- Sending a direct message (DM) to someone on a social media platform (like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook).
- Often carries a strong connotation of being unsolicited and having romantic or flirtatious intent, especially when messaging someone you don't know well or only follow online.
- Can occasionally be used more neutrally for initiating any private message, but the flirtatious undertone is common.
Explanation
Origin
- Emerged from internet and hip-hop culture slang in the mid-2010s.
- DMs is short for Direct Messages, the private messaging feature on many platforms.
- Sliding suggests a smooth, cool, perhaps stealthy or bold maneuver into someone's private inbox, often bypassing public interaction. The imagery implies confidence (or sometimes creepiness).
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Hit them up in the DMs
- DM'd them
- Shot my shot in the DMs
Milder/Neutral:
- Sent a direct message
- Messaged them privately
- Reached out via DM / Contacted them via DM
Situational Appropriateness
- Highly informal.
- Used primarily in discussions about social media, online dating, and internet culture. Avoid in professional or formal settings unless discussing the topic objectively (e.g., social media trends).
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The strong default connotation is flirtatious/romantic and often unsolicited. Using it for a purely platonic or professional message might confuse the listener if they assume the common meaning.
Examples
- He saw her profile and decided to slide into her DMs. (Flirtatious intent implied)
- Random strangers keep sliding into my DMs; it's annoying. (Unsolicited/unwelcome)
- I slid into the author's DMs to tell them how much I loved their book. (Less common, non-flirtatious use)
Dialogue
Friend 1: How did you end up going on a date with Maya? I didn't know you knew her.
Friend 2: I didn't, really. I just followed her on Instagram, liked a few pics, and then slid into her DMs.
Friend 1: Seriously? Just like that? What did you say?
Friend 2: Just kept it simple, said I liked her vibe and asked if she wanted to grab coffee sometime. Guess it worked!
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Normalize NOT sliding into DMs with 'hey' and nothing else. Put some effort in, people! 🙄 #dating #DMs
- Instagram Caption: (Meme photo of someone looking smooth) Me sliding into your DMs like...
- Reddit Post Title: What's the smoothest way someone has slid into your DMs?
Response Patterns
- To the message itself: Ignore, block, reply (positively, negatively, cautiously), amusement, annoyance.
- To someone talking about it: Curiosity (What did you/they say?), amusement (Smooth!), judgment (That's bold/creepy.), shared experiences.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
If someone says they slid into DMs:
- Ask about the outcome: Did they reply? / How did it go?
- Ask about the message content: What did you say?
If someone received such a DM:
- Ask about the sender/content: Who was it? / What did they say?
- Ask about their response: What did you do? / Did you reply?
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes a specific action. Can be used to *start a discussion about* the phenomenon: What's your take on sliding into DMs?
Intonation
- Emphasis often on SLIDING and DMs: SLIDing into their DMs.
- Tone can be playful, admiring (if successful), suggestive, creepy, annoyed, or neutral depending on the context and perspective.
Generation Differences
- Most commonly used and understood by Millennials and Gen Z. Older generations might be aware of it but use it less frequently.
Regional Variations
- Universal within English-speaking internet culture.