phrase
no cap
noh KAP
No cap (phrase) means No lie; used to insist that what you are saying is completely true. Example: “That was the best meal I've had all year, no cap.”
phrase
1
slang No lie; used to insist that what you are saying is completely true.
"That was the best meal I've had all year, no cap."
"No cap, she finished the whole thing in one sitting."
How to use no cap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA way of saying "I'm not lying" after something hard to believe.
When to use it
Slang, spoken and social media. It comes from AAVE, so non-Black speakers should be aware they are borrowing.
Memory tip
It sits at the end of a sentence far more often than at the start.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
no cap fr
that's cap
no cap though
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Etymology
From African American Vernacular English, where cap means a lie or an exaggeration and to cap is to lie; no cap is therefore "no lie".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cap and no cap?
They are opposites. Calling something cap means you think it is a lie, as in "that's cap". Saying no cap means you are swearing that your own statement is true.
What does the cap emoji mean?
The blue baseball cap emoji is used to call something out as a lie, and is often sent alone as a reply. Crossing it out, or writing "no 🧢", flips the meaning to no cap.
Where does no cap come from?
It comes out of African American Vernacular English, where cap has long meant to boast or lie, and spread widely through hip-hop and then social media. Beyond that AAVE origin, the trail is not firmly documented.
What is the meaning of no cap?
"no cap" (phrase) means no lie; used to insist that what you are saying is completely true.
