
red squad noun a police unit that engages in systematic investi-
gation and record-keeping about leftist political and social action
organisations unrelated to criminal conduct US, 1970
red steer noun a bushfire AUSTRALIA, 1936
red stuff noun gold UK, 1956
reds under the bed noun the communist presence lurking in
Western society UK, 1972
red tape noun excessive formality; bureaucratic obstacles. Originally
a literal term, referring to the red-coloured tape used in securing
legal documents; later used figuratively
UK, 1837
red tide noun 1 hordes of communists seen as ready to overwhelm
western civilisation
US, 1991. 2 the bleed period of the menstrual
cycle US, 1999
red-top noun a tabloid newspaper at the more populist end of the
readership. From the red masthead characteristic of such papers
UK, 1997
reducer noun in gin, any card drawn or held for the sole purpose of

reducing the number of points in unmatched cards in a hand
US,
1965
red up; rid up verb to clear and clean a table after eating CANADA,
1998
red wedge noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle. Combines
‘red’, for the colour of blood, with a pun on conventional ‘wedge’
(something that fills a gap) and ‘wedgie’ (a trick with underpants)
suggesting underwear; the whole being a play on Red Wedge (a
1980s alliance of musicians and actors with the UK Labour party)
UK, 2001
red week noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle US, 2001
535 redheaded aunt from Red Bank | red week
red, white and blue noun a shoe. Rhyming slang UK, 1972
red wings noun sexual intercourse or oral sex with a woman who is
experiencing the bleed period of the menstrual cycle. From
motorcycle gang culture US, 1971
reeb noun beer. Back slang, noted as current in the UK due to its use
in the US, possibly reinvigorated by The Simpsons television
cartoon UK, 1859
reebs noun marijuana US, 1988
reeds noun long shorts, favoured by surfers US, 1985
reef noun a marijuana cigarette US, 1958
reef verb 1 to fondle another person’s genitals. Probably from the
earlier sense ‘to pick a pocket’
UK, 1962. 2 to remove something
from someone’s pocket
US, 1949
reefdogger noun a marijuana cigarette US, 1982
reefer noun 1 a marijuana cigarette. Almost certainly from the

Spanish word meaning ‘to twist’. Still used, with a nostalgic air to
it US, 1931 . 2 marijuana US, 1931. 3 a refrigerator; a refrigerated railway
wagon US, 1914 . 4 a pickpocket US, 1949
reefer madness noun a unusually great appetite or determined
devotion to the use of marijuana. An ironic adoption of the title
of a 1936 film that famously exposed the immoral excesses of
marijuana addicts
AUSTRALIA, 1996
reefer room noun in a morgue, a refrigerated room where bodies
are stored
US, 1997
reegie noun a police officer in the Regional Crime Squad UK, 2002
reeker noun a bad-smelling hospital casualty department patient US,
1978
reek-ho adjective drunk UK, 2002
reekstick noun a conventional tobacco cigarette laced with cocaine
UK, 2003
reel verb < reel someone in to triumph over gullibility, especially
regarding a piece of trivial teasing. Often accompanied by the
action of reeling in a fish; sometimes the action may replace the
words
UK, 1999
reeling and rocking noun a stocking. Rhyming slang, inspired by
the fashions of the rock ’n’ roll era; usually seen in pairs
UK, 1992
reels adjective without money. Rhyming slang, from ‘reels of cotton’
to ‘rotten’ (without money) AUSTRALIA, 1989
reels of cotton adjective rotten. Rhyming slang UK, 1979
reet; reat adjective good, pleasing US, 1934
reeve verb to cheat CANADA, 1999

ref noun in a sporting contest, a referee UK, 1899?
ref verb in a sporting context, to referee UK, 1929?
reffo noun a migrant to Australia who is a refugee from their home
country AUSTRALIA, 1941
refusenik noun a non-conformist. Adopted without a full
understanding from the name given in 1970s to Jews in the Soviet
Union who were refused permission to emigrate to Israel
UK, 2002
reg noun 1 a regular customer or guest UK, 2001. 2 marijuana of
average quality. An abbreviation of ‘regular’. The variant ‘regs’ also
exists US, 1973
regale noun a festive occasion. The term is adopted from French,
where it has a similar meaning CANADA, 1947
reggaematic adjective in or of a reggae style UK, 1992
reggin noun a black person. The offensive NIGGER spelt backwards US,
1981
Reg Grundies; grundies; grunds; reginalds; reggies noun
underwear. Rhyming slang, playing on UNDIES,formedfromthe
name Reg Grundy, an Australian televison producer AUSTRALIA, 1984
Regiment noun < the R egiment the SAS (22 Special Air Service
regiment) UK, 1995
regmaker; reggie noun a drink, pick-me-up or medication taken to
relieve (or ‘cure’) a hangover. A compound of Afrikaans reg (right)
and English ‘-maker’ SOUTH AFRICA, 1954
rego; reggo noun vehicle registration AUSTRALIA, 1967
regreen verb while working in the office of the US Department of
Defense, to receive an update briefing on affairs in the army
US,
1986
regroup verb to recover from a surprise or a setback US, 1966

regs noun regulations. Military in origin UK, 1996
regular noun 1 a prisoner who serves his sentence with dignity and
strength
US, 1974. 2 a skateboarder who skates with the left foot to
the front
UK, 2004
regular adjective 1 complete; absolute; thorough UK, 1821 . 2 kind;
decent; honest US, 1946
regular P noun crack cocaine UK, 1998
regulars noun common black ants BARBADOS, 1965
rehab noun rehabilitation (a medical regime for the cure of alcohol
and drug addiction); also, the clinic or hospital environment where
rehabilitation takes place. Both senses may serve concurrently
UK,
1961
rehash verb in the circus or carnival, to resell ticket stubs to patrons
and pocket the funds
US, 1980
rehitch verb to re-enlist; to re-marry US, 1953
reindeer dust noun any powdered drug; cocaine; heroin. A play on
SNOW US, 1942
reject noun a socially inept person; a pathetic individual; a person
who does not fit in with the fashionable, trendy majority US, 1968
relate verb to understand; to like or appreciate someone or
something. A quintessential, over-used vague verb of the 1960s US,
1959
relay spot noun a room with a telephone used to relay calls placing
bets in a bookmaking operation US, 1973
release noun in the coded language of massage parlours,
ejaculation. A 2002 Incident Report from the Sausalito (California)

Police Department describes the activities at a local massage
parlour as follows: ‘Every massage ends with some type of
"release" (orgasm). The release is accomplished by the employee
masturbating the client to an orgasm’
US, 2002
release verb < release a chocolate hostage to defecate UK, 2002.
< release the hounds to defecate US, 2003
relievers noun shoes US, 1962
re-light noun a cigarette butt retrieved and smoked US, 1996
religious issue noun in computing, a topic that is bound to launch
an endless debate which cannot be resolved US, 1991
rellie noun a relation, a relative AUSTRALIA, 1981
rello; r elo noun a relative AUSTRALIA, 1987
reload verb to give the victim of a confidence trick or fraudulent
gambling game a false sense of confidence, then cheat the by-now
willing victim of all he or she possesses UK, 1977
rels noun relatives AUSTRALIA, 1991
Rembrandt noun in poker, a hand of face cards US, 1988
remf noun a soldier assigned to a combat support role. Acronym of a
‘rear-echelon motherfucker’ US, 1982
Remington warrior noun a rear support troop. Named after the
Remington typewriter, the ‘warrior’s weapon’ US, 1990
remish noun remission (of a prison sentence) UK, 1958
remodel verb in car repair, to damage a vehicle or part severely US,
1992
remould noun a sex-change operation UK, 2002
Ren and Stimpy noun the female breasts. Ren and Stimpy are
shamelessly gross cartoon characters created by John Kricfalusi,
first seen in 1991 UK, 2001
Ren Cen nickname the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan. An

expensive, bold and risky attempt to revive the dying Detroit
central district in the 1970s
US, 2003
rendered adjective drunk UK, 2002
red, white and blue | rendered 536
renk adjective impudent; offhand; rude; yobbish. Variation of ‘rank’
(offensive)
JAMAICA, 1994
Reno noun in bar dice games, two dice that add up to seven US, 1976
renob noun a person who acts foolishly US, 2001
rent noun 1 a youthful, attractive homosexual male prostitute UK, 1967.
2 road tax. Motor trade slang UK, 2004. < up me for the rent!
used to register pleasurable astonishment AUSTRALIA, 1971
renta- prefix hired, rented. In commercial usage often used to create
a company name, for instance: ‘Rentacar’ (examples found in
Australia, Ireland, Spain, UK, US) and ‘Rentavan’ (examples found
in Australia, Ireland, Mexico, UK). Both ‘rentacar’ and ‘rentavan’ are
also used informally of a hired vehicle. Other use is often
derogatory: ‘rentacrowd’ (a hired clique), ‘rentamob’ (a crowd
assembled at political demonstration) and ‘rentamouth’ (a speaker
for hire)
US, 1921
rent-a-cop noun a private security guard. A tad disparaging US, 1968
rent-a-gob noun a citizens’ band radio user who chats on a channel
reserved for making contact; a person who talks too much and to
little effect UK, 1981
rental units noun parents. From PARENTAL UNITS, a neat pun
describing parental worth from a youth perspective US, 1996
Rent-a-Svend nickname Canadian politician Svend Robinson, the first
openly gay, New Democratic member of Parliament. The

controversial Svend Robinson has drawn criticism for his espousal
of unpopular causes, such as the Palestinian side in the
Arab–Israeli war and gay rights
CANADA, 2002
rent-a-tile noun dancing very closely, barely moving your feet
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1993
rent boy noun a young male prostitute UK, 1969
renter noun a homosexual male prostitute UK, 1893
rent party noun a party thrown for the purpose of collecting
donations from friends to pay your rent US, 1925
rents noun parents. Teen slang that cuts parents down to size US, 1968
renzos noun Lorenzo™ decorative wheel rims US, 1993
reo noun 1 a reinforcement AUSTRALIA, 1931. 2 a difficult surfing
manoeuvre on the breaking lip of a wave. An abbreviation of ‘re-
entry’
US, 1988
rep noun 1 reputation US, 1705. 2 a repetition, or complete cycle of an
exercise US, 1984. 3 a repertory theatre or theatre company; a
repertoire US, 1925. 4 in prison, a written representation UK, 2002. 5 a
representative, often a travelling salesman
UK, 1896. 6 a repellent UK,
1995
rep verb 1 to represent someone; to give someone a reputation UK,
2002. 2 to work as a representative of a company UK, 1938
Repat noun 1 the Repatriation Commission which gave assistance to
ex-service personnel returning to civilian life
AUSTRALIA, 1920. 2 a
hospital for repatriated service personnel AUSTRALIA, 1968
repeater noun in horse racing, a horse that won the last race it
entered US, 1974

repo noun repossession US, 1971
repo depot noun the Replacement Detachment of any large military
force or installation
US, 1968
repo man noun an agent of a finance company who repossesses, by
an assortment of techniques, cars which have not been paid for.
From ‘repossess’
US, 1984
repple-depple noun a replacement depot where soldiers arriving in
Vietnam were assigned to units and soldiers leaving Vietnam were
processed for homecoming US, 1945
reppoc; reppock noun a police officer. Back slang for COPPER UK, 1996
represent verb 1 to serve as a pimp for a prostitute US, 1991 . 2 to
project a positive image and attitude US, 1997
reptile noun a railway pointsman US, 1977
Republic of Mali noun cocaine. Rhyming slang for CHARLIE (cocaine)
UK, 2003
re-rub noun a re-mixed dance music recording UK, 2002
res noun 1 a resident physician in a hospital US, 1994. 2 a dormitory or
residence at a university or college
CANADA, 2001. 3 the oily residue
in a pipe after crack cocaine has been smoked US, 1992
resemble verb to resent. Usually in the jocular ‘I resemble that
remark’ UK, 1984
resin noun cannabis resin UK, 1996
respec; respect; respeck; rispeck used for registering approval of
someone’s action or attitude. An abbreviation in all variant
spellings of ‘respect due’; occasionally ironic. Originally West
Indian and UK black
UK, 1994

respect due used for registering approval of someone’s action or
attitude. Originally West Indian and UK black
UK, 1998
ressie noun a resident DJ UK, 2001
rest noun < give it a rest to stop talking, especially to stop talking
about a specific topic. Often as an imperative
UK, 1984
rest verb < rest your mouth to stop talking BAHAMAS, 1982. < rest
your neck
to stop talking US, 1989
rest cure noun in the car sales business, sending a car into the shop
while the customer waits and then returning it, claiming that work
which has not been done has been done US, 1953
resting adjective of an actor, unemployed. Originally positive
thinking, now arch
UK, 1999
rest in peace noun crack cocaine. Imagery of death. UK, 2003
restroom noun a brakevan (caboose) US, 1977
result noun 1 the winning score in a sporting contest; a victory in
any sport. Conventionally ‘result’ means ‘outcome’, hence a ‘good
result’; this usage clips and implies the positive adjective,
exclusively acquiring the result for victors and so denying losers
any achievement
UK, 1981. 2 a satisfying or appropriate outcome; an
achievement UK, 1973 . 3 a successful or profitable robbery UK, 1998.
4 an arrest or a criminal conviction UK, 2004
ret noun a cigarette US, 1971
retail action noun recreational shopping US, 1997
retail therapy noun shopping when considered as an empowering
leisure activity US, 1986

