NTCs thematic dictionary of american slang

NTC’s

Thematic
Dictionary
of

American
Slang


This page intentionally left blank.


NTC’s

Thematic
Dictionary
of

American
Slang
Richard A. Spears, Ph.D.


Copyright © 1998 by NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Manufactured in
the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no
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DOI: 10.1036/0071434100

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Contents
About This Dictionary

vii

Terms and Symbols
List of Themes

ix
xi

Thematic Dictionary of American Slang
Index of Slang and Colloquial Expressions

1
453

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About This Dictionary
This dictionary is a collection of slang and colloquial expressions in
frequent use in the United States in the twentieth century. It contains expressions that are familiar to many Americans and other
expressions that are used primarily within small groups of people.
The entries represent the language of the underworld, the nursery,
the college campus, California beaches, urban back streets, and Wall
Street. We hear from prisoners, surfers, junkies, Valley Girls, blacks,
weight lifters, surfers, and just plain folks. Fad words, metaphors,
wordplay, and various figures of speech make up the body of the
dictionary.
The slang and colloquial expressions in this dictionary are
arranged according to theme. There is a list of themes on page xi.
Writers and students seeking a slang or colloquial manner of expressing something can easily find likely candidates by using the themes
to locate a selection of expressions.
There is an index on page 453 that allows the user to find a particular slang or colloquial expression by showing the theme under
which the expression is listed.

vii
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Terms and Symbols
ᮀ

marks the beginning of an example.

Amerindian

related to native American cultures and people.

and

indicates an alternative element, either an alternative entry
form or an alternative pronunciation.

black

typically used by or originated by Americans of African
descent.

blend

made up of sounds from two other words, such as smoke
+ fog = smog.

catchphrase

an expression that is meant to catch attention
because of its cleverness or aptness.

combining form

a sense of a word used only in combination

with another word, as with bug in camera bug.

deliberate spoonerism

euphemistic
exclam.
in.

a deliberate interchanging of initial consonants in a pair of words, such as “queer
old dean” for “dear old queen.”

relatively refined and having no negative connotations.

exclamation.

intransitive. Expressions that are intransitive verbs or intransitive verb phrases (an intransitive verb, its auxiliaries, and
modifiers) are marked in.

interj.

interjection.

interrog.
initialism

interrogative.
an abbreviation consisting of the initial letters of the
words being shortened. The letters are pronounced
one by one, as with “IBM.”
ix

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ntc’s thematic dictionary of american slang

mod.

n.
phr.

modifier. Expressions serving to modify, restrict, or qualify (adjectives, adjective phrases, adverbs, adverb phrases,
etc.) are marked mod.
nominal. Expressions functioning as nominals (nouns, noun
phrases, etc.) are marked n.
phrase.

prep.

preposition.

pro.

pronoun.

see

Go to the entry indicated.

see also

sent.
tr.

x

Find additional information at the entry indicated.
sentence.

transitive. Expressions that are transitive verbs or transitive
verb phrases (a transitive verb and its auxiliaries, object(s), and
modifier(s) are marked tr.


List of Themes
The following is a list of the 1,100 themes used to classify the slang
and colloquial expressions found in this dictionary. The themes are
also used as guide words at the top of each page in the dictionary.
Use this list to explore the various themes conveniently.
ABANDONMENT 1
ABBREVIATIONS 1
ABILITY 1
ABSENCE 1
ABSOLUTELY 1
ABSTINENCE 1
ABUNDANCE 2
ABUSED 2
ACCELERATOR 3
ACCEPTANCE 3
ACCIDENT 4
ACCOST 4

ACCOUNTANT 4
ACHIEVEMENT 5
ACQUIESCENCE 5
ACTIVITY 5
ACTOR 5
ADDICTION 5
ADDICTION - AGAIN 6
ADDICTION - END 6
ADDITIONAL 6
ADHESIVE 6
ADJUSTMENT 7
ADVANTAGE 7
ADVERTISING 7
ADVICE 7
AFFAIR 7
AGE 7
AGENT 8
AGGRESSIVENESS 8
AGREEMENT 8
ALCOHOL 9
ALCOHOL/DRUGS 9
ALCOHOL - BAD 14
ALCOHOL - BEER 14
ALCOHOL - BUBBLY 15
ALCOHOL - CHAMPAGNE 15
ALCOHOL - DRINKING 16
ALCOHOL - GIN 16
ALCOHOL - ILLICIT 16
ALCOHOL - LACKING 16
ALCOHOL - LOCATION 16

ALCOHOL - PARAPHERNALIA
16
ALCOHOL - SALOON 16

ALCOHOL - STRONG 16
ALCOHOL - VODKA 17
ALCOHOL - WHISKEY 17
ALCOHOL - WINE 17
ALERTNESS 17
ALTERNATIVES 18
ALWAYS 18
AMATEUR 18
AMAZEMENT 18
AMBITION 20
AMBULANCE 20
AMOUNT 20
AMOUNT - EXCESSIVE 21
AMOUNT - LARGE 21
AMOUNT - MANY 21
AMOUNT - MAXIMUM 21
AMOUNT - MORE 21
AMOUNT - MUCH 21
AMOUNT - SMALL 22
AMOUNT - ZERO 22
ANGER 22
ANNOYANCE 25
ANTICIPATION 27
ANUS 28
ANXIETY 28
APPEALING 29

APPEARANCE 29
APPEARANCE - NEGATIVE 30
APPLIANCE 30
APPRECIATION 30
APPROVAL 30
ARGUMENT 31
ARISE 31
ARMPITS 31
AROUSAL 31
ARREST 31
ARRIVAL 34
ARROGANCE See
HAUGHTINESS 206
ARTS 34
ASSISTANCE 34
ASSISTANT 34
ATTACK 34
ATTENTION 34
ATTENTION - LACKING 34

ATTRACTIVE 35
ATTRACTIVENESS 35
AUDIENCE 35
AUDIO 35
AUTHORIZATION 35
AUTOMATIC 36
AUTOMOBILES See CARS 52
AVAILABLE 36
AVERAGE 36
AVIATION 36

