| Mn E noun | Corresponding adjective of Latin origin |
| blood | sanguinary |
| body | corporeal |
| book | literary |
| brother | fraternal |
| cat | feline |
| child | puerile |
| cloud | nebular |
| daughter | filial |
| day | diurnal |
| dog | canine |
| ear | auricular |
| earth | terrestrial |
| egg | oval |
| eye | ocular |
| father | paternal |
| fire | igneous |
| foe | hostile |
| fox | vulpine |
| friend | amicable |
| hand | manual |
| head | capital |
| heart | cordial |
| heaven | celestial |
| home | domestic |
| horse | equine |
| house | domestic |
| husband | marital |
| island | insular |
| kidney | renal |
| knight | equestrian |
| life | vital |
| light | lucid |
| lip | labial |
| man | human |
| milk | lactic |
| mind | mental |
| moon | lunar |
| mother | maternal |
| mouth | oral |
| name | nominal |
| night | nocturnal |
| nose | nasai |
| ox | bovine |
| room | spacious |
| sea | marine |
| sheep | ovine |
| sight | visible |
| skin | cutaneous |
| son | filial |
| spring | vernal |
| stream | fluvial |
| star | stellar |
| sun | solar |
| time | temporal |
| tongue | lingual |
| tooth | dental |
| town | urban |
| tree | arboreal |
| truth | veracious |
| war | bellicose |
| water | aqueous |
| wife | conjugal |
| worm | vermicular |
| woman | feminine |
| youth | juvenile |
Etymological doublets
| Word | Etymology | Translation | Doublet | Etymology | Translation |
| abbreviate | L. | сокращать (слова) | abridge | F. | cокращать (рассказ) |
| artist | L. | артист, художник | artiste | F. | певец, балерина, артистка |
| balsam | Gk., L. | бальзам | balm | F. | бальзам, болеутоляющее средство |
| canal | L. | канал | channel | F. | канал, пролив, русло |
| captain | L. | капитан | chieftain | F. | вождь (клана, племени) |
| cart | L. | телега, повозка | chart | F. | карта (морск.), схема, таблица |
| cavalry | L. | кавалерия | chivalry | F. | рыцарство |
| corps | L. | корпус | corpse | F. | труп |
| dike | E. | плотина, канава, ров | ditch | E. | канава, ров |
| emerald | F. | изумруд | smaragdus | Gk., L. | изумруд |
| fragile | L. | хрупкий, ломкий | frail | F. | хрупкий, болезненный |
| gaol | L. | тюрьма | jail | F. | тюрьма |
| hospital | L. | госпиталь, больница | hotel hostel | F. F. | гостиница общежитие |
| legal | L. | легальный | loyal | F. | верный, лойяльный |
| liquor | L, | жидкость | liqueur | F. | ликёр |
| major | L. | майор | mayor | F. | мэр |
| nay | Sc. | нет | no | E. | нет |
| of | E. | предлог | off | E. | наречие, послелог |
| pauper | L. | нищий | poor | F. | бедный |
| rout | L. | разгром, поражение; пирушка | route | F. | маршрут, курс, путь |
| salon | L. | салон | saloon | F. | салон, бар, кабачок |
| screech | Sc. | пронзительно кричать | shriek | E. | вопить, кричать |
| screw | Sc. | винт, шуруп | shrew | E. | сварливая женщина |
| senior | L. | старший | sir | F. | сэр |
| shade | E. | тень, полумрак | shadow | E. | тень |
| skirt | Sc. | юбка | shirt | E. | рубашка |
| suit | L. | прошение, тяжба, процесс и др | suite | F. | свита; набор, комплект |
| wage | E. | зарплата | gage | F. | залог |
| whit | E. | нисколько, совсем нет | wight | E. | (шутл.) человек, существо |
Blends
adtevac = adsorption + temperature + vacuum
admass n (advertisement + massmedia) общество, находящееся под сильным воздействием рекламы
angledozer = angle + bulldozer
animule = animal + mule
blaxploitation n (blacks + exploitation) эксплуатация чернокожих
boatel n (boat + hotel) гостиница на берегу реки
breathalyzer n (breath + analyzer) прибор для проверки дыхания водителя на содержание алкогольных паров
brunch = breakfast + lunch
cablegram = cable + telegram
