• COMADRE
n. 1834 – a godmother; a close woman friend of a family (Amer. dial.)
• COMANCHE
n. 1980s – a man who uses cosmetics (US homosexual usage)
• COMANCHE PILL
n. 1969 – a laxative (Amer. dial.)
• COMATO-CRAPULOSE
adj. 1850 – in a state of drowsiness and headache consequent on intoxication (humorous usage)
• COMB
n. 1. 1824 – the ridge or peak of a roof; the strip of material covering the ridge (Amer. dial.)
n. 2. 1848 – the crest of a wave (Amer. dial. obs.)
n. 3. 1969 – a pine cone (Amer. dial.)
• COMB DOWN
vb. Bk1892 – to ill-treat; to thrash (Aust. sl.)
• COMBER
n. 1840 – a long curling wave (Amer. dial.)
• COMBINATION CHIP
n. Bk1914 – a till; a cash drawer with belling device (criminals’ sl.)
• COMBINDER
n. 1965 – a combine harvester (Amer. dial.)
• COMBING DOWN • COMBING OUT • COMBING OVER
n. 1959 – a scolding (Amer. dial.)
• COMBO
n. 1896 – a White man who lives with an Aboriginal woman (Aust. sl.)
• COMBOMAN
n. 1896 – a White man who lives with an Aboriginal woman (Aust. sl.)
• COMB ONE’S HAIR
vb. 1928 – to whip, to beat, to thrash; to scold severely, to find fault with (Amer. dial.)
• COMB ONE’S HEAD
vb. 1795 – to whip, to beat, to thrash; to scold severely, to find fault with (Amer. dial.)
• COMB ONE’S WOOL
vb. 1927 – to whip, to beat, to thrash; to scold severely, to find fault with (Amer. dial.)
• COMBOOZELATED
adj. M20 – drunk (US sl.)
• COMB THE KINKS OUT OF ONE
vb. 1911 – to correct faulty notions; to ‘set someone straight’ (Amer. dial.)
• COMBUSTIBLE
n. 1975 – a gale of wind approaching hurricane velocity (Amer. dial.)
• COME
n. 1. 1923 – ejaculated semen (sl.)
n. 2. 1967 – an orgasm (US sl.)
n. 3. 1992 – snow (UK rhyming sl.- Come and Go)
vb. 1. c1600 – to achieve orgasm (sl.)
vb. 2. 1970 – to yield to bribery or persuasion (UK sl.)
• COME ABOUT
vb. 19C – to copulate with a woman; said by women of men (UK colloq.)
• COME ABOUT A WOMAN
vb. 19C – to coit a woman (UK colloq.)
• COME A-CALLYHOOTIN’
vb. c1960 – to move very fast or rapidly and noisily (Amer. dial.)
• COME A CROPPER
vb. 1. 1999 – to fall heavily; to be victim of an accident (UK)
vb. 2. 20C – to fail completely (colloq.)
• COME ACROSS
vb. 1. 1887 – to occur to one (Amer. dial.)
vb. 2. 1921 – to have sex as the result of persuasive insistence (US sl.)
vb. 3. 1951 – to interrupt (Amer. dial.)
vb. 4. 1967 – to take part in sexual intercourse; generally of a woman (Aust. sl.)
vb. 5. 1970 – to make oneself clear (Amer. dial.)
vb. 6. 1973 – to agree to become an informer (US sl.)
vb. 7. 2002 – to give the appearance of having a specified characteristic (UK sl.)
• COME A DODGE
vb. 1968 – to play a trick (Amer. dial.)
• COME AGAIN?
phr. 1970 – please repeat or restate what you just said (US)
• COME A GUTSER
vb. 1918 – to come undone; to fail miserably; to fall heavily; to trip over and fall (Aust. sl.)
• COME-ALL-YOU
n. 1950 – a commotion, a to-do. a fist fight; a free-for-all (Amer. dial.)
• COME ALOFT
vb. L16 – to have an erection (sl.)
vb. Bk1903 – to possess carnally (sl.)
