newyork.localmean.com/dub
Dub
DUB
Local meaning
A rejection, refusal, failed plan, or person or situation being dismissed; as a verb, to ignore, turn down, or reject.
In a common New York use, calling something a dub means it is canceled, unwanted, unsuccessful, or not worth pursuing. The word has many other meanings, including a win, twenty dollars, naming, voice replacement, and reggae-derived music.
Example in context
- “Three transfers in the rain? That trip is a dub.”
How it is used
The rejection sense is strongly associated with New York youth speech; other dub senses are widespread.
dismissive, decisive, disappointed
plans, dating, invitations, purchases, reactions
The rejection sense is strongly associated with New York youth speech; other dub senses are widespread.
Context is essential because dub can mean nearly the opposite—a win—in sports and gaming language.
Spelling and scope
The rejection sense is strongly associated with New York youth speech; other dub senses are widespread.
- Search forms
dub NYC slangthat is a dub meaningdub someone slang
LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable without claiming that every borough, community, or generation uses one written form.
Frequently asked questions
What does that’s a dub mean in New York?
It usually means the plan, person, or situation is rejected, canceled, unsuccessful, or not worth it.
Can dub also mean a win?
Yes. In sports and gaming, dub often means a win, which is why the full sentence and community matter.
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
These sources support the regional association, dictionary sense, or broader spread. The entry remains open to correction from New York speakers and qualified reviewers.
- New York Slang Terms: Phrases Only Locals UnderstandOver Here New York
Local usage overview describing dub as rejection, dismissal, a failed plan, or—in other contexts—a twenty-dollar amount.
- New York Slang: 59 NYC Slang Words Every New Yorker Should KnowDominican Abroad
A New York-raised writer's usage guide covering expressions including a minute, dub, bet, yerrr, and other locally familiar forms.
- Geographic Variation in Slang SemanticsarXiv
Research showing that slang meanings and associations vary by geography and community.