Washed
what it means
The opposite of cracked. Used about ageing athletes, retired pros and anyone over about twenty-five in a competitive game.
Past your prime — no longer as good as you used to be.
the origin story
Shortened from "washed up", long-standing American slang; adopted heavily by sports and gaming Twitter in the 2010s.
Esports made it unusually cruel, since competitive careers can peak in a player's early twenties. "Washed" is now a standard self-deprecating joke among gamers who notice their reactions slowing at an age nobody would consider old anywhere else.
in the wild
He hasn't topped the leaderboard in two seasons.
Washed.
I'm 27 and my aim is gone.
Completely washed.
how to use it
- Joking about declining skill
- Sports and esports banter
- Self-deprecating humour
- About someone's career seriously
- Professionally
- As an ageist dismissal outside competitive contexts
related terms
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