Common Slang Terms

burned out: 1) exhausted

As in every part of the world, Americans have developed 2) dull or lifeless as a result of excessive
certain oddities or slang terms in their everyday work or drug use
language. Regardless of how long you have studied
English, you will hear and see words with which you are busted: 1) to be caught by anyone in authority while
not familiar. Listed below are some of the most common misbehaving, or by the police while using
slang terms used in America. drugs
2) to be broke or out of money
awesome: very good, interesting, or appealing
check out: 1) to sign out materials from a library
big deal: important event; may be used 2) to try to find out something
sarcastically to refer to something that
is not important check it out: to look over a situation

blast or Its going to be a blast! chill out or cool it: a command to stop what you are
Its going to be a lot of fun doing, relax

bomb: to be unsuccessful cop out: to not face the issue

blow it off: to ignore or avoid someone or couch potato: a lazy person who spends a large amount of
something time (perhaps on a couch) watching
television
blue or have the blues: feel depressed
cram: To study frantically the night before a test
bogus: 1) nonexistent, fake
2) bad, awful, unsatisfactory crash: 1) to stay overnight in someone elses dwelling,
usually without notice or formal arrangement
to book: 1) to hurry up or do something 2) to go to sleep after becoming extremely tired
very quickly
2) to reserve a ticket to an event cruising: Driving around for pleasure with no particular
or on transportation destination

born again: to hold strong, fundamentalist, to have a crush on someone: To be extremely infatuated
Christian beliefs with someone

bounce a check: to overdraw a checking account cut it out! Stop it!

broke: having no money
dead: 1) very tired
buddy: friend 2) not living

bum a cigarette: to borrow a cigarette dork: an unfashionable and awkward male

bummed out: depressed dorm: dormitory

bummer: unpleasant experience dough money

burned: rejected, insulted, or otherwise down in the dumps depressed

negatively treated
drop in to visit unexpectedly
dude a fashionable man

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fire up to get excited about something;
to motivate hassle 1) a problem or inconvenience
2) cause another person to have a problem or
fix up to arrange a date for a friend inconvenience

fed up or sick of disgusted with; tired of head another name for the bathroom or toilet facilities

freak out to lose control of oneself hick someone from a small town or rural area (usually
uncomplimentary meaning unsophisticated)
fuzzbuster device used by some motorists to
determine when police are using hit the road to leave a place
radar to detect drivers who are
speeding hit the sack or turn in to go to bed

geek unattractive, unstylish, socially hitch a ride to get a ride from another person
inept person
hung up to be in conflict over a problem
get a kick out of someone/something
find someone or something amusing ID identification card
or enjoyable
in a nutshell very briefly and concisely
get on someones case to annoy
jerk person who cannot do things correctly;
get off someones case to stop annoying a a mildly derogatory term
person
jock an athlete or athletic person, or one who
give someone a break to stop criticizing is not very intelligent
or teasing
john another name for the toilet or bathroom facilities;
Give me a break! Expresses disbelief head

Give someone a buzz, a ring to call someone on Knock it off! Stop doing that! Usually expressed when
the telephone you are doing something annoying

goofing off acting silly; doing something Lighten up! Relax, dont be so serious
that has no particular purpose
loaded someone who has had too much to drink;
give up to quit someone who has a lot of money

go bananas to be so excited that one loses Loosen up! Relax

control of oneself
lose it to lose control of oneself
gross something crude, usually unpleasant
luck out or get lucky to have something good happen
hang in there keep trying; do not be discouraged due to luck or chance

Dont mess with me! Leave me alone

hang out 1) to waste time
2) a regular meeting place for friends Mind your own business!
Do not ask questions or make statements
hang-up fear; phobia or worry about this matter; it is my concern and not yours
mooch to borrow frequently and/or take things from returning or repaying
others, usually without the intention of
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nerd a strange or socially inept person
rowdy noisy, loud, obnoxious
on the house free, no cost
scoop gossip, recent news
Oops! An exclamation used when a small
mistake is made see eye-to-eye having the same opinion

to be open to be accepting of something or show television program, movie, film, or theater

someone; to speak frankly about performance
oneself
shush! Be quiet, dont make so much noise
out of ones mind (head)
1) crazy slam insult a person
2) doing something ridiculous
slob 1) a lazy, fat person
out of it tired and not concentrating 2) a person who is not dressed neatly
3) an untidy person
pal friend
spaced out unable to concentrate
pig out overeat
split to leave
pop, soda pop, soda, or soft drink
carbonated beverage (Coke, Pepsi, stood up to be left waiting for someone who never
Sprite, et al) arrives

psych up prepare oneself mentally or tacky in poor taste

emotionally for something
Take a hike! Go away and leave me alone
psyched up enthusiastic
to be crazy about to like someone or something
pull someones leg to tease very much

put someone on to tease or try to fool to be into something to be very interested in or concerned
with something; I can really get
take a raincheck postpone; accept the same into this song.
invitation but for a later date
touch base verify information with someone
raunchy vulgar, crude
tough luck its too bad that happened to you
relationship a close affiliation with someone;
usually romantic turn over a new leaf adopt a better course of conduct

right-hand an important and reliable assistant unreal unbelievable

rip off 1) steal uptight worried, tense

2) anything too expensive and not
worth the price
Way to go! Thats very good! Sometimes used
sarcastically wimp weakling

Whats up? Whats happening? Whats going on? zero in on to focus or concentrate on
What event is taking place?
What are you doing? zonked or zonkered completely exhausted
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