retard noun a slow, dim-witted person. From ‘mentally retarded’, but
not necessarily indicative of actual mental retardation
US, 1970
retarded adjective 1 stupid, foolish US, 2003. 2 drunk US, 2003. 3 in
Quebec, delayed, late CANADA, 2001
retardo noun a mentally challenged person US, 1981
retread noun 1 in the military: a short-service officer on a second
commission; a retired officer recalled to service; a retired officer
re-employed as a civilian in an administrative post; an officer who
has been promoted from the ranks; an aviator returned to flying
duties after a period of ground service. The origin is in the new
life given to a tyre by the application of a new tread; there is also a
pun on ‘retired/re-tyred’. The earliest use is for a World War 1
veteran recalled to serve in World War 2
AUSTRALIA, 1943. 2 a recently
divorced person
US, 1985
retread verb in the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, to tape
over a tape that has been recorded once US, 1994
retriever noun a prisoner who intimidates other prison inmates for
the purpose of ‘retrieving’ drugs that those inmates are suspected
of carrying UK, 1996
retro verb to return something or someone from Antarctica to the
country of origin. An abbreviation of ‘retrograde’ ANTARCTICA, 2003
retrosexual noun a heterosexual man who enjoys traditional male
pastimes and spends as little time and money as possible on his
appearance. A play on
METROSEXUAL (a man with aesthetic tastes),
suggesting a throwback to an earlier type US, 2004
rette noun a cigarette US, 1997

reunion in my bureau noun in Quebec, a meeting in my office.
Both ‘reunion’ and ‘bureau’ are used in their French sense in
English in Montreal
CANADA, 2001
537 renk | reunion in my bureau
re-up verb to replenish a stack of something; to re-supply something;
to re-sign or re-enlist. Originally a military slang term for re-
enlisting
US, 1906
rev verb to leave, to go US, 1952
RevCan noun Revenue Canada, the federal tax collection agency
CANADA, 2002
revenge of the cradle; revenge of the nursery noun Quebec’s
high birthrate, perceived as being in retaliation for the loss of the
province to England by France
CANADA, 1964
revenoo; revenuer; revenooer noun a federal law enforcement
official. Used by those in the illegal production of alcohol
US, 1974
Reverend Ronald Knox; the Reverend; the Right Reverend
noun syphilis; hence any sexually transmitted infection. Rhyming
slang for
POX, formed from the Catholic priest and detective
storywriter, 1888–1957
UK, 1980
reverse adjective < reverse gears to vomit US, 1989
reverse cowgirl noun a sexual position in which the woman
straddles the prone man, facing his feet
US, 1991
reverse o noun a position for mutual, simultaneous oral sex

between two people, or the act itself, especially when advertised as
a service offered by a prostitute UK, 2003
rev-head noun a motor vehicle enthusiast AUSTRALIA, 1987
revolt of the admirals noun a highly public clash between the US
Navy and the US Air Force in 1949 over basing of the country’s
strategic airpower US, 1949
rev up and fuck off go away and don’t annoy me; don’t annoy
me
IRELAND, 1991
rewind noun in trucking, a return trip US, 1977
rex noun a (small) quantity of money IRELAND, 1989
Rexall ranger noun someone who wears cowboy clothes but has
never worked on a ranch. Rexall is a chain drugstore, giving a
touch of specificity to the more common
DRUGSTORE COWBOY US,
1970
rez noun a Native American Indian reservation US, 1998
RF verb to play a prank. An abbreviation of RA TFUCK US, 1965
RFB noun room, food and beverage – the basic components of a
complimentary pass at a casino or hotel US, 1996
RG noun in homosexual usage, a biological female. A fellow homo-
sexual is a GIRL, while a woman is a ‘real girl’, or RG US, 1971
rhine noun heroin. Probably by abbrevation of a particular
pronunciation UK, 1998
rhino noun 1 money UK, 1688. 2 a large and powerful wave US, 1991
rhino chaser noun a large surfboard made for big-wave conditions
US, 1987
RHIP rank has its privileges US, 1968
Rhodey noun a white Zimbabwean. Derogatory. A reference to
Rhodesia, the country which became Zimbabwe in 1980 SOUTH

AFRICA
, 2000
rhody; rhodie noun a rhododendron UK, 1851
rhubarb noun 1 nonsense. From its use by actors as an
‘unintelligible murmur’ UK, 1963. 2 said repeatedly by muttering
actors to give the impression of background conversations; hence,
spoken nonsense. Theatre slang UK, 1934. 3 a fight; an uproar; a riot
US, 1943. 4 an advance of wages, a loan; as ‘rhubarbs’: a
membership subscription. Rhyming slang, pronounced ‘roobub’,
for
SUB (a subscription) UK, 1929
rhubarb and custard noun a variety of MDMA, the recreational
drug best known as ecstasy. From the red and yellow colour of the
pill; the syllable ‘barb’ is possibly an indication that the tablet
contains barbiturate UK, 1996
rhubarb pill; rhubarb noun a bill (for payment). Rhyming slang,
based on a homeopathic remedy for constipation; noted by Julian
Franklyn, A Dictionary of Rhyming Slang,1960, who suspected (or
perpetrated) the pun ‘that both necessitate an outpouring’ UK, 1998
rhubarbs noun 1 suburbs. Rhyming slang, pronounced ‘roobubs’,
formed on an elision of ‘suburbs’
UK, 1960. 2 a variety of LSD UK, 1996
rhyme off verb to recite; to talk. From Scottish dialect rame (to talk
nonsense; to reiterate)
UK: SCOTLAND, 2000
rhythm noun an amphetamine tablet US, 1993
rhythm and blues; rhythms noun shoes. Rhyming slang UK, 1998
rhythm method noun a method of cheating while playing a slot
machine by controlling the spins of the inner-wheels. Playing on
the name of the least successful method of birth control US, 1977

riah noun the hair. Polari back slang UK, 1967
riah zhoosher; riah shusher noun a hairdresser. A combination of
ZHOOSH (to tidy) with RIAH (the hair) UK, 2002
riah-zshumpah noun a hairdresser UK, 1992
rib noun 1 a wife or girlfriend. From the Biblical creation tale, with
Eve springing from Adam’s rib
UK, 1589. 2 Rohypnol™
(flunitrazepam), popularly known as the ‘date-rape drug’
US, 1995.
3 MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy UK, 2003
rib verb 1 to make fun of someone US, 1930. 2 to insult someone in a
semi-formal quasi-friendly competition. A variation of ‘rib’ (to
tease) US, 2000
ribbon and curl noun a girl. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
ribbon clerk noun a poker player who withdraws from a hand at any
sign of serious betting US, 1988
ribena on toast adjective awful; tasteless; in bad taste. Possibly a
literal translation of a bad taste; coinage is credited to ballet
master David Kerr
UK, 1992
ribtapper noun a heavy-duty boot UK: SCOTLAND, 1988
Rican noun a Puerto Rican US, 1975
rice noun effort. Royal Marine slang UK, 1989
rice-and-peas boongy noun large buttocks, especially those of a
woman BAHAMAS, 1998
rice-and-ring verb to get married US, 1947
rice-a-roni noun in necrophile usage, a badly decomposed corpse. A
comparison to the branded soft-boiled rice product US, 1987
rice bandit noun a Japanese person. Offensive AUSTRALIA, 1995
rice belly noun the protruding stomach of a child GUYANA, 1996

rice-burner noun a Japanese car or motorcyle UK, 1979
rice eye noun a Japanese person. Hawaiian youth usage, especially
in the taunt ‘No lie, rice eye’ US, 1982
rice machine noun a car manufactured in Japan or by a Japanese
manufacturer US, 1993
riceman noun a Chinese person. Offensive US, 1945
rice paddy Hattie noun any rural Chinese prostitute US, 1949
rice queen noun a gay man attracted to men of South Asian origin
US, 1972
ricer noun a person from South Asia. Offensive US, 1980
rice rocket noun a motorcyle made by a Japanese manufacturer.
Offensive US, 1993
Richard noun 1 any police official, especially a detective. An
embellished DICK US, 1950 . 2 the penis. An extension of DICK (the
penis), which is the short form of the first name Richard UK, 2001.
< had the Richard to be ruined or irreparably broken; to be
finished. In the Australian National Dictionary it is claimed that
this is from British rhyming slang ‘Richard the Third’ (the bird),
from theatrical slang ‘to get the bird’ (to get a bad reception on
stage), but there is little semantic overlap to warrant this expla-
nation. Rather if something has ‘had the dick’ then it is ‘fucked’,
and therein lies the metaphor. Richard here is merely euphemistic
for
DICK (the penis). Supporting this explanation are the other
variants HAD THE STICK, HAD THE ROD and of course HAD THE DICK
AUSTRALIA
, 1967
Richard and Judy adjective moody. Rhyming slang, formed from
husband and wife television presenters Richard Madeley and Judy
Finnegan UK, 2004

re-up | Richard and Judy 538
Richard Burton noun a curtain. Theatrical rhyming slang, formed
from the name of the Welsh actor, 1925–84
UK, 1992
Richard the Third; Richard noun 1 a young woman; a sweetheart.
Rhyming slang for
BIRD UK, 1950 . 2 a bird. Rhyming slang; originally
recorded in Songs and Slang of the British Soldier, John Brophy
and Eric Partridge, 1930. In theatrical use as
THE BIRD (a farting
noise masquerading as criticism) UK, 1979. 3 a piece of excrement.
Rhyming slang for TURD UK, 1961
Richard Todd noun a portion of fried cod. Rhyming slang formed
on the name of the British actor (b.1919)
UK, 1992
Richibucto goose noun a salted shad. Named after a town in Nova
Scotia
CANADA, 1939
rich man’s drug noun cocaine. Because of its high cost. Although
the phrase sounds a bit literary, it was used by those without any
particular literary background US, 1972
rick noun 1 a mistake. Probably a shortening of RICKET (a mistake) UK,
1991. 2 an accomplice who pretends to be a client in order to
encourage trade, originally used of a cheapjack or showman, later
of a less than scrupulous bookmaker
UK, 1898
rick adjective fake; spurious. From the noun UK, 1967
rick; ric verb to make a mistake. From RICK (a mistake) UK, 1996
ricket noun a mistake UK, 1958. < drop a ricket to make a mistake
UK, 1998

rickety-raw adjective attractive, fashionable US, 1987
Rick Stein noun a fine. Rhyming slang, formed from the name of
the UK television chef (b.1947)
UK, 2004
Rick Witter noun a shitter (in all senses). Rhyming slang, formed
from the lead singer of Shed Seven UK, 2003
Ricky Martin; Ricky noun a side-parting. Popney rhyming slang,
from popular singer Ricky Martin (b.1971). Popney was contrived
for www.music365.co.uk, an Internet music site UK, 2001
Ricky Racer noun a fanatic mountain bike enthusiast who rarely if
ever rides US, 1997
ricky-ticky; ricky-tick adjective used of a jazz rhythm, old-fashioned,
even, boring US, 1952
rid verb < rid a fit to get rid of an outfit of clothes US, 1994
riddle verb in Newfoundland, to weave up-and-down rods between
rails to make a fence
CANADA, 1966
riddle-me-ree noun urine; an act of urination. Rhyming slang for
PEE or WEE; always used in full to avoid confusion with other slang,
such as JIMMY RIDDLE or PIDDLE UK, 1992
riddle me this, Batman answer this question. From the Batman
television series (1966–68) and one of its arch-villains, The Riddler
US, 1993
riddy noun (as a result of embarrassment) a red face. Glasgow slang
UK: SCOTLAND, 1985
ride noun 1 acarUS, 1930. 2 a person who you are counting on to
drive you somewhere US, 2001. 3 a sexually desirable person. From
RIDE (to have sex) UK, 2002. 4 an act of sexual intercourse UK, 1937. 5 a
companion, especially a companion who is a fellow gang member
US, 1981. 6 a criminal enterprise US, 1995. 7 a style of jazz music with

an easy-going rhythm US, 1930. < get a ride in circus and carnival
usage, to receive unfavourable publicity
US, 1981
ride verb 1 to have sex. Usually from the female perspective US, 1994.
2 (used of a lesbian) to straddle your prone partner, rubbing your
genitals together
US, 1967. 3 to engage in sycophantic flattery US, 1988.
4 to irritate or worry someone US, 1918. 5 to play jazz with an easy-
moving rhythm US, 1929. < letitride1 in gambling, to continue
a bet from one play to another, increasing the bet with winnings
US, 1980. 2 to tolerate something; to take no action about
something UK, 1921. < ride a beef to accept a charge for a crime
that you did not commit US, 1967. < ride a g-string; ride in a g-
string to drive a BMW car. Scamto youth street slang (South
African townships)
SOUTH AFRICA, 2005. < ride a pony to cheat on a
test in college or school
US, 1959. < ride bitch to sit in the middle
of the front seat in a pickup truck, between the driver and another
passenger US, 1992. < ride dirty to drive under the influence of
alcohol US, 2001. < ride ghost to drive at night without headlights
US, 1995. < ride it to endure or cope with imprisonment UK, 1996.
< ride it a treat in horse racing, to ride a skilled and intelligent
race AUSTRALIA, 1989. < ride old smokey to be executed by
electrocution
US, 1950. < ride rubber to ride in a car US, 1981.
< ride Santa’s sleigh to use cocaine. A phrase that combines
SNOW as ‘cocaine’ with ‘flying’ as ‘intoxication’ UK, 2001 . < ride
shotgun
1 to act as a security or military escort. From the time

when stage coaches carrying valuables were protected by a man
carrying a shotgun who sat on top of the coach alongside the
driver
UK, 1979. 2 to be prepared for any eventuality in business US,
1974. 3 to travel in the passenger seat US, 1921. 4 to oversee and
control someone with a firm hand
US, 1972. < ride the broom to
threaten someone; to predict harm US, 1990. < ride the bubbles
in hot rodding and drag racing, to rise slightly off the ground as a
result of aerodynamics US, 1965. < ride the bus to defecate US,
1990. < ride the card to ride a winner on every race at a race
meeting AUSTRALIA, 1984. < ride the circuit to move someone
who has been arrested from stationhouse to stationhouse, making
his timely release difficult
US, 1949. < ride the cotton pony; ride
the cotton horse
to experience the bleed period of the
menstrual cycle. This ‘cotton pony’ is a ‘sanitary towel’ US, 1954.
< ride the grub line to travel and survive by scrounging food
wherever it can be found CANADA, 1987. < ride the Hershey
Highway
to engage in anal sex US, 1989 . < ride the lightning to
be put to death by electrocution
US, 1935. < ride the pine to sit
on the sidelines of an athletic contest as a substitute player US,
1938. < ride the pipe to pilot a jet after engine failure. Korean
war usage US, 1991. < ride the red tide to experience the bleed
period of the menstrual cycle US, 1999. < ride the short bus to
be mentally deficient. From the literally short bus that special edu-
cation students use in the US

