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Common Slang Terms

As in every part of the world, Americans have developed
certain oddities or slang terms in their everyday
language. Regardless of how long you have studied
English, you will hear and see words with which you are
not familiar. Listed below are some of the most common
slang terms used in America.

awesome: very good, interesting, or appealing

big deal: important event; may be used
sarcastically to refer to something that
is not important

blast or Its going to be a blast!
Its going to be a lot of fun

bomb: to be unsuccessful

blow it off: to ignore or avoid someone or
something

blue or have the blues: feel depressed

bogus: 1) nonexistent, fake
2) bad, awful, unsatisfactory

to book: 1) to hurry up or do something
very quickly
2) to reserve a ticket to an event
or on transportation

born again: to hold strong, fundamentalist,
Christian beliefs

bounce a check: to overdraw a checking account
broke: having no money

buddy: friend

bum a cigarette: to borrow a cigarette

bummed out: depressed

bummer: unpleasant experience

burned: rejected, insulted, or otherwise
negatively treated

burned out: 1) exhausted
2) dull or lifeless as a result of excessive
work or drug use

busted: 1) to be caught by anyone in authority while
misbehaving, or by the police while using
drugs
2) to be broke or out of money

check out: 1) to sign out materials from a library
2) to try to find out something

check it out: to look over a situation

chill out or cool it: a command to stop what you are
doing, relax

cop out: to not face the issue

couch potato: a lazy person who spends a large amount of
time (perhaps on a couch) watching
television

cram: To study frantically the night before a test

crash: 1) to stay overnight in someone elses dwelling,
usually without notice or formal arrangement
2) to go to sleep after becoming extremely tired

cruising: Driving around for pleasure with no particular
destination

to have a crush on someone: To be extremely infatuated
with someone

cut it out! Stop it!

dead: 1) very tired
2) not living

dork: an unfashionable and awkward male

dorm: dormitory

dough money

down in the dumps depressed

drop in to visit unexpectedly
dude a fashionable man

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fire up to get excited about something;
to motivate

fix up to arrange a date for a friend

fed up or sick of disgusted with; tired of

freak out to lose control of oneself

fuzzbuster device used by some motorists to
determine when police are using
radar to detect drivers who are
speeding

geek unattractive, unstylish, socially
inept person

get a kick out of someone/something
find someone or something amusing
or enjoyable

get on someones case to annoy

get off someones case to stop annoying a
person

give someone a break to stop criticizing
or teasing

Give me a break! Expresses disbelief

Give someone a buzz, a ring to call someone on
the telephone

goofing off acting silly; doing something
that has no particular purpose

give up to quit

go bananas to be so excited that one loses
control of oneself

gross something crude, usually unpleasant

hang in there keep trying; do not be discouraged


hang out 1) to waste time
2) a regular meeting place for friends

hang-up fear; phobia or worry

hassle 1) a problem or inconvenience
2) cause another person to have a problem or
inconvenience

head another name for the bathroom or toilet facilities

hick someone from a small town or rural area (usually
uncomplimentary meaning unsophisticated)

hit the road to leave a place

hit the sack or turn in to go to bed

hitch a ride to get a ride from another person

hung up to be in conflict over a problem

ID identification card

in a nutshell very briefly and concisely

jerk person who cannot do things correctly;
a mildly derogatory term

jock an athlete or athletic person, or one who
is not very intelligent

john another name for the toilet or bathroom facilities;
head

Knock it off! Stop doing that! Usually expressed when
you are doing something annoying

Lighten up! Relax, dont be so serious

loaded someone who has had too much to drink;
someone who has a lot of money

Loosen up! Relax

lose it to lose control of oneself

luck out or get lucky to have something good happen
due to luck or chance

Dont mess with me! Leave me alone

Mind your own business!
Do not ask questions or make statements
about this matter; it is my concern and not yours
mooch to borrow frequently and/or take things from
others, usually without the intention of
returning or repaying


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nerd a strange or socially inept person

on the house free, no cost

Oops! An exclamation used when a small
mistake is made

to be open to be accepting of something or
someone; to speak frankly about
oneself

out of ones mind (head)
1) crazy
2) doing something ridiculous

out of it tired and not concentrating

pal friend

pig out overeat

pop, soda pop, soda, or soft drink
carbonated beverage (Coke, Pepsi,
Sprite, et al)

psych up prepare oneself mentally or
emotionally for something

psyched up enthusiastic

pull someones leg to tease

put someone on to tease or try to fool

take a raincheck postpone; accept the same
invitation but for a later date

raunchy vulgar, crude

relationship a close affiliation with someone;
usually romantic

right-hand an important and reliable assistant

rip off 1) steal
2) anything too expensive and not
worth the price

rowdy noisy, loud, obnoxious

scoop gossip, recent news

see eye-to-eye having the same opinion

show television program, movie, film, or theater
performance

shush! Be quiet, dont make so much noise

slam insult a person

slob 1) a lazy, fat person
2) a person who is not dressed neatly
3) an untidy person

spaced out unable to concentrate

split to leave

stood up to be left waiting for someone who never
arrives

tacky in poor taste

Take a hike! Go away and leave me alone

to be crazy about to like someone or something
very much

to be into something to be very interested in or concerned
with something; I can really get
into this song.

touch base verify information with someone

tough luck its too bad that happened to you

turn over a new leaf adopt a better course of conduct

unreal unbelievable

uptight worried, tense

Way to go! Thats very good! Sometimes used
sarcastically

Whats up? Whats happening? Whats going on?
What event is taking place?
What are you doing?

wimp weakling

zero in on to focus or concentrate on

zonked or zonkered completely exhausted

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