Slang – Shades.
A pair of sunglasses.
Shades is always plural, just like sunglasses – you wear a pair of shades, not “a shade”. It’s informal and friendly, and very common in both British and American English.
In Australia the slang word for sunglasses is sunnies.
Don’t Confuse It With “Throwing Shade”
Throwing shade means subtly insulting or disrespecting someone, often with a sly or sarcastic comment. It has nothing to do with sunglasses!
Example:
- “You’ll need your shades if you’re driving today because it’s really sunny!”
In the News
Spotted in the newsNightlife Guru John Terzian Serves Up Classic Shades With Garrett Leight California Opticalforbes.comWhat is slang?
Slang is very informal language. It’s usually spoken rather than written, and is often used by a particular group of people or in a particular place. Slang changes over time, and using it well is a great way to sound more natural when speaking English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunglasses. It is always used in the plural, like “sunglasses”.
Making a subtle, sly insult about someone. It is not related to the meaning “sunglasses”.
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