PAGE 2 — AC

► ACADEMICAL CLERK
— at certain colleges of Oxford University: a junior member of a college who receives an emolument in return for undertaking duties (especially singing) in chapel → 1873

► ACADEMIC FREEDOM
— the freedom of a teacher to state his opinions openly without censorship, or without the fear of losing his position → 1901

► ACADEMY AWARD
— 1. – adj. – excellent → 1958 US sl.
— 2. – n. – an award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Hollywood, USA) for success in a field connected with cinematographic entertainment → 1941
— 3. – n. – recognition of excelling in a field → 1958 US sl.

► ACADEMY AWARD WINNING
— histrionic → 1987 Aust. sl.

► ACADIAN FRENCH
— 1. – the French who inhabited Acadia; their descendants, especially those living in the Maritime Provinces → 1806
— 2. – the dialect of French spoken in the Maritime Provinces or in Louisiana → 1891

► AC AND DC
— bisexual → 1930 US sl.

► ACAPULCO GOLD
— a high grade of marijuana → 1965 sl.

► ACAPULCO RED
— marijuana → 1971 drug culture sl.

► ACCEPT A BILL
— signifies willingness to pay when due → 1950 (Bk.)

► THE ACCEPTABLE FACE OF
— the tolerable or attractive manifestation or aspect of → 1996

► ACCEPTANCE OF PERSONS 
— undue favour on personal grounds, partiality → 1855

► ACCEPTANCE TRIALS
— the trials which a new ship, etc., undergoes before being accepted into service → 1958

► ACCEPTATION OF PERSONS
— favouritism on personal grounds; undue partiality → 1400

► ACCEPTER OF PERSONS
— a judge who is influenced by the personal acceptableness of individuals, one who shows partiality on personal grounds → 1585

► ACCEPTING HOUSE
— a financial institution, as a merchant bank, that accepts bills of exchange → 1841

► ACCEPTING OF FACES
— of men: partiality, undue favour → 1577

► ACCESSION BOOK
— a permanent, sequential log used by libraries, museums, and archives to record every new item added to their collection in the exact order it was received → 1877

► ACCIDENTAL DADDY
— a man who fathers a child by accident, usually after a casual sexual encounter → 1985 sl.

► ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE
— acting as if doing something by accident, but really intending to do it → 1711

► ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY
— a hospital department or ward that deals with cases of acute injury or illness → 1898 chiefly UK & NZ

► ACCIDENT BLACK SPOT
— a section of a road noted for accidents → 1936 

► ACCIDENT LURK
 — those who beg on the basis of having suffered a bad accident → 1842 UK sl.

► ACCIDENT OF BIRTH
— 1. – the chance which determines the circumstances into which a person is born, especially as a feature contributing to later life → 1683
— 2. – an attribute that a person inherits or acquires through birth → 1837

► ACCIDENT-PRONE
— likely to cause to attract an accident → 1926

► ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN
— however careful you try to be, it is inevitable that some unfortunate or unforeseen events will occur → 1709

► ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN IN THE BEST-REGULATED FAMILIES
— no matter how organized, careful, or well-behaved people are, mistakes and unexpected mishaps are an inevitable part of life → 1819

► AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN
— someone or something likely to cause trouble or harm; a potentially disastrous situation, usually caused by negligent or faulty procedures → 1920

► ACCLIMATIZATION GARDEN
— a garden or nursery for the cultivation and development of introduced plants → 1878

► ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY
— an organization devoted to the introduction of useful or ornamental animals and plants from other regions of the world, and to their management → 1862

► ACCOMMODATIN’ AS A HOG ON ICE
— extremely disagreeable or unobliging → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)

► ACCOMMODATING HOTEL
— a ‘hotel’ where rooms can be hired for short times by lovers or prostitutes and their clients → 1850 UK sl.

► ACCOMMODATION ADDRESS
— an address used primarily for convenience of correspondence; one adopted to conceal the whereabouts of the addressee → 1894

► ACCOMMODATION ARREST
— 1. – an arrest intended to disguise bribing of the police → 1953 US police sl.
— 2. – a prearranged, consensual raid of an illegal gambling operation, designed to give the appearance of strict enforcement of laws → 1961 US sl.

► ACCOMMODATION BEAUTY
— a prostitute → 1821 Irish sl.

► ACCOMMODATION BILL
— a bill not representing or originating in an actual commercial transaction, but for the purpose of raising money on credit → 1778

► ACCOMMODATION BOAT
— a small boat used to transfer passengers between ship and shore → 1793 Anglo-Indian, obs.

