Green’s Dictionary of Slang

very drunk.

1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 27/2: since ca. 1940.
1986		R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Dict. 5: Arseholed: Has [...] everything to do with losing one’s job (if a bricklayer) or being thrown out of a pub (if one is a lower-order drunk who is arseholed).
1998		B. Robinson Peculiar Memories of Thomas Penman 102: Are you all right? [...] You sound arse-holed.
2004		Guardian G2 5 Oct. 5: The British have that many, and more, to describe getting drunk. Plastered, wrecked [...] and areseholed are but a few.

(also assholery) stupidity, nonsense; bad behaviour.

1992		Horizon 50/3: It must pass this new piece of legislative arseholery in order to obtain funds from the taxpayer.
2005		P. Kavanagh Gaff Topsails 282: Gus looks to Michael and snorts, ‘Barron, did you ever hear such arseholery?’.
2011		Guardian 10 July 🌐 I can’t remember when things changed (My NoW habit, that is, not my arseholery, that’s permanent).
2015		dailydot.com 22 Feb. 🌐 It’s a very respectful corner of the Internet, overall. The community doesn’t tolerate assholery, and it’s generally very supportive of all types of women.
2021		L. McInerney Rules of Revelation 131: up. What was the point in boohooing over some decade-old arseholery.

1. sycophantic [arsehole crawl v.].

1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 27/1: late C.19–20.
2002		www.zyworld.com 🌐 I tried for a little longer and every single word from my mouth sounded like the most arseholey thing that anyone had ever said, EVER!

2. a general derog. term.

1999		Kenickie Corner 🌐 It was to take any arseholey sentimentality out of the situation. It was hari-kari, a noble act.
2003		J. Colgan Working Wonders 7: ‘No, I would say they were more arseholey than you.’ Arthur smiled.

3. used as adv.

2011

P. Palmer Artemis [ebook] And I got drunk that night, totally kissing-men-and-giggling arseholey drunk.

acting like an idiot, being annoying, a general derog.

2000		M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 65: Strutter could put up with Darklord’s arseholishness for the 40 grand a week.
2008		http://www.mouseowners.com 🌐 Jaw dropping arseholishness...

a homosexual male (cf. asshole bandit under asshole n.).

1970, 1984		Partridge DSUE (7th, 8th edn).
1979		F. Musgrove School and the Social Order 6: [D.H.] Lawrence was as discreditable in the eyes of the teachers as of the parents — a ‘mucky bogger’, even ‘an arsehole bandit’.
1997		Green Left Weekly (Aus.) 27 Aug. 28: ‘AIDS will finish you in hell. SODOMIST. An arsehole bandit. You are pure filth and will die SOON!’. Thus ran one of the letters to Ian Roberts – Souths, Manly and Australian Rugby League star – after his coming out as gay in 1996.
2008		M. Cole Jump [ebook] A year on remand, and now what, three months in here, and already you’re an arsehole bandit? [...] if you can’t control your urges you’ll end up with the real big one HIV.

extremely fortunate.

1980		Barltrop & Wolveridge Muvver Tongue 41: There is ‘arsehole lucky’ as well.
1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 27/2: since ca. 1950.

a short jacket.

1909

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues (rev. edn).

a sycophant, a toady.

1977

Maledicta 1 (Summer) 16: Naturally, he is also a sycophant and toady to the boss: an ass-kisser, and an arsehole-polisher.

applied to anywhere considered especially unpleasant on a global or, hyperbolically, local level.

[1698		N. Ward ‘A Trip to Jamaica’ in Writings (1704) 161: The Dunghill of the Universe, the Refuge of the Whole creation, the Clippings of the Elements, a shameless Pile of Rubbish, confus’dly jumbl’d into an Emblem of the Chaos].
[1701		M-C d’Aulnay Memoirs of the court of France 81: [A] City, that is only a Hole, and, that one of the most wretched Holes in the Universe].
1860		O.W. Holmes Professor at the Breakfast Table 24: My lively friend has had his straw at the bung-hole of the Universe!
1926		Mencken letter 1 Nov. in Bode New Mencken Letters (1977) 205: This place [i.e. L.A.] is the one true and original arse-hole of creation. It is at least nine times as bad as I expected.
1934		H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 24: And not one man [...] has been crazy enough to put a bomb up the asshole of creation and set it off.
1950		D. Thomas Coll. Letters 17 July (1985) 767: This arsehole of the universe this hymnal blob, this pretty, sick, fond sad Wales .
1953		‘John Eagle’ Hoodlums (2021) 100: ‘I’m down in this hole of the world for a week’.
1959		(ref. to 1920s) L. Lipton Holy Barbarians 276: In every small town I hit during those days there was always someone to assure me that it was ‘the ass-hole of the world.’.
1960		J. Iggulden Storms of Summer 89: Bugger Europe! I say. It must be the arsehole of the World!
1963		(con. 1944) L. Glassop Rats in New Guinea 58: It’s not like the desert up there, corp [...] It’s the — hole of the world.
1967		M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 30: There it is [...] The asshole of creation.
1978		H. Selby Jr Requiem for a Dream (1987) 171: That fuckin place [i.e. Dannemora prison] is the asshole of the world.
1993		B. Moore Lex. of Cadet Lang. 15: arsehole of the universe The Royal Military College. The term appears in the college cheer-song; this runs (Moore 1993) ‘We’re a pack of bastards, / Bastards are we, / We come from RMC, / The arse of the world... / And the universe’.
1999		G. Seal Lingo 123: One may be unfortunate enough to reside in the arsehole of the world, or even of the universe (sometimes said to refer to Canberra, pronounced ‘Canbra’, and popularly considered a reality vacuum).
2001		Herald (Glasgow) 26 Sept. 🌐 As they walked through the airport his exasperated cameraman exclaimed that the country had to be the ‘arsehole of the world’.
2006		D. Mitchell Black Swan Green 83: Black Swan Green might not be the arsehole of the world, but it’s got a damn good view of it.

