colloqualisms – Tumbleweed Soul

Word of the Week

what: /wut/ pronoun. 1. The “nerd word”, commonly given to an unsuspecting victim…or the all-powerful Queen of the Nerds (me).

Example: “Ms. Duchene! Ms. Duchene!” —- “What?” —– “You’ve got the nerd word!” —- “As Queen of the Nerds, I thank you.”

Side note: At one point, I was fighting for the title as Queen of the Nerds to which students were trying to make someone the Empress, but thankfully that was short lived. At another point, students were telling each other that they couldn’t give away the “nerd word” as I was the reigning queen. It was a strong trend at the beginning of the school year that has fizzled and made a comeback multiple times.

Phrase of the Week

I never: /I nĕv•ər/ exclamation. 1. An exclamation meaning “I didn’t do it!”, “I’m not guilty!”, “It wasn’t me!” or “It isn’t my fault!”

Example: “Who left their pencil on the back table?” … “I never!”

Side note: There are two very common circumstances when this would occur. First, no student is even remotely going to get in trouble and a simple question is asked. Second, someone is highly likely to have made a poor decision and everyone (including the person who made said decision) wants to claim innocence.

Word of the Week

aza: /ah•zah/ exclamation. 1. one word expression that can be used in disbelief, exaggeration, or to express “wow”

Example: “Cheetahs can run up to 75mph.” … “AZA!”

Side note: Similar to adii, I have no idea how it is spelt, but it is likewise two distinct syllables with emphasis on the second syllable.

Word of the Week

adii: /a•dē/ exclamation. 1. one word expression that is used when something goes wrong or someone tells you something you didn’t want to hear.

Example: *teacher informs students they have homework* “a-DII!”

Side note: I actually have no idea how to spell it. I usually hear it as a distinctly two syllable word with the emphasis on the last syllable. ah – deee.

Word of the Week

yoi: /yoi/ exclamation. 1. one word expression that is used when something really awesome or something incredible happens.

Example: *someone makes a basket* “YOI!

Side note: I still haven’t adopted this into my everyday expressions

Word of the Week

trash: /tra•sh/ verb. 1. to throw something in the garbage

Example: I trash this?

Side note: This was one of the first things to become a part of my daily vocabulary because, to me, trash had been a noun or only used as a verb to destroy property.

Word of the Week

shortcuts: /shôrt·kŭts/ noun. 1. A pair of bottoms that stop somewhere above the knee. See also: shorts

Example: I wore shortcuts for gym.

Side note: Shorts are boxers, so don’t tell students you like their shorts.

Word of the Week

polish: /pŏ•lĭsh/ noun. 1. color used to coat nails. See also: nail polish

Example: You put polish?

Side note: It has taken me a while to figure out when people are asking me if I’ve painted my nails.

Word of the Week

bud: /bŭd/ verb. 1. to go in front of someone in line. See also: budge, cut

Example: He bud me.

Side note: I used “budge” growing up, so I often still hear “budge” and repeat “budge” when talking about budding in line.

Word of the Week

slop: /slŏp/ verb. 1. to open your book to the right page on the first try.

Example: I slop.

Side note: I never picked up on my students using this word last year (or they never opened to the right page). My students this year, however, slop every day in Math.

Word of the Week

hair pretty: /her prĭ•dē/ noun. 1. a small elastic band that is used to tie hair back or hold a certain style. See also: hair tie, hair binder, binder, ponytail holder, pony

Side note: I always forget about this one until a student brings it up.

Word of the Week

Craic: (kræk) noun. 1. Word used in Ireland (& Scotland according to a Scottish lad I met) to mean “fun” usually to describe a good time.

“We had some good craic at the wedding. The wedding was good craic.”

Side Note: Not at all related to crack-cocaine.