Many people are confused about just exactly what American slang is, and what the terms mean. I’ve run across a lot of confusion recently among quite a few British people, even though Britons use American slang terminology far more than they probably realize. It’s not this mutual lingo which we share that’s the problem. Even though these slang words are originally American in origin, they belong to all of us now. Terms like “crazy” to mean insane, “kid” to mean child, “yeah” to mean yes, “okay” to mean all right, and “TV” to mean television are now used and understood by English-speaking people worldwide.
However, even though we share much of the territory of slang sayings, we nevertheless maintain our national identities. To Britons a “mad” person is insane, whereas when called by the same term in the States, he’s merely angry. To the British a bonnet is the hood of a car, but in America, it’s an old-fashioned ladies’ hat. The British think of gas as a kind of air, but to Americans it’s what fuels our cars. We generally don’t know the origins of these slang terms, so this causes some confusion. In 1877, Henry Sweet predicted that within a century, Americans, Australians and the British would not be able to understand one another. Of course, this was not the case. Radio, television, film, song, and the availability of air travel has reduced regionalisms and the tendency for our speech patterns to diverge.
The English language could benefit from some homogeneity. Nevertheless, the British seem to feel rather outraged when Americans borrow their slang. This is unfortunate, since British slang terms are a normal part of everyday American life. For example, “to scream bloody murder” is an American saying, whereas “get off my bloody case” isn’t.
I can’t really speak for other Americans, but I personally feel rather glad and endeared when I hear a British person using terms I’m familiar with. I remember a scene from Monty Python’s Flying Circus which showed a man, played by Graham Chapman, trying to “climb” the north face of the Oxbridge Road. John Cleese squatted down beside this “climber” and said, “Uh, Bert, some people say this is crazy.” To me, this cross-over into American slang just made British humor more understandable and accessible.
Since American slang terminology plays such an important part in the language of English-speaking peoples around the world, we should all try to be very clear on what the terms are and what they mean. Understanding of American slang is especially important for foreign people living in America and watching American film and television.
Many slang sites are filled with obsolete and archaic slang terms for historical purposes; however, I will deal here only with American slang terms that are commonly used today.
You may find many of these terms are familiar, even if you’re not American. However, there are many American slang terms which have not really spread to other countries. The terms are readily found in American slang dictionaries, but these dictionaries often don’t provide a complete understanding of the meaning of the slang terms and how they’re used in everyday conversation. I will attempt to elaborate on them here.
A Sampling of American Slang Terms and Sayings
The Southern slang term “goomer” is an acronym of the phrase, “Get Out of My Emergency Room.” The term came into being because so many people in the South would come into emergency rooms for no good reason.
Another Southern slang term, “goober” means “peanut.” The same term refers to an unsophisticated person from the country. We often also refer to these remote rural areas as the “boonies.”
If a Southerner refers to somebody as “ornery,” they’re probably difficult, unpleasant, or stubborn. “Uppity” people are likely to cause a few problems, too.
Also in the South, male relatives are often referred to as “Bubba.” This is so common, in fact, that the term often replaces their given name. The term is sometimes used to mean “brother,” but also can mean “baby,” or “boy.” It’s often shortened to “Bub.” It is believed the term comes from the German word for boy, which is “bub.
“Local yokel” is frequently also used in the South to refer to a country bumpkin. It’s also customary to call them a “hick” or “hillbilly.” These phrases pale in comparison to the popularity of “redneck,” a term which originated in America from fair-skinned farmers whose necks turn red from spending so much time in the sun.
Males throughout America can be referred to as “Clyde,” “Joe,” “Bro,” “Dude,” “Man,” and “Mack.” Unfortunately, some of these terms are also acceptable to use with women (although, to keep you on your toes, I won’t tell you which ones.)
“Gee whiz” is a euphemism for “Jesus,” and can be heard in many television programs from the 1950s. Other euphemisms include “sheesh,” and “geez.”
We refer to ill-conceived plots and plans as “hare-brained.” (It is not hair-brained, contrary to popular conception.) The general idea is that the person has the IQ of a rabbit.
You may on occasion hear an American refer to an idiotic or blatantly false statement as “horse-pucky.” This is an obvious euphemism for the naughtier version. Furthermore, when an American wants you to wait, he may ask you to, “Hold your horses.”
If an American gets nervous, you may hear them say that they’ve got the “heebie-jeebies” or the “willies.”
