happy dust

noun

, Slang.

1. cocaine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of happy dust¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

“Happy dust,” the powdery white drug at the center of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” is rendered in Spanish as “perico,” and in German as “Schnee” — both maintaining the slanginess of the original.

From New York Times

Ms. Cabell’s Bess has some raw attraction to Crown, but also an addiction to the “happy dust” only he can supply.

From New York Times

Sinai credited easy monetary policy for the strengthening of the recovery he foresees, saying activity finally is responding to the “happy dust” the central bank dumped on the economy.

From BusinessWeek

“When the Fed sprinkles happy dust on the economy, we always respond,” said Allen Sinai, co-founder and chief global economist and strategist at Decision Economics in New York.

From BusinessWeek

“The happy dust has been out there a long, long time, and I think it finally may be settling in some places.”

From BusinessWeek

Related Words

• coke
• crack
• dope
• poison
• stimulant