American Slang & Idioms Starting with "S"

294 entries

• S'mores A campfire treat made by sandwiching melted marshmallow and chocolate between...
• Safety school A college that a student is confident of being accepted to, applied to as a b...
• Salty Feeling bitter, upset, or resentful, especially about something minor or a pe...
• Same I relate to that completely; I feel exactly the same way.
• Same old, same old Nothing new — everything is the same as usual.
• Sass Disrespectful or impudent talk, especially from a child to an adult; back talk.
• Sauce Personal style, swagger, and confident flair in how someone dresses and carri...
• Savage Ruthlessly honest, bold, or impressively daring — someone who says or does th...
• Saved by the bell Rescued from a difficult situation at the very last moment.
• Say less I understand completely — no further explanation needed. Count me in.
• Say no more An expression meaning you completely understand and no further explanation is...
• Say what? What did you just say? I can't believe what I'm hearing!
• Say word An exclamation of surprise or disbelief. Similar to 'no way' or 'are you seri...
• Scalable Able to grow or expand efficiently without a proportional increase in cost or...
• Scarf down To eat food very quickly, almost without chewing.
• Scenic overlook A designated viewpoint along a road or trail offering panoramic views of the ...
• Scenic route A longer but more beautiful road taken for the views rather than speed.
• Schlep To carry something heavy or cumbersome; to make a tedious journey.
• Schlub A slovenly, lazy, or unremarkable person; a slob or loser.
• Schmaltz Excessive sentimentality or cheesiness; also literally rendered chicken fat u...
• Schmaltz it up To make something excessively sentimental or emotionally over the top.
• Schmatta A rag or worn-out garment; also used to describe cheap or unfashionable cloth...
• Schmear A spread of cream cheese on a bagel; also used broadly to mean 'the whole thi...
• Schmooze To chat in a friendly, persuasive way; to network or make small talk with an ...
• Schmuck A foolish, stupid, or contemptible person.
• Scholarship Financial aid awarded to students based on academic achievement, athletic abi...
• School of hard knocks Life experience and tough lessons learned through real-world struggles rather...
• School spirit Enthusiastic pride and support for one's school, expressed through traditions...
• Schvitz To sweat profusely; also a steam bath or sauna.
• Score a parking spot To find and claim a desirable parking space, especially in a crowded area.
• Scraper A large, older American-made car customized with oversized rims, often a Buic...
• Scratch Money, especially a small or modest amount.
• Screenshot A captured image of what's displayed on a screen, or the act of capturing one.
• Screw-up A person who frequently makes mistakes, or a serious mistake itself.
• Screwed up To make a mistake or ruin something; also describes something that is broken ...
• Scrub Someone who doesn't take care of their appearance and lacks ambition or style.
• Secure the bag To ensure you get paid or lock down a financial opportunity.
• Seeing someone Casually dating a person; in the early stages of a romantic relationship.
• Self-care Deliberate activities done to maintain your mental, emotional, or physical he...
• Sell like hotcakes To sell quickly and in large quantities.
• Sellout A person who compromises their values or integrity for money, fame, or approval.
• Semper Fi Short for 'Semper Fidelis' (Always Faithful) — the US Marine Corps motto.
• Send help A humorous plea for assistance when you're overwhelmed or in a comically bad ...
• Send it To commit fully to a challenging outdoor activity without hesitation.
• Sending me Making me laugh uncontrollably — something is so funny it's metaphorically la...
• Senioritis A decline in motivation and effort experienced by students in their final yea...
• Served Delivered an impressive performance or look — presented excellence to others.
• Serving Presenting yourself in an exceptionally impressive way, delivering a stunning...
• Set for life Having enough money or resources to never need to work again.
• Set up (framed) To be framed for a crime; to be deliberately placed in a compromising position.
• Setlist The list of songs a band or artist plans to perform at a concert, in order.
• Settle down To stop living a wild or carefree lifestyle and commit to a stable relationsh...
• Seven-year itch The idea that after seven years of marriage, couples become restless and temp...
• Shacking up Living together as a couple without being married.
• Shadow banned When a platform secretly limits or hides your content without notifying you.
• Shady Dishonest, deceitful, or behaving in a way that suggests hidden motives.
• Shaka The 'hang loose' hand gesture — extending the thumb and pinky while folding t...
• Shakedown An act of extortion; demanding money or favors through threats or intimidation.
• Shank A makeshift knife or weapon, typically made in prison; to stab someone with one.