carnapping n (car + kidnapping) похищение автомобилей
cashmat n (cash + automat) автомат для выдачи наличных денег по предъявлению специального жетона
chortle = chuckle + snort
colourcaster n (colour + broadcaster) спортивный комментатор, сообщающий о событиях в живой, красочной форме
colourthon n (colour + marathon) изобилие красок
contrail n (condensation + trail) паровой след за самолетом
dawk n (dove + hawk) политический деятель, пытающийся соединить реакционные взгляды с либеральными
dynetic adj (dynamic + magnetic) обладающий сильными магнитными свойствами
dumbfound = dumb + confound
Eurailpass n (European + rail + pass) проездной билет, действительный для всех железных дорог Европы
educreation n (education + creation) педагогическая теория сочетания обучения с воспитанием
electrocute = electricity + execute
dollarature = dollar + literature
flush = flash + blush
Fritalux n (France + Italy + Benelux) пять западноевропейских стран
Fringlish n (French + English) английский язык с французским произношением и примесью французской лексики, аналогично Japglish, Spanglish
fruice = fruit + juice
galumph = gallop +triumph
glaze = glare + gaze
good-bye = good-night, good-day + goodbye (god be with ye)
haylage n (hay + silage) сенаж (сено + силос)
helilift n (helicopter + lift) подвозка на вертолетах
helispot n (helicopter + spot) временная площадка для посадки вертолетов
icescape n (ice + landscape) полярный пейзаж
identikit n (identity + kit) наборный портрет преступника, составленный полицией на основании показаний свидетелей
iluiry = flash + hurry
infanticipate v (infant + anticipate) ожидать ребенка
lunarnaut n (lunar + astronaut) космонавт, исследующий Луну
meritocracy n (merit + aristocracy) правящая элита
mocamp n (motorcar + camp) лагерь для автотуристов
motorcade n (motorcar + cavalcade) колонна автомобилей
oceanaut n (ocean + astronaut) акванавт, работающий над исследованием океана
paraglider n (parachute + glider) управляемый парашют (парашют + планер)
petnapping n (pet + kidnapping) кража домашних собак и кошек
petrodollars n (petroleum + dollar) нефтедоллары
pomato = potato + tomato
Reaganomics n (Reagan + economics) экономическая программа президента Рейгана, сравните Nixonomics, Fordonomics
skurfing n (skating + surfing) сухопутный серфинг
slash = slay, sling +dash, gash
slumlord n (slums + landlord) владелец трущоб, наживающийся на бедных жильцах
slurb n (slums + suburb) пригород, застроенный дешевыми походными домами (трущобами)
smaze n (smog + haze) смог с дымком
smog = smoke+ fog
spansule n (span + capsule) капсула с лекарством, рассчитанная на постепенное поступление его в организм
stagflation n (stagnation + inflation) экономический застой с увеличением безработицы и усилением инфляции
stratocruiser n (stratosphere + cruiser) самолет для полетов на больших высотах
streetscape n (street + scape) вид улицы
swacket n (sweater + jacket) свитер, застегивающийся на пуговицы
swellegant = swell + elegant
tigon n (tiger + lion) помесь тигра и льва
trasparesscent adj (transparent + essence + scent) невидимый и надушенный
travelcade n (travel + cavalcade) колонна туристских автомобилей
Tudorbethan adj (Tudor + Elizabethan) относящийся к стилю архитектуры и мебели 1500-1700 годов в Англии
twirl = twist + whirl
vertiport n (vertical + airport) аэродром для самолетов с вертикальным подъемом и посадкой
vodkatini n (vodka + martini) мартини, разбавленное водкой
workfare n (work + welfare) помощь нуждающимся в виде предоставления оплачиваемой работы или профессионального обучения
zebrule = zebra + mule
youthquake n (youth + earthquake) студенческие волнения 1960-1970 гг.
