Oxford dictionary seeks help on slang

The OED is today enlisting the public to help them trace 40 well-known words and phrases. All of them are in the dictionary with a date of the earliest evidence of usage, but researchers want to know if the British people can do better.

The results will feature in a new series of BBC2’s Balderdash and Piffle presented by Victoria Coren. Last year viewers came up with evidence to update the history of words including ploughman’s lunch, the 99 ice-cream and the full monty.

The 40 words include some whose origin is still unknown or uncertain including shaggy dog story, loo, bonkers, Bloody Mary, take the mickey, bung and spiv.

The dictionary is also hoping for more information on mucky pup, sick puppy, glamour model, hoodie, shell-suit, stiletto, marital aid, pole dance, duh brain, and one sandwich short of a picnic. More information at bbc.co.uk/balderdash.

Link to the Guardian article