• SUSHI SOCIALIST
n. one who preaches socialism but espouses a capitalist lifestyle …1990s sl.
• SUSPECTUOUS
adj. 1553 – feeling suspicion; disposed to suspect; suspecting; esp. disposed to suspect evil, mistrustful (obs.)
• SUSPICION
n. Bk1942 – a small amount; a bit (Amer. sl.)
• SUS(S)
n. 1. 1936 – someone suspected of a crime (UK sl.)
n. 2. 1936 – suspicion of having committed a crime (UK sl.)
vb. 1. 1953 – to suspect of a crime (UK sl.)
vb. 2. 1966 – to understand or realize the meaning of something (UK sl.)
• SUSSED
adj. 1984 – informed, aware (UK sl.)
• SUSSO
n. 1941 – an unemployment benefit; also, someone paid such a benefit (Aust sl.)
• SUSS OUT
vb. to understand or realize the meaning of something …1966 Brit. sl.
• SUVIGROUS
adj. fierce, savage, violent, powerful, ill-tempered, headstrong, obstinate, strong-willed …1893 Amer. dial.
• SWAB
n. 1. a sailor …19C sl.
n. 2. an awkward or clumsy fellow …19C sl.
n. 3. an epaulet of a naval officer …US Civil War usage
n. 4. anything used for mopping …US Civil War usage
• SWABBER
n. a clumsy fellow …1612
• SWABBY
n. in the Navy or Coast Guard, a sailor …sl.
• SWABIFICATION
n. a mopping …1833 humorous nonce word
• SWACK
vb. to intoxicate; to make dead drunk …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• SWACKED
adj. drunk …1932 US sl.
• SWADDISH
adj. 1593 obs. rare – clownish, loutish
• SWAG
n. 1. stolen property; booty; plunder …1794 sl.
n. 2. money; valuables …sl.
vb. to sag …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• SWAG-BUTTOCKED
adj. having large swaying buttocks …a1652 obs.
• SWAGDANGLE
n. the penis …Urquhart usage
• SWAGMAN
n. a tramp, hobo, or vagabond …1875 Aust. sl.
• SWAIN
n. 1. a country lad
n. 2. a country admirer or lover
• S.W.A.K.
n. salutation on an envelope, “Sealed With A Kiss” …1925 sl., orig. services’ usage
• SWAK
adj. weak, feeble …20C S. Afr. sl.
• S.W.A.L.C.A.K.W.S.
phr. Sealed With A Lick Cos A Kiss Won’t Stick; usually found on the back of envelopes …1910s
• SWALING
adj. a1023 – burning, blazing
n. c1410 – a burning; a singeing
• S.W.A.L.K.
phr. Sealed With A Loving Kiss; usually found on the back of envelopes …1948 sl., orig. services’ usage
• SWALLOW
n. 1. the throat …L18
n. 2. a mouthful …L19
n. 3. a puff of a cigarette …20C sl.
n. 4. a woman employed by the Soviet intelligent service to seduce men for the purposes of espionage …1972 sl.
vb. 1. to accept gullibly …1594 sl.
vb. 2. to be accepted …M19
vb. 3. to abandon life as a professional criminal, to ‘go straight’ …20C sl.
vb. 4. to accept defeat, i.e. in a game …20C
• SWALLOW A HAIR
vb. to become very drunk …M17 sl.
• SWALLOW A HARE
vb. to become very drunk …M17 sl.
• SWALLOW A SAILOR
vb. to get drunk on rum …L19 UK port sl.
• SWALLOW A SPIDER
vb. to go bankrupt …1670 obs.
• SWALLOW A TAVERN TOKEN
vb. to become drunk …L16 sl.
• SWALLOW BOBBY
vb. to make a false witness …M19 Aust. sl.
• SWALLOWER
n. 1. a woman …1980s Aust. sl., derogatory
n. 2. a drug smuggler who swallows carefully wrapped drugs to take them through customs …1980s drug culture sl.
• SWALLOW IT
vb. to accept, esp. a false story that one is told …17C
• SWALLOW IT WHOLE
vb. to accept, esp. a false story that one is told …17C
• SWALLOW ONE’S NECK
vb. to keep quiet; to hold one’s tongue …1920s W. Indies sl.
• SWALLOW ONE’S SPIT
vb. to keep quiet; to hold one’s tongue …1920s W. Indies sl.
• SWALLOW-PIPE
n. the throat …20C W. Indies sl.