Euphemisms
above your ceiling — promoted to a level beyond your abilities
absorption — a military conquest
academically subnormal — of very low ability or intelligence
academic dismissal — expulsion from college
accident — 1) involuntary urination or defecation; 2) an unplanned pregnancy
action — 1) vice or illegal activity, or its proceeds; 2) the brutal harassment of supposed opponents; 3) a chance of casual copulation
adventure — 1) a war; 2) a sexual relationship with other than your regular partner
affair — a sexual relationship with someone other than your regular partner
affair of honour (obsolete) — a duel
alcohol — an intoxicant
all-rounder — a person of both heterosexual and homosexual tastes
ammunition — lavatory paper
angel of the night — a prostitute
answer the call — 1) to die; 2) to urinate
armed struggle (the) — terrorism
at half-mast — with the trouser zip undone
at liberty — involuntarily unemployed
at rest — dead
at your last — about to die
aunt — 1) a lavatory; 2) an elderly male homosexual
baby-snatcher — a person with a much younger regular sexual partner
backdoor — to pass information improperly
backhander — a bribe
backward — 1) very stupid; 2) poor or uncivilized
bad fire (the) — hell
bad man — the devil
bag (the) — dismissal from employment or courtship (a synonym of sack)
bags — trousers
banana republic — a poor and possibly corrupt country
bananas — mentally disturbed
basement (American) — a lavatory
bathroom (American) — a lavatory
be excused — to go to the lavatory
benefit — state aid paid to the needy
better country (a) — life after death
beverage — an intoxicant
beyond help — dead
big — pregnant
big-boned - fat
big С (the) (American) — cancer
big D (the) — death
big house (American) — a prison
big jobs — defecation
birthday suit (your) — nakedness
black lad — the devil
black velvet — a dark-skinned prostitute
blast — an intoxicant
blazes — hell
blue hair — an old woman
blue room — a lavatory on an aircraft
BO (body odour) — the smell of stale sweat
bodily functions — urination and defecation
bouncers — the breasts of an adult woman
box — a coffin
boy scouts (American) — state police
break your neck — to have an urgent desire to urinate
breathe your last — to die
broken home — a family with young children whose parents have parted
brown envelope — a bribe
brown sugar — heroin
bucket — to kill by drowning (a way of disposing of an excess of kittens)
bug — to conceal an apparatus for eavesdropping
bun — a prostitute
bun in the oven (a) — pregnancy
cage — a prison
call (the) — death
call girl — a prostitute
can (American) — 1) a lavatory; 2) a prison
canary — 1) a sexually available female; 2) an informer to the police
candy — illegal narcotics
canned — drunk
cannon — a pickpocket
carpet — to reprimand
carry — 1) to be pregnant (with); 2) to have an illegal narcotic on you
cat — a prostitute
catch — a rich marriageable adult
catch a cold (British) — 1) to contract gonorrhoea; 2) to have a trouser zip undone
cattle — a category of despised persons
cease to be — to die
celebrate — to drink intoxicants to excess
certain age (a) — old
chair (the) —judicial death by electrocution
change (the) — the menopause
chapel of ease — a lavatory
Charlie — a substitution word for a taboo subject (e.g. a prostitute, the male or female genitalia, menstruation, e.g. Charlie's come, a stupid person, cocaine, etc.)
Charlie uncle — a stupid man
charms — the sexual attractiveness of a female
chase the dragon — to smoke a narcotic
chere amie — a sexual mistress
cherry — a woman's virginity
chew a gun — to kill yourself
chi-chi — of mixed white and Indian ancestry
chick — a prostitute
chicken — 1) a youth attractive to homosexuals; 2) coward
child of sin (obsolete) — an illegitimate child
child of Venus — a prostitute
Chinese — is used in phrases to indicate dishonesty, wiliness, duplicity, or muddle, some of which follow
Chinese copy — a production model stolen from another's design
Chinese paper — a security of doubtful value
Chinese tobacco — opium
clean — free from unpleasantness, danger, or illegality
clean house — to remove incriminating evidence
cloakroom — a lavatory
close an account — to kill
close stool — a portable lavatory
closet — a lavatory
close the bedroom door — to refuse to copulate with your spouse,
close your eyes — to die
cock the leg — to urinate
cock the little finger — to be addicted to alcohol
cold — 1) dead; 2) not easily susceptible to sexual excitement
collaborator — a traitor
Colombian gold — high-quality marijuana
coloured — dyed
