nut

Did you like them boys? I goes.
Nut. She shook her hair.
Neither?
Nut. Right townies.

1995, Alan Warner, Morvern Callar, Vintage, published 2015, page 26:


scissors

From Middle English sisours, sisoures (attested since 1350–1400), from Old French cisoires, from Vulgar Latin *cīsōria, plural of Late Latin cīsōrium (“cutting tool”) (compare chisel); from Latin word root -cīsus (compare excise) or caesus, past participle of caedō (“to cut”). Partially displaced native Old English sċēara (“scissors, shears”), whence shears.
* The current spelling, from the 16th century, is due to association with Medieval Latin scissor (“tailor”), from Latin carrying the meaning “carver, cutter”, from scindere (“to split”).

Say, wouldn’t it put your eye out to get a letter from one of the kiddies with the thumb‐prints of that crest not doing a thing but snuggling down in the wax on the envelope? Oh, scissors!

1909, Edward Waterman Townsend, chapter II, in The Climbing Courvatels, New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, page 30:

“Scissors!” he shouted and stuck his finger in his mouth.

1911, William Caine, chapter XIV, in The Revolt at Roskelly’s, New York & London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, page 270:

Then sit down—make yourself at home. Ah, scissors.

1913, Richard Claude Carton, Public Opinion: A Farce in Three Acts, London: Samuel French, Ltd., page 81:


sorry

→ Czech: sorry

→ Dutch: sorry
→ Papiamentu: sòri

→ German: sorry

→ Finnish: sori

→ Hindi: सॉरी (sŏrī)

→ Korean: 쏘리 (ssori)

→ Polish: sorry, sorki

→ Scots: sorry, sorra

→ Spanish: sorry

→ Swedish: sorry

→ Welsh: sorri

→ Luxembourgish: sorry

From Middle English sory, from Old English sāriġ (“feeling or expressing grief, sorry, grieved, sorrowful, sad, mournful, bitter”), from Proto-West Germanic *sairag, from Proto-Germanic *sairagaz (“sad”), from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂yro (“hard, rough, painful”). Cognate with Scots sairie (“sad, grieved”), Saterland Frisian seerich (“sore, inflamed”), West Frisian searich (“sad, sorry”), Low German serig (“sick, scabby”), German dialectal sehrig (“sore, sad, painful”), Swedish sårig. Despite the similarity in form and meaning, not related to sorrow. Equivalent to sore + -y.

다시 한번 더 말씀해주시겠어요?

dasi hanbeon deo malsseumhaejusigesseoyo?

Sorry! I didn't see that you were on the phone.

Sorry about yesterday. — No worries.

죄송해요

little more polite, little less informal

معاف کیجئے (ma'āf kījie, literally “forgive me”)

میں معذرت چاہتا ہوں (ma͠i ma'azirat cāhtā hū̃, literally “I ask forgiveness”)

Sorry? What was that? The phone cut out.

Used as a request for someone to repeat something not heard or understood clearly.

There are four– sorry, five branches of the store locally.

Sorry! Coming through!


fact

From Old French fact, from Latin factum (“an act, deed, feat, etc.”); also Medieval Latin for “state, condition, circumstance”; neuter of factus (“done or made”), perfect passive participle of faciō (“do, make”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- (“to put, place, set”). Old/Middle French later evolved it into faict and fait. Doublet of feat.

der

Used before making a statement to introduce it as a trustworthy one.


ball

From Middle English bal, ball, balle, from an unattested Old English *beall, *bealla (“round object, ball”) or Old Norse bǫllr (“a ball”), both from Proto-Germanic *balluz, *ballô (“ball”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰol-n- (“ball, bubble”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to blow, inflate, swell”). Cognate with Old Saxon ball, Dutch bal, Old High German bal, ballo (German Ball (“ball”); Ballen (“bale”)). Related forms in Romance are borrowings from Germanic. See also balloon, bale.

(sports) An exclamation to inform players on an adjacent playing area that a loose ball from another game has entered their playing area; typically implies that play should be paused until the ball has been retrieved.

A good tackle (and some bad ones) will bring a cry of "Ball!" from the crowd – a plea for a holding the ball free kick.

2007, “Laws Of The Afl 2007”, in AFL Sydney Swans Rules Zone, archived from the original on 2008-03-22:

Australian rules football
Australian rules football

holding the ball
holding the ball#English

(Australian rules football) An appeal by the crowd for holding the ball against a tackled player.


when

From Middle English when(ne), whanne, from Old English hwonne, from Proto-West Germanic *hwannē, from Proto-West Germanic *hwan, from Proto-Germanic *hwan (“at what time, when”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷis (interrogative base).
Cognate with Dutch wanneer (“when”) and wen (“when, if”), Low German wannehr (“when”), wann (“when”) and wenn (“if, when”), German wann (“when”) and wenn (“when, if”), Gothic 𐍈𐌰𐌽 (ƕan, “when, how”), Latin quandō (“when”). More at who.
Interjection sense: a playful misunderstanding of "say when" (i.e. say something / speak up when you want me to stop) as "say [the word] when".

der

when Adam was an oakum boy in Chatham Dockyard

why buy a book when you can join a library

why buy a book when you can join the library

why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free

you don't look at the mantelpiece when you poke the fire

you don't look at the mantelpiece when you're poking the fire

When we go out to a restaurant, we're the guys who never say "when" when the waiter is grinding fresh pepper on our salads.

2004, Andy Husbands, Joe Yonan, The Fearless Chef: Innovative Recipes from the Edge of American Cuisine, page 83:

He keeps the bottle in the top bureau drawer; he takes it out, and two glasses, and pours. Say when.
 When, please.

2009, Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin, page 111:

Producers have the power to say "when" when the actress involved is too stressed to continue. That's responsible filmmaking.

2011, Fritz Allhoff, Dave Monroe, Porn - Philosophy for Everyone: How to Think With Kink:

(often humorous) That's enough: a command asking someone to stop adding something, especially an ingredient or portion of food or drink; used in, or as if in, literal response to 'Say when'.

Coordinate term: what

Why when I ſay?[…]Off with my boots, you rogues: you villaines, when?[…]Out you rogue[…]

c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 221, column 2:

Set parſon, ſet, the dice die in my hand: / VVhen parſon, vvhen! vvhat can ye finde no more?

1600, [Michael Drayton, Richard Hathwaye, Anthony Munday, Robert Wilson], The First Part of the True and Honorable Historie, of the Life of Sir John Old-castle, the Good Lord Cobham. […], London: […] [V[alentine] S[immes]] for Thomas Pauier, […], →OCLC:

VVhy vvhen? begin Sir: I muſt ſtay your leiſure.

c. 1615 (date written), Tho[mas] Middleton, “More Dissemblers besides Women. A Comedy”, in Two New Playes. […], London: […] Humphrey Moseley, […], published 1657, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 66:


content

From Middle English contenten (“to satisfy”), from Latin contentus (“contained; satisfied”), past participle of continēre (“to contain”).


hem

A sound uttered in imitation of clearing the throat (onomatopoeia)

onomatopoeic

imitation

Used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound.


quiet

From Middle English quiete, from Old French quiet (adjective) and quiete (noun), from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere (“to keep quiet, rest”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“rest”). Doublet of coy, quit, and quietus.

Quiet! The children are sleeping.


oh boy

Oh, boy! I can't wait to tell my friends about this!

Oh, boy. This is going to be a lot of work.

Oh, boy. Now what do I do?

I read the news today—oh, boy / About a lucky man who made the grade

1967, Lennon–McCartney (lyrics and music), “A Day in the Life”, in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band:

An expression of dismay, resignation, frustration, or annoyance (sarcastic).


uh-oh

Uh-oh! I made a mistake.

Uh-oh. I emerged from the Underground station at London King's Cross the other day to find a dense throng of people filling the main line station's concourse.

2024 August 21, Philip Haigh, “Stranded trains: problems for passengers and operators”, in RAIL, number 1016, page 52:

(informal) An exclamation of error, concern, or awareness of a problem.


unh-uh

Unh-uh. No way!


oh no

/(ˈ)əʊ ˈnəʊ/

Coordinate term: oh well

Oh, no! The rug is on fire!

Oh, no! Did I leave my keys in the car?

An exclamation or expression of alarm, concern, or resentment about a problem or error.


uh

Onomatopoeia of the natural expression of thought. Compare with er.

Onomatopoeia

Uh, who was that?

Expression of thought, confusion, or uncertainty.

хм

the actual pronunciation may not be close to the spelling

Uh, let me see...

Space filler or pause during conversation.

呃

space filler or pause during conversation


oops

A presumably 'natural' exclamation, attested in writing since 1921. Related to or a variation of whoops (itself attested since 1933). A shortening of whoops-a-daisy, whoopsie-daisy, or oops-a-daisy, which in turn is a mispronunciation of ups-a-daisy or upsy-daisy.

Oops! I left the lid off the ketchup.

Oops, I did it again / I played with your heart, got lost in the game

2000, Max Martin, Rami Yacoub (lyrics and music), “Oops!… I Did It Again”, in Oops!… I Did It Again, performed by Britney Spears:

oeps

used sarcastically to acknowledge a major mistake


aha

From Middle English a ha, aha, natural expression. Equivalent to ah + ha!.

natural expression

Aha! That will work.

An exclamation of understanding, realization, invention, or recognition.

آها

Aha! Now I've got you!

An exclamation of surprise, exaltation, or contempt.


ouch

Uncertain. Some sources say the interjection is attested since 1838 (and specifically in American English) and derives ultimately from German autsch, perhaps specifically via Pennsylvania German outch (“cry of pain”), as early attestations of the interjection are from Pennsylvania. However, others say the interjection is a "mere" or "natural" exclamation attested since the mid 1600s, and the 1933 OED cites one instance of a verb "ouch" in 1654, "Sancho Pancas Runs Ouching round the mountaine like a ranck-Asse".

der

Ouch! You stepped on my toe! That hurt!

An expression of one's own physical pain.

Ouch! Her sunburn looks awful.

An expression in sympathy at another's pain.

auts

expression in sympathy at another’s pain

Ouch. How could you say that?

A reply to an insult seen as savage (frequently one that is tongue-in-cheek or joking).

Ouch, I really wanted to do that.

Ouch, one hundred thousand dollars for a car! I could never afford that!

(slang) Expressing surprise at the high price of something.


hence

A later Middle English spelling, retaining the voiceless -s, of hennes (henne + adverbial genitive ending -s), from Old English heonan (“away", "hence”), from a Proto-West Germanic *hin-, from Proto-Germanic *hiz, and Proto-Germanic *-anē.
Cognate with Old Saxon hinan, Old High German hinnan (German hinnen), Dutch heen, Swedish hän. Related to Old English her (“here”).

Zuc[cone]. Hence auant I will marie a woman with no wombe, a creature with two noſes, a wench with no haire rather then remarie thee, […]

1604 (date written), Iohn Marston [i.e., John Marston], Parasitaster, or The Fawne, […], London: […] T[homas] P[urfoot] for W[illiam] C[otton], published 1606, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i:

Mira[nda]. Beſeech you Father.
Proſ[pero]. Hence: hang not on my garments.