• SWALLOW-TAIL
n. a dress coat …Bk1891 sl.
• SWALLOWTAILS
n. business and professional men who engage in politics …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• SWALLOW THE ANCHOR
vb. 1. to change course; to stop doing something …L19 UK criminals’ sl.
vb. 2. of a sailor: to give up seafaring life …1909 Amer. nautical sl.
vb. 3. to give oneself up to the police …1980s sl.
• SWAMP
vb. 1. to put on airs; to show off …World War I Amer. sl.
vb. 2. to overwhelm with an excess of something
• SWAMPER
n. 1. the assistant to the driver of horses, mules, or bullocks; hence, the assistant to the driver of a lorry …1870 sl., orig. US
n. 2. a tramp who travels on foot but has his swag carried on a wagon; a tramp who obtains a lift …1894 Aust. sl.
n. 3. something heavy …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
n. 4. a general assistant or labourer; a menial
n. 5. a person who inhabits, works in, or is exceptionally familiar with swamps …colloq.
• SWAMP GABOON
n. an imaginary animal by which the tracks of snow shoes are said to be made …Bk1913 Amer. dial.
• SWAMP ROOT
n. inferior whisky …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• SWAMP-SEED
n. among sailors: rice …Bk1913-17 Amer. dial.
• SWAMP WAMPUS
n. an imaginary animal monster; a hobgoblin …1965 Amer. dial.
• SWAN
n. a person of unusual beauty, excellent, purity, or the like
• SWAN-DIVE
vb. to decrease suddenly and decisively; to plummet
• S.W.A.N.K.
phr. Sealed With A Nice Kiss; usually found on the back of envelopes …1910s
• SWANK
adj. pretentiously stylish; elegant
n. 1. boastful talk; behaviour intended to impress …1854 sl.
n. 2. a swaggering, showy, or boastful person …1913 sl.
n. 3. dashing smartness, as in dress or appearance; style; swagger
vb. to boast, to behave boastfully, self-importantly, or ostentatiously; to swagger; to show off …1809 sl.
• SWANKER
n. a swaggering, showy, or boastful person …a1846 sl.
• SWANKPOT
n. 1914 Brit. sl. – a boastful, self-opinionated person
• SWANKY
adj. 1835 – elegant or ostentatious
• SWASIVIOUS
adj. 1592 obs. rare – agreeably persuasive
• SWATTLE
vb. 1. 1671 N. Eng. dial. – to make a splashing or spluttering noise with or in water
vb. 2. 1681 N. Eng. dial. – to fritter away as time, money
vb. 3. 1785 N. Eng. dial. – to tipple or guzzle drink
• SWATTY
n. 1901 US sl. – a soldier
• SWAVER
vb. a1400 N. Eng. dial. – to stagger, to totter
• SWAT
n. 1. 1850 Brit. sl., derogatory – a hard-working pupil
n. 2. 1850 Brit. – intensive study at school or college, orig. specifically mathematics
vb. 1860 Brit. sl. – to study intensively, esp. in preparation for an exam
• SWAVE AND BLAZE
phr. 1960s Amer. sl. – intentional and ironic mispronunciation of ‘suave and blase,’ used to denote sarcasm
• SWAY ALL TOP ROPES
vb. L19 sl. – to give oneself airs
• SWAY AWAY ON ALL TOP ROPES
vb. c1810 nautical colloq. – to live extravagantly or riotously
• SWAYFUL
adj. 1767 rare – powerful, able to exercise sway
• SWAYVE
vb. 1377 Eng. dial. – to move to and fro; to flow
• SWEAK
vb. 1567 obs. – to swing
• SWEAL
n. 1. 1781 Eng. dial. – a blaze, a flame
n. 2. 1878 Eng. dial. – the guttering of a candle
vb. 1. c1000 – to consume with fire, to burn; to set fire to; to singe, to scorch
vb. 2. 1653 – of a candle: to melt away
• SWEALING
adj. a1023 – burning, blazing
n. c1410 – a burning; a singeing
• SWEAM
n. 1. a1325 obs. – grief, affliction
n. 2. c1415 obs. – a sudden fit of sickness or fainting; a swoon
vb. 1. c1225 obs. – to afflict, to grieve
vb. 2. a1400 obs. – to grieve, to mourn
vb. 3. c1440 obs. – to be overcome with faintness
• SWEAMFUL
adj. c1430 obs. – grievous, distressing
• SWEAR BLIND
vb. 1937 sl. – to make a strong assertion that one is telling the truth (often with the implication that one is not)
• SWEAR BY
vb. c1815 sl. – to have full confidence in something
• SWEAR LIKE A DRUNKEN TINKER
vb. 1608 – to swear
• SWEAR LIKE LAVENDER JESUS
vb. 1930 Amer. dial. – to swear fiercely
• SWEAR UP AND DOWN
