-lime (verb), lime (noun), liming (noun)-
"lime" is a Trinidadian word, which means to socialize and hang out. A "lime" is any event where you socialize and hang out. But the fact that there is a specific *word* for socializing and hanging out emphasizes how important this activity is, gives it high priority, and makes
people more prone to do it on a regular basis. "hanging out" is like
something you do when you don'
t have any better plans, or your plans fall through: you invite someone to come over, they ask you what'
s going on, you might say "just hanging out", or, you were planning to go a
party but plans fall through so you decide to settle for "just hanging out" instead.
In Trinidad, liming is a respectable alternative to having a barbecue, going out to a bar, partying, or seeing a movie. On a Friday night you will invite 10
people over to your house and tell them you're having a lime, and they will all show up, sit in your living room, and enjoy themselves liming all night. You don'
t have to entice them to come or structure the social event with a movie, games, barbecue, or plans to go out (although all of these things are liming as well). When you walk some friends back to their car after a movie or
party, instead of just saying goodbye and driving
home, it'
s completely natural for
people to spontaneously decide to stand up outside their car and lime for the next couple hours (this could be called a parking lot lime). Passing the
time with various weekend and evening hobbies doesn'
t really happen in Trinidad, because every Trinidadian's primary form of entertainment is... LIMING!