Young Writers Society

Oh, well, time for some Cali surf slang:

Amped:
Overdoing it; excited; stoked.
Anglin':
Turning left and/or right on a wave.
Ankle Busters:
Small waves.
Avalanche:
An outer reef surf spot.
Awesome:
Great; fantastic (also see "Off the Richter," "Off the Wall," "Outrageous").
Back Down:
To decide not to take off on a wave.
Baggys/Baggies:
Oversized, loose fitting boxer-type swim trunks worn for show or comfort by surfers.
Bail out:
To get away from, jump off, or dive off the surfboard just before a potential wipe out.
Banzai:
A gung-ho type of yell given by surfers as they shoot the curl (also see "Cowabunga").
Banzai Pipeline:
A surf spot on the shore of SD.
Barrel:
The breaking motion of a perfect wave; a hollow channel formed inside a good wave when it breaks and curls over.
Beach Bunny:
A girl who goes to the beach to watch surfing.
Beached:
Totally stuffed from eating.
Beaver tail:
A wet suit that features a snap-on crotch, the shape of which resembles a beaver's tail.
Big Gun:
A 9-foot or longer surfboard especially designed for large waves.
Big Surf:
Extremely large waves (also see "Bombora," "Heavies").
Bitchin:
(also "Bitchen") Very good; tops; excellent (also see "Boss," "Excellent," "Primo," "Rad").
Blown Out:
Winds blowing so hard as to chop up the surf and render it unridable.
Body Surfing:
Riding the waves without a surfboard.
Bogus:
False; lame; ridiculous; unbelievable.
Bombora:
An Australian word that refers to a big wave that breaks outside the normal surf line.
Bone Yard:
The area where the waves break.
Boogie Board:
A soft, flexible foam bodyboard invented in the 1970s (unlike a surfboard, a boogie board is ridden lying down).
Boss:
Outstanding; the best (also see "Bitchin," "Excellent," "Primo," "Rad").
Breaker:
Any wave that breaks on the way to the beach.
Breakwater:
A line of large boulders, cement, and/or steel extending out into the water and designed to reduce shoreline erosion.
Bro:
(also "Bra") Short for "brother" (also see "Dude").
Bummer:
Too bad; a total drag.
Bunny:
(see "Beach Bunny")
Carve:
To make a radical turn (also see "Hot-Dogging," "Shred").
Catch a Wave:
To ride a breaking wave.
Climbing:
To carve an S-shaped path on a wave, making a radical
Dropping:
bottom turn, climbing to the wave's crest, then radically cutting back
Cheater Five:
Five toes on the nose - keep your weight back on the board to maintain trim and speed, squat down and extend one foot forward
Coffin:
Riding a surfboard while lying stiffly on one's back with arms crossed.
Cowabunga:
(also "Kowabunga") A yell of excitement by a surfer (also see "Banzai").
Crest:
The top portion of a wave.
Cruncher:
A big, hard-breaking wave that folds over and is almost impossible to ride.
Curl:
The portion of the wave that is spilling over and breaking.
Cut Back:
To turn toward the breaking part of the wave.
Cut out:
To pull out of the wave, like kicking out.
Ding:
A hole, crack, dent, or scratch on the surface of a surfboard.
Doggers:
Multicolored swimming trunks.
Dork:
Someone behaving inappropriately (also see "Geek," "Kook").
Double Spinner:
Two consecutive 360-degree body spins on a surfboard.
Drop Knee:
One foot on the bodyboard, with the other hanging off the back. Difficult and fun.
Dude:
A male surfing enthusiast (women are referred to as "dudettes").
Dweeb:
A geek; someone who acts or looks like a simpleton.
Eat It:
To fall off of a surfboard (also see "Wipe Out").
El Rollo:
Lying prone on a surfboard and holding on to the sides while rolling 360-degrees during a ride.
Excellent:
Great; fantastic; exceptional (also see "Bitchin," "Boss," "Primo," "Rad").
Face:
The unbroken wall, surface, or nearly vertical front of a wave.
Fer Sure:
The surfer pronunciation of "for sure," meaning absolutely, correct, or definitely.
