G.
— G. (= “grand”) (sl.): thousand dollars >He makes over five G.s a month.
GAB
* gab (gab) (vi) (colloq.): talk idly, converse, chat >We gabbed on the phone for over an hour.
GABBY
— gabby (gab´ē) (colloq.): overly talkative >Some gabby woman spent almost an hour telling us about her grandchildren.
GAG
* gag (colloq.): comic routine, practical joke >The comic always gets a lot of laughs from his hat gags.
GAGA
— gaga1 (gä´gä´) (sl.): wildly enthusiastic, infatuated >The guys are all gaga over the foxy new girl in school.
— gaga2 (sl.): crazy, demented >I’m goin’ gaga listenin’ to him beatin’ on those drums all day.
GAL
* gal (gal) (colloq.): woman, girl (also voc.) >This side’s for the guys. The gals dress on the other side. >Say, gal, want to dance?
GALS
* the gals (... galz) (colloq.): group of women (esp. friends) >What’re you and the gals doing tonight?
GAME
* game (colloq.): business, profession >Hi, I’m Don. Real estate’s my game. >I hear you’re in the business consultant game now.
— game (vt) (colloq.): manipulate or abuse (a system or process) in order to gain an unfair advantage >I think that stockbroker’s gaming the trading rules to get a better return on his investments.
— ahead of the game (see AHEAD)
* game (for) (colloq.): willing (to), interested (in) >Howie and me want to go fishing. Are you game? >I’m game for a little poker.
— play the game (see PLAY)
— skin in the game (see SKIN)
— step up [one’s] game (see STEP)
— the name of the game (see NAME)
— up [one’] game (see UP)
GANDER
— take a gander (at) (... gan´dәr ...) (sl.): observe, take notice (of) (esp. s/thing extraordinary) (used esp. as a command) >Take a gander at the diamond she’s wearing.
GANG
** gang up on (colloq.): attack as a group >The bigger kids ganged up on Melvin and beat him up.
GANGBANG
— gangbang1 (vulg.): successive sexual intercourse between a woman and several men, multiple rape of a woman >They paid some hooker to come over for a gangbang.
— gangbang2 (vt) (vulg.): (for several men to) have successive sex with (a woman), commit multiple rape (on a woman) >She says they beat her and gangbanged her.
— gangbang3 (vi) (sl.): engage in the activities of a youth gang >Jimmy used to gangbang with the home boys, but he got outta that.
GANGBANGER
— gangbanger (sl.): member of a youth gang >There’s always a bunch of gangbangers hangin’ out on this corner.
GANGBUSTERS
— like gangbusters (colloq.): with great speed or intensity, with great success >The new coach came on like gangbusters and got the players into shape in less than two weeks. >They’re making money like gangbusters with that operation.
GARBAGE
* garbage (colloq.): utterly contemptible or reprehensible person(s) >You can’t believe the garbage that comes into this sleazy place. >Why don’t you divorce that garbage and get on with your life?
GARDEN-VARIETY
— garden-variety (colloq.): ordinary, unremarkable, common >He’s no big-time criminal, just your garden-variety pickpocket.
GAS
— a gas (sl.): a good time, a very enjoyable or funny experience or person >We had a gas at the Halloween party. >Your sister’s a gas—she can really tell jokes.
— cooking with gas (see COOKING)
— run out of gas (see RUN)
— step on the gas (see STEP)
GAS-GUZZLER
* gas-guzzler (gas´guz´lәr) (colloq.): automobile that consumes much gasoline >I can’t afford to take this gas-guzzler on a long trip.
GAS HOG
— gas hog (colloq.): automobile that consumes much gasoline >Why don’t you trade that gas hog in on something more economical?
GASKET
— (about) blow a gasket (see BLOW)
GASLIGHT
— gaslight (vt) (sl.): make (s/one) question his/her own judgment or sanity, manipulate (s/one’s) perception of reality through deception >Don’t let him gaslight you! He’s the one to blame for your breaking up.
GATE
— crash the gate (see CRASH)
GATE-CRASHER
— gate-crasher (colloq.): person who enters a social event without permission or invitation (cf. “CRASH the gate”) >We got to control who gets into the reception—I don’t want any gate-crashers.
GATOR
— gator (gā´tәr) (colloq.): alligator >We visited a gator farm in Florida.
GAZILLION
— gazillion (gә zil´yәn) (colloq.): very many, a huge number (of) >She’s got a gazillion friends on Facebook.
GAZONGAS
— gazongas (gә zong´gәz) (sl., freq. vulg.): (woman’s) breasts (esp. large or shapely ones) >He said the first thing he noticed about her was her nice gazongas.
GEAR
* get [oneself] in gear (colloq.): become active, stop being idle or unproductive, start moving >I better get myself in gear and finish this job.
GEE
— gee (see “G.”)
** gee! (jē) (colloq.): (interj. to express surprise, wonder, or disappointment) >Gee, she’s pretty! >Gee! Why can’t I go, too?
GEEK
* geek (gēk) (sl.): unattractive and socially contemptible person, weird and dislikable person >Hey, man, only geeks and losers are in that stupid club.
— ... geek (sl.): … devotee, dedicated and knowledgeable participant in … >You’ll need a real tech geek to fix that software bug.
GEE WHILLIKERS
— gee whillikers! (jē´hwil´i kәrz/wil´i kәrz) (colloq.): (interj. to express surprise, wonder, or disappointment) >Gee whillikers! Did you see the size of that trout? >Gee whillikers! I got soup all over my favorite tie.
GEE WHIZ
— gee whiz! (jē´hwiz´/wiz´) (colloq.): (interj. to express surprise, wonder, or disappointment) >Gee whiz! Can he ever swim! >Gee whiz! Why won’t you help me?
GEEZ
— geez! (see “JEEZ!”)
GEEZER
— geezer (gē´zәr) (sl., pej.): eccentric or contemptible old man >There’s some old geezer out there complainin’ about somethin’.
GENT
— gent (jent) (colloq.): gentleman, man >The ladies sit here and the gents over there, please.
GEN X
— Gen X (= Generation X) (jen´ eks´) (colloq.): people born between 1965 and 1980 in the U.S. >Music videos really became popular with the Gen X kids.
GEN Z
— Gen Z (= Generation Z) (jen´ zē´) (colloq.): people born between 1997 and 2012 in the U.S. >Those Gen Z kids always have their eyes glued to their phones.
GERONIMO
— Geronimo! (jә ron´ ә mō´) (colloq.): (interj. to indicate that one is starting to jump from a height) >Watch the splash I’m going to make. Geronimo!
GET
** get1 (vt) (colloq.): understand, comprehend >Ah! Now I get what you mean. >You just don’t get it, do you? >I didn’t get the joke.
** get2 (vt) (colloq.): puzzle, stump >What gets me is how he could get away with it for so long without anyone finding out. >I’ve got you there. You can’t figure that one out.
* get3 (vt) (colloq.): take revenge on, retaliate against >They’re going to get him for insulting their sister.
* get4 (vt) (colloq.): annoy, anger >His stupid remarks really get us. >It gets me how she just ignores us.
— get5 (vi) (colloq.): leave, run away >I’ve had enough of you kids—now, get! >When he pulled a knife, I decided to get.
— get6 (vt) (sl.): observe, take notice of (esp. s/thing extraordinary or contemptible) (used esp. as a command) >Hey, get Larry in his new hat! >Get her, actin’ like she owns the place.
