In slang, the term “dip” has a few different meanings depending on the context. Here are some of the common definitions:
Leaving or Departing Quickly
“Dip” can be used as a verb to mean leaving or departing quickly from a place or situation. For example:
“It’s getting late, I’m gonna dip and head home.”
“The party was lame so we dipped after an hour.”
This slang usage of “dip” comes from the action of briefly dipping into a place or event, but not staying for long. It became popular in hip hop culture in the 1990s.
Smoking or Chewing Tobacco
“Dip” can refer to smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco or snuff that users place between their lower lip and gums. For example:
“He always has a dip of chewing tobacco in when he’s working.”
“Can I bum a dip? I’m craving some tobacco.”
This meaning comes from the action of “dipping” the tobacco in your mouth. Smokeless tobacco products are sometimes just referred to as “dip.”
Marijuana or Another Drug
In some contexts, “dip” can refer to marijuana or another drug that is coated onto or soaked into a cigarette. For example:
“I got some dip rolled up if you want to smoke a blunt later.”
“She dips her cigarettes in liquid PCP.”
The drug is “dipped” into the cigarette, allowing it to be smoked or ingested. This meaning originated in the 1960s counterculture.
Lowering Briefly
“Dip” can also mean lowering briefly before rising again, like a dip in the road or a dip in music tempo. For example:
“Watch out, there’s a huge dip up ahead that’ll bottom out your car.”
“The song has a sick beat drop with a cool dip before it.”
This sense of the word refers to something going down temporarily before coming back up.
Conclusion
In summary, “dip” has a few slang meanings depending on the context:
- Leaving or departing quickly from a place or situation
- Chewing tobacco or other smokeless tobacco products
- Marijuana or another drug coated on or soaked into a cigarette
- A brief downward movement before rising again
The slang term “dip” originated in different contexts over the past several decades, but is commonly used today in hip hop culture and among young people to mean leaving or heading out.
The slang meanings can also change over time and vary between different regions and countries. But in general, if someone says they’re “dipping,” it means they’re heading out or indulging in tobacco, drugs, or a momentary downward motion.
| Meaning | Example | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving quickly | “I’m gonna dip and head home.” | 1990s hip hop culture |
| Smokeless tobacco | “Can I get a dip of chewing tobacco?” | Describes dipping tobacco in mouth |
| Drug soaked cigarette | “He dips his cigarettes in PCP.” | 1960s counterculture |
| Brief downward motion | “The song has a cool tempo dip.” | Derived from literal meaning of “dip” |
When Did “Dip” Become Popular Slang?
The slang term “dip” grew in popularity through the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s thanks to its usage in rap, hip hop, and R&B music as well as films and television shows aimed at younger audiences.
Some key events in the rise of “dip” in slang include:
- The 1988 N.W.A album Straight Outta Compton used “dip” to mean leaving in various songs.
- Tupac Shakur’s 1993 song “I Get Around” contains the lyrics “Time to dip, gotta split the set, I don’t trip.”
- Comedy films like House Party in 1990 used “dip” as slang for leaving quickly.
- R&B groups like Jodeci used “dip” in their 1993 album Diary of a Mad Band.
- The term spread further into mainstream media through 1990s TV shows for teens and young adults.
By the early 2000s, “dip” as slang for leaving was firmly cemented in hip hop culture and used widely among youth and in media aimed at young people. Other meanings like referring to tobacco also grew during this time period.
Regional Variations
While “dip” is common slang in most English-speaking countries, there are some regional variations:
- In Australia, “dip” can also mean making a rude exit or departure.
- In parts of Canada, “dip” can mean kissing or making out with someone.
- In the UK, “dip” may also refer to pickpocketing or stealing.
But in general, the main definitions of “dip” are shared between the US, UK, Canada, Australia and other English-speaking regions.
Usage in Hip Hop Culture
Hip hop and rap music played a major role in popularizing “dip” as slang starting in the late 1980s.
Seminal hip hop groups like N.W.A used the term on their albums, exposing it to mainstream audiences. As hip hop grew to dominate pop music and youth culture in the 1990s and beyond, “dip” became entrenched as a cool way for rappers to say they were heading out.
Both mainstream rappers like Jay-Z (“Gotta dip, peace, I’m out”) and underground artists continue using “dip” in lyrics today. It fits nicely into hip hop wordplay and rhyme schemes.
Beyond music, “dip” is used in urban streetwear fashion, sneakerhead culture, and media like magazines and YouTube channels aimed at hip hop fans.
For about 30 years now, “dip” has been tied to hip hop identity and used to signal fleeting participation in events before moving on, reflecting the fast-paced lifestyle portrayed in hip hop culture.
Common Hip Hop Lyrics
Here are some examples of rap and hip hop songs that use “dip” as slang:
- “I gotta dip now, gotta hit the road, I’m through, too much to do…” – EPMD, “Get the Bozack”
- “Time to dip, gotta split the set, I don’t trip…” – 2Pac, “I Get Around”
- “Ain’t no need for me to stay, I gotta dip away…” – Snoop Dogg, “Gin and Juice”
- “Hunnids everywhere, okay, time to dip…” – Pusha T, “If You Know You Know”
Conclusion
In summary, “dip” emerged as a slang term in the late 20th century primarily meaning to leave quickly or briefly. Through hip hop music and youth-oriented media, it became mainstream slang during the 1990s and also took on additional related meanings.
“Dip” remains a fixture in hip hop vocabulary and urban lingo used around the world today. It captures the ephemeral, fleeting participation in events that hip hop culture frequently celebrates.