Skip to main content
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.

Chasing the dragon or chasing dragons 

The term "chasing the dragon" or "chasing dragons" refers to a situation where someone is repeating a theme or pattern in life hoping to find the same results experienced a prior time. An experience of significant impact is the catalyst associated with good times, improvements, enhancements, happiness, pleasures, dreams coming true, etc. One is said to be chasing dragons when they seek to repeat this pattern hoping for the same results experienced the first time.
He has been chasing the dragon or chasing dragons looking for another high school sweetheart ever since they broke up.

That band has been chasing the dragon since their first single looking for another hit.

Chasing the dragon 

This term is a bit more complicated than merely "smoking opium". It starts when you have your first high, the world is peaceful, everything is perfect, you're numb, but in the best way possible. But, soon, it starts wearing off. Fast. Your mind races, you're pulled out of your dream world. You crave the drug more and more, wanting to feel the same way as you did on your first high. You go to the dealer and buy the same amount you had the first time, and smoke. Still feels good, but not as good as first time. You go and buy more. Closer, but not quite there. You're stuck, you don't know what to do. You want to go back to that little dream world and stay forever, but your body is already developing a tolerance. You panic. You use all your money to buy more and more and more, but still, not the same as that first time. You realize that you have no more money, so you start selling your things, pawning whatever could get you that next bag. Still, nothing compared to what you had on that first, magical time. So, you're broke and own nothing. But you don't care, all you care about is getting back to the first high. You start stealing, doing "favors", whatever gets you the money for the attempt. Your life becomes a living hell, all in search of a repeat of the first high. That's chasing the dragon.
I doubt an example is necessary here.
Chasing the dragon by Woody. December 29, 2004

Chasing the Dragon Tail 

When you take an opioid and heat it with a lighter on tinfoil, you have a straw and inhale the fumes from burning the pill, then you take the liquid that was once the pill in the tinfoil and shoot it up.
Lastnight we arrested a guy who was Chasing the Dragon Tail

Chasing the Dragon 

Doing everything you can to obtain that same "high" you got from the first time you tried a drug, but never quite getting there due to the body developing a natural tolerance. Originally in reference to opium addiction, this term now refers to any drug.
"That first pot cookie got me so high, but now every time I eat marijuana I'm chasing the dragon."
Chasing the Dragon by jpc1 February 26, 2010

Chasing the dragon 

Smoking heroin off of a piece of tin foil. As the heroin rolls across the tin foil, the smoke moves with it and looks like a dragon. The user follows the smoke with their straw, hence "Chasing the dragon".
He's run out of needles, so he's chasing the dragon instead.
Chasing the dragon by Ye Old Prawn September 30, 2008

chasing the dragon 

Originally in reference to feeding an opium addiction, this can refer to ploughing through any task past the point of diminishing returns, with disregard to one's own health, sanity or well-being.
We shot 16 hours yesterday, so rather than go to sleep, I had a couple espressos and followed it with a handful of vivarin to work through the night. It's 9:00 AM and by this point, I'm just chasing the dragon.
chasing the dragon by Tim Toon August 23, 2007
More from Urban Dictionary

No Surprises Wedding

A "No Surprises Wedding," or NSW, is a wedding invitation designation that tells attendees that there can be no unplanned announcements, engagements, events or speeches at the wedding - all actions must be pre-approved by the couple. Anyone who performs an unapproved "surprise" will be asked to leave the wedding early.

This designation comes from Reddit, where so many stories of bad wedding behavior indicated a need to communicate expectations for the wedding behavior of attendees.
You are cordially invited to the nuptials of Brian and Tom on October 31 at noon.

Please note that this wedding is child-free (under 10) and a No Surprises Wedding (NSW). Reach out to wedding planner Sami Smith to request approvals or exceptions; please note that exceptions will be rare. Limited child care for under-10s will be available. All approvals will be noted and included in planning. Unapproved, or surprise exceptions, will result in guests being asked to leave.
Word of the Day on November 8, 2026
Ulzzang true definition is "best & "face" = best face in korean. They are basically people with above average looks, sometimes with the use of photoshop and haduri who post their pics online, some becoming internet celebrities.
"Hey, see that chick over there? She's pretty enough to be an ulzzang. :D"
ulzzang by `r i k kit t y February 26, 2008
Word of the Day on November 7, 2026
EBK stands for "Elite Ball Knowledge." 1 In internet slang, "ball knowledge" originally referred to a deep understanding of football/soccer or basketball, but it has evolved into a broader term for having a highly sophisticated, deep, or niche understanding of any specific topic (such as music, movies, or subcultures).
Person A: "That scene was a direct homage to an unreleased 1982 Japanese indie film."
Person B: "Wow, EBK."
EBK by silwhett November 5, 2026
Word of the Day on November 6, 2026
A seemingly endless debate with a idiot
I don't know man im not ready for yap trap stupidity today which always tries to suck you into it
Yap Trap by WolfieSnack November 4, 2026
Word of the Day on November 5, 2026
Texas is categorized as a swing state in presidential elections, but has voted for Republicans more times than for Democrats in recent history. As such, as demographics change political alignments, some Democrats believe that Texas will vote blue, or Democratic, due to their Hispanic and African American voters, who often align themselves with the Democratic Party's liberal wing.

Blexas has been cited as possible in the upcoming decades, but only if Democrats continue to win the Hispanic vote in bigger margins.
Democrat 1: What is your prediction for the 2024 presidential election?
Democrat 2: Well uh, Blexas!
Democrat 1: You've been saying that since 2008 though.
Blexas by Tritonist June 14, 2021
Word of the Day on November 4, 2026

briefcake 

"Did you check out the briefcake in courtroom C?"
briefcake by Ben Frey April 6, 2006
Word of the Day on November 3, 2026
Load more