— get7 (vt) (colloq.): kill, murder >The mafia got him before the cops could offer him protection.
— get8 (vt) (colloq.): cause (s/one) sorrow, pain, distress >It gets her real bad to see her son in jail.
— cannot get a word in (edgewise) (see WORD)
** cannot get over (colloq.): find difficult to believe, be very surprised about >I just can’t get over how much weight you’ve lost!
* get [one’s] (sl.): receive the punishment or retaliation that [one] deserves >That dirty rat’s gonna get his one of these days.
* get [one] [s/thing] (colloq.): obtain [s/thing] [for oneself] >I’m going to get me a new stereo—this one’s had it. >He got him a new shotgun for hunting.
— get (a/the/[one’s]) ... (see entry under ... noun)
— get a little/some (sl., freq. vulg.): have sexual intercourse (with a woman) >He’s gonna take her to his place and try to get a little tonight. >It’s been a long time since he’s gotten some, so he’s real horny.
— get a little/some on the side (sl., freq. vulg.): be sexually unfaithful >He said he’d been gettin’ a little on the side when his wife was outta town.
— get/put [s/thing] across (see ACROSS)
— get after (see AFTER)
— get ahold of (see AHOLD)
— get along (see ALONG)
— get around (see AROUND)
— get around [s/thing] (see AROUND)
— get around to (see AROUND)
** get away with (colloq.): successfully carry out (s/thing illicit or improper) without being caught or punished >How did he get away with yelling at the boss in front of everybody? >You won’t get away with this!
* get away with murder (sl.): successfully carry out s/thing illicit or very improper without being caught or punished >No one’s catchin’ him on these false insurance claims. They’re lettin’ him get away with murder.
— get back at (see BACK)
— get back to (see BACK)
— get cracking (see CRACKING)
— get down (see DOWN)
— get down to brass tacks (see BRASS TACKS)
— get even (with) (see EVEN)
— get going (on) (see GOING)
— wrap/get [one’s] head around [s/thing] (see HEAD)
— get hitched (see HITCHED)
— get [oneself] in gear (see GEAR)
— get in on/into the act (see ACT)
— get in on the ground floor (see GROUND FLOOR)
— get into it (sl.): begin fighting, start throwing punches >They’re really mad at each other. I think they’re gonna get into it right here.
— get in(to) [s/one’s] pants (see PANTS)
** get it (colloq.): be punished >Look what you did! You’re going to get it when Mom and Dad get home.
— get it into [one’s] head (that) (colloq.): come to believe (that), become convinced (that) (esp. mistakenly) >Somehow Ernie got it into his head that they were laughing at him, but it had nothing to do with him.
— get it on (with) (sl., freq. vulg.): have sex (with) >He said he’d like to get it on with her. >She said she and her boyfriend got it on last night.
— get/have it together (see TOGETHER)
* get it up (vulg.): achieve an erection of the penis >He’s all worried ‘cause he couldn’t get it up last night.
— get lost! (see LOST)
— get lost in the shuffle (see LOST)
— get nowhere fast (see NOWHERE)
— get off (vt) (vulg.): cause to experience an orgasm or sexual excitement >He says watchin’ her undress really gets him off.
— get off [one’s] ass (see ASS)
— get off [one’s] butt (see BUTT)
— get [s/thing] off [one’s] chest (see CHEST)
— get off easy (see EASY)
* get off (on)1 (sl., freq. vulg.): experience an orgasm or sexual excitement (due to) >He’s so horny he’ll get off if she just touches him. >She says Darren gets off on watchin’ porno films.
— get off (on)2 (sl., freq. vulg.): enthusiastically enjoy, be very excited (by) >Do ya get off on beatin’ up little kids? >Singin’ in front of a lot of people is how she says she gets off.
— get off on the wrong foot (see WRONG)
— get off [one’s] rear (see REAR)
— get off [one’s] tail (see TAIL)
— get off the ground (see GROUND)
* get on (colloq.): scold, reprimand >She got on her kids for being so noisy.
— jump/hop/get on the bandwagon (see BANDWAGON)
— get on the stick (see STICK))
— get out! (sl.): you must be joking! that’s hard to believe! >Get out! Did she really tell her boss off in front of everybody?
— get out of Dodge (see DODGE)
* get out of here! (colloq.): stop your teasing! don’t expect me to believe that! >That jerk’s a judge?! Aw, get out of here!
— get real! (see REAL)
— get/catch some Zs (see ZS)
* get somewhere (colloq.): make progress, gain some advantage >I hope I get somewhere with the boss when I talk to her about a raise. >I tried to find out more, but I didn’t get anywhere.
— get [s/thing] straight (see STRAIGHT)
— get the/this show on the road (see SHOW)
* get [s/thing] through [one’s] (thick) head (colloq.): come to understand or realize [s/thing] (freq. used in the neg.) >Josh just couldn’t get it through his thick head that he wasn’t really qualified for the job.
** get to1 (colloq.): begin (doing s/thing) (esp. spontaneously) >One day I got to thinking about starting up my own business. >I don’t know how the subject came up—we just got to talking about it.
** get to2 (colloq.): be permitted to (do s/thing), have the right to (do s/thing) >I get to see any movie I want this Saturday. >I paid, so I get to go in.
* get to3 (colloq.): cause sorrow or regret in, pain, distress >The program on those starving children really got to us. >His high-pressure job’s starting to get to him.
— get under [s/one’s] skin (see SKIN)
* get up on the wrong side of the bed (colloq.): start the day in a bad mood >What a terrible mood you’re in! I’d say you got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
— get what’s coming to [one] (see COMING)
— get while the getting’s good (sl.): get out or escape while it is still safe or convenient >Things are gonna start gettin’ kinda scary here pretty soon, so you’d better get while the gettin’s good.
* get with it (sl.): become active or involved, react to what is needed >Hoyt had better get with it, or he’s gonna get cut from the program.
— get with the program (see PROGRAM)
— (go) get fucked! (see FUCKED)
— (go) get screwed! (see SCREWED)
— (go) get stuffed! (see STUFFED)
— not (even) get to first base (see FIRST BASE)
— out to get [s/one] (see OUT)
— tell [s/one] where to get off (see WHERE)
— where does [s/one] get off [doing s/thing]? (see WHERE)
GET-GO
— from the get-go (see “from the GIT-GO”)
GET-OUT
— as/like all get-out (sl.): wholeheartedly, vehemently, to the utmost degree >They were punchin’ each other like all get-out. >That guy’s funny as all get-out.
GETTING
* what [s/one] is getting at (colloq.): what [s/one] means or is trying to say, what [s/one] is implying >Get to the point! Just what are you getting at?
GETTING’S
— get while the getting’s good (see GET)
GET-TOGETHER
** get-together (colloq.): informal social gathering >Can you come to a little get-together at our place Friday night?
GET-UP
— get-up (colloq.): costume, outfit, clothing ensemble >Where you going in that get-up, to a Halloween party?
GET-UP-AND-GO
* get-up-and-go (colloq.): energy, motivation, drive >We need someone with a lot of get-up-and-go to keep this project on schedule.
GHETTO BLASTER
* ghetto blaster (sl., dtd.): large and powerful portable radio, CD/tape player (esp. one carried or used on the street) >The dude came boppin’ down the sidewalk with a huge ghetto blaster on his shoulder turned up full-blast.
