American Slang Trivia

1. "I was a right good hand at punching."

From Quiz A Cowboy's Dictionary

Answer: I was a good cattle hand.

"Cow-punchin'" was the term often used for the work of a cowboy. It was also common to call a cowboy or cowgirl a cow puncher. Although the term suggests physically hitting something, it was derived from roping and herding cattle. So, this cowboy is a good one.

From Quiz Colorful Sayings in Texas

Answer: Marfa

Marfa, Texas is a city in the high desert, where temperatures can reach record highs of 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, so one would not want to be caught wearing a fur coat there. "It's hotter than blue blazes" is another saying you might hear in Texas and throughout the South. It originally referred to the flames of Hell. "It's hotter than a stolen tamale" is another phrase to describe hot weather. It makes a play on two different uses of the word hot (spicy and stolen). Tamales are a popular food item in Texas.

From Quiz Can You Speak Southernese?

Answer: I don't have any plans.

If a Southerner says that he is going to "piddle around", he means that he does not really have anything planned. To piddle means to waste time or work aimlessly. You can piddle around the house or piddle around in the yard, for example.

From Quiz North and South US Slang in 1859

Answer: boss

The "Dictionary of Americanisms" said that blacks used it in the north "as they do massa (master) in the Southern States." The Online Etymology Dictionary suggested it became popular in America due to "egalitarian avoidance of master." It apparently came from the Dutch language in the 1640s.

From Quiz Tip-Top Americanisms from 1859

Answer: middling well

The 1859 "Dictionary of Americanisms" indicated it could be used as "middling well," or just "middling." The author offered an example: "How are you, to-day?" "Wall, I'm pretty middlin', jest so as to be knockin' around." It was apparently used the same way in northern England. The "Online Etymology Dictionary" says it dates to the 1540s, coming from Scotland as an adjective, and the 1700s as an adverb.

From Quiz Jargon I Have Used

Answer: A machine that distills the oil out of mint plants

Super heated steam is pumped into dried mint plants, which releases the oil. The steam is then allowed to condense, and the oil floats to the top.

From Quiz Slang That Is Now Old Hat

Answer: Shameless

To say that someone "blushed like a black dog" implied that they did not blush at all, in other words, that they were shameless. "Black dog" was also a term used to describe a counterfeit coin. Today one will sometimes hear the phrase "black dog" used as a synonym for depression.

From Quiz Phrases and Terms from a Younger USA

Answer: A covered wagon used by pioneers

Conestoga wagons carried pioneers, but also were used for cargo transport beginning in the late 1700s and continuing well into the 1800s. They were named after the Conestoga River in Pennsylvania, and are believed to have been first constructed by Mennonite settlers in the area around Lancaster.

From Quiz Yet More American Slang and Idioms

Answer: make the most of his opportunities while he has the chance

This is very old advice, traceable to John Heywood's "Proverbes in the Englishe Tongue" (1546) in which he writes, "when the sun shineth, make hay, which is to say, take time when time cometh, lest time steale away." Still sage advice, isn't it?

From Quiz Vintage American Slang III

Answer: clams are safe from predators at high tide

This term has been in use since the early 18th century. It is thought to have originated in New England. It was presumed that clams feel safe and content during periods of high water due to lack of predators, namely humans.

From Quiz Vintage American Slang II

Answer: That the outcome is certain

Cinch comes from the Spanish "cincha" or saddle girth. If it is "cinched tight", it's a sure thing that the saddle will stay in place and that you won't fall off - a certainty, in other words. Where "lead pipe" comes in is not so clear. Perhaps it is just used as an intensifier or comes from a time when the carrying of a piece of lead pipe as a weapon was one way to assure one's own safety.

From Quiz Vintage American Slang

Answer: Gamblers

A buck knife, a knife with a buckhorn handle, or a piece of buckshot (stories vary) was placed in front of the next dealer. When the dealer changed, "the buck was passed". Later, a silver dollar was used for this purpose and this may be where "buck" came to be used to designate a dollar.

