Main Entry: suss
Pronunciation: 's&s
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: by shortening & alteration from suspect
1 chiefly British : to inspect or investigate so as to gain more knowledge -- usually used with out
2 chiefly British : FIGURE OUT -- usually used with out
but also extended from "sussed out" to "totally sussed" ("i've got that new tune totally sussed") and "sussed" ("i've got it sussed now", or just "sussed!").
Okay, thanks! I'd mostly heard the term used in a context in which problems were investigated and sorted out through a series of hunches. "Sussing out a tune" threw me a bit. It's hard living in Indiana.
To "suss" in UK means to figure out.
What used to be called to "twig" in Australia, where "suss" used to mean "suspicious".
But they're probably interchangeable in both places now.
In England there is the SUS law, standing for
Stop Under Suspicion. It enables the police to stop and search people suspected of carying drugs, weapons etc. who hav'nt commited any crime.
"Suss" was around before 1977.I remember hearing it for the first time circa 1973.Pete Stevenson may be correct,it appeared around about the time that there was some
controversy around the SUS law.Douglas Adams didn't coin it.
Nah, yer right, it predates the bould Doug. I suss it's one of those things you hear round Brixton. It's such an impenetrable place, who knows what's going off there. Try reading some Alex Wheattle - he's the local bard there, and a goodfun read.
Remember the Sex Pistols "EMI"?
"Too many people have the suss
Too many people support us"
Don't recall being puzzled by the word in that sense in 1977 when that came out. It must have been around a while before.
Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Okay, I'm clueless, but curious about where this term came from. Anybody up for a discourse on word etymology?
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by Bill Reeder
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
I suspect we'll never know.
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by BegF
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Sounds a bit sus to me.
Try Danny - isn't he some sort of entomologist?
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Grrrrr.....Showdaddy...why I oughta....
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by BegF
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough!
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Dave and BegF have it.
From the Merriam Webster online dictionary:
Main Entry: suss
Pronunciation: 's&s
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: by shortening & alteration from suspect
1 chiefly British : to inspect or investigate so as to gain more knowledge -- usually used with out
2 chiefly British : FIGURE OUT -- usually used with out
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
but also extended from "sussed out" to "totally sussed" ("i've got that new tune totally sussed") and "sussed" ("i've got it sussed now", or just "sussed!").
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by rog
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Yes, but 'sussed' comes from 'suspect' also. 'Sussed' is just the past participle of 'suss.'
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Okay, thanks! I'd mostly heard the term used in a context in which problems were investigated and sorted out through a series of hunches. "Sussing out a tune" threw me a bit. It's hard living in Indiana.
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by Bill Reeder
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
"Hey you getting drunk, so sorry. I've got you sussed. Hey you smoking mother nature, this is a bust...."
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by browndog
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
To "suss" in UK means to figure out.
What used to be called to "twig" in Australia, where "suss" used to mean "suspicious".
But they're probably interchangeable in both places now.
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by Bren
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Ok now we've got that word sussed, will you shush the lot of you!
Bo-iing! said Zebedee.
Time for for bed..
# Posted on September 21st 2004 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
sampersands?
# Posted on September 22nd 2004 by scott.r
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Yeah what's the s&s about ?
# Posted on September 22nd 2004 by BegF
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
No Bribanjo, he worked it out with logs.
pp
# Posted on September 22nd 2004 by Pied Piper
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
In England there is the SUS law, standing for
Stop Under Suspicion. It enables the police to stop and search people suspected of carying drugs, weapons etc. who hav'nt commited any crime.
# Posted on September 22nd 2004 by Pete Stephenson.
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Interestingly Bren on a slight diversion, to twig something, is derived from the Gaelic (Scots) to understand - tuig
Another useful contribution by the Gaelic language to the world
# Posted on September 22nd 2004 by nick b
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
I've just sussed that we are seeing an influx of people who SHOUT their names.
# Posted on September 22nd 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
There's something just a wee bit ironic about this thread eh?
# Posted on September 22nd 2004 by c_ya
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
I guess the old print schwa (or upside-down e) doesn't have a computer equivalent, so M-W uses the ampersand instead.
\&\ as a and u in abut
http://www.merriam-webster.com/help/pronguide.htm
I guess since most people read & as and, it would be sands not sampersands.
# Posted on September 22nd 2004 by scott.r
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
No, the constipated mathematician found a supository behind his ear, then realised where he had lost his pencil.
# Posted on September 22nd 2004 by geoffwright
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
"Suss" was around before 1977.I remember hearing it for the first time circa 1973.Pete Stevenson may be correct,it appeared around about the time that there was some
controversy around the SUS law.Douglas Adams didn't coin it.
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Nah, yer right, it predates the bould Doug. I suss it's one of those things you hear round Brixton. It's such an impenetrable place, who knows what's going off there. Try reading some Alex Wheattle - he's the local bard there, and a goodfun read.
# Posted on September 25th 2004 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Derivation of the term "To Suss"
Remember the Sex Pistols "EMI"?
"Too many people have the suss
Too many people support us"
Don't recall being puzzled by the word in that sense in 1977 when that came out. It must have been around a while before.
# Posted on September 25th 2004 by Bren