Drake phrases and words in English

Drake bars that escaped the song and lodged in the language — the late-night DM, the loyalty test, the come-up flex, the goodbye that lingers. Fifteen years of OVO running parallel to your dating life, your group chat, and every mid-tier emotional crisis.

23 phrases · meanings & example sentences

“Started from the bottom”

Shorthand for any earned arrival after a long grind — said sincerely or sarcastically the moment you finally get somewhere. The mic-drop for a hard-won come-up. From Drake's 2013 anthem 'Started from the Bottom'.

Three years of ramen, sublets and overnight buses — now there's a corner office. Started from the bottom.
She used to draw in the back of school textbooks. Today her work's hanging in MoMA. Started from the bottom.
Lost both legs of the doubles final last summer. Just won the championship. Started from the bottom.

“No new friends”

A flat refusal to expand your inner circle — the universal nope to networking dinners, party introductions, and 'you should meet my coworker.' Said by anyone already burned who's keeping the circle airtight. Popularised by Drake's 2013 track.

She tried to add her boyfriend's roommate to the brunch group chat. Babe. No new friends.
His mum keeps offering to set him up with her work colleagues. No new friends.
Recruiter wants to grab coffee for the third time this month. No new friends.

“In my feelings”

The state of being so emotionally submerged you can't quite function — going quiet, replaying the same sad song six times. The official self-diagnosis for an unprompted wave of emotion. Named by Drake's 2018 hit 'In My Feelings'.

Saw a couple at the airport hugging goodbye and now I'm done for the day. In my feelings till tomorrow.
Replayed the same Phoebe Bridgers track six times on the bus. Fully in my feelings.
Got the wedding photos back from her grandparents' anniversary and just sat there crying. In my feelings.

“God's plan”

The all-purpose response to surprise good fortune — sincere, ironic, or somewhere between. Said when an unexpected win lands in your lap and you decide not to question it. From Drake's 2018 anthem 'God's Plan'.

Got bumped from middle seat to business class on the red-eye. God's plan.
Found a flat under budget two days before the lease ran out. God's plan.
Random check arrived from a freelance gig I'd completely forgotten about. God's plan.

“Nice for what?”

A refusal to keep performing politeness for people who haven't earned it. The response to any unnecessary niceness — the late 'hey' text, the recruiter who ghosted then returned. From Drake's 2018 single 'Nice for What'.

He texted 'hey' three weeks late and expects a smiley reply. Nice for what?
The recruiter who ghosted me for a year just messaged again. Nice for what?
Bride wants me to bring her terrible ex's gift to the wedding. Nice for what?

“Mob ties”

The people-you-can-call-at-3-AM economy — loyalty, connections, the friend with keys to the back room. Said of anyone who 'knows a guy' and can make things happen. From Drake's 2019 track 'Mob Ties'.

Sold-out gig and she had us in the front row by 9 PM. Real mob ties.
He found us a Notting Hill flat in two days flat. Pure mob ties.
Got the visa appointment moved up six months somehow. Mob ties.

“Free smoke”

A mic-drop for 'fight me, I dare you' — announced after someone's thrown shade and you're declaring yourself available for the squabble. Said while making prolonged eye contact. Popularised by Drake.

He subtweeted me in his keynote slides. Free smoke whenever he's ready.
She undermined me in the all-hands. Free smoke at our next 1:1.
Cousin started roasting my haircut at Christmas dinner. Free smoke.

“Worst behaviour”

Being fully out of pocket, off the leash, on one — any glorious lapse of judgment, from open bars to post-breakup decisions to Saturdays that bleed into Sundays. From Drake's 2013 track 'Worst Behavior'.

Three negronis in and she's roasting his entire extended family. Worst behaviour.
Open bar at the wedding and he ended up in the pool at 3 AM. Worst behaviour.
Post-breakup shopping spree, came home with a stranger's coat. Worst behaviour.

“Back to back”

Two wins in immediate succession — promotions, dates, deploys, espressos, all landed without pause. The victory slogan for a hot streak. Turned into a flex by Drake's 2015 diss track 'Back to Back'.

Closed the round on Monday, hired the head of eng on Tuesday. Back to back.
She passed the bar exam, then booked a flat the same week. Back to back.
Two clean deploys in one afternoon, zero rollbacks. Back to back.

“0 to 100”

Sudden escalation — going from nothing to everything before anyone has time to react. Any rapid jump in tone, scope, or stakes. From Drake's 2014 track '0 to 100'.

She was just complaining about the WiFi and now she's quitting and moving to Lisbon. 0 to 100.
Second date and he's already meeting her parents this Sunday. 0 to 100.
Parking dispute escalated to him calling the police within ninety seconds. 0 to 100.

“Energy”

A one-word verdict on whatever someone's giving off — both diagnosis and dismissal, the exact register set by the eye-roll attached. Used for any vibe a person brings into a room. Popularised by Drake's 2017 track 'Energy'.

