Hey there! As a fellow tech geek and avid gamer, I‘m sure you‘ve heard the word "hit" used in some unfamiliar ways. It‘s one of those flexible slang terms that continues to evolve new meanings over time. I wanted to give you an in-depth look at the myriad slang definitions and uses of "hit" – from its origins to how us gamers apply it today. Grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and let‘s nerd out over lingo!
Hit as Success
One of the most ubiquitous slang usages of "hit" refers to something hugely popular or successful. A new song, movie, product or person can emerge as a "hit" seemingly overnight.
- When Taylor Swift releases a record-breaking single like "Anti-Hero", pop culture immediately deems it a "hit." In 2022 alone she had multiple songs chart in the Billboard Top 10, cementing her status as a consistent hit-maker.
- Or think back to when the iPhone first launched in 2007. Lines stretched around Apple stores globally. The iPhone was an instant hit, selling 1.4 million units in its first year according to CNBC. It revolutionized the mobile phone landscape overnight.
Similarly in gaming, a title that sells extremely well and racks up positive reviews is considered a hit. Look at the phenomenon of Elden Ring this year – selling 16.6 million copies worldwide in its first 6 months per Forbes. That‘s staggering for a hardcore action RPG! No debate, Elden Ring was a massive cross-platform hit.
So in informal lingo, "hit" conveys fast, widespread success. But interestingly, digging into the etymology, a "hit song" derives from the baseball meaning of "hit" as a successful stroke or play. As detailed by Grammarphobia, this baseball term originated in the 1787 book "The Origins of the New York Game of Base Ball". The slang meaning expanded beyond sports to the broader culture starting in the early 1900s.
Now we use "hit" flexibly across music, movies, products, stocks, and more. Marketers even calculate "hit rate metrics" to quantify success percentages. But the basis remains that instant, widespread popularity or sales sensation.
Hit as Attractiveness
In social settings, you may hear someone complain about getting "hit on" relentlessly last night. What does that imply? Essentially they were the target of persistent romantic or sexual advances.
- If a guy at a bar keeps invading a woman‘s space, buys her unwelcome drinks, makes lewd comments, and asks for her number, he‘s clearly "hitting on" her.
- A boss "hits on" a subordinate employee if he abuses his power to stroke her hair, make flattering comments about her looks, invite her on dates, etc.
Urban Dictionary defines "hitting on" as aggressively pursuing physical intimacy with someone. A "hitter" takes this to extremes – think the obnoxious pick-up artist type constantly on the prowl for a new hook-up or conquest.
But how did this meaning emerge? Well, it also draws from the world of sports! Starting around 1910, if a boxer landed many successful punches on his opponent, crowds would chant that he "really hit him hard" or "hit him where it hurts." As detailed by The Phrase Finder, this morphed into a physical metaphor for aggressively pursuing someone‘s affections.
Next time you‘re at a bar, party, or singles event, listen for this usage of "hit" in the wild. Chances are you‘ll overhear multiple pick-up artists hitting on targets with widely varying success rates!
Hit as Assault
Related to the concept of physical blows, take a "hit" also became slang for being attacked or abused. Unlike mutual sparring in sports, here the violent context is one-sided.
- Political groups may describe crackdowns by law enforcement as "taking hits" to undermine their cause.
- "Hitman" emerged as slang for a paid assassin or mercenary – their job is literally delivering lethal hits.
Urban Dictionary defines a "hit" in this context as any act of intentional destruction – from character assassination to arson. There‘s a clear aggressor inflicting the hit on a victim.
This ties back to early definitions of a "hit" as a blow, stroke, or punch. But over time it generalized beyond physical battery to any abuse, vandalism, or character attacks. Next time you hear about someone "taking a hit," it likely implies they were on the receiving end of an unjust action that caused harm or damage in some way.
Hit as Contact
Now as gamers, I‘m sure you‘ve typed "hit me up" in Discord or text threads countless times. When inviting friends to squad up and explore Azeroth or search for loot in the Metaverse, you want them to ping you.
