Word of the day · 6 May 2026
melt
/mɛlt/
noun
In British and internet political slang, a person seen as overly emotional, weak under pressure or quick to panic; also the ordinary verb for becoming liquid.
In a sentence
- Tabloid columnists labeled the critic a melt after the interview.
- He told himself not to melt before the penalty kick.
- Butter will melt faster in a warm pan.
In an image
Origin
From the verb melt (to liquefy); the insult sense spread in UK political Twitter and related online talk in the late 2010s.
History
Calling someone a melt pictures composure turning to puddle. It is partisan slang as often as precise description. Outside politics it can simply mean to soften emotionally. Searchers usually want the insult sense after a heated quote-tweet.
Nearby words
softie · panicker · liquefy
Slang for someone who loses composure when the heat rises.