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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
Words you can keep

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
(Ewokese) Freedom!
And dying in yo' bed many years from now, would ya be willing ta trade all da days from dis here day ta dat fo' one chance, just one chance, ta come back here as young men an' tell our enemies dat dey may take our lives but dey will never take our freedom ... YUB NUB!
yub nub by rotjrem November 4, 2010
Word of the Day on September 4, 2026
1. Meaning nasty, sexy, filthy. Popularized by Christina Aguilera.

2. Used usally as a close friend in hip-hop slang.
1. Wanna get dirrty
It's about time that I came to start the party Sweat drippin' over my body
Dancin' gettin' just a little naughty

2. Sup Dirrty? Haven't seen you in a while.
dirrty by Minty November 30, 2003
Word of the Day on September 3, 2026

Coyote Ugly

1. Place

The Bar came before the movie. It is an awesome bar where the girls know how to party and make you feel okay about giving up your money, drawers, bras, and dignity.

2. Movie

A story about a Jersey girl following her dreams, aided by working at this bar in New York.

3. Situation/Person/Decision

See other definitions - waking up next to someone so ugly you'd rather chew your arm off than wake them up.
1. Yo, Coyote Ugly is my favorite bar! I got whipped, stripped, drunk, and danced on the bar all before 7 o'clock!

2. Hey did you see Coyote Ugly? It actually has a plot!

3. Ugg I woke up to Coyote Ugly this morning!
Coyote Ugly by jerseycountry March 8, 2009
Word of the Day on September 2, 2026

Literally 1984 

Used in response for when someone promotes/advocates an event or idea that is perceived to support "too much" authority and/or government control.

Often used jokingly as a over-exaggeration in political talk.

Can also be used in response to a ban or mute in a forum site or online chat.
Steve: I think that the government should regulate businesses more
Bob: Literally 1984!

--User1 has been permantly banned--
User2: You cant ban my friend like that! Literally 1984!
Literally 1984 by ke1 July 7, 2021
Word of the Day on September 1, 2026

Back when I lived in upstate new york 

A meaningless, unimpressive, self-serving introduction. An indicator that the story about to be shared will be pointless and dumb.
Back when I lived in upstate new york, I also had to park on the street - on two occasions, we got enough snow, mixed with just the right plowing, that my car was lifted off the ground from so much snow being jammed underneath it.
Word of the Day on August 31, 2026
Acronym, meaning Too Long Didn't Understand
Similar to TLDR
Sister: This meeting was to discuss the rough draft of my essay, where we discussed the subsidiary questions I added in my rough draft. We also discussed the relationship between my main title and the real-life situations I chose to use in my essay. We discussed the structure of my essay as well, specifically the Math AOK section and how it relates to the contradiction of the title. This second meeting was particularly helpful in discussing the implications of my essay claims and how to apply the title across various areas of knowledge. There were many sections of the essay that could have been cut down in wordiness and the ways of knowing required further and more in-depth analysis.

Me: Woah! TLDU!
TLDU by L-Evans January 14, 2019
Word of the Day on August 30, 2026
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