Slang words from prison - know the jail house lingo
The slang words are real, but not all of our definitions are. Take America Behind Bars quiz to find out if you can guess prison fact from fiction.
"Can I have an 'ask'?"
'Asks' are favors. If your cellmate says, "I don't do asks," you can suggest a trade instead.
"Hey 'Fish,' meet Tiny, your new cellmate."
Some believe the term comes from the feeling a new inmate might have upon entering prison for the first time -- like a fish out of water. Or it could come from the call of a fishmonger selling the catch of the day, "Fresh fish!"
"So, how long you in for?"
"All day" is used amongst prisoners to indicate they are serving a life sentence.
"Look out, here come the 'ninja turtles.'"
When a riot breaks out in a prison, or there is the threat of unrest, corrections officers may put on body armor and carry special weapons that bulk them up and makes them look like the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." They're sometimes known as "hats and bats" due to the helmets and batons.
"He's in the 'bone yard.'"
Being in the bone yard is actually a good thing. This is what inmates call the visiting trailers where they can have family or conjugal visits.
"Let's dance."
This probably isn't an invitation you want to get. "Dancing" means fighting in prison lingo.
"He's been riding the 'grey goose.'"
The "grey goose" is actually the drably painted bus used to transport inmates to prison.
"This is Hector's new 'zapato.'"
Fans of the HBO show "Oz" may remember the area of the prison where the main characters lived was called "the SHU," which is actually an acronym for Security Housing Unit. Zapato, the Spanish word for shoe, is sometimes used by inmates to describe their SHU.
“Cheek' that shank, the guard is coming."
Prisoners are notoriously creative. Cheeking is a common method of hiding weapons, drugs or other contraband. You might also 'pitt,' 'lip,' 'tuck' or 'skin' items to keep them hidden on your body.
'Dave is a pack rat. His cell is full of 'zoom, zooms' and 'wham whams.'"
Cash money isn't much good to a prisoner in a penitentiary, so when it comes time to place a bet in a card match or other wager, treats from the canteen are excellent collateral. If you're not careful, you could lose all your 'zoom zooms' and 'wham whams' in one game!
"Joe freaked out in his cell last night so they pumped him full of 'brake fluid.'"
A 2006 study indicates that as many as half of all prison inmates have mental problems. Drugs like Thorazine can be used to calm or control inmates who can't control themselves.
"13 1/2"
"13 and a half" represents the way some inmates say they ended up in prison: "12 jurors, 1 judge and half a chance.