US, 1995. < ride the showing to
tour an area evaluating billboards for potential advertising use US,
1980. < ride the sick book to feign illness; to malinger US, 1968.
< ride the silver steed to participate in bismuth subcarbonate
and neoarsphenamine therapy for syphilis US, 1981. < ride the
splinters
to sit on the sidelines of an athletic contest as a
substitute player. The ‘splinters’ are an allusion to the bench
which the substitute ‘warms’ or ‘rides’
US, 1949. < ride the
turtles
to drive on the raised reflective road markers that delin-
eate motorway lanes US, 1997. < ride the white horse to experi-
ence euphoria after using heroin US, 1955. < ride the wire to
travel by tram US, 1970
ride along verb in poker, to remain in a game without betting
because you have bet your entire bankroll on the hand US, 1967
ride and a r asher noun sexual intercourse followed by breakfast
IRELAND, 1999
ride man; ride jock; ride monkey noun the operator of a carnival
amusement ride US, 1985
ride out noun a group motor-scooter excursion UK, 2001
ride out verb to depart. Used by London teenagers in the late 1950s.
UK, 1958
rider noun 1 a visible, aggressive member of a gang US, 2001 . 2 a
police officer US, 2003. 3 5 kg of heroin supplied free with a 100 kg
shipment of cocaine UK, 2002. 4 a cheater. From the phrase RIDE A
PONY
(to cheat on a test) US, 1959. 5 in trucking, a flat tyre on a set
of dual tyres

US, 1971
ridge adjective all right; okay. Probably a figurative use of now
obsolete ‘ridge’ (gold). Now superseded by RIDGY DIDGE AUSTRALIA,
1938
ridge cottage noun a bunker in the Korean demilitarised zone.
Korean war usage
US, 1982
ridge-runner noun any white male from the Appalachian Mountain
region in the southern US US, 1980
ridgy didge; ridgy-didge adjective all right; okay AUSTRALIA, 1953
ridiculous adjective excellent US, 1959
riding Saint George; the dragon on Saint George noun hetero-
sexual sex with the woman straddling the man, her head upright
US, 1980
riding the waves; riding a wave adjective experiencing drug intoxi-
cation US, 1930
539 Richard Burton | riding the waves; riding a wave
R-ie noun a Returned Servicemen’s League club. From the initials
RSL
AUSTRALIA, 1992
rif verb to separate someone from military service or employment.
From the initialism for ‘reduction in force’
US, 1983
riff noun 1 a rhythmic musical phrase played repeatedly, used in jazz
and rock. Probably an abbreviation of ‘refrain’
US, 1935. 2 an oft-
repeated argument or point of view. A figurative usage of the pre-
vious sense UK, 2000. 3 the theme or gist of a conversation UK, 2000.
4 a verbal embellishment that adds no meaning to what is being
said

US, 1967. 5 an activity or experience US, 1975. 6 a refrigerated
railway wagon US, 1946
riff verb 1 to repeatedly play a rhythmic musical figure, usually on a
piano or guitar
US, 1955. 2 to brag; to lie US, 1990. 3 to complain US,
1989
riffage noun rhythmic style(s) of rock music UK, 2002
riffle noun in a restaurant or soda fountain, to refill (an order) US, 1967
riffology noun in rock music, simple musical learning or skill UK, 1999
riff on verb to tease someone; to disparage someone or something
US, 1995
riff-raff noun 1 the lowest class UK, 1470. 2 a Welsh person. Rhyming
slang for
TAFF UK: ENGLAND, 1992. 3 a café. Rhyming slang for CAFF UK,
1998
riffs noun music. Teen slang CANADA, 1946
rifle range noun 1 the ward in a hospital reserved for patients
withdrawing from heroin addiction. A pun on
SHOOTING GALLERY US,
1973. 2 change (money). Rhyming slang. Shortened form ‘rifle’ UK,
1980
rifle spot noun in the television and film industries, a spotlight that
produces a long, thin beam of light US, 1990
rift noun a refrigerated freight railway wagon US, 1977
rig noun 1 a car, truck or bus US, 1938. 2 the collective equipment used
by a musical group in concert UK, 1983. 3 a hypodermic needle and
syringe US, 1969. 4 a still used in the illegal production of alcohol US,
1974. 5 a holster US, 2001. 6 the penis US, 1971. 7 surgically augmented
breasts US, 1997. 8 a bad situation US, 1997
rigger noun 1 in the Royal Air Force, an airframe tradesman. An

official Royal Air Force job title that was dropped as the job
description changed in the 1930s yet has continued in colloquial
use; still in Royal Air Force use, 2002
UK, 1943. 2 a half-gallon jar of
beer NEW ZEALAND, 1998
rigger mortis noun an ineffectual member of the Royal Canadian
Air Force. A ‘rigger mortis’ is a useless airman, based on RIGGER (an
airframe tradesman) CANADA, 1995
rig gig noun a job driving a truck US, 1976
right noun in craps, a bet for the shooter US, 1974
right adjective 1 intensifies the good or bad character or condition of
someone or something; complete, utter
UK, 1956. 2 understanding
and accepting the mores of the underworld US, 1950. < not right
in the head
unsound of mind UK, 1934
right adverb very CANADA, 1988
right 1 used as a greeting or farewell TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1966 . 2 Ido
not believe you. Heavily sarcastic, emphasising the negative
interpretation. Variants include ‘yeah right’ and ‘aye right’ UK, 1998
right as r ain adjective in good health; satisfactory UK, 1909
right enough adverb certainly, indeed UK, 1885
righteous adjective 1 very good, excellent, fine; honest; satisfactory.
Conventional English with a religious overtone propelled into hip
slang by context and emphasis in pronunciation US, 1942. 2 used of
a drug, relatively pure and undiluted US, 1967
righteous bush noun any potent variety of marijuana. A combi-
nation of RIGHTEOUS (good) and BUSH (marijuana) US, 1946
righteous name noun a person’s true name US, 1975
righteous nod noun a refreshing sleep US, 1947

right guy noun a dependable, trustworthy and reliable criminal US,
1964
right here used as a set answer to an inquiry as to how you are
BAHAMAS, 1982
rightie noun in craps, a gambler who bets that the shooter will make
his point before rolling a seven
US, 1974
rightio!; righty-o!; righteho!; righty-ho! all right!; certainly!;
gladly!
UK, 1927
right numbers; right price noun in horse racing, higher than
normal odds that merit a wager
US, 1968
righto; right-oh okay!; all right! AUSTRALIA, 1911
right on! yes; excellent; correct; also used to signal enthusiastic
agreement. Originally black usage, perhaps from ‘right on the
button’, ‘right on time’ or
RIGHTO. Subsequently adopted by the
hippie generation
US, 1930
right one noun a person whose behaviour does not conform to
expectations UK, 1981
rights noun < do the rights to seek or gain revenge UK, 2002
right-said-Fred noun the head. Rhyming slang, formed on the
name of a pop group who enjoyed success in the early 1990s; the
group took its name from the title of a humorous song by Bernard
Cribbins which was a top ten hit in 1962
UK, 2000
righty noun someone who looks very much like someone else; a
double or near double US, 1962

right you are! certainly!; agreed! UK, 1864
rigid adjective drunk US, 1972
rigid adverb greatly; used to intensify, especially ‘bore’, ‘scare’ and
‘shake’. Modelled on synonymous STIFF , always used after the verb
it modifies
UK, 1943
rigmarole noun a string of incoherent statements; a disjointed or
rambling speech; a trival or almost senseless harangue UK, 1736
rigor mortis noun in croquet, the condition of not being able to hit
any opponent’s ball on a turn US, 1977
RIH rest in hell. A bitter version of RIP (rest in peace) US, 1999
rile verb to annoy or anger someone UK, 1836
rim noun < above the rim of the highest quality US, 2002
rim verb 1 to lick, suck and tongue another’s anus US, 1941. 2 to
swindle someone US, 1949
rim-jag verb to make an indentation on a playing card with your
fingernail or thumbnail to identify the card later in another
player’s hand US, 1988
rim job noun the licking of a partner’s anus for the purposes of sex-
ual pleasure US, 1969
rimmer noun a person who provides mouth in mouth-to-anus sex
US, 1979
rim queen noun a male homosexual who is proficient at mouth-to-
anus stimulation US, 1970
rimrock verb to drive livestock into an enclosure; to entrap someone
CANADA, 1951
rims noun sunglasses US, 1997
rinctum noun an especially violent fit of temper CANADA, 1953
Rinehart!; Oh Rinehart! used as a shout to announce the onset
of a student disturbance, started in fun but not always ending as

such. Specific to Harvard University, honouring John Rinehart,
Harvard Law School class of 1903 US, 1933
ring noun 1 a telephone call UK, 1900 . 2 the anus. From the shape UK,
1949
. 3 a circular area where the game of two-up takes place
AUSTRALIA, 1896. 4 collectively, the bookmakers at a racecourse
AUSTRALIA, 1877. < get a ring in your nose in horse racing, to lose
all your money betting US, 1951. < put the ring around it to con-
firm something as definite
NEW ZEALAND, 1978
ring verb 1 to provide one thing disguised as another UK, 1812. 2 to
open and pilfer a cash register
US, 1965. 3 to shout BARBADOS, 1965.
< ring it on to outwit someone UK, 1977. < ring the bell 1 to
make a successful attempt at something. Probably from a
fairground challenge
UK, 1966. 2 to achieve success beyond expec-
tations US, 1950. < ring the berries in ice hockey, to hit the
R-ie | ring 540
goalie with a hard shot between the legs CANADA, 1985. < ring your
chimes
to strike someone on the head with great force US, 1981
ring-a-ding noun an excellent example of something US, 1965
ring-a-ling on the ting-a-ling noun a telephone call US, 1968
ring angel noun a ‘blip’ on a radar screen, often a flock of birds US,
1947
ringas noun conversation; a conversation. Scamto youth street slang
(South African townships) SOUTH AFRICA, 2005
ringburner noun an act of defecation that is attended by burning,
stinging or other painful sensations in the anus; often applied to

the spicy food that causes such effects. Combines
RING (the anus)
with a conventional sense of ‘burn’; upper-class society origins.
The following definition is offered by Ann Barr and Peter York in
their 1982 Of ficial Sloane Ranger Handbook:‘Theresultsofa
heavy curry the morning after’ UK, 1982
ringer noun 1 a perfect resemblance. Often intensified with DEAD US,
1891. 2 an athlete or horse fraudulently entered in a game or race
US, 1890. 3 a false vehicle registration number plate US, 1956. 4 a
criminal who builds new cars from the parts of stolen cars UK, 1970.
5 a single inhalation of crack cocaine with a strong effect US, 1994.
6 astockmanAUSTRALIA, 1979. 7 the fastest shearer in a shearing
shed AUSTRALIA, 1871
ring game noun a game of poker with all seats at the table occupied
US, 1982
ringie noun the person running a game of two-up AUSTRALIA, 1941
ring-in noun 1 an illegal competitor substituted for another in a race
AUSTRALIA, 1918. 2 any surreptitious substitute AUSTRALIA, 1956. 3 one
who doesn’t belong; an outsider AUSTRALIA, 1987
ring in verb 1 to illegally substitute a racehorse or greyhound for
another in a race; to substitute a phoney in a competition
AUSTRALIA, 1895. 2 to secretly introduce altered dice into a dice game
US, 1950
ringing-in noun the illegal substitution of a racehorse or greyhound
in a race AUSTRALIA, 1975
ring-keeper noun the person running a game of two-up AUSTRALIA,
1896
ring-knocker noun a graduate of one of the US military academies.
From the school rings worn by graduates US, 1991
ringmaster noun a railway yardmaster US, 1946

ringpiece noun the anus. An ARSEHOLE in both the anatomical and
figurative senses UK, 1949
ring raider noun a male homosexual. An allusion to anal
intercourse, based on RING (the anus) UK, 2003
ring-sting noun a burning sensation in and of the anus caused, gen-
erally, by spicy food. Formed on RING (the anus). Occasionally, and
originally, known as ‘ring-burn’ UK, 1984
ring-stinger noun a curry that produces, as an after-effect, a burning,
stinging or other painful sensation in the anus UK, 2002
ringy adjective irritable US, 1932
rink rat noun a young boy who hangs around ice rinks, totally
involved in hockey US, 1945
rinky-dink noun 1 something that is second rate, cheap or trivial US,
1912. 2 in trucking, the 4000 model White tractor US, 1971. 3 in
snooker, the pink ball UK, 1992
rinky-dink adjective inexpensive; poorly made; worthless US, 1912
rinse noun a selection of dance tunes mixed into a seamless whole;
an event which features such a musical blend UK, 1997
rinse verb to mix dance tunes into a seamless whole. Perhaps
because of the wash of sound UK, 1999. < rinse arse; rinse skin;
rinse tail
to administer a severe beating TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1992
rinsebag noun a plastic bag that once contained amphetamine US,
1989
rinsed adjective exhausted. A play on ‘washed out’ UK, 2005
rinsing!; rinsin’! excellent; a general-purpose superlative. The cry of
approval offered up to a DJ who is rinsing tunes together (see
RINSE), adopted by clubbers into wider usage UK, 2000
Rin-Tin-Tin; rinty noun the leg. Rhyming slang for PIN,formedfrom
the name given to several generations of a German Shepherd dog

