English slang vocabulary
 
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
 

abdabs
Noun. Terror, the frights, nerves. Often heard as the screaming abdabs. [1940s]

absobloodylutely
Adv. Absolutely.

Abysinnia!
Exclam. A jocular and intentional mispronunciation of "I`ll be seeing you!"

accidentally-on-purpose
Phrs. Seemingly accidental but with veiled malice or harm.

AC/DC
Adj. Bisexual.

ace (!)
Adj. Excellent, wonderful. Exclam. Excellent!

acid
Noun. The drug LSD. Lysergic acid diethylamide. [Orig. U.S. 1960s]

acid house
Noun. The dance music scene that pre-empted `rave` in Britain, and began the long association of `house` music and `ecstasy`.

ackers
Noun. Money. From the Egyptian akka.

action man
Noun. A man who participates in macho activities.

Adam and Eve
Verb. Believe. Cockney rhyming slang. E.g."I don`t Adam and Eve it, it`s not true!"

aerated
Adj. Over-excited. Becoming obsolete, although still heard used by older generations. Often mispronounced as aeriated.

afty
Noun. Afternoon. E.g."Are you going to watch the game this afty?" [North-west use]

agony aunt
Noun. A woman who provides answers to readers letters in a publication`s agony column. {Informal}

aggro
Noun. Aggressive troublemaking, violence, aggression. Abb. of aggravation.

airhead
Noun. A stupid person. [Orig. U.S.]

airlocked
Adj. Drunk, intoxicated. [N. Ireland use]

airy-fairy
Adj. Lacking in strength, insubstantial. {Informal}

air guitar
Noun. An imaginary guitar played by rock music fans whilst listening to their favourite tunes.

aks
Verb. To ask. E.g."I aksed him to move his car from the driveway." [dialect]

Alan Whickers
Noun. Knickers, underwear. Rhyming slang, often shortened to Alans.

alcopop
Noun. Sweet, ready-mixed fruit drinks containing alcohol. Cf. `tart fuel`. {Informal}

aled (up)
Adj. Drunk, intoxicated by alcohol, usually beer (ale).

alkie
Noun. An alcoholic. Also spelt alky.

all mod cons
Noun. All the fixtures and fittings necessary and expected - an abb. of all modern conveniences. {Informal}

all mouth and (no) trousers
Phrs. Boastful and without just reason. E.g."You shouldn`t pay any attention to him, he`s all mouth and no trousers."

all-nighter
Noun. A club night or event that goes on all night.

all over the shop
Phrs. 1. In a mess, out of order, disorganized. 2. Everywhere. E.g."I`ve been all over the shop this morning and I can`t find her anywhere."

allow (it)
Verb. Forget it, don`t bother. [London use]

all time loser
Noun. A public house, a bar. Rhyming slang on `boozer`. See `boozer`.

all to cock
Phrs. Messed up, useless, wrong.

all to pot
Phrs. Wrong, messed up. E.g."Our whole holiday went all to pot when Dad got arrested for being drunk."

almond rocks
Noun. Socks. Cockney rhyming slang, often shortened to almonds.

alright!
Exclam. Hello. A greeting. No answer is expected to what is inherently a question. Northern dialect has created the phonetic corruption awreet.

amber nectar
Noun. Lager. [Orig. Aust.]

anchors
Noun. Brakes. E.g."I slammed the anchors on and hit my head on the steering wheel."

ane
Noun. Abb. of anus.

ankle-biters
Noun. Children, particularly crawling babies. [Orig. Aust.]

anorak
Noun. An often socially inept person, having an obsessive interest in a hobby or subject. Usually has little or no fashion sense, and errs towards eccentricity. Originates from the `trainspotter` look, of wearing anoraks; spending so much time at the end of station platforms in all weathersnecessitates the wearing of such attire. Cf. `trainspotter`. Derog.

antwacky
Adj. Old fashioned. Possibly from antique(y). E.g."Oh no way! I`m not wearing those shoes, they`re so antwacky." [Merseyside/West Lancashire use]

any cop
Phrs. Of value, of any worth. E.g."Have you heard their new CD? I heard it was rubbish but do you think it`s any cop?" See