• GREASE
n. 1. 1877 sl. – insincere or exaggerated talk intended to flatter or deceive; humbug or flattery
n. 2. World War I Amer. sl. – butter
n. 3. 1971 Amer. dial. – a Black person
n. 4. 1975 Amer. college sl. – a meal, dinner
vb. 1. 1930 Amer. dial. – to exert or overtax oneself
vb. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – to flatter, to fawn upon
vb. 3. 1970 African-American sl. – to eat, esp. voraciously
• GREASEBALL
n. 1. 1922 sl., derogatory – a person of Mediterranean origin
n. 2. 1930 Amer. dial. – a cook; esp. a bad one
n. 3. 1942 Amer. dial. – on the railroad: a mechanic
n. 4. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a kitchen worker in a restaurant
n. 5. 1943 US sl., derogatory – a Latin American
• GREASEBURNER
n. 1. 1920 Amer. dial. – the fireman on a locomotive
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – (as ‘grease burner’) a cook
• GREASE-HORN
n. 1. 1641 – a horn in which grease is carried for lubricating purposes
n. 2. 1837 Eng. dial. – a flatterer, a sycophant; one who seeks to advance in position or in the esteem of others by servility of manner in words or actions and flattery
• GREASE MONKEY
n. 1928 colloq. – a mechanic, esp. one who works on cars or aircraft
• GREASE ONE’S GILLS
vb. Bk1860 sl. – to make a good or luxurious meal; to have a good feed; to eat heartily
• GREASE ONE’S MOUTH
vb. 1922 Amer. dial. – to feed with fatness, as with bacon
• GREASE ONE’S ROOTS
vb. 1957 Amer. dial. – to be greedy
• GREASEPAINT
n. theatrical make-up
• GREASEPOT
n. 1. Bk1913-17 Amer. navy sl. – a cook
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – (as ‘grease pot’) a small eating place where the food is not especially good
• GREASER
n. 1. 1836 sl., derogatory – a Mexican or a Spanish-American; a Latin American
n. 2. 1900 sl. – an obsequious person; a toady; a sycophant
n. 3. 1960s Amer. sl. – a teenage hoodlum
n. 4. 1967 Amer. dial., derogatory; usually considered offensive – a person of Mediterranean background
n. 5. 1972 African-American sl. – one who eats, esp. voraciously
n. 6. 20C Brit. sl. – a mechanic, esp. of motor vehicles
n. 7. 20C Brit. sl. – a young long-haired motorcyclist, usually one of a gang
n. 8. 20C Brit. sl. – an unpleasant person, esp. one who ingratiates himself with superiors
• GREASE SPOT
n. 1. 1829 Amer. dial. – a remnant; the smallest trace
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a cook
• GREASE SPOT IN THE ROAD
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a small town
• GREASE SWABBER
n. 1958 Amer. dial. – a cook; esp. a bad one
• GREASE THE HAND OF
vb. 20C sl. – to influence by giving money to; to bribe
• GREASE THE PALM OF
vb. 1807 sl. – to influence by giving money to; to bribe
• GREASE THE WHEELS
vb. Bk1905 Amer. dial. – to pay a little on account
• GREASE UP!
int. 1967 Amer. dial. – cheer up!
• GREASIE
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a rustic, a ‘hick’
• GREASIES
n. 20C NZ colloq. – fish and chips
• GREASY
adj. 1. 1848 sl. – insincere in manner; ingratiating
adj. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – slippery, slick, oily
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a cook
n. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – a small eating place where the good is not especially good
n. 3. 1967 Amer. dial. – a rustic, a ‘hick’
n. 4. 1970 Amer. dial. – a hobgoblin used to threaten children and make them behave
n. 5. 20C Aust. sl. – a shearer
n. 6. 20C Aust. sl. – an outback cook, esp. cooking for a number of men
• GREASY BUCKET
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a small, cheap restaurant that usually serves food of poor quality
• GREASY CORNER
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a poor settlement or neighbourhood
• GREASY DOOR FAMILY
n. 1984 Amer. dial. – one that’s just killed hogs
• GREASY GRIND
n. a1889 US college sl. – a hard-working pupil
• GREASY HOUSE
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a small, cheap restaurant that usually serves food of poor quality
• GREASY JOE
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a small, cheap restaurant that usually serves food of poor quality
• GREASY KITCHEN
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a small, cheap restaurant that usually serves food of poor quality
• GREASY LUCK!
int. 1916 Amer. dial., orig. a whaleman’s farewell – farewell! bon voyage!
