American Slang & Idioms Starting with "C"

219 entries

• C-note Slang for a hundred-dollar bill, named after the Roman numeral C for 100.
• Cabin fever Restlessness and irritability from being confined indoors for an extended per...
• Cadence A rhythmic chant sung while marching or running in military formation.
• Cake Money, especially a large amount.
• Cake face Wearing excessively heavy or poorly blended makeup that looks thick and unnat...
• Caked up Having a lot of money; being wealthy.
• Cali An informal, affectionate nickname for California — used widely but debated a...
• California burrito A burrito filled with carne asada, French fries, cheese, and other toppings —...
• Call it a day To stop working and end the workday or session.
• Call it a night To decide to stop what you're doing and go home or go to bed, ending the even...
• Call the shots To be the one making the decisions; to be in charge.
• Call to arms An urgent summons to take action; a rally to fight for a cause.
• Called out To be publicly confronted or criticized for problematic behavior.
• Calorie counting Tracking the number of calories consumed daily for weight management.
• Cameo A brief, often surprise appearance by a famous person in a movie, show, or ev...
• Camp chair A portable, foldable chair used for camping, tailgating, and outdoor events.
• Campfire stories Scary or entertaining tales told around a campfire, a beloved American outdoo...
• Campground A designated area with sites for pitching tents or parking RVs, usually with ...
• Campus crush Someone you are attracted to on campus but have not spoken to or only see in ...
• Campus tour A guided walking tour of a college campus for prospective students and their ...
• Can confirm A humorous way of verifying something from personal experience.
• Can we not A plea to stop doing something annoying, or expressing exasperation at a situ...
• Can't deal Being overwhelmed, unable to cope with a situation, or emotionally at capacity.
• Canceled Publicly rejected or boycotted, usually after a controversial action or state...
• Cap A lie or exaggeration — to 'cap' is to lie.
• Cap and gown The mortarboard cap and academic robe worn during graduation ceremonies.
• Capsule wardrobe A small, curated collection of versatile clothing pieces that all mix and mat...
• Car camping Camping at a drive-up campsite where you can park your car next to your tent.
• Carb-loading Eating large amounts of carbohydrates, originally before athletic events, now...
• Carjacking Stealing a car by force while the driver is present, typically at gunpoint or...
• Carpool To share a car ride with others going to the same destination, splitting the ...
• Carpool lane A highway lane reserved for vehicles carrying two or more people, also known ...
• Carry (someone somewhere) To drive or take someone to a place; to give someone a ride.
• Case the joint To scout or survey a location before committing a crime there.
• Cash bar A bar at an event where guests pay for their own drinks rather than the host ...
• Cash cow A business, product, or investment that consistently generates reliable income.
• Cash grab A product, event, or scheme designed primarily to make quick money with littl...
• Cash out To convert assets into money; to get paid; to leave with your earnings.
• Cashing in Profiting from a situation, opportunity, or trend.
• Casing (the neighborhood) Surveying a neighborhood or area for potential criminal activity or targets.
• Catch a body To defeat, dominate, or verbally destroy someone so completely that they're m...
• Catch a case To be charged with a crime; to get in legal trouble.
• Catch a vibe To connect with someone on an emotional or romantic level; to feel mutual att...
• Catch an attitude To suddenly become hostile, sassy, or confrontational — developing a negative...
• Catch and release The practice of returning a caught fish to the water alive rather than keepin...
• Catch feelings To develop unexpected romantic or emotional attachment to someone, especially...
• Catch the fade To fight someone; to receive or dish out a beating.
• Catch these hands A threat or humorous warning that you're ready to fight someone. 'You're abou...
• Catch you later A casual goodbye meaning 'I'll see you later' or 'talk to you soon.'
• Catch-22 A paradoxical situation where you're trapped by contradictory rules or condit...
• Catching vibes Starting to feel good, getting into a positive mood, or developing good feeli...
• Catfishing Pretending to be someone else online, especially on dating apps, using fake p...
• Cattywampus Crooked, diagonal, or not aligned properly; askew.
• Caught in 4K Caught red-handed with undeniable evidence — busted in high-definition clarity.
• Caught slippin' Caught off guard, unprepared, or making a mistake. Not paying attention when ...
