Slang Dictionary — Modern Slang, Decoded

A meat pie; classically eaten with 'dead horse' (sauce).

A mess or shambles; in 'done up like a dog's dinner' it means dressed overly smartly.

An elaborate presentation or demonstration mounted mainly for show, especially to impress senior officers or visiting VIPs.

Clipped to 'dog', a phone call or the act of phoning.

In Australian prison and criminal slang, a dog is an informant — somebody who gave a mate up to the cops. It's the heaviest insult you can wear inside an Aussie nick; entire wings will refuse to share air with one. The verb 'to dog someone' means to inform on them.

Shortness of breath that occurs specifically during physical activity, a common cardiac and pulmonary symptom.

Of poor quality, unreliable, or dishonest and not to be trusted.

A hefty sandwich with doorstep-thick slices, historically eaten by dockworkers.

American slang for a freestanding urgent-care or walk-in clinic, often in a strip mall next to a nail bar. The 'box' is the prefab unit; the 'doc' is whoever's on shift. Used both fondly (cheap, fast, no wait) and dismissively (assembly-line medicine).

A medic attached to a forward unit or infantry element; in the Marines, the Navy hospital corpsman who serves alongside them is called 'Doc.'

To tell an authority about someone's wrongdoing; a 'dobber' is a tattletale, culturally frowned upon.

To report someone's wrongdoing to an authority; 'dob in'. A 'dobber' is an informer.

'Dead On Arrival' — a designation for a casualty who has died before reaching a medical facility or point of care.

The principle of reciprocal justice or revenge. Also do-fa-do.

Reciprocal action, especially revenge — doing to someone what they did to you.

The modern friend of Dorothy. On Sapphic TikTok around 2020 this became the discreet password for 'are you a woman attracted to women?' Girl in Red — Norwegian artist Marie Ulven — wrote enough wlw love songs that her name turned into a flag. Ask it, and a fellow sapphic clocks you instantly. The classic exchange runs: 'Do you listen to girl in red?' 'No, Sweater Weather.' Translation: 'Are you a lesbian?' 'No, I'm bi.'

A condescending rhetorical question, often 'bro, do you even lift?', used to question whether someone actually trains or knows what they're talking about.

Order to leave, sharpish. Can be aggressive (told to do one in a row) or just casual (right, I'm doing one, see you tomorrow). Northern staple, especially Scouse and Manc.

Not a literal request but an exasperated dismissal of something ridiculous.

Used to justify a bold or chaotic decision in a fun, self-aware way.

The 'habitual be': indicates something happens regularly or habitually, e.g. 'I do be' + verb.

To leave hastily to escape a bill, obligation or trouble.

A physician order directing staff not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the patient's heart or breathing stops. It reflects the patient's or surrogate's wishes about end-of-life care.

A line in someone's bio telling certain people not to follow, comment, or DM. Usually a stacked list ('DNI if racist, homophobic, MAP, under 18, pro-AI'). Half boundary-setting, half flag-planting — it signals the kind of space the account wants to be.