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slang.fyi

spill

/spɪl/

Very Common

To reveal gossip, secrets, or information someone has been holding back.

Almost always used as a demand or encouragement. Implies the person already knows you have something worth sharing.

Real-world examples4 examples
#ExampleWhat it meansSource
01you can't just say that and not spillYou hinted at something and now you need to follow through with the details.x, 2023
02okay i'm about to spill because i cannot hold this in anymoreAbout to share gossip that has been building up.tiktok, 2024
03she really spilled in that interview wowShe revealed a lot of candid or surprising information.x, 2023
04SPILL. what happened after you leftEagerly demanding someone share the details of what went down.instagram, 2024

Use it when

  • You want someone to tell you what happened.
  • Someone is hinting they know something and you want details.
  • You are about to share gossip yourself.

Do not use it when

  • You mean literally spilling a liquid.
  • You are pressuring someone to share something private they clearly do not want to share.

Variations and related forms

spill the tea

The full phrase combining the action (spill) with the subject (tea/gossip).

Spill vs tea

spill

Spill is the action of revealing or sharing gossip.

VS

tea

Tea is the gossip or information itself.

Origin and context

Extension of the phrase 'spill the tea' from drag and Black internet culture. The verb form alone became shorthand for sharing gossip or truth.

First seen
2010s
Confidence
medium

Cite this page

Use this stable URL to reference the entry.

https://slang.fyi/spill
Updated: 2026-08-25License: CC BY 4.0

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