'It's giving' is a 2021-onward expression meaning 'it has the vibe of' or 'it reminds me of'. 'It's giving 90s' = 'it has a 90s feel'. 'It's giving rich aunt energy' = 'it has the vibe of a rich aunt'. Used to compliment, mock or describe aesthetics. If your teen says 'it's giving', they are characterising the vibe of something. Harmless and very common in current youth speech. Originated in ballroom and drag culture.
it's giving
A phrase used to describe the vibe or aesthetic of something.
ɪts ˈɡɪv.ɪŋCoined ~20202020sGen AlphatrendingHistorical352 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~2020 · 1 year of recorded useSeen in the wild
Firecrawl: It's Giving - Know Your MemeDec 2021
All Rights Reserved. # It's Giving Updated 2 years ago by [Zach](https://knowyourmeme.com/users/zach--15).
View source
Firecrawl: It's Giving - Know Your MemeDec 2021
All Rights Reserved. # It's Giving Updated 2 years ago by [Zach](https://knowyourmeme.com/users/zach--15).
View source
Definitions
Global
+1423100%
#1·Apr 24, 2026Global
A phrase used to describe the vibe or aesthetic of something. "It's giving main-character energy," "it's giving 2014 Tumblr," "it's giving trying-too-hard." Ballroom / Black queer slang; mainstreamed on TikTok in the early 2020s. The word "giving" is doing all the verb work in the sentence.
Origin: Ballroom / Black queer slang; mainstreamed on TikTok in the early 2020s.
For parents
'It's giving' is a 2021-onward expression meaning 'it has the vibe of' or 'it reminds me of'. 'It's giving 90s' = 'it has a 90s feel'. 'It's giving rich aunt energy' = 'it has the vibe of a rich aunt'. Used to compliment, mock or describe aesthetics. If your teen says 'it's giving', they are characterising the vibe of something. Harmless and very common in current youth speech. Originated in ballroom and drag culture.
For ESL learners
'It's giving' is a 2021-onward construction meaning 'it has the vibe / energy / aesthetic of [X]'. Followed by a noun phrase: 'it's giving 90s', 'it's giving Pinterest mum', 'it's giving messy'. Originated in African-American ballroom and drag culture, mainstreamed via TikTok. Register: informal, Gen Z. In formal English use 'it resembles', 'it evokes' or 'it has the feel of'. A common learner mistake is to use 'is giving' with a person as subject; it is the impersonal 'it' construction.
Cluster: generic-intensifier
Heard in the wild
“All Rights Reserved. # It's Giving Updated 2 years ago by [Zach](https://knowyourmeme.com/users/zach--15).”
— Firecrawl: It's Giving - Know Your Meme· Dec 2021“All Rights Reserved. # It's Giving Updated 2 years ago by [Zach](https://knowyourmeme.com/users/zach--15).”
— Firecrawl: It's Giving - Know Your Meme· Dec 2021
Was this helpful?
Comments
For specific readers
Why is this section here?
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.
Used in
Global
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "it's giving".
🔥About Gen Z & TikTok slang
The words defining how Gen Z and TikTok talk right now — from rizz and aura to skibidi, delulu, and the ick. Updated as fast as the trends move.
See all Gen Z & TikTok slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "it's giving" (I)
it meit's a joke, Joyceit's all over my screenit's been 84 yearsit's been a sliceitselfit's grim up northIt's joeverit's the truth, RuthITTitty bitty titty committeeit wasn't only only
Browse all slang words starting with I.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- giving75%
(slang) Awesome, outstanding, radiating, stunning; exceeding expectations. (Probably derived from earlier transitive use of give off [a certain vibe or appearance], as in this outfit gives ‘college girl’, that one is giving ‘old Hollywood’.).
- giving66%
The act of bestowing as a gift; a conferring or imparting.
- giving65%
Having the tendency to give; generous.
- give it large65%
(UK, slang) To boast or impress.
- give it mouth63%
A dated British slang phrase meaning to speak loudly, speak up, or give voice to something with confidence and volume. If someone told you to give it mouth, they were urging you to stop muttering and actually project — to put your words out there boldly. It sits alongside similar British expressions about speaking one's mind and can also imply boasting or exaggerating. Mostly historical now, but the expression captures a very British directness about the act of speaking up.