Burke David. The Slangman Guide to Street Speak Volume 2
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the SLANGMAN GUIDE TO STREET SPEAK 2
Susie: Thank you so much for coming to my birthday party. Are you having a good time?
Judy: Oh, yes. Enormously! [Then as she walks away...] Can you believe what she’s done to
her house? The green carpeting looks so cheap. And why did she use so many different
colors of paint on the walls? It’s just too pretentiously artistic for me.
Linda: You’re not kidding! Oh, no. Look who just walked in – Cynthia Harcourt. Talk about
a day when your hair looks terrible!
Judy: She must have come to the party without an invitation. I can’t imagine Nancy
would invite her. They finally had a confrontation last month. Evidently Cynthia
fell in love with Nancy’s boyfriend and started calling him all the time!
Linda: If that happened to me, I’d have a personal complaint to discuss with her, too.
She really annoys me. Every time she sees me, she tells me these exaggerated stories
that I have a hard time believing.
Judy: I know. Talking to her is difficult and painful. I hope she doesn’t see us.
Fortunately, she’s unable to see at all.
LET’S SEE HOW MUCH YOU REMEMBER!
Just for fun, bounce around in random order to the words
and expressions in boldface below. See if you can remember
their slang equivalents without looking at the left-hand page!
B. DIALOGUE translated INto STANDARD ENGLISH
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Lesson 5 • THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
Susie: Thanks so much fer coming da my birthday pardy. Ya havin’ a good time?
Judy: Oh, yeah. Big time! [Then as she walks away...] C’n you believe what she’s done to ’er
house? The green carpeding looks so cheesy. An’ why’d she use so many diff’rent
colors of paint on the walls? It’s jus’ too artsy-fartsy fer me.
Linda: Y’r not kidding! Oh, no. Look ’oo jus’ walked in – Cynthia Harcourt. Talk aboud a bad
hair day!
Judy: She must’a crashed the pardy. I can’ imagine Nancy would ’nvite ’er. They fin’lly
had id out las’ month. Evidently Cynthia fell head over heels fer Nancy’s
boyfriend ’n starded calling ’im all the time!
Linda: If that happen’ da me, I’d have a bone da pick with ’er, too. She really bugs me.
Ev’ry time she sees me, she tells me these exaggeraded stories thad I have a hard time
swallowing.
Judy: I know. Talking da her is like pulling teeth. I hope she doesn’ see us. Fortunately,
she’s ’ez blind ’ez a bat.
artsy-fartsy (to be) exp. said of a person, place or thing that looks pretentiously artistic.
example: Silvia likes to think she’s part of the art world. That’s why
her house is so artsy-fartsy.
translation: Silvia likes to think she’s part of the art world. That’s why
her house is so pretentiously artistic.
“real spEAK:” Silvia likes ta think she’s pard ’a the art world. That’s why
’er house is so artsy-fartsy.
Synonym: over the top (to be) exp.
NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
...’s home is too artsy-fartsy for me!
bad hair day (to have a) exp. said of someone who’s hair looks terrible.
example: I can’t go out in public. I’m having a bad hair day.
translation: I can’t go out in public. I’m having a day where my
hair looks terrible.
“real spEAK:” I can’t go oud in public. I’m having a bad hair day.
Antonym: good hair day (to have a) exp.
NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
… always seems to have a bad hair day.
C. DIALOGUE USING “REAL SPEAK”
The dialogue below demonstrates how the slang conversation
on the previous page would really be spoken by native speakers!
vocabulary
The following words and expressions were used in the previous
dialogues. Let’s take a closer look at what they mean.
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the SLANGMAN GUIDE TO STREET SPEAK 2
big time exp. (used as a modifier) extremely, very much.
example: Gina is big time strange! She talks to her plants!
translation: Gina is extremely strange! She talks to her plants!
“real spEAK:” Gina’s big time strange! She talks to ’er plants!
Synonym 1: mucho adv. (from Spanish meaning “very”).
Synonym 2: way adv. (popularized by teens).
NOW YOU DO IT:
Use “big time” in a sentence.
blind as a bat (to be as) exp. to be unable to see at all.
example: My mother is as blind as a bat without her glasses. Now
she wears contact lenses during the day.
translation: My mother is unable to see without her glasses. Now
she wears contact lenses during the day.
“real spEAK:” My mother’s as blind as a bat withoud ’er glasses. Now
she wears contact lenses during the day.
NOW YOU DO IT:
Use “as blind as a bat” in a sentence.
bone to pick with someone (to have a) exp. to have a personal complaint to discuss with
someone.
example: I have a bone to pick with you. You borrowed my
bicycle two months ago and never returned it!
translation: I have a personal complaint to discuss with you.
You borrowed my bicycle two months ago and never
returned it!
