American Slang & Idioms Starting with "L"

77 entries

• Laced up Wearing fresh, clean sneakers — looking good from the shoes up.
• Lag A delay or slowdown, especially in internet speed or game response time.
• Lake effect The weather phenomenon where cold air picks up moisture from the Great Lakes ...
• Lame Something boring, uncool, or disappointing.
• Last call The final announcement at a bar that drink orders are about to close.
• Late-night study session Studying late into the night, often at the library or a 24-hour coffee shop.
• Lay low To stay out of sight and avoid attention, especially to avoid being caught.
• Layup Something very easy; a guaranteed success with minimal effort.
• Lead foot A person who drives very fast, or the habit of pressing the gas pedal too hard.
• Leading someone on Giving someone false hope about a romantic relationship by acting interested ...
• Leaf peeping Traveling to see autumn foliage, especially the colorful leaves of New England.
• Lean in To engage more aggressively or assertively with a challenge or opportunity.
• Learn the ropes To learn the basics of a new job, skill, or activity.
• Leatherneck A US Marine — from the leather collar once part of the Marine uniform.
• Leave No Trace An outdoor ethics principle of minimizing human impact on nature by packing o...
• Lecture hall A large auditorium-style classroom where hundreds of students attend a profes...
• Left Coast A nickname for the West Coast, playing on its geographic position and progres...
• Left no crumbs Executed something so perfectly that there's nothing left to criticize — abso...
• Left on read When someone sees your message (shown by a read receipt) but doesn't respond.
• Leftovers Food remaining from a previous meal, saved to be eaten later.
• Leg day The day in a workout routine dedicated to training legs.
• Legacy A college applicant whose parent or grandparent attended the same institution...
• Legendary So impressive or remarkable that it will be remembered and talked about.
• Legit Shortened form of 'legitimate,' meaning genuine, real, or truly good.
• Lemme sneak past ya A polite way of saying 'excuse me' when you need to get by someone in a tight...
• Lemon A car (or any product) that turns out to be defective or unreliable.
• Let him cook Let someone continue what they're doing because it's going well. Don't interr...
• Let that sink in Think about that for a moment; take time to really absorb what I just said.
• Let the cat out of the bag To accidentally reveal a secret.
• Level playing field A situation where everyone has an equal chance of succeeding; fair conditions...
• Level up To improve, advance, or take something to the next level.
• Leverage (verb) To use something to maximum advantage.
• Lewk A distinctive, carefully curated outfit or style statement — a deliberate fas...
• Life hack A clever shortcut, trick, or strategy that makes everyday tasks easier or mor...
• Lightweight Someone who gets drunk very quickly or can't handle much alcohol.
• Like An extremely common filler word in American speech, used for emphasis, approx...
• Like and subscribe The standard call-to-action phrase used by YouTubers asking viewers to engage...
• Like white on rice Very close to something or someone; following closely; all over something.
• Lima Charlie Loud and Clear — I can hear you perfectly; I understand completely.
• Lineup A clean, sharp edge along the hairline, forehead, and sideburns created by a ...
• Link in bio A phrase directing followers to the clickable link in someone's social media ...
• Link up To meet up with someone or get together.
• Liquor run A quick trip to the liquor store or convenience store to buy alcohol, usually...
• Lit Extremely fun, exciting, or excellent.
• Lit AF Extremely exciting, fun, or wild — an intensified form of 'lit' (AF = 'as f**...
• Lit up Intoxicated or high; can also mean very excited or energized.
• Literally Used as an intensifier meaning 'really' or 'absolutely,' often when something...
• Literally me Expressing strong identification with a character, situation, or person — 'th...
• Living for it Loving something intensely, being obsessed with or deeply enjoying something.
• Living in high cotton Doing very well financially or socially; living prosperously.
• Living large Enjoying a wealthy, comfortable, and extravagant lifestyle.
• Living my best life Thriving, enjoying life fully, and unapologetically being happy — often used ...
• Living paycheck to paycheck Spending all your income on basic expenses with nothing left to save.
• Loaded Topped or filled with lots of extras and toppings.
• Lock and load Get ready for action; prepare yourself.
• Lock it down To commit to a relationship and make it official — securing your partner befo...
• Lockdown A state of restriction where people are confined to a specific area.
• Locked in Fully committed and intensely focused on achieving a goal.
• LOL Abbreviation for 'laughing out loud,' though it now often just signals amusem...
• Lollygag To dawdle, waste time, or move aimlessly without purpose.
• Long shot Something with a very low probability of success but still worth trying.
• Long time no see A casual greeting used when you haven't seen someone in a while.
• Looking like a meal Looking extremely attractive — an intensified version of 'looking like a snack.'
• Looking like a snack Looking very attractive — good enough to eat, metaphorically speaking.
• Lookout A person posted to watch for police or danger while a crime is being committed.
• Loop in To include someone in a communication or decision-making process.
• Loose cannon An unpredictable person who may cause damage; someone who acts recklessly.
• Loser A person who is unsuccessful, uncool, or socially inept.
• Losing it Losing composure, self-control, or sanity — can mean laughing uncontrollably,...
• Losing my mind Going crazy from stress, frustration, excitement, or disbelief — feeling like...
• Love bombing Overwhelming someone with excessive affection, attention, and gifts early in ...
• Love language The way a person prefers to express and receive love — such as through gifts,...
• Low maintenance A person who is easy-going and doesn't require a lot of attention, effort, or...
• Low-hanging fruit Easy wins or tasks that can be accomplished with minimal effort.
• Lowkey Subtly, secretly, or to a moderate degree; used to downplay something.
• Lowrider A customized car with a lowered body, often associated with Chicano/Mexican-A...
• Lurker Someone who reads or watches online content without posting, commenting, or e...