no kick

(Singapore, Singlish, predicative) Boring, unexciting, unchallenging.

(Singapore, Singlish, predicative, of food and drink) Tasteless.


pong pong

[p˭ɔŋ˨˩ p˭ɔŋ˨˦]

[p˭ɔm˨˩ p˭ɔm˨˦]

Onomatopoeic, by way of Hokkien or another southern Chinese language. Its exact origins are unknown.

(Singlish, intransitive, informal, child-directed speech) To take a shower; to bathe.


hong kan

From Hokkien 仾姦 /仾奸 (hōng-kàn, “to get fucked”).

bor

(Singapore, Singlish, vulgar) To be fucked, to be screwed.


hong kan

Hong kan liao

(Singapore, Singlish, vulgar) Expression of anger and despair.


upz

en-adjective

upz (comparative more upz, superlative most upz)

more upz (comparative)
most upz (superlative)
ups (alternative)

From up (as in “up there”) + -z (suffix forming colloquialisms).

suf

Jon was known for being the most upz guy in our platoon.

(Singapore, colloquial, predicative, of someone) Exceptional or hardworking in a way that commands respect or makes oneself prominent; outstanding in terms of ability or character.


upz

Oh, and add two-time Olympian to academic excellence. At his Olympic debut in Rio in 2016, he became Singapore's first male swimmer to qualify for an Olympic semi-final. Sibei upz lah!

2022 June 23, Ng Kai, “Singapore sports star spotlight: Swim star Quah Zheng Wen”, in AsiaOne, Singapore, archived from the original on 2022-06-23:

(Singapore, colloquial, towards someone) Interjection of praise, used to acknowledge someone's hard work, outstanding attitude or achievements.


rabz kebabz

Rhyming expression, from rabz, itself a clipping of rabak (“messed up”) and kebab + -z.

(Singapore, Singlish, colloquial, predicative) Synonym of rabak (“terrible, messed up”).


ho kua bo ho jiak

[ˌhoː˨˦ ˈkʰwɑː˦˨ boː˨˩ ˌhoː˨˦ ˈt͡s˭jɑʔ˦˧]

From Hokkien 好看無好食 /好看无好食 (hó-khòaⁿ bô hó-chia̍h, literally “good to look at, not good to eat”).

bor

Sure, they turn heads. But what is it like riding one of these scooters with a sidecar? When I first saw one of Mr Johnny Chen’s creations online, I thought “ho kua bo ho jiak” (Hokkien slang which means all style and no substance) […]

2014 May 17, Kevin Chin, The Straits Times, Singapore, Life! Motoring, page 2:

all style and no substance
all style and no substance

(Singlish, idiomatic) Superficial; incompetent or having no substance despite appearances, skin-deep; portraying oneself as greater than one actually is; all style and no substance.

(Singlish, of food, literally) Unpalatable despite having great presentation.


hong gan

(Singapore, Singlish, vulgar) Alternative spelling of hong kan.


can is can

[ˈkʰɛn˦ ɪs˨ ˈkʰɛn˦]

variant, Sense 1 before a pause in speech

See can (“fine, acceptable, possible”, Singlish, intransitive).

I packed lots of sleeveless clothes, sunblock, and of course a cap. Slippers? Can is can but Hong Kongers are not usually so sloppy la. People here wear pretty nice shoes, and the youngsters are carrying drawstring bags.

2015 June 25, Skye Soon, “Skye High in Hong Kong: Places”, in skyesoon.com:

How about turning one man’s trash into another man’s treasure? Well, can is can.

2021 January 26, G Tan, “Thought Ambush’s Clothes Peg Earring Was Wild? Here Are 3 More Mind-Blowing Accessories”, in you.co, archived from the original on 2021-04-11:

While something is possible or makes sense in theory, it may not be as straightforward or sensible as initially thought, or may prove to be less successful in practice.


kao peh kao bu

[ˈkʰaʊ˦˨ ˌp˭eː˨ ˈkʰaʊ˦˨ ˌbuː˦˨]

From Hokkien 哭爸哭母 (khàu-pē-khàu-bú, “to complain to high heaven”, literally “to quarrel with one’s parents; to weep for one’s father and mother”).

kao pei kao bu (alternative)
kpkb (alternative)
KPKB (alternative)

Singaporeans genuine complains were brush aside as irrelevant KPKB.

2011, truth, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet):

Opposition sure bring up the matter
In Parliament. They will kao peh kao bu
Ask why government agency
Not doing their work properly
Make the minister malu.

2012, Alfian Sa'at, “All You Young People Will Take Over: Branson, Chinese, taxi driver, 40’s”, in Cooling Off Day, Singapore: Ethos Books:

(Singapore, Malaysia, informal, Singlish, idiomatic, intransitive) To make a fuss, to complain or whine excessively, to complain to high heaven.


kao pei kao bu

(Singapore, Malaysia, informal, Singlish) Alternative spelling of kao peh kao bu.


kpkb

(Singapore, Malaysia, Singlish) Alternative letter-case form of KPKB.


KPKB

(Singapore, Malaysia, Singlish) Abbreviation of kao peh kao bu.


selekeh

en-adj

selekeh (comparative more selekeh, superlative most selekeh)

more selekeh (comparative)
most selekeh (superlative)

Selekeh in all things, he was small and dark with a badly pock-marked face and a chin so weak it seemed to rest halfway down his neck. Nonetheless Mahmud had been the most popular of Usman Khalid's four sons-in-law: […]

1996, Heroes and Other Stories (page 73)

(Singapore, Singlish) Slovenly, unkempt.