Internet
gaslight
What does gaslight mean?
To manipulate someone into questioning their own perception of reality, usually by flat-out denying things you said or did.
"He keeps telling me that argument never happened — he's trying to gaslight me."
Origin
From the 1938 play 'Gas Light' and its film adaptations, where a husband dims the gas lamps and insists his wife is imagining it. The term jumped from therapy circles into mainstream and TikTok slang around 2018-2022.
Frequently asked questions
What does gaslight mean in slang?
It means manipulating someone into doubting their own memory or sanity by denying facts. Online it's also used loosely for confidently lying or rewriting a situation.
Is gaslighting always serious?
Not always — clinically it's a real abuse tactic, but Gen Z also uses it jokingly for any minor lie or denial.
What is 'gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss'?
It's an ironic meme that flips three 'toxic' behaviors into a tongue-in-cheek personality flex.
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