slide into the DMs
To confidently and coolly send a direct message to someone by means of social media, especially with romantic or sexual intentions.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He decided to slide into her DMs after seeing her photo.”
“I usually slide into the DMs when I see a cute profile.”
“You should slide into the DMs if you like their new post.”
“She was surprised when the musician she follows on Instagram decided to slide into her DMs.”
“If you want to ask your former classmate out, you should just slide into the DMs and see if they are free this weekend.”
“My friend is too shy to talk to people in person, so he prefers to slide into the DMs to start a conversation.”
“Despite his usual hesitation, he gathered enough courage to slide into her DMs, hoping to initiate a conversation that might lead to a date.”
first recorded 21st c.
Attested c. 2011, the phrase emerged from the social media platform Twitter and its direct message function. The verb slide indicates a smooth or confident entrance into a private conversation, a transition intended to appear effortless regardless of whether the confidence is justified.
Last updated August 10, 2026