► ACCOMMODATION BRIDGE
— a bridge provided for access, especially one not connected to a public road → 1792

► ACCOMMODATION COACH
— 1. – a stagecoach that usually stops at all the stages on its route → 1794 US
— 2. – a railway carriage used for passenger seating → 1888 US

► ACCOMMODATION COLLAR
— an arrest made to fulfil a quota, usually in response to pressure for strong police action against crime → 20C Amer. police sl.

► ACCOMMODATION HOUSE
— 1. – a lodging house for travellers → 1787
— 2. – a brothel → 1823 sl.
— 3. – a ‘hotel’ where rooms can be hired for short times by lovers or prostitutes and their clients → 1888 UK sl.

► ACCOMMODATION LADDER
— a set of steps giving access from one deck to another, or used to board a ship → 1744 nautical usage

► ACCOMMODATION LAND
— land adjoining a town or village that is let for cultivation or pasture, especially of animals, prior to slaughter → 1808

► ACCOMMODATION MAN
— one who is paid to give false evidence → 1797 UK criminals’ sl.

► ACCOMMODATION NOTE
 — a bill not representing or originating in an actual commercial transaction, but for the purpose of raising money on credit → 1784

► ACCOMMODATION PADDOCK
— a paddock used to hold animals in transit and provide pasture for them → 1843 Aust. & NZ

► ACCOMMODATION PAPER 
— documents serving as accommodation bills → 1781

► ACCOMMODATION ROAD 
— a road constructed to give access to a property or piece of land not adjoining a public road; a service road → 1823

► ACCOMMODATION STAGE 
— a stagecoach which usually stops at all the stages on its route → 1811 US

► ACCOMMODATION STREET 
— a street of small shops and businesses conveniently catering to local residences → 1899 Amer. dial.

► ACCOMMODATION TRAIN 
— a train which usually stops at all the stations on its route → 1838 US

► ACCOMMODATION UNIT 
— a single place of residence; a single hotel room, a cabin, an apartment, a campsite, or a house → 1922

► THE ACCOMPANYING
— a supplementary or supporting document → 1761

► ACCOMPLISHED FACT 
— an established fact or state of affairs; a completed action or process → 1811

► ACCORD AND SATISFACTION 
— in law: an agreement to accept something in exchange for giving up the right of action → 1939

► ACCORDING TO COCKER 
— correctly, properly, as laid down by the rules, by the book → 1760

► ACCORDING TO GUNTER 
— correctly, properly, as laid down by the rules, by the book → 1909 (Bk.)

► ACCORDING TO HOYLE 
— according to the highest authority, as laid down by the rules → 1903

► ACCORDING TO JOHN NORIE 
— properly, correctly → 19C nautical usage

► ACCORDING TO ONE’S OWN LIGHTS 
— in accordance with one’s conscience or inclinations → 2004 (Bk.)

► ACCORDING TO PLAN
— ironic for anything that did not go according to plan → World War I sl.

► ACCORDION ACT 
— collapsing under pressure → 1989 US sl.

► ACCORDION FOLDER 
— 1. – a series of pictures, photographs, etc., on a long strip of paper or card folded in alternate directions, so as to expand in a manner resembling an accordion’s bellows → 1913 chiefly US
— 2. – a file or folder resembling the bellows of an accordion, with several pockets or divisions for the storage of loose papers → 1914

► ACCORDION WAR
— of US tactics during the Korean war: accordion-like movements up and down Korea by land forces → 1951 US sl.

► ACCOST THE OSCAR MEYER 
— to masturbate → 1980s sl.

► ACCOUNT CASTER 
— a person who casts or reckons up accounts → 1580 obs.

► ACCOUNT DAY 
— 1. – a day of reckoning or account → 1671
— 2. – the last day of an accounting period, on which stock is delivered and paid for and differences are paid → 1879 Stock Market usage

► ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
— 1. – a person whose job is to manage the interests of a particular client → 1919
— 2. – a pimp who procures and profits from high-price prostitutes → 1966 US sl.

► ACCOUNTING DAY 
— 1. – the Day of Judgement → 1549
— 2. – a time of reckoning, or the moment when someone must face the consequences of their actions and take responsibility for their choices → 1656

► ACCRUE CHOCOLATE
— to behave towards officers in an obsequious, sycophantic manner→ 1929 UK Royal Navy usage

► THE ACCUSED
— he or she who is accused in a court of justice; one charged with or on trial for a crime → 1500

► ACCUSER-GENERAL 
— a chief accuser or prosecutor ​→ 1770 

► AC-DC ► AC/DC 
— 1. – adj. – bisexual → 1960 US sl.
— 2. – adj. – happy to take either the active or the passive role → 1970 US homosexual sl.
— 3. – n. – codeine-based cough syrup → 2009 UK drug culture sl.
— 4. – n. – a couple → 2019 UK homosexual sl.

