- An extremely emphatic and vulgar way of saying Absolutely or Yes. It signifies complete and enthusiastic agreement or affirmation.
Explanation
Origin
- A formation where the expletive fucking is inserted into the word absolutely for maximum emphasis (tmesis). Fucking acts as an infix intensifier.
- This type of infixing with expletives is a feature of informal, expressive English, common from the mid-20th century onwards.
- Combines the certainty of absolutely with the raw emphasis of fucking.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal (without strong vulgarity):
- Totally!
- 100%
- For real
- You know it!
Vulgar/Emphatic (other options):
- Fuckin' A
- Damn straight
- You're goddamn right (More assertive confirmation than pure enthusiasm)
Milder/Standard:
- Absolutely!
- Certainly!
- Most definitely!
- Without question.
Situational Appropriateness
- Extremely informal and vulgar. Only appropriate among close friends or in contexts where swearing is common and accepted.
- Completely inappropriate in formal, professional, polite, or public settings. Use carries a high risk of causing offense.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners must understand this is highly vulgar and its use is restricted to very specific informal contexts.
- There is no subtle meaning; it's purely strong, enthusiastic, vulgar affirmation.
Examples
- Person A: Are you coming to the party tonight? Person B: Abso-fucking-lutely!
- Person A: Is this the best burger you've ever had? Person B: Abso-fucking-lutely.
- Do I regret it? Abso-fucking-lutely not!
Dialogue
Bandmate 1: Dude, that last riff sounded amazing! Should we keep it?
Bandmate 2: Abso-fucking-lutely! That's the hook right there!
Bandmate 1: Sick! Let's jam on it.
Social Media Examples
- (Reply to Should I buy these shoes?): Abso-fucking-lutely! They look amazing on you!
- (Celebrating): Did we just win the championship?! ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY!!!! 🏆🎉
- (In a funny meme context): Picture of a dog happily eating steak. Caption: Are you enjoying that? Dog: Abso-fucking-lutely.
Response Patterns
- Similar responses to Hell yes: shared enthusiasm (Awesome!, Great!).
- Laughter due to the emphatic and vulgar nature.
- Acknowledgment of the strong agreement.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone says Abso-fucking-lutely:
- The conversation proceeds based on the enthusiastic agreement, often moving to action or further excited discussion.
- The sheer emphasis often leaves little room for doubt or further questioning on the agreement itself.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's an emphatic response.
Intonation
- Very strong stress, typically on fucking, but also Ab and lutely. AB-so-FUCKING-LUTELY.
- Often delivered with high energy, enthusiasm, or conviction.
Generation Differences
- More common among younger generations (Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z) who are generally more relaxed about casual swearing, but understood by most adults.
Regional Variations
- Common in informal American, British, Australian, and other English varieties. The pattern of infixing expletives is widespread.