GHOST
— ghost (vt) (sl.): stop all contact with, cease communicating with (esp. without explanation) >Why’s Mindy ghosting me? Did I offend her somehow?
GIFT OF GAB
— the gift of gab (... gab) (colloq.): a natural talent for speaking persuasively or artfully, glibness >Murray’s such a good salesman because he’s got the gift of gab.
GIG
* gig (gig) (sl.): short-term job, work engagement (esp. in the entertainment business) >We had a gig playin’ at a wedding reception yesterday. >How long is this magician’s helper gig gonna last?
GILLS
— green around the gills (see GREEN)
— stewed (to the gills) (see STEWED)
GIMME
** gimme (gim´ē) (colloq.): give me (used esp. as a command) >Gimme another beer, will ya?
GIMP
— gimp1 (gimp) (sl., pej.): person who walks with a limp >He said some gimp was run over in the street.
— gimp2 (sl.): limp (in one’s walk) >Ya know that guy with the gimp that works next door?
GIMPY
— gimpy (gimp´ē) (sl.): having a limp, lame >He can’t go hikin’ with that gimpy leg of his.
GIN
— gin up (sl.): fabricate (a story or situation), build up enthusiasm or excitement for (esp. unjustifiably) >When the President gets in trouble he gins up a crisis to draw attention away from his problems.
GIRL
** girl (colloq., freq. pej.): woman >Why don’t you girls chat in the kitchen while us men watch the game?
— that’s my girl! (see THAT’S)
* the girl next door (colloq.): wholesome young woman from (one’s) neighborhood (seen as an ideal wife) >He dated a lot of women while he was away at college, but he eventually married the girl next door.
GIRLIE
— girlie1 (gûr´lē) (colloq.): featuring women who are nude or scantily clothed >Want to go downtown and catch a girlie show?
— girlie2 (voc.) (colloq., pej.): girl, woman >So, who asked you, girlie?
GIRLS
** the girls (colloq.): group of women (esp. friends) >All the girls are getting together at Sally’s Monday night.
GIRLY
— girly (see “GIRLIE”)
GISMO
— gismo (see “GIZMO”)
GIT
— git (git) (see GET)
GIT-GO
— from the git-go (... git´gō´) (sl.): from the outset, since the very beginning >He’s backed this deal from the git-go. >I told ya from the git-go that it just wouldn’t work.
GIVE
— give ([s/one, s/thing]) (a/the) ... (see entry under ... noun)
* give [s/one] [s/thing] any day (colloq.): [s/one] much prefers [s/thing] >He likes fancy wines, but give me a cold beer any day.
— give ‘em hell! (see HELL)
— give good ... (sl.): be proficient in the use of (a) ..., be talented with (a) ... >He wants her in the front office ‘cause she gives good phone.
— give it to (colloq.): punish, make suffer >I’m going to give it to you if you’re lying to me.
— give it up for (sl.): give applause to, clap for >Let’s give it up for this fantastic singer!
** give or take ... (colloq.): ... more or less, plus or minus ... >I’d say she weighs a hundred and fifty, give or take five pounds.
— (just) say/give the word (see WORD)
— won’t (even) give [s/one] the time of day (see TIME)
— would give [one’s] left/right nut (vulg.): would pay any price, be willing to make a great sacrifice (said esp. of a man) >I’d give my left nut to be able to sing like that guy.
* would give [one’s] right arm (colloq.): would pay any price, be willing to make a great sacrifice >Crandall would give his right arm for that job.
— would give [s/one] the shirt off [one’s] back (see SHIRT)
GIVEAWAY
* giveaway (colloq.): free gift (esp. to promote a business) >They’ll have free T-shirts and other giveaways at the store’s grand opening.
* (dead) giveaway (colloq.): thing that unintentionally reveals a secret >The lipstick on Dave’s collar was a dead giveaway as to what he’d been doing.
GIVER-UPPER
— giver-upper (giv´әr up´әr) (colloq.): person who gives up easily >I’m no giver-upper, so don’t worry about me quitting.
GIVES
* what gives? (sl.): what’s happening? explain what’s happening! >What gives? Why’s everyone screamin’ at each other?
GIZMO
— gizmo (giz´mō) (sl.): device, gadget, instrument (for which one does not know the name) >What’s this gizmo on the dashboard for? >I need a spring for that gizmo next to the carburetor.
GLAD HAND
— glad hand (colloq.): overly friendly or insincerely enthusiastic handshake or greeting >That politician’s giving everyone the glad hand to get votes.
GLAD-HAND
— glad-hand (vt) (colloq.): give (s/one) an overly friendly or insincerely enthusiastic handshake or greeting >I hate salesmen who glad-hand you.
GLAD RAGS
— glad rags (sl.): party clothes, dressy clothes >Put on your glad rags—we’re gonna party.
GLITCH
* glitch (glich) (sl.): minor malfunction or technical problem >The copier has a glitch in it somewhere. The pages ain’t comin’ out clear.
GLITZ
— glitz (glits) (sl.): tasteless showiness, flashiness, ostentatious decoration >I prefer simple, low-key decor to all this glitz.
GLITZY
— glitzy (glit´sē) (sl.): tastelessly showy, flashy, ostentatious >Who decorated this glitzy joint?
GLOW
— have a glow on (colloq.): be slightly intoxicated, be tipsy >I’ve got a glow on after that stiff drink.
GLUED
** glued to (colloq.): spending a great deal of time looking at, paying fixed attention to (esp. the television) >How’s that kid going to make any friends if he’s glued to the tube all day? >The nation was glued to the TV during the crisis.
GO
* go1 (colloq.): approval or authorization to proceed >Once Harry gives us the go, we can start.
— go2 (colloq.): try, attempt >If you’ve never tried ice skating, you should give it a go. >If you can’t figure it out, let me have a go at it.
** go3 (vt) (colloq.): say, do (a gesture or expression) (used in present tense to indicate dialogue or gestures in a narration) >First, I tell him he’s lazy, then he goes, “Why are ya raggin’ on me?” Then I go, “‘Cause ya never lift a finger to help around the house,” and then he goes, like this, with his eyes.
** go4 (vi) (colloq.): urinate or defecate >Where’s the bathroom? I got to go.
* go5 (vi) (colloq.): fail, break down, become inoperative >First I heard a whining noise, then the whole transmission went. >Doc says my heart’s going on me and I need to take it real easy.
— go6 (vt) (colloq.): bid, be willing to pay >I’ll go six hundred bucks for your motorcycle.
* go7 (colloq.): ready for action, having all arrangements made, operative >Everything’s go for the game tomorrow.
— be a go (colloq.): be approved or authorized (to be done) >The dean’s given his OK, so the course you proposed is a go. >If it’s a go, we start tomorrow.
— be good to go (see GOOD)
— be (a) no go (see “be (a) NO-GO”)
* from the word “go” (colloq.): from the outset, since the very beginning >He’s supported us on this from the word “go.”
* give [s/thing] a go (colloq.): give [s/thing] a try, make an attempt at [s/thing] >I’ve never skied before, but I’ll give it a go.
— (go ahead,) make my day! (see MAKE)
— go all out (to) (see ALL)
— go all the way (see ALL)
* go and ... (colloq.): (do s/thing) unexpectedly or foolishly >Our dog went and died on us last week. >What did you go and say that for?
— go ape (over) (see APE)
— go ape shit (over) (see APE SHIT)
* go at it (colloq.): fight (esp. violently) >They were really going at it, so we called the cops.
