Colloquialisms

my bad - admitting to making a mistake

that's how I roll - that's the way I do things

I got it like that - I am able to say and do things the average person may not

come with? - are you coming with me/us?

diss - disrespect a person or thing

I'm straight - I have what I need

barf - to vomit

downpressor - oppressor

out loud is a colloquialism, mistakenly used in formal writing for aloud.

All groups have jargon. I worked a short time in a supermarket, throwing stock. They called the carts 'U-boats.' One purpose of jargon is to make the outsiders and neophytes look stupid.

I mistakenly called a U-boat a 'cart' and got snickered at. "It's not a cart. It's a U-boat!"

Yeah, whatever.

When I was in the Navy during the Vietnam War, we had a mess of jargon, none of which I can share with you since you said no vulgarities.

Butt-kit. -- ashtray.
scuttlebutt -- rumor
raisen -- new guy

I use jargon in my writing, but never in narrative.

A billion years ago, when I was swinging wrenching (jargon for 'working as an auto mechanic), I road the desk (jargon for wrote service) on second shift. We also sold kerosene, the above ground tank some forty feet from the office.

One evening, an Asian gentleman stood by the tank, waving a five gallon can, yelling: "Hey-yo! Hey-yo!"

A co-workered asked if I knew what he meant.

"Must be Chinese for kerosene."

Oh, yeah. It stuck. From then on out, we called kerosene hey-yo. That was twenty five years ago and I bet they still do, maybe no one remembering why.

Oh, here's one: drug.

I drug the cart behind me. When I was a kid, I said that to my grandfather. He smacked me up the back of the head and asked: "Drug. Just how do you spell that?"

Two years ago, I was speaking with a seventh grade English teacher. She said: "I just drug the old pictures from the attic."

I rolled my eye, not asking her how she spelled it. I think that's the difference in the generations. When I was a kid, people cared if I knew proper English. From reading a mess (relaxed English meaning many) of Internet writers, a great number of children have been left behind, not having learned relaxed English is not interchangeable with formal English in literature.

relaxed English
jargon
euphemisms
slang
colloquialism

Oh, Nyota, during the infamous First Chapter Popularity Contest, I critiqued a chapter where I told the author before he tries to write black people, he should go out and talk to (and listen to) a few, instead of watching Good Times reruns.

Each character should have a unique voice, but for the love of all that's holy, let's avoid cliches.

This I LOVE Nyota! I will be back with a few, and look forward to your's and others contributions.

We be in da tower of BABBLE dees days specially wit da txting which I dunno, and all dis comin under one roof, one hood wit da inner nets. My speakin is from da Northern Tlingit SE Laska, Southern Tutchone Yukon Territory.

By me being adopted, the love of neighbors, and language all around.

Let me try again, writing the way it's said and sounds, fun challenge:

we be intde toweruff babble deees daze speshlee wit de txtin whitch I dunno, ant diss comin unter whon rooft, one hoodt wit da innternets whoo! I dunno...

old lady speak

Nyota,

What about:

Yo!- Are you kidding me?
I'm not feelin' it- I don't think this is a good idea.
Catch some Z's- Go to sleep
What's good?- Greeting usually accompanied with a hand shake, hug etc.
Ain't seen you in a minute- Been a long time...
Not for nothing- Why do I need to explain this again.
I mean...really- You have to be kidding me right?
You know what I'm sayin'- You understand me right?
I feel you- I agree

Thanks Karl. I looked in The American Heritage Dictionary to find out the difference between a loud and out loud to have almost the same meaning. Guess it's due to how we change the language. Remember 'whom' as opposed to 'who'?

Even though it is implied--I use no vulgar language in Pencil.

I hear what you sayin, my man.


That's funny, Adrian. I thought you were doing Jamaican relaxed language at first.

Carl, you popped up just as I was publishing mine. Good ones!

