Skip to content
slang.fyi

skip ad

/skɪp æd/

Very Common

The button that lets you dismiss a YouTube ad after a few seconds.

Used literally about ads and jokingly about real life. Saying you want to 'skip ad' on a conversation or situation is common internet humor.

Real-world examples4 examples
#ExampleWhat it meansSource
01i need a skip ad button for this meetingThe person wants to end the meeting the same way they dismiss an ad.x, 2023
02skip ad skip ad skip ad skip ad skip adRapidly pressing skip to dismiss multiple ads in a row.youtube, 2022
03no skip ad button. sitting through this.The ad is unskippable and the viewer has no choice.reddit, 2023
04wish i could skip ad on the next 20 minutes of my lifeThe person is dreading something and wants to fast-forward past it.x, 2024

Use it when

  • An ad finally lets you skip after counting down.
  • Joking that you want to dismiss a real-life situation.
  • Reacting to an unskippable ad with frustration.

Do not use it when

  • You are referring to a specific ad you want removed.

Variations and related forms

skip button

Informal name for the same skip ad control.

Skip ad vs unskippable

skip ad

Skip ad is the action or button that lets you dismiss an ad.

VS

unskippable

Unskippable means the ad cannot be dismissed at all.

Origin and context

Literal label from YouTube's ad interface. The phrase moved into everyday internet language as a metaphor after YouTube ads became a widespread frustration.

First seen
2010s
Confidence
high

Cite this page

Use this stable URL to reference the entry.

https://slang.fyi/skip-ad
Updated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0

Related slang