If somebody talks too much, they’re a “windbag.” Their speech may be described as “yackity-yack,” “blah, blah, blah,” or “yadda, yadda.”
If we happen across somebody who’s a loser or a jerk, we may say that they’re a real “heel.”
If you don’t know what the name of something is, just point at it and call it a “do-dad,” a “do-hickey,” a “thingamajig,” a “thingamabob,” or a “whatchamacallit.” You will be perfectly understood by the grand majority of Americans (except, of course, for the hair-brained variety.)
To call someone stupid in American, you have many choices of slang terms. These include “bonehead,” “dufus,” “dope,” “airhead,” “dingbat,” “dipwad,” “lame-brain” or “jerk.”
To call a person insane in American, you have your selection of “crazy,” “batty,” “dippy,” “ditzy,” “bananas,” “bonkers,” “certifiable,” “crackers,” “goofy,” “nuts,” “whacked out,” “wacko,” “out to lunch,” “not playing with a full deck,” and “off the deep end.
If something’s good in America, it’s “cool,” “neat-o,” or “awesome.” If it’s bad, it “stinks,” it “sucks,” or it’s “rotten.”
If the person in question is merely weak and ineffective, then take your pick of “drip,” “douche-bag,” “lame-o,” “pantywaist,” “pansy,” “wuss,” and “wimp.”
To get angry in American, just get “mad,” “blow your cool,” get “steamed,” or let it “burn you up.” For those more inclined to revenge, you can try “getting even.”
If you get upset, you have the option of “getting your panties in a wad,” “having a hissy fit,” “having a cow,” “freaking out,” “going ballistic,” “coming unglued,” “getting bent out of shape,” or “getting your nose out of joint,” amongst many others. You can also “flip out,” although this it not to be confused with “flipping off” another person, which is flashing somebody the middle finger. Most people interpret this as an obscene gesture, although many out-of-touch elderly men think of it as a great way of pointing things out on maps, directories and blackboards.
If an American wants a drink, he may ask you for some “hooch” or “booze.”
When someone makes a major mistake or blunder, we may say, “Way to go,” or “Smooth move.”
If a person steals something from a store, we say that they took a “five finger discount.”
When we call something “gas” we’re referring to gasoline, but if we say it is “a gas,” we’re saying it’s a lot of fun. If you don’t agree, just say, “Whoopty-doo,” in a really sarcastic way, and they’ll know you think the whole thing’s a huge bore.
If an American asks you, “What’s all the hoo-hah?” there is probably a major disturbance or upheaval going on nearby.
It’s very important never to “jack with” an American, or to “jerk them around.” If you do, you may find that they’re “messing with” you, as well.
“Jammies” are pajamas, but “jimmies” are undershorts.
If something doesn’t agree, we say it doesn’t “jibe.” However, “jive” is nonsense talk.
If you want to die, just “kick the bucket,” “croak,” or “buy the farm.” However if killing somebody else is more your style, just try “knocking them off,” rubbing them out,” “bumping them off,” “doing them in,” or “putting a hit” on them.
If hitting people is your preferred solution, you can “deck” them, “floor” them, “conk” them, “pop them one,” “slug” them, “smack” them, or just “let them have it.” If you’re more likely to solve problems by leaving, you can “beat it,” “blow,” “clear off,” “fly the coop,” “take a hike,” “make tracks,” “scoot,” “skiddoo,” “scram,” “split,” or “vamoose.
To cheat someone in American, just “chisel,” “bilk,” “swindle,” “fleece,” “gyp,” “hustle,” “rook,” “take,” “sucker,” or “con” them.
If sleeping is more your game, then all you have to do is “sack out,” “crash,” “catch some z’s,” “pass out,” or get some “shut-eye.”
If a company you do business with is “taking you to the cleaners” with a lot of small charges, then they’re “nickling and diming you to death.” If they’re just giving you their opinion, they’ll “give their two cents worth.” If they are the ultimate authority, they will say, “The buck stops here.” If they’re a no account, loser company with unethical business practices, someone will likely tell you that they’re a “two-bit, penny-ante operation.”
If you’re a “party pooper” then you may soon discover that somebody else is “raining on your parade,” too.
If an American asks you to adjust the “rabbit ears,” move straight for the television antenna and fix the reception.
Hopefully, this guide will get you started on understanding American slang terminology. For more information, check out the resources below.
“American and British English differences.” Wikipedia.
“Historical Dictionary of American Slang.” Alphadictionary.com
“Redneck.” Wikipedia.