Geek:
Someone behaving inappropriately (also see "Kook," "Dork").
Glasshouse:
(see "Green Room")
Glassy:
A smooth water surface condition caused by absence of local winds.
Gnarlatious:
Anything that's really great or awesome.
Gnarly:
Treacherous; large and dangerous. Also bitchin
Goofy-Foot:
Riding a surfboard with the right foot forward (left foot forward is the more common stance).
Green Room:
The space inside of a tube.
Gremlin:
A young hodad; a beginning surfer (also see "Grommet").
Gremmy/Gremmie:
(See "Hodad")
Grommet:
A young hodad; a beginning surfer (also see "Gremlin").
Ground Swell:
Large waves generated by distant storms.
Gun:
A large surfboard designed for very big waves (see "Big Gun").
Hairy:
(see "Gnarly")
Hang Five/Ten:
To place five (or ten) toes over the nose of the surfboard (also see "Toes on the Nose").
Head Dip:
Touching the water with your head while surfing.
Headstand:
Standing on one's head while riding a wave.
Heavies:
Very big waves usually higher than 12 feet.
Hit the Surf:
To go surfing.
Honker:
A really big wave (also see "Heavies," "Bombora").
Hot-Dogging:
Fancy surfing done by a skilled surfer.
Hodad:
A non-surfer, usually someone who just hangs around the beach.
Honeys:
Female surfers or girlfriends of surfers.
Huarache Sandals:
Leather sandals worn by surfers with a sole made from tire treads.
Jetty:
(see "Breakwater")
Kahuna:
The Hawaiian god of sun, sand, and surf.
Kamikaze:
Riding the board at the nose with arms held straight out to each side.
Kick Out:
To push down on the tail of a surfboard to lift and turn the nose over the top of the wave.
Knots:
Callouses, or calcium deposits, just below the knee and on the tops of the foot caused by kneeling on the surfboard.
Kook:
(also "Kuk") A surfing beginner; someone who gets in the way or into trouble because of ignorance or inexperience (also see "Dork," "Geek").
Kowabunga:
(see "Cowabunga")
Kuk:
(see "Kook")
Leash:
A cord attaching the surfer's ankle to the surfboard.
Locked In:
Firmly set in the curling portion of the wave with water holding down the tail of the board.
Log:
Slang for pre-foam board made of wood.
Longboard:
A surfboard eight to ten feet long.
Max Out:
To be over the limit.
Meatball:
The yellow flag with the black circle indicating "No Surfing".
Mondo:
Something huge; of epic proportions.
Nailed:
To get badly wiped out.
Neptune Cocktail:
The large bellyful of seawater that one ingested during a particularly gnarly wipeout. Usually happened concurrently with the Sand Facial.
Nose:
The bow or front end of a surfboard.
Off the Richter:
Used to describe something that's very good, excellent, or "off the scale" (also see "Awesome," "Off the Wall," "Outrageous").
Off the Wall:
Incredible, excellent (also see "Awesome," "Off the Richter," "Outrageous").
Outrageous:
Incredible, excellent (also see "Awesome," "Off the Richter," "Off the Wall").
Outside Break:
The area farthest from shore where the waves are breaking.
Over the Falls:
To wipe out, or to get dragged over as the wave breaks.
Pearl:
Driving the nose of a surfboard under water to stop or slow down the ride. The term is borrowed from "pearl diving."
Pendleton:
A brightly colored plaid wool or flannel shirt worn by some surfers.
Pipeline:
A surf spot on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, between Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach; also called Banzai Pipeline. Originally named by surfing filmmaker Bruce Brown (also see "Banzai Pipeline").
Point Break:
A type of surf break where waves wrap around a promontory of land and curl as they break. A classic example of a point break is located at Rincon, California, just south of the Santa Barbara/Ventura County line.
Poser:
A surfer "wanna-be"; someone who only dresses the part.
Pounder:
A hard-breaking wave.
