threw shade
Delivered veiled criticism
Threw shade is the past tense of throw shade, meaning to make a subtle insult or express disapproval through indirect criticism.
The shade is often delivered with wit or understatement rather than open confrontation: She threw shade at her ex during the interview.
The expression comes from ballroom culture and drag communities before entering mainstream slang.
- ball cultureQueer competitive performance scene
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- drag culturePerformance art of exaggerated femininity
- spill the teaShare scandalous information
subtext · sarcasm · resentment · disdain · side-eye · contempt · passive-aggression · backhanded compliment · jealousy · rivalry · slang · insinuation · irony · social hierarchy · pop culture · cliques · double entendre · snark
threw shadepraised
Expressed approval of
hyped up · complimented · gassed up · bigged up · lauded
threw shadecalled out
Vocally summoned or criticized
told off · blasted · dressed down · ripped into · chewed out
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