Keeping Up– A Guide to Saxophone/Trombone Speak
Hey fam! Seems like I am learning a whole new language from the kids in my Band room this year (mostly saxes and trombones), centered around social media and a meme about some guy in a toilet. They think this is hilarious, and “TOTALLY” original…it’s not of course. I looked it up, and the Tidy Bowl man made his debut in 1968, (which is 56 years ago, if anyone is counting). If you’ve been scrolling through your screens or just chillaxing with your squad, you know that teen slang is ever evolving.
Bet used to agree with someone or to say “okay.” If your friend suggests grabbing food, you can just say, “Bet!” It’s like a modern-day “you got it.”
Bougie used to describe someone who is middle class but wants to be wealthier and more sophisticated: someone who is materialistic and values money, education, and social class; someone who likes expensive and unusual things, who is socially pretentious, or creates an air of wealth or upper class status.
Bussin’ something is excellent, amazing, or extremely good. It can be used as an adjective or a verb. Adjective: “Those McDonald’s fries do be bussin'”. Verb: “that show buss” to mean “that show was great”
Cheugy someone or something is out-of-date, unfashionable, or trying too hard
Cringe Something that is awkward, embarrassing, or uncomfortable.
Dope A slang term that means cool or awesome.
Drip something or someone is cool, stylish, or fashionable. It’s often used to describe a person’s clothing or accessories, such as shoes, jewelry, or watches. “She is really drippin’ tonight”
Extra over-the-top or extreme.
Flex to show off or boast, but in a fun, lighthearted way. Whether it’s showing off new kicks or a cool achievement, if you’ve got it, flaunt it! Just remember to keep it chill—no one likes a try-hard.
Ghosting This is when someone suddenly stops replying to texts or messages without explanation. It can sting, but it’s a common part of dating culture today. If you’ve been ghosted, you’re definitely not alone!
Glow up A positive change in a person’s appearance, confidence, or lifestyle over time.
Lit “Lit” isn’t going anywhere. It still means something is exciting or fun. Whether it’s a party or a new song drop, if it’s lit, you know it’s a good time.
Lowkey/Highkey “Lowkey” means you’re feeling something but want to keep it on the down-low, while “highkey” means you’re totally open about it. If you lowkey like someone, you’re keeping it secret. If you highkey love a show, you’re shouting it from the rooftops!
No Cap When someone says “no cap,” they mean they’re being totally honest. It’s the equivalent of saying “no lie.” If your buddy tells you they aced a test, you might respond, “No cap, you’re a genius!”
Ohio A slang term that means strange, weird, cringe, or dumb. It likely originated from memes like “it’s all Ohio” or “Can’t even X in Ohio” that circulated online in the 2020s.
Rent-free An adverb that means to become an obsession or to dominate someone’s thoughts.
Rizz A shortening of the word “charisma” that’s used to describe someone who is successful at attracting romantic partners. If you’ve got rizz, you know how to pull in your crush!
Salty An adverb that means to overreact.
Shook An adjective that means stunned or shocked.
Sigma The phrase “Sigma” refers to a personality type that embodies independence and self-reliance. When someone calls you “Skibidi Rizz,” it is quite a compliment!
Skibidi A nonsense word that can be used as an adjective to mean cool, bad, or dumb. It’s pronounced like “skippity” and has no inherent meaning. The term originated from a series of surrealist videos on YouTube that feature human-headed toilets.
Slay This one’s all about killing it, whether it’s in fashion, performance, or just life in general. If your friend looks amazing, just drop a “You slay!” and watch them glow up even more!
Snatched A slang term that means something looks perfect or fashionable.
Sus Short for “suspicious,” “sus” is often used when something seems a bit off or shady. If your friend is acting weird about their phone, you might say, “That’s sus.”
Vibe Check This term is all about the energy of a situation. If something feels off, you might say, “Let’s do a vibe check.” It’s like assessing the mood and making sure everyone’s feeling good.
Woke An adjective that means socially conscious or culturally aware.
Yeet As an Exclamation: Used to express excitement, approval, surprise, or energy. For example, “Yeet! I got tickets to the concert!”. As a Verb: Used to describe throwing something forcefully, often with enthusiasm. For example, “He yeeted the ball across the field!”.
So there you have it— Keep these terms in your back pocket, and you’ll be vibing with your friends in no time. Just remember, slang is all about having fun and connecting, so don’t be afraid to get creative (and likely, slightly awkward) with it! Stay lit and keep slaying, no cap!
