back slang

A young man uses back slang to say "yob" instead of "boy".

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A form of slang: "back slang" is a type of coded language in which words are pronounced or written backwards, often used for secrecy or amusement.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The children used back slang to keep their conversation private from adults. (They reversed the sounds or letters of words to form a secret code.)
  • In some old market trades, back slang was used to discuss prices without customers understanding. (Traders would say words like "yob" for "boy" to hide their meaning.)

Advanced Usage

• "back slang" as a linguistic phenomenon: It involves reversing the order of letters or syllables in a word, such as "kool" for "look" or "nam" for "man." This technique is not a full language but a playful or secretive alteration of standard speech.

Variants and Related Words

• Backslang (n): an alternative spelling of "back slang," referring to the same coded language.
  • The thieves' cant included backslang to confuse eavesdroppers. (The criminals' secret vocabulary used reversed words.)

Synonyms

• Reversed slang: a direct synonym, emphasizing the reversal of word order.
• Cant: a more general term for secret or specialized language, though not specific to reversal.

Related Idioms

• Talk back slang: the act of using reversed words in speech.
  • The street vendors would talk back slang to each other to avoid being understood by customers. (They communicated using reversed words.)