Nick Cusa's definitions

canary

Female singer, especially in the Big Band/Swing era.

Anita O'Day started off as a canary in the Krupa band, but she really hit her stride later as a jazz soloist.

by Nick Cusa September 20, 2006

Barrel of monkeys

A standard of comparison for describing how much fun something is. The "B of m" is usually considered to be less fun that the great time we are having.

This is more fun than a barrel of monkeys

by Nick Cusa September 24, 2006

hip

The state of being in-the-know, including, but not limited to, being stylish or fashionable. It is sometimes claimed to have replaced its predecessor, "hep," with the 1946 popular song, "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," first recorded by Nat Cole, and the Rolling Stones (and many others) after that. According to the songwriter, he changed "hep" to "hip" for the sake of a rhyme (see example).

. . . get hip / To this kindly tip / And take that California trip,/ Get your kicks on Route 66.

by Nick Cusa September 2, 2006

canary in a coal mine

The thankless task of being the first one to take a hit, from the practice of coal miners of bringing down a caged canary to see if there's dangerous gas below

I don't know if this alleyway's safe, and I ain't no canary in a coal mine.

by Nick Cusa September 20, 2006

boom boom

Nickname for a fighter who throws many hard, punishing blows.

Nickname of Ray (Boom Boom) Mancini (also used by his boxing father)

by Nick Cusa September 3, 2006

too many chiefs, not enough Indians

Phrase used to claim there are too many bosses, not enough workers, but also used to lament the over-education of the "masses," who should realize their place. Usually uttered by yuppies or their parents, quite confident that no one in their circle will end up a mere "Indian."

"Ah, another fellowship program, but you can't find a good lawn man these days. Too many chiefs, not enough Indians."

by Nick Cusa March 30, 2008

rebop

1. An early version of the term "bebop," i.e., a modern jazz style popularized by Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and others. The term continued to be popular in England into the 1970s, and is sometimes combined with "bebop" to produce scat-sounding jive talk--e.g. "Bepob with the Rebop."

2. Cab Calloway uses it generally for joyous, intoxicating music, with a hint (as so often in Cab's hep talk) of drugs (see example).

Cab Calloway lyrics, from "Hi De Ho Man" (1947): "How'd you like to blow your top?/Dig yourself some fine rebop?/ Hi de hi, he de he,/ It's the Hi de ho man, that's me!"

by Nick Cusa September 23, 2006