1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 6, column 1:


hey

From Middle English hey, hei, also without h- in ey, from Old English *hē, ēa (interjection), attested as first element in hēlā, ēalā (“O!, alas!, oh!, lo!”). Cognate with Dutch hé, hei (“hi, hey”), German hei (“hey, wow”), Danish and Swedish hej (“hello, hey”), Faroese hey (“hey, hello”), Old Norse, Icelandic and Norwegian hei (“hey”), Polish hej (“hey, hello”), Romanian hei, Russian эй (ej, “hey”); see heigh. Probably a natural expression, as may be inferred from its presence with similar meaning in many other unrelated languages: for example, Burmese ဟေး (he:), Finnish hei, Unami hè, and Mandarin 哎 (āi), and various sound-alikes as Ancient Greek εἶα (eîa) and Latin eia, eho, Sanskrit हे (he). See also hello.

Hey, look at this!

Hey! Listen!

Hey! Stop that!

Hey! This is new!

Hey! How's it going?

(chiefly US) An informal greeting, similar to hi.

Hey? How's that?

A request for repetition or explanation; an expression of confusion.

"Who 's a cur - now - hey?"

1900, Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim, page vi. 54:

Used as a tag question, to emphasise what goes before or to request that the listener express an opinion about what has been said.

The chorus is "nana na na, nana na na hey hey hey, goodbye".

A meaningless beat marker or extra, filler syllable in song lyrics.

hei

meaningless beat marker, filler syllable


help

From Middle English helpen, from Old English helpan (“to help, aid, assist, benefit, relieve, cure”), from Proto-West Germanic *helpan, Proto-Germanic *helpaną (“to help”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱelb-, *ḱelp- (“to help”).
Cognate with West Frisian helpe (“to help”), Dutch helpen (“to help”), Low German helpen, hölpen (“to help”), German helfen (“to help”), Danish hjælpe (“to help”), Norwegian hjelpe (“to help”), Lithuanian šelpti (“to help, support”).

inh

Southern US, African-American Vernacular, dated

— Take that, you scoundrel.
— Help! Robin, help! (Robin Hood (1973))

A cry of distress or an urgent request for assistance

helpppp that's too funny, did she rlly say that?

(Internet slang, text messaging) A way to signal uncontrollable laughter; implying the risk of dying of laughter and needing assistance.


oh

Oh! I didn't see you there.

哦

different tone expresses different level of surprise

Oh, wow! That's amazing.

Expression of wonder, amazement, or awe.

Oh, so that's how it works.

Expression of understanding, affirmation, recognition, or realization.

Oh, leave me alone.

A word to precede an offhand or annoyed remark.

Oh, and don't forget your coat.

A word to precede an added comment or afterthought.

Oh, gosh

Oh baby, baby, how was I supposed to know / That something wasn't right here?

1998, Max Martin, ...Baby One More Time (song performed by Britney Spears)

An invocation or address (similar to the vocative in languages with noun declension), often with a term of endearment.

Oh, when will it end?

And oh how stingingly acute, and pungently grievous and tormentive, are the remembrancing Reflections of a separate uncloathed Soul in the other World, upon a review of its mad Choice, foolish Hopes, fruitless Desires […]

1703, Lawrence Smith, The Evidence of Things Not Seen, page 143:

Oh, by what plots, by what forswearings, betrayings, oppressions, imprisonments, tortures, poisonings, and under what reasons of state and politic subtilty, have these forenamed kings […] pulled the vengeance of God upon themselves […]

1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh], The Historie of the World […], London: […] William Stansby for Walter Burre, […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=1 to 5):

Exclamation for drama or emphasis (often poetic).

Oh! That hurt.

"Oh! . . . oh! . . . I can't bear it . . . It is too much . . . I die . . . I am going . . ." were Polly's expressions of extasy

1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:

I'm off with the raggle-taggle gypsy-oh.

Space filler or extra syllable, especially in (popular) music.

"You should watch where you're going!" "Oh?"

(interrogative) Expression of mild scepticism.

What if he says "Oh, I need to see your ID"?

A word to mark a spoken phrase as imaginary.


ah

mid-1400s Old Frankish (replacing English la).

Ah, I understand now.

Ah! It's good to be back home!

Ah, the flowers of spring.

An expression of relief, relaxation, comfort, confusion, understanding, wonder, awe, etc. according to uttered inflection.

Boy don't try to front, uh, I
Know just, just, what you are, ah, ah.

2008, Britney Spears (lyrics and music), “Womanizer”:

A syllable used to fill space, particularly in music.


uno

PIE word
 *h₁óynos
Learned borrowing from Spanish uno m (“one”, numeral).

lbor

(Uno) A term said when the number of cards in player’s hand is reduced to one. If another player says this before the one whose hand contains only one card, the player who failed to say 'uno' must draw two cards.


please

Semantic loan from German bitte (“please; excuse me”).

semantic loan

Fellow: May I have a few days off to get married?
Reply, in the Cincinnati idiom by a boss who had heard the sound but not the sense:
Boss: Please?

August 1973, “Bitte or Bitter?”, in Cincinnati, page 109:

Even though I heard it was supposed to be German-Catholic background, there’s only one thing German — they say ‘please’ [for the more common ‘pardon me’], which comes from bitte.

September 1978, Virginia Watson-Rouslin, “A Foreign View”, in Cincinnati, page 110:

[…] He explained in broken English that one of his daughters was ill and he probably could not be there. I did not understand all that he said, so asked, ‘Please?’ per Cincinnati custom. ‘There is no need to plead. I will be there if she is feeling better,’ he replied.

September 1979, “Winners: Contest No. 13—The Laugh’s On Us”, in Cincinnati, volume 12, number 12, page 15:

Cincinnati are some of the most polite persons I have ever met in the US. When asking someone a question, instead of saying “Excuse me,” or “Pardon,” they say “Please?”

5 May 1998, Jose I. Sarasua, “Come to Cincinnati... Please?”, in Cost Engineering, volume 40, number 5, page 9:

By the same token, one contestant who doesn’t hear a particular question could say “Pardon me?” while another could say “Please?” Again, neither would be lying if he said he was from Ohio.

April 2001, Jeff Robinson, “Say what?”, in Ohio Magazine, archived from the original on 2019-04-02, page 77:

In Maine, where as much as a quarter of the population has French ancestry, you may hear a stray hair called a couette, and in parts of Ohio please is used in the same way as the German bitte, to invite a person to repeat something just said — apparently a remnant of the bilingual schooling once available in Cincinnati.

2008, Henry Hitchings, The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English, →ISBN, page 255:

Ellen grew up outside of Cincinnati and believed her own talk was the “norm,” while others were speakers of dialects. She was in graduate school before she learned that not all people say, Please? to mean Can you repeat that?

2011, Ellen McIntyre, Nancy Hulan, Vicky Layne, Reading Instruction for Diverse Classrooms: Research-Based, Culturally Responsive Practice, Guilford Press, →ISBN, page 72:

(Cincinnati) Said as a request to repeat information.


ha

Attested early 14th century, of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Danish ha, Dutch ha, Finnish ha, Hungarian ha, Latin ha, Latvian ha, Swedish ha.

Ha, ha, ha! That’s funny.

Ha! Checkmate!


ha

"That's well. Well," cried he, now for my turn. Ha! a hit! a hit!"

1844 September, E.M. Walley, “Eighteen Months in Russia”, in The Covenant: A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Cause of Odd-fellowship, volume 3, number 9, page 395:

I hit a cross-court forehand. “Ha ha haa. Great! Say, usin' cross-courts and angles like that is how O'Bramowitts beat Riggs."

Mona: Hee! Ha! Ho! Ha! The brain buffet is closed, buddy! Take that! And this!

1999, Mona the Vampire, "Attack of the Living Scarecrow" (season 1, episode 1a)

Ha! Take that, you ugly, stupid devil, you.

2008, Sheryl Foulk Rogers-Ramirez, Look What God Did for Our Marriage, page 37:

'I'm armed, you lot. And if you think you can take me alive . . . Ha! Take that! And that! And that!'

2009, Elizabeth George, In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner:


hah

Shut up, buddy, you've forgotten that I can't run. Now you're the wise guy, hah?

1994, Milton Teichman, Sharon Leder, Truth and Lamentation: Stories and Poems on the Holocaust, page 58:

Isaac Sachs makes a 'Hah?' noise. 'You're not Sixsmith's niece?'

2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →ISBN:


fast

From Middle English fast, fest, from Old English fæst (“firm, secure”), from Proto-West Germanic *fast, from Proto-Germanic *fastuz; see it for cognates and further etymology.
The development of “rapid” from an original sense of “secure” apparently happened first in the adverb and then transferred to the adjective; compare hard in expressions like “to run hard”. The original sense of “secure, firm” is now slightly archaic, but retained in the related fasten (“make secure”). Also compare close meaning change from Latin rapiō (“to snatch”) to Latin rapidus (“rapid, quick”), from Irish sciob (“to snatch”) to Irish sciobtha (“quick”).

(archery) Short for "stand fast", a warning not to pass between the arrow and the target


huh

Attested from circa 1600. Compare Dutch hè (“huh”).

Speech disfluency#"Huh" – the universal syllable

Huh? Where did they go?

(with rising pitch) Used to express doubt or confusion.

Huh! I'm sure I locked it when I left.

(with falling pitch) Used to express amusement or subtle surprise.

Where were you last night? Huh?

(with rising pitch) Used to reinforce a question.

all particles appended to the end of a sentence

(belittlement) A: "We should go to an amusement park, it would be fun." B: "Huh."

(agreement) A: "Murder is bad." B: "Huh!"

(slang, with falling pitch) Used either to belittle the issuer of a statement/question, or sarcastically to indicate utter agreement, and that the statement being responded to is an extreme understatement. The intonation is changed to distinguish between the two meanings - implied dullness for belittlement, and feigned surprise for utter agreement.

Huh? Could you speak up?

(informal, with rising pitch) Used to indicate that one did not hear what was said.

It's getting kind of late, huh?

(informal, with falling pitch) Used to create a tag question.

He broke into a dogtrot and ran by us. I don't think he saw us. His voice was coming in little puffs, huh, huh, huh, but he probably didn't notice that either.

1980, Donald McCaig, The Butte Polka: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Rawson, Wade Publishers, Inc., →ISBN, page 251:

It was up so many flights of stairs that people would arrive for meetings drenched in sweat: "They were like huh huh huh [panting] - where the hell are you?!"

2019 May 15, Robert Purchese, quoting Marcin Iwiński, “Seeing Red: The story of CD Projekt”, in Eurogamer, archived from the original on 2023-09-15:

(onomatopoeia) Representing the sound of heavy breathing.

Mr. [Lambert] Wilson says this with a soft chuckle, sounding a bit like huh huh huh.

2010 December 7, Katherine Knorr, “Lambert Wilson: A Man of New Faith”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2016-12-19:

Helen starts laughing, properly now. Huh-huh-huh.

2017, Meg Howrey, The Wanderers, London […]: Scribner, →ISBN, page 173:

(onomatopoeia) Representing a chuckling sound.

Shawn quickly turns around and punches the pale hand, yelling "Huh! Huh! Hi yah'! Huh! Get off me! Yeah!"

1993, Ashaki Boelter, The Nok, Bend, O.R.: Shakalot High Entertainment, published 2006, →ISBN, page 69:

He gets out of the chair, whips off his jacket, and starts closing in on the camera, punching rapidly as he moves. A left hook, a right jab. "Hey, I'm a boxer and a marine! So don't mess with me, man! Semper fi! Marine Corps! They better not mess with me! My critics better not mess with me, man, 'cause I'm gonna beat you up. Huh, huh, huh, huh, huh. Hmm, hmmm, hmm, hmmmm, heeeyah, huh, huh. Hmmm, yeah!"

