Street voices
Michael
·
United States
"Slides is another word for flip-flops or sandals without a back. They are most commonly worn when going to the beach or pool. For example, yo, I got these new flip-flops just in time for summer. Those are sweet, man. Nice slides."
What it means
Means slip on sandals with an open back, the easy throw on shoes people wear when they're heading to the pool, beach, gym, or just can't be bothered with proper footwear. Usually lighter and sportier than regular sandals, and loads of people call them slides whether they're designer, rubber, or slightly tragic gas station ones. Summer language, basically.
Usage examples
"Yo, grab your slides before we head to the pool, the pavement's roasting and nobody's trying to lace up sneakers in this heat."
"He turned up to the fancy barbecue in socks and slides, and by the end of the night everyone wished they had done the same."
Where it comes from
Named for the simple motion, your foot slides straight in, no laces and no fuss. The open-back sandal took the verb as its name, the go-to shoe for the pool, the gym, or a quick dash to the shop.
Editors of this term
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