► ACE AND DOUCE
— wholly, entirely → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)

► ACE A TEST
— to obtain a very high score or an excellent result → 1900s US sl.

► ACE BOOM-BOOM 
— one’s best and most loyal friend → 1962 African-American sl.

► ACE BOON-COON ► ACE BOON KOON 
— 1. – adj. – of a friend: loyal, trustworthy, favoured → 2007 sl.
— 2. – n. – one’s good and loyal friend → 1962 African-American sl.

► ACE BOON COONIE
— a best friend → 1974 African-American sl.

► ACE BOY
— one’s best friend → 1958 US student’s sl.

► ACE BUDDY 
— a best friend → 1957 US students’ sl.

► ACE COOL 
— a very close and trusted friend → 1988 US sl.

► ACE COON BOON 
— one’s best and most trustworthy friend → 1962 sl., orig. African-American

► ACE COON POON 
— one’s best and most trustworthy friend → 1962 sl., orig. African-American

► ACE-CUT 
— one’s best friend → 1959 US student’s sl.

► ACE-DEUCE 
— 1. – adj. – riding a racehorse with the right stirrup higher than the left → 1948 US sl.
— 2. – adj. – cross-eyed → 1955 US sl.
— 3. – adj. – bisexual → 1970 US sl.
— 4. – adv. – on an angle, with one side higher than the other → 1948 US sl.
— 5. – n. – in craps: three; the game of craps → 1944 US sl.
— 6. – n. – a fellow prisoner upon whom you rely without question → 1989 US sl.
— 7. – n. – a best friend → 1992 US sl.
— 8. – vb. – in craps: to sustain a heavy loss → 1987 US sl.

► ACE-DOUCHE 
— in craps: a first roll of three → 1999 US sl.

► ACE FACE
— God → 1947 African-American sl.

► ACE-FLAT 
— excellent, first-rate → 1941 US sl.

► ACE-FLAT COPPER 
— a decent, fair-minded, considerate policeman → 1941 US sl.

► ACE FROM ONE’S SLEEVE 
— a hidden advantage, not to be revealed until a suitable moment, something effective held in reserve → 1946 UK

► ACE HI 
— an aware, sophisticated person; a street-wise person → 1953 African-American sl.

► ACE HIGH 
— the very best; valued or esteemed highly  → 1885 US sl.

► ACE HURLER 
— in baseball: a team’s best pitcher → 1992 sl. (Bk.)

► ACE IN 
— 1. – to curry favour successfully → 1929 US tramps’ sl.
— 2. – to manipulate someone or something into a situation; to trick into → 1933 US sl..
— 3. – to interfere, to become involved with → 1935 US criminals’ sl.

► ACE IN ONE’S SLEEVE — a hidden advantage, not to be revealed until a suitable moment, something effective held in reserve → 1866

► ACE IN THE HOLE
— 1. – something held privately in reserve until needed, esp. for a winning stroke; a hidden reserve, asset, or advantage → 1908 orig. US
— 2. – an ace face down on the table so other players are not aware of it → 1920 US colloq.
— 3. – a hideout or a hidden gun → 1945USWestern usage (Bk.)

► ACE IT 
— to do well, to succeed, as in an examination → 1959 sl., orig., students’ usage

► ACE IT UP
— 1. – int. – stop it! → 1965 Aust.
— 2. – vb. – to make something very good → 2009 Aust. sl. (Bk.)

► ACE KING QUEEN JACK
— 1. – a jocular non-Catholic description of the sign of the cross → L19 sl.
— 2. – a widow’s pension → 1930 Royal Navy sl.

► ACE KOOL
— a very close friend → 1992 sl.

► ACE-LOVER
— a boyfriend; one’s most important lover; the most important member of the opposite sex one knows → 1996 African-American, chiefly Southern/Midwest

► ACE-MAN 
— 1. – the leader of a teen street gang → 1935 US teen sl.
— 2. – a male lover, a boyfriend → 1946 African-American sl.
— 3. – a respected fighter in a youth gang → 1953 US sl.

► ACE NOTE
— a $1 bill → 1929 US sl.

► ACE OF ACES
— a combat aviator who brought down or killed twenty-give or more enemy aircraft → World War I US sl.

► ACE OF ARSE
— the area of dark skin around the anus → 2005 UK  sl.

► ACE OF CLUBS
— 1. – the female genital area → 1656  sl.
— 2. – an expert → L19 sl., orig. US
— 3. – an African-American partner → 1941 African-American sl.

