Slang meaning either to stay in concealment or to be reticent and secretive — keeping yourself out of sight or out of attention. 'Shady' here has its older sense of situated in shade or shadow, implying discretion or deliberate low profile, rather than the modern meaning of suspicious. Typically used in contexts of hiding, laying low, or choosing not to draw attention to oneself.
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(slang) To stay in concealment.
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(slang) To be reticent.
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"keep shady" means slang meaning either to stay in concealment or to be reticent and secretive — keeping yourself out of sight or out of attention. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
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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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Browse all slang words starting with K.