gasper

A man lights a gasper on a city street corner.

Definition

1. Noun (slang):
   • An inexpensive cigarette: "gasper" refers to a cheap cigarette, often of low quality.

Usage Examples

• (He took out a pack of inexpensive cigarettes.)
• (Workers would smoke cheap cigarettes.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a gasper": to smoke a cheap cigarette.
  • After a long day, he sat down to have a gasper. (He relaxed by smoking an inexpensive cigarette.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gasp (v): to inhale suddenly with the mouth open, often due to shock or exertion.
  • She gasped when she saw the surprise party. (She took a sudden breath in surprise.)
• Gasping (adj): struggling for breath; in need of air.
  • The fish was gasping on the shore. (The fish was struggling to breathe.)

Synonyms

• Cheap cigarette: a low-cost cigarette.
• Smoke (slang): a cigarette, especially one of low quality.
  • He bummed a smoke from a stranger. (He asked for a cigarette.)

Related Idioms

• Not a gasper: an expression meaning not a cheap or poor-quality item.
  • That's not a gasper; it's a premium cigar. (That is not a cheap item; it is high-quality.)

Notes on Usage

• "Gasper" is primarily a British slang term from the mid-20th century, now considered somewhat dated or informal. It carries a connotation of low cost and low status, and is rarely used in modern formal contexts.