- A very casual way to admit responsibility for a minor mistake or fault.
- A brief acknowledgement of error.
Explanation
Origin
- Emerged in American English slang, strongly associated with urban and basketball culture in the 1970s/80s.
- Players would admit fault for a turnover or bad pass by tapping their chest and saying My bad.
- Gained wider popularity in the 1990s, especially among younger people.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Whoops / Whoopsie
- My blunder
- My screw-up (Slightly stronger)
- (Sometimes jokingly shortened to) My B
- That's on me
Vulgar/Emphatic (Used for admitting bigger mistakes, not directly synonymous):
- Yeah, I fucked up. / My fuck-up. (Acknowledging a serious error)
- Shit, my bad. (Still casual, but adds emphasis)
Milder/Standard/Formal:
- My mistake
- My fault
- I apologize
- Sorry / Sorry about that
- Beg your pardon (More formal/British)
Situational Appropriateness
- Highly informal.
- Suitable for minor errors among friends, peers, teammates, or in very casual settings.
- Avoid in formal situations (e.g., business meetings, interactions with clients or authorities) or for serious mistakes where a proper apology (I apologize) is required. Using it for a significant error can sound flippant or disrespectful.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers might find it *too* informal or insufficient for mistakes that seem more than trivial to them.
- Emphasize it's strictly for minor, everyday blunders. It can sound insincere or dismissive if the mistake had negative consequences for someone else.
Examples
- Oops, I bumped your elbow. My bad.
- I forgot to bring the snacks I promised. My bad, sorry!
- Sent that email to the wrong person. My bad.
Dialogue
Alex: Hey, you took my charging cable! I was looking for it.
Ben: Oh, whoops. My bad. Thought it was mine. Here you go.
Alex: No worries, thanks.
Social Media Examples
- Text Message: Hey, gonna be like 5 mins late, traffic is worse than I thought. My bad!
- Comment on a shared document: Oops, accidentally deleted that paragraph. My bad! Reverted.
- Twitter Reply: My bad, posted the wrong discount code earlier. Correct code is XYZ123!
Response Patterns
- Usually acceptance and minimization of the mistake.
- No problem.
- Don't worry about it.
- It's okay. / S'all good.
- No big deal. / No biggie.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- The speaker often takes immediate action to correct the mistake (My bad, let me clean that spill. / My bad, I'll send it again now.).
- The listener usually offers reassurance.
Conversation Starter
- No. Used immediately after making or realizing a minor mistake.
Intonation
- Casual, often quick, sometimes mumbled.
- Stress usually on bad: My BAD.
- Often accompanied by a slight shrug or apologetic gesture.
Generation Differences
- Very common among younger generations (Millennials, Gen Z).
- Understood by Gen X and some Boomers, but they might prefer My mistake or a simple Sorry. Its usage might sound overly casual or even slightly unprofessional to older ears in certain contexts.
Regional Variations
- Primarily American English in origin but now widely understood and increasingly used in other English-speaking regions (UK, Australia, etc.), especially among younger demographics influenced by American media and internet culture.