Did you know that ?hickey? means a lovebite, a red patch caused by a sucking kiss? If not,
consult Michael Munro's exploration of slang in order to look at some
English words that are never appropriate in a formal context. Munro
covers a huge variety of words, ranging from quaint archaisms to
industrial-strength expletives. Nearly 6000 words and phrases are
explained. However, the book is not exactly a dictionary of slang. The
material has been arranged so that readers can find the word associated with a particular
group, subject, region or period in one place. But beware! Slang is
decried as substandard and the book contains some very rude words which
are not for the easily shocked. Don't be afraid of a guilt-trip. One of
the great world languages is definitely enriched by slang, particularly
in the current age of instant mass communication. - Consilium Journal: The internal Journal of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union
