Slang dictionary

keep it 100

or keep it 💯 [keep it wuhn huhn-drid]

What does keep it 100 mean?

Keep it 100 is a slang phrase that means being authentic and truthful, akin to “keeping it real.”

Where does keep it 100 come from?

Examples of keep it 100

IDC who you are.. Just keep it 💯with me. Even if it hurt.
@bigplay_va, March, 2018
Why do ppl get mad when you "keep it 100"? If that's what you asked of me, why trip? The TRUTH is: you didn't want the truth at all
@ValorMusic, March, 2010
In come the troops to break up this stupid argument. For the last time, friends don't sue friends, guys. Plus, to keep it 100, by Paul and Adrienne's logic, Lisa and Ken could've definitely sued Adrienne for accusing Lisa of selling stories.
Lauren McEwen, The Baltimore Sun, February, 2013
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Who uses keep it 100?

Before entering mainstream colloquial speech and writing, keep it 100 was and is still used in Black English, where it’s often pronounced as keep it one hunnit/d, consistent with the phonology of the dialects. The verb in the phrase behaves normally (e.g., They kept it 100 or She’s keeping it 100).

Keep it 100 is used to refer to one’s own integrity (e.g., I keep it 100 with my friends) or someone else’s (e.g., She keeps it 100 all the time). It is also used to critique someone’s lack of keeping it 100 by being fake or dishonest. Keep it 100 sometimes characterizes a thing or person as “exceptionally great.”

As noted, keep it 100 is frequently paired or substituted with the 💯 emoji.

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Note

This is not meant to be a formal definition of keep it 100 like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of keep it 100 that will help our users expand their word mastery.