1995 October 5, Neal Pollack, quoting David Nelson, “King of the Creature Feature”, in Chicago Reader, Chicago, I.L.: Chicago Reader, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-09-15:

Student A has both arms outstretched in a karate motion and shouts out "HUH". Student B receives the sound by putting both arms straight in the air and yelling "HUH". Students on either side of B give B a karate chop by miming a sideways karate chop — without any touching.

2014, Larry Swartz, Dramathemes: Classroom Literacy that Will Excite, Surprise, and Stimulate Learning, Markham, Ont.: Pembroke Publishers Limited, →ISBN, pages 130-131:

HUH-HUH, HI-YAH!

2023, Dwayne Reed, Simon B. Rhymin' Gets in the Game, New York, N.Y.: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, →ISBN, unnumbered page:

(martial arts) A kiai, shouted as a limb is swung in attack.


moo

The characteristic sound made by a cow or bull.


cor

A minced oath or dialectal variant of God.

[…] She perused it with an interested eye and having mastered its contents said, “Cor chase my Aunt Fanny up a gum tree,” adding that you never knew what was going to happen next these days.

1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter VII, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:


mu

From Japanese 無 (mu, “nothing, neither yes nor no”).

der

Mu means "no thing." Like "Quality" it points outside the process of dualistic discrimination. Mu simply says, "No class; not one, not zero, not yes, not no." […] It's a great mistake, a kind of dishonesty, to sweep nature's mu answers under the carpet.

1974, Robert M[aynard] Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values, New York, N.Y.: William Morrow & Company, →ISBN:

Achilles: Oh, but MU is Jōshū’s answer. By saying MU, Jōshū let the other monk know that only by not asking such questions can one know the answer to them.
Tortoise: Jōshū “unasked” the question. […]
Achilles: […] And the answer of “MU” here rejects the premises of the question, which are that one or the other must be chosen.

1979, Douglas Hofstadter, Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid:

"Mu," said Kelly Dahl.
On one level mu means only yes, but on a deeper level of Zen it was often used by the master when the acolyte asked a stupid, unanswerable or wrongheaded question such as "Does a dog have the Buddha-nature?" The Master would answer only, "Mu," meaning—I say "yes" but mean "no," but the actual answer is: Unask the question.

1996, Dan Simmons, “Looking for Kelly Dahl”, in The Year's Best Science Fiction, page 424:

The Fifth Patriarch's utterance You say mu [Buddha-nature] because Buddha-nature is emptiness articulates clearly and distinctly the truth that emptiness is not "no". In uttering Buddha-nature-emptiness one does not say "half a pound." One does not say "eight ounces." One says "mu."

2002, Norman Waddell, Masao Abe, The Heart of Dōgen's Shōbōgenzō, page 72:

A monk once asked Master Joshu, 'Has a dog the Buddha Nature or not?' Joshu said, 'Mu!'

2010, Joan Price, Sacred Scriptures of the World Religions, page 70:


dag

Dag, yo.

2002 December 2, Michael Chapman; Matthew Chapman, “Teen Girl Squad Issue #1”, in Homestar Runner, spoken by Strong Bad as What's Her Face (Matthew Chapman):

(US, informal) Expressing shock, awe or surprise; used as a general intensifier.


respect

From Middle English respect, from Old French respect, also respit (“respect, regard, consideration”), from Latin respectus (“a looking at, regard, respect”), perfect passive participle of respiciō (“look at, look back upon, respect”), from re- (“back”) + speciō (“to see”). Doublet of respite.


ta

Uncertain, but possibly young child's pronunciation of thanks.
Alternatively, derived from Danish tak, from Old Norse þǫkk, from Proto-Germanic *þankō, *þankaz.

Ta for the cup of tea.

(colloquial, chiefly Commonwealth, UK, Ireland) Thanks.

Mommy needs the bottle back. Ta!


em

She was abused by, em... David, I think. That was his name, he's a real em... what's the word, narcissist. You should really stay away from him.

(Scotland, Ireland) a form of hesitant speech, or an expression of uncertainty; um; umm; erm


never

From Middle English nevere, navere, nævere, from Old English nǣfre (“never”), equivalent to ne + ever.


nah

Colloquial/unarticulated form of no. Compare yeah.


nah

Borrowed from Malay nah or Chinese 拿 (ná, “take”).

Nah, take this. ― Here, take this.

(Manglish, Singlish) here! (when giving something).


hallo

From Middle English halou, halow, halloo (interjection used to call attention), representing Old English hēlā, ǣlā, ēalā (“O!, alas!, oh!, lo!”), equivalent to hey + lo.

It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. The answer should give us the— But hallo! here are the accredited representatives of the law.

1890 February, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration”, in The Sign of Four (Standard Library), London: Spencer Blackett […], →OCLC, page 98:


dam

Clipping or Pronunciation spelling of damn.


ra

"You guys are doing great. Ra ra ra! Go get 'em, guys."

1982, Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe and Everything, page 140:

Ra-ra and all that. So cheerleaders have a harder time climbing flights of stairs?

"Ra! Ra! You can do it! Ra! Ra! Just get to it!"

2022, Russ Harris, The Happiness Trap, second edition, page 235:

Alternative spelling of rah (“exclamation of encouragement”)


bless

An ellipsis for an expression such as bless your heart.

Ah bless! You must be the welcoming committee for anyone who dares express ignorance.

1998, Peter Coffey, “New Alternative View Of Atomic Structure”, in sci.chem (Usenet):

oh bless. *hug* that is not true. nobody here bears a grudge against 13 year old dear or against you.

2000, Hellraiser, uk.people.teens (Usenet):

Aw bless... have white chocolate fudge muffin....a new batch.... made them last night after Nigella....

2001, Will, “Am I still here?”, in uk.religion.pagan (Usenet):

(UK, Canada, informal) Used as an expression of endearment, gratitude, or (ironically) belittlement.


ho

From Middle English ho, hoo (interjection), probably from Old Norse hó! (interjection, also, a shepherd's call). Compare Dutch ho, German ho, Old French ho! (“hold!, halt!”).

Sail ho! ― Another boat is visible!

Land ho! ― Land is visible!

Man ho! ― A town is visible!

(nautical) Used to attract attention to something sighted, usually by lookouts.

What noise there, ho?

c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:

Ho! who's within?

c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vi]:

O ho, O ho! Would't had been done!

1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

Ho! all ye females that would live unshent, / Fly from the reach of Cyned's regiment.

"That was a shot! But the captain will be glad! Ho, ho, here we are!" he cried till it was re-echoed from all the hills around.

1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 93:

"So I catch you. You stealer! Ho! Ho!"

1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 11:

halloo; hey; a call to excite attention, or to give notice of approach.

"I'll hit you again, you thief !” he cried angrily, shaking “Ho-ho-ho!” he croaked.

1900, Ching Foo, the Yellow Dwarf; Or the Bradys and the Opium Smokers, page 2:

It was quite an astonishing show. Colonel Paul Malone of the U.S. Army kept thwacking away with all his might and main, shouting "Ho!"

1955, John Sack, From Here to Shimbashi - Volume 637, page 172:

Mona: Hee! Ha! Ho! Ha! The brain buffet is closed, buddy! Take that! And this!

1999, Mona the Vampire, "Attack of the Living Scarecrow" (season 1, episode 1a)

Ho! Take that vile Foresythe!” He snapped his wrist, clicking the stick against the bowed sides of a barrel.

2008, Daniel Hellmund, The Answer for Laria, page 93:

(rare) Said accompanying a vigorous attack.


der

(Australia) Disdainful indication that something is obvious.

`Sprung!' cried Jeff Basin, the local dubbo. 'Oh, der,' moaned Boardie sarcastically.

1979, Gabrielle Carey, Kathy Lette, Puberty Blues, page 46:


der

Nonstandard spelling of there, reflecting any of a variety of accents with th-stopping.


dash

From Middle English daschen, dassen, from Danish daske (“to slap, strike”), related to Swedish daska (“to smack, slap, spank”), of obscure origin. Compare German tatschen (“to grope, paw”), Old English dwǣsċan (“to quell, put out, destroy, extinguish”). See also dush.


Christ

From Middle English Crist, from Old English Crist, from Latin Christus, from Ancient Greek Χρῑστός (Khrīstós), proper noun use of χρῑστός (khrīstós, “[the] anointed [one]”), a semantic loan of Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (māšīaḥ, “anointed”) or the Aramaic equivalent (whence ultimately also English messiah, also via Latin, Greek). Compare grime for the Proto-Indo-European root, *gʰr-ey- (“to rub, smear; to anoint”); further related to ghee.

me cago en Déu, en la creu i en el fuster que la féu!


holy

holey (in accents without the wholly-holy split)

Inherited from Middle English holi, hali, from Old English hāliġ, hāleġ (“holy, consecrated, sacred, venerated, godly, saintly, ecclesiastical, pacific, tame”), from Proto-West Germanic *hailag, from Proto-Germanic *hailagaz (“holy, bringing health”), from Proto-Germanic *hailaz (“healthy, whole”), from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos (“healthy, whole”), equivalent to whole + -y and a doublet of later wholly.
Cognate with Scots haly (“holy”), West Frisian hillich (“holy”), Low German hillig (“holy”), Dutch heilig (“holy”), German heilig (“holy”), Danish hellig (“holy”), Swedish helig (“holy”). More at whole.

Holy

when referring to someone or something important

(slang) An expression of astonishment and awe.


ar

(UK, West Country, West Midlands) Alternative form of arr


not even

I heard they wanted to cancel the show tonight. –Not even!

(colloquial) Used to express strong disappointment or disapproval.


pleasure

From Early Modern English pleasur, plesur, alteration (with ending accommodated to -ure) of Middle English plaisir (“pleasure”), from Old French plesir, plaisir (“to please”), infinitive used as a noun, conjugated form of plaisir or plaire, from Latin placeō (“to please, to seem good”), from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂-k- (“wide and flat”). Related to Dutch plezier (“pleasure, fun”). More at please.


thanks

From Middle English thanks, thankes, from Old English þancas (“thanks”), from Proto-Germanic *þankōs, nominative plural of *þankaz (“thought, gratitude”), from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to think, feel”). More at thank.

Could you give me a hand, please? — Yes, sure. — Thanks.

Your last gift, for which thanks, made my family so happy.

Thanks, courteous wall: Jove shield thee well for this!

c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

Used to express appreciation or gratitude.

dankie

used to express appreciation or gratitude


nice

From Middle English nyce, nice, nys, from Old French nice, niche, nisce (“simple, foolish, ignorant”), from Latin nescius (“ignorant, not knowing”); compare nesciō (“to know not, be ignorant of”), from ne (“not”) + sciō (“to know”).

Nice! I couldn't have done better.

Is that your new car? Nice!


pop

From Middle English pop, poppe (“a blow; strike; buffet”) (> Middle English poppen (“to strike; thrust”, verb)), of onomatopoeic origin – used to describe the sound, or short, sharp actions. The physics sense is part of a facetious sequence "snap, crackle, pop", after the mascots of Rice Krispies cereal.

cog

Pop, would go one of the eight-inch guns; a small flame would dart and vanish, a little white smoke would disappear, a tiny projectile would give a feeble screech - and nothing happened.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 203:

So he scraped and scratched and scrabbled and scrooged and then he scrooged again and scrabbled and scratched and scraped, working busily with his little paws and muttering to himself, 'Up we go! Up we go!' till at last, pop! his snout came out into the sunlight, and he found himself rolling in the warm grass of a great meadow.

