Ate

Definition:

Used to express admiration for someone who has performed exceptionally well or succeeded in a particular task

Context:

The term "ate" and its variations originated from African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and gained popularity among Gen-Z on TikTok & Instagram in 2021.

Common uses:

"ate" or "ate that" - used as a praise / compliment, similar to "killed it" or "nailed it," implying that they metaphorically consumed or dominated the situation. (e.g. "she ate" or "he ate that!")
"thought you ate" - used to call out someone who believes they did something impressive but actually failed, serving as a way to deflate overconfidence or misplaced pride. (e.g. "you thought you ate with that joke, but it was actually pretty lame.")
"left no crumbs" - often used in conjunction with "ate" to emphasize the completeness of someone's success, suggesting that they dominated so thoroughly that nothing remained for others (e.g. "dang, she ate and left no crumbs!")

Example:

^{(for legal
reasons, all names & events in the following scenario have been made
up)}

Taylor Swift: *releases Midnights*

Elyjah: “she absolutely ate!!! and left no crumbs!! and then she ate the plate!”