Slang Rules!: A Practical Guide for English Learners (Merriam Webster Learner's)

208 Pages·2008·25.97 MB·English

by  Lexicographer and Author of Language Reference Books Orin Hargraves

A PRACGTUIICFDAOELER NG LILSEHA RNERS
OriHna rgraves
IllustbryAa nttehdo ny Jenkins
Merriam-WIenbcsotrepro,r ated
SpringMfaisesladc,h Uu.sSe.ttAs.,
®
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AG ENUIMNEER RIAM-WEBSTER
Thnea mWe ebsatleorn neo g iusa ranotfee xec ellIeitnsu c seeb.dy a
numboefrp ublisahnedmr asys ervmea intlomy i slaenau dn wabryu yer.
Merriam-W™ eibtss hnteea rmyeo ush oullodof kow rh eyno cu onsider
thpeu rchoafds iec tioonroa trhifeeirsnr ee ferbeonockeIsc t.a rrtihees
reputaotfai c oonm patnhyah ta bse epnu blisshiin1nc8ge3 a1n di s
youars suroafnq cuea laintday u thority.
Copyrig2h0t0b©8y O riHna rgraves
ISB9N7:8 -087779-682-4
LibroafCr oyn grCeastsa loging-inD-aPtuab lication
HargraOvreisn,.
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Slarnugl :e sp!ar actgiuciafdloeE r n glliesahr nOerriHsna rgraves.
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Incluidnedse x.
ISB9N7 8-0-87779-682-4
1.Englliasnhg uage-Slang-Dictionaries.
2.Englliasnhg uage-Texftobfroo orkessip gena kIeTr.is t.l e.
PE2846.2H03068
427' .09-dc22
2008033245
Excefrrpotm byQ uenTtairna nCtoipnyor.©i 1g9h9tb7 y
JacBkroiwen A: Screenplay,
QuenTtairna nUtsienbdoyp . e rmisosfHi yopne rBiooonkA sl.l rriegshetrvse d.
Alrli ghrtess ervNeodp .a rto ft hibso ocko verbeytd h ceo pyrihgehrtemsoa ny
ber eprodourcc eodpi ienad n fyo romrb ya nmye ans-graeplheicct,ro orn ic,
mechaniinccallu,pd hiontgo coptyaipniognr,ig n,f ormsattoiroaanng dre e trieval
systems-wwirtihtoptueetrn m isosfti hopenu blisher.
Madien t hUen itSetda toefAs m erica
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Thibso oikds e dictaott hemeda nfyr iends
whoo,v etrhy ee ahrasv,ie n vimtee d
toc rotshsce u ltduirvaild e
ont hber idogfEe n glish;
partictuol arly
MaatMia,jl irdf,aa nnNd,e bo
Acknowledgments
Iw oulldit koet haHnykp erBiooonfk ospr e rmistsoei xocnet rhpet
QuenTtairna ntino asncdDr eeseeSnrttp olrRamey c,o frodtrsh ley ric
byF abolSoeuvseb.rl aolg gerksi newdne oruetg olh e mte q uote
extensfirvotemhl eeyix rc elblieonpgtsr ,o vigdoionadgn dg enuine
matefroiiral ll usttrhuaest oeif sn lga Inwg o;u leds pecliiatkloel y
thaCnhke voCnonlel TienJdso ,h nsaonnTd,r aXc.y
Theb oowko ulhda vbee eanlb lu utn imagiwniatbhltoehul eti vely,
apta,n vdi vdirda wionfAg nst hoJneyn kLionrsHe.ae n lya oiudt
thpea gweist sht yalneds e nsiFtiinvaiIalt mlye y.s, p ecgiraaltleyf ul
tom ye diatnodfr r iaetnM de rriamt-eWMrea,br Sskt evwehnoss,e
paticeanraten dd etaaitlteedn htaivcoeon n triibmumteeads urably
tot hmee riotfts h bioso k.
OriHna rgraves
WestminMsDt er,
Contents
ProniuanitcoSny mb.o.l.s. .............v.i.i. ......................................
SlaFnAg.Q . .....................a.1. .....................................................
