We’ve all been there. Someone’s giving you the silent treatment, or maybe they’re just straight-up ghosting you. Ignoring someone is a pretty common thing, and it can sting, especially if it’s through unwanted texts. There are ways to combat this; for example, you can learn how to stop unwanted SMS by filtering and blocking.
Luckily, slang gives us all sorts of colorful ways to describe it, from a simple brush-off to a full-blown rejection.
So, let’s dive into some slang terms for ignoring someone and see what they really mean.
Common Slang Terms for Ignoring Someone
When words fail, slang prevails. Here are a few popular slang terms for ignoring someone.
Classic Terms
- Blow off: To disregard someone, often intentionally. For example, “He totally blew me off when I tried to talk to him.”
- Shine me on: To deliberately ignore or deceive. For example, “She’s always trying to shine me on, pretending she doesn’t see me.”
Newer and Regional Terms
- Iggied: This slang term means to be ignored. For example, “I felt so iggied when they didn’t invite me to the party.”
- Highside: A slang term for ignoring someone. For example, “He highsided her after the argument.”
Intensity and Context
Slang can be an effective way to communicate, but some slang is more offensive than others. Some slang is playful, while other slang is disrespectful.
Consider the context. Using “blow off” in a casual conversation is usually OK, but using a more vulgar term could be offensive.
The Urban Thesaurus: A Slang Dictionary
Need to know the latest slang? The Urban Thesaurus is a tool that indexes millions of slang terms from sites like Urban Dictionary.
The Urban Thesaurus’s algorithm finds terms that are used in similar contexts. That means it will give you related slang words, but not necessarily direct synonyms.
A word of caution: Because the Urban Thesaurus pulls data from Urban Dictionary, the results might include offensive language.
Another great resource for slang is Slangpedia, where you can find curated slang terms related to specific topics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to say instead of ignoring someone?
Instead of completely ignoring someone, consider being direct but kind. However, sometimes circumstances require no contact even when living together, in which case, establishing boundaries and practicing self-care are crucial. You could say, “I’m really busy right now, but I’ll get back to you later,” or “I need some space to think about this.” Transparency is key. If you need time, explain that. If you don’t want to engage, a polite, “I’m not the right person to discuss this with,” is better than silence.
What is the slang word for ignoring someone?
There are tons! “Ghosting” is super common, especially online, meaning to abruptly cut off all contact. “Blue ticking” (on messaging apps) implies you’ve seen the message but haven’t replied. “Shelving” someone means putting them on the back burner. Then there’s “icing someone out,” which means deliberately excluding them from a group. The best slang depends on the context and the relationship.
What is ignoring someone on social media called?
On social media, ignoring someone has a few names. “Ignoring” is the basic term, but “muting” is popular; it means you won’t see their posts, but they don’t know you’ve muted them. “Blocking” is the most extreme – they can’t see your profile or contact you at all. “Unfollowing” is less harsh; you simply remove them from your feed.
What is the idiom for ignoring someone?
Several idioms capture the idea of ignoring someone. “Giving someone the cold shoulder” is a classic, meaning to act unfriendly and aloof. “Turning a deaf ear” means refusing to listen to someone’s pleas or advice. “Looking right through someone” suggests you’re pretending they don’t exist. The best idiom depends on the reason someone’s being ignored.
The bottom line
Slang gives us a lot of creative ways to describe the act of ignoring someone, from “ghosting” to “shelving” to “icing out.”
But remember, context is key. Slang can be confusing or even offensive if the person you’re talking to doesn’t understand the reference.
Slang is always changing, so stay up-to-date if you want to use it correctly.