• COME-AND-GO
adj. 1968 – easygoing; taking things as they come and not worrying (Amer. dial.)
n. 1992 – (as ‘come and go’) snow (rhyming sl.)
• COME AND HAVE A PICKLE
phr. 1878 – an invitation to a quick unceremonious meal (Eng.)
• COME AND SEE YOUR PA
phr. 1870 – an invitation to come and have a drink (nautical usage)
• COME AND WASH YOUR NECK
phr. 1860 – an invitation to come and have a drink
• COME APART
vb. 1. 1930s – to collapse emotionally; to lose control of one’s feelings (sl.)
vb. 2. 1961 – of a horse: to buck (Amer. dial.)
• COME A PEARLER
vb. M19 – to fall down; to trip over an obstacle, usually sustaining some form of injury (sl.)
• COME A-POLING
vb. Bk1942 – to be slow (Amer. sl.)
• COME A PURLER
vb. M19 – to fall down; to trip over an obstacle, usually sustaining some form of injury (sl.)
• COME A RIVER
vb. 1970s – of a woman: to have a very intense orgasm (US sl.)
• COME-AROUND
n. 1. 1960s – menstruation (US sl.)
n. 2. 1990s – a person who is tolerated but not welcome (W. Indies sl.)
vb. 1. 1905 – (as ‘come around) to coax, to entice (Amer. dial.)
vb. 2. 1910s – (as ‘come around’) to menstruate (US sl.)
• COME A SMELLER
vb. 1923 – to fall heavily (sl.)
• COME A STOOMER • COME A STUMER
vb. 1900 – to lose one’s money (Aust. sl.)
• COME AT
vb. 1872 – to suggest, to imply, to mean (Amer. dial.)
• COME-AT-ABLE
adj. 1859 – accessible procurable (Amer. dial.)
n. 1839 – something that is readily accessible (Amer. dial.)
• COME AT ONESELF
vb. 1966 – to regain consciousness, to come to (Amer. dial)
• COME A TUMBLE
vb. 1992 – to detect something; to understand something (UK rhyming sl. for ‘rumble’)
• COME A-ZOONIN’
vb. 1884 – to come running (Amer. dial.)
• COME BACK-OVER
vb. Bk1898 – to return (Eng. dial.)
• COME BACK WITH THE BLIND CARRIER
vb. 1877 – to return only after a very long time; never to return (Sc.)
• COME BIG
vb. 1989 – of a bettor in horse racing: to bet more than usual on a race (Aust. sl.)
• COME-BY-CHANCE
adj. 19C – accidental (Eng. dial.)
n. 1. 1760 – an illegitimate child (colloq.)
n. 2. 19C – something that comes into your possession by accident (Eng. dial.)
• COME BY THE LAME POST
vb. 1658 – to be behind time (obs.)
• COME CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG
vb. Bk1891 – in horse racing: to ‘pull’ a horse and thus prevent him from winning (turf sl.)
• COME CLEAN
vb. 1919 – to tell the truth (sl., orig. US)
• COME CLEAR
vb. 1927 – to be exonerated, to be acquitted on trial (Amer. dial.)
• COME COPPER
vb. 20C – to inform the police (criminals’ sl.)
• COME DARK HOME
vb. Bk1900 – to come home after dark (Eng. dial.)
• COME DARK OVER
vb. Bk1900 – to become dark (Eng. dial.)
• COME DAY, GO DAY
adj. 1918 – easygoing, indolent, unambitious, lackadaisical (Amer. dial.)
phr. Bk1900 – applied to an improvident person who spends all and saves nothing (Eng. dial.)
• COME DOWN FROM THE FLIES
phr. 20C – addressed to an actor or actress with a tendency to self-inflation over a minor success (theatrical usage)
• COME DOWN IN A PILE
vb. 1950 – to die (Amer. dial.)
• COME DOWN LIKE TRAINED PIGS
vb. 1951 – in horse racing: to finish a race exactly as predicted (US sl.)
• COME DOWN OFF THE CHRISTMAS TREE
phr. 1984 – to be stupid, to be foolish (sl.)
