Night-riding means: That rides out at night, especially to carry out acts of violence.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
night-riding
(chiefly, US) That rides out at night, especially to carry out acts of violence.
Definitions
(chiefly, US) That rides out at night, especially to carry out acts of violence.
Night-riding means: That rides out at night, especially to carry out acts of violence.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
night-riding means: That rides out at night, especially to carry out acts of violence.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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(historical, chiefly, US) A member of a vigilante group that carried out nighttime raids.
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(intransitive, AAVE, slang) To go out in a vehicle with one's friends or crew.
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The practice of being out late at night, for work or pleasure.
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(historical, US, often capitalized) A member of the Ku Klux Klan, especially during the Reconstruction Era.
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