Slang is a very informal language or certain words used by a particular group of people. You will often hear a word spoken more often than you would ever see written, but emails and texts often contain many conversational words.
While slang sometimes finds bad rap inappropriate or incorrect, it is also very artistic and shows that the English language continues over time.
Examples of Old Slang Words and Phrases
| Slang Phrase | Meaning |
| all that and a bag of chips | Used to describe something that is meritorious beyond belief. Like, actually so good. |
| bounce | Used to announce an imminent departure. |
| bout it – bout it | A terminology emanating from hip-hop culture indicating that one is “down for anything.” |
| bugg’n | Used to express concern about someone who is probably freaking out about something that doesn’t need to be freaked out over. |
| clownin | You know how clowns are like kind of scary. Crazy scary |
| crib | A house, a pad. |
| crunk | Typically used in reference to the weekend. |
| cut. It. Out | You can’t really say this without also doing the hand gestures, too. |
| Don’t have a cow | This term is used to try to calm someone down. |
| fart-knocker | A blazing idiot; |
| going postal | Going crazy, losing it. Think of how mail goes all over the place. |
| hella | A lot, very, wow. Like – “Yo this apartment is hella tight.” Also? Tight, which I guess means that something is fresh, good, “the bomb.” |
| home skillett | A close friend. Someone you go to over and over, maybe kind of like you have that one skillet you always use when you cook. |
| I’m outtie | Gotta go. |
| mad | Mad not as in angry, mad as in “very” or “a lot.” |
| no duh | Well clearly you are just stating the obvious, you butt munch |
| oh snap | Used to punctuate a situation that has taken everyone by surprise and which leaves everyone in a state of total disbelief. |
| pick up your face | Pick up your face is often used when someone proves you wrong. |
| phat | Something that’s really awesome, cool. |
| psyche | Not |
| Ride | a verb for the act of being a passenger in a vehicle |
| salty | Used to describe someone who is angry about something, kind of for no real reason, too. |
| schwing | This is a thing white dudes say/I have never said this word in my life. |
| she wrong for that | she is wrong for that |
| step off | Like, step off my man. Consider yourself warned. |
| take a chill pill | Used to calm someone down, to talk them off of a ledge. |
| talk to the hand | Today we say “things ain’t nobody got time for,” but back when everybody was all, “Talk to the hand.” |
| trippin | Used to call out someone who is acting a fool. “Why are you trippin’ over this?” |
| wicked | White people’s very own version of “mad.” |
| word | Worry not |
| you go boy/girl | You Go, Girl/Boy. Translation: Alright, Miss Thing. I see you |
| I’m bugging | freaking out or flipping out. |
Why do people use slang?
Because slang words are often understood only by people in a certain group, using slang is, above all, a way to show that you belong. You show that you are one of the crowds by using words that others do not understand, and you can connect with like-minded people who understand what you mean by using the latest slang words.
For this reason, slang is usually a sign of “cool,” or at least you know something. The people who are in with a group are aware of slang, and the people who aren’t are not aware of same. Slang, therefore, is a way of using language to distinguish oneself from others.
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