♦ A1 AND NO MISTAKE
  — prime; first-class; of the best → 1900 sl.

♦ A1 COPPER-BOTTOMED
  — of the best, prime; first-class → 1876 sl.

♦ A-ALIKE
  — a kindred spirit, a like-minded friend → 1997 African-American usage

♦ A AND IZZARD
  — the beginning and end, the epitome → 1835 Amer. dial.

♦ THE A.A. OF THE GEE-GEE
  — the Institute of the Horse and Pony Club, which was founded in 1930 → 1934

♦ THE AARON
  — a cadger; a beggar → 17C sl.
  — a captain of thieves → 1876 sl.

♦ AARON’S ROD
  — the penis → 1843 sl.
  — an ornamental figure representing a rod with a serpent entwined about it → 1849

♦ AN AARON’S SERPENT
  — something so powerful as to swallow up minor powers → 1900 (Bk.)

♦ ABAA COVE
   — a bad man → 1890 sl. (Bk.)

♦ ABACK-O’-BEHIND
  — in the rear, behind → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
  — far away, remote → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)

♦ ABACK-O-BEYONT
  — at an indefinitely great distance; too remote to be within reach or accessible from → 1873 Eng. dial.

♦ ABACK O’ DURHAM
  — delayed, thrown back from the beginning → 1873 Eng. dial.

♦ ABAFT THE WHEEL-HOUSE
  — just below the small of the back; hence, the buttocks → L19 US euphemism
  — crazy → 1902 sl.

♦ ABANDONED HABITS
  — the riding dress of the up-market courtesans who frequented Rotten Row in London’s Hyde Park → 1890 sl.

♦ ABATED IN THE VITALS
  — grown weak → 1866 Eng. dial.

♦ ABATE ONE’S CHEER
  — to become downcast or dispirited → 1350 obs.

♦ ABATE ONE’S COUNTENANCE
  — to become downcast or dispirited → 1350 obs.

♦ ABAT-JOUR
  — a skylight → 1830
  — a device for reflecting light downwards, a lampshade → 1936

♦ ABBA-DABBA
  — adj. dark-skinned, especially Arabic → 1975 US sl.
  — n. chatter, gossip → 1961 US sl.

♦ ABBA FATHER
  — the title of invocation to the first person of the Trinity → 1382
  — a bishop in the Syriac and Coptic Churches; father, religious superior → 1611 

♦ ABBEY CLOGS
— chains or fetters worn by a criminal → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.

♦ ABBEY-COUNTER
  — a medal presented to a pilgrim as a token of his having visited a shrine → 1839

♦ ABBEY-CROAKER
  — the chaplain of Newgate → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.

♦ ABBEY HABIT
  — an amphetamine → 2009 UK drug culture sl.

♦ ABBEY-LABOURER
  — a labourer in the service of an abbey → 1655

♦ ABBEY LAIRD
  — a bankrupt; a debtor who took sanctuary from his creditors in the precincts of Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, a privilege abolished in 1880 → 1700 Sc. obs.,  jocular usage

♦ ABBEY-LANDS
  — estates of an abbey → 1679

♦ ABBEY-LIKE
  — monastic, monkish → 1553 obs.

♦ ABBEY LUBBER
  — a lazy monk → 1538
  — a lazy, thriftless person; an idler, a vagabond → 1750 nautical usage

♦ ABBEY-LUBBER-LIKE
  — lazy, thriftless, ne’er-do-well → 1570

♦ ABBEY-MAN
  — a member of a monastery; a monk → 1550

♦ ABBEY-MONGER
  — a person who dealt in, owned, or profited from property, lands, or goods that were seized or looted from dissolved monasteries → 1679

♦ ABBEY-STEAD
  — a monastic settlement; the site of an abbey → 1819

♦ ABBOT OF MISRULE
  — the Master of the Revels → 1950 arch. (Bk.)

♦ ABBOT OF THE PEOPLE
  — an old title for the chief magistrate of Genoa → 1950 (Bk.)

♦ ABBOT OF UNREASON
  — the Master of the Revels → 1950 Sc. arch. (Bk.)

