QUALITY
ADJECTIVES
► ACES wonderful; excellent; well-respected; of the very best quality; superior → 20C US sl.
► ACEY-DEUCEY of mixed quality; having both good and bad, high and low → Amer. sl.
► ALL WOOL AND A YARD WIDE of high quality; genuine; reliable; in the best condition → 1882 Amer. dial.
► ALL WOOL AND NO SHODDY of high quality; genuine; reliable; in the best condition → 1946 Amer. dial.
► ALL-PRO of first quality; the best → Amer. sl.
► BARE poor in quality, paltry, worthless → 1399 obs.
► BLINKING of poor quality, weak, contemptible; of poor and half-starved growth → 1813 Eng. dial.
► BOBBERY poor, of indifferent quality → 1901 Anglo-Indian
► BODGY of poor quality; poorly done → 20C Aust. sl.
► BOOTLEG inferior, of poor quality, malfunctioning → 2007 US sl. (Bk.)
► BUM of poor, wretched, or miserable quality → 1888 US colloq.
► BUMMY of poor quality; spoiled, unusable; of a person: unwell → 1888 colloq., orig. & chiefly US
► BUMP’N of the highest quality, as clothes or music (pronounced BUM-pun) → 20C teen & high school sl.
► BUMP’N LIKE A MUG of the highest quality, as clothes or music (pronounced BUM-pun) → 20C teen & high school sl.
► BUMSKY of poor quality → 1916 Amer. dial.
► CABBAGE poor-quality → 1990 NZ sl.
► CAPADOCIOUS of superior quality or appearance; splendid, excellent → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CAPADOSHA of superior quality or appearance; splendid, excellent → 1898 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► CHEAPIE cheap and of low quality → 1898 sl.
► CHEAPO cheap and of low quality → 1967 sl.
► CHICKEN-CRAP insufficient, inadequate, of poor quality → 1940s sl., orig. US
► CHICKENSHIT insufficient, inadequate, of poor quality → 1940s sl., orig. US
► CHINCY of poor quality; cheap; contemptible → 1970 Amer. sl.
► CHINTZY of poor quality; cheap; contemptible → 1959 Amer. sl.
► CHOICEY ► CHOICY of high quality → 1923 Amer. dial.
► COARSE AS NECK-BEEF very coarse; of the poorest quality → 1902 sl. (Bk.)
► CRAP bad, inferior, of poor quality; unpleasant, displeasing; of a person: lacking ability, incompetent; unwell → 1936 sl.
► CRAPPY of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1928 sl., orig. US
► CRUDDY bad, second-rate, of poor quality; crummy, lousy → 1935 sl.
► CRUMBY ► CRUMMY of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1859 sl.
► DENTY-CURIOUS of superlative quality or manufacture → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► DIABOLICAL of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1958 sl.
► DING-DONG of top quality, great, terrific → 1953 Aust. sl.
► DUDGEON simple, unadorned; of poor or inferior quality; worthless, feeble, ineffectual → 1589 obs.
► DUFF of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory; useless → 1953 UK sl.
► DUFFING of poor quality, but presented as valuable, esp. for sale; also, sometimes, counterfeit → 1839 sl. obs.
► EL CHEAPO cheap and of low quality → 1967 sl., orig. US
► FLEAZY said of something of low-grade or of poor quality → 1968 Amer. dial.
► FUCKED ruined, broken; of poor quality → 1949 sl.
► FUCKED-UP ruined, broken; of poor quality, awful → 1863 sl.
► GAMMY inferior, of low quality → 1979 UK sl.
► GASH useless, of poor quality → 1997 UK sl.
► GRADE of a domestic animal, as a dog: not purebred; hence, of uncertain or low quality → 1968 Amer. dial.
► GRUNGY grimy, dirty; hence, of poor quality, unappealing; unpleasant, bad; untidy → 1965 sl., chiefly Amer.
► HALF-ARSED ► HALF-ASS ► HALF-ASSED of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1932 sl., orig. US
► ILL poor in quality; of little worth or substance, scanty, famine-stricken → 1712 Sc.
