Code Words You Use When All You Really Want To Say Is S.E.X!

There’s 1,001 code words for the big S.E.X. But as you might guess, not all of them are in the dictionary. Some are really dirty (believe us, you don’t want to look up Alabama Hot Pocket), and some are just coded words that people use as innuendo when they’re ready to sneak away—but don’t want to alert the whole office, party, or family dinner.

While you may be familiar with many synonyms for sex and sexy, here we’ve compiled a list of those harmless, coded words (the dirty ones are a slideshow for another day). So, sit back and take notes about how to signal to your lover the next time you need a quick getaway.

afternoon delight

“Sky rockets in flight / Afternoon delight.” An afternoon delight sounds like a sweet treat offered in the late day—maybe with a cup of tea. Well, it’s a treat, but it has nothing to do with baked goods or tea.

“Afternoon Delight” is the name of a 1976 song by the Starland Vocal Band. The song, which contains innuendo about casual daytime sex (or an “afternoon delight”) was a hit. Because of the song’s popularity, afternoon delight has become well recognized as a term for a midday sexual encounter, often between or instead of scheduled events. For a more modern usage of the song, think Anchorman.

diddling

Diddle can mean “to waste time” or “to swindle someone” out of a lot of money. But, not in this case.

The expression, which refers to “moving back and forth in a rapid motion,” is actually a cutesy way to say masturbating. It was first used in the 1950s, and can’t you just picture that prim and proper mom from that era talking about her son’s diddling? Ha! No wonder he’s currently in therapy.

toma

Toma is based on the everyday Spanish verb tomar, “to take.” Grammatically, toma can mean “he/she/it takes” or the imperative “take (something).”

As a slang term, toma is largely regional, found in parts of South America and Cuba. An equivalent slang word for toma is coger. In 2004, Cuban-American rapper Pitbull released a single with rapper Lil John called “Toma,” where he uses the word in a sexually explicit context. In the song, his lyrics “Abre las pierna’/ y dale toma!” translate to “Open your legs and go on, take it!” OK then.

smoosh

Smoosh just sounds cute. It reminds us of adorable pups with smooshed faces (think mini bulldog, aww). But, this word can also be a sexual term used to describe two bodies “smooshing” together during the act. Makes sense since smoosh‘s formal definition is “to mash or push, especially to push down or in.” Graphic, no?

The Jersey Shore‘s Snooki (Nicole Polizzi) was one of the first to use it during the 2000s, followed by the characters of South Park in the 2015 spoof “It’s a Jersey Thing.”

smash

Sure, you can use the term smashed when referring to intoxication, but you can also use it to describe sex, of course.

As defined in Randy Kearse’s book Street Talk: Da Official Guide to Hip-Hop & Urban Slanguage, smash is that moment when two people engage in sex (and it ain’t the sweet and gentle kind). ?

milkshake

“My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.” The song “Milkshake” by Kelis came out in 2003 and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart later that year.

As Kelis is singing about a woman who is irresistible to men, milkshake is clearly a metaphor or euphemism, though its exact meaning is ambiguous. Some people speculate milkshake refers to oral sex, as Kelis also sings about how she could “teach you” about her superior milkshake. Others think milkshake symbolizes her breasts. Milkshake, after all, has been slang for “breasts” since the 1910s—crazy, right?

Kelis herself has attempted to put to rest the confusion as to what milkshake means. When the song was released in 2003, she said that milkshake is something sensual that makes a woman stand out, for example the breasts or butt. In 2017, however, Kelis stated that milkshake as a metaphor “means lots of things,” but it’s meant to evoke the special quality that makes a woman attractive, like a dessert or a delicious treat. So, use it however you want … as long as it’s for sexual stuff of course.

making bacon

Making bacon sounds pretty innocent—and delicious. We can almost smell the grease sizzling on the frypan.

However, when not referencing food (or money), this expression can also mean intercourse. (Just ask 1970s indie band the Pork Dukes who sang about it in their song, “Making Bacon”). No actual bacon required (unless you want to try something new).

gazzing

Gazzing is very close to the word gazing, which makes it sound kind of romantic (think gazing into each other’s eyes).

But, you’re probably not looking into anyone’s eyes when you’re performing this  (according to The Big Black Book of Very Dirty Words by Alexis Munier in 2010)—you’re too busy having an orgasm to lock eyes with anyone.

heavy petting

Originating in 1952, the expression heavy petting refers to intense caressing (you know, down below) between two people in a hot and heavy make-out session. However, this act usually ends at petting and doesn’t actually lead up to sex itself.

twig-n-berries

Twig-n-berries sets a picturesque nature scene when you first hear it. However, metaphorically, there are no real berries or twigs involved.

This expression—which started to become popular on college campuses back in the 2000s—is sex slang for a male’s erection. Not so scenic anymore.

kitty

There’s nothing cuter than a loveable, playful kitten—but we’re not talking about the feline here.

A kitty in sexual terms refers to a woman’s vagina, a play off the word pussy, which might have derived from the Old Norse word puss (meaning “pocket, pouch”).