Reverse Dictionary: SUCCESS

ADJECTIVES
► AFFECTUOUS influential, effective, successful → 1674 obs.
► AWAY ON A HACK lucky, successful → 1930 Irish sl.
► BALLING successful and living well → 2001 African-American sl.
► BLOCKBUSTER exciting and successful → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► BOFFO successful; tremendous → 1940s sl.
► BOOMING successful, flourishing → L19 sl.
► CAVI first-class, excellent, materially successful → 1990 African-American
► EUROUS lucky, prosperous, successful → c1430 obs.
► FAT-CAT prosperous, successful; the implication being that such prosperity has been gained by corruption → 1950s sl., orig. US
► HOME ON THE PIG’S BACK very contented, happily or successfully placed, having arrived at a successful conclusion → L19 Ireland, Aust. & NZ sl.
► IMPETRABLE capable of obtaining or effecting something, successful → 1599 obs.
► IN LIKE FLYNN successful → 1946
► IN TALL COTTON successful; on easy street → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► IN THE MONEY wealthy, successful → 1902 sl.
► LARGE 1. in the entertainment industry: popular, successful → 1957 Amer. sl.
2. successful and living well → 1996 African-American sl.
► LARGE AND IN CHARGE successful and living well → 2010 African-American sl.
► LUCKLY lucky, fortunate, successful → 1450 obs.
► MEGA great, successful, excellent, special → 1969 UK sl.
► ON A GOOD THING involved in a successful or non-stressful activity → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► ON A GOOD WICKET involved in a successful or non-stressful activity → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► ON ONE having a successful time without any problems → 1980s US students’ sl.
► ON TOP successful; victorious; dominant → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► ROARING brisk; successful; strong → 1831 sl.
► SHIFTY alert; busy; industrious and successful → 1912 Amer. dial.
► SLICK AS A GREASED PIG very pleasing, successful, pretty, etc. → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SLICK AS A RAM-CAT very pleasing, successful, pretty, etc. → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SLICK AS A SCHOOL-MARM’S LEG very pleasing, successful, pretty, etc. → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SOCK extremely successful → sl.
► SOCKO extremely impressive or successful → 1935 sl.
► SUCCEEDING successful → 1595-9 obs.
► SUCCESSIVE attended or fraught with success; successful → 1582 obs.

ADVERBS
► FAT successfully → 1834 US students’ sl.
► GAINLY handily, readily, dexterously, cleverly, successfully; easily → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► LIKE A BANDIT enthusiastically, very, fast, very successfully → 1970s US sl.
► SUCCESSIVELY successfully, propitiously → 1582 obs.
► TWANGINGLY successfully → 1825 arch.
► WITH A BANG impressively; successfully → 1981 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)

INTERJECTIONS & PHRASES
► BEST OF ARAB LUCK, THE expressing good wishes for the success of a person or venture, usually with the ironic implication that good luck will not be forthcoming → 1966
► BEST OF WELSH LUCK, THE expressing good wishes for the success of a person or venture, usually with the ironic implication that good luck will not be forthcoming → 1969
► BINGO! an exclamation denoting sudden action, success, or comprehension → 1975 US sl. (Bk.)
► IT’S A WOW it’s a great success; it’s admirable, really excellent → 1927 US sl.
► LIKE A BIG DOG having qualities to do with achievement, success, intensity → 1980s US students’ sl.
► LIKE A MOOSE having qualities to do with achievement, success, intensity → 1980s US students’ sl.
► NO SHOW no hope of success → 1960s Aust. sl.
► NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A TRICK to have no success at all → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► NOT NOMINATED without any chance of success → 1959 horse-racing sl.
► NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME not yet equal to the task; not quite having the qualities to be a success → 1978 US colloq.
► THAT DOG WILL HUNT the idea is a good one; success is probable → 1980s Amer. sl.
► YOU CAN’T WIN ‘EM ALL one can’t always be successful → 1910