(Aus.) very dark.

1963–74

B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 96: The shop’s as dark as an abo’s arsehole.

1. all the way, all the time, completely.

1907		Indep. 23 May 1186: So we were only four hands on deck, outside [...] Aleck Jackson, our negro cook, a thoro sailor from backbone to breakfast time .
1948		Landfall 7 178: My God, man [...] you have me excited.It’s absolute comfort from arsehole to breakfast-table .
1953		I. Hamilton Till Human Voices Wake Us 35: The famous white trousers [were] patched from arsehole to breakfast time.
1959		W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: He’s after you. Chases you round from haircut to breakfast time.
1961		(con. c.1935) R. Poole London E1 (2012) 57: ‘I’ll rip ’im from earhole to breakfast,’ Johnny snarled.
1963		‘Nino Culotta’ Gone Fishin’ 46: Try clearing a dry net, and you’ll know all about ’em. You’ll itch from arse to breakfast.
1979		D. Maitland Breaking Out 202: Christ, man, there’s gonna be white blood spilled from arsehole to breakfast time!
1982		H. Beaton Outside In I i: A fucken soap up! Foam from arse’ole to breakfast!
1986		R. Fitzgerald Pushed from the Wings (1989) 131: She’s caused me strife from arsehole to breakfast time.
1993		A. Bleasdale On the Ledge 40: I’ll cut you from arsehole to breakfast time if you don’t shut up.
1998		R.G. Barrett Goodoo Goodoo 199: There was mud from arsehole to breakfast time.
1999		G. Seal Lingo 123: One may also be knocked or kicked from arsehole to breakfast in certain unfortunate circumstances.
2001		V. McInerney Writing for Radio 104: Then she could spend more time in the house with Mr Randy, being touched up from arse to breakfast time.
2004		(con. 1960s-70s) T. Taylor Top Fellas 61/1: One mob bossed Flinders Street from arsehole to breakfast time.
2004		in P. Brock These Strange Criminals 276: They were a sort of greyish-brown colour and patched from arsehole to breakfast time.
2022		Twitter 28 Feb. 🌐 Watching Call the Midwife with 86 yr old mum her midwifery training kicks in and says , ‘bloody hell if you gave birth to the size of babies you see on here you’d be split from arsehole to breakfast time’.
2024		G. MacDonough X 29 May 🌐 Rwanda complete sham from arsehole to breakfast time, and an expensive one to boot.

2. very unsatisfactory, totally confused, very chaotic; thus not know if it is arsehole or breakfast time v., to be very confused.

1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 430/1: late C.19–20.
1999		G. Seal Lingo 123: A disorganised situation may be described as being from arsehole to breakfast.
2005		T. Pratchett Thud! 199: There was an old military saying [...] used to describe total bewilderment and confusion. An individual in that state [...] ‘couldn’t tell if it was arsehole or breakfast time.’.
2009		T. Thorne Dict. Contemp. Sl [ebook] It’s no good, it‘s all arsehole to breakfast time in that office at the moment.

(N.Z.) to harass, to berate.

1968		G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 174: The only pep talk he ever gave them, all he ever said every Saturday, was go out there and give em arseholes.
2005		http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz 6 June 🌐 So this is it folks. Give him arseholes. If he thinks he can get away clean, we gotta give him the learn.

to infuriate.

2002

Guardian 28 Feb. 21: It’s enough to give me the a***hole.

to be an absolute fool; to be wholly disorientated.

