Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search PenpalsTranslator


Vocabulary from The Catcher in the Rye

 

Ask about definitions or translations for Spanish or English words.


 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old May 28, 2010, 12:25 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,047
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Vocabulary from The Catcher in the Rye

I'm reading The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, and I've found some colloquial expressions I had read before in some novels from the 1950's, but I haven't seen them used in movies or more recent texts, but still I'd like to have some help to know if I'm interpreting these expressions the right way:

a bang —> a pleasurable sensation
crumby —> disgusting
dough —> money
Mac —> Man, fellow
phony —> false, fake
screwballs —> an eccentric person
swell —> great, fantastic
the can —> a lavatory
to be a goner —> someone dead or about to die
to be loaded —> to have much money to spend
to chew the fat —> to talk relaxedly
to give someone a feel —> to caress someone
to horse around —> to joke
to neck —> to kiss, embrace and caress
to shoot the bull/crap —> to lie and exaggerate
to give the time / to give it —> to have sexual intercourse (would this be said only by men?)

And in the next situations, how are those expressions used?

· Someone makes a redundant remark ("that's a deer hunting hat") and the answer is "Like hell it is."
I know there is a rude side for this expression, but what is this "like hell"? Is it some kind of emphatic "of course"?

· The young man narrates about meeting a woman he finds nice and as she takes off her gloves, he says "was she lousy with rocks." I can't really figure out what he means.

· I'm confused about the expression "to haul it in": The narrator talks about his father: "He's a Corporation Lawyer. Those boys really haul it in." I have found that "to haul" is to make profits, mostly illicit ones but "to haul in" is to arrest… how are these two put together?

· The narrator often uses the adjective "old" when he talks about people he has dealt with for long: "I wanted to call old Jane", "old Mrs. Morrow didn't know..."
Is this a common use of "old" or is it also a past fashion?


Thank you, for taking the time to read through.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
 

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Vocabulary Homework Jessica Practice & Homework 1 January 27, 2009 06:53 PM
Vocabulary test Jessica General Chat 5 October 26, 2008 08:11 AM
The Catcher in the Rye Iris General Chat 22 March 28, 2008 07:57 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:25 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X