L
what it means
The counterpart to W. "Taking an L" means accepting a loss; "L + ratio" is a dismissive pile-on reply that became a meme in its own right.
A loss — failure, a bad take, or something you disapprove of.
the origin story
Sports shorthand for a loss, adopted by Twitch chat and gaming communities alongside W in the late 2010s.
"L + ratio" became one of the most recognisable dismissals on Twitter around 2021, stacking insults into a chain. The single L is now common enough to appear in ordinary conversation about bad luck.
in the wild
Tickets sold out in four minutes.
L.
Pineapple on pizza is objectively correct.
L take.
how to use it
- Reacting to a failure or bad luck
- Dismissing a take you disagree with
- Live chats and comments
- About genuine misfortune
- As part of a pile-on
- In professional communication
related terms
receipts
Community feedback
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