I know that I'm using these in my writing, so I'll attempt to define the ones that I use. If there's any that you would like defined or explained, please make a comment and I will add it to the list.
- all rolled into one -- combined together
- awesome -- amazing, fantastic, wonderful
- back-handed comment/compliment -- an insult that is disguised as a compliment
- to backstab (someone) -- to betray someone without them knowing, often bringing harm to the betrayed
- to bad mouth (someone) -- to criticize or disparage someone, often in a spiteful or unfair way
- to be after someone -- this can be taken is two ways, (1) that you are next in line, or (2) that you are pursuing someone because you're interested in dating him/her
- big/small deal -- full of/with little meaning and/or importance
- to bite (someone's) head off -- to yell fiercely at someone while angry
- to bite (someone's) tongue -- to not say something that you really want to say
- to blow off steam -- to release anger or stress, by speaking or doing some activity. To vent.
- the body wasn't even cold (yet) -- a term that is used when a relationship has ended; it can either refer to one of the people in the relationship then pursuing a new relationship with someone else, or a third person pursuing a new relationship with one of the two people that just left the old relationship
- bombed -- failed very badly
- to book (something) -- to reserve (such as a hotel room, banquet hall or rental car)
- boy crazy -- a state of mind where a girl will develop an infatuation on practically any boy she meets
- bromance -- close relationship between two male friends
- to bug (someone) -- to annoy someone
- to be bummed -- feeling very discouraged about something
- burn/burned -- this can be in a physical or metaphorical way; someone can be burned, where they have physically hurt themselves because of heat or fire, or it can be where someone is insulted in a way that it is felt physically, even though no physical contact happens
- (a) bunch -- can have more than one meaning: (1) a bunch of bananas, meaning specifically the cluster of bananas that you purchase at the market; (2) a bunch of (something), meaning a group of something; (3) to do something a bunch, meaning to do something many times
- burned out -- exhausted, tired of doing something to the point that you don't want to do it anymore
- to butt in -- to interfere in something, often in an unwelcome way
- can't keep his pants on -- someone who should shouldn't be having sex but does, often; used in a disparaging manner toward the philanderer
- the cat is out of the bag -- a secret is exposed, often in a way that has many repercussions with it; comes from the idea of stuffing a cat in a sack to where it becomes very angry for being left in there and how hostile, violent and noisy the cat would be once it was released
- to chime in -- to speak, adding to a conversation, whether it's welcome or not
- to chow down -- to eat, often very quickly. This probably comes from the military, where the meal is called chow. Military men have a limited time to eat, so they have to eat quickly in order to finish everything
- to chug (down) -- to drink something all in one sitting, typically very quickly
- cougar -- an older woman who likes to date men 10-15+ years younger than her
- could care less -- has no concern or interest in
- the crack of dawn -- very early in the morning, at daybreak when the sun first rises
- crap -- can have more than one meaning: (1) as in to take someone's crap, meaning enduring when someone makes things difficult for you; (2) as in cut the crap, meaning to stop doing a negative behavior, such as lying; (3) as in Oh, crap(pers), meaning something that you say when you're dreading the outcome of something; (4) as in That's crap, meaning that something is drivel, refuse, nonsense, rubbish. Crap is not a positive word and always has a negative connotation. It is a synonym for excrement or defecation.
- creeper -- When refering to a plant, it's a creeping vine that grows up walls. When refering to a person, it's describing a person who sneaks about and spies on people, usually trying to catch them with their clothes off.
- deep down -- in the inner recesses of someone, deep in your heart
- a dig -- an insult
- drop (someone) off -- drive someone to a location where s/he
- dude -- a man, a guy
- drawing a blank -- refers to when you know something but cannot think of it, not matter how much you try, like your mind went blank
- drunk -- intoxicated
- fishmonger -- someone at the market who sells fish
- fishmonger's wife -- stereotypically someone with a shrill voice who nags her husband obnoxiously
- gak -- noise which imitates the sound when someone is vomiting, implying that a situation has made me nauseated
- (get) bombed -- become very intoxicated
- (get) busted (for) -- someone is exposed in the wrong that they are committing; comes from a law enforcement situation, when someone is caught and arrested, they are described as being busted
- get down to business - become serious and start working in a focused and driven manner
- (someone) gets theirs -- the person, who has done many evil things to others, finally has evil things happen to them; it's the punishment they deserve for what they're done
- give (someone) a hard time -- make someone feel badly about something
- go all out - give an effort everything that you can, do as much as you can do
- going out with -- typically this means dating, but it can also mean going to dinner and/or entertainment with someone
- grow on (someone) -- to gradually come to like something
- hang out (some place) -- can have more than one meaning: (1) to loiter in an area, (2) to spend time with someone with no real activity planned or accomplished
- hard core -- can have more than one meaning: (1) someone who is the most active, committed, or dogmatic in a group or movement; (2) someone who is dedicated, intensely loyal and resilient; (3) someone/thing that is intense and resistant to change; (4) willing to do anything to achieve an objective
- have enough -- to be so tired of dealing with something that you are at the point that you will quit
- hijinks -- antics, wild or playful behavior
- hitting on (someone) -- flirting with someone, indicating interest is someone (often of a sexual nature)
- in the dog house - after doing something wrong, they remain upset with you to where they don't want to see you (like you were banished to sleep in the dog house)
- jerk -- an obnoxious person worthy of contempt
- just outside (something) -- right on the edge of something, but not included or a part of that something
- keeps one's cards close to one's chest -- not revealing your thoughts or feelings to the people around you (springs from playing poker and holding your cards close to your chest so that the other players won't be able to see them