She walked into the kitchen and the whole party tightened up. Wild energy.
He gave a 40-minute speech about nothing at the all-hands. Strange energy.
New roommate moved in with no introduction and rearranged the kitchen. Off energy.

“With my woes”

A one-word substitute for 'my real ones, my crew, my day-ones' — your ride-or-dies, the people you actually roll with. From Drake's 2015 track 'Know Yourself'.

Heading out tonight with my woes. Don't wait up.
Booked a cabin in Cornwall for New Year's with my woes.
Birthday dinner this Friday — just me and my woes, no plus-ones.

“If you're reading this”

The preamble for a no-take-backs message, sent once the deed is already done. The text-message format for owning a regret after it's too late to undo it. From Drake's 2015 mixtape 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late'.

Tickets sold out at 11 PM. To everyone in the group chat: if you're reading this, too late.
Ate the last slice of leftover lasagna. If you're reading this, it's too late.
Forwarded your worst voice note to the rest of the chat. If you're reading this... sorry.

“Trust issues”

A three-word self-diagnosis for any reluctance to commit, share a password, or believe a compliment. The therapist's term turned everyday shorthand. From Drake's 2011 track 'Trust Issues'.

She still won't share her location with anyone, not even her sister. Trust issues.
He triple-checked the lock and went back twice to make sure. Trust issues.
Won't let anyone hold his phone for even a second. Trust issues.

“YOLO”

'You only live once' — the most-quoted justification for an impulse decision of the decade. Said right before any choice your future self will have to explain. Popularised by Drake's 2011 track 'The Motto'.

Booked the flight to Tokyo while standing in the airport for a different trip. YOLO.
Quit his stable job mid-meeting to chase the music thing full-time. YOLO.
Got the matching tattoos on day three of the holiday. YOLO.

“Best I ever had”

All-time-favourite shorthand — used sincerely or hyperbolically for the food, the trip, the kiss, the song that beats every previous one. A compliment turned superlative. From Drake's 2009 breakthrough 'Best I Ever Had'.

Three bites in and she's calling it the best ramen she's ever had.
He's already saying this is the best trip he's ever been on, and it's day two.
Sunday's roast was actually the best I ever had. Sorry mum.

“Fake love”

Insincere affection — people showing up with smiles and support they don't actually mean, usually only once you're winning. The phrase for flattery you can see straight through. From Drake's 2016 track 'Fake Love'.

Half the people congratulating me on the promotion wouldn't lift a finger for me. Fake love.
They only text when they need something. Fake love.
Cousins who never call suddenly want to hang now the business took off. Fake love.

“Laugh now, cry later”

A motto for enjoying the moment fully while knowing the bill comes due — or pushing through pain now for a payoff later. The two-sided trade between present and future feeling. Popularised by Drake's 2020 hit 'Laugh Now Cry Later'.

Maxed the credit card on the festival weekend. Laugh now, cry later.
Two more brutal months of training before the season pays off. Laugh now, cry later.
Third tequila on a Tuesday night. Laugh now, cry later.

“Certified lover boy”

A hopeless romantic running on pure feelings — the friend always falling fast, sending paragraphs, soft-launching someone new every month. An affectionate label for anyone ruled by their heart. From Drake's 2021 album 'Certified Lover Boy'.

He's already planning the third date and they've only had one coffee. Certified lover boy.
Wrote her a two-page birthday letter after three weeks. Certified lover boy.
New crush every fortnight, fully convinced each one's the one. Certified lover boy.

“Know your worth”

A reminder not to settle for less than you deserve — in pay, in love, or in how you let people treat you. A standard self-respect line, sharpened into a slogan by Drake's pairing 'know yourself, know your worth'.

They offered her the same title, more work, no raise. She walked. Know your worth.
He keeps texting back someone who only replies once a week. Know your worth.
Stop apologising every time you take a day off. Know your worth.

“More life”

A blessing you send someone — wishing them more years, more good fortune, more living. A Caribbean expression of goodwill that Drake carried into the mainstream with his 2017 project 'More Life'.

Grandpa turned 90 today, still out dancing. More life.
She landed the job, the flat and the visa in one week. More life.
My best mate's been there through all of it. More life, brother.

“What a time to be alive”

A marvel at the present moment — said sincerely about a genuinely amazing era, or dryly when something absurd is happening. The all-purpose caption for 'I can't believe this is real.' From Drake and Future's 2015 mixtape 'What a Time to Be Alive'.

Robots are delivering pizza to the front door now. What a time to be alive.
Watched the whole final on a phone from a mountaintop in the Alps. What a time to be alive.
Sat through another meeting that could've been an email. What a time to be alive.

“Sneak dissing”

Insulting someone indirectly — a vague subtweet, a pointed 'some people…', a backhanded comment aimed at a target you never name. The word for shade thrown sideways. Popularised by Drake's 2015 track 'Energy'.

She posted 'some friends only show up when they need something' an hour after our fight. Sneak dissing.
His review said 'certain people peaked in 2015' and everyone knew who he meant. Sneak dissing.
Mum's 'must be nice to sleep till noon' over breakfast. Classic sneak dissing.