What is the reasoning behind the “urban” slang word “tight” coming to mean “cool/great/slick”?
How and why did the word tight come to be appropriated in this sense, for example as in, "That car is tight, cuh!" ? I mean, one easily extrapolates from the "normal" definition to understand why slang would appropriate tight to mean "close" — as in "Nah, we cool cuz we tight like that" — but this other sense is significantly opaque to me.
etymology adjectives slang
edited Jul 5 '11 at 4:00
Thursagen
35.2k38145214
asked Jul 5 '11 at 0:56
UticensisUticensis
13.2k60131231
add a comment |
How and why did the word tight come to be appropriated in this sense, for example as in, "That car is tight, cuh!" ? I mean, one easily extrapolates from the "normal" definition to understand why slang would appropriate tight to mean "close" — as in "Nah, we cool cuz we tight like that" — but this other sense is significantly opaque to me.
etymology adjectives slang
edited Jul 5 '11 at 4:00
Thursagen
35.2k38145214
asked Jul 5 '11 at 0:56
UticensisUticensis
13.2k60131231
Tight jeans are cool?
– Thursagen
Jul 5 '11 at 1:02
2
Possibly musically? - if someone is playing tight then their performance is extremely accurate and 'together'
– osknows
Jul 5 '11 at 1:14
1
Interesting.... this was posed to me today and something I never considered. It was suggested to me from a friend that it was sexual.... and is in fact why you find me here. I'd never heard that. I'm not sure there is always a basis of reasoning with slang. It's just something someone or group said that some thought was cool and it took off. Id like to stick with that, because I had never thought of it like that before... but thanks for confirming :(
– user13330
Sep 24 '11 at 5:50
add a comment |
How and why did the word tight come to be appropriated in this sense, for example as in, "That car is tight, cuh!" ? I mean, one easily extrapolates from the "normal" definition to understand why slang would appropriate tight to mean "close" — as in "Nah, we cool cuz we tight like that" — but this other sense is significantly opaque to me.
etymology adjectives slang
edited Jul 5 '11 at 4:00
Thursagen
35.2k38145214
asked Jul 5 '11 at 0:56
UticensisUticensis
13.2k60131231
How and why did the word tight come to be appropriated in this sense, for example as in, "That car is tight, cuh!" ? I mean, one easily extrapolates from the "normal" definition to understand why slang would appropriate tight to mean "close" — as in "Nah, we cool cuz we tight like that" — but this other sense is significantly opaque to me.
etymology adjectives slang
etymology adjectives slang
edited Jul 5 '11 at 4:00
Thursagen
35.2k38145214
asked Jul 5 '11 at 0:56
UticensisUticensis
13.2k60131231
edited Jul 5 '11 at 4:00
Thursagen
35.2k38145214
asked Jul 5 '11 at 0:56
UticensisUticensis
13.2k60131231
edited Jul 5 '11 at 4:00
Thursagen
35.2k38145214
edited Jul 5 '11 at 4:00
Thursagen
35.2k38145214
edited Jul 5 '11 at 4:00
Thursagen
35.2k38145214
35.2k38145214
asked Jul 5 '11 at 0:56
UticensisUticensis
13.2k60131231
asked Jul 5 '11 at 0:56
UticensisUticensis
13.2k60131231
asked Jul 5 '11 at 0:56
UticensisUticensis
13.2k60131231
13.2k60131231
Tight jeans are cool?
– Thursagen
Jul 5 '11 at 1:02
2
Possibly musically? - if someone is playing tight then their performance is extremely accurate and 'together'
– osknows
Jul 5 '11 at 1:14
1
Interesting.... this was posed to me today and something I never considered. It was suggested to me from a friend that it was sexual.... and is in fact why you find me here. I'd never heard that. I'm not sure there is always a basis of reasoning with slang. It's just something someone or group said that some thought was cool and it took off. Id like to stick with that, because I had never thought of it like that before... but thanks for confirming :(
– user13330
Sep 24 '11 at 5:50
add a comment |
Tight jeans are cool?