come home feet first — to be killed
come to your resting place — to die
concrete shoes (in) — murdered and hidden
condition — 1) an illness; 2) a pregnancy
confirmed bachelor — a homosexual
conflict — a war
confrontation — a war
confused — drunk
cook — to kill
cool — dead
cop — a policeman
copper — a policeman
copulate — to tuck
costume wedding — the marriage of a pregnant bride
couch potato — a person who habitually spends leisure time watching
television count (the) — death
country sports — killing wild animals for pleasure
cradle-snatcher — an older person marrying one much younger
credibility gap — the extent to which you are thought to be lying
criminal operation — an illegal abortion
cross-bar hotel (American) — a prison
cuckoo — mentally unbalanced
cut numbers — to make employees redundant
D — anything taboo beginning with the letter D, usually damn, damned, damnable, and the like which used to be less socially acceptable in polite speech than they are today
dark man — the devil
daughter of the game — a prostitute
DCM — a notice of dismissal from employment, the initial letters of ''Don't Come Monday'' (mainly American use: among British railway employees it denoted for one day only)
dead meat — a human corpse
depart this life — to die
deprived — poor
derailed — mad
diet of worms — a corpse
disadvantaged — poor
dispute — a strike
do away with — to kill
down below — the genitalia
downstairs — the genitalia
drop your flag — to surrender
drown your sorrows — to drink intoxicants to excess
Dutch — appears in many offensive and often euphemistic expressions dating from the 17th century antagonism between England and the Low Countries
Dutch bargain — an unfair or unprofitable deal
Dutch concert — a cacophony
Dutch courage — bravery induced by intoxicants, implying a Dutchman is a coward when he is sober
Dutch feast — an occasion where the host becomes
guests are still sober Dutchman — a stupid person Dutch widow — a prostitute
ear — a microphone used in secret surveilance
earth closet — a non-flush lavatory
easy way out (the) — suicide
eat a gun — to commit suicide with a firearm
eat for two — to be pregnant
eat porridge (British) — to be in prison
eccentric — severely ill mentally
economically disadvantaged — poor
economically inactive — unemployed
economical with the truth — lying
elbow-bending — drinking intoxicants
electric methods — torture
elevated — drunk
eliminate — to kill
embroidery — exaggeration or lying
emergency — a war
emotional — drunk
empty out — to urinate
end — to kill
end of desire — a sexual conquest
enjoy Her Majesty's hospitality — to be in prison
enter the next world — to die
equipment — the male genitalia
erase — to kill
eternal life — death
eternity (in) — dead
everlasting life — death
exchange this life for a better — to die
excluded (the) — poor people
expectant — pregnant
extinguish — to kill
eye-opener — an intoxicant or stimulant taken on waking
face your maker — to be mortally ill
facility — a lavatory
fade away — to die
fairy — a homosexual, usually denoting a male taking the female role, but also used collectively
fallen (the) — those killed in war
fallout — radioactive matter introduced into the atmosphere by human agency
family planning — contraception
father of lies — the devil
feather your nest — to provide for yourself at the expense of others
feed the fishes — to be seasick
feed your nose — to inhale illicit narcotics through the nose
feel a collar — to arrest
feel no pain — to be drunk
fifth column — traitors within your ranks
filthy — relating to any taboo act
financially constrained — poor
finish — to kill
fish — a prostitute's customer
fish story — a lie or exaggeration
flexible — unprincipled
fly-by-night — drunk
fly one wing low — to be drunk
food for worms — dead
footless — drunk
forehead challenged — balding
forward at the knees — elderly
four-letter man — an unpleasant person, the letters are S, H, I and T
four-letter word — an obscenity
freedom fighters — terrorists
free love — unrestricted copulation outside marriage
French leave — unauthorized absence
freshen a drink — to serve more alcohol
fruitcake — a mentally abnormal or eccentric person
fruit salad — a mixture of illegal narcotics
fry — to kill or be killed
full in the belly — pregnant
funny — 1) unwell; 2) (of a male) homosexual; 3) mad
funny money — cash which cannot be spent openly
G — anything taboo beginning with the letter G (a mild expletive, usually spelt gee, a shortened form of jeez, from Jesus; in America, the leader of a gang of convicts, or a gallon of whisky; a G-man is a federal agent, working for the US government, a G-nose sniffs narcotics)
