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

Shorthand for r/SubredditDrama, the sub built around linking to ongoing fights elsewhere on Reddit and chewing them over. Strict no-participation rule — turn up to gawk, not pile on, or you get bonked as a popcorn pisser.

To attack someone by spraying corrosive liquid — acid, bleach, ammonia — usually from a sports bottle. Drill rappers reference it as a low-cost, devastating alternative to a stabbing. London's acid-attack epidemic put this verb on the map.

A US Navy sailor, often used with light derogatory intent by members of other services.

That gut-level recoil you feel at a particular kink or act, used precisely because it carries no moral verdict. Saying something squicks you means 'not my thing, makes me wince' not 'this is wrong.' The whole reason the word exists is to flag your own discomfort without yucking someone else's yum. Likely a blend of 'squirm' and 'icky.'

A short, low kickoff that bounces erratically along the ground, used to keep the ball away from a dangerous returner.

squeezed or sliced

The question the guy behind the counter asks when you order chili-cheese fries at a Detroit coney. 'Squeezed' = Cheez Whiz from the squeeze bottle. 'Sliced' = cold American singles laid on top so they melt under the chili. There are loyalists for both. There is no third answer.

Clipped form of 'short squeeze,' the self-reinforcing rally that forces short sellers to buy back shares. The word retail traders chant while trying to trigger one.

To resolve a beef and call off any planned violence between inmates.

Cleaned up, organized, and in proper military shape; by extension, a competent and reliable person.

A prisoner who keeps his head down, follows the rules, and steers clear of gangs, hustles, and trouble. Often a first-timer doing white-collar or one-off time who isn't part of the convict subculture. Not necessarily an insult, but it marks you as an outsider to the lifers.

A fair fight with no weapons or interference; often a challenge, 'd'ye want a square go?'.

A conventional, old-fashioned person who follows the rules and rejects countercultural ideas.

A British Army rank-and-file soldier — the generic word for a serving squaddie, whatever cap badge. Used by squaddies about themselves and by the British public in general. Carries the whole bundle: lads on the piss in garrison towns, professionalism on tour, dark humor about all of it.

Indicates a medication delivered just under the skin into subcutaneous tissue, such as insulin or heparin.

A sparrow. The little brown bird hopping round your beer garden. Pure Geordie, baffles southerners on sight.

Old-school Boston term for a submarine sandwich, taken from 'spuccadella' (sometimes spelled spukadella), the Italian-style roll it was originally built on. Mostly heard from older East Boston and North End types now; younger Bostonians have largely shifted to 'sub'.

A new FFXIV player. The game tags newbies with a green sprout icon next to their name so veterans go easy on them.

An offensive scheme that lines the quarterback in shotgun with three or more receivers spread across the field to stretch the defense.

A boss mechanic that drops damage on each player individually, so you have to scatter. Stand too close and the overlapping hits wipe the group.

In shooters, smoothly moving a sustained spray of bullets from one downed enemy to another mid-burst.

To fire a weapon continuously rather than tapping or bursting. Controlling the recoil while spraying is a whole skill in itself, the 'spray pattern'.

A person who assists with a lift and stands ready to help if the lifter can't complete a rep, ensuring safety.

'Spot Report' — a brief, timely report used to send immediate information about an enemy sighting or significant event, often in the SALUTE format.

A request asking another person to stand by and assist during a heavy set for safety.