Shopping isn’t just about buying things anymore. In 2025, it’s about hunting, flipping, flexing, and justifying — and the slang around it is half the fun. Whether it’s thrifting, chasing dupes, or dropping cash on drip, people narrate their shopping habits like a storyline.
Nobody just says “I bought new shoes.” Instead, it’s:
- “Dupe game strong.”
- “Caught this drip at the thrift.”
- “Retail therapy but on clearance.”
Here’s how we talk about spending, saving, and showing off in 2025.
🛍️ Core Shopping Slang
Drip
- Meaning: Clothes or accessories that look stylish, usually luxury-inspired.
- Example (IG Caption): “Fit dripping too hard.”
- Roots: Hip-hop slang, still dominant online.
Dupe
- Meaning: A cheaper version of an expensive product.
- Example (TikTok): “Amazon dupe for $600 designer bag — game changer.”
Thrift Flip
- Meaning: Buying secondhand items and customizing/reselling them.
- Example (Threads): “Made $80 off a thrift flip. Worth it.”
Retail Therapy
Stealth Wealth
- Meaning: Expensive clothes that don’t look flashy, flexing subtlety.
- Example (IG Story): “Stealth wealth, no logos.”
👜 Everyday Shopping Slang
Cart Abandoner
- Meaning: Someone who always fills their cart online but never checks out.
- Example (Discord): “My cart’s $700. I’m a cart abandoner again.”
Secondhand Flex
- Meaning: Bragging about thrift or resale finds.
- Example (IG Caption): “Vintage jacket, $15. Secondhand flex.”
Impulse Cop
- Meaning: Buying something spontaneously.
- Example (Threads): “Didn’t need it, impulse cop.”
Clearance King/Queen
- Meaning: Someone proud of getting only sale items.
- Example (IG Story): “Whole fit $40. Clearance queen behavior.”
Window Shopping Era
- Meaning: Looking at things without buying.
- Example (TikTok Caption): “Living in my window shopping era.”
📱 Platform-Specific Shopping Talk
TikTok
- Dupe Reviews: Side-by-side comparisons of cheap vs luxury.
- Impulse Cop POVs: Skits about instant regret.
- Thrift Flip Edits: Before-and-after sewing or styling videos.
- Drip Fit Pics: Full outfits posted as flexes.
- Secondhand Flex Stories: Highlighting thrift finds.
- Clearance Carousels: Posting entire discount hauls.
Discord & Group Chats
- Cart Screenshots: Friends roasting full carts never purchased.
- Impulse Cop Confessions: “Why did I just buy this at 2 a.m.?”
- Window Shopping Memes: Sharing links with no intent to buy.
Threads & X (Twitter)
- Stealth Wealth Posts: Flexing minimal, logo-free outfits.
- Retail Therapy Rants: Posting about shopping after stress.
- Clearance Jokes: Celebrating sale finds as personality traits.
Pull Quote:
“Shopping slang turns spending and saving into flexes we can all laugh at.”
🧩 Why Shopping Slang Works
- It normalizes spending. Calling it retail therapy softens guilt.
- It creates status. Drip and stealth wealth signal taste.
- It makes broke life funny. Clearance queen is a badge of honor.
- It’s platform-ready. Fits right into captions, memes, and resale posts.
📊 Quick Table
| Slang Term | Meaning | Example Use | Where It Shows Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drip | Stylish clothes/accessories | “Fit dripping too hard” | IG, TikTok |
| Dupe | Cheap version of luxury item | “Amazon dupe for $600 bag” | TikTok, IG |
| Thrift Flip | Resell/customize secondhand finds | “$80 profit off thrift flip” | Threads, TikTok |
| Retail Therapy | Shopping as coping mechanism | “Retail therapy on clearance” | IG, Threads |
| Stealth Wealth | Subtle expensive style | “Stealth wealth vibes” | Threads, IG |
| Cart Abandoner | Not checking out carts | “Cart $700, never bought” | Discord, memes |
| Secondhand Flex | Bragging thrift deals | “$15 jacket, secondhand flex” | IG, TikTok |
| Impulse Cop | Buying spontaneously | “Impulse cop regret” | Threads, IG |
| Clearance Queen | Pride in discounts | “Whole fit $40, clearance queen” | IG Stories |
| Window Shopping Era | Browsing w/out buying | “Window shopping era” | TikTok captions |
🔚 Final Reflection
Shopping slang doesn’t just describe purchases — it makes them part of the culture. From dupes to drip, cart abandoners to clearance queens, it’s about identity as much as style.
Because in 2025, the checkout isn’t the end of the story. The slang — and the memes — keep it alive long after the purchase.
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