Being home for the holidays means spending time with family, including the younger generation whose ever-evolving lingo can leave you feeling a few grey hairs heavier.
You definitely don’t want to be the boring uncle, aunt, older sibling, or parent who refuses to keep up. To help you stay in the loop, here are some key phrases and trends to know this season.
Oxford recently named rage bait as its Word of the Year, a term describing online content designed to provoke anger or outrage, often to boost clicks or engagement.
So if you don’t want to find yourself in situations where you’ll be searching the Urban Dictionary to keep up with the conversation, we have got you covered by defining the following slang terms and how to use them correctly:
Aura farming:You may have seen these two words under comment sections on social media. An aura farmer is a person who consciously cultivates a sense of charisma, coolness, or social presence to attract admiration or attention.
The term combines aura, which refers to the energy or vibe a person gives off, with farming, a gaming term for repeatedly performing actions to gain power.
Aura farming can be obvious, such as dressing stylishly and carrying oneself with confidence, or more subtle, like adopting behaviours and mannerisms that create an impression of effortless cool.
IYKYK:“If you know you know” is an abbreviation is used to indicate that something will only make sense or be appreciated by people who are familiar with a specific reference or context.
Example: “That inside joke was hilarious, iykyk.”
Ate:This slang term literally means eaten, but it’s often used figuratively to praise someone for an impressive performance or action. It suggests that the person “ate” in the sense of completely owning or excelling at something. Whether it’s acing an exam or delivering a sharp comeback, saying someone “ate” is a way of acknowledging their skill or excellence.
Example: “I just saw your response to those hate comments, girl – you ate that” or “Your outfit is amazing. Ate that.”
Rizz:Rizz is derived from the word charisma, and refers to the magnetic charm or appeal a person gives off. Pronounced just as it’s spelled, this slang term has gained popularity among teenagers on TikTok and other social media platforms. Rizz isn’t limited to looks; it also reflects someone’s ability to captivate others through their personality and overall presence.
Example: “The new guy I am talking to is trying to rizz me up and it’s working.”
Gassing up:This phrase is used to describe giving someone praise, encouragement, or compliments to boost their confidence.Example: “Make sure to gas him up before his big presentation.”
Cooked:Being cooked refers to being in a tough spot, out of options, or completely overwhelmed. It can also describe feeling utterly exhausted.
Example: “After running around all day, I’m so cooked I can barely keep my eyes open.”
Sus:This term is used to describe something that seems questionable, dishonest, or suspicious.Example: “It’s a little sus that he seems to know exactly how to play this game.”
Clock it:Clock it means to notice, recognise, or pay attention to something, often something surprising or important.
Example: “Did you clock it? She’s been leaving work early every day this week.”
Another way to use this term is to give recognition to something admirable or good for example, “You have to clock it, her outfit today is absolutely on point!”
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