100+ American Slang: Fun and Unique English words and phrases

Slang is the informally used language common in speech rather than writing. Words and phrases may have non-literal meanings in slang, so you may be puzzled if you don’t know what they exactly mean.

Common slang phrases such as It sucks, I’m down for it, Let’s hang out, or Mother is Mothering might be nothing new for many of us pop-culture enthusiasts. But there are so many unique and different slangs as they differ by each state, locality, culture, profession, and age group.

Slang is also influenced by current events, media, immigration patterns, and history. Keeping up with all the new slang is hard, even for proficient native English speakers.

So, if you are among the ones who don’t want to look like a dunderhead when others are conversing, you should know these American slang words.

Here is a list of 100 fun and unique English words and phrases in American slang.

1. Fuzz
   Meaning: Police officers collectively
2. Carp
   Meaning: To keep complaining in an annoying way
3. Vole
   Meaning: A man or Dude (literal etymology is You ox!)
4. Hit the MAC
   Meaning: Going to an ATM machine to take out some money
5. Simp
   Meaning: A person who goes above and beyond desperately for the one he/she likes
6. That dog won’t hunt
   Meaning: The idea is going to fail
7. Sawbuck
   Meaning: Equals 10 US dollars 
8. Drip
   Meaning: Fashionable
9. Whip
   Meaning: A Car
10. Bomb
    Meaning: Really good or tasty
11. Fresh meat
    Meaning: Newcomer who is seen as a new target for humiliation
12. Banana Belt
    Meaning: A warm area in the region especially known for its cold climate
13. YOLO
    Meaning: You only live once
14. Grindz
    Meaning: Food
15. How’s ya mama an’ them?
    Meaning: How are your mother and your family members?
16. Lagniappe
    Meaning: A little extra something
17. Frunchroom 
    Meaning: Chicago slang for an entertainment space similar to a living room in an apartment
18. Grabowski
    Meaning: A term used to praise a hard-working blue-collar type person
19. Snowbirds
    Meaning: People from colder states who live in warmer states during winter
20. Phubbing
    Meaning: Ignoring someone beside you by focusing on your phone
21. Throwing shade
    Meaning: Criticizing someone or disapproving without actually saying something
22. Growse
    Meaning: to complain or grumble (also means great in Australian slang)
23. I can’t even!
    Meaning: I cannot tolerate it anymore
24. No sweat
    Meaning: Not a problem
25. Pass the buck
    Meaning: Pass the responsibility to someone else
26. Go dutch
    Meaning: Each person of a group pays only for themselves
27. Diamond hands
    Meaning: High-risk tolerance (especially financial)
28. Gaslit
    Meaning: Manipulate someone into doubting their own perceptions
29. Gyat
    Meaning: Short form for Goddamn especially used by Gen Z Youtubers
30. Jit
    Meaning: Someone younger than you
31. Scoot over
    Meaning: Move over slightly
32. Put lipstick on a pig
    Meaning: Make superficial changes in a futile attempt to hide the fundamental failings
33. Break a leg
    Meaning: Good Luck
34. Knock a wood
    Meaning: Avoid Bad luck
35. It’s not rocket science
    Meaning: It is not that difficult
36. Don’t be such a wet blanket
    Meaning: Criticizing the person who discourages enthusiasm
37. Long in the tooth
    Meaning: To indicate that someone is too old to do anything
38. Bang a U-ey
    Meaning: People from Boston saying take a U-turn
39. Get a wiggle on
    Meaning: Hurry up and get moving
40. Gotta get flat
    Meaning: Need to lie down
41. Boujee
    Meaning: People who enjoy their riches, luxury and fancy lifestyle
42. Salty
    Meaning: Unreasonably annoyed, ovverreact
43. Pass the vibe check
    Meaning: Spread a cool and chill aura for a good mood
44. J’eet yet?
    Meaning: Did you eat yet?
45. Geez-o-Pete
