ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ralph

v.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɹæɫf// ralph Archaic Dialect Slang

v. to vomit or be sick. It is a very informal word that people use when someone gets sick from eating too much or drinking alcohol.

v. to vomit or eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth. Slang in register; typically used in informal or collegiate contexts.


SIMPLE

He felt like he was going to ralph after that huge meal.

CONTEXTUAL

The smell of the old fish made him run to the bathroom to ralph.

COMPLEX

After a night of excessive indulgence at the carnival, several teenagers were seen leaning over the fence to ralph into the bushes.

Origin

From Middle English Radulf, from Old English Rǣdwulf (also as Raulf), from Proto-West Germanic Rādawulf, from Proto-Germanic Rēdawulfaz. Reinforced by similar forms brought to England, e.g. Old Norse Ráðúlfr, then in the Norman form Old French Radulf, Radulph. For the sense relating to vomiting, see ralph.

Usage

The verb is intransitive and does not require a direct object.

Idioms1 entry

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