The bomb
Meaning: Excellent, outstanding, or the best of its kind.
Not to be confused with 'a bomb' (a failure), 'THE bomb' is high praise. It peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s but remains understood by all Americans. The full version 'the bomb dot com' adds ironic flair. It implies something is explosive in quality.
Examples
- This cheesecake is the bomb — where did you get it? 这个芝士蛋糕太好吃了——你在哪买的?Esta tarta de queso es lo mejor — ¿dónde la has comprado?このチーズケーキ最高——どこで買ったの?이 치즈케이크 최고야 — 어디서 산 거야?
- That DJ was the bomb. She had everyone on the dance floor. 那个DJ太厉害了。她让所有人都跑上了舞池。Esa DJ era lo máximo. Tenía a todo el mundo en la pista de baile.あのDJは最高だった。全員踊りまくってたよ。그 DJ 최고였어. 모든 사람을 춤추게 했어.
- Your new apartment is the bomb. I love the view. 你的新公寓太棒了。我好喜欢这个景色。Tu piso nuevo es una pasada. Me encanta la vista.あなたの新しいアパート最高。この眺め大好き。네 새 아파트 최고야. 이 전망 너무 좋다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: food, entertainment, general approval
Tone: enthusiastic, retro
✓ Do Say
- This is the bomb!这个太赞了!¡Esto es lo máximo!これ最高!이거 최고야!
- The bomb dot com.绝了中的绝了。Lo mejor de lo mejor.最高 of 最高。완전 끝내준다.
✗ Don't Say
- Sounds dated to younger speakers — using it may mark you as a millennial or older, though it's sometimes used ironically by Gen Z对年轻人来说听起来有点过时——使用它可能暴露你是千禧一代或更老的,不过Z世代有时会带着反讽意味使用Suena anticuado para los más jóvenes — usarlo puede identificarte como millennial o mayor, aunque a veces la Generación Z lo usa irónicamente若い世代には古く聞こえる——使うとミレニアル世代以上と見られることも。ただしZ世代がアイロニーとして使うこともある젊은 세대에게는 구식으로 들린다 — 쓰면 밀레니얼 이상 세대임을 드러낼 수 있지만, Z세대가 아이러니하게 쓰기도 한다
Origin & History
African American slang from the early 1990s, 'the bomb' became mainstream through hip-hop culture. The phrase 'the bomb dot com' emerged in the late 1990s during the internet boom, adding a playful tech-era twist to the expression.
Cultural Context
Era: 1990s
Generation: Millennials, Gen X
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from Approval & Compliments
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free