Slinging the slang

At The Write Business we are not always purists when it comes to words. We love some slang particularly those mouth filling words that literally slap you across the face such as gobsmacked.

Seems it re-surfaced in the 1980s, having made a debut in the UK in the late 1950s around the same time as bonkers. Gob is a popular word for mouth in the north of England with likely Gaelic or old French roots. Gulp, goblet, gob, gab, gobble….gobbledygook, gob-stopper.

Etymological sources* completely disagree as to its origins.  There is apparently a Scandinavian reference to slang as early as 1756 as the ‘special vocabulary of tramps and thieves’ resonating with the Norwegian words for nickname – slengenamn and verbal abuse – slengja kjeften, literally slinging one’s jaw.

Part exaggeration, part absurd, the peculiar juxtaposition of consonants to vowels? The pace at which it falls out of our mouths?

Share your favourite slang with us in the comments below but keep it clean please……..