– Thursagen
Jul 5 '11 at 1:02
2
Possibly musically? - if someone is playing tight then their performance is extremely accurate and 'together'
– osknows
Jul 5 '11 at 1:14
1
Interesting.... this was posed to me today and something I never considered. It was suggested to me from a friend that it was sexual.... and is in fact why you find me here. I'd never heard that. I'm not sure there is always a basis of reasoning with slang. It's just something someone or group said that some thought was cool and it took off. Id like to stick with that, because I had never thought of it like that before... but thanks for confirming :(
– user13330
Sep 24 '11 at 5:50
Tight jeans are cool?
– Thursagen
Jul 5 '11 at 1:02
Tight jeans are cool?
– Thursagen
Jul 5 '11 at 1:02
2
2
Possibly musically? - if someone is playing tight then their performance is extremely accurate and 'together'
– osknows
Jul 5 '11 at 1:14
Possibly musically? - if someone is playing tight then their performance is extremely accurate and 'together'
– osknows
Jul 5 '11 at 1:14
1
1
Interesting.... this was posed to me today and something I never considered. It was suggested to me from a friend that it was sexual.... and is in fact why you find me here. I'd never heard that. I'm not sure there is always a basis of reasoning with slang. It's just something someone or group said that some thought was cool and it took off. Id like to stick with that, because I had never thought of it like that before... but thanks for confirming :(
– user13330
Sep 24 '11 at 5:50
Interesting.... this was posed to me today and something I never considered. It was suggested to me from a friend that it was sexual.... and is in fact why you find me here. I'd never heard that. I'm not sure there is always a basis of reasoning with slang. It's just something someone or group said that some thought was cool and it took off. Id like to stick with that, because I had never thought of it like that before... but thanks for confirming :(
– user13330
Sep 24 '11 at 5:50
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
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oldest
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From thefreedictionary.com:
15 Marked by full control over elements or subordinates; firm: tight management; a tight orchestral performance.
In music it usually means all members of an ensemble are playing together with rhythmic and harmonic precision. I think it's not much of a stretch to work from that meaning to the sense of something being remarkable or "slick".
answered Jul 5 '11 at 1:26
RobustoRobusto
129k30307520
There's also to run a tight ship, which superficially alludes to the strict control exercised by the captain, but in practice is often used to call attention to how well organised and functional everything is as a result.
– FumbleFingers
Jul 5 '11 at 2:03
add a comment |
Based on cultural proximity, I'm relatively certain that the usage in question came from music. However, I'm going to go ahead and suggest that some implied sexuality has brought the term down the ranks.
answered Jul 5 '11 at 3:33
theidiotboxtheidiotbox
34315
1
Doesn't have to be sexual. Consider a tight body—in the sense of fitness rather than need of massage.
– Jon Purdy
Jul 5 '11 at 4:04
1
Definitely was sexual in my neighborhood.
– zenbike
Jul 5 '11 at 19:06
add a comment |
Tight implies being well-designed. If something is designed to physically be tight, everything is held together firmly. Nothing sloppy. So the use of it to describe cool/great/slick is in reference to it being a good design, be it music, cars, a purse, or even relationships (it's good that those two people are together--they fit together well--they "tight").
answered Jan 20 '16 at 19:27
ThomasThomas
211
add a comment |
protected by Mari-Lou A Jun 16 '16 at 8:13
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
From thefreedictionary.com:
15 Marked by full control over elements or subordinates; firm: tight management; a tight orchestral performance.
In music it usually means all members of an ensemble are playing together with rhythmic and harmonic precision. I think it's not much of a stretch to work from that meaning to the sense of something being remarkable or "slick".
answered Jul 5 '11 at 1:26
RobustoRobusto
129k30307520
There's also to run a tight ship, which superficially alludes to the strict control exercised by the captain, but in practice is often used to call attention to how well organised and functional everything is as a result.