• Shape up or ship out An ultimatum telling someone to improve their behavior or performance, or els...
• Sharp Well-dressed in a crisp, polished way — looking neat and impressive.
• She shed A backyard shed or space that a woman has claimed as her personal retreat — t...
• Sheesh An exclamation of admiration, disbelief, or being impressed.
• Shell out To pay a significant amount of money, often reluctantly.
• Shell-shocked Stunned, dazed, or overwhelmed by a traumatic or shocking experience.
• Shill To promote something disingenuously while pretending to be unbiased, or a per...
• Ship To endorse or root for a romantic pairing, whether real or fictional; short f...
• Ship it To release, launch, or send out a product or project — Silicon Valley slang f...
• Shook Shocked, stunned, or deeply affected by something surprising or emotional.
• Shoot from the hip To speak or act impulsively without careful thought; to be direct and spontan...
• Shooting your shot Making a bold attempt to express romantic interest in someone, despite the ri...
• Shorty An attractive woman or girl. Can also refer to a girlfriend, a young person, ...
• Shotgun The front passenger seat of a car, or the act of claiming that seat by callin...
• Shotgun a beer To puncture a hole in the side of a beer can and drink the entire thing rapidly.
• Shotgun wedding A rushed wedding, typically because the bride is pregnant.
• Shotgunning Punching a hole in the side of a beer can and chugging the entire thing as fa...
• Shots Small, quick servings of straight liquor consumed in one gulp.
• Shoutout A public expression of recognition, gratitude, or promotion for someone.
• Show up To arrive or appear at a place; also, to outperform or embarrass someone.
• Showstopper A performance, moment, or person so impressive that it metaphorically 'stops ...
• Shred To perform exceptionally well at surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, or any...
• Shredded Having extremely low body fat with visible, defined muscles.
• Shut up An exclamation of disbelief meaning 'no way!' or 'you're kidding!' — not nece...
• Sibling rivalry Competition, jealousy, or conflict between brothers and sisters.
• Sick Extremely cool, impressive, or amazing — the opposite of its literal meaning.
• Sick of Tired of, disgusted with, or completely fed up with something or someone.
• Sickening So stylish, fierce, and flawless that it makes people sick with envy — the ul...
• Side hustle A secondary job or income source alongside your main employment.
• Side piece A secret romantic or sexual partner that someone has in addition to their mai...
• Side quest An unexpected adventure, detour, or spontaneous activity that wasn't part of ...
• Side-eye A suspicious, disapproving, or judgmental sideways glance that communicates s...
• Sides Side dishes that accompany a main course at a restaurant.
• Sideshow An illegal street gathering where drivers perform stunts like donuts, burnout...
• SigAlert A traffic alert indicating a major highway incident that will block lanes for...
• Sigma An independent, self-reliant person who doesn't follow social hierarchies — o...
• Significant other A person's romantic partner — a gender-neutral term for boyfriend, girlfriend...
• Silicon Valley The global tech industry hub in the San Francisco Bay Area, and by extension,...
• Silo (corporate) When departments or teams operate independently without sharing information o...
• Silver lining A positive aspect found in an otherwise bad situation.
• Simp A person (usually a man) who does too much for someone they're attracted to, ...
• Single and ready to mingle A playful declaration that you're single and actively looking to meet new rom...
• Sipping tea Passively observing drama or gossip without getting involved.
• Sitrep Situation report; an update on the current status.
• Situationship A romantic relationship that has no clear definition or commitment — more tha...
• Skate by To barely pass or get by with minimal effort, doing just enough to avoid fail...
• Skeleton in the closet A shameful or embarrassing secret from someone's past.
• Sketched out Feeling uneasy, suspicious, or uncomfortable about a situation, place, or per...
• Sketchy Something or someone that seems unsafe, untrustworthy, or potentially dangerous.
• Ski bum A person who lives in a ski town and prioritizes skiing over career ambitions.
• Skibidi A nonsensical word used as a meme expression, often associated with absurd hu...
• Skill issue The problem is your lack of ability, not the situation; you just need to get ...
• Skin in the game Personal investment or risk in a venture, so you have something to lose.
• Skinny fat Appearing thin but having a high body fat percentage with little muscle defin...
• Skip town To leave a place quickly, usually to avoid trouble or responsibilities.
• Slack off To be lazy or avoid doing work; to put in less effort than expected.
• Slacker A person who avoids work or effort — someone who does the bare minimum.
• Slam dunk Something that is a guaranteed success or an easy, sure thing.
