A small, cheeky theft — originally school property stolen for TikTok clout, now used loosely for any low-stakes win. The original "devious licks" trend spiraled so badly that some school districts temporarily banned unsupervised bathroom breaks. The word outlived the trend.
"Took three pens from the hotel. Devious lick."
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The act of vandalizing or stealing one or more items in a school; a video depicting this act or the stolen items.
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To perform a devious lick.
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Devious lick was a 2021 TikTok trend where US high-school students filmed themselves stealing items from school (often soap dispensers, signs, or even toilets). "Lick" is older slang for a robbery. This one IS concerning: if your child has posted or watched these videos around the trend's peak, they may have been encouraged to vandalise property at school. The trend faded but is occasionally revived; ask about it.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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