I have defined some of the words (underlined) in the dialogue, which you can add to your Personal Dictionary. Click on the Excel icon to download the word list to your PC or mobile device, which you can thereafter import into your Personal Dictionary. They are also listed below.
Scroll down to the end of the story for links to a crossword and word search using words from this post, as well a YouTube video.
Ride shotgun – ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle
Plonk – Sit down heavily
Spin – a brief trip in a vehicle for pleasure
Lead-foot – a person’s habit of driving too fast
Oil-burner – a vehicle that burns too much fuel
Boy racer – a young man fond of driving very fast
Wheelie – a trick whereby a bicycle or motorcycle is ridden for a short distance with the front wheel raised off the ground
Blowout – an occasion when a vehicle tyre bursts
Hit the deck – to lie down suddenly so that you are hidden or sheltered from something dangerous
Barge – move forcefully or roughly
Leg it – run very quickly in order to escape from someone
Skedaddle – depart quickly or hurriedly; run away
Shank’s pony – use one’s own legs as a means of transportation
Hey! I want to ride shotgun in your motor.
But, you always sit next to me Judy. Why even ask? Plonk yourself down in Ed’s hot rod and let’s go for a spin. Where would you like to go?
I don’t know. Just put your lead-foot on the gas pedal, hang a left at the next junction and we’ll see how far we get in this old oil-burner.
It’s not old or an oil burner. It’s a boy racer’s dream.
Others would call it a heap. Look at that kid on his pushbike. I think he’s trying to do a wheelie. That reminds me of when we first met. I used to ride pillion on your motorcycle.
That’s right. I remember one night we had a blowout not far from where we are now. We had to go to a roadside cafe, so I could call my father.
Oh yes. Just as we walked in, we discovered the people were having a food fight, and we had to hit the deck.
They were chucking stuff everywhere. The owner accidentally barged into me. I keeled over and got trapped between two tables.
I wiggled over to where you were laying and yanked you free. We both legged it and skedaddled very quickly.
We had to go home on shank’s pony, and it was a long walk. I’m surprised you stayed with me after that.
Yes, I wanted to tell you to get on your bike but realised that would have been a cruel choice of words.
To test your knowledge, why not do a crossword puzzle, using words from this text?
Click here for instructions on how to play.
To test your knowledge, why not do a word search puzzle, using words from this text?
Click here for instructions on how to play.
Click on the image to watch a video using travel and movement slang
Here are some further slang expressions, some of which were not used in the story.
Get a move on (exp) – Hurry up, make haste
If you want to get to school on time, you had better get a move on.
Give it some welly (exp) – Accelerate, go faster
Come on, give it some welly. This car can go faster.
Give the slip (exp) – Escape capture
The police tried to catch the thief, but he gave them the slip
Go walkabout (exp) – Wander around from place to place in a protracted or leisurely way
We had nothing to do yesterday afternoon, so we went for a walkabout.
Hit the road (exp) – Set out on a journey
We plan to hit the road at 8 o’clock in the morning. Don’t be late.
Barge (vb) – Move forcefully or roughly
The thief barged me out of the way as he escaped from the shop.
Blowout (n) – An occasion when a tyre on a vehicle bursts
Sorry we are late. We had a blowout on the motorway, but fortunately we had a spare tire in the boot.
Boy-racer (n) – A youth or young man fond of driving very fast and aggressively in high-powered car
Listen to that noise. Every evening the boy-racers drive up and down the road.
Breeze (vb) – Come or go in a casual or light-hearted manner
The way he breezes in an out of here. You would think he owns the place.
Chuck (vb) – To throw (something) carelessly or casually
Mickey chucked the ball over to me. Now it is lost in the bushes.
Dash (vb) – Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry
We need to dash home to pick up the concert tickets. We left them on the kitchen table.
Do a runner (exp) – Leave or escape hastily or furtively
The boys in the park did a runner when they saw the police.
Hang a left/right (exp) – Turn left or right
If you hang a left here, we will avoid the traffic jam and get home quicker.
Heap (n) – An untidy or dilapidated place or vehicle
Are you even sure that this old heap will get us to the airport?
Hit the deck (exp) – To fall
Hit the deck! I think I can hear shooting.
Hit the road (vb) – Set out on a journey
It’s time to hit the road, if we want to be home before it’s dark.
Hot rod (n) – A motor vehicle that has been specially modified to give it extra power and speed
James has been working on building a hot rod in his garage. He is a real car enthusiast.
Keel over (vb) – To fall or lie down quickly
I nearly keeled over when I got the news that Brad had been excepted into Oxford university.
Lead-foot (n) – Driver who presses on the accelerator too hard
We spend so much money on petrol. My husband has got a lead-foot.
Leg it (vb) – Run very quickly, usually in order to escape from someone
We legged it when we saw the teacher coming. We aren’t allowed to play football on the grass.
Mooch (vb) – To loiter in a bored or listless manner
Are you bored? You’ve been mooching around all morning.
Motor (vb) – Run or move as fast as possible
We are going to have to motor, because the kick-off is in 20 minutes.
Nippy (adj) – Able to move quickly, nimble
That son of ours is really nippy. One minute he was upstairs and now he is in the kitchen.
Oil-burner (n) – A run-down vehicle
We are not going in that oil-burner, are we? I don’t want to smell of smoke all afternoon.
On your bike! – Go away!
The park keeper told us to get on our bikes, but we haven’t even got any!
Plonk (vb) – Set down heavily or carelessly
Plonk yourself down over there and I’ll bring you a drink.
Pushbike (n) – A bicycle which you move by turning the pedals with your feet
Did you come by pushbike? You can lock it up over there by the tree.
Ride pillion (vb) – To sit behind the motorcycle rider
Sue likes to ride pillion with her husband Dave. They have motorcycles all over the UK.
Ride shotgun (vb) – To sit in the passenger seat of a car
It’s my turn to ride shotgun. You did it last time.
Road hog (n) – A driver of an automotive vehicle who obstructs others especially by occupying part of another’s traffic lane
I wish this road hog would move over. He’s been sitting in the outside lane for miles.
Shank’s pony (n) – Go on foot
I forgot my bus ticket, so I will be going home on shank’s pony.
Shove (vb) – To push (someone or something) roughly
Why did you shove me? I would have moved if you I had known you wanted to get by.
Skedaddle (vb) – Depart quickly or hurriedly, run away
Is that the time? I think we had better skedaddle.
Spin (n) – A drive
Would you like to go for a spin in my new car?
Straphanger (n) – A passenger who stands in a crowded bus or subway train and holds onto a strap or other support suspended from above
Look at the straphangers making their way home on the tube.
Toddle (vb) – Walk or go somewhere in a casual or leisurely way
I think I’ve had enough beer to drink. I’m going to toddle home now.
Total (vb) – Completely wreck a vehicle
Brian’s car was totalled. Luckily he walked away uninjured.
Wheelie (n) – A trick or manoeuvre whereby a bicycle or motorcycle is ridden for a short distance with the front wheel raised off the ground
When I was a schoolboy, I once did a wheelie all the way to school.
Wiggle (vb) – Move or cause to move up and down or from side to side with small rapid movements
See if you can wiggle through the tube. It should be big enough.
Yank (vb) – To pull with a jerk
Eddie yanked off his crash helmet with one quick movement.
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