• Slap your mama good So delicious that you might lose your senses; extremely good food.
• Slaps Something that is extremely good, especially music or food.
• Slay To do something exceptionally well, to look amazing, or to dominate.
• Sleek Having a smooth, polished, and streamlined appearance — stylishly minimal.
• Sleep hygiene Habits and practices that promote good quality sleep.
• Sleep on To underestimate, ignore, or fail to appreciate someone or something's value.
• Sleep on it To wait until the next day before making a decision, allowing time to think i...
• Sleep with the fishes To be murdered and disposed of, typically in a body of water.
• Sleeper hit A song, movie, or show that unexpectedly becomes popular despite little initi...
• Slice A single piece of pizza, sold individually at NYC pizza shops.
• Slick Smooth, clever, or sneaky. Can also be used as an adverb meaning 'kind of' or...
• Slide To come over, show up, or move to a different location smoothly. Can also mea...
• Slider A small hamburger, typically served as an appetizer or in multiples.
• Sliding into DMs Sending a direct message to someone on social media, usually with romantic or...
• Slinging Selling products or services, especially in an informal or hustling manner.
• Sloppy Joe A messy sandwich of seasoned ground beef in tomato sauce served on a hamburge...
• Sloshed Very drunk, similar to wasted but with a slightly lighter, humorous tone.
• Slow burn A romantic connection that develops gradually over a long period of time rath...
• Slow fade Gradually reducing communication and contact with someone to end a relationsh...
• Slow jam A slow, romantic R&B or soul song meant for intimate listening or slow dancing.
• Slower than molasses Extremely slow; painfully unhurried.
• Smackin' Delicious, really tasty. Used to describe food that tastes exceptionally good.
• SMH Abbreviation for 'shaking my head,' expressing disapproval, disappointment, o...
• Smoke 'em out To force someone out of hiding; to expose or reveal someone.
• Smoke screen A deliberate action designed to distract from the truth or hide real intentions.
• Smokeshow An extremely attractive person — someone so hot they're practically smoking.
• Smoking gun Undeniable evidence that proves guilt or wrongdoing.
• Smol A cute, intentional misspelling of 'small,' used for anything tiny and adorable.
• Smooth Effortlessly cool, charming, or skillfully executed without visible effort.
• Smoothie bowl A thick smoothie served in a bowl and topped with fruit, granola, and seeds —...
• Snack An attractive person — someone who looks good enough to be considered desirable.
• SNAFU A mistake or problem; a chaotic situation.
• Snake A sneaky, untrustworthy person who betrays others — someone who operates behi...
• Snake in the grass A deceitful, untrustworthy person who hides their true nature.
• Snap To suddenly lose your temper or composure, breaking from a calm state into an...
• Snap out of it Wake up and stop dwelling on something; pull yourself together quickly.
• Snapped Did something amazingly well — went above and beyond expectations.
• Snatch and grab A quick theft where someone grabs items and runs; a type of fast robbery.
• Snatched Looking extremely good, attractive, or perfectly styled — especially referrin...
• Sneak diss An indirect or covert insult aimed at someone without naming them explicitly.
• Snitch Someone who informs authorities about others' activities. A tattletale or inf...
• Snow day A day when school is canceled due to heavy snowfall or dangerous winter condi...
• Snowbird A person who migrates from the cold Northeast to warmer southern states (espe...
• Snowshoeing Hiking through deep snow using wide, flat snowshoes that distribute your weig...
• So random Describing something unexpectedly weird, quirky, or out of place.
• Sober curious Choosing to examine or reduce alcohol consumption without identifying as an a...
• SoCal Southern California — the region south of the Tehachapi Mountains, centered o...
• Soccer mom A suburban middle-class mother who spends much of her time driving her childr...
• Soft launch Subtly revealing a new relationship on social media without showing the perso...
• Sold out A performance or event where every ticket has been purchased, indicating mass...
• Solid Reliable, dependable, good quality, or a favor done for someone.
• Solutioning The process of developing solutions, especially in consulting and tech.
• Son A term of address for a friend, similar to 'bro' or 'dude' — not referring to...
• Sore loser Someone who reacts badly to losing, showing anger, bitterness, or poor sports...
• Sorority A social organization for female college students with Greek letter names, ri...
• Sorry, not sorry A defiant expression meaning you're not actually apologetic about something.
• Soul food Traditional African American cuisine from the Southern United States.
• Sounds good A casual way to express agreement or acceptance of a plan or suggestion.
