in Polari, it is a term for a ‘lover’.

Outside of Polari, an affair is a relationship between two people in which one of them (or perhaps both) is also engaged in a relationship with someone else – for example, if someone is “having an affair”, it means they are engaging in a relationship outside of their existing, committed relationship (usually in secrecy, or supposed secrecy).

in Polari slang, a “fool” – somebody who is easily duped.

In common parlance, a bimbo is an attractive but unintelligent woman.

a Polari term meaning “good”.

a Polari term, meaning “nice to see your pretty face!”.

an individual who identifies themselves as being masculine – physically, mentally and/or emotionally (as opposed to femme). Although it has often be used in a derogatory way to describe lesbians, many lesbians embrace the label as an affirmative identity label and a term of pride.

Butch is a Polari term, which also had the meaning of ‘upfront, strong’. 

a Polari term, meaning “funny, flamboyant”, that is now used in both Queer and popular culture, referring to kitsch, flamboyant, exaggerated, theatrical, deliberately ironic and/or outrageous styles – which as a result, has come to describe many activities within the Queer community; for example, due to her outfits, Cher would be described as a camp icon.

It also used to describe effeminate, flamboyant men – typically those who are outrageous and theatrical in their mannerisms.

a Polari term meaning, ‘can I look/go around your house?’.

a Polari term for a body part. See: thumping cheat (heart).

In common parlance regarding love and relationships, it usually means to betray one’s partner by engaging in sexual or romantic activity with somebody else.

the theatrical and performative act of sensationalised femininity, masculinity or other gender expression; taking the traditional or stereotypical gender presentation to a new hyper, artistic or surrealistic degree – typically, in the process, creating a character distinct from one’s own.

The term “drag” is a Polari term for ‘clothing’, and this is where we get the term drag queen and drag king from.

It is incredibly important for the art and act of Drag to not be conflated with transgender identities; these are two distinct things. Although there are Drag performers who are also transgender or identify as nonbinary, Drag performers, by default, are not transgender – many are cisgender. Drag is temporary: it exists for the entirety of one’s performance or night out, much like with an actor’s character.

There may be many shared features between, for example, transvestism/cross-dressing and Drag, such as character or identity creating, and there is no firm, fixed line that can separate’s what constitutes Drag and what is cross-dressing without Drag, although typically it is the intention (e.g. drag is typically for art or performance).

Drag performers, therefore, can be of any gender identity or sexual orientation.

Cisgender performers who perform sensationalised versions of their sex assigned at birth are known as faux queens and faux kings; that is, drag queens that are cisgender and assigned female at birth are known as faux queens, and drag kings that are cisgender and assigned male at birth are known as faux kings.

However, increasingly, the use of the “faux” label has been disregarded by the drag community as irrelevant and problematic, with transphobic implications; however, some “faux” kings and queens have embraced the identity.

a Polari term of endearment; e.g. “Hello, ducky!”.

a Polari term for face (backslang – literally “face” backwards).

a description for someone identifies themselves to be feminine in some aspect, e.g. physically, mentally or emotionally. Some lesbian and bisexual women will describe themselves as femme rather than butch; similarly, with gay and bisexual men as an alternative to effeminate.

Originated as a Polari term.

a Polari term of endearment, e.g. “Hello, heartface!”.

a Polari term for the police.

a Polari term for the penis (meat) and testicles (two veg). Has also become common parlance in the general community in the United Kingdom.

a Polari term meaning ‘rubbish’. Urban legend has it that it stands for “not available for fucking”. Naff has become common parlance in the United Kingdom by the general population.

a Polari term meaning “for free”.

a Polari term meaning “alone”, or “by yourself”, which – particularly in the UK – has entered general parlance.

a Polari term meaning to “get up” or “wake up” – literally, “shakes out of his bed”.

a Polari term for someone who is a prostitute, and by association, someone is who sexually promiscuous. Has become common parlance in the United Kingdom, where it is also used to describe someone who is dressed up, particularly in a showy or suggestive way – e.g. “tart yourself up”.

a Polari term for Piccadilly – a road and surrounding area of Westminster, London, an area that gained a reputation for male prostitution.

a Polari term for “heart”. For example, “be still, my thumping cheat!”.

a Polari term meaning ‘to see’.

a Polari term meaning ‘to style, or do up’: for example, ‘give your hair a quick zhoosh’. It has also become common parlance outside of the Queer community.