• GREASY RAG
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a small, cheap restaurant that usually serves food of poor quality
• GREASY-SACK
adj. 1942 Amer. dial. – poor, second-rate
• GREASY SKILLET
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a small, cheap restaurant that usually serves food of poor quality
• GREASY SPOON
n. 1918 sl., orig. US – a small, cheap, and often unsanitary restaurant, usually specializing in fried foods
• GREASY THUMB
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a small, cheap restaurant that usually serves food of poor quality
• GREASY VALLEY
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a poor settlement or neighbourhood
• GREASY VEST
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a small, cheap restaurant that usually serves food of poor quality
• GREAT
adj. 1. 1784 – highly skilled or capable
adj. 2. E19 colloq. – excellent, very good, fine, admirable
n. 1955 Amer. dial. – a great-grandchild
• GREAT AFFAIR
n. c1480 Sc. obs. – pomp, ceremony
• THE GREAT AND THE GOOD
n. 1624 – worthy people; frequently ironic
• GREAT AS INKLE-WEAVERS
adj. 1890 Sc. – very friendly or intimate together
• GREAT AUNT HATTIE!
int. 1965 Amer. dial. – an exclamation; “God!”
• GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!
int. 1906 Amer. sl. – an exclamation of amazement, impatience, etc.
• THE GREAT BASIN
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the ocean
• GREAT-BELLIED
adj. 1567 – having a big belly, corpulent; hence, pregnant
• GREAT BIG
adj. Bk1905 Amer. dial. – very large
• GREAT CAESAR’S GHOST!
int. 1871 US sl. – an exclamation of astonishment
• GREAT CATERWUMPUS!
int. 1938 Amer. dial. – an exclamation
• GREAT DAY!
int. 1914 Amer. dial. – an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING!
int. 1914 Amer. dial. – an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• THE GREAT DIVIDE
n. 1915 Amer. dial. – the boundary between life and death
• GREAT DOIN’S!
int. – an exclamation of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREATEN
vb. LME obs. – to become pregnant
• THE GREATEST
n. 20C colloq. – the best, the most wonderful person or thing
• THE GREATEST OAKS HAVE BEEN LITTLE ACORNS
phr. 1732 – a modest beginning may lead to a significant outcome
• GREAT FATHER!
int. 1965 Amer. dial. – an exclamation
• GREAT FLYING HORNED TOADS!
int. 1966 Amer. dial. – an expression of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREAT GAME
n. 20C – golf
• GREAT GINGO!
int. 1916 Amer. dial. – an ejaculation
• GREAT GIRL’S BLOUSE
n. 1983 Brit. sl. – an ineffectual male, often with suggestion of effeminacy
• GREAT GOD
n. 1917 Amer. dial. – the pileated woodpecker
• GREAT GUN
n. 20C colloq. – a person of great importance
• GREAT GUNS!
int. 1875 Amer. dial. – an expression of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREAT GUNS ALIVE!
int. 1965 Amer. dial. – an expression of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREAT GUNS AND LITTLE FISHES!
int. 1959 Amer. dial. – an expression of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREAT GUNS AND LITTLE GUNNER!
int. 1917 Amer. dial. – an expression of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREAT GUNS AND LITTLE PISTOLS!
int. 1983 Amer. dial. – an expression of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREAT GUNS IN THE MORNING!
int. 1965 Amer. dial. – an expression of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• A GREAT HAND
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – anything difficult to manage; a ‘handful’
• GREAT HATS!
int. 1924 Amer. dial. – an exclamation of surprise
• GREAT-HEARTED
adj. LME – having a noble or generous spirit
• GREAT HEAVEN!
int. 1887 – expresses surprise, horror, etc.
