ZAP
— zap1 (zap) (sl.): jolt or shock (esp. of electricity) >That 220 volt outlet will give ya quite a zap.
* zap2 (vt) (sl.): cook (in a microwave oven) >Just zap it ten minutes in the microwave instead of bakin’ it for an hour.
* zap3 (vt) (sl.): jolt or shock suddenly (esp. with electricity) >You’ll get zapped good if you step on that wire barefoot. >It really zapped her when she heard that he died.
* zap4 (vt) (sl.): kill suddenly and violently (esp. with electricity) >The victim’s parents want ‘em to zap him in the electric chair. >The light attracts the bugs, and then it zaps ‘em.
— zap5 (vt) (sl.): severely criticize, reprimand >Wade really got zapped by his supervisor for missin’ the deadline.
ZEES
— cop some zees (see “cop some ZS”)
— get/catch some zees (see “get/catch some ZS”)
ZERO
— zero (sl.): contemptibly insignificant person, useless or worthless person >The guy’s stupid, ugly, and a jerk—a total zero.
— bat zero (see BAT)
* zero in on (colloq.): concentrate (one’s) attention on, target >The police have been zeroing in on the big-time drug dealers. >He checked out all the women, then zeroed in on a tall blonde.
ZILCH
* zilch (zilch) (sl.): nothing at all >He knows zilch about runnin’ a business. >I got zilch outta that stupid deal.
ZILLION
* zillion (zil´yәn) (colloq.): very many, a huge number (of) >I’ve got a zillion things to do before leaving on my trip.
ZING
— zing1 (zing) (colloq.): energy, vigor, vitality >If he’d just put a little more zing in his dancing, he wouldn’t be bad.
— zing2 (vt) (sl.): criticize, reprimand >They’re really gonna zing ya for not reportin’ that.
ZINGER
* zinger (zing´әr) (sl.): critical remark, sharp and witty criticism >She can outtalk Clarence, but he always gets in a few good zingers.
ZIP
** zip1 (colloq.): postal zip code >Be sure to include your zip on that address-change form.
* zip2 (sl.): nothing at all, zero >Why should he get a percentage? He did zip for us. >They beat us three zip.
* zip3 (colloq.): energy, vigor, vitality >The old guy’s got a little more zip since he got him a new girlfriend.
* zip4 (vi) (colloq.): go quickly, move fast >He was zipping along about eighty when the cop pulled him over. >I’ll zip down to the store for a quart of milk.
* zip [one’s] lip (sl.): keep quiet, shut up >He’d better zip his lip, or I’ll shut him up myself.
— zip up (vt) (colloq.): add energy or zest to, give more vitality or taste to >You need to zip this party up with some faster music. >This stuff really zips up a salad.
ZIT
** zit (zit) (sl.): pimple >Wouldn’t you know it! I get a big zit on my nose the day of my interview.
ZOMBIE
* zombie (sl.): unreacting or lifeless person, torpid person (esp. when due to drugs or exhaustion) >She’s a zombie when she’s been takin’ drugs. >I was a zombie after thirty hours without sleep.
ZONE
— zone out (vi) (sl.): stop paying attention, mentally relax by restricting outside stimuli >Everyone zoned out during his boring lecture. >I like to put on a jazz CD, close my eyes and just zone out.
ZONK
— zonk (zongk/zôngk) (vt) (sl.): put to sleep or make unconscious, exhaust >Studyin’ for final exams always zonks me.
— zonk out (vi) (sl.): fall asleep or become unconscious, become exhausted >Ward planned on stayin’ up all night, but he zonked out about three a.m.
ZONKED
— zonked (zongkt/zôngkt) (sl.): intoxicated (by drugs or alcohol) >Four tokes on a joint and she’s zonked. >He’s too zonked to drive.
ZOO
** zoo (colloq.): place or situation where there is chaos or disorderly activity >The school was a zoo the last day of class.
ZOOM
— zoom in on (sl.): notice and pay special attention to, target >Nick zoomed in on a cute redhead as soon as he walked into the party.
* zoom (up) (vi) (colloq.): increase very quickly >Housing costs have zoomed the last couple of years.
ZS
— cop some Zs (kop ... zēz) (sl.): get some sleep, take a nap >They caught him coppin’ some Zs on the job and fired him.
* get/catch some Zs (sl.): get some sleep, take a nap >I’m gonna catch some Zs now ‘cause I gotta stay up late tonight.