What is the etymology of "dope" meaning excellent, great ... - slang
Jan 5, 2016 · Dope is a rather new slang word that is used to define someone or something excellent, great, impressive. OED says that it is originally in African-American usage and …
Etymology: Dope - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Sep 8, 2017 · Dope in the sense of information, particularly information that isn’t widely known or easily obtained, came directly from this practice. A whisper from the stables or some …
etymology - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Jul 11, 2018 · Fire as a slang adjective appears to be the bleeding-edge version of "cool." To some extent, the word appears to be interchangeable with dope. One thing that seems odd to …
What do you call slapping someone at the back of their head
Jan 22, 2014 · Dope slap is the most common expression I know for striking someone in the back of the head with an open palm. The b -expression, which I will not repeat, usually refers to a …
Origin of current slang usage of the word 'sick' to mean 'great'?
This question ought to be reopened, because the current answers are basically wrong. Whether or not other usage in youth culture pre-dates it, sick became slang for pretty much the …
meaning - The married man with an affinity - English Language
Aug 21, 2012 · The word affinity is a synonym or euphemism for mistress. The passage is quoting a proverb making the rounds at that time. Notice that this passage uses quotation marks to …
Term for when a negative word is used positively?
Jan 9, 2016 · geek (see ‘Word Story’ notes) nerd wicked (the) dog's bollocks sick bad, badass dope In linguistics, amelioration is the upgrading or elevation of a word's meaning, as when a …
When and from where did "guns" become slang for biceps?
Both the Straight Dope commenter and ghoppe note the 1973 instance from Andrews & Owens as the first cited occurrence of guns in the sense of "the biceps and triceps." Google Books …
Where did the phrase "batsh*t crazy" come from?
There's anecdotal evidence scattered around the internet, like in this Straight Dope Message Board discussion, that definition #1 was in common use in the US military during the 1950s. …
idiom requests - Is there an expression to indicate the strategy of ...
Jun 1, 2016 · Rope-a-dope is a strategy Mohammed Ali (boxer) used to outfox his opponent, George Foreman, in a match called the Rumble in The Jungle. He pretended to be beaten, …