For the words they don’t teach in English class.
Your guide to Gen Z slang, group chats, and life at BU.
For real. No lie. Used to emphasize that you’re being honest.
说真的，不骗你。
Used to stress that a statement is honest and is not a lie or an exaggeration. It can appear before or after the statement, including an enthusiastic opinion.
表示“没骗你、说真的、不夸张”，可以放在句首或句末，强调自己很认真。
“No cap, that review session saved my grade.”
In serious trouble, likely to fail, or effectively finished; it can also describe feeling completely worn out. In “I cooked,” however, the active verb may praise a successful performance, so grammar matters.
“完了、要凉了、累瘫了”。注意 I’m cooked 是状态很惨，而 I cooked 在其他语境下可能是“我发挥得很棒”。
“I forgot the final was cumulative. I’m cooked.”
To give a task your full attention and commit to focused effort. “Locked in” describes someone who is concentrating intensely.
收心、进入专注状态；locked in 指已经非常投入。
“I am putting my phone away so I can lock in for this problem set.”
Charm that helps someone attract romantic interest, especially through confident or amusing conversation. As a verb, usually in “rizz someone up,” it means to flirt with or charm them.
吸引恋爱对象的魅力、撩人能力；rizz someone up 指用聊天等方式撩某人。
“You got their number after one conversation? That is serious rizz.”
Used to soften an admission or describe a feeling held somewhat privately: quietly, secretly, or kind of. As an adjective, low-key also means relaxed and not elaborate or attention-seeking.
表示“有点、悄悄地、其实还挺”，常用来委婉承认某种感受；low-key 作形容词也可指低调、轻松。
“I lowkey like studying in the dining hall when it’s quiet.”
An informal response meaning okay, agreed, or sounds good. Depending on tone, it can also accept a challenge or express a skeptical “we’ll see.”
通常表示“好、行、就这么定了”；有时也可以是接受挑战的“走着瞧”。
““Meet outside the library at seven?” “Bet.””
Humorously unrealistic about a situation or extremely confident that a desired outcome will happen despite weak evidence. It is often playful self-mockery rather than a clinical description.
“有点自我脑补、过分乐观”，明知证据不够也觉得事情会如愿，常用来自嘲。
“Thinking I can write the whole essay before dinner is a little delulu.”
A connection that is more romantic or intimate than a friendship but has no clearly agreed relationship status or commitment. People involved may have different expectations, so the word itself does not establish exclusivity.
比朋友更亲密，却没有明确身份或承诺的关系，类似“没确定关系的暧昧”。
“We keep going on dates, but we have never discussed what we are—it is a situationship.”
To do something exceptionally well or to look impressively stylish and confident. As an exclamation, it expresses encouragement or enthusiastic praise.
表现出色、气场全开、太会了；也可以单独说 Slay! 来夸奖或加油。
“You slayed that presentation—the whole class was engaged.”
The everyday name for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Boston’s public transit system. In conversation, “take the T” often means using its subway or light rail.
波士顿公共交通系统 MBTA 的俗称；take the T 常指乘坐地铁或轻轨。
“We can take the T to the museum after class.”
Short for “fear of missing out”: the uneasy feeling that other people are having experiences or opportunities you are missing. It is often used casually about parties, trips, or social media.
fear of missing out 的缩写，指担心错过别人正在享受的活动或机会的感觉。
“Everyone posted from the concert, and I got FOMO while studying.”
Did something extremely well, especially a performance, outfit, or creative task. In this slang sense, ate is praise and does not refer to eating food.
“发挥太好了、拿捏了”，常用来夸表演、穿搭或作品，不是字面上的吃东西。
“The dance team ate at the student showcase.”
Checking the community dictionary…