The code words every parent should know as Birmingham teens discuss drugs and violence in secret
Parents could be missing important warning signs of county lines gangs and exploitation - purely because they don't understand latest slang used by teens
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Parents have been told to take note of an 'urban dictionary' of code words being used by Birmingham teenagers to discuss drug deals, weapons - and even murders in secret. A slang dictionary, offering a key insight into the world of city gangs and exploitation, details dozens of code words being exchanged by youths.
Created to inform professionals, carers and parents of the latest buzzwords, the Children's Society booklet provides an insider look at the language to listen out for. Seemingly innocent words, such as Mop, Corn, Lucy, Make Up and Dottie, were revealed as having sinister meanings to youths in the city.
Youngsters will use language like 'Cunch', 'Box' and 'Flippin' chickens' to speak to peers about drug deals and county lines operations without detection. The booklet, highlighted by Birmingham Children's Trust to help safeguard youngsters from gangs and violence, specifically features localised slang for Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Read more: The exact number of robberies in each area of Birmingham - including neighbourhood hit twice a day
"Understanding language is so important. Young people are speaking to their peers, and parents are sitting there not understanding what some of these phrases mean, such as ‘balloons’ or ‘going cunch,'" explained Lawrence Vos, communications manager for Birmingham Children's Trust. "Anyone can download our ‘Going Cunch leaflet' for more information on county lines."
The latest update features slang for drugs, weapons and violence, including the word 'Dipping', with the concerning hidden meaning of stabbing someone. Other words could indicate someone is in serious danger, such as 'Beef Ting' - a sign of imminent conflict or fighting, and 'Smoke', the code word for kill. From revolvers to automatic firearms, specific guns also have their own secret words among youths in the West Midlands.
The starting point is our website and our Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS). This would be in the main for parents/carers/professionals. Some parents and carers may already have a social worker or family support worker allocated. Obviously in any direct emergency folks need to contact the Police. Children and young people may have a social worker, 18+ worker, or may speak to their safeguarding lead at school/college (during term-time).
Birmingham Children’s Trust website: www.birminghamchildrenstrust.co.uk (Report a concern or request support ‘button’ is top right of every page)
Birmingham Children’s Trust - Children’s Advice and Support Service (CASS).
Contact details
Certain spellings, for example of the word 'Kwef' or 'Kweff' can mean the difference between violence - or being killed with a gun or knife. Within the booklet, the Children's Society says: "It is important to recognise that if a young person uses this language, it does not necessarily mean they are being exploited.
"This resource seeks to support parents, carers and professionals to better understand the language young people may be using and support them to safeguard young people. Young people from the Birmingham Disrupting Exploitation Programme have been consulted and their feedback has been inputted into the resource.
"As there are regional differences in the language that young people use, this resource is tailored to those from Birmingham and surrounding areas."
Cunch
Out-of-town locations where drugs can be sold
All White Bricks/Nose Whiskey/White Chalk
Cocaine
Bagging
Used to describe someone packaging drugs for distribution
Bando
A trap house (short for abandoned house).
Bottle
To insert something into your rectum or vagina for later retrieval eg drugs
Box
Large quantity of drugs (usually costing thousands of pounds).
Bust
To do lines of cocaine.
Cunch - county
Used to denote going to a far away area in order to sell drugs (county lines).
Cunch
Out-of-town locations where drugs can be sold
Door/key
A kilo of drugs
Flippin chickens
A ‘chicken’ is another word for a kilo of cocaine. In some cities the word is reserved specifically for a kilo of crack and a ‘bird’ would be used for a kilo of raw powder cocaine. The act of ‘flippin chickens’ can simply mean selling kilos of cocaine or crack for a higher price than they were purchased for.
In some cities‘ flippin chickens’ is the act of buying a kilo or more of cocaine and cooking it and transforming it into crack cocaine, this process actually adds weight and volume to final product, making it much easier to turn a profit
Going country/ going long
Going to a faraway area to sell drugs.
Holding
Possessing drugs.
Hot heroin
Poisoned to give to a police informant.
Hustle
Attempt to obtain drug customers
Joey
A person employed by gang to sell to customers
Kester plant
Drugs hidden in the rectum
Light tan bricks
A brick of heroin
Link
A contact or source for drugs
Longline
A long line of cocaine
Lucy
Another name for acid or LSD
Make up
The need to find more drugs.
Man
A source of supply or drug dealer
Mule
A carrier or supplier of drugs
OT
Out trapping/Out there
Pass
A transfer of drugs or drugs money
Pebs
Class A drugs broken down for distribution.
Pebs/Pebbles
Pellets of heroin, crack or steroids.
Pranging out
Paranoia coming from a drug induced state
Pusher
Seller of drugs.
Rails
Lines of cocaine.
Score
To buy drugs.
Serving/Slanging/Flipping
The act of selling drugs.
Stuff/Plug
To insert something into your rectum or vagina for later retrieval eg drugs.
Trap House
Area or house usually and frequently occupied by drug dealers/drug users.
Trapping
Selling drugs on the street.
April
A weapon.
Bells
Bullets.
Chete
Machete.
Bora/Borer/Ching/Dipper/Rams/Ramsay
Knife.
Burner/Iron/Machine/Mash/Matic/Scram/Spinner/Stick/Strally/Strap/Tum-Tum/Wap
Gun
Corn
Ammunition
Dottie/Dumpy
Shotgun.
Hand Ting/Trey
Pistol
Mac(k)
Automatic firearm
Mop
Large gun.
Ox
Razor or blade.
Rambo
Large knife or machete.
Shank/Sword
A knife or blade weapon.
Spinner
Revolver.
Stones
Bullets or pellets of crack.
Strapping
Carrying a gun or firearm.
Tec
Handgun.
Bagging
Stabbing in the lower body.
Beef Tings
To start a conflict or fight.
Burst/Woosh
Shoot.
Cheffing/Dipping
Stabbing.
Dipped/Swimming
Stabbed.
Driller
Shooter or gang member.
Drilling
Attacking, aggressing or invading.
Duppying
Killing.
Finessed/Stained/Sucked
When an individual has been robbed for his possessions eg drugs.
Frying/Wooshing
Shooting.
Got
Attacked or robbed.
Hitter
Gunman.
Ketchup
Blood.
Kwef
Violence.
Kweff
Kill with gun or knife.
Kweng
Cut or stabbed
Leng
To shoot someone down.
Nank
Knife or stab
No Face
Masked or with identity concealed.
Ooters
Shooters
Op(ps)
Enemy
Opp-block
Enemy territory.
Score
Kill or injure an enemy
Scoreboard/Scorecard
A list of enemies killed, injured or defeated.
Smoke
Kill.
Snitch
Informer.
Splash/Splash up/Splash down
Stab.
Squirt
Spray acid over someone.
Sticky
Dangerous.
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