1908, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, page 2:

A loud, sharp sound, as of a cork coming out of a bottle.


bang

From Middle English *bangen, from Old English *bangian or borrowed from Old Norse banga (“to pound, hammer”); both from Proto-Germanic *bangōną (“to beat, pound”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰen- (“to beat, hit, injure”). Cognate with Scots bang, bung (“to strike, bang, hurl, thrash, offend”), Icelandic banga (“to pound, hammer”), Old Swedish bånga ("to hammer"; whence modern Swedish banka (“to knock, pound, bang”)), Danish banke (“to beat”), bengel (“club”), Low German bangen, bangeln (“to strike, beat”), West Frisian bingel, bongel, Dutch bengel (“bell; rascal”), German Bengel (“club”), bungen (“to throb, pulsate”).
In the sense of a fringe of hair, from bang off.
In the sense of abrupt left turn, from Boston left and associated risk of a crash.

gl

"to hammer"; whence modern Swedish <i class="Latn mention" lang="sv">banka</i> (“to knock, pound, bang”)

Audio (US)

He pointed his finger at her like a gun and said, “Bang!”

Bang! Away he goes with a mighty bound. Leo has missed him. Bang! right under him again. Now for a shot. I must have one, though he is going like an arrow, and a hundred yards away and more.

1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

“Just like parade it had been a minute before then stumble, bang, swish! Wiped out!” he said.

1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 84:

Serve him right. Transgression—punishment—bang! Pitiless, pitiless.

1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 215:

We help to kill the bloody bandits. Bang, bang, bang.

1956, Anthony Burgess, Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 17:

A sudden percussive sound, such as made by the firing of a gun, slamming of a door, etc.


many thanks

An expression of gratitude, expressing greater gratitude than thank you or thanks.


la

Sound used to form meaningless song refrains. Of imitative origin. Compare Old English lā (a common exclamation), Ancient Greek λαλαγε (lalage, “babble”), German lallen (“to babble”).

"La la la la, I can't hear you!" Jimmy said, sticking his fingers in his ears.

The only part Lucy had to sing was the interlude, which was a bunch of la la la's, and the last verse of the song, which was only four lines, and the chorus, which was just as short.

2019, Keira Brown, Between the Lines: Never in Plain Sight:

Represents the sound of music or singing.


la

From Middle English la, from Old English lā. More at lo.

(obsolete) Used to introduce a statement with emphatic or intensive effect.

La, ma'am, what doth your la'ship think? the girl that your la'ship saw at church on Sunday, whom you thought so handsome; though you would not have thought her so handsome neither, if you had seen her nearer, but to be sure she hath been carried before the justice for being big with child.

1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:

“Oh, la! here come the Richardsons. I had a vast deal more to say to you, but I must not stay away from them any longer.”

1811, [Jane Austen], chapter 2, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume III, London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:

"La, William, don't be so highty-tighty with us. We're not men. We can't fight you," Miss Jane said.

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:

(archaic) Expressing surprise, anger. etc.


ahem

clearing one's throat
clear one's throat

(onomatopoeia) The sound of a quiet cough or of clearing one's throat.

Ahem! Could we please get started?

An exclamation or cough to get attention.

Ahem! In case you didn't notice, I did my share of the work, too.

An exclamation of disapproval or annoyance.

I really (ahem!) liked the chocolate broccoli surprise.


way

From Middle English way, wey, from Old English weġ, from Proto-West Germanic *weg, from Proto-Germanic *wegaz, from Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-. Doublet of voe and possibly via.

- We searched the vehicle. It was clean, so we did the body cavity searches.
- No way.
- Way!

We repeated this ritual of “no way - way, no way - way” over the years.

2011, William Schwenn, Dogs of Meadowbrook:

(slang, only in reply to no way) yes; it is true; it is possible


knock knock

Knock knock./Who's there?/Wendy./Wendy who?/Wendy you want to open the door?

(colloquial, often childish) A phrase used to introduce a "knock knock joke"

(colloquial, often childish) A phrase used in lieu of knocking (e.g. on the door), when it is not possible to knock.


begone

Univerbation of be + gone. Compare English beware.

Fairies be gone, and be alwaies away.

c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 157, column 1:

"Begone! move quickly! if quickly you can, you that shine forth into sight in moist times like the worm."

1856, Herman Melville, The Lightning Rod Man:

(archaic) Expressing a desire or a command for someone or something to go away.

bas bayıra

expressing a desire or a command for someone or something to go away


knock it off

Knock it off! This is the last time I'm telling you!

Cease doing something, particularly annoying or unpleasant; desist.


shop

From Middle English shoppe, schoppe, from Old English sċoppa (“shed; booth; stall; shop”), from Proto-Germanic *skupp-, *skup- (“barn, shed”), from Proto-Indo-European *skub-, *skup- (“to bend, bow, curve, vault”). Cognate with Dutch schop (“spade, kick”), German Schuppen (“shed”), German Schober (“barn”), French échoppe (“booth, shop”) (< Germanic). The verb is denominal. The noun senses “act of shopping”, “purchased items” are backformed from the verb.

inh

(dated) Used to attract the services of a shop assistant


silence

From Middle English silence, from Old French silence, from Latin silentium (“silence”), from silēns (“quiet, silent”, present participle of silēre) + -ium. Displaced native Old English swīġe.

af

present participle of <i class="Latn mention" lang="la">silēre</i>

Silence! Enough of your insolence!

(in response to laughter from the audience)
Silence! I kill you!

2007 September 17, Spark of Insanity, spoken by Achmed the Dead Terrorist (Jeff Dunham):


Christmas

Short for Jiminy Christmas, probably a variant of Jiminy Cricket or Jiminy Crickets, a euphemism for Jesus Christ.

"Christmas! I didn't know it," said Harvey, turning round. "I'll give you a dollar for it when I—get my wages. Say, I'll give you two dollars."

1897, Rudyard Kipling, Captains Courageous:

"I've been tottering on the edge … Christmas!" His eyes brightened with a sudden thought. "How stupid I've been!" he cried at once.

1930, Ellery Queen [pseudonym; Frederic Dannay, Manfred Bennington Lee], “‘The Time has Come …’”, in The French Powder Mystery: A Problem in Deduction, New York, N.Y.: Frederick A[bbott] Stokes Company, →OCLC, page 269:

She said, "All right with you, Bertie?" / "Oh Christmas! he said. "I suppose so."

1959, Ngaio Marsh, “On the Scent”, in False Scent, New York, N.Y.: Jove Books, published November 1981, →ISBN, section 3, page 158:

(euphemistic) An expression of annoyance or surprise: Christ, Jesus Christ, Jiminy Cricket, Jiminy Crickets.


achoo

Achoo—I think I'm coming down with something!


ach

"Ach." Auntie frowned hugely. "That is all nonsense."

1958, Anthony Burgess, The Enemy in the Blanket (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972:


away

From Middle English away, awey, awei, oway, o wey, on way, from Old English āweġ, onweġ (“away”), originally on weġ (“on one's way; onward; on”), equivalent to a- (“on”) + way.
Cognate with Scots awa, away (“away”), Old Frisian aweg, awei (“away”), Saterland Frisian wäch, wääge (“away”), Dutch weg (“away”), German weg (“away”), Danish væk (“away”), Swedish i väg (“away; off; along”).

(Scotland, dismissal) Away with you! Go away!


score

non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger

From Middle English score, skore, schore, from Old English scoru (“notch; tally; score”), from Old Norse skor, from Proto-Germanic *skurō (“incision; tear; rift”), which is related to *skeraną (“to cut”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“cut”). Cognate with Icelandic skora, Swedish skåra, Danish skår. Related to shear.
For the sense “twenty”: The mark on a tally made by drovers for every twenty beasts passing through a tollgate.

der

(US, slang) An acknowledgement of success.


half

New York City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Baltimore

From Middle English half, halfe from Old English healf (“half”); as a noun, 'half', 'side', 'part', from Proto-West Germanic *halb, from Proto-Germanic *halbaz.
Cognates:
Akin to Old Saxon, Old Frisian, and Dutch half, West Frisian heal, German halb, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian halv, Icelandic hálfur and Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌱𐍃 (halbs). Compare halve, behalf.

(theater) A call reminding performers that the performance will begin in thirty minutes.


Moses

From Latin Mōsēs, Mōȳsēs, from Ancient Greek Μωυσῆς (Mōusês), from Biblical Hebrew מֹשֶׁה (mōšê). Further etymology is unclear, but it is sometimes conjectured to derive from Egyptian ms-s (msj, “to give birth to”), a common element in Egyptian names of the form ‘[name of deity] is the one who bore him’; or, alternatively, contains Egyptian N35A (mw, “water”).

<i class="Latn mention" lang="egy">msj</i>

<i class="Latn mention" lang="egy">mw</i>


well

From Middle English wel, wal, wol, wele, from Old English wel (“well, abundantly, very, very easily, very much, fully, quite, nearly”), from Proto-Germanic *wela, *wala (“well”, literally “as wished, as desired”), from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- (“wish, desire”).
Cognate with Scots wele, weil (“well”), North Frisian wel, weil, wal (“well”), West Frisian wol (“well”), Dutch wel (“well”), Low German wol (“well”), German wol, wohl (“well”), Norwegian and Danish vel (“well”), Swedish väl (“well”), Icelandic vel, val (“well”). Related to will.

der

“The car is broken.” “Well, we could walk to the movies instead.”

“I didn't like the music.” “Well, I thought it was good.”

I forgot to pack the tent! Well, I guess we’re sleeping under the stars tonight.

“Well,” I says, “I cal’late a body could get used to Tophet if he stayed there long enough.” ¶ She flared up; the least mite of a slam at Doctor Wool was enough to set her going.

1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter V, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:

If gold pleased the conqueror, well,
That gold should be the one thing
The conqueror henceforth should lack.

1936, Robert Frost, “The Vindictives”, in A Further Range:

Used to acknowledge a statement or situation.

epo

used to introduce a statement that may be contrary to expectations

Well, well, well, what do we have here?

An exclamation of sarcastic surprise (often doubled or tripled and spoken in a lowering intonation).

Well! There was no need to say that in front of my mother!

“Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

It was a bit... well... too loud.

Used in speech to express the overcoming of reluctance to say something.

“So what have you been doing?” “Well, we went for a picnic, and then it started raining so we came home early.”

Well, I am sorry. — It’s okay, Anna.
Audio (US): (file)

2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

Used in speech to fill gaps, particularly at the beginning of a response to a question; filled pause.

Well lads. How's things?

(Ireland) Used as a greeting, short for "Are you well?"

And what do you think you're doing? ...Well?

Used as a question to demand an answer from someone reluctant to answer.


check

From Middle English chekken, partly from Old French eschequier and partly from the noun (see above).

Keys? Check. Batteries? Check. We are all ready to go!

An expression showing that a requirement has been satisfied.

An expression that indicates that the speaker wishes to pay the bill (e.g. in a restaurant).


don't

[dõʊ̯̃(ʔ)t̚]

From do + -n't.
Depending on dialect, its use in the third-person singular may be from elision (in these dialects "does" is used when not in the negative) or from not using -s to mark the third-person singular at all.


pause

From Middle French pause, from Latin pausa, from Ancient Greek παῦσις (paûsis), from Ancient Greek παύω (paúō, “stop”), of uncertain origin. Compare the doublet pausa.

(slang, sometimes offensive) Used immediately after a statement to indicate that there was no innuendo or homosexual meaning intended, especially when such a meaning is a reasonable interpretation.


poo

Alternative spelling of pooh: Expressing dismissal, disgust, etc.