Nyota try this site for some really kewl orgins of thangs or where a lot of stuff comes from!

http://www.knowitall.org/gullahnet/

Thangs-Things or objects
Stuff-Things or objects
Keepin' it real-honest

pop champagne~either of two things and I will go with the least scandalously delicious version. . . .shake the tush ;) dance, roll it etc.

hoodiewoods~my neighborhood

How about gizmo - meaning anything I can't think of the name for.

How about "Was it good for you?" We use that in all kinds of situations now.

Oh, and how about short-timer, referring to someone who has put in their notice at a job.

It's changing, Nyota, thanks in part to AOL with its LOL. Out loud is still consider informal, a colloquialism.

ain't means almost the same as isn't, but ain't still ain't good English.

I can't wait until you've got mail (you have got mail) is canonized so formal writing can look like a Little Rascal's script.

From one of the funniest movies ever made. Airplane!(1980)

First Jive Dude: Sh*t man, that honky mus' be messin' my old lady... got to be runnin' cold upside down his head. You know?
Second Jive Dude: Hey home, I can dig it. You know he ain't gonna lay no mo' big rap up on you man.
First Jive Dude: I say hey sky, s'other s'ay I wan say?
Second Jive Dude: UH...
First Jive Dude: Pray to J I get the same ol' same ol'.
Second Jive Dude: Eh. Yo knock yourself a pro slick, gray matter live performas down now take TCB'in man.
First Jive Dude: Hey, you know what they say... See a broad, to get that booty yak 'em.
First Jive Dude, Second Jive Dude: Leg 'er down 'n smack 'em yak 'em
First Jive Dude: Cold got to be. You know? Sh*****t.


Randy: Can I get you something?
Jive Brother 1: Smo fo buttah layin' to the bone, jackin' me up...tightly!
Randy: I'm sorry. I don't understand.
Jive Brother 2: Cutty say he can't hang!
Jive Lady: Oh, stewardess. I speak jive.
Randy: Oh, good.
Jive Lady: He said that he's in great pain and he wants to know if you can help him.
Randy: Would you tell him to just relax, and I'll be back as soon as I can with some medicene.
Jive Lady: Jes hang loose, blood. She gonna catch up on the rebound a da medicide.
Jive Brother 1: What it is big mama? My mama didn't raise no dummy; I dug her rap!
Jive Lady: Cut me some slack, jack! Chump don' want no help, chump don' git no help. Jive ass dude don' got no brains anyhow!

Did the mail run yet? - has the mail been delivered?

I could eat. - I'm hungry (after food has been offered)

Whatchu pushin? - What kind of car are you driving?

hood rat - person that is up to no good

highwaters - pants that are too short (doesn't include those that are fashionably so--unless you're Michael Jackson)

she been done did that - she did that a long time ago

for true? - is that true?

true dat - I agree with you; it's true

from short pants days - since I/we were little

I be like - I am [whatever]

check see - check it out

Oh, Joan. . .I already knew about Gullah and Geechee.

Dang, Karl. I cain't hardly translate what the 'jive' brothas be talkin bout. May could if I hear it, dough.

different, different - much more than one type of something

small, small - very little

lickle, lil - little

pot liquor - the liquid left after you remove the solid food from the pot; not gravy or soup

It's funny to listen to, Nyota. The woman who played June Cleaver in Leave it to Beaver played the jive woman.

Great movie.

And don't call me Shirley.

No Nyota...U know I didn't post that link for U-HA! HA! It was for your viewers-LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-xHPU6NulM

Off the reservation -- not following the established order.

gospel bird - chicken

message/note from home - watermelon

slap the taste out your mouth - self-explanatory (?)

same ole, same ole - same old thing

alley apple - brick

Karl, I still didn't understand it all even after hearing the men speak. I think it's because the slurring and such were amped up more than how the the slang would usually be spoken. The subtitles were so 'proper'.
It was funny but deliberately cryptic for comedic effect. I do agree with the rapid firing because I do that myself and so do a lot of other folk whether or not they are from other cultures or use different languages (think 'valley girl' and natural Spanish delivery).

