Did I use 'dope' in a wrong way? A guy from NY told me 'that is dope' means 'that's cool' . &nbsp;The other day, I attended a birthday party for my American colleague and there was a friend of his dan

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Damon

Did I use 'dope' in a wrong way? A guy from NY told me 'that is dope' means 'that's cool' . The other day, I attended a birthday party for my American colleague and there was a friend of his dancing cool. So I said to him ' you're so dope ' . But the look on his face was not like I was complementing him. But he didn't say anything, so I just want to know did I use it the wrong way?

Nov 18, 2016 11:07 AM

Comments · 8

I believe you used it correctly, though it is outdated. It's like saying, "Totally rad!" when that term is no longer popular.

November 18, 2016

I think it happens because this guy don't know about slangs.

The word is about drugs or lazy guys. But it also a slang and the meaning can be "adj. cool, nice, awesome".

Cool also can be: awesome / cool / sweet / wicked / sick / epic / dope / bad ass / tight / gnarly / insane / great / fantastic / incredible / the sh*t / bitchin (slightly vulgar)

November 18, 2016

"a dope" is a stupid person. This meaning of "dope" is widely known across the world. The person you spoke to may have thought you meant, "you're such a dope" = "you're such an idiot". That's an insult.

I've never heard the word "dope" used as an adjective to be mean "cool" but it may be a modern usage.

November 18, 2016

aw jeez

November 18, 2016

I think the slang meaning of "dope" has already come and gone. :) Slang tends to go in and out of fashion, so you can't expect any native speaker to accept slang phrases. I can think of a long list of Australian slang which is hilariously out of date.

November 18, 2016