What Does "The Ick" Mean?
What "The Ick" Really Means
Getting "the ick" is when something a person does suddenly makes you lose all attraction to them in an instant — sometimes triggered by something minor or even irrational. You might have "the ick" for someone eating too loudly, walking in a funny way, or using a word you find cringe. The feeling is often described as irreversible — once you have the ick for someone, the attraction is gone. The term became viral on TikTok around 2021, with users sharing the most ridiculous things that gave them the ick.
Origin & History
UK slang, popularized globally via TikTok ~2021.
Tone & Context
This slang is generally considered negative in tone. Casual conversations about dating and attraction. Very widely known.
Example Sentences
- "He waved at me from across the parking lot and I immediately got the ick."
- "I had the ick the second he said 'per my last email' out loud."
- "Once you get the ick, there's no coming back from it."
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Browse our full Gen Z Slang dictionary for more terms, or check the complete slang glossary.