federal, adj. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

federal adj.

[SE federal, pertaining to the federal, i.e. national rather than state (local) government]

1. used of something of exceptional quality or of an extreme nature.

2003

A. Newitz ‘Bay Area Sl.’ on Berkeley University Amer. Studies 102 Course Website 🌐 Federal – Going Federal, going major. Describes making it.

2. (US teen) criminal.

2002

Teen Lingo: The Source for Youth Ministry 🌐 Federal against the law, or not right– ‘Yo, I ain’t stealing that money, that’s federal!’.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

federal building (n.)

(US) an outdoor toilet.

1949		R.I. McDavid Jr ‘Grist from the Atlas Mill’ in AS XXIV:2 108/2: Federal Building. . . Privy.
1962		Atwood Vocab. TX 53: A number of local, individualistic, and imaginative terms occur occasionally. [Footnote: For example, Chic Sale, Congress, Federal Building (no doubt from unreconstructed Confederates.)] [DARE].

federal joint (n.) [joint n. (3k) ]

(US Und.) a federal, rather than a state, prison.

2002

Charlotte (NC) Observer 9 Nov. 🌐 ‘They only have one enemy in the federal joint and that’s the federal government,’ he said. ‘Anybody who’s stood up to the federal government is OK with them.’.

In phrases

make a federal case out of (v.) (also make a federal production out of) [in the US legal system the federal, rather than state, legislature often implies greater severity]

(US) to take very seriously, esp. when the speaker feels that the problem is really minor, ‘to make a mountain out of a molehill’; thus not make a federal case (out) of, to not make a minor problem into a major one.

[1936		in Chicago Trib. 22 May 1: Please arrest and hold these parties, as the girl’s folks are about crazy. If there is no law to hold Bartlett on we’ll make a federal case of it].
1950		Wash. Post 30 Dec. 11: I’m not trying to make a Federal case of it, but Mi Scandal and Petty Larceny won the two chief races on the Friday program [The lead to an article on the horseraces at the Charles Town track].
1951		Sheboygan (WI) Press 28 Apr. 14/2: (‘STEVE ROPER’ comic, first panel): OKAY VANCE—SO YOU’VE FOUND SOME OLD EAR RINGS IN KIT’S DESK!...YOU CAN’T MAKE A FEDERAL CASE OUT OF THAT!
1955		B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 98: Jezz, whatta ya wanna do, make a Federal case?
1961		L.G. Richards TAC: the story of the Tactical Air Command 127: Why make a federal case out of a little leaky valve or seal, or whatever it was?
1975		Sepe & Telano Cop Team 162: I didn’t think you’d make a federal case out of it.
1976		R. Price Blood Brothers 234: I dunno what I’m makin’ such a federal production for.
1986		M. Kenny Best of Mary Kenny 72: In past times [he] has been a little bit gay, sometimes without even realising it himself — but it has not been necessary to make a federal case out of it.
1998		R.W. Bates ‘How I See It – Hey! Don’t Make A Federal Case Out Of It!’ 🌐 When I was young, I can vividly remember the common admonishment among my friends, ‘Hey! Don’t make a federal case out of it!’ whenever one of us would start to make a big deal out of a particular thing that was bugging us.
1999		D. Rice Training Your German Shepherd Dog 70: They aren’t automatons; they are intelligent beings, anxious to learn and to please you. Don’t make a federal case out of each mistake Duchess make.
2000		P. Blackman A Private Piece of Sky 27: No need to make a federal case out of it. I’ll ask Ma for a loan.
2003		C. Stella Charlie Opera 38: I don’t need this blowing up in my face [...] It was a simple accomodation. It shouldn’t become a federal case.