What Does “It’s Giving” Mean On Social Media?

August 30, 2024 by
Posted in Social Media Glossary
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I bet you didn’t know that more than 90% of people on social media platforms use slang and abbreviations while communicating online. You may be among these users yet still not know the meaning of some slang you see on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms.

Today, I am going to talk about one of the popular slang terms on different social media platforms that you must know: its meaning, how to use it, and when to use it.

But first, let me ask you a question. How would you comment on someone’s outfit, a pretty picture, or dramatic situation on Instagram or other platforms?

It would be much better if you used slang that expresses how you feel about something rather than just commenting, “Wow, you look gorgeous,” and other such phrases.

One way to describe a specific situation, express a feeling, or complain about something is to use the term “It’s giving.”

Suppose someone posts a beautiful picture wearing a breathtaking outfit, and you want to complain about their outfit; you can say, “OMG! Your outfit is giving!”

If you are interested in learning more about this slang, keep reading to the end, as I will explain everything you need to know about this online slang and similar phrases.

Definition of the Term It’s Giving On Social Media?

a girl taking a selfie after exercising

The term “It’s giving” is one of the popular slang terms on different social media platforms. It is mainly used to describe a feeling, experience, or situation that is dramatic or extravagant or expresses a specific vibe.

As you may know, Gen Z is the main user group that uses abbreviations or slang while chatting or communicating online. They mostly use this phrase to describe a certain mood, style, or situation.

For example, you may see someone comment on an influencer’s post saying, “Your makeup is giving party fever,” or “This workout routine is giving me energy.”

See? These sentences all express feelings or emotions, such as joy, stress, tiredness, etc.

What is the origin of the phrase “It’s Giving”?

members of LGBTQ+

Every slang you see on social media comes from some culture or event, and “It’s Giving” is no exception.

The phrase “It’s giving” originally came from the African-American ballroom scene, a subculture of the LGBTQ+ and color community that emerged in NYC (New York City) during the 1980s, so they can safely express themselves. 

This slang term became widely popular in the mainstream in the following decades, especially among the younger generation.

Examples of Using the Term It’s Giving In a Sentence

a girl taking selfie while showing an outfit

Now that you know the meaning of the slang term “It’s Giving,” it’s time to see some examples of how you can use it in a sentence.

You can use this phrase to show you admire something; you can say: “Your outfit is amazing today; it’s giving.”

Let me tell you something funny! You can use this slang term to make fun of yourself. Suppose you ordered an outfit thinking it would fit you, but when you tried it on, it just made you look hilarious! 

In such a situation, you can say: “This outfit is supposed to make me look good; instead, it’s giving minion vibes! LOL!”

Besides, you can use it to describe a specific vibe or style: “OMG! That dress is giving 80s vibe”

Related Terms to It’s Giving

Almost every slang term on social media has similar terms that you can use. I listed some of the most relevant ones in the section below:

Killing it

a guy happy about his success and taking selfie

As you remember, I explained that you can use “It’s Giving” to show how something or someone is perfect and compliment about it.

Another similar term among Gen Z on social media is “Killing it,” which they mainly use to describe something as hot and great.

If you want to use this term, you can say: “You killing it girllll.” It means that you are referring to how amazing someone looks, or did a great job.

Serve

a girl showing off her outfit by taking selfie

This term also originally comes from ballroom culture and is mostly used as a compliment about someone’s style or taste in fashion.

For example, you can say: “Wow, I love your jacket; it is such a serve.”

Moreover, you can use the term “serve” to refer to someone’s facial expressions, especially in a video or photo.

You can say: “I can’t believe how amazing you look in this picture. You are a serving face.”

Giving me life

a girl enjoying a desert

Another popular variation of “It’s Giving” is “Giving me life.” It is used when people want to show how much they love something.

This is how you can use it in a sentence: “OMG! I am in LOVE with your outfit. It’s giving me life.” You can also say: “This desert is giving me life. We should come here more often.”

Slay

a hot girl taking a selfie

This term is also very popular among users and has a similar meaning to “It’s Giving.” People mainly use slay to say someone is “killing it.”

Imagine your girl best friend posts a hot picture of herself, and everything in the post is great, so you can comment “Slayyyyyy,” which means you are obsessed with that post!

Conclusion

Keeping up with an online chat sometimes can be challenging, especially if you are not from Gen Z because they are the creators of slang terms and abbreviations on social media platforms, such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, etc.

The best way you can blend in almost all online conversations is to learn the definition of these slang terms and acronyms.

“It’s Giving” is one of the most popular phrases you can use on social media platforms to comment on something or in your captions.

Therefore, you should know its meaning and how to use it, which I hope this article helps you in this way!

FAQs

1- What does it mean when someone says your outfit is giving?

In simple words, when someone tells you your outfit is giving, it means that they complement your outfit and think it looks perfect on you, so it is a way to compliment something.

2- Why does Gen Z keep saying it’s giving?

As you know, Gen Z prefers to shorten the way they communicate with each other. Instead of typing a whole sentence trying to describe a mood or situation or compliment something, they just say something is giving, and others will understand the point.

3- How to use “it’s giving” in a sentence?

Using this slang term depends on the context, as it can be applied in various situations. However, it is primarily used to praise something or someone.