Petulant and pouty, Stephanie herself says things like, ‘Oh, poo.’

1986 January 12, Chicago Tribune, page 3c:

(euphemistic) Expressing annoyance, frustration, etc.: a minced oath for 'shit'.


nix

From German nix, colloquial form of nichts (“nothing”). Compare also Dutch niks (“nothing”), informal for niets (“nothing”). More at naught.

"Ugh! An inventor, eh?" "Nix! He's not an inventor himself, but he antes-up for 'em."

1916 January 5, The Electrical Experimenter, New York, page 472, column 2:

(obsolete) A warning cry when a policeman or schoolmaster etc. was seen approaching.


timber

From Middle English tymber, from Old English timber, from Proto-West Germanic *timr, from Proto-Germanic *timrą, from Proto-Indo-European *dem- (“build, house”) (see Proto-Indo-European *dṓm).
Cognates include Dutch timmer, Old High German zimbar (German Zimmer), Norwegian tømmer, Old Norse timbr, Gothic 𐍄𐌹𐌼𐍂𐌾𐌰𐌽 (timrjan, “to build”), Latin domus and Ancient Greek δόμος (dómos).

From the core of the trunk come explosive cracks sounding like rifle-fire. The top of the tree begins swaying drunkenly, as if struggling to keep on its feet. The warning cry "Timber!"

1961, Robert S. Close, With Hooves of Brass, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 34:

Used by loggers to warn others that a tree being felled is falling.

The cameras caught the big man crashing to the studio floor. It seemed to take an age for Sticks to hit the deck and as he went down we all chorused "Timberrrr!"

1991, Rex Mossop, The Moose That Roared, Sydney: Ironbark Press, page 160:

By extension, a cry used when anything is falling over.


loo

Edg. Pilicock sate on pelicocks hill, a lo lo lo.

c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene xi]:


bonjour

From French bonjour (“hello/good day/good morning”).

uder

Say bonjour to the botched R.S.V.P. The practice of replying to invitations, let alone actually showing up to parties as promised, has become as antiquated as the chimney sweep, and much messier.

2009 March 13, Alexandra Jacobs, “Blame the Messager”, in New York Times:

(in French contexts) Good morning; hello.


doh

Alternative form of d'oh (“expression of frustration”)


ee

Father advanced with outstretched hand and announced in a loud, very hearty voice: "Ee, I'm pleased to meet ye, lad. […]

1975, R. Chetwynd-Hayes, The Werewolf and the Vampire:

'Ee by gum lass we've seen nought of thee this many a long year, thou's a sight for sore eyes,' he said planting a kiss firmly on Mum's cheek...

2008, Mavis Crawley, The Rolling Stone: Based on the True Story of My Life:


ee

Eee, so commercial some might say.

2000 December 29, Samuel Lee, The Straits Times, Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings Limited, page L8:

(Singapore) Ew, yuck; expression of disgust.


fah

He leaned against the fence, pulled a pear from his tunic and bit into it. His face puckered. "No good?" Alypius said. Augustine spat out the pieces. "Fah!" he said.

1957, Henry W. Coray, Son of Tears, New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam's Sons, page 14:


nothing

From Middle English nothyng, noon thing, non thing, na þing, nan thing, nan þing, from Old English nāþing, nān þing (“nothing”, literally “not any thing”), equivalent to no + thing. Compare Old English nāwiht (“nothing”, literally “no thing”), Swedish ingenting (“nothing”, literally “not any thing, no thing”).

cog

Never mind; it's not important; forget what I said.

nothing is said that has not been said before


nee

From Old English ne or nā (“no”). Cognate with Standard English no.

Nee way man! ― No way

Thor's nee watter! ― There's no water!

(Geordie) no, used to express no as a quantity, i.e. not any, like German kein/Dutch geen/French rien. Compare with na.


joy

From Middle English joye, borrowed from Old French joie, from Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (mistaken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium (“joy”), from gaudēre (“to be glad, rejoice”). Doublet of jo and gaudy (“Oxford college reunion”). Displaced native Old English ġefēa.

doublet

'Joy! joy!' he cried, throwing his arms towards Heaven, 'on a grave be the site of our Temple; and now our happiness is for Eternity!'

1842, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Lily’s Quest”, in Twice-Told Tales, volume II, Boston, Mass.: James Munroe and Company, →OCLC, page 306:

Hanrahan closed his mouth, tried unsuccessfully to breathe through his nose, then opened his mouth again. "Oh, joy," he muttered. "This kid doesn't even go to the bathroom, I bet. Probably been taught not to. It isn't nice."

1983, Gregory Mcdonald, Fletch and the Man Who, New York, N.Y.: Warner Books, →ISBN, page 56:

(dated, often sarcastic) Expressing appreciation and happiness.


trust

From Middle English trust (“trust, protection”). Long considered a borrowing from Old Norse traust (“confidence, help, protection”), itself from Proto-Germanic *traustą, but the root vocalism is incompatible, and so it is considered a reflex of an unattested Old English *trust, from a rare zero-grade proto-Germanic variant of the same root also attested in Middle High German getrüste (“host”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deru- (“be firm, hard, solid”). Akin to Danish trøst (“comfort, solace”), Saterland Frisian Traast (“comfort, solace”), West Frisian treast (“comfort, solace”), Dutch troost (“comfort, consolation”), German Trost (“comfort, consolation”), Gothic trausti (“alliance, pact”). Doublet of tryst. More at true, tree.

cog

You'll get your money back bro, trust.

P.S. Capitalizing MINORITY really doesn't help your cause bruh. Trust.

2019 August 15, @ASDem, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-09-28:

(originally African-American Vernacular, slang) Ellipsis of trust me.


foo

Oh foo – the cake burnt!

Expression of disappointment or disgust.


mood

From Middle English mood, mode, mod, from Old English mōd (“mind,” in poetry also “heart, spirit, courage”), from Proto-West Germanic *mōd, from Proto-Germanic *mōdaz (“sense, courage, zeal, anger”), from Proto-Indo-European *moh₁-, *meh₁- (“endeavour, will, temper”). Cognate with Scots mude, muid (“mood, courage, spirit, temper, disposition”), Saterland Frisian Moud (“courage”), West Frisian moed (“mind, spirit, courage, will, intention”), Dutch moed (“courage, bravery, heart, valor”), German Low German Mood (“mind, heart, courage”), German Mut (“courage, braveness, heart, spirit”), Danish mod (“courage, heart, bravery”), Swedish mod (“courage, heart, bravery”), Icelandic móður (“wrath, grief, moodiness”), Latin mōs (“will, humour, wont, inclination, mood”), Russian сметь (smetʹ, “to dare, venture”).

cog

—I am feeling very exhausted today. —Mood.

I mean, mood. Courteney Cox showing Kimmel her completely empty pantry over Zoom while explaining that her family is snacking more than usual is relatable content.

2020 April 22, Julia Alexander, “The joy of spying on celebrity homes over Zoom and Instagram Live”, in The Verge:

Joon posted a video with a stray cat with the caption 'V's tweet was like #mood'.

2021 June 2, “BTS' Butter makes Billboard history, debuts at number 1 on Hot 100 chart”, in Pinkvilla, archived from the original on 2022-12-03:

You can't just say Mood and post random unrelated shit!

2022 January 15, Smrutisnat Jena, “10 Times Bollywood Celebrities Posted Something On Instagram & Desi Internet Just Went 'Hain?'”, in ScoopWhoop:

I mean…MOOD!

2022 June 7, Gretty Garcia, “Princess Charlotte Adorably Corrected Prince George's Posture at the Jubilee Pageant”, in Cosmopolitan:

(slang) Used to express that the speaker finds something very relatable.


hee-haw

/ˈhiː.hɔ̰̃ː/


via

Borrowed from Latin viā (“by the way (of)”), ablative singular of via (“way, road”), from Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-.

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-via.wav

Audio (US)


ty

(Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative letter-case form of TY.


Development of Etymology 1, above; compare nah.

Audio (US)

Na, yor wrang.

Na, ye cannet watch telly.

“Divn’t yee like milk?” “Na.”


potato

[pə̥ˈtʰeɪtʰəʊ]

[pə̥ˈtʰeɪɾoʊ]

[pə̥ˈtʰeɪɾə]

[pə̥ˈɾeɪ.ɾə]

Borrowed from Spanish patata, itself borrowed from Taíno batata (“sweet potato”).

(onomatopoeia, often repeated) The rhythmic sound produced by a V-twin engine—a distinctive deep, throaty exhaust note.


bless you

Short for God bless you, from Middle English God blesse you, God blisse you.

Short for (may) God bless you: said as a short prayer for the recipient.

(may) God bless you

(idiomatic) Said to someone who has just sneezed, as a polite remark.

‘What’s that?’ said Ron, pointing at a large dish of some sort of shellfish stew that stood beside a large steak-and-kidney pudding.
 ‘Bouillabaisse,’ said Hermione.
 ‘Bless you,’ said Ron.
 ‘It’s French,’ said Hermione. ‘I had it on holiday, summer before last, it’s very nice.’

2000 July 8, J. K. Rowling [pseudonym; Joanne Rowling], “The Goblet of Fire”, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter; 4), London: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 221:

(idiomatic, humorous) Used to express non-understanding of someone who has just used an unusual or foreign word or phrase (as if to imply that it sounds like a sneeze).


baa

[bæ̰ˀæ̰ˀæ̰ˀæ̰ˀ]

Compare German bäh, mäh; an imitative word.

(onomatopoeia) The characteristic cry of a sheep.


great

From Middle English greet (“great, large”), from Old English grēat (“big, thick, coarse, massive”), from Proto-West Germanic *graut, from Proto-Germanic *grautaz (“big in size, coarse, coarse grained”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrewd-, *gʰer- (“to rub, grind, remove”).
Cognate with Scots great (“coarse in grain or texture, thick, great”), West Frisian grut (“large, great”), Dutch groot (“large, stour”), German groß (“large”), Old English grēot (“earth, sand, grit”). Related to grit. Doublet of gross.

cog

Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.

I am in my new apartment! Great!
Audio (US): (file)

2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

Expression of gladness and content about something.

Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.


just

From Middle English juste, from Old French juste, from Latin iūstus (“just, lawful, rightful, true, due, proper, moderate”), from Proto-Italic *jowestos, related to Latin iūs (“law, right”); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂yew-. Compare Scots juist (“just”), Saterland Frisian juust (“just”), West Frisian just (“just”), Dutch juist (“just”), German Low German jüst (“jüst”), German just (“just”), Danish just (“just”), Swedish just (“just”). Doublet of giusto.

der

(slang) Expressing dismay or discontent.


holy smoke

(idiomatic, dated, informal) An expression of astonishment.


holy mackerel

Recorded from 1803 with uncertain origin, but possibly a euphemism for Holy Mary, with Mackerel being a nickname for Catholics because they ate the fish on Fridays. Another suggested explanation is the practice of selling mackerel on Sundays in the seventeenth century (because its quality deteriorates rapidly), so it was known as holy fish.

‘Holy mackerel!’ he whispered. ‘Englehorn! Driscoll! Get a look at this thing.’

1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 48:

Holy Mackerel! Here Comes the Bride!"

1951, Marguerite Wallace Kennedy, chapter 3, in My Home on the Range:

"Holy mackerel! Just any old dumb hag who can cook and lie on her back?"

1956, Ian Fleming, Diamonds are Forever, published 1965, page 163:

(idiomatic, humorous or euphemistic) An expression of surprise.


holy cow

Minced oath for holy shit, possibly partially based on the fact that cows are sacred in some religions (e.g. Hinduism).