► ILL-FAURED poor in quality, unattractive, scruffy → 1806 Sc.
► JACK-LEG poor in quality → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► JUNK inferior, worthless, of poor quality → 1908 orig. US
► KAFFIR of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory, unreliable → 1934 S. Afr. sl., offensive
► LACK deficient in some quality, lacking in substance, position, breeding, etc.; of poor quality → 1790 Sc. obs.
► LARRY among pitchmen: of unsatisfactory quality; poor → 1939 Amer. sl.
► MANKEY ► MANKY of low quality; bad; inferior; defective; unsatisfactory → 1958 Eng. dial. & colloq.
► MEAN of people and things: poor in quality or condition; comparatively worthless → E19 US sl.
► MECKLE-KECKLE poor in quality or fibre → 1894 Eng. dial.
► MOULDY of low quality, bad, inferior, unsatisfactory → 1896 sl.
► NAFF of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1969 sl., chiefly Brit.
► NAUGHT bad in condition or quality; not good for eating or drinking → 1588
► NAUGHTY bad, inferior; not up to the proper or usual standard or quality → 1526 obs.
► N.B.G. of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory (No Bloody Good) → 1903 sl.
► NO COP of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1902 Brit. sl.
► NOT MUCH CHOP of low quality; bad; inferior, unsatisfactory → 1847 Aust. & NZ sl.
► NOT MUCH COP of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1902 Brit. sl.
► ONKUS of food or drink: inferior, of poor quality → 1941 Aust. sl.
► ORNARY inferior, of poor quality → 1861 Eng. dial.
► ORNERY commonplace, of poor quality → 1816 US sl.
► PISS-POOR of low quality; bad; inferior, unsatisfactory → 1946 sl.
► PISSY of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1972 sl.
► POOR-ASS of very poor quality; extremely poor → 1951 US sl.
► POXY of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1950 sl.
► PRIMO excellent; first-rate; of top quality → 1973 sl., orig. & chiefly US
► PUNK of poor quality; bad; inferior; unwell → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► PUNKY of a poor quality; bad, rotten → 1859
► Q-ISH possessing quality → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► RAGGY-ARSE of poor quality → 2002 UK sl.
► RAT-SHIT dreadful, terrible; of poor quality → 1980 Aust. & NZ sl.
► RATTLING good, splendid, excellent, great; first-rate; of good quality → 1851 Eng. dial.
► RIBBY of low quality; bad; inferior; applied esp. to something shabby → 1936 sl.
► ROPEY ► ROPY of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1942 sl.
► ROTTEN of a low quality or standard; poor, useless; of a person: lacking skill or talent → 1867
► RUBBISHY of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1824
► SAD of very bad quality → L19 sl.
► SCHLOCK of low quality; bad; inferior; applied esp. to inferior art or entertainment → 1915 sl.
► SCHLOCKY of low quality; bad; inferior; applied esp. to inferior art or entertainment → 1968 sl.
► SHAG-BAG shabby and worthless; poor in quality → 1888 colloq.
► SHIT bad; unpleasant; highly displeasing; unskilled; of poor quality, ability, etc. → 1968 sl.
► SHITHOUSE contemptible, bad, disgusting, awful; of poor quality → 1966 sl.
► SHLOCK of low quality; bad; inferior; applied esp. to inferior art or entertainment → 1915 sl.
► SHLOCKY of low quality; bad; inferior; applied esp. to inferior art or entertainment → 1968 sl.
► SHONKY of low quality; poorly made → 2012 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► SHY doubtful in amount or quality → M19 sl.
► SICK of poor quality, unfashionable, unappealing, weak, bizarre → M19 US students’ sl.
► SNIDDY of low quality, bad, inferior, unsatisfactory → 1890 sl.
► SNIDE of low quality, bad, inferior, unsatisfactory → 1890 sl.
► SNIDEY ► SNIDY of low quality, bad, inferior, unsatisfactory → 1890 sl.
