take the L
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To take the loss: to lose a game or competition and to accept that fact; to make a mistake or to otherwise be beset with unfortunate circumstances and recognize the outcome.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Dom (David Jonsson): Please tell me you dumped his arse right there and then. […]
Yas (Vivian Oparah): Nope. I took a big L and got this prick some fucking hummus.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “take the L” mean?
To take the loss: to lose a game or competition and to accept that fact; to make a mistake or to otherwise be beset with unfortunate circumstances and recognize the outcome.
Is “take the L” formal or informal?
take the L is generally slang.