The word slang is applied to informal words and phrases of the most recent vintage. Like most innovations, slang expressions are often fresh and exciting—hence the temptation many writers feel to use them to add energy to their work.
Unfortunately, the strengths of slang terms are directly related to their weaknesses as communication tools. Because slang is so new, the broader your audience, the more likely your readers will be unfamiliar with the meaning of a slang expression. If your audience is multicultural or multigenerational, the probability rises that slang you find provocative will be little more than gibberish to the people reading your work. Despite its appeal, slang is usually best left out of written documents, both informal and formal.
The list below includes some commonly heard words and phrases that are widely considered to be slang.
badmouth
bean counter
big bucks
bigwig
bush-league
cash cow
cheapskate
circular file
deadbeat
dirty pool
ego trip
eighty-six
fall guy
fast buck
free lunch
gofer
golden parachute
goof-off
gravy train
gung ho
headhunter
heave-ho
high roller
hired gun
idiot-proof
kickback (when used to mean the return of money paid as part of a secret agreement or cooercive sale)
knee-jerk
loose cannon
low-ball
megabucks
number cruncher
panic button
power trip
quick fix
rainmaker (when used to mean a person capable of getting things done, particularly in politics or business)
rookie (when used to mean a person who is inexperienced, or new at something)
rubber check
schmooze
sellout (when used to mean a person who has betrayed another person or a cause for personal gain)
short fuse
snow job
song and dance (when used to mean a complicated story used as an excuse or a deception)
sound bite
spin control
stressed-out
veep
walking papers
whistle blower
whole hog
windbag (when used to mean a braggart or longwinded person)
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