From Quiz This Quiz is Bad

Answer: He thought it was "off the chain" (good)

Ill before 2000: Sick, under the weather, down with that Ill after 2000: Good, awesome, sweet, sick, "the bomb diggity" When I was younger, saying "ill" meant I was sick. In the 2000s, ill still meant sick, but sick happened to mean good. If something is "sick", "ill", or "off the chain", it is a good thing. So if a youngster comes up to you and says your clothes look ill, they are complimenting you; you should say thank you. They'll probably not appreciate you slapping them for calling you "ill".

From Quiz Gag Me With a Spoon!

Answer: I'm so sure!

A rolling of the eyes usually accompanies this statement, as in the following example: "Like, you think Wham! is a better band than Duran Duran?! I'm so sure!"

From Quiz Slangin' Hash

Answer: Stupid or mentally slow

"Dumb" is an adjective Donna used to describe Josh. The word became popular back in 1823. The word 'dumb' comes from the Pennsylvania German word 'dumm'.

From Quiz Sportswriting 101

Answer: cross country

Harriers originally were dogs used to hunt hares, or rabbits.

From Quiz Hiya Cat! 1940s Slang

Answer: a kiss

While a 'buzz' was a kiss, 'buzz me' meant to call that person on the telephone.

From Quiz Only in Maine

Answer: Fishing

A hornpout is what you might call a catfish, more specifically a brown bullhead.

From Quiz New Orleans Lingo

Answer: Hey, how are you doing? How is your family?

This is a typical New Orleans greeting. An official response to this inquiry would be "Awrite!" or All right! Yat without an apostrophe can also refer to a typical New Orleanian. For example, "My brother is a total Yat" means that my brother is a typical New Orleans guy. You can also be a "Chalmation", which is a person from Chalmette or, more unflatteringly, a person from Violet, Louisiana can be referred to as a a "Violation".

From Quiz Words, Foods, and Customs From the Southern USA

Answer: May as well; I do not have anything better to do.

The answer is an abbreviated code for "May as well. I don't have anything better to do." Dancing is a favorite activity; so it becomes a metaphor for something better than what is available. In many circles, this is pronounced, "Cain't daince." Actually, the Rebel Yell is beginning to look like a pretty good option.

From Quiz How To Speak Southern: People

Answer: Vampar

A Northerner would say: "Hey I thought Newt was dead, but I saw him out the other night biting folks on the neck. I think he's a Vampire!" Vaaahmpaaahr is an attempt at a Harvard accent. LOL Vimpeer is an attempt at Quebecquois.

From Quiz Do You Yooper?

Answer: Someone born and raised in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

The term Yooper comes from the initials U.P. for the Upper Peninsula. For some reason though, the folks in the Lower Peninsula are not referred to as Loopers.

From Quiz Cool 90s Slang

Answer: Something is great.

Hip-Hop (Rap) artist Kris Kross released a CD in 1993, using the slang word "Da Bomb" as its title.

From Quiz More Fogeyisms

Answer: Get lost

"Skedaddle" seems to have come into use around the time of the civil war. Some believe that the Roaring Twenties expression "23 skidoo" derived from "skedaddle". (The derivation of the "23" portion seems not to be well worked out.)

From Quiz Old Fogeyisms

Answer: Old fashioned and resistant to change

The origin of "fuddy-duddy" has not been confidently established. It first appears in published writings in the early 20th century. I remember it as the phrase my father used to describe the old, slow drivers ahead of him on the long hill up to our house.

From Quiz Do You Know Pittsburghese?

Answer: yunz

"Yunz", or "yinz" is one of the most common Pittsburghese words. Many people cringe when they hear this word that they consider to be gramatically incorrect. Most dialects have their own plural of the word "you": y'all, you all, youse, to name a few. In the northern parts of Pennsylvania you'll hear "youse" a lot. "Y'all", of course, is common from West Virginia on down.

From Quiz American Slang - How 'American' Are You?

Answer: Morphine

The phrase dates back to the days of the Civil War, and fits within the tradition of not really naming but just indicating problems.

From Quiz Blast from the past, American slang terms

Answer: To get angry

This is also used in the UK.

From Quiz More American Slang Terms

Answer: blues

This one is from the American Slang dictionary. Dates back though.

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Last Updated Apr 13 2024 5:45 AM

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