► SHOP n. 1. a period of employment or an engagement → 1885 theatrical sl.
n. 2. a prison → 1891 sl. (Bk.)
vb. 1. to imprison → 1678 Amer.
vb. 2. to betray an associate to the police or other authority; to inform on; to incriminate → 1899 sl., chiefly Brit.
► THE SHOP n. 1. the University of Melbourne → 1889 Aust. sl.
n. 2. a nickname for the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich → 1899 Brit. sl.
► SHOP DOOR n. the fly on a man’s trousers → 1965 US sl.
► SHOPPIE ► SHOPPY n. a shop assistant → 1909 sl.
► SHORT adj. 1. quick, speedy, immediate → 1480 obs.
adj. 2. stingy, niggardly; cheap → 1967 Amer. dial.
n. 1. a car → 1960 Amer. sl.
n. 2. an illegal, undersized lobster → 1966 Amer. dial.
► SHORT AND SWEET, LIKE A DONKEY’S GALLOP adj. brief and pleasant → L19 colloq.
► SHORT AND THICK, LIKE A WELSHMAN’S PRICK adj. said of a short person very broad in the beam → M19 sl.
► SHORT A PERSON BY THE KNEES vb. to decapitate or cut off the legs → 1470 obs.
► SHORT-ARM n. 1. an inspection of the penis for venereal disease or other infection → 1919 sl.
n. 2. the penis → 1945 World War II sl.
► SHORT-ARM DRILL n. medical inspection for venereal disease → 1945 World War II colloq.
► SHORT-ARM INSPECTION n. an inspection to detect symptoms of venereal disease → 1910 military sl.
► SHORT-ARM PRACTICE n. copulation → 20C military sl.
► SHORT-ARSE n. a short person → 1890 colloq.
► SHORT-ARSED adj. short → 1870 colloq.
► SHORT-ARSE DRIVER n. an artillery driver, irrespective of height → 1910 artillerymen’s sl.
► SHORT AS MARCHINGTON WAKE-CAKE phr. used of a woman’ s temper → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SHORT BACK AND SIDES n. a short haircut → 20C colloq.
► SHORT BIT n. a dime; the sum of 10 cents → 1854 Amer. dial.
► SHORT CHANGE ARTIST n. a ticket seller, clerk, etc. → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SHORT COCK n. cheese → 1904 UK sl.
► SHORT CON n. a small-scale confidence racket → 1932 US sl.
► SHORT-COUPLED adj. stunted → 1958 Amer. dial.
► THE SHORT, DEAD DUDE n. Napoleon → 20C teen & high school sl.
► SHORT DOG n. 1. a local train or bus → 1955 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a bottle of cheap wine → 1960 US sl.
n. 3. cheap wine → 1970 US sl. (Bk.)
► SHORTEN ONE’S STAKE ROPE vb. to place one at a disadvantage; to cramp one’s style → 1945 US Western usage (Bk.)
► SHORT GROWTH n. failure of growth in a child → 1965 Amer. dial.
► SHORT HAIRS n. pubic hairs → 19C colloq.
► SHORT HANDLES n. men’s short underwear → 1968 Amer. dial.
► SHORT-HEAD n. in horse racing: a horse that fails by a short head → 1883 colloq.
► SHORTHORN n. 1. someone not from Texas or the Southwest; an outsider, a neophyte, a greenhorn → 1885 Amer. dial.
n. 2. an ordinary person, one of indifferent quality and not belonging to the best sort → 1899 Amer. dial.
n. 3. a young lad → 1930 Amer. dial.
► A SHORT HORSE IS SOON CARRIED phr. a little business is soon despatched → 1670
► SHORTIE n. 1. a small drink of spirits → 1931 sl., orig. US
n. 2. an undersized crayfish → 1980 NZ sl.
n. 3. a young person; a child → 1998 African-American sl.
n. 4. one’s girlfriend → 2006 African-American sl.
