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Jul 20, 2023

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.

Have you been affected by this? We would like to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing [email protected]

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