AboutthU en is.t ....................a.3. ..............................................
UniAtY: o.!. .....................a.S. ...................................................
UniBt:G immaeB re.a.k.!. .............a.7. ......................................
Unit CW:h a?tS. a.y. ................a.9. ............................................
UniDt:W ord.!. ...................a.1.1. ..............................................
SlaRnugl .e.s.!. ..................a1.4. ................................................
Uni1tW: h oY oTua lkTio.n?.' . .............1. ....................................
Uni2tC: h oTwm ie. ...................3. .............................................
Uni3tH: o to rC oo.l.?. ................5. ............................................
Uni4tT: o Coo ofloS rc ho.o.l. .............7. ....................................
Uni5tK: n oYwo uCrr tiret.s. ..............1.0. ...................................
Uni6tH: o wM ucYha T alkAibnuo'?t. ..........1.2. ........................
Uni7tW: ordFsa Miel. .................1.5. ........................................
Uni8tK: a -ch!.i .n.g.................1.8. .............................................
Uni9tL: o wo nD oug.h.?. ..............2.0. ......................................
Uni1t0C :he kcT hiOsu. t. ...............2.3. ......................................
Uni1t1I :Yf a C an'Bte a'te Jm,o i'ne. m. .........2.6. .....................
Uni1t2S :a kcT mie. ..................2.8. ...........................................
Uni1t3Y :o uSh oulBde eTnh e.r.e.!. .........3.1. ............................
Uni1t4 A:lT lo olUep.d . ................3.3. .......................................
Uni1t5 A:i nN'oPt o i.n.t..... ............3.5. .....................................
Uni1t6 A:C lip .J.o.i.n.t. .............3.7. .........................................
Uni1t7Y :e Yra nkMiynC 'h a.i.n. ...........3.9. ...............................
Uni1t8G :o Wth ee.l.s.?. ..............4.1. ........................................
Uni1t9H :o wdDjoa.? . ................4.4. .........................................
Uni2t0W :h enY aG ottGao . ................4.6. .............................
Uni2t1N :a Tihla Stu ck.e.r.!. ............4.7. ...................................
Uni2t2T :h Ger iRme ap.e.r. .............4.9. ....................................
Uni2t3S :co pTeh .i.s. ................5.2. ..........................................
Uni2t4U :h . .......................5.5. ..............................................
Uni2t5G :r eBaotd. !. .................5.8. ..........................................
Uni2t6B :y t hNeu mbe.r.s. ..............6.1. ....................................
Uni2t7W :h atth Hee kcI Tsh a?.t ............6.3. .............................
V
Uni2t8 T:o a .T. ....................6.6. ...............................................
Uni2t9 A: L owlGiefteNs a bb.e.d. ...........6.8. ............................
Uni3t0 G:e Yte Srt u'ffn G'o . ..............7.1. ................................
Uni3t1 K:n owleodfCg oel l.e.g.e. ...........7.3. .............................
Uni3t2 W:h addaTyihan k.?. ..............7.6. ..................................
Uni3t3 F:r igIgnitne'.n .s.e. ..............7.9. ....................................
Uni3t4 A:l iOebnj eAcptpsr oac.h.i.n.g. .......8.3. ........................
Uni3t5 W:h att'hsBe u z.z. ...............8.6. ....................................
Uni3t6 C:h eaSpu bsti.t.u.t.e.s. ..........8.9. ..................................
Uni3t7 I:sI Lto v.e.?. .................9.2. ..........................................
Uni3t8 I:tf h Seh oFei .ts.. .......................9.5. ..........................
Uni3t9 A: S etJuop.b . .................9.9. ........................................
Uni4t0 I:tF eeNlisct eoS aIytT wi.c.e. ........1.0.2. ......................
Uni4t1 D:o nT'rtTy ih ast H om.e. ...........1.0.4. ..........................
Uni4t2 T:mi ef oSro mAen swe.r.s. ...................................... 107
Uni4t3 W:i nS omeL,o sSeo m.e. ............1.1.0. ..........................
Uni4t4 W:h aKti nPdlaa IcsTe hi s.?. ..........1.1.3. .......................
