Slang Dictionary — Modern Slang, Decoded

A qualifier meaning "if nothing goes wrong," attached to plans.

Said on finding something that was in plain sight.

Used to state what one would choose if given the choice.

'Improvised Explosive Device' — a bomb constructed and deployed outside conventional military production, frequently used in insurgency and roadside attacks.

The Welsh toast you raise before the first sip. Literally 'good health' (iechyd = health, da = good). Pronounced roughly 'YACH-ee-da' with that throaty 'ch' Welsh does so well. Used by Welsh speakers and English speakers alike when the pints land.

Stands for "I don't think so," used to express doubt or gentle disagreement.

A young performer trained by an entertainment company in singing, dancing, and multiple entertainment skills. The core professional category of K-pop.

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health. Any atmosphere that would either kill you, do irreversible damage, or stop you escaping under your own power within 30 minutes. Triggers the two-in/two-out rule and mandatory SCBA.

On Discord, the yellow-moon status the app auto-assigns after roughly five minutes of inactivity. You didn't choose it — your keyboard just went quiet. Often used as proof someone's actually around but AFK, vs deliberately invisible.

The literal meaning: 'I don't know.' You're being asked something and you genuinely have no answer.

Electrician slang for a non-contact voltage tester — the pen-sized gadget that lights up and chirps when you wave it near a live conductor. Called an idiot stick because (a) any idiot can use one and (b) trusting it blindly will make an idiot of you. Notorious for false positives on ghost voltage and the occasional terrifying false negative, which is why old sparkies always confirm with a meter.

Stands for "I don't even know," an emphatic version of IDK expressing bafflement.

To brainstorm or form ideas, usually as a distinct phase in a creative process.

Stands for "I don't care," used to signal that a choice or outcome doesn't matter to you. Tone can read as casual or dismissive.

Literally 'magic' in Yoruba, repurposed in Lagos street slang to describe a resourceful young OG who works hard, plays hard, and never turns down a money-making opportunity.

Stands for 'in case you missed it,' used to re-share news or a post for people who weren't around the first time.

Stands for "in case you didn't know," used before sharing information the reader may not have. Variant of ICYMI.

A flavoured frozen treat on a stick; an ice lolly or popsicle.

The hospital unit providing the highest level of monitoring and support for critically ill patients.

The pressure within the cranium; dangerously high ICP from bleeding or swelling can damage the brain.

Icon is the highest honour in ballroom — the rank above Legendary, reserved for the few who've left a permanent mark on the scene's history. Decades of dominance, mentorship and influence get you there. An icon isn't just winning categories; they shaped what the categories are. The word also lives outside ballroom now as casual praise ('you're an icon'), but in the ball scene it's a hard-earned crown.

Initialism for 'I can't lie'. Front-loaded onto a sentence to signal that what follows is genuine, even if it's unflattering. The TikTok equivalent of 'no offence but'.

The measure of how off-putting or repellent a trait or thing is. A high "ick factor" means strong instinctive disgust.

Used widely in modern dating talk about fleeting, irrational turn-offs.