— go back to square one (see SQUARE ONE)
— go ballistic (see BALLISTIC)
— go bananas (over) (see BANANAS)
— go belly up (see BELLY)
— go bust (see BUST)
— (go) by the book (see BOOK)
— (go) by the numbers (see NUMBERS)
— go down1 (vi) (sl.): occur, take place >What’s goin’ down over there where the crowd is? >I didn’t even notice when the robbery went down.
— go down2 (vi) (vulg.): readily have sex, grant sexual favors (said of a woman) >They say she’ll go down for almost any guy.
— go down for (see DOWN)
— go down on (see DOWN)
— (go) down the drain (see DRAIN)
— go down the list (see LIST)
— (go) down the tube(s) (see TUBE)
— go Dutch (treat) (see DUTCH)
— go easy (on) (see EASY)
— go fifty-fifty (on) (see FIFTY-FIFTY)
— go figure! (colloq.): that is hard to comprehend, that is/was a confusing situation >First she yells at me, then she tells me she loves me—go figure!
— go fly a kite! (see FLY)
** go for1 (colloq.): be attracted to, have a special interest in or liking for >Tony really goes for tall redheads. >I could go for a nice cold beer about now.
** go for2 (colloq.): attempt to attain, aim for >I hear Reid’s going for the vice presidency that just opened up. >If you want first prize, then go for it!
— go for/take a spin (see SPIN)
— go for broke (see BROKE)
— (go) get fucked! (see FUCKED)
— (go) get screwed! (see SCREWED)
— (go) get stuffed! (see STUFFED)
— go great guns (see GREAT GUNS)
— go halfsies (on) (see HALFSIES)
— (go) haywire (see HAYWIRE)
— (go) hog-wild (see HOG-WILD)
— go in one ear and out the other (see EAR)
— (go) in(to)/down the toilet (see TOILET)
— go jump in the lake (see JUMP)
— sell/go like hot cakes (see HOT CAKES)
— go native (see NATIVE)
— go nuclear (see NUCLEAR)
— do/go number one (see NUMBER ONE)
— do/go number two (see NUMBER TWO)
— (go off) half-cocked (see HALF-COCKED)
— go off on [s/one] (sl.): lose (one’s) temper with [s/one] (esp. unexpectedly) >I happened to mention the other candidate’s name and the dude just went off on me.
— go off the deep end (see DEEP END)
— go off the reservation (sl.): act outside proper authority or control >We can’t have our people goin’ off the reservation, makin’ moves without clearin’ it with us first.
— go [s/one] one better (colloq.): outdo or surpass [s/one] (esp. with one extra action or effort) >I’ll go you one better and make the same shot from ten feet farther out.
* go out like a light (colloq.): lose consciousness suddenly >Shaun got slugged on the jaw and went out like a light.
* go out of [one’s] way (colloq.): make a special effort, inconvenience [oneself] >I went out of my way to help Max, and he didn’t even thank me. >Please make Susie feel welcome, but don’t go out of your way for her.
** go out (on) (colloq.): fail to function (for), quit working (to the detriment of) >I had to stop playing because my knee went out on me. >Sounds like your clutch is going out.
** go (out) with (colloq.): date regularly, be the sweetheart of >Cynthia’s going out with some guy she met at work. >Is he going with anyone now?
— go over [s/one’s] head (see OVER)
— go over like a lead balloon (see LEAD)
— go overboard (see OVERBOARD)
— go places (see PLACES)
— go postal (see POSTAL)
— go potty (see POTTY)
— go round and round (see ROUND)
— go sour (see SOUR)
— go south (see SOUTH)
— go steady (with) (see STEADY)
— go straight (see STRAIGHT)
— (go) take a flying leap! (see FLYING)
— go the distance (see DISTANCE)
— go the extra mile (see EXTRA)
* go through the roof1 (colloq.): become furious, lose (one’s) temper >Mom’ll go through the roof if she finds out about this.
— go through the roof2 (colloq.): (for prices to) increase alarmingly >Medical costs have gone through the roof the last few years.
— go to [person] (see GO-TO)
— go to bat for (see BAT)
— go to bed (with) (see BED)
— go to hell (see HELL)
— go to hell! (see HELL)
* go to it (colloq.): start (doing s/thing) enthusiastically or vigorously >When we told them they could start eating, they really went to it.
— go/fall to pieces (see PIECES)
— go to pot (see POT)
— go to the bathroom (see BATHROOM)
— go to the dogs (see DOGS)
— go to town (on) (see TOWN)
— go together (see TOGETHER)
— go viral (see VIRAL)
— go way back (see WAY)
— go whole hog (see WHOLE HOG)
— go with the flow (see FLOW)
— come/go with the territory (see TERRITORY)
* have a go (at) (colloq.): give (s/thing) a try, make an attempt (at) >You want to have a go at tennis with me? >If you can’t figure the directions out, let me have a go.
— let ([oneself]) go (see LET)
— let go (with) (see LET)
* make a go of (colloq.): be successful at >Think they’ll be able to make a go of their consulting business?
* no go (sl.): (it is/was) unsuccessful or futile, (s/one) refused (it) >I asked Henry to play the role, but no go.
** on the go (colloq.): active, busy, constantly going (s/where) >People on the go don’t have time to cook fancy meals. >She’s over eighty years old, but keeps on the go.
— there you go (see THERE)
— there you go/are (see THERE)
** to go (colloq.): (food/drink) ordered to be taken elsewhere to be consumed >Give me two burgers and a medium coke to go.
— way to go! (see WAY)
GO-AHEAD
* go-ahead (colloq.): approval or authorization to proceed >We just got the go-ahead from the front office, so let’s get started!
GOAT
* get [s/one’s] goat (colloq.): annoy [s/one], anger or vex [s/one] >It really gets his goat when the girl he trained outperforms him.
— old goat (colloq., freq. pej.): old man (esp. seen as troublesome or contemptible) >Tell that old goat to keep his nose out of my business!
GOB
— a gob (of ...) (... gob ...) (colloq.): much (...), many (...) >Murray must have spent a gob of dough for that bike. >You like washing dirty dishes? There’s a gob to do.
GOBS
* gobs (of ...) (gobz ...) (colloq.): much (...), many (...) >We got gobs of work to do before we’re through. >Don’t buy any more towels—we have gobs at home.
GOD-AWFUL
* god-awful (colloq.): awful, very bad, shocking >Where’d you get that god-awful velvet painting?
GODDAMMIT
— goddammit! (see “GODDAMN (it)!”)
GODDAMN
— give a goddamn (colloq., freq. vulg.): be concerned, care, take interest (freq. used in the neg.) >He’s so tired up he just doesn’t give a goddamn any more.
* goddamn(ed)1 (colloq., freq. vulg.): contemptible, detestable >Keep your goddamn feet off the table!
— goddamn(ed)2 (colloq., freq. vulg.): very, extremely >Goddamn smart kid you got there. >You’re working too goddamned hard, Lonnie.
* goddamn (it)! (colloq., freq. vulg.): (interj. to express anger, surprise, irritation, or disappointment) >Watch where you’re going, goddamn it! >Goddamn! It broke.
— worth a goddamn (see WORTH)
GODDAMNED (also see GODDAMN)
— (well,) I’ll be goddamned! (colloq., freq. vulg.): what a surprise! how interesting! >Two flat tires the same week? I’ll be goddamned!
