Historically, to kill someone; in modern slang, to do something extremely well or impressively.
From Old English 'slean' meaning 'to strike or kill.' The modern slang usage emerged in African American Vernacular English in the early 2000s as an expression of excellence.
This word completely flipped meaning—'slay' went from death-related to meaning 'you crushed it!' The transformation shows how marginalized communities create new language that eventually spreads everywhere, including into corporate emails.
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