BDE
Relaxed, unforced confidence and self-assurance.
By Cal Hewitt, Gen X · Researched from public sources ·
What it actually means
BDE is a joking metaphor for calm confidence without loud boasting. It can describe any gender and is not a literal claim about anatomy.
See the quick definition in the BDE dictionary entry.
Where it came from
BDE went viral on Twitter in June 2018 during discussion of Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande. Several early tweets are tied to its spread, so a single coiner is disputed.
No single person is credited, the origin is disputed.
Where it's popular
English-language social media and pop culture.
Usually humorous.
How it caught on
- June 2018BDE went viral in Pete Davidson discourse.
- 2020sIt became broad shorthand for quiet confidence.
- 2022Latto's Big Energy renewed attention to the meme.
How to use it
“She handled it with BDE.”
Praising calm confidence.
“Constant bragging is not BDE.”
Contrasting confidence with insecurity.
Common mix-ups
It is not about actual genital size.
Do you actually know it?
BDE rerun
0/31. BDE describes:
2. BDE went viral in:
3. BDE is literal anatomy:
Related slang
Questions people ask
What does BDE stand for?
Big dick energy.
What does BDE mean?
Relaxed self-assured confidence.
Can anyone have BDE?
Yes. It is a metaphor, not a literal anatomical claim.
The phrase escaped celebrity gossip almost immediately and became a general personality label.
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