C'MON Y'ALL! JOIN THE PARTY! I want to hear from more younger folk!

Thanks Joan! I went back and looked at the Gullah site and rediscovered some ideas for my teacher plans.

Karl-Do you like movies about Barbarians? Are you Kareem Abdul Jabar?

Fixin to-I'm going to
GhettoFabulous-Trashy, but stylish
Down in the D-In the city of Detroit, usually inner city parts
Boggart-To "hog", usually regarding drugs, pot in particular. I.E.Don't Boggart that joint.
Skankin'-Type of punker dance
Hoppin' and Droppin'-Go from place to place, make an appearance, usually in bars/clubs
Squatting-Staying somewhere and not contributing, I.E. staying on a buddy's couch but not paying anything or staying in an abandonded place when you're homeless

Good ones, Elizabeth! I almost listed about 3 of yours. The meanings from an older generation: Boggart i.e. Humphrey; pushy, nervy. Was also said as 'bold' or 'bogue'.

Skankin' also means easy going in Jamaican slang, as does cool runnins.

Fixin to would be the same meaning you've provided.

fi - for

shorty - youngster or child
trim shorty - female
fixin2 - about to start
keepin it real - various meanings, but first time I heard it was in "don't get caught"

off the hook - very good

blowin up - receiving a lot of whatever, as in cell phone calls

old Northern lady speek, she say high dunno. kou'nt make out notin daze sayin. wen down der for litul while ane nobodty nos what I whaz saynt. But day whaz tockin kindta funny dontcha no. Purty nice foecks alla roundt. But, no fish anyware dogh! Gladt I brought som coz it makesit kindta hard ta stay longkt utter wise.

that's cute, Adrian. and I can understand everything she's saying.

David - keepin it real- stay true to 'the game'/yourself

chillax - calm down and relax

Hey, Nyota, there was recently an American Idol tryout in Kentucky. At the end of one audition by Mark Mudd, Mark departed the stage with the words "Be careful". The Hollywood judges bristled and accused Mark of threatening them. In fact, "be careful" is just another way of saying "take care". I felt sorry for Mark, and thought the Hollywood folk should just chill out.

Judges on AI were fine with it once it was explained to them.

My mother used to say of a dull knife.
"It was so dull you could ride all the way to Boston on it."

Another of her sayings when someone was fretting about how something looked was,

It'll never be noticed on a galloping horse."

Like the "terrorist fist bump", eh Doug?

Sounds like my aunt, Sadie.

Hey David,
I think "trim shorty" may be a little on the iffy side. Could just be my dirty mind. . .

I'm glad to see someone else piped up with "fixin' to", as I'm terribly guilty of that one, which gets me some ribbing in my adopted home town of Pittsburgh. Of course, I don't get too het up at folks who say the car needs washed. ;)

Down in the Big Easy, "Where ya at?" means "How're ya doing?" and is not intended to solicit the very patient response, "Right here in front of you. That's how we're having this conversation." Waaaaay up north 'round Shreveport, folks just say, "Hi do?"

I often get caught saying I "might could" do something, rather than "might be able to", but nothing got me ribbed like pointing out that tree "over yonder" to a nice young man I'd known less than a day. Worked out, though. We've been together ever since.

Training bra - teen or tween girl
High school - young person
Short stack - also short stack of calendars -- young person
(did anyone say) sup-dawg? - standard greeting - hello

English - non native in a non-English speaking country

Mega dittos! -- best delivered with spittle running down the chin -- "I agree totally with what you just said no matter how ignorant, hateful or stupid it is because you are my god."

I am one of those people who never speak or write in "relaxed English" I simply find no use for it, I am just not a colorful person. I edit and proof read academic papers and some select articles, yes there is a place for such service. What grabs my attention, in both spoken and written English, is verb agreement. More egregious is ‘at’ appearing at the end of a sentence. (“…where are you at”.)

