slang list

[Jonathan Lighter]

Thanks, Mark.  Such lists are always of interest to me.,

JL

"Mark A. Mandel" <mamandel at LDC.UPENN.EDU> wrote:
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Dictionary of New Terms

Compiled by the History of the English Language classes at Hope College,=20
1997-2002

http://www.hope.edu/academic/english/gruenler/newterms.htm

An alphabetical list of 574 expressions, many of them college slang and man=
y=20
of them local to Hope College. Some are familiar to me, many are not; some=
=20
may be of interest to readers of this list. Some examples:

=09academic placenta n. The last of one's academic ideology that exists=20
in one's first years as a professional in the real world. "That new guy is=
=20
insufferable. He really needs to shed his academic placenta and figure out=
=20
how things really work around here." Used by those in the business world.=
=20
See: www.sabram.com/site/slang.html.

=09airborne v. intr. A technical term used by the even year pull team.=20
When the pullers are on the rope, one might say, "Airborne, lets fly." This=
=20
means to get the rope up off the ground on the next heave. This word also=
=20
gets everyone on the team excited and crazy. [Presumably local to Hope=20
College, judging by "the even year pull team".-- MAM]

=09gaposis n. The condition that arises when the fabric between the=20
buttons on a shirt does not lie flat and instead comes apart to expose the=
=20
skin. "I shouldn't have worn this shirt without something under it, I have=
=20
been experiencing gaposis."

=09word n. A question asked to another person in greeting them. This is=20
to ask someone what the word is on how they are and what they are doing. As=
=20
a person walks past they may be greeted with, "Word!" This derives from=20
"word" as information or news. "Word up" is a common phrase used with this=
=20
definition to ask what is happening with someone else. Often used in=20
alternative and rap music. [This is the first time I have seen any etymolog=
y=20
for this expression. -- MAM]

=09wormburner n. A fast and hard tee shot in golf that never rises more=20
than a few feet from the ground and just streaks along the ground. This=20
refers to the speed and friction that causes heat so close to the ground=20
that will literally burn the worms. "Wow, that was a wormburner=85better lu=
ck=20
next time. Ha, ha!"


-- Mark A. Mandel
[This text prepared with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.]


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