gain — to steal
garden of remembrance — the curtilage of a crematorium
gargle — an alcoholic drink
gathered to God — dead
gay — enjoying or doing something which is the subject of a taboo. Now standard English for homosexual
gentleman — a lavatory exclusively for male use
geography — the location of a lavatory
get it — to be killed
ghost — 1) a fictitious employee; 2) a writer whose work is published under another's name
girl — 1) a prostitute; 2) any female less than 50 years old
girls (room) — a lavatory for exclusively female use
give (someone) the air — to dismiss from employment
give your life — to be killed in action
glass — an intoxicant
go into the streets — to become a prostitute
gold-digger — a woman who consorts with a man because he is rich
golden years (the) — old age
gone — 1) pregnant; 2) drunk or under the influence of narcotics
gooseberry — the devil
grape (the) — wine
grass — marijuana
great certainty (the) — death
great majority — the dead
Greek way (the) — pederasty
guest — 1) a prisoner; 2) a customer
H — anything taboo beginning with the letter H (usually hell inthe expression "What the H?"), in addict use, heroin
habit — an addiction to narcotics
haircut — a severe financial loss
hairpiece — a wig
half-deck — a mentally disturbed person
half-seas over — drunk
hand — an employee
handicap — a mental or physical defect
handshake — a supplementary payment on leaving a job
happy event — the birth of a child
happy release — the death of a terminally ill patient
hard of hearing — deaf
hard room — a prison cell
hard up — poor
Harry — the devil
head(s) — a lavatory on a ship
head case — an idiot
headhunter — a recruiting agent
help yourself— to steal
hereafter (the) — death
high — drunk or under the influence of narcotics
higher state (of existance) (a) — death
high forehead (a) — baldness
historic — old
hit the bottle — to drink intoxicants to excess
holiday — a term in prison
holyweek — the period of menstruation
home economics — cooking and house-keeping
homo — a homosexual
hook — to steal
hooker — a prostitute
horny — 1) the devil; 2) excited sexually
horse — heroin
hospice — an institution for the incurable or dying
hospital — an institution for the insane
hostess — a prostitute
hot pants — an indication of sexual arousal (in Britain, where men wear trousers, only used about a female, but in America it may apply to both sexes)
hot place (the) — hell
hot seat — an electric chair used for execution
house — a brothel
house of correction — a prison
human intelligence — the use of spies
human resources — personnel
hygiene facilities — a lavatory
I hear what you say — I do not agree with you (a convenient form of words because it avoids the need to enter into discussion or argument)
impaired hearing — deafness
improving knife (the) — cosmetic surgery
incident — a war
indescribables, inexpressibles (obsolete) — trousers
in for it — pregnant (a common use, especially of pregnancy outside marriage)
in heaven — dead
inner city — slum
inquisition — torture
intact — still a virgin
intelligence — spying
in the arms of Morpheus — asleep
in the churchyard — dead and buried
in the departure lounge — about to be dismissed from employment
in the family way — pregnant
in the glue — in personal difficulty, unable to move freely
in the skin — naked
in the soil — dead
in the trade — earning a living by prostitution
in trouble — 1) pregnant; 2) detected by the police in criminal activity
intruder — an armed invader
John — a lavatory
John Barleycorn — whisky
Johnnie's out of jail (American) — your trouser zip is undone
Johnny — a contraceptive sheath
jolly — drunk (an old variant of merry)
joy — heroin
jug— 1) a prison; 2) an intoxicant
jugs — the female breasts
juice (the) — 1) intoxicants; 2) semen
knobs — the female breasts
knockers — the female breasts
labour — childbirth
ladies — a lavatory exclusively for female use
ladies' man — a man who delights in the company of women
lady-in-waiting — a pregnant woman
land of forgetfulness (the) — death
land of Nod (the) — sleep
language — swear words
last call (the) — death
late — 1) dead; 2) failing to menstruate when expected with fears of unplanned pregnancy
laughing academy — an institution for the insane
lay down your life — to be killed in wartime
leave the room — to go to the lavatory
left-handed wife — a woman living with a man to whom she is not married
legal resident — a spy accredited as a diplomat (as different from the illegal resident who spies in the host country under cover)