► ACE OF HEARTS
— 1. – the vagina → 1611 sl.
— 2. – the penis → 17C sl.
— 3. – a gambling game similar to roulette; a table was painted with a series of playing cards (around 25 to 31 cards) around a circular device; players placed their stakes and bets on the cards painted on the table; a ball was dropped into a spinning wheel or apparatus (a “worm”) and would roll until it fell into a slot representing one of the cards; whoever bet on the winning card won the pool  → 1724
— 4. – a lover → 1950 US sl. (Bk.)

► ACE OF SPACES
— death in combat → 1998 sl. (Bk.)

► ACE OF SPADES
— 1. – adj. – mentally unstable, crazy, insane → 1935 UK criminals’ sl.
— 2. – n. – a widow, especially one wearing mourning clothes → 1811 Eng. sl., obs.
— 3. – n. – the penis → 1846 UK sl.
— 4. – n. – the female genital area → 1890  sl.
— 5. – n. – a black-haired woman → 1921 sl. (Bk.)
— 6. – n. – a Black person, but often used by Blacks themselves to designate a friend → 1943  sl., sometimes derogatory
— 7. – n. – an admirable person → 1940s US criminals’ sl.
— 8. – n. – AIDS → 20C Brit. rhyming sl.
— 9. – n. – death in combat → 1998 sl. (Bk.)
— 10. – n. – the area of dark skin around the anus → 2005 UK sl.

► ACE OF TROUBLE 
— the ace of spades ➞  L19 sl.

► ACE OF TRUMPS 
— 1. – the female genital area → 1694 sl.
— 2. – a first-class person → 20C Brit. sl.

► ACE-ONE
— very best, a-one → 1962 African-American sl.

► ACE OUT
— 1. – to fool someone; to swindle someone; to deprive someone of something, esp. by underhanded or dishonest means → 1933 US sl.
— 2. – to beat someone or something; to surpass; to defeat; to take something away → 1953 sl.
— 3. – to extricate oneself from difficulty by deceit or cleverness → 1951 Amer. sl.
— 4. – to outwit; to gain an advantage over → 1960 Amer. sl.
— 5. – to exclude someone → 1964 US sl.
— 6. – to do well, to succeed, as in an examination → 1973 sl., orig. US students’ usage
— 7. – in poker: to win a hand by bluffing while holding a relatively low-value hand → 1983 US sl.
— 8. – to be fortunate or lucky → 2000 Amer. sl. (Bk.)

► ACE OVER APEX
— head over heels → 1960 US sl.

► ACE OVER ELBOW
— head-over-heels → 1984 Aust. sl.

► ACE QUEEN
— 1. – one’s favourite girlfriend → 1949 African-American sl.
— 2. – a very effeminate homosexual → 1989 homosexual & prison sl.

► ACES AND EIGHTS
— 1. – adj. – first-rate, quite satisfactory; fine, wonderful, marvellous, excellent → 1901 US sl.
— 2. – n. – bad luck

► ACES AROUND
— in pinochle: one ace from each of the four suits → 20C sl.

► ACES HIGH
— 1. – adj. – first-rate; the very best → 1885 US sl.
— 2. – adj. – expert → 1929 US sl.
— 3. – adj. – of an inmate: loyal, trustworthy → 1931 orig, US prison sl.
— 4. – n. – an inmate popular amongst their peers → 1931 prison sl.

► ACES IN BOTH PLACES
— in craps: a roll of two → 1999 US sl.

► ACE SPOON COON 
— one’s best and most trustworthy friend → 1960s sl., orig. African-American

► ACE-SPOT
— a $1 bill → 1921 US sl.

► ACES UP
— 1. – esteemed, well-respected, favoured → 1903 US sl.
— 2. – on very good terms → 1905 US sl.

► ACE UP ONE’S SLEEVE
— a hidden advantage, not to be revealed until a suitable moment, something effective held in reserve → 1890 orig. US

► ACEY-DEUCEY
— 1. – adj. – bisexual → 1971 US homosexual sl.
— 2. – adj. – OK, acceptable, satisfactory → 1975 US prison sl.
— 3. – adj. – of a friend: close, intimate → 1977 US sl.
— 4. – adj. – complex, unstable, neither one thing nor the other → 1996 African-American sl.
— 5. – n. – the game of craps → 1933 US sl.
— 6. – n. – in craps: a roll of a one and a two → 1974 US sl.
— 7. – n. – a bisexual person→ 1980 US sl.
— 8. – n. – a best friend → 1992 US sl.
— 9. – vb. – of a jockey: to ride with the inside stirrup lower than the outside stirrup → 1948 US sl.

► ACEY-DEUCY
— both good and bad; of uncertain quality → 1990 US sl. (Bk.)