AVOIDANCE 37
AWARENESS 37
AWARENESS - LACKING 37
BACKFIRE 38
BAD See HORRIBLE 209,
NASTY 286,
UNDESIRABLE 422
BADGE 38
BALDNESS 38
BASIC 338
BATHROOM 38
BEARD 38
BED 38
BEGGING 39
BEGINNINGS 39
BEHAVIOR 40
BEHAVIOR - BAD 40
BEHIND 41
BELCH 41
BELIEF 41
BELLY 41
BENEFIT 42
BEST 42
BETRAYAL 42
BICYCLE 43
BIRTH 43
BISEXUAL 43
BOASTING 43
BOAT 43
BODY 43

BODY - DEAD 44
BOREDOM See DULL 143
BRAGGING See BOASTING
43
BRAIN 44

xi
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ntc’s thematic dictionary of american slang
BRAVERY See COURAGE 81
BREASTS 44
BRIBERY 45
BROADCASTING 45
BROKE See MONEY LACKING 276
BROTHEL 45
BURDEN 46
BUREAUCRAT 46
BUS 46
BUSINESS 46
BUSY 48
BUTTOCKS 48
BUXOM 49
CALCULATION 50
CALM 50
CANCEL See STOPPING 388
CANDIDACY 51
CARDS 51
CARELESSNESS 51

CARING 52
CARING - LACKING 52
CARPENTER 52
CARS 52
CATALOG 54
CAUTION 54
CELEBRATION See PARTY
302
CELEBRITY 54
CEMETERY 54
CERTAINTY 55
CHALLENGE 55
CHANCE 56
CHARITY 56
CHARM 56
CHATTER 56
CHEAPNESS 57
CHEATING See DECEPTION
95
CHECKS 58
CHILDREN 59
CHOCOLATE 60
CHOICE 60
CITIES 60
CLARITY 61
CLEANLINESS 61
CLEVERNESS 61
CLOCK 61
CLOTHING 61
CLUMSINESS 63

COFFEE 63
COINCIDENCE 63
COLD 63
COLLEGE 63
COMEDIAN 63
COMFORT 64
COMMAND 64
COMMERCE 64
COMMOTION 66

xii

COMMUNICATION 66
COMMUNIST 66
COMPETITION 66
COMPLAINT 66
COMPLETENESS 67
COMPLICATION 68
COMPUTER 68
COMPUTER - ABBREVIATIONS
69
COMPUTER - ERROR 71
CONCEAL 71
CONCENTRATION 72
CONCERN 72
CONCLUSION 72
CONCURRENTLY 73
CONDITIONAL 73
CONFESSION 73
CONFIDENCE 73

CONFRONTATION 73
CONFUSION 73
CONNECTION 75
CONSEQUENCES 75
CONSUMPTION 75
CONTACT 75
CONTENTMENT 75
CONTRACEPTION 75
CONTRACTION 75
CONTROL 76
CONTROL - LACKING 76
CONVERSATION 76
COOKING 77
COOPERATION 77
COOPERATION - LACKING 77
COPULATION 77
COPY 79
CORPSE See BODY - DEAD
44
CORRECT 79
CORRUPT 79
COST 79
COUNTRY 80
COUPLE 80
COURAGE 81
COWARDICE 81
CRANKSHAFT 82
CRAZINESS 82
CRIME 84
CRIMINAL 86

CRISIS 87
CRITICISM 87
CULTURE 88
CULTURE - LACKING 88
CURSING 89
DANCING 90
DANGER 90
DATING 90
DAY 91
DEAD 91
DEATH 92

DEBT 94
DECEPTION 95
DECLINE 99
DEFEAT 99
DEFECATION 100
DEFLATE 101
DELAY 101
DELICIOUS 101
DELIRIUM TREMENS 101
DEMONSTRATION 101
DEPART 102
DEPRESSION 104
DESCRIPTION 105
DESIRE 105
DESTRUCTION 106
DETAILS 106
DETECTIVE 106
DIARRHEA 106

DIETING 107
DIFFERENCE 107
DIFFICULTIES 107
DIGRESSION 109
DIRECTION 109
DISABLED 109
DISAGREEMENT 109
DISAPPOINTMENT 109
DISAPPROVAL 110
DISCARD 110
DISCOURAGEMENT 110
DISCOVERY 110
DISGUSTING 110
DISHONESTY 112
DISHWASHING
DISINTEREST 112
DISLIKE 112
DISMISSAL 112
DISPLAY 112
DISPOSAL See DISCARD 110
DIVORCE 114
DOCTOR 114
DOG 114
DOMINANCE 115
DRAWBACK 115
DRINKING 115
DRINKING - BOUT 117
DRINKING - EXCESS 117
DRINKING - PARAPHERNALIA
119

DRINKING - PLACE 120
DRINKING - PORTION 120
DRINKING - TOAST 122
DRIVING 122
DRUGS 122
DRUGS - ADDED 125
DRUGS - AMPHETAMINE 125
DRUGS - ANALGESIC 126
DRUGS - BARBITURATE 126
DRUGS - COCAINE 126
DRUGS - FEELING 127


list of themes
DRUGS - HASHISH 127
DRUGS - HEROIN 128
DRUGS - LSD 128
DRUGS - MARIJUANA 129
DRUGS - MESCALINE 131
DRUGS - METHADONE 131
DRUGS - MUSHROOMS 131
DRUGS - NEED 131
DRUGS - OPIUM 132
DRUGS - PARAPHERNALIA
132
DRUGS - PARTY 133
DRUGS - PCP 133
DRUGS - PEYOTE 133
DRUGS - PORTION 133
DRUGS - POWDER 134

DRUGS - PURCHASE 134
DRUGS - REACTION 135
DRUGS - REHABILITATION
135
DRUGS - RUINED 135
DRUGS - SELLER 135
DRUGS - STRONG 135
DRUGS - SUPPLY 135
DRUGS - TRANQUILIZERS
135
DRUGS - USE 136
DRUGS - USER 137
DRUGS - WEAK 140
DRUNK See INTOXICATED ALCOHOL 221
DRUNKARD 140
DULL 143
DUPE 144
DWELLING See LODGING
258
EAGERNESS 146
EARLY 146
EARN 146
EARS 147
EARTHY 147
EASY 147
EATING 148
EAVESDROPPING 150
EFFECT 150
EFFEMINATE150
EFFICIENCY 150

EFFORT 150
EJECTION 151
ELBOW 151
ELECTRICITY 151
ELECTRONICS 151
ELEGANCE 151
ELIMINATE 152
EMBARRASSMENT 152
EMOTION 152
EMOTION - LACKING 153
EMPLOYMENT 153
ENCOUNTER 153