Prone:
Ride with your belly on the board. The most common and easiest way to ride a bodyboard.
Prone Out:
Pulling out of a wave by dropping to your belly causing the nose to go under water and the tail to turn around.
Primo:
The best (also see "Bitchin," "Boss," "Excellent," "Rad").
Pull Out:
To steer a surfboard over or through the back of a wave to end a ride.
Quasimoto:
Riding forward in a hunched-over position; riding a wave on the nose of a surfboard in a crouched position with one arm forward and one arm back, named by surfer Mickey Muöoz.
Rad/Radical:
Very good; tops; excellent (also see "Bitchin," "Boss," "Primo," "Excellent").
Rails:
The rounded edges of the surfboard.
Re-Entry:
Attacking the lip, usually going vertically and then turning nose down and re-entering the wave.
Ripping:
Executing drastic and radical moves on the wave. Having it your way with a wave.
Sand Facial:
The result of wiping out and being dragged along the bottom, face first.
Sano:
Abbreviated form of San Onofre; also means a very clean, nicely contoured wave condition.
Selling Buicks:
The process of reversing the ingestion of the dreaded Neptune Cocktail. After selling Buicks, it was generally assumed that ones day at the beach was pretty much over.
Set:
A group of waves.
Shape:
The configuration, or form, of a wave.
Shoot the Curl:
Riding a surfboard through, or in and out of, the hollow part of the wave formed as it crests over.
Shoot the Pier:
Riding a surfboard in between the pilings of a beachside pier.
Shoot the Tube:
(see "Shoot the curl")
Shore Break:
Waves break very close to the beach.
Shred:
To surf aggressively (also see "Hot-Dogging).
Sidewalk Surfing:
Skateboarding.
Skeg:
The fin at the tail end of a surfboard.
Soup:
The foamy part of the broken wave; the white water.
Spin Out:
The result of a surfboard's skeg and tail end losing contact with the wave face and the surfer wipes out.
Spinner:
A surfer making a complete 360-degree turn in an upright position while the surfboard keeps going straight (also called a "360").
Sponger:
Somebody that bodyboards.
Stick:
Surfboard.
Surfs Up:
Waves are breaking and surfable.
Stoked:
Happy; excited; contented.
Stringer:
The wood strip running down the center of the board; sometimes used for design.
Surf Bunny:
A surfer's girlfriend; a female surfer (also see "Beach Bunny").
Surfari:
A surfing trip; a hunt for good surf.
Swells:
Unbroken waves moving in groups of similar height and frequency.
Tail:
The stern or rear end of a surfboard.
Tail Slide:
Part of a larger maneuver in which the surfer purposely makes his/her fins lose their grip and the board slides.
Takeoff:
The start of a ride.
Taking Gas:
To wipe out.
Tandem:
Two people riding on a surfboard at the same time, usually a man and woman.
360:
(See "Spinner")
Toes on the Nose:
Riding a surfboard with the toes hanging over the front end (also see "Hang Five/Ten")
Tube:
The hollow portion of a wave formed when the crest spills over and makes a tunnel or hollow space in front of the face of the wave. (The Green Room)
Tubed:
Riding inside the "tube".
Val:
Person from the San Fernando Valley, as referred to by persons living in the L.A.-area beach cities.
Walking the Board:
Walking back and forth on the surfboard to maintain control.
Walking the Nose:
Moving forward on the board toward the front or nose.
Wax:
Substance applied to the top, or deck, of surfboards for traction.
Wedge, The:
A famous, but dangerous, body surfing spot located at the tip of the Balboa peninsula in Newport Beach, California.
Wet Suit:
A neoprene rubber suit used by surfers to keep warm.
Wipe Out:
To fall off or be knocked off your board (also see "Eat It").
Woodie:
A station wagon, made in the '40s and '50s, with wood paneling on the sides.
______________________________