GODDAMNEDEST
— [one’s] goddamnedest (... god´dam´dist) (colloq., freq. vulg.): [one’s] utmost, [one’s] best effort >All I could do was just give my goddamnedest to win.
GOD’S GIFT
* think [one] is God’s gift to (colloq., sarc.): conceitedly believe [one] is critically important or irresistibly attractive to >That hack actually think’s she’s God’s gift to literature. >Romeo there thinks he’s God’s gift to women.
GOES
— here goes! (see HERE)
— here goes nothing! (see HERE)
— how goes it? (see HOW)
— it (just) goes to show you (that) (see SHOW)
GOFER
* gofer (gō´fәr) (sl.): errand-running employee >We need to hire a gofer to take care of some of these errands.
GO-GETTER
* go-getter (gō´get´әr) (colloq.): enterprising or aggressively ambitious person >She’s a real go-getter who’s making her mark in county government.
GO-GO DANCER
— go-go dancer/girl (colloq., dtd.): woman who dances as a performer in a discotheque or nightclub (esp. solo) >Can you believe she worked her way through grad school as a go-go dancer?
GO-GO GIRL
— go-go girl (see “GO-GO DANCER/girl”)
GOING
* get going (on) (colloq.): become excitedly interested (in), start talking excitedly (about) >The genetic engineering issue has really got the biologists going. >Don’t start talking politics, or you’ll get him going on deficit spending.
— have a good thing going (see GOOD)
* have [s/one] going (colloq.): be fooling or baffling [s/one] >That card trick you showed Francine really had her going.
* have [s/thing] going for [one] (colloq.): have [s/thing] as [one’s] special quality or advantage (to gain success) >She ain’t too bright, but she’s got her good looks going for her. >The poor slob has nothing going for him.
* have/get something going (colloq.): have/start a romantic or sexual relationship >If you ask me, the way they look at each other, they have something going. >I’d sure like to get something going with him.
* like it’s going out of style (sl.): wildly, extravagantly, without moderation >People were buyin’ up property like it was goin’ outta style. >That bunch of students has been partyin’ like it’s goin’ outta style.
GOING-OVER
* going-over1 (colloq.): close review, inspection, examination >The police gave the murder scene a complete going-over.
— going-over2 (colloq.): thorough beating >The thugs took his wallet and gave him a going-over before taking off.
GOINGS-ON
— goings-on (gō´ingz on´/ôn´) (colloq.): activities, behavior (esp. when seen with disfavor) >Somebody better look into the goings-on at the club parties.
GOLD
* gold (sl.): (a record) having sold at least one million copies as a single or one-half million as an album (cf. “PLATINUM”) >That artist already has nine gold records to her credit.
GOLDARN
— goldarn(ed) (gol´därn[d]´) (colloq.): contemptible, detestable >Tell them goldarned kids to quiet down!
— goldarn (it)! (colloq.): (interj. to express anger, surprise, irritation, or disappointment) >Goldarn! I brought the wrong pair of glasses.
GOLDARNEDEST
— [one’s] goldarnedest (... gol´därn´dist) (colloq.): [one’s] utmost, [one’s] best effort >I did my goldarnedest, but I just couldn’t finish.
GOLDBRICK
— goldbrick (vi) (sl.): avoid (one’s) duties or responsibilities, work halfheartedly >Why should I work my butt off while that clown is goldbrickin’?
GOLDBRICKER
— goldbricker (gōld´brik´әr) (sl.): person who avoids his/her duties or responsibilities, person who works halfheartedly >I ain’t gonna do any of that goldbricker’s work.
GOLD DIGGER
— gold digger (colloq.): woman who dates or marries chiefly for material gain >She says she loves the boss, but I think she’s just a gold digger.
GOLDEN OLDIE
— golden oldie (... ōl´dē) (colloq.): popular song from the past (esp. one that is still popular) >They played a golden oldie from the sixties on the radio.
GOLD MINE
* gold mine (colloq.): source of wealth or something valuable >This book is a gold mine of information on aviation. >That shop is a gold mine because of its location.
— be sitting on a gold mine (see SITTING)
GOLD STAR
— gold star (colloq., freq. sarc.): symbol of approval, recognition of success >Do you expect a gold star for meeting your sales quota?
GOLLY
— by golly!1 (... gol´ē) (colloq.): (interj. to express determination or resolve) >I’ll get even with that son of a gun, by golly!
— by golly!2 (colloq.): (interj. to express surprise, wonder, or admiration) >By golly, he got a perfect score!
— golly! (colloq.): (interj. to express surprise, wonder, or disappointment) >Golly, is she pretty! >Golly! Why can’t I play, too?
GONE
— be gone (on) (colloq.): be utterly in love (with), be infatuated (with) >Look at his face when he’s with her. Boy, is he gone! >Angie’s really gone on that guy she met last month.
GONER
* goner (gon´әr/gô´nәr) (colloq.): person who is doomed, person unable to avoid death or ruin >When the doc listened to her heart, he knew she was a goner. >If that deal falls through, we’re goners in this business.
GONNA
** gonna (gә´ nә) (colloq.): going to >We’re gonna wait and see what happens.
GOO
— goo (gū) (colloq.): thick and sticky substance >What’s that goo in the bottom of the can?
GOOCHIE-GOO
— goochie(-goochie)-goo! (gū´chē [gū´chē] gū´) (colloq.): (interj. said by a person as he/she tickles another) >Are you ticklish? Goochie-goo!
GOOD
** good (colloq.): well >He did real good in that race.
— ... [s/one] a good one (sl.): ... [s/one] forcefully, ... [s/one] accurately or effectively >Marie slapped him a good one when he tried to get fresh with her. >He touched the bare wire and got shocked a good one.
* (as) good as (colloq.): in effect, tantamount to, virtually >If he crosses Bad Eddie, he’s good as dead. >Don’t worry—his credit is good. The bill is as good as paid.
— be good for (colloq.): accept the responsibility to pay (an amount of money), be able to pay (an amount of money) >Don’t worry about the cost. I’m good for it.
— be good to go (colloq.): be ready to proceed, have all preparations made to begin >Just let me set the idle speed and you’re good to go. >I got all my gear—I’m good to go.
— feeling good (see FEELING)
— give good ... (see GIVE)
** good and (colloq.): very, completely >After putting two six-packs away, he’s good and drunk. >I’ll do it when I’m good and ready.
* good deal! (colloq.): that’s fine! I’m glad about that! >Burt said he’d do it? Good deal! >Good deal! Seven o’clock it is, then.
* good old (freq. ... ōl) (colloq.): valuable, trustworthy, likable (esp. s/one or s/thing of long-time proven worth) >I never go camping without my good old hunting knife. >You can count on good old Derek to help us out on this.
* have a good thing going (colloq.): enjoy a very favorable situation, have a lucrative business >He has a good thing going, working at home without his boss looking over his shoulder all the time.
* in good with (colloq.): in favor with, liked by >Simmons is nothing but an ass-kisser who’s trying to get in good with the boss.
* it’s no good ... (colloq.): (doing s/thing) is futile >It’s no good trying to reason with anyone as stubborn as him.
— make (good) time (see TIME)
— on [s/one’s] good/bad side (see SIDE)
— what’s the good word? (see WHAT’S)
GOOD-BYE
* good-bye ... (colloq.): that’s the end of (the) ..., (the) ... is over >You come in late once more and good-bye job.