ENCOURAGEMENT 154
ENDEARMENT 154
ENDINGS 154
ENDLESS 155
ENDURE 155
ENERGETIC 155
ENGINE 156
ENJOYMENT 157
ENMITY 157
ENTHUSIASM 157
ENTICEMENT 157
ENTRANCE 157
EQUIPMENT 157
ERROR 157
ESCAPE 159
ESSENCE 159
ESTIMATION 160

EVASION 160
EVEN 160
EVENT 160
EVERYTHING 161
EVERYWHERE 161
EVIDENCE 161
EXACTLY 162
EXAGGERATION 162
EXAMINATION 162
EXCELLENCE 162
EXCITEMENT 168
EXCREMENT 170
EXCUSE 171
EXERCISE 171
EXHAUSTION 171
EXIT See DEPART 102
EXPERIENCE 173
EXPERIENCE - LACKING 173
EXPERT See SKILL 376
EXPLANATION 173
EXPLOSIVES 174
EXPRESSION 174
EXTINGUISH 174
EXTORTION 174
EXTRAVAGANCE174
EXTREME 175
EYELIDS 175
EYES 175
FACE 176
FAILURE 176

FAKE 178
FALL 178
FALSE 178
FAN 179
FANTASY 179
FARMER 179
FARMING 179
FASHIONABLE 179
FAT 180
FEAR 180
FEELINGS180
FEET 180

FEMININE 181
FIDELITY 181
FIGHTING 181
FINALITY 181
FINANCIAL 181
FINGER 185
FIREFIGHTER 185
FIST 185
FLAMBOYANT 185
FLATTERY 185
FLATULENCE 186
FLIRTATION 186
FOCUS 187
FOG 187
FOOD 187
FOOLPROOF 189
FOOT 189

FORBIDDEN 189
FORCE 189
FRANKNESS 189
FREEDOM 190
FRIEND 190
FRIENDLINESS 191
FRIGHT 191
FRUSTRATION 192
FUEL 192
FUN 192
FUNCTIONAL 192
FURNITURE 192
GADGET 193
GAMBLING 194
GAS See FLATULENCE 186
GATHERING 194
GAY 194
GENERALITY 195
GENEROSITY 195
GENETIC 196
GENTILE 196
GENUINE 196
GIFT 196
GLASSES 196
GLUTTONY 196
GOALS 197
GOOD-BYE 197
GOOSE 198
GOSSIP 198
GOVERNMENT 199

GRATITUDE 199
GREED 199
GREETING 199
GRIEF 201
GROOMING 201
GROUCHY 201
GROUP 201
GROWTH 202
GUESSING 202
GUILT 202
HAIR 203
HANDKERCHIEF 203

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ntc’s thematic dictionary of american slang
HANDS 203
HANGOVER 203
HAPPENING 204
HAPPINESS 204
HARASSMENT 204
HARM 205
HAT 205
HAUGHTINESS 206
HAUNT 206
HEAD 206
HEALTHY 207
HEART 207
HEAT 207

HEIGHT 207
HELL 207
HELP See ASSISTANCE 34
HETEROSEXUAL 207
HIDING 207
HINDER 207
HOBO 207
HOMELESSNESS 208
HOMOSEXUAL See GAY 194
HONESTY 208
HOPE 209
HORRIBLE 209
HORSE 209
HOSPITAL 209
HOUSING See LODGING 258
HUMILIATION 209
HUMILITY 209
HUNGER 209
HURRY 210
HYGIENE 210
IDEA 212
IDENTIFICATION 212
IGNORE 213
IMMEDIATELY 213
IMPACT 214
IMPETUOUS 214
IMPORTANCE 214
IMPORTANCE - LACKING 214
IMPRESS 214
IMPRESSIVE 215

IMPROVEMENT 215
IMPUDENCE 215
INCREASE 216
INDECISION 216
INDEPENDENCE 216
INDULGENCE 216
INEFFICIENT 216
INFERIORITY 216
INFLUENCE 216
INFLUENCE - LACKING 217
INFORM See TATTLING 400
INFORMATION 217
INJURY 218
INNOCENCE 218
INOFFENSIVE 219
INSECT 219

xiv

INSINCERITY 219
INSULT 219
INTELLIGENCE 220
INTEREST 221
INTERJECTION 221
INTERROGATION 221
INTERRUPTION 221
INTESTINES 221
INTOXICATED - ALCOHOL
221
INTOXICATED ALCOHOL/DRUGS 225

INTOXICATED - DRUGS 240
INTOXICATION 241
INTOXICATION - BAD 242
INTOXICATION - DRUGS 242
INTOXICATION - END 242
INTOXICATION - ONSET 242
INTOXICATION - RECOVERY
243
INTOXICATION - SEVERE 243
INTOXICATION - SLEEP 243
INTRUSION 243
IRRELEVANCE 244
JAIL 245
JEER 246
JEWELRY 246
JOINING 246
JOKING 246
JUNKYARD 247
JUSTICE 247
KEY 248
KINDNESS 248
KINSHIP 248
KISS 249
KNEES 250
KNOWLEDGE 250
KNOWLEDGEABLE 251
KNOWLEDGE - LACKING 251
LABOR 252
LAUGHTER 252
LAW-ABIDING 253

LAWYER 253
LAZY 253
LEGAL 253
LEGS 254
LEISURE 254
LEND 255
LESBIAN 255
LICE 255
LIFESTYLE 255
LIMITATION 255
LIMITATION - LACKING 255
LINT 256
LIST 256
LISTENING 256
LOCATION 256
LOCATION - UNDESIRABLE
257

LODGING 258
LONELY 258
LOOT 258
LOSE See DEFEAT 99, LOSS
259
LOSS 259
LOUDNESS 259
LOVE 259
LOVER 259
LUCK 260
LUCKY 260
LUCK - LACKING 260