television and film star of the 1930s–50s and beyond
UK, 1998
Rio noun Rio de Janeiro US, 1935
riot noun something or someone that is very amusing or greatly
funny UK, 1933
riot bell noun in prison, any bell UK, 1996
riot grrrl; riot girl noun a cultural movement of aggressive young
feminists; a member of the riot grrrl movement; the sub-genre of
punk rock music associated with the movement. Lazy journalism
seems to be responsible for ‘girl/grrl’ variations
US, 1991
Riot Hyatt; Riot House nickname The Continental Hyatt House,
Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, famous for its association with rock
musicians US, 1989
riot panic noun in circus and carnival usage, enthusiastic applause
US, 1981
rip noun 1 a current travelling seawards from shore, usually moving
swiftly. An abbreviation of ‘rip tide’ or ‘rip current’ US, 1990. 2 a
method of breaking into a safe that employs mechanical force and
no explosives
US, 1950. 3 in a cheating scheme in a dice game, the
switching of tampered dice into a game US, 1962. 4 an injustice; an
action that is fundamentally unfair US, 1982. 5 a complaint lodged
against a police officer US, 1970. 6 a fine or punishment imposed for
breaking a police department conduct rule US, 1958. 7 one pound
sterling UK, 1999. 8 marijuana UK, 2003. 9 a coarse, unattractive
woman
IRELAND, 1910
rip verb 1 to cheat or swindle someone US, 1904. 2 to steal something
US, 1984. 3 to kill someone US, 1974. 4 to travel quickly UK, 1971. 5 to

surf in a bold, skilled manner US, 1988. 6 to excel US, 1994. < rip a
new asshole
to berate someone severely US, 1995. < rip into to
attack someone or something with vigour or gusto. Either
physically or verbally AUSTRALIA, 1970. < rip it up to enjoy
energetically, to dance US, 1956 . < rip off a piece (of ass) to
have sex
US, 1971
rip and tear; rip verb to swear. Rhyming slang. Possibly an influ-
ence on LET RIP (to shout) UK, 1937
ripe adjective 1 bad-smelling US, 1995 . 2 too strong for general
acceptability UK, 1999. 3 used of a girl, over the legal age of consent
US, 1988. 4 in the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, poised
for enlightenment in the mysteries of the band US, 1994
rip job noun a safe robbery in which the front of the safe is peeled
off
US, 1973
rip-off noun 1 a copy; an imitation US, 1970. 2 a robbery; a theft; a
swindle; exploitation
US, 1975
rip off verb 1 to steal something. If the speaker is doing the stealing,
the term suggests an act of political heroism; if not, it suggests
corporate greed. The subject of this verb can be either the goods
stolen, the location or the owner; the subject can split the verb
without changing the sense
US, 1967. 2 to overcharge someone UK,
1977. 3 to rape someone US, 1984
rip-off adjective 1 in an imitative style, especially with the intention
to exploit a commercial advantage AUSTRALIA, 1973. 2 exploitative;
cheating US, 1975

rip-off artist noun a swindler; a thief UK, 1975
ripped adjective 1 drunk or drug-intoxicated US, 1969. 2 muscular;
lacking body fat; well-sculpted US, 1984
ripped out of your tits adjective very drunk UK, 2002
ripped to the tits adjective very drunk US, 1983
ripper noun 1 a very unattractive (young) woman. Variant ‘old ripper’
UK, 2003. 2 an amphetamine or other central nervous system stimu-
lant
US, 1986. 3 a skilled skateboarder US, 1984. 4 a skilled scooter-rider
UK, 2000. 5 in pinball, a ball that is forcefully hit into play US, 1977
ripper adjective intense; extreme; excellent AUSTRALIA, 1974
ripper! used for expressing strong approval AUSTRALIA, 1987
ripping adjective 1 excellent UK, 1846. 2 very angry US, 1968
ripping iron noun a jacket slit up the back BARBADOS, 1965
541 ring-a-ding | ripping iron
rip-rap noun loose, crushed stone used to form embankments US,
1822
riproodling adjective excellent. A rare variant of ‘rip-roaring’ US, 1954
rips noun < do rips to smoke marijuana US, 1997
rip, shit or bust verb to throw yourself wholeheartedly into a task
without fear of the consequences NEW ZEALAND, 1999
rip-snorter noun a remarkable person; an exceptional thing US, 1842
rip track noun on the railways, a hospital US, 1977
Rip Van Winkle verb to urinate. Rhyming slang for TINKLE or
SPRINKLE, formed from the eponymous character in an 1820 story
by Washington Irving UK, 1992
rise noun an erection US, 1998
rise verb < rise to the occasion to achieve an erection when the
moment requires it. A punning application of a conventional
phrase

UK, 1984
rise and shine noun wine. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
rising damp noun cramp. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
rissole noun 1 the anus. Euphemistic for ARSEHOLE AUSTRALIA, 1971. 2 a
Returned Servicemen’s League club. From a jocular pronunciation
of RSL as a vowelless word, punning on ‘rissole’ (a meat patty)
AUSTRALIA, 1983. < like a rissole used as a jocular catchphrase
tacked onto the farewell expressions ‘catch you round’ and ‘see
you round’. Punning on ‘round’ (circular), the shape of a rissole
AUSTRALIA, 1996
ritual spirit noun MDMA, the recreational drug best known as
ecstasy
UK, 2003
ritzy adjective classy, stylish, fashionable. After the Ritz luxury hotels
in New York, London and Paris US, 1920
Riv; Rivie; Rivie hog noun a Buick Riviera car US, 1980
river noun in a hand of poker, the final card received by a player UK,
2003. < across the river dead US, 1949. < up the river; upriver
to a prison US, 1947
riverina noun a shilling, hence, 5p. Rhyming slang for DEANER
AUSTRALIA
, 1943
river job noun as a result of betting, an enormous loss. So great is
the loss that the bettor thinks of jumping in a river AUSTRALIA, 1989
River Lea noun tea, especially a poor quality cup of tea. Rhyming
slang, formed on one of London’s rivers UK, 1859
River Nile noun a smile. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
River Ouse; river ooze; the river noun strong drink. Rhyming
slang for BOOZE UK, 1930
river rat noun a river-rafting enthusiast US, 1997

River Tyne noun wine, especially inferior wine. Rhyming slang,
formed on a major river in the northeast of England
UK, 1992
Riviera; Riviera of the south nickname any place in Antarctica
perceived to be slightly warmer than the rest of the continent,
especially the Antarctic Peninsula or Davis station ANTARCTICA, 1963
rivvel noun among Nova Scotians of German origin, a noodle soup.
Like another Lunenburg County word, ‘roovled’ this word is prob-
ably a derivative of the German word runzeln (wrinkled)
CANADA,
1999
Rizla noun a cigarette rolling paper. A brand name that acquired a
generic meaning UK, 1996
RJR noun inexpensive cigarette tobacco given free to prisoners. An
abbreviation of R.J. Reynolds, a major tobacco company
US, 1990
R ’n’ R noun rock ’n’ roll. An initialism UK, 1999
roach noun 1 acockroachAUSTRALIA, 1985. 2 the butt of a marijuana
cigarette. The variant ‘roche’ also exists US, 1938. 3 a still-lit and
smokeable cigarette end. From the previous sense UK, 1996 .
4 Rohypnol™ (flunitrazepam), popularly known as the ‘date-rape
drug’. From the manufacturer, Hoffman-La Roche. The variant
‘roachie’ also exists US, 1995. 5 a police officer. A disliked insect
found nearly everywhere US, 1963. 6 an unpopular girl US, 1959. 7 in
new car sales, a bad credit risk
US, 1989
roach verb 1 to smoke a marijuana cigarette UK, 2004. 2 to have sex
with someone’s spouse or lover; to cuckold someone
BAHAMAS, 1982.
3 in computing, to destroy a program US, 1991

roacha noun marijuana UK, 2003
roach and dace noun the face. Rhyming slang. A less common vari-
ation of
KIPPER AND PLAICE UK, 1874
roach bender noun someone who smokes marijuana. An elabor-
ation of the noun and verb senses of
ROACH US, 1942
roach clip noun a device, improvised or manufactured, designed to
hold the butt of a (marijuana) cigarette and make smoking the
final portion possible US, 1997
roach coach noun 1 a dustcart UK, 1981. 2 a catering truck. The
reduplicative suggestion is of a lack of hygiene that attracts
cockroaches
US, 1985
Roachdale College nickname an ‘alternative’ institution within the
University of Toronto, officially named Rochdale College. Founded
in the 1960s, this irreverent nickname captured the flavour of the
spirit of the place. Its history is memorialised in an exhibit which
includes memoirs of drug use, a Can-Cannabis flag and other
‘Counter-Cultural Ephemera’
CANADA, 1969
roached adjective under the influence of Rohypnol™ (flunitrazepam),
popularly known as the ‘date-rape drug’. From the name of the
manufacturer, Hoffman-La Roche
US, 1996
roach haven noun a hotel/motel lacking in hygiene US, 1995
roach killers noun pointed shoes US, 1974
roach motel noun a used car dealership that targets customers with
poor credit US, 1997
roach wagon noun a catering truck US, 1984

roachy noun the penis BAHAMAS, 1982
road noun the realities of contemporary urban existence. A
refinement of STREET UK, 2005. < the road in Roller Derby,
anywhere outside the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties, the
home of the game US, 1999. < up the road committed for trial
before a judge and jury
UK, 1977
road verb to ride a bicycle on the road in a large Canadian city
CANADA, 2002
road agent noun a highway patrolman or state police officer. Biker
(motorcyle) usage
US, 2003
road apple noun 1 a piece of horse manure US, 1996. 2 atouring
performer US, 1981
roadblock dance noun an unofficial street party UK, 1994
road burn noun in the language surrounding the Grateful Dead, the
deteriorated grooming and personal hygiene that serve as physical
manifestations of a long tour following the band US, 1994
road dog noun 1 an extremely close friend US, 1989. 2 in sports
betting, a team picked as the underdog playing away from home
US, 1989
road dope noun amphetamines. Derives from the drug’s use by
long-distance drivers
UK, 2003
road engineer noun a long-haul truck driver US, 1963
road face noun a stoic expression giving no sign of emotion TRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO
, 2003
road game noun a criminal’s field of expertise US, 1984
road head noun oral sex received while driving US, 2001

road helper noun an amphetamine or other central nervous system
stimulant
US, 1969
roadie noun 1 a member of a rock band’s entourage who is respon-
sible for setting up and dismantling the band’s equipment while
on tour UK, 1968. 2 among mountain-bikers, a derogatory term for a
cyclist who only rides on paved surfaces
US, 1996. 3 a final drink
before starting a road journey. From ‘one for the road’ AUSTRALIA,
1996. 4 a can or bottle of beer drunk while driving. Also used as a
measure of distance, as in ‘It’s a three roadie trip’ AUSTRALIA, 1996
roadie’s screwdriver noun a hammer or any blunt instrument
used to strike something that is not working
UK, 1985
rip-rap | roadie’s screwdriver 542
road kill noun literally, an animal or bird carcass on the side of the
road; figuratively, an unattractive mess
US, 1979
road louse noun a chorus dancer who can no longer get work in the
major metropolitan dance halls
US, 1948
road map noun 1 multiple facial lacerations US, 1989. 2 in craps, the
dice placed before the shooter with the point needed to win face
up US, 1983 . 3 a peace plan. Originally, and especially, applied to the
Israel–Palestine conflict
US, 2002
road pizza noun an animal carcass on the road CANADA, 1987
road rage noun a driver’s violent reaction to the frustrations of
traffic hindrances and the discourtesies of other road users US, 1988
road rash noun 1 scraped, bruised and/or cut skin earned in falls

while skateboarding or engaging in activity on the road US, 1976.
2 scraped, bruised and/or cut skin earned by moped riders in road
accidents
UK, 2003
road rocket; rocket noun an extremely fast motorcycle UK, 1978
road soda noun alcohol drunk in a car on the way to a party or
concert US, 2004
road stake noun enough money to get someone to their next job
US, 1965
roadster noun a tramp US, 1890
road talk noun gossip; a rumour BAHAMAS, 1982
road tar noun coffee, especially strong and bitter coffee US, 1976
road trouble noun problems encountered on the street, usually
between a pimp and prostitute US, 1973
roam noun < on the roam away from home US, 1976
roarer noun in horse racing, a horse that coughes loudly while
galloping
US, 1947
roaring forties nickname the latitudes between 40 and 49 degrees
south. Strong winds from the west produce choppy ocean con-
ditions ANTARCTICA, 1897
roaring game noun the sport of curling CANADA, 2002
roaring twenty noun a type of amphetamine tablet UK, 1998
roar up verb (of a male) to have sex UK, 1995
roast noun a person killed by a fire US, 1976
roast verb 1 (from an active perspective) to have sex with someone
UK, 2002. 2 to criticise someone or something severely; to be
mercilessly disparaging of someone or something; to denounce
someone UK, 1782. 3 to earn money after hours, especially when
doing so with some degree of dishonesty JAMAICA, 1990

roast beef noun the teeth. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
roast beef verb in the used car business, to suggest a higher trade-
in value to the dealer management than will be approved, giving
the salesman who does so a cushion to fall to the value he
expects will be approved
US, 1975
roasted adjective drunk or drug-intoxicated US, 1989
roastie noun 1 a roast potato UK, 2001. 2 a traditional English roast
dinner UK, 2002
roasting adjective 1 of an ambient temperature, very hot UK, 1768.
2 anxious; unhappy UK, 1996
roast pork; roast noun a fork. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
roast pork; roast verb to talk. Rhyming slang UK, 1961
roast potato; roastie noun a waiter. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
rob noun < on the rob engaged in thievery UK, 1999
rob verb to steal. Unconventional passive usage UK, 1999. < rob the
cradle to be romantically involved with a young person US, 1978.
< we wuz robbed; we woz robbed used as an excuse for
losing. As a jocular exclamation this is a fine example of ‘many a
true word spoken in jest’; widely used (with serious intent) as an
indignant cliché. Apparently coined in 1932 by boxing manager
Joe Jacobs when his client, Max Schmeling, lost the world
heavyweight title as the result of a controversial split-decision US,
1988
robber talk noun threatening talk TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1985
robe noun in circus and carnival usage, a judge in criminal court US,
1981
Roberta Flack noun dismissal from employment. Rhyming slang for
SACK, formed from the name of the US singer (b.1939) UK, 1998
Robert E. Lee noun 1 a quay. Dockers’ rhyming slang, formed on

the name of the Confederate army general (1807–70)
UK, 1961.
2 the knee. Sometimes abbreviated to ‘Robert E.’ or the simple
‘Robert’
UK, 1992. 3 urine; an act of urination. Rhyming slang for PEE
or WEE UK, 1998
Robert’s your father’s brother everything’s all right. A humorous
variation of BOB’S YOUR UNCLE UK, 1994
Robert’s your mother’s brother everything’s all right. A
humorous variation of
BOB’S YOUR UNCLE UK, 1999
Robin Hood noun wood; a wood; a Woodbine™ cigarette. Rhyming
slang, formed on the name of the legendary hero of Sherwood
Forest UK, 1992
Robin Hood adjective good. Rhyming slang, formed on the name of
the legendary hero of Sherwood Forest
UK, 1932
Robin Hoods noun merchandise, goods. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
robin run noun in Canadian maple sugaring, the first flow of the
maple tree sap, which is especially sweet CANADA, 1995
Robinson Crusoe verb to do so. Rhyming slang, formed from the
eponymous hero of Daniel Defoe’s 1719 book
UK, 1960
rob my pal noun a girl. Rhyming slang for GAL UK, 1960
robo noun dextromethorphan (DXM), an active ingredient in non-pre-
scription cold and cough medication, often abused for non-
medicinal purposes
US, 2003
robo verb to drink Robitussin™ (a branded cough medicine with
codeine)

