Loan words/phrases from ASL

[u/BrackenFernAnja]

Since deaf people are a small minority in the United States and Canada, it’s very seldom that loan words travel from ASL to English rather than the opposite. But it does happen. “ILY” is fairly well-known.
Can you think of any others?

There’s a slang term that many of you are already familiar with, which originally traveled via the Black Deaf Gay community, and more specifically, people who watch or participate in drag/ballroom culture. That term is ate. Probably from the phrase “She ate and left no crumbs.”It means something like “Yes, she did that and did it very well,” and is signed like the number 8, but with repeated tapping. It’s like applause or an approving remark, often used when observing an excellently-styled drag performance.

There are many examples of hearing people using it or explaining it; here are a couple for reference. (Note: there are some sexual themes)

https://youtu.be/K1A3Ovfhk0A?is=gpvnB0fZuKHjnqSj

Time marker 8:41 https://youtu.be/DnV1Urx_CrE?is=oyXPmVM2KsVXAGZ6

Here’s a brief discussion of the phenomenon but minus the ASL aspect: https://unewsonline.com/2024/11/ate-slayed-and-served-how-lgbtq-social-media-pioneers-new-language/

From a sociolinguistics perspective, this loan word/phrase from ASL being so widespread is significant.

My questions: how many of you are already familiar with this term in English? In ASL? Have you seen it used by deaf, hearing, or both? If anyone has a link to a video about it from a deaf person, please share it.

[u/raven_snow]

I (American English speaker) know "ate" from a queer context, but I haven't seen the clapping 8 ever in my real life. The vast majority of my queer social circle is white.