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Drag queen vernacular is incredibly rich, especially when it comes to language. Many of the slang terms used by Gen Z and Millennials, like shade, tea, and slay, actually trace back to the queer ball scene from decades ago. But even if you're familiar with a few phrases, there are always new ones to learn. Read on for 11 of our favorite expressions, from dusted to purse first.
1. Dusted
If someone calls you dusted, take it as a compliment. This term, as explained by HomoCulture’s Triston Brewer, refers to looking ‘flawless, polished, and perfect.’ It’s often seen as the opposite of busted, which describes someone who appears disheveled, unkempt, or simply not their best.
2. Boots
Adding boots to the end of a sentence strengthens the feeling you're expressing. As Bob the Drag Queen shared with Vanity Fair, “In everyday life, you might say, ‘This outfit is fierce,’ but in drag, you’d say, ‘This outfit is fierce boots.’” For an even bolder statement, try saying boots the house down (or the house down boots).
3. Bar Queen
Being called a bar queen is rarely a compliment. It usually suggests that you’re only suited for performing in small bars, rather than landing gigs at more prestigious or notable venues.
4. Reading
Reading someone means highlighting their flaws. As Detox explained to Vanity Fair, “It’s like opening a book that has a list of all the things that are wrong with you.” This art of exchanging insults was immortalized in the iconic 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning and continues to be a celebrated part of drag culture today. A reading session often kicks off with the phrase, “The library is open.”
5. Garage Doors
Garage doors refer to eyelids painted with a single, solid color of eyeshadow—so flawlessly done that when a queen blinks, it looks like garage doors opening and closing.
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6. Eleganza Extravaganza
An eleganza extravaganza (or extravaganza eleganza) is just as glamorous as it sounds: A celebration where everything and everyone is dripping with elegance and style. To quote queens Princess Pop, Manila von Teez, and Mary Scary in a piece for CapeTownMagazine.com: “The only way to properly celebrate the arrival of my new David Tlale shoes is to throw an extravaganza eleganza.”
7. Cheesecake
Cheesecake or Miss Cheesecake is another term popularized in Paris Is Burning. As Avis Pendavis explains in the film, “Some children ask what ‘Miss Cheesecake’ means. It’s about having not just a body, but being sexy. Many people have bodies, but not all of them are sexy.” In the words of Mariah Balenciaga, it’s “a luscious body, a body that moves, a body that’s delicious.”
8. Serving Realness
Serving realness means fully embodying a persona to the point that it feels completely authentic. As Dorian Corey put it in Paris Is Burning, “It’s not a parody or satire. It’s about actually being this.” On RuPaul’s Drag Race, for example, queens have been tasked with serving “country realness,” “Meryl Streep realness,” “Soul Train realness,” and “fierce jazzercise realness.”
9. No Tea, No Shade
No tea, no shade is a way of saying no offense or no disrespect. It means you're not trying to be gossipy or throw any insults—you're simply speaking the truth.
10. Kiki
A kiki is a relaxed get-together where queer folks unwind, catch up, and usually share some gossip. WIRED reports that the term, which mimics the sound of laughter, first emerged in Black and Latinx queer communities.
11. Purse First
When Bob the Drag Queen first appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race, he finished his outfit early and decided to spend the extra time making a purse. He then strutted down the runway with his arm extended, purse in hand, and the iconic catchphrase purse first was born. While it doesn’t have a strict definition, walking into a room purse first generally signals confidence. In 2016, Bob even dropped a song called “Purse First.”
