What Does 'Down Bad' Mean, And How Can You Use The Slang Phrase Correctly? Being Down Bad Explained

Down bad is a widely used and internet-approved euphemism for being lonely and desperate for intimacy that has been in the making for over 10 years. The term has trickled downstream from popular rap to memes about being thirsty and had sprung various terms like "down atrocious" or "down abominable." Here's a history of the phrase and how you can use it correctly.

Where Does The Phrase 'Down Bad' Come From?

While the phrase "down bad" can be traced to tweets as far back as 2009, the first popular use of the phrase came in the form of rap music. In 2012, rappers Young Scooter and Lil B made widely popular songs using the words.

A notable early use of the phrase came in the form of a viral tweet by rapper Kash Doll, who accused another person of being "down bad" or desperate for intimate attention.

How Is The Phrase 'Down Bad' Used In Memes?

Use of the phrase "down bad" is not exclusive to jokes and jabs towards desperate people, sometimes the phrase is used to denote general failure or a feeling of despair. In a tweet made in 2019, someone applauds McDonald's for being there when he was "down bad."

What Are Some Variations Of The Phrase 'Down Bad'?

Some ways in which internet users alter the phrase to exaggerate the term is to replace the word "bad" with its synonyms. Some popular "down bad" alternatives include down atrocious, down abominable, down terrible, and down horrendous.

How Do You Use 'Down Bad' In A Sentence?

• "Ever since I got fired from my job and my wife left me, I have been so down bad."
• "I was so down bad last weekend that I hooked up with a band geek."
• "Did you see that Tim messaged Becca again? He is down atrocious."

For the full history of down bad, be sure to check out our entry on the slang term here for even more information.