Slang · Living LanguageIEA·SLANG
ghost
to suddenly stop replying to someone with no explanation.
He ghosted the group chat after we assigned him the field report.
casualformalcasual
Common online; avoid in formal emails.
Learning Tool 03 · Living Language
Slang of the month —
the words textbooks won't teach you.
Real, current English as people actually speak it, with a formality meter so you know where it's safe to use. Fresh pick every month; the rest wait in the archive. You can also look up any informal word you hear.
This month
rotates monthlyArchive
11 morelow-key
quietly, or to a small degree; secretly.
I'm low-key nervous about presenting the harvest data.
casualformalcasual
Opposite: high-key (openly, very).
the tea
gossip or the interesting details of a situation.
So what's the tea on the new lab schedule?
casualformalvery casual
'Spill the tea' = share the gossip.
flex
to show off something you have or can do.
She was flexing her new drone-mapping skills.
casualformalcasual
'Weird flex but ok' = an odd thing to brag about.
salty
bitter or annoyed, usually over something small.
He's still salty about losing the debate.
casualformalcasual
no cap
no lie; I'm being honest.
This soil sample is the best we've had, no cap.
casualformalvery casual
'Cap' = a lie.
vibe
the mood or feeling of a place, thing, or person.
The greenhouse has a really calm vibe in the morning.
casualformalinformal
'Vibe check' = assessing the mood.
slay
to do something exceptionally well.
You absolutely slayed that presentation.
casualformalcasual
sus
suspicious or questionable.
These readings look a bit sus — let's re-measure.
casualformalcasual
Short for 'suspicious'.
hits different
feels notably better or more meaningful than usual.
Fresh coffee after fieldwork hits different.
casualformalcasual
touch grass
to go outside and reconnect with the real world.
You've been coding all week — go touch grass.
casualformalcasual
Ironically apt for agro students.
glow-up
a big positive transformation over time.
The campus garden had a serious glow-up this semester.
casualformalinformal