US, 1993
robodose verb to abuse cough syrups for recreational purposes.
From the name of the most popular syrup of abuse, Robitussen™
US, 1995
robotard noun a person who abuses for non-medicinal purposes
non-prescription medication containing dextromethorphan (DXM).
From the branded cough syrup, Robitussen™ US, 2003
robotrip verb to abuse for non-medicinal purposes non-prescription
medication containing dextromethorphan (DXM). From the
branded cough syrup, Robitussin™ US, 2003
ROC noun the rest of Canada, i.e. all of Canada except Quebec
CANADA, 2002
roca noun 1 MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy UK,
2003. 2 crack cocaine. Corrupted Spanish-English for ‘rock’ US, 1994
Roche; La Roche; rochie noun Rohypnol™ (flunitrazepam),
popularly known as the ‘date-rape drug’. Because Roche
Pharmaceuticals markets the Rohypnol™ sleeping pill US, 2004
rock noun 1 a rhythmic style of (usually) amplified music that
provides the umbrella for any number of music genres. Originally
abbreviated from ROCK ’N’ ROLL; in the US it has continued in use
for all forms of driving, rhythmic music. Meanwhile, in the UK
early variant forms were called ‘beat’ or
POP; not until the mid-
1960s was ‘rock’ used as a title for some contemporary music and
then only applied to the more serious music that derived from
rock ’n’ roll US, 1957. 2 a diamond US, 1908. 3 cocaine US, 1973. 4 crack
cocaine. Describes the crystalline lumps of purified cocaine US,
1983
. 5 a pool ball US, 1990. 6 in the usage of youthful model road
racers (slot car racers), a slow car

US, 1997. 7 a solid, reliable,
dependable fellow prisoner
US, 1976. 8 in prison, a predatory homo-
sexual US, 1967. 9 a frugal and stingy person US, 1950 . 10 a dollar US,
1950. 11 a packet of brand name manufactured cigarettes, used as a
basic medium of exchange in prison US, 1992. 12 a crystal tuning
device used in a citizens’ band transceiver US, 1976
Rock nickname < the Rock 1 Gibraltar. From Gibraltar’s main
feature UK, 1829. 2 the Alcatraz federal penitentiary, located in San
Francisco bay US, 1970. 3 Rocky Marciano (1923–69), the only
undefeated heavyweight champion in boxing history US, 1975.
4 Guam. A nickname used by US military pilots during the
Vietnamese war US, 1990. 5 Riker’s Island jail, New York US, 1975 . 6 the
island of Newfoundland. This term, almost universal in use in
543 road kill | Rock
both Newfoundland and the rest of Canada, derives from the
stony soil of the island
CANADA, 2001
rock verb 1 to have sex US, 1922. 2 to excel US, 1996. 3 to excite
someone
US, 1955. 4 to work UK, 2001. 5 to prepare crack cocaine
from powdered cocaine
US, 1995. 6 to distress someone; to disturb
someone; to startle someone US, 1940. < rock ass to produce rock
music that inspires a vigorous audience response. On the model
of KICK ASS (to behave energetically) US, 1979. < rock the boat to
upset the status quo; to make difficulties; to cause trouble
UK, 1931.
< rock the clock in the used car business, to spin the odometer
(mileometer) backwards

US, 1997. < rock the gr oove (of hip-hop
music or musicians) to give pleasure UK, 1998
rock adjective hard UK, 2001
rockabilly noun a mid-1950s US fashion; a late 1970s British youth
fashion and music genre identified as an exaggeration of hillbilly
country and western style. An ellision of
ROCK ’N’ ROLL and ‘hillbilly’
US, 1993
rock and boulder noun the shoulder. Rhyming slang UK, 1931
rock and roll noun used of an automatic or semi-automatic
weapon, full automatic fire US, 1979
rock and roll; rock ’n’ roll verb to begin and perform the task at
hand US, 1990
rock ape noun 1 a black person. Offensive AUSTRALIA, 1972. 2 a lout or
hooligan
AUSTRALIA, 1994
rock attack noun crack cocaine. An elaboration of ROCK. UK, 2003
rock bud noun a powerful variety of marijuana UK, 2003
rock cake noun a small bet. Possibly rhyming slang for ‘stake’; or
possibly a dismissive comparison to an article of little value UK, 1991
rock candy noun diamonds US, 1970
rockchopper noun a Roman Catholic. A derogatory term originating
amongst Protestants. In earlier use (1908, Australian National
Dictionary) used of a ‘navvy’ (i.e. one who breaks up rock), and
thus in origin probably a slur labelling all Australian Catholics
descendants of Irish Catholic convicts AUSTRALIA, 1981
rock college noun prison NEW ZEALAND, 1998
rock crusher noun in poker, a hand that is certain to win US, 1988
rockdance noun walking barefoot over a rocky surface to retrieve a
surfboard US, 1963

rocked out adjective under the influence of crack cocaine US, 1991
rocker noun 1 any of the several curved stripes below the three
chevrons on the insignia of a sergeant in the US Army or Marine
Corps US, 1944. 2 a curved patch designating a motorcyle gang or
the gang-member’s home city or country, worn as part of the
colours. A borrowing from the military US, 1971. 3 a member of the
1960s youth cult that is characterised by the use of motorcycles
and leathers, and chiefly remembered as the opposite to Mod
UK,
1971. 4 a non-surfer who associates with surfers and poses as a
surfer AUSTRALIA, 1964. 5 a rock musician/singer UK, 2003. 6 a song, or
instrumental, exhibiting the rhythmic characteristics of rock ’n’
roll UK, 1975. 7 the convex curvature of the bottom of a surfboard
US, 1965. < off your rocker crazy UK, 1897
rocker; rokker verb to speak Romany; to talk. English gypsy use
from Romany roker (to speak) UK, 2000
rocket noun 1 a marijuana cigarette US, 1942. 2 a hypodermic needle
and syringe US, 1989. 3 a bullet US, 1965. 4 an Oldsmobile V-8 engine
US, 1965. 5 a tampon. From the shape US, 2001 8see: ROAD ROCKET
rocket alley nickname Phuoc Binh, South Vietnam. The nickname
came from the frequent Viet Cong rocket attacks US, 1990
rocket burns noun faecal stains in the underwear or on a toilet bowl
CANADA, 2002
rocket cap noun a dome-shaped cap on a vial in which crack
cocaine is sold
US, 1994
Rocket City nickname Tay Ninh, South Vietnam; Lai Khe, South
Vietnam US, 1983
rocket fuel noun 1 phencyclidine, the recreational drug known as
PCP or angel dust

US, 1976. 2 a combination of assorted alcoholic
beverages
NEW ZEALAND, 1997
rocket man noun a person who sells syringes to drug addicts. Illegal
in the US, but profitable
US, 1989
rocket ripple noun a barrage of 144 rockets fired from a small cart.
Korean war usage
US, 1957
rocket science noun any difficult, demanding task US, 1997
rocket stains noun faecal stains in the underwear or on a toilet
bowl
CANADA, 2002
rock fiend noun a crack cocaine addict. From ROCK (crack cocaine)
UK, 2003
Rockford Files noun haemorrhoids. Rhyming slang for ‘piles’,
formed from the title of a US television series, 1975–82
UK, 2003
rock hard noun amyl or butyl nitrite. Reflects male use as a sex-aid;
possibly derives from a brand name
UK, 1998
rockhead noun 1 a crack cocaine addict US, 1991. 2 a dim-witted
person
US, 1957
rock-hog noun in mining, a tunneller or driller CANADA, 1954
rockhopper noun an angler who fishes from coastal rocks AUSTRALIA,
1966
rock hound noun in oil drilling, a geologist, especially one who
focuses on the earth’s surface
US, 1954

rock house noun a premises used for the sale and consumption of
crack cocaine US, 1985
rocking chair noun 1 retirement with a pension US, 1946. 2 in a group
of trucks travelling together, the truck in the middle US, 1976
rocking chair money noun unemployment insurance or Old Age
Security CANADA, 1959
rocking horse noun sauce, whether the condiment, garnish or
impudence. Rhyming slang
UK, 1979
Rock Jaw nickname Rach Gia, South Vietnam US, 1990
rock jockey noun in the language of paragliding, the pilot of a hang
glider
US, 1992
rockman noun a dealer in crack cocaine US, 1989
rock med noun medical treatment targeted for rock ’n’ roll concert
goers US, 1994
rock ’n’ roll noun 1 a genre of music with a driving rhythm; an
umbrella for most simply rhythmic music produced since the
1950s. The etymology is laden with sexual overtones, thus ‘My
Man Rocks Me With One Steady Roll’, sung by blues singer Trixie
Smith in 1924, and a song entitled ‘Rock and Roll’ is recorded in
1934. It is not until 1954 that the music now recognised as ‘rock
’n’ roll’ is given its identity; coinage is generally credited to US disc
jockey Alan Freed
US, 1924. 2 a hole. Rhyming slang, used practically
or figuratively UK, 1992. 3 unemployment benefit; any government
office from which it is administrated. Rhyming slang for THE DOLE
UK
, 1994
rock ’n’ roll! used as an good-humoured exclamation of dismissal

UK, 2000
rock of ages; rocks noun wages. Rhyming slang UK, 1937
rock of Gibraltar noun in shuffleboard, a disc that is well hidden
and guarded US, 1967
rock-on noun an erection. A variation of HARD-ON (an erection) UK, 1999
rock on the chest; rock on the box noun silicosis US, 1951
rockpile noun any prison job US, 1984
rocks noun 1 salt US, 1981. 2 money US, 1950. 3 dominoes US, 1959.
4 jewels; pearls. From the US sense (diamonds) UK, 1937. 5 the
testicles
US, 1948. 6 courage US, 1977 8see: ALMOND ROCKS, MINT
ROCKS
. < get your rocks off 1 to ejaculate US, 1969. 2 to be satis-
fied with or excited about something. Figurative application of the
sense ‘to ejaculate’ US, 1995. < on the rocks 1 used of a drink,
served over ice US, 1946. 2 in severe trouble UK, 1889. < shoot your
rocks to ejaculate US, 1975. < the rocks a confidence swindle
involving fake diamonds US, 1969
rock slinger noun a seller of crack cocaine US, 1993
rocks of hell noun crack cocaine. An elaboration of ROCK UK, 1998
rock | r ocks of hell 544
rock solvent noun in caving and pot-holing, any explosive. This is
slang with a euphemistic purpose: when communicating by
telephone, e-mail, etc., it is thought ill advised to use words like
‘explosive’ UK, 2004
rockspider noun 1 an Afrikaner. Derogatory. Sometimes shortened to
‘spider’
SOUTH AFRICA, 1970. 2 a child molester. Originally in prison
use, but now part of general slang AUSTRALIA, 1984
rock star noun 1 a crack cocaine dealer US, 1988 . 2 a woman who

engages in sex for payment in crack cocaine or money to buy
crack cocaine; a prostitute addicted to crack cocaine US, 1993
rock starring noun an act of having sex with a partner in exchange
for a payment of crack cocaine
UK, 2002
rock whore noun a woman who will trade sex for crack cocaine US,
1991
rock wing noun in the language of paragliding, the pilot of a hang
glider
US, 1992
rocky noun 1 hashish. Probably from a specific use into generic UK,
1999. 2 crack cocaine UK, 1998
Rocky noun Coors™ beer. Coors boasts of being brewed with ‘pure
Rocky Mountain spring water’ US, 1967
rocky black; rocky noun a type of marijuana UK, 1996
rocky hash noun a type of marijuana UK, 1997
Rocky III noun crack cocaine. An elaboration of ROCK, using the title
of a 1982 film UK, 1998
Rocky Mountain deadshot noun pancakes; hotcakes; griddle cakes;
flapjacks CANADA, 1989
Rocky Mountain Kool Aid noun Coors™ beer. Once available only
in Colorado, where it is brewed US, 1977
Rocky Mountain oyster noun an animal testicle, usually that of a
steer formerly known as a bull, prepared for eating as a regional
delicacy
US, 1986
rocy noun any variety of hashish from Morocco UK, 2003
rod noun 1 the penis; the erect penis UK, 1902. 2 a gun, usually a
pistol. A perfect example for those who like to ascribe phallic
symbolism to the tools of man’s aggression

