Slang Dictionary — Modern Slang, Decoded

When a kicked ball is downed or goes out of the end zone, resulting in the receiving team starting from a designated yard line.

To arrive home safely. The standard MLE sign-off text after a night out — confirmation you've made it back through your door.

Shorthand on BookTok for the love interest who would burn down a city if his girl got a paper cut. Comes up whenever a hero menaces a side character for breathing too close. The genre's love language.

Classic office jargon for a short catch-up.

A 'touch' is a theft, particularly a pickpocketing score, and can also mean the act of getting money out of someone. To 'make a touch' is to pull off the steal.

To hold on to bad feelings or a grudge against someone. 'Toting feelings' = sulking resentfully.

Used for the often hilarious or meme-based decoration at the top of that pole.

The most immersive end of power exchange — the dominant holds authority over essentially all of the submissive's life, not just scenes: routines, finances, social life, the lot. It runs 24/7 as the relationship's default setting rather than something switched on for play. 'Total' doesn't mean limitless, though — safety, legal and hard personal boundaries still stand, and the whole thing rests on ongoing consent. Often overlaps with M/s relationships.

A tactical philosophy in which players interchange positions freely so that the team keeps its shape no matter who moves where.

A contemptible, foolish or annoying person. Originally a heavy drinker.

To throw up as a result of pushing a workout so hard your stomach can't take it.

A torpedo is the enforcer a shot caller sends when somebody needs to be put on the ground. He doesn't ask why — he gets pointed at a target and delivers the beating, stabbing, or worse. Think hired muscle, except the currency is gang loyalty and the contract is permanent.

A casual filler phrase, often shortened to 'torima', used to mean 'for now' or 'anyway' and to suggest getting on with something before hashing out the details.

Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) — specifically the population stranded in a handful of deep, cold North Wales lakes since the last Ice Age. Literally 'red belly' in Welsh. Found in Llyn Padarn, Cwellyn and Bodlyn; declining and protected. A genuine glacial relict swimming under Snowdon.

Emotionally distraught, or in ruined condition depending on context.

In Chicano Caló, to be jailed or busted; 'lo torcieron' means 'they locked him up'.

A handheld electric light; a flashlight.

Topspace (or domspace) is the dominant's version of subspace — a focused, euphoric flow-state that the top can slip into while running a scene. Less talked about than subspace but real: it's described like being 'in the zone,' fully locked in, hyper-attuned to the bottom, riding the power and the focus. Same as the sub, the top can crash afterward too — 'top drop' — so aftercare runs both ways.

The traditional ceremony when the final, highest structural beam is hoisted into place on a new building. Typically the beam is painted white, signed by the crew, and flown with an American flag and an evergreen tree lashed to it. Roots trace back to Scandinavian tree-topping rituals — bringing a tree to the top of the new structure to appease the spirits of the displaced trees. Now it's a crew milestone, an excuse for food, beer, and photos.

The submissive partner trying to run the show — directing, correcting or controlling the Top in ways that cut against the dynamic both people signed up for. Usually meant as a mild dig: you said you'd hand over control, now you're micromanaging. Crucial distinction: this is about overstepping an agreed dynamic, not the same as a Service top arrangement where the Bottom directing is the whole point. The community argues plenty about where communication ends and topping from the bottom begins.

In the trades: you've completed your apprenticeship and made journeyman. You've 'topped out' the program — no more classroom, no more reduced wage scale, full book rate from here.

A road speed bump; a very common everyday Mexicanism.

A snobby, stuck-up uptown person who looks down on others. Also spelled 'top-a-noris'.

The highest-grade cannabis a dispensary or dealer offers.