♦ ABBOT ON THE CROSS
  — a brothel owner who runs a brothel for the purpose of robbery or extortion more than for prostitution → 1890 Brit. sl.
  — the bully of a brothel; one employed by a brothel as a bodyguard for prostitutes; a brothel ‘bouncer’ → 1909 Brit. sl. (Bk.)

♦ ABBOTT’S PARK
  — the King’s Bench prison → 1821 UK sl.

♦ ABBOTT’S PRIORY
  — the King’s Bench prison → 1821 UK sl.

♦ ABBOTT’S TEETH
  — the spikes that topped the prison wall at King’s Bench prison → 1821 UK sl.

♦ ABBREVIATED PIECE OF NOTHING
  — a worthless or insignificant person or thing; anyone or anything judged to be of little value or importance → 1934 Amer. sl. (Bk.)

♦ ABBY SINGER
  — in television and movie making: the next-to-last shot of the day → 1990 US sl.

♦ ABC AD
  — a newspaper advertisement listing shows in alphabetical order → 1973 US sl.

♦ ABCAPT DA SNAFFLE-MITRE
  — hanged → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.

♦ ABC-BOOK ♦ ABCEE-BOOK
  — a primer, an introductory book to any subject → 1611

♦ A B C GIRL
 — a waitress → 1828 sl.

♦ ABC GUM
  — gum that has already been chewed (already been chewed) → 20C Amer. sl.

♦ AB CHASER
  — a resident of the coastal area → 1971 Boonville California usage (Bk.)

♦ THE A.B.C. OF ANY SUBJECT
  — its rudiments, its elementary principles → 1887 (Bk.)

♦ ABC’s
  — underwear → 1949 US sl.

♦ ABC-YA
  — used as a farewell → 1947 US sl.

♦ THE ABDABS
  — a condition of anxiety; uneasiness, nervousness → 1946 UK sl.
  — empty chatter, nonsense → 1984 UK sl.

♦ ABDULLAH-WITH-THE-CONDIES
  — an Egyptian menial employed by ‘Cairenes’ → 1919 Aust. services sl. (Bk.)

♦ ABDUL THE TENTMAKER
  — an erection → 1994 Aust. sl.

♦ ABEL AND CAIN
  — rain → 1887 Brit. rhyming sl.

♦ ABE LINCOLN
  — a $500 bill → 1913 US criminals’ sl.
  — a $5 bill → 1966 US sl.

♦ ABE LINCOLN WAR
  — the Civil War → 1943 Amer. arch.

♦ ABEL-WACKIT
  — a light blow → 1834 Amer. dial.

♦ ABERDEEN ANGUS
  — a breed of polled black beef cattle, originally from Scotland, but now widely distributed → 1862

♦ ABERDEEN CUTLET
  — a dried haddock → 1890 UK sl.

♦ ABERDEEN TERRIER
  — a rough variety of Scotch terrier → 1880

♦ ABE’S CABE
  — a $5 bill → 1954 US drug culture sl.

♦ AB EXTRA
  — from outside, from without → 1642

♦ AB-FAB
  — first-rate, very attractive, absolutely fabulous→ 1965 orig. Aust. teen usage

♦ ABIDING HOUSE
— a place of abode → 1597

♦ ABIDING PLACE
  — a place of abode → 1571

♦ ABIE KABIBBLE
  — a Jew → 1921 UK & US sl.

♦ ABIE LINCOLN
  — contemptible, disgusting → 1988 UK rhyming sl. for ‘stinking’

♦ ABJURE THE REALM
  — to swear an oath to leave a country or realm forever → 1530

♦ ABLE AND CABLE
  — ready and willing → 1953 African-American sl.

♦ ABLE-BODIED
  — having one’s body free from physical disability, and capable of the physical exertions required of it; in bodily health; robust → 1622

♦ ABLE-BODIEDNESS
  — soundness of bodily health; ability to work → 1870

♦ ABLE-BODIED SEAMAN
  — an ordinary seaman, especially one in the merchant navy, who has been trained in certain skills; a sailor capable of performing all skills → 1708

♦ ABLE GABLE
  — an admirable or handsome male → 1942 US sl. (Bk.)

