dipsy-do n.—Gloss: another way of saying “an up and down (motion or change).” Note: The Dictionary of American Regional English has a similar term, “dipsy-doodle”, which is defined as dip in the road, or a “thank-you...
shack-wacky adj. restless or irritable from staying indoors or in one location for a long period; stir crazy; afflicted with cabin fever. Editorial Note: The Dictionary of American Regional English has a single 1991 citation of this term from a...
shoobie n. a short-term visitor to the beach and shore communities of New Jersey. Editorial Note: The Dictionary of American Regional English includes the spellings of shoebe(e), shoebie, and shub(i)e. Etymological Note: As indicated in the...
gone pecan n. a person who is doomed, defeated, or beyond rescue; a goner. Editorial Note: As noted in the 2003 citation, pecan is pronounced in this expression to rhyme with gone, so it’s something like “puh-KAHN” rather than “PEE...
pinhook v. to speculate in race horses. Etymological Note: This is a jargonized variation of pinhook defined by the Dictionary of American Regional English as “to act as a pinhooker,…a small-time speculator in farm products, esp...
rocking chair job n. an occupation or employment that requires little work; a sinecure. Editorial Note: The Dictionary of American Regional English includes the term rocking-chair money, ‘unemployment compensation or another benefit paid to someone...