LUGGAGE 260
LUNGS 260
LUXURY 261
LYING 261
MACHINERY 262
MAIL 262
MAKEUP 262
MALFUNCTION 262
MAN 263
MANAGE 263
MAN - ATTRACTIVE 264
MAN - FRIEND 264
MAN - GOOD 264
MAN - IMPORTANT 264
MAN - MEEK 265
MAN - MUSCULAR 265
MAN - NEGATIVE 265
MAN - OLD 266
MAN - RECKLESS 266
MAN - SEX 266
MAN - STRANGE 267
MAN - STRONG 267
MAN - STUPID 267
MAN - UGLY 267
MAN - VULGAR 268
MARBLES 268
MARINE 268
MASCULINE 268
MEAN 268
MECHANIC 268

MEDDLE 268
MEDICAL 269
MEDICAL - PARAPHERNALIA
269
MEDICINE 269
MEEKNESS 270
MEETING 270
MENSES 270
MENTAL 270
MENTION 271
MIDDLE 271
MILITARY 271
MILK 271
MIMIC 271
MISCHIEF 271
MODERN 271
MONEY 272


list of themes
MONEY - LACKING 276
MONEY - NEGATIVE 277
MONEY - SOURCE 277
MOTIVATION 277
MOTIVES 277
MOTORCYCLES 277
MOUTH 277
MOVEMENT 278
MOVEMENT - LACKING 278
MOVEMENT - STYLE 278

MOVIES 278
MUCUS 279
MURDER 279
MUSCLE 281
MUSCLES 281
MUSIC 282
MUSTACHE 284
NAIVETE 285
NAKEDNESS 285
NASTY 286
NAVEL 287
NECK 287
NEGOTIATION 287
NEIGHBORHOOD 287
NEW 287
NEWS 287
NEWSPAPER 287
NICKNAME 287
NIGHT 288
NO 288
NOISE 288
NONFUNCTIONING 289
NONINTELLECTUAL 289
NONSENSE 289
NONSENSE - LACKING 292
NOSE 292
NOTHING 292
NUMBER 292
NUPTIALS 293
OATHS 294

OBEDIENCE 294
OBLIGATION 294
OBSCENE 294
OBSERVATION 295
OBSESSION 292
OBSTRUCTION 296
OBTAIN 296
OBVIOUS 296
OCCUPATION 296
OCEAN 296
ODOR 297
OFFENDED 297
OFFICER 297
OLD 297
OLD-FASHIONED 297
OPINION 298
OPPORTUNITY 298
OPPOSITION 298
ORDINARY 299

ORGANIZATION 299
OVERWHELM 300
PACIFIER 302
PAIN 302
PANIC 302
PARADOX 302
PARODY 302
PARTY 302
PARTY - DRINKING 303
PARTY - DRUGS 304

PASS 304
PASSENGER 304
PAST 304
PATIENCE 304
PAUSE 304
PAWNSHOP 304
PEACE 304
PENIS 304
PEOPLE 305
PEOPLE - AMERINDIAN 305
PEOPLE - ATTRACTIVE 305
PEOPLE - BLACK 306
PEOPLE - COLD 306
PEOPLE - CRAZY 306
PEOPLE - DULL 306
PEOPLE - EARLY 307
PEOPLE - EAST ASIAN 307
PEOPLE - FAT 307
PEOPLE - FOOLISH 308
PEOPLE - FRIEND 308
PEOPLE - GOOD 308
PEOPLE - IMPORTANT 309
PEOPLE - MALE 310
PEOPLE - MEEK 310
PEOPLE - MIXED 311
PEOPLE - MODERN 311
PEOPLE - NEGATIVE 311
PEOPLE - NEW 318
PEOPLE - OLD 318
PEOPLE - SAD 318

PEOPLE - SEX 318
PEOPLE - SHORT 318
PEOPLE - SILLY 318
PEOPLE - SMALL 319
PEOPLE - STRANGE 319
PEOPLE - STUBBORN 320
PEOPLE - STUPID 320
PEOPLE - TALL 326
PEOPLE - THIN 326
PEOPLE - UGLY 32
PEOPLE - UNIMPORTANT
327
PEOPLE - VULGAR 327
PEOPLE - WHITE 328
PEOPLE - WORTHLESS 328
PEOPLE - YOUNG 329
PERCEPTION - LACKING 329
PERFORMANCE 329
PERHAPS 330

PERMANENCE 330
PERMISSION 330
PERSISTENCE 330
PERSONAL 330
PERSUASION 330
PHOTOGRAPHY 331
PIECES 331
PIG 331
PIMPLES 331
PLACE See LOCATION 256

PLACEMENT 332
PLANNING 332
PLAY 332
PLEASANT 332
PLEASURE 332
POLICE 333
POLICE - PARAPHERNALIA
337
POLITENESS 337
POLITICIANS 337
POLITICS 338
PONDEROUS 338
POPULAR 338
PORNOGRAPHY 338
PORTION 339
POSITION 339
POSTERIOR 339
POVERTY 339
POWER 339
POWER - ALCOHOL 340
PRAISE 340
PRANK See TRICK 416
PRECISION 340
PREDICTION 340
PREDICTION - LACKING
340
PREFERENCE 341
PREGNANCY 341
PREPARATION 341
PREPARATION - LACKING

342
PRESENTATION 342
PRESSURE 342
PRESSURE - REDUCE 343
PREVIEW 343
PRICE See COST 79
PRIDE 343
PRISON See JAIL 245
PRIVACY 343
PRIVATE 343
PROBLEM 343
PRODUCING 344
PRODUCT 344
PROFESSOR 344
PROJECT 344
PROMOTION 344
PROSTITUTION 345
PROXIMITY 346
PUBLICATION 346

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ntc’s thematic dictionary of american slang
PUBLICITY See PROMOTION
344
PUNISHMENT 346
PUNISHMENT - LACKING
348
PURSUIT 348

PUZZLE 348
QUALITATIVE 349
QUALITY 349
QUANTITATIVE 349
QUESTION 349
QUIT 349
RACING 351
RADAR 351
RADIO See AUDIO 35,
BROADCASTING 45
RAIN 351
RARELY 351
READY 351
REALITY 351
REALITY - LACKING 351
REASON - LACKING 351
RECIPROCITY 352
RECOVERY 352
REDHEAD 352
REDUCTION 352
REFRESHING 352
REFUSAL 352
REJECTION 352
RELATIONSHIP 353
RELAX 353
RELEASE 354
RELIGION 354
REMAIN 354
REMIND 354
REMOVAL 354

