Have you seen some content on social media that's not good and not great, but not entirely bad at the same time? You could use the text-based abbreviation 'mid' to let people know your honest opinion about any content you've seen online. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this term.
Meaning
The term 'mid' is a common text-based abbreviation that people use to describe that something is medium, average, or not as good as it could have been.
When something isn't good and is not great, then it can be described as 'mid' for everyone to know what you mean.
The text-based abbreviation 'mid' is taken to mean short for the word “mediocre” which is defined as something that is inferior (and thus not superior).
'Mid' isn't taken to mean as bad as something that's called “lame”, but wouldn't be something that is called by terms like “excellent” or “W” either.
Almost anything average or unimpressive can be described as “mid”.
The term “meh” can be similar in both its meaning and use.
It is not to be confused with the term 'mids' which refers to the mid-range sounds that someone might want to boost on a speaker equalizer.
Example Usage
“I've seen most of Stallone's movies and I have to say that I'm not as much of a fan as I might have thought I was. Mid.”
“I would say that this cheeseburger is pretty mid compared to the ones we had yesterday. I think we should have gone with the fries instead.”
“One of the best things you can do is go to the theme park. Don't try any of the other mid attractions, you'll just take the rest of the family home bored, angry and hungry.”
“If you don't want to have a mid burger, make sure you add cheese.”
Origin
The text-based abbreviation 'mid' originates from the written-out term “mediocre” which is what the term is used as short for.
The origin of the word “mediocre” itself and its meaning can be taken back to Latin, where the term literally means “halfway up a mountain” to signify that someone would make it about halfway up...but not quite to the top or peak of the mountain.
The word mediocre has long been used to describe things that are of a lesser quality or standard than expected.
If something is just a little better than “lame” but still not great, then the term “mid” can be used as a comment or status to signify what someone thinks about it.
The abbreviation 'mid' would become popular as shorthand for the word “mediocre” on TikTok, and it is likely that the term must have originated somewhere between 2016 when TikTok was founded and 2021, when the term received mentions in blogs and mainstream media.
After this, the term became popular on other social media platforms where it might be seen as a hashtag, a comment or part of a status.
A close expression in meaning to 'mid' is the term “meh”
Phrases Similar to Mid
- Lame
- Fail
- Meh
Phrases Opposite to Mid
- W
- Win
- Pushing P
What is the Correct Saying?
- Mid
- mid
Ways People May Say Mid Incorrectly
Theer are ways to say the term 'mid' incorrectly, though most of these are related to misunderstanding the potential meaning of the word.
The term 'mid' can be used to mean something that is “average” or “not great”, and can also be used as short for the term mediocre
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Mid
The term “mid” is used to indicate something that is mediocre or substandard.
The term can be used as something similar to the term “meh” when someone is unimpressed by an experience or piece of content that they saw on the internet.
Sometimes, the term mid can also be used as a shorter way to write “medium” in conversation.