Common Bougie Phrases Not Everyone Understands

Slang terms and idioms have been around for centuries, a dialect believed to have first become noticeable in the 14th and 15th centuries in the writings of English authors like Geoffrey Chaucer and William Caxton. These terms change with the times, with each decade having its own set of meanings, lending a specific type of language to those who use them. But not all slang terms are the same, and not all are understood by everyone. (To perhaps expand your vocabulary, you might try playing the popular word game, wordle.)

Certain words and phrases have come to be known as bougie, which means middle and/or upper class, a term derived from the word bourgeois. Some people rely on bougie slang to communicate with people they socialize with. These are words that aren't as formal as standard English and are used by many people, particularly in casual settings. (You should refrain from using slang of any kind in more dignified settings, like job interviews or business meetings.)

Bougie slang, and slang in general, often stick around for a while, even cementing their status in the world by getting added as new words to outlets like The Oxford Dictionary, which adds an estimated 800 to 1,000 new words annually. As it's always been with every growing generation, the way people speak to each other will continually evolve. (On the topic of slang words,  click here to read up on the phrases from Texas that only Texans would understand.)

If something is living "rent-free" in your head, it means you're spending way too much time obsessing over it. When someone accuses you of letting them live "rent-free" in your head, it's their way of saying you need to stop being so obsessed with them and find other focuses.

Your "drip" describes your taste in fashion and your sense of style. If your drip is on point, it means your outfit looks good. When someone calls your outfit your drip, it doesn't always mean they approve of it, though. This is a simply way to describe your aesthetic.

Someone who's "vibing" is someone living a relaxed life without many troubles coming their way. When someone claims they're "just vibing," it means they've tapped into a chill and positive state of mind, and reached a level of contentedness, simply enjoying the atmosphere around them.

Someone who's "basic" is a boring individual who doesn't have much going for them (another slang term that has a similar meaning is "mid" or mediocre.) They usually don't have much to offer when it comes to their fashion or sense of style.

If you're basic, that means your style is primitive, weak, and unimpressive. This is a common way to describe someone who hasn't elevated beyond the most fundamental levels of fashion.

When people list off the red flags they notice in people, it means they're listing off all of the serious problems they see in a person. A "beige flag," on the other hand, is the way you'd describe something that's a slight bit questionable, yet not a total dealbreaker.

An example of a red flag would be finding out someone has a history of cheating on their romantic partners. An example of a beige flag would be noticing a quirky detail like someone who eats pizza with a fork or chooses to wear sunglasses inside.

When you tell someone they "ate," it means they just did something that really impressed you. The longer version of this slang comes into play when someone says, "You ate and left no crumbs." This is a respectable compliment if someone loves the way you've done your hair, completed a project, or put together an outfit.

It's also something you'd say to someone who just clapped back against a hater by standing up for themselves with an iconic response.

You know you should make some lifestyle changes if someone describes you as "cheugy." This bougie slang term negatively describes something outdated about the way you live. It might refer to the way you style your hair or the type of outfits you wear. It might refer to the way you talk or how out of touch younger generations think you are.

If you hear someone say "go off," it simply means they're ready to hear you out for whatever is on your mind. If you're already in the middle of a tangent or vent session, there's a chance you'll hear someone chime in with a "go off" as a way of encouraging you to continue.

"Bussin'" is a slang term that describes something that's extremely excellent. Most commonly, bussin' is used to describe a plate of delicious food. Someone chowing down on their favorite meal might exclaim, "This grilled cheese is bussin'!" The word can be used to describe anything exhibiting excellence, though.

Being "delulu" means you're being delusional. This bougie slang term isn't always inherently meant to be insulting. Some people who are delulu are focused on manifesting positive outcomes in their realities, while others may be completely out of touch with reality.

This is defined as "something you think about often". You can define whatever your "Roman Empire" is by analyzing what you think about most often and most deeply, something that consumes your thoughts more often than it probably should. Some people admit that their personal Roman Empires are broken friendships from middle school or cringeworthy scenes from movies they watched decades ago.

Being told that you're too "extra" is someone's way of telling you that your energy is a little overwhelming. It means you do too much, and is the bougie slang way of telling you to probably chill out a little bit, relax, and start showcasing a more low-key attitude around others.

If you classify as a "Stan" for someone, it means you're a huge fan of them. Stanning for someone means you're absolutely obsessed and willing to show them all your support. This word is often used when referring to popular celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Beyoncé, or Selena Gomez. Claiming you're a Taylor Stan means you adore all of her music.

"Girl math" is a term coined by social media users as a way to describe the way girls justify their spending habits. It's meant to be funny, but it's truly used to justify questionable purchases and spending habits by women. In the world of girl math, using cash isn't really spending because it doesn't count unless you're swiping your credit card; buying something on sale is a form of saving money.

"Boy math" is a term that was created as a direct response to "girl math" Examples of boy math are men who are scared of gold diggers when they don't even have a financial leg to stand on in the first place. Another example of boy math is fighting for full custody of their children instead of paying a few hundred dollars per month in child support.

When you're "caught in 4K" it means someone has called you out for something messed up you did – and they have receipts. If someone has receipts, it means they have proof of what you've done. They might have screenshots of text messages you sent or something similar.

Being "chronically online" means you spend way too much time on the internet. It means you don't know what goes on in the real world because you're so swept away by online interactions. It is incredibly unhealthy for your emotions, and is something that should be avoided at all costs.

