What is the etymology of "ratchet," a slang term with a negative meaning? [more inside]
posted by lewedswiver on May 29, 2013 - 20 answers

At what point did the phrase "I'm/you're/we're hosed" come into play in the US vernacular? Earliest record? From pop culture somewhere? Are there regions of the US that did not ever use this turn of phrase?
posted by juniperesque on May 17, 2013 - 17 answers

What is the etymology of British nicknames ending in -zza/-zzer? [more inside]
posted by catlet on Nov 30, 2012 - 21 answers

What is the meaning and origin of "I didn't know from ___"? [more inside]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl on Jun 6, 2010 - 6 answers

What's the origin of the phrase "For those of you [playing/following/scoring] along at home?" [more inside]
posted by AgentRocket on Apr 28, 2006 - 23 answers

LanguageFilter: Any Arabic speakers here? I'm trying to decipher an Arabic phrase: "Baashake ya halo." I might have spelled it wrong, but I know it's not a common Arabic phrase so much as it is slang. Any ideas?
posted by symphonik on Dec 12, 2004 - 9 answers

What is the origin of the slang term beeyotch (not sure I spelled it right.) [more inside]
posted by konolia on Jan 12, 2004 - 22 answers