English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Slang Dictionary — Modern Slang, Decoded

What does that word actually mean? Our slang dictionary explains modern slang clearly — Gen Z, internet, British and street slang — with real definitions, examples and where each term came from.

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Gen Z Slangrizz, delulu, slay Internet Slangbrainrot, based, mid British Slangpeng, bare, peak AAVEbussin, finna, cap

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Latest slang terms

Behaving like a celebrity — self-important, flaky, or too good for people. 'He's on hollywood' = he's acting big-time.

Describes a wave that pitches out over a gap of air rather than crumbling, creating rideable barrels.

To flirt with or make a move on someone.

An approach that takes all interconnected aspects of a problem into account together.

Taking the lead out of the starting gate and being first into the opening turn of a race. The holeshot is often decisive in short BMX races.

holding the line

The act of the community refusing to sell en masse during a sell-off, so that short sellers and paper hands can't force a capitulation.

Supporting someone emotionally by listening and being present without judgment or advice.

A midfield position focused on sitting deep, breaking up attacks and protecting the defenders behind.

hold your horses

An urging to be patient or not act rashly.

A rallying cry urging everyone to stand firm and keep holding their shares during a sell-off, denying sellers and short-sellers the capitulation they want.

New Zealand's term for honeycomb toffee, and one of the country's most popular ice-cream flavours (vanilla studded with toffee pieces).

A hoister is a shoplifter, one who 'hoists' goods from shops and counters. It is an older synonym for booster.

A bondage position where wrists and ankles are bound together behind the back, leaving the person face-down and thoroughly stuck. Named after the way a hog is trussed. It's a strict, helpless position, so tops keep an eye on circulation and breathing and rarely leave someone in it long.

The Scottish name for 31 December and the festivities welcoming the New Year.

The short trousers worn by pitmen underground.

To keep holding a crypto asset regardless of price swings rather than trading in and out. Originated as a drunken typo of 'hold' and was later backronymed to 'Hold On for Dear Life'.

A non-surfer who pretends to surf and frequents beaches, hanging around the scene without paddling out. A classic surf-culture poser.

A burger cooked all the way through until it's grey, dry and roughly the texture and colour of the thing they slap around an ice rink. Used disparagingly by cooks the moment a well-done burger ticket prints. Sometimes broadens to any over-rested, dried-out protein puck on the line.

A Special Constable — a volunteer warranted officer with the same powers as a regular but unpaid. Used patronisingly by full-timers and the public alike.

Crowded, swarming or full of people or things.

Stands for "hit me up," an invitation for someone to contact or message you later.

The collective groupthink of a subreddit or Reddit as a whole. Whatever the top comment says, the next thousand will echo. Disagree and you're invisible by morning. Used self-deprecatingly by Redditors who know they're stuck in it, and as an insult by people pointing at it from the outside.

hittin' switches

Working the dashboard switch panel on a lowrider to fire the hydraulic pumps — bouncing the car, three-wheeling it, dancing it on its axles. Pure showmanship. Soundtrack to any West Coast video from '92 onward, and the literal hook of Dre's 'Let Me Ride'.

Committing robberies — or more broadly, pulling off any quick score that puts cash in your pocket. Detroit and Atlanta rap canon. A 'lick' is the job; 'hittin' one is doing it. Doesn't have to be armed; the word stretches to scams, flips, and any hustle with a payday at the end.