US, 1903. 3 ahired
gunman
US, 1964. 4 a car modified for speed or looks; a hot rod US,
1945. 5 the draw-rod underneath a railway goods wagon US, 1904.
< had the rod wrecked; ruined. Variant of HAVE HAD THE DICK
AUSTRALIA
, 1975
rodadio noun a radio. Trucker embellishment US, 1976
rodda noun a Cadillac El Dorado car US, 1972
rodded up adjective armed with a handgun or handguns US, 1950
rodder noun a hot rod enthusiast US, 1949
rodeo fuck noun used for describing sex between a man and
woman; the man enters the woman from behind, insults her
(‘you’re almost as good as your sister’ for example) and then holds
on. A term heard mostly in jokes
US, 2002
Rodino noun a Mexican citizen permitted to stay in the US during
an immigration amnesty period in the late 1980s. After
Congressman Peter Rodino, sponsor of the legislation that made
the amnesty possible
US, 1993
Rodney boater noun a boat-dweller who does not care for the
upkeep of the boat-home
UK, 1987
rod out verb to install high performance equipment in a car’s
engine US, 1994
Rods; Rod’s nickname Harrod’s, a department store in Knightsbridge,
London. An abbreviation that seems to be a diminutive. Upper-
class society use UK, 1982
Rod the Bod; Rod the Mod nickname rock singer Rod Stewart US,

1993
rod walloper noun a male masturbator. Formed on ROD (the penis)
with a variation of ‘beater’ AUSTRALIA, 1971
rod-walloping noun male masturbation AUSTRALIA, 1971
roger verb 1 from a male perspective, to have sex. From its, now
obsolete, use as a slang term for ‘the penis’
UK, 1711. 2 to
acknowledge receipt of a message US, 2001
roger! used for expressing agreement or affirmation. ‘R’ or ‘roger’
signified that a message or command had been received
US, 1941
roger dodger; roger dodge; roger D; roger splodge yes;
affirmative. Variations of
ROGER! (yes) US, 1976
Roger Hunt noun a cunt in all senses. Rhyming slang, formed, for
no apparent reason other than the rhyme, from the name of a
Liverpool and England footballer UK, 1998
rogering noun from a male perspective, sexual intercourse. From the
verb ROGER (to have sex) UK, 1998
Roger ramjet noun any speeding and reckless driver US, 1976
rogue noun 1 a horse that is difficult to handle AUSTRALIA, 1947. 2 in
surfing, a wave that appears without warning
US, 1977
rogue verb to take something without permission US, 1984
rogue adjective strange; threatening US, 2003
rogue’s badge noun in horse racing, blinkers. Usually worn by
horses that do not behave well, hence the label of ‘rogue’ US, 1947
rogue’s gallery noun a collection of photographs of criminals US, 1859
roidhead noun a habitual user of steroids. An abbreviation of ‘steroid’
combined with -HEAD (a user) UK, 2001

roid rage; ’roid rage noun violently ill-tempered behaviour resulting
from excessive steroid use. An abbreviation of ‘steroid’, playing on
ROAD RAGE US, 1987
roids noun anabolic steroids US, 1980
rojas noun Malboro™ cigarettes. Spanish for ‘red’, which is the
colour of the packaging
US, 1990
rojito noun a red central nervous system depressant, especially
Seconal™. From the Spanish for ‘little red one’ US, 1971
rojo noun dextromethorphan (DXM), an active ingredient in non-pre-
scription cold and cough medication, often abused for non-
medicinal purposes. Spanish for ‘red’, which is the colour of the
cough syrup US, 2003
rojo flow noun the bleed period of the menstrual cycle. A use of the
Spanish word rojo (red) US, 2001
roko noun a riot, protest or demonstration INDIA, 2003
rolf verb to vomit US, 1982
roll noun 1 an act of sexual intercourse. An abbreviation of ROLL IN
THE HAY US
, 1962. 2 a roll of money US, 1965. 3 a single cigarette or
marijuana cigarette
FIJI, 1993. 4 MDMA, the recreational drug best
known as ecstasy
UK, 2003. 5 ten barbiturate capsules sold as a unit
US, 1973. 6 a double-breasted suit US, 1970 . < on a roll enjoying
continuing success US, 1976
roll verb 1 to rob someone, especially with force and especially
someone bemused with drink US, 1873. 2 to avoid paying a bill for
services provided by an establishment such as a hotel or
restaurant

US, 1977. 3 to betray friends by changing sides; to inform
on someone. A variation of ROLL OVER US, 1997. 4 to leave US, 1982.
5 to arrive on the scene AUSTRALIA, 1861. 6 to ride in a car US, 1990.
7 (used of a woman) to walk with a rolling motion of the pelvis
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1973. 8 in prison, to open a cell US, 1976. 9 to
take MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy US, 2001.
< roll bones to play dice US, 1950. < roll in on someone to
attack someone
US, 2000. < roll it back to decelerate a
motorcycle; to close the throttle-twist grip UK, 1979. < roll on let it
proceed or happen swiftly. Often used in an imperative or
exclamatory manner UK, 1901. < roll the dice to take a chance on
something US, 1992. < roll the drums in betting, to double the
bet in effect US, 1986. < roll your own to reload your own
ammunition US, 1957
roll deep verb to go somewhere with a large group of friends; to
have a large group of friends
US, 2001
roller noun 1 a police officer US, 1964. 2 a robber who relies on brute
force US, 1975. 3 a prostitute who takes a client’s money without
delivering a service. From ROLL (to rob someone) UK, 1996 . 4 a Rolls
Royce car UK, 1975. 5 in the car sales business, a car that can be
545 rock solvent | roller
driven home the same day it is bought US, 1966. 6 a car that is
being driven
US, 1970. 7 a machine used to start the engine of a
drag racer by spinning the rear wheels while the driver turns on
the ignition
US, 1970. 8 a wave US, 1988. 9 a vein that tends to roll
away from a needle

US, 1970. 10 abowlerUS, 1953. 11 a tablet of
MDMA, the recreational drug best known as ecstasy
US, 2002. 12 a
hot dog
US, 1991
roller-rings noun the police US, 1987
rollers noun dice with rounded edges. A roller may be intentionally
crafted or not; a naturally occurring roller makes a controlled shot
by a cheat difficult US, 1950
rollerskate; skate noun asmallcarUK, 1951
roll for the bowl noun toilet paper US, 1991
rollicking noun a telling-off. Probably a euphemistic replacement for
synonymous
BOLLOCKING UK, 1938
rollie noun 1 a hand-rolled cigarette AUSTRALIA, 1981. 2 a marijuana ciga-
rette. A variation of the previous sense UK, 1999. 3 a tablet of
Rolypnol™, a brand name for flunitrazepan, a sedative NEW ZEALAND,
1989
rollies noun loose tobacco, used for hand-rolling cigarettes. Prison
usage US, 1967
rolling adjective 1 very rich. Variants include ‘rolling in it’ and ‘rolling
in money’ UK, 1782 . 2 under the influence of MDMA, the rec-
reational drug best known as ecstasy US, 1996
rolling bones noun dice US, 1950
rolling hot! used by helicopter gunship pilots in Vietnam to
announce that a strafing attack was about to begin US, 1990
rolling lighthouse noun in trucking, a tractor and trailer
embellished with many extra running lights US, 1971
rollings noun loose cigarette tobacco US, 1945
roll in the hay noun an act of sexual intercourse US, 1945

roll me in the gutter; r oll me noun butter. Rhyming slang UK, 1925
rollocks noun the testicles. Rhyming slang for BOLLOCKS. The reduced
form of JIMMY ROLLOCKS, JOHNNY ROLLOCKS and TOMMY ROLLOCKS UK,
1984
roll-on noun a secret lover in addition to your regular partner. Teen
slang SOUTH AFRICA, 2003
roll on verb to travel; to go. Wheeled transport is probably implied
US, 2001
roll-on, roll-off noun a used, sometimes stolen, car imported for
sale TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2002
rollout noun in handball, a ball hit off the front wall so low that the
ball does not bounce off the floor US, 1977
roll out verb to leave US, 1997
rollover noun an informant US, 2000
roll over verb to turn against or inform against someone AUSTRALIA,
1995
Rolls noun a Rolls-Royce car US, 1928
Rolls Royce noun the voice, especially a good singing voice.
Rhyming slang UK, 1960
roll-up noun 1 a hand-rolled cigarette. A prison coinage UK, 1950. 2 a
type of bet where the amount won on one event becomes the
stake for the next event. Better known as an ‘accumulator’
UK, 2001
roll up verb 1 to arrive AUSTRALIA, 1920. 2 to roll a marijuana cigarette
US, 1971
rolly noun a match. Rhyming slang, from Rolly Hatch, a prominent
and popular horse racing figure in New Zealand and later Australia
AUSTRALIA, 1989
roll-your-own noun a hand-rolled cigarette NEW ZEALAND, 2002
roly noun a hand-rolled cigarette. From ROLL-UP UK, 2002

roly-poly adjective overweight UK, 1820
Roman candle noun 1 in homosexual usage, the penis of an Italian
or Italian-American
US, 1987. 2 in target shooting, a poorly loaded
cartridge that produces a spray of red sparks when detonated
US,
1957
. 3 a burst of tracer bullets US, 1962. 4 a sandal. Rhyming slang,
formed from a firework
UK, 1992
Roman culture noun group sex US, 1967
Roman engagement noun in homosexual usage, anal sex with a
woman
US, 1987
Roman fingers noun the hands of a boy wandering over a girl’s
body
NEW ZEALAND, 1984
Roman roulette noun birth control by the rhythm method. A vari-
ation of
VATICAN ROULETTE UK, 1969
romantic ballad noun a salad. Rhyming slang UK, 1998
rom-com noun romantic comedy. Media jargon that has insinuated
itself into mainstream consciousness
UK, 2002
romo noun a follower of the New Romantic youth fashion of the
early 1980s
UK, 2003
romp noun in horse racing, an easy victory US, 1976
romp verb 1 to excite; to excel; to be lively US, 1946. 2 to win easily.
Also as ‘romp home’

UK, 1881
rompered noun severely beaten. Derives from ‘romper room’; used
by the British military in Northern Ireland to describe a brand of
justice dispensed by illegal kangaroo courts UK: NORTHERN IRELAND,
1974
rompums noun marijuana UK, 2003
Romulan noun in British Columbia, a local variety of marijuana. A
Star Trek inspired term
CANADA, 2002
ron noun a homosexual Mafia don US, 2002
Ronan Keating noun a beating. Rhyming slang, formed from the
name of the popular Irish singer (b.1977)
UK, 2004
ronies noun pepperoni US, 1996
Ronnie Biggs noun lodgings. Rhyming slang for DIGS,formedfrom
the name of the ‘Great Train Robber’ (1929–2005) UK, 1992
Ronnie RayGun nickname Ronald Reagan (1911–2004), US President
1981–89. A neat pun that refers particularly to Reagan’s ‘Star
Wars’ initiative
UK, 2000
ronson noun 1 a ponce, a man who lives on the earnings of a
prostitute. Very imperfect rhyming slang, apparently adopted
under the influence of high-powered advertising for the branded
cigarette lighters UK, 1984. 2 a despised or unpleasant person.
Rhyming slang, formed on a very weak rhyme for
PONCE UK, 1960
roo noun 1 a kangaroo. By front clipping AUSTRALIA, 1898. 2 an
apprentice station hand working on, and learning how to manage,
a cattle or sheep station. An abbreviation of ‘jackaroo’ AUSTRALIA,
1891

-roo suffix used as an meaningless, affected embellishment of a noun
US, 1984
roo bar noun a metal grille attached to the front of a vehicle as
protection from kangaroos when driving in the country AUSTRALIA,
1973
roodle adjective in poker, said of a hand in which the stakes have
been temporarily raised US, 1947
roody-poo noun someone who is ignorant or unsophisticated US, 1999
roody-poo adjective second-rate; shallow US, 1998
roof noun the flight deck of an aircraft carrier UK, 1998. < on the
roof
paid for by the management of the establishment. A vari-
ation of
ON THE HOUSE UK, 2002
roof verb to break into a building through the roof US, 1972
roofer noun Rohypnol™ (flunitrazepam), popularly known as the
‘date-rape drug’ US, 1997
roofies; ruffles; roples noun the recreational drug Rohypnol™
(flunitrazepam)
US, 1997
roof monk ey noun a television journalist who, when on location,
relies on satellite communication for incoming information which
is then included in that journalist’s report UK, 2005
roof -sniffing noun in caving and pot-holing, the act of moving on
your back along a small, water-filled passage with only sufficient
air-space for the eyes and nose UK, 2004
roller-rings | roof-sniffing 546
rook noun a beginner. An abbreviation of ROOKIE US, 1905
rook verb to cheat someone; to swindle someone; to defraud
someone

