Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Hi,
I have two questions.

I know "give or take," as in, "Go about a mile, give or take, then turn right," means more or less. But does the "give" mean more, or less, than a mile? And of course the same for "take."

I'm a writer working on a screenplay that though it's set in Hell, has a Film Noir feel to it with a hard-boiled Detective and a Femme Fatale and all that. I've found one list of Film Noir speak online , I'm sorry I forget where it is, that's okay, but I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions of any other websites that featured that distinctive 1940s Noir slang? Don't be a sap, Pal, or I'll have to send a bruno to drill ya unless you take your heap and dangle out of there to someplace not even a flim flamming shamus can spot ya. Ya get me, buster?

Thanks all yous Cats and Kittens,

David Burton
Author, Blood Justice (coming Oct. 1)
http://bylightunseenmedia.com/bj.htm
Blog - http://www.davidburtonwriting.wordpress.com
dcburtonjr@gmail.com