UCLA slang has gone big time.Its campus...
UCLA slang has gone big time.
Its campus dictionary of trendy terms, which grew out of a class project of linguistics Professor Pamela Munro, was recently published in book form by a division of Random House. “Slang U” ($10) contains more than 1,300 assorted insults, exclamations and crudities, including 200 new ones.
A few have been omitted, too.
“We dropped all the terms relating to specific fraternities and sororities--we did hear some threats from a few,” Munro said. “And we dropped all the nasty terms relating to USC (i.e. University Second Class) to give it more national appeal.”
She noted, by the way, that the book is purchased not just by students, but by parents, professors and administrators “who get it to see what the kids are talking about.” They aren’t always pleased to learn the definitions.
List of the Day:
Additions to UCLA’s slang dictionary include:
1-- Biscuit: A gullible person.
2-- Cake: Easy, as in “that class is cake.”
3-- Dragon: Person with bad breath.
4- PMS: Pre-mid-term exam stress.
5-- To be hanging big bootie out: To be in the way, as a car taking up two lanes.
And here are a few of our old favorites:
6- Betty: pretty girl.
7-- Give someone a Melvin: yank someone’s underwear up abruptly
8- Location joke: you had to be there.
9-- Party foul: do something rude at a social gathering.
10- Take it down a thousand!: Calm down!
Speaking of location jokes:
ESPN reported that while negotiating to sign with another team, ex-Dodger Fernando Valenzuela recently worked out in L.A. “in the shadow of the Slauson Freeway.”
S ure, you say that today’s sign photo is just another Caltrans boo-boo. But could it be the work of an infiltrator? The backward “N” there on the Mountain Street exit of the Glendale Freeway resembles a letter in the Cyrillic alphabet used by the Russians. Just when you thought they were on our side . . .
Whatever, Only in L.A.’s feelings were hurt that that word had to be misspelled.
In the Mid-Wilshire area building that houses both the KFI-AM and KOST-FM radio stations, each restroom is equipped with a speaker and a switch that allows visitors the option of tuning into . . . KFI-AM or KOST-FM.
miscelLAny:
Newly opened Fire Station No. 29, at Wilshire Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue, cost $1.9 million to build. Its slightly smaller predecessor on Western Avenue, built in 1913, cost $23,000.
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