► SWELL elegant, stylish, first-rate, excellent, of the best quality → 1897 orig. & chiefly US
► SWINISH fit only for pigs; of low quality, unpleasant; dirty, messy; said of food, shelter, etc. → c1548
► TACKEY ► TACKY of poor quality, shoddy; run-down; cheap. common; in poor taste → 1886 Amer. sl.
► TINKERLY of poor quality; mean, low, disreputable → 1586
► TIPTOP of the highest or best quality; excellent; first-rate → 1755
► TIP-TOP-GALLANT adj. of superlatively high rank or quality → 1730
► TIP-TOPPING of the highest quality; first-rate, excellent, superlatively good; of persons: belonging to the highest rank or class → 1827
► TIPTOPPISH of the highest quality; first-rate, excellent, superlatively good; of persons: belonging to the highest rank or class → 1855
► TIPTOPSOME of the highest quality; first-rate, excellent, superlatively good; of persons: belonging to the highest rank or class → 1819
► TOP-DRAWER of the highest quality; most superior → 1920 US sl.
► TOP-FLIGHT excellent, superior, of the highest class or quality
► TOP-HOLE of the highest quality; excellent, first-rate → 1891 colloq, chiefly UK
► TOP-NOTCH superior; of the highest quality → 1900 US sl.
► TWO-BOB of poor quality; useless; unreliable → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► UNDER THE ARM of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory; loathsome → 1937 Brit. sl.
► UP TO MUD ► UP TO PUTTY ► UP TO SHIT of poor quality; worthless → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► WAFF shabby, poor in quality → 1824 Sc.
► WANKY of low quality; bad; inferior; unsatisfactory → 1972 sl.
► WOJUS inferior; of poor quality → 2004 Ireland
NOUNS
► ABORTION something of very poor quality; a messy failure; a misfortune; an ugly person or thing → 1943 US sl.
► ACE something or someone of high quality or held in high esteem → M19 sl., orig. US
► BAG OF SHIT anything of poor quality → 1995 UK sl.
► CHEAPIE ► CHEAPY something cheap and of low quality → 1898 sl.
► CHEAPO something cheap and of low quality → 1972 sl.
► CLINKER something of poor quality, such as a film → sl., chiefly US
► DAINTY delightful or choice quality; sumptuousness → a1300 obs.
► DOG a thing of poor quality; something worthless or inferior; a failure, a dud → 1917 sl., orig. US
► EL CHEAPO something cheap and of low quality → 1977 sl., orig. US
► HILL OF SHIT anybody or anything unpleasant, disgusting, of poor quality etc.; a disliked person; a piece of gross hypocrisy → 1940s sl., orig. US
► HONEY something of high quality, degree of excellence, etc. → colloq.
► NAILER a marvellously good thing, animal, or person; an exceptionally good hand at something; anything of superior or surprising quality; a surprising lie → a1818 colloq.
► NO-ACCOUNT something of poor quality → 1965 Amer. dial.
► NUMBER ONE the best, the finest quality → 1846
► PURE QUILL, THE something that is pure, genuine, of the highest quality → 1884 Amer. dial.
► PURE QUILL WITH A BEAD ON IT, THE something that is pure, genuine, of the highest quality → 1916 Amer. dial.
► QUALE the quality of a thing; a thing having certain qualities → 1675
► TARAGE ► TARRAGE quality, character, nature → 1429 obs.
► WRACK rubbish; waste material; that which is of an inferior, poor, or worthless quality → 1472
NOUNS – PERSON
► POLICIER an officer responsible for checking and certifying the quality of a product → a1500 obs.
► QUALITY the better class of people, a person of quality → 1859 Amer. dial.
► TIP-TOP ► TIP-TOPS people of the highest quality or social class → 1753
PHRASES
► GOOD WINE NEEDS NO BUSH a good thing requires no advertisement, it commends itself; there is no need to boast about something of good quality as people will discover its merits → 1821
► NOT WHAT IT IS CRACKED UP TO BE applied to something of lower quality than it is said to be → 1836
Lexicophilia 