First Last

AP English Lang. 12A

Mr. Last

17 November 2004

Slang Expressions

By Comparison:

            "This assignment bites."  An essay that "bites" usually means that the person forced to write it finds little value or significance in the assignment.  It is almost the same thing as saying "I have a strong distaste for what I am about to do."  Significantly, this slang term is only useful in the present participle.  The slang loses its bitter tone and meaning when it is conjugated to "This assignment has bitten."  When compared with its non-slang counterpart, like "I hate this assignment", it is clear that the slang term has a very specific usage.  The slang word "bites" is more humorous and shows lighthearted disdain.  "Hate" is more formal and has a heavier degree of seriousness to it.  Due to its curt bluntness, the word "hate" is rarely spoken directly to the target audience's ear.  Rather, a witty, sarcastic person would apply the slang term "bites" to convey a milder feeling of dislike.  Therefore, this slang term is best suited to describe irritating but bearable annoyances.

By Example:

            "Dude, I'm gonna f*****n' puff the magic dragon if I got nothin' else ta do."  This offensive and vulgar term is rarely heard in mainstream society.  When someone says they want to "puff the dragon", they mean that they want to smoke marijuana and hallucinate.  People living in high crime areas often substitute this slang expression in place of its real meaning to avoid police detection.  For example, gangsters living in crowded apartments may want to keep the discussion of their drug usage to themselves.  With so many ears close by, it is wise to encrypt the term to something remote and unintelligible.  This way, no one but the drug savvy pot smoker would be aware of the illegal activities taking place.  Gangsters use this slang term as spies would communicate in code.  The sole purpose of their practice is to evade detection by people that could get them punished.  Thus, creative drug addicts coin the strange and abstract term "puff the magic dragon."

By Extended Definition:

            "It's all cool, man."  People often use this term to show that they are content with the happenings around them.  Several weeks ago, I played basketball with a few friends.  In the third play, I collided into my blocker on accident, and he fell and lay sprawled on the ground.  Embarrassingly, I was still standing on my two feet unharmed by the accident.  As my standing teammates looked on, I extended an arm to help up my fallen opponent.  To my relief, he took it willingly and got up quickly.  "You all right?" I asked.

            "Hey, it's all cool, man.  Let's play."  My friend uses a slang term to show me that he treats the accident as a petty, minor encounter not worth thinking twice about.  The expression invokes an immediate feeling of relief in me because I know there is no further conflict between us.   My friend used the term as a sedative to instantly heal any emotion 'abrasions' that might have developed.  This slang also applies to any occasion where it is necessary to casually say "it's no big deal." 

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