• COME DOWN ON
vb. 1. 1888 – to reprimand (sl.)
vb. 2. Bk1942 – to humiliate (Amer. sl.)
vb. 3. 1972 – to fight; to confront; to assault (African-American)
• COME DOWN ON LIKE A TON OF BRICKS
vb. 1888 – to reprimand (sl.)
• COME DOWN TO CASES
vb. 1918 – to come to the point (Amer. dial.)
• COME DOWN TO HARDPAN
vb. 1861 – to face up to reality; to become realistic (Amer. dial.)
• COME DOWN UPON
vb. Bk1942 – to humiliate (Amer. sl.)
• COME DOWN WITH A HARK
vb. Bk1905 – to come down with a run, to fall suddenly (Eng. dial.)
• COME DOWN WITH THE DERBIES
vb. L17 – to pay a bill or debt (UK criminals’ sl.)
• COMEDY MERCHANT
n. Bk1891 – an actor (theatrical sl.)
• COME EASY, COME GO
adj. 1965 – easygoing (Amer. dial.)
• COME EASY, GO EASY
adj. 1965 – easygoing (Amer. dial.)
• COME FAIR
vb. 1665 – to become favourable (obs.)
• COME HALF LARKS WITH SOMEONE
vb. 1923 – to impose on someone’s credulity (UK sl.)
• COME-HERE
n. 1936 – an outsider; one who does not have roots in a community (Amer. dial.)
• COME HIGH OR COME LOW
adv. 2003 – anyway, nevertheless, no matter what (Trinidad and Tobago)
• COME-HITHER LOOK
n. Bk1942 – a flirtatious glance (Amer. sl.)
• COME HOME
vb. 1997 – of the effects of LSD: to dwindle, diminish and vanish (US sl.)
• COME HOME EARLY
vb. 1951 – in horse racing: to establish and hold an early lead to win a race (US sl.)
• COME HOT
vb. 1985 – in a confidence swindle: to complete the swindle which the victim immediately understands to have been a swindle (US sl.)
• COME IN
vb. 1914 – to calve (Amer. dial.)
• COME IN A PEA
vb. 1959 – to come very close to doing something (Amer. dial.)
• COME IN AT THE CABIN WINDOW
vb. 1794 – to be appointed a ship’s officer without having had sea experience (US nautical sl.)
• COME IN PUDDING-TIME
vb. M17 – to come in good time, before it’s too late (colloq.)
• COME IN THROUGH THE CABIN WINDOW
vb. 1940s – to obtain a commission (US Navy sl.)
• COME IT OVER SOMEONE
vb. 1827 – to try to get the better of someone by trickery (sl.)
• COME IT WITH SOMEONE
vb. 1827 – to try to get the better of someone by trickery (sl.)
• COME LIKE SALT
vb. 2003 – to be in great abundance (Trinidad and Tobago)
• COME NIGH AS A PEA
vb. 1901 – to come very close to doing something (Amer. dial.)
• COME-OFF
n. 1. 1884 – a circumstance, an outcome, or some particular behaviour, often unfortunate (Amer. dial.)
n. 2. 1934 – a thing or creature (Amer. dial.)
• COME OFF IT!
int. 1912 – I don’t believe it (sl.)
• COME OFF OF IT!
int. Bk1942 – don’t be ridiculous! (Amer. sl.)
• COME OFF THE GRASS
vb. a1891 – to stop talking foolishness (US sl.)
• COME OFF THE RAILS
vb. M19 – to suffer an emotional breakdown (sl.)
• COME OFF THE ROOF!
int. 1880 – don’t be so superior! don’t be so high and mighty! (obs.)
• COME OFF YOUR PERCH!
int. E20 – don’t act so superior! (US, esp. students’ usage)
• COME-ON
int. 1603 – an exclamation of disbelief, disapproval, etc.
n. 1. 1898 – a prospective victim (criminals’ sl.)
n. 2. 1902 – an allurement; bait (Amer. dial.)
