Definitions by al-in-chgo
tuchus oyfn tish
Pronounced "TOOK-us OY-f'n tish." Many variant spellings. Literally "ass on the table," it's a Yiddish phrase meaning a serious atmosphere for talk or negotiation. Closest US-English equivalents are probably "No BS" or "(Let's get down to) brass tacks." Often used in a tone of exasperation. Generally recommended for use within members of the same sex.
"Elliot, come into the dining room. We need to make travel plans NOW or they won't get done."
"But Uncle Bernie, the game starts in half an hour."
"Plenty of time if you stop fooling around. Cmon: tuchus oyfn tish."
"But Uncle Bernie, the game starts in half an hour."
"Plenty of time if you stop fooling around. Cmon: tuchus oyfn tish."
tuchus oyfn tish by al-in-chgo December 24, 2013
Halloween tailgating
Another term for trunk or treat, the emerging American practice of children's trick or treating for candy out of car trunks whose owners have convened in church or shopping-center parking lots for the occasion. The practice, which is similar to sports-events tailgating of meals near a stadium, is meant to offer children a safer experience than walking the streets.
"I need to buy lots of candy. Time for Halloween tailgating."
"You need so much candy for a football game?"
"No, it's for trick-or-treating out of car trunks near the church on Halloween afternoon, also called trunk or treat."
"Very clever, these Americans."
"You need so much candy for a football game?"
"No, it's for trick-or-treating out of car trunks near the church on Halloween afternoon, also called trunk or treat."
"Very clever, these Americans."
Halloween tailgating by al-in-chgo November 3, 2013
trunk or treat
from car TRUNK + trick OR TREAT. A style of Halloween trick or treating where children solicit candy and other goodies not from households but from car trunks in an entertainment style similar to tailgating. Trunk or treating has its origins in late 1990s Utah but has since spread to some other locales, generally small towns or suburbs in the Midwest and South. To host a trunk-or-treat event, a sponsoring entity (usually a local church) will offer its parking lot on Halloween afternoon and evening. Participants agree to bring their cars and stock the trunks with candy. A growing custom, there are now websites devoted to explaining the ritual and offering tips for decorating car trunks in Halloween themes.
"Jimmy won't be home 'til almost dark. He's going to trunk or treat with friends."
"Do you mean trick or treat?"
"No, trunk or treat. The kids go to church parking lots and get their candy from the parents' car trunks."
"The younger generation has it too easy, if you ask me."
"Do you mean trick or treat?"
"No, trunk or treat. The kids go to church parking lots and get their candy from the parents' car trunks."
"The younger generation has it too easy, if you ask me."
trunk or treat by al-in-chgo November 2, 2013
Jes sayin'
A mild dialect-in-writing variant of "just sayin'," a phrase that follows a statement or affirmation that might potentially give offense in order to defuse any insult.
Standard English equivalent = "No offense."
Standard English equivalent = "No offense."
"You buzzed that guy in? Suppose he was some sort of murderer or rapist?"
"That so-called murderer and rapist just happens to be my brother."
"Jes sayin'."
"That so-called murderer and rapist just happens to be my brother."
"Jes sayin'."
Jes sayin' by al-in-chgo October 31, 2013
Ruh-roh
A Hanna-Barbera canine cartoon saying for "Uh-oh," beginning with THE JETSONS' Astro (1962) and continuing with Scooby-Doo in the Seventies.
Astro tended to speak a kind of English except that words with beginning consonants were replaced with an "R," and "R" was inserted in front of vowels.
Scooby-Doo was less fluent, but was given "Ruh-roh" as a kind of running gag when things were going bad.
Now "Ruh-roh" is sometimes used as a jocular trope where dogs are concerned, as in a recent news story about a dog who was accidentally released by Air Canada from his cage at the San Francisco airport. Rough meaning: "I goofed" or "I'm in trouble."
Astro tended to speak a kind of English except that words with beginning consonants were replaced with an "R," and "R" was inserted in front of vowels.
Scooby-Doo was less fluent, but was given "Ruh-roh" as a kind of running gag when things were going bad.
Now "Ruh-roh" is sometimes used as a jocular trope where dogs are concerned, as in a recent news story about a dog who was accidentally released by Air Canada from his cage at the San Francisco airport. Rough meaning: "I goofed" or "I'm in trouble."
"Astro, if you don't stop that you're going to be in big trouble."
"Ruh-roh."
"Alright Astro, you asked for it, no outdoor privileges all weekend."
"Raw, Rorge!"
"Ruh-roh."
"Alright Astro, you asked for it, no outdoor privileges all weekend."
"Raw, Rorge!"
Ruh-roh by al-in-chgo October 11, 2013
foo goo
"Jenny, I'm not lending you my phone any more. It had foo goo on the face that I had to scrape off. Were you eating fried chicken or what?"
foo goo by al-in-chgo October 6, 2013
ring knocker
Graduate of one of the United States' military service academies, which operate as collegiate institutions.
Use of term is said to be especially prominent among graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland).
Use of term is said to be especially prominent among graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland).
Among U.S. military officers, they're known as "ring knockers" because they proudly wear the big, gold class rings they earned when they graduated from one of America's military academies. (TIME magazine, April 2001)
ring knocker by al-in-chgo June 15, 2013