- "Hit me up when you‘re on tonight and let‘s group up!"
- "I just unlocked a new operator skin – hit me up if you wanna play some Valorant!"
Urban Dictionary defines "hit me up" as reaching out to initiate contact with someone. It became mainstream slang with the rise of instant messaging in the 1990s and early text messaging. Unlike cold calling which can catch someone off-guard, "hit me up" implies they invite you to get in touch on their schedule.
So next time you see a Discord status like "Solo queueing but hmu!" you know they‘re inviting company for some multiplayer fun. They want friends to hit them up.
This highlights how "hit" blends meanings of achieving success (making contact) and physical metaphors (delivering a virtual "punch" by messaging someone). Our slang continues evolving with technology!
Hit as Drug Use
One slang definition you‘ll commonly encounter in media but hopefully not real life is "hit" referring to drugs. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, this usage emerged in the mid-20th century, especially for injected drugs like heroin.
For instance, you might hear a TV show reference:
- "He started sweating and showing other signs of withdrawal after not getting his hit."
- "She tracked down her dealer and begged him for just one more hit to get through the day."
Here "hit" refers to actively administering the drug – whether via injection, inhaling, or otherwise ingesting. Without that chemical hit, the addict‘s dependence kicks in and they suffer withdrawal.
Hopefully the only hits we get buzzed on are the kind that come with bragging rights in Call of Duty or League of Legends! But this meaning is still good to be aware of regarding the reality of addiction.
Hit as Guess
Now a more lighthearted definition of "hit" is in the phrase "hit or miss" – used to describe unpredictability or inconsistent results.
- You might see social media posts saying the new Matrix sequel was "hit or miss depending on whether you liked the original."
- In gaming, a player‘s accuracy with headshots or free throws could be "hit or miss."
The Grammarphobia blog traces this phrase back to the late 1800s. It combines the sports connotation of a successful hit/blow with the concept of missing or failing.
So next time you or a teammate pull off an epic maneuver or monumentally whiff, feel free to joke "Man, tonight has been hit or miss for me on Apex Legends!" It‘s a fun way we gamers use slang to bond and laugh about both our victories and blunders.
Hit as Impact
Lastly, we come to a very informal slang use of "hit" to mean collide, crash, or impact against. For example:
- "OMG, the race leader just hit the wall on lap 3!"
- "I was texting and hit the pole while walking down the street."
Here "hit" serves as casual shorthand for more precise verbs like smash, bump, slam, strike, etc. It‘s common in relaxed conversation but too vague for technical writing.
Still, next time you pull an all-nighter gaming and need an extra jolt of adrenaline, feel free to yell "Chug that energy drink then hit the gym!" Your friends will get the gist.
Origins and Evolution
As we‘ve discovered, "hit" has branched into many creative applications and continues expanding. Let‘s reflect briefly on its etymological origins.
- It first arose in Old English, initially meaning to meet, reach, or make contact.
- By the 1200s it expanded to mean striking or colliding as per Dictionary.com.
- By the late 1800s it gained traction in baseball slang, giving rise to the broader cultural usage.
Flash forward to 2021, where Billboard‘s Top 10 Hits included trending tracks like:
- "Levitating" by Dua Lipa
- "Kiss Me More" by Doja Cat ft. SZA
- "Save Your Tears" by The Weeknd
We‘ve come a long way from medieval jousting matches! Pop culture, sports, technology and social shifts will keep "hit" evolving with fresh slang meanings.
But at its core, "hit" still conveys:
- Success – "hit song/product"
- Making contact – "hit me up"
- Delivering an impact – "took a hit"
Next time you hear a newfangled slang phrase using "hit", see if you can break it down based on those fundamental building blocks. Have fun with it!
Well, we covered a ton of linguistic ground today! Let me know if you have any other burning questions on slang and internet culture. Whether it‘s gaming, memes, crypto, or tech, I‘m always down to nerd out over etymology and hidden meanings. Hit me up anytime!