• THE COME-ON EYE
n. Bk1942 – a flirtatious glance (Amer. sl.)
• COME ON, IT’S NOT A DISCO
phr. 1970s – don’t make a fool of yourself
• COME ON LIKE GANGBUSTERS
vb. Bk1942 – to begin or proceed in a vigorous fashion (Amer. sl.)
• COME ON ONE’S GUAVA
vb. 1970s – to make a fool of oneself (S. Afr. sl.)
• COME ON, STEW, GET BACK IN THE POT!
int. Bk1942 – said to a drunkard (US)
• COME ON STRONG
vb. 1. 1940s – in horse racing: to gain steadily and rapidly in a race (Amer. sl.)
vb. 2. 1950s – to speak aggressively, forcefully; to make one’s presence and opinions felt; to create a strong impression (sl.)
vb. 3. 1950s – to be seductive (sl.)
vb. 4. 1970s – to be vehement and positive (Amer. sl.)
• COME ON THE RING
vb. a1400 – to take one’s turn (sl.)
• COME ON TO SOMEONE
vb. 1980s – to make a sexual advance (Amer. sl.)
• THE COME-ON TYPE
n. Bk1942 – a gullible person; a dupe (Amer. sl.)
• COME OUT
vb. 1. 1840s – to declare oneself; to take a position (Amer. sl.)
vb. 2. 1896 – to end; to eventuate (Amer. sl.)
vb. 3. Bk1905 – to succeed (Amer. dial.)
vb. 4. 1941 – to admit to one’s homosexuality (sl., orig. US)
• COME OUT AHEAD
vb. 1930s – to win (Amer. sl.)
• COME OUTER
n. 1860 – a dissenter, one who drops out of an established organization, usually religious but sometimes political (Amer. dial.)
• COME OUT IN THE WASH
vb. 1903 – to be dealt with as a natural consequence
• COME OUT OF A BAG
vb. 1983 – to behave in an objectionable manner (Amer. sl.)
• COME OUT OF SOAK
vb. L19 – to get over one’s hangover (sl.)
• COME OUT OF THE CANE
vb. 1906 – to come out of retirement, privacy, or inactivity (Amer. dial.)
• COME OUT OF THE CLOSET
vb. 1971 – to admit to one’s homosexuality (sl., orig. US)
• COME OUT OF THE LITTLE END OF THE HORN
vb. 17C – to get the worst of a bargain; to be reduced in circumstances; to fail (colloq.)
• COME OUT OF THE STICKS
adj. 1965 – lacking manners, uncouth, boorish (Amer. dial.)
• COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK
vb. 1973 – of someone or something unpleasant: to appear; to arrive on the scene; to emerge (UK)
• COME OUT ON TOP
vb. 1930s – to win (Amer. sl.)
• COME OUT WITH THE CAKES
vb. 1874 – to be silly or half-witted (Eng. dial.)
• COME OVER
vb. 1. 1954 – to pay a debt (Amer. dial.)
vb. 2. 1968 – to die (Amer. dial. euphemism)
• COME OVER ALL PECULIAR
vb. 2003 – to feel suddenly physically indisposed or emotionally upset (UK sl.)
• COME OVER ALL QUEER
vb. 1937 – to feel suddenly physically indisposed or emotionally upset (UK sl.)
• COME OVER ALL UNNECESSARY
vb. 1984 – to become sexually excited (UK sl.)
• COME-O’-WILL
n. 1. 1815 – an illegitimate child (Sc.)
n. 2. 1815 – a person (or thing) that comes of his own accord, or without being invited (Sc.)
n. 3. 1815 – a plant, tree, etc. that springs up spontaneously (Sc.)
n. 4. 1815 – a newcomer to a place who can show no ancient standing there (Sc.)
• COMER
n. Bk1913 – a person making rapid progress (Amer. dial.)
• COMER-AND-GOER
n. 1899 – a tourist (Amer. dial.)
• COME ROUND
vb. 1914 – to begin to menstruate (Amer. dial.)
