Slang
What does No cap mean?
No lie: the young-English truth stamp, cap being the fraud.
Definition
Cap is a lie; no cap is the oath. Capping is lying. The speech came from African American English and flooded TikTok. It is a cousin of NGL and TBH, with more bar rhythm. The stamp, like every honesty stamp, does not prove the fact.
Origin
African American English, then rap and TikTok, 2010s–2020s.
History
From the bar to the two-word comment.
How it emerged
Lying already had a name; the short stamp for 'I mean it' was missing.
Usage examples
No cap, that is the best episode.
He was capping the whole time.
Translations
- pt no cap / sem mentira
- en no cap
- es no cap / sin mentira
Synonyms
- no lie
- for real
- not capping
Related terms
Acronym
IYKYK
If you know, you know: the lock for speech aimed inside the tribe.
Acronym
NGL
Not gonna lie: the same licence as TBH, with a 2010s accent.
Acronym
TBH
To be honest: a warning that candour is coming, often already priced in.
Questions
What does no cap mean?
No lie. Cap is the fraud; no cap is the oath.
What is capping?
Lying, inflating, pretending.
Origin?
African American English, spread by rap and TikTok.