argot; cant; reactionary double-talk
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
cant; argot; thieves' slang
neutralSpecialized jargon or code used by secret societies, gangs, or criminals to communicate without being understood by outsiders. Often carries a negative connotation.
Only members within their gang can understand this argot.
The novel depicts a lot of the cant used by the Green Gang in old Shanghai.
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The police are studying the criminal gang's slang manual.
noun
reactionary double-talk; subversive language
formalRefers to language that is politically reactionary, subversive, or intended to spread harmful ideas while being deliberately vague or cryptic to avoid direct censure. This sense is strongly ideological and dated.
This editorial criticized the reactionary elements spreading subversive double-talk.
In that era, spreading political double-talk could land you in serious trouble.
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His speech was filled with cryptic, reactionary language, making it hard to grasp his true intentions.