The Dictionary

To swell with immense, chest-puffing pride over someone else's accomplishments.

The brass tacks; the bottom line. Getting straight to the point after stripping away small talk.

To literally burst, deflate, or collapse from intense emotion, shock, heat, or exhaustion.

An introduced match or orchestrated partnership (traditionally romantic, but modernly corporate).

Audacity, nerve, or absolute shameless guts (can be positive or infuriating depending on context).

To drag oneself or carry heavy, bulky items over a long, frustrating distance.

Your family—not just blood relatives, but the entire network of deep, chosen kin.

Absolutely nothing; zero; worthless results.

A crazy, chaotic, or eccentric person doing absurd things.

A genuinely good, honorable, stand-up person with outstanding character and integrity.

Ruined or made worse because someone keeps trying to 'fix' or adjust it.

To complain habitually; a persistent, artistic, almost therapeutic grumble.

The deep, proud, soul-warming pleasure specifically derived from the achievements of your children or loved ones.

The clumsy, passive instigator of minor mishaps; the one who spills the soup.

The chronically unlucky target of mishaps; the one the soup always lands on.

A harmless, passive, completely invisible person who apologizes for their own existence.

Troubles, deep anxieties, worries, or persistent life stresses.

Money; cash; financial resources.

A busybody; a gossip-monger way too interested in everyone else's business.

Completely messed up, disorganized, dysfunctional, or full of nonsense.

Overly decorated, cluttered, excessively adorned, or hopelessly gaudy.

An impractical dreamer; literally an 'air-person' with their head in the clouds and no visible means of support.

A hyper-formal, strictly punctual, anal-retentive obsessive who lives by checklists.

To sweat profusely; or a traditional steam bath.

An exceptionally organized, commanding, and highly efficient manager of a household or project.

An old wives' tale, silly superstition, or absolute nonsense story.

A cranky, old-school elder; an 'old fart' who complains loudly about the youth.

A self-proclaimed, deeply knowledgeable expert or connoisseur in a highly specific niche.

To offer unprompted, highly annoying, and completely unsolicited advice, typically as a bystander.

To chat idle-mindedly, network warmly, butter someone up, or engage in strategic small talk.

A cheap, useless trinket, knickknack, or promotional toy.

Hopelessly lost, deeply confused, or completely off-track.

A long, tedious, exhaustively over-detailed story, document, or ordeal.

A young guy, kiddo, or young-at-heart fella.

To snack, graze, or eat lightly between meals; or the snack itself.

A persistent, whining, highly irritating pest or nag; to annoy someone with constant pestering.

Cheap, poorly made, trashy, or second-rate merchandise.

A tiny speck of dirt, dust, lint, or food sitting exposed on your face or clothes.

A generous spread of cream cheese on a bagel; or modernly, a minor bribe or grease to make a deal happen.

Pedigree, prestigious family background, lineage, or professional status.

Pleasantly plump, full-figured, curvy, or comically thick (traditionally female, but used broadly).

Total garbage, cheap trash, rubbish, or incredibly poor work product.

A head-spinner; someone who overcomplicates simple things and makes you physically dizzy with worry.

A classic cry of shock, alarm, distress, exasperation, or overwhelming worry.

Your physical guts, innards, or deep visceral instincts.

A thick baked or fried pastry pocket filled with seasoned potato, kasha, or meat; or a soft, comforting person.

A clever, slightly untrustworthy scoundrel, rogue, or bastard (often used with begrudging respect).

Cheap, lowbrow, sensationalist art, trashy theater, or vulgar entertainment.

Cozy, warm, unpretentious, homey, and deeply comfortable.