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"All slang is metaphor and all metaphor is poetry."- G.K.Chesterton, Doin' doo wop be dooby do eye, Slung slang, The wordy bird catches the earl
The Slam-bang, Slick-a-dee Smart alec’s Dictionary of Slang, brought to you by The Cloud, courtesy of Chambers presents…
More choice words for the masses. The following selection of slang varies from the Victorian era to present day usage. I hope you enjoy them, and perhaps may even begin to employ them. *nods and the stagehand ‘opens the curtains’**. (**not meant to be rude slang, just words, get a grip. If you fancy).
(– My numbers have turned into bullet points!! This happens often. *mutters darkly)
- Granny-slappin’ good (American) – Something so good, it makes you want to slap your granny. Also meaning ‘delicious’. esme falls about laughing
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Sauce-box (Victorian) – The mouth. I believe this one speaks for itself. bows in the manner of a saucy minx
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Get a wiggle on (UK) -To get going. *Esme steps forward upon the stage, coughs and then adds –
” The waggle of a wiggle with a giggle meets the shadow of a swagger with a stagger.” She then pegs it.*
- Pegs it /Pegging it (UK/The Cloud) – to run off as fast as possible, usually after a display of unfortunate behaviour. (Also known as ‘legs it/legging it’.)
Smothering a Parrot (Victorian) – Drinking a glass of absinthe neat; named for the green color of the booze. Not the prettiest of Pollys, but a cracker all the same.
Afternoonified (Victorian) – A society word meaning smart. For instance – “This pair of spatz are not at all ‘afternoonified’ enough for me good sir” – “Ooooh get you!”
Bit ‘o Pooh (Victorian). – Generally meaning flattery towards one during courtship which means little or nothing. These days it would be called ‘talking bollocks‘. Esme hears such talk a lot.
Batty-fang (Victorian) – An old London phrase meaning “to thrash thoroughly,” possibly from the French battre a fin. Also, Mina Harper’s pet name for Dracula*.
(*The previous sentence might be a bit ‘o pooh).
Poking the Bear (UK/American) – Making a bad situation worse by irritating someone who is already rather angry. Not to be confused with ‘Bear Grylls’ who is simply irritating.
Not up to Dick (Victorian) – Not well. (Seems fair enough. One cannot always be up to dick of an afternoonified afternoon Hahahahaha.)
Collie shangles (Victorian) – Quarrels. A term from Queen Victoria’s journal, More Leaves, published in 1884: “At five minutes to eleven rode off with Beatrice, good Sharp going with us, and having occasional collie shangles (a Scottish word for quarrels or rows, but taken from fights between dogs) with collies when we came near cottages. *Esme puts a sign up upon the Cloud saying ‘No Collieshangling Allowed on the Grass’.
Gigglemug (Victorian) – An habitually smiling face. – (also known as a ‘Sherryface’).
Certain elements of the above were pilfered from the following – A Dictionary of Victorian Slang (1909)
tubularsock said:
Most interesting, EC!
Tubularsock Batty-fanged his Granny-slappin’ her good! Thus Poking the Bear only meant ……. it’s porridge for dinner again. Oh dear.
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
Oh dear indeed.
Hahahahaha. I’m glad you enjoyed them Tubular.
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makagutu said:
I have a habitually smiling face
Have a pleasant holiday time
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
Despite the fact that I do not see you daily mak, I believe you 100%. There is something of a sunny disposition about you. – nods and smiles back
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Professor Taboo said:
Bwahahahaha! Shut the FRONT DOOR Esme… chain & lock the back door too!!! This is utterly hysterical! (laughs out wildly)
That was Neo-American-Perv. (evil grin & wink)
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
I really dare not ask Professor! – laughs
‘Neo-American-Steam-Perv’ surely? Hahahaha.
Thank you for your chuckles and stopping by Prof.
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Hariod Brawn said:
There’s just something rather . . . suggestive, to me, about the phrase ‘smothering a parrot’, and which made me laugh even before I read the definition. So, I’m rather wandering in my interpretations here, Esme.
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
I’m glad to have given you some guffaws Hariod.
Perhaps subconsciously you were considering choking the chicken.
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Hariod Brawn said:
I think you may be right, Esme, though I do feel full of beans after your post so maybe it’s just wind.
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
An inflated response methinks Hariod. But one welcomed (with the window open), none-the-less.
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Professor Taboo said:
Hariod & Esme, question…
Pray tell… WHO is this fine parrot with the fine vernacular!? Does it have a name!? (huge grin chuckling)
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
Hahahahahaha! Brilliant clip. The Cloud may not approve of such things…but esme does.
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Professor Taboo said:
Thank you Madame. Wasn’t sure you’d find it appropriate, but my instincts told me you’d find it utterly hilarious. (winks in fascination of parrot intelligence & the power of ‘human’ impulse!) Hahaha!
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
We try not to censor here on the Cloud Professor, but we still have certain standards. Somewhere. – starts looking in the back of some drawers to see where they’ve buggered off to Not terribly high ones mind you.
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Clare Flourish said:
I thought Pegging it meant dying. I don’t know why….
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
This is useful to know Clare as I say it a great deal, and it is quite possible many people out there think esme has been curtsying then dying. Hahahahaha. Thank you for visiting – smiles
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Clare Flourish said:
May it be a long time before you shuffle off this mortal coil and go to meet your Maker.
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
Thank you Clare, you are a sweetheart – smiles and pours them both a cup of tea as they enjoy the view from the Cloud.
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infinitelyremote said:
Well slap my granny and call me Sally!
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
I’m hoping that’s not a euphemism masodo. But I’m an open-minded gal and shall do as bid.
slaps his granny and calls him Sally Remote!
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Arkenaten said:
The post title alludes to the Bay City Rollers if memory serves?
Before I go Google ..
Ha! I was right. Dementia not taken root in the grey matter just yet.
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Esme upon the Cloud said:
Still got the stripey knee socks eh?
Thought so.
Hahahahaha.
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