REPELLENT 355
REPETITION 355
REPORTER 355
REPUTATION 355
REQUEST 355
RESCUE 355
RESENTMENT 355
RESERVE 356
RESIDENT 356
RESISTANCE 356
RESPECT 356
RESPONSE 356
RESPONSIBILITY 356
RESPONSIBILITY - LACKING
356
RESPONSIBLE 356
RESTAURANT 357
RESULTS 357
REVEAL 358
REVERSAL 359
REWARD 359
RIDDANCE 359
RIDICULE 359

xvi

RISK See DANGER 90
ROCKETS 359
ROMANCE 359
ROUTE 360

RUDE 360
RUDENESS 360
RUINATION 361
RULES 362
RURAL 362
SADNESS See DEPRESSION
104
SAFETY 364
SAILOR 364
SALARY See EARN 146
SAMENESS 364
SAMPLE 364
SANITY 364
SARCASM 364
SATAN 364
SATISFACTORY 364
SAVINGS 365
SCANDAL 365
SCARS 365
SCHEDULE See LIST 256
SCHEME 366
SCHOOL 366
SCOLDING 367
SCRUTINY 368
SEARCH 368
SECRECY 368
SECURE 369
SEDUCTION 369
SELF 369
SEPARATION 370

SEQUENCE 370
SERIOUSNESS 370
SEX 370
SEX - DISPLAY 371
SHARING 371
SHIP 371
SHOCK 372
SHOES 372
SICKNESS 372
SIGNAL 373
SIGNATURE 374
SILENCE 374
SILENT 374
SILLINESS 375
SINCERITY 375
SINGER 375
SIREN 375
SITTING 375
SIZE 376
SKATEBOARD 376
SKILL 376
SKILL - LACKING 377
SKIN 377
SKULL 377
SKUNK 377

SKY 377
SLANG 377
SLEEP 377
SMELL See ODOR 297

SMILE 378
SNOBBISH See
HAUGHTINESS 206
SNOW 378
SOBRIETY 379
SOCIAL 379
SOCIETY 380
SOFT 380
SOLDIER 380
SOLUTION 380
SOMEONE 381
SORRY 381
SPEECH 381
SPEECH - LACKING 381
SPEECH - LOUD 381
SPEED 381
SPEED - LACKING 382
SPENDING 383
SPORTS 383
SPORTS - BASEBALL 384
SPORTS - BASKETBALL 385
SPORTS - BOXING 386
SPORTS - FOOTBALL 386
SPORTS - GOLF 386
SPORTS - SKIING 386
SPORTS - VOLLEYBALL 386
SPOUSE 386
SPYING 386
START See BEGINNINGS 39
STATISTICS 387

STEREO See AUDIO 35
STEROIDS 387
STIMULANT 387
STINGY 387
STINK See ODOR 297
STOMACH 387
STOPPING 388
STORE 389
STORE - LIQUOR 389
STORY 389
STRANGE 389
STRAW 390
STRENGTH See POWER 339,
STRONG 390
STRONG 390
STUBBORNNESS 390
STUDENT 390
STUDY 391
STUN 392
STUNT 392
STUPIDITY 392
SUBMARINE 393
SUBSTITUTE 393
SUBTLE 393
SUBURB 393


list of themes
SUCCESS 393
SUDDEN 35

SUFFERING 395
SUGAR 395
SUITABLE 395
SUNBURN 395
SUNGLASSES 395
SUNSHINE 396
SUPERIORITY 396
SURFING 396
SURPASS See OVERWHELM
300
SURPRISE 396
SURRENDER 397
SURVIVAL 397
SURVIVAL - LACKING 397
SUSPICION 397
SWIMMING 397
SYMBOL 397
SYMBOL - DEATH 398
SYMBOL - GUILT 398
SYMPATHY 398
TALKING 399
TARGET 400
TASTE 400
TATTLING 400
TAVERN 401
TAXI 402
TEASING 402
TECHNOLOGY 402
TEENAGER 402
TEETH 403

TELEPHONE 403
TELEVISION 403
TEMPERATURE 404
TEMPORARY 404
TESTICLES 404
TESTING 404
THANKS See GRATITUDE
199
THEFT 405
THERMOSTAT 406
THIEF 406
THIGHS 407
THING 407
THINKING 407
THREATENING 408
THRILL 408
THUNDERSTORM 408
TICKETS 408
TIGHT 408
TIME 408
TIME - LONG 409
TIME - MAXIMUM 409
TIME - PERIOD 409
TIME - SHORT 409
TIME - SLEEP 409
TIME - THEN 409
TIRES 409

TOAST 409
TOBACCO 410

TOBACCO - PARAPHERNALIA
412
TOILET 412
TOILET - PARAPHERNALIA
414
TOILET - USE 414
TOLERANT 414
TOOL 414
TORNADO 414
TOTALITY 414
TOUCH 414
TOUGH See MEAN 268
TOUPEE See WIG 442
TOURIST 414
TRANSFER 415
TRANSPORTATION 415
TRAP 415
TRAVEL 415
TRICK 416
TRIVIAL 416
TROUBLE 416
TRUCK 417
TRUCK - EXCREMENT 417
TRUCK - FOOD 417
TRUST 418
TRUTH 418
TRY 418
TWO 419
TYPING 419
UGLINESS 420

UNAVAILABLE 420
UNAWARE See AWARENESS LACKING 37
UNCERTAINTY 420
UNCONSCIOUSNESS 420
UNDECIDED See
INDECISION 216
UNDERSTANDING 421
UNDERSTANDING - LACKING
422
UNDESIRABLE 422
UNEXPECTED 424
UNFAIR 424
UNFASHIONABLE 425
UNIMPORTANT 425
UNINTERESTED 425
UNIQUENESS 425
UNKNOWN 425
UNORIGINAL 425
UNPLEASANT 425
UNSYNCHRONIZED 425
UNUSUAL See STRANGE
389
UPROAR 426
UPSET 426
URINATION 426
VACATION 427

VALUE 427
VAN 427
VANDALISM 427

VEINS 427
VERY 427
VICTIM 427
VIOLENCE 428
VIRILITY 432
VISIBILITY - LACKING 432
VISION 432
VOCABULARY 432
VOICE 435
VOMIT 432
VULGAR 436
WAITING 437
WALKING 4377
WAR 437
WARNING 437
WASTE 438
WASTE - TIME 438
WATCH 439
WEALTH 439
WEAPONRY 440
WEATHER See COLD 63,
HEAT 207, WIND 443
WHAT 441
WHERE 442
WHO 442
WIG 442
WILDNESS 442
WIN See DEFEAT 99,
OVERWHELM 300
WIND 443