    Meaning: Word used to show surprise, exclamation in disappointment or in awe
46. Looks like 10 miles of dirt road
    Meaning: Looks a lot disheveled or unwell
47. OOMF
    Meaning: One of my followers/ One of my friends
48. Dead Presidents
    Meaning: Money
49. Get under one’s skin
    Meaning: To Annoy Someone
50. Trailer
    Meaning: A mobile home/ Caravan
51. For the birds
    Meaning: Useless/ Worthless
52. Jonesing
    Meaning: Craving for something
53. Get my goat
    Meaning: To make someone very angry or annoyed
54. Spill the beans
    Meaning: Reveal about something meant to be kept a secret
55. To take a rain check
    Meaning: To politely refuse an offer now but would like to accept it at a later time
56. Yuppie
    Meaning: Successful young professionals
57. Hypebeast
    Meaning: Someone who always wears hyped up items
58. Lemon
    Meaning: Bad person or thing
59. Keep it lemon
    Meaning: Keep it cool
60. Jacked
    Meaning: Having large, strong and well-developed muscles
61. Whoopensocker
    Meaning: Something extraordinarily large
62. Pigsticker
    Meaning: A large knife with a pointed end
63. On fleek
    Meaning: Perfectly executed, flawless
64. Ballin’
    Meaning: To live extravagant lifestyle, have enough wealth
65. G.O.A.T.
    Meaning: Greatest of all time
66. TEA
    Meaning: The latest gossip or hot news
67. In the bag
    Meaning: Certain to achieve something (like in sports or a contest)
68. That’s rad
    Meaning: That’s cool
69. A turn off
    Meaning: Something that disgusts you/ Unappealing
70. Ride shotgun
    Meaning: Sit in the front passenger seat of a car
71. Loose Cannon
    Meaning: Someone who behaves in a uncontrolled or unexpected way
72. Tune out
    Meaning: To start ignoring
73. Cancel
    Meaning: To to completely reject and stop supporting someone/ something
74. Brick
    Meaning: Freezing cold
75. Schvitzing
    Meaning: Sweating profusely
76. Schluff
    Meaning: To take a nap
77. Beef
    Meaning: Have a grudge or disagreement with someone
78. Yeah no
    Meaning: No
79. Gnarly
    Meaning: Something extreme (either too good or too bad depending on the context)
80. Stoked
    Meaning: To be very excited
81. Outta pocket
    Meaning: Inappropriate/ acting out of line
82. Three commas club
    Meaning: Billionaires
83. Zombie Modd (Social media)
    Meaning: Staring at one’s phone
84. Unicorn
    Meaning: Rare, Something or someone that holds high value
85. Bless your heart
    Meaning: To express genuine sympathy
86. Pitch a hissy fit
    Meaning: Throw a tantrum
87. Come hell or high water
    Meaning: Do something no matter the difficulties
88. Bussin
    Meaning: Really good
89. Vibin’
    Meaning: Relaxing
90. Acere
    Meaning: Friend or Homie
91. Kapu
    Meaning: Something that’s prohibited
92. Beastin
    Meaning: Doing the absolute most (especially a physical activity)
93. Gotchu
    Meaning: I got your back/ I will help you
94. On deck
    Meaning: Ready for the next situation
95. Shoot the fair
    Meaning: Physical fight between two people without any weapons
96. Flying rat
    Meaning: Derogatory term for a loud pigeon
97. Guap
    Meaning: Money
98. A Hunnid
    Meaning: Being 100% honest
99. You woulda thought
    Meaning: Saying “No” to someone
100. Gagootz
     Meaning: Crazy in the head
101. Drive up the wall
     Meaning: To irritate someone
102. Give the cold shoulder
     Meaning: To ignore someone
103. Hold your horses
     Meaning: Wait a minute
104. You can say that again
     Meaning: I agree with you completely
105. You’re telling me
     Meaning: I know exactly who you are talking about
106. That hit the spot
     Meaning: That was just what I needed
107. Couch Potato
     Meaning: A lazy person
108. Have the Blues
     Meaning: To feel depressed
109. A-Game
     Meaning: The best performance given by someone (at a competition)
110. Cheugy
     Meaning: Something that is not trendy at all