What's up
You're probably already familiar with this expression, but " what's up " is the most symbolic example of American slang, and we couldn't help but start there. Its translation sounds similar to " what's up? ", " how are you? ", but when you use it, you're not really expecting a response. It's a greeting, a filler added to a greeting to make it more complete. In standard English, this concept is expressed with the phrase " how do you do? "
This expression is so widely used that it is precisely from here that the name of the most famous messaging app in the world comes.
Always due to the tendency of Americans to speak very quickly, the phrase what's up has been further shortened over time, and more and more often we read or hear " wassup ", or even just " 'sup ".
The elephant in the room
The phrase alone makes the concept it represents quite clear. The elephant in the room , literally "the elephant in the room."
This expression is used to indicate a very big problem , so big that it can't be avoided or ignored in any way. It's there, cumbersome and invasive, just like an elephant in the middle of the room: impossible not to notice it.
It's up to you
One of the most commonly used American slang phrases is " it's up to you ," or simply " up to you ." Its meaning is " it's up to you ," and we use it to mean that it's the responsibility of the person we're talking to, both literally and metaphorically.
It's up to you to take care of the dishes, for example, but also to decide what to do with your life. And said like that, alone, it sounds like our "now it's up to you": in short, it's all your business.
It is also used to refer to the bill to be paid . If I say "Up to me" when paying, I am offering to pay the bill.
Catch you later
Normally, to tell someone you'll see them later you use the standard phrase " see you later " ( alligator! )
In American slang, however, the verb "to see" is replaced with the verb " to catch ", which literally means to catch, capture or reach.
Catch you later is a very friendly expression that in Italian could be translated as "we'll catch up later" or " we'll catch up later ".
To buy something
Seen this way, the phrase " to buy something " doesn't seem like one of the American idioms we've seen so far, but a simple phrase for "buying something."
But no: in this particular situation, the verb "to buy" loses its meaning of "to buy" and takes on a new and very different one: it means " to believe ."
To buy something is the expression to use to indicate the situation in which someone believes or does not believe in something , and in certain contexts it sounds very similar to our "I don't buy it".
I don't buy it! = I don't believe it! or I don't buy it!
Bent out of shape
Literally, the expression " bent out of shape " means "to be deformed," meaning something has changed its shape. This more standard meaning is indeed used, but in American slang the expression has taken on a much more specific meaning, referring to someone who has lost their temper and " gone out of their mind ."
This phrase is usually used to refer to a situation in which someone is upset over nothing, or at least over something of little importance.
Whatever
Along with "what's up, " "whatever" is one of the most deeply rooted American slang words in colloquial speech in the United States. It's used by everyone, young and old, distinguished people and street kids.
It's a simple word - often with a slightly ironic tone - that is used to say that we don't care about something .
In certain situations, it might sound like our timeless " vabbè ," a word we use quite often even in a single day. In other contexts, however, it's better translated as " patience " or a nice " who cares ."
It's such a commonly used word that it often doubles as an adjective in a sentence. Saying " It's whatever " actually means "I don't care," though it's often a way to avoid talking about a topic that not only really interests us, but also hurts us.
To ride a shotgun
To ride shotgun is a phrase with a very specific meaning: it means " to sit in the passenger seat of a car ." The origins of this expression can be traced back to the Wild West, when the seat next to the driver-in the carriage, in this case-was occupied by an armed guard whose important task was to protect the cargo being transported.
Today, it's widely used in everyday language. Especially for those who have younger siblings-or for those who now have at least two children-the eternal battle over who gets the front seat is well known. In the United States, if someone says, " I called a shotgun, " it means they've already booked to do so, and therefore rightfully so.
Dude
And here we are with another of the most commonly used words in American slang. The word " dude " is very common among young people, but not only: it has now become part of the vocabulary of most Americans, and translates our " type " as a person. In fact, it can also be used in place of our " buddy " or " brother ," as a term of address for close friends.
In American slang, " bro " is also used in the same way , which is the diminutive of the word "brother." While this other word is used only with this meaning, today the term "dude" has become a true interjection within a sentence, used to add emphasis and involvement. Depending on where it is placed, the word "dude" can also mean "Great!", "cool," or "Hey!"
Stoked
If you have an American friend or have had the pleasure of hearing someone from the United States speak, you have surely heard the word " stoked ": Americans use it a lot!
Its meaning is " enthusiastic ," but that doesn't quite capture the essence. In reality, this term is used to express a happiness that reaches stratospheric levels, that feeling of extreme excitement you feel when something particularly wonderful happens. More commonly, the event you're "stoked" about has yet to happen.
I'm going to Disneyland. I'm stoked ! = I'm going to Disneyland. I'm stoked! (I probably just found out I'm going; maybe they surprised me.)
Take a raincheck
One of the most common American slang phrases is " take a raincheck ," and it's used when you're trying to decline an invitation , postponing it to a future time.
Usually, the invitation or commitment in question has already been made with someone, has been planned for some time, and the day is approaching; but it can also be used for an invitation received on the spot.
In British English, there is a phrase that expresses the same concept, and it is "stick a pin", which literally means "to attach a pin".
It's a piece of cake
This phrase is also quite common, and is used to refer to something that is very simple , very easy to do, like drinking a glass of water. Or like eating a piece of cake, which is actually even more enjoyable as an activity.
The origins of this American expression aren't entirely clear, but the concept is clear. In Italian, we'd call something a " piece of cake " a child's play.
Come rain or shine
And here's another idiom that includes the word "rain"! In this case, it's more of a promise : " come rain or shine " literally means "to go come rain or shine," and is used to guarantee one's presence in all conditions, not necessarily the weather.
If I say "come rain or shine," it means that no matter what, despite everything that may happen, I'll be there. In Italian, we'd say "non c'è santo che tenga" (no saint can hold a candle to anyone) to express the same concept.
It's lit
As we mentioned at the beginning, American slang is constantly evolving, and a term that's popular today might not necessarily be the same in a month or even a couple of weeks. Trends come and go quickly, and when it comes to slang, adjectives for "beautiful" are particularly interesting.
It's the same in Italian: from "figo" to "ganzo," we've seen it all. And in American English, one day we say it one way and the next another: " it's lit " is the way we use it now to say that something is so beautiful and fun that it almost seems "crazy," in the positive sense of the word.
Not long ago we also said " on fleek ".
The verb " to get lit ", on the other hand, means "to light up", usually with the meaning of "to get drunk".
I got it
As a final American slang phrase, we see " I got it " or " I get it ," which is used to let someone know that we are not only listening, but also that we understand what they are saying and that we are okay with it.
Literally, it means "I got it," and metaphorically, it can be translated as " I grasped what you said." Other possible translations are "I understood," or simply "I received."
"Our appointment is at 3:45." "Got it. See you later."
