FAT-MOUTHING, HIGH-SIGNING and STYLING.

Question

Hello friends,I would like someone explain to me the exact meanings of these expressions here:'That's where a lot of hip people and beautiful women hung out. So they all would be standing there, FAT-MOUTHING and HIGH-SIGNING and STYLING'Thanks in advance.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I hope you realize that these phrases are very slang-y. If you use them, many people wil not understand you. Also, they are a tiny part of a much larger culture, so you need a much broader understanding of that culture to avoid sounding stupid whan you use such phrases. You need, in fact, to be part of that cultural group.

So, generally speaking, my advice to English learners is not to use these expressions.

Best wishes, Clive

Goodman · Answer

Clive
Hi,

I hope you realize that these phrases are very slang-y. If you use them, many people wil not understand you. Also, they are a tiny part of a much larger culture, so you need a much broader understanding of that culture to avoid sounding stupid whan you use such phrases. You need, in fact, to be part of that cultural group.

So, generally speaking, my advice to English learners is not to use these expressions.

Best wishes, Clive

I agree with Clive. Words we use speak loudly about ourself. Unless you deliberately want to make your self sound “hip” or “stupid”, depending on which side of the line you are on. Sub-culture English and body language are spreading amount teens and young adults which sound and portray someone with IQ equivalent to the number of toes on our feet. I recommend that you keep your focus on standard English and waste no time on learning slangs.

Saiing · Answer

Presumably neither of you know what these phrases mean then?

The poster gave a quote, which sounded like it came from some kind of literary source. Perhaps if you know what the phrases mean, it would be more helpful to tell him instead of lecturing him about usage. While it may be that slang isn't a good area for a learner to focus, he might just want an insight into the book he's currently reading. And there's nothing wrong with that.

After a little rummaging around, this was the best I could come up with:

fat-mouthing: trash-talking, or talking badly about someone or something

styling (2 meanings): To pursue someone for romantic or sexual purposes; to dress in an individualistic way

As for high-signing, it's possible you could have misread high-sighing, which I think has a similar meaning to fat-mouthing, although I'm prepared to be corrected.

Clive · Answer

Hi Saiing,

Thank you for the comment. It was not my intention to lecture anyone, and I regret that my tone seems to have given you that impression.

I did, however, hope that there was some value in trying to explain about 'usage'. The usually positive feedback that I receive makes me think that many posters appreciate advice about when and where various expressions may perhaps be used appropriately.

However, if such advice is not welcomed, the reader can always ignore it

.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

SaiingPresumably neither of you know what these phrases mean then?

The poster gave a quote, which sounded like it came from some kind of literary source. Perhaps if you know what the phrases mean, it would be more helpful to tell him instead of lecturing him about usage. While it may be that slang isn't a good area for a learner to focus, he might just want an insight into the book he's currently reading. And there's nothing wrong with that.

After a little rummaging around, this was the best I could come up with:

fat-mouthing: trash-talking, or talking badly about someone or something

styling (2 meanings): To pursue someone for romantic or sexual purposes; to dress in an individualistic way

As for high-signing, it's possible you could have misread high-sighing, which I think has a similar meaning to fat-mouthing, although I'm prepared to be corrected.

Sailing,

When you posted your comment, I believe you had challenge in mind. You had succeeded. Clive, as a gentleman maintained his grace from your verbal challenge. Now, do you still think that we didn’t know what that the phrases mean? If you understand English, this is an “English” forum, not a slang classroom. I didn’t believe I gave a lecture as you described. If you don’t like comments we made, don’t read them. (edited - unwarranted comment removed by mod. Goodman - is this really you writing this? I'm surprised. And yes, it's perfectly acceptable to ask for the meaning of slang. It's all part of the English language.)

Yankee · Answer

I think Clive, Goodman and Saiing all made some valid points.

Living in Germany, I know exactly how incredibly frustrating it can be to ask a native speaker of German what a slang term in German means only to simply be told "It's not translatable" or "You don't need to know that."

Even though I'm a native speaker of English, I wouldn't be able to define the slang terms that the poster asked about. I'd have to guess. But I don't see anything wrong with giving an answer (along with usage advice) if you happen to know what the expressions mean.

Goodman · Answer

Anonymous
SaiingPresumably neither of you know what these phrases mean then?

The poster gave a quote, which sounded like it came from some kind of literary source. Perhaps if you know what the phrases mean, it would be more helpful to tell him instead of lecturing him about usage. While it may be that slang isn't a good area for a learner to focus, he might just want an insight into the book he's currently reading. And there's nothing wrong with that.

After a little rummaging around, this was the best I could come up with:

fat-mouthing: trash-talking, or talking badly about someone or something

styling (2 meanings): To pursue someone for romantic or sexual purposes; to dress in an individualistic way

As for high-signing, it's possible you could have misread high-sighing, which I think has a similar meaning to fat-mouthing, although I'm prepared to be corrected.
Sailing,

When you posted your comment, I believe you had challenge in mind. You had succeeded. Clive, as a gentleman maintained his grace from your verbal challenge. Now, do you still think that we didn’t know what that the phrases mean? If you understand English, this is an “English” forum, not a slang classroom. I didn’t believe I gave a lecture as you described. If you don’t like comments we made, don’t read them. (edited - unwarranted comment removed by mod. Goodman - is this really you writing this? I'm surprised. And yes, it's perfectly acceptable to ask for the meaning of slang. It's all part of the English language.)

I didn’t realize that I wasn’t logged on to the account until I posted the thread. It’s not that I was trying to hide my identity. If slang question is acceptable by the forum, that’s cool! I personally believe in respects, in Cyber space or in real life and I my threshold for disrespect is quite low. I will respect others only if it’s mutual. My apology to the moderator who edited my slashing response comments. [D]

Anonymous · Answer

Styling - to be wearing an outfit or to dress in a mismatched,individual interesting and ultimately fashoinable and attractive way.first heard in bolivar ohio.

High-signing - Providing a non-verbal indication to someone that you are ready; usually ready to go or leave, or ready to do something. Can be done in a number of ways - high wave, thumbs up, point with index finger.

Fat-mouthing - talking trash, talking ***, talking out ones ***, fronting

That's from the Miles Davis autobiography, I know. :-) He means that people hanging around at Sugar Ray's bar were just hanging around, doing nothing and just showing themselves.

FAT-MOUTHING, HIGH-SIGNING and STYLING.

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