MADRID / AGILITYPR.NEWS / July 15, 2025 / As part of World Youth Skills Day (15 July), the British Council – the United Kingdom’s organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities – presents Phrase-ology, a collection of 100 idioms, proverbs and phrases that shed light on the evolution of the English language and the role played by different generations in shaping it. The research categorises phrases into eight groups, including those unique to Gen Z, which reflect the bold self-expression, identity and affirmation typical of this generation, aged under 30.

Shaped by digital culture and social media, Gen Z’s language brings performance and playfulness to everyday life. The British Council’s latest work offers young generations a free resource to continue learning and developing their English skills.

Led by computational linguistics expert Dr Barbara McGillivray and Natural Language Processing specialist Iacopo Ghinassi, the Phrase-ology research analysed millions of online documents to track the emergence and frequency of expressions. The British Council then curated a final list of 100 phrases, each with an intriguing backstory.

“This latest study into the evolution of English explores the phrases we use to express shared ideas and experiences – it shows how much English is shaped by people around the world and how it continues to grow and adapt,” says Mark Walker, Director of English & Exams at the British Council.

Gen Z Dictionary: 11 English Phrases to Speak Their Language

1. Main character energy. It describes someone with confidence and presence, like the star of their own film. Celebrating self-belief, acting with intention and romanticising everyday life. Sometimes playfully mocking attention-seeking behaviour. This phrase has been popularised through TikTok trends and social media.
2. To glow up. A striking personal transformation in confidence, appearance or personal milestones. A major trend on TikTok and Instagram, often used to celebrate self-improvement, before-and-after progress or life transitions. May be a play on ‘grow up’, also used by Millennials.
3. Understood the assignment. First popularised in the 2010s, this TikTok-linked phrase means someone has achieved a task or exceeded expectations with confidence, flair or accuracy.
4. Let them cook. An encouraging, often playful phrase meaning ‘let them do their thing’. Used to cheer someone on, show trust in their skill or support them trying something new, without interference or criticism. Popularised in US sports and rap by Lil B.
5. To say less. First appearing in the 2010s, this phrase means ‘I get it’ or ‘understood’. It likely comes from African American English and replaces ‘say no more’. Shared with older adult generations.
6. No cap. First used in 2011, a slang term meaning ‘no lie’ or ‘I’m serious’, from African American English where ‘cap’ means exaggeration or falsehood.
7. To spill the tea. Emerging in the 2000s, this phrase means to share gossip or inside info. Rooted in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and LGBTQ+ culture, it rose in popularity through RuPaul’s Drag Race.
8. To live rent free in someone’s head. First used in the 2010s, this phrase means something or someone is stuck in your thoughts – often annoyingly – without effort or permission. Familiar also to the Millennial generation.
9. Ate and left no crumbs. First used in the 2010s, this slang phrase means to do something flawlessly. It began in New York’s ballroom scene within Black and Latino LGBTQ+ culture.
10. To hit different. First used in 2019 to describe something that affects you in a unique or powerful way. Originates from metaphoric use of ‘hit’ in LGBTQ+ culture. Also features to a lesser extent in older adult usage.
11. YOLO / you only live once. Encouraging people to take risks and seize the moment, YOLO became a cultural catchphrase popularised by the rapper and singer Drake in 2011 – though the phrase itself dates to the 1800s. As a centuries-old philosophy, it continues to resonate across older, Millennial and Gen Z generations.