What is Squid Game slang? An In-Depth Look at the Many Meanings of This Trendy Term

Hey friend! Have you noticed people using the word "squid" in some odd ways lately? As a self-proclaimed data geek with a passion for the latest digital trends, I couldn‘t help but dive into the many slang meanings of this suddenly popular word.

In this post, I‘ll provide a deep dive into the various slang uses and connotations of "squid" – from money and motorcycles to the cultural impact of the Netflix show Squid Game. Let‘s get into it!

Squid as Money

One of the most common slang uses of "squid" relates to money and currency.

• In British slang, it‘s been used to mean "one pound sterling" since at least the 1950s. Fun fact – the earliest known use was actually in a dictionary of criminal slang from 1859, where it was defined as "a sovereign".

• Across English-speaking countries, "squid" can refer to cash or money in general. For example:

  • "Can you loan me some squid?"
  • "I‘m a bit low on squid at the moment."

• Specifically, in financial trading lingo, "squid" is slang for 100,000 units of a currency. For instance, 100,000 US dollars is sometimes nicknamed a "squid" by traders and investors to distinguish it from a million or a billion dollars.

Now where does this monetary meaning come from? There are a few origin theories:

• The inky liquid squirted by squids resembling the dark color of banknote printing ink.

• Old British one pound coins depicting a squid-like sea creature on the reverse side.

• Cockney rhyming slang – "squid" sounds similar to "quid", British slang for a pound.

According to my research, the rhyming slang theory seems most plausible. But the squid‘s inky association with money is also quite apt!

Squid as Motorcycle Slang

In motorcyclist circles, "squid" takes on a more negative connotation. It refers to:

• A rider who lacks proper protective gear like leather jackets, full-face helmets, motorcycle gloves, etc.

• Someone who rides recklessly at high speeds without necessary skill.

Essentially, a "squid" is an unsafe, foolish motorcycle daredevil. The term stands for:

Stupidly Quick, Underdressed, and Imminently Dead

A vivid image, and certainly not a compliment! This unflattering use of "squid" comes from the idea that reckless riders are prone to crashing and ending up splattered on the pavement like the sea creature.

According to data from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• In 2019, over 5,000 motorcyclists died in crashes on US roads.

• Lack of helmet use accounted for over 1,500 of these fatalities.

• Speeding was a factor in almost 2,000 deaths.

So squids really do have alarmingly high risks of deadly accidents. Wearing protective gear and riding responsibly could save thousands of lives each year.

As a motorcyclist yourself, I‘m sure you‘ve noticed squids being a danger to themselves and others on the road. So that‘s the unflattering meaning of squid in biker terminology.

Squid Game References

Most recently, the runaway success of the Korean thriller TV series Squid Game has brought this mollusk into mainstream slang.

The show‘s name ties back to a classic South Korean playground game called "squid game" or "octopus game" played by children in the 1970s-1980s. Much like Red Rover or tag, it involved two teams competing to take down the "squid" player in the middle.

Capitalizing on this nostalgic childhood reference, the Netflix show uses children‘s games with deadly twists to depict cash-strapped adults fighting for survival and the chance to win billions of won. It became Netflix‘s most watched series ever, with:

• Over 1.65 billion viewing hours in the first 4 weeks after launch.

• Ranking #1 in 90 countries.

• Google searches for "squid game" surging by 41,000% since its debut.

Naturally, the squid emoji 🦑 started trending on social media as fans discussed the series. It‘s often used as shorthand to represent Squid Game or quote famous lines like:

• "Red light! Green light!" – the creepy giant doll.

• "Dalgona candy" – the Korean sugar treat featured in one episode.

• "Ddakji" – the paper-flipping game played by main characters.

So while not "slang" per se, the squid emoji serves as a pop culture marker tying back to the show‘s meteoric rise. Given Squid Game‘s sheer magnitude, the cephalopod visual is likely to persist in digital communication for years to come.

Beyond Squid Game: Other Squid Slang

Beyond the prominent meanings above, I stumbled upon some other slang uses of our mollusk friend:

• In Australia, "squid lid" means a motorcycle helmet – more rhyming slang!

• "Squidding" or "squidifying" describes riding a motorcycle extremely recklessly.

• In fishing, "dirty squid" refers to whole unprocessed squid used as bait, which is extra "fragrant" and attractive to fish.

• The term "squid" is sometimes used as an acronym for Silly, Quick, Underdressed, Imminently Dead – a variation of the motorcycle squid meaning.

So in the end, this lowly sea creature has inspired quite the range of slang indeed!

The Takeaway: Consider Context to Decipher Squid Slang

Hopefully this breakdown demystifies the many slang meanings around this suddenly trendy word. Whether it‘s money, motorbikes, or TV shows, "squid" has certainly made linguistic waves.

The next time you hear "squid" used colloquially, consider the context to decipher whether it refers to cash, reckless riding, or just enthusiastic fans of the hit Netflix series.

And if you‘re ever riding a motorcycle, be safe and don‘t "squid"! Protective gear is cool, dying young is not.

Let me know if you have any other squid slang sightings or theories about this funny little word! Chat soon,
Terry