What's up
A casual greeting, roughly meaning "how are you?" but usually not expecting a real answer. It works simply as a friendly hello. It is often shortened further to wassup or just 'sup, and it inspired the name of the messaging app WhatsApp.
The elephant in the room
An obvious, serious problem that everyone is aware of but no one wants to mention, as impossible to ignore as a real elephant standing in the middle of a room.
It's up to you
This means the decision or responsibility belongs to the other person: "you decide." It's up to you whether we go out tonight. It does not mean offering to pay, the phrase for that is it's on me.
Catch you later
A friendly way to say "see you later," swapping see for catch. It signals a relaxed, informal goodbye and often implies you will reconnect soon.
To buy something
Beyond its literal meaning, to buy can mean "to believe." Saying I don't buy it means "I don't believe it." He said he was sick, but I don't buy it.
Bent out of shape
To be upset or annoyed, usually over something minor. Don't get bent out of shape about it, it's not a big deal.
Whatever
A dismissive word meaning "I don't care" or "it doesn't matter," often with a slightly ironic tone. Saying it's whatever signals indifference, and sometimes a wish to avoid a topic.
To ride shotgun
To sit in the front passenger seat of a car. The phrase dates back to the American West, when an armed guard sat beside the driver of a stagecoach. Today, calling shotgun means claiming that seat first.
Dude
A very common, informal word for a person, similar to "guy." It is also used to address a friend directly, like "mate" or "buddy," and as an exclamation of surprise or emphasis: Dude, that's amazing!
Stoked
Extremely excited or enthusiastic, usually about something coming up. I'm going to Disneyland, I'm so stoked!
Take a rain check
To politely decline an invitation now while suggesting you will accept another time. Can I take a rain check on dinner? I'm swamped this week. The phrase comes from tickets to rained-off baseball games.
It's a piece of cake
Something very easy to do. The exam was a piece of cake.
Come rain or shine
A promise to do something no matter what happens. I'll be there, come rain or shine.
It's lit
An informal way to say something is exciting, fun, or excellent. The party was lit. Note that to get lit separately means to get drunk.
I got it
Used to show you understand and will handle something. "Our appointment is at 3:45." "Got it, see you later." It can also mean "I'll take care of it."
More common American slang
Beyond the essentials, these everyday slang words come up constantly in casual conversation. They group naturally by what they do.
Talking about and greeting people
- buddy / bro: friendly words for a friend. Bro is short for brother and, in casual speech, is used for close friends.
- y'all: a contraction of "you all," a second-person plural strongly associated with the Southern United States. Y'all coming over later?
- howdy: an informal "hello," linked to the South and West.
Approval, mood, and relaxing
- cool: good, fine, or impressive. It also signals things are fine between people: We're cool.
- awesome: extremely good. That movie was awesome.
- to chill / chill: to relax, or, as an adjective, relaxed and easy-going. Let's just chill tonight. / She's really chill.
- hooked: hwhat happens when you cannot stop doing or watching something. I'm hooked on that series.
- salty: bitter or resentful, usually over something small. He's still salty about losing the game.
Everyday actions
- to hang out: to spend relaxed time with others. We hung out at the mall.
- to touch base: to make brief contact with someone (a baseball image, like several American expressions). Let's touch base on Monday.
- to wrap up: to finish something. Let's wrap up the meeting.
- to hit the road: to leave or set off. It's late, I'd better hit the road.
- to bail: to leave suddenly, or to abandon a plan. He bailed on us at the last minute.
- to flake / flake on: to be unreliable, cancelling or not showing up. She flaked on dinner again.
- my bad: a casual way to admit a mistake. My bad, I sent the wrong file.
American slang for money
Money has its own rich set of informal terms in the United States.
- bucks: dollars. It costs twenty bucks.
- a grand: a thousand dollars. The laptop was about a grand.
- broke: having no money. I can't go out, I'm broke.
- loaded: very rich. Her family is loaded.
- a ballpark figure: a rough estimate, again from baseball. Give me a ballpark figure for the repair.
Newer, internet-era slang
Social media and younger speakers keep adding to the language. These terms are widely understood in the United States, though the very newest slang also dates the fastest, so use it with a light touch.
- no cap: no lie, for real. Cap means a lie, so no cap insists you are being honest. This is the best pizza in town, no cap.
- vibe check: an informal read of someone's mood or the atmosphere of a situation. We did a quick vibe check before joining the party.
- flex: to show off. A weird flex is an odd thing to boast about.
- sus: short for suspicious or suspect. That email looks sus.
- ghosting: suddenly cutting off all contact by ignoring someone's messages. He ghosted me after two dates.
- lowkey / highkey: lowkey means quietly, slightly, or secretly; highkey means openly or very much. I lowkey want to leave early.
