Lifestyle

11 Singlish Phrases That Used to be Swag But Are Ghosted Now

2018-05-07 , 3:09 pm

Last Updated on 2020-12-06 , 7:03 pm

Here’s the thing: No matter what happens, Singlish is here to stay. And like any dialect, it will evolve through time, and with the Internet, it’s evolving even faster.

If you’ve noticed, there were several Singlish phrases that used to be hot as fire, but are no longer used that regularly now (except for those foreigners who are trying to pick up Singlish). Here’re 11 that have died as fast as they came; do you remember using any of them?

Best in Singapore and JB, some say Batam!
Made popular by Phua Chu Kang, this phrase is used to describe something that is sooooooo good, it’s really good. Now, the man in yellow boots is no longer hot (in fact, he has retired), and so is his catchphrase.

Don’t pray pray
Also made popular by Phua Chu Kang, this means “Don’t play play”, which itself is a Singlish as well. It generally means “don’t mess with it” or something close to it—well, it’s pretty hard to put a dictionary meaning to this, so let’s just say that its death hasn’t really made us miss it.

Stead
It can be used as both a verb and a noun, and it means “girlfriend / boyfriend”. Long ago, people “stead” with each other, and boyfriends / girlfriends are known as “steads”. A short form for steady, which still doesn’t make any sense but it never used to matter.

Sekali
It means “just in case”, but now, it has evolved to “curry”. Sounds better, right, since it’s two syllables instead of three!

Last time policemen wear shorts!
It means that times have changed—but now, people might have stopped using it because policemen are now wearing shorts again.

You play where one?
Gang members, or fake gang members, will ask others this to show their power. Now, when you ask someone this, they might just go, “Team Instinct.”

Not happy, talk outside
In the past, during an argument, kids will challenge others to a real physical fight outside a building. Now, this is pretty much extinct because the fight will now occur online. Maybe the new phrase is this: “Not happy, go Facebook / Instagram /Stomp la!”

Pass up
Usually used in schools, it means to hand in your homework. Since it is was used in school, teachers have discouraged the use of it and nowadays, people “hand in” homework instead of “pass up” homework. Good old days…

Sian 1/2
“Sian” is still used (though not that regularly nowadays), but the 1/2 is unexplainably gone. Sian 1/2.

Lim Peh
Maybe it’s not that “dead”, but less people are using it. We need another I Not Stupid movie to bring back the Lim Peh culture!
Oh, anyway, it simply means “I” for guys.

Mong mong cha cha
A Cantonese phrase for 矇矇查查, it means blur. But nowadays, less people are using Cantonese in Singapore, leading to its extinction.

Featured Image: Master1305 / Shutterstock.com

11 Singlish Phrases That Used to be Swag But Are Ghosted Now

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