If someone tells you to "hold this L" it means they noticed you thoroughly embarrassed yourself or they saw you take a loss. Another similar and related phrase would be "take an L," which means you just publicly lost at something. Someone telling you to hold an L simply means they're acknowledging that you just failed in one way or another.

When someone tells you "it's giving" they're giving you one of the highest forms of a compliment. They don't even have to finish the sentence to let you know that you're totally killing it in whatever area they're referring to. Your trendy outfit might be "giving," for example.

When you're "shook" it means you're completely shocked and blown away by something that just occurred. Being shook is something that can be both positive and negative. In the same way that you might be surprised by bad news, you might be equally as surprised by good news.

This phrase goes hand-in-hand with "chronically online." It's something you'd say to another person who spends way too much time on the internet. Whether they're constantly on social media, scrolling through chat rooms, or reading random forums, it's time for them to go outside and touch some grass.

If you "can't even" it means you're physically unable to deal with something. It's the shortened way of saying, "I can't even deal with that." Someone will say they "can't even" when they're totally overwhelmed, disgusted, or shocked by something.

Being called a "simp" shouldn't be as offensive as it is. This word is usually used to describe men who are head over heels in love with their female partners. Although plenty of women think it's sweet for a man to simp over them, it's considered embarrassing for a man to be called that by his buddies.

When someone says "bet" they're saying "for sure." It's a simple way of responding to a question or statement from another person in agreement. If someone were to tell you they want to invite you out for the weekend, you can respond by saying "bet" to accept.

When you see "POV" written on social media, it means "point of view." Since this term has grown so popular on apps like TikTok and Instagram, people have started saying POV in the real world as well. It's what you'd say when you're showing other people your perspective about something.

If someone says the phrase "wig snatched," it means they were totally shocked and blown away. After all, the act of snatching someone's wig is a shocking thing to do. When people talk about an exciting moment using the term analogy, that's the image they're trying to create.

When someone says "say less" it means they already understand the point you're trying to make. An example would be someone rattling off details about their upcoming honeymoon celebration. Instead of listening to them endlessly talking, you can tell them to "say less" because you're already on the same page with them.

"That slaps" means something is undeniably excellent. This is a phrase you can throw out when you're eating an absolutely delicious meal, listening to a song from your favorite musician for the first time, or if you're admiring a piece of artwork from one of your most talented friends.

If someone says they've gotten "the ick," it means they're getting turned off by their a romantic partner. The ick can come from anything and anywhere, whether getting grossed out by someone's inability to close their mouth while they chew, their decision to always wear mismatched socks, their lack of hygiene, and much more.

Dating coaches on social media have been talking about "golden retriever and black cat love" for quite some time now. This phrase is meant to describe a relationship that includes someone with golden retriever energy dating a partner who has black cat energy. The person who acts like a golden retriever is more of a people pleaser while the person who acts like a black cat is constantly aloof and detached.

The phrase "altered my brain chemistry" gained traction on TikTok and Instagram among young people, and now they use this phrase in real life. It means something noteworthy or iconic occurred in their life; an event that happened, whatever it was, was so significant that it seemingly "altered your brain chemistry."

Being described as an "NPC" is not a compliment. It means that you're stuck in the system, part of the matrix, and incapable of elevation. NPCs are thought of as small-minded people who aren't critical thinkers, and rarely ever understand the realm of spirituality.

The word "mother" is often used to describe talented female celebrities with fan bases who adore them. An example of this would be Lana Del Rey, who is often referred to as mother by her fans, even though she's only in her late 30s and the majority of her fans are in their 20s.

A "canon event" in your life is something unforgettable, life-changing, and iconic, and can also refer to something toxic, like a bad relationship. Regardless of where it falls on the scale of good or bad, it's a core memory that changed the trajectory of your life in a significant manner.

The word "cake" is used to describe the plump backside of a woman. Rihanna released an entire song called "Cake" featuring Chris Brown back in 2011 as part of her "Talk That Talk" album. The message of the song was to reference the physiques of women and is a word used to describe women who are bodacious and voluptuous.

If someone tells you to "do it for the plot," they're telling you to do something to make your life more interesting. Many young adults consider the lives they live to be movie plots where they serve as the main characters. If you're doing it for the plot, you're keeping life more compelling and giving others a reason to be enticed when interacting with you.

When someone says you "gagged me," it means you left them totally speechless (not to be confused with the '80s Valley girl phrase, "Gag me with a spoon" which means disgust). This is something a person will say if they're paying you a positive compliment. This bougie slang would perhaps be acceptable when talking about someone who did a great job during a talent show, someone who showed up to brunch in a stunning outfit, or someone who just won money at a casino.

When someone mentions "tea" in a casual setting, they're often referring to gossip. As far as bougie slang goes, mentioning tea is a playful way to let your friends know that you've got something juicy to talk about. The longer phrase for this word is "spilling the tea." It simply means you've got some jaw-dropping and potentially provocative story details to unload.

If you've been "ratio'd" on social media, it means that there are more negative comments than positive comments on something you posted. It also means you've received more unlikes than likes. This term would apply in real life if you planned a birthday party for yourself and only three out of 20 people showed up.

If you were to "throw shade" at someone, it would mean you're criticizing them behind their back or to their face. Throwing shade is a common thing to do among people who are feuding with each other, a way to describe the act of hurling insults at your enemy.