English Reference

Word

slaps

US/ˈsɫæps/

UK/slˈæps/

Definition

v. describes music or food that is excellent or very impressive. It is a fun way to say something is high quality.

v. denotes something, particularly a piece of music or a meal, that is exceptionally good or impressive. Slang in register; primarily used in African American Vernacular English before entering mainstream digital discourse.

Examples

“This new song really slaps.”

“I didn't expect much from a gas station taco, but this meal absolutely slaps.”

“While the lyrics are somewhat repetitive, the heavy bass line and crisp production ensure that the track slaps in a club environment.”

Examples

simple

“This new song really slaps.”

contextual

“I didn't expect much from a gas station taco, but this meal absolutely slaps.”

complex

“While the lyrics are somewhat repetitive, the heavy bass line and crisp production ensure that the track slaps in a club environment.”

Usage

The verb is intransitive in this slang sense and does not take a direct object.

Pitfall

The music slaps me.

The music slaps.

In this slang sense, the word is intransitive; it describes the quality of the subject rather than an action performed on an object.

Real-World Examples

“It slithers across floors, winds around furniture, steals things and slaps anyone within reach – finally answering the question nobody asked: what if your own arm turned to crime?”
The Guardian · 24 Aug 2026
“The groove is super infectious and slaps, and Dhanji’s flow and the grain in his voice makes you want to move your body.”
The Guardian · 11 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/slaps

English Reference