Skip to main content

System D 

System D is a shorthand term that refers back to the French word débrouillard, (one who is) skilled or resourceful at handling any difficulty. System D refers to a manner of responding to challenges that requires one to have the ability to think fast, to adapt, and to improvise when getting the job done.

The term gained popularity after appearing in the 2006 publication of Anthony Bourdain's The Nasty Bits. Bourdain's sous-chef likens the use of System D to being a modern-day MacGyver ... getting the job done with a mix of whatever resources are available and a great deal of personal innovation.

In The Nasty Bits, Bourdain references first coming upon the term while reading Nicolas Freeling's memoir, The Kitchen, written about Freeling's years as a Grand Hotel cook in France.

References
* débrouillard (2009). Webster's New World College Dictionary. Retrieved May 24th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/d-ebrouillard
* Bourdain, Anthony (2006). The Nasty Bits. New York: Bloomsbury.
* Nicolas Freeling (1970). The Kitchen. Hamish Hamilton, Ltd.
Janice is the queen of System D ... she ran out of hair pins and used paper clips as barrettes when styling Audrina's hair for her prom.

The contestants on The Amazing Race were totally System D-ing it when they ran out of money and had to barter to pay their cab driver.
System D by Daisy Gatsby May 27, 2009
Words you can keep

System D 

The things cooks who are in the weeds do to get caught up. Includes deep-fried steaks, questionably sourced ingredients, illicit bouillion cubes, and lots of other things you really don't want to know about when your order gets to the table. Practitioners of System D are known as débrouillards, which in French means "guy who gets you out of trouble".
I really don't want to see what kind of System D shit goes on back there, nor do I want to know how my steak got to the table in five minutes or why it has paper towel marks on it. Shut up and eat.
System D by Lady Csyde January 6, 2008

D.E.N.N.I.S System 

The D.E.N.N.I.S. system refers to a fool proof system enabling men to obtain a woman's undying love, accompanied by life love devotion (if the man so desires). The D.E.N.N.I.S. system was made popular by Dennis Reynolds, a fictional character from Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia. The system, although original in name, is similar to "The Effect," which also goes by the separate name "DJGorbeism," popularized by D.J.G. When one engages in "the effect" they are "IN EFFECT."

D- Demonstrate Value
E- Engage Physically
N- Nurture Dependence
N- Neglect Emotionally
I- Inspire Hope
S- Separate Entirely

The way to win any girl's heart.
Example of the D.E.N.N.I.S System/In Effect

Kalie, "Hey this is some good pizza."
Dennis, "You're the one that is good."
D.E.N.N.I.S System by Anticapital666 November 22, 2009

D.A.V.E. system

A no-fail way to get a girl (plus a great story).

Acronym for:

Dabble in friendship
Approach cautiously
Value time together
Extend story-telling
Friends at the hockey game:

Dave: Hey, check out that girl there.
SF and JBK: Wow, she's cute. You gonna go for it?
Dave: Of course. The D.A.V.E. system never fails.

Later in evening:

Dave: Guys, you have 45 free minutes? I have a great story!!!
SF and JBK: No, not again.

c.u.p.i.d. system 

The c.u.p.i.d system or "cupids" was devised by the singular Alex Zavos of Cambridge in the year of our lord 2006.

C.U.P.I.D. stands for "Cunt Until Point Is Disproven" and is a system for choosing friends which weeds people out by instantly assuming everyone you meet is a twat until they prove to you that they are not.
A: Steve's just run off with my wife!
B: The cunt! But i thought you two were mates.
A: I know, I know I'm too trusting I should have used the c.u.p.i.d. system like Alex said.
B: Oh well at least you'll know for next time, lets go get pissed
c.u.p.i.d. system by robuttt October 4, 2006

009 sound system dreamscape 

hay yt 2day i will show u how 2 get free mone on gta san andreaes 2007 wrks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

system dump 

Often the first call of nature after a strongly spiced meal is a system dump.

Extra strong curry may result in a system dump to floppy.
We went out to an Indian restaurant last night and I badly needed a system dump this morning.
system dump by wilkanton July 10, 2009
More from Urban Dictionary

age gate 

An absolutely foolproof way to keep minors from viewing content deemed "too mature" for them to watch.
Billy: "So I was trying to watch some videos for an M rated game, and I ran into an age gate, so I put in my real birthday. SOMEHOW it managed to figure out that I am 12. CURSE YOU AGE GATE!!!"

Bill: "Fucking age gate! *quick scroll* THERE! I was born on January 1, 1904. Fuck you age gate."
age gate by Banja January 7, 2011
Word of the Day on August 27, 2026

board chow 

A)
The Crud that collects under the keys in a keyboard. Usually more severe in the keyboards of programmers and webmasters as they tend to spend a lot of time at the the computer and thus eat at their desk. Mainly affecting IBM Model M (clicly) style boards.

B)
Can also be used to gross out Non-Techie people
A)
Bill: want to go to the club?
Bob: No, I've got to clean out my board chow, keys are starting to stick.

B)
Bill: Want to go out to get a bite?
Bob: No, i am just going to have some of my board chow/
Bill: Whats' that?
Bob: The food scraps that collect in my keyboard; Want some?
Bill: *GAG* *HURL* *GAG*
board chow by BinaryHackerMan September 3, 2007
Word of the Day on August 26, 2026

young pup 

a young person, a young adult in their late teens/early 20s.
Ah, you're just a young pup at 23!
young pup by the dog May 30, 2006
Word of the Day on August 25, 2026
West Midlands slang word for rockers, bikers, greasers etc. In the late 1980s it was used by the UK music press to refer to a specific scene centered around the bands Pop Will Eat Itself and Crazyhead. The term never found favour with readers of 'the inkies' (Sounds, Melody Maker and the still extant NME) and was soon dropped. Now often used in predominantly working-class areas of the midlands and the north to mean someone who listens to rock-derived music and/or dresses in a manner that suggests they affiliate themselves with rock music of some kind.
Some grebo passed with Sabbath playing on his stereo.
The Poppies are at no. 17? God, a grebo band in the charts!
They're playing nu-metal now, bloody grebos!
grebo by cactuscat September 15, 2006
Word of the Day on August 24, 2026

TikTok Farlands

TikTok Farlands is a term to refer to videos that you see after scrolling for a long time. These videos can potentially be disturbing, or weird. Said videos can also have low likes, or low comments.
“I reached the TikTok Farlands bro”
Word of the Day on August 23, 2026
Next