UK, 1590
rookety adjective rocky; bumpy BARBADOS, 1965
rookie noun 1 a raw recruit, especially a new recruit in the army or
police. Probably a perversion of ‘recruit’
UK, 1892. 2 a novice at a
sport; a player in his or her first year with a particular team. From
the wider sense as a ‘recruit’ US, 1913 . 3 a college freshman US, 1979
rooly; roolly adverb really. Representing a pronunciation of young
children, though also used to represent supposed uneducated
speech
AUSTRALIA, 1979
room noun 1 in prison, a cell UK, 1996. 2 a bar or cocktail lounge US,
1970
roomdawg noun a person who shares your room, apartment or
house
US, 2002
roomdog noun aroommateUS, 1996
roomie noun 1 a roommate US, 1918. 2 a prison cellmate US, 1982
room-rifler noun a thief who steals from hotel rooms US, 1954
’rooms noun mushrooms US, 1969
rooms noun a roommate US, 1970
room temperature IQ noun a very low intelligence US, 1981
room time noun time spent surfing in the breaking hollow of a wave
US, 1991
rooney noun the penis US, 1968
roost noun 1 the highest rows in the highest gallery in a theatre UK,
1952. 2 a residence, be it room, apartment or house US, 1945
roost verb to sit US, 1983
rooster noun 1 the buttocks US, 1946 . 2 crack cocaine US, 1994. 3 a
member of the Piru youth gang US, 1994

rooster comb noun a swath of unmown hay left in the field after
cutting
CANADA, 1992
rooster tail noun a spray of water directly behind an object or
person moving fast through the water
US, 1965
root noun 1 the penis US, 1968 . 2 an act of sexual intercourse AUSTRALIA,
1959. 3 a sexual partner. Especially used in contexts where a
person’s sexual abilities are rated; see
DUD ROOT AUSTRALIA, 1969.
4 marijuana; a marijuana cigarette US, 1959 . 5 an amphetamine or
other central nervous system stimulant US, 1971. 6 a kick. The
variant ‘rooter’ also exists IRELAND, 1962
root verb 1 to copulate with someone AUSTRALIA, 1958. 2 to confound
someone; to defeat someone AUSTRALIA, 1944. 3 to give a hefty blow
to someone or something AUSTRALIA, 1975. < get rooted go away;
piss off. An analogue to ‘get fucked’ AUSTRALIA, 1961. < root like a
rattlesnake
(usually of a woman) to have sex with vigour and
uninhibited enthusiasm AUSTRALIA, 1969
rootable adjective sexually desirable AUSTRALIA, 1973
root around verb to be sexually promiscuous AUSTRALIA, 2001
rooted adjective wrecked; ruined AUSTRALIA, 1944
rooter noun a person who copulates promiscuously AUSTRALIA, 1975
root for verb to support someone ardently US, 2000
rootin’ tootin’ oil noun semen US, 1962
root up verb to mess something up AUSTRALIA, 1992
root ute noun a panel van or the like used for sexual encounters
AUSTRALIA, 2000
rooty-ma-toot noun a suit. Glasgow rhyming slang U K: SCOTLAND, 1988

roovle noun among Nova Scotians of German descent, a wrinkle. In
Lunenburg County, the descendants of German soldiers of fortune
who were awarded land by King George in the late C18 use
unconventional, slightly altered German words in their English
conversation. This term is close in sound to ‘rivvel’ and thus may
also come from German runzeln (to wrinkle)
CANADA, 1999
rope noun 1 marijuana; hashish; a marijuana cigarette. Conventional
‘rope’ is often made from Indian hemp. Cannabis sativa, a plant
genus that gives us marijuana, is true HEMP but sometimes called
INDIAN HEMP which may well explain the origins of this usage; it is
likely that the sense as ‘a marijuana cigarette’ is influenced by
appearance
US, 1944. 2 Rohypnol™ (flunitrazepam), popularly known
as the ‘date-rape drug’
US, 1995. 3 a vein used for drug injections UK,
1996
. 4 a thick gold chain necklace US, 1989. 5 an Afrikaner.
Contemptuous, insulting; a reference to a rope that is, according
to a 1975 informant, ‘thick, coarse, twisted, hairy’
SOUTH AFRICA, 1970.
6 tough talk TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1983
rope verb 1 to lure someone into a swindle US, 1848. 2 in a card game,
to cheat or mislead someone US, 1985
ropeable adjective livid; splenetic; furious AUSTRALIA, 1874
rope-a-dope noun 1 a defensive tactic employed by Muhammed Ali,
resting against the ropes and letting his opponent exhaust himself
with punches that Ali evaded or absorbed
US, 1975. 2 a tactic of
feigning weakness in order to lure an opponent into an ill-advised

offensive. From the boxing sense
US, 1979
rope dope noun low grade marijuana US, 1995
ropehead noun 1 a Rastafarian with long matted braids JAMAICA, 1987.
2 a dark-skinned person. Prison usage NEW ZEALAND, 1997
roper noun in a confidence swindle, a confederate who identifies and
lures the victim into the swindle. Originally used in the context of
gambling houses, and then in confidence swindles US, 1840
rophie noun Rohypnol™ (flunitrazepam), popularly known as the
‘date-rape drug’
US, 1993
ropy; ropey adjective bad; rough; unattractive; unsatisfactory; unwell.
Originally Royal Air Force use UK, 1942
ro-ro noun 1 in prison, a type of educational course that makes it
possible for short-term prisoners to complete individual modules.
A figurative application of RO-RO (roll on, roll off) UK, 1996. 2 a Rolls
Royce car UK, 1984
ro-ro adjective roll on, roll off. Said of a containerisation system used
to ship military cargo during the Vietnam war
US, 1990
rort noun 1 a confidence trick; an illicit scheme or dodge; a swindle.
Also used of legitimate practices imputing that they are unfair or a
rip-off AUSTRALIA, 1926. 2 a wild party; an unrestrained good time; a
drunken orgy AUSTRALIA, 1950. 3 in horse or greyhound racing, a large
and unexpected bet AUSTRALIA, 1989
rort verb 1 to fraudulently manipulate an organisation, system or the
like; to rip someone off; to rig an election AUSTRALIA, 1919. 2 to party
boisterously AUSTRALIA, 1960. 3 to engage in petty crime AUSTRALIA, 1919
rorter noun a swindler; a cheat AUSTRALIA, 1926
rorty adjective wild, boisterous AUSTRALIA, 1929

Rory O’More; rory noun 1 a floor. Rhyming slang, on the name of a
legendary Irish rebel. The earliest of three uses for the rhyme;
however, the second sense, ‘a whore’ is obsolete UK, 1857. 2 adoor.
Rhyming slang, on the name of a legendary Irish rebel. This is the
only sense of the word also recorded in the US, where it is
sometimes misspelt Rory O’Moore
UK, 1892
rosa noun an amphetamine tablet US, 1994
Rosa Maria; rosa maria noun marijuana US, 1938
roscoe noun a handgun US, 1914
roscoe verb to point a handgun at someone and order them not to
move US, 1974
rose noun a tablet of Benzedrine™ (amphetamine sulphate), a central
nervous system stimulant US, 1967
Roseanne Barr noun a bra. Rhyming slang, formed from the name
of the US actress, comedienne and producer (b.1952) UK, 1998
rosebud noun 1 the anus US, 1965. 2 a textbook example of a primary
lesion US, 1981 . 3 following a colostomy, the pink tissue that marks
the opening of the intestine on the abdomen
US, 1980. 4 apotato.
Rhyming slang for SPUD. Sometimes shortened to ‘rose’ UK, 1943
rosebud verb (of the anus) to become puffy and pronounced UK, 1996
rose garden noun 1 in prison, a solitary confinement cell UK, 1978. 2 a
group of neurologically depressed hospital patients US, 1978
Rose Marie noun marijuana. An anglicisation of ROSA MARIA UK, 2003
547 rook | Rose Marie
rose tree trimmer noun a person hired to clean latrines BARBADOS,
1965
rosewood noun a police nightstick US, 1970
rosey lee; rosie lee; rosie noun tea. Rhyming slang; originally

military, probably from the 1914–18 war
UK, 1925
rosie noun a rubbish bin UK, 2002
Rosie O’Grady’s noun a ladies’ toilet. Rhyming slang, originally
‘Rosie O’Grady’ (a lady) but now used only of a public conven-
ience, formed from the film musical Sweet Rosie O’Grady, 1943
UK,
1998
Rosie Palm and her five sisters; Rosie Palm; Rosie noun the
male hand as the instrument of masturbation US, 1977
rosiner; roziner; rozener noun a large serving of an alcoholic drink
AUSTRALIA, 1933
rosser noun a police officer AUSTRALIA, 1944
Rossy Docks noun socks. Glasgow rhyming slang, based on local
pronunciation of Rothesay
UK: SCOTLAND, 1985
rot noun 1 nonsense, rubbish. In Eats, Shoots & Leaves, 2003, Lynne
Truss records the following marginal note, made by a long-ago
reader, in the 1st edition of Partridge’s You Have a Point There:
‘Rot! You lazy swine Partridge’ UK, 1848 . 2 an unidentifed disease or
malady US, 1947
rot verb to be terrible US, 1997
rotary adjective in circus and carnival usage, emotionally unbalanced
US, 1981
rot corps noun the ROTC, or Reserve Officer Training Corps, found at
many colleges US, 1972
rote; rout noun in Nova Scotia, the sound of the surf on the shore,
a fisherman’s locating device. This word, not long in print,
descended orally from an Old Norse word rauta meaning ‘roar’.
The different sounds of the surf tell fishermen whose GPS has

broken down whether they are near sand, cliff, shingle or gravel
beach, and their knowledge of the coastline does the rest CANADA,
1975
ROTF used in computer message shorthand to mean ‘rolling on the
floor (laughing)’ US, 1991
rotgut noun any unwholesome alcohol UK, 1633
rothe noun two hundred pounds. Ticket-touting slang, recorded
August 2002; possibly an ironic abbreviation of Rothschild (a rich
man) UK, 2002
rotheo noun twenty pounds. Ticket-touting slang, recorded August
2002. From ROTHE UK, 2002
Rothman’s-sign noun nicotine-stained fingers as a diagnostic indi-
cator. An informal medical term, formed on the name of a ciga-
rette manufacturer UK, 2002
roti and rum; rum and roti noun a tactic in a political campaign in
which voters are given food and drink to encourage their vote.
‘Roti’ is an Indian bread TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1960
rotorhead noun a helicopter pilot or crew member US, 1991
roto-rooter noun a person who kisses with an active and probing
tongue
US, 1963
rotted adjective drunk or drug-intoxicated US, 1993
rotten adjective 1 unpleasant UK, 1964. 2 ill; depressed; worthless UK,
1881. 3 drunk AUSTRALIA, 1864. 4 used to intensify a negative quality
UK, 1964
rotten row noun a blow. Rhyming slang, from the name given to
the ride in London’s Hyde Park UK, 1992
rotten squash noun brain damage US, 1985
rotter noun a despised person UK, 1894
rottie noun 1 a Rottweiler dog US, 1987. 2 afoulmoodNEW ZEALAND, 1998

rouf noun four; in betting, odds of 4–1. Back slang; pronounced as
‘loaf’ UK, 1851
rouf and a half noun in betting, odds of 9–2. In bookmaker slang
‘rouf’ is 4–1; here the addition of ‘a half’ increases the odds to 4½
–1or9–2UK, 1991
rough noun turbulent seas following a storm CANADA, 1979
rough verb 1 to rob someone with force or threat of force US, 1973.
2 to jostle or shove a member of a rival gang US, 1955. < rough it
to have sex al fresco. To voluntarily go without such creature
comforts as a bed
UK, 2001. < rough it up in poker, to bet heavily
US, 1979. < rough up the suspect (of a male) to masturbate US,
2001
rough adjective 1 unwell. Dialect US, 1883. 2 good. On the BAD (good)
model UK, 2003. 3 excellent; fashionable, trendy US, 1963. 4 in lowball
poker, unfavourable
US, 1967
rough as a badger’s arse adjective ugly; unsophisticated; unwell,
especially as a result of too much drinking UK, 1998
rough as bags adjective extremely rough; unrefined, uncouth; also,
of shabby appearance
AUSTRALIA, 1927
rough as diamonds adjective unsophisticated; unpolished. A play on
ROUGH DIAMOND AUSTRALIA, 1971
rough as guts adjective extremely rough; unrefined; uncouth
AUSTRALIA, 1970
rough diamond noun a genuinely good person who is nevertheless
unrefined in manners AUSTRALIA, 1907
rough end of the pineapple noun the raw end of the deal
AUSTRALIA, 1978

rough-house verb to brawl in a playful if rowdy and boisterous
manner US, 1900
rough hustle noun an amateurish, unpolished swindle. The term
does not connote any physical roughness, simply a lack of polish
US, 1977
roughie noun 1 an unrefined person or thing. Arthur Chipper notes,
in The Aussie Swearer’s Guide, 1972, that the term is ‘Perhaps
most commonly assigned to young ladies who aren’t good-looking
or too well-mannered’
AUSTRALIA, 1907. 2 a racehorse or greyhound
not expected to win; an outsider AUSTRALIA, 1922. 3 a sheep with two
seasons of wool growth FALKLAND ISLANDS (MALVINAS), 1993
roughneck noun 1 a thug, a lout, a rowdy person US, 1836. 2 in oil
drilling, a skilled oil field worker US, 1954. 3 on the railways, a
brakeman on a goods train
US, 1946
rough off verb to steal something using brute force US, 1985
rough rider noun 1 a condom of any style or brand thought to bring
extra satisfaction to the female partner. West Indian and UK black
usage
JAMAICA, 2002. 2 an armed guard on a vehicle US, 1991
rough riding noun sexual intercourse without the protection of a
condom UK, 1961
rough stuff noun 1 violent or sadistic sexual behaviour US, 1925.
2 marijuana that contains unusable detritus US, 1972
rough trade noun a tough, often sadistic male homosexual,
especially as a casual sex-partner US, 1927
rough trip noun an unpleasant experience with LSD or another
hallucinogen UK, 1983
rough trot noun a difficult period AUSTRALIA, 1944

rough up verb to beat or intimidate someone; to facilitate a street
robbery with violence US, 1996
roughy noun a manual labourer in a carnival US, 1966
round noun an ejaculation TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 2003
round verb to make the rounds US, 1961
roundabout; rounder noun a conditional bet on three selections UK,
2001
round-brown noun the anus US, 1972
rounder noun 1 a migratory, transient worker, especially one living on
the edges of legality. Originally applied to railway workers US, 1908.
2 a street criminal CANADA, 1987. 3 a prisoner associated with tra-
ditional Italian-American organised crime
US, 1992. 4 a highly skilled
professional poker player who travels and plays less skilled players
US, 1979
rounders noun confusing talk TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 1977 8see: ROUND
THE HOUSES
rose tree trimmer | rounders 548
round eye noun 1 the anus; by extension, a male homosexual who
plays the passive role in anal sex
US, 1950. 2 an American or
European. From the Southeast Asian perspective, adopted by US
soldiers in Vietnam to describe themselves
US, 1960
round-eyed adjective American or European, Caucasian US, 1966
round file noun a wastebasket US, 1975
roundhead noun the circumcised penis. A visual joke, probably of
Royal Navy origin, then polari, or juvenile
UK, 2002
roundheel noun a woman who is easily talked into sexual relations.

