Suburban Dictionary - Timothy Fay

Often find yourself wondering what in the heck people are saying these days or is it just me? Has the English language become one long acronym and renders the majority of us speechless?

When you find yourself politely nodding when someone shouts the virtues of a YouTube video being so ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response - triggers a tingle on the spine) or asking for a ‘John Daly’ (it’s an Arnold Palmer - iced tea and lemonade - with vodka added), then this dictionary by author and journalist Timothy Fay will guide you through the new way to speak, or at least enable you to understand what others are endeavoring to articulate.

Set out pretty much like a standard dictionary, words are given its meaning and in some cases an example of how it would be used.

There are ordinary words that surprisingly have other meanings such as ‘landmine’ – slang for hidden dog doo and other such surprises. Many expressions I’ve heard (‘she-shed’ – the female equivalent of a man cave) I’ve come across. With words/acronyms/phrases from around the world, the book opens up the myriad of expressions and words used in an everyday setting.

Clear, concise and easy to read, I really enjoyed this quirky read. It’s funny – ‘lackanookie’ (little bedroom action) still makes me giggle and informative in a strange way. I hadn’t heard of the expression ‘on everything but roller skates’, which means heavily medicated. Either read in one sitting or flick through and research things you’ve heard – ‘bike salmon’ (cycling the wrong way), ‘dessertarian’ (emphasizes desserts in the diet) and “I’ll Venmo you” means a check in the mail. Throughout I found myself, smiling, nodding in agreement (to a meaning), muttering ‘huh’ (as in, is that what it means?) groaning at the puns and just outright bursts of laughter.

Perhaps an alternative to the Oxford Dictionary? Useful for those not quite up to date with the new terms being spouted. Sure ain't "janky"! Lighthearted fun, informative and a must read for any logophile’s.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. The opinion expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique.