ELI5

English

Etymology

Acronym of explain like I'm five [years old].

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌiɛlaɪˈfaɪv/, /ˌɛliˈfaɪv/

Phrase

ELI5

1. (Internet slang) Provide an explanation that is very easy to understand.

   Please ELI5 the whole thing.

   • 2016, “SASE National Conference & STEM Career Fair 2016: Schedule”, in SASE Magazine, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, section “10:45 am - 12:00 pm: Engineering The Art of Storytelling”, page 82:

     Develop techniques to share complex ideas in a scalable way (going from ELI5 to rocket science).

   • 2017 May, “Online Classes”, in Kenton County Public Library Calendar, page 12:

     Periscope: ELI5 Family History / Wednesday, May 31, 3:30-4:30 pm / Why can’t I find my great-great grandmother’s death record in 1880?

   • 2019, “Verification”, in Erika Gregory, Tim Maly, editors, Signals for the Future: New Ways to Tackle Nuclear Risk, N Square, page 68:

     To see how potential partners might interpret and/or communicate key verification challenges, we created Can You Verify?, a website and poster competition. We posted thirteen of the clearest responses from the ELI5 challenge, in which experts explain what they do and where they need help, asking information designers to depict the challenges visually.

See also

• TIL