Slang dictionary
cutty
[ kuht-ee ]
What is cutty?
Have you ever visited a place that felt unsettling, or talked to a person who had weird energy? If so, you might describe that something or someone as cutty. The slang term cutty refers to a person, place, or situation that gives off a sketchy, suspicious, or shady vibe. When it doesn’t feel “quite right,” that’s cutty.
Where does cutty come from?
Cutty is especially popular in the San Francisco Bay Area. The word’s exact origins are unclear, but it may potentially come from “cutthroat.”Â
Cutty bangs, a San Francisco term that’s likely related to cutty because of its “secretive” reputation, is a DIY cocktail mix you can find at some corner stores in the city. These little packages come in resealable plastic bags packed with booze and mixers, making them a no-frills drink option. Some say the term has been around since the 1970s to describe this liquor store special.
Examples of cutty
Who uses cutty?
Cutty is most commonly used by Northern California residents and frequently appears in online slang guides to San Francisco. The term has become part of a casual vernacular, used to describe anything that feels off or unsettling, whether it’s a situation, person, or place. It’s used to express discomfort or suspicion, often with an underlying tone of street-savviness.
Despite its somewhat negative connotation, cutty is often used with a sense of humor or irony in casual conversation.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of cutty like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of cutty that will help our users expand their word mastery.