- kick butt -- when you decisively get a victory over someone else, often used in the context of a physical confrontation where the hero easily, quickly, and decisively gains a victory, typically using physical combat skills rather than simply using a weapon
- kick someone out -- make someone leave when he/she doesn't want to leave
- (knight in) shining armor -- in fairy tales, the savior of the damsel in distress is typically a knight wearing brightly polished armor who endured many troubles and hardships to achieve the rescue; for today, it means a man coming to the rescue of a woman who is facing dire circumstances
- laid back -- when someone who is calm and relaxed most of the time and is non-reactive to events
- lame -- something is pathetic to the point that it's irritating
- lend a hand - help someone (probably comes from giving someone a hand in assistance)
- living in the friend zone -- in a male/female relationship, it means that someone is seen as a friend instead of what s/he would like to be seem as, a potential mate
- to lose touch (with someone) - fail to keep in contact or communicate with someone
- making out -- kissing and touching that happens between dating people, can eventually lead to intercourse
- marathon (something) -- taken from the 26-mile race, to marathon something means that you do something many times consecutively; marathoning a k-drama means to watch many episodes of the drama consecutively without taking a break, often ignoring sleep to do so
- to kick (someone) to the curb -- to get rid of someone, most typically associated with breaking up with someone unceremoniously
- knock (someone) over with a feather -- the person is so stunned by something that you could cause them to fall over simply by tapping them with a feather
- to be knocked up -- pregnant
- to lay into (someone) -- to fiercely yell at someone; most often it is associated with yelling at someone about something they did wrong
- loony bin -- mental hospital
- to make (someone) struggle -- to cause someone to become so irritated or angry that they struggle with wanting to do violence
- to mess up -- to make a mess, to make a mistake;
- to mess (someone) up -- to beat someone up badly, to where they need medical attention
- to be messed up -- has several definitions: (1) to be in ruins; (2) unjust; (3) lacking fairness; and (4) unfortunate
- mind -- there are several ways that this is used: (1) as in I don't mind if we eat here, meaning that the speaker is willing to do an action; (2) as in mind your manners! meaning that someone needs to make sure that they are being polite and respectful; (3) as in Mind your mother! meaning that the child needs to obey his/her mother; (4) as in Mind the store, meaning taking care of a store while the regular manager is out
- nailed -- this has two different meanings, depending on how it's used. (1) He nailed him stealing the car -- to catch someone doing something wrong; (2) He nailed it! -- to do an action perfectly
- nice and obnoxious -- nice is used ironically; it means that a person is extremely obnoxious
- nosy -- someone who, unwelcomed and unasked, gets involved in someone else's affairs
- (get) on one's nerves -- to extremely annoy or bother someone to the point that you may want to hurt him/her or something
- patch things up -- after an argument has occurred, it's the work done to repair the damage to the relationship
- party-pooper -- someone who spoils all the fun
- to be passed out -- to be unconscious because of a large quantity of alcohol that has been consumed
- payback -- retribution or punishment for harm to someone else
- to piss off -- to cause someone to become very angry
- to be pissed off -- the state of being very angry
- pitch in -- provide assistance in completing a task
- play hard to get -- intentionally act as though you are not interested in dating someone, even though you are
- play (something) up -- to accentuate something, often dramatically
- to be a player -- someone who is skilled at manipulating ("playing") others, and especially at seducing sexual interests by pretending to care about them, when in reality they are only interested in sex.
- to put on the back burner -- to procrastinate, to leave something until later
- prissy -- affectedly correct, not wanting to get your hands dirty
- read (someone) -- to watch someone's body language and gestures in order to gain an understanding of what they are thinking but not saying
- rock (something) -- as in I rocked that test, meaning to do something well, excellently
- shady -- normally, this means to be shaded by something. When talking about something, as in "He's a shady character," or "it was a shady part of town," it means criminal or unscrupulous. In the context of a sentence like "This is beyond shady," where you're talking about someone's bad behavior, it means that the person's behavior is underhanded, low, dishonorable, sneaky, dodgy, and suspect.
- shiesty -- see shady
- to shift blame -- instead of taking responsibility for one's actions in the face of a mistake, a person will make it look like another person is at fault (or to blame) for the mistake
- sit right with (someone) -- you find something comfortable and agreeable, correct; when something doesn't sit right with you, it feels as though something is wrong, although you may not be certain as to what is wrong or why it is wrong
- sketchy -- something that doesn't feel right, like you're being deceived or missing something
- (get) smashed -- become very intoxicated
- (be) smooth -- excessively and often artfully suave; skilled at interacting with other people
- spill (the beans) -- to tell a secret
- stand (someone/thing) -- to tolerate
- stick it out -- to endure, persevere
- storm off -- to leave some place full of anger so that your exit is noisy
- stress (someone) out -- cause a large enough amount of stress on someone that they are overwhelmingly nervous
- (something) sucks -- is disappointing, disgusting, or annoying
- suck at (something) -- to be extremely bad at something
- take a dig at (someone) -- to insult or pester someone
- throw up -- to vomit
- (is) ticked -- to be very angry
- tons (more) -- a large number (more) or something
- to throw in the towel -- to admit defeat, to quit
- throw (someone) under the bus -- an individual's willingness to sacrifice another's future and recognition for one's own gain. Blatant disregard for another's well-being. Betrayal. To intentionally reveal damaging or unflattering information about another's character or transpired event, while at the same time trying to make themselves look good or innocent in the eyes of the listener. To shift blame or attention in a cowardly way.
- totally -- completely
- warm up to (something) -- to develop a favorable opinion of something
Last updated: 28 Jul 14
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