drip

Drip means stylish clothes, or a cool, fashionable look overall. If someone has drip, their outfit is impressive. “Drippy” and “dripping” describe someone who looks that good.

What drip means

Drip is about style with confidence: designer pieces, clean sneakers, jewellery, or simply a well-put-together fit. Merriam-Webster defines it as a fashionable style or look. People use it as a noun (“his drip is crazy”), a compliment (“the drip!”) and in phrases like “drip check,” asking someone to show off what they’re wearing.

Examples

• “The drip on him today is unreal.”
• “New jacket? Drip.”
• “She showed up dripping in vintage Chanel.”
• “Drip check before we leave.”

Don’t confuse it with the old meaning

In older slang, a “drip” was a dull, boring person, as in “don’t be such a drip.” Merriam-Webster still lists that sense. The modern fashion meaning is almost the opposite.

Where drip comes from

Merriam-Webster says the fashion sense was popularized through hip-hop and rap lyrics and African American English. Its exact origin is disputed, even among rappers, according to Dictionary.com, with claims pointing to 2000s Atlanta rap and early-2010s Jersey City. Cardi B’s 2018 song “Drip” helped take it mainstream.

Related terms

• Flex: to show off.
• Fire: excellent.
• Slay: to look amazing or do something brilliantly.
• Old money aesthetic: a quieter kind of style.

See more in our Gen Z slang dictionary.