Holy cow I think he's gonna make it!

1977, Jim Steinman (lyrics and music), “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”, in Bat Out of Hell, performed by Meat Loaf ft. Phil Rizzuto:

(idiomatic, euphemistic, minced oath) An exclamation of surprise or astonishment.


alright

→ Afrikaans: ôraait

→ Dutch: olrijt

[ɒː(ɫ)ˈɹəi̯t]

Univerbation from all + right. Compare Old English eallriht (“all-right, just, exactly”), equivalent to al- (“all”) + right.

cog

(informal) Used to indicate acknowledgement or acceptance; OK.

(UK, informal) A generic greeting; hello; how are you.


ook

Imitative of the cry of an ape or monkey.

onomatopoeic

Imitative

He tapped the Librarian on the shoulder. "Excuse me —" "Ook?" "Those guys just called you a monkey," said Glod.

The irate ape cries, "Ook ook! Ai ai ai!" He springs off the edge of the stone basin, clawing Cantare across the face and bursting through the door.

2004, Robert Arellano, Don Dimaio of La Plata:

Fingers pinched my eyelashes and lifted one eyelid. I looked straight into a big, leathery black face surrounded by brown fur. “Ook?” asked the monkey.

2014, Victoria Wessex, Shipwrecked with the Billionaire Rock Star:

(onomatopoeia) Used to represent the sound of the cry of an ape or monkey.

ウキー

used to represent the sound of the cry of an ape or monkey — see also oo oo aa aa


ixnay

Pig Latin version of nix; possibly the only Pig Latin phrase to enter common American English besides amscray. Ixnay and amscray were used widely in The Three Stooges shorts and The Flintstones episodes, possibly the main sources of popularity for the words.


do what

— The throbulator is connected via the tertiary wiring loom.

— Do what??

(idiomatic, colloquial) An intensified version of what? or huh?, expressing surprise or lack of comprehension

de quoi?

(expressing surprise or lack of comprehension)


cock-a-doodle-doo

Hark, hark, I heare, the ſtraine of ſtrutting Chanticlere cry cockadidle-dowe.

1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 5, column 1:

Chook, chook, quack, quack, / Cock-a-doodle-doo; / All the ducks and the fowls / Admire me, they do.

1875 July 23, Sydney Punch, page 1, column 1:


adieu

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-adieu.wav

From Middle English adieu also adew, adewe, adue, from Old French adieu (“to God”), a shortening of a Dieu vous comant (“I commend you to God”), from Medieval Latin ad Deum (“to God”). Doublet of adios.

BEATRICE. What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?
Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?
Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!
No glory lives behind the back of such.

1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:


same

From Middle English same, from Old Norse samr (“same”) and/or Old English same, sama (“same”) in the phrase swā same (swā) (“in like manner, in the same way (as)”), both from Proto-Germanic *samaz (“same”), from Proto-Indo-European *somHós (“same”). Doublet of -some.
Cognate with Scots samin (“same, like, together”), Dutch samen (“together”), Danish samme (“same”), Swedish samma (“same”), Norwegian Bokmål samme (“same”), Norwegian Nynorsk same (“same”), Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌼𐌰 (sama), a weak adjectival form, Ancient Greek ὁμός (homós, “same”), Old Irish som, Russian са́мый (sámyj), Sanskrit सम (samá), Persian هم (ham, “also, same”), Finnish sama (“same”), Estonian sama (“same”).

(Internet slang) Indicates the speaker's strong approval or agreement with the previous material.


actually

From Middle English actualy, actuelly, equivalent to actual + -ly. The Philippine interjection is a calque of Tagalog talaga.

A: That was a pretty good movie.

B: Actually!

(informal, Philippines) Indicating affirmation, agreement.


hai

As her famously no-BS longtime PT Don Saladino, who has a next-level celeb roster (oh HAIII, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt!), told WH: ‘It’s about improving your body’s resilience and energy […] making sure we’re optimising everything we do’.

2023 June 5, Rebecca Gillam, “18 celebs who swear by weight training, from Adele to Millie Mackintosh & Frankie Bridge”, in Women's Health:


bok

Imitative

And he says, "Chicken! Bok bok bok bok!" One time I got up and put the controller down and we started fighting.

2000, William S Pollack, Todd Shuster, Real boys' voices:

So the librarian gives the chicken a book. The chicken goes away, but comes back the next day, goes up to the librarian's desk and says: 'Bok, bok!'

2004, Andrew Bennett, Nicholas Royle, An introduction to literature, criticism and theory:


whey

He swayed over to the door, peered out, shouted "whey!" and came back, looking severe.

1928, Ruth Manning-Sanders, Waste Corner:

somebody who was more or less to their senses, shouted... ' Whey! ... Had on lads!' and everybody was trying to get wocken up and sorted out.

1982, Frank Entwisle, Abroad in England:

... apart from Max, who rode his pallet like a surfboard with a huge grin plastered across his face. “Wheyyyyyyy!” Max yelled with delight.

2011 September 1, Case File 12: The Case of the Messy Mucked Up Masterpiece, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

Several drunken men shouted from the corner. “Wheyyyy, showtime! Go on, go on!”

2016 December 30, Hahn Moo-Sook, The House of Pomegranate Trees, Literature Translation Institute of Korea, →ISBN:

12. Smashing a glass and the whole bar choruses "WHEYYYY".

2014 February 18, Catriona Harvey-Jenner, “25 things only bar staff will understand”, in Cosmopolitan UK:

If they don't shout "wheyyy" when you smash a glass, did it even smash?

2020 February 10, Claire Galloway, “15 things only people who have worked in an Edinburgh pub will understand”, in Edinburgh Live:

the sloshed post-work boozers all shout "Wheyyyyyyy!' at a glass that's smashed on the floor

2024 May 9, Oisín McKenna, Evenings and Weekends, HarperCollins UK, →ISBN:

(UK) Shouted when someone drops a glass or other crockery, especially in a pub.


agreed

Totally agreed!

Indicates agreement on the part of the speaker.


yeh

(colloquial, informal) Alternative form of yeah; yes.


Jesus

/ˈd͡ʒiːˌzʌs/

From Middle English Jhesus, Iesus, from Latin Iēsūs, from Ancient Greek Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs), from Biblical Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ (yēšū́aʿ), a contracted form of יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (yəhōšúaʿ, “Joshua”). The form יֵשׁוּעַ (yēšū́aʿ) is attested in some of the later books of the Hebrew Bible (Ezra–Nehemiah), and translated as Jeshua or Yeshua in some English editions (the former appearing in the King James Version). The Greek texts make no distinction between Jesus and Joshua, referring to them both as Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs). In the Wycliffe Bible (Middle English), the forms used are Jhesus and Jhesu.

Jesus, that was close!

Jesus… How many people killed here?

Jesus! Do not move, I’ll get assistance!

Patient: ...too much is bad for you.
Doctor: Well of course too much is bad for you, that's what "too much" means, you blithering twat. If you had too much water, it would be bad for you, wouldn't it? "Too much" precisely means that quantity which is excessive, that's what it means. Could you ever say "too much water is good for you"? I mean if it's too much it's too much. Too much of anything is too much. Obviously. Jesus.

1989 January 27, Stephen Fry et al., “Doctor Tobacco”, in A Bit of Fry and Laurie, season 1, episode 3:

‘Jesus suffering fuck,’ said Adrian. ‘It's not half a thought.’
‘Face it, it’s a wow.’

1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, →OCLC, section I, page 19:

(possibly offensive, blasphemous) An exclamation, particularly used to express excitement or exasperation.


beauty

From Middle English bewty, bewte, beaute, bealte, from Anglo-Norman and Old French beauté (early Old French spelling biauté), from Vulgar Latin *bellitātem (“beauty”), from Latin bellus (“beautiful, fair”); see beau. In this sense, mostly displaced native Old English fæġernes, whence Modern English fairness.

It's the long weekend. Beauty!


caw

"Amen," said M., in a grave and solemn tone. "Caw," croaked the jackdaw immediately, and with such a sonorous effect, that it disturbed our pious mien and upset our gravity.

1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 36:

A rendering of the vocalisation of a crow or other corvid.


doo

child speak

(Ever feel like you've just entered... The Twilight Zone? Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo....)

1995, Phil Farrand, The Nitpicker's Guide for Next Generation Trekkers: Volume 2:

[…] the bloke who sang about coloured girls going 'doo de doo de doo doo d'de doo de doo de doo' had once had this thing with the guy who produced the debut albums by the Stooges and Patti Smith.

2006, Steve Taylor, A to X of Alternative Music, page 272:


purr

Onomatopoeic.

recorded purring of a cat

listen/core

recorded purring of a cat

ombox/core

recorded purring of a cat

ombox

recorded purring of a cat

mbox

recorded purring of a cat


presto

So I put my hand into the hat and presto! Out comes a rabbit!

You know the old man's ivory leg, well I dreamed he kicked me with it ; and when I tried to kick back, upon my soul, my little man, I kicked my leg right off! And then, presto! Ahab seemed a pyramid, and I, like a blazing fool, kept kicking at it.

1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 31, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 142:

Used by magicians when performing a trick; ta-da; voilà.


giddyup

(directed at a horse) Move on!, go faster!


rip

lmfao rip your dms

(Internet slang) Alternative letter-case form of RIP


bother

Borrowed from Scots bauther, bather (“to bother”). Origin unknown. Perhaps related to Scots pother (“to make a stir or commotion, bustle”), also of unknown origin. Compare English pother (“to poke, prod”), variant of potter (“to poke”). More at potter. Perhaps related to Irish bodhaire (“noise”), Irish bodhraim (“to deafen, annoy”).

cog

[H]e suddenly flung down his brush on the floor, said "Bother!" and "Oh blow!" and also "Hang spring-cleaning!" and bolted out of the house without even waiting to put on his coat.

1908, Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, London: Wordsworth Classics, published 1993, page 11:

"Oh, help!" said Pooh. "I'd better go back."
"Oh, bother!" said Pooh. "I shall have to go on."
"I can't do either!" said Pooh. "Oh, help and bother!"

1926, A A Milne, Winnie the Pooh, Methuen & Co., Ltd., Chapter 2 ...in which Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place


da

You know that tune that goes "da da da di-dum di-dum"?

A meaningless syllable used when singing a tune or indicating a rhythm.


meow

Alteration of earlier mew, from Middle English mewen, mouwen (“to mew, meow”), of onomatopoeic origin.
Compare Saterland Frisian mauje, miauje (“to meow”), West Frisian miaukje (“to meow”), Dutch miauwen (“to meow”), Middle Low German mauwen, mawen, mouwen (“to meow”) (whence modern German Low German mauen, miauen (“to meow”)), Middle High German mouen, modern German miauen (“to meow”). Some spellings were modelled on French miaou.
Meow and its spelling variants entered widespread currency in the 19th century, mostly replacing mew. Possibly because phonetic change meant that word had ceased to approximate a cat's cry. Contrast the pronunciation of Middle English mewen /ˈmɛu̯ən/ compared to modern /ˈmjuː/).

(colloquial) Said in reply to a spiteful or catty comment.

