# Terms/phrases you hear all the time, but don't \*really\* know what they mean. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294 "2005-06-07T14:28:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/81 "2005-06-10T12:38:15Z")
**Pantywaist** as I understand it and use it, means to be a sissy about something. I think, and I could be completely wrong as I am not the person to discuss Rap Linguistics, but **Shizzle** means ’ the shit". Y’know, _da bomb_ That is my guess. Don’t trust my account at all. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/82 "2005-06-10T13:19:22Z")
Ta muchly. The Shizzle Nizzle stuff has been driving me nuts. Oh Shirley, choccy is on it’s way. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/83 "2005-06-10T13:45:00Z")
I thought “shizzle” meant “sure”. I’ve only heard it in the context of “Fo’ shizzle, my nizzle”, meaning “That is quite correct, my dear boy”. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/84 "2005-06-10T14:42:58Z")
**jsgoddess** : Turn key means ready to go. The house is turn key = you can move in with no renovations; the car is turn key = no problems with the car mechanically. **lorene** : Pantywaist is used much like wimp and pussy. Generally used to refer to guys who are sissies = no better than the waist that ends up in a girl’s panties (after sex? during her period? that part I’m not sure about). Not too nice a phrase. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/85 "2005-06-10T14:44:42Z")
> [@stretch](#): > > **lorene** : Pantywaist is used much like wimp and pussy. Generally used to refer to guys who are sissies = no better than the waist that ends up in a girl’s panties (after sex? during her period? that part I’m not sure about). Not too nice a phrase. [This](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=p&p=3) disagrees: > [@](#): > > Pantywaist “weak or effeminate male” is 1936, from a type of child’s garment with short pants that buttoned to the waist of a shirt. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/86 "2005-06-10T15:33:54Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Two that I always forget to ask: > > MLM and “turn key.” **MLM** is Multi-Level Marketing. A classic example is Amway, where each “distributer” not only sells the product, but recruits other distibuters to work under him. Each person in the chain above you gets a cut of everything you sell. MLM has also been applied to pyramid schemes. **Turnkey** , in the computer world refers to vendors who sell a complete system, including hardware, software, support and training. In other words, they deliver the system, and all you have to do is “turn the key.” ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/87 "2005-06-10T16:25:36Z")
> [@me](#): > > lorene: Pantywaist is used much like wimp and pussy. Generally used to refer to guys who are sissies = no better than the waist that ends up in a girl’s panties (after sex? during her period? that part I’m not sure about). Not too nice a phrase. > > > [@GorillaMan](#): > > > > [This](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=p&p=3) disagrees: > > > > > [@link](#): > > > > > > Pantywaist “weak or effeminate male” is 1936, from a type of child’s garment with short pants that buttoned to the waist of a shirt. But, I learned it in community college!!! How can it not be true?!? Seriously, one of my English instructors was doing her thesis on the semantics of clothing and she taught us that meaning of pantywaist. You just can’t believe anything you hear, read, or learn anywhere, can you? ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/88 "2005-06-10T16:27:46Z")
please disregard my multiple incorrect spellings–I’m pretty sure that pantywaste would be better for my definition. ---
**Author:** ![Electrical\_Storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@Electrical\_Storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electrical_Storm)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/89 "2005-06-10T18:30:42Z")
I’ve seen this on various e-mails (work related) and don’t know what this term means: “Fat-fingered” What the heck does that mean? It’s generally used on correspondence where someone, somewhere, screwed up but I can’t pinpoint the exact meaning. Anyone? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/90 "2005-06-10T18:39:24Z")
I’m guilty of contributing to this thread’s degeneration into a “what does X mean?” thread, but I’m dying to know… What do NBA commentators mean by “ **off the dribble** ”? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/91 "2005-06-10T19:16:02Z")
> [@silver1](#): > > I’ve seen this on various e-mails (work related) and don’t know what this term means: > > “Fat-fingered” > > What the heck does that mean? It’s generally used on correspondence where someone, somewhere, screwed up but I can’t pinpoint the exact meaning. If you have real-life fat fingers (like me) and are mediocre, self-taught typist (like me), the meaning is obvious. My fat fingers tend to hit two keys simultaneously:\*\* A\*\* and **S** , **H** and\*\* J\*\*, **L** and **;** , etc. This can make for interesting typos. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/92 "2005-06-10T19:25:49Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > What do NBA commentators mean by “ **off the dribble** ”? To make a play “off the dribble” just means you started off dribbling the ball on that given maneuver. To “take someone of the dribble” means basically that the ball-handler dribbled in an especially tricky manner to evade the defender (and often, to subsequently score a bucket). “Off the dribble” is more or less opposed to “catch and shoot”, where a player begins a scoring play without the ball – then a teammate passes the ball to him for a relatively easy shot. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/93 "2005-06-10T19:29:36Z")
Thanks, Bord. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/94 "2005-06-10T20:46:41Z")
Let them have cake and eat it too. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/95 "2005-06-10T20:48:55Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > “Sea change” it is. I don’t really know the origin, but it means something like “paradigm shift” (God help us all!), or in non-technical language, “a big change.” I hear it used in the sense of largish societal or political changes: “In the last decade, there’s been a sea change in the public acceptance of X.” the tide’s turned? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/96 "2005-06-10T20:49:52Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I read a lot of romances. The cheap kind. They are published by an English company so you get a lot of Britishisms. It’s my understanding that “Snap!” means something like, “I was thiking the exact same thing!” > > Is this true? as in snapping your fingers? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/97 "2005-06-10T20:52:50Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > The expression “Word” is making a comeback? > > About 15 years ago, it used to mean “Agreed”, “Indeed!”, “Preach on!”. Heavens to Vanilla Ice!! “Word to your Mother!” ---
**Author:** ![AThingWithFeathers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@AThingWithFeathers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AThingWithFeathers)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/98 "2005-06-10T21:06:01Z")
Basically it means you can’t have everything both ways. If you eat your cake, it’s gone (into your stomach, obviously), so you no longer have it. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/99 "2005-06-10T21:09:58Z")
> [@pulehoopo](#): > > I’ve only heard this once on The West Wing but this seems like the right place to ask. Does anyone know exactly what cotton candy ass means here? I assume they’re both being sarcastic but for some reason I feel like I’m missing something. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that episode, but given the usual run of conversations with Josh, I would guess “cotton candy ass” means just about the same thing as “pantywaist.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294/100 "2005-06-10T21:18:29Z")
> [@stretch](#): > > **jsgoddess** : Turn key means ready to go. The house is turn key = you can move in with no renovations; the car is turn key = no problems with the car mechanically. > > **lorene** : Pantywaist is used much like wimp and pussy. Generally used to refer to guys who are sissies = no better than the waist that ends up in a girl’s panties (after sex? during her period? that part I’m not sure about). Not too nice a phrase. Turnkey (pricing) is also what we in retail call cost+ pricing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terms-phrases-you-hear-all-the-time-but-dont-really-know-what-they-mean/307294.md?page=6)