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to put it down
01
(African American) to perform impressively, handle a task skillfully, or do something correctly and with excellence
Slang
What does "to put it down" mean in African American slang?
It is used in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and hip hop culture to mean performing impressively, handling a task skillfully, or doing something correctly and with excellence, whether singing, dancing, cooking, working, or any other activity. People typically say "She really put it down on stage" or "He put it down in the kitchen tonight." The term originated in late 20th century AAVE and hip hop, particularly in battle rap and performance contexts, and remains common in casual praise and rap lyrics.
Examples
She put it down on the dance floor.