♦ ABLE GRABLE
  — an admirable or sexually attractive female → 1942 US teen sl. (Bk.)
  — an accomplished performer → 1946 US sl.

♦ ABLE-MOST
  — ablest, most able → 1614 obs.

♦ ABLE SUGAR
  — crazy or out of order; haywire → 20C US military sl.

♦ ABLE TO BITE A PUMPKIN THROUGH A RAIL FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 1966 Amer. dial.

♦ ABLE TO CRAWL UNDER A SNAKE
 — morally reprehensible, despicable → 1932 Aust. sl.

♦ ABLE TO CRAWL UNDER A SNAKE BELLY
  — used to describe a person who acts immorally and without the least ethics → 1920s sl., orig. Aust.

♦ ABLE TO CRAWL UNDER A SNAKE’S BELLY WITH A TOP HAT ON
  — morally reprehensible, despicable → 1959 Aust. sl.

♦ ABLE TO CRAWL UNDER A SNAKE’S BELLYWITH STILTS ON
  — used to describe a person who acts immorally and without the least ethics → 1920s sl., orig. Aust.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A CORN ON THE COB THROUGH A KNOT HOLE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A CORN ON THE COB THROUGH A PALING FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A CORN ON THE COB THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A CORN ON THE COB THROUGH WIRE NETTING
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT AN APPLE THROUGH A BIRD CAGE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 1998 Aust. sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT AN APPLE THROUGH A KNOT HOLE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 1966 Amer. dial.

♦ ABLE TO EAT AN APPLE THROUGH A PALING FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT AN APPLE THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT AN APPLE THROUGH WIRE NETTING
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A PUMPKIN THROUGH A CRACK IN A BOARD FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 1950 Amer. dial.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A PUMPKIN THROUGH A KNOT HOLE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A PUMPKIN THROUGH A PALING FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A PUMPKIN THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A PUMPKIN THROUGH WIRE NETTING
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A SLICE OF WATERMELON THROUGH A KNOT HOLE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A SLICE OF WATERMELON THROUGH A PALING FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A SLICE OF WATERMELON THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
  — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT A SLICE OF WATERMELON THROUGH WIRE NETTING
    — said of one who has buck teeth → 20C US sl.

♦ ABLE TO EAT CORN OFF A COB THROUGH A KNOTHOLE
  — to have buck teeth → 1978 Amer. dial.

♦ ABLE TO EAT CORN-ON-THE-COB THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
  — to have buck teeth → 1980 Amer. dial.

♦ ABLE TO EAT CORN THROUGH A PICKET FENCE
  — to have buck teeth → 1985 Amer. dial.

♦ ABLE TO KICK THE EYE OUT OF A MOSQUITO
  — supremely competent → L19 sl., orig. US

♦ ABLE TO SET UP AN’ EAT A FEW PORRIDGES
  — convalescent, or in good health → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)

♦ ABLE TO SLEEP ON BOTH EARS
  — to be free from anxiety → 1663 obs.

♦ ABLE TO TAKE A JOKE
  — to be able to let others laugh and joke about you → 1869

♦ ABLE-WHACKETS
  — a popular sea-game with cards, wherein the loser is beaten over the palms of the hands with a handkerchief tightly twisted like a rope → 1867 (Bk.)

♦ ABNEY LEVEL
  — a small hand instrument used in surveying, forestry, and engineering to measure slopes and angles → 1889

♦ ABODE OF THE DAMNED
  — hell as a place or state of eternal punishment for wicked souls → 1911 (Bk.)

♦ A-BOMB
  — an atomic bomb → 1945 Amer. sl.
  — an alcoholic mixed drink → 1945 Amer. sl.
  — a combination of marijuana or hashish with opium, or other narcotics → 1969 US drug culture sl.

♦ THE ABOMINABLE NO-MAN
  — one who persists in failing to conform → 1955 sl.

♦ ABOMINABLE OF MONKS
  — a crowd of monks → 1450 obs.

♦ ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN
  — a creature alleged to exist in the Himalayas → 1921
  — an admirable male → 1963 US teen sl.