• Southern hospitality The tradition of warm, generous, and welcoming behavior toward guests that is...
• Southpaw A left-handed person, especially a left-handed pitcher or boxer.
• Space cadet A person who is dreamy, absent-minded, or seems disconnected from reality.
• Spam Unwanted, unsolicited messages or content sent in bulk, or to overwhelm with ...
• Spaz out To freak out, lose control, or overreact dramatically about something.
• Speak of the devil Said when the person you were just talking about unexpectedly shows up.
• Speed trap A stretch of road where police frequently hide to catch speeders, or a town k...
• Spendy Expensive — the Midwestern way of saying something costs a lot.
• Spicy Emotionally charged, feisty, or provocative — having an edge or intensity tha...
• Spill To share gossip, secrets, or juicy information — short for 'spill the tea.'
• Spill the beans To reveal a secret or share confidential information.
• Spill the tea To share gossip or reveal juicy, often scandalous information.
• Spin class A group indoor cycling workout class with high-energy music and an instructor.
• Spinoff A new show, movie, or product derived from an existing one, featuring charact...
• Spiraling Losing control of anxious thoughts, rapidly descending into panic or emotiona...
• Spit To rap or deliver lyrics, especially with skill and intensity.
• Spit shine To clean or polish something hastily; also a thorough polish using spit and e...
• Spitting game Flirting with someone or using smooth, persuasive talk to attract romantic in...
• SPK Salt, pepper, ketchup — the standard condiment combo on NYC breakfast sandwic...
• Splurge To spend a lot of money on something, especially as a treat.
• Spoiler alert A warning that you're about to reveal key plot details, or used sarcastically...
• Spot me To assist someone during a weightlifting exercise for safety.
• Spread A large, impressive display of food laid out for a gathering.
• Spring break A one- to two-week vacation from school in the spring, famous in American cul...
• Squad goals A group of friends whose dynamic is so admirable that others aspire to have a...
• Square up To prepare to fight. To put your fists up and get ready for a physical confro...
• Squared away Well organized, prepared, and in proper order.
• Squid A Navy sailor — used as a nickname, sometimes affectionate, sometimes teasing.
• Stacks A lot of money, usually implying neatly piled cash.
• Stage dive The act of jumping off the stage into the crowd at a concert, trusting the au...
• Stage five clinger A person who becomes excessively attached and needy very quickly in a relatio...
• Stakeholder Anyone who has an interest in or is affected by a project, decision, or organ...
• Stan To be an extremely devoted fan of someone, or to strongly support and admire ...
• Stand down Relax; stop being aggressive or confrontational; return to a non-alert state.
• Stand-up A morally upright, reliable person who does the right thing.
• Stand-up guy A person of integrity who is reliable, loyal, and honest — especially under p...
• Standing ovation When the entire audience stands up and applauds to show exceptional appreciat...
• Standing room only So crowded that all seats are taken and people must stand; extremely packed.
• Stargazing Observing the night sky, stars, and astronomical phenomena, especially from d...
• Starter marriage A first marriage that ends in divorce relatively quickly, often before the co...
• Stash A hidden supply of drugs, money, or weapons; to hide something secretly.
• State fair An annual multi-day festival celebrating agriculture, food, entertainment, an...
• Stateside In or relating to the United States; back home in America.
• Stay hydrated The mantra of drinking enough water throughout the day for health.
• Stay in your lane Mind your own business; stick to what you know.
• Stay woke A call to remain aware and vigilant about social injustice and deception.
• Steal someone's thunder To take credit for someone else's idea or to overshadow their moment.
• Steal the show To outperform everyone else and become the most memorable part of an event, e...
• Steezy A combination of 'style' and 'ease' — performing a trick or action with effor...
• Step up To take responsibility, increase effort, or rise to meet a challenge.
• Step up to the plate To take responsibility, accept a challenge, or volunteer for a difficult task.
• Steppin' out Going out somewhere while looking especially well-dressed and put together.
• Stick shift A manual transmission car that requires the driver to shift gears using a sti...
• Sting An undercover police operation designed to catch criminals in the act.
• Stir-crazy Restless, agitated, or going crazy from being stuck indoors or in one place t...
• Stoked Extremely excited and enthusiastic about something.
• Stood up When someone fails to show up for a planned date or meeting, leaving you wait...
• Stoop The front steps or small porch of a building, especially a brownstone or apar...
• Stoop sale A yard sale or garage sale held on the front steps (stoop) of an NYC building...
