david lincoln brooks's definitions

toony

(adjective, used in the fields of fine art, graphic art, CGI, animation and film) Of, like or resembling a cartoon. Usually said of a drawing, caricature or CGI image, animation or film. Including the simplification of forms, exaggeration of caricaturing, and often including bright, saturated colors. Often looking more 2-dimensional than 3D, flat, like a cartoon.

Example: "In our next CGI film, we want the overall look to be more toony, less naturalistic and realistic."

"In my sketch here, I'm deliberately exaggerating proportions to make things look more toony."

"The actor's exaggerated facial expressions and bodily movements almost give his performance a toony quality."

by david lincoln brooks October 12, 2018

greek

Impenetrable, incomprehensible, gibberish, utterly foreign, incapable of being understood.

This is the more traditional, colloquial meaning in American slang. Something, usually text or a learned subject, that is difficult to comprehend or understand.

"I am trying to learn calculus, but failing miserably. It's all Greek to me."

"Can you read what it says on the menu? It's all greek to me."

by david lincoln brooks November 6, 2017

rotsa ruck

Besides an un-PC imitation of an Asian's speech accent, rotsa ruck is a backhanded rejoinder: It is a way of sarcastically saying: "You'll never be successful at doing that." OR "That's a near-impossible task."

Probably originated on American college campuses of the 1960's.

Man #1: I'm studying political science and world religions, so I can finally bring peace between the Jews and Muslims on the Gaza Strip.

Man #2: Rotsa ruck on THAT one.

OR:

Woman: I'm meeting with the Texas PTA tonight to convince teachers to discuss GLBT issues with their sixth-graders.

Man: Hey, rotsa ruck on that.

by david lincoln brooks April 30, 2014

tits 'n' ass

Breasts and female buttocks. This expression comes from the entertainment industry, and may well date to the vaudeville era. It means using feminine beauty, in various states of undress, to spice up or ornament a dramatic or musical show. Often used cynically to imply that the tastes of audiences are of the lowest common denominator: shallow and sexually-obsessed, failing to appreciate other aspects of a show thought "finer", such as drama, action, talent or music.

Example 1: When we staged this show, we included a number of scantily-clad female dancers, because all audiences really want nowadays is tits 'n' ass.

Example 2: You're spending HOW much on your musicians for this show? Don't you know that all people really want is tits 'n' ass?

Example 3: In the 1960's, pop music was really about talent and musical ability. Now it's all about tits 'n' ass.

by david lincoln brooks November 10, 2013

shit, shave, shower and shine

Originating in the U.S. Army of WWII, this is the shorthand slogan to describe the hygiene preparation an enlisted soldier must do to ready himself for a military inspection by superiors.

"Shine" refers to the careful and thorough polishing of one's black military boots.

Now it has entered civilian use to mean preparation for any important social event in which one must look good, often abbreviated nowadays to just "shit, shave and shower".

Soldier 1: "We've got an inspection later today from the brass."

Soldier 2: "Guess it's time to shit, shave, shower and shine."

by david lincoln brooks February 18, 2013

chiva

Heroin, but specifically the reddish-brown poppy resin that comes up from Mexico, usually sold in very small amounts in latex balloons. Considered the lowest-quality heroin obtainable in the USA, as opposed to the more powerful, more desirable and expensive Black Tar or China White heroin varieties.

Also simply nicknamed "brown" because of its color.

"Chiva" means "goat" in Spanish.

"We've been banging chiva because we couldn't get any Black tar or China White."

by david lincoln brooks February 4, 2013

peed in the punchbowl

Slang phrase meaning figuratively to spoil a good thing or favorable situation by some erring, usually small, behavior.

Michael Dukakis seemed like a good presidential candidate; but he peed in the punchbowl by revealing he had been treated for depression.

Oprah Winfrey's TV network was going well until her CEO peed in the punchbowl with her incompetence and was fired.

by david lincoln brooks May 31, 2011