(colloquial) Expressing seductiveness, mimicking a growl.


dung

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-dung.wav

Audio stripped-by-parse_pron_post_template_fn

Alternative spelling of dong (“sound of a bell”)


choice

From Middle English choys, from a merger of the noun above and Middle English chyse, chuse, chys, chis (“choice, excellent”), from Old English ċīes (“choice; dainty; nice”), related to Old English ċēosan (“to choose”).

inh

"I'm going to the movies." —"Choice!"


out

From Middle English out, oute, from a combination of Old English ūt (“out”, preposition & adverb), from Proto-West Germanic *ūt, from Proto-Germanic *ūt (“out”); and Old English ūte (“outside; without”, adverb), from Proto-Germanic *ūtai (“out; outside”); both from Proto-Indo-European *úd (“upwards, away”).
Cognate with Scots oot, out (“out”), Saterland Frisian uut, uute (“out”), West Frisian út (“out”), Dutch uit (“out”), German Low German ut (“out”), German aus (“out”), Norwegian/Swedish ut, ute (“out; outside”), Danish ud, ude (“out; outside”).

Destruction. Two T-72s destroyed. Three foot mobiles down. Out.

[Galactic Federation official]: 'Does Samus suspect anything?' / Ship AI: 'No, I do not think so.' / [Galactic Federation official]: 'Good. Monitor her closely.' / Ship AI: 'Affirmative. Out.'

2002 November 18, Nintendo R&D1, Metroid Fusion, Nintendo, Game Boy Advance, scene: dispatch:

(procedure word, especially military) A radio procedure word meaning that the station is finished with its transmission and does not expect a response.

Out, damned spot! Out, I say!

c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):


pity

From Middle English pitye, pitie, pittye, pitee, pite, from Anglo-Norman pité, pittee etc., from Old French pitet, pitié, from Latin pietās. See also the doublets pietà and piety.


ayo

"Ayo, Red. It's the homie Spits on the jack for you, blood." "Ayo, homeboy," said Red as he excitedly picked up the telephone receiver. "What's up, fool?"

2004, Michael Daniel Baptiste, Cracked Dreams, page 73:

“Ayo, wassup, girl,” he said to Keisha as he continued to walk toward the back area where I stood. […] “Ayo, wassup, playa?

2007, Reginald L. Hall, In Love with a Thug, page 38:

Ayo Toine, you think they'd put me down?

2007, Tony J. Ward, Jr., I've Got to Make It to Heaven for Going Through Hell: Part 1, page 39:

"Ayo, fam, you a'ight down there?" Victorious's cell mate asked.

2007, Nikki Turner, Christmas in the Hood, page 289:

"Ayo, ma, where you going?" a dude asked her as she walked by him.

2008, Treasure Hernandez, Resurrection, page 106:

"Ayo, Kalil!" a man's voice said from amidst the crowd. Kalil looked up and saw his lil' man, Peanut, distributing packets of heroin and taking money from the fiends.

2008, Ashley JaQuavis, The Trophy Wife, page 103:

"Ayo, Cee, listen to this shit here," said Matt, passing him his cell.

2010, R Green Damon, Somethin' to Think about, page 197:

Ayo, what'd you just say?

(slang) Used to imply that what was said is inappropriate or "sus".


maa

[mæ̰ː ~ mæˀæˀæ]

A bleating sound, as that of a sheep or goat.


afternoon

From Middle English afternone, after-non, equivalent to after- + noon.


get knotted

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-get knotted.wav

You want me to go to the party with you? Get knotted!

(chiefly British, imperative, slang) A mildly offensive expression of refusal.


ish

en-adj

ish (comparative more ish, superlative most ish)

more ish (comparative)
most ish (superlative)

(informal, Canada, US, regional) ick, yuck


meef

1994, Don Blaheta, in rec.games.abstract http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.abstract/msg/507f9cb8139f0115?dmode=source&hl=en
Also, I'd like NOMIC rules. Someone said they had already been posted here, but I don't see them. Meef.

1999, Adrian Kleinbergen, in alt.nosebeeping http://groups.google.com/group/alt.nosebeeping/msg/97636dbad3fe4410?dmode=source&hl=en
Whenever I beep my wife's nose, she says "meef!"

(informal) A cry of strangled surprise or confusion.


ciao

Borrowed from Italian ciao (“hello, goodbye”), from Venetian ciao (“hello, goodbye, your (humble) servant”), from Venetian s-ciao / s-ciavo (“servant, slave”), from Medieval Latin sclavus (“Slav, slave”), related also to Italian schiavo, English Slav, slave and Old Venetian S-ciavón ("Slav"), from Latin Sclavus, ultimately from Proto-Slavic *slověninъ. Not related to Vietnamese chào (“hello, goodbye”). Doublet of Slav and slave.

تْشَاو

transliteration of the Italian greeting or farewell


kick ass

Kick ass! I just got my friend to stop playing that stupid song!

(vulgar, slang) Used to express happiness or a feeling of accomplishment.


it's about time

So Johnny has finally learned the alphabet - it's about time too, he's 6!

(idiomatic, sarcastic) Used to express impatience at the eventual occurrence of something that the speaker or writer considered to be long overdue.


Jesus Christ

Jesus + Christ; from Middle English Jesu Crist, Jesus Crist, from Latin Iēsus Chrīstus.

Oh Jesus Christ. Don't be so dramatic, okay?

2013, Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight (motion picture), spoken by Jesse (Ethan Hawke):

Oh, Jesus Christ. It's not Millie.

2023, Freida McFadden, The Housemaid's Secret:

(potentially offensive) An expletive or oath, usually an expression of surprise, shock, etc.


bum

Attested since the 1300s, as Middle English bom (found in John Trevisa's 1387 Translation of the 'Polychronicon' of Ranulph Higden, "his bom is oute"), of uncertain origin. Sometimes suggested to be a shortening of botme, botom, bottum (“bottom”), but this is contradicted by the fact that bottom is not attested in reference to the buttocks until the late 1700s. Suggested by some old and modern references to be onomatopoeic.
Compare also Old Irish, Scottish Gaelic bun (“base, bottom”).

(more vulgar)

Maxine tried hers. ‘Oh bum,’ she said crossly. ‘The sugar isn’t sugar. It’s salt.’

(UK, Ireland, childish, euphemistic) An expression of annoyance.


cowabunga

/ˌkæɔəˈbaŋɡə/

/ˌkaʊəˈbʌŋɡə/

/ˌkaʊəˈbʌŋɡə/

Unknown, but was popularized (as Kowa-Bunga) by Chief Thunderthud on the American children's show Howdy Doody in the late 1940s or early 1950s, and became associated with American surfing culture. By the early 1980s, it was used as the catch-phrase of Cookie Monster on the American television show Sesame Street, and gained popularity with a broader audience after its use in the American cartoon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the late 1980s and early 1990s. (For further treatment, see here.)

Cowabunga, dude!

Kowa-Bunga! Then Me Fix You Good! You Be Sorry.

Shouting the surfer's cry ‘Cowabunga!’ they climb a 12-ft. wall of water and ‘take the drop’ off its shoulder.

Both words turn up in the same sentence—as in ‘Cowabunga, it's humongous!’—when the children crowd around some toy.

1991 December 9, The New Yorker, page 115:

(slang, originally US, usually humorous) Expressing amazement, enthusiasm, or joy.

Cookie Monster
Howdy Doody
surfing culture


sock

Onomatopoeic. Compare Portuguese soco ("a hit with one's hand; a punch").

Whap, Biff, Ooooof, Sock, Pow, Zok! Batman is back. Gotham City is again leaving its law and order in the hands of a man who wears plastic underpants over his tights.

1989 June 5, The Canberra Times, Australia Captial Territory, page 10, column 2:


enchanted

/ɪnˈt͡ʃɑːntɪd/

/ɛnˈt͡ʃɑːntɪd/

(dated) A greeting used when introduced to someone for the first time, especially by a man when introduced to a woman.


piss

From Middle English pisse (noun) and pissen (verb), from Old French pissier, possibly from Vulgar Latin *pīssiāre, probably of echoic origin. Compare Old Norse pissa (“to urinate, piss”).

onomatopoeic

echoic

At times he gets irritable, especially if he believes that something has been misplaced or lost: "Piss oh piss! -- where in the hell does everything go around here!"

1967, Walter Otto Weyrauch, The Law of a Small Group: A Report on the Berkeley Penthouse Experiments with Emphasis on Penthouse V. Parts I and II:

There was nothing left of the sundae except a puddle of white foam muddied by chocolate syrup, with a cherry floating on top. "Oh, piss," she muttered, "the ice cream's melted."

1992, Sandra Brown, Three Complete Novels, Wings, →ISBN:

Fowler was unresponsive when emergency services arrived and was declared dead at the scene. Fowler worked for the mayor's office for the past three years and twice ran unsuccessfully for city council. Police are asking anyone who saw a green Toyota or Honda SUV near the scene of the accident to contact them.' 'Piss!' Melchiori said again. 'He was a friend of mine.'

2014, Michael Wiley, Blue Avenue: First in a noir mystery series set in Jacksonville, Florida, Severn House Publishers Ltd, →ISBN:

Well, piss! I can't leave here now. Billy, call into the room and ask one of the girls to ask the Doc if he can guess how much longer it will be.

2022, Terry McGuin, The Dracula Shark, page 179:

(mildly vulgar) Expresses anger, disappointment or dissatisfaction.

pis!

expression of anger, disappointment or dissatisfaction

couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery

not have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of

piss on someone's leg and tell them it's raining


alleluia

From Latin allēlūia, from Ancient Greek ἀλληλούϊα (allēloúïa), from Hebrew הַלְּלוּיָהּ (“Praise Jah!”).

der

הַלְּלוּיָהּ

A liturgical or variant form of hallelujah.


righto

"You can count me in." "It may be really rather formidable. We shall have possibly to tackle a prize-fighter." "Right-o!" said Malone, cheerfully.

1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Which Introduces Some Very Physical Phenomena”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:

(colloquial, especially British, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland) Okay; all right.


bastard

From Middle English bastard, bastarde, from Anglo-Norman bastard, Old French bastart (“illegitimate child”), perhaps via Medieval Latin bastardus, of obscure origin.
Possibly from Frankish *bāst (“marriage, relationship”) + Old French -ard, -art (pejorative suffix denoting a specific quality or condition). Frankish *bāst derives from a North Sea Germanic variety of Proto-Germanic *banstuz (“bond, connection, relationship, marriage with a second woman of lower status”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to tie, bind”) and is related to West Frisian boaste (“marriage, matrimony”), Middle Dutch bast (“lust, heat”), and more distantly to English boose (“cow-stall”). The term probably originally referred to a child from a polygynous marriage of heathen Germanic custom — a practice not sanctioned by the Christian churches.
Alternatively, Old French bastart may have originated from the Old French term fils de bast (“packsaddle son”), meaning a child conceived on an improvised bed (medieval saddles often doubled as beds while travelling). However chronology makes this difficult, as bastard is attested in Old French from 1089 (Middle Latin bastardus as early as 1010), yet Old French bast (modern French bât), though attested since 1130 with the meaning of "beast of burden", doesn't acquire the specific meaning of "packsaddle" until the 13c., making it too late to have given rise to the terms bastard and bastardus with this sense. The French Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales supports the Germanic theory further above as being most likely.

unk

obscure

cog

Jack says, “Oh! Bastard! I’m hit!” That bullet had to have come in the busted back window and how it missed Johnnie to hit Jack I don’t know.

2001, Stephen King, “The Death of Jack Hamilton”, in Everything's Eventual, Simon and Schuster, published 2007, →ISBN, page 90:

“Yes, I’m hhhhowwwwwwcch!” she yelped as she stubbed her toe against the bedpost. “Shit, shit, fuck, bastard, shit, crap!”

