51 Gay Slang Phrases You’ve Never Heard Before

In which we cover all the best gay slang terms…

Many of us are familiar with common gay slang like “kiki” or “trade,” but have you ever heard of a “Lucky Pierre” a “Ring Snatcher?” If you haven’t, you might be one — and you don’t even know.

Compiled from dictionaries and glossaries featuring centuries of queer slang from around the globe, here are 50 uncommon or out-of-use phrases that you should commit to memory. “Over the bridge to Pimpleton” we go.

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1. Angel food (n.) – homosexual male pilot currently serving in the Air Force.

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2. Basket shopping (v.) – when cruising or checking someone out, British term refers to examining the object of your affection’s private areas through their clothing.

3. Beat (adj.) – extremely wonderful or great, “fabulous.” Example: “Did you see her at the club tonight? That look was beat.”

4. Bulldagger (n.) – a masculine woman, closely related to “butch lesbian.” Also see: “Diesel lesbian,” term referring to queer women who look like truck drivers.

5. Chapstick lesbian (n.) – queer identified woman who is sporty and athletic. The word denotes that she’s the not the type to wear makeup (ala a “lipstick lesbian”) and goes for a more natural look.

6. Chicken (n.) – a young homosexual male seeking older men; see also: Chicken hawk, referring to an older gay male looking for younger partners.

7. Cottaging (v.) – British slang for hooking up in public restrooms.

8. Donald Duck (n.) – a homosexual male who is dishonorably discharged from the Navy for their sexuality; see also: “Dishonorable Discharge,” or masturbating solo after trying to pick someone up and failing.

9. Doris Day (n.) – 90s South African slang for Gay Pride. Example: “The gays will march on Doris Day.”

10. Eyeball queen (n.) – person who derives pleasure from watching others engage in intercourse.

11. Fanny bellhop (n.) – gay male employed by the hospitality industry, such as a concierge or a bellhop at a hotel.

12. Fish and chips (n.) – pejorative 90s British slang for the spouse and children of a married “heterosexual” lover.

13. Full house (n.) – term used to denote having more than one Sexually Transmitted Infection at once.

14. Girl scout (n.) – military man on leave, currently seeking sex.

15. Grimm’s fairy (n.) – often used to describe an aging gay male, similar to “auntie”

16. Hetty (n.) – shortened version of the word “heterosexual,” similar to “hetero” or “het.”

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17. Horatian (n.) – from the late 19th century, term used at Oxford amongst Lord Byron and his compatriots to refer to a bisexual person; see also: “Gillette blade,” referring to a bisexual female.

18. Hoyden (n.) – slang from Britain in the 16th century to refer to an untameable, wild woman or a tomboy.

19. Ice cream (n.) – someone so sweet that you have the desire to lick them.

20. In sisters (n.) – two effeminate gay men who have an intimate but non-sexual relationship, usually best friends.

22. Iron closet (n.) – individual in deep denial about their own sexuality, one who might never come out.

24. Lacy (adj.) – used to refer to an very effeminate homosexual male.

25. Lounge lizard (n.) – someone who frequents bars, trying to pick up other peoples’ mates.

26. Lucky Pierre (n.) – the middleman in an Eiffel Tower.

27. Miss Congeniality (n.) – extremely negative term referring to an unlikable or “bitchy” homosexual male.

28. Mother Superior (n.) – older and wiser gay male who has been around the block a few times; similar to “auntie,” but more favorable.

29. Nine-dollar bill (n.) – extremely outward homosexual, one three-times more flaming than someone who is “queerer than a three-dollar bill.”

30. On the make (adj.) – single person eligible for dating or casual sex. See also: “In circulation.”

31. Orphan (n.) – someone who has recently been broken up with.

32. Over the bridge to Pimpleton (n.) – cumbersome term for homosexual sex.

33. Passion fruit (n.) – old Hollywood term referring to an extremely straight-acting and traditionally masculine male.

34. Ring snatcher (n.) – during sex, the person who performs the bottom role. Also see: “Pratt.”

35. Rumpy-Rumpy (n.) – homosexual intercourse; see also: “Bumper to Bumper,” referring to lesbian vaginal sex.

36. Sappho Daddy-o (n.) – gay male who enjoys the company of lesbians, similar to “Fruit Fly” for straight women.

37. Saturday Night Lesbian (n.) – term for lesbians who present themselves as heterosexual on their normal weekdays and may be in the closet to friends and co-workers.

38. Slacks (n.) – no-longer-in-use term to refer to a lesbian; see also: “Muffer” or “Kissing Fish.”

39. Smurf (n.) – another term for twink, usually more pejorative, as it implies a “bitchy” demeanor.

40. Tinkerbelle (n.) – queer man who enjoys being urinated upon.

41. Ursula (n.) – queer woman who hangs out with “bears;” also called a “Goldilocks.”

42. Vampire (n.) – gay men who go out looking for hookups late at night.

43. Vegetarian (n.) – homosexual male who will not give oral.

44. Warm bruder (n.) – German phrase used to identify a gay male; “warm” is German slang for “homosexual.”

Note: If you live in Germany, you’ve definitely heard this one. English and American German-speakers have a bad habit of saying “Ich bin warm” on hot days, not knowing what they are actually saying.

45. Wendy (n.) – a Caucasian person.

46. Wolf (n.) – gay male who is neither a twink nor a bear, but falls somewhere in between the two poles; similar to a cub.

47. Wrinkle room (n.) – pejorative term for a bar whose clientele primarily consists of older gays.

48. Yard boy (n.) – gay male who enjoys having sex in public, particularly in outdoor venues.

49. Yestergay (n.) – former homosexual who now identifies as straight, also referred to as “ex-gays.”

50. Zanie (n.) – archaic 19th century phrase referring to a male homosexual

51. Zipper club (n.) – a sex party or orgy that takes place in a public area, like a bathhouse or a bar.

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Note: Autostraddle has a great list of lady-centric queer phrases, some of which were included here. Check out the rest on their site. Madison Moore also has a list explaining all the best gay black slang.