♦ ABOON-A-BIT
— excessively → 1891 Sc.

♦ ABOON MY BIND
  — beyond my power → 1823 Sc.

♦ A-BOOT
  — under the influence of drugs → 2008 UK sl.

♦ AB ORIGINE
  — from the beginning, from the creation of the world → 1537 

♦ ABORTION EXPRESS
  — a train that ran from Darwin to Birdum → 1940 Aust. sl.

♦ ABORTIVE PARCHMENT
  — a very fine, thin, and smooth type of vellum or parchment made from the skin of an unborn or newly born calf → 1664 obs.

♦ ABO’S BRIEFCASE
  — an form of boxed wine, rather than bottled → 2006 Aust. sl.

♦ ABO’S HANDBAG
  — an form of boxed wine, rather than bottled → 2005 Aust. sl.

♦ ABOUND IN ONE’S OWN SENSE
  — to follow one’s own opinion; to use one’s liberty of judgement → 1552 obs.

♦ ABOUT AND ABOUT
  — adj. very much alike or the same → 1867 US
  — n. mere chatter; the conversation of fools who talk for sheer talking’s sake → 1909 UK society usage (Bk.)

♦ ABOUT DONE
  — intoxicated with alcohol → M20 US sl.

♦ ABOUT EAST
  — in a proper manner; about right; acceptable → 1848 Amer. dial.

♦ ABOUT-FACE
  — adv. so as to face in the opposite direction; so as to reverse one’s position; also: back to front → 1820 
  — n. 1. a turn made so as to face in the opposite direction, specifically, in infantry drill → 1835
  — n. 2. a complete reverse in fortune, opinion, policy, etc. → 1853
  — n. 3. a 180-degree turn executed while driving fast → 1965 US sl.
  — vb. to turn around so as to face in the opposite direction; to reverse one’s opinion, policy, etc. → 1804 originally military usage, as a command in infantry drill

♦ ABOUT GONE
  — drunk → 1929 Amer. dial.

♦ ABOUT HALF
  — feeling well, healthy, relatively happy → 1966 US sl.

♦ ABOUT IT
  — totally committed → 2000 African-American sl.
  — in favour of something → 2001 US sl.
  — enthusiastic, keen → 2016 US students’ sl.

♦ ABOUT ONE’S EARS
  — said of a shower of blows or missiles, a conflagration, a falling house → 1575

♦ ABOUT ONE’S SPEED
  — suitable, to one’s own taste → 1924

♦ ABOUT PAR
  — excellent; first-rate → 1942 Amer. sl.(Bk.)

♦ ABOUT PLAYED OUT
  — discouraged and demoralized → 1856 US Civil War usage

♦ ABOUT RIGHT
— adj. 1. correct, adequate → 1850 UK
— adj. 2. drunk, but not excessively so → 2005 sl.
— adv. to the best extent possible → 1839 US sl.

♦ ABOUT SHIP
  — change course to the opposite tack → 1678 nautical usage

♦ ABOUT-SLEDGE
— the largest, heaviest type of sledgehammer used by blacksmiths and metalworkers, usually wielded with both hands → 1703

♦ ABOUT-SPEECH
  — circumlocution; a roundabout phrase → 1513 obs

♦ ABOUT-STANDING
  — a circumstance → 1340 obs.

♦ ABOUT THAT
  — in agreement with → 1997 US students’ sl.

♦ ABOUT THAT LIFE
  — in agreement with → 2014 US students’ sl.

♦ ABOUT THE EARS
  — near at hand; in close proximity to → 1907 (Bk.)

♦ ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT
  — approximately right; as nearly correct as possible: pretty much as required → 1870 colloq.

♦ ABOUT TO DIE
  — taken seriously or suddenly ill → 1902 Amer. dial.

♦ ABOUT TO FIND PUPS
  — about to give birth; pregnant → 20C US sl.

♦ ABOUT TO KICK THE BUCKET
  — taken seriously or suddenly ill → 1902 Amer. dial.

♦ ABOUT TO PASS
  — taken seriously or suddenly ill → 1902 Amer. dial.

