What Are The Origins Of These Urban Dictionary-Worthy Words And Phrases?
- by Jessica
- – on
- in Entertainment
A member of the Germanic family, English borrows many words from other language branches, especially its Indo-European cousins. Foreign words are often cultural adoptions or food items not readily available in Anglophone areas. Other neologisms appear by adding affixes to a current word and producing a relatively transparent meaning. Similarly portmanteaus display how innovative humans can add linguistically productive terms (Obamacare, mimsy, Spanglish...) to fill a meaning gap in their respective lexicon.
Often, memorable authors or cultural icons coin catch phrases or slang to reference things within their respective universes. Idioms come into being through bizarre cultural coincidences or folk tales. Contemporary keyboards and technology have sped up the adoption of word or phrase abbreviations, with older generations wondering what millennials are typing half the time.
Sites like Urban Dictionary contribute by providing a user-friendly interface where anyone can record a novel word coined by their own friend group. While words and expressions are being coined all the time, earlier ones experience semantic shift. Whereas biblical or religious expressions previously held deep spiritual meanings these are often becoming secularized. We'll delve into the history of some words and see if you can guess who popularized them.
See if you can guess who came up with these words/expressions.
"Twerk"
While the word itself may predate modern popstars, these latter few have certainly popularized it in the twenty-first century. From the 2013 VMA's forward, the "twerk" was the new go-to dance move. It consists of lowering you upper body to the floor and shaking your booty. Its actually a dance move more familiar to black artists than the this singer because it was born out of New Orlean's bounce scene. Anyways we credit the singer of "Bangerz" with the word because of its immediate 2013 rise in popularity.
"YOLO"
Though an inspiring acronym at its base, the overuse of YOLO has made it kind of a joke. At first the term was popular culture's "carpe diem" but now it has gained a sort of irony when hashtagged. The bonus song "the Motto" off the 2011 album Take Care popularized it. Since then this artist has tried to claim royalties on the term but unfortunately for him it was used a few years earlier in a Strokes song (You Only Live Once).
"Bae"
This word spiked in popularity around 2014 and means arguably one of two things. Either an acronym for "before anyone else" or a shortened version of "babe". Either way this term of endearment exploded in 2014 and is still being used today. We will credit the singer of "Come and Get it Bae" because the popular song was released during the same spike in popularity as the word. Also, this artist produces many of the award-winning pop songs behind the scenes so it's a well deserved credit.
"Meh"
This word is used to describe total indifference and is generally in response to something. It was listed on the BBC News site that chose a list of words to describe the 2000's. Apparently a word of Yiddish origin, the connotation was most recently popularized when Bill Oakley first used as a catch line in the episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts". The word would continue to reoccur in this series, being used the most in the "Hungry Hungry Homer" episode written by John Swartzwelder.
"Swagger"
Originally recorded in the 1580s, this word was popularized in the plays "Midsummer Night's Dream" and "King Lear". The initial meaning "to strut in a defiant or insolent manner" was assigned to antagonists in these narratives. However, the term was repopularized as the noun swag around 2010. From this point forward it meant something between that idealized attribute of "je ne sais quoi" and merchandizing or branded products. Nowadays it is either used ironically or to point fun at earlier generations.
"Cosby Sweaters"
Named after the 1980's-1990's NBC show starring this comedian, "Cosby Sweaters" became a big part of hipster wear in the late 90's and early 2000's. They are by definition an ugly sweater and were obviously worn by the protagonist in this show. Multicoloured, bizarre vintage patterning, and a mixture of textures, these sweaters can be found at your local value village or thrift shop generally for less than five dollars. We've all had a "Cosby Sweater" phase but the best part is growing out of it.
