hot shit: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High in informal slang, especially in certain demographics.Vulgar slang, highly informal, colloquial.
Quick answer
What does “hot shit” mean?
An arrogant person who thinks they are extremely important or skilled.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An arrogant person who thinks they are extremely important or skilled; something considered exceptionally good, impressive, or fashionable.
Can also be used sarcastically to mock someone's inflated self-importance, or ironically as a term of endearment among friends. In slang, it often describes a person, object, or experience perceived as the best or most desirable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English. British equivalents might include "big I am," "the dog's bollocks" (positive), or "full of oneself" (negative).
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries the same core meanings of arrogance or excellence, but its vulgarity is more frequently noted in British contexts, making it slightly more marked.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in American informal speech and popular culture (music, film).
Grammar
How to Use “hot shit” in a Sentence
[Subject] + be + hot shit[Subject] + think + (that) + [subject] + be + hot shit[Subject] + act like + hot shitVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hot shit” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A – not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A – not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A – not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He's got a proper hot-shit attitude since he got promoted.
- That new game is hot shit, you have to try it.
American English
- She's been acting all hot shit since her band got a write-up.
- Their hot-shit new software crashed in the first demo.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare and inappropriate; would be seen as unprofessional and offensive.
Academic
Never used in formal academic writing; potentially used in very informal student speech.
Everyday
Common in very casual conversation among peers, especially younger adults. Use requires caution due to vulgarity.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hot shit”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Misinterpreting the tone (insult vs. compliment).
- Applying it to inappropriate referents (e.g., a respected elder).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it has a dual function. It can be a genuine, though vulgar, compliment meaning 'excellent' ("This burger is hot shit!"), or an insult targeting arrogance ("He thinks he's hot shit"). Context and tone are critical.
Absolutely not. It is vulgar slang and would be considered highly unprofessional and offensive in any formal or professional written context.
Use words like 'awesome', 'fantastic', 'top-notch', 'the best', or slang like 'the bomb' or 'fire' (in informal contexts).
This is an example of semantic inversion or reclaiming, common in slang. Taboo words are often used for emphasis, to signal in-group membership, or to express strong emotion, whether positive or negative.
An arrogant person who thinks they are extremely important or skilled.
Hot shit is usually vulgar slang, highly informal, colloquial. in register.
Hot shit: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɒt ˈʃɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɑːt ˈʃɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hot shit and heavy gravy (dated, US, meaning someone self-important)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a very arrogant dog leaving a steaming pile on the pavement and strutting away thinking it's the best thing ever. That dog thinks it's 'hot shit'.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE/IMPORTANCE IS HEAT AND FRESHNESS (Something valuable is 'hot' and newly made 'shit' as a base material, ironically elevated).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'hot shit' MOST LIKELY be an insult?