Monday, April 25, 2011

U is for Urban Dictionary

The Urban Dictionary is a web-based dictionary of slang words/phrases and street lingo. The entries are posted and defined by readers so there are some off-color entries. If you can stand it, however, some of the words and definitions are laugh-out-loud funny.

According to Urban Dictionary, the site has almost 5 million words listed. Some of the entries are 'new' definitions of everyday words; words that commonly mean one thing but have evolved to mean something entirely different in 'today's' language. Other entries are made-up words and phrases.

Recent favorites:

Afterclap: The person who keeps clapping after all applause has stopped. Usually an overly enthusiastic parent attending his/her child's theatre performance, dance recital, or ball game.
Example - Even though Joe is a lousy soccer player, his dad is always good for a loud afterclap.

Dungeon Tan: The complexion of a video game addict who never goes outside.
Example -  We haven't seen Earl in days. He must be in the basement playing Xbox and working on his dungeon tan.

Fauxpology: An insincere apology. When an apology is due but instead the person shifts blame or uses twisted logic to divert responsibility.
Example - When Betty opened the discussion with "I know you thought I said..." I turned away because I knew she was offering another lame fauxpology. 

Go primitive: Instead of typing or texting a detailed message, you suggest a phone call.
Example - I've got loads to tell you. Let's go primitive tomorrow, I'll call you at 5. 

Premature exasperation: Getting upset about something before learning the details.
Example: When my boyfriend found out I was in a car wreck, his premature exasperation kicked in. Nobody was hurt and none of the cars were damaged.
Okay, I've spent way more time on Urban Dictionary than I intended to. Check it out for yourself, if you dare.

Do you have any favorite 'modern' words or phrases to share?

source: Urban Dictionary

18 comments:

  1. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll be sticking that one on under my favorites.

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  2. They're great - I'll bookmark that site. Problem is, no-one will know the meaning of most of the words or phrases in forty years (and neither will I!)

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  3. Hi Langley

    Yes, I've seen this site before.

    My son is rather fond of the words 'Whatever' 'Wicked' and 'Blazed'
    - not sure whether they are in the urban dictionary or need adding as he uses them a LOT!

    x

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  4. Hey Langley
    I had a goood chuckle reading these words !! No , I haven't heard of this site Urban Dictionary but I've seen a similar site that has to do with newly-coined words/phrases .I actually intend using a similar post for my "W" post ~ check it out in 2? 3? days time ...
    Nice to meet you ! Enjoy what's left of the A~Z Challenge !!

    ~MICHELLE~
    http://writer-in-transit.co.za/category/other/rambles-rants-and-raves/

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  5. Manwhore. Definitely manwhore.

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  6. Great resource the Urban dictionary is! I like thye dungeon tan, that's funny. My favorite I think is prolly, the way of saying probably for lazy people (I use it all the time when I write).

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  7. Sounds like a great resource for an old-timer like me if I want to try my hand at YA. If I can stand wading through the nasty. Oh, the sacrifices we make for our art.

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  8. I love the urban dictionary, it always cracks me up. Love your choices here, thanks for the laugh. :)

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  9. LOL! I've never heard of it before. I'll definitely check it out. Those are hilarious!
    http://ifbloggingburnedcalories.blogspot.com

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  10. That's such a fun site at times. Always fun to learn new meanings behind words.

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  11. LOL! I love Urban Dictionary! I find myself using it more because I work with an after school youth program and sometimes don't understand what the teens are talking about. Most times I kick myself for looking it up, lol.

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  12. I do the same thing Bethy B....my students get hooked on words that I don't understand, and then wish I STILL naive after looking it up! Great post Langley
    http://www.sylviebranch.com

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  13. Urban dictionary cracks me up. I'll admit that I've had to look up quite a few expressions before, too.

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  14. I actually had urban legend written in my list of topics but decided against it today for some reason.

    Love 'afterclap' and 'fauxpology'!

    Popping in by way of the A-Z Challenge. I’m blogging at:
    Write, Wrong or Indifferent
    Marie Anne’s Missives
    In the Garden With Sow-n-Sow
    Every Day Crochet

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  15. I love that site. Dungeon Tan is classic.

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  16. yo, i wonder if the urban dictionary also recommends that all words be lower case. this totally drives me crazy. i can't stand it. i also can't stand it when people use acronyms that i don't know. i need a tutorial or something. i got bff and lol, but that is the extent of my understanding. i'm only 40, too young to not be hip.

    btw (i know that one too), i like fauxpology. never heard that one before, but i've seen it in action. got to go now, dawg...

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