What Does the Slang Term 'NGL' Mean?

"Cambridge Dictionary says the term is mainly used when admitting something that might be embarrassing, or when someone is trying to tone down a criticism or complaint so it is less likely to offend the subject. It conveys a similar meaning as saying, "to be honest," "if I'm being honest" or "honestly" when delivering an opinion. The website uses examples including, "Ngl, I was staring at his photo for about half an hour," and "That was tough, ngl.""

"As a commonly used term, it can be found spelled out in either all capital letters or in lower case - the styling comes down to the preference of the user. And while this slang term is relatively straightforward, there are still plenty of folks who will see the acronym on their social media feeds or in a text message and not know what it means."

"Much like the terms " big back" and " flop era," NGL can't be traced back to one originator. But experts have been able to narrow down the time at which it became more widely used and recognized. The abbreviation was added to Urban Dictionary as part of a larger saying in the early 2000s, but the first time it was added on its own was January 2009, according to the submissions visible on the crowdsourced dictionary of social and cultural phrases."

NGL stands for not gonna lie and functions as a shorthand signal of candid admission or opinion. The acronym groups words to represent one thought or feeling and helps set tone for what follows. Cambridge Dictionary identifies uses such as admitting something embarrassing or toning down criticism to avoid offending. The phrase conveys meanings similar to to be honest, if I'm being honest or honestly. Examples include 'Ngl, I was staring at his photo for about half an hour' and 'That was tough, ngl.' The term appears in upper or lower case depending on user preference. Urban Dictionary first recorded the phrase in the early 2000s and listed NGL on its own in January 2009.

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