That's gay

Question

Apologies for using this potentially offensive phrase, but I'm just trying to ascertain what would be potential synonyms of 'that is gay' in regarding something to be campy, banal, weird or overly unfavorable (in US high schools, it is commonly used to refer to either things that are effeminate or simply as a replacement for 'that sucks', used to indicate that something is unfortunate or to express dismay).

I think campy could be a contender as a synonym, but I don't think the term fully embodies what it is to say something is 'gay' in that regard.

Ivanhr · Accepted Answer

I always thought that "gay" connotes adjectives such as corny, cheesy, lame, stupid etc even though probably not one of them  carries that kind of pejorative sense as "gay" does.

Philip · Answer

Anonymous(in US high schools, it is commonly used to refer to either things that are effeminate or simply as a replacement for 'that sucks', used to indicate that something is unfortunate or to express dismay).

You've hit the nail on the head! People who use this term usually don't have enough vocabulary to express accurately what they mean, so "gay" turns out to be "anything I don't particularly like (or understand)".

As a word in general use, it simply means "homosexual (usually male)" and doesn't refer to actions or characteristics (campy, effeminate, etc.).

That's gay

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions