Foxy
Attractive or sexy; also sly or crafty.
- Origin: Green’s lists an 1896 student-slang citation for the attractive sense
- On the Slang-o-matic wheel: Boomers (born 1946–1964). That is who the translator files it under, not a claim that this generation coined it.
What it means
As slang, foxy means attractive, usually in a flirtatious or sexy way. Cambridge defines that sense as “sexually attractive” and gives the example “a foxy lady.” In our observation it is most often said about women.
Foxy can also mean sly, like a fox. Dictionary.com lists that sense as “cunning or crafty; slyly clever,” so “a foxy move” in a card game praises cleverness, not looks.
Where it comes from
Green’s Dictionary of Slang finds the attractive sense in American college slang of the 1890s: an 1896 glossary of student slang defines foxy as “Stylish, pretty, attractive, showy.” Green’s records the same list using it for “artistic, neat” work, as in a foxy drawing.
Green’s citations continue through the twentieth century, including the 1979 Sugar Hill Gang record “Rapper’s Delight,” whose lyric mentions “the foxy ladies and pretty girls.”
Who says it now
The translator files foxy under Boomers, many of whom were young adults in the 1970s, when that record came out. Dictionary.com notes that because it can sound “a bit silly or old-fashioned,” it is sometimes used ironically. In our observation that is how younger speakers most often use it.
Tone
Flirtatious and a bit cheesy. Between partners or old friends it can be a fond, joking compliment. From a stranger or a coworker it may come across as a come-on, and it can be unwelcome.
What adults hear, what kids mean
A grandparent may hear foxy as a light, harmless compliment from their youth. A teenager may hear it as embarrassing, or as the cartoon-fox sense of sneaky. Adults are usually better off not using it about young people at all, because the sexy sense is the main one.
How to use it
Foxy goes before a noun (a foxy outfit) or after a verb (you look foxy). In the attractive sense it is used about people and clothes.
Two examples, written by us:
- My parents still call that 1978 wedding photo their foxy era.
- He put on the velvet jacket and asked if he looked foxy enough for the reunion.
How to answer it
If a partner or friend calls you foxy, “Why, thank you” with a laugh matches the tone. If it comes from someone where it feels out of place, it is fine to ignore it or say plainly that you would rather they did not.
Same idea, other generations
The Slang-o-matic wheel files Foxy under Boomers for the idea of looking good or being attractive. These are the words it files under the same idea, by generation. They are related, not always exact translations:
Related slang
- Groovy (Boomers): Excellent, pleasing or very fashionable.
- Dig (Boomers): To like, enjoy or understand.
- Fly (Gen X): Stylish, sharp, good-looking.
Try the slang translatorAll slang by generation
Sources
Meanings and dates on this page come from these dictionaries. Each quote is copied word for word from the linked page.
- Cambridge Dictionary
“informal sexually attractive: a foxy lady”
- Dictionary.com
“cunning or crafty; slyly clever”
“Because it can sound a bit silly or old-fashioned, it's sometimes used in a way that's intended to be somewhat ironic or humorous”
- Green's Dictionary of Slang
“(US campus) artistic, neat.”
“1896 W.C. Gore Student Sl. in Cohen (1997) 11: foxy a. […] Stylish, pretty, attractive, showy.”
“1979 Sugar Hill Gang 'Rapper's Delight' 🎵 My name is known all over the world / By the foxy ladies and pretty girls.”