WOMAN 443
WOMAN - ATTRACTIVE 443
WOMAN - COLD 444
WOMAN - FAT 444
WOMAN - FRIEND 444
WOMAN - GOOD 444
WOMAN - IMPORTANT 445
WOMAN - MEEK 445
WOMAN - NEGATIVE 445
WOMAN - OLD 445
WOMAN - SEX 445
WOMAN - STUPID 446
WOMAN - TALL 446
WOMAN - UGLY 446
WORK 446
WORN 447
WORRY 447
WORTHLESSNESS 448
WRITING 448
WRITING - PARAPHERNALIA
448
WRONG 448
YES 450
YIELD 451
YOUTH 451
ZIPPER 452

xvii

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A
ABANDONMENT
ditch tr. to dispose of someone or something; to abandon someone or something. ᮀ The crooks ditched the car and
continued on foot. ᮀ The flyboy ditched
the plane in the lake and waded ashore.
drop someone or something like a hot
potato tr. to disassociate oneself from
someone or something instantly. ᮀ
When we learned of the conviction, we
dropped him like a hot potato. ᮀ I
dropped the idea like a hot potato.
high and dry mod. abandoned; unsupported. (Like a ship beached or stranded
ashore.) ᮀ He went off and left me high
and dry. ᮀ Here I sit high and dry—no
food, no money, no nothing.
walk in. to walk out on someone. ᮀ
They had a big fight, and he walked. ᮀ
Much more of this and I’m going to walk.
ABBREVIATIONS
See also computer - abbreviation.
alphabet soup n. initialisms and acronyms in general. ᮀ The names of these
government offices are just alphabet soup.
ᮀ Just look at the telephone book! You
can’t find anything because it’s filled with
alphabet soup.
LBO n. “leveraged buy-out.” (Initialism.
Securities markets.) ᮀ The money used

for the LBO came from the issuance of
junk bonds. ᮀ Ms. Boone specializes in
LBOs. She’s made a fortune at it.
ABILITY
able to cut something phr. able to manage or execute something. (Often negative.) ᮀ He’s not able to cut his responsibilities like we thought. ᮀ We thought he
could cut it. ᮀ Do you think you’re able
to cut it?

have what it takes tr. to have the skills,
power, intelligence, etc., to do something. (Have got can replace have.) ᮀ I
know I’ve got what it takes. ᮀ I guess I
don’t have what it takes to be a composer.
ABSENCE
AWOL mod. “absent without leave”; escaped from prison or from the military.
(Acronym or initialism.) ᮀ The kid the
cops picked up was AWOL. He’s had it. ᮀ
If I don’t get back to the base, they’re going to think I’m AWOL.
ditch tr. & in. to skip or evade someone
or something. ᮀ Pete ditched class today.
ᮀ If you ditch too often, they’ll throw you
out of the organization.
play hooky tr. to not go to school; to not
keep an appointment. ᮀ I played hooky
today and did not go to work. ᮀ Tommy
is probably playing hooky from school
again.
ABSOLUTELY
for sure phr. “absolutely.” ᮀ I’ll be there,
for sure. ᮀ Am I happy? For sure!
out-and-out mod. complete or total;

blatant. ᮀ Fred was an out-and-out liar.
ᮀ Don’t be such an out-and-out stinker!
ABSTINENCE
take the pledge tr. to promise to abstain
from beverage alcohol. ᮀ I’m not ready
to take the pledge yet, but I will cut down.
ᮀ My aunt tried to get me to take the
pledge.
tote n. someone who abstains from alcohol. (From teetotal.) ᮀ I’m not a tote,
but I do have a limit—rather low by your
standards. ᮀ Have a drink, or are you still
a tote?
1

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abundance
ABUNDANCE
bellyful n. more than enough; more
than one needs. ᮀ I’ve had a bellyful of
your excuses. ᮀ You’ve given us all a bellyful. Now, good night.
chock-full mod. totally full. ᮀ The new
musical is just chock-full of laughs. ᮀ The
trunk is chock-full. There’s no more room.
coming out of one’s ears mod. in great
abundance. ᮀ Mr. Wilson has money
coming out of his ears. ᮀ Borrow some
paper from Chuck. He’s got it coming out
of his ears.

crawling with someone or something
mod. covered with someone or something; alive with someone or something.
ᮀ The place was crawling with police and
F.B.I. agents. ᮀ The room was just crawling with ants.
fat mod. well supplied with something;
having an overabundance of something.
ᮀ When it comes to printer paper, this
place is fat. ᮀ We’re fat with paper, but
there’s not a ribbon in sight.
go off the deep end in. to do or experience something in the extreme: to fall
madly in love, to go crazy, to commit
suicide, to fly into a rage, etc. ᮀ John is
completely in love with Mary and wants
to marry her. I was afraid he would go off
the deep end, and he did. ᮀ Sally was so
depressed that we had to watch her day
and night so she wouldn’t go off the deep
end. ᮀ I saw what he had done, and I just
went off the deep end. I was in a blind rage
and didn’t know what I was doing.
go overboard in. to do far more than is
necessary. ᮀ He has a tendency to go
overboard at these parties. ᮀ Now, don’t
go overboard for us. We’re just folks.
jampacked and jam-packed mod. full.
ᮀ This day has been jampacked with surprises. ᮀ The box was jam-packed with
goodies.
knee-deep in something mod. having
lots of something. ᮀ We are knee-deep in
orders and loving it. ᮀ Right now, we are

knee-deep in trouble.
no end of something n. an endless supply of something. ᮀ Have some candy. I
2

have no end of chocolate drops. ᮀ I’ve had
no end of trouble ever since I bought this
car.
out the gazoo phr. in great plenty;
everywhere. (Gazoo = anus. Potentially
offensive. Use only with discretion.) ᮀ
We have old magazines out the gazoo here.
Can’t we throw some of them away? ᮀ Go
away. I have problems out the gazoo. I
don’t need any more of them from you!
overkill n. too much. ᮀ That is enough.
Any more is just overkill. ᮀ Your policy
of overkill is wasteful and expensive.
scads n. lots (of something). ᮀ I have
just scads and scads of paper. ᮀ Aunt
Mary has scads of money.
swimming in something in. having lots
of something. ᮀ Right now we are swimming in merchandise. In a month it will
be gone. ᮀ The Wilmington-Thorpes are
just swimming in money.
up to one’s eyeballs and up to one’s
ears mod. filled up with something. ᮀ
She’s up to her ears in marriage proposals.
ᮀ We’re up to our eyeballs in spare parts.
up to one’s knees mod. deep in something, such as paperwork or water. ᮀ
We’re up to our knees with orders and getting more all the time. ᮀ The orders are

