Definition

Abbreviation for "not gonna lie," used to signal that the speaker is about to be candid or brutally honest about something, often introducing an unpopular opinion or uncomfortable truth.

Example Usage

ngl, that movie was pretty boring despite all the hype.

Origin

Internet slang that emerged in early 2000s online forums and text messaging culture.

Fun Fact

The phrase became mainstream on Twitter and TikTok in the 2010s and is now used across all age groups.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)