Slang words and phrases in English

Slang is a type of language consisting of words and phrases that:

- are considered to be very informal
- are more common in speech than in writing
- are typically restricted to a particular group of people or context

Slang may be all things to all people. According to the American poet Carl Sandburg (1878-1967), slang is "language which takes off its coat, spits on its hands - and goes to work." The Concise Oxford Dictionary is more prosaic: "words, phrases, and uses that are regarded as very informal and are often restricted to special contexts or are peculiar to a specified profession, class, etc (racing slang; schoolboy slang)."

The problem for learners of English is to know when or when not to use slang. Many people condemn slang, but in fact we all use it. The trick is to use slang in the right context. For the learner, perhaps the first thing to remember is that slang is normally spoken, not written. The second thing is that you may wish to learn slang so that you can understand it when you hear it, but not necessarily to use it.

The origin of the word "slang" is unknown.

Offensive slang

These words should be used with care. Although they are not particularly "hot", they can be offensive to the person they are applied to. For example, if you call somebody an "airhead", that person could be insulted although anybody listening would not be shocked.

Vulgar slang

Vulgar slang words should be used with extreme care. In general we recommend that non-native speakers do not use this language. If used inappropriately, you could easily shock both the person you are talking to and anyone listening. You could cause resentment and anger.

Taboo slang

In general, taboo words are the most shocking in the language and should be avoided. We recommend that non-native speakers do not use this language. As with vulgar slang, you could easily shock both the person you are talking to and anyone listening. You could cause extreme resentment and anger, with unpredictable results.

IF you have travelled in a Fat Albert or relaxed in a gonkbag then you have probably been in the Army.

Fat Albert is the slang term soldiers use for a Hercules troop transport plane and a gonkbag is their name for a sleeping bag.

Many groups of like-minded people use their own lingo that baffles outsiders.

Slang guide for different groups

Hip-hop to it ... learn the slang of different groups

Hip-hop

Aight – All right.

Audi 5000 – Out of here, leaving (I'm Audi 5000 comes from the name of the car – it got recalled).

Boo – Girlfriend, boyfriend.

Cheese – Money.

Dipped – Dressed in the latest fashions.

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Hooptie – Old dilapidated car.

Jone – Provoke, make fun of.

Lunch – Act awkwardly.

Mack – Ladies' man.

Props – Respects.

Road dog – Good friend.

Shorty – Attractive person.

Smell – Understand, e.g. Ya smell me?

Wordsmith – Rapper.

Prison

Bagel – £10 wrap of heroin.

Body bags – Senior female officer.

Caser – Officer who is always reporting prisoners.

Depth charge – Prison puddings.

Dry bath – Searched when naked.

Full moon – Twelve month prison sentence.

Ghosted out – Prisoner moved without warning.

Haircut – Short sentence.

Mufti – Riot squad.

Noddy suit – Coloured prison tracksuit.

Put the bubble in – Inform on another prisoner.

Scooby doo – Prison officer.

Two'd up – Two prisoners sharing a cell.

Military

Ack ack – Anti-aircraft fire.

Admiral's Mate – Know all.

Bang box – Gun turret.

Beaded – Worried.

Bravo Zulu – Well done.

Cabbage commando – Chef.

Custard – Rifle.

Full screw – Corporal.

Grollies – Underwear.

Hang on the slack – Wait for something to happen.

Jankers – Time in military prison.

Mae West – Inflatable life jacket.

Milk run – Routine mission.

Play pussy – Hide in the clouds.

Snottie – Midshipman.

Stag – Guard duty.

Up the line – On leave.

Police

100-yard hero – Person happy to abuse the police from a distance.

Back door – Nearest pub to the police station.

Big House – Prison.

Canteen cowboy – Officer who knows it all.

Drum – Place to be raided.

End – Share of crime proceeds.

Face – Known villain.

Factory – Police station.

Ghosties – Police team that breaks through doors.

Gravel rash – Accidental damage to face of a prisoner when taken to ground.

Olympic flame – Officer who never goes out.

Onion – Sergeant (rhyming slang, onion bhaji – sargie)

Word on the street ... what the kids are saying these days

Playground

Bait – Blatantly obvious.

Bare – Hard, as in "that test was bare hard".

Brainfart – When you have forgotten what you're saying.

Chat breeze – Talk rubbish.

Cotch – Relax, chill out.

Durbrain – Stupid person.

Hench – Big and strong.

Kev – Another word for chav.

Merk – Beat up.

My bad – Personal mistake.

Randomer – Stranger.

Rinse – Play a song repeatedly.

ROFL – Roll On the Floor Laughing. Used in chatrooms (often sarcastically) when something funny is said.

Roll deep – Hang out with a large group of people.

Tank ass – Big bum.