Uni4t5 G:i mmSeo mSek i.n. .............1.1.5. ...............................
Uni4t6 H:i gLhi .f.e. .................1.1.8. .........................................
Uni4t7 L:i kICe a r.e. .................1.2.1. ........................................
Uni4t8 I:nD eeDpo o-D.o.o. .............1.2.3. ................................
Uni4t9 T:o ugNhu ttsoC ra.c.k. ............1.2.5. ............................
Uni5t0 S:e Yea . ....................1.2.8. ............................................
Uni5t1 W:o rfdo Wro r.d. ...............1.2.9. ..................................
Uni5t2 H:o wS omFeo lTkas.l .k. ...........1.3.1. ............................
Uni5t3 T:eh y'Prlea yYienSr'o n.g. ...........1.3.3. .........................
LeYto uFri ngDeort sh Tea lk.i.n.'. ..........1.3.5. ...........................
Uni5t4 B:l oSgt y.l.e. .................1.3.6. ........................................
Uni5t5 T:r ip.p.i.n.'. ................1.3.9. ..........................................
Uni5t6 V:i b.i.n.'. .................1..4.3. ............................................
Uni5t7 B:i tc.h.i.n.'. ................1.4.6. ..........................................
Uni5t8 I:t a'L so vTehi n.g. ...............1.4.9. .................................
Uni5t9 D:o wni nF lam.e.s. ..............1.5.2. .................................
Uni6t0 Y:o uD eci.d.e. ................1.5.4. .......................................
Uni6t1 C:u tto t hCeh a.s.e. .............1.5.7. .................................
Uni6t2 TX:T U L8R .................1.6.0. ..........................................
AnswKeer.y . .....................1.6.4. ...............................................
lnd.e.x. .......................1.7.9. ......................................................
vi
PronuncSiyamtbioolns
Consonants Vowels
b bablya,b coarb, a3 asbka,tg ,l ad
d dayk,ird i,d dle a: cobto,m bp,a w
� Jusbta,d gfeurd,g e ·& befte,d
a
theeni,t bhaetrh,e a aboubta,n acnoal,l ide
foteo,u gbhu,ff i: eabte,a bdee,
god,a ggbear,g idb,i pdi,t
g
h hota,h ead u foosth,o upludt,
yevsi,n eyard u: boottw,oc ,o o
k caftl,o sckki,n A undpeurt,bt u,d
law, hollow fl- mergbei,rf du,rt her
pedbaalt,t flien,a l er/ej eigwhatd,pe l,a y
m math,e mph,a mmer aJ/aj icbei,tt ei,l e
n newt,e ntte,n, ro urn au/awo utg,o wno,w l
rJ buttsoant,ki int,t en or/oj oystceorib,lo ,y
rJ runhga,n sgw,i nger ou/owo ato,w nz,o ne
p tops,p eepda,y Of!-/arc ahre,a srtt,a r
ropaer,r ive ef!-lerb arfea,iw re,a r
s sadm,i skti,s s if!-lir neadre,e mre,r e
shomei,s ssilouns,h Of!-lorb oar,d opoorrt ,
stilcaktl,ea ,t er uf!-/urb ootro,u r
ff batcnha,t ucrheo,o se
0 thient,h beart,h
OthSeyrm bols
V vante,v cearv,e
w wets,o ftware
higsht rpeesnsm:a nship
z zooe,a sbyu,zz
loswt rpeesnsm:a nship
3 visiaoznub,re ei,g e
I slausshei dnp airmsa rtko
thbee ginanniednn god f a
pronuncoirsa eottfi on
pronuncfipaetni/o ns
vii
SLANFGA Q
Whaitss lan!f
Slainstg h lea ngutahgapete opolfet uesnie n s peakainndwg r iting
informally.
Whou sessl ang?
EveryAonnyeo.wn heo sfei rlsatn guiasEg neg luissehEs n glsilsahan tg
somteime.
Whendo p eopulsese l ant?
Peopulsee swlhaentnga lkintgh ewfiirrti hea nnddfs a mimleym bers.