2004, Cecelia Ahern, PS, I Love You, Hyperion, →ISBN, page 7:

“Isn’t she lovely?” Clem asks, hopefully rhetorically. “Oh, bastard. I’ve got to go—that’s my signal. […]”

2006, Emily Franklin, Love from London, Penguin, →ISBN, page 212:

(rare) Exclamation of strong dismay or strong sense of being upset.


bender

Hypotheses:
* bend + -er. In sense of “heavy drinking”, originally generally “spree”, from 1846, of uncertain origin – vague contemporary sense of “something extraordinary”, connection to bend (e.g., bending elbow to drink) or perhaps from Scottish sense of “strong drinker”.
* In Britain, for about four centuries, a sixpence was known as a bender because its silver content made it easy to bend in the hands. This was commonly done to create ‘love tokens’, many of which survive in collections to this day. The value of a sixpence was also enough to get thoroughly inebriated as taverns would often allow you to drink all day for two pence. This gave rise to the expression ‘going on a bender’.
* (interjection): From over the bender, referring to a person's arm (and sometimes accompanied by a gesture of the thumb backward over the shoulder); compare over the left shoulder.

(obsolete, British slang) Used to express disbelief or doubt at what one has just heard.

O yes, I'll do it — bender!

(obsolete, British slang) Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.


marry

From Middle English Marie, referring to Mary, the Virgin Mary. Mid-14th century.

EtymOnLine

Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “marry”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

You that be of the court, & eſpecially ye ſworn chaplains beware of a leſſon that a great man taught me at my firſt coming to the court he told me for a good will, he thoughte it wel. He ſayd vnto me. You muſt beware how ſo euer ye do that ye cõtrary not the king, let him haue his ſaiyngs, folow him, go with him. Mary out vpon this counſel, ſhal I ſay, as he ſayes?

1549 April 29 (Gregorian calendar), Hughe Latymer [i.e., Hugh Latimer], Augustine Bernher, compiler, “[27 Sermons Preached by the Ryght Reuerende Father in God and Constant Matir of Iesus Christe, Maister Hugh Latimer, […].] The Seuenth Sermon of Maister Hugh Latymer, which He Preached before King Edward [VI], the .19. Day of Aprill.”, in Certayn Godly Sermons, Made uppon the Lords Prayer, […], London: […] John Day, […], published 1562, →OCLC, folio 93, recto:

I have chequed him for it, and the young lion repents; marry, not in ashes and sackcloth, but in new silk and old sack.

c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

I know too much: / I finde it, I; for when I ha liſt to ſleepe, / Mary, before your Ladiſhip I grant, / She puts her tongue alittle in her heart, / And chides with thinking.

c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 24:

I know, [she talks] too much: / I always find that when I have the desire to sleep. / Indeed, before your Ladyship I admit / She keeps a little quiet, / And scolds me with her thoughts.

(obsolete) A term of asseveration: indeed!, in truth!


whee

Up came the revs again, slam the door shut, kick the stick off the throttle and up through the gears, down the others side! Whee! Made it again!

2000, Bob Foster, Birdum or Bust!, Henley Beach, SA: Seaview Press, page 175:

She twisted the rubber band extra tight. Sure enough, the tractor spun off much faster. Whee! She really liked to see it go fast on the living room floor.

2001, Ricardo L Garcia, Coal camp days: a boy's remembrance:

It'll be a secret! Whee!

2009, Phil and Kaja Foglio, Girl Genius, Volume 9, page 81:

(childish) An expression of pleasure or enjoyment, mostly from rapid physical motion.


period

/ˈpɪə.ɹɪ.əd/

From Middle English periode, from Middle French periode, from Medieval Latin periodus, from Ancient Greek περίοδος (períodos, “circuit, an interval of time, path around”), from περί- (perí-, “around”) + ὁδός (hodós, “way”). Displaced native Middle English tide (“interval, period, season”), from Old English tīd (“time, period, season”), as well as Middle English elde (“age, period”), from Old English ieldu (“age, period of time”).

cog

I know you don't want to go to the dentist, but your teeth need to be checked, period!

(chiefly Canada, US) That's final; that's the end of the matter (analogous to a period ending a sentence); end of story.


di

The chorus goes like this: "di di di di dum, da di da".

A meaningless syllable used when singing a tune or indicating a rhythm.


pax

From Middle English pax and Latin pax (“peace”). Doublet of peace. See peace. As school slang, originally used at Winchester College, Hampshire in the United Kingdom.

(UK, dated, school slang) A cry for peace or truce in children's games.


cheers

A common toast used when drinking in company.

축배 (chukbae) The Korean expression “위하여” means “for”. You can add any objective depending on the circumstances

бу́дем здоро́вы or just ва́ше здоро́вье. Russians don’t have a general toast-cheer

(chiefly Commonwealth, informal) goodbye, especially as a sign-off in an email or after writing a comment.


over

From Middle English over, from Old English ofer, from Proto-West Germanic *obar, from Proto-Germanic *uber (“over”), from Proto-Indo-European *upér, a comparative form of *upo.
Akin to Dutch over, German ober, über, Danish over, Norwegian over, Swedish över, Icelandic yfir, Faroese yvir, Gothic 𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂 (ufar), Latin super, Ancient Greek ὑπέρ (hupér), Albanian upri (“group of peasants”), Sanskrit उपरि (upári).
Doublet of uber, super, and hyper.

Bravo Six, this is Bravo Six Four. Stand by for ten mike report one dash three, over.

Bravo Six Four, this is Bravo Six Actual. Send your traffic, over.

How do you receive? Over!

(procedure word, military) A radio procedure word meaning that the station is finished with its transmission and is expecting a response.

over the left shoulder
over the left shoulder#English

(obsolete, slang) Short for over the left shoulder (“expressing disbelief etc.”).


yum

Yum! This apple pie is delicious!

Indicating delight at the flavor of food.

мляс-мляс

indicating delight at the flavor of food


psyche

Shortened form of psychology, from French psychologie, from Latin psychologia, from Ancient Greek ψυχή (psukhḗ, “soul”) and -λογία (-logía, “study of”)


amen

Inherited from Middle English amen, from Old English [Term?], from Ecclesiastical Latin āmēn, from Ancient Greek ἀμήν (amḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn, “certainly, verily”) (cognate with Arabic آمِينَ (ʔāmīna), Classical Syriac ܐܡܝܢ (ʾāmên)). In Old English, it was used only at the end of the Gospels. Elsewhere, it was translated as sōþlīċe! (“truly”, “indeed!”), swā hit is (“so it is”), and sīe! (“[so] be it!”).

der

As it was in the beginning, is nowe, and euerſhall be: worlde without ende. Amen.

1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “At the Communion”, in The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC, folio lxxii, recto:

Alſo I ſhooke my lap, and ſaid, So God ſhake out euery man from his houſe, and from his labour, that performeth not this promiſe, euen thus be he ſhaken out, and emptied. And all the Congregation ſaid, Amen, and praiſed the Lord. And the people did according to this promiſe.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Nehemiah 5:13, column 1:

Bleſſed be the Lord God, the God of Iſrael, who only doth wonderous things. And bleſſed be his glorious name for euer, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 72:18–19, column 1:

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

1662, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea”, in The Book of Common-Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, […], London: […] John Bill, and Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC, column 2:

May GOD, to Whom be praise and whose name be exalted, the King of Kings, vouchsafe His grace and may the Prophet Muhammed (on whom be the benediction and peace of GOD) grant His Blessings to this Proclamation. Amen! O Lord of the Universe!

1962, Omar Ali Saifuddien III, Proclamation of Emergency, page 14:

At the end of religious prayers: so be it.

Fry: Bender's stupid religion is driving me nuts! / Leela: Amen!

1999 May, Matt Groening, “Hell Is Other Robots”, in Futurama, season 1, episode 9:

An expression of strong agreement, often in the phrase "Amen to that!"


hic

This wine - hic! - tasted good.

An approximation to the sound of a hiccup, used e.g. to indicate drunkenness.


barf

bath (non-rhotic, trap–bath split, th-fronting)

Uncertain. Probably of imitative origin.

2011, "This is My Jam", season 2, episode 13 of Regular Show
Mordecai: You can't touch music. But music can touch you.
Rigby: Oh, barf.


yuck

Perhaps imitative. Akin to Dutch jak (“disgusting”). First appeared in the 1960s. Compare also Scots yeuk (“anything that disgusts”), Middle English yuke (“an itchy skin disease”).

cog

Yuck! This peanut butter is disgusting!

Uttered to indicate disgust usually toward an objectionable taste or odour.


arse

From Middle English ars, ers, from Old English ærs, ears, from Proto-West Germanic *ars, from Proto-Germanic *arsaz (compare Dutch aars and German Arsch), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃érsos (“backside, buttocks”) (according to Julius Pokorny and Carl Darling Buck).

inh

(euphemistic)

(Commonwealth) An expression of frustration.


cheep

The short, high-pitched sound made by a small bird.


bugger

From Middle English bougre (“heretic”), from Old French bougre, from Medieval Latin Bulgarus (“Bulgar”), from Old Church Slavonic блъгаринъ (blŭgarinŭ, “Bulgarian”), used in designation of heretics (especially the Bogomils, who arose around the 10th century AD in the First Bulgarian Empire), to whom various sexual practices such as anal sex were ascribed. Doublet of Bulgar.

der

Bugger, I've missed the bus.

Dear Lord, forgive me for what I am about to, ah, say in this magnificent place of worship. Bugger. Bugger! Bugger-bugger-bugger-bugger!

1994, Richard Curtis, Four Weddings and a Funeral, spoken by Charles (Hugh Grant):

(slang, British, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar) An expression of annoyance or displeasure.


well done

Well done, John. Here's a biscuit for you.

An exclamation of praise or endorsement of an achievement.


guten Tag

Unadapted borrowing from German guten Tag.


vale

Borrowed from Latin valē, singular imperative of valeō (“be well”).

Vale, Sarah Smith


io

From Latin iō; compare Ancient Greek ἰώ (iṓ, “oh!”).

Do as thou wilt, as a great god can,
O Pan! Io Pan!
Io Pan! Io Pan Pan! I am awake
In the grip of the snake.

1913, Crowley, Aleister, “Hymn To Pan”, in Book 4, University of California Libraries, Magick in Theory and Practice:

(rare) An exclamation of joy or triumph.


yay

→ Icelandic: jei

→ Japanese: イェイ (yei), イェーイ (yēi)

→ Ukrainian: єй (jej)

Alteration of yea (“yes; even, truly, verily”). More at yea.

Yay! I have finally finished my work!

(colloquial) An expression of happiness.


hail

From Middle English heil (“healthy, sound”), from Old Norse heill, from Proto-Germanic *hailaz (“whole, entire, healthy”). The verb is from Middle English heilen, itself from the adjective. Doublet of whole, hale, and heil.

der

Hail, brave friend.

c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

(archaic or poetic) An exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or, occasionally, of familiar greeting.


ROFLMAO

(Internet slang) Initialism of rolling on the floor laughing my ass (or arse) off; used to indicate great amusement.


zap

1920s, American English, of imitative origin.

onomatopoeic

imitative

Then the computer went zap and I lost all my work.

Zap is a comic-book hero - Zap! Powie! Kazoom!; why have you retired, Zap, when we need you so much?

1975, Rennie Ellis, editors, Australian Graffiti, page [1]:

Representing the sound or action of a zap.


nay

From Middle English nai, nei, from Old Norse nei (“no”), contraction of ne (“not”) + ei (“ever”), itself from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”). More at no.


broom

Alternative form of brrm (“sound of a car engine”)