L.A. SPEAK

In hundreds of Los Angeles bars, darts are hot. Most games are open to all comers, but novices might be thrown by the terminology. Some dart lingo:

cork n . the pregame throw that decides who chooses the game and goes first. Nearest the bull’s-eye starts. Also v. “Who’s going to cork? “

good arrows a compliment for well-thrown darts.

mug n . the loser of a game who’s then invited by the winner to begin the next game without a cork.

one-eighty n. three darts in the treble (innermost) ring of the 20-point section, scoring 180 points. In some bars, in competition, such a throw wins a free drink.

Robin Hood n . 1. when a dart jams into the end of the flight, or feathers, of a previously thrown dart. 2. three darts in the treble 20 ring.

slop n . numbers and points scored by accident. “I was aiming at the 20 and hit the 18. It’s slop, but I’ll take it.”

three in a bed n. three darts in the same double or treble space, or in the bull’s-eye.

Woodstock n . a badly thrown dart that reaches the board in the wandering manner of the bird in “Peanuts.”