Activity on Language Use (SLANG)

Direction: Study the following examples of slang with their meanings and answer the following numbers at the back.

1. Awesome-means “cool,” “excellent” or, more literally, “inspiring awe.” It’s particularly useful for younger students
who may find themselves interacting with teenagers and peers in English-speaking countries.
2. What’s up-This is another way to ask “What’s happening?” or “What’s worrying you?”Meaning “spend time
relaxing or having fun with others.” It’s important for ESL students to become familiar with this phrase as it is very
common in social situations and useful for making invitations.
3. Cool- Informally means “excellent” or can be used to express agreement. Though very informal, this term is
common in casual conversation among young English speakers.
4. Bail-This word has several formal meanings, but in slang, it means “to leave.” Point out to your students how
some words have both formal and informal meanings.
5. To cram- A great phrase for students, “cram” means “to study a lot in a short amount of time.” This expression is
something they might can relate to as English students!
6. Screw up- can be used as a verb meaning “to fail” or as a noun which is “someone who messes up or makes
mistakes all the time.” Remember that it’s important to teach students all variations or forms of the word or
phrase.
7. Bucks - is another word for money, which is commonly used in the United States. ESL students need to be
familiar with the different phrases used in transactions. It will help them immensely in day to day life in an English-
speaking country.
8. ASAP- is an acronym for “as soon as possible,” and it means “quickly.” This term is especially useful for business
English students and professionals.
9. To calm down- This word means “to calm down.” It’s often used when trying to calm someone down. Again, this
term will be more relevant for your younger ESL students.
10. Dead- This word means “empty” or “quiet.” In general, this is simply a word that can cause a lot of confusion if
all of its meanings are not fully understood. You don’t want your students to mistakenly think that someone died.
11. Come on- This phrase is often used to express frustration. It can often cause confusion if students aren’t
familiar with its various meanings. You should also point out that in the
12. FYI- Again, this is another useful acronym for students to learn. It stands for “for your information.” It’s useful
for both younger ESL students and business English students.
13. LOL- This acronym or slang word stands for “laugh out loud” and is used when something is really funny. While
it’s commonly found only in written form, English speakers have been known to say it out loud, too, and ESL
students should be made aware of it.
15. OMG- stands for “Oh my God!” It’s an exclamation that expresses disbelief or excitement. This phrase is
certainly more relevant for younger ESL students.
16. My bad- This expression is very useful for when students do something wrong and want to give a lighthearted
apology. It lets the speaker claim responsibility for a mistake.
17. No problem- ESL students should become familiar with this phrases as it is used very frequently by native
speakers. It is used to express agreement and is sometimes used in place of “you’re welcome.”
18. “Rip-off”- means “overcharge” or “cheated.” Students who plan to travel abroad should know this phrase.
19. Twenty-four Seven- Sometimes written as 24/7, this phrase is useful for describing something that is always
open or always working. It literally means 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As it’s used quite frequently to describe
services and stores, students should be aware of it.
20. “Kudos”- can be used when giving praise or congratulations. In fact, you could help students become more
familiar with it by incorporating it into your daily lessons.
21. “Gotcha”- in slang expresses understanding and comprehension. As it is a very informal phrase, it is probably
best to remind students that this word only features in casual conversations. Still, it’s common to hear “gotcha”
come up in the workplace, at school and in discussions among friends.
22. Bestie- Students can use this word when talking about their best friends in an informal conversation.
23. YOLO- Short for “you only live once,” YOLO means that you should take a chance and do whatever it is you want
to do because you only have one life. It’s often used as an exclamation of encouragement or like a motto. This word
has had a rather vibrant social media life and your students may already be familiar with it. In any case, it’s
important to mention it so students don’t run into any confusion.
24. “Broke”- expresses the idea that you don’t have any money. Useful for students of any age and level who may
find themselves in an English conversation where they have to understand someone’s financial situation or explain
their own.
25. To “blow it off”- means to avoid someone or something. Students may find this term helpful for describing
social situations.
26. On the house- If something is “on the house” it means something is free of charge. Students should become
familiar with this phrases especially if they plan on traveling in English speaking countries.
27. Split- Another slang word for “to leave.” This phrase is very informal, but in order to understand casual
conversations more easily, students should learn this word.
28. Pretty- This word has many meanings. In slang, it is often used as an adverb meaning “to a high degree” or
“fairly,” and your students will hear it all the time, so it’s important for them to understand how to use it.
PAIR Activity

In ½ crosswise, fill in the blank with appropriate word (slang) the blank to complete the statement. Choose your answer
from the given examples of slang you have read. Copy and answer.

1. The shirt costs 20 ______.

2. ______. It’s not a big deal
3. We should ______ together some time.
4. I’ve got a lot of ______ to do. My test is tomorrow morning.
5. I definitely ______ that interview
6. Yeah, _____! I love the beach
7. Hey, John, _______?
8. This movie is boring. Let’s ______.
9. Let me know if you’re coming to the party ______.
10. Oh, _______! I know you’re lying.
11. _______, I’m going to be about 30 minutes late.
12. It was Monday night and the restaurant was ______.
13. My mother was so tired he just fell asleep at the table. ______.
14. It was such an _____ movie!
15. My bad! I got lost.
16. The taxi driver ________.
17. _____. No problem.
18. I’m going to spend all my savings on travelling in Asia this summer because… ________!
19. This is my _____, Sarah.
20. I felt bad about _______ that meeting with my adviser, but I was so tired. I’ll send him an e-mail.
21. I’m completely _______. I need a second job.
22. _____, I won 12 million!
23. ______ to those who finished their homework on time.
24. Here. Have another cup of coffee-on the house.
25. I’m pretty sure she said left, not right.