On the down-low - meaning and definition
AlsoDLDLdown-lowon the DLDL guy
Definition
Slang for keeping something secret, and specifically for men who have sex with men while presenting publicly as straight.
At a glance
- In general slang, on the down-low simply means kept quiet.
- Gained a specific meaning in Black American communities for men with secret same-gender relationships.
- Media coverage in the 2000s used it to stigmatise Black men and blame them for HIV rates.
- Public-health research did not support that framing.
- In dating profiles, DL usually signals a wish for privacy.
In detail
In general slang, "on the down-low" simply means kept quiet. The phrase gained a specific meaning in Black American communities for men who have same-gender relationships in secret, often while in relationships with women.
Media coverage in the 2000s sometimes used the term to stigmatise Black men and blame them for HIV rates, a framing public-health research did not support. In dating profiles "DL" usually signals a wish for privacy.
In a sentence
- Keep the surprise party on the down-low until Saturday.
- The documentary questioned how news stories in the 2000s used the down-low to blame Black men for HIV.
Where the word comes from
Down-low as slang for secret comes from African American English. Its use for men hiding same-gender relationships spread into mainstream media in the early 2000s.
Common questions
What does DL mean in a dating profile?
It usually means the person wants discretion, for example because they are not out to everyone. It is a request for privacy and should be respected.
Why is the term considered stigmatising?
In the 2000s some media coverage used it to portray Black men as deceptive and to blame them for HIV among Black women, a claim public-health research did not support. That framing added to racist and homophobic stereotypes.