Scary, huh?

And we also use the words "hola" and "amigos" a lot. We are north of the border, too.

I must say, I have never used the word cali in my life. here it's usually nor cal or so cal... and of that list, I don't think I've used most of them, ebm, but I've heard them.

Same here.

I use Cali online a lot.. I'm so lazy lol. But I've rarely used it outside of that.

I wanna learn how to surf. But we never have time to go to the beaches. Grar.

Damn! You beat my list!

I resent that definition of a geek! I am an ubergeek, and my behaviour is (usually) very socially acceptable. I want to create a new meaning of the word geek as a subculture, rather than a word used to bully or tease those who lack social skills. Actually, in some parts of North America, like the Greater Toronto Area, it's already becoming that.

I don't know if anyone actually uses this one anymore, but I heard it in a play yesterday, taking place in 1967, "A Canadian worth her salt."

I'm not even sure exactly what this one means, but in my high school, when some of the girls behave a certain way, people who say they're being "extra".

"Dry" sort of branched off from dry humour, people use that word in response to insults, or when a someone responds smartly to someone who just thinks he's being smart.

"Fugly" Extremely ugly. In other words F'n ugly

Well, I live in Texas so:

aggravated
used to describe everything from mild annoyance to dangerous, murderous rage. Usually pronounced "agger-vated."
all swole up
an alternative to aggravated, but sometimes carries connotations of being obstinate, proud and self-abosorbed, in addition to being aggravated.
all choked up
upset, overcome with emotions (other than aggravation). A person is usually "all choked up" when they are deeply moved by sadness or by the thoughtfulness of others.
all worked up
in a state of aggravation, arousal of some type, in a state of deeply offended pride, offended sensibilities, in a state of anxiety, etc. Agitated.
Arbuckle
a synonym for coffee, when the Arbuckle brand was virtually the only one available.
ball
usually means football.
blinky
adjective used to describe milk that has begun to sour.
blue norther
storm that comes up as a giant, blue-black cloud of cold air comes over the warm gulf air and "just about freezes us to death!" Rain and wind may accompany the black cloud.
catty whompus
used to describe something that doesn't fit properly or is out of line.
clabber milk
butter milk
come hell or high water
shows determination to proceed, regardless of the problems, obstacles, etc.
conniptions
to have conniptions is to get upset and raise a ruckus.
crusty
tough and/or bad tempered man, woman or horse.
dad blame it, dad gum it, dag nab it
euphamisms coined to allow expressive speech without swearing.
dinner
depending on the Dillo, this can be the noontime meal or the evening meal.
eat up
eaten up, destroyed, oxidized.
fess up
admit.
fit to be tied
really upset.
fixins
food; the rest of the meal, excluding the main dish.
fixin' ta
getting ready to do something.
frog-strangler
an extraordinary amount of rain.
galoot
an old cowboy term meaning "old rascal." It's generally meant affably.
go ahead on
"You go ahead, I'll catch up later."
go to the house
go in for dinner/supper, depending on the Dillo.
gully-washer
an extraordinary amount of rain.
hissy fit
This term was never actually defined, but I get the impression it's a state of extreme agitation and not a pretty thing to see.
howdy
How do you do?
i'll swan
used instead of "I swear."
larrupin'
a few fingers tastier than finger-lickin' good.
lit out
took off, started out, or absconded across some terrain.
looker
a pretty girl.
maverick
a loner, an independent cuss, wild. First used to describe cattle owned by Sam Maverick of Galveston Island. His cattle were "wild-like" and he'd swim them across West Bay and join up with the herd going north. When cattle broke the herd, the wranglers said, "That's one of Maverick's."
norther
a storm; not as bad as a blue norther.
nu-uh
no.
ole cuss
and old rascal (or galoot) who is tough and/or bad-tempered.
over yonder
a directional phrase meaning "over there."
over in through there, also: you go up in through there.
Directional phrase; one I'm told foreigners (read: anybody except a Texan) have trouble understanding.
place
an individual's farm or ranch.
plug
common mutt horse.
plug-ugly
see above. This is definitely not a compliment, and should not be treated as such.
pole-axed
knocked down, smashed flat, with dramatic force.
post oak
wood that is hard and resistant to rot and can be used for fenceposts.
ridin' high
doin' aw'right; probably a reference to the quality of horse you are riding. If you're poor, you ride a burro (short) or a plug. If you're wealthy, you might ride a thoroughbred or Tennessee Walker; therefore, you're ridin' high.
shoot
an expletive (should be used with an exclamation point).
slaunchways
a piece of wood that is cut on an angle is cut slaunchways.
sorry
a particularly important Texas adjective meaning worthless, no-count, useless, bad. Enhanced inflection makes it more emphatic.
squaddies (or is that quaddies?)
cowboys. This was a very common term in the 19th century.
supper
Once again, depending on the Dillo, this can be either the noon or the evening meal.
sweet milk
milk that tastes good.
t*rd-floater
a very heavy downpour.
taken to
began, adapted, started liking. Use #l: He's taken to drinking." Use #2: She's taken to that new job of hers right off."
tank
pond
the friendly creature
19th century term for whiskey.
truck
food
tump
to spill or dump
walkin' in tall cotton
doin' aw'right (see ridin' high)
waller
as far as I can tell, this is an extremely useful, if somewhat vague verb of many uses. It's usually used as a past participle. "The wheel was wallered out." or "The Dillo List wallered down an gave that little nawthun lady a bunch of Texas Tawk."
whole nuther thing
soemthing else entirely
whomperjawed
when something is not fitting properly, e.g., "You'll never get that wine open, the corscrew is all whomperjawed!"
wore out
fatigued, exhausted; also sometimes used for "worn out" machinery, etc.
yankee/damnyankee
type of human who is at the bottom of many Texas methaphysical, moral and cultural paradigms. Damnyankee is thought to be objectively descriptive rather than profane, and it is comfortably accomodated in some social environments where "bad language" is otherwise controlled by inherent coercive prohibitions. (Note: Although it is often said that damnyankees do a pretty good job of compiling Texasisms.)
"Out of the Mouths of Texans."
A group of descriptive phrases, many of them similes. I've grouped them according to . . . well, you'll see.
You don't want to hear a Texan say you're:


