Eternally loyal friend, in slang crossword

What "Ride or Die" Means in Plain Words

The crossword clue "Eternally loyal friend, in slang" points to the answer "RIDEORDIE." The phrase has spread widely - here is what it says and where it came from.

What "Ride or Die" Means

A Pledge to Stay Loyal

"Ride or die" names a bond that does not break. One person declares, "I will stay with you through danger, loss or trouble - if you ride, I ride - if you die, I die." People use the words for close friends or for lovers who refuse to walk away.

A Bond Forged Through Shared Trouble

The same phrase carries the sense of teammates who have faced hardship side-by-side and remain inseparable because of it. The shared trials create a tie stronger than ordinary friendship.

Where “Ride or Die” Comes From

It Started in Hip-Hop

Language scholars trace the first use of “ride or die” to hip hop culture. Rappers coined the phrase to name the loyalty that binds crew or gang members. “Ride” signaled a readiness to back friends and fight for them even when the act endangered the one who stood up.

The Phrase Moves Outward

The expression stepped outside hip-hop and reached many other circles - it now names steady, unbreakable loyalty between any two people, whatever their identity or group.

Examples of "Ride or Die" Relationships

• Best friends who met as children and who stayed together through every hardship
• Romantic partners who stayed together when illness struck or when money ran out
• Family members who backed one another without limits, even when times turned harsh
• Teammates or co workers who built solid trust through side-by-side trials

Conclusion - The Enduring Appeal of "Ride or Die"

The slang phrase "ride or die" now serves as a forceful shorthand for deep loyalty between people. It stays popular because it sums up a bond that refuses to break, whatever life brings. The crossword clue confirms that the phrase has secured a firm place in current culture.