Relationships & Family

American slang for friends, family, and close relationships

Introduction

Americans use a rich vocabulary to describe their closest relationships. From "bro" and "fam" to "ride or die" and "squad", these terms reflect the importance of friendship and loyalty in American culture.

This chapter covers American slang for friends, family members, and the bonds between people — the language of connection.

Themes

All American Slang & Idioms in This Chapter (93)

• Baby daddy The biological father of a woman's child, especially one she is not married t...
• Baby mama The biological mother of a man's child, especially one he is not married to o...
• Helicopter parent A parent who is excessively involved in their child's life, hovering over eve...
• Mama bear A fiercely protective mother who will defend her children at all costs.
• Soccer mom A suburban middle-class mother who spends much of her time driving her childr...
• Man cave A room or space in a house dedicated to a man's hobbies and relaxation, like ...
• Golden child The favorite child in a family who can seemingly do no wrong in their parents...
• Black sheep The odd one out in a family — someone who doesn't fit in or is considered a d...
• Twin flame A person believed to be the other half of your soul — a deep, intense, almost...
• Love language The way a person prefers to express and receive love — such as through gifts,...
• Hot girl summer A carefree, confident, fun-filled summer focused on self-love and living your...
• Boomerang kid An adult child who moves back in with their parents after living independentl...
• Get hitched Casual, slightly humorous way to say getting married, common in informal speech.
• Settle down To stop living a wild or carefree lifestyle and commit to a stable relationsh...
• Put a ring on it To propose marriage to someone, or to commit to a relationship officially.
• Pop the question To propose marriage to someone.
• Shotgun wedding A rushed wedding, typically because the bride is pregnant.
• Ball and chain One's spouse or long-term partner, humorously implying they restrict your fre...
• Old lady One's wife or long-term girlfriend.
• Old man One's husband, boyfriend, or father.
• Better half One's spouse or romantic partner, jokingly implying they are the superior one...
• Significant other A person's romantic partner — a gender-neutral term for boyfriend, girlfriend...
• The one The person you believe is your perfect, destined romantic partner — your soul...
• Homewrecker A person who breaks up a marriage or committed relationship by having an affa...
• Power couple A couple where both partners are highly successful, influential, or accomplis...
• High school sweethearts A couple who started dating in high school and are still together years later.
• Trophy wife A young, attractive wife regarded as a status symbol for an older, wealthy hu...
• Sugar daddy A wealthy older man who lavishes gifts and money on a younger romantic partner.
• Gold digger A person who pursues romantic relationships primarily for their partner's mon...
• Shacking up Living together as a couple without being married.
• Blended family A family made up of a couple and their children from previous relationships, ...
• Chosen family Close friends and loved ones who function as family, even though you're not r...
• Fur baby A pet — especially a dog or cat — that someone treats and loves like their ow...
• Plant parent Someone who cares for their houseplants with the dedication and affection of ...
• Boy mom A mother whose children are all boys, often used as an identity label on soci...
• Mama's boy A man or boy who is extremely close to his mother, often to the point where i...
• Daddy's girl A daughter who has a particularly close, affectionate bond with her father.
• Double date A social outing where two couples go out together.
• Blind date A date with someone you've never met before, usually arranged by a mutual fri...
• Playing cupid Trying to set two people up romantically — acting as a matchmaker.
• Getting serious When a casual relationship starts becoming a committed, long-term partnership.
• Taking it slow Progressing a romantic relationship at a careful, unhurried pace to avoid rus...
• Moving too fast Progressing a relationship at an uncomfortably rapid pace — too much commitme...
• Lock it down To commit to a relationship and make it official — securing your partner befo...
• Put a label on it To define a relationship with an official title — boyfriend, girlfriend, part...
• Low maintenance A person who is easy-going and doesn't require a lot of attention, effort, or...
• High maintenance A person who requires a lot of attention, effort, money, or emotional support...
• Attached at the hip Two people who are always together — inseparable.
• Give (someone) space To allow someone time and distance alone, especially in a relationship, witho...
• On a break A temporary pause in a relationship where the couple agrees to spend time apa...
• In the doghouse In trouble with your partner or family member — they're mad at you and you're...
• Gaslighting Manipulating someone into questioning their own reality, memory, or sanity.
• Trauma bond An unhealthy emotional attachment to an abusive or toxic person, formed throu...
• Healing era A period of life focused on recovering from past trauma, heartbreak, or a tox...
• Do you Focus on yourself, be independent, and live life on your own terms without wo...
• Empty nester A parent whose children have all grown up and left the family home.
• She shed A backyard shed or space that a woman has claimed as her personal retreat — t...
• Family drama Conflicts, arguments, and emotional turmoil within a family — the messy stuff...
• Runs in the family A trait, talent, condition, or tendency that is common among family members a...
• Daddy issues Emotional or behavioral problems stemming from an absent, abusive, or difficu...
• Mommy issues Emotional or behavioral problems in adults caused by a dysfunctional relation...
• Cool mom A mom who tries to be friends with her kids and their friends, often acting y...
• Papa bear A fiercely protective father who will defend his family at all costs.
• Nuclear family The traditional family unit of two parents and their children living together.
• Found family A group of unrelated people who form deep, family-like bonds — often used in ...
• Girl dad A father of daughters who embraces and celebrates the experience of raising g...
• Wine mom A mother who humorously relies on wine to cope with the stresses of parenting.
• Bridezilla A bride-to-be who becomes unreasonably demanding and difficult during wedding...
• Wedding crasher Someone who attends a wedding without being invited.
• Honeymoon phase The early stage of a relationship when everything feels perfect and both part...
• Seven-year itch The idea that after seven years of marriage, couples become restless and temp...
• Tying the knot A widely used idiom meaning getting married, heard in both casual and formal ...
• Cold feet A sudden feeling of anxiety or doubt, especially before a major commitment li...
• Whirlwind romance A passionate, fast-moving love affair that develops very quickly.
• Starter marriage A first marriage that ends in divorce relatively quickly, often before the co...
• Work wife / Work husband A close colleague you spend so much time with at work that your relationship ...
• Wifed up To have settled down with a serious girlfriend or wife — no longer single or ...
• Baby fever An intense desire or longing to have a baby.
• Gender reveal A party or event where expecting parents reveal the sex of their baby, often ...
• Mom brain The forgetfulness, mental fog, and scattered thinking that many mothers exper...
• Dad bod A male body type that is slightly overweight and not particularly muscular — ...
• Dad joke A wholesome, corny, usually pun-based joke that a father would tell — so bad ...
• Family reunion A large gathering where extended family members come together, often annually...
• Sibling rivalry Competition, jealousy, or conflict between brothers and sisters.
• Middle child The child born between the oldest and youngest in a family, stereotypically o...
• Baby of the family The youngest child, often perceived as spoiled or babied by the rest of the f...
• Tiger mom A very strict, demanding mother who pushes her children hard academically and...
• Quality time Meaningful, focused time spent with someone you care about, free from distrac...
• Taken Already in a committed relationship — not single or available for dating.
• Off the market No longer single — in a committed relationship and not available for dating.
• My person The one person you trust most, confide in completely, and consider your emoti...
• Endgame The person you believe you'll end up with forever — your ultimate, final roma...
• Match made in heaven A perfect romantic pairing — two people who seem destined to be together.