Skip to main content
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.

Bows Under 

English expression meaning to have more work that you can possibly deal with. It originated with the Royal Navy and referred to those times when a ship was caught in a severe storm or hurricane. This would require the crew member to work continuously, often for extended periods with little rest, to ensure the safety of the ship. During this time the ship would have green seas coming over the bows so that it appeared as if the bows were under water. When telling of the experience once they were back on shore, the sailors would refer to the ship as being 'bows under' and gradually the expression became associated with the excessive workload incurred at the time as well, so that having an excessive workload requiring continuous application to clear became known as being 'bows under'.

The expression came to be used within the Royal Dockyards to denote times when excessive workloads were experienced. One notable occasion being 1982 when, in response to the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, the Royal Dockyards fitted out ships taken up from trade for Naval service in less than six weeks, Commercial shipbuilders said that this would take more than six months for each vessel, but by carrying out the work in less than a quarter of the time quoted by commercial shipbuilders the Royal Dockyards were 'bows under'.
"This is the first weekend off I've had in six weeks! We've been bows under!"
Bows Under by AKACroatalin March 18, 2015

The Crab Under the Bridge 

Verb: The act of performing a spit roast while a male takes the crab position beneath the female, with head placed between the penetrating male's legs while receiving a tit wank from the females low hanging breasts. This person may or may not lick the balls of the penetrating man.
Guy 1: "Yo CB3 was the Crab Under the Bridge and started tounging my balls."
Guy 2: "I'll have to try that sometime with Loz and Haz."

Thunder From Down Under 

Professional exotic dancers/strippers from Australia! They are So Hot!
I'd Love to see the performance of the Fantastic Thunder From Down Under!

tight as a fishes ass under compression 

Someone who does not spend any money.............period!
He was as tight as a fishes ass under compression when it came time to getting any money out of him.....cunt.

getting under my skin 

My boss is really good at getting under my skin with her constant reminding...
getting under my skin by paulpaxman December 2, 2013

under the clock 

Spending time in the Hennepin County jail in Minneapolis, MN. So named for the fact that the jail is located underneath the courthouse building which features a clock tower. The clock tower is also a well known Minneapolis landmark.
How much time did you spend under the clock?
under the clock by revrock May 31, 2011
More from Urban Dictionary

proper lad 

a lad that is such a lad that he is a proper lad
person1:did you see bob
person2: ya he was a proper lad
Word of the Day on October 29, 2026
The number of years you are still sexually active
While our lifespan is the number of years we will live, our healthspan is the number of healthy years we will have and our sexspan is is the number of years we will continue to be healthy enough to continue having an active sex life.
sexspan by Dr Kat April 21, 2022
Word of the Day on October 28, 2026
A lighthearted reaction upon receiving disappointing news of some sort. Usually something that isn't a particularly a big deal, esp. when it primarily affects someone else - sort of a mild schadenfreude. Sometimes doubled or tripled, and possibly said in a sing-songy voice for added comedic effect to imitate a muted trumpet, which is how the meme originated.
You didn't get any napkins with your takeout pork fried rice? Womp womp.
womp by 175623226 November 3, 2011
Word of the Day on October 27, 2026
When your wife’s boyfriend let you sleep past 8pm 😎😎
Wife’s boyfriend: You have 5 more minutes
Me: Poggers!
Poggers by Just_Charles April 14, 2020
Word of the Day on October 26, 2026

Oblication 

A vacation, feeling more like an obligation, that involves visiting or staying with family.
So Joe where are you taking the kids for spring break vacation? We are going on an oblication to Boca to visit my mother-in-law.
Oblication by kimmerr May 5, 2011
Word of the Day on October 25, 2026

Surf Dracula Syndrome 

A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.

For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!
Word of the Day on October 24, 2026
Load more