Slang Presentation
Presented By:
Nuancharas Phopoonsak
Tim Zhuang
Origin of the word
• “Screw-up” comes from the verb “screw,” which
means to twist and turn in a rotating motion.
• The original word “screw” originated from
France in 1599, and defined as a hole that a
screw turns in.
• It later had additional meanings and became
slang: to make a mess, to damage, or to make
neurotic or anxious
Timeline
• 1599 – “Screw” became a word.
• 1725 – “Screw-up” became a slang word
meaning to copulate and a prostitute.
• 1929 – Slang meaning is recorded and has
become popular.
• 1949 – “Screw-up” is first recorded in
exclamations as a euphemism
Connotation
Negative
• Verb
1. To make a mess of an undertaking or a mistake
Example: I really screwed up this report.
2. To injure, damage
Example: I screwed up my back lifting all those
heavy books.
3. To screw somebody up
Example: Her husband screwed her up, but her
therapist has helped her a lot.
• Noun
▫ “A screw-up”
▫ Definition : a person who creates stupidity or a
mess
▫ Example: Who is a screw-up?
Synonyms
• To ball up (verb)
• To blunder (verb)
• To mismanage (verb)
• To make mistake (verb)
• To blow up (verb)
Who says?
Past
• Hip group
• Uneducatedpeople
Present
• Hip group
• Teenagers
• Friends
Questions
•
•
•
•
•
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1) How often do you use slang words?
2) Have you used the word “screw-up” lately?
3) When do you think it became popular?
4) How else do you think this word can be used?
5) Do you believe this word is offensive?
6) Which group of people do you think most
often use this slang word?
• 7) Describe a time when you “screwed-up”
References
• http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionar
y/british/screwhttp://www.macmillandictionar
y.com/dictionary/british/screw
• http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/screwu
p
• http://helendipity.wordpress.com/2009/02/05
/i-screwed-up/