Extra
what it means
Being extra is theatrical rather than simply enthusiastic. It's often affectionate — people call themselves extra as a personality trait rather than a flaw.
Over the top, excessive, doing far more than the situation requires.
the origin story
AAVE, in wide use by the mid-2010s and spread through Twitter and reality television.
It filled a gap between "dramatic" and "attention-seeking" with a lighter tone, and "being extra" became a stock self-description. The related "do the most" covers the same ground with more edge.
in the wild
She hired a photographer for a picnic.
So extra. I love it.
I made a spreadsheet for a two-day trip.
You're so extra.
how to use it
- Teasing someone about theatrical behaviour
- Describing your own over-preparation
- Casual, affectionate criticism
- About someone's genuine emotional reaction
- In professional feedback
- As a way to shame enthusiasm
related terms
receipts
Community feedback
keep scrolling
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