dap up

/dæp ʌp/
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An informal act of greeting, congratulating, or showing respect with dap, usually through a fist bump, palm slap, or quick handshake.

Examples

  • He dapped up his teammate before tipoff.
  • They dapped each other up after the win.
  • She daps up her cousin whenever they meet.
  • The players dapped up fans along the tunnel.
  • I watched him dap up the whole crew.

Similar words

greet
give dap
high-five
shake hands
fist-bump
acknowledge

Meanings

Usage

Use dap up in casual speech for people greeting or acknowledging each other with a hand gesture, not for formal handshakes or the shipping abbreviation DAP.

Common mistakes

He dap up misses the needed verb form, and dap up should not be confused with the trade abbreviation DAP.

Etymology

Formed from dap, U.S. slang for a stylized hand greeting associated especially with African American usage from the Vietnam War era. Its origin is uncertain, with suggested links to tap or dab, while acronym explanations such as "dignity and pride" are usually treated as later explanations.

FAQ

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