• GREAT HEAVENLY DAYS!
int. 1965 Amer. dial. – an expression of joy, surprise, or annoyance
• GREAT HORNED TOADS!
int. 1959 Amer. dial. – an expression of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREAT HORNY TOADS!
int. 1966 Amer. dial. – an expression of surprise, annoyance, etc.
• GREAT HOUSE
n. 1633 Amer. dial. – a manor or the main house on a plantation
• GREAT JEEPERS!
int. 1965 Amer. dial. – a mild oath
• GREAT JEHOSAPHAT!
int. 1965 Amer. dial. – an exclamation or mild oath
• GREAT JUMPING JEHOSAPHAT!
int. 1965 Amer. dial. – an exclamation or mild oath
• GREAT KEEZER’S GHOST!
int. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – an ejaculation
• THE GREAT LAKE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the ocean
• GREAT LONG
adj. 1912 Amer. dial. – very long
• GREAT MAGOO
n. 1959 Amer. sl. – one who thinks he is important
• THE GREAT MAJORITY
n. 1721 obs. – the dead
• GREAT NED!
int. 1967 Amer. dial. – an oath
• GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW
phr. 1580 – a modest beginning may lead to a significant outcome
• GREAT PAPPY
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a grandfather
• GREAT POX
n. 1529 – syphilis
• GREAT REBELLION
n. 1864 Amer. dial. – the American Civil War
• GREAT SATAN
n. 20C derogatory – the United States regarded as an imperialistic and malevolent power, esp. in the context of its policies in the Middle East
• GREAT SCOTT!
int. 1852, orig. US – expressing surprise, exasperation, etc.
• GREAT SHAKES
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – important
• GREAT SNAKES!
adj. 1878 Amer. dial. – an exclamation, usually of surprise or indignation
• GREAT SNAKES AND ALLIGATORS!
adj. 1862 Amer. dial. – an exclamation, usually of surprise or indignation
• GREATSPOON
n. 1884 Amer. dial. – a tablespoon
• GREAT STUFF
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• GREAT-WAMED
adj. 1513 Sc. – having a large belly
• GREAT WHITE CHIEF
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – Theodore Roosevelt, twenty-sixth US President
• GREBO
n. L20 – an urban youth cult favouring heavy metal and punk rock music and frequently characterized by long hair and antisocial attitudes; a member of this cult
• GRECE
n. ME obs. exc. dial. – a set or flight of stairs; a step, a stair
• GRECIAN
n. M19 sl. – an Irish person
• GRECINGS
n. LME obs. exc. Eng. dial. – the stairs in a flight; fights of stairs
• GREDGE
n. 1913 Amer. dial. – a grudge
• GREEBLE
vb. 1950 Amer. dial. – to go about whining, looking for sympathy
• GREED
n. Bk1903 sl. – money
• GREEDY AS THE GRAVE
adj. 1703 – very greedy indeed
• GREEDY DOG
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a sandwich in a large, long bun, that is a meal in itself
• GREEDYGUT
n. 1. 1899 Amer. dial. – a glutton, a voracious eater
n. 2. 1899 Amer. dial. – a miser, a stingy person, a greedy, selfish, or covetous person
• GREEDYGUTS
n. 1. 1942 Amer. dial. – a glutton, a voracious eater
n. 2. 1942 Amer. dial. – a miser, a stingy person, a greedy, selfish, or covetous person
• GREEK
n. 1. E16 arch. – a cunning or wily person; a cheat; a card sharper
n. 2. E17 – unintelligible speech or language, gibberish
n. 3. E19 sl. – an Irish person
vb. E19 sl. – to cheat at cards
• GREEK BACK
n. 1970s Aust. sl. – a supposedly fake illness or incapacity, used to justify malingering, apparently by Italians, Greeks, Yugoslavs and others seen as lazier than ‘White’ Australians