liberate — 1) to conquer; 2) to steal
lift a leg — 1) to urinate; 2) (of a male) to copulate
lift your little finger — to drink intoxicants
light in the head — of low intelligence
limited — idle, stupid, or incompetent
live by trade — to be a prostitute
live in (mortal) sin (of a couple) — to live together without being married
loaded — drunk
locked — drunk
long home (your) — death
loo — a lavatory
look in a cup — to foretell the future
Lord of the Flies — the devil
Lord sends for you (the) — you are dead
lose the vital signs — to die
lose your (good) character — to be discovered in any impropriety
lose your lunch — to vomit
love affair — a short-term sexual relationship
love child — an illegitimate child
love nest — a place in which a mistress is housed
low girls — prostitutes
madam — the female keeper of a brothel
magic word (the) — please
make a decent (an honest) woman of — to marry a woman you have impregnated
make a hole in the water — to kill yourself by drowning
meet your Maker — to die
men ('s room) — a lavatory for male use only
mercy death — the murder of a patient thought to be terminally ill
modern conveniences (British) — a lavatory and bathroom indoors
moon people — lunatics
narrow bed — a grave
needlepusher — a person addicted to illegal narcotics
negative cash — debt
negative growth — a decline
negatively privileged — poor
Neopolitan bone—ache — syphilis
nervous breakdown — a severe mental illness
neutralize — to kill
Nick — the devil
night (the) — death
nightcap — a drink of intoxicant
nightclub hostess — a prostitute
night girl — a prostitute
night stool — a portable lavatory
no comment —I admit nothing
no longer with us — dead
no more — dead
not at home, not in — at home but unwilling to see or speak to a caller
notice — dismissal from employment
not long for this world — about to die
OD yourself — to commit suicide (taking an OD, or overdose, of drugs, legally or illegally acquired)
off the payroll — dismissed from employment
off the rails — being detected in reprehensible conduct
oil — to bribe
oldest profession (the) — prostitution
old maid — an unmarried woman who is unlikely to marry
one foot in the grave — near death
one for the road — an extra drink of intoxicant before leaving company
one-way ride — an abduction where the victim is murdered
on the needle — addicted to illegal narcotics taken by self—injection
on the shelf— (of a female) unmarried and unlikely to marry
on the take — accepting bribes
orientation — homosexuality
outhouse — a lavatory
over-privileged — rich
pavement people — homeless beggars
pay lip service — insincerely to say you agree with or support
people cuts — the dismissal of employees
periodic rest — a term in prison
persona non grata — someone caught spying
pill (the) — a contraceptive taken orally by females
pine overcoat — a coffin
place — a lavatory
place of ill fame — a brothel
politically correct — conforming in behavior or language to dogmatic opinions
powder — a narcotic taken illegally
powder room — a lavatory for the exclusive use of females
powder your nose — to go to the lavatory
precautions — contraception
present — a bribe
preventive — a contraceptive sheath, also protector
Prince of Darkness — the devil
private parts — the human genitalia, also privities and privy parts
privileged — rich
queen — a male homosexual
queer — 1) drunk; 2) homosexual
quickie — a drink of intoxicant
quit — to die
raincoat — a private investigator
red lamp — a brothel
redundant — dismissed from employment
refresher — a drink of intoxicant
remains — a corpse
removal— 1) a murder; 2) dismissal from employment
rest home — an institution for the aged or mentally ill
restorative — a drink of intoxicant
retiring-room — a lavatory
reviver — a drink of intoxicant
room and board with Uncle Sam (American) — imprisonment
sack (the) — dismissal from employment
saddle-soap — flattery (its quality is to make the seat more comfortable by softening it)
sanitary man — a cleaner of lavatories
seat — buttocks
senior citizen — an old person
sensitive payment — a bribe
separate — to cease living together as man and wife
separation — death
six feet of earth — death
slow — stupid (of children) (slow upstairs is used only of adults)
smallest room (the) — a lavatory
so-and-so — a mild insult
social disease — a venereal disease
soft soap — flattery
something for the weekend — a contraceptive sheath
souvenir — an illegitimate child
spend more time with your family — to be dismissed from employ ment