♦ ABOUT TO RIDE OUT
  — of a room: very cluttered or disordered; untidy → 1855 Amer. dial.

♦ ABOUT-TURN
  — n. 1. a turn made so as to face in the opposite direction, spec. in infantry drill → 1912
  — n. 2. a complete reverse in fortune, opinion, policy, etc. → 1919
  — vb. to turn round so as to face in the opposite direction → 1893 originally military usage , as a command in infantry drill

♦ ABOUT-WRITING
  — the legend round the head stamped on a coin → 1449 obs.

♦ ABOVE-A-BIT
  — more than a little, excessively, exceedingly, to a great degree → 1827 Eng. dial.

♦ ABOVE ALL
  — beyond everything; first of all, chiefly → 1377

♦ ABOVE AND BEYOND
  — in addition to; much more than what is expected → 1565

♦ ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
  — showing a greater degree of courage or effort than is usually required or expected in one’s job → 1963

♦ ABOVE BOARD
  — adj. 1. open, honest → 1620
  — adj. 2. in a sexual context: maintaining an undisguised relationship → 1650 sl.
  — adv. 1. in cards: with one’s cards visible above the level of the playing table, so as to avoid suspicion of cheating → 1594 obs.
  — adv. 2. candidly, openly, honestly → 1599

♦ ABOVE BRIDGE
  — of the Thames: upriver from London Bridge → 1611

♦ ABOVE GROUND
  — alive, out of the grave → 1711 

♦ ABOVE-HEAD
  — overhead → 1793 obs.

♦ ABOVE MEASURE
  — beyond or more than what is meet; in excess of moderation; excessively → 1611

♦ ABOVE ONE’S BEND
  — beyond one’s power or abilities; out of one’s reach → 1835 Amer. dial.

♦ ABOVE ONESELF
  — adj. 1. arrogant, conceited, self-important, presumptuous; overly ambitious → 1823 
  — adj. 2. of a horse: overfed and under-exercised, or not undergone the full training for a race → 1897

♦ ABOVE ONE’S HEAD
  — beyond one’s comprehension or intellectual capacity → 1655

♦ ABOVE ONE’S HOOK
  — beyond one’s ability or comprehension; out of one’s reach → 1893 US (Bk.)

♦ ABOVE ONE’S HUCKLEBERRY
— beyond one’s abilities → 1859 Amer. dial.

♦ ABOVE ONE’S MATCH
  — beyond one’s abilities or level → 1748 obs.

♦ ABOVE ONE’S STATION
  — higher than one’s social position allows, merits, or warrants; beyond what is permitted or due to one by rank, age, ability, etc. → 1682

♦ ABOVE ONE’S WEIGHT
  — beyond one’s capability or class; too expensive for one → 1942 UK sl.

♦ ABOVE PAR
  — well-off → 1848 UK criminals’ sl.
  — in excellent health or spirits → 1885 UK sl.
  — mildly drunk → 1890 sl. (Bk.)
  — excellent; first-rate → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)

♦ ABOVE REPROACH
— not deserving of blame or criticism; irreproachable, faultless → 1674

♦ ABOVE-SAID
  — mentioned higher up on a document or paper, previously mentioned; aforesaid → 1366 arch.

♦ ABOVE SNAKES
  — tall, above the ground → 1855 Amer. dial.

♦ ABOVE-STAIRS
  — upstairs → 1758 obs.

♦ ABOVE SUSPICION
  — too good or worthy to be suspected of evil; very honest → 1850

♦ ABOVE THE LAW
  — originally, having control over or responsibility for the laws of the land; later, not subject to the rule of law; immune from prosecution; able to break the law with impunity, especially as a result of corruption or abuse of power → 1450

♦ ABOVE-THE-LINE
— of an advertising campaign: employing an advertising agency to use the press, television, radio, cinema, and posters → 2009 (Bk.)

♦ ABOVE THE SALT
  — seated at the upper half of the table, among the guests of distinction → 1597
  — in a position of honour → 1887 (Bk.)

♦ ABOVE-WONDERFUL
  — more than wonderful → 1625 obs.

