Informal Language Slang

noun a spherical object used in various sports and games

verb to form into a round shape or to make a mess of something

• Please do not ball up your papers, as they need to be neatly organized for the presentation.
• Hey, don't ball up that paper! We might need it later.
• I accidentally balled up my homework and now I can't find it anywhere.
• His anxiety was starting to ball up inside him, making it hard to focus on anything else.

verb to behave in a silly or playful way, typically by messing around or playing tricks

• The researcher observed the monkeys monkeying around in their natural habitat.
• Stop monkeying around and focus on your work.
• I caught him monkeying with my phone when I left the room.
• She accused him of monkeying with her emotions.

noun a slang term for a dog

• The woman walked her pooch in the park every morning.
• I love taking my pooch for a walk around the neighborhood.
• Check out that cute little pooch over there!
• Her determination was like a loyal pooch, never leaving her side.

adjective a childish or informal term for something that is considered silly, foolish, or unpleasant

• The child accidentally stepped in some poopie while playing in the park.
• I can't believe you just said 'poopie' in front of your grandparents!
• That movie was so bad, it was total poopie.
• Her excuse for being late was pure poopie.

noun a playful or mock fight or scuffle

• The two gentlemen engaged in a heated debate that almost escalated into twisticuffs.
• I heard those two guys were about to throw down in some twisticuffs.
• Things got real messy when they started twisticuffs.
• The political debate turned into a verbal twisticuffs between the candidates.