Studying in the US is a dream destination for many young people from abroad. However, the initial excitement about the new country can be easily overshadowed by the myriad of unfamiliar customs, new culture and weird American slang.

These things are not included in a formal English education and can’t be learned over the short orientation period. Only through trial and error is it possible to get a grip on the widespread and excessive use of American slang.

However, in the interest of preserving you cool, we’ve compiled the glossary of well-worn faves that will help you fit into the new environment.

All-nighter

An all-nighter is a person who ditches sleep to spend several more hours cramming for tests, only to notice that they’ve drooled on a desk in front of the class the next day.

I pulled an all-nighter to study and ended up in the wrong class twice.

Dead Week

At any major college or university, the week before finals is referred to as a dead week. The late night cramming and hardcore studying for finals covers the campus with blank, unseeing expressions of zombie like students and the creepy dead-end despair.

Person A: Man, this place is silent. What’s going on?

Person B: Dead week man. Killer.

PFM

PFM stands for “pure fucking magic”.

Person A: How the can I write a 6 page essay in one night?

Person B: PFM.

Google University

It is a social media phenomenon when a student attempts to demonstrate knowledge obtained by searching on the Google. This person has no legitimate degree from an accredited institution in said subject/topic, but will use unverified & inaccurate sources from websites searched on the search engine to prove their point on the topic being discussed.

After reading a ridiculous comment from someone that posted a link in forum:

“Oh look, someone got their degree from Google University”.

Nicolas Cage Syndrome

You are sure to have a Nicolas Cage syndrome when you have the same facial expression no matter what emotion you’re supposed to be showing.

Person A :Dude! Smile a little bit!

Person B: I can’t, I have Nicholas Cage Syndrome.

Bnoc

Bnoc (pronounced as “bee-knock”) stands for a big name on campus. It is a usually a self-proclaimed campus celebrity – often the chair of a society or involved in student politics. The word is often used to mock the person, rather than compliment them.

Michael thinks he’s a Bnoc, but he’s just a deputy treasurer of the tea appreciation society.

Hench

A hench is a large and muscle-bound male student. More recently, it is used to describe anything of unexpectedly big size.

Person A: Let’s go to Paul’s Fried Chicken. Person B: Great! I love this place! Their portions of chips are hench.

Lad

A lad is an alpha male student. Lads are tough and shallow, they are into heavy drinking,, love of jokes and sporting prowess. Often used ironically, the term may be used to describe someone who has had particular luck or success in some field.

Did he just swig some sambuca on the rugby pitch while making sexual advances towards multiple women? What a lad.



Cupcaking

When two people are caught talking or flirting with each other, they are cupcaking. This seems appropriate as cupcakes are undoubtedly the most flirtatious baked good.

Don’t you dare cupcaking with that ugly wrech!



Transfer Season

Transfer season is the time period in which to escape the friend zone (transfer out). The deadline is normally within one month after meeting someone. Transfer season repeats itself after every break up, when a new opportunity springs up.

Lawrence met Andrew on the third of January. It got to February the 14th. Andrew was yet to make a move. But he failed and got stuck in the friend zone for the indefinite future. Lawrence started dating Harvey not long after, soon it was serious. A year later the relationship ended. Signifying the start of the next transfer season for Andrew.

Fish

Fish is an acronym for “fit, intelligent, sexy, hot”.

Hey girl. Look at ya! You’re lookin’ fish tonight!



Bookish

A bookish person is usually a young woman (sometimes bespectacled), who enjoys the company of her books. She has an intelligent, haughty, look rather than nerd.

Office worker 1: She’s alright looking, but a tad bookish.

Office worker 2: It’s the quiet ones you’ve got to watch.

Hope now you will feel like a fish in water next time you have a small talk with some of your American pals.