CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter M ay,ay , 2022
‘Bananas,’ meaning “crazy,” is a much more
recent development. In the 1920’s,“banana oil” was a slang term
Over time as languages evolve, new words
meaning “nonsense.” In the late
get added and old words take on new or
1960’s, college students in theadditional meanings. English is a prime
UnitedStates were starting to use
example of this.
the term ‘ ba na na s’ to mea n
The English language has expanded over
“excited” or “upset” to the point
the centuries by incorporating words fromof being angry, or acting “wild.”many other languages and by the invention
At about that time many youngof new words to accommodate evolving
people were experimenting withsituations - new technologies being one
drugs
of various kinds. “Goingexample. Older, established words have alsobananas” may be linked to the mythacquired new or additional meanings. Takefor example the words ‘nuts’ and ‘bananas’. that if one were to smoke banana peels, one
Both of these words, apart from identifying could get “high!” Although totally untrue,
food we enjoy eating, also have come to mean some people took this idea seriously and evenfound reference to it in a popular song of the‘crazy.’
Since about 875CE, the word ‘nut’ has time: anyone remember Donovan’s “Mellow
meant a “shell-encrusted fruit.” It still does to Yellow?”
this day. Over time, however, other meanings “….e-lec-tric-al banana
have been attached to this word. For example, is gonna be a sudden craze…”
These days ‘going bananas’
the ‘nut’ in nuts and bolts came into use
around 1611; the part of a musical still means “going crazy,” butinstrument’s neck that the strings rest on in a more aggressive, energetic,(1698); a question that’s difficult to answer or even angry sense, than ‘going nuts’.
‘Nuts’ or ‘bananas’ used in this way is(1545). And in the mid-19th century,Ella‘Nuts’
came to mean “crazy.” (‘Bananas’ adopted this slang. “Slang is metaphor, and all metaphor
is poetry” wrote G.K. Chesterton in 1901.
additional meaning about 100 years later.)How
the word ‘nut’ acquired so many Here are a few more examples of common
Janis
different meanings is unclear, but the slang still in use today:
particular meaning of “crazy” may be linked Chill or chill-out – take it easy, calm down;
to the late 1700’s British slang terms, ‘nuts Bread or loot or paper – money;
upon’ or ‘nuts about’, used to describe a person Cool – very good, or suave, or acceptable, or
who was overly enthusiastically fond of or calm, or uninterested, unfriendly;
Peeps – friends, people.
infatuated with some(Find more slang in P3’s Slang Quiz.)thing (or someone), justlike we say “crazy about”
today. In the 1850’s,‘nut’ was used to refer
NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
to a person’s head.
It followed that “off ones…. Try our lessons on the net!
You can check out some modern English expressions here:nut” means “crazy.”
https://www.evilenglish.net/

Joshua Says: : One of the hardest challenges in learning a new/second
language is dealing with common expressions that don’t seem to mean what theymean! This month’s cover story is concerned with this issue, slang. When you
watch English movies or read novels, slang, idioms, puns and similar figurative
expressions are commonly used and it can be very confusing to get a clear
meaning of what’s going on. Even native speakers don’t always get it.
Junko Says: Why does time go by faster as we age? Psychologists say, children’s
brains operate faster than adults’. This makes children more conscious of theirexperiences and, as a result, their sense of the passing of time moves more slowly than it
does for adults. So, how can we keep our minds sharp and quick at any age? 1. Keeplearning (anything and everything); 2. Use as many of your senses as you can to take
impressions of things; 3. Believe in yourself; 4. Prioritize; 5. Repeat what you want toknow; 6. Space it out…. I have more details if anyone is interested in knowing more.
Marek Says: The flood of Ukrainian refugees to western European countries
continues, with Poland receiving 3 million citizens and Germany accepting
300,000, thus far. Straightforward visa application allows the consulates toprocess large number of applications. Meanwhile in the UK, the red tape meansthat only a fraction of applicants (who filled in 51 pages in ENGLISH) has beenprocessed. The system is so badly constructed that UK households volunteering
to accept refugees fail the process if they have a pond in the garden!
Mandcy dit: Bonjour à tous, Ce mois-ci, je tiens á féliciter Madame lePremier-Ministre Elizabeth Borne. En effet, la France est un pays
avec peu de femmes politiciennes. Je suis donc vraiment contente quenous ayons enfin une femme avec un poste important. J'espère queson succès inspirera le monde et les petites filles. Nous luisouhaitons donc bon courage !!!
ACROSS
1 first, important
6 in a greatly excitedmanner10 an established story lacking true facts
8
13 added to
15 informal language
16 exaggerated passion for
18 having a hard covering
19 bringing into, merging
20 gained
DOWN
2 words used to symbolize
15
something else
3 recognizing
4 short term popular idea or activity
5 already existing
7 joined to
8 foolish, making no sense
9 fit in with
11 undergo development or change
12 unique or special
14 having a sophisticated charm
17 many different kinds

13

2456

7
910
11
12
13
14

16
17
18

1920

www.CrosswordWeaver.com(print version here)Slang is widely used informal language. It’s often specific to acountry, region or era. See how you go with this quiz:(Australian) 1. Have you seen my “daks”, means: A pants, B friend, C notes.
2. That looks “dodgy” to me, means: A beautiful, B interesting, C suspicious.
3. I’m so “stoked” about finding a new job, means: A anxious, B happy, C sorry.
(Canadian) 1. I got a new “bunnyhug”, means: A pet, B hooded sweatshirt, C car.
2. I had a “jam buster” for lunch, means: A jelly doughnut, B sandwich, C cake.
3. He is a “bluenoser”, means: A he has a cold, B lives in Nova Scotia, C can’t smell.
(U.S.A.) 1. Last night’s party was “lit”, means: A light, B start a fire, C exciting.
2. Why are you so “salty”, means: A bitter/angry, B sad, C full of energy.
3. He just “threw shade” on me, means: A told a secret, B insulted, C praised.
(England) 1. Put it in the “boot”, means: A house, B shopping bag, C car’s trunk.
2. He’s a real “swot”, means: A serious student, B lazy, C nervous person.
3. You’d better take your “brolly” today, means: A wallet, B umbrella, C cane.
(1950’s) 1. He just got out of the “cooler”, means: A kitchen, B bathtub, C jail2. That’s a load of “garbage”, means: A nonsense, B waste, C replaceable items.
(1960’s) 1. The band was “far out”, means: A not near, B amazing, C bad.
2. I’m getting good “vibes” from her, means: A support, B information, C feelings.
D U R A B L EPPIRRSO B S O L E S C E N C E
A
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TM
CO
RI M P A C TS
ATIA
NNC
DUCR O B U S T N E S SOE
RAE
LFCMSSELSEEKPPPLTRGL O N G E V I T YWRRDANATAUEE
DERERCDEGNHRTA P P R E C I A T I V EAUTSANRSDTI N T E N D E DI N T E N T I O N A L L Y
NNG
W A R R A N T I N G

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSS
1 long lasting
4 no longer
useful or out of date
6 influence strongly
10 being strong and healthy
13 long lived
15 expressing or feelinggratitude
16 planned or designed for
17 on purpose
18 requiring, causing,justifying

DOWN
1 designed to be discardedafter use
2 too soon
3 actual, real
5 moved to a different
location7 very, greatly involved
8 parts of something
9 regardless of
10 making forming
newly
11 leading
12 a useful device
14 a written guarantee

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