General
bummer
What does bummer mean?
Used alone as a sympathetic response to bad news.
"They canceled the festival? Bummer."
Origin
Emerging in 1960s American counterculture and drug culture, likely from 'bum trip,' it described a bad psychedelic experience before broadening to mean any letdown.
Frequently asked questions
What does bummer mean in slang?
It refers to a disappointing or depressing experience, or specifically a bad drug trip in 1960s usage.
Where did bummer come from?
From 1960s drug culture, shortened from 'bum trip,' meaning a frightening or negative psychedelic experience.
Is bummer still used?
Yes, it survives in casual American English as a mild expression of disappointment, detached from its drug origins.
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