EFFICIENT, EFFICIENTLY
ADJECTIVES
1596 ► FECKFUL efficient, vigorous, powerful
1830 ► WORTH ONE’S SALT efficient; worthy of one’s pay
1939 ► ON THE BALL alert, capable, or efficient; acting effectively → US sl.
1946 ► ALL ABOUT alert, efficient → UK sl., chiefly Royal Navy usage
1950 ► T.C.B. to deal efficiently with matters in hand (Take Care of Business) → sl., orig. African-American
1960 ► ASS-TIGHT very efficient → US sl.
1970 ► TAKE-CARE-OF-BUSINESS efficient → sl.
ADVERBS
1723 ► FECKFULLY efficiently, vigorously, powerfully
NOUNS
1602 ► ROARING MEG anything loud, efficient, or extraordinary → sl.
NOUNS, PERSON
1895 ► EARLY RISER a sharp, efficient, business-like person → sl.
1970 ► MACCA-MAN a tough, strong, efficient man → W. Indies sl.
1979 ► BB an unusually effective or efficient person, esp. a business executive (Barn Burner) → US business usage
VERBS
1900 ► EAT UP to do well; to act competently; to deal with efficiently → sl.
1936 ► HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL to be especially capable, alert, efficient, etc. → US sl.
1940 ► WHAIL → WHALE to do something especially well or efficiently → African-American sl.
1950 ► TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS to deal efficiently with matters in hand → sl., orig. African-American
Lexicophilia 