ugly as a mud fence
ugly as homemade sin
ugly as homemade soap
plug-ugly
all hat and no cattle
dumber than dirt
older than two trees
tighter than bark on a tree
like ugly on an ape
dumb as a box of rocks
crooked as a dog's hind leg
crooked as a barrel of snakes
dumb as a box of hammers
as handy as hip pockets on a hog (If a Texan says this, it's a compliment (honest!)
You're cute as a possum.
You're happy as a gopher in soft dirt.
You're tough as a boot.
You're quick as a hiccup.
You're wolverine mean.
You'll do to run the river with. (This means you're reliable.)
You're big enough to hunt bear (bar) with a switch. (You're very big.)
You just don't know what he might do. (This, I'm told is the safest reputation to have around potentially violent fellow Texans.)
Emotional states in the state of Texas:
Happy as a gopher in soft dirt.
Like a one-legged man at a butt-kicking contest. (I assume this would mean you're extremely frustrated, or perhaps out of place, or dumb as box of hammers.)
Like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. (Nervous. Very, very nervous.)
Like a gnat in a hail storm. (Evokes quite a picture, doesn't it?)
Having a fit (or a hissy fit) and stepping in it. (Sounds like a tantrum of major proportions.)
Somebody who looks like he/she has been rode hard and put up wet. (A tired individual who looks somewhat the worse for wear.)
Other Lonestar similes:
He beat him like a rented mule. (Ouch!)
Hidden in the basement like a crazy aunt.
Blacker than midnight under a skillet.
Fine as frog's hair.
Like the dogs was after him. (In a big hurry.)
Cold as a well digger's lunch pail. (This one is subject to some dispute, some Dillos claiming the cold object in question is actually part of the well digger's personal anatomy.)
Look at somebody/something like a calf looks at a new gate. (With either confusion or dismay, maybe?)
Texas Sayings
What's a Texas Saying? Why, it's something they say in Texas, a course! Some of these "sayings" might be considered adages, and some are just ... well, sayings, I guess. Judge for yourself:
"Never ask a man if he's from Texas. If he is, he'll tell you on his own. If he ain't, no need to embarrass him."

"The Lord never closes one door without opening another one."

"Evil thoughts are like chickens--they come home to roost."

"You can always tell a Texan, but you can't tell him much."

"I want you to jump when I say frog."

"Tend to your own knittin'/rat killin'." (Mind your own business!)

"_________________ (fill in the blank) is good enough to make a rabbit spit in a bulldog's face." (This better be something awfully durned good!)

"If you've done it, it ain't braggin'."

"That's tellin' him how the cow ate the cabbage."

