snub

• Meaning: [adj, noun, verb] dismiss, treat coldly, ignore, slight
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 唔蘇， 搞到佢無癮
  
• In decent Chinese: 忽視， 冷淡

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veer

• Meaning: [verb, noun] sharp turn in direction
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 轉呔 / 轉態
  
• In decent Chinese: 改變方向，轉變態度，轉向，轉鉈
  

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moon

• Meaning:
  
1. to wander around aimlessly, without specific things to do
2. [slang] to expose one's buttock -- as a gesture of disrespect
   
• In Hong Kong slang:
  
1. 戲（音 'heh'）
   
• In decent Chinese:
  
1. 遊手好閒， 無所是事
   
2. 露臀抗議
   
• Where we first met: film information on Straw Dog (1971) - Dustin Hoffman simply moons and does nothing.
  

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yokel

• Meaning: [derogatory] unintelligent and unsophisticated person from the rural area (usually male)
  
• Synynoms: rustic, bumpkin
  
• In Cantonese: 鄉下佬， 土佬
  
• Where we first met: film information on Straw Dogs (1971) - Dustin Hoffman was challenged by the yokels ...
  

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copious

• Meaning:
  
1. ample supply, abundant
   
2. abounding in thoughts or words

• In Hong Kong slang:
  
1. 大把，通街都係
2. 口水多過X
• In decent Chinese:
1. 充裕，大量供應
2. 口若懸河，滔滔不絕，思如泉湧

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heist

• Meaning: [slang] robbery, burglary
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 老笠， 老爆
  
• In decent Chinese: 打劫， 爆竊
  
• Where we first met: BBC News
  

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dummkopf [pronounced: doom-kof]

• Meaning: a stupid person
  
• Synynoms: dolt, dunce
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 懵丙， 茂利， 死蠢
  
• In decent Chinese: 笨蛋， 傻子， 愚人
  
• Origin: German: dumm = dumb; kopf = head
  
• Where we first met: BBC News - Sir Alan Sugar (host of TV show The Apprentice) was criticisesd for describing colleges as places 'where dummkopfs come to learn where to make mistakes'.

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peter, peter out

• Meaning:
  
• to diminish slowly, to dwindle -- 'peter out': to become exhausted
  
• [obscene slang] penis
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 謝， 陰乾
• In decent Chinese: 退卻， 減退， 褪色
• Where we first met: Spike.com -- public interest in the alleged plagiarism of Da Vinci Code will peter out very soon.
  

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jeremiad

• Meaning: a literary work of lament or righteous prophecy of doom
  
• Origin: Hebrew Bible: the prophet Jeremiah
  
• In Chinese: cannot think of any parallel; anyone?
  
• Where we first met: New York Times book review - a reviewer describes the USA as being 'in an era of best selling jeremiads on both sides of the political divide'.
  
  

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philistinism

• Meaning: a desire for wealth & material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters, an attitude of smug (自大) ignorance & conventionalisms, esp toward artistic & cultural values
  
• Origin: Hebrew Bible: Philistines (非利士人)
  
• In Chinese: (similar & comparable, but not exactly parallel) 暴發戶心態 - a combination of being 財大氣粗 + 俗不可耐 + 錢大晒 + 唔用腦 + 無品味 + 串
  
• Where we first met: Times Higher Education Supplement: an Oxford scholar criticises Sussex University's decision to close its famous Chemistry Department as 'a shameful act of philistinism'.
  

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rue

• Meaning: [noun / verb] regret, feel sorrow
  
• In Hong Kong / Cantonese slang: 砍頭埋牆， DUM心， 頂住頂住
  
• In decent Chinese: 後悔， 遺憾
  
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Evening News: ' ... make sure the city does not live to rue missed opportunities.'
  

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pilfer

• Meaning: to steal (a small amount or item)
  
• Synynoms: filch, snitch
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 撻
  
• In older Cantonese: 納， 鼠
  
• In decent Chinese: 偷竊， 盜取， 高買， 不問自取
  
• Where we first met: information on French film director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who made La Cite des Enfants Perdus (The City of Lost Children, 1995) - 'the story of an evil scientist's plan to pilfer children's dreams'.
  

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brunt

• Meaning: major impact or force (in an attack), main burden
  
• Usage: bear the brunt
  
• Example: Villagers in New Territories North bear the brunt of the government's ban on private poutry.
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 食到應， 食曬野， 食硬
  
• In decent Chinese: 首當其衝
  
• Where we first met: Edinburgh Evening News - certain areas are expected to bear the brunt of the city's new restrictions on renewing liquor licences to shops.
  

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ire

• Meaning: anger, esp when intensely and openly displayed
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 罊， 罄到爆
• Where we first met: somewhere in BBC news online
  

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boon

• Meaning:
  
• n: a timely benefit (esp. bestowed upon request or prayer), something to be thankful for 【from Latin: bonus】
  
• adj: joyful, convivial 【from French: bon (good)】
  
• In Hong Kong slang: 筍野, 執到
• In decent Chinese: 久旱甘霖, 及時雨
  
• In Chinese church jargon: 值得感恩
  

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haughty

• Meaning: condescendingly proud
• In Hong Kong slang: o懶醒， 招績， 串， o懶有野
• Where we first met: Bible: 1 Timothy 6:17 (New Revised Standard Version):
  
• 'As for those who are rich in this age, command them not to be haughty ... ' (NRSV, 1989, 1995)
• other translations:
  
• RSV (1952): 'As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty ... '
  
• NIV (1973-1984): 'Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant ... '
  
• KJV (1611): 'Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded ... '
  
• NKJV (1994): 'Command those who are in this present age not to be haughty ... '
  
• The Message (1993-2002): 'Tell those rich in this world's weath to quit being so full of themselves ... '
  
• 中文和合本 (1919)： 『你要囑咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高 ... 』
  
• 飲者臨時譯本： 『你叫個班而家有銀o既，唔好咁串 ... 』
  

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wee -- weer, weest

• Meaning:
  
• adj: tiny (in size)
  
• adj: very early (in time)
  
• n: brief period of time (Scottish usage)
  
• v: urinate
  
• Example:
• Dor Dor is a wee dog.
  
• At the wee hour of the morning ...
  
• Where we first met: film review on Greyfriars Bobby (a British film about a famous Edinburgh Dog)
  

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