Idioms

ralph

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call Ralph

slang To vomit. Geez, I thought I was going to call Ralph out on that boat—I felt so seasick! The rookie saw blood for the first time and called Ralph right there at the crime scene. I've never felt so nauseous in my life. It's a miracle I didn't call Ralph right in the middle of class.
See also: call, ralph

cry Ralph

slang To vomit. Geez, I thought I was going to cry Ralph out on that boat—I felt so seasick! When I had the flu, I spent most of the time crying Ralph. I'm so glad I can keep food down again! A: "The rookie saw blood for the first time and cried Ralph right there at the crime scene." B: "Geez, he's gonna need a stronger stomach for this line of work."
See also: cry, ralph

cry Ruth

slang To vomit. Geez, I thought I was going to cry Ruth out on that boat—I felt so seasick! When I had the flu, I spent most of the time crying Ruth. I'm so glad I can keep food down again! A: "The rookie saw blood for the first time and cried Ruth right there at the crime scene." B: "Geez, he's gonna need a stronger stomach for this line of work."
See also: cry, ruth

hang a ralph

slang To make a right turn. Hang a ralph at the stop sign—the shop is in the next block. Does that sign say "Do not enter"? All right, then, hang a ralph up ahead. Well, what can I do but hang a ralph and get back on the highway?
See also: hang, ralph

ralph

1. noun, slang A right turn, especially in a motor vehicle. Hang a ralph when you get to the end of the block, and then you'll see the store in front of you. Just take a sharp ralph right here at the corner.
2. noun, slang A loud expulsion of digestive gas through the mouth; a noisy belch. I let out a tremendous ralph after drinking all that soda.
3. verb, slang To expel digestive gas noisily through one's mouth; to belch. Could you not ralph like that at the dinner table, please? It makes me sick.
4. verb, slang To vomit. The sight of all that blood nearly made me ralph. The dog started ralphing up the bits of chicken I'd given it.

ralph up

slang To vomit something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "ralph" and "up." The dog started ralphing up the bits of chicken I'd given it. The sight of all that blood nearly made me ralph my lunch up.
See also: ralph, up

talk to Ralph on the big white (tele)phone

slang To vomit profusely and at length into a toilet. "Ralph" is slang meaning "to vomit." He had a few too many shots of tequila and spent the rest of the night talking to Ralph on the big white telephone. You're awfully pale, Charlie. You look like you need to talk to Ralph on the big white phone.
See also: big, on, ralph, talk, to, white
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hang a ralph

Sl. to turn right. He skied down the easy slope and hung a ralph near a fir tree. Don't hang a ralph until you get past the traffic light.
See also: hang, ralph

ralph something up

Sl. to vomit something. (Teens and collegiate.) The doctor gave him some stuff that made him ralph it up. He ralphed up his dinner.
See also: ralph, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

cry ruth

and call ruth and call ralph and cry ralph
tv. to empty one’s stomach; to vomit. (see also ruth. Also with capital r.) I think I have to cry ruth! Stop the car! Don’t you dare call ralph in my car!
See also: cry, ruth

call ralph

verb
See cry ruth
See also: call, ralph

cry ralph

verb
See cry ruth
See also: cry, ralph

hang a ralph

(ˈhæŋ ə ˈrælf)
tv. to turn right. He skied down the easy slope and hung a ralph near a fir tree.
See also: hang, ralph

ralph

and rolf (rælf and rɔlf)
in. to empty one’s stomach; to vomit. (see also cry ruth.) She went home and ralphed for an hour.

ralph something up

tv. to vomit (something). (Teens and collegiate.) The doctor gave him some stuff that made him ralph it up.
See also: ralph, something, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also:
References in classic literature
'No they wouldn't, ma'am,' interrupted Ralph, hastily.
'You may understand it then, ma'am,' said Ralph, 'and make your arrangements accordingly.
'Then you had better get them out at the end of it,' said Ralph.
'Very well, ma'am,' said Ralph, turning to the door, for these encomiums on poverty irritated him; 'I have done my duty, and perhaps more than I ought: of course nobody will thank me for saying what I have.'
'Good-morning, ma'am,' said Ralph, shutting the door abruptly after him to prevent any further conversation.
View in context
Ralph made a sound which belittled this particular argument.
Ralph was fond of his sister, and her irritation made him think how unfair it was that all these burdens should be laid on her shoulders.
Neither brother nor sister spoke with much conviction, and after reflecting for a moment what these proposed reforms in a strictly economical household meant, Ralph announced very decidedly:
In the course of his professional life, which now extended over six or seven years, Ralph had saved, perhaps, three or four hundred pounds.
"My dear Joan," Ralph exclaimed, stretching himself out with a gesture of impatience, "don't you see that we've all got to be sacrificed?
View in context
"One moment, Ralph," Thomson interrupted from the background.
"Ralph, old fellow," he said, "don't think me too much of an interfering beggar, will you?
Granet's face was expressionless, the girls were bewildered, Ralph was frowning.
"That sounds all right, Ralph," Thomson agreed, "but you're departing from a principle, and I wouldn't do it.
It's so fearfully interesting for us when Ralph's at sea, and we wait day by day for news from him, to understand a little what he's doing."
View in context
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