Two Whoops and a Holler in the Wild, Wild West

As long as there is language there will always be slang. This collection takes you to the old west where it is always hot as a whorehouse on nickel night. Now that’s damned hot.

COWBOY SLANG

ABOVE SNAKES – If you were “above snakes,” you were above ground – meaning still alive.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORN – To admit the truth, to confess a lie, or acknowledge an obvious personal shortcoming.

ADAM’S ALE – Water.

AIRIN’ THE PAUNCH – Vomit, throw-up, regurgitate. He’s “airing the paunch” after a heavy bout of drinking.

A LICK AND A PROMISE – To do a haphazard job. “She just gave it a lick and a promise.”

AMONG THE WILLOWS – Dodging the Law.

BAD BOX – To be in a bad box, is to be in a bad predicament.

BAMBOOZLE – To deceive, impose upon, confound.

BARKIN’ AT A KNOT – Doing something useless; wasting your time, trying something impossible.

BARNUM – “To talk Barnum” is to not indulge in extravagant, hugh falutin’ talk, but talks in a quiet manner.

BARREL FEVER – A hangover.

BASE BURNER – A drink of whiskey.

BAY-WINDOW – Pregnancy.

BEATING THE ROAD – Traveling on a railroad train without paying, usually referring to a bum.

BED HIM DOWN – To kill a man.

BED-HOUSE – Brothel.

BED-POST – A moment, an instant, jiffy. “He got over here in the twinkling of a bed-post.”

BEEF-HEADED – Stupid, dull as an ox.

B’HOY – A rowdy young man, reveler or ruffian.

BELLY THROUGH THE BRUSH – Dodge the law.

BEST BIB AND TUCKER – Wearing your best clothes. “There’s a dance Saturday, so put on your best bib and tucker.”

BOBBERY – A squabble, argument.

BOODLE – A crowd of people.

BOOT-LICKER – The equivalent of an ass-kisser.

BOOSILY – Lazily, in a state of intoxication.

BOSH – Nonsense. “It was absolute bosh what he said.”

BOX HERDER – The person in charge of the “girls” at a brothel or saloon. Their job was to keep the “ladies” in line.

BRAIN TABLET – Cigarette.

BROWN GARGLE – Coffee.

BUCKLE BUNNIES – Female groupies who follow and befriend rodeo riders.

BUNKO ARTIST – A con man.

BY HOOK OR CROOK – To do any way possible.

CHICKABIDDY – A young chicken. Used also as a term of endearment for children.

CREEPMOUSE – A term of endearment to babies.

CROOKED AS A VIRGINIA FENCE – A phrase applied to anything very crooked; and figuratively to persons of a stubborn temperament.

DIDN’T HAVE A TAIL FEATHER LEFT – Broke

FAT IN THE FIRE – To have one’s plans frustrated. “If I don’t get this job completed, the fat’s going to be in the fire.”

FISH OR CUT BAIT – Do it or quit talking about it.

FLANNEL MOUTH – An overly smooth or fancy talker, especially politicians or salesmen. “I swear that man is a flannel-mouthed liar.”

GET IT IN THE NECK – Get cheated, misled, bamboozled.

GET THE WRONG PIG BY THE TAIL – To make a mistake in selecting a person for any purpose. “I got the wrong pig by the tail in debating with that particular man.”

HAMMER AND TONGS – In a noisy, furious manner. “They went at it hammer and tongs.”

HARD ROW TO HOE – A metaphor derived from hoeing corn, meaning a difficult matter or job to accomplish.

HARUM-SCARUM – A negative term applied to flighty persons or persons always in a hurry.

HOT AS A WHOREHOUSE ON NICKEL NIGHT – Damned hot.

MAD AS A MARCH HARE – Very angry.

MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES – To make the most of the day, or an opportunity.

PUT A SPOKE IN THE WHEEL – To foul up or sabotage something.

SLICK AS A WHISTLE OR SLICK AS GREASE – To do something very smoothly.

SLUMGUZZLING – Deceiving, humbugging.

SOCKDOLOGER – A powerful punch or blow.

TALK A DONKEY’S HIND LEG OFF – To talk with no purpose.

TANGLE-FOOTED, TANGLE- LEGGED – Drunk from bad whiskey.

THAT DOG WON’T HUNT – That idea or argument isn’t going to work. Or, the person saying it doesn’t believe what you’re saying.

TWO WHOOPS AND A HOLLER – Not far away.

FOR MORE WORDS VISIT
The Legends of America’s Blog of Slang

Know Your Onions! A Journey of Slang
Kiss a hare’s foot? Raggabrash in the Middle Ages
The Victorian’s Bricky Bags O’ Mystery
Two Whoops and a Holler in the Wild West
The British Love Their Bits N’ Bobs
The Rhythm of Rhyming Slang ~ History and form
of Cockney and Australian Rhyming Slang

WALKABOUT OF AUSSIE SLANG - (Home)

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A BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED OBSCURE WORD
a site for logophiles and writers & word lovers part of A SERIES OF BEAUTIFUL WORDS
Collection of Vocabulary Books & Blogs

Series Homepage | View Sites | Download Books
Words are also posted on twitter under the hashtags #beautifulwords and on pinterest

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Never underestimate the strength and power of a beautiful vocabulary

Original content © 2021 Copyright, Kairos

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