Boxing slang from the 1920s for a poor fighter – a ‘push-over’ –
applied later to women of easy virtue
US, 1943
round-heeled adjective easily seduced US, 1957
round heels noun a promiscuous or sexually compliant woman.
Derogatory; from the anatomical notion that a woman with round
heels is more easily put on her back US, 1926
roundhouse noun a punch that swings round to hit your opponent
side-on
US, 1920
roundie; r oundy noun a factory-made cigarette. Prison usage NEW
ZEALAND
, 1948
round of drinks noun a small bet relative to the bettor’s wealth
AUSTRALIA, 1989
round robin noun 1 a story begun by one writer and completed by
another or multiple writers US, 1982 . 2 a wager of ten conditional
bets on three selections UK, 2001
round robin shift noun a work schedule in which the worker rotates
between several different shifts
US, 1984
rounds noun an ejaculation BAHAMAS, 1982
round sound noun a fashionable, current song. ‘Round’ means
nothing, but contrasts with SQUARE US, 1955
roundtable noun in organised crime, a meeting of leaders convened
to discuss and decide with finality pressing business issues
US, 1975
round the bend; ar ound the bend adjective mad, crazy; eccentric.
Probably a naval coinage, widespread by the mid-C20 UK, 1929
round-the-clock noun an elaborate conditional wager on a mini-

mum of three selections
UK, 2001
round the houses; round me’s; rounds; r ounders noun trousers.
Rhyming slang on the Cockney pronunciation of ‘trousers’. The
abbreviation ‘round me’s’ suggests a variation as ‘round me
houses’ – this is not so. In the US the abbreviation ‘rounds’ was
not recorded until 1944
UK, 1857
round the twist adjective crazy. A variation of ROUND THE BEND UK,
1960
round-up noun in college, a notification of academic deficiency US,
1968
roundy-round adjective used of a motor race track or course oval US,
1993
rouse verb < rouse on to castigate someone verbally AUSTRALIA, 1896
rouseabout verb a general assistant on a rural property. Hence, also,
any general assistant AUSTRALIA, 1881
roust verb 1 to harass someone, especially when done deliberately by
the police or other authorities
UK, 1995. 2 to upbraid someone
AUSTRALIA, 1916
roustabout noun 1 in oil drilling, an unskilled oil field worker US, 1948.
2 a general assistant on a rural property. Variant of ROUSEABOUT
AUSTRALIA
, 1940
rouster noun a rough and ready western Canadian man. This
expression is likely derived from
ROUSTABOUT (an oil field worker),
but adapted to describe any rough-hewn male CANADA, 1987
rousting noun 1 a vigorous act of sexual intercourse UK, 1999. 2 an act

of deliberate (police) harassment UK, 1980
rout noun a wild, rowdy party US, 1968 8see: RO TE
router noun in horse racing, a horse that performs well in longer
races
US, 1965
rover noun in a casino, a gambler who moves from game to game,
never staying at any one game very long
US, 1987
row noun < go for a row to get into trouble AUSTRALIA, 1965
row verb to fight; to battle. An exaggeration of the sense as ‘to argue’
UK, 1999. < row down the red river to experience the bleed
period of the menstrual cycle
US, 2001
rowbottom noun a student disturbance, started in fun but not
always ending as such. Specific to the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia, claimed to have been named for J.T. Rowbottom, a
rowdy member of Penn’s Class of 1913
US, 1940
row dog noun in prison, another prisoner whose cell is on the same
tier
US, 1995
rowdy noun a person who inhales glue for the psychoactive effect US,
1971
rowdy dowdy noun in pickpocketing, the seemingly accidental
jostling of victims or potential victims by members of the gang
US,
1962
rowed out adj ective excluded UK, 2000
rower noun an argument UK, 1996
rowers’ revenge noun the ritual of throwing the coxswain into the

water after a rowing team wins an event
US, 2001
row in verb to implicate someone in a crime UK, 1970
row out verb 1 to contrive the innocence of someone in relation to
a particular crime UK, 1970. 2 to distance yourself from something
or someone UK, 1974
rox noun crack cocaine. A phonetic play on ROCK(S) US, 1994
Roxanne noun cocaine; crack cocaine. A ROCK personification US, 1994
Roy noun a refined and cultured Australian male. Counterpart to the
ALF AUSTRALIA, 1960
royal adjective effeminately homosexual. ‘Queenly’ UK, 2002
royal blue noun a blue tablet variety of LSD US, 1971
ro yal crown noun a British Leyland ‘Princess’ car UK, 1981
Royal Docks noun syphilis; hence any sexually transmitted infection;
hence an irritated condition. Rhyming slang for POX UK, 1992
royally adverb greatly, extremely US, 2002
royal mail; royal noun bail. Rhyming slang UK, 1961
Royal Navy noun gravy. Rhyming slang. Presumably served in a
‘Royal Navy boat’ UK, 1992
Royal Navy situation noun a need for money. A pun on SUB (a
loan) UK, 1994
ro yal shaft noun monumental mistreatment US, 1983
royal temple ball noun hashish and LSD formed into a ball US, 1978
royal wedding noun in hold ’em poker, a king and queen, especially
of diamonds US, 1996
Roy Castle noun the anus. Rhyming slang for ARSEHOLE, used here in
its anatomical, non-figurative sense; formed from the name of the
multi-talented entertainer, 1932–94 UK, 1998
Roy Rogers noun building tradesmen who are not as skilled as may
reasonably be expected. Rhyming slang on the plural form of

BODGER. Formed on the name of a famous film cowboy, 1911–98,
and thus a play on COWBOY (any tradesman who is unreliable,
irresponsible and, perhaps, unqualified)
UK, 1992
roz noun crack cocaine. Possibly a misspelling of ROX UK, 1998
rozzer; roz noun a police officer. Possibly from Yiddish khazer (a pig).
‘Roz’ is first recorded in 1971 UK, 1893
RPG noun a role-playing game US, 1986
RSN used as Internet shorthand to mean ‘real soon now’ US, 1995
RT A verb to return to Australia; to be returned to Australia AUSTRALIA,
1963
RT Aer noun a person returning to Australia after expeditioning in
Antarctica. From RTA AUSTRALIA, 1996
RTFM read the fucking manual US, 1997
ru noun a member of the Piru youth gang US, 1994
rub verb < rub in; rub it in to emphasise something annoyingly;
to continue to insist, especially in an unkindly or vexing manner
549 round eye | rub
UK, 1870. < rub off on someone (of abstract qualitities, such as
luck or enthusiasm) to transfer from one person to another
US,
1959. < rub someone up the wr ong way to annoy someone UK,
1862
. < rub someone’s nose in it to humiliate someone by
reminding them of a mistake
UK, 1963. < rub the magic lamp (of
a male) to masturbate
US, 2001
rub-a-dub; rub-a-dub-dub; rubberdy; rubbidy; rubba noun a
public house. Rhyming slang for

PUB; from the nursery rhyme
‘Rub-a-dub-dub, / Three men in a tub’
UK, 1932
rub-a-dub-dubs nickname HMP Wormwood Scrubs (a prison in north
London). Rhyming slang, in current prison use February 2002 UK,
2002
rubber noun 1 a condom. The most common, and almost only,
slang term for a condom in the US US, 1947. 2 balloons US, 1966.
3 collectively, a car’s tyres. A car might be said to have ‘good
rubber’
US, 1882. 4 acarUS, 1964. 5 a rubber bullet US, 1982. < burn
rubber
to spin a car’s wheels in a fast start, leaving rubber tracks
on the road US, 1957. < chirp rubber to shift gears in a car in a
manner that produces a chirping sound of tyre meeting road
US,
1965
. < on rubber driving a car US, 1945 . < peel rubber to spin a
car’s wheels in a fast start, leaving rubber tracks on the road US, 1971
rubber adjective used of a cheque, unfunded. A back-formation from
the metaphor of an unfunded cheque bouncing US, 1991
rubber and r ocks noun bacon and eggs. Collected during an
extensive survey of New Zealand prison slang, 1996–2000 NEW
ZEALAND
, 2000
rubber arms noun the sensation experienced by a surfer paddling
into a large wave that might be a little larger than the surfer cares
to tackle US, 1964
rubberband noun a vehicle manufactured by DAF. Citizens’ band
radio slang; a slur on DAF technology UK, 1981

rubber bitch noun the inflatable rubber air mattress given to US
troops in the field in Vietnam US, 1991
rubber bum noun a derelict hitchhiker CANADA, 1961
rubber cheque; rubber kite noun a worthless cheque. An
unfunded cheque bounces back from the bank US, 1931
rubber chicken circuit noun the tour made by an after-dinner
speaker, with reference to tough chicken as the usual main course
CANADA, 1959
rubber cow noun in circus usage, an elephant, male or female US,
1981
rubber duck noun 1 a trifle; something of no value. Rhyming slang
for FUCK UK, 1992. 2 an inflatable rubber dinghy SOUTH AFRICA, 1986
rubber ducker noun a rubber duck (an inflatable rubber dinghy)
enthusiast
SOUTH AFRICA, 1994
rubber duckie noun a short, flexible, rubber-coated vehicle-mounted
radio aerial. A jokey reference to ‘Rubber Duck’ as referring to the
HANDLE (a citizens’ band radio identity) of the hero of the film
Convoy, 1975 UK, 1981
rubbered adjective drunk UK, 2002
rubber heels; rubber heelers noun the Metropolitan Police
internal affairs division at New Scotland Yard. From the silence and
secrecy of its methods UK, 1964
rubber johnny; rubber johnnie; rubber johney noun acondom.
An elaboration of JOHNNY UK, 1980
rubber lip noun a citizens’ band radio user who monopolises
conversation US, 1976
rubber man noun in circus and carnival usage, a balloon seller US,
1981
rubberneck verb to stare with undue interest US, 1896

rubberneck bus noun a tour bus US, 1958
rubberneck car noun on the railways, an observation carriage US, 1946
rubbernecker; rubberneck noun a person who stares with
curiousity, especially a motorist who slows to view an accident
US,
1934
rubber numbers noun very approximate statistics US, 2003
rubbers noun 1 a wet suit; a garment made of rubber or synthetic
neoprene worn next to the skin while in cold water
CANADA, 1977.
2 sneakers, trainers VIRGIN ISLANDS, BRITISH, 1996
rubber vag noun in circus and carnival usage, someone who lives in
a mobile trailer
US, 1981
rubber walls adjective crazy. In gay use, especially in the phrase ‘I’ll
go rubber walls’
US, 1972
rubbins; rubbings noun rubbing alcohol. A drink of desperation US,
1980
rubbish noun 1 anything of poor quality or little or no worth;
nonsense. From the sense as ‘refuse’ UK, 1601 . 2 a contemptible
person or persons SOUTH AFRICA, 1941
rubbish verb to criticise someone or something unfavourably; to
disparage someone or something; to discard someone or
something
AUSTRALIA, 1953
rubbish adjective bad; inferior UK, 2001
rubbisher noun a person given to detraction AUSTRALIA, 1972
rubbishing noun an act of denigration. From RUBBISH (little or no
worth)

AUSTRALIA, 1971
rubbishy adjective of inferior quality UK, 1824
rubbity-dub; rubbity; rubbitty; rubbidy noun a public hotel.
Rhyming slang for PUB AUSTRALIA, 1898
rubby noun a derelict who drinks rubbing alcohol. The word is not to
be confused with ‘rummy’
US, 1962
rubby-dub noun an ignorant soldier from a rural mountain area, a
poor candidate to be a good soldier US, 1946
rub down noun a cursory search of a prisoner by running hands
over clothes and body UK, 1887
rub down verb to search a prisoner UK, 1887
rube; reub noun an unsophisticated, naive, inexperienced person.
From the older, UK ‘reuben’ (a country bumpkin) US, 1896
rubia de la costa; rubia noun a light-coloured marijuana originat-
ing in Columbia. Directly from Spanish, rubia (fair-haired) is used
by the Spanish to describe Virginian tobacco, plus de la costa (of
the coast)
US, 1976
rubies noun the lips US, 1947
Rubik’s cubes; rubik’s noun pubic hair. Rhyming slang for PUBES,
formed from a puzzling toy UK, 2003
rub joint noun a dance hall where men can, for a small price, dance
intimately with women
US, 1981
rub ’n’ tug noun a massage that includes masturbation US, 2000
rub of the brush noun a beverage made from the remnants of
drinks in a bar US, 1950
rub-out noun a killing US, 1927
rub out verb 1 to kill someone US, 1848. 2 to disqualify a competitor

AUSTRALIA, 1902
rub up verb to assault someone US, 1952
rubyfruit noun the vagina US, 1982
Ruby Murray; ruby noun a curry. Rhyming slang, based on popular
singer Ruby Murray, 1935–96. In Cardiff, a local variant is Don
Murray, named after the Cardiff City footballer
UK, 1992
ruby rose; ruby noun the nose. Rhyming slang UK, 1992
ruck noun 1 a heated argument; a fight. Possibly derives from
obsolete ‘rux’ (bad temper, anger, passion, noise) or conventional
‘ruckus’ UK, 1958. 2 a rucksack or backpack US, 1982
ruck verb 1 to fight, especially as part of a gang UK, 1999. 2 to
masturbate. Prison slang UK, 1974
ruck and row; ruck noun a cow, especially in the sense a
contemptible woman. Rhyming slang, formed from a combination
of RUCK (a fight) and ‘row’ (a disturbance, a violent quarrel) UK, 1992
rucker noun 1 afighterUK, 1968. 2 a customer given to complaining
and making a fuss. A barely euphemistic variation of FUCKER,poss-
ibly influenced by ‘ruckus’. Used by second-hand car dealers
UK,
1968
rub-a-dub; rub-a-dub-dub; rubberdy; rubbidy; rubba | rucker 550