NOUNS
► ASS-KICKER a person or thing considered to be remarkably exciting, amusing, successful, etc. → 1971 Amer. sl.
► BABY-DOLL a success → 1920s sl.
► BARN BURNER a highly successful or enjoyable occasion → 1968 Amer. dial.
► BIG TIME, THE the high level of success → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► BOFFO a very successful or popular movie, stage show, story, or other entertainment → 1950 US sl.
► BOOMER something successful or popular, as a party or song → 1981 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► CAKEWALK an easy or overwhelming success; anything considered very easy, simple, or certain → 1897 US sl.
► DAILY DOUBLE success in two fields of endeavour simultaneously; winning or obtaining any two different prizes, goal, or the like → 20C Amer. sl.
► DOOR-OPENER something that is effective in leading to opportunity or success → colloq.
► DUCK SOUP a guaranteed success → 1900s US sl.
► ÉCLAT conspicuous success; universal applause, acclamation → 1741
► END-FARE success → 1900 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► FARE condition, state, welfare; state of things, prosperity, success → c1250 obs.
► FAT CITY success, wealth, often from criminal activities → 1963 sl.
► FAY luck, success → 1885 Eng. dial.
► FLASH the appearance of wealth or success → 1975 US sl.
► FLASH IN THE PAN a project, person, etc. that enjoys only short-lived success, notoriety, etc.
► GAME victory in a contest, the winning position; generally, victory, success → a1425
► GASSER something wonderful, very exceptional, extraordinarily successful → 1944 US sl.
► GET-PENNY something which brings in money; a successful affair, as a theatrical performance → 1684 obs.
► GIMMICK any device or plan or trick calculated to ensure success → 1930s sl.
► GLORY DAYS a time of great success and acclaim → 1980 US sl.
► GRAVY STREET an easy, profitable or successful situation → 1970s US sl.
► HAP good fortune, good luck; success, prosperity → a1225 obs.
► KILL a great success, usually financial → M19 US sl.
► KILLING a great success, usually financial → M19 US sl.
► LEGS the ability of a show, song, public figure, etc. to be an enduring success; staying power → 1970s Amer. show business usage
► LOW-HANGING FRUIT the most readily accomplished tasks, measures, or goals; those things that most easily bring a profit or other successful result → 1972
► PRICK AND PRAISE the praise of excellence or success; success and its acknowledgement → 1534 obs.
► PRICK AND PRICE the praise of excellence or success; success and its acknowledgement → 1569 obs.
► PURPLE PATCH a run of good luck or success → 1912
► SMASH a great success; a film, person, play, song, etc., which enjoys popular success → 1923
► SMASHEROO a great success → 1948 sl., orig. & chiefly US
► SOCK a very successful show, performance, actor, etc. → sl.
► SOCKEROO something excellent; something with an exceptional impact; a notable success → 1942 sl., orig. US
► THRIFT prosperity, success; luck → 1785 Sc.
► THRIVANCE prosperity, success → 1814 Sc. obs.
► ULTIMATE, THE the most successful, pleasing, handsome, etc. → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► WALLOP a success → 1930s sl.
► WALTZ an easy success, esp. in sporting use, as a boxing match in which neither fighter makes much effort → 1920s sl.
► WOW something very exciting and successful; a sensation → 1920 Amer. sl.
► WOWSER ► WOWZER something impressive, sensational, or successful → 1910 US sl.

NOUNS – PERSON
► ALRIGHTNIK one who has succeeded; one who has raised himself from immigrant poverty to material success, esp. of New York Jews → 1910s US sl.
► ASS-KICKER a person or thing considered to be remarkably exciting, amusing, successful, etc. → 1971 Amer. sl.
► BIGGIE ► BIGGY an important or successful person; a ‘big shot’; used esp. in the entertainment industries → 1926 sl., orig. US
► BIG HEAD a successful person → 1938 sl.
► BIG MOVER one who is a consistent success, e.g. as a womanizer → 1969 Aust. sl.
► BIG SWINGING DICK a man; a successful, arrogant, ambitious, or aggressively bold man → 1957 sl.
► BIG-TIME OPERATOR a person who is very successful, prominent, and influential in some area of business → c1940 Amer sl.
► CANDY BOY a fellow who is lucky, successful, or held in high favour, esp. with women → 1901 US sl.
► CANDY COCK a fellow who is lucky, successful, or held in high favour, esp. with women → 1925 US sl.
► CANDY KID a fellow who is lucky, successful, or held in high favour, esp. with women → 1906 US sl.
► CANDYMAN a fellow who is lucky, successful, or held in high favour, esp. with women → 1913 US sl.
► CRASH AND BURN a person who fails, often as a result of risky or reckless behaviour; a person who has impressive but brief success → 1985 colloq.
► FAT CAT a successful, wealthy, influential person → 1925 sl.,  orig. US
► GANGBUSTER an exciting and successful person → 1946 US sl.
► GETTER a go-getter; an enterprising or ambitious person; a determined person, one likely to succeed → Bk1975 Amer. sl. 
► HAD-IT a person who was formerly successful → 1992 UK sl.
► HITTER an impressive performer; a successful person → 2004 sl. (Bk.)
► HOTTIE ► HOTTY a skilled, successful, or important person → 1910 Aust. & NZ sl.
► IT GIRL a woman who is very famous, fashionable, or successful at a particular time; esp. a glamorous, vivacious, or sexually attractive actress, model, etc., or a young, rich woman who has achieves celebrity because of her socialite lifestyle → 1927 colloq., orig. US
► LIVE ONE a success, or one who has the potential to be so → 1910s US sl.
► MAC ► MACK a successful, respected, or influential person; a man who is sexually successful with women → 1990 US sl., chiefly African-American
► MAC DADDY ► MACK DADDY ► MCDADDY a successful, respected, or influential person; a man who is sexually successful with women → 1991 US sl., orig. African-American
► MONSTER an extraordinarily good or remarkably successful person; an outstanding or remarkable person → 1958 orig. US
► MOVER an ambitious and successful person, both socially and with the opposite sex → 1955 sl.
► MOVER AND GROOVER an ambitious and successful person, both socially and with the opposite sex → 2000 sl.
► MOVER AND SHAKER an ambitious and successful person, both socially and with the opposite sex → 1974 sl.
► OPERATOR a person who pursues success, often ruthlessly or manipulatively → L19 sl., orig. US
► SOCK a very successful actor, etc. → sl.
► SQUARE JOHN a successful solid citizen → 1968 US students’ sl. (Bk.)
► SWINGING DICK a man; a successful, arrogant, ambitious, or aggressively bold man → 1957 sl.
► TALL POPPY an eminent, wealthy, or successful person when viewed as needing deflation → 1902 Aust. sl.
► WHIZBANG a very successful performer; an outstanding expert → 1915 sl.
► WOWSER ► WOWZER an impressive, sensational, or successful person → 1910 US sl.
► YAVIS young, attractive, verbal, intelligent, and successful people → 2006 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► YETTIE a successful person who is young, entrepreneurial and technical; a young internet technocrat → 2000 UK sl.