• Stoopid Extremely good; impressively skillful — an emphatic term of praise.
• Stoplight A traffic signal, especially when referring to the red light that means stop.
• Storytime An announcement that you're about to share a dramatic or entertaining persona...
• Straight A's Perfect grades; receiving the highest possible marks in all courses.
• Straight fire Absolutely excellent with no reservations — an intensified version of 'fire.'
• Straight from the horse's mouth Information from the most reliable or authoritative source.
• Straight up Honestly, directly, and without any exaggeration or sugarcoating.
• Straphanger A subway rider; someone who commutes by subway, especially standing and holdi...
• Strapped for cash Short on money; having very limited funds.
• Streaming Watching or listening to content in real-time over the internet, or broadcast...
• Street cred Respect and credibility earned through real-life experience, especially in ur...
• Street smart Having practical intelligence and survival skills learned from real-world exp...
• Streetwear A casual fashion style rooted in hip-hop, skate, and urban culture — sneakers...
• Stress eating Eating food in response to emotional stress rather than physical hunger.
• Strike out To fail completely, especially after multiple attempts.
• Stringing along Keeping someone in a relationship or romantic pursuit without genuine commitm...
• Struggle bus A humorous way to describe having a really hard time with something.
• Student loans Money borrowed to pay for college education, repaid with interest after gradu...
• Student section A designated area in a stadium where college students stand together to cheer...
• Study abroad A college program where students spend a semester or year studying at a forei...
• Study buddy A friend or classmate you regularly study with.
• Study group A group of students who meet regularly to study together, review material, an...
• Stuffed Extremely full from eating too much food.
• Stunner Someone who is stunningly attractive or an outfit that is breathtakingly impr...
• Stunting Showing off one's success, wealth, or style in an impressive way.
• Sub A long sandwich made on a roll, also called a submarine sandwich.
• Subtweet A post on social media that indirectly refers to someone without mentioning t...
• Sucker punch An unexpected attack or blow that catches someone completely off guard.
• Sugar daddy A wealthy older man who lavishes gifts and money on a younger romantic partner.
• Summit (verb) To reach the top of a mountain or peak.
• Sunday best Your nicest, most formal clothing, traditionally worn to church on Sunday.
• Sunday driver A person who drives very slowly and cautiously, annoying other drivers.
• Sunday scaries The anxiety and dread felt on Sunday evening about the upcoming work or schoo...
• Sunrise hike A hike timed so that you reach a summit or viewpoint at sunrise.
• Sunset chaser A person who actively seeks out scenic locations to watch and photograph suns...
• Super An intensifier meaning 'very' or 'extremely' — used to amplify any adjective.
• Superfood A food marketed as exceptionally nutrient-dense and beneficial for health.
• Supersize To upgrade to the largest available portion size, especially at fast-food res...
• Supper A regional term for the evening meal, used mainly in the South and rural area...
• Supper club A distinctly Midwestern type of restaurant featuring a relaxed atmosphere, a ...
• Supplement stack A combination of dietary supplements taken together to enhance workout results.
• Sure thing An emphatic way to say 'yes,' 'of course,' or 'you're welcome.'
• Surface streets Regular city streets as opposed to freeways — used when choosing to avoid hig...
• Sus Short for 'suspicious' or 'suspect' — something or someone that seems untrust...
• SUV Sport Utility Vehicle — a large, high-riding vehicle that has become the domi...
• Swag Confident style, cool demeanor, or an aura of effortless coolness.
• Swaggy Having a cool, confident style — the adjective form of swagger.
• Swamped Extremely busy or overwhelmed with work or tasks.
• Sweeper A vacuum cleaner — the standard Midwest term for the appliance.
• Sweet corn Fresh corn on the cob — a summer staple and source of intense Midwest pride.
• Sweet tea Cold tea that is heavily sweetened with sugar while still hot, served over ic...
• Sweet tooth A strong craving or love for sweet foods and desserts.
• Swim lane A person's or team's designated area of responsibility.
• Swimming hole A natural spot in a river, creek, or lake where people swim, especially a hid...
• Swipe left To reject or pass on someone, originally on dating apps; used broadly to expr...
• Swipe right To indicate interest in someone, originally on dating apps; now used broadly ...
• Switchback A zigzag section of trail that goes back and forth up a steep slope.
• Swole Very muscular; having large, well-developed muscles.
• Syllabus week The first week of a college semester when classes are easy and professors mos...
• Synergy The supposed benefit of different teams or ideas working together for a great...