— kiss [s/thing] good-bye (see KISS)
GOOD EGG
— good egg (colloq.): good person, nice or affable person >Don’t worry about Stacy—she’s a good egg.
GOODIE
— goodie (see “GOODY”)
— goodie! (see “GOODY!”)
GOOD-LOOKER
— good-looker (colloq.): attractive person >Every girl he dates is a good-looker.
GOOD OLD BOY
* good old boy (colloq.): member of a group of men who cooperate to maintain control (esp. white men, esp. at a local government level, esp. while excluding others) >Let’s vote the good old boys out of county government and make some changes!
GOOD PEOPLE
— be good people (colloq.): be a person of good character, be a dependable or valuable person >We can count on Susan to take care of it—she’s good people.
GOODS
— deliver (the goods) (see DELIVER)
— have the goods on (sl.): have incriminating evidence against >They got the goods on ya, so ya better make a plea bargain with the District Attorney.
GOODY
— goody (gŭd´ē) (colloq.): attractive or pleasing thing, s/thing delicious >The first joke wasn’t so hot, but that last one was a goody. >She brought cookies, brownies, and other goodies.
— goody! (colloq.): good! hurrah! wonderful! (used esp. among children) >Goody! Dad’s taking us to the beach today.
GOODY-GOODY
* goody-goody (gŭd´ē gŭd´ē) (colloq., sarc.): self-righteous, affectedly moral, naively idealistic (also noun) >His goody-goody sister thinks she’s better than us. >That goody-goody won’t last five minutes counseling drug addicts.
GOOEY
— gooey (gū´ē) (colloq.): thick and sticky >The oatmeal’s all gooey now—I don’t want it.
GOOF
* goof1 (gūf) (sl.): silly error, blunder, mistake >That goof is gonna cost us two days’ work.
— goof2 (sl.): foolish or eccentric person >What a goof! How can anybody take him seriously?
** goof3 (vi) (sl.): make a silly error or mistake, blunder >It’s my fault. I goofed.
** goof around (vi) (sl.): pass time idly, work halfheartedly or unproductively >While you’ve been goofin’ around, Burt’s gone out and found hisself a good job.
— goof around with (sl.): treat without due respect or seriousness, handle capriciously, toy with >If ya goof around with drugs, you’re gonna get into deep trouble.
** goof off (vi) (sl.): pass time idly, work halfheartedly or unproductively >You kids stop goofin’ off and finish your homework!
* goof up (vi, vt) (sl.): botch, ruin, spoil >We can’t have anyone goofin’ up on this project. >Mayer goofed up the shipment by usin’ the wrong labels.
GOOFBALL
— goofball (gūf´bôl´) (sl.): foolish or eccentric person >Some goofball tried to tell me the Martians were gonna invade Earth.
GOOF-OFF
* goof-off (gūf´of´/ôf´) (sl.): person who passes time idly, person who works halfheartedly or unproductively >That goof-off will never make anything of himself.
GOOF-UP
* goof-up (gūf´up´) (sl.): silly error, blunder, mistake >That one little goof-up ruined the whole report.
GOOFY
* goofy (gū´fē) (sl.): ridiculous, foolish, silly, odd >The teacher’s tired of your goofy answers. >Some goofy guy with thick glasses was askin’ for ya.
GOO-GOO EYES
— make goo-goo eyes at (... gū´gū´ ...) (sl.): look at with a foolish look of love >He’s really fallen for Jane. See him makin’ goo-goo eyes at her?
GOOK
— gook1 (gūk/gŭk) (sl.): thick and sticky substance >She slapped some green gook on her face and said it would help her skin.
— gook2 (gūk) (sl., pej.): Asian, Oriental >Some idiot just called Joon a gook.
GOON
— goon1 (gūn) (colloq.): foolish or stupid person >Don’t say that to her, you goon!
— goon2 (colloq.): hired thug, large and mean man >He had his goons rough up the store owner.
GOONY
— goony (gū´nē) (sl.): foolish, awkward or unattractive (also noun) >What does she seen in that goony dork? >All the goonies hang out at that video arcade.
GOOP
— goop (gūp) (sl.): thick and sticky substance >Put some of this goop on the gasket first.
GOOSE
— goose1 (sl.): poke between the buttocks (in order to startle, as a prank) >A good goose in the behind will wake him up.
— goose2 (vt) (sl.): poke between the buttocks (in order to startle, as a prank) >Goose him with the broomstick and see what he does.
— cook [s/one’s] goose (colloq.): ruin [s/one’s] chances, spoil [s/one’s] plans, get [s/one] in trouble >We can cook their goose by telling the cops what they’re doing. >After they spread those rumors about him, his goose was cooked.
— (silly) goose (colloq.): silly or foolish person >What did that silly goose say that for?
GOOSE BUMPS
** goose bumps (colloq.): small bumps on the skin due to cold or strong emotion, goose flesh >I need a sweater—I’ve got goose bumps on my arms. >That horror movie gave me goose bumps.
GOPHER
— gopher (see “GOFER”)
GORILLA
— gorilla1 (colloq.): big and clumsy or coarse person >Can you believe that gorilla has taken up knitting?
— gorilla2 (sl.): hired thug, large and mean man >Call off your gorillas and we’ll work something out.
GO-ROUND
— go-round (colloq.): quarrel, fight >They had a big go-round about whose turn it was to wash the dishes.
GOSH
* gosh! (gosh) (colloq.): (interj. to express surprise, wonder, or disappointment) >Gosh, how you’ve grown! >Really? Gosh, that’s too bad!
GOT
* you got it (sl.): I’ll give you or do (what you request) >If ya want me to write it down for ya, you got it. >Another beer? You got it.
* you got it! (sl.): that’s exactly right! I completely agree with you! >You got it! Throw every last one of them bums in jail.
GOTCHA
** gotcha1 (goch´ә) (colloq.): got you >There’s no gettin’ away. I gotcha now.
— gotcha2 (colloq.): I understand you, I understand what you want >Don’t start serving until you get there? Gotcha.
GO-TO
— go-to [person] (sl.): expert [person] (in s/thing), [person] best able to resolve (s/thing) >Wilbert’s the go-to guy for setting up a business website.
GOTTA
** gotta1 (got´ә) (colloq.): got to >I gotta go to work now.
** gotta2 (colloq.): got a >I gotta headache from all my drinking last night.
GOURD
— out of [one’s] gourd (sl.): crazy, very irrational >She’s outta her gourd if she thinks she’ll get away with this!
GOY
— goy (goi) (colloq., pej.): non-Jew, gentile (used esp. among Jews) >Mel said the goys didn’t understand him.
GRAB
— grab (vt) (sl.): cause an emotional reaction in, affect, interest, get the attention of >That sad movie really grabbed me. >How does his plan grab ya? >His new book just didn’t grab me.
GRABS
* up for grabs (colloq.): available to be competed for, obtainable >There’s a new city council seat up for grabs. >You don’t have to pay for college—there are lots of scholarships up for grabs.
GRAD
** grad (grad) (colloq.): graduate (also adj.) >A lot of recent grads are trying to find jobs. >Are you going to grad school?
GRAMPS
— Gramps (gramps) (voc.) (colloq.): grandfather, old man (freq. pej. when used with a stranger) >Can you help me fix my toy, Gramps? >Hey, Gramps, hurry it up!
GRAND
* grand (sl.): thousand dollars >That car’ll run ya almost fifty grand.
