TagChicago

come-along

come-along
 n.— «Come along: A ratchet tool that ironworkers use to clamp onto a beam and pull it into place.» —“Chicago Speak” by Anne Keegan Chicago Tribune Feb. 3, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

do-si-do

do-si-do
 n.— «Doing a do-si-do: Swinging a large steel beam 180 degrees from the direction it’s going.» —“Chicago Speak” by Anne Keegan Chicago Tribune Feb. 3, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

headache ball

headache ball  n.— «Headache ball: The large, round, steel ball weighing 500 to 1,000 pounds that hangs from the end of a construction crane’s cable. It has a hook on the bottom and is used to keep the cable from rolling back up on itself...

swoob

swoob  n.— «It’s so hot that I have a swass/swoob combo. I love being a girl.» —“Imagine you’re Johnny Carson. You say, “It’s so hot…“ and the audience says, “How hot is it?” And you say…“ by...

swass

swass  n.— «But it’s so hot that I have swass. It’s so hot that I felt sweat running down my back as I was waiting for the bus at 8:30 AM.» —“Imagine you’re Johnny Carson. You say, “It’s so hot…“ and the audience says...