VERBS
► BE IN HIGH CLOVER to be well off; to be happy or successful → 1944 Amer. dial.
► BE IN THE BOX SEAT to have reached a peak of success; to be in the most favourable position → 1981 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► BE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK to have been very successful financially, esp. in a coup, and in the face of long odds or disapproval → c1965
► BE ON A GOOD THING to be involved in a successful or non-stressful activity → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► BE ON A GOOD WICKET to be involved in a successful or non-stressful activity → 1941
► BRING HOME THE BACON to achieve success → colloq.
► CRACK A TIDY CRUST to be successful in life; to make a comfortable income → c1850
► CRACK IT to succeed, to overcome obstacles, esp. to achieve a successful seduction (from the male point of view) → 1930s sl., orig. Aust. & NZ
► CUT THE BUCK to work efficiently; to perform rapidly or successfully; to accomplish any effort → 1927 Amer. dial.
► CUT THE MUSTARD to be successful → 1916 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► DO THE BUSINESS to accomplish a task; later, to be successful or effective, to do well → 1603
► FALL ON ONE’S LEGS to be lucky; to find oneself in a favourable or successful position, esp. by good fortune → 1723 obs.
► FISH IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION to go in the right direction or toward a goal; to be on the right track → 1959 Amer. dial.
► GO LIKE A BOMB to go successfully → 1981 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► HAVE A LOCK ON SOMETHING to be certain of success; to be assured of some result → 1970 US sl.
► HIT THE JACKPOT to achieve great success, esp. through luck
► HIT THE NAIL to be successful → 1814 Sc.
► LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK to be financially successful, esp. in the face of long odds or disapproval → 1969 sl.
► LIVE LARGE to be extremely, esp. ostentatiously, successful, popular, wealthy, etc. → 1975 Amer. sl.
► MACK to be conspicuously successful, esp. through the use of flattery or deceiving talk; to use one’s cunning to advantage → 1991 Amer. sl.
► MAKE A KILLING be a great success → M19 US sl.
► MAKE A RISE to do moderately well; to make a small success → M19 Aust. sl.
► MAKE ONE’S BONES to achieve a successful course or action in one’s profession or work → 1970s sl.
► MAKE THE RIFFLE to attempt a thing successfully → 1859 Amer.
► PLAY A BIG GAME to try for  a big success → 1909
► PRIME THE PUMP to stimulate or support growth or success by supplying initial investment, encouragement, etc.; especially said of economic growth → 1819
► PULL OFF to succeed in doing or effecting something: to perform successfully; to accomplish or obtain, esp. something remarkable, unique, or outrageous → 1887 UK sl.
► PULL OUT OF THE FIRE to save from failure or disaster; to turn a potentially disastrous situation into a successful one; to turn defeat into victory; to rescue → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► QUEER THE PITCH to spoil the chances of success → Brit. colloq.
► RUN BEFORE ONE’S HORSE TO MARKET to anticipate profit or success from a transaction before it has been completed → 1597 obs.
► RUN BEFORE THE WIND to have success or good fortune → 1916 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► SIT FAT to be successful and powerful → 1995 US sl.
► TAKE A TRICK to show promise; to be successful → L19 Aust. sl.
► TAKE OFF to be suddenly successful or very active → 1930s US sl.
► TAKE THE RAG OFF THE BUSH to excel, to be the best or most triumphantly successful → 1833 Amer.
► WALK IN HIGH CLOVER to be well off; to be happy or successful → 1944 Amer. dial.