GRAND CENTRAL STATION
* like Grand Central Station (colloq.): full of people and activity, very busy >With our big family, Grandma’s house at Christmas time is like Grand Central Station.
GRANDDAD
* granddad (gran´dad´) (colloq.): grandfather (also voc.) >Her granddad’s in great shape for his age. >How’re you feeling today, Granddad?
GRANDDADDY
— granddaddy (gran´dad´ē) (colloq.): grandfather >My granddaddy came out here forty years ago.
— the granddaddy (of ...) (colloq.): the oldest or largest (...), the most impressive (...) >Look at that one! That’s got to be the granddaddy of all lobsters!
GRANDMA
** grandma (gran´mä´/gram´mä´) (colloq.): grandmother, old lady (also voc.; freq. pej. when used with a stranger) >My grandma made my dress for me. >Thanks for my nice present, Grandma. >Hey, what you doing out alone this time of night, Grandma?
GRANDPA
** grandpa (gran´pä´/gram´pä´) (colloq.): grandfather, old man (also voc.; freq. pej. when used with a stranger) >I was named after my grandpa. >I love you, Grandpa. >Step up, Grandpa, you’re next.
GRANDSTAND
— grandstand (vi) (colloq.): perform ostentatiously to impress spectators >The other players don’t like him because he grandstands too much.
GRANNY
* granny (gran´ē) (colloq.): grandmother, old lady (also voc.; freq. pej. when used with a stranger) >How’s your granny feeling today? >Tell me a story, Granny. >Go on, Granny! You’re blocking the aisle.
GRAPEVINE
* the grapevine (colloq.): source of rumors, system for information spread by mouth >The grapevine has it that he’s going to resign soon. >I heard it through the grapevine.
GRASS
* grass (sl.): marijuana >He’s been smokin’ grass for years.
— [one’s] ass is grass (see ASS)
GRAVE
— turn (over)/spin in [one’s] grave (see TURN)
GRAVEYARD
** graveyard (shift) (colloq.): early morning work shift (gen. starting at midnight) >I was working afternoons, but now I’m on graveyard.
GRAVY
— gravy (sl.): money or benefits obtained easily or unexpectedly >We’ve covered our costs, so from now on everything is gravy.
GRAVY TRAIN
— gravy train (sl.): situation in which excessive pay or benefits are received for little or no effort >This “consultation commission” is nothin’ but a gravy train for the brokers. >His so-called job is a real gravy train.
GRAY MATTER
— gray matter (colloq.): brains, intelligence >He’s got the gray matter to do the job right.
GREASE
— grease (vt) (sl.): murder >He double-crossed ‘em, so they greased him.
— grease [s/one’s] palm (sl.): bribe [s/one] >He greased the inspector’s palm, and the inspection went off without a problem.
GREASED LIGHTNING
— like greased lightning (colloq.): very fast >That kid runs like greased lightning.
GREASE MONKEY
— grease monkey (sl.): mechanic (esp. for automobiles) >Billy’s a grease monkey at Roy’s Garage.
GREASER
— greaser (sl., pej.): Mexican, Mexican-American >Ralph called Tony a greaser and got belted for it.
GREASY SPOON
— greasy spoon (sl.): cheap or dirty restaurant or café >The chili I had in that greasy spoon gave me a stomachache.
GREAT
** great1 (colloq.): excellent, outstanding >This is great ice cream. >My trip was great.
** great2 (colloq.): very well, excellently >I think she sings great.
— be no great shakes (see SHAKES)
** great! (colloq., sarc.): how annoying! how disappointing! >Great! You’ve messed up the door I just painted.
** great at (colloq.): skilled at, expert at >Martha’s great at bird imitations.
** great big (colloq.): very large >This great big dog jumped out at us and scared us to death.
GREAT GUNS
— go great guns (colloq.): do very well, have great success (esp. in a dynamic or active way) >His business has been going great guns since he started advertising.
— great guns! (colloq., dtd.): (interj. to express surprise or wonder) >Great guns! What’re the firemen doing here?
GREEK
* Greek to (colloq.): unintelligible to >His talk on atavistic parapsychology was Greek to me.
GREEN
— green around the gills (colloq.): pale, sickly, nauseated >Troy looks a little green around the gills after his roller coaster ride.
* green with envy (colloq.): very envious >Jason was green with envy when he saw my new Porsche.
GREEN-LIGHT
— green-light (vt) (colloq.): approve the beginning of, authorize >The boss green-lighted the plan, so let’s get to it.
GREEN LIGHT
* the green light (colloq.): approval or permission to proceed, authorization >We’re waiting for the green light to start on the project.
GREEN STUFF
— green stuff (sl.): money (esp. in the form of bills) >He wants to see some green stuff before he hands over the goods.
GREEN THUMB
* a green thumb (colloq.): talent for cultivating plants, excellent gardening skills >Oh, you should see her beautiful garden! She really has a green thumb.
GRID
— off (the) grid (colloq.): unconnected to infrastructure, untraceable >He lives completely off the grid in a cabin in the mountains. >It’s off grid, so I don’t know where it came from.
GRIEF
— give [s/one] grief (sl.): annoy or harass [s/one], make trouble for [s/one] >The old lady’s been givin’ me grief about finishin’ school. >She’s got enough problems already without you givin’ her any grief.
GRILL
* grill (vt) (colloq.): question or cross-examine relentlessly >Are you ready to be grilled by their lawyer?
GRIN
* grin and bear it (colloq.): resign (oneself) to (a neg. situation), deal with (a neg. situation) as best one can >I don’t like the judge’s ruling, either, but we’re going to have to grin and bear it.
GRIND
* grind1 (colloq.): difficult and tiring routine or task >How can he take that same old grind day after day? >Addressing all these envelopes is going to be a real grind.
— grind2 (sl.): overly devoted student >Him and those other grinds spent the night studyin’ in the library.
GRINGO
* gringo (gring´gō) (colloq., freq. pej.): foreigner (esp. an American) (from the perspective of Latin Americans) (also adj.) >The Mexicans don’t like gringos raising hell in their towns. >The gringo tourists spend a lot of money in town.
GRIP
— get a grip (colloq.): get (one’s) emotions under control, not despair >He needs to get a grip and deal with this catastrophe. >Get a grip! It’s not that bad.
GRIPE
* gripe1 (grīp) (colloq.): complaint >If you got any gripes, come and talk them over with me.
* gripe2 (vi) (colloq.): complain (esp. constantly) >Everyone’s been griping about the lousy food.
* gripe3 (vt) (colloq.): annoy, irritate, frustrate >His arrogant attitude really gripes me.
GRIT
— grit (colloq.): strength of character or spirit, strong determination or resoluteness >She’s got a lot of grit to carry on after those setbacks.
GROCERIES
— bring home the groceries (see BRING)
GRODY
— grody (grō´dē) (sl.): filthy, dirty, disgusting >I can’t stand to look at the grody feet of people that go around barefoot.
GROOVE
— groove (sl., dtd.): pleasurable experience, good time >The party was a groove, man.
— groove (on) (sl., dtd.): enjoy (s/thing) very much, experience great pleasure (with) >My friends really groove on modern jazz. >He really grooves rock-’n’-roll music. >They were just sittin’ there at the party groovin’.
— in the groove (sl.): in good form, in style >When Arnie’s in the groove, nobody can shoot baskets like him. >If ya wanna be in the groove, ya gotta get the right clothes.