stand before your Maker — to die
standstill — an attempt by government to restrict pay increases
stool-pigeon — a police informer
stupid — drunk
sweeten — to bribe
swell — to be pregnant
tail-pulling — the publication of a book at the author's expense
take a drink — to be alcoholic
take for a ride — to murder
take home — to die of natural causes
take leave of life — to die
take needle — to inject narcotics illegally
take refuge in a better world — to die
take too much — to be drunk
taste for the bottle — an addiction to alcohol
thick — stupid (a shortened form of thick in the head)
touch signature — a fingerprint
tumour (a) — cancer
turn up your toes — to die
turn your face to the wall — to die
unbalanced — of unsound mind
underachiever — an idle or stupid child
underpriviliged — poor or illiterate
under the counter — illegal
under the influence — drunk
under the table — very drunk
under the weather — unwell
undiscovered country (the) — death
united — dead
unknown to men — a virgin
unmentionables — 1) (obsolete) trousers or undergarments, also unexpressibles, unspeakables, unwhisperables, indescribables and inexpressibles; 2) haemorrhoids
unplugged — mentally ill
unscrewed — mad
unsighted — blind
unwell — drunk
unwired — mentally unbalanced
use a wheelchair — to be physically incapable of walking
used — second-hand
verbally deficient — unable to read
vertically challenged — of short stature
visually challenged — ugly
visually impaired — blind or with very poor eyesight
vital statistics — the measurement of a woman's chest, waist and buttocks
WC — water closet — a lavatory with a flush mechanism
wallflower — a young woman who is failing to attract a male companion
way of all flesh (the) — death
weaker half (the) — females
weed (the) — a taboo substance which is smoked
wet job — a murder
wetness — sweat
wet nurse — a woman paid to suckle another's baby
what you may call it — any taboo object
whistleblower — a person who reveals damaging confidential information
white elephant — an unwanted possession
wipe off, wipe out — to kill
wired to the moon — mentally abnormal
with child — pregnant
with learning difficulties — unable to keep up with your peers in class
with us no more — dead
woman of the town — a prostitute
wooden box — a coffin
working girl — a prostitute
work the streets — to be a prostitute
wrinkly — an old person
write off — to kill or destroy
you-know-what — any taboo subject within the context
Archaisms
| Obsolete Word | Mod.E. Equivalent | Translation |
| albeit | although | хотя |
| anon | at once | сразу, сразу же |
| athwart | across | через, по |
| aught | anything | что-либо |
| bade | bid | просил |
| bear'st | bear | несешь |
| begat | begot | рождать, производить |
| billow | wave | волна |
| brine | sea, ocean | море, океан |
| courser | horse | лошадь |
| clad | clothed | одетый |
| clomb | climbed | карабкался, влезал |
| crew | crowed | кричал, кукарекал |
| didst | did | делал |
| diest | die | умираешь |
| dire | dreadful | ужасный, страшный |
| dost | do | делаешь |
| doth | does | делает |
| drave | drove | ехал |
| eke | also | также |
| ere | before | перед, до, раньше |
| erst | formerly | прежде |
| even | evening | вечер |
| hallowed | holy | святой |
| haply | perhaps | может быть, возможно |
| hath | has | имеет |
| height | called | назывался, был назван |
| hither | here | здесь, сюда |
| Ire | anger | злоба, злость |
| kine | cows | коровы |
| main | sea, ocean | море, океан |
| methinks | it seems to me | мне кажется |
| morn | morning | утро |
| natheless | nevertheless | тем не менее |
| oft | often | часто |
| perishest | perish | погибнешь |
| quoth | said | сказал |
| rhymeth | rhymes | рифмует(ся) |
| sate | sat | сидел |
| shalt | shall | будет |
| sooth | truth | правда |
| spouse | wife | жена, супруга |
| steed | horse | лошадь |
| stove | staved | снабдил |
| swain | peasant | крестьянин |
| thee | you | тебя |
| thine | your | твой |
| thou | you | ты |
| thrall | slave, slavery | раб, рабство |
| throve | thrived | процветал |
| thy | your | твой |
| thyself | yourself | ты сам |
| troth | truth | правда |
| vend | sell | продавать |
| vernal | spring | весенний |
| wert | were | (ты) был |
| whilom | formerly | прежде |
| whit | thing | вещь |
| wight | man | человек |
| wrought | worked | работал |
| yore | in ancient times | в былые (древние) времена |
Full Americanisms
backwoods 1) лесная глушь; 2) любая малозаселенная и отдаленная местность
bluejay ( = moose bird) канадская голубая сойка
bobcat американская рысь
