“ICL” is an acronym with several meanings, one of them being the slang phrase “I can’t lie.” People use this phrase and its acronym when they want to say they are completely honest.
However, in most cases, ICL isn’t used when talking about something extremely serious. It is more of a phrase, most similar to “to be honest.”
ICL is usually considered a part of UK slang, but it is also popular “across the pond.” You can often see it in texting or social media platforms, such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. As usual, this slang abbreviation is mostly popular among the younger generations.
Other Meanings
Since ICL can mean several other things, let’s take a closer look at them. According to Urban Dictionary, ICL can also mean “I chuckled lightly,” “In cyber life,” “I cried laughing,” and “I couldn’t care less.” Still, keep in mind that these meanings are less prevalent than “I can’t lie.”
Apart from these slang expressions, ICL can be short for several other phrases:
- In-context learning
- In Christian love
- Indian Cricket League
- International Computers Limited (Now a European Fujitsu branch)
- Implantable collamer lens
- International criminal law
- Icelandic Sign Language
You probably won’t use ICL in some of these other meanings, but if you do, now you know how.
How to Use ICL
If you want to use ICL, there are several nuanced contexts in which you can do it. One of them is when you want to express your honesty about something. Another is to soften the criticism or otherwise negative opinion you might express. Also, ICL is great to add when you need to share something but feel reluctant about it.
Still, keep in mind that ICL is informal, and you can use it in casual conversations. You don’t have to share some deep secrets when using this abbreviation. For example, you can say something like, “ICL, I like the new Marvel movie, that was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.” or “ICL, that dress looked horrendous on her.”
Of course, when someone sends you ICL and then proceeds to tell you something, it doesn’t necessarily have to be true. Just because someone has told you “I can’t lie,” it doesn’t mean they are actually honest. Take ICL as more of a slang than a promise to be truthful.
You can also use ICL in the context of its other meanings. For example, if you find something hilarious, you can use ICL as “I cried laughing.” But if it isn’t that funny but still makes you smile, you can use ICL as “I chuckled lightly.” And, if you don’t care about something at all, use ICL as “I couldn’t care less.”
Alternatives and Variations
ICL, in its “I can’t lie” meaning, has many alternatives, some of which are way more popular. That’s why you might want to use them instead:
- TBH – To Be Honest
- ISTG – I Swear To God
- TBT – Truth Be Told
- TTTT – To Tell The Truth
- NGL – Not Gonna Lie
- No lie
- No cap
- IMHO – In My (Honest) Opinion
- FR – For Real
- BLVMOT – BeLieVe Me On That
- CL – Can’t Lie
- TTUT – To Tell You The Truth
If, on the other hand, you want to use a slang term similar to ICL but in the context of “I cried laughing” or “I chuckled lightly,” you can use these phrases:
- LOL – Laughing Out Loud
- HAHA/HEHE – you can add as many “HA” or “HE” as you wish
- Any emoticon 😀 XD or emoji
- LMAO – Laughing My Ass Off
- ROFL – Rolling On The Floor Laughing
In case you use ICL in the context of “I couldn’t care less,” here are some alternatives:
- IDC – I Don’t Care
- IDM – I Don’t Mind
- NVM – Nevermind
- IDGAF – I Don’t Give A Fuck
Conclusion
ICL is an acronym for “I can’t lie,” a slang expression used when one wants to express an honest opinion about something. However, the exact nuance and meaning of this phrase can vary depending on the context of the conversation.
ICL can also mean several other slang phrases, so make sure to learn them as well to understand this acronym fully!