► SHORT IN ONE’S MIND adj. forgetful → 1908 Amer. dial.
► SHORT JOHN n. a niggardly, miserly, or stingy person; one who does things in a cheap style → 1909 Amer. dial.
► SHORT JOINT n. a chicken thigh → 1960 Amer. dial.
► SHORT LEG n. a chicken thigh → 2000 Amer. dial.
► SHORT-LENGTH n. a small glass of brandy → 1864 Sc.
► SHORT-LIMBERED adj. touchy → L19
► SHORT METER n. a short time → 1842 Amer. dial.
► SHORT-MINDED adj. 1. slow-witted → 1862 Amer. dial.
adj. 2. quick-tempered, touchy → 1986 Amer. dial.
► SHORT NAME n. a nickname → 1986 Amer. dial.
► SHORTNESS n. brevity or conciseness in speech → 1450
► SHORT OF A SHEET adj. crazy → 19C sl.
► SHORT-ONE n. in coaching: a passenger not on the waybill → 1830
► SHORT-PATIENCED adj. quick-tempered; excitable; touchy; irritable; easily offended; impatient → 1922 Amer. dial.
► SHORT-PATIENT adj. quick-tempered; excitable; touchy; irritable; easily offended; impatient → 1922 Amer. dial.
► SHORT POT vb. to cheat or deceive someone; to give less than the expected amount → 1940 Amer. dial.
► A SHORT REPLY IN THE PLURAL int. balls! = nonsense! → 20C
► SHORT SAUCE n. potatoes, turnips, onions, pumpkins, etc. → 1809 Amer. dial.
► SHORT SKATE n. 1. a cheapskate, a stingy person → 1953 Amer. sl.
n. 2. one who does not pay his bills → 1967 Amer. dial.
vb. to act like a cheapskate, to be stingy → 1909 Amer. dial.
► SHORT SPEAKING n. brevity in speech → 1500 obs.
► SHORT-SPOKEN adj. laconic in speech → 1865
► SHORT STAKER n. a restless person who works only long enough to get a few dollars together before he is off again → 1927 Amer. dial.
► SHORT STROKES n. masturbation → 20C colloq.
► SHORT TALK n. quarrelsome talk → 1934 Amer. dial.
vb. to talk crossly, rudely, curtly or in a quarrelsome manner to someone → 1931 Amer. dial.
► SHORT THIGH n. a chicken thigh → 1986 Amer. dial.
► SHORT TIME n. a brief visit to a prostitute; a brief stay in a hotel for sexual purposes → 1937 sl.
► SHORT-TIMER n. 1. someone nearing the end of their military service → 1906 US sl.
n. 2. someone who visits a prostitute or stays briefly at a hotel for sexual purposes → 1923 sl.
► SHORT-TONGUED adj. taciturn or unready in speech → 1575
► SHORTWOODARD n. a rustic person; a country bumpkin → 1931 Amer. dial.
► SHORTWOODS n. a rustic person; a country bumpkin → 1931 Amer. dial.
► SHORTY n. 1. a small drink of spirits → 1931 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a nickname for a short person → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 3. a young person; a child → 1998 African-American sl.
n. 4. one’s girlfriend → 2006 African-American sl.
► SHO-SHO n. a machine gun → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT adj. 1. drunk; tipsy → 1864 sl., chiefly Aust., NZ & US
adj. 2. tired → 1939 sl.
adj. 3. ugly → 1970 US sl. (Bk.)
n. 1. money → 1903 sl. (Bk.)
n. 2. a fast throw → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► THE SHOT n. something that is wanted or needed → 1953 Aust. sl.
► SHOT-AWAY adj. alcohol or drug intoxicated → 1990 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT DOWN adj. to be rejected; depressed → 1960 Amer. sl.
► SHOTE n. 1. a young hog → 1413
n. 2. a person; a trifling, worthless fellow → 1844 Amer. dial., derogatory
► SHOT FULL OF HOLES adj. drunk; tipsy → 1940 NZ sl.