Themya ya lsuos iewt hetnh efyi rmsetes to meoonfte h eoiwrna ge.
Especfioayrlo luynp ge opcloen,v erisnsi lnagin sagw ayt of inodu wth at
thintghseh ya vienc ommon.
Issl ant dtiolffi ecaurlnt?
NoI.n m oswta yssl,a inesga sitehartn h Een glyiosulh e airntn h e
classrBouoytmo .uw inlele pdr actinio credt eoru nderswthaenyndo u're
hearing slang.
Issl adnitffi ctuols tp eak?
NoS.l ainseg a stieosr p etahka snt andEanrgdl biescha umsoeso tft he
wordasrs ei mpalnedsr o mreu loefgs r ammaarrne o ats i mportant.
CanIu ssel aannty time?
NoP. eopulseu adloln you ts sel ainntg h essiet uations:
•whesnp eaktiopn ego pilnoe ff icpioasli tsiuocnahsst , e achoerrs
poliocffei cers
•whesnp eakoinnt ght ee lephwointseho meotnheed yo nk'nto w
well
•whesnp eakfionrgm alleyx-afmopril nae m ,e etiantwg o rk
•whesnp eakwiintsght rangers
Issl aonffte nsive?
Mosstl ainsgn o'ftf enBsuiutvs ei.sn lga inngf ormal-language situations
isna'ptp roprainadst oem,e omnieg htta koeff enisyfeo ud o.
a1
Doessl ainngc lsuodmeoe f fenwsoirvdes ?
YeAsl.tl h sel awnogr idnts h bioso tkh amta yb eo ffensairmveae r ked,
anydo suh ounledvu esrte h eamr oupnedo pwlheom igbheto ffended
byt heSmo.m weo radrsoe f fenmsoisvttelop y a rtigcruolutaphrse ;s e
woradrsae l isdoe ntiintf hibieosdo k.
Howd oI k noiwaf w oridss lang?
Itn'osat l waeyassM ya!n wyo rhdasv deo ublli�vw eistb,ho tshl ang
ansdt andmaeradn iMnogssEt.n glisho-nllekyan rotnwhe aarwt so rids
slawnhge tnh eaysa kn atEinvgel ish-speevaenknae tri-vaen ds peakers
mayd isagTrheibeso! os kh ouglidvy eoa ug ooudn derstoafhn odwi ng
Ameriucsasenl sa snogt ,h ayto ub'eal bllt eos petaoak n yowniet h
confidence!
Howd oI l easrlna ng?
Bys tudtyhibinosgo Ikwt!i hlelly pot uo u nderstthtaehn rdme aei n
aspeocfst lsa ng:
Words
Theea sipeasrottfl earsnlianinglsg e arnneiwwn ogr dAsl.t hough
thearreme a nsyl awnogr dtsh,ea yrn eo dti fftiolc eualTrthn ea.yr e
oftsehno rtaenrmd o rfeu tnh aont hweorr dasn,md o sotft heamr e
relattowe odr tdhsay toa ul rekandoyw .
Pronunciation
Whepne optlaeil nkf ortmhaeulysl uya,dl olnpy'r to nounce their
worcdasr efaunsldol myse,o ungdelste ofutot rc hangAeldss.oo ,m e
wormdasy h avaes pecpiraoln unctihaaitdtsii ofnf ferroetmnh te
onyeo lue arinnse cdh oTohlib.so owki slhlo ywo tuh ceo mmowna ys
thAamte risclaainnps gr onouInwtci ealdll.ss hoo ywo huo wo rdi­
narwyo rmdasy b es pelwlheetdnh eayrb ee iunsgea dss lang.
Grammar
Ini nfoErnmgallsi osmhre,u loefgs r ammaarireg noHroewde.v er,
yocua ns'itm pclhyo owshei rcuhl yeoswu i ilgln ore-tihase rcel ear
differences pbeeatkiwinenfegon r amnasdlp leya kiinncgo rrTehcitsl y!
boowki slhlo ywo wuh ircuhl oefgs r ammcahra nagnewd,h ircuhl es
arseo metiigmneoswr heedsn,p eaksilnagn g.
a2