Test your knowledge with our American Slang trivia quizzes in the humanities category. Old-Time Expressions You Might Know, Mostly US, What's your line? Americans may say “I can’t even” to express a feeling of being overwhelmed (either in a bad or good way). It is believed to have originated around the 1600s, in conjunction with the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts. Hawaiians substitute this word in for “yeah” or “sure”. There …, If you are a fan of anything scary and have …, The slang term “hipster” is used often in conversation. The popular American film Wedding Crashers features titular characters who show up uninvited at weddings to meet girls. _g1.classList.remove('lazyload'); The dictionary defines “binge” as an “excessive indulgence”. Learn more about slang in popular culture and find links to online American slang dictionaries. Read LaterAdd to FavouritesAdd to CollectionReport. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. Americans use the word “cray” as an abbreviation of the word “crazy” to intimate that something is wild or out of control. You may additionally hear someone ask you to “holler at them”, meaning to give them a call. Use these slang words and phrases anywhere across the continental U.S. – even if you’re not a native speaker, you’ll soon be sounding the part! Question of BUCK: Pick the phrase that does NOT fit. Share; Tweet ; Pin; These slang words can mean several different things. Is “birds” supposed to be some kind of metaphor you’re missing? When your friend watches the new episode of your favorite TV show without you (and let’s face it – what kind of friend would do that?! Is it a "seesaw" or a "teeter-totter"? The not-so-serious abbreviation is short for “you only live once”. Reference Menu. Shotgun is the front passenger seat in a vehicle, so-called because of the position of the shotgun-armed guard on a horse-drawn carriage or wagon train. _g1 = document.getElementById('g1-logo-inverted-img'); ), you might preface your next convo by insisting that he/she not reveal any spoilers. Nope, it doesn’t actually have anything to do with cheese. In this post, you’ll learn twenty American slang phrases and words so you’ll sound more natural when you speak English. “Hit me up” is used to tell someone to contact you. How much do you know? The American Slang Game. How much do you know about American slang words and phrases? For a native speaker, “it’s not rocket science” explains something by hyperbolically stating what it is not. try { Nope, none of the above. Especially American slang and idioms. Short for legitimate (meaning authentic or real), Americans say “legit” to affirm that something is good or worthwhile. _g1.setAttribute('srcset', _g1.getAttribute('data-srcset')); Every region of the United States has its own variety of slang. Let's play. Learning these slang terms will help you sound like a native in daily English conversations. Right. So resist the urge to text back a bunch of heart-face emoticons, and try just writing “K.” That’ll keep ’em on their toes. _g1.setAttribute('src', _g1.getAttribute('data-src') ); This common slang phrase means to get distracted and lose track of whatever is happening around you. Make out with that cute guy/girl at the bar. Now, the word can be applied to anything. K actually basically means f*ck you. We use cookies to give you the best experience. “Fear of missing out” is a real worry for many Americans, apparently. Sayings like “piece of cake” and “put lipstick on a pig” might not faze someone born in the U.S., but they’re almost sure to leave foreigners scratching their heads in search of fictional cakes and pigs. Because in Alabama, things aren’t ever sideways or messed up. What Does Bleh Mean? These days, it has ceased to refer to literal weather, and broadly means that an event will be re-scheduled for a later date. See if you can "ace" these quizzes! It is along the same lines of the Latin “carpe diem” (seize the day), though with much less serious undertones. If Johnny tells you he can hold his breath for five minutes, you may check his ego by asking, “for real”? YOLO. For example: Excellent job on the presentation. Being a passenger in the front seat of a car. Sure, no sweat. Here you will find a useful list of common American slang words with meaning and examples. A non-English speaker might be asking what a rocket has to do with the conversation at hand. _g1.setAttribute('srcset', _g1.getAttribute('data-srcset')); Given the rise of “Netflix and Chill” culture, it’s common for Americans to admit to “binge-watching” a favorite TV show. Having a firearm that shoots small pellets, also a scatter gun. if ( localStorage.getItem(skinItemId ) ) { var _g1; In the context of American slang, “jonesing for” means to be craving something. Can you pick the correct answer? Chances …, Bougie is a slang word that you hear in everyday …, The “emo” scene is a popular one among many teenagers …. A male … We said bad english words all the time and we did it it was in for the groups to speak english and that is kind of things to say and their stealing candy at the own stores!!!! _g1.classList.remove('lazyload'); _g1 = document.getElementById('g1-logo-inverted-source'); Y’all is a proper contraction but you’ll never hear a true Southerner say “you all”. They really make the difference between someone who learned school English and someone who speaks real everyday English. A “buck” is both a male deer and a dollar bill – but when someone says “give me the buck”, they’re referring to the latter. Birdseed? This is most commonly used as text or email slang. It means to have a craving for something (usually food). Here’s a case where you can translate literally. “Jones” has its roots in narcotics, as it was a term previously used for a heroin addiction. ‘Nailed it’ means you got something right, you perfected it. Did you have a nice weekend? “For the birds” actually means that something is trivial or worthless. Similarly, “no sweat” is a way to say that something is easy or not a problem. Dictionary Thesaurus ... illustrated topical guides to various types of slang, and interactive games such as the "Random Insult Generator." Learn more about British slang words, Australian slang words and Canadian slang words in English. In this lesson, you will learn some awesome American slang words with their meanings. Such is the case with a number of American slang words. You’re likely to hear this in the Deep South. if ( localStorage.getItem(skinItemId ) ) { But Americans have also adopted this word to refer to someone or something that is boring, unsophisticated or mainstream. by Kim_Johnson December 6, 2019, 3:46 pm 98 Views 17 Votes 25 Comments. Similarly, to score is to achieve something you want. This extremely common phrase refers to something that’s non-stop or around the clock – for example, “Walgreens is open 24/7.”. American Slang: 30+ Popular American Slang Words You Should Know, Bleh Meaning: What Does the Incredible Term …, Creepypasta Meaning: What Does the Scary Term …, Bougie Meaning: What Does the Useful Term …, ‘Emo’ Meaning: What Does the Term “Emo” …. This one is a little more obscure – but we stuck it in here just to double check you’re paying attention. If someone is driving you up the wall, they’re likely irritating you. 98 Views Look inside to find out! This list is cray! That being said, Americans have still retained a few regional gems – most notably words like “whoopensocker” (Wisconsin) and “shoots” (Hawaii). This is usually meant in a playful and joking manner. This is a favorite among the SCE Team on this list of positive American slang! Which brings us to…. YOLO was popularized by American rapper Drake, and acts as a call to live life to the fullest. Something that’s not rocket science isn’t difficult; therefore, it’s easy. Apparently vanilla ice cream is not a fan-favorite in the U.S., as “vanilla” is used to describe someone or something that is ordinary, boring or uninspiring. If you continue to use this site you are happy with it. Previously, Americans would dial 411 to reach directory assistance and be provided with information. If your crush texts you to hang out, you don’t want to seem too eager, right? That’s why there are more than definitions there. Right now we’re jonesing for a glass of wine, for example. While this is no longer common, 411 lives on in slang speech. Americans refer to this small talk as shooting the sh*t. In soccer, an offensive player’s aim is to score a goal. This words has a plethora of meanings. They’re “cattywampus”. A forced wedding using a shotgun to force a couple to marry. Over time, the adjective gradually transformed itself into an adverb, morphing from “wicked” to “awful” and finally “awfully” – which carries a similar meaning to today’s intensifiers like “really” or “very”. Americans use “dead” to describe bars and clubs as empty, quiet or sad – for instance, “let’s get out of here; this place is dead anyway.”.