♦ ABOVE THE WORLD
  — above considering what people say → 1903 (Bk.)
  — holding a secure position in life → 1903 (Bk.)

♦ AB OVO
  — from the very beginning → 1586 

♦ A-BOX
  — a person who is in an unpleasant mood; ‘attitude box’ → 1996 US students’ sl.

♦ ABRACADABRA, PLEASE AND THANK YOU
  — a humorous embellishment of ‘please’ → 1944 US sl.

♦ ABRAHAM-COLOURED
  — auburn → 1592 sl.

♦ ABRAHAM COVE
  — a genuine lunatic allowed on certain days to leave Bethlehem Hospital to beg → 1550 sl.
  — a beggar of ragged and dishevelled appearance, especially one who feigns insanity → 1612 cant obs.

♦ ABRAHAM GRAINS
  — a publican who brews his own beer → 1889 UK sl.

♦ ABRAHAM LINCOLN
  — adj. contemptible, disgusting → 1988 UKrhyming sl. for ‘stinking’
  — n. a $5 bill → 1965 Amer. dial., especially African-American usage

♦ ABRAHAM MAN
  — a genuine lunatic allowed on certain days to leave Bethlehem Hospital to beg → 1550
  — a wandering beggar, adopting tattered clothing and posing as a madman → 1561 UK sl.

♦ ABRAHAM NEWLAND
  — a banknote → 1801 UK sl.

♦ ABRAHAM’S BALSAM
  — the gallows → 1890 UK sl.

♦ ABRAHAM’S BOSOM
  — the vagina → 1890 UK sl.

♦ ABRAHAM SHAM
  — to travel the country posing as a madman; to fake illness; said of a beggar → E19 sl.

♦ ABRAHAM SUIT
  — working as a writer of begging letters, the pursuit of many small-time confidence tricksters at the time → 19C sl.

♦ ABRAHAM’S WILLING
  — a shilling (5p) → 1859 UK sl.

♦ ABRAHAM WORK
  — some form of confidence trick → L19 sl.

♦ ABRAM COVE
  — a genuine lunatic allowed on certain days to leave Bethlehem Hospital to beg → 1550 sl.
  — a sturdy beggar, i.e. one who could but rarely does, work for a living → 1567 sl.
  — a wandering beggar adopting tattered clothing and posing as a madman → 1612 UK criminals’ sl.
  — a thief specializing in pocket-books → 1790 UK sl.

♦ ABRAM MAN
  — a genuine lunatic allowed on certain days to leave Bethlehem Hospital to beg → 1550 
  — a sturdy beggar, i.e. one who could but rarely does, work for a living → 1567 UK sl.
  — a wandering beggar adopting tattered clothing and posing as a madman → 1567 sl.

♦ ABRAM-MORT
  — a wandering beggar adopting tattered clothing and posing as a madman → 17C sl.
  — a sturdy beggar, i.e. one who could but rarely does, work for a living → L17 sl.

♦ ABRAM-SHAM
  —  n. the practice of travelling the country posing as a mad man → 1887 UK sl.
  — vb. to travel the country posing as a madman; to fake illness; said of a beggar → E19 sl.

♦ ABRAM SUIT
  — working as a writer of begging letters, the pursuit of many small-time confidence tricksters at the time → 19C sl.

♦ ABRAM WORK
  — some form of confidence trick → L19

♦ ABRASION PLATFORM
  — a nearly flat rocky surface at the edge of the sea, or the base of a sea cliff, = produced by the abrading action of the waves → 1656

♦ ABREAST OF
  — in a position parallel to, or alongside of something stationary → 1635
  — staying informed, up-to-date, or aware of the latest news, developments, or information regarding a subject → 1642

♦ ABROAD CLERK
  — a brewery employee who visits publicans’ premises to collect payments, oversee the way beer is kept., etc. → 1781 

♦ ABROAD COOPER
  — a brewery employee who visits publicans’ premises to collect payments, oversee the way beer is kept., etc. → 1807 

♦ AB’S AND BA BA’S
  — the beginnings of spelling lessons → 1944 Amer. dial.

♦ ABSCESS OF THE BOWELS
  — an older name for appendicitis → 1960 Amer. dial.