1922		‘J.H. Ross’ Mint (1955) 121: The silly twat didn’t know if his arse-hole was bored, punched, drilled, or countersunk.
1968		G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 162: Doesn’t know if he’s punched, bored, or countersunk.
1971		(con. WWII) B. Aldiss Soldier Erect 34: He doesn’t know whether his arsehole’s drilled, bored, or countersunk.
1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 1364: [...] C.20.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 144: not know if you’re punched, bored or countersunk Confused.
2006		T. Parry Only One Way Out 197: Come the finish, the poor sod hopped around as though his arse hole had been drilled, bored out then counter-sunk.
2007		T. Church TeeCee’s Arborfield Odes 90: And sure enough, that?s how it was; we really should have scarpered, We couldn?t tell if we were being drilled, bored, reamed or tapered!
2012		T. Daly Operation Highlander 106: [T]he love struck alcoholic bum who did not know whether his arsehole was bored or punched, spent most ofthe days ogling the British soldiers wives.

extremely stupid.

1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 1172/2: [...] since ca. 1925.
2010		http://boards.gingerbeer.co.uk 4 July 🌐 And everyone, Mum, dad, Nan and Grandad etc., all use ‘arseholes’ as a point of comparison. Sometimes it makes sense, ‘He’s as tight as arseholes.’ Sometimes, not so much, ‘It’s as hard as arseholes.’ [...] ‘He’s as stupid as arseholes’.

see take it up the arse under arse n.

to talk nonsense.

1985		J. Godber Up ’n’ Under 11: reg: Arthur, you're talking out of your arsehole. arthur: Steady. reg: You are talking utter crap and you know it.
1992		K. Lette Llama Parlour 178: These guys are talkin’ outa their assholes.
1999		‘Rev. of Baby Geniuses’ at FilmJournal.com 🌐 They say things like, ‘If you’re going to talk out of your asshole all the time, maybe you should wear a bowtie on your butt!’.
2009		M. Futcher Wishing Well 21: Mr Big-Man Victor Kiss is talking out of his arsehole.

to work furiously.

1923		J. Manchon Le Slang.
1979		‘Iceberg Slim’ Airtight Willie and Me 71: Mama started social climbing, tearing her asshole out [...] to compete with the status shit muckety-mucks.

(Aus.) to be confused, bewildered.

c.1943

S .J. Baker Aus. Vulgarisms [t/s] 14: tied up like a bundle of arseholes: Confused, bewildered.

in difficulties, facing problems.

1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 27/2: since ca. 1950.
1997		As The World Churns! 8 Oct. 🌐 Anyway, after a while I realised I had to check meself, and I was heading up Arsehole Street, so we talked, and we both agreed to put the brakes on.
2002		Nishlord’s World Cup Diary 🌐 Ireland are making Roy Keane’s gardening leave an absolute hell on earth, Rivaldo made the entire world piss itself laughing, France are right up Arsehole Street, Argentina are frothing at the mouth to get to England...

absolutely dark, totally black.

1568		Hist. of Jacob and Esau V vi: Come out thou mother Mab, out olde rotten witche, As white as midnightes arsehole, or virgin pitche.
1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 1331/2: ca. 1550–1640.

rubbish! nonsense! note euph. in cit. c.1939.

1888–94		‘Walter’ My Secret Life (1966) II 385: ‘Oh! Arseholes,’ bawled out Kate, slamming the door.
c.1920		‘Blind Nell’ in Bold (1979) 26: She thinks he will return to her, / Will he fucking arseholes.
1934		J. Franklyn This Gutter Life 194: ‘Solly’s deal I say!’ ‘Arsoles!’.
c.1939		B. Bennett ‘Trumpeter’ in Billy Bennett’s Third Budget 33: So I tell them that it’s rissoles / And they say, ‘The same to you’.
1954		in G. Legman Rationale of the Dirty Joke (1972) I 179: All I’ll sye is ‘Bloody fuckin’ arseholes to you!’.
1971		F.J. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah (1975) 93: He’s a Red like yourself, they tell me (Red arseholes, thought Dean, a pale shade of pink, at best).
1977		(con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 294: ‘Conspicuous arseholes!’ Gunner flung himself back in his chair exasperatedly.
1992		R.G. Barrett Davo’s Little Something 8: ‘m a footballer. I need the carbohydrates.’ ‘Carbo arseholes’.

a general excl. of disdain, dismissal, arrogant contempt.

1927		‘J.M. Hall’ Anecdota Americana I 188: All I sye is my bloody arse ’ole to you, you bloomin’ fuck.
1950		J.T. Farrell ‘Milly and the Porker’ in Amer. Dream Girl (1950) 203: Nervous, my ass hole!
1973		(con. 1940s–60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes ‘Table Manners’ in Snatches and Lays 86: ‘Manners me arsehole,’ said Thomas.