• GREEKESS
n. M19 rare – a female Greek
• GREEK GOD
n. 1. a1910 – a paragon of male beauty
n. 2. 1968 – a hairstyle with short curls all over the head
• GREEKLING
n. M17 rare – a little Greek; a degenerate contemptible Greek
• GREEN
adj. 1. OE obs. exc. Sc. – youthful
adj. 2. ME – full of jealousy or envy
adj. 3. ME – having a pale sickly complexion
adj. 4. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – of fish freshly caught: neither salted nor frozen
adj. 5. 1965 Amer. dial. – of milk: tainted
n. 1. 1898 sl. – money
n. 2. 1957 sl., orig. US – marijuana of poor quality
vb. 1. LME Sc. – to desire earnestly, to yearn after
vb. 2. L19 sl. – to hoax, take in
vb. 3. 1923 Amer. dial. – to tease, to make a fool of; to annoy with practical jokes; to outwit
• GREEN ABOUT THE GILLS
adj. 1949 sl. – feeling nauseous
• GREEN-APPLE DIRTIES
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – diarrhoea
• GREEN-APPLE QUICKSTEP
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – diarrhoea
• GREEN-APPLE TROT
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – diarrhoea
• GREEN-APPLE TWO-STEP
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – diarrhoea
• GREEN-APPLE WALK
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – diarrhoea
• GREEN AS A GOOSEBERRY
adj. 1842 – very ignorant of life; raw and uneducated, inexperienced
• GREEN AS A GOURD
adj. 1902 Amer. dial. – inexperienced, unsophisticated, countrified
• GREEN AS A YELLOW CABBAGE
phr. 1889 Eng. dial. – said of one who assumes ignorance or innocence
• GREENASS
n. 1966 US sl. – an inexperienced person; a greenhorn, a novice
• GREENBACK
n. 1. 1870 US sl. – a dollar bill
n. 2. 1889 US sl. – a frog
• GREENBACKS
n. M19 US – money
• GREENBACK WEDDING
n. 1980 Amer. dial. – a wedding at which money is given as a gift
• GREENBOTTLE PRAIRIE FLY
n. 1838 Amer. dial. – a horsefly
• GREEN DARNER
n. 1929 Amer. dial. – a large dragonfly
• GREENER
n. 1. 1877 Amer. dial. – a greenhorn; a very inexperienced person; a newcomer; a naive person
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a gullible person; a dupe
• GREEN EYE
n. a1845 – jealousy
• GREEN-EYED
adj. 1600 – jealous
• (THE) GREEN-EYED MONSTER
n. a1616 – jealousy
• GREEN FARMER
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – one who raises no stock, only crops
• GREEN-FINGERED
adj. 1946 sl. – skilled at growing plants
• GREEN FINGERS
n. 1934 sl. – exceptional skill at growing plants
• GREENGAGES
n. 1931 rhyming sl. – wages
• GREEN-GROCERY
n. Bk1902 sl. – a brothel
• GREEN HAND
n. 1. 1808 Amer. dial. – an inexperienced person; a greenhorn
n. 2. 1944 Amer. dial. – the ability to grow plants
• GREENHEAD
n. 1. 1899 Amer. dial. – a bullfrog
n. 2. 1948 US sl. – an inexperienced person; a greenhorn, a novice
n. 3. 1967 Amer. dial. – a tree frog
• GREENHORN
n. 1672 – an inexperienced person; a novice; a raw recruit; an ignoramus; a simpleton
• GREENHOUSE
n. 1. 1966 Amer. dial. – a root cellar
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – an outside toilet building
• GREEN ICE
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – ice that will bend when you step on it, but not break
• GREENIE
n. 1. M19 colloq. – a greenhorn
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a gullible person; a dupe
n. 3. L20 chiefly Aust. & NZ – a conservationist
• GREENINGS
n. 1940 Amer. dial. – the leafy tops of vegetables; vegetables
• GREEN LAMPBLACK