► SHOT GUN n. a machine gun → 1944 services’ sl. (Bk.)
► SHOTGUN HOUSE n. a house whose rooms are all in a line → 1936 Amer. dial.
► SHOTGUN QUIZ n. a surprise test → 1960 US students’ sl.
► SHOTGUN WEDDING n. a forced wedding, presumably because the bride is pregnant → 1990 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT HOUSE n. a place where liquor is sold by the drink → 1974 Amer. dial.
► SHOT IN ONE’S LOCKER n. 1. a piece of money in one’s possession → 1835 nautical US sl.
n. 2. a final resource → 1894 US nautical sl.
► SHOT IN THE ARM n. 1. a boost or act of encouragement → 1922 Amer.
n. 2. an injection of narcotics → 1990 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 3. a drink of liquor → 1999 sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT IN THE DARK n. a very general attempt; a wild guess → 1990 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT IN THE NECK adj. alcohol intoxicated → 1945 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. a drink of straight whisky → 1990 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT OF CAFFEINE n. a cup of coffee → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT OF COW n. a glass of milk → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT OF MOO n. a glass of milk → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT OF PUSS n. a glass of milk → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOT-SLING n. a slingshot → 1937 Amer. dial.
► SHOTTIE n. a shotgun → 1980 NZ sl.
► SHOT TO HELL adj. ruined; decimated; utterly ruined → 1913 Amer. sl.
► SHOT TO PIECES adj. demoralized; ruined → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SHOT UP adj. alcohol or drug intoxicated → 1990 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOULDER-BUSTER n. a shotgun → 1968 Amer. dial.
► SHOULDER-HITTER n. a bully → 1858 Amer.
► SHOULDER WALNUT vb. to enlist as a soldier → 1838 obs.
► SHOULDN’T HAPPEN TO A DOG phr. describes something that is so bad that no creature deserves it → 1990 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOUSE n. a lavatory; a privy → 1941 Aust. & NZ sl.
► SHOUSH n. a lavatory; a privy → 1941 Aust. & NZ sl.
► SHOUT vb. to treat someone to a drink; to stand a drink → 1850 Aust. & NZ sl.
► SHOUT BLUE MURDER vb. to shout desperately, as if being attacked → 1859 sl.
► SHOUTING METHODIST n. a Methodist who exhibits religious enthusiasm with loud cries or vigorous bodily motions → 1851 Amer. dial.
► SHOUT THROUGH ONE’S FAT NECK vb. to talk nonsense → 1913 sl.
► SHOVE n. an act of copulation → 17C sl.
vb. 1. to copulate → 17C sl.
vb. 2. to pass counterfeit money → 1990 criminal sl. (Bk.)
vb. 3. to sell drugs → 1990 Amer. drug culture sl.
► THE SHOVE n. dismissal → 1899 sl.
► SHOVED adj. hard-pressed by circumstances → 1859 Amer. dial.
► SHOVED TO DEATH adj. very busy → 1952 Amer. dial.
► SHOVE IN THE FACE n. a blow in the face → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOVE IN THE STEEL vb. to spur a horse → 1945 US Western usage (Bk.)
► SHOVE IN YOUR OAR vb. to interfere in someone else’ s business → 1730 UK sl.
► SHOVE IT! int. an exclamation of contempt or derision → 1941 sl.
► SHOVE IT UP SOMEONE’S ASS vb. to brutally manhandle, victimize, or betray someone → 1971 Amer. sl.
► SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS! int. a derisive retort → 1864 Amer. sl.
► SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASSHOLE! int. a derisive retort → 1936 Amer. sl.
► SHOVEL BUM n. a city tramp → 1894 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SHOVELFUL O’ WORK n. a very little work → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SHOVEL IN THE SHEKELS vb. to prosper → 1894 Aust. sl.