• Cawfee A phonetic spelling of how New Yorkers stereotypically pronounce 'coffee,' re...
• Center stage The main focus or most prominent position, from the physical center of a thea...
• Certified Officially established, proven, or authenticated as the real thing.
• Certified platinum An album or single that has sold over one million copies, or figuratively, an...
• Chain of command The hierarchical structure of authority from top to bottom.
• Chains Necklaces, especially thick gold or diamond necklaces associated with hip-hop...
• Channel surfing Rapidly flipping through TV channels without committing to watching anything.
• Charging Aggressively going for big, dangerous waves — showing fearlessness in heavy s...
• Charlie Mike Continue Mission — keep going, don't stop despite obstacles.
• Chart-topper A song or album that reaches number one on the music charts, especially the B...
• Chaser A milder drink consumed immediately after a shot of hard liquor.
• Cheapskate A person who is excessively stingy with money — someone who avoids spending a...
• Cheat day A designated day when someone on a strict diet eats whatever they want.
• Cheat sheet A concise reference guide or summary used for quick information, or a hidden ...
• Check it out An invitation to look at or examine something, or a way to get someone's atte...
• Checked out Mentally disengaged, no longer invested, or emotionally withdrawn from a situ...
• Checking out Looking at someone with obvious appreciation of their physical attractiveness.
• Cheddar Street and hip-hop slang for money or cash, popularized in rap music.
• Cheese curds Fresh, squeaky pieces of cheese, often deep-fried — a beloved Midwest snack, ...
• Cheesehead A Green Bay Packers fan, or more broadly, someone from Wisconsin — often wear...
• Cheesy Something overly sentimental, cheap-looking, or trying too hard to be impress...
• Chef's kiss An expression indicating that something is perfect or flawless.
• Cheugy Something that is outdated, uncool, or trying too hard — the opposite of trendy.
• Chicago dog A specific style of hot dog from Chicago — all-beef on a poppy seed bun with ...
• Chile An exclamation used to express exasperation, disbelief, or to get someone's a...
• Chill To relax or calm down; also describes someone or something that is easygoing ...
• Chill out To relax, calm down, or stop being upset or stressed.
• Chillax A blend of 'chill' and 'relax' — to calm down and take it easy.
• Chopped cheese A bodega sandwich made with chopped ground beef, melted cheese, lettuce, toma...
• Chosen family Close friends and loved ones who function as family, even though you're not r...
• Chow Food or a meal — casual slang for something to eat.
• Chow down To eat enthusiastically and heartily.
• Chronically online Excessively immersed in internet culture, often disconnected from mainstream ...
• Chug To drink a beverage very quickly without stopping, especially beer.
• Chutzpah Extreme self-confidence, audacity, or nerve — can be admired or criticized de...
• Circle back To return to a topic or discussion at a later time.
• Circle the wagons To gather the team together defensively in response to a crisis or external t...
• Civvies Civilian clothes; non-military clothing.
• Clapback A quick, sharp, and witty response to criticism or an insult.
• Class of The group of students who graduate in the same year, identified by graduation...
• Class registration The process of signing up for courses each semester, often competitive and st...
• Clean Smooth, well-executed, or impressively neat in appearance or execution.
• Clean eating A dietary approach focused on eating whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding ju...
• Clean girl A minimalist beauty and fashion aesthetic emphasizing dewy skin, slicked-back...
• Clean-cut Having a neat, well-groomed, and wholesome appearance — tidy hair, clean clot...
• Cleans up nice Someone who looks surprisingly good when they dress up, compared to their usu...
• Clickbait Sensationalized or misleading headlines designed to get you to click on a link.
• Clicker Informal, often regional or generational term for a TV remote control.
• Cliff jumping Jumping from a high rock or cliff into a body of water below.
• Cliffhanger A suspenseful ending to a story, episode, or situation that leaves the audien...
• Climb the ladder To advance in one's career, especially through promotions in a corporate hier...
• Clock in, clock out To do the minimum required at work without extra effort or engagement, just s...
• Close, but no cigar Nearly successful but ultimately falling short; almost but not quite.
• Closet staple A versatile, essential piece of clothing that everyone should have in their w...
• Closing time The time when a bar or club stops serving drinks and asks patrons to leave.