► ACEY-DOOSIE ► ACEY-DOOSY
— a best friend → 1967 US sl.

► ACH-A-VIE! 
— an exclamation of disgust or abhorrence → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)

► ACHE AND PAIN 
— rain → 20C Brit. rhyming sl.

► ACHIEVE A DEFICIENCY
— to fail → 2002 (Bk.)

► ACHILLES HEEL
— a weakness in someone’s character that causes them problems, or the weak part of a place, system, argument, etc. which can easily be attacked or criticized → 1839

► AN ACHING TOOTH 
— a lingering, persistent source of annoyance, sorrow, or recurring anxiety that continuously distracts you and demands your attention → 1552 obs.

► ACHY-BREAKY 
— 1. – aching, hurt → 1992 colloq.
— 2. – sad, heart-rending → 1992 colloq. 

► ACH-Y-FI!
— an exclamation of disgust or abhorrence → 2009 Welsh (Bk.)

► ACID CAP
— one table or capsule of LSD → 1970 US sl.

► ACID CASUALTY 
— 1. – a person supposedly suffering from impaired faculties, incoherence, or derangement as a result of taking LSD or other hallucinogens → 1971 US sl.
— 2. – the victim of an excess of MDMA → 2002 sl.

► ACID DROP
— 1. – an unpleasant, ill-tempered person → 1908 Aust. sl.
— 2. – a pound, a sovereign → 1922 UK sl.

► ACID FLASH 
— a sudden recurrence of a much earlier experience of the drug LSD → 1990 sl. (Bk.)

► ACID FLASHBACK 
— the recurrence of an LSD trip of some unspecified later date; assumed to be unpleasant → 1969 US sl.

► ACID FREAK 
— habitual user of LSD → 1966 US drug culture sl.

► ACID FUNK 
— depression brought on by LSD use → 1971 US sl.

► ACID HEAD 
— a habitual user of LSD → 1966 US drug culture sl.

► ACID HOUSE PARTY 
— an illegal party, often held in a large building such as a warehouse, and often outside the big cities, where thousands of young people pay for their entertainment and allegedly consume MDMA and other illegal drugs → 1988 drugs sl.

► ACID-HUED 
— of colour: vivid, psychedelic → 1971 

► ACID MAN 
— a con artist → 1926 criminals’ sl.

► ACID MUNG 
— the sensation while under the influence of LSD of having an oily face → 1971 US sl.

► ACID PAD 
— a place where LSD is consumed → 1986 US drug culture sl.

► ACID RAIN 
— rain with significantly increased acidity as a result of atmospheric pollution → 1859

► ACID RAPPER 
— a person who takes extra-large doses of LSD → 1968 US drug culture sl.

► ACID ROCK 
— a genre of rock music marketed to the mass audience when high-profile musicians were experimenting with LSD → 1966 US sl.

► ACID SCHOOL 
— a gambling venue that takes its clients’ cash, probably via cheating → 1906 Aust. sl.

► ACID-SWEET 
— that tastes both sharp (or sour) and sweet → 1678

► ACID TEST 
— an event organized to maximize the hallucinatory experiences of LSD; a party → 1966 US sl.

► THE ACID TEST
— a situation or event which finally proves whether something is good or bad, true or false, etc.; a crucial test  → 1854

► ACID TRIP 
— 1. – a hallucinatory experience induced by taking LSD → 1964 sl.
— 2. – a dose of LSD → 1979 sl.

► ACIDULATED TABLET 
— a pound, a sovereign → 1924 UK sl.

► ACK-ACK
— 1. – adj. – anti-aircraft → 1940
— 2. – n. – anti-aircraft artillery, regiment, etc. → 1926 US
— 3. – vb. – to shoot someone or something → 1947 US

► ACK AND QUACK
— the A & Q (Adjutant and Quartermaster) Department → 1925 army sl.

► ACK-EMMA 
— 1. – a.m.; the morning → 1909 sl., originally military usage
— 2. – an air mechanic → 1917 Amer. military aviation usage

► ACKER BILK 
— milk → 1983 Aust. rhyming sl.

► ACKER FORTIS
— 1. – very strong coffee → M19 US sl.
— 2. – any very strong drink → 1947 Amer. dial.

► ACKERS AND YACKERS
— cash; low value banknotes → 1942 UK sl.

► ACKIE FORTIS 
— very strong coffee → M19 US sl.

► ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-MONEY 
— a sum of money paid by some tenants, at the death of their landlord, in acknowledgement of their new one → 1636

► ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORN 
— 1. – to confess, to make an admission, as to an accusation, failure, etc.; to admit the truth of a statement → 1839
— 2. – to admit to being drunk → 1840 Amer. dial.

