If you're on Twitter, you'll know that Cardi B has shown herself to be the queen of clapback
What's clapback? and how can Cardi B help you learn modern English?
Let's find out in today's lesson
First, the register, the tenor, the style of today's vocabulary is all informal
mostly slang, sometimes offensive, but always so bloody amazing
The first word is clapback this is a verb and a noun
clap back is a quick and smart reply to some criticism towards you
typically filled with attitude and insults
So when people say bad stuff about cardi B on Twitter and she replies with some fire
That's "clapback"!
That is how it works as a noun
As a verb however we conjugate "clap" not "back"
For example we don't say "She clapbacked at her critics"
No, we say "She clapped back at her critics"
Or in a present tense: "She often claps back"
"Bad Bitch"
"Bitch" is not a good thing to call someone
however the attitude that cardi B gives to this word
turns it into a positive almost empowering word
and specifically a "Bad Bitch" is a confident independent woman
She doesn't need anyone to take care of her
Examples: "All a bad bitch needs is money"
and when talking about Chrissy Teigen: "I know a bad bitch when I see one!"
Y'all
It's a contraction of "You all" "Y'all"
"Y'all" is very common in songs in music. In speech however, in American English it's very common
but in British English it basically doesn't exist, we don't use it
So if someone says "hey y'all"
What are they saying? "Hey you all" "Hey all of you"
British people don't sound cool when we say "y'all" so if you have a British accent don't say this word
w.e
This is short for "whatever" people often reduce "whatever" to w.e
on Twitter because there is a word limit
For example in this tweet where someone called Stephanie criticises Cardi B for twerking
suggesting it's not only not empowering for women
but might also be responsible for the #metoo movement?
Really?
Cardi B claps back with...
"It says to women that I can wear and not wear whatever I want, do w.e (whatever) I want
and that NO still means NO
so Stephanie, chime in"
"Chime in"
This phrasal verb isn't informal you can use it formally or informally, it doesn't matter
But to "chime in" means to offer your opinion in a conversation
or to add something new to the conversation
Back to the tweet!
"So Stephanie chime in, if I twerk and be half-naked does that mean I deserve to get raped and molested?"
Feel free to chime in in the comments, is Cardi B just the best? or is she just the best?
You know?
Lastly I started by saying that cardi B is the queen of clapback
and this next tweet is probably my favourite
This lady, "White Power Barbie", also known as Tomi Lahren decided that she would criticize Cardi B
Not a good idea
Cardi's response? "Leave me alone, I will dog walk you"
That is brutal! You just don't mess with Cardi B!
Still, nazi Barbie tried again which made Cardi B clap back with...
"You are a perfect example on no matter how educated or smart you think you are, you are still a sheep"
In English we say someone is a "sheep" when they follow a person or an idea
without really thinking for themselves
maybe they like and follow this person or this idea because other people do
or they think that they should for some reason
regardless of how terrible or stupid the person or the idea is
They will still follow it quite stupidly like a sheep
and as you can imagine when people argue about politics, the word "sheep" gets used a lot
I invite you to use today's vocabulary in the comments
Chime in with your opinion, and remember
Be like Cardi, If anyone gives you shit, be the baddest bitch and clap back!
See you in the next class