MOST COMMON

AMERICAN SLANG
WORDS
By: Dominga Pozo
 2

WRAP UP

MEANING: TO FINISH OR COMPLETE SOMETHING.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

- "LET'S WRAP UP THIS MEETING AND HEAD OUT FOR LUNCH.“

- "I NEED TO WRAP UP THIS PROJECT BEFORE THE DEADLINE.“

USAGE NOTE: COMMONLY USED IN PROFESSIONAL OR CASUAL

SETTINGS WHEN INDICATING THE NEED TO FINISH A TASK OR
ACTIVITY.
TRIPPIN
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MEANING: ACTING IRRATIONALLY, BEING OVERLY

EMOTIONAL, OR EXAGGERATING.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

"WHY ARE YOU TRIPPIN? IT'S NOT THAT SERIOUS.“

"SHE'S ALWAYS TRIPPIN OVER SMALL THINGS.“

USAGE NOTE: OFTEN USED IN A COLLOQUIAL OR INFORMAL

CONTEXT TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE WHO IS OVERREACTING OR
BEING OVERLY DRAMATIC.
SCREW UP
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MEANING: TO MAKE A MISTAKE OR MESS SOMETHING UP.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

"I REALLY SCREWED UP THAT PRESENTATION AT WORK.“

"DON'T SCREW UP THIS OPPORTUNITY; IT'S IMPORTANT.“

USAGE NOTE: CAN BE USED IN VARIOUS CONTEXTS TO

EXPRESS REGRET OR DISAPPOINTMENT IN ONE'S ACTIONS.
SHOTGUN
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MEANING: A REQUEST OR CLAIM TO SIT IN THE FRONT

PASSENGER SEAT OF A VEHICLE.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

"I CALL SHOTGUN!“

"DO YOU MIND IF I TAKE SHOTGUN ON THE WAY BACK?“

USAGE NOTE: COMMONLY USED WHEN A GROUP IS ABOUT TO

GET INTO A CAR, AND IT'S A WAY OF CLAIMING THE FRONT
SEAT.
HOMIE
6

MEANING: A CLOSE FRIEND OR COMPANION; SOMEONE FROM

THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD OR COMMUNITY.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

"HEY, WHAT'S UP, HOMIE?“

"I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE WE WERE KIDS; HE'S MY HOMIE.“

USAGE NOTE: TYPICALLY USED IN AN INFORMAL OR FRIENDLY

MANNER TO REFER TO A FRIEND OR SOMEONE YOU HAVE A
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH.
LAID BACK
7

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

AFTER A HECTIC WEEK, I LOVE TO SPEND MY SUNDAYS IN A LAID-BACK

MANNER, JUST CHILLING WITH FRIENDS AND ENJOYING SOME GOOD MUSIC.

JAKE IS SO LAID BACK; EVEN WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH, HE MAINTAINS A

CALM AND EASYGOING ATTITUDE.
.
• LAME 8

EXAMPLE SENTENCES
THE MOVIE WE WATCHED LAST NIGHT WAS SO LAME; THE PLOT WAS
PREDICTABLE, AND THE DIALOGUE WAS CRINGEWORTHY.

DON'T BE LAME AND SKIP THE PARTY; IT'S GOING TO BE A BLAST WITH LIVE
MUSIC AND GREAT COMPANY.
• CRAM 9

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

I HAVE TO CRAM FOR THE EXAM TOMORROW; I WISH I HAD STARTED

STUDYING EARLIER, BUT PROCRASTINATION GOT THE BEST OF ME.

IT'S NOT ADVISABLE TO CRAM ALL THE INFORMATION THE NIGHT

BEFORE; A CONSISTENT STUDY SCHEDULE YIELDS BETTER RESULTS.
• BAIL 10

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

I CAN'T BELIEVE SARAH DECIDED TO BAIL ON THE ROAD TRIP

AT THE LAST MINUTE; NOW WE NEED TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE
TO JOIN US.

IF YOU BAIL ON YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES, IT REFLECTS

POORLY ON YOUR COMMITMENT AND RELIABILITY.
• RIP-OFF 11

EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

THAT NEW GADGET I BOUGHT TURNED OUT TO BE A TOTAL RIP-OFF;

IT STOPPED WORKING AFTER JUST A WEEK, AND THE WARRANTY
DOESN'T COVER IT.

THE CONCERT TICKETS WERE WAY TOO EXPENSIVE; I FELT LIKE IT

WAS A RIP-OFF CONSIDERING THE SHORT DURATION OF THE
PERFORMANCE.

.
THANKS