Tea, ghost, crash – you know these words, they’re simple, right?
…but do you know their hidden slang meanings?
Lots of very common English words have different meanings in slang – which you’ll often see in online chats and hear in casual conversation.
Today I’ll teach you 10 common words with a simple meaning and a slang meaning, so you can understand them perfectly.
You can download a free PDF of this lesson by clicking on the link in the video description and entering your e-mail address. Go ahead and do that so you don’t forget these double-meaning words.
1. Salty
Simple meaning & sentence:
- Containing a lot of salt
- Ugh, this soup is too salty.
Slang meaning & sentence:
- Feeling bitter, annoyed, or upset about something.
- He’s still salty about losing the game.
2. Tea
Simple meaning & sentence:
- A hot drink made from leaves
- Would you like a cup of tea?
Slang meaning & sentence:
- Gossip or juicy information.
- Tell me the tea — what happened at the meeting?
3. Flex
Simple meaning & sentence:
- To bend or tighten a muscle
- The bodybuilder flexed his arms.
Slang meaning & sentence:
- To show off or brag.
- Buying that fancy car was just a flex.
4. Ghost (someone)
Simple meaning & sentence:
- A spirit of a dead person
- Do you believe in ghosts?
Slang meaning & sentence:
- To suddenly stop responding or disappear from communication.
- We went on two dates and then he ghosted me.
5. Chill
Simple meaning & sentence:
- Make cold or cool
- Chill the drinks in the fridge before serving them.
Slang meaning & sentence:
- Relaxed, calm, or easygoing (or to tell someone to relax)
- Don’t worry — just chill, it’s not a big deal.
6. Crash
Simple meaning & sentence:
- To hit something violently
- He crashed his motorcycle into a tree.
Slang meaning & sentence:
- To fall asleep quickly or stay somewhere without planning.
- I was exhausted, so I crashed on the couch.
- Can we crash with you for the weekend?
7. Dead
Simple meaning & sentence:
- No longer alive
- All of my great-grandparents are dead.
Slang meaning & sentence:
- Finding something extremely funny.
- That video was so funny — I’m dead.
8. Dump
Simple meaning & sentence:
- To throw down a large quantity
- She dumped all the laundry into the washing machine.
Slang meaning & sentence:
- To end a romantic relationship.
- She dumped him last week.
9. Wasted
Simple meaning & sentence:
- Used carelessly or unnecessarily.
- I wasted time playing video games and didn’t finish my homework.
Slang meaning & sentence:
- Very drunk.
- He was completely wasted after the party.
10. Extra
Simple meaning & sentence:
- Additional or more than usual
- Let’s set up extra chairs in case more people come.
Slang meaning & sentence:
- Overly dramatic, excessive, or doing too much.
- She’s being so extra about the smallest problem.
You won’t find these slang meanings in traditional textbooks —but they’re used constantly in real English.
If you want to understand movies, social media, conversations, and jokes without guessing, check out my Slang & Informal English e-book. It explains hundreds of expressions clearly, simply, and naturally. You’ll also find out when to use them – and when not to use them.
