ride or die
adjective, noun & verb
someone you would do anything for
What does ride or die mean?
When used as a noun, ride or die refers to someone you would do anything for. As a verb it means “to do anything for” or “to be loyal or dedicated to.” As an adjective it means “completely loyal and true.”
Examples of ride or die as a noun
Happy birthday to my ride or die, my bestie, my confidante, my heart, my blessing, my friend…my SISTER!!!
—@violadavis, X (formerly Twitter), 27 Sept. 2017
Her co-workers also joked that Dykes announced her retirement only after her best friend and colleague, Flossie Dixon, retired earlier in the year. “She’s just leaving because Flossie left. She was her ‘ride or die,’” joked Tonya McCall, who also works at Hendry Regional.
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Examples of ride or die as an adjective
my closest group of friends are all my “ride or die” friends but we all have boundaries …
—In between juggling motherhood to her son Jace and cooking up heat for the album, Remy has also been maintaining her ride-or-die relationship with her husband, rapper Papoose.
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Examples of ride or die as a verb
You’re more inclined to do a favor for someone who has your back than for someone who doesn’t. You’re more likely to ride or die for someone you feel a genuine, authentic bond with than for someone who can simply “get the job done.” So there’s no reason to cheat yourself out of that when it comes to love.
—I love the New York Liberty. I ride or die for them.
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Where does ride or die come from?
Ride or die was popularized in the late 1990s by such songs as “Ride or Die” by B.G. and “Ride or Die” by Jay-Z. According to the online Ride or Die Project, ride or die comes from the term ride-or-die chick, referring to “a woman who was down with the cause. A Hip Hop spin on the popular mythology of Bonnie and Clyde, the ride-or-die chick refers to a woman who has undying loyalty for her partner and is willing to stand by them through anything, even in the face of death.”
How is ride or die used?
As a noun, ride or die often refers to a romantic partner, but not always. A best friend, a pet, or even a favorite possession or pastime has been and can be called a ride or die. Similarly, as a verb ride or die is sometimes used somewhat synonymously with the verb stan. As an adjective, ride or die is sometimes but not always hyphenated.