“real spEAK:” I have a bone da pick with you. You borrowed my
bicycle two munts ago ’n never returned it!
Synonym: score to settle with someone (to have a) exp.
NOW YOU DO IT:
Use “bone to pick with someone” in a sentence.
bug someone (to) v. to annoy someone.
example: Every time I see Anthony, he talks nonstop about his
problems. He really bugs me.
translation: Every time I see Anthony, he talks nonstop about his
problems. He really annoys me.
“real spEAK:” Every time I see Anthony, he talks nonstop aboud ’is
problems. He really bugs me.
Variation: work someone’s last good nerve (to) exp.
NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
...really bugs me because…
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Lesson 5 • THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
cheesy adj. said of something cheap-looking and in poor taste.
example: I can’t believe Carol bought that couch just because it was
on sale. It looks so cheesy!
translation: I can’t believe Carol bought that couch just because it was
on sale. It looks so cheap!
“real spEAK:” I can’t believe Carol bought that couch jus’ because it was
on sale. It looks so cheesy!
Synonym: tacky adj.
NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
...looked really cheesy!
crash a party (to) exp. to attend a party without an invitation.
example: Isn’t that Jamie Roach? I didn’t invite her to my house!
I can’t believe she crashed my party!
translation: Isn’t that Jamie Roach? I didn’t invite her to my house!
I can’t believe she came to my party without an
invitation!
“real spEAK:” Isn’ that Jamie Roach? I didn’ invide ’er da my house!
I can’t believe she crashed my pardy!
NOW YOU DO IT:
Use “crash a party” in a sentence.
fall head over heels for (to) exp. to fall in love with.
example: When I met your father forty years ago, we fell head
over heels for each other.
translation: When I met your father forty years ago, we fell in love
with each other.
“real spEAK:” When I met cher father fordy years ago, we fell head
over heels fer each other.
Synonyms: to flip for • to be crazy about • to be nuts about
• to have it bad for • to be mad about • to be
crazy about • to fall for.
NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
The first person I fell head over heels for was…
hard time swallowing something (to have a) exp. to have difficulty believing something.
example: Dan has twenty brothers and sisters? I have a hard time
swallowing that.
translation: Dan has twenty brothers and sisters? I have difficulty
believing that.
“real spEAK:” Dan has twen’y brothers ’n sisters? I have a hard time
swallowing that.
Variation: find something hard to swallow (to) exp.
NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
...? I have a hard time swallowing that.
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the SLANGMAN GUIDE TO STREET SPEAK 2
have it out with someone (to) exp. to have a confrontation with someone.
example: Stewart took my car without asking my permission?! I’m
going to have it out with him right now.
translation: Stewart took my car without asking my permission?! I’m
going to have a confrontation with him right now.
“real spEAK:” Stewart took my car withoud asking my permission?! I’m
gonna have id out with ’im right now.
Synonym: hash it out with someone (to) exp.
NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
I’m going to have it out with… because…
like pulling teeth (to be) exp. said of something extremely difficult to do.
example: Ed is so lazy that getting him to help me do a little work is
like pulling teeth.
translation: Ed is so lazy that getting him to help me do a little work is
extremely difficult.
“real spEAK:” Ed’s so lazy th’t gedding ’im da help me do a liddle work is
like pulling teeth.
Synonym: uphill battle (to be an) exp.
NOW YOU DO IT. COMPLETE THE PHRASE ALOUD:
...is like pulling teeth!
fartsy
day
cheesy
crash
heels
swallowing
out
teeth
time
bat
bone
bugs
Jennifer: I finally had it _______ with Carol for telling me that my house is ugly and too fartsy-
___________ . She really ________ me big _______! I’ve had a ___________ to pick with her
for a long time about her insults. Getting her to pay a compliment is like pulling _________ !
Lou ise: She told you that you have bad taste?! I have a hard time ____________ that because she
has the worst taste of anyone I’ve ever met. I mean, look at her! Her clothes are all old and
______________ and she always looks like she’s having a bad hair _________. And I have to
tell you that I’m head over __________ with the way you’ve decorated your house. I think
she’s just blind as a _________ and can’t see how pretty your house really is! You need to
stop inviting her to your parties, although it won’t matter. She’ll probably just _______ them!
A. YOU’RE THE AUTHOR (Answers on p. 221)
Complete the dialogue using the words below.
CD-a: track 23
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Lesson 5 • THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
B.
I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT WHAT’S THE QUESTION?
(Answers on p. 221)
Read the answer and place a check next to the correct
question.
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c. FIND YOUR PERFECT MATCH (Answers on p. 221)
Write the number of the slang term or idiom from COLUMN A
next to its matching picture in COLUMN B as well as next to the
matching definition in COLUMN C.