vb. L19 sl. – to affirm something emphatically
• SWEARY
n. 1994 colloq., chiefly Sc. – a swear word
• SWEAT
n. 1. 1910s sl., orig. military usage – any veteran
n. 2. 1923 sl. – something requiring great effort
vb. 1973 sl. – to be nervous or anxious
• SWEAT BLOOD
vb. 1. 1911 sl. – to make one’s maximum effort
vb. 2. 1924 sl. – to be afraid
• SWEATBOX
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a telephone booth
• SWEATFUL
adj. a1618 chiefly poetic usage – full of sweat; toilsome, laborious, distressing, oppressive
• SWEAT-HOG
n. 1976 US sl. – a difficult student singled out in school or college for special instruction
• SWEAT IT OUT
vb. 1876 sl., orig. US – to endure something unpleasant
• SWEAT LIKE A DOG
vb. 1965 Amer. dial. – to sweat profusely
• SWEAT LIKE A NIGGER
vb. 1965 Amer. dial., derogatory – to sweat copiously
• SWEAT LIKE A NIGGER AT A COUNTY ELECTION
vb. 1965 Amer. dial., derogatory – to sweat copiously
• SWEAT LIKE A NIGGER AT ELECTION
vb. 1939 Amer. dial., derogatory – to sweat copiously
• SWEAT LIKE A NIGGER GOING TO ELECTION
vb. 1946 Amer. dial., derogatory – to be tired, sweaty, and out of breath
• SWEAT LIKE A NIGGER IN CHURCH
vb. 1965 Amer. dial., derogatory – to sweat copiously
• SWEAT LIKE A NIGGER ON ELECTION DAY
vb. 1965 Amer. dial., derogatory – to sweat copiously
• SWEAT LIKE A NIGGER PREACHER AT ELECTION
vb. 1970 Amer. dial., derogatory – to sweat copiously
• SWEAT LIKE A NIGGER TRYING TO TELL THE TRUTH
vb. 1965 Amer. dial., derogatory – to sweat copiously
• SWEAT LIKE A PIG
vb. 1965 Amer. dial. – to sweat profusely
• SWEAT LIKE A STUCK PIG
vb. 1965 Amer. dial. – to sweat profusely
• SWEAT LIKE A TIGER
vb. 1852 Amer. dial. – to sweat profusely
• SWEAT LIKE BLUE HEAVEN
vb. 1967 Amer. dial. – to sweat heavily
• SWEAT ON
vb. 1917 sl. – to await nervously
• SWEAT ONE’S GUTS OUT
vb. 1890 colloq. – to work extremely hard; to make one’s maximum effort
• SWEAT ON THE TOP LINE
vb. 1919 sl., orig. services’ usage – to be nervous or anxious
• SWEAT WORSE THAN A NIGGER AT ELECTION
vb. 1906 Amer. dial. – to sweat copiously
• SWEB
vb. 1599 N. Eng. dial. – to faint, to swoon
• SWEDE-BASHER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a farm worker; hence, any rustic
• SWEEDLE
vb. 1909 sl., obs. – to swindle by wheedling
• SWEEL
vb. a1583 Sc. – to wrap a person in cloth or clothing; to swaddle, to swathe
• SWEENEY
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a gullible person; a dupe
n. 2. 1966 nickname – a barber
• THE SWEENEY
n. 1936 Brit. sl., short for ‘Sweeney Todd’ rhyming sl. – the flying squad
• SWEEP
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to depart hurriedly
• SWEEPY
n. 1798 Eng. dial. – a chimney-sweep or his boy
• SWEER
adj. 1. c725 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – disinclined for effort, inactive; indolent, slothful
adj. 2. a1000 Sc. & N. Eng. dial., obs. – grievous, oppressive
adj. 3. c1000 Sc. & N. Eng. dial., obs. – oppressed in mind, grieved, sad
adj. 4. a1300 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – reluctant, unwilling, disinclined
• SWEERDOM
n. c1480 Sc. obs. – indolence, laziness, sloth
• SWEERING
n. a1300 obs. – sloth, negligence
• SWEERNESS
n. 1. c888 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – indolence, laziness, sloth
n. 2. 1533 Sc. & Eng. dial. – unwillingness, reluctance, disinclination to do something
• SWEERT
adj. 1817 Sc. – lazy, sluggish, reluctant, inactive, slothful, indolent
• SWEET
adj. 1. 1898 Aust. sl. – satisfactory
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
• SWEET ALICE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – milk or cream
• SWEET AND HOT
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – hot chocolate
• SWEET AS MIG
adj. 1825 Eng. dial. – very sweet
• SWEET AS PIE
adj. L19 orig. US – very well-behaved, highly amenable
• SWEET BA
n. 1961 UK sl. – nothing whatsoever; ‘Bugger All’
• SWEET BABY
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• SWEETBACK