► ACKNOWLEDGE THE MALT 
— 1. – to admit an error → 1846 orig. US
— 2. – to admit to being drunk → 1865 Amer. dial.

► ACK WILLIE ► ACK WILLY
— absent without leave → 1942 Aust. sl.

► ACNE-TYPE SURFACE BLEMISH
— a pimple → 1981 US advertising usage (Bk.)

► A-COCK-BILL 
— of an anchor: with the bills pointing upwards, as when it hangs from the cathead ready for dropping → 1578 nautical usage

► A-COCK-HORSE 
— 1. – astride something → 1654
— 2. – in an exalted position; in a place of triumph or superiority → 1658

► A-CONDITION 
— air conditioning → 2002 US sl.

► À CONTRE-COEUR 
— against one’s will, reluctantly → 1803

► ACORN BOY
— one who operates a fixed ‘game of chance’ in which an acorn is secreted under one of three upturned cups, the cups are switched around by the operator and the players bet on which one is the container → 1842 US sl.

► ACORN CALF
— 1. – of humans and animals: a runt, a weakling → 1929 Amer. dial.
— 2. – an effeminate or homosexual man → 2022 US homosexual & West. usage

► ACORN-CRACKER
— an uncouth countryman → 1905Amer. dial.

► ACORN IN A BIRD’S NEST 
— the male genitals → 20C Brit. sl.

► ACORN-TOP 
— the glans penis → 1899 US homosexual sl.

► ACORN SHELL 
— a condom → 1990 UK sl.

► A/C PLONK 
— an aircraft man 2nd class → 1941 Royal Air force usage

► ACQUIESCE FROM 
— to rest, or cease from → 1659 obs.

► ACQUIESCE UNDER 
— to remain in quiet subjection; to submit quietly; to remain submissive → 1680 obs.

► ACQUIRED TASTE 
— a taste for a food or drink that is gained by experienced; also, applied to anything or person for which or for whom one has acquired a liking → 1858

► THE ACQUISITIVE 
— sex → 2022 US homosexual euphemism

► ACRE BREADTH 
— the breadth of an acre; 4 poles or 22 yards → 1523 obs.

► ACRE-DALE 
— 1. – a method of letting land in small portions of about one acre each → 1592 Sc. & Eng. dial.
— 2. – lands in a common field in which different proprietors held portions of greater or less quantities → 1592 Sc. & Eng. dial.

► ACRE-FOOT 
— big-footed → 1914 Amer. dial. (Bk.)

► ACRE-LAND 
— ploughed or arable land → 1400obs.

► ACRE LENGTH 
— the length of an acre; 40 poles, 220 yards, or a furlong (furrow-length) → 1380 obs.

► ACRE-MAN 
— a cultivator of the ground; a husbandman or ploughman → <1000 obs.

► ACRE OF CORN 
— a prison sentence, cited variously as 1 month, 12 months or ‘plenty’ → 1930s Aust. & US sl.

► ACRE-SHOT 
— a payment or charge rated at so much per acre → 1585 obs.

► ACRE-STAFF 
— a physical pole or measuring rod originally used in the 14th century to measure strips of plough-land (typically a furlong or “acre’s length”) → 1300

► ACROSS LOTS 
— 1. – via a short cut → 1825 US
— 2. – accelerated, using figurative short cuts → 1862 US
— 3. – completely → 1848 sl.

► ACROSS THE BOARD
— 1. – adj. – applying to all; equally for everyone or everything → 1945
— 2. – adv. – in betting: wagered to finish in either first, second, or third place → 1903
— 3. – n. – in horse racing: a bet that a horse will win, place (finish second), or show (finish third) → 1935 US sporting usage

► ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO DARTMOUTH
— mentally ill, institutionalized → 1999 Can. sl.

► ACROSS THE BUBBLE
— into prison → 1912 criminals’ sl.

► ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
— straight through between two points, without regard to the regular roads; not along the regular roads → 1849

► ACROSS THE DITCH 
— Australia → 1998 NZ sl.

► ACROSS THE DRINK 
— when used in America, signifies Europe; when used in Britain, signifies America → 1950 (Bk.)

► ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS 
— from the performers to the audience → 1894

► ACROSS THE PAVEMENT 
— of a criminal activity: in a street situation → 1977 UK sl.

► ACROSS THE RIVER 
— dead → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)

► ACROSS THE TRACK 
— inferior, second-rate → 1940s US sl.

► ACROSS THE TRACKS
— the socially inferior area of town → 1943 US sl.

► ACT AND DEED 
— part of a formula used when signing a legal instrument and putting a finger on the seal at the end of the transaction → 1609

► ACT A PART 
— to pretend or play a part; to behave hypocritically; to conceal one’s real feelings → 1887 (Bk.)

