[Ads-l] shade

[Barretts Mail]

An article on the Huffington Post today is filled with mentions of “shade”.

‘The Conners’ Has Officially Killed Off Roseanne, And Fans Can’t Believe The Shade
https://bit.ly/2AeQzWJ <https://bit.ly/2AeQzWJ>
by David Barden

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… [Roseanne Barr’s] character died of an opioid overdose.

Fans were quick to call out the sitcom for throwing shade at the decision, pointing out that Barr had previously blamed insomnia drug Ambien for the racist tweets….
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It seems that using opioids as a way to kill off Barr’s character is shade, in that it’s a thinly veiled reference to Ambien.

Barden cites seven tweets using the word “shade”, including:

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You all the fact that Roseanne tried to blame Ambien on her racist rant and she died from a drug overdose on the show is the ultimate shade
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Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shade <https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shade>) has: Subtle insults.

I’m not going to look at this deeply, but the first page of Urban Dictionary (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shades) includes:

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Anonymous 1 April 2003
acting in a casual or disrespectful manner towards someone/dissing a friend
throwing shade, acting kinda shady

kigox 18 August 2016
trying to act in a slick, or casual manner by using something against someone, disrespecting, insulting, judging, etc.

Amari Nieh 10 January 2017
Casual or disrespectful manner towards someone/dissing a friend.
Becky: Girl yass you look fierce in that wig, but it would look better on someone else. All tea all Shade
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The English OLD (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/shade <https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/shade>) and Merriam-Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shade) have this meaning only in the verbal expression “throw shade” and both confine the usage to public criticism.

OLD
informal Publicly criticize or express contempt for someone.

Merriam-Webster
to express contempt or disrespect for someone publicly especially by subtle or indirect insults or criticisms

Benjamin Barrett
Formerly of Seattle, WA




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