GROOVY
— groovy (grū´vē) (sl., dtd.): pleasing, attractive, excellent >What a groovy chick! I think I’m in love. >It’s a groovy song from the sixties.
GROPE
— grope (vt) (sl.): grab (s/one’s) genitals (or a woman’s breasts) >My girlfriend just walked right up and groped me! I couldn’t believe it!
GROSS
** gross (sl.): disgusting, despicable, very ugly >I’d never go out with him. He’s gross. >Where’d ya find those gross boots?
* gross out (vt) (sl.): disgust, shock, or offend (with s/thing repugnant) >It really grossed me out when he started blowin’ his nose.
GROSS-OUT
— gross-out (sl.): disgusting or very offensive thing or person >We saw a cheap porno flick that was a gross-out. >Like, this geek’s a total gross-out.
GROTTY
— grotty (see “GRODY”)
GROUND
** ground (vt) (colloq.): restrict to (one’s) home and deny social privileges to as punishment (esp. parents to children) >Dad grounded me for two weeks for lying to him.
* get off the ground (colloq.): have an initial success, get firmly under way (esp. an enterprise) >If their business ever gets off the ground, they just might make some bucks.
— run [s/thing] into the ground (see RUN)
GROUND FLOOR
* get in on the ground floor (colloq.): join an enterprise at its beginning (esp. to gain future advantage) >He got in on the ground floor and now takes ten percent of the profits.
GROUND ZERO
— ground zero (colloq.): most elementary level, very beginning (of a process) >I didn’t know the first thing about computers, so I had to learn from ground zero.
GROUPIE
* groupie (grū´pē) (sl.): fan or admirer (esp. female) who is infatuated with a famous person or group or with members of a certain profession and who follows him/her/them in hopes of gaining intimacy >The rock star was always havin’ to dodge groupies. >Kay’s a cop groupie—she’s always hangin’ around the police station.
GROW
— grow a pair (sl., freq. vulg.): become courageous, stop being afraid or timid >Just grow a pair and go demand a raise from the boss.
* grow like a weed (colloq.): (for a child to) grow very fast >Mark started growing like a weed when he turned thirteen.
GRUB
— grub (sl.): food >They serve real good grub at camp.
GRUBBIES
— grubbies (grub´ēz) (sl.): clothing that is old or worn-out but comfortable >Can I go in my grubbies, or do I have to change into something nicer?
GRUNGE
— grunge (grunj) (sl.): filth, dirt >I’m gonna scrub all the grunge outta the shower before I use it.
GRUNGY
— grungy (grun´jē) (sl.): dirty, unkempt, run-down >Get your grungy socks off the floor! >He rents this grungy old apartment for $600 a month.
GRUNT
— grunt1 (sl.): soldier (esp. an infantryman) >He was a grunt in Vietnam and saw a lot of action.
— grunt2 (sl.): laborer, unskilled worker >Don’t worry about it. We’ll hire a couple of grunts to clean it up.
GRUNT WORK
— grunt work (sl.): tedious or hard work >We’ll pay a bunch of kids eight bucks an hour to do all the grunt work.
GUCK
— guck (guk) (sl.): messy and sticky substance >Clean out that guck in the corners, will ya?
GUESSTIMATE
— guesstimate (ges´tә mit) (colloq.): impromptu and approximate estimate >I know you can’t say exactly, but give me a guesstimate of how much it’ll cost.
GUEST
* be my guest! (colloq., freq. sarc.): I won’t object if you really want (s/thing, to do s/thing)! go ahead! >If you think you can do this better than me, be my guest!
GUFF
— guff (guf) (sl.): nonsense, insolence, impudence >Don’t give me none of your guff—just shut up and do it!
GUILT TRIP
* guilt trip (sl.): attack of guilt, feeling of self-reproach >He’s on a guilt trip because he told his mother off. >Hey, don’t lay a guilt trip on me—it wasn’t my fault.
GUM
— gum up (vt) (sl.): ruin, botch, spoil >Terri gummed everything up by invitin’ her in-laws along. >He’s gonna gum up the deal if he doesn’t come through with the money.
GUMPTION
— gumption (gump´shәn) (colloq.): courage, initiative, resoluteness, pluck >It took a lot of gumption for her to file a complaint against her boss.
GUMSHOE
— gumshoe (sl., dtd.): detective >He was a gumshoe with NYPD for ten years.
GUN
— eat [one’s] gun (see EAT)
— give [s/thing] the gun (sl.): give full power or speed to [s/thing] >The engine sounds OK idlin’. Give it the gun and we’ll have a listen.
— jump the gun (see JUMP)
* under the gun (colloq.): under pressure (esp. to meet a deadline) >Stan’s under the gun to finish the report by Monday.
GUNBOATS
— gunboats (sl.): pair of very large shoes >Did ya see the gunboats that basketball player wears?
GUNG-HO
* gung-ho (gung´hō´) (colloq.): very enthusiastic and loyal, overly eager, zealous >They’re proposing some gung-ho young executive for top management. >They’re really gung-ho on the idea.
GUNK
* gunk (gungk) (colloq.): thick and greasy substance >What’s that gunk he uses on his hair?
GUNNING
— gunning for (colloq.): seeking (s/one) with the intention of harming or defeating (him/her) >The contender has come gunning for the champ here in the finals.
GUNS
— stick to [one’s] guns (see STICK)
GUSSY
— gussy up1 (gus´ē ...) (vi) (colloq.): dress (oneself) up, make (oneself) elegant >I see she’s gussying up for the big party.
— gussy up2 (vt) (colloq.): decorate, adorn, make pretty >Those new curtains really gussy the room up.
GUT
** gut1 (colloq.): large belly, potbelly >Look at the gut on that guy! They say he drinks two six-packs of beer a day.
* gut2 (colloq.): instinct, intuition (also adj.) >His gut told him something just wasn’t right. >My gut reaction was to get the hell out of there.
— (about) bust/split a gut (see BUST)
GUTLESS
— gutless (colloq.): cowardly, fearful >The gutless bastard dropped his gun and ran.
GUTS
** guts (colloq.): courage, fortitude, nerve >It took guts to testify against that mafioso.
— hate [s/one’s] guts (see HATE)
— spill [one’s] guts (see SPILL)
GUTSY
* gutsy (gut´sē) (colloq.): courageous, plucky >Some gutsy woman walked right up to the jerk and punched him out.
GUTTER
— [one’s] mind in the gutter (see MIND)
GUY
** guy (gī) (colloq.): man, boy (also voc.) >A guy I know has a car like that. >Say, guy, where’d you get that application form?
— this guy (colloq.): this thing or device >With this guy you can use your drill as a screwdriver.
GUYS
** the guys (... gīz) (colloq.): group of men (esp. friends) >I’m going camping with the guys.
— you guys (see YOU)
GYM
** gym (jim) (= “gymnasium”) (colloq.): physical education class >What did you do in gym today?
GYP
* gyp1 (jip) (colloq.): swindle, unfair transaction (where what one buys is not worth the money spent) >Twenty bucks for a hot dog, onion rings, and a coke? What a gyp!
* gyp2 (vt) (colloq.): swindle, cheat (in a transaction) >Are you trying to gyp me? The change you gave me is two dollars short.
GYP JOINT
— gyp joint (jip ...) (colloq.): establishment that overcharges or provides inferior goods or services >Lousy food and high prices—what a gyp joint!