• COME ROUND ON THE PAINT
vb. 1953 – of a racehorse: to take a bend on the inside (Aust. sl.)
• COME-SEE
n. 1933 – a delicate child; ‘The child has come to the world, indecisively, to see whether or not it wishes to stay.’ (Amer. dial.)
• COME SHORT HOME
vb. 17C – to be put in prison (colloq.)
• COME SICK
vb. 1948 – to menstruate (Amer. dial.)
• COMESSATION
n. 1. c1380 – a frolic and jovial meeting to eat, drink, and make good cheer; feasting, banqueting, revelling (obs.)
n. 2. 1648 – eating together (obs.)
• COMESTIBLE
adj. 1483 – fit to eat, edible, eatable (obs.)
n. 1837 – an edible, an article of food
• COME STRONG
vb. 1. 20C – to speak aggressively, forcefully; to make one’s presence and opinions felt (sl.)
vb. 2. 1950s – to be seductive (sl.)
• COME THE ABDABS • COME THE OLD ABDABS
vb. 1969 – to hoax, to fool, to ‘tell the tale’ (sl.)
• COME THE ACID
vb. 1917 – to act contrarily, or aggressively; to argue; to be unpleasant or offensive; to speak in a caustic or sarcastic manner (sl.)
• COME THE ACID DROP
vb. 1910s sl. – to act contrarily, or aggressively; to argue; to be unpleasant or offensive; to speak in a caustic or sarcastic manner (sl.)
• COME THE BIG FIGURE
vb. 1848 – to do or provide what is required (Amer. sl.)
• COME THE BLUDGE ON
vb. 1958 – to sponge upon someone (Aust. sl.)
• COME THE CUNT
vb. 1984 – to be particularly obstreperous or unpleasant (UK sl.)
• COME THE DOUBLE
vb. 1888 – to act in a treacherous or evasive manner (sl.)
• COME THE KINK
vb. M19 – to steal a Black slave from the country, and dispose of them in town (US sl.)
• COME THE LA-DI-DA • COME THE LARDY-DAH
vb. c1883 – to show off in dress and manner (sl.)
• COME THE OLD ABDABS
vb. 1940s – to hoax, to fool (sl.)
• COME THE OLD ACID
vb. 1953 – to behave in an unpleasant, aggressive, or overbearing manner; to speak in a sarcastic or caustic way (UK sl.)
• COME THE OLD ACID DROP
vb. 1962 – to be heavily sarcastic or especially impudent (UK sl.)
• COME THE OLD CUNT
vb. 1984 – to be particularly obstreperous or unpleasant (UK sl.)
• COME THE OLD SOLDIER
vb. 1. 1818 – to wheedle; to impose on someone (UK sl., orig. military usage)
vb. 2. 1984 – to hector someone; to domineer someone, by virtue of supposed greater knowledge (UK sl.)
• COME THE OLD TIN SOLDIER
vb. 1977 – to be impertinent or obstructive (UK sl.)
• COME THE PADDY OVER
vb. 1821 – to bamboozle, to humbug (sl.)
• COME THE RAW PRAWN
vb. 1962 – to bluff, to make yourself a nuisance (UK sl.)
• COME THE RAW PRAWN OVER
vb. 1942 – to try to deceive someone (Aust. sl.)
• COME THE SPOON
vb. c1865 – to make love, esp. if sentimental (sl.)
• COME THE TIN SOLDIER
vb. 1977 – to be impertinent or obstructive (UK sl.)
• COME THROUGH
vb. 1. 1914 – to be converted to a religious life; to get religion (Amer. dial.)
vb. 2. 1916 – to confess fully (Amer. dial.)
vb. 3. 1916 – to pay a debt (Amer. dial.)
• COME THROUGH THE HARD
vb. 1795 – to encounter difficulties; to experience adverse fortune (Sc.)
• COME THROUGH WITH ALL HAIRS LYING FLAT
vb. 1934 – to come through unscathed (Amer. dial.)
• COME TO A GOAT’S HOUSE FOR FEATHERS
vb. 1972 – to ask a person for something which he would not be expected to have (Amer. dial.)