• Clout Social influence, fame, or popularity, especially on social media.
• Clout chaser Someone who does things primarily for fame, influence, or social media attent...
• Cloverleaf A type of highway interchange shaped like a four-leaf clover, with looping ra...
• Clown A person who acts foolish, makes bad decisions, or can't be taken seriously.
• Clownin' Making fun of someone, joking around, or acting foolish. Can also mean disres...
• Clunker An old, run-down car that barely works and makes lots of noise.
• Clutch Coming through with exactly what is needed at the most critical moment.
• Code of the streets The unwritten rules governing behavior, loyalty, and survival in street culture.
• Coke (generic) Any soft drink or soda, regardless of brand — used as a generic term in the S...
• Cold brew Coffee made by steeping grounds in cold water for 12-24 hours, resulting in a...
• Cold case An unsolved crime that is no longer being actively investigated.
• Cold feet A sudden feeling of anxiety or doubt, especially before a major commitment li...
• Cold one A beer — the simple, no-nonsense Midwest way to refer to a brew.
• Cold plunge Immersing the body in cold water for health benefits.
• Cold turkey To abruptly stop a habit or addiction without gradually reducing it.
• Cold-blooded Impressively ruthless in execution, devastatingly effective or skilled.
• Collab A collaboration between two or more artists on a song, project, or creative w...
• Collateral damage Unintended harm or consequences; innocent people or things caught in the cros...
• College application The formal process of applying to attend a college or university, including e...
• College bookstore A campus store selling textbooks, school merchandise, and supplies — often at...
• College town A small city or town whose economy and culture are dominated by a university.
• Come correct To approach a situation properly, respectfully, and with the right attitude o...
• Come on An exclamation expressing disbelief, urging, impatience, or encouragement.
• Come with To accompany someone, used without specifying 'me' or 'us' — just 'come with.'
• Come-up A lucky financial gain, windfall, or unexpected opportunity.
• Comeback A return to prominence or success after a period of decline, absence, or fail...
• Comfort food Food that provides emotional comfort, usually nostalgic, warm, and filling.
• Coming up a cloud A storm is approaching; dark clouds are gathering.
• Commencement The graduation ceremony at a college or university, featuring speeches, diplo...
• Commode A Southern and older euphemistic term for a toilet, still heard in rural areas.
• Community college A public, two-year college offering associate degrees and transfer pathways a...
• Content creator Someone who produces and publishes digital content like videos, podcasts, or ...
• Cooked Done for, finished, or in an inescapable bad situation — emotionally or situa...
• Cookout An outdoor meal where food is cooked on a grill, similar to a barbecue.
• Cool An expression of approval, agreement, or admiration meaning 'great,' 'fine,' ...
• Cool beans Great; awesome; that sounds good.
• Cool mom A mom who tries to be friends with her kids and their friends, often acting y...
• Cool story, bro A sarcastic response indicating you find someone's story boring or unimpressive.
• Cop To buy or acquire something, especially a desirable fashion item or sneaker.
• Cop a plea To accept a plea bargain; to plead guilty to a lesser charge to avoid a harsh...
• Cop or drop A decision format: should you buy this item (cop) or pass on it (drop)?
• Copped Bought or obtained something, especially something desirable.
• Copy that Understood; message received — used to acknowledge information.
• Copypasta A block of text that gets repeatedly copied and pasted across the internet, o...
• Coquette A soft, feminine, flirtatious aesthetic known for bows, pink, lace, and roman...
• Cord-cutting Canceling traditional cable or satellite TV in favor of streaming services.
• Core memory A significant, deeply meaningful moment that you'll remember forever — a memo...
• Corn-fed Describing someone who is big, strong, and healthy-looking — raised on hearty...
• Corner office The office with the best view and most space, symbolizing executive-level suc...
• Cornhole A lawn game where players toss bean bags at a raised platform with a hole in it.
• Corny Something overly sentimental, cheesy, or trying too hard to be funny or cool.
• Cosplay Dressing up as a character from a movie, video game, anime, or comic book, of...
• Cost an arm and a leg Extremely expensive; costing far more than expected or desired.
• Cottagecore A fashion and lifestyle aesthetic romanticizing rural, pastoral life — floral...
