Street voices
Michael
·
United States
"Dece. Abbreviation of decent. However, this usually means more than decent. It is said to describe something as above average or good. Example. I never knew Jan could swim like that. She is awesome. I know. I told you she was dece."
What it means
Short for decent, but people usually say dece when decent feels too flat. It means something's properly good, solid, better than expected, worth a little approving nod without turning it into a whole speech. It's easy, casual praise for food, plans, music, fits, or whatever quietly delivered.
Usage examples
"I thought the cookout might be weak, but that burger was dece, the playlist was nice, and even cousin Rob stopped acting like a chaos goblin."
"I was not expecting much from the corner diner, but the pancakes were dece and the coffee kept coming, so we stayed all morning."
"That little spot by the station looks rough from outside, but the chicken wrap's dece and they don't skimp on the chips."
"Didn't think the new lad would be much in five-a-side, but he's dece on the ball and actually tracks back."
"The pub looked a bit dead from outside, but the chips were dece and the pints were cheap, so no one was complaining."
Got something to say?
Edit, fix or tell us something. We review it and, if it is true, you will see it applied with your name on it.
Where it comes from
Just decent with the tail clipped off, the way slang shortens a word used all the time. Trimmed down, dece carries a warmer punch than its full form, casual praise that earns a nod.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.