(derogatory, slang) A simple person lacking common sense; a fool or simpleton.
Pimps and simps would fall in from here and there and everywhere, grabbing thousand-dollar advances from the madames and leaving their lady friends in pawn. 1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “They Found the Body in a Ditch”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 2 (1923–1928: Chicago, Chicago), page 59:
By a cruel irony, however, the elitist power serves the secret ends of the masses whom they despise. The real snobs are the people. The real simps are the intellectuals. 1998, Clarence Cyril Walton, Archons and Acolytes: The New Power Elite, page ix:
This list has been limited to members and cohorts of the Clinton administration, those simps and ninnies, lava-lamp liberals and condo pinks, spoiled twerps, wiffenpoofs, ratchet-jawed purveyors of monkey doodle and baked wind, piddlers upon merit, beggars at the door of accomplishment, thieves of livelihood, envy-coddling tax lice applauding themselves for their magnanimity with the money of others, their nose in virtue's bum. 2007, The American Spectator's Enemies List:
“What a simp I am. I can't believe I left it at home.” She leans her forehead against her locker, straightens, and then turns to me. “Can you believe what a simp I am?" 2012, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, One for the Murphys, page 52:
Groggy from my nap I turn on the TV and try to watch.... Morons and simps appear in the screen, drool like pinheads and waterheads.... 1981, Philip K. Dick, Valis, →ISBN, page 105:
(broadly, slang) Someone who is not worthy of respect.
Of course,a guy who wanted to run for office would have to get himself snipped BEFORE he had children, but that's not a big deal since most of the officious little simps who go on to be your mayor realize very early on that they're not going to work for a living. 2015, Marc Dion, Marc Dion: Volume I:
A real pimp is a gentleman, but these are pimps in gorilla suits. They hang around pimps, they have hoes on the track working for them, they may even look like pimps, but they are straight simps. 2012, Pumpin' Ken, Pimpology: The 48 Laws of the Game, page 11:
The JEWS own this country, the IRISH run it, the BRITISH envy it, the GERMANS cuss it, the NEGROES enjoy it, the FRENCH style and perfume it, the CHINESE wash it, BOOTLEGGERS irrigate it, the GREEKS feed and shine it, the JAPS fear it, MEXICANS hate it, RUSSIANS pity it, the ITALIANS fruit it, ALL NATIONS cigarette it, EVERYBODY likes it, and the AMERICANS—well, those poor simps just pay the bills and can keep out of jail if they behave themselves and are very careful about their driving and parking. 1987 February 18, “[untitled]”, in New York Newsday:
All of this, inspired by hypersensitive simps who never once had to demonstrate that, by reasonable standards, they had been victimized in any way. 2009, Michael Graham ·, Redneck Nation: How the South Really Won the War:
Originated in West Coast hip hop culture in the 1980s. Further etymology unknown. Possibly from:
# a special use of simpleton (above);
# a clipping of simper;
# a respelled clipping of sympathetic; or
# a blend of sissy + pimp or possibly sissy + wimp.
Originally restricted to African-American Vernacular English, until it received a boost in usage in the late 2010s through Internet culture, having been popularized through Twitch and TikTok.
Meanings
(derogatory) A man who foolishly overvalues and defers to a woman, putting her on a pedestal.
I don't be like some of those halfass simps. I'm a player, you understand? 2001, Andrew Vachss, Flood, page 335:
Baby got it goin' on / A lot of simps won't like this song / 'Cause them punks like to hit it and quit it / And I'd rather stay and play 1992, “Baby Got Back”, in Sir Mix-a-Lot (lyrics), Rick Rubin and Sir Mix-a-Lot (music), Mack Daddy, Def American Recordings:
Until you are sure that this girl has a genuine interest and might be compatible, no dates or gifts. Why should you be the one who feeds every straggler in your town? It's time to break away from these byzantine patterns of square behavior. It's time right now to break away from all those years of bad programming. You're a simp because your family made you that way. 2012, Dennis Jeanpierre, Tito Fresh, Step Your Game Up: Dating and Relationship Guide for the Urban Man:
And then something happened that seems kinda strange. He bought her a house. Just a few blocks away. His girlfriend won't touch him. She calls him a wimp. I'm sorry to tell you your daddy's a simp. 2020, Brad Gosse, Daddy's A SIMP: Don't Expect Much Inheritance:
(broadly, slang) Someone who foolishly overvalues someone else and defers to them, putting them on a pedestal.
Tweet: Crosbee @crosbeelisser . Oct 25 I'm a simp for @justnfields. 2020 October 26, David Regimbal, “Buckeye B-@-tle Cry: Ohio State Fans Celebrated the Return of Big Ten Football By Aggressively Hopping into the Mentions”, in Eleven Warriors:
“Trump simp”. 2020 October 6, Miranda Devine, “Help, the President tweeted my email!”, in Daily Telegraph:
"If I can put it in really plain English, Mr Morrison needs to make sure he doesn't look like he's just a simp to Donald Trump," Shorten said. 2020 November 2, Paul Scott, “Paul Scott writes: So what did Novocastrians most often look for on Google between March and October, 2020?”, in Newcastle Herald:
(qualifier:sometimes self-deprecating, slang) An advocate for an ideology or cause.
Originated in West Coast hip hop culture in the 1980s. Further etymology unknown. Possibly from:
# a special use of simpleton (above);
# a clipping of simper;
# a respelled clipping of sympathetic; or
# a blend of sissy + pimp or possibly sissy + wimp.
Originally restricted to African-American Vernacular English, until it received a boost in usage in the late 2010s through Internet culture, having been popularized through Twitch and TikTok.
Meanings
(intransitive, of a man, slang) To be especially deferential to and emotionally vulnerable with a woman, often with the intent of receiving sexual gratification.
1992, Fatlip (The Pharcyde), Passin’ Me By lyrics
Now let me tell you 'bout the feelings I feel for you / When I try or make some sort of attempt, I simp / Damn, I wish I wasn't such a wimp
2018, Penny the Petty Pest (@PineappleGC), Tweet.
Yall be simping in bitches DMs, then trying them on the tl then getting shocked why u getting aired out.
2018, T.y (@Ty_Brazil), Tweet.
G why is simping becoming so popular ? It’s nothing wrong with treating your lady nice , but some of these niggas out straight simping
2013, TravieBASED, Whats Wrong With Simping?
Dudes wanna talk down on other dudes when they start simping like they're feminine or something when in fact the majority of all dudes and even those motherfuckers saying that shit be simping too.
(broadly, intransitive, slang) To obsequiously praise or admire.
(broadly, intransitive, slang) To reminisce melancholically; to recall once fond memories now tinged with sadness, especially regarding a former lover.
2016, @jakedeee, Spotify playlist Simping
If I think about my ex while I listen to this playlist, you should too.
2018, mimi (@splendamami), Tweet.
the dick can't be that good honey stop simping over that boy
2017, Jody Tran, Spotify playlist *simps in vietnamese*
i dedicate this playlist to all my hoes who want to simp in viet. this takes u on an adventure to the modern angsty world of vietnam. this is where we can get into all our feels culturally. we all gonna mfking be CRYING IN THE VIETNAMESE CLUB!!