Cringe

Cringe (noun / adjective)

(Also heard as: Proper cringe, Pure cringe, Mega cringe)

Definition: When someone does something so painfully awkward or desperate that you physically want the ground to open up and swallow you whole just watching them.

Where It Comes From: It used to just mean jumping backwards when you got a fright or hurt yourself. Once the internet kicked off, people started sharing awful karaoke vids, botched proposals, and terrible first dates. Everyone called them “cringeworthy,” but folk got lazy, chopped the end off, and started using “cringe” for anything that makes your teeth itch with second-hand embarrassment.

How People Actually Use It: Used the second someone tries far too hard to be funny or cool and completely dies on their arse. It’s what you say when your dad tries to use TikTok lingo in front of your mates, when a couple has a massive domestic in the middle of a supermarket aisle, or when your brain decides to replay a stupid text you sent three years ago while you’re trying to nod off.

Examples in the Wild:

• “He bought a microphone to rap at his own birthday do—proper cringe.”

  Translation: He tried showing off and it was mortifying to watch.

• “The manager called a team huddle to do a group cheer, absolutely pure cringe.”

  Translation: Work tried forcing some fake enthusiasm and it felt horrible.

• “Saw my old Facebook statuses from when I was fourteen. Honestly, mega cringe.”

  Translation: The things I used to post make me want to hide under a rock.

Similar Slang: Toe-curling, Mortifying, Dying inside, Try-hard, Painful