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.

Browse slang by category

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

Browse slang by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Latest slang terms

A run that has been machine-groomed into a smooth, corduroy-textured surface, ideal for fast, clean carving. Early laps on fresh groomers are a favorite of many riders.

An idiot or annoying person, especially in eshay and broader youth usage.

Informal term for the smaller, inside waves that young grommets ride while the bigger sets go to the crowd out the back.

A young or inexperienced surfer or skateboarder; often 'grom'.

A young skateboarder, typically a talented or enthusiastic kid. Short for 'grommet.'

Notorious UK hospital acronym aimed at a specific stereotype of patient — the earnest, middle-class, alternative-medicine type who reads The Guardian and turns up in ethnic dress with a folder of internet research. Catalogued in a 2003 BMJ piece on hospital slang that caused a small media storm. Properly retired now, but historically real.

Alcoholic drink in general, especially beer; 'on the grog' means drinking heavily.

Disgusting, dirty, or revolting. A core Valley-girl term for anything yucky.

Historically a fourpenny coin; used to mean a very small amount of money.

A voodoo amulet — usually a small cloth bag of herbs, stones, bones or written prayers — worn or hidden to protect the bearer, attract luck, or hex an enemy.

Driving with both hands on the custom wood-grain steering wheel — the small-diameter, deep-dish wood wheels that replace the factory unit in nearly every Houston slab. So load-bearing in the culture that UGK named a whole album 'Ridin' Dirty' around the imagery, and Z-Ro, Slim Thug and Paul Wall built bars on it. To grip grain is to be in the seat, in the lane, in the lifestyle.

A coarse, adhesive-backed, sandpaper-like sheet applied to the top of the deck to give the rider's shoes grip. Often shortened to 'grip.'

Slang for a sizable sum — as much as a hand can grip.

Often used ironically to mock hustle-culture extremes.

Borrowed from gaming, in Web3 it means farming on-chain activity — swaps, bridges, daily quests, Discord roles — for weeks or months in the hope a protocol drops free tokens to early users. Sometimes pays life-changing money (Uniswap, Arbitrum), sometimes pays nothing.

A submarine-style sandwich, typically hot and toasted, served on a long roll. New England specifically uses 'grinder' for the hot version — meatball, chicken parm, steak and cheese — while cold ones might still be called subs.

grind never stops

A motivational slogan of hustle culture asserting that success requires constant, unceasing effort with no rest. It is celebrated by grindset devotees and mocked by critics.

To put in sustained, unglamorous effort — chasing allowlists, farming airdrops, or building — over a long period.

Describing mean, unfair, selfish, or underhanded behavior; a person who is grimy is untrustworthy and does dirty things.

grim reaper at foot of bed

Slang shorthand (GRAFOB) that a patient appears imminently moribund, as though Death is standing at the foot of the bed. Variant GRAHOB = at head of bed.

Singular 'grill' can also just mean someone's mouth or smile by extension.

Brigade station for grilled meats and fish. Lives in front of the hottest piece of equipment in the kitchen, reads temps by feel, never overcooks the wagyu. In a smaller house, often merged with the rôtisseur (roast cook).

To glare at someone in a hostile or challenging way. 'Why you grilling me?' = why are you staring?

The mark is the specific victim a grifter selects and works. This phrase emphasizes the con-artist context.