pause
n.— «Pause is a game that started out in NY in the mid-late 90s.The way its played is if ur speaking and ur about to say something thats gonna sound gay or homo-ish you have to say “pause” b4 you say it or right after b4 anybody else catches it, if you don’t anyone who hears you say the gay statement gets to say “pause” and everyone clowns you for being a homo.Its funny because sometimes you’ll say something that sounds very gay and not realize it until you hear someone screaming “PAUSE!”» —“NBA DRAFT 2007—Spike Lee talks with Gus Johnson” by illwill718 YouTube July 10, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
How do social media algorithms shape the way we communicate? A new book argues that the competition for clicks is changing the way we speak and write, from the so-called “YouTube accent” to the surprising evolution of the word preppy. Also: A...
The so-called “lifestyle influencer accent” you hear in videos on TikTok and YouTube, where someone speaks with rising tones at the end of sentences and phrases, suggesting that they’re about to say something important, is a form of what linguists...