Expert: Lady Callista - 10/4/2011

Question
Could you possibly explain the meaning of "Is he throwing a tasteful British wiggins?" As a non-native speaker of English I simply don't understand that and couldn't find "wiggins" in any dictionary.  Is it some kind of Buffy-slang, or a cultural reference I don't get?

Answer
Hi there,

That usage of it, "wiggins" is indeed Buffy-slang, but it comes from a common American slang.  The more common phrase would be "to wig out," and it means to go crazy, or to throw a huge fit.  If you look up "wig out" in the Urban Dictionary online it'll give you more meanings, but basically it just means to have a fit, generally brought on by seeing something that's hard to believe.  Now, Giles being Giles, he doesn't throw a fit like a common American teenager, so he's throwing a tasteful British fit.

Hope this helps, and if I can help you with anything else please let me know.

~Callie