slang

Speech bubbles with the words “dude” and “legit” in them.

From “dude” to “legit,” these terms and sayings date back much farther than you might realize.

An illustration of speech bubbles featuring once-popular slang.

From YOLO to bae, these ten slang terms ruled the 2010s. A decade later, they’ve already fallen out of style.

Everything you need to know about where the term came from and how we use it today.

Everything you need to know about the Gen Z buzzword, including its origins and when to use it.

Chances are you’ve heard some of these terms over the past year—whether you understood what they meant or not.

Ever wonder where slang terms like snafu, valley girl, and dumpster fire came from?

The English language is bursting with colorful expressions that come from strange and surprising places—and many of them once had literal meanings that the general public has long since forgotten.

Go with ‘goozlum’ instead of ‘gravy’ this Thanksgiving.

Get the 411 on six-seven.

‘Through thick and thin’ wasn’t always figurative. Here’s how Chaucer and other medieval writers used the phrase.

The slang term for our mental health professionals has a rather grim history.

Keeping track of what your kids are saying and meaning can be something of a parental nightmare. We’re here to help.

It’s time to brush up on your vocabulary.

Calling police officers “cops” dates to the 19th century.

Cutting down on syllables is just one reason ‘cop’ became synonymous with ‘police officer.’

Arnold Schwarzenegger at the 2023 premiere of 'FUBAR,' season 1.

The Arnold Schwarzenegger–starring Netflix series takes its title from World War II military slang. Here’s what 'fubar' means.

Steven Spielberg’s ‘Jaws’ isn’t just an enduring summer classic—it also includes plenty of fun slang terms that’ll make you feel like its Shark Week all year long.

If you see a knight wearing a gauntlet, pray he keeps it on.

A knight throwing down his glove in Medieval Europe meant serious business.

When life gives you lemons, return to the dealership.

Cars aren’t a piece of fruit, so how did they come to be associated with lemons? Discover how this slang term got adopted in the automotive world and what it really means.