n. 1938 Amer. dial. – a nonexistent item used as the basis of a practical joke
• GREENLANDER
n. Bk1891 sl. – a fool; a soft-head
• GREENLY
adv. 1. L16 arch. – in an inexperienced or untrained manner; unskilfully
adv. 2. M17 – freshly, vigorously, vividly
• GREEN MAN
n. 1635 – an inexperienced sailor on a whaling vessel
• GREEN MOUNTAIN STATE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – Vermont
• GREENNESS
n. 1. ME – vigour; vitality; youth
n. 2. M16 Sc. – freshness, newness
• GREEN ON
vb. 1887 Amer. dial. – to tease, to make a fool of; to annoy with practical jokes; to outwit
• GREEN OUT
vb. 1. 1887 Amer. dial. – to tease, to make a fool of; to annoy with practical jokes; to outwit
vb. 2. 1913 Amer. dial. – to swindle
• GREENS
n. 1. M19 sl. orig. US – money
n. 2. 1888 sl. – sexual intercourse
• GREEN SAUCE
n. 1867 Amer. dial. – garden vegetables, produce
• GREEN SHIT
n. 1950s African-American sl. – money, esp. a roll of bills
• GREEN SOD
n. 19C sl. – Ireland
• GREENTAIL
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a patch of rough or choppy water
• GREEN THUMB
n. 1943 sl., chiefly US – exceptional skill at growing plants
• GREENUP
n. 1941 Amer. dial. – springtime
• GREEN WATER
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a patch of rough or choppy water
• GREEN WIDOW
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a divorced woman
• GREENY
n. 1. 1848 Amer. dial. – a naive or inexperienced person; a greenhorn; a simpleton; a dull and stupid person
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – a patch of rough or choppy water
• GREET
vb. 1. OE – to weep, cry, lament, grieve
vb. 2. ME – to shed tears
• GREETING
n. 1969 – a summons or subpoena → Amer. dial.
• GREETY
adj. 1. 1350 – inclined to shed tears; tearful → obs.
adj. 2. ..19C – gritty, full of grit → Eng. dial.
• GREGAL
adj. M16 – pert. to a flock or to the common people
• GREGARIAN
adj. M17 – pert. to flocks or crowds, common → obs.
• GREGARIOUS
adj. L18 – inclined to associate with others, fond of company
• GREGORY
n. 1. L16 – a gentleman of fashion → obs.
n. 2. M17 – a hangman → obs.
• GREISSEL
vb. 1939 – to disgust, to sicken, to nauseate, to irritate → Amer. dial.
• GREISSLICH
adj. 1872 – having or producing a feeling of horror, disgust, or nausea; horrible, sickening, nauseating → Amer. dial.
• GREKING
n. 1300 – break of day, dawn → obs. exc. Sc.
• GREMLIN
n. M20 – a young surfer; also, a troublemaker who frequents the beaches but does not surf → surfing sl.
• GREMMIE • GREMMY
n. M20 – a young surfer → surfing sl.
• GRENADE
n. M16 – a pomegranate → obs.
• GRENOUILLE
n. 1931 – a frog or toad → Amer. dial.
• GREW UP IN A BARN
adj. 1965 – lacking manners, uncouth, boorish → Amer. dial.
• GREW UP IN THE WOODS BEHIND THE BACKWOODS
adj. 1965 – lacking manners, uncouth, boorish → Amer. dial.
• GREY
adj. 1944 – white-skinned → African-American sl.
n. 1944 – a White person → African-American sl.
• GREYBACK
n. 1840 – a body louse → US sl.
• GREYBEARD
n. 1942 – an old man → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• GREYHOUND
vb. 1. 1940 – to run fast → African-American sl.
vb. 2. 1960 – to date a White person → African-American sl.
• THE GREY MARE IS THE BETTER HORSE
phr. 1546 – said of one whose wife wears the breeches; the wife rules the husband
• GREY MATTER
n. 1965 – intelligence → sl.
• GREY THRUMS
n. 1835 – the purring sound made by a cat → Sc.
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