If you seek, urban English there is the Urban Dictionary http://www.urbandictionary.com/ this is my source for interpretations of words and or phrases I hear while in public. The one exception I do make is ‘Geek speak’ I frequently express my distain for some techno item as ‘hinkie’ meaning, not quite right, or not working well. I most likely use more ‘Geek speak’ than I realize I just cannot think of all of the words generated by technology at the moment. I believe that there is a Geek glossary somewhere searchable on Google.

Oh boy do I feel old and outta the loop! Hmmm ... "out of the loop" ...

I can supply some "old white lady" stuff ...

same here or ditto--me too
out of the loop--outside the INside and don't get the current news
go Jim Jones -- drink the koolaid, check out, kill yourself
Go Waco on you--burn your house down
he's/it's dead Jim--in reference to anything that just doesn't work anymore
where's the beef?--show me the evidence, proof
whassup?--what's up, how are you doing
jinx--what you say when two people say the same thing at the same time
a few bricks shy of a full load--crazy
not the sharpest crayon/pencil in the box, not the brightest bulb, on the short bus--stupid
beanytopper--teenybopper, teenaged person, usually cute girl
jailbait-sexy teen girl
go Bobbitt on you--you'd better behave or I'll cut off something important

Short stack of calendars -- Randy Joyce Locke -- Randy's Diary: the shadows-- it's a metaphor

Skate -- to do work poorly/to get out of work -- Navy term
bug out -- leave quickly, also: dust off -- military jargon.
moo-man--someone who works slowly to get out of doing more work, from: milking the job.

Nyota, now you're rolling girl. Keep em comin, I'm starving here in my little bottle, spidy webbed over, watching the world melting down beyond the window panes, and this greyscreen challenge, making me hungry for de world in de flesh!

Tankyoo for dhis. Berry berry mush!

The Ape Ape Man/Girl

cougar - older woman who 'pounces' on younger men

go postal/ go off - rage

pissed/teed off - angry

skate/book out - leave

bug - to dance; bother someone

bug out/blink/go nuts - go crazy

be breezy - be cool

Oh, I wish I could think of one. I have to ask Ron next door to translate when I hear a new one that's not listed above already.

Best wishes on your plans.

Thanks Pat!

I had listed a lot more and accidentally deleted the comment. So, I'll list them as I remember them. Oh! Here's some:

What it be like?/be like? - how's it going?

nab Jones/Joe nab - the po-leese

beef - problem with someone

Sapphire - woman who thinks she's 'all that'

scarf down - eat quickly

adidas - all day I dream about sex [don't know if that's what it means or not]

copasetic /copacetic - everything's cool [all right], real word

home slice/skillet - homey

Reeboks hit the blacktop - he/she left.
On your six -- coming with you.

Hm, wow, just reading through the comments. I love pot liquor with cornbread! I always seem to leave a little sand in my greens, though, and a little goes a long way.

the only one I can come up with is "holla" ~ which obviously doesnt mean ~ "please get in touch with me by screaming in my ear" but "keep in touch" ~ loved this post ~j

Right Joan. Gulla is actually the American version of Jamaican Creole.

Went to the site. Every word was also Jamaican Creole. I suspect that you being translated as una is you plural because you plural is unu ("oohnooh")

Posse is gang or group

Passa Passa is mixup (The party is every Wednesday night on Spanish Town Road)

Wanga gut:

Karl--please explain "on your six".

Dennis--what's "wanga" mean?

I love this post too Jean!

Excessive

"on your six" is really nautical. Airmen use it. "Six O' Clock" is behind you, so "on your six" is really "right behind you" or "got your back"

thanks!

http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/1914-/language/slang.htm

I've been doing more research on what is considered slang/colloquisms, etc. I learned some things I didn't know and had to print them out. On one Internet site I found a very interesting article. Click on the link above and school us on what you find particularly enjoyable about the article.

A Jamaican equivalent to "Cat’s Pajamas" is hilariously vulgar:
Im tink im dee dee mek 'Tastie Patty'. (He thinks his doo doo (is used to) make 'Tastie Patties.) Meaning as the filling for the pastry.