Sex
A fate worse than death
Meaning
The reputed opinion of sexual intercourse by prim Victorian ladies.
Examples
Lord Carruthers dragged me to his bedroom and left me in no doubt I was to suffer a fate worse than death.
Where did it originate?
The United Kingdom.
Where is it used?
Worldwide, but now considered rather old-fashioned and used mainly by the older generation.
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All the way
Meaning
Referring to something that is done fully, especially as a euphemism for full sexual activity.
Examples
I hear Jill’s parents were away for the weekend so she and Jack took the opportunity to go all the way for the first time.
Where did it originate?
USA, mid-20th century (with the sexual connotation)
Where is it used?
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Alley cat
Meaning
1. A cat that lives wild in a town. 2. Slang term for a prostitute.
Examples
1. Those alley cats were screeching and chasing rats in the yard all night. 2. Jack’s getting to be a sex addict. He spends all his time with bimbos and alley cats.
Where did it originate?
USA, 20th century.
Where is it used?
Mostly USA
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Bat from the pavilion end
Meaning
Slang term for a homosexuality.
Examples
If Julian didn’t want us to know he was batting from the pavilion end he shouldn’t keep wearing those lilac loafers.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 20th century. An allusion to the game of cricket.
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Chasing tail
Meaning
Of a man pursuing women.
Examples
Jack is a borderline sex addict. He’s certainly always chasing the tail.
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Comfort women
Meaning
women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese in WWII.
Examples
The Japanese called their prostitutes comfort women – nothing comfortable for them I think.
Where did it originate?
WWII
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Date rape
Meaning
The rape by a man of his partner on a date.
Examples
There’s been so many stories of date rape in the news lately that Suzy arranged to meet her date in a busy pub.
Where did it originate?
USA, late 20th century. Previously referred to as ‘acquaintance rape’.
Where is it used?
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Discussing Uganda
Meaning
Euphemism for sex.
Examples
Julie and Jack have been all over each other all evening and have gone upstairs. I expect they’ll be discussing Uganda.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 1970s. Popularised in the satirical magazine Private Eye.
Where is it used?
Britain.
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Full monty
Meaning
Everything possible. The whole thing.
Examples
Six sixes in one over. He really gave it the full monty.
Where did it originate?
The precise origin is uncertain. Since the 1997 film of the same name, the expression has also been associated with full-frontal nudity.
Where is it used?
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Gender bender
Meaning
A person who adopts a deliberately androgynous appearance, by use of uni-sex make-up, hair-style and clothing. Probably influenced by ‘bender’ being an earlier slang term for homosexual.
Examples
With his eye-liner and lurex catsuits, David Bowie was the archetype gender bender.
Where did it originate?
USA, 1970s.
Where is it used?
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Ginger Beer
Meaning
Cockney rhyming slang for queer.
Examples
Julian is ginger – and I don’t mean that he’s got red hair.
Where did it originate?
Where is it used?
Mostly Britain.
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In like Flynn
Meaning
To be easily successful, especially concerning sex or romance.
Examples
Since he had that lottery win and the nose job, he’s in like Flynn with the girls.
Where did it originate?
USA, 1940s.
Where is it used?
Worldwide, but more common in the USA than elsewhere.
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Knee-trembler
Meaning
Sexual intercourse between two people standing up.
Examples
They had nowhere to go to make love and had to resort to a knee-trembler in the alley.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 19th century.
Where is it used?
Mostly Britain.
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Nip slip
Meaning
The inadvertent exposure of a womans nipple.
Examples
Wearing a low cut dress like that, a nip slip was almost inevitable.
Where did it originate?
USA, late 20th century.
Where is it used?
Mostly USA and UK and not amongst the older generations.
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Peeping Tom
Meaning
Someone who covertly observes sexually active or naked people.
Examples
Her habit of sunbathing topless really brings out the peeping Toms.
Where did it originate?
Britain, late 18th century.
Where is it used?
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Play the field
Meaning
Indulge in a series of sexual relationships.
Examples
Jim has three girlfriends on the go at once. He’s always played the field but that’s a bit much.
Where did it originate?
USA, mid 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Revenge porn
Meaning
The malicious posting of sexual images online to harm the reputation of an ex partner.
Examples
After she ended it he posted some really nasty pictures of her from when they were together. No other words for it than revenge porn.
Where did it originate?
USA, late 20th century.
Where is it used?
Worldwide, but not amongst the older generations.
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Sexton Blake
Meaning
Cockney rhyming slang for fake.
Examples
That picture was supposed to be by Monet but there was a mobile phone in the background – I knew right away it was a sexton.
Where did it originate?
Where is it used?
Mostly Britain.
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The bull in the bowler hat
Meaning
Jokey term for artificial insemination.
Examples
Leaving things to nature hasn’t worked down here on the farm – only 10% of the cows are pregnant. We need a visit from the bull in the bowler hat.
Where is it used?
Mostly Britain.
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The town bike
Meaning
Promiscuous woman.
Examples
She’s been with every boy in the neighbourhood – they even call her the town bike.
Where is it used?
Mostly Britain.
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Toy-boy
Meaning
A woman’s much younger male lover.
Examples
Julia took us all by surprise after the kids left home. She left too and set up house with a 19-year old toy-boy.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 1980s.
Where is it used?
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Vatican roulette
Meaning
The rhythm method of birth control.
Examples
It’s a real dilemma for my wife and me. I know Bridget is a Catholic and that condoms aren’t allowed, but I don’t want kids yet and Vatican roulette is just too risky for me.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 1960s
Where is it used?
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Well hung
Meaning
Said of a man with large genitals.
Examples
The legend is that Errol Flynn was well hung, but it’s probably a myth.
Where did it originate?
The idiom might be thought to be fairly modern but, in fact, its first use was in Britain in the 17th century. Before being applied to humans the expression was used to refer to dogs that had large ears.
Where is it used?
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