"Regift"
Aired in 1995, this show popularized the term "regift" in the episode The Label Maker. The plot circles around a label maker that Elaine has gifted a mutual friend who in turn gifted it to Jerry. In the episode George asks, "if he can regift why can't you degift," adding a different prefix to make it a new word. The definition of regift is to receive an unwanted present and then to turn around and give it to someone else. (Another spin on the phrase the gift that keeps giving)
"Baller"
This word was dropped in 1988 rap song "The Syndicate" and though it can refer to basketball superstars (Kobe Bryant, LeBron James) the word has taken on a new level of connotations. It is heard at pickup games and on the street in different ways. In the song it instead denotes another type of success-- someone who can afford to throw money around freely. It describes someone who has hustled to get to their position of respect, as an NBA superstar or some other lucrative occupation.
"Nerd"
This word was popularized with the 1950 story "If I Ran the Zoo". Gerald McGrew elaborates on the things he would change if he were in charge at the zoo and names a particularly unpleasant animal a "nerd". It means someone who has a high intellectual capacity but is socially awkward. It is cognate with earlier 1940's slang of "nert" which carries largely the same social connotation. In the 1980's a type of popular candy was produced with the same name, though they hardly resemble schoolyard nerds.
"Bye Felicia!"
This recently resurfaced to popularity though it was coined and given meaning in the 1995 movie Friday. Actually the Urban Dictionary definition resuscitated the expression because prior to this very few people understood its context. In the movie a neighbourhood drug user, Felicia, is asking two characters if she can borrow their car or a joint. Before she even asks Craig about it he dismisses her with "bye Felicia". The phrase is aimed at a random of little consequence whose presence you won't miss.
"Bromance"
This term spiked in 2009, around the same time as the film between Paul Rudd and Jason Segal. It denotes a close but non-homosexual relationship between two guys. Generally the term is seen as appearing from fraternity culture because recruited boys are supposed to share a familial bond but also want to clarify any insecurities about their sexual orientation (just in case, you know). Of course, the term has been adopted between homosexual, pansexual, or non-binary individuals with the relationship itself remaining entirely platonic.
"On fleek"
In several articles the coinage of this expression is attributed to a young Vine user. She is headed somewhere in a car and is explaining she'll be having a good time and that her eyebrows are "on fleek...dafaq". "On fleek" usually denotes admiring the creation something that is done with finesse. Given the original usage paired with the 2016 discovery of eyebrows the phrase is usually restricted to them. However, it can be co-opted to talk about marketing strategies (Taco Bell) or other products deserving of praise.
"Bootylicious"
Though this song was heavily popularized by Beyonce's group in 2001, it had actually been coined in 1992 by a fellow rapper. The girl group grabbed onto the catchy portmanteau meaning between booty and delicious. It is similarly significant that as the word is used to describe women, they reclaimed it and their agency, empowering younger women to own their sexuality, by calling themselves "bootylicious". The term was added to OED in 2004 as hip-hop slang meaning "(as a woman) sexually attractive".
"Hella"
This word is very distinct to the region it was born in; outsiders who come to this part of the state immediately pick up on its versatile usage. "Hella" can mean anything from 'very' to 'really' or 'a lot'. For example, "After I dissed him he didn't talk to me for hella days". It's unsurprising the word has spread across North America because linguistic trends track that novel words are typically generated in the West. Also, it was probably coined by an African American community because popular slang is usually is adopted into white English from black English.
"Sissy that walk"
This command was popularized in a drag show when the organizing Queen was giving the girls tips on how to own the runway. The expression "Sissy that walk!" basically means the model needs to make her walk more flamboyant or feminine. Since the characters are dressed in drag when they are performing they need to have the matching comportment of hot ladies strutting their stuff. It became a catchphrase for the show and was most recently used in their promotion song.
"Woke"
After singing "Master Teacher" in 2008 this black artist gave an interview about the navigation of her consciousness. She expressed the term "woke" in the song and described it as an active way of being. It has been described as the inverse of politically correct. It means taking a hard, reflective look at the statues of power and privilege around you. Though people are more willing to recognize systemized racism and microaggressions in the U.S. it is important to remember being "woke" is not an attribute, it's a state of being.
"As if!"
