DEL MAR — When you sashay into the fun zone at the County Fair, you may hear verbal expressions that are foreign to average listeners. Like the hash slingers who call in an order, carnival workers have their own lingo.

International Assn. of Fairs & Expositions several years ago compiled a glossary of carnival talk.

Workers usually gather in the cookhouse to trade jackpots (gossip). They may blister the alderman, who is a suspected stool pigeon — a stoolie.

At Del Mar there are no dings, or free sideshows, that request a donation at the exit. Hanky panks are legitimate games of chance, and flat stores are illegal and are prohibited. Joint operators are always on alert for paper hangers, persons who pass counterfeit money. An ace or a single is a sawbuck ($1), a half-a-yard is 50 bux and a c-note ($100) is a century. In the carnival, there is a good variety of grab joints or fast food stands that usually don’t provide seating.

A poke is a wallet and strawberries are monies left behind by a ticket purchaser.

A kip is a bed and a kip and dip includes a shower.

A tip is not a gratuity but a crowd gathered around a hawker. There may be a shill who rushes up with money to be the first buyer and stimulates bystanders into taking home something they may never need or use. Some stand operators will throw stock (give prizes generously) to attract players.

Rag bags have all but disappeared at fairs. These are the small, poorly managed, carnivals.

When the County Fair is over July 6, workers will slough the joints and rides and move on to their next stand. They may be tapped out (broke) and solicit eight bits (a sawbuck) to buy a cup of joe. If folks don’t understand the lingo, they aren’t carnies.