► ACT AS A GUINEA PIG 
— to allow oneself to be the first to test or undergo something new → 1932

► ACT AS DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
— to pretend to disagree about something so that there will be a discussion about it → 1999 (Bk.)

► ACT AS IF ONE’S KNICKERS WERE ON FIRE 
— to panic, to behave hysterically → 1960s sl.

► ACT-ASS 
— a braggart; one who sees themself as cleverer than they really are; a show-off; someone who talks back or gives rude answers → 1970 Amer. dial.

► ACT CHARLEY MORE 
— to act honestly; to do the fair thing → 19C Naval sl.

► ACT CUTE 
— to behave in an annoyingly adorable fashion → 2002 Singapore sl.

► ACT HIGH AND MIGHTY 
— to act proud and powerful → 1927

► ACTING DICKEY 
— temporary employment → 2019 UK sl.

► ACTING JACK 
— a soldier temporarily appointed to higher rank, especially to serve as a platoon leader in basic training → 1942 US Army sl.

► ACTING LADY 
— an incapable or inferior actress → 1883 theatrical usage 

► ACTING-OUT 
— that acts out an unconscious impulse, repressed desire, etc., often through anti-social behaviour → 1945

► ACTING OVER 
— a re-enacting, repetition → 1646

► ACTION BEAVER 
— a movie featuring full nudity and sexual activity short of intercourse → 1974 US sl.

► ACTION FACTION 
— a subset of the political left that advocated forceful, confrontational tactics → 1968 US sl.

► ACTION FRONT! 
— a command given to an artillery unit to indicate the direction in which fighting will take place; prepare for action in front of the line of guns → 1845

► ACTION LEFT! 
— a command given to an artillery unit to indicate the direction in which fighting will take place; prepare for action to the left → 1845

► ACTION MAN 
— 1. a devotee of military exercises or strenuous physical activities, or someone who makes a show of relentless energy → 1990 UK sl. (Bk.)
— 2. – a person who is given more to action that to thought → 1995 (Bk.)

► ACTION ON A SOLID HALF TRACTION ► ACTION ON THE SOLID HALF TRACTION 
— ready for anything → 1943 African-American sl.

► ACTION-PACKED 
— full of action or excitement → 1953

► ACTION PIECE
— 1. – a woman → 1983 African-American sl.
— 2. – a pistol, a revolver, a shotgun → 2002 African-American sl.

► ACTION PLAYER
— a gambler who bets heavily, frequently, and flamboyantly → 2003 US sl.

► ACTION REAR! 
— a command given to an artillery unit to indicate the direction in which fighting will take place; prepare for action behind the line of guns → 1866

► ACTION RIGHT! 
— a command given to an artillery unit to indicate the direction in which fighting will take place; prepare for action to the right → 1845

► ACTION ROOM
— 1. – a pool hall where betting is common → 1967 US sl.
— 2. – any place where betting and gambling take place → 1972 US sl.

► ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS 
— It’s better to actually do something than just talk about it → 1730

► ACTIVE CITIZENS 
— lice, fleas → 1811 sl.

► ACTIVE SERVICE 
— war service in the field, at sea, or in the air → 1838

► ACT LIKE A TEE HEE’S NEST WITH A HAW HAW’S EGG IN IT 
— to act laughably → 1958 Amer. dial.

► ACT LIKE DEAD LICE ARE FALLING OFF 
— to act lethargically or lazily → L19 Amer. dial.

► ACT LIKE ONE’S SHIT DOESN’T STINK ► ACT LIKE ONE’S SHIT DON’T STINK 
— to behave in an arrogant and affected manner → 1947 sl., orig. US

► ACT LIKE ONE’S SHIT DON’T SMELL
— to behave affectedly and in an arrogant manner → 1960s sl., orig. US

► ACT LIKE SANCHO 
— of a child: to act in an unruly or mischievous way; to behave very badly → 1869 Amer. dial.

► ACT LIKE SHIT WOULDN’T MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH
— to behave affectedly and in an arrogant manner → 1960s sl., orig. US

► ACT LIKE THE DEAD LICE ARE DROPPING OFF ONE 
— to be inactive, slow, or lethargic → 1960 Amer. dial.

► ACT OF ANDROGYNATION
— copulation → M17 euphemism

► ACT OF CONTRITION 
— in Christianity, a short prayer of penitence → 2009 (Bk.)

► ACT OF DARKNESS
— copulation → 1623 euphemism

► ACT OFF 
— to behave in an unruly or capricious manner → 1946 Amer. dial.

► ACT OF FAITH 
— in Christianity, an act that demonstrates or tests a person’s religious beliefs → 2009 (Bk.)

