Get lit – meaning, origin and usage

When I began looking into the origin of this phrase, I was surprised at how old it is.

In this article I will be breaking down what is meant by “get lit” and how the phrase originated and was later popularised. I will also walk you through how the phrase is used today, with a few handy example sentences for added context. Finally, I’ll be rounding off with a discussion on similar and synonymous words and sayings

Are you ready?

What does “get lit” mean?

Although the phrase “get lit” used to refer to getting drunk or high, now the term is used more loosley to refer to being happy or excited or both.

Where does the slang term “get lit” come from?

Back in the early 1900’s, or more specifically the 1910’s and 1920’s, people were using the word “lit” to refer to being drunk, tipsy or inebriated. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to also refer to the idea of being “happy drunk” or perhaps a little high.

Then in the 2000’s or so, the word “lit” and the phrase “get lit” started appearing in rap and hip-hop lyrics. One early use came from Nas in the song “The message,” which appeared in his 1996 album titled “It Was Written.”

By the 2010’s, hip hop artists were using the word a lot more, and a culture created around that music brought the word “lit” into the mainstream. By this time the phrase was being used less to represent inebriation, and more to represent feeling happy, or having high energy or good vibes.

Today the word “lit” has become very common on social media, especially in posts and captions, or in the comments about events, music, or experiences.

How to use the phrase “get lit” featuring examples

As promised, here are some examples of the phrase, and some variations of it, in use:

• It’s gonna be lit at the club this weekend - he new DJ is said to be awesome!
• I’m gonna get lit at the party on Friday.
• We’re all gonna get lit tonight. I’m ‘a make sure of it!
• The concert last night was lit! Everyone was dancing.

What are some other ways of saying “get lit”?

There’s no shortage of similar and synonymous terms that can be used in place of “get lit.” Here are some examples of alternatives:

• On fire
• Hyped up
• Excited
• Drunk
• Merry
• Have fun

Final word

So, to sum up, the phrase “get lit” used to refer to getting drunk or high, now the term is used more loosley to refer to being happy or excited, as thought you are tipsy, or a little high or inebriated.

Although it’s now a popular term with Gen Z, the use of the word “lit” to represent the idea of being drunk or inebriated actually dates back to the 1910’s. It was through hip hop culture that the phrase “get lit” started to go viral, and then make its way into the mainstream.