– FumbleFingers
Jul 5 '11 at 2:03
add a comment |
From thefreedictionary.com:
15 Marked by full control over elements or subordinates; firm: tight management; a tight orchestral performance.
In music it usually means all members of an ensemble are playing together with rhythmic and harmonic precision. I think it's not much of a stretch to work from that meaning to the sense of something being remarkable or "slick".
answered Jul 5 '11 at 1:26
RobustoRobusto
129k30307520
There's also to run a tight ship, which superficially alludes to the strict control exercised by the captain, but in practice is often used to call attention to how well organised and functional everything is as a result.
– FumbleFingers
Jul 5 '11 at 2:03
add a comment |
From thefreedictionary.com:
15 Marked by full control over elements or subordinates; firm: tight management; a tight orchestral performance.
In music it usually means all members of an ensemble are playing together with rhythmic and harmonic precision. I think it's not much of a stretch to work from that meaning to the sense of something being remarkable or "slick".
answered Jul 5 '11 at 1:26
RobustoRobusto
129k30307520
From thefreedictionary.com:
15 Marked by full control over elements or subordinates; firm: tight management; a tight orchestral performance.
In music it usually means all members of an ensemble are playing together with rhythmic and harmonic precision. I think it's not much of a stretch to work from that meaning to the sense of something being remarkable or "slick".
answered Jul 5 '11 at 1:26
RobustoRobusto
129k30307520
edited 22 mins ago
answered Jul 5 '11 at 1:26
RobustoRobusto
129k30307520
answered Jul 5 '11 at 1:26
RobustoRobusto
129k30307520
answered Jul 5 '11 at 1:26
RobustoRobusto
129k30307520
129k30307520
There's also to run a tight ship, which superficially alludes to the strict control exercised by the captain, but in practice is often used to call attention to how well organised and functional everything is as a result.
– FumbleFingers
Jul 5 '11 at 2:03
add a comment |
There's also to run a tight ship, which superficially alludes to the strict control exercised by the captain, but in practice is often used to call attention to how well organised and functional everything is as a result.
– FumbleFingers
Jul 5 '11 at 2:03
There's also to run a tight ship, which superficially alludes to the strict control exercised by the captain, but in practice is often used to call attention to how well organised and functional everything is as a result.
– FumbleFingers
Jul 5 '11 at 2:03
There's also to run a tight ship, which superficially alludes to the strict control exercised by the captain, but in practice is often used to call attention to how well organised and functional everything is as a result.
– FumbleFingers
Jul 5 '11 at 2:03
add a comment |
Based on cultural proximity, I'm relatively certain that the usage in question came from music. However, I'm going to go ahead and suggest that some implied sexuality has brought the term down the ranks.
answered Jul 5 '11 at 3:33
theidiotboxtheidiotbox
34315
1
Doesn't have to be sexual. Consider a tight body—in the sense of fitness rather than need of massage.
– Jon Purdy
Jul 5 '11 at 4:04
1
Definitely was sexual in my neighborhood.
– zenbike
Jul 5 '11 at 19:06
add a comment |
Based on cultural proximity, I'm relatively certain that the usage in question came from music. However, I'm going to go ahead and suggest that some implied sexuality has brought the term down the ranks.
answered Jul 5 '11 at 3:33
theidiotboxtheidiotbox
34315
1
Doesn't have to be sexual. Consider a tight body—in the sense of fitness rather than need of massage.
– Jon Purdy
Jul 5 '11 at 4:04
1
Definitely was sexual in my neighborhood.