This expression was coined in a 1995 chick flick following the spoiled daughter of a wealthy widow living in LA. The protagonist slowly learns to become less selfish and tries to immerse herself in worldly affairs. However, before this transition, the girl is just another sarcastic teenager. Her line "as if" simultaneously expresses her lack of interest in the scenario and how far-fetched the given scenario was to begin with. This type of disbelief can be given with the less sarcastic "yeah right".
"Cougar"
The phenomenon has been around forever, older women seeking younger men to exploit their bodies and naiveté. However the term for this social paring was coined only in 1999 in a Canadian newspaper article that was describing a site that facilitated these matches: cougardate.com. The metaphor expands to older experienced felines seeking out young and energetic prey (like rabbits). Of course we all know at least one example of this in popular culture: the shameless Samantha Jones from Sex in the City, a true icon.
"Spill the tea" / "Spill it"
Gossip is often talked about as if it were edible; it has been described as delicious, juicy, and now we're using the metaphor 'tea'. This expression came about through black women's tea parties where the girls would get together and gossip. The party itself became synonymous with the talk. There are other ways to incorporate 'tea' in your vocabulary. For example, to clarify you don't wanna start drama you can inject before a statement, "no tea but..." and the other person will know you're not overly peeved.
"FML"
This acronym was first published on one of the sites below in 2005, it shot to word of the day in 2008 and has become a feature of common text parlance between teens. A site dedicated to "FML" stories popped up with a French version following soon thereafter called "VDM-- Vie de Merde". Of course, the English acronym stands for "F*ck My Life." It is typically said in reaction to an unexpected negative event or when something goes comically wrong.
"Fall from grace"
This expression has a type of stern guiding holiness embedded into it that you might expect from this source. In context it means to fall from divine favour into sin. This can be seen in many parables given throughout the New Testament account where individuals turn away from God to their detriment. Along with other expressions of this genre, it has adopted a secular definition. However, it similarly denotes a sort of unintended downgrading on the individual's part whether that be in political, cultural, or social spheres.
"The creeps"
Coined in the novel David Copperfield, this expression was used by the prominent author to denote "a feeling of dread or revulsion". While this describes a type of mental state it was previously used to talk about physical instantiations. For example, "the creeps" used to mean the sensation of slimy things on one's skin or the goosebumps. This expression seems to have fallen out of contemporary usage. However its meaning remains in public memory but more as something that promotes a scared or horrified response.
"Boujee"
This term is homophone to a concept that came out of aristocratic France in the fifteenth century. In this era of monarchy there were the nobility and upper-classes, "bourgeois" changed to "bougie" to denote the middle-class social climbers trying to carve a place at the top of society. "Boujee" denotes a type of elevated class consciousness, and scorn for out of reach upper classes. It has a negative connotation, someone "boujee" is an individual who is inauthentic, gentrified, exclusive, and otherwise sheltered from the real world.
"Legit"
This word was popularized by the amazing "2 Legit 2 Quit" song that came out in 1991 winning the Soul Train Music Award and an MTV nomination. This hip-hop artist's dance moves and pioneering style have fans returning to this classic from over 20 years ago. The music video provides a window into this crazy era. "Legit" in this context is obviously a hyphenated version of 'legitimate' but it also means 'real' or 'not fake'. It speaks to a person's personality, style, and music making methods.
"Wanksta"
Referenced in a song with the same name from the "8 Mile" soundtrack, this social comment expresses this rap artist's frustration. It later appeared on the artist's mixtape "No Mercy, No Fear". It expresses how this artist feels after all his scrappyness and constant energy to see a person who is creating hip-hop but not progressing. The word is not a portmanteau (does not denote a white gangsta) but instead a sort of fraudulent gangster. Someone who has never had to hustle.
"Catch-22"
This phrase entered into common parlance after the release of a movie by the same name in 1970. However before this it was the title of a 1961 novel. The narrative follows a bomber pilot who knows he's insane to fly into combat missions without asking to be relieved from duty. The "catch" is that if he does this he is eligible to be relieved, whereas if he asks higher command knows that he's sane and must fly combat. It illustrates the definition of a catch-22: a paradoxical situation that an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules.
