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To ask someone to explain something.

The first known occurence of this bastardization of the word "explain" is found in the "Chosen" episode of the television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer".

Currently in heavy usage on message boards everywhere.
ANGEL: I brought something else as well.

(He removes a silver amulet with a multi-faceted crystal at its center from his pocket.)

BUFFY: I can already tell you, I have nothing that goes with that.

ANGEL: It’s not for you.

BUFFY: Splainy?
Splainy by pareidolic May 6, 2004
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splainy? 

explain, please? expression of bafflement, request for information. from 'explain'.
A: Of course, that might indicate a negative correlation between X and....
B...splainy?
splainy? by melaka67 July 20, 2008
Related Words

Shame-splaining 

Shaming or otherwise guilting another party for not sharing the same belief or value system as yourself in an attempt to alter their opinion. This can involve haphazard labeling, or insults of the cursory nature.
James engaged in shame-splaining by calling Pete narrow-minded for his beliefs on gun control, before expressing how gun control should work and how wrong Pete was.

splainer 

Using humor and fun to explain things and make them understandable. Splainers often rely on one (or sometimes all) of the following: theme, metaphor (sometimes mixed-metaphors), props, situation, etc…
Jenny cracked me up. Her splainer about how satellite radio works involved coconuts, tin foil, gum wrappers and an Emeril Lagasse beet juicer.
splainer by MementoMMN July 17, 2010

Post-splaining 

Post-splaining- noun, gerund; when your political opinions are so brilliant, clever & flawless, posting them on all social media platforms is required so all the world can know the real truth.
I don't like it when my Facebook friends are post-splaining what I should think about the President's politics
Post-splaining by Mobilepreacher January 21, 2020

Nola-splaining 

When someone tells you how shit you are at something, without acknowledging you’re feelings, or the fact that you don’t care about this opinion.
It’s only Nola-splaining when the opinion is in no way whatsoever constructive or useful
P1: “oh look, I made this drawing”
P2: “it’s really bad”
P1: “what? Why?”
P2: “it just... looks bad.”
P3: “god she’s Nola-splaining again.”
Nola-splaining by Angry friend. August 20, 2019

Splaining 

Explaining something in a slightly condescending, patronizing manner, while a) assuming the person you're talking to isn't knowledgeable about the subject, b) likely believing you know more about it than you actually do, and c) thinking they must need to hear your wisdom.

Can be used as a suffix to indicate the topic being 'splained, e.g., dog-splaining, car-splaining
#1)

"I just got a puppy and you would not believe how many people dog-splain to me how I should train it or what its breed is like. They all think they're expert animal trainers."

#2)

Person A: "Hey man, I got a chance to look at your YouTube videos. You know, channels get more views when they have attention grabbing thumbnails. You might want to try that. Also, one way to get more engagement is to have an introduction that..."

Person B: "Dude, stop YouTube-splaining me. I run my own channel. You think I don't know about all that stuff already?"
Splaining by CommanderFerret March 18, 2021
More from Urban Dictionary
The phenomenon where adults salivate at children's toys
Every time I walk into the toy aisle, I catch myself kidulting over the latest action figures and LEGO sets!
kidulting by Emotional Cruiser October 12, 2025
Word of the Day on October 4, 2026
British slang for a scientist or technical expert, esp . when the speaker is not certain of the expert’s specific field of study. Not necessarily derogatory, but typically used by persons without a technical background. In the US, the equivalent would be “egghead”, “squint”, or “geek.”

Origin of the word is unknown. Started sometime in World War 2. Given the typical evolution of British slang, could easily have started because what these experts did was confusing or “baffling” to the common person.
According to the boffins downstairs, the murderer used a serrated blade.
Boffin by Agnon February 11, 2023
Word of the Day on October 3, 2026

Pee Calculus

When you have to pee in a movie but don’t want to miss anything, and must do the following mental equation: will the amount I have to pee cause enough discomfort to diminish my attention capacity for the remainder of the movie to an extent which is greater than the amount of the movie I would miss by making a mad dash to the restroom.
I saw Satantango last night, wonderful film but by the 5th hour I had to start doing pee calculus.
Pee Calculus by anorlondo October 1, 2026
Word of the Day on October 2, 2026
Literally "dirty" pronounced with a West Indian accent. Can also have a positive connotation, for example Sean Paul's album title "Dutty Rock".
"The girl is pretty but she corrupt and dutty!"

or, in a positive usage:

"Booya! That freestyle was dutty!"
Dutty by J Hall April 3, 2003
Word of the Day on October 1, 2026
korean word for madam, older woman
Ajumma wait a moment
Ajumma by aintnotinbutnice July 5, 2009
Word of the Day on September 30, 2026

Slop Grenade

When someone uses AI to generate a large document, slide deck, or piece of code/software and tosses it over the fence for you to deal with.
Chad: Hey Brent I sent you the new backend API change to review, it’s only 100 files changed.

Brent: he just tossed me a slop grenade
Slop Grenade by Joe Squid September 28, 2026
Word of the Day on September 29, 2026
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