English

Noun

oil trash ‎(uncountable)

1. (slang, idiomatic, sometimes pejorative, sometimes ethnic slur) An uncultured, rowdy roughneck employed in the petroleum industry, especially a "white trash" person if used negatively.
   • 1986, World oil: Volume 203, Issues 1-6, link

     One of my biggest complaints in this mess is that oil people are not speaking out. I am third generation oil trash, and beyond my personal loss in business, I love this industry and the people who gave it birth.

   • 2007, Paul Catrer, Don't Tell Mom I Work on the Rigs: She Thinks I'm a Piano Player, page 113

     We kicked on to a few more bars, having a good time, until a group of drunk American businessmen called us “oil trash” and shoved Erwin. We were not dressed like oil trash, we didn't draw attention to ourselves or look for trouble.

   • 2011, Richard Ben Cramer, What It Takes: The Way to the White House, link

     Never called anybody “oil trash.” Never had a bad word for anybody.

Related terms

• leatherneck, grease monkey

Translations