A college parent’s translation guide

Sometimes parents need a translator to converse with their college students. New lingo, interests and courses influence their communication, and it can be like they're speaking a new language - or typing in shorthand when they text on their phones. Here's a start to translating their lingo:

All-nighter: To study all night long. Ex, "I pulled an all-nighter."

BRB: (Typed in texts) Be right back.

Creeper: A man, usually referred to by women, who is an unsavory character. Ex, "He wouldn't leave us
alone; he was such a creeper."

Dead days: Days between when classes end for the semester and finals start, which can be used for
studying, sleeping, partying or a combination of the three. Ex, "I have so much work to do over the dead
days."

Defriend: (Sometimes referred to as "unfriend.") The act of demoting someone on facebook.com from
being a friend. Ex, "I can't believe he defriended me."

Dinosaur: Referring to someone who is outdated, particularly referring to technology. Ex, "Look at that
dinosaur's Walkman!"

Epic fail: Referring to something that didn't work out or turn out as intended. Ex, "Last night was an epic
fail."

Fifteen-minute rule: A student-imposed rule that if the professor doesn't show up to class after 15
minutes, the class is dismissed. Ex, "I say we leave. Fifteen-minute rule!"

Full load: Taking the maximum number of classes in a semester. Ex, "I have a full load this year."

G2G: (Typed in texts) Gots to Go.

JK or j/k: (Typed in texts) Just kidding.

LOL: (Typed in texts) Laughing out loud.

Mouse potato: Someone who spends too much time on the computer. Ex, "I feel like such a mouse
potato today."

Prof: Short for "professor."

Rents: Short for "parents."

RA: Short for "resident's assistant."

Stumbling: Searching the web. Ex, "I haven't gotten any work done, because I've been stumbling for
hours."

TA: Short for "teacher's assistant."

TTYL: (Typed in texts) Talk to you later.

TTFN: (Typed in texts) Ta-ta for now.

Uber: Describing a multitude. Ex, "That was uber hard."

Umpteen: Also describing a multitude. Ex, "There were, like, umpteen questions on the test."