"Hip terminology makes it easy to converse with everyone from 'chip-heads' to 'mack daddies.' "—Kirkus Reviews

Selected by William Safire as one of the best language books of the year, this is the only slang
dictionary arranged by topic. Now substantially revised and expanded.

Nothing reflects—and shapes—American popular culture more than slang. White collar or blue,
newbie or geek, every niche of society has its own terms that take on special meaning within context,
depending on whether one is a biker or blogger. New words are continually coined and old ones take
on new meanings to keep up with fast-paced changes in industry, politics, and lifestyles.

The unique topical organization of Slang makes it easy to browse and look up words associated
with the vernaculars of coffee bars, e-Bay, the drug culture, gaming, hip-hop, real estate, traditional
and extreme sports, the Washington Beltway, and much more. Dickson goes far beyond the simple
definition of words; he provides introductory narratives and sidebars that illustrate how terms and
phrases fit into the subcultures that spawned them.

First published in 1990 and now revised and expanded, with new chapters and more than ten
thousand words, Slang is an excellent companion whether you are reading modern fiction or a
newsmagazine, watching edgy movies or talking to your teenager. It’s the perfect book for anyone
who wants to be up to speed on the English language and American contemporary culture.

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Praise for the previous edition of Slang:

“An easy book to pick up and get lost in and then wonder where the hours went.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. Slang is a lot of fun; or
perhaps we should say, ‘da bomb.’”—San Antonio Express News

“Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions.”
—Boston Herald American