subtweeting
/ˈsʌbˌtwiːtɪŋ/
CommonPosting about someone on social media without tagging or naming them directly.
Can be cowardly or strategic. Not tagging them denies them the chance to respond directly. Sometimes done to avoid drama; other times to create it among mutual followers who recognize the target.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | some people really need to learn how to mind their business. just saying. | This is directed at a specific person, but they are not named. | x, 2022 |
| 02 | are you subtweeting me right now | Asking someone directly if an indirect post was about them. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | she has been subtweeting her ex for three days now | Indirect posts that are clearly about an ex without naming them. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | this whole post is a subtweet and everyone can tell | The post is obviously about a specific person even though they are not named. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Someone posts about a person or situation without naming them.
- You want to call out someone's indirect post as being about you or someone else.
- Describing the general behavior of talking about someone online without naming them.
Do not use it when
- The post is completely general and not about a specific person.
- The person is explicitly named or tagged.
Variations and related forms
Subtweeting vs vaguebooking
subtweeting
Subtweeting is usually directed at a specific person to talk about them indirectly.
VS
vaguebooking
Vaguebooking is posting cryptic content to get attention and concern, not necessarily targeting someone.
Origin and context
Originated on Twitter, derived from 'sub' meaning indirect and 'tweet'. Became widely recognized around 2012 to 2014 as the behavior became common on the platform.
- First seen
- early-2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/subtweetingUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0