boiled dinner блюдо из овощей
саn консервная банка
casket гроб
chickadee американская черноголовая синица
cold snap кратковременное похолодание
downtown деловая часть города
drive-in кинотеатр, магазин или закусочная, обслуживающая автомобилистов
drugstore аптекарский магазин с закусочной
easy-street богатство
electoral college коллегия выборщиков
fat cat тот, кто снабжает деньгами политиканов
five-and-ten cent storeмагазин стандартных цен
floater избиратель, голосующий за плату несколько раз в разных местах
ganglandпреступный мир
garbage-can мусорная корзина (ящик)
gimnickуловка
hallwayкоридор
jack-rabbit большой североамериканский заяц
landslide 1) оползень, обвал; 2) решающая победа (на выборах)
mailboxпочтовый ящик
mushroom (v) быстро расти
poker-faced с непроницаемым лицом
prairie chicken луговой тетерев
profiteering погоня за прибылями, доходами
rodeoсоревнования ковбоев
room (v)болеть за команду
roometteнебольшое купе
selectman чиновник местного самоуправления
stopoverостановка в пути
street-car трамвай
superette небольшой магазин
swamp-sparrow американский вид воробья
teaberry американское вечнозеленое растение с белыми цветами и ароматными красными ягодами
third house закулисные законодатели
trailтропа, проложенная через девственный лес
trouble-shooter человек, к услугам которого прибегают в критических ситуациях
tuxedo смокинг
vacation отпуск
vacationist, vacationer отпускник
vacationlandкурорт
workout тренировка
Native American Words
Arkansas название штата (индейское заимствование: Kansas «дымящаяся вода», ср. F. arc «лук», «изгиб»)
banjo банджо (искаженное слово от bandore, L. pandura, panduriит — музыкальный инструмент с тремя струнами)
blizzard буран, сильная метель (ср. G. Blitz «молния» или blitzartig «подобно молнии»)
canyonканьон (ср. Sp. canon «труба»)
carry-all тележка (ср. F. cariole)
Connecticut название штата (индейское заимствование: Quone-ktakut «длинная река»)
coyote степной волк, койот (индейское заимствование из языка племен Центральной Америки через испанский язык)
dumb 1) немой; 2) глупый (ср. G. dumm «глупый»)
freshсвежий, дерзкий (ср. G. frech «дерзкий»)
hammock гамак (индейское заимствование из языка племени арауакан)
hickory гикори, американский орешник (индейское заимствование: paecohiccora «толченые орехи»)
hooch(sl.) сокр. hoochinoo крепкий спиртной напиток (индейское заимствование)
Idaho название штата (индейское заимствование, означающее «жемчужина гор»)
Illinois название штата (индейское заимствование с французским суффиксом -ois, означающее «племя», «род»)
Indian file гуськом (способ передвижения индейцев через леса)
jazzджаз (из креольского jazz «ускорять»; вероятно, африканского происхождения)
kinnikinnichдерево, кору которого индейцы используют для курения, смешивая ее с сухими листьями (индейское заимствование из языка племени алгонквиэн)
loafer1) бездельник; 2) летун, бродяга (ср. G. laufen «бегать»)
Massachusetts название штата (индейское заимствование, означающее «горная местность»)
Mississippi река (индейское заимствование из языка племени алгонквиэн: misi «великая», sipi «вода»)
Mohawk название резервации в штате Массачусетс (индейское заимствование из языка племени ирокезов)
mosquito комар, мошка, москит (через Sp. mosca «муха»; L. musca)
muskrat мускусная крыса, ондатра; от musquash (индейское заимствование из языка племени алгонквиэн)
Ohio название штата (индейское заимствование, означающее «красивая река»)
Oklahoma название штата (индейское заимствование, обозначает «родина Красного Человека»)
racoon (coon) енот (индейское заимствование из языка племени алгонквиэн)
ranch ранчо, скотоводческая ферма (ср. Sp. rancho «столовая с общим питанием»)
saskatoon кустарник с белыми цветами и пурпурными сладкими плодами; от misaskwatomin (индейское заимствование из языка племени кри)
skunk скунс, хорек (индейское заимствование из языка племени алгонквиэн)
squash кабачки (индейское заимствование из языка племени алгонквиэн; ср. askoot-asquash «зеленая пища»)
stampede паническое бегство скота (ср. Sp. estampido «потрескивание»)
tamarack-tree американская лиственница (индейское заимствование из языка племени алгонквиэн)
Tennessee название штата (индейское заимствование, означающее «река с большим изгибом»)
toboggan длинные плоские сани, салазки (индейское заимствование из языка племени алгонквиэн)
woodchuck вид американского сурка (индейское заимствование из языка племени алгонквиэн — wejack «рыбак»; народная этимология; ср. wood и chuck)
Wyoming название штата (индейское заимствование, означающее «Великие Равнины»)