up to our knees.
up to one’s neck mod. filled up with
something. ᮀ I am up to my neck in other
people’s grief and anguish. ᮀ We are all
up to our necks in your problems.
ABUSED
been had and was had phr. been mistreated, cheated, or dealt with badly. ᮀ
Look at this shirt! I was had! ᮀ I’ve been
had by that lousy gyp joint.
black and blue mod. bruised, physically
or emotionally. ᮀ I’m still black and blue
from my divorce. ᮀ What is that black
and blue area on your leg?
chewed mod. abused. ᮀ After that argument at the office yesterday, I really felt
chewed. ᮀ After an interview like that, I
am too chewed to even cry.


acceptance
ACCELERATOR
hammer n. the accelerator of a vehicle.
ᮀ She pressed down the hammer, and off
they went. ᮀ The hammer went straight
to the floor.
ACCEPTANCE
bite the bullet tr. to accept something
difficult and try to live with it. ᮀ You are
just going to have to bite the bullet and
make the best of it. ᮀ Jim bit the bullet
and accepted what he knew had to be.

eat something up tr. to believe something. ᮀ Those people really eat that stuff
up about tax reduction. ᮀ They’ll eat up
almost anything you tell them.
face the music tr. to receive the rebuke
that is due one. ᮀ You had better go in
and face the music now. ᮀ You have to
face the music eventually.
get in the groove in. to become attuned
to something. ᮀ I was uncomfortable at
first, but now I’m beginning to get in the
groove. ᮀ Fred began to get in the groove,
and things went more smoothly.
go down in. to be accepted. ᮀ We’ll just
have to wait awhile to see how all this goes
down. ᮀ The proposal didn’t go down
very well with the manager.
go with the flow and go with it in. to
cope with adversity; to accept one’s lot.
ᮀ No, just relax and go with the flow. ᮀ
Go with it. Don’t fight it.
If you can’t stand the heat, keep out of
the kitchen. sent. “If you cannot accept
the problems of involvement, do not get
involved.” ᮀ Yes, it’s difficult to be a candidate. If you can’t stand the heat, keep
out of the kitchen. ᮀ Relax. If you can’t
stand the heat, keep out of the kitchen.
I’m there! sent. “I will accept your invitation and I will be there.” ᮀ Sounds
like it will be a great rally. I’m there! ᮀ If
you and Tom are going to get together and
watch the game, I’m there!

Like it or lump it! exclam. “Give up!”;
“Shut up!”; “Accept it or go away!” ᮀ If
you don’t want to do it my way, like it or
lump it! ᮀ Too bad! Like it or lump it!
Shit happens. interj. “Bad things just
happen.” (Potentially offensive. Use only

with discretion.) ᮀ Tough luck, but shit
happens. ᮀ Shit happens. There’s nothing that can be done about it.
swallow tr. to believe or accept something. ᮀ Did they actually swallow that?
ᮀ Nobody’s gonna swallow that nonsense.
take one’s lumps tr. to accept the result
or punishment one deserves. ᮀ You’ve
got to learn to take your lumps if you’re
going to be in politics. ᮀ I hate taking my
lumps. I’d rather pretend nothing had
happened.
take the spear (in one’s chest) tr. to accept full blame for something; to accept
the full brunt of the punishment for
something. ᮀ The admiral got the short
straw and had to take the spear in his
chest. ᮀ I sure didn’t want to take the
spear.
That’s the way the ball bounces. sent.
“That is life.”; “That is the random way
things happen.” ᮀ It’s tough, I know, but
that’s the way the ball bounces. ᮀ That’s
the way the ball bounces. It could be
worse.
That’s the way the cookie crumbles.

sent. “That is life.”; “That is typical of
the unequal share of things you are
likely to get in life.” ᮀ I lost my job. Oh,
well. That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
ᮀ Oh, gee! Too bad. That’s the way the
cookie crumbles.
That’s the way the mop flops. sent.
“This is the way things happen.”; “This
is typical of the random patterns of
events.” (Contrived.) ᮀ Sorry to hear
about that, but that’s the way the mop
flops. ᮀ That’s tough, but that’s the way
the mop flops.
the way it plays phr. the way it is; the
way things are. ᮀ The world is a rough
place, and that’s the way it plays. ᮀ It’s
tough, but it’s the way it plays.
tough luck and tough cookies interj.
“That is too bad.” ᮀ Tough luck, but
that’s the way the cookie crumbles. ᮀ
That’s too bad, tough cookies.
warts and all mod. even with the flaws.
ᮀ It’s a great performance—warts and all.
3


accident
ᮀ Yes, we admire each other very much,
warts and all.
whatever turns you on phr. “It’s all

right if it excites you or interests you.”
(Said originally about sexual matters.)
ᮀ You really like pickled pigs’ feet? Whatever turns you on. ᮀ I can’t stand that
kind of music, but whatever turns you on.
What the heck! exclam. “It doesn’t matter!” (Often with the force of an exclamation.) ᮀ Oh, what the heck! Come on
in. It doesn’t matter. ᮀ Oh, what the heck!
I’ll have another beer. Nobody’s counting.

ACCIDENT
accidentally-on-purpose mod. deliberate, but meant to look like an accident.
ᮀ Then I accidentally-on-purpose spilled
water on him. ᮀ I knew it was done accidentally-on-purpose. That kind of thing
doesn’t just happen.
beef in. to crack up and get injured as in
a skateboard accident. ᮀ Chuck beefed
and wrecked his elbow. ᮀ Be careful or
you’ll beef!
crack up in. to have a wreck. ᮀ The
plane cracked up and killed two of the
passengers. ᮀ Whose car cracked up on
the expressway?
crack-up n. an accident; a wreck. ᮀ
There was a terrible crack-up on the expressway. ᮀ There were four cars in the
crack-up.
fender-bender n. a minor accident. ᮀ
There are a couple of fender-benders on
the expressway this morning, so be careful. ᮀ A minor fender-bender blocked
traffic for a while.
fishtail in. [for the rear of a car] to whip
back and forth like a fish moving its tail.