♦ ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER
  — being away from someone  you love makes you love them more, because you only remember the good things about them → 1825

♦ ABSENCE OF MIND
  — the state of mind in which one’s thoughts are elsewhere → 1710

♦ ABSENT HEALING
  —  the healing of sickness by a spiritualist medium who is not present with the patient → 1906

♦ ABSENT-MINDED
  — pre-occupied, paying no attention to → 1854

♦ ABSENT-MINDEDLY
  — in a pre-occupied manner, without active attention → 1881

♦ ABSENT-MINDED BEGGAR
  — a British soldier → 1899 colloq.

♦ ABSENT VOTER
  — one authorized because of special circumstances to vote by post etc., at a general election though absent at the time from the ordinary place of voting → 1918

♦ ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE
  — having absconded from → 1860 sl.
  — escaped from prison → 1860 sl.

♦ ABSEY-BOOK
  — a primer, an introductory book to any subject → 1595

♦ ABSIT OMEN
  — may no ominous significance attach to the words → 1594

♦ ABS-LAGGY
  — transported → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.

♦ ABS-LUSHERY
  — a drinking house → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.

♦ ABS-NABBEMS
  — safe, secure from capture → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.

♦ ABS-NUNKS
  — visiting the pawnbroker → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.

♦ ABSO-BALLY-LUTELY
  — absolutely, very much indeed → 1905 sl.

♦ ABSO-BLOODY-LUTELY
  — absolutely → 1911 sl.

♦ ABSO-BLOOMING-LUTELY
  — absolutely, very much indeed → 1896 sl.

♦ ABSO-DAM-LUTELY
  — absolutely → 1919 US sl.

♦ ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY
  — absolutely, very much so indeed → 1921 sl.

♦ ABSO-GODDAM-LUTELY
  — absolutely → 1962 US sl.

♦ ABSOLUTELY MR. GALLAGHER, POSTIVELY MR. SHEAN
  — used for a humorous assent → 1922 US sl.

♦ ABSOLUTE PRIZE
  — the highest possible honour in a competition, usually awarded to a participant who achieves a nearly perfect score and ranks above all other first-prize winners → 1861

♦ ABSOLUTE STEAL
  — a bargain → 1988 Aust. sl.

♦ ABSO-ONE-HUNDRED-PERCENT-LUTELY
  — absolutely; most definite → 20C sl.

♦ ABSORBENT COTTON
  — cotton wool → 1718 US

♦ ABSOTIVELY-POSILUTELY
  certainly → 2009 Amer. sl. (Bk.)

♦ ABS-PAD-LUCK
  — refers to the best part of a journey → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.

♦ ABS-SMASH-RIG
  a passing of counterfeit coin → 1850 UK criminals’ sl.

♦ ABS-SPOUTEMS
  — gone to the pawnbrokers → 1850 UK criminal’s sl.

♦ ABSTAIN FROM BEANS
  — to take no part in politics, to desist from politics → 1578 sl., obs.

♦ ABSTRACT-CONCRETE
  — concerning both abstract and concrete aspects → 1874

♦ ABSTRACT IMPRESSIONISM
  — a form of painting which combines the characteristics of abstract art and impressionism → 1957

♦ ABSTRACTING FROM
  — withdrawing in thought from, leaving out of consideration, apart from → 1655 obs.

♦ ABSTRACTION-MONGER
  — a person who deals with visionary ideas → 1860

♦ ABSTRACT OF TITLE
  — in law: a summary of the legal documents proving a person’s ownership and right to dispose of a piece of property → 1797

♦ ABUSE OF AUTHORITY
  — murder, torture, and the like → 2002 (Bk.)

♦ ABYSSAL ZONE
  — the bottom strata of the sea, the belt of water below 300 fathoms, now usually from a depth of 3000 metres (1.9 miles) down to 6000 metres (3.7 miles) → 1852

♦ ABYSSINIAN CAT
  — a breed of domestic cat having long ears and short brown hair ticked with grey → 1893

♦ ABYSSINIAN POLO
  — the game of craps → 1926 US sl.