Slang Terms That Just Confuse You

[Premmy]

Originally Posted by TDK

Some slang words just baffle the listener.

For example: Shorty (or "shawty", if you're retarded), so far as I can tell, means "girl", usually affectionately.

This doesn't seem to have any basis in reality, as the girl's height doesn't seem to play into whether she is a "shorty" or not. Also, "shorty" sounds more derogatory if anything when referring to height.

Possible: Because girls are slightly shorter on average. I really don't want this to be true because I REALLY don't want to believe people are that stupid. But these are the same people who glorify beating women and getting shot, so...


Any takers? Want to fill me in on the (most likely stupid) origin of this term, or post something that baffles you?

Shorty can also mean "Child" in certain regions up north, at least it did when I was a Shorty :P.

Slang means different things different places. Some people argue that slang exists specifically to not be understood by those outside the subculture that uses it, as evidenced by slang terms falling out of use when the mainstream culture picks up on it.

[bluestarultor]

Originally Posted by Premonitions

Shorty can also mean "Child" in certain regions up north, at least it did when I was a Shorty :P.

Slang means different things different places. Some people argue that slang exists specifically to not be understood by those outside the subculture that uses it, as evidenced by slang terms falling out of use when the mainstream culture picks up on it.

"Come on, let's go back to the flippity-floppity-floop!"
"Noooo! Don't say that!"

[Viridis]

Rhyming slang.

[Kerensky287]

I don't understand why the term "Dropped the ball" is ever used. I mean, I get what it means... but "Dropped the soap" just works SO MUCH BETTER to get across the same meaning, you know? Rather than just losing a game of catch or basketball or something, you are setting yourself up for sodomy.

[BloodyMage]

Doesn't dropping the ball refer to having failed which is nothing like dropping the soap or the implied sodomy of doing so? Or is there some original meaning that I'm unaware of?

[Premmy]

I really don't see how people are annoyed by slang, what is the big deal?

[phil_]

Originally Posted by Premonitions

I really don't see how people are annoyed by slang, what is the big deal?

Premonitions, if I found something amusing, and you were in the same room, and I expressed my amusement by rapidly clucking "elohelohelohelohelohel," would you or wouldn't you punch me? Answer truthfully. It might save me a punch in the face from you someday.

The issue is sorta like that, I imagine.

[Premmy]

Originally Posted by phil_

Premonitions, if I found something amusing, and you were in the same room, and I expressed my amusement by rapidly clucking "elohelohelohelohelohel," would you or wouldn't you punch me? Answer truthfully. It might save me a punch in the face from you someday.

The issue is sorta like that, I imagine.

Yes, but see I also am aware that that's me being an asshole as it's none of my business how people choose to express themselves and I should just learn to deal with people speaking other languages/using language different.

Other people don't annoy me, I'm a dick and am annoyed by other people.

[phil_]

Originally Posted by Premonitions

Other people don't annoy me, I'm a dick and am annoyed by other people.

What a coincidence, I'm a dick, too.

-alternatively-

lol wut?

[Sir Pinkleton]

Honky tonk.
I don't know what it is, or where it comes from. I just know there was a crappy video game somewhere where a redneck trucker would constantly yell that.