Canadian slang

About this list

Canadian slang borrows from Britain and the United States and adds its own, from the two-four of beer to the hockey bag. The list keeps words Wiktionary marks as Canadian, and many are shared with American speech.

98 words

two-four

A case of twenty-four bottles or cans of beer.

this guy

Expressing a feeling that the person referenced has done something exceptionally stupid or inappropriate.

like a big dog

A lot; a great deal.

boss

Of excellent quality, first-rate.

kick at the can

An attempt or an opportunity.

red horse

corned beef

truck

To persist, to endure.

fish scale

An early 5 cent coin of Canada; an early Canadian nickel.

hang a left

To turn left, to take a left turn.

T-bone

To collide perpendicularly with the side of another vehicle.

mountain motor

A large-displacement engine of the kind often used in hot rods and drag racers.

red rocket

Any of the red-painted electrical streetcars and subway trams operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Canada, especially the classic models used during the early and mid-20th century.

fish cop

An officer of a fish and wildlife conservation commission.

hockey bag

A bag the size of a hockey bag, large enough to carry a body.

nope out

To leave a place or abandon a situation or activity, usually quickly, because of feelings of fear or disgust.

rip

A joyride.

cop shop

A police station.

screw-off

Someone who often fails to do his or her work; someone known to goof off.

shoot the boots

To kick swiftly and violently, especially in the groin.

House of Commons

An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.

never-sweat

An idle or lazy person.

rap down

To rappel down a mountain.

carpet joint

An attractive casino with decorative carpets, etc.

victory lap

One or more years of study beyond the traditional four taken to complete one's undergraduate degree.

sally

The crystalline or powdered form of MDA.

boo

A close acquaintance or significant other.

jaw-jack

To talk or chatter; to jaw.

stiff

An average person, usually male, of no particular distinction, skill, or education.

swamp water

Synonym of suicide (“a beverage combining all available flavors at a soda fountain”).

bust one's neck

To work exceptionally hard.

mama pad

A reusable menstrual pad; a cloth pad.

bum deal

Synonym of raw deal.

front bum

A bipartite mass of abdominal fat.

off like a prom dress

Making a start, or departing, very rapidly.

rug joint

Synonym of carpet joint.

aww yeah

an exclamation of excitement or joy

give someone the gears

To scold or criticize someone.

gravel road cop

An officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

babe magnet

Synonym of chick magnet

trash panda

A raccoon, especially one that forages in garbage cans.

Queen's cowboy

A member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

cobra chicken

A Canada goose (Branta canadensis).

bush ape

Synonym of logger (“a worker whose occupation is to harvest trees”)

ledge

A provincial or territorial legislature building.

barley sandwich

A drink of beer, typically taken as a liquid lunch.

goat rodeo

A chaotic, unmanageable situation.

no duff

Indicating that this is not a drill or training exercise.

banjo eyes

Wide-open eyes, as from being surprised or startled.

bust one's hump

To work very hard; to put in strenuous effort.

sketchy

Of questionable or doubtful quality.

crickets

Used alone or in metaphorically descriptive phrases: absolute silence where meaningful sound is expected; lack of response; no communication.

telly

A hotel or motel.

banjo-eyed

Having wide open eyes, as from being surprised or startled.

green hornet

Bylaw officer.

confessing Sam

A person who falsely confesses to a crime.

ticked

Ticked off; annoyed.

wobbly pop

Beer.

donut bumping

Synonym of tribadism.

Robert Borden

A Canadian hundred-dollar note.

deuce less

A sentence of two years less a day (entitling the offender to serve the sentence in a provincial institution, rather than a federal penitentiary as for sentences of two years or more).

sawdust joint

A plain casino without ostentatious decoration.

stagger soup

whisky (the alcoholic drink)

bruv

Brother, mate, friend.

winnebago

A motorhome; a recreational vehicle (RV).

bozo eruption

A (usually unscripted) remark by a politician or other public figure which is especially ill-considered and foolish, and which has negative repercussions for that individual and their affiliated group.

Molson muscle

Beer belly.

zit

Pimple

meathead

A member of the Canadian Forces Military Police.

motorhead

A car, truck, or motorcycle enthusiast.

emerg

The emergency department of a hospital.

flub

A fold of fat.

flub up

To flub; to botch or mess up.

hooped

beset with unfortunate circumstances that seem difficult or impossible to overcome; screwed.

skookum house

A prison or jail.

four-flusher

A lowly, disreputable cheat or fraudster, especially at cards, especially a dull or unimaginative one.

rubby

rubbing alcohol.

down

Comfortable [with]; accepting [of]; okay [with].

house

To eat; especially, to scarf down.

bill

One hundred dollars.

minute

A while or a long unspecified period of time.

Leaf

A member of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, its organization, or its supporters.

garbage

An easy shot.

jam

Balls, bollocks, courage, machismo.

bud

Cannabis that has been taken from the flowering part of the plant intended to be smoked.

scalp

To resell, especially tickets, usually for an inflated price, often illegally.

hammered

very drunk; inebriated.

sled

A snowmobile.

finesse

To obtain something from someone through trickery or manipulation.

pelican

A waterbomber.

goof

A rapist.

equalizer

A weapon, usually a blackjack or gun.

deuce

A bowel movement (the event or the result).

swish

An improvised alcoholic drink made by fermenting whatever ingredients are available.

burg

Martinsburg, West Virginia.

deke

A quick detour.

kipper

An English person.

nipper

A mosquito.

soaker

The experience of stepping in a deep puddle and having one's foot become completely engulfed in water.