– zenbike
Jul 5 '11 at 19:06
add a comment |
Based on cultural proximity, I'm relatively certain that the usage in question came from music. However, I'm going to go ahead and suggest that some implied sexuality has brought the term down the ranks.
answered Jul 5 '11 at 3:33
theidiotboxtheidiotbox
34315
Based on cultural proximity, I'm relatively certain that the usage in question came from music. However, I'm going to go ahead and suggest that some implied sexuality has brought the term down the ranks.
answered Jul 5 '11 at 3:33
theidiotboxtheidiotbox
34315
answered Jul 5 '11 at 3:33
theidiotboxtheidiotbox
34315
answered Jul 5 '11 at 3:33
theidiotboxtheidiotbox
34315
answered Jul 5 '11 at 3:33
theidiotboxtheidiotbox
34315
34315
1
Doesn't have to be sexual. Consider a tight body—in the sense of fitness rather than need of massage.
– Jon Purdy
Jul 5 '11 at 4:04
1
Definitely was sexual in my neighborhood.
– zenbike
Jul 5 '11 at 19:06
add a comment |
1
Doesn't have to be sexual. Consider a tight body—in the sense of fitness rather than need of massage.
– Jon Purdy
Jul 5 '11 at 4:04
1
Definitely was sexual in my neighborhood.
– zenbike
Jul 5 '11 at 19:06
1
1
Doesn't have to be sexual. Consider a tight body—in the sense of fitness rather than need of massage.
– Jon Purdy
Jul 5 '11 at 4:04
Doesn't have to be sexual. Consider a tight body—in the sense of fitness rather than need of massage.
– Jon Purdy
Jul 5 '11 at 4:04
1
1
Definitely was sexual in my neighborhood.
– zenbike
Jul 5 '11 at 19:06
Definitely was sexual in my neighborhood.
– zenbike
Jul 5 '11 at 19:06
add a comment |
Tight implies being well-designed. If something is designed to physically be tight, everything is held together firmly. Nothing sloppy. So the use of it to describe cool/great/slick is in reference to it being a good design, be it music, cars, a purse, or even relationships (it's good that those two people are together--they fit together well--they "tight").
answered Jan 20 '16 at 19:27
ThomasThomas
211
add a comment |
Tight implies being well-designed. If something is designed to physically be tight, everything is held together firmly. Nothing sloppy. So the use of it to describe cool/great/slick is in reference to it being a good design, be it music, cars, a purse, or even relationships (it's good that those two people are together--they fit together well--they "tight").
answered Jan 20 '16 at 19:27
ThomasThomas
211
add a comment |
Tight implies being well-designed. If something is designed to physically be tight, everything is held together firmly. Nothing sloppy. So the use of it to describe cool/great/slick is in reference to it being a good design, be it music, cars, a purse, or even relationships (it's good that those two people are together--they fit together well--they "tight").
answered Jan 20 '16 at 19:27
ThomasThomas
211
Tight implies being well-designed. If something is designed to physically be tight, everything is held together firmly. Nothing sloppy. So the use of it to describe cool/great/slick is in reference to it being a good design, be it music, cars, a purse, or even relationships (it's good that those two people are together--they fit together well--they "tight").
answered Jan 20 '16 at 19:27
ThomasThomas
211
answered Jan 20 '16 at 19:27
ThomasThomas
211
answered Jan 20 '16 at 19:27
ThomasThomas
211
answered Jan 20 '16 at 19:27
ThomasThomas
211
211
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by Mari-Lou A Jun 16 '16 at 8:13
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
Tight jeans are cool?
– Thursagen
Jul 5 '11 at 1:02
2
Possibly musically? - if someone is playing tight then their performance is extremely accurate and 'together'
– osknows
Jul 5 '11 at 1:14
1
Interesting.... this was posed to me today and something I never considered. It was suggested to me from a friend that it was sexual.... and is in fact why you find me here. I'd never heard that. I'm not sure there is always a basis of reasoning with slang. It's just something someone or group said that some thought was cool and it took off. Id like to stick with that, because I had never thought of it like that before... but thanks for confirming :(
– user13330
Sep 24 '11 at 5:50