By Bill Ryan

I saw the other day that three Webster’s Dictionary people had completed their yearly task of removing seldom used words from their pages. So here is a list of words and phrases from past years that may still have value. Many are slang, and you might hear some in old movies.

Rattle trap: a car with many loose, noisy parts

Snap, or snap it up: “Hurry. I’m waiting for you.”

Mush: a child’s view of kissing before it’s his turn

Scram: “Get outta here.”

Bamboozle: Idaho Sen. Jim Risch describing pact with Iran

Shoot!: disappointment. Replaced by a similar sounding word

Cold shoulder: what one is given by a former friend

Mug, pan, kisser: one’s face

Shacked up: adults playing house, or cohabitation

Spare tire: a roll of fat around one’s midsection

Beat it!: run, or beat the ground with your feet

Chicken: one who avoids conflict

Creep: something definitely creepy about him

Pocatello native Bill Ryan is a retired UPI editor who was earlier with ISU. He lives in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, Texas, and can be reached at wryan1807@aol.com.