ᮀ The Caddy fishtailed on the curb and
almost spun around. ᮀ It’s easy to fishtail in wet weather.
pileup n. a wreck; a vehicular crash
where more than one vehicle is heavily
damaged. ᮀ There is a serious pileup on
the expressway. ᮀ My car was ruined in
a pileup on the highway.
pratfall n. a fall on the buttocks; a stage
fall on the buttocks. ᮀ I took a pratfall
right on the sidewalk. ᮀ If you want to
4

be in musical comedy, you should learn to
take a pratfall.
rear-ender and back-ender n. an automobile wreck where one car runs into
the back of another. ᮀ It wasn’t a bad accident, just a rear-ender. ᮀ My neck was
hurt in a back-ender.
wash out in. to have a serious wreck. ᮀ
The little car washed out on the curve. ᮀ
The vehicles have a tendency to wash out
when cornering.
wipe out in. to crash. ᮀ I wiped out on
the curve. ᮀ The car wiped out on the
curve.
wipe out in. to fall off or away from
something, such as a bicycle, skates, a
surfboard, a skateboard, etc. ᮀ I wiped
out and skinned my knee. ᮀ If I wipe out
again, my mother says I’m through.
wipe-out 1. n. a wreck. ᮀ There was a

four-car wipe-out on the expressway when
I came in this morning. ᮀ It was a pretty
serious wipe-out, but no one was killed. 2.
n. an accident on a bicycle, skates, surfboard, skateboard, etc. ᮀ I had a nasty
wipe-out, but I only bruised my elbow. ᮀ
That last wipe-out wrecked my bike.
wrap one’s car around something tr. to
drive one’s car into something at fairly
high speed. ᮀ She wrapped her car
around a light pole. ᮀ If he hadn’t
wrapped his car around a tree, he’d be
here to read his own poetry tonight.
ACCOST
buttonhole tr. to accost someone; to
make someone listen to one. (As if grabbing someone by the coat lapel to keep
him from getting away.) ᮀ The guy buttonholed me on my way out, and started
asking me a lot of questions. ᮀ See if you
can buttonhole a cop and get some directions.
ACCOUNTANT
bean-counter n. a statistician; an accountant. ᮀ When the bean-counters get
finished with the numbers, you won’t recognize them. ᮀ The bean-counters predict
a recession sometime in the next decade.
number-cruncher n. someone who
works with figures; an accountant. ᮀ


addiction
The number-crunchers are trying to get
the annual report ready. ᮀ I enjoy being
a number-cruncher. Math doesn’t scare

me.
ACHIEVEMENT
See also success.
do the trick tr. to do exactly what is
needed. ᮀ This about does the trick. ᮀ
Does this little dudenwhacker do the trick?
hit tr. to reach something; to achieve
something. ᮀ The car hit ninety in no
time at all. ᮀ I hit sixty next month, and
I’m going to retire.
in the bag mod. achieved. ᮀ It’s in the
bag—as good as done. ᮀ The election is
in the bag unless the voters find out about
my past.
make it tr. to achieve one’s goals. ᮀ I can
see by looking around this room that you
have really made it. ᮀ I hope I make it
someday. But if not, I tried.
pull something off tr. to make something happen. ᮀ I didn’t think he could
pull it off. ᮀ It takes a lot of skill to pull
off something like that.
swing tr. to bring something off; to execute a deal. ᮀ This is a very important
deal. I hope I can swing it. ᮀ They want
to elect me president of the club. I hope
they can swing it.
ACQUIESCENCE
You’re the doctor. sent. “I will do anything you say!”; “You are in charge!” ᮀ
I’ll do it if you say. You’re the doctor! ᮀ
Put it over here. Okay, you’re the doctor.
ACTIVITY

bit n. any part of an act; any business
or presentation. ᮀ I didn’t like that bit
concerning penalties. ᮀ Now, in this next
bit, you are to move center stage.
get off the dime in. [for something or
someone] to start moving. (To get off
the dime that one stopped on in “stop
on a dime.”) ᮀ I wish this organization
could get off the dime. ᮀ If this project
gets off the dime, we’ll be okay.

ACTOR
ham n. an actor; a bad actor. ᮀ What a
ham! A real show-off. ᮀ The cast was an
assemblage of hams.
ADDICTION
candied mod. addicted to cocaine. ᮀ
Unfortunately, Paul is candied, and he lost
his job so he can’t buy toot. ᮀ He is one
of those people who gets candied at first
snort.
flaky mod. habituated to the use of cocaine. ᮀ He looks a little flaky. Look at his
eyes and nose. ᮀ Max is flaky. He’s a
walking advertisement for what he sells.
graduate in. to move from casual drug
use to addiction. ᮀ Gert graduated to
smack after only a year of skin-popping.
ᮀ Pete graduated and went into treatment
all in the same month.
habit n. an addiction to a drug. ᮀ She

has to steal to support her habit. ᮀ There
are many treatment programs to help with
drug habits.
have a monkey on one’s back tr. to have
a drug addiction. ᮀ Gert has a monkey
on her back. ᮀ Do you think she wants to
have a monkey on her back?
hook tr. to addict someone (to something). (Not necessarily drugs.) ᮀ The
constant use of bicarb hooked him on the
stuff. ᮀ The pot hooked him.
hooked (on something) mod. addicted
to something, such as drugs. ᮀ Gert is
hooked on horse. ᮀ Everybody knows she
is hooked.
jones n. a drug habit; drug addiction. ᮀ
That jones is really riding that guy. ᮀ He’s
got a real bad jones with that dust.
kick the habit tr. to voluntarily end any
habit or custom, especially a drug habit.
ᮀ She tried and tried to kick the habit. ᮀ
It’s hard to kick the habit.
mickey mouse habit n. a trivial drug
habit. ᮀ Nothing to it. Just a little mickey
mouse habit. I can stop any time I want.
ᮀ I don’t care if it is a mickey mouse
habit. It’s a habit, and it’s illegal.
monkey n. a drug addiction. ᮀ That
monkey of mine is getting hungry again.
5