"You're doing amazing, sweetie"
This line comes from Kris Jenner, the encouraging manager and mother of Kim Kardashian. It's one of the captioned memes to enter into popular culture. Basically Kim is doing a shoot for Playboy and Kris, acting as her manager, is trying to get Kim to perform well during the shoot. While trying to capture a photo on her cell she says, "you're doing amazing sweetie" as Kim is posed nude. The encouragement is used between girlfriends as they empower and reclaim their sexuality.
"Stan"
Coined in 2000, this word comes from a meshing of the words "stalker" and "fan" to describe an overzealous follower. It was popularized by a rap song of the same name that won the MuchMusic Video Award for Clip of the Year. The song narrated how a fan was corresponding with said rapper until the latter stopped responding. The fan fell into a depressive state and killed his pregnant partner and himself. The song ends with the rapper responding only to realize who the suicide in the news was.
"Mullet"
This band popularized this word as well as the haircut in their 1994 single "Mullett Head". Though there is some contention that the phrase was already used in the Paul Newman movie Cool Hand Luke. However it is just a homophone because it was not used to refer to the haircut, it was instead an insult. Now cringeworthy, the cut used to be a favourite of young men looking for a "business in the front, party in the back" type style.
"Major Key"
According to Time, this rap artist has over 2 million ecstatic fans on Snapchat waiting for the wise life advice he offers. His well-known motivational message "major key" points subscribers in the direction of success. From the right breakfast cereal to staying positive and grinding hard-- you can expect all types of advice from this rap artist. He recently released his ninth studio album entitled "Major Key" as well as a book called "The Key" all about joining his success circuit. He has all but patented the key emoji.
"Diss"
This term was still used in popular culture in the 2000's though it had been coined by a magazine more than twenty years earlier. It is a shortened version of "disrespect". It is used when one person insults or makes a funny, relatable comment about another person. The person who made the comment has effectively undermined the other person's respect, and so "dissed" him. Like other slang terms, this verb has been traced from the African American community later to be picked up by white English.
"Chortle"
This celebrated author is known to have created many fun imaginary words to punctuate his novels. "Chortle" as a verb comes in 1872 in "Through the Looking Glass" when Alice approaches Humpty Dumpty to ask about the Jabberwocky poem. He explains the concept of a portmanteau, adding two words together to create a separate word that carries both meanings. "Chortle" being the child of 'chuckle' and 'snort'. The definition has remained, though gained a connotation of being a perhaps weird perhaps endearing sort of behaviour.
"Gerrymander"
A portmanteau, "gerrymander" came about in 1812 when Governor Elbridge Gerry signed a bill to redistrict Massachusetts in favour of his Democratic-Republican Party. The massive mapped district resembled a salamander (Gerry + salamander). The meaning is when a Party draws electoral districts to their partisan advantage. Any American civics course will teach old strategies of "cracking" or "packing" in gerrymandered districts. Unfortunately this phenomenon still remains as government figures manipulate district lines to favour their respective Party in the U.S., Greece, and other nations.
"Malapropism"
This word comes from a character in one of Richard Sheridan's plays, "The Rivals". In the comedy this character constantly uses the wrong word. For example she states, "nice derangement (arrangement) of epitaphs (epithets)!". The character says a word beginning with the same letter or one that roughly sounds like a correct one for the context. The play developed the meaning of "malapropism": a humorous misuse or unintentional distortion of a word that is similar to the correct usage but laughably wrong.
"Avocado"
This delightful oily fruit is available from the South and Central American tropics and used to be available in California. Its name was coined in English around 1763. In its original form, "ahuakatl" (meaning avocado) also meant 'testicle' probably due to resemblance. Due to a shared Latin background, both Spanish and French words for avocado are close to their derivatives from the word meaning lawyer "advocate". Both of these are far away from the adopted British phrase to call avocados "alligator pears".