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Stories and screenplays

Posted by Q on April 16, 2001

In Reply to: Stories and screenplays posted by R. Berg on April 14, 2001

: :
: : : : I know some...eh..from watching TV of course.

: : ....:-))))) Christine, do have any links to short criminal stories or to some place where I could find verbs used in a sentence?
: : Thank you for responding!

: Some authors to look for are Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler (older) and Elmore Leonard (modern). I tried bartleby.com and didn't find any of their works there. Movies contain spoken criminal slang. Somebody else might know websites where movie scripts are reproduced.

: These verbs are widely known in the U.S.:
: "Pack" = to carry (a weapon). "He's packing a knife."
: "Spring" = to release from jail or prison. "My lawyer thinks he can get me sprung."
: "Cut" = to assault with a sharp instrument. "He cut a man in a bar last year."

Here's some I remember from mob movies and Brooklyn friends.

On the lamb = in hiding
Lifted, fenced or fell from a truck = Stolen merchandise.
Cap him or Clip him = to shoot him.
5-0 = The police.
Cannery = informer to police.
On the hot seat = to be interrogated by police.
Below radar = to steal undetected by security or cameras.
Five-finger discount or palming = Stealing.
To cop a tude = to give someone a cold attitude.
To turn state = turning in (to the D.A.) evidence for convicting someone.
Wear a wire = to have a recording device hidden on you.
To get padded down = to be checked for weapons or recording devices.
Bug a phone or wire tap = Law enforcement listening in to phone coversations.
Took care of that thing for you = I finished your request.
Mo-Fo = Less volgar way to say "mother-fucker."
(also: Mother-humper and Fother-mucker)

  • Slang R. Berg 04/16/01
    • Slang Igor Kurzin 04/17/01

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