A Glossary of Hardboiled Slang Compiled by William Denton Ameche - telephone (e-mail submission) babe - woman (Vengeance, 37) baby - a person, can be said to either a man or a woman (Art, 52) bangtails - racehorses (Op, 74; Partridge's) barbering - talking (Knockover, 70) be on the nut, to - to be broke (Pick-Up, 3) bean-shooter - gun (Art, 156) bent cars - stolen cars (Sleep, 154) berries - dollars (Knockover, 402; Thin, 148) big house - jail (Knockover, 354; Op, 59) big one, the - death (Falcon, 44) big sleep, the - death (a term coined by Chandler) (Speaking, 88) bim - woman (Lake, 191) bindle punk - a bindle is a bedroll, but it's not clear if that is relevant here (Pick-Up, 116) bindles (of heroin) - little folded-up pieces of paper (with heroin inside) (Art, 54) bing - crazy (Thin, 148) bird - guy (Op, 52) blip off - to kill (Knockover, 366) blow - leave (Knockover, 49; Playback, 39; Key, 164) blow one down - kill someone (Sleep, 123) blower - telephone (e-mail submission) bo - pal, buster, fellow, as in "Hey, bo" (Sleep, 172; Farewell, 8) boiler - car (Knockover, 69) | |
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