• COME TO AN ANCHOR
vb. 18C – to sit down (Eng. colloq.)
• COME-TOGETHER
n. 1968 – a fight between two people, mostly with words (Amer. dial.)
• COME TO GRIEF
vb. 1. 1850 – to get into serious trouble; to fail (UK)
vb. 2. 1854 – to take a tumble; to have a fall (UK)
• COME TO HANDGRIPS
vb. 1571 – to come to close combat
• COME TO HANDSTROKES
vb. 1548 – to come to blows or hand-to-hand fighting (obs.)
• COME TO HANDY STROKES
vb. 1548 – to come to blows or hand-to-hand fighting (obs.)
• COME-TO-HEAVEN COLLAR
n. 1925 – a wing collar (Amer. dial.)
• COME TO NEARPOINTS
vb. Bk1905 – to come very near an agreement (Eng. dial.)
• COME TO ONE’S MILK
vb. 1927 – to yield to authority, to comply; to cease to be stubborn (Amer. dial.)
• COME-TOO-SOON
n. 1940 – a child born out of wedlock (Amer. dial.)
• COMETOPHOBIA
n. Bk1991 – an abnormal fear of comets
• COME TO SMOKE
vb. 1604 – to come to nothing; to be unrealized; to be without result
• COME TO TAW
vb. 1838 – to meet expectations or requirements; to come up to scratch (Amer. dial.)
• COME TO THE ABOVE OF
vb. a1387 – to attain superiority or mastery over, to overcome (obs.)
• COME TO THE GOAT’S HOUSE FOR WOOL
vb. 1946 – to ask a person for something which he would not be expected to have (Amer. dial.)
• COME TO THE LICK-LOG
vb. 1942 – to face facts, to make a difficult decision (Amer. dial.)
• COME TO THEMSELVES
vb. 1899 – to perish, to die (Sc.)
• COME TO THE PUSH
vb. 1594 – to reach the critical or decisive point
• COME TO THE SEAM-NEEDLE
vb. 1944 – to reach a good stopping place (Amer. dial.)
• COME TO TIME
vb. 1937 – to yield to authority, to comply (Amer. dial.)
• COME UNCRUNK
vb. 1973 – of an engine: to stop running (Amer. dial.)
• COME-UP-AND-SEE-ME-SOMETIME LOOK
n. Bk1942 – a flirtatious glance (Amer. sl.)
• COME UP ‘MONGST THE MISSIN’
vb. 1914 – to die; to be lost (Amer. dial.)
• COME UPON THE RAKE
vb. 18C – to live in a rakish or dissolute manner (sl.)
• COMEUPPANCE
n. 1941 – an advantage (Amer. dial.)
• COME-UPPER
n. 1968 – an able, energetic person who gets things done (Amer. dial.)
• COME UP SMILING
vb. M19 – to face a difficult circumstance without showing fear or complaining (sl., orig. boxing usage)
• COME UP TAILS
vb. 1970s – to find oneself in an unpleasant or problematic situation (US sl.)
• COME UP TO CHALK
vb. 1836 – to fulfil expectations; to be satisfactory (US sl.)
• COME UP TO TAW
vb. 1846 – to meet expectations or requirements; to come up to scratch (Amer. dial.)
• COME UP TO THE CHALK
vb. 1836 – to fulfil expectations; to be satisfactory (US sl.)
• COME UP WITH THE RATIONS
vb. 1925 – to get a service or other medal not awarded for gallantry (UK sl., derogatory)
• COME WITH ONE’S HORNS DOWN
vb. 1912 – to come as if ready for a contest, as a bull when he is angry (Amer. dial.)
• COME YOUR LOT
vb. 1964 – to experience an orgasm (UK sl.)
• COME YOUR MUTTON
vb. 1961 – of a male: to masturbate (UK sl.)
• COME YOUR TURKEY
vb. 1961 – of a male: to masturbate (UK sl.)
Back to INDEX C
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Updated May 28, 2023
Lexicophilia 