n. 1. 1929 US sl. – a pimp
n. 2. 1929 US sl. – a woman’s lover; a lady’s man
• SWEETBACK MAN
n. 1. 1929 US sl. – a pimp
n. 2. 1929 US sl. – a woman’s lover; a lady’s man
• SWEETBREAD
n. a1670 colloq., obs. – a bribe
• SWEET-BREASTED
adj. a1623 obs. – having a sweet voice
• SWEET BY-AND-BY
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – the future
• SWEET CHEESECAKES!
int. 1924 Amer. euphemism – sweet Jesus!
• SWEET COUNT
n. 20C sl. – in dominoes: a good hand
• SWEET DADDY
n. 1. 1909 Amer. dial. – a husband; a sweetheart
n. 2. 1910s US prison sl. – a predatory prison homosexual
n. 3. 1950s African-American sl. – a lover or any man who provides for a woman; a pimp
• SWEETENER
n. 1847 sl. – a bribe
• SWEETFUL
adj. 1589 – full of sweetness
• SWEETHEART
n. 1. c1290 – a term of endearment; darling
n. 2. 1589 obs. – a person who is loved illicitly; a paramour
n. 3. 1840 – a tame rabbit
n. 4. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something beautiful or attractive
n. 5. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent or good of its kind
• SWEETHEART-DARLIN’
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a loved one; a sweetheart
• SWEET-HOT
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a passionate sweetheart
• SWEETIE
n. 1. 1721 orig. Sc. – a sweetmeat, lollipop
n. 2. 1778 colloq. – a term of endearment; a loved one, a sweetheart
• SWEETIE PIE
n. 1928 sl. – a term of endearment; a lovable and attractive person
• SWEETIKIN
n. 1596 – a term of endearment
• SWEETING
n. 1. a1300 arch. – a beloved person; dear one, darling, sweetheart; a term of endearment
n. 2. a1626 obs. – sweet flavouring; sweetness
• SWEETKIN
adj. 1599 obs. rare – darling; lovely; delicate
n. 1599 obs. rare – a term of endearment
• SWEETLING
n. 1. 1648 rare – a term of endearment for a beloved person
n. 2. 1840 rare – a small sweet thing
• SWEET MAN
n. 1942 US sl. – a woman’s lover; a lady’s man
• SWEET MARTINI
n. 2002 Brit. sl. – the right hand
• SWEET MASH
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an infatuation
• SWEETMEAT
n. a1500 obs. – sweet food, as sugared cakes or pastry, confectionery
• SWEETMOUTH
vb. 1948 sl., chiefly US – to flatter; to deceive with insincere or flattering talk
• SWEET NOTHINGS
n. 1900 sl. – amatory talk
• SWEETO
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
• SWEET-ON
adj. 1740 sl. – infatuated
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an infatuation
• SWEET PATOOTIE
n. 1. 1923 US sl. – a sexually attractive woman
n. 2. 1924 Amer. dial. – a sweetheart or wife
• SWEETS
n. 1961 US sl. – amphetamine tablets
• SWEET SINGER
n. 1936 – a popular writer or singer
• SWEETSOME
adj. 1799 Eng. & Amer. dial. – sweet, pleasant
• SWEET STUFF
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• SWEET TALK
n. 1945 sl., orig. US – insincere or exaggerated talk intended to flatter or deceive; humbug or flattery
vb. 1936 sl., orig. & chiefly US – (as ‘sweet-talk’) to flatter; to deceive with insincere or flattering talk; to cajole, to persuade
• SWEET-WILLIAM
n. 1848 Eng. dial. – a goldfinch
• SWEETY
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a loved one; a sweetheart
• SWEIGHT
n. a1800 Eng. dial. – the greatest party of anything
• SWELCHIE
n. a1688 Sc., obs. – a whirlpool
• SWELEGANT
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
• SWELL
adj. 1897 orig. & chiefly US – elegant, stylish, first-rate, excellent, of the best quality
int. 1897 – exclamation of approval or satisfaction
n. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a swell-dressed person; a person with a showy exterior
• SWELLAGAZAM
adj. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – resplendently beautiful; gorgeous
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
• SWELL ARTICLE
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something beautiful or attractive
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• SWELL BABY
