Netflix and chill

English

Etymology

From the idea of euphemistically suggesting watching the online streaming service Netflix, as an excuse to be together in private. The idiomatic meaning developed around 2014.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

Netflix and chill (uncountable)

1. (slang, euphemistic) Sexual intercourse, especially casual sex.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:sexual intercourse

   • 2015, Greg Figueroa, The Unwritten Rules of Dating‎^[1], page 7:

     Sometimes people aren't available for a rousing night of "Netflix and chill." - Can't change someone or fix them. People are who they are, especially as they get older.

   • 2015, Lili St Germain, Zero Hour: A Gypsy Brothers Epilogue‎^[2], page 34:

     “Just Netflix and chill, you know?” I snort. “You know what that means, right?”

   • 2016 February 23, Gregory Weidmann, Geoff Tock, Episode 16: Sands, Agent of Morra, Limitless, 1 minute, 30 seconds,

     Rachel Finch: But in this age of "Netflix and chill", it is no time to be looking for someone decent.

   • 2017 February 3, Nicole Sands, “Andy Grammer Abstained from Sex Until Marriage—But Now He Loves to 'Netflix and Chill'”, in PEOPLE:

     Andy Grammer saved himself for marriage, but now he’s all about the Netflix and chill.

Verb

Netflix and chill (third-person singular simple present Netflix and chills or Netflixes and chills, present participle Netflix and chilling or Netflixing and chilling, simple past and past participle Netflix and chilled or Netflixed and chilled)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see Netflix,‎ chill.
   • 2015 September 17, “Chill on the “Netflix and chill" and just have sex”, in The Independent Florida Alligator:

     I take my Netflix binging seriously. Why hook up when we could marathon "Bob’s Burgers?" If you invite me to "Netflix and chill," that’s exactly what I’m going to do. / Don’t try to talk to me; I’m trying to pay attention to the show. Stop trying to put your arm around me. And no, I don’t want to take off my shirt to "get more comfortable."

   • 2017 Impact Wrestling July 13th episode, 1h30m, Grado (w/ Joseph Park) to Laurel Van Ness after her pinfall victory over Ava Storie before Kongo Kong comes out.

     I would just like to ask if me and you could possibly one night get together, eat some food, get some drinks, watch a movie or two. Would that be something that interests you? Would you be up for that? Netflix and chill? I just need an answer. Would you go out on a date with me?

   • 2017 September 5, Christian Gollayan, “Woman ends Tinder date stuck in window trying to grab her own poop”, in New York Post:

     It all started when Smyth took his date to Nando’s, a Portuguese restaurant in Bristol, UK. Afterward, he took her back to his apartment, where they Netflixed and chilled.

   • 2023 March 7, Jake Register, Marielle Marlys, Erika W. Smith, “Everything You Need to Know About Dating a Cancer Man”, in Cosmopolitan‎^[3]:

     Impulsive Sagittarius can also seem flaky to homebody Cancer. Likewise, Cancer can clash with extra-extroverted Leo—Cancer would rather Netflix and chill while Leo wants to hit up six different parties in one night. Exhausting!

2. (euphemistic) To engage in sexual activity, possibly while or after watching a movie or a TV series together.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:copulate

   • 2015 August 25, Ryan Santistevan, “10 movies to make your next "Netflix and Chill" session the best one yet”, in The State Press (Arizona State University):

     If you haven't been living under a rock, you're well aware of "Netflix and Chill," which is the new hang out method. Contrary to prior belief, if invited to Netflix and chill, don't expect to spend a couple hours watching Netflix. It's actually the new version of "let's hook up."

   • 2016 March 11, McKenzie Templeton, “Navigating new Seattle, one Tinder date at a time”, in The Seattle Times:

     I’ve canoodled on rooftops of shockingly expensive Capitol Hill apartments, Netflix-and-chilled in South Lake Union units with sweeping waterfront views, and languidly sipped merlot while my Amazonian inamorato responds to a high-priority event.

   • 2016, Your Mum, Text Fails From Mum, Bonnier Publishing, →ISBN, page 137:

     “Hi Mum. Did u have a good weekend?”
     “Your dad and I just netflixed and chilled.”
     “Right. U kno that means having sex?”
     “Yes ;-)”

   • 2017 February 3, Nicole Sands, “Andy Grammer Abstained from Sex Until Marriage—But Now He Loves to 'Netflix and Chill'”, in PEOPLE:

     Nowadays, Grammer and his wife spend their days “Netflix and chilling”—with an emphasis on the “chilling.”

   • 2017 August 12, Ross McG (Ross v Ross), "The 10 best films on Netflix UK right now if you want to Netflix and chill", Metro (UK).

     You can watch the films in the list below before Netflix and chilling, or after, or during – sometimes it’s better to imagine your favourite movie star in your bed rather than facing the cold, hard reality – or even if you’re just thinking about Netflix/chilling.

See also

• view someone's etchings