► ACT OF GENERATION 
— copulation → L19 Brit. euphemism

► ACT OF GOD
— refers to a natural event or accident, for which no person is responsible (such as an earthquake, lightning and similar acts of nature) → 1611 originally law usage

► ACT OF GRACE 
— a favour, especially a pardon granted by a sovereign or Act of Parliament → 1638

► ACT OF KIND 
— copulation → 19C Brit. euphemism

► ACT OF LOVE 
— copulation → 1638 Brit. euphemism

► ACT OF PARLIAMENT 
— small beer, five pints of which, by an act of Parliament, a landlord was formerly obliged to give gratis to each soldier billeted upon him → 19C

► ACT OF SHAME 
— an act of copulation → 1622 euphemism

► ACT OF SPORT 
— copulation → L19 Brit. euphemism

► ACT OF STATE 
— an act passed by the executive power of an independent state;; an act which relates to foreign affairs or foreign citizens → 1605

► ACT OF WAR 
— an aggressive act, usually employing military force, which constitutes and immediate threat to peace → 1819

► ACT ONE’S AGE 
— to behave as a mature person, to behave equal to one’s age → 1900

► ACT ONE’S BUTT OFF
— to work very hard → 1960s sl., orig. US

► ACTOR-MAN 
— a male theatrical actor → 1774 obs.

► ACTOR-PROOF
— denoting a part in a play or performance so well written that no amount of bad acting can ruin it → 1973 US sl.

► ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 
— one of the books of the New Testament which immediately follows the Gospels and relates the history of the early Christian Church → 1425

► ACT THE ANGORA 
— to play the fool → 1893  Aust. sl.

► ACT THE GIDDY GOAT 
— to behave foolishly → 1905 UK sl.

► ACT THE GIG 
— to pretend to be a fool when caught in a criminal act → 19C sl.

► ACT THE GOAT 
— to behave foolishly; to frolic or cavort in a mindless or silly manner → 1879

► ACT THE HOG
— 1. – to play the fool → 1892 US sl.
— 2. – to malfunction → 1940s sl.

► ACT THE JINNIT 
— to play the fool; to act irrationally → 20C Irish sl.

► ACT THE LINNET 
— to flirt → 1976 Irish sl.

► ACT THE MAGGOT 
— to play the fool; to clown around → 1937 Irish sl.

► ACT THE MOHAWK 
— to misbehave → 1960s Irish sl.

► ACT THE MONKEY
— 1. – to play the fool → 1900s sl.
— 2. – to malfunction → 1940s sl.

► ACT THE NIGGER
— 1. – to act in a manner White racists expect of Black people, i.e. foolish, subservient, clownish→ M19 African-American sl.
— 2. – to play the fool → M19 US sl., derogatory

► ACT THE OLD SOLDIER
— to attempt to secure something by pretension → 1950 (Bk.)

► ACT THE PART OF 
— to sustain the part of one of the characters in a play; hence, to simulate → 1611

► ACT THE PRICK 
— to act the fool → 1980 sl.

► ACT THE SILLY GOAT 
— to behave foolishly → 1914 US sl.

► ACT THE WET DOG 
— to make a fuss, to complain → 1875 US sl.

► THE ACTUAL
— 1. – that which is actual or real; actuality, reality → 1832
— 2. – money, cash → 1856 Eng. sl.

► ACTUAL BODILY HARM 
— in criminal law: injury caused by one person to another that interferes with the health or comfort of the victim → 2009 (Bk.)

► ACTUAL FACTUAL
— reality or the facts → 2006 African-American sl.

► ACT-UP 
— 1. – adj. – aggressive → 2003 Black British & teen sl.
— 2. – vb. – to act in an abnormal or exaggerated manner; to become unruly; to make a fuss in order to attract attention to oneself → 1879
— 3. – vb. – to cause someone trouble → 1903 US sl.

► ACT UP TO 
— to come up in practice to some expected standard; to behave in a suitable way; to fulfil what one professes to regard as duty → 1747

► ACT UP TO A PROFESSION
— to behave in a suitable way, considering what promises one has made; to fulfil them → 1887 (Bk.)

► ACT UP TO A PROMISE 
— to behave in a suitable way, considering what promises one has made; to fulfil them → 1887 (Bk.)

► ACT YOUR AGE! 
— a term of contempt based on condemning someone who the speaker considers is acting childishly → 1925 sl., orig. US

► ACT YOUR AGE NOT YOUR SHOE SIZE
— to behave in a manner appropriate to your years → 1986 US sl.

► ACT YOUR YEARS! 
— don’t be childish! → 1950 US sl. (Bk.)