Have you ever been told your outfit “slays the house down boots”, and didn’t know how to respond? No matter, with our drag dictionary we’ll have you talking like a queen in no time…
Since RuPaul’s Drag Race began in ’09 in a studio basement, with a hazy filter rumoured to be hiding the poor camera quality, Drag Race has sparked 15 international series, nine All Stars series and three “vs the World” series.
In this time the mission has remained the same: find the queen with the most Charisma Uniqueness Nerve and Talent and crown them.
Many drag phrases or sayings like these have made their way into the mainstream. You might know, for example, what ‘spilling the tea’ means, or Cardi B’s unsuccessful attempt to trademark ‘Okuuuur’ may have put drag slang on your radar.
But RuPaul, Michelle Visage and the over 500 queens who have appeared on the show have gradually been building up a plethora of inside jokes, which may make it a little daunting for the uninitiated.
A Drag Race Dictionary:
Beat her face
Non-violent. Meaning, to perfectly execute a makeup look.
Boots The House Down
The highest of compliments. Almost like how the French use ‘beaucoup.’ Used in a sentence: “she’s serving looks boots the house down’; alternatively, “she’s serving looks the house down boots.”
Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent
To be crowned the ‘Next Drag Superstar”, a queen must embody this acronym.
Drag mother / drag family / drag houses
Drag Race’s format finds its earliest origins in the New York ballroom scene (the subject of Pose), as queens would compete in pageants with varying themes (such as face, body, and the all-important voguing). Many elements of the Ballroom scene can still be seen in Drag culture today, including ‘Drag families.’
In corporate terms, a drag family is essentially a mentorship scheme. A ‘house’ of drag queens is presided over by a ‘Drag Mother’, usually someone who started their ‘daughter’s’ drag journey. The daughters will sometimes take their mother’s last name or their mother will pick one for them.
One of the biggest drag dynasties is the Davenport family, started by Kelexis Davenport, who has daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters including Kennedy Davenport (series seven, US), Jiggly Caliente (series four, Drag Race US) and even Monet X Change (series 10, US).
Gag
Definitions vary. Some say it is when a look or performance is so good there is a physical reaction. Others say it is when one is so stunned they can hardly speak.
Kiki / KaiKai
Kiki is described by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series six contestant KiKi Snatch, as “drag lingo for having a good time.” I would describe it as having a gossipy gathering.
Much in the same way you shouldn’t confuse me llamo (my name is) and me lamo (I lick) in Spanish, KiKi is not to be confused with KaiKai. KaiKai refers to something a little more… intimate.
Miss Vanjie
Rumour has it if you whisper ‘Miss Vanjie, Miss Vaaaaanjie, Miss Vaaanjie’ whilst walking backwards, a drag queen covered in hot glue-gunned flowers and barbie dolls will appear…
If you were a meme connoisseur back in 2018, you’ll remember Miss Vanjie’s iconic series 10 exit, as this clip made it into the mainstream.
Paris Is Burning
Paris is Burning is a drag landmark. The documentary was filmed in the 1980s and showed New York drag queens competing in ballrooms. The grand majority of drag slang was popularised through this film – like yaaaas, werk, shade etc.
Paris is Burning is the ultimate companion to Drag Race, not least because it’s mentioned by name at least once a series.
Porkchop / Porkchop Queen
Victoria ‘Porkchop’ Parker was the first queen ever to be eliminated from a series of Drag Race, and henceforth the queens who place last become known as a “porkchop queen.”
The original Porkchop makes regular cameos and is often referenced, but has never returned to the franchise to compete, solidifying her legacy.
Shade
The snide cousin of trash talk, ‘throwing shade’ should be a slightly less perceptible insult. It’s closest relative in the slander family tree would be a backhanded compliment.
Slay
Once you start saying it, you will never really stop. It can be used in most contexts.
Like when a friend picks Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood at karaoke – “slay.”
Or, when your friend wins the caber toss at the Highland games – “slay.”
Or, when they reveal themselves to be the founder of a dopamine-core graphic design company, which makes posters featuring the word ‘slay’ – “slay.”
She Already Done had Herses
As the legend goes, RuPaul was once on the way home from a night out and went for a takeaway. When another girl came to collect her order, the server refused and explained that: “she already done had herses.” For some inexplicable reason, this really spoke to RuPaul, and now this line is said before they announce the challenges.
Every. Single. Week.
Sickening
In the same way that British teenage boys said ‘peak’ back in 2018, the word means quite the opposite of its usual usage. Sickening is oft screamed when a queen does well in a lipsync.
Spill the Tea
Whilst many of you might be accustomed to spilling the beans (sharing a secret), spilling the tea is it’s more judgemental sister. Spilling the tea means to gossip, or to share your unfiltered thoughts on a situation.
Snatch Game
A Blankety Blank parody, Snatch Game requires the queens to dress up and perform as a celebrity of their choice. Two real-life celebrity contestants will ask the panel of impersonators to fill in the blanks in a statement. The winner of the game will essentially be whoever makes Ru laugh the most.
The impersonated celebrities range from Marlene Dietrich to Katie Price, from Margaret Thatcher to Adele, and from Maggie Smith to RuPaul herself (which went down like a lead balloon).
Reading
All cards are off the table for the reading challenge. To put it simply, a ‘read’ is an insult.
A personal favourite comes from UK series two’s Sister Sister, in the form of a very British insult: “I want to see Tayce in something long and flowy… like the Thames.”
Ru-Peter Badge
Since RuPaul’s Drag Race UK doesn’t have a cash prize, the girls battle it out to win a ‘coveted Ru-Peter badge’. The only other country that receives these is Australia, which must be rough because Blue Peter isn’t really a thing down under.
This isn’t RuPaul’s Best Friend Race
Lashauwn Beyond may not have lasted long in the competition, but her line “This is not RuPaul’s best friend race” has lasted over a decade. It refers to the idea that you win the race not by making lasting friendships, but by stomping on toes.
Untucked
Untucked is a companion series to RuPaul’s Drag Race, and is actually where some of the most memorable quotes occur (see: “this is not RuPaul’s best friend race”). Much of the reality series is filmed between the judges’ comments and the lip-sync for your life, aka the tensest possible moments.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series six airs on BBC Three and iPlayer on the 26th September 2024.