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• SWELLDIFFEROUS
adj. 1. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – swell, elegant, fine; excellent, first-rate
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – resplendently beautiful; gorgeous
• SWELL DISH
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• SWELLDOODLE
adj. 1. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – stylish, splendid, excellent, first-rate
adj. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – resplendently beautiful; gorgeous
• SWELLED HEAD
n. 1891 sl. – conceit
• SWELLEGANT
adj. 1907 Amer. dial. – swell, elegant, very fine, beautiful, wonderfully stylish or fashionable
• SWELLELLEGOUS
adj. 1. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – beautiful, elegant, splendid
adj. 2 Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
• SWELLEROO
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something excellent
• SWELL-HEAD
n. 1845 colloq. – a conceited person
• SWELLISH
adj. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – elegant, stylish, first-rate
• SWELL JOB
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• SWELL LAYOUT
n. 1. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something beautiful or attractive
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• SWELL MEMBER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• SWELL MERCHANDISE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something beautiful or attractive
• SWELL NUMBER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• SWELLO
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – excellent; first-rate
• SWELL PIECE OF MERCHANDISE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• SWELL PIECE OF WORK
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• SWELL PROPOSITION
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an attractive young woman
• SWELL SETUP
n. Bk1892 Amer. sl. – something beautiful or attractive
• SWELME
n. a1400-50 obs. – the heat of anger or the like
• SWELT
vb. 1. c888 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to die, to perish
vb. 2. c1330 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to faint, to swoon, to be overcome
vb. 3. a1400-50 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to overheat, to broil, to scorch; to overwhelm with heat
• SWELTH
n. 1. c1400 chiefly Sc., obs. – a whirlpool
n. 2. 1563 chiefly Sc., obs. – foul or troubled water
n. 3. 1631 – a swelling
• SWELTING
adj. 1. a1400 obs. – dying
adj. 2. a1542 obs. – sweltering
n. 1. c1460 obs. – a fainting or being overcome with heat
n. 2. 1571 obs. – sweltering heat
• SWELTRY
adj. 1575 arch. – of heat, weather, etc.: oppressively hot, sweltering, sultry
• SWELTY
adj. 1586 – sweltering, sultry
• SWENCH
n. a1000 obs. – affliction, trouble, trial; later, labour, toil
vb. a1000 obs. – to trouble, to harass, to afflict a person
• SWENG
n. 1. a1000 obs. – a stroke, a blow; a full at wrestling, a military assault; violent action
n. 2. c1400 obs. – toil, labour
• SWENGE
vb. 1. a1000 obs. – to shake, to shatter
vb. 2. c1430 obs. – to beat up eggs
• SWEPE
n. a700 obs. – a scourge, a whip
vb. 1710 obs. – to scourge, to whip, to flog
• SWERK
vb. a1000 obs. – to be or become dark; to become gloomy, troubled, or sad
• SWETHE
vb. c1440 obs. – to swathe
• SWETTERLY
adv. a1340 obs. – more sweetly
• SWEVE
vb. 1. a1000 obs. – to sleep, to sink to rest, to become quiet
vb. 2. a1000 obs. – to stupefy
• SWEVEN
n. 1. c897 obs. – a dream, a vision
n. 2. a1000 obs. – sleep
vb. c1000 obs. – to dream
• SWEVENING
n. c1275 obs. – dreaming; a dream
• SWEVET
n. a1000 obs. – sleep, slumber
• SWEVIAN
adj. 1601 obs. – Swedish
n. 1573 obs. – a Swede
• SWEY
n. 1941 Aust. sl. – a two-shilling piece
vb. c1000 obs. – to sound, to make a sound, to resound
• SWEYNT
adj. c1450 obs. – tired, lazy
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Updated: September 16, 2022
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