► SHOVEL OF MALT n. a pot of porter → 1820 UK public-houses’ sl.
► SHOVEL THE SHIT vb. to lie or boast excessively → E20 US sl.
► SHOVE OFF vb. 1. to leave, to depart → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
vb. 2. to murder → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOVE ONE’S OAR IN vb. to interfere, to meddle → 1870 colloq.
► SHOVE OUT FOR vb. to set out for → 1850 Amer. sl.
► SHOVER n. someone who passes counterfeit money, cheques, etc. → 1859 US sl.
► SHOVE SHORTS vb. to sell in small amounts; to sell short measure → 1930 drug culture sl.
► SHOVE YOUR NOSE IN vb. to interfere, to interpose rudely → 1887 UK sl.
► SHOW n. 1. a small mass of blood-tinged mucus indicating the onset of labour → 16C colloq.
n. 2. something presented or exhibited as a specimen or sample → 1582 obs.
n. 3. the appearance of blood at the onset of the menses → 19C Brit. & US colloq.
n. 4. a prospect, chance, promise; an opportunity, opening → 1856 Amer. dial.
n. 5. an exposure by a girl or woman of her thighs, breasts, or genitals to boys or men; usually said by boys from 10 to 15 years old → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
vb. 1. to speak; to talk → 1200 obs.
vb. 2. to appear in person; to appear on the scene; to be present → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOW A CLEAN PAIR OF HEELS vb. to depart hurriedly → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOW A FACE vb. to exhibit a bold front → 1827 obs.
► SHOW A LEG vb. to move at speed → 1821 UK sl.
► SHOW A LOT OF HAIR vb. to display courage → 1960 Amer. sl.
► SHOWANCY n. aggressiveness, pushiness → 1952 Amer. dial.
► SHOW-AND-TELL PANTS n. very tight-fitting men’s pants which reveal the outlines of the genitals → M20 US sl.
► SHOW A TRICK vb. to outwit, to fool, to deceive → 1982 NZ sl.
► SHOWBOAT n. an attention-seeker or show-off → 1953 sl., orig. & chiefly US
vb. to show off → 1951 US sl.
► SHOW BUDDY n. in the language surrounding the Grateful Dead: a friend with whom you team up for Grateful Dead tours → 1994 US sl.
► SHOWCASE n. 1. a hearse → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 2. a sedan → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 3. an entertainment, theatre, nightclub, rehearsal or performance whose main purpose is to show the merits of the performers to an audience of prospective employers, such as theatrical producers, booking agents, directors, or the like → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 4. an audience many of whom were admitted on free tickets → 1974 Amer. theatre use (Bk.)
vb. to show off → 1945 US sl.
► SHOWCASE NIGGER n. a token Black employee → M20 US sl., derogatory
► SHOW DAYLIGHT vb. of a rider: to allow one’s seat to leave the saddle → 1929 Amer. dial.
► SHOWDOWN adj. crucial, determining → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 1. a meeting between two opposing people or parties to settle their disputes; a meeting between two antagonists → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 2. the act of bringing facts out into the open where the persons concerned may known of them → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 3. in prison: private time for sex → 1972 US sl.
n. 4. in poker: the moment when betting is completed and the players show their hands → 1982 US sl.
► SHOW DRINK vb. to be or act intoxicated with alcohol → 20C US sl.
► SHOWER n. 1. a worthless collection of people → 1941 UK sl.
n. 2. an ineffectual or incompetent person → 1949 Brit. sl.
► SHOWER BATH n. ten shillings → 1960 UK rhyming sl. for ‘half a pound’
► SHOWER CAP n. 1. a condom → 1969 US sl.
n. 2. a birth control diaphragm → M20 US sl.
► SHOWER DOWN vb. to whip a racehorse → 1974 Amer. jockey usage (Bk.)
