thing’s over. 2. tv. to kill someone or
something. (Originally underworld to
strangle.) The gang decided that some-
body was going to have to scrag the witness.
A truck almost scragged Bart.scraggy[“skrAgi] mod. bony. That dame
is too scraggy for me. Who is that
scraggy dame? I lost weight till I was
scraggy as a hungry bear.
scram[skrAm] in. to exit fast; to get out of
a place in a hurry. I gotta scram. I’m
late. Go on, scram! Get out of here fast!
scrambled eggsn. decorations on a mili-
tary officer’s uniform. I know his rank
is high because of the scrambled eggs, but
I don’t know how high. I’ll be glad when
I get some scrambled eggs on me.
scrape the bottom of the barreltv. to
utilize the last or only things or people
available, even if unsatisfactory. (See also
bottom of the barrel.) They were really
scraping the bottom of the barrel when
they picked you. You scraped the bottom
of the barrel for this one. I want something
better.
scratch 1. n. money. I just don’t have the
scratch. How much scratch does it take
to buy a car like this one? 2. tv. to elimi-
nate something from a list; to cancel
something. Scratch Fred. He can’t make
the party. We decided to scratch the idea
of a new car. The old one will have to do.
- mod. impromptu; temporary. (See also
pickup.) We started a scratch game of
basketball, but most of the girls had to
leave at dinnertime. This is just a
scratch tape. After you use it for your com-
puter program, someone else will write
something over it.
scratch sheetn. a daily horse-racing news-
letter at the racetrack. I picked up a
scratch sheet from Lucky Louie and pro-
ceeded to lay down my life’s savings on a
horse named Felicity Anne. Even the
cost of a scratch sheet is going up, and I’m
trying to economize!
ascream 1. n. someone or something very
funny. The joke Tom told was really a
scream. Tom is always a scream at par-
ties. 2. n. ice cream. (Collegiate.) How
about a nice big dish of scream? It’s too
cold for scream. Ask me in June.scream bloody murdertv. to scream very
loudly; to complain or protest loudly.
She screams bloody murder every time I
get near her. Those guys scream bloody
murder long before they’re hurt.
screamer 1. n. a newspaper headline.
Did you see the screamer in the paper to-
day? “The King Died.” I never read
screamers. 2. n. an exclamation point.
(Printing.) Put a screamer at the end
of the line. Clean up this copy. There are
too many screamers. Looks like junior high
stuff. 3. n. anything challenging. What
a horrible assignment I got. A classic
screamer. Bring on the screamers. I can
handle anything. 4. n. someone or some-
thing very exciting or attention getting.
This guy is a real screamer! Wait’ll you
meet him. Her political campaign is a
real screamer.screaming-meemie and screamie-
meemien. a screaming child or adult.
Oh, don’t be such a screaming-meemie!
Jennifer has been a terrible screamie-
meemie all day long!
screaming-meemies and screaming-
meamiesn. the willies—a mental break-
down. They sent Bart away with the
screaming-meemies. I need some sleep.
I’m about to come down with the scream-
ing-meamies.screeching (drunk)mod. alcohol intoxi-
cated; very drunk. How can anybody be
so screeching drunk on four beers? She’s
not just drunk; she’s screeching.screw 1. tv. & in. to copulate [with] some-
one. (Usually objectionable.) The sailor
wanted to screw somebody bad. 2. tv. & in.
to cheat or deceive someone. The sales
clerk screwed me on this watch. You can
count on somebody screwing you at a trav-
eling carnival. 3. n. an act of copulation.
(Usually objectionable.) The sailor said
he needed a good screw. 4. n. a person
with whom one can copulate. (Usually
objectionable.) His teeth are crooked
and his hands are callused, but he’s a good
screw. 5. n. a jailer. (Underworld.) Seescrew