Salty, about a person, means bitter or annoyed, usually over something trivial: sulking, getting worked up. Friends say it in conversation, in texts and in games, usually teasingly, as if to say you're upset over nothing. Don't write it to a teacher, a colleague or a stranger, or use it in an essay or IELTS Speaking; the neutral words are upset or annoyed.
Could you drop salty into a text?
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be/get salty about + thing; still salty about + -ing; Why are you so salty?
- He's still salty about losing the match last night, so don't bring it up.
- Why are you so salty? It was just a joke about your haircut.
- She got a bit salty because we started the film without her.
What changed
First versionDear Mr Hughes, I was a bit salty about my essay mark. Could we discuss it?
RevisionDear Mr Hughes, I was a bit upset about my essay mark. Could we discuss it?
Since the email is about an essay mark, Mr Hughes is a teacher, and the tone should be polite. The slang salty sounds sulky and bitter here and breaks that tone. Upset describes the same feeling, but neutrally.
Literally, salty describes food: These crisps are too salty. About a person, it means taking offence, with a hint of stop sulking: Don't be salty, you'll win next time. If you simply want to say you're upset, without poking fun at yourself, use upset.
Your turn
Tom lost one game of chess to his little sister and is still ___ about it, sulking in his room.
Show the answer
salty — After losing, Tom is sulking in his room, so he's offended: salty. Chill would mean he doesn't care, which contradicts him being upset.
Text a friend about someone you know who got upset over something small. Say what exactly happened.
Mark is still salty because I ate the last slice of pizza yesterday.
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