Twathenge's definitions

'Cock-a-doodle-do! Any cock will do!'

Phrase attributed to 1930s movie star Carole Lombard after being exposed as having an adulterous affair with Clark Gable.

"At a hastily called press conference, the exasperated Lombard allegedly shouted, 'Cock-a-doodle-do! Any cock will do!' out of frustration.

"Needless to say, due to the times, none of those present printed her words, but bad blood continued between Lombard and an outraged Louella Parsons until Lombard's death."

-- Jim Bacon, "Gable & Lombard: A Romance Made in Hollywood" (Parade Magazine, November 25, 1963)

by Twathenge April 29, 2006

Family, The

The criminal underworld, also Family People.

Family, The: The term "Family" for a Mafia organization, such as the "Five Families" of New York, is rooted in the Victorian term "The Family" (or "Family People"), slang for the underworld.

by Twathenge April 29, 2006

tits up in a ditch

Deceased; dead. Typically used to connote a potentially bad outcome. (Army slang)

"If you go AWOL, wwe're going to find you tits up in a ditch after Top hunts you down."

by Twathenge April 27, 2006

Jewish Navy

The U.S. Coast Guard.

Etymology: World War II era military slang

If your hair is wavy,
Come and join the Jewish Navy,
Fight fight fight
For Palestine!

-- World War II-era U.S. Navy ditty

by Twathenge April 29, 2006

Stepford

An upper-class town or suburb populated by materialistic people; the men are souless strivers and the women who are automatons.

The fictional town of Stepford, Connecticut actually is Darien, Connecticut, so-called by Ira Levin in his novel "The Stepford Wives" as it is near Stamford, Connecticut, thus: a "Step" from Stam-"ford." Darien is the home of many rich executives and professionals who commute to New York City.

"'Stepford' is the fictional upper-class Connecticut town inhabited by men with animatronic spouses in Ira Levin's slyly satirical 'The Stepford Wives.'"

by Twathenge April 29, 2006

Dipper

A thief who steals by rifling the pockets of passersby on city streets; a pickpocket.

Before Raul turned to dealing, he tried to make a living on the block as a dipper. He washed out as a pickpocket but is livin' large and should remain top dog. For the time being. As long as he doesn't dip into his merchandise.

by Twathenge April 29, 2006

Family People

The criminal underworld. Also, "The Family".

Etymology: Victorian slang

The term "The Family" for a Mafia organization, such as the "Five Families" of New York, is rooted in the Victorian term "The Family" (or "Family People"), slang for the underworld.

by Twathenge April 29, 2006