"You done stopped preachin' and gone to meddlin'." (You're sticking your nose into my business, here, pal.)

chester drawers: that piece of furniture you put your socks in.

nuther thing: another thing

hairyew: a greeting used when one wants to discern the physical and emotional wellbeing of his/her companion.

ah'mo: I am going to. E.g.: "Ah'mo get back to work."

sure'nuff: (one word). Used as a superfluous question in place of "Really?" or "Is that right?" Also used as an adverb in sentences.

rench: the process of laving with water, possibly to remove soap or shampoo. You can also "rench out" socks, if you've a mind to.

warsh: the process one engages in before renching.


THE MOST USED ONE THOUGH IS:
YA'LL

Firestarter wrote:does anyone use the word "gutted"?

just when something goes wrong for someone you say it, to take the mick. ah, i love that word.

yep. all the time! one of my friends says that if i get a bad mark etc.

btw other ways of saying 'take the mick' are:

1. take the michael
2. take the piss

i also know a few southern words that you might not know...

1. grockle - no-one knows this where i live if i use it. it sorta means tourist (especially if they're
in a caravan) but its generally used for annoying ones.
e.g. "bloody grockles" ---> used by my dad when we're stuck behind a caravan or
a really slow driver whos blatantly just looking at the countryside etc! "ooh look at that
tree! ive never seen a tree before!"

2. yellow-wellies - used on the south coast a lot, the people who hang around pretending to be
yachtsman, when they don't really own one...

oh & for any aussies out there; we use 'biscuit' and some other words as well

Safe: Cool

(that is safe)


Mileage: Long way

(he's mileage away)


Munchies: Hungry (no neccesairly due to drug use)

(urgh - it's lunch time. I have the munchies)


Bare: Lots

(that costs bare money)


Bad: Good

(wow... bad)



And now, together:


'I dunno - I think he's quite safe. Okay, so he lives bare milage away, but he gives me food when I have the munchies. And he's bad.
Which is good.'

Texan:

y'all: hybrid of "you two" and "you all".

ain't: hybrid of "are not" and "is not" to give the double meaning of both presently and in the future. very handy.

yo'sh: this implies "you fwsshhhhh". yeah.

roachin': literally, "sharing pot." figuratively, "being nice."

sho'nuff: sure enough, we think.

"I can almost guarantee you..": a phrase used by people wishing to screw you, in the figurative sense.

Me:

Well, I don't really adhere to Texan vernacular, and I'm not going to really explain my thoughts, but if you ever actually talk to me, you will see that I make a lot of references to clothing designers (Giorgio Armani, Versace, Garrick Anderson, Henry Stuart, Bill Blass, Palamo Picasso, etc.) and what people are wearing, which is somewhat disturbing. Also, I like to reference obscure authors to prove points, like Borges advises. So yeah, my personal vernacular puts me at a spot where I can't really communicate with Texans other than on an extreme supreficial level, which, if Lacan is correct, is all we ever connect on, anyway.

Purely Galatean--

That's hot! I'll use this for just about anything I think is particularly cool.

"That's phat."

"Are you down wit' G-O-D?"

"That's hot."

"Gawd..."

And this guy in my class says, "Holy shoes!"

It's really stupid.

My favorite sayings:

"Pass the Peepers!"

"TEA MEAT ON YOU!"

"Yes, and I love you too."

Yes, that's the beauty of repetition. Everything you say becomes local dialect.

Waw, I'm really impressed... (But a list of words that we use and you don't, would beat you all so easily ).

It's quite frustrating too. Then you think you can speak a bit English and then people start using all those non-official words and you don't understand a d*mn of it anyway...
*throws away English grammar book* No use, I can as well stay on line a little bit longer then and learn English here.
*realises there's a test about it Monday and tries to find the book again between the garbage*

You guys don't like Paris Hilton yet you use her phrase? I think that's kind of hypocritical don't you think? If you're going to hate someone, you usually don't do something that they would do or say anything that has to do with them. I just think that's a little weird...


As for you Galatea, that is NOT purely you. It's Paris.

I've been saying "That's hot," since before I knew who Paris Hilton was. She didn't invent it. ... Not that I did, but she didn't either.

Very true, ohhewwo I doubt if anyone really remembers where some of these phrases originate. I used to use "Duh" all the time, and for years i didn't even know that it was invented by Full House for the olsen twins' character.