{"id":93,"date":"2021-10-09T21:40:54","date_gmt":"2021-10-09T21:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=93"},"modified":"2021-10-12T19:15:40","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T19:15:40","slug":"dap-me-up-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/dap-me-up-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Dap Me Up - Meaning, Usage and Origin"},"content":{"rendered":"

What does it mean when someone says, \u201cdap me up\u201d? This article covers the meaning and origins of the phrase and examples of correct and incorrect usage.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The idiom \u201cDap me up\u201d is an informal greeting used between friends or acquaintances. The phrase is literally a request for someone to \u201cgive dap<\/a>\u201d to the speaker as a gesture of greeting or agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiving dap\u201d or \u201cdapping\u201d refers to the act of lightly bumping the fingers of a closed fist against those of another person. You may also hear this act referred to as a \u201cfist bump.\u201d The action of dapping can also include any variety of hand gestures similar to an informal handshake or high five.<\/p>\n

So when someone says, \u201cDap me up,\u201d they\u2019re greeting the other person by simultaneously offering and requesting a dap, such as a fist bump, high five, or informal handshake. In addition to a greeting, the idiom can also solicit agreement or solidarity.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

When approaching a friend or acquaintance and attempting to give them a fist bump, high five, or another informal handshake, you might say, \u201cdap me up.\u201d In this context, it\u2019s typically only said aloud if the second person is unaware that they are being offered a dap.<\/p>\n

If the phrase is said aloud, rather than through a nonverbal gesture such as extending a hand or fist, it\u2019s typically done as a sign of agreement or solidarity. For example, when one friend says something profound or relatable, another might reach out for a dap, saying, \u201cdap me up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

Dapping and the phrase \u201cdap me up\u201d are believed to have originated among Black American soldiers during the Vietnam War to signify solidarity.<\/p>\n

Some linguistics experts believe that the word \u201cdap\u201d may stand for \u201cdignity and pride.\u201d However, others argue that this is likely a \u201cbackronym,\u201d an acronym that evolved to match the phrase rather than the reverse.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s more likely that speakers initially used the word \u201cdap\u201d for its similarity to the word \u201ctap.\u201d Regardless, the original use of the word and idiom are uncertain.<\/p>\n

Similar Phrases and Synonyms<\/h2>\n

The idiom \u201cdap me up\u201d is similar to other phrases that verbally invite a nonverbal greeting. Examples include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Give me dap<\/li>\n
  • Give me five<\/li>\n
  • High five<\/li>\n
  • Give me some skin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Opposite Phrases<\/h2>\n

    There are no common phrases used to convey the opposite message to \u201cdap me up.\u201d However, to nonverbally refuse a dap may be referred to as \u201cleaving someone hanging.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Knowingly refusing to accept a dap may be viewed as a sign of disrespect. Returning a dap without enthusiasm, such as with minimal hand contact, is also considered rude.<\/p>\n

    Common Misuses<\/h2>\n

    The phrase \u201cdab me up\u201d has recently started being used interchangeably with \u201cdap me up,\u201d intending to mean the same thing - a request or offer of a dap. Replacing \u201cdap\u201d with \u201cdab\u201d alters the meaning slightly, as a dab refers to a different type of nonverbal greeting.<\/p>\n

    The term \u201cdabbing\u201d refers to a gesture that involves raising one elbow and bowing your head into the extended elbow. This form of informal nonverbal greeting became popular more recently, and the original phrase, \u201cdap me up,\u201d predates the practice of dabbing.<\/p>\n

    Neither idiom is technically incorrect. The two phrases simply refer to different actions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    What does it mean when someone says, \u201cdap me up\u201d? This article covers the meaning and origins of the phrase and examples of correct and incorrect usage. Meaning The idiom \u201cDap me up\u201d is an informal greeting used between friends or acquaintances. The phrase is literally a request for someone to \u201cgive dap\u201d to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":120,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93\/revisions\/120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}