pool ride
/puːl raɪd/
CommonA shared rideshare trip where the driver picks up multiple strangers going in roughly the same direction, at a lower price.
Often treated as a social gamble. You might get a normal ride or end up in an awkward silence with two strangers at midnight.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | took a pool ride to save $4 and it added 35 minutes to my commute. thriving. | The minor savings were not worth the time cost, presented as ironic self-deprecation. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | the other passenger in my pool ride was eating a burrito and making eye contact with me. i stared at the window for 18 minutes. | An awkward shared-car moment where the speaker avoided engagement. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | pool ride dropped three people before me. felt like i was on a school bus. | Multiple detours made the journey feel inefficient and impersonal. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 04 | i am a pool ride person and i will not be judged for that | The speaker self-identifies as someone who consistently chooses the cheapest option. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Describing or mocking the choice to book the cheapest shared rideshare option.
- Complaining about route detours or awkward co-passengers.
- Joking about being too cheap to pay for a private ride.
- Sharing a weird or uncomfortable experience in a shared car.
Do not use it when
- You mean carpooling with people you know.Use “carpool” instead.
- You mean a vanpool or employer shuttle.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
Uber launched UberPool in 2014 and Lyft launched Lyft Line the same year. The format became a cultural staple and then a punchline as passengers shared detour complaints and awkward co-passenger stories online.
- First seen
- 2014
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/pool-rideUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0