► SHOWER OF SHIT ► SHOWER OF SHITE n. an unpleasant and worthless collection of people → 1999 UK sl., derogatory
► SHOWERS n. 1. ten shillings → 1960 UK rhyming sl. for ‘half a pound’ (Shower Bath)
n. 2. urination by one person on another, or other acts of urine fetishism → 2003 UK sl.
► SHOWER-SPANK vb. of a male: to masturbate in the shower → 1989 US sl.
► SHOWER-STICK n. an umbrella → 1974 Amer. dial. & jocular usage (Bk.)
► SHOW FOR vb. of weather: to promise, to portend → 1969 Amer. dial.
► SHOWFULL adj. possible or actually counterfeit → 1835 obs.
► SHOW HACKLE vb. to be willing to fight → M19 sl.
► SHOW HAIR vb. of a sportsman: to play aggressively and well → 1960 US sl.
► SHOW HALL n. a movie theatre → 1965 Amer. dial.
► SHOW HOUSE n. 1. a movie theatre → 1938 Amer. dial.
n. 2. a homosexual brothel → 1981 US sl.
► SHOW HOW THE BEAR CAME OUT OF THE BUCKWHEAT vb. to teach something → 1917 Amer. dial.
► SHOW HOW THE BEAR CAME OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS vb. to teach something → 1917 Amer. dial.
► SHOWIE n. a ‘showman’; one who owns or works at any of the various entertainment, food, etc. stands or pitches at shows or other public gatherings → 1930 NZ sl.
► SHOWING n. 1. a sight, a spectacle → 1000 obs.
n. 2. a prospect, chance, promise; an opportunity, opening → 1884 Amer. dial.
► SHOWING OUT adj. tipsy, just beginning to show the effect of alcohol → 1965 Amer. dial.
► SHOW-OFF n. a person given to ostentatious behaviour; a braggart → 20C Amer. colloq.
vb. (usually as ‘show off’) to act like a show-off → 20C Amer. colloq.
► SHOW ONE’S AGILITY vb. of a woman: to inadvertently reveal her vagina → 19C sl.
► SHOW ONE’S DRINK vb. to be or act intoxicated with alcohol → 20C US sl.
► SHOW ONE’S HEELS vb. to depart hurriedly → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOW ONE’S MAN vb. to use one’s authority; to domineer 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SHOW ONE’S MUG vb. to put in an appearance → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOW ONE’S PACES vb. to display one’s ability → 1870 colloq.
► SHOW ONE THE DOOR vb. to dismiss → 1778
► SHOW-OUT n. a show-off, a braggart; a loud, self-assertive person → 1954 Amer. dial.
vb. (‘show out’) to make a display of oneself; to behave extravagantly, esp. in order to drawn attention to oneself; to brag, to show off → 1841 Amer. dial.
► SHOW-SHOP n. a theatre → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOW SOMEONE WHERE TO HEAD IN vb. to severely scold or reprimand → 1966 Amer. dial.
► SHOW-STOPPING adj. impressive; sensational → 20C colloq.
► SHOW THE CLOVEN FOOT vb. to betray satanic character → 1926 US sl. (Bk.)
► SHOW-UP n. 1. an identification parade → 1929 US sl.
n. 2. a police line-up of suspected criminals, usually presented for possible identification by witnesses → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
vb. 1. (usually as ‘show up’) to expose or reveal someone; to make another person seem inefficient, ridiculous or inferior; to put to shame; to embarrass → 20C Amer. colloq.
vb. 2. to make a personal appearance; to arrive → 20C Amer. colloq.
► SHOW-UP LINE n. a police line-up of suspected criminals, usually presented for possible identification by witnesses → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOW UP ON THE SKYLINE vb. to appear; to become visible → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► SHOW WHERE THE BEAR SAT IN THE BUCKWHEAT vb. to tell someone off; to put someone in his place → 1947 Amer. dial.
► SHOW WHERE THE BEAR SHIT IN THE BUCKWHEAT vb. to tell someone off; to put someone in his place → 1966 Amer. dial.
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