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Lesson 5 • THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
D. IMAGINE THAT... (Answers on p. 221)
Someone has presented you with a situation as seen
below. Respond to each situation aloud by making a
complete sentence using one of the groups of words
below. Use each group only once.
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the SLANGMAN GUIDE TO STREET SPEAK 2
Body parts are used in a variety of imaginative slang expressions in American slang.
Make no bones about it! (Let’s not be vague it!) If you’re an old hand (a long-time expert) at using
slang, you know that there is quite a list of expressions using parts of the body:
Body Parts Used in Slang Expressions
Arm
cost an arm and a leg (to) exp. to be very
expensive.
example: My new computer cost an arm
and a leg!
translation: My new computer was very
expensive.
“real speak”: My new c’mpuder cost ’n arm ’n
a leg!
keep someone at arm’s length (to) exp. to
keep someone at a distance.
example: I keep John at arm’s length
because I don’t trust him.
translation: I keep John at a distance
because I don’t trust him.
“real speak”: I keep John ’it arm’s length
b’cause I don’t trust ’im.
twist someone’s arm (to) exp. to force
someone to do something.
example: If you don’t want to go to the
movies with me, just say so. No
one’s twisting your arm!
translation: If you don’t want to go to the
movies with me, just say so. No
one’s forcing you!
“real speak”: If ya don’t wanna go da the movies
with me, jus’ say so. No one’s
twisting yer arm!
back
back-breaking (to be) exp. to be very
physically difficult.
example: I need to get a new job where the
work isn’t so back-breaking.
translation: I need to get a new job where the
work isn’t so physically
difficult.
“real speak”: I need ta ged a new job where the
work isn’t so back-breaking.
behind someone’s back (to do some-
thing) exp. to do something without one’s
knowledge.
example: I just found out that Stephanie has
been saying nasty things about
me behind my back!
translation: I just found out that Stephanie has
been saying nasty things about
me without my knowledge!
“real speak”: I jus’ found out th’t Stephanie’s
been saying nasty things about
me behin’ my back!
get off someone’s back (to) exp. to stop
nagging someone.
example: You always criticize the clothes
I wear. I wish you’d get off my
back!
translation: You always criticize the clothes
I wear. I wish you’d stop nagging
me!
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Lesson 5 • THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
“real speak”: Ya always criticize the clothes
I wear. I wish ya’d ged off my
back!
roll off one’s back (to) exp. not to affect one.
example: If Sylvia says anything insulting to
you, let it roll off your back.
translation: If Sylvia says anything insulting to
you, don’t let it affect you.
“real speak”: If Sylvia says anything insulting ta
you, led it roll off yer back.
“You scratch my back, I’ll scratch
yours” exp. “You do me a favor, I’ll do you a
favor.”
example: I’ll be glad to help you get your
work done on time, but next week
I’m going to need your help, too.
You scratch my back, I’ll
scratch yours.
translation: I’ll be glad to help you get your
work done on time, but next week
I’m going to need your help, too.
You do me a favor, I’ll do you
a favor.
“real speak”: A’ll be glad da help ya get cher
work done on time, b’t next week
I’m gonna need jer help, too. You
scratch my back, a’ll scratch
yours.
Bone
bare bone essentials exp. the absolute
necessities.
example: You need to evacuate your house
immediately. The fire is getting
closer. You only have time to take
the bare bone essentials with
you.
translation: You need to evacuate your house
immediately. The fire is getting
closer. You only have time to take
the absolute necessities with
you.
“real speak”: Ya need ta evacuate cher house
immediately. The fire’s gedding
closer. Ya only have time ta take the
bare bone essentials with you.
bone to pick with someone (to have a)
exp. to have a personal complaint to discuss with
someone.
example: I have a bone to pick with you.
I just found out that you lied to me.
translation: I have a personal complaint to
discuss with you. I just found out
that you lied to me.
“real speak”: I have a bone ta pick with you.
I jus’ found out th’t you lied ta me.
bone up (to) exp. to study or practice.
example: I need to bone up on my Italian
before the test tomorrow.
translation: I need to study my Italian before
the test tomorrow.
“real speak”: I need ta bone up on my Italian
b’fore the test tamorrow.
bony adj. extremely thin to the point where one’s
bones show.
example: Nancy needs to start eating more.
She’s so bony!
translation: Nancy needs to start eating more.
She’s so thin!
“real speak”: Nancy needs ta start eading more.
She’s so bony!
feel some thing in one’s bones (to) exp. to
have a strong in tu ition about some thing.
example: Some thing ter ri ble has hap pened to
him. I feel it in my bones.
translation: Some thing ter ri ble has hap pened to
him. I have a strong in tu ition
about it.
“real speak”: Some thing ter r’ ble’s hap pened to
’im. I feel id in my bones.
no bones about something (to make) exp.
not to be vague.
example: John made no bones about
telling Michelle that he had met
another woman.