• Cotton-pickin' A mild intensifier expressing frustration or emphasis; equivalent to 'darn' o...
• Couch potato A lazy person who spends most of their time sitting on the couch watching TV.
• Could be worse The quintessential Midwest response to almost any negative situation — a form...
• Couple goals A compliment describing a couple whose relationship is so admirable that othe...
• Cover A new performance or recording of a song originally performed by another artist.
• Cover charge An entrance fee paid to get into a bar, club, or event.
• Cover your tracks To hide evidence of your actions so you cannot be traced or caught.
• Cowabunga An exclamation of excitement or triumph, especially before doing something bo...
• Craft beer Beer made by small, independent breweries with emphasis on quality and unique...
• Cram To study intensively at the last minute, usually right before an exam.
• Crank it up To turn up the volume or intensity to the maximum.
• Cranky Irritable, grumpy, or easily annoyed, often due to tiredness or hunger.
• Crashed Fell asleep suddenly, usually from exhaustion or intoxication; also means sho...
• Crawdad A crayfish; a small freshwater crustacean found in Southern streams and used ...
• Creek crossing A point on a trail where hikers must cross a stream or creek, often by wading...
• Creep A person whose behavior makes others uncomfortable — someone who is unsettlin...
• Creeped out Feeling uncomfortable, unsettled, or disturbed by something or someone in a w...
• Crew A close-knit group of friends or associates, especially in street culture.
• Crib Your home, house, or apartment. Where you live.
• Crick A creek or small stream — the Midwestern pronunciation of 'creek.'
• Cringe Something so awkward or embarrassing that it makes you physically uncomfortab...
• Cripes A mild exclamation of surprise or frustration — a Midwest-approved substitute...
• Crispy Clean, sharp, and well-executed — looking fresh and precise.
• Critter Any small animal or creature, especially in rural or outdoor settings.
• Crooked cop A corrupt police officer who breaks the law or abuses their authority.
• Cross that bridge when you come to it To deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not beforehand.
• Cross-faded Intoxicated from both alcohol and marijuana at the same time.
• CrossFit A branded fitness program combining high-intensity exercises, Olympic lifting...
• Crossover Something that appeals to audiences across different genres, demographics, or...
• Crosstown Going east-west across Manhattan, perpendicular to the uptown-downtown axis.
• Crowd surf To be lifted and passed over the heads of a crowd at a concert or event.
• Cruising Driving around slowly with no particular destination, usually for fun or to b...
• Crunch the numbers To analyze data or perform calculations, especially complex financial or stat...
• Crunch time The critical, high-pressure period just before a deadline when intense effort...
• Crush A strong, often unspoken romantic attraction to someone; also the person you ...
• Crush it To perform exceptionally well, especially in a workout or fitness goal.
• Crushed Feeling devastated, heartbroken, or deeply disappointed, as if something has ...
• Crushing it Performing at an exceptionally high level or achieving great success.
• Cry me a river I don't feel sorry for you; stop complaining about something trivial.
• Crypto bro A stereotypically overenthusiastic and often annoying cryptocurrency advocate...
• Cubicle farm A large open office filled with rows of identical cubicles.
• Cuffing season The fall and winter months when single people seek out relationships to have ...
• Curtain call The final bow by performers at the end of a show, or figuratively, someone's ...
• Curve (grading) Adjusting exam or course grades upward so that the average or highest score m...
• Curveball An unexpected surprise or challenge that catches someone off guard.
• Cushy job An easy, comfortable, well-paying job with little stress.
• Cut corners To do something in the cheapest or easiest way, often sacrificing quality or ...
• Cut me some slack Asking someone to be less critical or give you a break.
• Cut someone off To abruptly merge in front of another driver, forcing them to brake suddenly.
• Cut the light on/off To turn a light (or any appliance) on or off.
• Cut the mustard To meet expectations; to be good enough or capable enough.
• Cut to the chase To get to the point immediately; to skip the unnecessary details.
• Cut up To act wild, goofy, or outrageous. To cause a scene or act a fool in an enter...
• Cutting Eating in a calorie deficit to reduce body fat while maintaining muscle.
• Cutty A hidden, secluded, or shady spot; also used to describe something sketchy or...