Slay
Meaning: To do something exceptionally well, to look amazing, or to dominate.
Rooted in drag and ballroom culture, 'slay' has become one of Gen Z's most-used approval terms. It's a versatile compliment that works for appearance ('You slayed that outfit'), performance ('She slayed that presentation'), and general excellence. 'Slay queen' is a common form of encouragement.
Examples
- You look amazing tonight — absolutely slaying! 你今晚看起来太美了——简直是在杀!Estás increíble esta noche — ¡arrasando totalmente!今夜めちゃくちゃキマってるね——完全にスレイしてる!오늘 밤 정말 대박이다 — 완전 슬레이하고 있어!
- She slayed her audition. Standing ovation from the judges. 她的试镜太惊艳了。评委全体起立鼓掌。Clavó su audición. Ovación de pie de los jueces.彼女はオーディションで圧巻だった。審査員からスタンディングオベーションだったよ。그녀는 오디션에서 압도적이었어. 심사위원들이 기립박수를 쳤어.
- Go slay that interview. You've got this! 去面试的时候全力以赴。你一定行的!¡Ve y arrasa en esa entrevista! ¡Tú puedes!面接をバッチリ決めてきて。あなたなら大丈夫!면접 완벽하게 해내고 와. 넌 할 수 있어!
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: fashion, performance, encouragement, social media
Tone: encouraging, empowering
✓ Do Say
- Slay, queen!杀疯了,女王!¡Arrasa, reina!スレイ、クイーン!슬레이, 퀸!
- You slayed it.你太厉害了。¡La has clavado!やりきったね。완벽하게 해냈어.
✗ Don't Say
- Some speakers outside Gen Z may find it cringe — know your audience when using 'slay' in conversationZ世代以外的人可能觉得用这个词有点尴尬——在对话中使用'slay'时要看你的听众Algunos hablantes fuera de la Generación Z pueden considerarlo cursi — conoce a tu audiencia cuando uses 'slay' en una conversaciónZ世代以外の人には痛いと感じられることもある——「slay」を使う際は相手を選ぶことZ세대가 아닌 화자들은 어색하게 느낄 수 있음 — 대화에서 'slay'를 쓸 때는 상대방을 고려하라
Origin & History
From African American drag and ballroom culture, where 'slaying' meant dominating the competition with style and confidence. Beyonce's 'Formation' (2016) and the TV show 'RuPaul's Drag Race' brought the term to mainstream American audiences.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s onwards
Generation: Gen Z, Millennials
Social background: Universal
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