superfly
Slick and impressive
Superfly means extremely cool, stylish, or impressive—often with connotations of flashy confidence and street credibility.
The term emerged from 1970s Black American culture, popularized by the 1972 blaxploitation film of the same name about a Harlem drug dealer.
It suggests someone who moves through the world with effortless swagger: He walked in looking superfly in his new leather jacket.
The word retains a retro flavor but still appears in hip-hop and casual speech.
Seventies Black action cinema
- shaftNarrow vertical passage
- soundtrackMusic accompanying visual media
- 1970sFourth decade, twentieth century
- sequelContinuation of prior work
remake · pusherman · pimp · dealer · crime · gangster · hustle · street
Calm or fashionable
- freshNewly made, not stale
- dopeSlang triple-threat term
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
stylish · slick · boss · bad · tight · hip · happening · groovy
Innermost animating essence
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- bassDeep pitch or fish
- wah-wahOscillating tonal filter effect
- psychedelicInducing altered perception
parliament · bootsy · rhythm · syncopation
blaxploitation
Seventies Black action cinema
- shaftNarrow vertical passage
- soundtrackMusic accompanying visual media
- 1970sFourth decade, twentieth century
sequel · remake · pusherman · pimp · dealer · crime · gangster · hustle · street
cool
Calm or fashionable
sharp · stylish · slick · boss · bad · tight · hip · happening · groovy · funky
soul
Innermost animating essence
psychedelic · parliament · bootsy · rhythm · syncopation
flashy
Showy, often tastelessly so
- flamboyantStrikingly bold in style
- polyesterSynthetic petroleum-based fabric
- suitMatched formal garments
bling · ostentatious · gaudy · loud · dapper · snazzy · zoot
superflymeek
Humbly unassertive
timid · unassuming · mousy · wallflower · pushover
superflysquare
Rhombus with right angles
unhip · strait-laced · whitebread · vanilla · mainstream
- superfine sugarExtra-fine granulated sweetener