"On fleek": the newest addition to our cultural vocabulary.
What does this even mean? I can't remember the first time I heard this phrase but it has taken social media by storm. To put it simply, it is not a real word; my first hint is the dotted red line that appears under "fleek" every time I type it on my computer and the lack of results after a credible search on the Web.
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So when and where did this phrase begin? Bustle states that this term can be traced by to Urban Dictionary as early as 2003, originally meaning "smooth, nice, sweet," but it did not gain popularity until 2014.
Peaches Monroe is the lovely lady we have to thank for the '03 term finally gaining attention after her six-second video claiming her "eyebrows are on fleek." Similar posts using the word "fleek" went viral through social media, and stars like Jimmy Kimmel and Ariana Grande continued to create a buzz around the fabricated word. The result? The term has officially made its way into everyday use, with its very own (updated) Urban Dictionary definition: "on fleek" meaning the quality of being perfect or on point. This is essentially how we are implementing it in our daily vocabulary as well, to describe something that is looking good. A few examples listed below:
1. When you have that one friend that is always looking good, "on fleek" helps portray that to your peers.
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2. If you recently plucked, waxed, or filled in our eyebrows and they look better than usual, "fleek" can be used.
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3. When you are particularly proud of your group of friends it is appropriate to use "on fleek."
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It may be hard to believe that we would latch onto another term that is used to describe how great someone or something is, but it is common for us to be drawn to something that screams vanity more than anything else, for better or for worse.
My personal opinion on our new catch phrase? I'm not a true supporter. This term will eventually phase out, and we will find another more up-to-date phrase to describe our friends and eyebrows. If I were you I would stick to adjectives that are actually found in our dictionary and stray away from the fad jargon. Not only will it help you sound like a more intelligent human being, it will help you remain different from those who succumb to the latest trends.
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